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Itarmaceutical Journal

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Sfranaattiirna.

YOL. X.— JULY 5, 1 87 9.

NOTES OF SOME OBSERVATIONS ON
NITRIFICATION."

BY EDMUND W. DAVY, A.M., M.D., M.R.I.A.

Professor of Forensic Medicine , in the Royal College
of Surgeons, Ireland.

A good deal of attention on the part of chemists
has of late been given to the subject of nitrification,
nr the formation of nitrites and nitrates under dif¬
ferent circumstances. This has arisen, in a great
measure, from the observations of MM. Schloesing
and Muntz, f which were laid before the Academy
of France about two years ago. From the researches
of those gentlemen, they arrived at the conclusion,
that nitrification was due to an organized ferment,
and that it was probably the office of some of the
low forms of vegetable life, to produce those oxides
of nitrogen under different circumstances. And the
subsequent investigations of Warrington, Storer
and of other chemists, would appear to go far to
■confirm the correctness of their theory of nitrifica¬
tion, at least, under the conditions in which their
experiments were made.

Though there exists, no doubt in many cases, an
intimate relation between the formation of nitrites
and nitrates, and the development of certain organized
germs, still, as far as my observations go, I do not
-think that there is sufficient proof to show that
their development in such instances is the cause of
nitrification, and not, rather, one of the circumstances
•attendant on that process.

My experiments, however, were made not with a
view to determine that question, but in reference to
the detection of animal impurities in potable waters,
and to ascertain the circumstances which were
favourable or otherwise, to the formation of nitrites
and nitrates in waters which were so polluted, as
the presence of such salts is generally regarded as
indicating previous sewage contamination ; and the
drinking of water with such pollution is not only
injurious to the health of those who thus employ it,
but there exist strong grounds for the opinion
which is now very generally entertained, that such
water frequently becomes the means of conveying
the germs of certain formidable diseases, especially
those of typhoid fever and cholera, from its contain¬
ing the fecal and other emanations of individuals
suffering under those maladies, and thus disease and
death are often insidiously brought into many
homes, when such diseases are prevalent in different
localities. Besides, as the formation or production
of nitrates is one of great industrial and agricultural

* Read before the Royal Irish Academy, May 12, 1879.

f Comptes Rendus, lxxxiv., 301.

Third Series, No. 471.

importance, any facts which might directly or
indirectly enable us to facilitate or hasten that
process, would be of much practical value.

As human urine and feculent matters may justly
be regarded as the most offensive and dangerous
ingredients of sewage in general, my experiments
have been confined to those matters, and were
principally made on urine, which from its containing
different nitrogenous substances readily susceptible
of decomposition, is peculiarly suited for the study
of the nitrification of animal matters. By mixing
this liquid with various proportions of water, and
placing the mixtures under different circumstances,
I have endeavoured to ascertain those that were
favourable or otherwise to their nitrification, and to
determine some points connected with that process
which required further investigation.

I should here observe, that in detecting the
occurrence of nitrification, I have principally used
the well known test of Price for nitrites, which
consists in adding to the water or mixture, a thin
solution of starch containing a little iodide of potas¬
sium and acidifying with diluted sulphuric acid,
when a blue reaction from the liberated iodine will
be immediately produced, should a very minute
quantity even, of a nitrite be present. And as there
is every reason to suppose that the production of
nitrites precedes that of nitrates in the nitrification
of organic matters in solution, and the detection of
the former is much more easily effected than the
latter, at least under the conditions existing in my
experiments, I was satisfied in most cases to obtain
the evidence of the formation of nitrites by the
employment of the test to which I have just referred.

The experiments of Warrington* have led him to
conclude, that darkness is an essential condition to
the development of those low forms of vegetable life,
which are supposed in many instances to give rise to
nitrification. This is a question which it is difficult
to determine decisively, one way or the other, owing
to the impossibility of having with us continuous
daylight to operate with. Still I think we may
arrive at an approximate conclusion on this point, by
making comparative experiments on similar mixtures
kept altogether excluded from the light, and on
those exposed to its full influence, and then deter¬
mining the amount of nitrification which had taken
place in each after a given time ; and if darkness be
so essential to that process, we should naturally ex¬
pect that in the mixtures exposed to its continuous
influence, there would be an earlier and a greater
development of nitrification, than in those which had
been placed under it, for about one-third or one-half
* Journal of the Chemical Society , January, 1878.

2

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 5, 1879,

the time each day of twenty-four hours. From the re¬
sults of several comparative experiments made in this
way, I have come to the conclusion, that the conditions
of light or darkness exercise but little influence one
way or the other in this process, at least under the
circumstances existing in my experiments, which
consisted in placing different portions ot the same
mixture in similar bottles, some of which were sur¬
rounded with black cloth or velvet to exclude light,
whilst others were left uncovered, and all of them
were suffered to remain open or uncorked. On ex¬
amination after a few days, there was but little
difference as to the amount* of nitrification that had
taken place in each — indeed in some of my experi¬
ments, it had progressed to a greater extent in the
uncovered than in the covered bottles ; and in all
made on this subject (except those to determine this
point as to the necessity or not of darkness) the
mixtures were left exposed to the light, and some to
the full influence of strong sunshine, yet still a con¬
siderable amount of nitrification took place in each ;
besides in nature much of the nitrates which occur
in the surface soils of different localities, must have
been formed under the influence of more or less day¬
light, all of which facts, I conceive, are more or less
opposed to the necessity of darkness in this process.

Another point which has not, I believe, been
clearly established, at least as regards nitrification
occurring in water containing organic matters, is the
necessity of having a certain amount of air or of free
oxygen to carry on the process ; this I have proved
in the following very simple manner : — To water
which had been kept boiling for some time to expel
its contained air, I added a small quantity of freshly
voided urine (the proportion employed being about
one part of urine to sixteen parts of water, such a
mixture having been found to be very suitable for
nitrification), and then repeated the boiling to en¬
sure the removal as far as possible of any dissolved
air. Several bottles which had been kept immersed
in the boiling mixture, were then filled completely
with it, corked and sealed with sealing wax to pre¬
vent the access of air. Some, however, of them
containing this mixture were left open for compari
son. After leaving the bottles for a day or two in
the same place, I first examined the open ones for
nitrites, and when the test indicated the abundant
formation of those salts, I opened one of those sealed,
when not a trace of nitrites was discoverable in its
contents ; the remaining sealed ones were opened at
different periods subsequently with the same results.
Other comparative experiments were made, where
the temperature of the mixtures was artificially kept
at a heat very favourable to nitrification, but in
every instance where the access of air had been ex¬
cluded no trace of nitrites could be detected, clearly
proving the necessity of more or less air or free
oxygen for their formation. But the amount neces¬
sary to commence at least, the process is small, for I
found that where the mixture had not been boiled
previous to the complete filling, corking and sealing
of the bottle, that the air dissolved in the liquid was

* In ascertaining the amount of nitrification, the indigo
process, as described by Sutton in his ‘ Volumetric An¬
alysis/ was employed, which served f-^r the determination
of the nitrites and nitrates collectively, and though it may
not be quite so accurate as some other methods, was suffi¬
ciently so for this purpose, as it was only the comparative
amount of nitrites and nitrates formed under the different
circumstances of the experiments that I wanted to de¬
termine.

sufficient to cause the production of nitrites to some
extent.

The quantity of animal matter which is held in
solution in the water, I find exercises a considerable
influence over nitrification, for where it occurs in
very large proportion, there the process either does
not take place at all, or is carried on much slower
than in the more dilute solutions. This I have
proved by comparative experiments with water
mixed with different proportions of the same sample
of urine, or of solution of excrementitious matter,
where 1 found that nitrification occurred first in the
more dilute mixtures ; and that where there was
much organic matter present, that the nitrites which
might ultimately be formed soon afterwards dis¬
appeared again, by their subsequent change or de¬
composition ; whereas those that had been produced
in more dilute solutions, have remained unchanged
for a considerable time.

But the circumstance which I have found to exer¬
cise the greatest influence over nitrification is that
of temperature, for 1 have observed that in cold
weather it is very slow in taking place, whilst in
warm it is much quicker, and that by the application
of artificial heat the process can be greatly acce¬
lerated. The correctness of this observation is borne
out by the well-known fact, that it is from the soils
of different hot climates that we obtain our chief
supply of nitrates. As to what may be the most
favourable temperature for this process, I have not
yet been able to determine, owing to the difficulty,
as I am circumstanced, in maintaining continuously
the same degree of artificial heat ; but I have found
that where the mixtures were placed where they were
kept at a temperature which varied from about 70°
to 80° F. , that there the process was carried on very
quickly and that nitrites were soon abundantly
formed, whereas in similar mixtures maintained at
lower degrees of heat or at the ordinary temperature
not a trace of those salts could be detected in the
same time, and that their presence was not discover¬
able till after a much longer period.

The foregoing observations have, I conceive, some
important bearings as regards the contamination of
water with sewage, and the evidence of such derivable
from the occurrence in it of nitrites and nitrates. For
though the presence of those salts is undoubtedly,
in many instances, an indication of previous sewage
pollution, still their absence, taken by itself, cannot
be relied on as a sure indication of the freedom of
the water from such contamination. F or the circum¬
stances present may have either been unfavourable
to the formation of nitrites and nitrates, or have
produced their subsequent rapid disappearance :
thus, for instance, the lowness of the temperature of
the water may have prevented their formation, or the
quantity of organic matter present may have inter¬
fered with their development, or have led to their
subsequent change and disappearance. Such, amongst
other circumstances influencing the presence of those
salts in water containing animal matters, it will at
once be evident, that their absence, unless accompanied
by other indications of purity, cannot be relied on
as a proof of the freedom from such contamination.

Before I conclude, I wish to call attention to
another fact which I have noticed in connection
with this subject, viz., the rapidity with which
nitrites are sometimes formed in waters contamin¬
ated with sewage impurities. This is a subject of
considerable importance in an analytical point of

July 5, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

3

view, as I shall endeavour briefly to explain. It is
well known "by those who have analysed potable
waters, that the method which chemists now princi¬
pally employ, to ascertain their purity or otherwise,
is to determine the quantity of ammonia a given
amount of the water will yield on distillation, both
before and after the addition of a strongly alkaline
solution of permanganate of potash. The first
obtained is termed the free, and the second the albu¬
minoid ammonia. The former is regarded as the
representative of the nitrogenous organic matters
previously existing in the water, which have under¬
gone more or less decomposition ; whilst the latter
is produced by the action of the alkaline perman¬
ganate or those substances still present in the water.
Consequently, the less of each that is furnished by a
sample of water when so treated, the purer organi¬
cally is it regarded, and the safer, other circum¬
stances being similar, would it be for potable purposes.

When lately analysing a sample of water that had
been contaminated with sewage, to ascertain the
amount of such pollution, which was afterwards the
subject of an important legal inquiry, in my first
trial, I found that the water yielded a quantity of
free ammonia, which was equivalent to 0-970 parts
of a grain per gallon, but on repeating the deter¬
mination a few days afterwards, it was discovered
that it had fallen to 0T86 parts of a grain for the
same quantity of water, or to less than one-fifth of
the former amount ; whereas the quantity of albu¬
minoid ammonia yielded had slightly increased.
This result as to the great decrease of free ammonia,
which at first rather surprised me, I ascertained was
due to the formation of nitrites, which had been de¬
veloped to a large extent, in so short a time, at the
expense of the free ammonia.

Such being the case, if the water had not been
examined till the date of the second analysis, and if
the nitrites had not been taken into account, this
water would have been regarded as containing much
less free ammonia than it did, and consequently that
the previous sewage contamination was less than it
really was ; this point, is therefore, one of some
analytical importance.

It is right for me to observe in connection with
this latter fact of the decrease of free ammonia in
waters by keeping, that long after I had made that
observation, I came across in the Chemical News for
March 2, 1877, a letter written by Professor Pattison
Muir, of Owens College, in which he calls the atten¬
tion of chemists to some observations his brother had
just made in the laboratory of the University at
Sydney, in which he had noticed that the amount of
free and of albuminoid ammonia, as determined by
Wanklyn’s process, varied very considerably with
the time the sample of water had been kept ; but
neither of those gentlemen have offered (in the letter
referred to) any explanation of the fact further than
that Professor P. Muir throws out the suggestion, in
the case of the increase by keeping of the albuminoid
ammonia, that possibly it might have been owing to
the “ germs ” which have escaped decomposition by
the permanganate, undergoing a gradual decomposition
in the water, and that ammonia is one of the products
of this process. Be this as it may, I have satisfied
myself that the loss of free ammonia is often due to
the formation of nitrites or nitrates, which are very
rapidly formed from it under different circumstances.
And as regards albuminoid ammonia, the very slight
ncrease which I observed in my experiment, was, I

thought, very easily accounted for by my having in
the second determination, carried on the process of
distillation somewhat further than in the first trial,
and in this way the amount might be very naturally
increased.

Finally, my observations that nitrification is
greatly promoted by warmth might, I conceive,
admit of some practical application in the manu¬
facture of the nitrate of potash in the artificial nitre
beds, especially in those of cold countries, and I am
not aware that heat has hitherto been anywhere
artificially applied to hasten or promote that im¬
portant manufacture.

NOTES ON SOME JAPANESE DRUGS.

BY E. M. HOLMES, F.L.S.,

Curator of the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society.

The Japanese are perhaps the most enterprising
and progressive of Eastern nations, and have already
made vast strides in the science and education of the
West. In Japanese medicine a similar improvement
seems to have taken place, for it was remarked at
the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, that
although 300 specimens representing the advanced
materia medica of Japan were exhibited, none of the
specimens belonged to the animal kingdom, the
various disgusting remedies of that class still used
by the Chinese being conspicuous by their absence.

Yet comparatively little is known in English-
speaking countries of the drugs used by the Japanese.
Beyond an enumeration of thirty well-known drugs
used in other countries, no description that I can
discover has been published in the English language
of the 300 specimens above mentioned.

In New Remedies for January, 1877, a short ac¬
count is given of Japanese medicine,* and the names
and uses of a few drugs, and some analyses of a few
others have been published in the American Journal
of Pharmacy, January, 1879, p. 25.

The large quantity of Japanese aconite that has
during the last few years been imported into this
country, has in some measure drawn attention to the
drugs of Japan . Messrs. Wright and Luff have recently
obtained from this aconite an alkaloid which they call
Japaconitine. Another alkaloid has been discovered
in an unnamed Japanese plant by M. A. Petit. These
results have led me to examine the collection which
was recently presented to the museum, with a view
to ascertain whether any of them appeared to merit
chemical examination or could be turned to any
practical account in this country. Among those
which seem most promising may be mentioned the
root of Coptis anemoncefolia, containing a quantity of
berberine ; the fruits of Gardenia radicans and G.
florida, in which a colouring matter supposed to be
identical with that of saffron has been found ; kuh-
sing root, containing the very bitter alkaloid dis¬
covered by M. Petit, and a valerian root, which
seems to be more powerful than the English drug.

The thoroughness with which the drugs have been
dried, their freedom from admixture and their ex¬
cellent quality, seem to indicate that it may be pos¬
sible in the future for drugs from Japan to compete
successfully with less carefully prepared products
nearer home.

The specimens hereafter described were all met
with in the London market, where for some months

* Pharm. Journ., vol. vii., p. 674.

4

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 5, 1879.

tliey found no purchaser, nothing being known of
their names or uses, all the names being in Japanese
characters. In the following notes the drugs have
been arranged for convenience of reference under
the heads of Roots, Herbs and Leaves, Flowers, Fruits
and Seeds, and the Japanese names have been placed
in alphabetical order, as being those in which
Japanese drugs are most likely to be met with in
English commerce on future occasions.

The Japanese names hung, soli, yoh , hah, she,
nine/, which are of frequent occurrence in the follow¬
ing list of drugs mean respectively, root, herb, leaves,
flowers, seeds and kernels, and must therefore not
be looked upon as part of the name of the plant
which yields them.

When presented to the museum of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society by Mr. Christy, the specimens had
merely numbers and the names in Japanese charac¬
ters attached to each parcel ; these numbers are here
placed in parentheses after each Japanese name, to
enable others to whom similar -specimens have been
distributed to easily identify them by this means.

I have to acknowledge the great assistance kindly
afforded me by Mr. K. Takemura, a Japanese gen¬
tleman studying in the Society’s laboratory, in
translating the Japanese labels of the specimens,
and also portions of the So mokou Zoussetz, a
valuable Japanese work recently presented to the
North British Branch of the Society. Without Mr.
Takemura’s assistance the botanical sources of many
of the specimens could not probably have been so
satisfactorily determined .

The works to which abbreviated reference is made,
and from which the synonyms for the various drugs
have been taken, are as follows : —

Kcempfer, ‘ Amoenitates Exotica?,’ 1712.

Thunberg, ‘Flora Japonica,’ 1786.

Siebold and Zuccarini, ‘Flora Japonica,’ 1835.

Smith, Dr. F. Porter, ‘Chinese Materia Medica,’ 1871.

Miquel, ‘ Prolusio Florae Japonicse,’ 1866-7.

Franchet and Sava tier, ‘Enumeratio Plantarum Japoni-
carum,’ 1875.

Hanbury ‘ Science Papers,’ 1876.

ROOTS.

Bai-mo (30) : — Fritillaria Thunbergii, Miq. Prol.
p. 321 ; Fr. et Sav. vol. ii. pt. 1, p. 61 ; So mokou
Zoussetz, vol. v. fig. 79; Uvularia cirrhosa,
Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 136.

Syn. Faru juri, Amisa juri, Fr. et Sav.

The drug consists of a white starchy corm varying
in size from a hazel nut to a filbert, and consisting
of two halves which seem to be respectively the old
and young corm, and which enclose between them
very young flower buds. They have a bitter taste
but no odour, and appear to correspond with the
description of the bitter hermodactyle mentioned in
the ‘ Pharmacopoeia of India,’ p. 246.

This plant is often found cultivated in gardens in
Japan, and flowers in June. The corm is the part
used in medicine. The corms have some resemblance
to those of the hermodactyle formerly used in
medicine in this country, and, indeed, closely re¬
semble in appearance the hermodactyle described by
Dr. Porter Smith in his work on ‘ The Materia
Medica of China.’ The Chinese character is also
identical with the Japanese one, but in Chinese is
pronounced Pei-mu instead of Bai-mo.

Pei-mu is used in China for rheumatism and
aching joints. Whether it is used similarly in Japan
I have no certain knowledge.

Biakoo-boo rung (34) : — Roxburghia sessilifolia
Miq. Prol. p. 143; Stemone sessilifolia, Fr. et
Sav. vol. ii. pt. 1, p. 92.

Syn. Hiyakubu, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. ii. fig. 55;
Shia-kou-bou, Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xxviii. p. 6.

The roots occur in the form of pale shrunken pieces
from two to five inches long and internally present a
horny appearance. They are tough' and flexible. The
taste is sweetish at first and afterwards slightly bitter.

In China it is credited with expectorant, antiphlo¬
gistic and vulnerary properties.

This liliaceous plant grows in the islant of Kiusiu,
and has ovate leaves in whorls of four, flowering in
May. It is furnished with numerous tubercular
roots, which form the drug used in medicine. The
Japanese name is probably given in allusion to the
number of these tubercul.es, Biakoo meaning a hun¬
dred, boo, parts, and hung, root. The Japanese
character for the name is the same as the Chinese
character translated Peh-pu by Dr. Porter Smith in
his ‘ Chinese Materia Medica,’ and referred by him
to Melanthium {]). The specimen in his collection is
also identical in appearance with the Japanese drug.

Biak-yitz (12) : —Atractylis ovata, Thunb. FI. Jap.
p. 306.

Syn. Biyaku jutsu, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. xv.
fig. 49 ; Biakou sitsou, Phonzou Zoufou, vol. iv.
p. 25, 26; Ikera, Fr. et Sav., vol. i. p. 256.

The root of Biak-yitz occurs in pale brown knotty
pieces, irregular in shape and slightly bent or twisted,
about one inch long and half an inch in diameter.
Internally it is whitish and speckled with yellowish
brown dots, which under a lens are seen to contain
an oily and resinous looking matter, which in another
species (. A . lancea, Thunb.), according to Hanbury
(‘ Science Papers,’ p. 255), is not removed by water,
alcohol or ether.

According to a writer in New Remedies, January
1877, and quoted in the Pharmaceutical Journal ,*
“ Biaku juszu” is much used, as well as the root of
Sad juzu or So jutsu ( Atractylis lancea), as an anti¬
febrile remedy in Japan. In China it is used as a
tonic, stimulant, diaphoretic and diuretic.

The Japanese name signifies, biak, white, yitz or
jutsu, atractylis, and is possibly given in allusion to the
pale under-surface of the leaves, since the flowers are
red. The plant appears to have somewhat the habit
of the Serratula tinctoria of this country. It grows
in damp places by waysides, and flowers in October.
The root is the part used in medicine. The drug
mentioned under Atractylodes alba, in Dr. Porter
Smith’s ‘ Chinese Materia Medica ’ has the same
written character for which Peh-shuh (white shuh)
is given as the equivalent sound. His specimens of
the root are evidently those of a nearly allied, but
different species, being almost globular, and of a
more fragrant and slightly different odour. Several
species of this genus appear to be used in China
under the name of “ Shuh.”

Boo rung (42) -.— Eulalia Japonica, Tim. ; To eiwa,
Ito raja, raja, Miq. Prol. p. 177 ; Obanna,
Sussuri, Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 42; Fuku,
Tsirusits, Tsirube, Sasadsitz, Sasa.

Syn. Meguri, Koempf. Amcen. p. 899, Fr. et Sav.
vol. ii. p. 182.

Boo kung consists of very small pieces, much re-

* Yol. vii., [3], p. 675.

July 5, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

5

sembling in general appearance the Triticum repens
of English pharmacies, but the pieces rarely exceed
a quarter of an inch in length. The taste is slightly
sweet; the odour scarcely any.

According to Dr. Porter Smith, Boo kung, or as
the Chinese pronounce it Mau-ken — for the written
character is the same in both languages — is a generic
name for the roots of grasses and sedges. He refers
the Chinese drug to Saccharum spicatum, which is
also known in Japan under the name of Boo and
Tsubanna according to Thunberg.

This grass is not unfrequent in damp copses in
various parts of Japan, and flowers in August.

Biak-mong-dau
. Ker.).

(28) : — ( Ophiopogon J aponicus,

Syn. Jano hige, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. vi, fig.
45, under Fluggea Japonica , Kunth., Jamma
sob, Jawrang; Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 139; under
Convallaria Japonica, L.; Mondo, Biakfmondo,
Riuno Fige, Kcempf. Amoen. Exot. p. 823 and
fig. p. 824 ; Mih-mun'-tung, Hanbury ‘ Science
Papers/ p. 256, with fig. of tubercules ; Djia-
no-shige, Fr. et Sav. vol. ii. pt. 1, p. 85.

The tubercules which form the drug are about two-
thirds of an inch in length and one-eighth of an inch
in diameter, of a yellowish- white colour and have a
central thread running through them. They evi¬
dently consist of dilatations of the cortieal portion of
the rootlets, the central thread being the meditullium.
The taste is sweetish.

In China the drug is considered to be a pectoral
and probably answers the same purpose in Japan.

The plant yielding these tubercules is common in
uncultivated places in Japan, flowering in October
or November. There are several varieties of the
plant, var. genuinus being small, and vars. umbrosus
and Wallichianus larger plants. Kcempfer also
alludes to another species growing near Satsuma,
which has larger roots and is called Temondo. In the
S6 mokou Zoussetz, both Ophiopogon spicatus and
0. Japonicus, (Fluggea Japonica ) are described as
“Mong dau” according to Mr. Takemura, but 0.
spicatus is Called large and 0. Japonicus small “Mong-
dau.” The Chinese character for Men-tung is exactly
the same as the Japanese for Mong-dau. The
Japanese specimens are, however, smaller than those
from China. The name mong-dau means literally
mong, gate, dau , winter, probably on account of the
plant flowering at the commencement of winter, and
biak, white, in allusion to the white flowers.

Tsiku-setz nin-jin (27) : — Aralia edulis, Sieb.(?)

Syn. Udo, Do-tooki, Sieb. et Zucc. p. 57 ; Doku
quatz, Dosjen, Koempf. Amoen. p. 826 ; Aralia
cordata , Thunb. (p. 127) F. et Sav. vol. i. p. 191.

In external appearance and size this drug bears a
strong resemblance to the rhizome of Polygonatum
officinale (Solomon’s Seal) ; the disc-like scars left by
the aerial stems are, however, arranged in a some¬
what spiral manner, and are rarely more than half
an inch apart. The transverse section of the root is
of a dirty white colour, horny consistence, and is
marked near the circumference with a ring of linear,
loosely packed, radiating, vascular bundles. The
taste is bitter. The rhizome has no distinctive
odour.

The Japanese name, according to Mr. Takemura,
means bamboo-knotted-ginseng, tsiku meaning
bamboo, setz a knot or joint, and nin-jin ginseng,

or in other words a root similar to ginseng, but having
scars like those of the bamboo rhizome.

The above identification is given with uncertainty,
as I have not been able to obtain either authenticated
specimens of the root of Aralia edulis or a description
of it. It is said to be often cultivated in Japan, and
is also found wild, flowering in October. When
young it is called sika, when older udo, and when
mature dosjen, according to Koempf er.

(To be continued).

COPAIBIC ACID.*

BY WARREN B. RUSH, PH. G.

In preparing copaibic acid the volatile oil must first be
removed, which is usually done by distillation with
steam. The oil is, however, much more readily separated
on a small scale by one of the following processes : First,
by dissolving ten parts of copaiba in ten parts of benzin,
adding an equal part of caustic soda solution, sp. gr. T30,
and agitating well ; or, secondly, by mixing ten parts
of copaiba, ten parts of alcohol and four parts of soda
solution, when the mixture will separate into three
layers. A third and most economical way for separating
the volatile oil is to shake together three parts of the
soda solution with one of the copaiba. After separation,
pour off the volatile oil, decant the alkali solution, pass
a stream of water over the resin, to wash off adhering
particles of alkali, and let it dry. Next, dissolve the
resins in benzin, and agitate the solution with very
diluted hydrochloric acid until the aqueous liquid remains
slightly acid to litmus. Let the mixture rest until the
resin and water have separated, decant the water and
evaporate the benzin solution to a thick syrupy mass,
and let cool. The same resins are thus obtained which
are left on the distillation of the volatile oil.

I have observed that if the percentage of oil is below
55 then the oil does not separate, there being sufficient
resin to hold the volatile oil combined, and in this con¬
dition some of the later is oxidized or altered. It may be
separated from the resin by dissolving in benzin or
alcohol and treating as above.

The resinous residue left after the separation of the
oil contains an acid, a neutral and a soft resin. The
following are among the processes for the isol%tion of the
different resins of copaiba : Liquefy the resins by the
heat of a water-bath, pour into about twice the weight of
petroleum benzin, stir until dissolved, filter, and let
evaporate spontaneously. A few particles will remain on
the filter, consisting of the usual impurities. Warm the
residue left by evaporation over a water-bath and pour it
into three times its quantity of alcohol ; or heat the
alcohol to boiling, mix thoroughly, and while hot filter.
The portion left on the filter is the neutral resin. Set
the filtrate aside for several days to crystallize. Treat
a portion of the neutral resin with hot alcohol, and if it
colours the alcohol there is left behind some of the acid
resin, and this maybe obtained by treatment with hot al¬
cohol and adding the filtrate to the first.

The neutral resin is a yellowish powder, without taste
or odour, neutral to test paper; it softens in alcohol and is
soluble in ten times its weight of hot chloroform.

After crystals have formed in the alcoholic liquid,
filter, and dry on the filter paper under glass. On distill¬
ing off the alcohol from the filtrate, the soft resin is left
behind. Copaibic acid may also be obtained from the
resin by dissolving it in benzin, filtering and evaporating.
The residue is heated to 200° F., dissolved in pure
naphtha, filtered while warm and set asid to crystallize,
after which the crystals are dried under glass.

Of the other processes which have been tried, the
following deserve to be briefly mentioned.

Dissolve the oleo-resin in caustic ammonia (sp. gr. 95),

* From the American Journal of Pharma June, 1879

G

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 5, 1ST?.

and expose this in a shallow dish at a temperature below
63° F., until hardened ; then dissolve in wood naphtha,
crystallize and filter. Expose copaiva to the air in shallow
dishes until it has become hard and brittle, dissolve it in
ammonia water and leave to evaporate in a cool place ;
then dissolve in hot alcohol, filter and set aside to crystal¬
lize. Dissolve the resins left after the distillation of
volatile oil in caustic ammonia, let evaporate, disssolve in
hot alcohol, filter and set aside to crystallize. The
alcohol may be partly recovered in these different
processes by distillation.

The crystals cannot be easily obtained without the
previous separation of the volatile oil, the acid being
soluble in fixed and volatile oils. Doubtless the copaiva
yielding the largest amount of resins will produce the
most acid.

Copaibic acid forms soft prismatic crystals, which are
soluble in strong alcohol, ether, fixed and volatile oils.
Its alcoholic solution reddens litmus, is not precipitated
by potasia or soda, yields 'with an alcoholic solution of
acetate of lead a crystalline precipitate ; but, on adding
it to an alcoholic solution of nitrate of silver, no pre¬
cipitate is occasioned until a little ammonia is added.
A white crystalline powder falls, which is with difficulty
soluble in alcohol but readily soluble in ammonia.

THE ALKALOID OF MIO-MIO (BACCHAEIS
CORIDIFOLIA).*

BY PEDRO N. ARATA.

The Mio-Mio ( Bacchciris coridifolia , Lam.) is a Com¬
posite plant abundant in the Banda Oriental del Uruguay,
the Argentine Republic and Brazil. The notoriety which
this plant has acquired in these countries is due to the
toxic action which it exercises upon the animal organism,
it being the cause of considerable losses of sheep and
cattle to the farmers, and it is the more dreaded because
the animals confound it with the healthy pasture among
which it grows. The author reports that he has obtained
from this plant an alkaloid in sufficient quantity to allow
of the following description.

The dry powdered plant was boiled with distilled
water in a porcelain capsule and the water separated by
decantation, the operation being repeated until the
material was completely exhausted. The united liquors
were filtered and evaporated, at first over a fire, and
afterwards in a water-bath, to the consistence of an ex¬
tract, which was mixed with double its weight of a
mixture of caustic lime and magnesia and the evaporation
was then continued to dryness. The product was pul¬
verized and digested for forty-eight hours with amylic
alcohol in a closed vessel with frequent agitation,
then thrown on a filter ; the filtrate of amylic alcohol
upon evaporation left the alkaloid in a crystalline
form.

Amylic alcohol is preferable to ether in this operation
as it dissolves the alkaloid very readily, especially with
heat, and a saturated solution deposits a very voluminous
crystalline mass. Under the microscope the crystals
appear as long delicate needles, sometimes united and
radiating from a common centre so as to form stars.

Water dissolves the alkaloid sparingly ; ether and
alcohol dissolve it with more facility, but it is not very
soluble in them ; the best solvent is amylic alcohol.

Dissolved in water the alkaloid gives neither an alkaline
nor an acid reaction, it showing no change of colour with
vegetable reagents. It dissolves with greater facility in
boiling water to which some drops of acetic acid have
been added. The acetate that results is fairly soluble in
boiling water, but upon cooling the liquid becomes turbid
as if concentrated, the turbidity disappearing upon the
addition of more water.

The solution of the acetate gave the following re-

* Abstract of a paper in the ‘ Annales de la Sociedad
Cientifica Argentina,’ vol. iv., p. 34.

actions With sodium phosphomolybdate or phospho-
molybdic acid a greenish yellow precipitate, disappearing
when heated and reappearing on cooling ; with potassium
iodohydrargyrate, a yellowish white precipitate ; with
the double iodide of cadmium and potassium, a light
crystalline precipitate ; with potassium platinocyanide,
a very marked turbidity ; with platinum chloride, a light
yellow precipitate, disappearing when heated and reap¬
pearing on cooling ; with gold chloride or picric acid, a
yellowish precipitate ; with potassium iodoiodide or
sodium phosphoantimoniate, a reddish yellow precipitate ;
with phosphotungstic acid or mercury bichloride, a white
precipitate; with potassium ferrocyanide, an abundant
white precipitate ; with potassium ferricyanide, a dark
green coloration when heated ; with sodium nitro-
prussiate, a coloration, and with sodium phosphoanti¬
moniate, potassium sulphocyanide or potassium bichromate,
no change. The author considers that the foregoing
reactions demonstrate that this substance is an alkaloid
and he has named it “ baccarina.”

Some physiological experiments made upon a sparrow
have proved that baccarina exercises a toxic action, and
further investigation in this direction has been undertaken
by Professor Pirovano. Senor Arato promises to study the
elementary composition of the alkaloid and its salts with
a fresh quantity of material.

THE DISCOVERY OF MINERAL WAX, OZOCERITE,

IN UTAH.*

BY PROFESSOR J. S. NEWBERRY.

I have obtained some of the recently-discovered
ozocerite in Salt Lake City from Professor J. E. Clayton,
to whom also I am chiefly indebted for such information
as I have in regard to its place and manner of occurrence.
He writes me as follows : — “ The geographical position
of the ozocerite deposits is in the Wahsatch Range, on
the head waters of the Spanish Fork, east from the South
End of Utah Lake. The material has been found
saturating beds of brown and bluish shales, probably of
Tertiary age, and in masses of various dimensions, more
or less mingled with clay. These shales extend from the
San Pete valley in a north-north-east direction for a
distance of fifty or sixty miles, and the width of the area
or basin which they occupy is at the middle point about
twenty miles. The shale beds richest in paraffin vary in
thickness from twenty to sixty feet, but there is no
considerable accumulation of that substance on the
surface, nor would this be possible, as it would be destroyed
by the autumnal fires which sweep the country. I
examined portions of this region two years ago for coal,
and found in the oil shales a few thin seams, and saw the
wax-like exudation in several places, but only in small
quantity.”

Other parties in Salt Lake informed me that the
paraffin itself is sometimes twenty feet thick, and that
the quantity is enormous ; but Professor Clayton says
that such statements are not authorized by any facts
which have come under his observation.

In the above remarks I have called the earth wax of
Utah ozocerite. As it has been stated to be zietrisikite,
I may s ty that on my return from the West, my son and
assistant, Spencer B. Newberry, made a series of careful
experiments in my laboratory of these hydrocarbons, and
with authentic specimens which I have received directly
from Gallicia. He found that it had a melting point of
6U5° C., that it was completely soluble in a large volume
of boiling ether, and that boiling alcohol extracted from
it twenty per cent, of a white wax-like substance. It
seems, therefore, to be certainly ozocerite and not zietri¬
sikite, the latter melting at 90° C., and being insoluble
in ether.

From t ne a mencan Journal of /Science and Art, April,
1879, p. 340. Reprinted from the American Journal of
Pharmacy, June, 1879.

July 5, 1879. ]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

7

Sfa jhanmaqulual Jaapal.

- » . .

SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1879.

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

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

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

THE CONFERENCE MEETING.

Within a few weeks the British Pharmaceutical
Conference — guided as usual by the British Asso¬
ciation in the selection of a locality for the annual
gathering — will again visit Yorkshire, as our readers
will be reminded by the report which appears in the
present number of the Journal of the proceedings of
the Executive Committee last Wednesday. Those
who have experience of the cordial reception the
members of the Conference met with in Bradford
will not need to be assured an equally hearty welcome
probably awaits them in Sheffield, and those who have
not had the experience will have heard quite enough
of the agreeable nature of the first meeting in York¬
shire to make them anxious to participate in the
enjoyment of the one now about to be held.

For these reasons we anticipate that the desire to
attend the Conference will be very general, and con¬
sidering the central situation of Sheffield, as well as
the marked prominence of Yorkshire pharmacists in
the endeavour to advance the interests of the body
to which they belong, we venture to think these com¬
bined inducements and the prospect of being able
to combine benefit with pleasure, will outweigh even
the depressing influence of “ bad times ” and 11 bad
weather” with such effect as to make the meeting at
Sheffield one the most largely attended that has been
known since the Conference has been in existence.

There is one circumstance of no small moment to
the attendants at such a gathering as the Pharma-
maceutical Conference which seemed, up to within
the last few days, to furnish ground for apprehension.
It is a somewhat exasperating thing to find, after
having responded to the kindly invitation of friends
to pay a visit to their town, that the local Boniface, in
the shape either of an over keen individual, or of an
imposing Board of limited liability organization,
intervenes between host and guest, holding out his
cap with exorbitant demands for the payment of
black mail as the sole condition upon which oppor¬
tunity for friendly intercourse will be allowed. But
such things do happen sometimes, and we regret
having to remember that a notable instance of the
kind was furnished when the Conference last met in
Yorkshire. Hotel charges multiplied fourfold to
those known to be visitors, and kept at the ordinary
rate for chance comers., is a form of purse- cutting

that under any conditions would require more than
ordinary meekness and pecuniosity to be endured,
and that is, we think, especially impolitic at a time
when the hotelkeepers have no reason to complain
of lack of business.

There was some reason to apprehend that this
eminently vicious system of taking undue advantage
of a full demand for hotel accommodation would be
put in practice at Sheffield and that it would have
had the effect of deterring many from going there.
But we are glad to learn that arrangements have
been made to prevent the rapacity of hotelkeepers
being an obstacle to intending visitors. According
to a communication just received from Mr. Maleham,
the local secretary of the Committee for the Sheffield
meeting, a reasonable scale of charges has been fixed
at one or two of the hotels where a number of rooms
have already been secured, and where Mr. Maleham
offers to secure accommodation for members of the
Conference if they will only make early application
to him stating what they require.

We think, therefore, this notification holds out
the certainty of being able to secure a comfortable
pied d terre and that we can without any risk urge
upon those who are already habitues of the Con¬
ference gatherings not to omit taking advantage ot
this opportunity for scientific and social intercourse,
while at the same time we recommend those who
have not hitherto done so to make the experiment
under the favourable auspices now presented and
with such fair prospect of realizing the pleasurable
as well as profitable results which the President of
the Sheffield Pharmaceutical and Chemical Associa¬
tion spoke of at the last annual meeting of that
Association as having been experienced by himself
on the occasion of his visit to Dublin last year.

Sheffield is a town which is of interest in various
ways in a pharmaceutical point of view. It has always
taken a prominent position in pharmaceutical as
well as in general politics. For some years it sent
a member to 1 the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society who, though less aggressive than one of the
members of Parliament who represents the borough,
on a subsequent occasion led the van of the band of
malcontents that came down with a stern front upon
the Council to remonstrate against its supposed
disregard of trade interests. It cannot, however, be
said that even in that position he excited any less
kindly feeling towards himself than he did while
holding the position of member of the Council. But
at the British Pharmaceutical Conference discussion
of political questions is not permitted, and whatever
may be the individual differences of opinion on
such subjects between those who meet at Sheffield,
we feel sure they will in no way interfere on that
occasion with that friendly intercourse amongst the
followers of pharmacy which it is the object of the
Conference to promote. On the contrary we antici¬
pate that political war paint of all colours will be
washed off for the time and that even timid conser-

8

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 5, 1879

vatives and uncompromising Tories will have no
occasion to fear being subjected to the vengeance of
the peculiar institution for which Sheffield is
famous.

Sheffield itself has but little claim to beauty,
though occupying a very fine situation upon a
natural amphitheatre of hills ; but it is surrounded
by some of the most lovely scenery in the Kingdom,
partly in Derbyshire and partly in Nottinghamshire.
The tovrn is the centre of the steel trade, formerly
the cutlery ware was the chief article of manufacture ;
but since the introduction of the Bessemer method
of producing steel, this material has been applied for
armour plating of ships and other heavy purposes,
and the manufacture of these products has been
carried out extensively in Sheffield.

In other respects the situation of Sheffield is one
calculated to induce every one who can spare the
time to spend a few days in visiting the immediate
neighbourhood. On the east lies the district of
Sherwood Forest formerly the resort
“Of Robin Hood and Little John;

Of Scarlet, George k Green and Much the Miller’s Son,
Of Tuck the merry Friar, which many a sermon made
In praise of Robin Hood, his outlaws and their trade.”

Here, between Mansfield and Worksop, is the
famous “ Dukery,” including Clumber and Welbeck
Abbey, the seats of the Dukes of Newcastle and
Portland, where interesting traces of the ancient
forest are still preserved. Close by is Newstead
Abbey, one of the most beautiful buildings of the
kind in the country. On the west, within a few
miles of Sheffield, is Chatsworth, “ the palace of the
Peak,” and seat of the Duke of Devonshire, sur¬
rounded by scenery which in its way is quite
unrivalled. Somewhat further west is Buxton, near
the rise of the Derbyshire Wye, with the famous
mineral springs that have made it a celebrated
watering place, one yielding water having a tempe¬
rature of 82° F., and the other yielding cold water
at a distance of not more than a foot apart.

“ Unto St. Anne the fountain sacred is ;

With waters hot and cold its sources rise,

And in its sulphur veins there medicine lies.

This cures the palsied members of the old,

And cherishes the nerves grown stiff and cold.
Crutches the lame unto to its brink convey,
Returning, the ingrates fling them away.”

This water is in both instances remarkable for its
purity, clearness and transparency, and it is used
both for drinking and for baths. The use of it for
these purposes dates back to a very remote period.
Remains of a Roman bath have been discovered, and
in the middle ages the chapel of St. Anne was the re¬
sort of numerous devotees in search of health. This
practice was interfered with at the time of the Re¬
formation, but in the reign of Elizabeth the Buxton
waters again came into repute and caused the place
tp be the resort of great numbers of nobility and
gentry, who were crowded into low wooden sheds

and regaled with oat cake and a viand which the
hosts called mutton, but the guests suspected to be
dog. The accommodation for visitors has improved
since then, however, and it may be ventured upon
without fear of the dog.

Matlock Bath further south has in its neighbour¬
hood some of the most striking scenery in Derby¬
shire, which was described by Lord Byron as equal
to anything in Greece or Switzerland. The lime¬
stone caverns and the several tors near Matlock are
objects of considerable interest. The mineral springs
of Matlock are less celebrated than those of Buxton
and the water is chiefly used for bathing ; it is highly
impregnated with carbonic acid and carbonate of
lime, which is deposited when the gas escapes. Owing
to this circumstance any object over which the water
passes continuously in a thin layer becomes coated
or incrusted with the deposited calcareous materials
which are locally called petrifactions.

The limestone districts of Derbyshire abound in
ferns and fossil remains, as well as minerals, that
afford scope for the exercise of botanical and mineral-
ogical skill, and to the geologist the country presents
numerous features of interest.

FLOWER FARMING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

In a report on the Botanic Garden and Govern¬
ment Plantations of Adelaide, South Australia, for
the year 1878, Dr. Schomburgk speaks favourably
of the introduction of flower farming for the purposes
of perfumery, but he thinks the further application
of the produce in the manufacture of perfumes would
be better done elsewhere than in the colony. Dr
Schomburgk illustrates the importance of the matter
by reference to the quantities of perfume consumed.
According to him, British India and Europe consume
about 150,000 gallons of handkerchief perfume yearly,
and the English revenue from eau de Cologne alone
is about ,£8000 a year, while the total revenue from
imported perfumes is estimated at about £40,000 a
year. One great perfume distillery at Cannes is
said to use annually some 100,000 lbs. of acacia
flowers, Acacia farnesiana, 140,000 lbs. of rose
flower leaves, 32,000 lbs. of jasmine blossoms,
20,000 lbs. of tuberose, besides a great many other
sweet herbs. These data will serve to show that
the quantity of material used as perfume is immense,
and that in the genial climate of South Australia
the production of the raw material for extracting the
fragrant essential oils is likely to be a successful
enterprise.

A MARK OF BARBARISM.

According to a writer in the Chicago Pharmacist ,
the United States Government having recently
applied to the German Government for information
as to the number of patent medicines and the extent
to which they were sold in Germany, a polite reply '
was sent that as that country was now civilized
patent medicines had no existence in it.

July 5, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

9

Stations 0j[ tlje ||arntaptical

MEETING OE THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, July 2, 1879.

MR. GEORGE WEBB SANDFORD, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Atkins, Bottle, Churchill, Frazer,
Gostling, Greenish, Hainpson, Hills, Richardson, Rim-
mington, Robbins, Savage, Shaw, Sjmes, Williams and
Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

Weights and Measures Act.

The President in reference to the Weights and
Measures Act, said it had occurred to him whether the
half-scruple had not been intended to be recognized
under the half-drachm. Looking at the table adopted, it
would be found that the words used were 1J scruple or
half- drachm and he thought probably the half-scruple was
intended to be authorized.

The Inaugural Address in October.

The President read a letter from Dr. Tilden, agreeing
to deliver the Inaugural Address to the students in Octo¬
ber next, in accordance with a resolution of Council
passed last month.

The name of Mr. Rimmington was added to the
Benevolent Fund Committee, having been accidentally
omitted.

The Sale of Food and Drugs Bill.

The President drew attention to this Bill now before
the House of Lords, where it had been read a first time.
He said there was nothing in it specially affecting
chemists and druggists, but he found a provision that
prosecutions should in all cases be instituted within a
reasonable time, in the cases of perishable articles not
exceeding twenty-eight days. Who was to be the judge
of what was a reasonable time, he did not know.

Mr. Woolley asked if it would not be possible to in¬
troduce a clause providing that a reasonable time should
be allowed for the return of summonses under this Act.
He had known of a case where a summons was served on
Saturday and heard in court on the Monday. If assist¬
ance had not been at hand, and great efforts used ta get
evidence, the defendant would probably have been con¬
victed.

The President said if it was considered desirable, an
effort might be made to insert some provision of the kind
referred to .

Mr. Rimmington said it would be easy in such cases to
obtain an adjournment.

Mr. Robbins said it must be the fault of the summon¬
ing officer.

Mr. Savage said no doubt in such a case an adjourn¬
ment would be obtained on asking, but it might entail
expense on the defendant.

After some further conversation it was unanimously
resolved, on the motion of Mr. Woolley, that an en¬
deavour be made to obtain the insertion of a clause
providing that no summons under the Act should be
returnable in less than three days.

At a subsequent stage of the proceedings —

The President said he found that the discussion on
this point might have been saved if the Bill had been
looked at more carefully, for the last line stated that no
summons should be returnable in less than seven days.

The New Bye-Laws.

A communication was read from the Privy Council
signifying that the Privy Council had approved the new
bye-laws recently passed by the Society.

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

Gibbs, Robert Darton.

Howard, George William.

Hoyle, Richard Ashworth.

Mann, George Frederick.

Elections.

MEMBERS.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members ” of the Society: —

Gibbs, Robert Darton . Wednesbury.

Howard, George William ...Tunbridge Wells.
Hoyle, Richard Ashworth ...Rawtenstall.

Mann, George Frederick . Wells, Norfolk.

Chemists and Druggists.

Butterfield, William . . Blackburn.

Fox, Alfred Russell . Sheffield.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following, having passed the respective examina¬
tions, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Rouse, Fi-ederick William ...Clapliam.

Modified.

Evelyn, William Francis . Truro.

ASSOCIATES.

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

Bucher, William Henry . Crediton.

Cherrington, Geo. WiddowsonLondon.

Dobson, George Turner . Holsworth}^.

Gamble, Arthur Gompertz ...Grantham.

Gordelier, Frank Heward ...Sittingbourne.

Holmes, William Albert . Kendal.

Hugill, Arthur Major . London.

Isaac, John Percy . London.

Jelley, George William . Coventry.

Jenner, William Edward ...Sandgate.

Kirk, William Peele . Retford.

Milner, Thomas . Thirsk.

Richardson, William Henry. .Boston Spa.

Scammell, Luther Robert ...Adelaide.

Smith, Frederick Adolphus... Macclesfield.

Thomas, John . Aberystwith.

Williams, James Edward ...Louth.

Williams, Thomas Henry ...Plymouth.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

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

Barber, William . Shefford.

Barton, Francis . Guernsey.

Cooper, William Ecklee . Upton-on-Severn.

Cox, Frederick John . Newark.

Harrison, Peter Webster ...St. Helens.

Hope, Arthur Peach . Uppingham.

Lewis, Jonas Henry . London.

Mackenzie, Donald . Dingwall.

Pope, Albert Harry . Southport.

Robinson, George Duncan R.York.

Taylor, James . Bayswater.

Watson, William Malcolm ...Southport.

Willis, Joseph Danin gton ...Northampton. .

10

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

[iuly 5, 1879.

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

The names of the following persons, who have severally
made the required declarations and paid a fine of one
guinea were restored to the Register of Chemists and
Druggists :

William Henry Fisher, 37, Beresford Road, London,
N.

Alexander Scott Hill, 68, Devonshire Road, Hollo¬
way, London, N.

Charles Edward Mitchell, 31, Cottenham Road,
Holloway, London, N.

Charles Wilkinson, 4, Raglan Street, Coventry.

Additions to the Register.

The Secretary reported that

Charles Robert Fenn, 83, Regency Street, London, S.W.

and

Augustus Thomas Isaac, Orange, New South Wales,
having made statutory declarations that they were in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and these declarations having been duly supported by
medical practitioners, their names had been placed on the
Register.

Payment of Subscriptions.

Mr. Greenish drew attention to the case of a member
who had handed his subscription to a traveller in April
last, but the latter forgot to tender it to the Secretary
until May 1, when the Secretary said he was unable to
receive it, as the gentleman’s name had been struck off
the list of members.

The President said such cases sometimes occurred in
the country, where the subscriptions were paid to the
local secretaries in time, but were not forwarded to the
office. In such cases he apprehended, the local secre¬
taries being representatives of the Society, the members
were entitled to be retained on the list.

Mr. Bottle said in the case before the Council the
traveller was not its agent and he could not see how the
bye-law could be departed from. The only thing that
could be done would be to restore the member on pay¬
ment of the minimum fine.

Mr. Greenish said he believed the traveller through
whose forgetfulness the difficulty arose was willing to
pay the fine himself, but the member would not allow it.

Mr. Symes suggested that in the case of country mem¬
bers it would be much better that they should forward
their subscriptions direct to the office, and be entitled to
deduct the cost of the post office order.

Mr. Atkins thought the gentleman in question had a
grievance. He had complied in spirit, if not in letter, with
the regulations.

Mr. Schacht asked if a post office order received on
May 1 would be taken.

The Secretary said if the envelope 'bore the postmark
of April 30, it would be received, being taken as a pay¬
ment in April. It was stated continually in the Journal
that April 30 was the last day on which subscriptions
could be received.

Mr. Hampson thought the Secretary had cut the
ground from under his own feet. If he received a post
office order on May 1, why should not he receive cash,
which was better?

Mr. Churchill thought the office was made for the
convenience of subscribers, not the subscribers for the
convenience of the office. He would move that the gen¬
tleman’s name be restored without a fine.

The Secretary said he would rather pay the fine
himself.

Mr. Robbins thought this case should be dealt with
the same as that of a person who sent a post office order.

The Secretary read the resolution under which he
had acted for several years past, under which all sub*

criptions not paid in March were applied for directly

by himself, notice thereof being sent to the local secre¬
taries.

Mr. Richardson thought the Council must support
the authority of its officers. The line must be drawn
somewhere.

Mr. Williams said the officers must act according to
the bye-laws.

The Assistant Secretary explained that subscrip¬
tions that came to hand after the office was opened on the
1st of May were not received. Remittances found in the
letter-box before the office opened on that day were received.

Mr. Frazer said as soon as a post office order was
issued, the money became virtually the property of the
Society. There was a wide difference between that and
paying money to an outsider who might do anything he
liked with it.

Mr. Bottle suggested that a half -guinea, which the
gentlemen in question had sent at the same time as a sub¬
scription to the Benvolent Fund, be received as the fine.
The bye-laws did not say to what the fine should be
applied.

This recommendation did not meet with any approval.

Mr. Greenish said the gentleman felt he had a griev¬
ance, and he himself did think it was a pity that, under
the circumstances, the money had not been received.

The Vice-President also thought the rules had been
carried out with greater strictness than necessary. He
understood that cheques were received and he did not see
that the agency of a banker was different to that of any
other person.

The President said there was no doubt that this case
was clearly within the rules, but he did not think the good
of the Society was promoted by over strictness in such a
matter. With regard to the question of local secretaries
receiving subscriptions he hoped the Council would agree
to a resolution proposed by M r. Greenish : —

“That the regulations regarding the closing of the
Registrar’s accounts with local secretaries, so far as
regards annual subscriptions being paid before the
1st of JMay, be referred to the Finance Committee
for consideration and report.”

Mr. Williams suggested that the resolution should be
enlarged, and that the Committee should consider the
whole question of local secretaries collecting subscrip¬
tions at all.

Mr. Rimmington thought it would be a great incon¬
venience to country members if local secretaries were
not empowered to collect subscriptions.

Mr. Savage said he should not object to the scope of
the inquiry being enlarged, but he agreed with Mr. Rim¬
mington that it would be a disadvantage to the Society
to alter the regulation.

The President said the mover had consented to the
addition of the words “ and to consider the desirability of
relieving local secretaries from the duty of receiving
subscriptions.”

The motion was carried unanimously.

Reports of Committees.

FINANCE.

The report of this Committee was received and adopted,
and various accounts ordered to be paid.

The Vice-President drew attention to the increase in
the gas account as compared with the same quarter last
year. The Committee was unable to explain how it
occurred, and he should like to know if any experiment
had been made with a view to test if any leak existed ;
for instance, if the state of the meter had been carefully
taken at night and in the morning, all burners having
been carefully turned out in the meantime.

The Secretary said that Professor Redwood, himself,
and the gasfitter were now carefully investigating the
matter, and he hoped to be able to place some statistics
before the next meeting of the Committee.

Several other suggestions were made with regard to the
mode of examining and checking the accounts.

July 5, 1679.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

11

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included recommenda¬
tions of the following grants : —

£15 to a member of the Society, in business for fifteen
years, but latterly suffering from sickness.

£10 to a member of the Society, aged 69, having failed
in business and being unable to obtain a situation.

£5 to a registered chemist and druggist (female), who
has had three previous grants of £10 each.

£10 to the widow of a late member. Applicant has
had five previous grants.

£15 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
having three children dependent on her.

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

£10 to a former associate of the Society suffering fi'om
ill-health.

£10 to the orphan boys of a registered chemist and
druggist.

£5 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist.

£5 to the widow of a late member who had £10 in
October last.

In two other cases the Committee made no recom¬
mendations, in one instance a grant having been made
very recently. Another grant had also been recommended,
but the Secretary stated that he had that morning re¬
ceived information of the death of applicant.

An application had been received from the managers
of the establishment in Belgium, where an orphan
child had been placed, for some years past, asking if
the annual payment would be renewed, as otherwise the
child must be returned to her mother. The Secretary
was desired to make further inquiries.

Mr. Robbins moved that in the case of the applicant
who had died, the amount of the grant should be handed
over to the widow.

The President thought the Council should wait and
see if application were made. It was not competent to
the Council to make a grant to persons on whose behalf
no application had been made.

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

LIBRART, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

The report of this Committee included the usua^
report from the Librarian, to the following effect : —

Attendance during the day : highest, 29, lowest, 9,
average, 21; Evening, highest, 19, lowest, 8, average, 12.
Circulation of books : town, 150 ; country, 66 ; carriage
paid, £1 7s. 7\d. He had also reported the following
donations to the Library : —

Analytical Index to the Records known as the
Remembrancia, 1579-1664 ; London, 1878.

From the Corporation of the City of London.

Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland,
Register of Fellow's and Associates, 1879.

From the Institute.

Berzelius (I. J.), Traite de Chimie, trad, par A. J. L.
Jourdan [et M. Esslinger], 1829-33, 8 vols.

Whitlaw (C.), New Medical Discoveries, with a
Defence of the Linnean Doctrine, and a Trans¬
lation of his Vegetable Materia Medica, 1829, 2
vols.

New London Dispensatory, containing a translation
of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, etc., 2 ed. ;
also a translation of Magendie’s Formulary, by T.
Cox and C. W. Gregory, 1835, 2 vols.

Liebig (J. v.), Organic Chemistry in its Applications
to Agriculture and Physiology, edited by L. Play¬
fair, 1840.

Journal de Pharmacie, 1835-6, sundry numbers.

From the Rev. C. E. Drew.

Muter (J.), Introduction to Pharmaceutical and
Medical Chemistry, 2 ed., 1879 ; Introduction to
Analytical Chemistry, 2 ed., 1878.

From the Author.

Tommasi (D.), Riduzione del Cloruro di Argento e
del Cloruro Ferrico, 1878; Riduzione del Cloralio,
1878 ; Azione dei Raggi Solari sui Composti Aloidi
d’ Argento, 1878. Frtm the Author.

Victorian Chemists’ Assistants’ Association, Sixth
Annual Report, Rules, Catalogue of Library and
Museum, etc., 1879. From the Association.

Squibb (E. R.), Notes on the Estimation of Urea,
and on the Revision of the United States Pharma¬
copoeia in 1880, 1879 ; Fluid Extracts by Reper¬
colation, 1879; Proposed Legislation on the
Adulteration of Food and Medicine, etc., 1879.

From the Author.

The Committee recommended that the usual letters of
thanks be forwarded.

The Committee recommended the purchase of the
following books for the library ; —

General Fund

Wurtz (Ad.), Dictionnaire de Chimie, latest ed.

Buchoz (P.), Herbier de la Chine, 1788-9.

Hanbury Fund

Bentham (G.), Flora Hongkongensis, 1861.

Griesbach (A.), Flora of the British West India
Islands, 1864.

The Curator had reported the attendance in the Museum
to have been as follows : — During the day, average, 10 ;
evening, average, 6. He had also reported the following
donations to the Museum : —

Fresh Specimens of Biennial Henbane, from Mr. A.
P. Balk will.

Specimens of the Seed of Psoralea corylifolia, from
India, from Messrs. Corbyn, Stacey and Co.

A dried Ostrich Stomach, as used by the South
American Iudiansfor indigestion, from Dr. Symes.

Specimens of Queensland Sassafras Bark, Queens¬
land Sandal Wood (Eremophila Mitchclli), the
Stem of Piper Novce-Hollanclice, the bark of
a species of Achras, known as sweet bark from
Queensland, and a fine Fruit of the Trinidad
Cocoa Tree, from Mr. Thomas Christy.

Three remarkably fine crystals of Codeia, from
Messrs. T. and H. Smith and Co.

A new variety of Salep, the root of West Indian
Ipecacuanha (Asclepias Ourassavica), false Sarsa¬
parilla from St. Vincent, and specimens of natur¬
ally crystallized Realgar, from Mons. C. Chantre.

The last specimen was obtained from a crack in the
earth which served as a vent to a burning coal
mine called Ricamarie, near St. Etienne.

The Curator had also reported that he had received from
Dr. O. Hesse, specimens of the alkaloids to illustrate his
recent paper in the Pharmaceutical Journal.

The Committee recommended that the usual letters of
thanks be forwarded.

The Curator had reported that he had forwarded nine
duplicate specimens to the Society’s Museum in Edin¬
burgh.

He had also reported that nineteen duplicate specimens
bad been forwarded to the Leeds Chemists’ Associa¬
tion.

Professors Redwood, Bentley and Attfield had reported
that the progress of their respective classses was satis¬
factory.

Professor Bentley had reported that his class had in¬
creased 25 per cent, over 1878.

The Committee recommended the purchase of the
collection of Malayan specimens of materia medica
offered by Mr. Collins.

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

Mr. Shaw said the Association at Liverpool wras now
I’e-arranging the museum, and wTould be very much
obliged by the Council granting a set of labels, which he
understood were in possession of the Society.

The President said he had no doubt that if Mr. Shaw
would specify what was wanted, and send an application

12

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 5, 1879.

to the Committee, which met next week, it would be
acceded to.

HOUSE.

This Committee recommended that a memorial be
addressed to the Board of Works Avith a \Tiew to getting
the roadway in Great Russell Street relaid with Avood.
Also some other minor matters in connection with the
house.

Mr. Hills asked if any reply had been received to the
memorial.

The President said it had been ascertained that it
Avould be useless to make any application of the sort
before Michaelmas; but if one Avere sent in then, there
might be a chance of its being acceded to.

The report and recommendations Avere received and
adopted.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee included the usual letter
from the Solicitor giving information as to the progress
of cases A\Thich had been placed in his hands. In one
case, the defendant, Mr. Mumby, had paid the penalty of
£5 and costs. The appeal in the „case of the Society v.
The London and Provincial Supply Association, Limited,
A\ras not likely to come on before No\rember.

A communication Avas read from Mr. James GalloAvay,
Great Horton, authorizing the erasure of his name from
the register. In tAVo cases it Avas recommended that the
Solicitor be instructed to commence proceedings, one of
the cases having been a long time under consideration,
and with regard to which a great deal of correspondence
has taken place.

The President moved

“ That the Council go into Committee to consider the
various items in the report.”

Mr. Symes had no objection, but thought it would be
well if some reference Avere made in the report to the
subjects on which the Council Avent into Committee, so
that members might see that the matters referred to Avere
being considered.

After some further conversation on this subject, it Avas
unanimously resolved to go into Committee to consider
certain cases of alleged breaches of the Pharmacy Act.

The various cases having been discussed in detail, the
Council resumed, and the report and recommendations
of the Committee Avere adopted unanimously.

It Avas moved by Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr.
Gostling, and carried unanimously, that a certain firm
of solicitors, Avho had made inquiry as to the form of
appeal from a decision of the Registrar, be informed that
any such appeal must be made in writing.

Appointment op Professors and Curator for the

ensuing Year.

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

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

Professor Attfield was reappointed Professor of Prac¬
tical Chemistry for the ensuing year.

Mr. Holmes Avas reappointed Curator of the Society’s
Museum for the ensuing year.

List of Local Secretaries, 1879-80.*

The following Avere proposed as Local Secretaries for
the ensuing year : —

Towns eligible. Names of persons appointed.

Aberdare . Thomas, Watkin Jones.

Aberdeen . . Davidson, Charles.

Abergele . . Hannah, John.

Aberystwith . Davies, John Hugh.

Abingdon . Smith, William.

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

Towns eligible.

Accrington .

Altrincham . .

Andover .

Arbroath .

Ashbourne .

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

Aylesbury .

Ayr .

Banbury .

Banff .

Bangor . . . .

Barnsley .

Barnstaple .

Barrow-in-Eurness ..

Bath .

Beaumaris .

Bedford .

Belper .

Berwick .

Beverley .

Bewdley .

Birkenhead .

Birmingham .

Bishop Auckland .

Blackburn .

Blackpool . . .

Blandford .

Bodmin .

Bolton .

Boston .

Bournemouth .

Bradford (Yorkshire)

Brecon .

Bridgnorth .

Bridlington .

Bridport .

Brighton .

Bristol .

Buckingham .

Burnley .

Burslem .

Bury .

Bury St. Edmunds ..

Buxton . .

Caine .

Cambridge .

Canterbury .

Cardiff .

Cardigan .

Carlisle .

Carmarthen . . .

Carnarvon

Chatham .

Chelmsford . .

Cheltenham .

Chester .

Chesterfield .

Chichester .

Chippenham .

Christchurch .

Cirencester . .

Clitheroe . .

Coclcermouth .

Colchester . .

Congleton .

Coventry .

Crewe . ,

Cricklade .

Croydon . .

Darlington .

Deal . .

Denbigh .

Derby .

Devizes . . .

Names of persons appointed.
.Sprake, David Lewis.
.Hughes, EdAvard.

.Gould, Robert George.
.Shield, George.

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

Ball, George Vincent.
Ellis, Bartlett.

Baker, Henry Villars.
Badger, Alfred.

Goss, Samuel.

Steel, Thomas.
Connnans, Robert Dyer.

Cuthbert, John M.
Ashton, John.

Carr, William Graham.
Hobson, Charles.

Nicholson, Henry.
Southall, William.

.Leigh, John James.
Pickup, Thomas Hartley.
.Harrison, John.

Bird, Matthew Mitchell.
Williams, Joel Drew.
Dutton, George.

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

G watkin, James Thomas,
Stroud, J ohn.

Sirett, George.

Thomas, Richard.
BlackshaAV, Thomas.

.Youngman, Edward.
.Barnett, Alexander.

.Deck, Arthur.

.Bing, Edwin.

.Hollway, Alfred Brown.
.Jones, John EdAvard.
Thompson, AndreAV.
.Davies, Richard M.
.Lloyd, William.

.Crofts, Holmes Cheney.
.Baker, Charles Patrick.
.Smith, Nathaniel.
.Baxter, Geoige.
.Greaves, Abraham.
.Long, William Elliott.
.Coles, John Coles.
.Green, John.

.Mason, Joseph Wright.

Bowerbank, Joseph.
Cordley, William Bain?.
Goode, Charles.

Wyley, John.

McNeil, James Norton.

Barritt, George.
Robinson, James.
Green, John.
EdAvards, William.
Stevenson, Richard.
Evans, John.

July 5, 1879. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

13

Towns eligible.

Davonport .

Dewsbury .

Diss .

Doncaster .

Dorchester .

Dorking .

Dover .

Droitwich .

Dudley .

Dumfries .

Dundee .

Dunfermline .

Durham .

Eastbourne .

Edinburgh .

Elgin .

Ely .., .

Evesham .

Exeter .

Eye .

Ealltirk .

Falmouth .

F areham .

Faversham .

Flint .

Folkestone .

Forfar .

Frome .

Gainsborough .

Gateshead .

Glasgow .

Gloucester .

Gosport .

Grantham . .

Gravesend .

Greenock .

Grimsby, Great . .

Guernsey .

Guildford . .

Haddington . •. .

Halifax .

Harrogate .

Hartlepool .

Harwich .

Hastings and St. Leonards

Haverfordwest .

Hawick . . .

Helensburgh .

Helston .

Hereford . .

Hertford .

Hexham .

Heywood .

Hitchin .

Horncastle .

Horsham .

Huddersfield .

Hull . .

Huntingdon .

Huntly .

Hyde .

Hythe .

Inverness .

Ipswich .

Jersey .

Kendal .

Kidderminster .

Kilmarnock . .

King’s Lynn .

Kingston-on-Thames .

Kirkcaldy .

Knaresborough .

Knutsford .

Lancaster .

Launceston .

Names of persons appointed.
..Codd, Francis.
..Matterson, Edward H.

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

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

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

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

..Hardie, James.

..Stiell, Gavin.

..Sarsfield, William.
...Gibbs, Joseph.

..Mackay, John.
..Robertson, William.
..Pate, Henry Thomas.
..Dingley, Richard Loxley.
..Delves, George.

..Bishop, Robert.
..Murdoch, David.

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

. . Goodliff e, George.
..Ranken, James A.

Spouncer, Henry Thomas.
Elliott, Robert.
Kinninmont, Alexander.
Meadows, Henry.

Hunter, John.

Cox, John.

Clarke, Richard Feavei’.
Fraser, Charles.

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

Dyer, William.

Davis, R. Hayton.
Jackson, William G-.
Bevan, Charles F.
Jameson, William E.
Williams, William.

.Harvie, George.

.Troalce, Marler H.
.Jennings, Reginald.
.Lines, George.

.Gibson, John Pattison.
.Beckett, William.
.Ransom, William.

.Kemp, William.
.Williams, Philip.

.King, William.

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

.Wild, Joseph.

Lemmon, Robei't Alee.
.Galloway, George Ross.
Anness, Samuel Richard.
Ereaut, John, jun.

• Severs, Joseph.

Hewitt, George.

Borland, John.

• Palmer, Wm. Jos.
Walmsley, Samuel.

• Storrar, David.

• Potter, Charles.

Silvester, Henry Thomas.
Bagnall, Wm. Henry.
Eyre, Jonathan Symes.

Names of persons appointed.
Davis, Henry.

Reynolds, Richard.
Johnson, William.

Clark, Walter Beales.
Readman, William.
Finlayson, Thomas.
Davis, David Frederick.
Martin, Thomas.

Perkins, John Jaquest.
Maltby, Joseph.

Young, Richard.
Abraham, Thomas Fell.
Williams, Thomas.
Prince, Arthur G.

Paget, John.

Hurst, John B.

Sale, Thomas J.
Woodhouse, George.
Thornton, Edward.

Allen, Adam U.

Bates, William Isaac.
Henry, James Hay.
Walton, Ralph.

Rowcroft, Albert Edward.
\Y allworth, David.
Brown, Francis James.
Hardy, George.

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

Smyth, Walter.
Robson, James Crosby.

Key, Hobson.

Burrell, George.

Birkett, John.

Marshall, George T.
Hibbert, Walter.

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

Poulton, John.

Owen, Edward.

Warrior, William.
Bingley, John.

.Sutton, Francis.
Fitzhugh, Richard.

Iliffe, George.

.Hargraves, H. Lister.
Saunders, George James.
Hargreaves, Wm. Henry.
Prior, George Thomas.
Hatrick, William.

John, David W.
..Kirkbride, William.
Cornish, Henry Robert.

Towns eligible.
Leamington
Leeds
Leek
Leicester

Leith

Leominster
Lewes
Lichfield
Lincoln
Liskeard
Liverpool
Llandudno
Longton
Loughborough
Louth
Lowestoft
Ludlow
Lyme Regis
Lymington
Macclesfield
Macduff

Maidenhead .

Maidstone .

Maldon .

Malmesbury .

Malton .

M alvern .

Manchester’, etc.

March .

Margate .

Marlborough
Marlow

Merthyr Tydvil
Middlesborough

Midhurst .

Monmouth .

Montgomery ....

Montrose .

Morecambe ....

Morpeth .

Neath . .

Newark .

Newbury .

Newcastle-under-Lyme

Newcastle-on-Tyne .

Newport (I. of Wight)
Newport (Mon.)

New Radnor
Newton Abbot
Newtown
Northallerton
Northampton
Norwich
Nottingham
Nuneaton
Oldham
Oswestry
Over Darwen

Oxford .

Paisley .

Pembroke ....

Pembroke Dock

Penrith .

Penzance .

Perth .

Peterborough . .

Petersfield .

Plymouth .

Pontefract .

Poole .

Portsmouth, etc.

Preston .

Ramsgate .

Reading .

Heanley, Marshall.
Edgeler, William B.
Balkwill, Alfred P.
Bratley, William.
Penney, William.
Rastrick, Joseph L.
Barnes, James.

Morton, Henry.
Hayward, Wm. Griffith.

14

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 5, 1*79

Towns eligible.

Redditch .

Retford .

Richmond (Yorks) . . . .

Ripon .

Rochdale .

Rochester .

Rothesay .

Runcorn .

Rugby .

Ruthin .

Ryde (Isle of Wight) .

Rye .

St. Albans .

St. Andrews .

St. Austell .

St. Ives (Cornwall) ....

Salisbury .

Sandwich .

Scarborough .

Seacombe .

Selby . .

Shaftesbury .

Sheerness .

Sheffield .

Shields, South .

Shipley .

Shoreham . .

Shrewsbury .

Slough .

Southampton .

Southport .

Spalding .

Stafford . .

Stalvbridge .

Stamford .

Stirling . .

Stockport . .

Stockton-on-Tees .

Stoke-on-Trent .

Stourbridge .

Stratford-on-Avon

Stroud . .

Sudbury .

Sunderland . . .

Sutton-in-Ashfield . . .

Swansea .

Tamworth .

Taunton .

Tavistock .

Teignmouth .

Tenby . .

Tewkesbury .

Thirsk .

Tiverton .

Torquay .

Totnes . .

Truro .

Tunbridge Wells .

Tynemouth .

Uttoxeter . .

Wakefield .

Wallingford .

Walsall .

Wareham .

Warrington .

Warwick .

Watford .

Wednesbury . .

Wellington (Somerset)

WeDlock .

Westbury .

West Bromwich .

Weston-super-Mare

Weymouth .

Whitby . .

Names of persons appointed.
.Mousley, William.
.Clater, Francis.
Thompson, John Thoma®.
.Judson, Thomas.

.Taylor, Edward.

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

. Chamberlain, Arthur G-.
.Bancroft, John James.
Pollard, Henry Hindes.
.Waters, William Allen.
Ekins, Arthur Edward.

, Go van, Alexander.

.Hern, William Henry.
.Young, Tonkin.

. Atkins, Samuel Ralph.
Baker, Frank.

. Whitfield , J ohn.

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

.Bray, John.

.Ward, William.

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

Towns eligible.

Names of persons appointed.

Whitehaven .

Wick .

Wigan .

Wigton .

Wilton .

Winchester .

Windsor . .

Wolverhampton .

Woodbridge .

Woodstock . .

Worcester .

Worthing . .

. Cortis, Arthur Brownhill.

Wrexham .

Wycombe .

Yarmouth, Great .

Yeovil .

York .

Previous to the vote being taken,

Mr. Williams said he wished to make a few observa¬
tions on the appointment of one of these local secretaries,
but it being a personal matter, he must ask the Council
to go into Committee.

This having been done, and the Council having
resumed, the list was put to the vote and adopted
unanimously.

Cross, William Gowen.
Griffith, Richard.

Dawson, Oliver R.
Ashton, William.
Shadford, Major.

Averill, John.

Brierley, Richard.

Duncanson, William.

Kay, Samuel.

Brayshay, Thomas.
Adams, Jonathan Henry.
Bland, Thomas Frederick.
Hawkes, Richard.

.Blake, William F.
.Harding, James John.
.Nicholson, John Joseph.
.Buckland, E.

.Griffiths, William.
Alikins, Thomas Boulton.
Prince, Henry.

.Gill, William.

.Cornelius, Joseph.

Davies, Moses Prosser.
Allis, Francis.

Thompson, John.

Havill, Paul.

Smith, Edward.

Keen, Benjamin.

.Percy, Thomas Bickle.
Howard, Richard.

Superintendents of Written Examinations.

It was unanimously resolved that the superintendence
of the written examinations be offered to the local
secretaries at the centres where those examinations are
held.

Mr. Churchill asked how the new plan worked.
There had been complaints of the number of centres not
being sufficient.

The President said there was a feeling in some
quarters to reduce the number still further.

The Vice-President said there was also a feeling in
many quarters that the number should be enlarged.

Mr. Shaw asked why Worcester had been continued
as a local centre, when the Committee had recommended
that it should be omitted ?

The President presumed the Council must have
ordered it. At any rate that was not the question
before the Council then.

Mr. Atkins said he still believed that individual cases
of hardship had occurred from the present scheme of
local centres, though on the whole the reduction in
number might have been an advantage. He hoped that
another year the Committee would take careful account
of geographical considerations and railway facilities in
deciding on these centres. He also hoped that the Pre¬
liminary examinations were still in a transition state.
He should not be satisfied until this examination, which
was purely a scholastic one, was removed from the Society
altogether. Nothing in the world could be easier than to
demand a certificate from the College of Preceptors or
from a university local examination.

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

Elliott, George.

Randall, Thomas.

Woods, Joseph Henry.
Pratt, Henry.

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

Taylor, Stephen.

Council Examination Prizes.

Messrs. Southall and Moss were appointed to conduct
the examinations in the present month for the Council
prizes.

Mr. Greenish proposed an alteration in the regula¬
tions providing that candidates should be required to
give five days’ notice of their intention to compete for
these prizes, instead of ten as at present.

The Assistant Secretary explained that five days
would be sufficient, and, in fact, more convenient than
ten.

The motion was carried unanimously.

.Gibbons, George.

.Groves, Thomas Bennett. Mr. Churchill asked who fixed the dates for the
.Stevenson, John. Major examination.

July 5, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

15

Mr. Williams said the Council fixed the months.
The exact days were fixed by the office, according to the
number of candidates. He had proposed formerly that
the examinations should take place every month instead
of every alternate month, a change which, he thought,
would have proved more convenient ; this suggested al¬
teration, however, did not meet with the approval of the
Board of Examiners. This month there were L2 can¬
didates coming up.

Report of Examinations.

June, 1879.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

- — - _

Examined. Passed. Failed.

Major, 18th ..... 7 4 3

Minor, 18 th . 16 8 8

„ 19th . 25—41 15-23 10-18

Modified . 2 1 1

50 28 22

Preliminary Examination.

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

3 College of Preceptors.

4 University of Cambridge.

Sales of Poisons by Co-operative Stores.

Mr. Williams was next called upon by the President
to move a resolution of which he had given notice with re¬
gard to co-operative societies selling or dispensing poisons.

The President asked if the question should be discussed
in Committee.

Mr. Williams said he had no objection to what he had
to say being published.

Mr. Shaw thought it was not desirable to show their
hand, and on the question being put to the vote it was
resolved to go into Committee.

The motion was discussed at considerable length, but
on being put to the vote it was not carried.

Sale of Patent Medicines.

Mr, Hampson then moved the following resolution, of
which he had given notice : —

“That the General Purposes Committee take into con¬
sideration the largely increasing sale of ‘patent
medicines ’ containing scheduled poisons, by grocers,
general dealers, and other unregistered persons, and
report thereon, more especially with regard to the
advisability of endeavouring to restrict the sale of
such ‘patent medicines' to persons registered under
the Pharmacy Act of 1868.”

He said he was very desirous that this Committee
should take this subject into earnest consideration.
It was evident to all that the sale of poisons
under the cover of the patent medicine stamp was a
growing evil. He heard the other day that a grocer’s as¬
sistant was asked what was the dose of chlorodyne, and
replied a tea-spoonful. When the Pharmacy Act of 1868
was obtained, it was to all intents and purposes an Act
for regulating the sale of poisons, but if anyone were able
to sell poison upon affixing a patent medicine stamp to it,
evidently the Act was of little or no use. He was told
that in the country wholesale houses sent out two-ounce
bottles of laudanum by the gross with a stamp on, and
that opium itself was also sold in this way. Tincture of
aconite was sold by grocers under a stamp, and in fact if
any adventurous quack chose to put up the dilute hydro¬
cyanic acid of the Pharmacopoeia, under a stamp, and
say that 2 or 3 drops were to be taken in water in case of
sickness, it might be done with impunity. The time had
come when this matter should be considered, for it was
never intended that grocers, tailors and others should become

the vendors of poisons. If the spirit of the Act were to be
carried out, those who knew something about medicines
should alone sell these things. The very fact that a
person had to go into a special shop in order to purchase a
poison was to a certain extent a safeguard ; but if people
were able to get it at any ordinary shop, the use of poisons
would become so indiscriminate that a parliamentary com-
misssion or inquiry would be the probable result. He did
not ask the Council to come to any decision at present,
but simply to refer the matter to the Committee.

Mr. Savage seconded the motion.

Mr. Hills asked if it would not be better to refer the
subject to the Committee for considering amendments to
the Pharmacy Act.

Mr. Hampson thought not ; that was a special Com¬
mittee for a particular purpose.

Mr. Williams said that Committee had considered
that any change of the law in this direction was unneces¬
sary.

The President said the great point of the motion was
patent medicines. He did not recognize a bottle of
laudanum as a patent medicine simply because it had a
stamp affixed to it, and he believed that if a prosecution
were instituted in such a case it would be found that the
law did not protect it. With regard to patent medicines
he did not see that it mattered who sold them. If any
one came to him for a bottle of chlorodyne, and asked
him what was the nature of it, he said he did not know
what it contained. In fact, he never recommended
patent medicines at all, but rather discouraged the sale
of them.

Mr. Greenish suggested an alteration of the wording
of the motion to the effect that the Committee take into
consideration the largely increasing sale of scheduled
poisons by grocers and others under the guise of patent
medicines.

Mr. Frazer said if patent medicines were within the
law this motion was not required, and if they were not
he did not think it was desirable to bring them within
it for reasons which he had frequently stated. It was
contrary to his notions of trade, and he did not think it
would be wise, because it was very doubtful, if chemists
would obtain what they asked, whilst they might most
probably lose some of the privileges they at present pos¬
sessed.

Mr. Rimmington thought Mr. Greenish’s suggestion
would be an improvement.

The Vice-President, on the contrary, thought Mr.
Hampson’s original form was better.

Mr. Hampson also said he preferred the original word¬
ing. He demurred to the statement of the President
that it did not matter who sold a bottle of chlorodyne,
because it contained several scheduled poisons, and in the
interest of the public as well as in justice to themselves,
it was desirable that only registered persons should be
allowed to sell patent medicines containing poisons. He
equally demurred to Mr. Frazer’s view that a change was
not necessary or desirable. Putting aside the interest of
the public, which was of course paramount, it was the
privilege of registered persons to deal in poisons.

The President remarked that Parliament fully con¬
sidered the question when the Pharmacy Act was passed,
and said that nothing in the Act should interfere with
the making or selling of patent medicines.

Mr. Frazer said his point was that if patent medicines
were included in the Act there was no need of further
legislation.

Mr. Hampson said he did not assume that the Council
had the power to restrict the sale of patent medicines, he
simply asked that the Committee should consider the
matter.

Mr. Williams thought the Council was now doing the
work of the Committee in discussing the merits of the
question. The motion was simply that the Committee
consider it and report.

The resolution was then put and carried nem. con,

16 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [July 5, 1879.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

List of Centres and Table of Attendances of
Candidates at each Centre.

187S.

Oct.

1879.

Jan.

1879.

April.

1879.

July.

Total num¬
ber of at¬
tendances
at each
Centre.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Birmingham .

12

20

23

21

76

Brighton .

3

5

4

1

13

Bristol .

6

6

9

12

33

Cambridge .

5

9

7

4

25

Canterbury .

—

1

4

2

-T

/

Cardiff .

3

5

7

7

22

Carlisle .

6

7

2

10

25

Carmarthen .

7

10

11

8

36

Carnarvon .

2

1

9

9

21

Cheltenham .

2

2

3

7

Darlington .

3

7

6

6

22

Exeter .

2

8

8

8

26

Hull .

—

16

13

5

34

Lancaster .

1

5

2

6

14

Leeds .

7

14

16

17

54

Lincoln .

3

10

8

7

28

Liverpool . ...

7

16

24

13

60

London .

33

59

46

52

190

Manchester .

18

26

32

20

96

Newcastle .

5

9

5

10

29

Northampton .

—

8

9

6

23

Norwich .

2

14

7

14

37

Nottingham .

8

14

11

12

45

Oxford .

1

3

2

1

7

Peterborough .

2

3

5

15

25

Sheffield .

8

12

8

7

35

Shrewsbury .

2

5

7

4

18

Southampton .

5

4

19

15

43

Truro .

1

4

4

4

13

Worcester .

2

5

2

2

11

York .

2

9

12

11

34

SCOTLAND.

Aberdeen . .

13

8

11

16

48

Dundee .

7

6

2

7

22

Edinburgh .

11

14

14

16

55

Glasgow .

3

12 ■

11

12

38

Inverness .

2

3

2

7

Douglas, I. of Man ...

2

2

Guernsey .

1

—

—

1

• 2

Jersey .

0

1

mmUtqjs of Jijientijiit Societies.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

Meeting of Executive Committee.

Wednesday, July 2, 1879.

Present — G-. F. Schacht, President, in the chair ;
Messrs. Greenish, Ellinor, Carteighe, Symes, Williams
and Attfield.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

Professor Attfield, Honorary General Secretary, re¬
ported the work done since the previous meeting of
Committee, including matters relating to the editing,
printing, publishing and delivery to members of the
Year-Book ; the grants in aid of research ; correspondence
respecting improper use of the membership of the Con¬
ference ; correspondence respecting the Bell and Hills

Fund books ; compilation and distribution of the list of
subjects for research ; collection of subscriptions ; or¬
ganization of the approaching meeting at Sheffield ; cor¬
respondence with members likely to work on the
Executive Committee in 1879-80 ; and, arrangements
for inviting all registered chemists and druggists not
already members to join the Conference.

A letter was read from Mr. Siebold, editor of the
Year-Book, reporting that the manuscript of the volume
for 1879 would be completed a fortnight before the
annual meeting. A meeting of the Committee of Pub¬
lication was ordered to be convened as soon as the manu¬
script was received, with power to make all arrangements
for the issue of the volume.

Mr. Ellinor, from Sheffield, stated that he was
authorized by the Vice-President, Mr. Ward, the Local
Secretary, Mr. Maleham, and the members of the Local
Committee in Sheffield, to explain that rooms for the
general meetings of the Conference on August 19 and 20
had been secured, that a considerable amount of interest
and enthusiasm existed locally respecting the meetings,
that permission had been obtained for members after the
meeting to inspect some of the interesting factories of
Sheffield, and that on Thursday, the 21st of August, the
local members would invite their visitors to accompany
them on a drive through some of the scenery of Derby¬
shire, visiting “ Chatsworth ” and “ Haddon ” en route.
He ventured to think that their friends would not be
disapjiointed with the welcome they would receive, even
although in accordance with annually stated requests,
strongly renewed this year, the idea of holding a formal
banquet in honour of their guests would not be carried
out.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The History of Alizarin and Allied Colouring

Matters, and their Production from Coal Tar.'*

BY IV. H. PERKIN, F.R.S.

Lecture I. — Delivered May 8.

In December, 1868, I had the honour of delivering
three lectures before this society on the “Aniline or Coal
Tar Colours.” In these I commenced with mauveine, or
the mauve dye, the first discovered of this remarkable
series of compounds, and then gave briefly the history of
all the other important colouring matters which had been
discovered up to that date.

Last year, Mr. Wills, who always arranged the busi¬
ness of this Section so assiduously, wished me to give a
further account of these colouring matters, but I was
unable to do so then. He, however, asked me again this
year, and I was glad to be able to accede t chis request,
little thinking then, and still less only a few weeks since
when I met him full of activity and enthusiasm, that he
would so soon be called from our midst, and his career
here, so full of promise, ended.

When I promised to bring a paper before you, I thought
that I would continue the history of the coal tar colours,
from the time I gave the lectures just referred to up to
the present time. However, on considering the subject
in detail, I found the amount of matter far too large,
owing to the great number of discoveries which had been
made in this field since then ; I therefore thought it best
to confine myself to the consideration of the most im¬
portant of the products which have been obtained, and
selected alizarin and allied colouring matters.

In giving you a somewhat brief account of this subject,
I think it best first to refer to madder, the dye-stuff which,
until 1869, was the only source of alizarin. Up to the
date just mentioned madder root was one of the most
important dye-stuffs known, the annual value of the im¬
ports into the United Kingdom being about £1,000,000
sterling.

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts.

July 5, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

17

The plant that gives this root belongs to the natural
order Rubiacece. It is nearly allied botanically, and in
appearance, to the ordinary G-aliums, or bedstraws. It is
a perennial, with herbaceous stem, which dies down every
year, the stalk is square and jointed, and this and the
leaves are rough with prickles. The flower is very small,
and of a greenish yellow colour. The root is cylindrical
and fleshy, and of a reddish yellow colour ; this, when
dried, constitutes madder. It is one of the oldest known
dye-stuffs, and is referred to by Pliny. The principal
varieties in cultivation are — Rubia tinctorum, Rubia pere-
grina, and Rubia cardifolia. It is grown in Holland,
South of Germany, France, Italy, Turkey and India. It
has been cultivated also in this country, but not with
permanent success. It is propagated from suckers, and
the time from planting until the roots are drawn is from
eighteen to thirty months, and sometimes longer. When
dried the roots lose their reddish yellow colour and
become of a pale red shade. The process of drying is
conducted in the air, or in kilns. When dry the roots
are beaten to remove sand, clay and loose skin. They are
sent into the market either in this condition or in a ground
state. There are also various preparations of madder
made, the principal ones being Fleur de gar ance, or flowers
of madder, and garancine. Their preparation is briefly
as follows : —

Fleur de gar ance is made by soaking ground madder in
water, with the addition of a small quantity of sulphuric
acid ; it is then drained in a filter and well washed. The
washings contain a considerable amount of glucose, besides
other products, and when fermented yield alcohol, which
is suitable for a variety of purposes, but is not fit for
drinking unless purified. The washed madder is then
pressed and dried, and constitutes fleur de gar ance. Oa
account of the products which have been removed this
substance is considerably richer in colouring matter than
madder.

Garancine is prepared by first washing ground madder
much in the same way as for the preparation of fleur de
garance, and after being pressed it is mixed with concen¬
trated sulphuric acid, in quantity equal to about half the
weight of the madder originally taken. After being
thoroughly incorporated with this it is heated with steam
for three or four hours, placed on filters, and thoroughly
washed, pressed and dried. Tinctorially it is about three
and a half times as strong as madder.

Madder will not dye unprepared fabrics ; they require
to be what is called mordanted. In this case the mordants
consist of metallic oxides, those of aluminum and iron
being the chief ones. With alumina mordants it produces
shades of red and pink, with iron mordants shades of black
and purple. These mordants may likewise be mixed, and
then produce various kinds of chocolate colour. The value
of madder and its preparations is determined by taking
weighed quantities and dyeing pieces of mordanted cloth
with them, the size of the cloth being always the same ;
after dyeing the patterns are cleared by treatment with
soap, and are then dried ; and, of course, according to the
depth of the colour, so is the value. Standard specimens
are used at the same time for the sake of comparison.

In mordanting cotton goods, the mordants, which are
chiefly the acetates of iron and aluminum, are thickened
and printed on, either with a machine or blocks. They
are “aged,” as it is called. This used to be performed by
hanging the goods in a moist atmosphere for some days,
but now they are passed through properly constructed
rooms, kept at the requisite temperature and degree of
moisture by steam, and then laid in bundles for a time.

The next process is called “dunging.” Its object is to
remove the thickening which has been used with the mor¬
dants, and also to thoroughly neutralize them, at the same
time removing any that has not combined with the fibre.
This is accomplished by passing the goods through warm
water containing cow dung, but now more commonly con¬
taining certain salts, as phosphates, arseniates, etc. ; these
are called dung substitutes. When this operation has been

finished the goods are washed, and are then ready for
dyeing.

Dyeing with madder is an operation requiring consider¬
able care, especially as the temperature of the dye-bath
must be raised only very slowly, otherwise a loss of colour¬
ing matter occurs. This makes the operation take some con¬
siderable time, often two hours. If garancin is used the
dyeing can be conducted more quickly. In this operation
the ground madder, or the garancin, is mixed with the
water in the dye-bath. A little chalk is also sometimes
added. As^the colouring matter of the dye-stuff gradually
dissolves in the water, the mordants on the goods take it
up. It is important in this process that the mordants
should be thoroughly saturated with colouring matter,
otherwise they do not resist the after-clearing process so
well. When dyed the goods are washed with water and
then cleared, as most of the colours are very impure,
especially the reds, which have a rusty look. The methods
of clearing vary according to the class of goods, madder
pinks receiving the greatest amount of treatment and care.
In this process soap is largely used, but it will not be
necessary to enter into further details, as it would occupy
too much time, and I only wish to convey to you a general
impression of the application of madder to calico printing.

Before leaving this subject I must refer to another most
important application of madder, namely, Turkey red
dyeing. This mode of dyeing was introduced into Europe
from the East, and is undoubtedly of Indian origin ; from
India it came to the Levant, and was afterwards intro¬
duced into France about 1747. The first Turkey red
works in the United Kingdom were established about the
end of the last century. Turkey red is remarkable for its
brilliancy of colour and permanence, and also for the
peculiar nature of the processes employed in its produc¬
tion.

For dyeing Turkey red the cotton is first prepared by
treatment with olive oil, which is afterwards oxidized by
exposure to the air. The oil is usually employed in the
form of an emulsion, made by agitating the oil with a
solution of carbonate of soda or potash. The goods are
passed through this and then exposed to the air, after
which they are treated several times in the same manner.
When sufficiently charged with oxidized olive oil they
are mordanted with an alumina salt, galls, shumach, or
other tannin matter. Cotton thus prepared for dyeing is
of a buff or yellowish shade.

In the next operation the dye-bath is charged with madder
or garancin, a little shumach, and a quantity of blood.
The prepared goods are entered into this bath, and heat
gradually applied, until it reaches the boiling point, at
which temperature it is kept until the dyeing is complete.
The goods are then washed in water, and present a dark,
heavy, dull red colour. They are next subjected to the
clearing processes, which are two in number. These are
performed in large copper boilers, with moveable covers,
as the clearing has to be done under pressure. The dyed
goods are placed in these, with a mixture of common soda
crystals and soap, and boiled under pressure for about six
hours. They are then removed, washed in hot water, and
again placed in boilers, with a solution of soap, to which
chloride of tin (tin crystals) has been added. They are
boiled in this, under pressure, for about four hours, and
then removed, washed and finished. The first clearing
considerably improves the colour, but the last one gives
that remarkable brilliancy peculiar to good Turkey red.
After all this treatment with soap, we can understand
that Turkey red is a very fast colour.

No satisfactory process for printing Turkey red has yet
been found. Some time since I made a few experiments
on the subject. The cloth prepared ready for dyeing was
used, and then printed with the colouring matter ; it was
then steamed, washed and cleared as above. The colours
were very good indeed, but the parts which should be
white were still of the yellowish colour of the prepared
cloth.

When a Turkey red is wanted in a pattern the cloth is

18

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[Ju1)’ S, 187P.

first dyed all over with this colour. If white is required
in the pattern, those parts are printed with thickened tar¬
taric acid ; if yellow, with tartaric acid and a lead salt ;
if blue, with tartaric acid and Prussian blue. On passing
cloth printed in this manner into a solution of chloride of
lime, the parts printed with acid, as they come in contact
with this solution, cause chlorine to be evolved and the
Turkey red destroyed, thus white is produced. If
blue has been printed on with the acid, the red being
discharged, blue remains. If a lead salt has been printed
on, white is obtained ; but when passed through a solution
of bichromate of potash, yellow chromate of lead is formed.
Of course green can be obtained by combining the last
two processes. Black is printed on direct. Most beauti¬
ful results are obtained in this manner.

Madder is also employed for woollen goods. It is
generally used in combination with other dye-stuffs for
the purpose of producing brown, buff, or chocolate colours.
But I must pass on, the application of madder being a
subject on which books have been written, my remarks
are therefore necessarily of only a very general character,
though I hope sufficient to give some idea of the pro¬
cesses.

Having seen the importance of madder as a dye-stuff
and the methods of applying it to fabrics, it will next be
desirable to consider the colouring matters it contains,
which render it so valuable.

Scarcely anything was know of these until 1827. At
this date, two chemists, Colin and Robiquet, obtained the
principal colouring matter in a state of tolerable purity.
They extracted ground madder with hot water, and, after
treating this extract in various ways, obtained a product
which, when heated carefully in a glass tube, gave off a
yellowish vapour, condensing into brilliant bright red
needles. They named this substance Alizarin, from the
Levant name of madder, Alizari.

But the method they adopted for its preparation, viz.r
sublimation, rendered it a matter of uncertainty whethe
alizarin pre-existed in madder pr was a product of decom'
position of some other body. Dr. Schunck, however’
afterwards succeeded in obtaining it without having
recourse to sublimation. If further proof were needed it
was found in the fact that thist colouring matter was
capable of dyeing mordanted cloth just in the same way
as madder. It exists in madder in only very small
quantities, not more than to the extent of one per
cent.

Alizarin is nearly insoluble in cold water, and 1000
parts of boiling water dissolve only about three parts of
the colouring matter. It is more soluble in alcohol, and
from high boiling naphtha it may be crystallized in red
needles. When crystallized from alcohol it is obtained
in orange -coloured needles.

One of the characteristic properties of alizarin is the
beautiful blue violet solution it produces on being dissolved
in caustic alkalies. This solution, when viewed by the
spectroscope, shows two strong absorption bands, one near
to C, and the other at D, and a very faint one near to E.
Alizarin also dissolves in ammonia with a purple colour.
It forms a red lake with alumina, and a black one with
oxide of iron.

Curiously, alizarin is not found in the growing madder
root. This is easily seen by expressing some of its juice
and treating it with caustic potash. In this way a red-
coloured solution is produced, and not a violet one, as
would be the case if alizarin were present. This colora¬
tion is due to the presence of a substance called rubianic
acid. This body is a glucoside of alizarin, and when
decomposed yields ali sarin and glucose. This can be easily
effected by boiling it with hydrochloric acid, when alizarin
separates as a yellow precipitate. Rubianic acid does not
possess dyeing properties.

The decomposition of this glucoside in the madder root
occurs partly during the process of drying, but not entirely
until it is gently heated with water in the dye-bath. This
decomposition is caused by a peculiar ferment called

Erythrozyme, a product which is destroyed if heated with
water to 100° C. This is one reason why the madder dyers
have to gently raise the temperature of their dye-bath
so that this glucoside may entirely decompose, and all the
alizarin be liberated and rendered useful. The importance
of this may be easily seen by taking two equal parts of
growing madder root, and, after bruising them in a mor¬
tar, to throw one into boiling water and the other into cold
water. On placing a piece of mordanted cloth in each,
keeping the one with boiling water still boiling, and
gradually raising the temperature of the other, it will be
found that the one in boiling water will have scarcely
coloured the mordants, whilst the one in cold water
and gently warmed up will have dyed them tho¬
roughly.

There is only one other colouring matter in madder
that I need refer to, and that is purpurin. This substance
was discovered by Colin and Robiquet, and called by them
Mature colorante rose. It was afterwards obtained in a
somewhat purer state by Debus, and by Wolff and
Strecker. This substance is separated from madder by
boiling it with a solution of alum; munjeet, however, is
its best source. It is precipitated from the alum solution
with hydrochloric acid and then further purified. When
pure purpurin crystallizes in red or orange-red needles,
it differs from alizarin in the way it behaves with a'kalies;
solutions of these yielding with it beautiful cherry-red
colours. It also dissolves in alumina salts with formation
of pink solutions, which are fluorescent. The spectrum is
also very different from that 6f alizarin.

It dyes mordanted cloth, forming with alumina mor¬
dants a yellowish scarlet. The colours it produces with
iron mordants, however, are not at all good. The pur¬
purin colours do not resist soaping well, so that madder
prints, in the process of clearing, lose all the purpurin
taken on in the dye-bath. It is retained, however, to
some extent in the cheaper class, such as garancine styles.
From this it will be seen that it is a substance of but
little value. It exists in the growing madder-root as a
glucoside.

A great deal of controversy has taken place respecting
the chemical formula of alizarin. Dr. Schunck proposed
CI4H504, which, according to the present notation, would
be C7H502, whilst Strecker believed it to be C10H6O3,
and related to chloroxynaphthalic acid, a derivative of
naphthalene, so that it has long been supposed that it
was possible to obtain alizarin from a coal-tar product,
though not from the right one. Still there was a good
deal of reason to believe that it was a naphthalene deri¬
vative, from the fact that, when oxidized it yields the
same acid as naphthalene, namely, phthalic acid.
Strecker’s formula was the one generally believed in. It
is right to mention that Strecker changed his views of
this subject afterwards.

The chloroxynaphthalic acid above referred to was sup¬
posed to be a chlorine derivative of alizarin, the two bodies
being thus related : —

Ci„h„o3 c10h5ci o3

Alizarin. Chlorinated Alizarin.

And many attempts were made to remove this chlorine
and replace it by hydrogen, so as to form alizarin ; and
eventually Martius and Greiss obtained the substance,
C10H6O3, when investigating some amido derivatives of
naphtbal, but it was not alizarin. They assumed it, how¬
ever, to be an isomer of that body.

Some time after the experiments of Martius and Greiss,
Graebe commenced some researches on quinone (a body
related to benzene). At that time no analogous sub¬
stance to quinone, related to any other hydrocarbon than
benzene, was recognized. However, he was induced to
consider chloroxynaphthalic acid as a derivative of a naph¬
thalene quinone, which has since been obtained, and
also discovered a chlorinated derivative of a quinone of
toluene.

{To be continued.)

July 5, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

19

JOHN THOMPSON.

On Friday, June 20, John Thompson, one of the
Founders of the Pharmaceutical Society, and one of its
earliest local secretaries, died in the seventy-seventh
year of his age.

John Thompson was born at Laversdale, in Cumber¬
land, on January 23, 1803. He was apprenticed to a
chemist in Hull — Mr. Foster, of Lowgate — and subse¬
quently engaged as assistant to Mr. Fouracre, of
Gloucester. He returned to Hxill to the late Mr.
Edward Smeeton, with whom, in the capacity of assist¬
ant, he removed to Leeds when that gentleman opened
his establishment there. By Mr. Smeeton he was very
highly esteemed, and at his suggestion, and by his help,
he commenced business in Thirsk, in the year 1828, where
he greatly prospered. The business then established is
now carried on by one of his sons, four of whom are
connected with the Pharmaceutical Society. He was
inferred at Thirsk on Tuesday, the 24th of June, amid
signs of universal respect.

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

On the 2nd of May, 1879, Mr. Frederick Whiteman,
Chemist and Druggist, Vernon Street, Ipswich. Aged
38 years.

On the 2nd of June, 1879, Mr. Richard John Hinsley,
Chemist and Druggist, Manchester Road, Bradford.
Aged 42 years.

On the 6th of June, 1879, Mr. Benjamin Alfred Eyre,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Tacket Street, Ipswich. Aged
67 years. Mr. Eyre had been a Member ot the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1842.

On the loth of June, 1879, Mr. James Sellick Hicks,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Fore Street, Looe. Aged 40
years. Mr. Hicks had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1864.

Dispijnsiiiijg Hftmottmutit.

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

Replies .

[315] . Considering the solubility of ammon. chloride in
spirit (1 in 50) it would be impossible to obtain a perfect
solution from this recipe. The salt should be used in
powder, and the insoluble portion shaken up before the
“volatile liniment” be applied.

Hastings. D. H.

[316] . A very presentable “jelly” might be made of
this, only it should be sent out for convenience in a galli¬
pot with a china or glass spoon. If this did not meet
with the intention of the prescriber, it would teach him a
lesson on “Incompatibles” and enable him in future to
order a mixture that would pour out of a bottle.

Hastings. D. H.

[319]. I should also be glad, of a little information
about this prescription.

Some time ago the following recipe was brought to be
dispensed : —

R Litharge . ^x.

01. Olivae . gv.

01. Lavand . ill 40.

Ft. ung.

My directions were more vague than A. Y.’s; but as
boiling with water was the only way of forming an
ointment, except by using wax, the litharge and oil were
boiled with water until combination had taken place.
The resulting product, though stiff, might still be called
an ointment. Shortly after our customer complained of
its being darker and harder than what he had got in
London. He obtained some more from the same source,
which was nearly but not quite white, soft, contained
moisture, and had a cooling effect on the skin.

The spirit of emulation being aroused the greater
portion of Whit Monday and part of another day were
devoted to preparing a fresh lot.

The litharge was found to be contaminated with per¬
oxide, so some fresh, light-yellow protoxide was made by
heating carbonate of lead in an iron vessel, from which
a much lighter coloured ointment was produced; but
still the consistence was too stiff, the colour not quite
white enough, and the ointment did not contain sufficient
moisture.

The best result was obtained with

Litharge . 3v.

Ol. Amygd . 5iij.

Aq . 3iss.

the water being replaced as it evaporated.

I have not had an opportunity of learning whether
this retained its appearance and consistence.

The prescription was from the pen of a well-known
skin doctor. W.

[321]. This presents a mixture that undergoes chemical
decomposition after standing a few hours.

The acid carbonate of soda acting upon the liq. bismuthi
displaces ammonia and inevitably precipitates carbonate
of bismuth. (This may be proved by filtering the mix¬
ture, and washing until it ceases to make lime water turbid.
Nitric acid added dissolves the precipitate with effer¬
vescence, giving a solution blackened by AmHS.)

Unless the liq. bismuthi had been omitted it would be
impossible not to have a deposit.

Hastings. D. H.

[321]. The precipitate was caused by the loss of
ammonia. All the bright samples of liq. bismuthi have
a slight odour of ammonia. If that was hardly per¬
ceptible I should doubt the stability of the compound,
particularly if the weather was warm and the customer
were to leave the cork out. In such cases I should be
disposed to add a few di-ops of liq. ammon. This addition
to the stock bottle, or a mixture, will redissolve the
precqjitate. The ammonia should be added in small
quantities, and the bottle shaken and allowed to stand
after each addition. I should tell the customer the cause
of the change, and show how the supplying what has
been lost restores the mixture. It should be remembei'ed
the addition of ammonia only supplies what has escaped
from the bottle, and is quite different to adulterating or
sophisticating.

H. G. C.

Queries.

[322]. Here is a puzzle to solve ; how to make a usable
preparation of these ingredients ? I had it as an orthodox
physician’s prescription to prepare.

R Tr. Lyttse .

• • • 3j-

Acid. Sulph. Dil .

. • • 3ij.

Tr. Lavand. Co .

• • • 3«j

Vaseline or Prepared Lard .

. • ad gij.

M. “for external use.”

W. B.

20

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 5, 1879.

[-323]. How should the following be dispensed ? —

Sod* Siccatas ......... gtt. 2.

Ex. Nucis V . gr.

Ex. Gentianae . q.s.

Ut fiat pilula. Mitte 24.

I enclose a tracing of the prescription from which it
■will be seen that the gtt. in the first line is very different
from the gr. in the second. The prescription is from a
well-known and experienced M.D., who could not be
consulted at the time. W. S.

[324]. Can any readers of the Pharmaceutical Journal
throw light on the following? —

R. Morphise (the alkaloid) . . . . gr. 8.

Chloroformi . ill 60.

Lin. Belladonnae . ad fl. dr. 4.

Ft. linimentum.

As dispensed by me the greater portion of the morphia,
as I expected, remained undissolved, and a “shake the
bottle ” label was attached. The patient, however, in¬
forms me that he has had it before perfectly bright and
clear, cf a brownish tint (he compared it 4in colour to
tinct. camph. comp.), and about twice as much in bulk
as I had sent. I fail to see how this could be done
without departing from the formula.

Gulielmus.

[325]. I should be glad to have the opinion of the
readers of the Pharmaceutical Journal as to the proper
.salt of bismuth to use in dispensing the following : —

R Bismuthi .

Adipis . 3vj.

Creosoti . H v.

M. ft. ung.

I used the subnitrate as being that probably intended,
although I must admit that the prescription might as
reasonably have been dispensed with either carbonate or
•oxide. Gulielmus.

Jtotys and faeries.

[610]. FURNITURE CREAM.— In reply to A. P. S.
the following is an excellent recipe for furniture
paste : —

Bees’ Wax . 1| pounds.

Spirit of Turpentine .... 4 pints.

Dissolve by means of a water-bath in a closed vessel,
then add common soap, % pound, previously dissolved in
4 pints of water, and stir well together until nearly cold.

A. W. Postans.

[610]. FURNITURE CREAM.— I would recommend
the following receipt for furniture cream : —

R Yellow Wax . 5v.

Turps . . . Oj.

Castille Soap . §iss.

Cut the bees’ wax in small pieces, and dissolve in the
turpentine by a gentle heat; when nearly cool add the
soap (first powdered, rubbed up with §ij of water), gradu¬
ally stirring continually until it becomes thick.

Ferri Cit.

[610]. FURNITURE CREAM.— I think A. P. S.
•will find the following to suit his purpose : —

R Cerse Flav . 2^ ozs.

Cerse Alb . 1 oz.

Sapo. Cast . 1 dram.

01. Terebinth.

Aq. Bull . ana 10 ozs.

Potass. Garb . 1 dram.

Melt the wax and turpentine together, dissolve the
soap and potass, carb. in the water and mix while warm,
stirring till cold.

Cambridge. G. J. Bull.

[611]. MOORE’S OINTMENT.— I beg to ask through
the medium of your Journal, can any of the readers kindly
give me a recipe for Moore’s or Old Moore’s Ointment,
much used in Golden Square, West district?

Unguentum.

dDnftjssfuwIpq.

Lin. Potassii Iodid. o. Sapone, B.P.

Sir, — Apropos of a new edition of the British Pharma¬
copoeia may I be allowed to suggest that the directions for
making the above liniment be made more definite, and also
be supplemented by a note as to the appearance it is in¬
tended to have when finished.

Ought it to be a solid or a liquid ?

Is it meant to be dispensed in a pot or in a bottle ?

A s it is possible for such questions as these to be asked,
I think none can deny that there are grounds for the above
suggestion.

The directions say, “mix the two solutions together.”
Is it intended to add the iodide of potassium solution to the
soap solution or vice versa, for the first process results in a
solid substance, whilst by adding the soap solution to the
iodide of potassium solution a liquid is produced.

There are other difficulties, however, for I have made
several experiments, but have had no two results alike,
although the same kind of material and the same quantities
were used in each case.

There seems to be a difficulty about the soap most ad¬
vantageous for the purpose ; but the experience above
recorded would suggest that hard soap is evidently not an
“ advantageous soap.”

I should feel greatly obliged if those who had the framing
of the last British Pharmacopoeia will come forward and
state what this liniment should be like, or rather what
they intended it to be like, for, as far as I know the profes¬
sion, medical men prefer it in liquid form.

However, when lin. potassii iodid. c. sapone, B.P., is pre¬
scribed it ought to be dispensed. Here then comes the query.
Is it a liquid or a solid or is it both (for it will readily sepa¬
rate into two parts representing each of those conditions), or
ought a substance with a jelly-like appearance to be dis¬
pensed for it ?

An answer that will remove any cause for doubt will be
heartily welcomed by W. H. de B.

“ Qucero.” — (1) Trapogon porrifolius, in flower. (2)
Fungus ( Ustilago receptaculorum ) destroying flowers of
goat’s beard. (See Cooke, ‘Microscopic Fungi,’ pi. v., fig.
92-94.

Mr. J. R. Thompson is thanked for his communication.

“Nux.” — (1) Eriophorumpolystachyon. (2) Rhinanthus
Crista-Galli. (3) St ellaria graminea. (4) Crepis setosa.
(5) Sedum acre.

G. R. Y. — Several formulae for syr. ferri lactophosphatis
have already been given in the present series of this Journal.
Among others, see that sanctioned by the Paris Society,
vol. vii., p. 1041.

E. K. C. — We shall be glad to hear the result of the
further experiments you propose to make.

W. C. 8. (Luton). — The information will be found in
the “ Students’ Numbers ” of the medical journals which
are issued previous to the opening of the medical schools.

C. J. Bennett. — We know of no better work for the pur-
pose than the one mentioned.

“ Gulielmus.” — (1). Trifolium minus. (2). Car ex, vul-
pinus. (3 ). Arrenatherum elatior. (4b Trifolium repens.
(5). Lychnis Flo s-Cuculi. (6). Cardamine pratensis.

Cyprus. — (1). Cynoglossum officinale. (2). Anthyllis
Vulneraria. (3). Honckenya peploides.

“ OrchisP — (1). Orchis maculata. (2). Gymnadenia
Conopsea. (3). Hahenaria bifolia.

R. Roberts. — (1). Orchis maculata. (8). Send specimen
with leaves. (6). Ceteracli ojficinarum. Nos. 2, 4 and 5
are correctly named.

G. Stevens. — Recipes for “Nervine Balsam” will be
found in the Journal for March 30, 1878, vol. viii., pp. 773
and 782. _ _ _

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Maleham, Nemo, Strachan, J. B. P., G. R.yY.,
W. C. S., Hirudo, Quaero.

July 12, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

21

SWEET SPIRIT OF NITRE -WHAT IT
WAS, IS, AND OUGHT TO BE.

BY W. SMEETON.

Under the above comprehensive title appeared a
paper, written by Mr. Rimmington, of Bradford, in
the November number of the Journal for 1877.
It provoked a discussion and the facts that ap¬
peared to come out were that the ethereal liquid
which is produced when alcohol and nitric acid are
distilled together by the B.P. process is a compound
of alcohol, nitrite of ethyl, aldehyde, and perhaps
■other unknown substances, and that the B.P. process
would always yield an article containing the same
proportion of the same ingredients. But at the
outset, Mr. Rimmington condemned the B.P. process
as being unnecessarily complex, and one that
probably did not meet with universal adoption. Of
■course this might be said of any process, and the
quantity to be operated upon will also be a modify¬
ing agent. Mr. Rimmington’s remarks respecting
the directions to allow the still to cool before adding
more acid were quite to the point; but if, on the
other hand, the whole of the acid is added to start
. with the action is very violent, and if the quantities
dealt with are large, it is almost sure to lead to loss
of ether. If the acid is added later on without
waiting for the cooling, red fumes are apt to come
over. In this dilemma we are left, and we should
have been under obligation had Mr. Rimmington
pointed out a more excellent way. Mr. Umney lias
also stated that nitre made by the B.P. process was
unfavourably received, and I suppose most manu¬
facturers must occasionally have lound the result
unsatisfactory.

J ust before the British Pharmacopoeia came
out, Professor Redwood read a very exhaustive
article on spirit of nitre, explaining the B. P.
process, and briefly reviewing other processes. The
Edinburgh and Dublin forms of making hy-
ponitrous ether first, were dismissed as not being
applicable for large quantities and expensive. There
may be something in this, for whatever Professor
Redwood states is so well considered that it may
always be taken as correct. Still, after trying
several processes, I have come to the conclusion
that with the quantities with which I deal, none
is so satisfactory as the Edinburgh plan. It is as
easy and takes less time, but what is of much more
moment, it makes a nitre that is very pleasant and
uniform in character. I am not sure it is the best
plan, but it is the best I know, and I do not find it
very difficult to manipulate.

I take twelve pints of alcohol and add to it care¬
fully three pints of nitric acid either at once or in
successive portions. This is placed in a still having
a capacity of eight gallons, connected with a stone
worm and Woulfe’s bottles to catch what escapes
the first condenser and receiver. Action will
sometimes commence without artificial heat; if it
does not I turn on steam till it does, but before the
temperature reaches 140°, distillation commences,
rapidly at first, and requires very careful condensa¬
tion. The distillate is in appearance and quantity
about the same as that obtained by the B.P. process,
but I think it is more ethereal and certainly more
acid. It is now neutralized with milk of lime
and solution of chloride of calcium added. The
nearly pure ether separates, floats on the surface, the
heavy liquid below contains the alcohol of the dis-
Third Series, No. 472.

tillate, and certainly most if not all the aldehyde and
possibly other products. With the hope of utilizing
the washings and recovering alcohol or ether, I have
redistilled them with lime and filtered through
charcoal, but it is bad smelling, ultimately goes
yellow, and is certainly best out of good spt. nitre,
though not worse than much that is sold. The
main difficulty of this process is the volatile charac¬
ter of the ether, rendering the separation by a
syphon a somewhat risky process, and giving, if
inhaled, a most cadaverous hue to the operator.
Great care has also to be taken wb^n the water and
lime are added to keep all very Cuid, as the mixture
with the spirituous liquid generates heat enough to
make the ether boil. With these precautions the
process is not more than ordinarily difficult. One
ounce of the ether with a pint of sptirit makes nitre
of 5 per cent, strength ; two ounces 10 per cent, or
B.P. strength, as Mr. Rimmington has pointed out.
The 5 per cent, is, I think, strong enough for
medicinal purposes, and would generally be pre¬
ferred.

In conclusion, I beg to say that whether this is
the spt. nitre that is to be, or not, it has much to
recommend it. It has a beautiful sweet flavour,
something like chloroform, and I believe is free from
aldehyde and other noxious products.

NOTES ON SOME JAPANESE DRUGS.

BY E. M. HOLMES, F.L.S. ,

Curator of the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society.

ROOTS.

( Continued from 'page 5.)

Dee-oh (53) : — Rehmannia lutea, Max.

Syn. Ti-hwang, Porter Smith, p. 184; Sas-hime,
So mokou Zoussetz, vol. xi. fig. 62 ; Dziwo, Fr.
et Sav. vol. i. p. 328; Sao hime, Goma tome
sao, Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xvii. fol. 23.

This root occurs in pieces one or two inches long
and about one-quarter to one-third of an inch in
diameter, soft and flexible, and very much wrinkled
externally, internally soft and moist, of a deep
brownish-black colour, with a darker line marking
the juncture of the bark and meditullium. Taste
earthy and slightly sweet. Several species of this
Gesneraceous genus are largely used in China as
alteratives and tonics, and are supposed to possess
cooling and purifying properties.

The Japanese character for this drug is identical
with that translated Ti-hwang, under Rehmannia
Chinensis , in Dr. Porter Smith’s ‘ Chinese Materia
Medica,’ “dee ” or “ ti” being the name of the plant
and “ oli,” like the Chinese “ hwang,” meaning
yellow, in allusion to the yellow colour of the
flowers.

The plant is cultivated in Japanese gardens and
flowers in May, and was in the first place probably
brought from China.

Gah-ditz (23) : — Curcuma Zerumbet, Roxb.

This root corresponds exactly in shape and taste
and odour with specimens of zedoary or zerumbet
root in the museum of this Society ; most of the
pieces are, however, of a rather more horny con¬
sistence than the zedoary root seen in commerce.
Mixed with this rhizome are a few specimens of
cassumunar root ( Curcuma Zedoaria, Roxb.), which
are easily distinguishable by their yellow colour
when cut or scraped.

22

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 12

Gah-ditz comprises both the long and short zedoary’
or in other words, both the central and lateral rhi¬
zomes.

This plant is probably not wild in Japan, as it is
not mentioned either in the ‘So mokou Zoussetz ’ or
in ‘Franchet and Savatier’s Flora’; it is probably
cultivated in Japan like several other medicinal
plants belonging to the Scitaminese.

Hak-tau-au (48) : — Anemone cernua, Th.

Syn. Neko bana, Fr. et Sav. vol. i. p. 4 ; Hokina
g’za, Phonzou Zoufou, vol. vi. fol. 23 ; Okina
gusa, Shaguma saiko, So mokou Zoussetz,
vol. x. fig. 34; Ollina gusa, Thunb. FI. Jap.
p. 238 ; Kawara saiko, Sieb. et Zucc. FI. Jap.
p. 14.

This is an unbranclied, cylindrical, hard and
brittle root, three to five inches long, or more, about
the size of a goose quill, coarsely furrowed longitu¬
dinally, and crowned with the silky bases of the
leaves. The transverse section ds brown and horny,
and shows a small central cavity lined with white
fibres ; this cavity appears to run through nearly the
whole length of the root. The taste is sweet and
slightly acrid. It probably possesses similar pro¬
perties to the common Anemone Pulsatilla, to which
plant it is nearly allied.

The Japanese name literally translated means
white-headed old man, and is probably given in
allusion to the white silky appearance of the tufts of
young leaves. The Chinese name Hak-too-woo, is
very similar in pronunciation.

The plant, like Anemone Pulsatilla, grows in J apan
on dry hilly places at an altitude of 500 to 2000
feet, and flowers in March or April.

It is said to be used as a bitter medicine in China
and Japan.

Han-Ge (47) : — Pinellia tuberifera, Ten.

Syn. Karasubishaku, So mokou Zouss. vol. xix.
fig. 1 ; Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xvii. p. 23; Sang-
pwan-hea, Hanbury ‘ Science Papers,’ p. 262,
with fig. of root ; Midsummer Root, Pwan-
hia, Porter Smith, ‘ Chinese Materia Medica,’
p. 149. Too hange, Fr. et Sav. vol. ii. pi. 1, p. 3;
Fanke so, Kras no Fisiaku, Thunb. FI. Jap.
p. 233.

This drug consists of small white starchy corms,
varying in size from a pea to that of a small marble.
They are usually slightly flattened, and have a
small depression on one side surrounded by a num¬
ber of little pits, which are apparently the scars of
the radical fibres. They appear to have but little
taste, but a powerful pungency is perceptible after
the drug is chewed, as in many other plants of the
arum family.

According to Dr. Porter Smith the powdered drug
has an action like colchicum and has been used for
a long time in the Hankow Mission Hospital as a
substitute for the sulphate of potash in Dover’s
powders. Although containing a quantity of starch
this drug is never attacked by insects.

The plant is found in uncultivated places and in
fallow fields, flowering in May and June. It pro¬
bably derives its name from the time of flowering,
“ lian” meaning middle and “ge ” summer.

Kai (56) : — Dioscorea quinqueloba, Thunb.

Syn. Ktkuba-dokoro, So mokou Zouss. vol. xx.
fig. 54; Kai, Tokoro, Koempf. Amoen. p. 827.

- ... , - - 1 ~ — i.

Kassuda Fanna dakka, Karasuno Sent,,
Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 150.

This is a sliced tuber, the slices being one inch or
more broad, about half an inch thick, or rather less,
and two or three inches long. The cortical portion
consists of a wrinkled pale brown skin, marked here
and there with the scars of rootlets. Internally it is
yellowish-white and shows a few scattered vascular
bundles. The substance is moderately hard and
tough. The taste is slightly but not persistently
bitter. It has very little odour.

Of its medicinal properties I have no knowledge.
The root is edible, according to Koempfer, who
describes it as similar in appearance to ginger.
Thunberg states that the name “■fanna dakka
means nose higher, and is given because children put
the winged capsules on their noses to make their nose&
look larger, while “karasuno seni” means crow-berry.

The plant has much the habit of the black bryony
of this country, but the leaves are larger and have
five shallow lobes. It flowers from June to Sep¬
tember.

Kas-hi-yu (43).

This is a large tuberous root, varying in size from
two to four inches long and one to two inches in
diameter. Externally it is of a blackish-brown
colour, with one or two deep furrows, or in some
pieces it exhibits a slightly wrinkled surface, while
in others it presents transverse scar3 or ridges
which by friction have become pale. Internally the
root presents a nut-brown colour and a shining
resinous fracture ; the structure appears uniform.
The root is extremely hard, requiring a blow from
a hammer to fracture it. The taste is slightly
astringent and the odour earthy.

I have not been able to identify it.

Kesso : — Patrinia scabiosafolia, Link. (Valerianacese.

Syn. Omina-meshi, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. ii.
p. 21 ; Womina mesi, Jama njan kusoo,
Uro amisi, Oro ami, Fr. et Sav. vol. i.

p. 216.

This root was not presented with the others, but
was offered in the London market under the name
of “kesso” and was imported from Japan ; as a product
of that country it seems to demand notice here..
The root resembles that of Valeriana officinalis in
general appearance and odour, but differs in the
central portion to which the rootlets are attached,
being very small and short, rarely exceeding one-
third of an inch in diameter; the rootlets form a
compact tuft from two to three inches long, are of
a dark brown colour, and have a slightly scaly
surface, by which and by the colour they are easily
distinguished 1 10m valerian root. The odour of the
root is even more powerful than that of Valeriana
officinalis. The taste is bitter and aromatic. It
grows in stony mountainous places and blossoms in
July.

Ki-KYo (33) : — Platycodon grandijlorum, A.DC.
(Campanulacece), So mokou Zoussetz, vol. iii.
fig. 3; Phonzou Zoufou, vol. iv. p. 14, 15.
Syn. Campanula glauca, Tliunb.. FI. Jap. p. 88 ;
Kekko, Kir jo, Kirakoo, Koempf. Amoen. p„
822.

This root is white, about three or four inches long,
strongly but sparingly furrowed longitudinally, taper-

July 12, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

23

ing from just below the part where the stem arises,
-simple, or once forked, and giving off from the
shoulder or thickened portion near the top of the
root one or two short often horizontally-spreading
lateral branches. Internally it is tough, white, and
slightly spongy, with a yellowish-white horny ring
surrounding the meditullium. The taste is at first
sweet and mucilaginous, but afterwards faintly bitter.
The juice is milky in the fresh root, according to
Koempfer.

These specimens do not in any way correspond
with those described under the name of Platycodon
grandiflorum by Dr. Porter Smith (p. 173). The
Chinese character there translated kih-kang is,
however, identical with the Japanese character ldkyo.
The Japanese root was, however, recognized at sight
by Mr. Takemura, who told me the plant yielding it
had a large blue flower, and on showing him the
figure of the plant in the So mokou Zoussetz, he at
once identified it as the one yielding the root. Dr.
Porter Smith’s specimen in the museum of the Phar¬
maceutical Society is therefore probably incorrect.

According to Koempfer, this root is considered
only second in medicinal value to the celebrated
..ginseng, which is not surprising, since it has a
-stronger resemblance to the outline of a human body
than even that famous root.

Kikyo grows commonly on the borders of culti¬
vated fields, and flowers in July and August.

Kin-kee (55) : — Mcdva sylvestris, L., Fr. and Sav.
vol. i. p. 62.

Syn. Zeni-aoi, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. xii.
fig. 54.

This root resembles in every respect that obtain¬
able in England, except that it is whiter and evi¬
dently carefully washed and rubbed before drying.

It is probably cultivated in J apan, and not really
wild, according to Franchet and Savatier.

Kuh-shing (14).

This drug is very similar in appearance to decor¬
ticated marshmallow root, but of a more yellowish
tint. It occurs in angular pieces four or six inches
long and one- third to three-quarters of an inch in
diameter, and is very fibrous; the meditullium
occupies the greater portion of the root and is
marked where it joins the cortical portion by a ring
of faint brown radiating dotted lines. The dotted
appearance under a lens is seen to be due to the
presence of porous vessels. The taste is intensely
bitter. Examined by Mons. A. Petit, of Paris, it
was found to contain a new alkaloid, to which its
bitterness is due.

Thunberg refers “ krism,’’ a name similar in sound
but different in meaning, to Sophora lieptaphylla , L.,
but the root of that plant does not appear to be
bitter.. The Japanese character for “shing” means
bitter.

I have not yet been able to identify this drug.

Oh-ren (58) : — Coptis anemonoefolia , Sieb. et Zucc.

(Ranunculacese) ; So mokou Zouss. vol. x. fig. 36.

Syn. Kakouma G’za, Fr. et Sav. vol. i. p. 10;

Phonzou Zoufou, vol. vii. p. 2.

This drug closely resembles in appearance that of
<Coptis Teeta , Wall., but is more slender and more
•curved, and has less of the smooth stem which is
•often attached to the latter. The rhizomes are about

one or one and a half inches long and two lines
thick, occasionally branched, and always bristly with
short, slender, wiry rootlets. Externally it is of a
dark brown colour and internally of a golden yellow.
The taste is bitter.

The Japanese character (“oh-ren,” meaning yellow
ren) is exactly the same as the Chinese one for
hwang-lien, which is the rhizome of Coptis Teeta,
Wall., and not a Justicia, as stated by Dr. Porter
Smith in his ‘Chinese Materia Medica,’ p. 126, and
whose specimens in the museum of the Society are
certainly the rhizome of Coptis Teeta.

The Japanese drug, like Coptis Teeta , probably
contains a quantity of berberine. It is not a little
singular that Coptis Teeta, Berberis Lycium, Hydrastis
Canadensis ancl Coscinium fenestratum, which all
contain berberine, have all been found useful in
inflammation of the eyes.

Two other species of Coptis are figured in So
mokou Zoussetz, viz., C. trifolia, Salisb. (fig. 38) and
C. quinquefolia, Miq. (fig. 37), both of which are
much smaller species, and other species are de¬
scribed by Franchet and Savatier, but all of these
have a more slender rhizome.

(To be continued.)

INSECT POWDER*

BY WILLIAM SAUNDERS.

The insect powders of commerce are the powdered
flowers of different species of Pyrethrum. Those of
P)J rethrum ccirneum and roseum were introduced some
thirty years ago under the name of Persian insect
powder, and subsequently those of Pyrethrum cinerar ice-
folium, a native of Dalmatia, Austria, as Dalmatian
insect powder. Both the Persian and Dalmatian
powders are good insecticides, but the latter is much the
more energetic in its action and hence commands a
higher price ; indeed, it is so much preferred that it is
gradually driving the so-called Persian powder out of the
market. The fact of the flowers of P. roseum being less
active than those of P. cinerar icefolium, has been
accounted for on the ground that the single flowers are
much more powerful than the double ones, and that the
double flowers occur in P. roseum in much larger propor¬
tion than in the other species. The flowers, either whole
or powdered, preserve their activity for a long period.
A recent European experimenter states that he could not
perceive any particular loss of activity in samples which
had been kept for six years. The fresh (undried) flowers
act very slowly as compared with the same dried and
powdered, and the plant itself powdered is quits inactive.
It is singular that while there are many other composite
plants closely related to the genus Pyrethrum , as yet this
peculiar property has been found only in plants belonging
to this genus, and even within this limit there are several
species whose value as insecticides is very slight. A
large number of Compositse indigenous to Austria have
been tested and found to be of no value in this respect.
The flowers of tansy ( Tanacetum vulyare) are said to
have a slight stupefying effect.

The Py rethrums are hardy plants which bloom abun¬
dantly the second year from seed. The powder is
prepared from the half-open flowers gathered during dry
weather and dried in the shade under cover, but the
process of gathering, drying and preparing involves so
much time that their culture can only be made profitable
where labour is cheap.

Insect powders have not attracted general attention as
insecticides until within the last three or four years,
during which time they have been introduced in various

* From the Canadian Entomologist, March. Reprinted
• from the American Journal of Pharmacy, May, lb7fi.

24

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [July 12, 187^

forms in packages and boxes, accompanied by suitable
blowers or insects guns for the purpose of properly dis¬
tributing the powder, and recommended for the destruc¬
tion of flies, cockroaches, fleas, bugs, etc. Sometimes
these prepared articles have been artificially coloured so
as to disguise their source, but all have owed their
activity solely to the presence of the powdered flowers of
one or other of these Pyrethrums.

House flies are very sensitive to the effects of these
powders. A few puffs of the dust from an insect gun,
blown into the air of a room with the doors closed, the
discharges directed towards those parts where flies are
congregated, will stupefy and kill them within a very
short time. The powder is somewhat pungent, and to
breathe an atmosphere charged with it will frequently
cause a slight sneezing, but beyond this the operator need
not anticipate any annoyance. Frequently during the
past summer, when flies have been troublesome, we have
pretty thoroughly charged the air in our dining-room and
kitchen at night, closing the doors, and in the morning
found all, or nearly all, the flies lying dead on the floor.
A few mimites after its use they begin to drop on their
backs, and after a short time die if a room be closed for
half an hour after using the powder, few, if any, will
escape. By some this energetic action has been attri¬
buted to the presence of a volatile oil in the flowers, by
other and later investigators to a peculiar crystalline
principle believed to be an alkaloid, but this point does
not as yet seem to be fully settled.

More recently we have been experimenting with this
powder on the green aphis which troubles our green-house
plants. The usual plan of smoking with tobacco is an
unpleasant remedy, and is also very injurious to many
plants of delicate constitution, whereas the insect powder
used to any extent is perfectly harmless to plant-life.
After freely charging the air of a green-house with the
powder, blowing it in fine clouds of dust among the
plants, the tiny tormentors who are busily engaged in
sucking the life out of the leaves and tender shoots, soon
manifest symptoms of uneasiness and begin to drop from
the plants to the ground, and in the course of an hour or
two the larger portion of the enemy’s forces will be
found lying sprawling on the earth, in the pots, or on the
shelves and floor of the house, where, probably partly
from the stupefying effects of the powder and partly from
their natural inability to find their way to any given
point, they fail to reach the plants again and hence
perish. By applying the powder freely in the evening
and giving the plants a thorough syringing in the morning,
they may in the worst cases be almost freed from aphides
by a single application ; it is better, however, to repeat
its use the next evening, so as to make sure work. The
powder does not appear to kill this aphis as it does the
flies.- For the purpose of testing this point we placed
a number of them in an open glass cell of a microscope
slide and powdered then thoroughly, and found some of
them alive after two days of such severe exposure to its
influence. Having recently found a plant literally
swarming with the green aphis, so that the sight of it
was almost disgusting, we submitted it to the action of
this powder one afternoon, having previously spread a
large piece of white paper under the plant so that the
effect of the powder on the insects might be distinctly
seen. Almost immediately they began to fall on the
paper, and in less than ten minutes a hundred or more of
them were lying on their backs or crawling sluggishly
about. In the course of half an hour some Jour or five
hundred had fallen on the paper, and when the plant
was examined again the following morning, there remained
but very few on it, and most of these were removed by a
slight syringing. We have had the powder used in
green-houses by some of our friends, who also report its
success. The matter is well worthy the attention of all
those who indulge in window gardening or who grow
plants in small conservatories attached to dwellings, since
if this proves an efficient and economical substitute for

tobacco smoke, it will save much annoyance and some'
loss. Success will necessarily depend on the quality of
the material used, but after the experiments we have tried,
we feel confident that with good Dalmatian powder there
need be no failure. It will be interesting to learn a&
opportunity offers how moths and other insects will, be
affected by the use of insect powders. If the beautiful
specimens which sometimes fly into our rooms at night
can be drugged in this way and captured without a
struggle, we may add many a perfect specimen to our
collections which would otherwise be more or less defaced.
There is quite a field for experiment here.

GERANIUM OIL.*

Under the name of geranium oil several essential oil
derived from species of Pelargonium and Andropogon
come into commerce, which on account of their rose-like
odour are used as cheap substitutes for oil of roses as well
as in its adulteration. The German true geranium oil, or
oil of rose-leaved geranium, as well as the French gera¬
nium or “palma rosae” oil are obtained from the Pelargo¬
nium Raclula, by distillation of the leaves and flowers with
water. It is colourless, sometimes, however, with a
greenish, yellowish or even brownish colour, the latter
especially being the most esteemed. It boils at 216° to
220° C., and solidifies at 16° C. and rotates a beam of
polarized light to the right.

The smell is agreeable and resembles that of the rose.
The so-called Algerian rose oil, from the leaves and flowers
of the cultivated Pelargonium roscum, Willd., and P.
odoratissimum, is very similar to the French oil, but is
laevogyre, and is especially used in the adulteration of
rose oil, but is itself adulterated with grass oil from
various species of Andropogon.

The Turkish geranium oil (rose or roshd oil, oil of rose
geranium, ginger grass oil) is the ethereal oil of Andropo¬
gon Pachnodes, a grass indigenous in the East Indies,
Persia and Arabia. It is a yellowish thin liquid, with an
agreeable aromatic odour and does not readily solidify.
It comes into commerce principally through Smyrna and
Bombay and is alleged to be prepared in Mecca.

The “palma rosae ” oil contains pelargonic acid, CgHjgO^,
a colourless oily liquid, solidifying at a low temperature,
melting at 10° C., and boiling at 260° C.; it is one of the
series of fatty acids. Among the other constituents of
geranium oil are geraniol, C10H18O, isomeric with borneol,
and a colourless liquid having an agreeable rose-like odour
which boils at 232° C., and upon heating with zinc chloride
yields geranien, C10H16, as a colourless liquid, smelling of
carrots, and boiling at 163° C.

According to Guibourt, rose oil, geranium oil and
andropogon oil may be distinguished by means of iodine,
nitric acid and sulphuric acid. Under a bell-glass is
placed a capsule containing iodine and around this are
placed watch glasses containing one or two drops of each
oil. The true rose oil retains its colour, whilst both the
other oils turn brown, the geranium taking by far the most
intense colour. If instead of iodine copper filings over
which nitric acid has been poured are put under the bell-
glass, the glass becomes immediately filled with red vapour
which is absorbed by the oils, the geranium oil becoming
apple-green, and the andropogon oil and rose oil dark
yellow, the former most quickly. If one or two drops of
each of these three oils are mixed with an equal quantity
of concentrated sulphuric acid, the mixtures become brown,
but while the mixture with rose oil retains its delicious
odour, that with the geranium oil smells strong and
repulsive, and the andropogon oil acquires a strong fatty
odour.

* Dr. Gintl in Karmarsch and Heeren’s ‘ Technical Dic¬
tionary,’ from the Zeits. d. allg. Oesterr. Apot.-Vereins, vol.
xvii., p. 268.

July 12, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

25

WALNUT LEAVES AND THE EXTRACT OF
WALNUT LEAVES.*

BY C. GOVAERTS.

Preparations of the walnut ( Juglans regia, L.), after
having enjoyed in Prance the popularity often gained by
recently introduced medicines, are not much now em¬
ployed. Experience has demonstrated, however, that
the walnut may be classed among the plants most useful
in medicine. The author quotes various authorities who
speak highly of its antiscrofulous properties.

The Belgian Codex includes an extract of the dry
leaves, and the extract enters into the composition of the
“ Sirop de Vanier,” a preparation largely used. The
author’s experiments have been directed to ascertaining
whether this extract represents the maximum of the
active principles contained in the leaves and what are the
conditions that may influence the quantity of these prin¬
ciples in the leaves and in the extract.

The leaves of the walnut contain principally chloro¬
phyll, tannin, a volatile aromatic principle and an acrid
bitter matter (juglandin) found more specially in the
green husk and the epiderm of the seed. Distilled in the
fresh state the leaves yield a rather aromatic limpid
water, neutral to litmus paper.

The fresh juice is green, but upon being heated it
abandons its chlorophyll and at the same time becomes
sensibly darker in colour.

In drying the leaves lose 50 to 55 per cent, of their
weight, but without sensibly altering in colour or taste.
The petioles only turn brown.

These leaves cannot be collected according to the
general rule, — i.e., at the commencement of the flowering,
— for at that time they have scarcely issued from the
buds and are far from possessing the desired properties.

If walnut leaves collected at the proper time and re¬
cently dried be compared with those met with in commerce
the difference in the characters is striking. After some
months in fact the dried leaves, exposed to the open air,
turn brown and at the same time lose their aromatic
odour and bitterness. This physical change, produced
under the influence of moisture and air is the index of a
chemical transformation that takes place after the drying.
The prolonged action of air and moisture gradually con¬
verts the juglandin into an insoluble and insipid black
substance and the tannin becomes partially insoluble or
decomposed.

Experiments were made with* preparations from (1)
leaves collected in June ; (2) leaves collected in October ;
(3) leaves collected at the proper time, but which had
been kept one year. Tannin being one of the most
active principles of the leaves, this was estimated as
indicative to a certain extent of the value of the re¬
spective preparations. The method adopted was that of
Lowenthal, based upon the oxidation of the tannin by
permanganate of potash in the presence of indigo carmine.
A gram of each extract was dissolved in 100 c.c. of
distilled water, and 20 c.c. of each solution were submitted
to the action of the permanganate.

(a). An extract prepared from the juice of leaves
collected in June, clarified by heat and evaporated. —
Taste : bitter and astringent. Odour : aromatic. Solu¬
tion: limpid. Tannin in 1 gram of extract: 0T9gr.

(5). Similar leaves were submitted to distillation, and
the residue filtered and evaporated to an extract. — Taste :
slightly bitter. Odour : very slight. Solution : turbid.
Tannin in 1 gram : 0T9 gr.

( c ). The remainder of the June leaves were dried in
the open air and an extract prepared from them according
to the Belgian Pharmacopoeia. — Taste : bitter and as¬
tringent. Odour: aromatic. Solution: limpid. Tannin
in 1 gram : 0‘20 gr.

(cZ). Leaves collected in October were dried directly
and converted into extract. — The product resembled (c)
in every respect.

* Repertoire de Pharmacie, vol. vii., p. 145.

(e). Extract prepared from leaves one year old. — Taste :
slightly astringent and slightly bitter. Odour: none.
Solution : very dark. Tannin in 1 gram : 0T0 gr.

(/). Extract of commerce. — Similar to ( e ) with the
exception of solution being limpid.

It appears therefore that the full grown leaves may
be collected at any period during the fine weather, even
as late as October, when they can be removed without
injuring the tree. The extract of walnut, in order to
represent the active principles as completely as possible,
should be prepared with such leaves recently dried. The
extract prepared from the defecated juice is as rich in
tannin, but does not keep so well, whilst that prepared
by decoction should be rejected. The leaves falling in
autumn should not be used, although there is reason to
believe that they are often employed in preparing the
extract of commerce.

Walnut leaves of good quality are of a fine green
colour on their upper surface and of a darker green
underneath, with brown petioles. They have a parch¬
ment-like texture, an aromatic odour and a freely bitter
and astringent taste. Altered leaves lose the greater
part of their odour and bitterness, and turn a dirty green
colour, approaching brown. Fallen autumn leaves some¬
times have yellow spots on their surface.

THE GAS QUESTION.*

BY DUNCAN C. DALLAS.

In a former article I endeavoured to show from my own
case —

1. That although I had not required more gas, my con¬
sumption was over 75 per cent, excess.

2. That this had been going on for about fifteen months.

3. That after public outcry had been raised, and with¬
out any effort on my part to diminish consumption, the
amount burnt returned to the normal rate ; and,

4. I suggested as a cause of increased consumption,
that the gas supplied previously to the outcry had burnt
away more quickly than the normal gas.

Now, it is remarkable how coincident in time with the
outcry was the reversion to what I have termed the nor¬
mal gas. As the figures show there was a sudden drop
in my consumption equivalent to 75 per cent.

Just previous to the outcry my consumption had been
at the rate of 2100 feet per week. In the week May 13th
to 25th my consumption was 1200 feet, i.e., just 75 per
cent, less than the previous rate. And I believe this
would be found to be a general experience. It is remark¬
able, too, that the increase, ranging over fifteen months
previous to the outcry, should be also a little over 75 per
cent. This fact, therefore, stands out clear, viz. the gas
supplied for at least fifteen months previous to complaint
burnt away 75 per cent, more rapidly than the gas sup¬
plied not only before the fifteen months, but since com¬
plaint became loud and general.

In the English Mechanic for June 27.th, 1879, much,
space is given to the gas question, but entirely in the in¬
terests of the companies. In the number of same periodi¬
cal for the week July 4th the subject has been pru¬
dently dropped, although the facts in my first article were
brought to the notice of the Editor.

In the number for June 27th no attempt is made to
touch the gravamen of the charge against the companies.
An unfortunate “Gas Consumer” is made to stand in the
pillory in consequence of some rather wild suggestions as
to the cause of the increased consumption. If he be nob
a “man in buckram,” but a real individual, one-tenth the
large space devoted to his punishment and demolition of
his crude suggestions would have sufficed.

These advocates of the companies prove too much..
They argue as if by no possibility could any but the right,
kind of gas be supplied to the consumer. As they seem
so learned in gas matters I humbly think it behoves them

* From the Brewers' (Juaraian, July 8, 1879.

26

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 12, 1879.

to grapple with the real question. They cannot deny
that there has been a great increase in consumption. And
I think they will find it hard to deny that since the out¬
cry there has been a great and sudden diminution of con¬
sumption, which cannot be accounted for by more econo¬
mical methods of using. For, as I have shown by my
own case, I purposely made no alteration in the conditions,
and my rate reverted to that of 1876-7.

Messrs. “Sigma,” “Ethylene,” and other advocates of
the companies, are. therefore on one of the horns of this
dilemma. Either they know the cause or they do not.
If they know the cause and do not confess it they are
un candid and chargeable with what logicians term ignor -
atio elenchi , and this wilfully, in order to throw us off the
scent. If they do not know the cause they have no busi¬
ness to write about the matter.

I confess I am not one of those who believe that mixture
with atmospheric air will account for the increased con¬
sumption. I think there has been a more subtle cause.

The important ingredient in coal gas as an illuminant
is olefiant gas. Next in importance are vapours of hydro¬
carbons. Lastly, there is light carburetted hydrogen,
or marsh gas. Now, the specific gravity of marsh gas is
a little more than half that of olefiant gas. Therefore a
volume of marsh gas will burn away much more quickly
than an equal volume of olefiant gas. But the illuminat¬
ing quality of marsh gas is very feeble compared with
olefiant gas. It would not do, therefore, to increase the
quality of marsh gas unduly unless means could be found
of increasing its illuminating quality. To one who is not
in the secrets of the gas companies it is difficult of course
to know what particular method has been adopted. But
to show that it is possible to improve the illuminating
quality of marsh gas in a simple yet scientific manner,
and at the same time increase its volume, I beg to refer
the advocates of the companies to ‘Ure’s Dictionary/ vol.
ii., p. 552, 1875 edition, where they can read: —

“If marsh gas possessing, it will be remembered, a small
amount of luminosity be decomposed by its passage
through a heated tube or by the electric spark, the carbon
it contains will be deposited, while the amount of hydro¬
gen set free will occupy double the volume of the orginal
gas .” [The italics are mine.] “Yet the flame of this
nearly pure hydrogen will be found to possess a greater
luminosity than the flame of the original marsh gas,
although it has lost nearly the whole of its light-giving
material — accounted for by the presence of a very small
quantity of acetylene produced during the decomposi¬
tion.”

I came upon this passage after I had arrived at a convic¬
tion that the increased consumption was due to the supply
of a gas that burnt away rapidly. If, therefore, it has
been by some such means that the increased consumption
has been induced, however much I may admire, as I do
admire, the beautiful scientific rationale of the process,
and the more beautiful because of its simplicity, especially
if by such economical means as the transmission of an
electric spark through some huge volume of marsh gas, it
can be in a “jiffey” (if I may be allowed the slang) con¬
verted into double its volume, not only without loss to its
illuminating power, but with positive increase, yet I do
object to paying 75 per cent, more when in the result it
does me no better service than the original gas, but rather
like its crudent parent, “Will o’ the Wisp,” brings me
grief.

On the contrary, the gas ought to be cheaper. Nor
would I be greedy. For, if without much increase of cost
two volumes of gas are got where previously only one
could be Obtained, we must hail as a benefactor the clever
gas chemist or engineer who effects this. We should not
grudge his fortunate company, if, say, they cheapened
production 50 per cent, and kept a lion’s share for them¬
selves, but kindly gave us — something.

I am glad to see that The Pharmaceutical Journal
(June 28th, 1879) has devoted a leader referring to the
first article on the present subject in last number of The

Brewer's' Guardian, and urging the importance of the sug¬
gested Parliamentary inquiry. An excellent recommen¬
dation is also made in that leader, viz. that chemists and
druggists who are large consumers of gas for heating aer
well as illumination, “might be of especial service in
helping to keep up an examination of the gas supplied to
different quarters, and make observations as to its purity,
composition, and illuminating power, that would be a
useful check upon the results arrived at in other ways.”

This would be most valuable. For what satisfaction
is it to be told that there is an elaborate system at the
works for protecting us, if, when we examine our gas bills,
we find that from some cause or another we have not
been protected ? It is all very well to test milk at the
udder of the cow, but it is more than aggravating to see
it pour “sky-blue” from the milk-jug on our breakfast-
table.

Let them go on protecting us at the works, but let us
also be protected at the burners as regards what they
deliver. It could be done very easily if Parliament
would give just a little attention to the distressed gas con¬
sumers.

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF
DETONATING AGENTS.*

BY PROFESSOR ABEL, C.B., F.R.S.

Among the many explosive preparations which have
during the last thirty years been proposed as substitutes
for gunpowder, on account of greater violence and other
special merits claimed for them, not one has yet competed
with it successfully as a propelling agent, nor even as a
safe and sufficiently reliable explosive agent for use in
shells ; for industrial applications and for very important
military or naval uses, dependent upon the destructive
effects of explosives, it has had, however, to give place, to
a very important extent, and in some instances altogether,
to preparations of gun-cotton and nitro-glycerine.

But there appeared little prospect that either gun-cotton
or nitro-glycerine, whether used in their most simple con¬
dition or in the forms of various preparations, would
assume positions of practical importance as explosive
agents of reliable, and therefore uniformly efficient,
character, until the system of developing their explosive
force through the agency of a detonation, instead of
through the simple agency of heat, was elaborated.

Before the first step in this important advance in the
application of explosive agents was made by Alfred Nobel,
about twelve years ago, the very variable behaviour of
such substances as gun-cotton and nitro-glycerine, when
exposed to the heat necessary for their ignition under
comparatively slight modifications of attendant conditions
( e.g . as regards the completeness and strength of confine¬
ment or the position of the source of heat with reference
to the main mass of the material to be exploded) rendered
them uncertain in their action, and, at any rate, only
applicable under circumstances which confined their use¬
fulness within narrow limits. The employment by Nobel
of an initiative detonation, produced by the ignition of
small quantities of mercuric fulminate or other powerful
detonating substances, strongly confined, for developing
the violent explosion, or detonation, of nitro-glycerine,
opened a new field for the study of explosive substances,
and the first practical fruit was the successful application
of plastic preparations of nitro-glycerine and of compact
forms of compressed gun-cotton, with simplicity and cer¬
tainty, to the production of destructive effects much more
considerable than could be accomplished through the agency
of much larger amounts of gunpowder, applied under the
most favourable conditions. Whereas very strong con¬
finement has been essential for the complete explosion of
these substances, so long as the only known means of
bringing about their explosion consisted simply of the
application of fire or sufficient heat, no confinement what-

* Lecture delivered at the Royal Institution of Great
Britaiu, Friday, March 21, 1879.

July 12, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

27

ever is needed for the development, with certainty, of a
decidedly more violent explosive action than they are
capable of exerting when thus applied, if they are
detonated by submitting some small portion of the mass
to the blow or concussion developed by a sharp detonation,
such as is produced by the ignition of a small quantity of
strongly confined mercuric fulminate.

The conditions essential to the development of detona¬
tion in masses of nitro-glycerine and gun-cotton, or pre¬
parations of them, and the relations to and behaviour
towards each other of these and other explosive bodies, in
their character or functions as detonating agents, have
been made the subject of study by the lecturer during the
last ten years, and some of the earlier results published
by him in connection with this subject also led to the
pursuit of experimental inquiries of analogous character
by Champion and Pellet and others.

Some of the chief results attained by Mr. Abel’s
experiments may be briefly summarized.

It was found that the susceptibility to detonation, as
distinguished from explosion, through the agency of an
initiative detonation, is not confined to gun-cotton, nitro¬
glycerine, and preparations containing those substances,
but that it is shared, though in very different degrees, by
all explosive compounds and mixtures.

It was demonstrated that the detonation of nitro¬
glycerine and other bodies, through the agency of an
initiative detonation, is not ascribable simply to the direct
operation of the heat developed by the chemical changes
of the charge of detonating material, and that the
remarkable property possessed by the sudden explosion of
small quantities of certain bodies (the mercuric and silver
fulminates) to accomplish the detonation of nitro-glycerine
and gun-cotton, is accounted for satisfactorily by the
mechanical force thus suddenly brought to bear upon some
part of the mass operated upon. Most generally, there¬
fore, the degree of facility with which the detonation of a
substance will develop similar change in a neighbouring
explosive substance, may be regarded as proportionate to
the amount of force developed within the shortest period
of time by that detonation, the latter being in fact
analogous in its operation to that of a blow from a hammer
or of the impact of a projectile.

Thus, explosive substances which are inferior to mercuric
fulminate in the suddenness, and the consequent momen¬
tary violence of their detonation, cannot be relied upon
to effect the detonation of gun-cotton, even when used in
comparatively considerable quantities. Percussion cap
composition, for example, which is a mixture of fulminate
with potassium chlorate, and is therefore much less rapid
in its action than the pure fulminate, must be used in
comparatively large quantities to accomplish the detona¬
tion of gun- cotton.

The essential difference between an explosion and what
we now distinguish as a detonation lies in the compara¬
tive suddenness of the transformation of the solid or liquid
explosive substance into gas and vapour.

The gradual nature of the explosion of gunpowder is
illustrated, in its extreme, by burning a train of powder
in open air ; the rapidity and consequent violence of the
explosion is increased in proportion to the degree of con¬
finement of the exploding charge, or to the resistance
opposed to the escape or expansion of the gases generated
upon the first ignition of the confined substance. In pro¬
portion as the pressure is increased under which the pro¬
gressive transformation of the explosive takes place, the
rapidity with which its particles are successively subjected
to the action of heat is increased.

In the case of a very much more sensitive and rapidly
explosive substance than gunpowder, such as mercuric
fulminate, the increase in the rapidity of its transforma¬
tion, by strong confinement, is so great that the explosion
assumes the character of a detonation in regard to sud¬
denness and consequent destructive effect. A still more
sensitive and rapidly explosive material (such as the silver
fulminate and iodide of nitrogen) produces when exploded

in open air effects ?Jkin to those of detonation ; yet even
with these bodies, confinement operates in increasing the
rapidity of the explosive to suddenness, and consequently
in developing a more purely detonative action. Thus, the
violence of explosion of silver fulminate is decidedly
increased by confining the substance in a stout metal case,
and the enclosure of iodide of nitrogen in a shell of plaster
of paris has a similar effect. With chloride of nitrogen,
the suddenness of detonation, and consequently the
violence of action, was found to be very greatly increased
even by confining the liquid beneath a thin layer of
water.

Detonation, developed in some portion of a mass, is
transmitted with a velocity approaching instantaneousness
throughout any quantity, and even if the material is laid
out in the open air in long trains composed of small masses.
The velocity with which detonation travels along trains
thirty or forty feet in length, composed of distinct masses
of gun-cotton and of dynamite, has been determined by
means of Noble’s chronoscope, and was found to range
from 17,000 to 24,000 feet per second. Even when trains
of these explosive agents were laid out with intervening
spaces of half an inch between the individual masses com¬
posing the trains, detonation was still transmitted along
the separated masses with great though diminished
Telocity.

The suddenness with which detonation takes place has
been applied as a very simple means of breaking up shells
into small fragments and scattering these with con¬
siderable violence, with employment of very small charges
of explosive agent. Thus by filling a 16-pr. common shell
completely with water and inserting a charge of half an
oz. of gun-cotton fitted to a detonating fuze, the shell
being thoroughly closed by means of a screw plug, the
force developed by the detonation of the small charge of
gun-cotton is transmitted instantaneously in all directions
by the water, and the shell is thus broken up into a num¬
ber of fragments averaging fourteen times the number
produced by bursting a shell of the same size by means of
the full amount of powder which it will contain (13 oz.).
Employing one oz. of powder, in place of half an oz. of
gun-cotton, in the shell filled with water, the compara¬
tively very gradual explosion of the powder charge is
rendered evident by the result ; the shell being broken
up into less than twenty fragments by the shock produced
by the first ignition of the charge, transmitted by the
water. In this case the shell is broken up by the minimum
amount of force necessary for the purpose, before the
explosive force of the powder charge is properly developed.
Extensive comparative experiments carried on not long
since by the RoyalArtillery,atOkehampton, demonstrated
that this simple expedient of filling common shells with
water and attaching a small charge of gun-cotton with its
detonator to the fuze usually employed, allowed of their
application as efficient substitutes for the comparatively
complicated and costly shrapnel and segment shells.

Another illustration of the sharpness of action developed
by detonation as compared with explosion, consequent
upon the almost instantaneous character of the metamor¬
phosis which the explosive agent undergoes in the case of
detonation, is afforded by a method which the lecturer
applied some years since for comparing the violence of
action of charges of gun-cotton and of dynamite arranged
in different ways. The charges (5 lb.) to be detonated
were freely suspended over the centres of plates of very
soft steel of the best quality, which rested upon the flat
face of a massive block, or anvil, of iron, having a large
central circular cavity. The distance between the upper
surface of the plate and the charge suspended over it, was
four feet. The sharp blow delivered upon the plate by
the air suddenly projected against it by the force of the
detonation when the charge was fired, forced the metal
down into the cavity of the anvil, producing cup-shaped
indentations, the dimensions of which afforded means of
comparing the violence of the detonation. A much larger
charge of powder exploded in actual contact with the

28

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 12, 1879.

plate, would produce no alteration of form in the metal,
and the same negative result would be furnished by the
explosion over the plate of a heap of loose gun-cotton of
the same or greater weight than the charges detonated.
The above method of experiment was devised, in the first
instance, by Mr. Abel, in July, 1875, for comparing the
quality of some specimens of Llandore steel proposed to
be used by the Admiralty for shipbuilding purposes, with
samples of malleable iron, and it has since been employed
by Mr. Adamson in carrying out a very useful series of
experiments, recently communicated to the Iron and Steel
Institute.

It has been stated that detonation can be transmitted
from one mass of gun-cotton or dynamite to another
through intervening air-spaces. The extent to which
such spaces can be introduced without checking detona¬
tion is obviously regulated by the size of the masses of
explosive detonated ; but the distances of air-space through
which the detonation of a moderate quantity of the
explosive agent will communicate to similar masses, are
very limited, a space of 2 inches being sufficient to pre¬
vent the detonation produced by a mass of 8 oz. of gun¬
cotton, freely exposed, from communicating to contiguous
ones. If the dispersion of the force is prevented in part,
and direction is given to the gases violently projected
from the centre of detonation, the power of transmitting
detonation to separated masses of explosive is increased
to a remarkable degree. This is readily accomplished
through the agency of tubes, the charge first detonated
being just inserted into one extremity, while that to
which the detonation is to be transmitted is inserted into
the other ; or separate charges may be placed at different
distances inside a long tube, with long intervening
spaces, the initiative charge being inserted at one end.
A few illustrations of the results thus obtained may be
given. The detonation of a 1-oz. disk of gun-cutton in
open air will not transmit detonation with certainty to
other disks placed at a greater distance than half an
inch from it ; but if it be just inserted into one end of an
iron tube 2 feet long and T25 inch in diameter, a similar
disk, or even a plug of loose gun-cotton inserted into the
other extremity of the tube, will invariably be detonated.
With employment of 2 oz. of gun-cotton, in a tube of the
same material, thickness, and diameter, detonation was
transmitted to a distance of 5 feet. In tubes of the same
kind, of very considerable length, 2-oz. disks of gun¬
cotton placed at intervals of 2 feet, were detonated
through the initiative detonation of one such disk inserted
into one extremity of the tube. In other experiments a
long tube of this kind was fitted with branch pipes, 2
feet long, at those parts where the intermediate disks
were placed, and charges of gun-cotton were placed at
the extremities of these pipes. By the initiative detona¬
tion of 1 oz. of gun-cotton all the charges were detonated,
the effect on the air being that of one single explosion.
The results obtained with equal quantities of gun-cotton
varied with the diameter, strength, and nature of the
material of the tubes used. Dynamite and mercuric
fulminate, applied to their own detonation, furnished
results quite analogous to those obtained with gun-cotton ;
but in applying fulminate to the detonation of gun-cotton
through the agency of tubes, some singular and instruc¬
tive results were obtained, for an account of which the
lecturer referred to his memoir on this subject.

Silver fulminate was employed for the purpose of
instituting more precise experiments than could be made
in operating on a larger scale, with gun-cotton, on the
influence of the material composing the tubes, of the con¬
dition of their inner surfaces, and of other variable
circumstances, upon the transmission of detonation. Half
a grain of silver fulminate freely exposed and ignited by
a heated body, will transmit detonation to some of the
compound placed at a distance of 3 inches from it, but
does not do so with certainty through a distance of 4
inches. But when the quantity of the fulminate is just
inserted into one end of a stout glass tube 0'5 inch in

diameter, and 3 feet long, its detonation is invariably
induced by that of a similar quantity of the fulminate
placed just inside the other extremity of the tube ; this
result is uncertain when the length of the tubes of the
same thickness and diameter exceeds 3 feet 3 inches.
Glass tubes were found to transmit the detonation of
silver fulminate much more rapidly than tubes of several
other materials of the same diameter and thickness of
substance. Thus, with the employment of double the
quantity of fulminate required to transmit the detonation
with certainty through a glass tube of the kind described,
3 feet in length, it was only possible to obtain a similar
result through a pewter tube 31 '5 inches long, a brass
tube 237 inches long, an indiarubber tube 15*8 inches
long, and a paper tube 11 '8 inches long. The difference
in the results obtained was not ascribable to a difference
in the escape of force on the instant of detonation, in
consequence of the fracture of the tube, nor to the ex¬
penditure of force in work done upon the tube at the
seat of detonation, since the glass tubes were always
destroyed by the first explosion to a much greater
distance along their length than any of the others, and
the brass tubes, which were in no way injured at the
seat of the explosion, did not transmit detonation to so
great a distance a3 the pewter tubes, which were always
deeply indented. The transmission of detonation
appeared also not to be favoured by the sonorosity or the
pitch of the tube employed, as the sonorous brass tube
was not found to favour the transmission to the same
extent as the pewter tube. Moreover the transmission
of detonation by the glass tubes was not found to be at
all affected by coating these tubes with several layers of
paper, or by encasing them in tightly fitting indiarubber
tubes. These differences appeared on further investiga¬
tion not to be ascribable, to any important extent, if at
all, to the difference in the nature of the material com¬
posing the tubes, but to be simply, or at any rate almost
entirely, due to differences in the condition of the inner
surfaces of the tubes. Thus, brass tubes, the inner
surfaces of which were highly polished, and paper tubes,
when coated inside with highly glazed paper, transmitted
the detonation of the silver fulminate to about the same
distance as the glass tubes ; on the other hand, when the
inner surfaces of the latter were slightly roughened by
coating them with a film of fine powder, such as French
chalk, they no longer transmitted detonation to anything
like the distance which they did when the inner surfaces
were in the normally smooth condition. Other very
slight obstacles to the unimpeded passage of the gas wave
through the tubes were found greatly to reduce the
facility with which detonation could be transmitted by
means of tubes ; thus, when a diaphragm of thin bibulous
paper was inserted into the glass tube about half-way
between the two extremities, detonation was not trans¬
mitted, even with the employment of about six times the
quantity of fulminate that gave the result with certainty
under ordinary conditions; and similarly the transmis¬
sion of detonation by increased charges of mercuric
fulminate and of gun-cotton was prevented by the intro¬
duction into the tubes of light tufts of earded cotton wool
just sufficient in quantity to shut out the light in looking
through the tubes.

Among several other interesting results furnished by an
examination into the conditions governing and results
attending the transmission of detonation by tubes, a
remarkable want of reciprocity was found to exist
between mercuric fulminate and gun-cotton. The latter
substance is more susceptible to the detonative power of
mercuric fulminate than of any other substance, as will
presently be further shown. The quantity of fulminate
required to detonate gun-cotton is regulated by the degree
to which the sharpness of its own detonation is increased
by the amount of resistance to rupture offered by the
envelope in which the fulminate is confined. From twenty
to thirty grains are required if the detonative agent is
confined in a thin case of wood, or in several wrappings

July 12, 1879.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

29

of paper ; but as small a quantity as two grains of the
fulminate suffices to effect the detonation of compressed
gun-cotton, provided the fulminate be confined in a case
of stout metal (sheet tin) and be closely surrounded by
being tightly imbedded in the mass of gun-cotton. If
there be no close contact between the two, the quantity
of fulminate must be very considerably increased to ensure
the detonation of the gun-cotton, and, in attempting to
transmit detonation from mercuric fulminate to gun¬
cotton by means of tubes, it was found necessary to employ
comparatively very large quantities of fulminate in order
to accomplish this, even through short lengths of tubes.
But when the quantity of fulminate used reaches certain
limits, the detonation may be transmitted from it to gun¬
cotton through very long lengths of tube. In applying
gun-cotton, on the other hand, to accomplish the detona¬
tion of mercuric fulminate, it was found that this result
could be attained, and through considerable lengths of
tube (seven feet and upwards) by means of very much
smaller quantities of gun-cotton than is needed of ful¬
minate to induce the detonation of gun-cotton through
the corresponding distances.

This want of reciprocity between two detonating agents
corresponds to one even more remarkable, which was
observed by the lecturer in his earlier investigations on
this subject. In the first place, it was found that the
detonation of a quarter of an ounce of gun-cotton (the
smallest quantity that can be thus applied) induced the
simultaneous detonation of nitro-glycerine, enclosed in a
vessel of sheet tin and placed at a distance of one inch
from the gun-cotton ; while with half an ounce of the
latter, the same effect was produced with an intervening
space of three inches between the two substances. But
on attempting to apply nitro-glycerine to the detonation
of gun-cotton, the quantity of the former, which was
detonated in close contact with compressed gun-cotton, was
gradually increased in the first instance to three-quarters
of an ounce and subsequently even to two ounces without
accomplishing the detonation of the latter, which was
simply dispersed in a fine state of division, in all instances
but one in a large number of experiments.

The force developed by the detonation of nitro-glycerine
was found, by careful comparison of the relative destruc¬
tive effects of corresponding quantities, to be decidedly
greater than that of the fulminate, of which from two to
five grains suffice for developing the detonation of gun¬
cotton, when it is in close contact with them. The non¬
susceptibility of gun-cotton to detonation by nitro-glycerine
is therefore, it need scarcely be said, not ascribable to any
deficiency in mechanical force suddenly applied when the
nitro-glycerine is detonated.

{To be continued .)

SPERGULIN, A NEW FLUORESCENT BODY.*

BY C. 0. HARZ.

Spergulin occurs in the seed coverings of Spergula
vulgaris and S. maxima. It is produced at the time when
the seeds blacken and are nearly ripe. Spergulin is very
soluble in absolute and aqueous alcohol. Viewed by
transmitted light the solution appears nearly colourless,
with a shade of olive-green ; by reflected light it exhibits
an intense dark-blue fluorescence. Spergulin has not
been obtained in the form of crystals. It is very soluble
in methylic alcohol, less soluble in amylic alcohol, and
scarcely soluble in petroleum or in ether. Concentrated
sulphuric acid dissolves it, forming a dark-blue liquid.
The fluorescence of an alcoholic solution of spergulin is
maintained for more than a year if the liquid be kept in
darkness ; fluorescence is rapidly destroyed by the action
of direct sunlight, and more slowly by that of diffused
light.

* From the Journal of the Chemical Society, June, 1879.
Chem. Centr., 1879, 24-30.

Small quantities of caustic alkalies, or alkaline carbo¬
nates added to an alcoholic solution of spergulin, trans¬
form it into an emerald-green fluorescent body; basic
lead acetate produces a precipitate in an alcoholic solution
of spergulin. The new compound contains 61 '85 per
cent, of carbon, 705 of hydrogen, and 31*80 of oxygen,
which agrees tolerably with the formula C5H70,,. It
appears to be related to chlorophyll, and is probably
closely allied with phyllocyanin.

An alcoholic (1:8) solution of spergulin showed strong
absorption, almost entirely in the violet ; in this respect
it differs considerably from chlorophyll, phyllocyanin, and
phylloxanthin. The author is inclined to regard spergulin
as a feeble acid, the acid salts of which, as well as the
acid itself, exhibit blue fluorescence, the neutral salts
exhibit green fluorescence, and the basic salts are without
fluorescent properties.

“ MERCURIALINE ” (METHYL AMINE).*

BY E. SCHMIDT.

E. Reichardt has described {Jour. f. prakt. Chem., 104r
301) a volatile alkaloid “mercurialine,” which he obtained
from Mercurialis annua and Mercurialis perennis, as
having the same composition as methylamine, but differing
from it in being an oily colourless liquid at the ordinary
temperature, and in forming an oxalate and sulphate
whose crystallizing characters were not in accordance
with those given by Wurtz for the corresponding salts of
methylamine.

The author has separated a large quantity of the
alkaloid which exists in Mercurialis annua, and has
compared it with pure methylamine prepared from caffeine.
The results prove that the two alkaloids and their
corresponding salts are in every respect identical, and
that Reichardt’ s “mercurialine” is none other than an
aqueous solution of methylamine. It was also found that
the oxalate and sulphate of methylamine do not behave
in the manner stated by Wurtz (Annalen, 76, 324), but
that they are readily crystallizable from water ; in fact,
agreeing with the results obtained by Reichardt with the
oxalate and sulphate of “mercurialine.”

Trimethylamine in small quantity was also obtained
from Mercurialis annua, and its presence there, together
with a considerable quantity of the primary base induces
the supposition that dimethylamine may also be present.
In many plants which the author has examined, he has
found a small quantity of trimethylamine accompanying
ammonium salts, but has met with no species of plants
other than those above mentioned, which contain methyl¬
amine, although no doubt methylamine is not confined to
them.

THE PREPARATION OF ETHYL BROMIDE. t

BY WM. H. GREENE, M.D.

As bromide of ethyl has recently attracted some notico
as an apparently safe and agreeable anaesthetic, having
all of the advantages of chloroform without producing the
nauseating effects which render ether unpleasant, an easy
process for its preparation may be acceptable to pharma¬
cists.

Most cheaply prepared by the action of bromine on
alcohol in presence of amorphous phosphorus (Personae),
ethyl bromide so made possesses a slightly garlicky odour,
almost impossible to get rid of ; this is possibly due to a
trace of ethylphosphine or a phosphinic ether, but however
this may be, the product has been objected to on account
of the odour.

* {Liebig’s Annalen, 193, 73 — 86). From the Journal
of the Chemical Society, January, 1879.

•f* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, June, 1879

30

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

[July 12, 18:9.

The process recommended by de Vrij, the action of a
mixture of strong sulphuric acid and alcohol on potassium
bromide, yields a product contaminated with ordinary
ether, and as ethyl bromide and ether boil at 40° and 35°
respectively, the ether cannot be removed. This con¬
tamination is avoided if the sulphuric acid be dilute, and
the following process gives satisfactory results in the pre¬
paration not only of ethyl bromide but of other alcoholic
bromides.

Twelve parts of coarsely powdered potassium bromide
and eleven parts of sulphuric acid, diluted with its volume
of water, are heated in a retort or flask fitted to a con¬
denser ; as soon as hydrobromic acid begins to be disen¬
gaged, twelve parts of alcohol are allowed to flow in
slowly, as in the preparation of ether. Ethyl bromide
distills over with a small quantity of water and some
alcohol. The distillate is agitated with water to remove
alcohol, the ethyl bromide separated and dried by potas¬
sium carbonate, which at the same time neutralizes any
free acid. It needs no further purification. About eight
parts of ethyl bromide should be obtained. It should be
kept in the dark like all other ethereal compounds con¬
taining chlorine, iodine or bromine.

A BRIEF REPORT OF THE ACTION THAT HAS
BEEN TAKEN IN ROCHDALE, WITH A VIEW TO
SEPARATE THE DISPENSING OF MEDICINES
FROM MEDICAL PRACTICE.

Last February the Rochdale Chemists’ Association
appointed a committee to take such steps as might be
deemed desirable with a view to an arrangement for the
dispensing of medicines to be done by the chemist
instead of by the medical man, as at present.

The first thing that was done was to make somewhat
extensive inquiries in different parts of the kingdom as
to the practice now in use, and as to the effect, so far as
the interests of the medical man and the public are con¬
cerned. A brief report of the result of these inquiries
appeared in the Pharmaceutical Journal for May 3, 1879.

After this, the whole of the medical men of the town
were invited to meet the committee, on Tuesday evening,
May 20, when eleven responded by their presence, being
a majority of the medical men of the town. The result
was that certain questions were raised by the medical
men, and as they involved the chief objections to the
plan, it was thought better to give some time for the
consideration of these objections, and accordingly the
meeting was adjourned to give the committee an oppor¬
tunity of obtaining further information, and preparing
answers to the questions raised.

As a result of further inquiries, valuable information
was obtained from Scotland (Edinburgh and Aberdeen,
where the practice of dispensing by chemists is almost
universal), and after this another meeting with the
medical men was arranged, when the following document
was submitted : —

Medical Question I. — It is argued by medical men, that
if patients are not supplied by them with medicine, they
will have to charge a reduced fee, the loss of which will
not be covered by the saving in drugs and charges con¬
nected with dispensing.

Chemists' Reply. — Taking the figures as given
in a typical case put forward by the medical
men, in which 7000 visits are supposed to be made
annually, if the fee be reduced 6d. per visit we have

7000 sixpences . £175

But the reduction of the fee would not be made
to all the patients, probably 25 per cent, would
continue to pay the same fee as before. This
estimate would reduce the loss by about . . £44

Added to this the saving in the cost of

drugs, estimated at . £93

— .£*137

Probable pecuniary loss where no dispenser is —

employed . . £38

This loss would be mo-re than covered by one extra
visit per day in each week of six days, or one visit more
per day throughout the year would more than cover the
loss and pay for the few drugs which would be kept for
emergencies.

Question II. — How could medicines be obtained by the
public at night, on Sundays and holidays, when shops
were closed ?

Answer. — Some chemists would have a provision for all
contingencies.

Question III. — How would the poor and the very
poor pay for their medicines ?

Answer. — A standard price being adopted for general
use, exceptions would be made as follow: — The pre¬
scription might be marked with the letter P (poor) by
the medical man, if he thought any case deserving of
such a distinction, when the chemist would charge one
half or one-third the ordinary sum, and when the patient
was very poor, the mark might be Y P, when no charge
would be made for the medicine then supplied ; but this
would be followed by the chemist giving a recommenda¬
tion to the dispensary, or he would refer the case to the
charity organization association (if formed), or an arrange¬
ment might be made with the guardians to pay one-half
or one-third the standard charge; for those in receipt of
parochial relief. The chemist would give credit on the
recommendation of the prescriber, which might be ex¬
pressed on the prescription by the letter C, or the chemist
would do so on his own responsibility ; but when credit
had to be given the fully reduced charge could not be
made.

Question IV. — What guarantee would the doctor have
that the prescription would not be repeated without
further instructions from him ?

Answer. — The honour of the dispenser, and the return
of the prescription to the prescriber within twenty-four
hours after being dispensed, except it was ordered to be
repeated any given number of times, when it would be
returned after being dispensed for the last time.

Question V. — What about counter prescribing ?

Answer. — Ever since the incorporation of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, chemists generally have discouraged pre¬
scribing in the hope that they would ultimately have the
duty of dispensing the prescriptions of medical men.
Where this practice prevails, there is no prescribing done
by the chemists, except for such simple ailments as the
medical profession do not care to treat, or the public do
not think of asking their advice about. The result may
be thus briefly summed up. The more dispensing by
chemists the less prescribing, the less dispensing the more
prescribing.

Question VI. — Could prescribers rely on prescriptions
being accurately dispensed with good drugs ?

Answer. — The medical profession need be under no
anxiety on this point. There are plenty of properly
qualified chemists whose honour is a sufficient guarantee
that the intentions of the prescriber will be strictly carried
out, both as regards accuracy of compounding and purity
of drugs. Physicians at present depend almost entirely
on chemists to carry out their instructions, which we
believe is done quite to their satisfaction, as well as that
of their patients.

After the reading of the above, there appeared to be a
dead stand at the first difficulty, viz., that of pecuniary
loss to the prescriber. But little difficulty, however,
seemed to be felt with regard to the other points. Here¬
upon the conference terminated without securing the re¬
sult aimed at at present. But the feeling that remained
was that one or more of the medical men would cease to
dispense for their patients at no distant date. It is
hoped that when once a beginning has been made, others
may find it to their advantage to follow the example.
The committee cannot close their report without express¬
ing their thanks to those gentlemen at a distance who so
kindly answered their inquiries, in very many cases with
lengthy explanations and valuable suggestions.

July 12, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

31

Sfh£ $kpaquiual Jouijiml.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1879.

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

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

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

DISPENSING BY PHARMACISTS AND MEDICAL
PRACTITIONERS.

Though the pharmacists of Great Britain would
probably not approve, any more than medical prac¬
titioners, of being subjected to the very stringent
regulations by which the practice of dispensing
js made the especial business of continental phar¬
macists, there is unquestionably great room for
improvement in regard to the way this work is now
carried out. Lapse of time, which is a remedy for
so many evils, must be looked to as one great source
of mitigation for the confusion of pharmacy with
medicine which has come to the medical practitioners
and the pharmacists of to-day as an inheritance from
the apothecaries of last century. But that alone
would not suffice to bring about a change in the
habits of either medical men or pharmacists, and
therefore gratitude is due to any individuals or
associations that strive by any means to show the
desirability of effecting as far as possible a separation
of the duties of the dispenser from those of the pre-
scriber.

Some months ago the Chemists’ Association of the
town and district of Rochdale undertook to make
some inquiries throughout the country, in order to
ascertain what was the practice in various localities
and thus to obtain a groundwork of information
upon which to promote arrangements for dispensing
to be done by chemists and druggists instead of by
medical men as is so often the case at present. A
series of questions addressed to the local secretaries
of about eighty towns, situated in various parts of
the country, had the effect of eliciting the information
required as to whether the medical men in the
several towns dispensed the medicines for their own
patients ; whether, in cases where that was not done,
the prescriptions were free to be taken to any bond
fide chemist and druggist to be dispensed, and
further how, in cases where it was done, that practice
affected the medical men on the one hand and the
public on the other as regards fees.

Out of the eighty places from which information
was sought there were seventy-two from which re¬
plies were received. Some of these merely answered
the first question without giving any details as to
the effects of the practice in force in the particular
town, but others gave fuller information and only

in one instance was disapproval of the procedure
of the Rochdale Association expressed.

It was found that in twenty-eight towns having
an average population of about forty to fifty thousand
the doctors with some rare exceptions did all the
dispensing, or if the dispensing was done by the
chemist and druggist, it was done for the medical
practitioner rather than for the patient.

In fourteen other towns containing some 1,400,000
inhabitants the practice of medical men dispensing
for their patients was largely prevalent, but not
universal.

In fifteen other towns, the aggregate population
of which amounted to about one million and a half,
the practice was more varied, but there were a large
number of medical men who did not dispense medi¬
cine for their patients.

In fifteen other towns again, with a somewhat
larger aggregate population, the practice of medical
men dispensing their medicines was either entirely
unknown or but very rare.

Among the towns included in the latter class were
Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh and several
places of resort for invalids, such as Torquay,
Cheltenham, etc. The places where dispensing was
practised chiefly by the medical men were either
situated in manufacturing districts, as Dudley,
Wolverhampton, Stoke-upon-Treut, Bradford, etc., or
were agricultural centres, such as Norwich, Taunton,
Maidstone, Reading, Grantham, etc.

The testimony furnished by those who sent the
replies was very generally in favour of medical men
ceasing to dispense, as leaving them free from a task
somewhat irksome and often interfering with their
attendance upon patients. As regards fees it was
stated that it made no difference except in the case
of very poor patients. There seemed also to be good
evidence that where the change had been made, it
met with the approval of the public, and of the
medical men as well as chemists and druggists, and
that each was benefitted in that way which proved
in practice to be the greatest boon to all concerned.

We have now received from the Secretary of the
Rochdale Association a further report of the action
that has been since taken in Rochdale with a view
of separating the dispensing of medicines from
medical practice. The committee entrusted with
the matter invited the medical men in the town to a
conference, the result of which was that certain
questions were raised by the medical men involving
the chief objections to the plan from their point of
view. Further information was then obtained in
special reference to these questions, and at a sub¬
sequent meeting between the committee and the
medical men the whole subject was discussed.

The chief question and the difficulty which seems
to stand most of all in the way of medical men
giving up the supply of medicine themselves has
reference to their professional fee, the idea being
that they must charge a reduced fee and that the

32

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[Jn]y 12, 187$.

reduction, would not be covered by tbe saving in
drugs and expenses connected with dispensing.
The answer give>i to this is that the loss resulting
from reduction of fees would be more than covered
by the fees received for a larger number of visits.

The other questions do not involve so much diffi¬
culty ; thus, for instance, in the obtaining of
medicine upon Sundays and at night there is little
reason to fear chemists and druggists would not be
able to satisfy all requirements. As to the security
that good drugs and preparations would be supplied
by chemists and druggists, it may fairly be taken for
granted that, at the present day, medical men need
not be under any apprehension. Apart from the
influence exercised by the provisions of the Food
and Drugs Act, the improved education of the phar¬
maceutical body may be trusted to as ensuring
proper regard to this point and due consideration
that the intention of the prescribe!’ should be
properly carried out both by the use of pure drugs
and accuracy in compounding.

Another question of some importance has reference
to the scale upon which the poorer class of patients
would be charged for their medicines. It is sugges¬
ted that to meet this difficulty a standard scale of
charges for medicine should be adopted, and that
exceptional reductions of charge should be made in
accordance with the recommendation of the prescri¬
bes, to be made known by marking the prescriptions
with the letters P. or V.P., in those cases where the
medical man thought the patients entitled to this
consideration on the grounds of being poor or very
poor. A further provision for such cases is suggested,
according to which an arrangement is to be made
with the guardians of the poor to pay one half or
some proportion of the dispenser’s charge.

These suggestions are worthy of consideration by
pharmacists generally as being calculated to pave
the way towards a very considerable modification of
the mode in which the dispensing of medicine is carried
out, and as there is no branch of the chemist and
druggist’s business which is more in need of such a
change for the better, we commend to the attention
of our readers the work that has been done in this
direction by the Rochdale Association . It is emi¬
nently desirable that the attempt thus made to
provide for the transfer of dispensing to the hands
of chemists and druggists should receive general and
earnest support from every member of the body, and
we are disposed to believe that by such means it
may eventually be possible to secure a very much
larger share of this business.

The feeling on the part of medical practitioners is
in many instances very decidedly in favour of giving
up the practice of dispensing, and we would urge
upon every member of the trade the importance of
taking all possible advantage of this disposition by
offering facilities which will remove some of the
difficulties attending such a change of procedure, and
by giving every assurance to medical men that the

dispensing of their prescriptions would be carried
out in all respects so as to command the satisfaction
of themselves and their patients.

STRANGE CASE OF ARSENICAL POISONING

Another extraordinary case of poisoning with
arsenic is reported as having occurred at Hudders¬
field which recalls to mind the cases of poisoning,
resulting from the use of “ violet powder ” contain¬
ing an admixture of arsenic. A woman who had
been in the habit of taking prepared chalk to relieve
heart-burn was attacked after taking a dose with
sickness and pains, for which a medical man adminis¬
tered a sedative. Two days afterwards the woman
died and a post mortem examination revealed appear¬
ances of arsenical poisoning. It was then found
that she had been supplied with powdered “French
chalk ” by mistake, instead of prepared chalk, and
that this “French chalk” contained as much as 40 per¬
cent. of arsenic. It is stated that the French chalk
had been supplied by a Manchester firm and the-
coroner requested the chief constable to communicate
with the Manchester police on the subject.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY’S RESEARCH FUND.

According to the Chemical News the following

O’

grants have just been made from the Research Fund
of the Chemical Society : —

£30 to Mr. W. Whiteley Williams, for experiments on
an Improved Method of Organic Analysis.

£25 to Mr. M. M. Pattison Muir, of Caius College,,
Cambridge, for Determining the Physical Constants and
Chemical Habitudes of certain Bismuth Compounds.

£15 to Mr. J. M. Thomson, for experiments on the-
Action of Isomorphous Bodies in Exciting the Crystal¬
lization of Supersaturated Solutions.

£50 to Dr. Wright, for continuing his Researches o
Chemical Dynamics.

£25 to Mr. F. D. Brown, for continuing his Researches-
on the Theory of Fractional Distillation.

£30 to Mr. Bolas, for an Investigation of certain Chro¬
mium Compounds.

£20 to Mr. F. R. Japp, for an Investigation of the-
Action of Organo-zine Compounds on Quinons.

£100 (the De la Rue donation) to Dr. H. E. Armstrong,,
for the Determination of certain Physical Properties,
especially Refraction Indices, of Typical Chemical Com¬
pounds.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Meeting of the above Association will
be held on Thursday, the 17th inst., at 8.30 p.m.
precisely, when the President, Professor Attfield,
will take the chair, and the Annual Report of the
Committee will be read.

July 12, 1879. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

33

fltkpattufkal fonctir of IJrelnnl

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, July 2, 1879.

Present — Charles R. C. Tichborne, LL.D., Ph.D., Pre¬
sident ; Dr. Collins, Messrs. Brunker, Goodwin, Hayes,
Hodgson, Holmes, Oldham, Pring (Belfast).

The minutes of the meeting held on June 4 were read
and signed.

The President announced the death of Mr. James
Whitla, licentiate of Apothecaries’ Hall, of Monaghan,
a member of the Council ; and stated that in accordance
with clause 11 of the Pharmacy Act it was necessary to
fill up the vacancy thus created within ten days after its
notification to him.

Proposed by Mr. Pring, seconded by Dr. Collins, and
resolved,

“ That this Council have heard with extreme regret of
the death of Mr. James Whitla, of Monaghan, and
desires to offer to his widow and family their condo¬
lence and sympathy in their great affliction ; and to
express to them the Council’s appreciation of the late
Mr. Whitla’s valuable services as a member of this
Board.”

Mr. Alexander E. Doran, member of the Society, of
Goldsmith Terrace, Bray, Co. Wicklow, was proposed by
Mr. E. M. Hodgson, and seconded by Mr. J. L. Holmes,
for election to the vacant seat on the Council.

The President having put the motion, Mr. Doran was
elected unanimously.

William Whitla, M.D., licentiate of Apothecaries’
Hall, Dublin, of Victoria Place, Belfast, was registered
as a pharmaceutical chemist.

He was also proposed by Mr. R. W. Pring, and seconded
by Mr. E. M. Hodgson, as a candidate for membership.

Mr. James Wells, 52, Upper Sackville Street, Dublin,
who was proposed by Mr. W. Hayes at the June meeting
and seconded by the President, was now elected a member
of the Society.

The above business, which did not admit of postpone¬
ment, having been transacted, it was

Proposed by Mr. Holmes, seconded by Mr. Hayes, and
resolved,

“ That the Council do now adjourn, in respect to the
memory of the late Mr. Whitla, of Monaghan,
member of the Council.”

The examination for the pharmaceutical chemists’ li¬
cense was held on the same day, but had not concluded
when the Council rose. Five candidates presented them¬
selves for the examination.

provincial transactions.

SUNDERLAND CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The general meeting of the Sunderland Chemists’
Assistants and Apprentices’ Association was held at the
rooms, corner of William Street, on Monday evening
last, the 7th inst. The President, Mr. R. H. Mushens,
occupied the chair. The President gave a brief resume
•of the past session, saying that he had been much pleased
by the manner in which every department of the work
had been carried out ; that the success of the Association,
which had just now closed its first session, had exceeded
bis highest expectations, which he ascribed to the great
interest taken in it by every individual member, as
shown by their regular attendance at the meetings, etc.

He then stated how the Association had first originated,
and how frhe attempt of the assistants and apprentices in
this matter had been ably supported by the chemists,
who had rendered very great service to it. The pro¬
gramme drawn up at the commencement of the session
had been carried out almost in its entirety, several of the
papers reflecting great credit upon their authors. A
very fair library also had been raised for the use of the
members, which, together with the splendid materia
medica collection sent by Messrs. Wright, Layman and
Umney and Messrs. Burgoyne, Burbidges, Cyriax and
Farries, would be of great value to the Association.
Besides these donations, Messrs. Clarke, Bleasdale, Bell
and Tollington gave £3 3s., at the same time promising
£2 2s. annually; Messrs. Hearon, Squire and Francis,
£2 2s.; Messrs. Maw, Son and Thompson, £1 Is.; Messrs.
Sanger and Son, 10s.; Messrs. Southall, Brothers and
Barclay, one of their cabinets of materia medica ; Att-
field’s ‘ Chemistry,’ had also been received from Pro¬
fessor Attfield ; several books from Mr. George S. V.
Wills, and others from chemists in the town.

The President then tendered his hearty thanks to the
members for their valuable assistance, and also for the
harmony and goodwill which had characterized the past
session, rendering his position as much a pleasure as a
duty, and expressed a wish that this Association might
prosper in the future as it had done in the past ; that it
might prove useful to every individual member in some
way or other and become ultimately second to none in
the kingdom.

The Secretary (Mr. R. Thompson) then read his re¬
port, in which he stated the number of honorary members
was 26, of members 27, and that the average attendance
had been 15.

The Treasurer (Mr. A. Harding) read the financial
statement, showing the income for the session to be
£17 19s. 3 d., the expenditure £6 5s. Id., leaving a balance
of £11 14s. 2 d.

The reports, as read, were unanimously adopted, and a
hearty vote of thanks having been accorded to the offi¬
cers and committee for their services, to the donors to
the library and materia medica collection and to the
authors of papers, the meeting proceeded to elect the
officers for the ensuing session, with the following re¬
sults : — President, Mr. A. Harding ; Vice-Presidents,
Messrs. Robert H. Mushens and R. Leithead ; Secretary,
Mr. R. Thompson ; Treasurer, Mr. G. C. W. Wright ;
Librarian, Mr. J. Johnson ; Committee, Messrs. W.
Fowler, J. J. Browell, G. Proctor, J. W. Robinson,
C. Rankin and A. H. Rhymer.

ABERDEEN SOCIETY OF CHEMISTS AND
DRUGGISTS.

The members of this society held their annual dinner
in the Huntley Arms Hotel, Aboyne, last week. Among
those present were Mr. D. Reid, (in the chair), Dr. Moir,
Baillie Sangster, Messrs Coutts, Cruickshank, Giles,
Gordon, Gordon, jun., Presslie, Ritchie, Shepherd, Sinclair,
Strachan and J. J. Petrie, Aboyne. After dinner the
following toast-list was gone over. “The Queen and
the Royal Family,” and “The Aberdeen Society of
Chemists and Druggists,” by the Chairman ; The Pharma¬
ceutical Society,” proposed by Mr. Presslie, and replied to
by Baillie Sangster; “The Medical Profession,” by Mr.
Cruickshank, acknowledged by Dr. Moir; “The Town
and Trade of Aberdeen,” proposed by Mr. Strachan,
responded to by Mr. Sinclair ; “ The Aberdeen School of
Pharmacy,” by Mr. D. Ritchie, replied to by Messrs.
Strachan and Gordon; “The Ladies,” by Mr. Gordon,
jun., responded to by Mr. Giles; “Aboyne and District,”
by Mr. Shepherd, replied to by Mr. J. J. Petrie; and “The
Chairman,” by Baillie Sangster. The party returned to
Aberdeen in the evening, having enjoyed themselves
thoroughly.

34

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 12, 1879

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The History of Alizarin and Allied Colouring
Matters, and their Production from Coal Tar.*

BY W. H. PERKIN, F.R.S.

(Continued from page 18).

The attention of Graebe, in conjunction with Lieber-
mann, was then turned to alizarin, which they thought
probably might belong to the quinone series ; but it was
important that they should first know to what hydrocar¬
bon it was related. To obtain that information, alizarin
prepared from madder was taken and heated with pow¬
dered zinc, according to Baeyer’s method of reducing
aromatic compounds, and in this manner they obtained a
crystalline hydrocarbon, having the composition CUH10.
This was shown to be anthracene, a hydrocarbon contained
in coal tar. Reasoning from the information which they
had thus obtained, they assumed alizarin to be a dioxy-
quinone acid of anthracene —

c14h

10

c14h8o2

Anthracene. Anthraquinone. Alizarin.

But to prove this to be the case it was necessary to pro¬
duce alizarin from anthracene.

This hydrocarbon was discovered by Dumas and
Laurent in 1 832. They obtained it from the product which
comes over towards the end of the distillation of coal tar.
They gave it the formula C15H12, and as this was one and
a-half times the molecular weight of naphthalene they
called it paranaphthalene. It was further examined by
Laurent, who changed its name to anthracene. He also
obtained from it a body which he called anthracenuse, by
oxidizing it with nitric acid ; to this he gave the formula
Q15H-8O4 and C15H705.

In 1854-55, when studying under Dr. Hofmann, at
his suggestion I took up the subject of anthracene for my
first investigation. I prepared the hydrocarbon by dis¬
tilling pitch. Dr. Hofmann afterwards kindly obtained for
me, from Messrs. Bethel, several pounds of a product
rich in anthracene. On oxidizing anthracene I obtained
a product to which I assigned the formula C]4H10O2, and
not doubting Laurent’s formula for the hydrocarbon
anthracene, believed this oxygenated product to be de¬
rived from it by loss of carbon and hydrogen. These
results were not published, and I only mention them here
because it was through the experiments I then made that
I obtained much information, which afterwards proved to
be of great value to me ; and, moreover, the products I
then made served for the experiments to which I shall
have to refer presently.

In 1857, Fritsche examined a hydrocarbon from coal
tar, to which he gave the formula C14H10, and showed
that it had many properties in common with anthracene.

In 1862, Dr. Anderson published an account of his
investigations on anthracene. He found it to possess the
formula C]4H10, and to be identical with Fritsche’s hydro¬
carbon. Dr. Anderson also prepared the oxidation pro¬
duct, and found it to contain C14H802. He called it
oxanthracene ; it is identical with Laurent’s anthracenuse,
and with the product I obtained.

Graebe and Liebermann at once recognized this as the
quinone of anthracene. It, therefore, only remained for
them to convert this into the quinone acid by replacing
two atoms of hydrogen by hydroxyl, and thus settle the
question as to whether alizarin be a quinonic acid of
anthracene or not.

The process they adopted has long been used by che¬
mists ; it consists in first replacing the hydrogen of the
compound with bromine or other halogen, and then

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts.

treating the resulting body with sodic, potassic or other
metallic hydrate, and according as one, two or more atoms
of hydrogen have been replaced by bromine, so on its
removal by the metal of the hydrate, a compound con¬
taining a corresponding number of atoms of hydrogen
replaced by hydroxyl is obtained.

Acting upon this principle, Graebe and Liebermann
heated anthraquinone in sealed tubes, with bromine, in the
proper proportions, to obtain a dibromanthraquinone-,
Cj4H6Br202. And this substance, when fused with caustic^
potash, yielded alizarin in combination with the alkali,
from which it was separated by means of an acid. They
also proposed a second method for preparing dibroman¬
thraquinone, viz., by oxidizing tetrabromanthracene —
C14HBBr4 + 02 = Ci4H6Br202 + Br2.

The great importance of alizarin, as a dyeing agent,,
induced Graebe and Liebermann to patent their process,,
but it was of no commercial value. They had, however,
solved the question of its relationship to anthracene and
anthraquinone, and also established its formula —

Strecker, in 1866, had given the correct formula for
alizarin, but did not publish it in the ordinary way results
of research are usually published, but adopted it in his
* Traits de Chimie Organique.’ And it was not until he
drew my attention to the fact, that I became aware of it.
He also states that he instituted experiments in 1855, in
conjunction with Staedel, to establish the relationship
between alizarin and anthracene. Graebe and Lieber¬
mann appear to have had no knowledge of this.

On distilling purpurin, the other colouring matter of
madder previously referred to, Graebe and Liebermann
also obtained anthracene, and this confirmed the formula
Strecker had assigned to this substance, viz., Cx4H805.

Purpurin is anthraquinone, with three atoms of hydro¬
gen replaced by hydroxyl.

C14H5 I OH | 02

Graebe and Liebermann’s process for the preparation
of alizarin being found to be impracticable, it was desir¬
able, if possible, to find a new method which would render
their discovery of commercial value.

It has been known for a very long time that sulphuric
acid acts upon many organic bodies, producing sub¬
stances called sulpho-acids. In composition these repre¬
sent the body acted upon plus sulphuric anhydride, the
basicity of the product (if derived from a neutral body)
increasing with the number of molecules of sulphuric
anhydride used in its formation. These so-called sulpho-
acids have been found, however, to be nothing more than
acid sulphites ; thus the acid produced by the combination
of benzol with one molecule of sulphuric anhydride is an.
acid sulphite of phenyl, or phenyl-sulphurous acid : —

CsHeSO^ = CgHsSOgH

Sulphobenzjlic Phenylsulphurous
acid. acid.

And that obtained by combining naphthalin with two-
molecules of sulphuric anhydride is an acid disulphite : —

C.0H8(SO3)2=Cl0H6 j

* 3

Disulphonaphthalic Naphthylene-sulphur-
acid. ous acid.

The experiments of Wiirtz and Kekul6, in 1867, cor.t-
firmed this view of the constitution of these acids. They
found that sulpho-benzolic acid, when heated with caustic
potash, produced a phenate and sulphite, thus : — -
CfiHgSOgH + 3 K HO =

Sulpho-beuzolic

acid.

C..H.OK + SO0K0 + 2 OH.,

Potassic phenate.

July 12, 1879.3

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

35

In the same year Dusart also found that disulphonaph-
thalic acid yielded in the same way a naphthylenate and
a. sulphite.

°»H«iio^6KHO=

Disulphonaphthalic acid.

OK

OK

+ 2 S03lL + 4 OH2

Potassic naphthylenate

By the addition of an acid to the products of these
reactions they obtained, first from benzol, by means of
the sulpho acid, hydrate of phenyl, phenol of carbolic
sicid, and from naphthylene, the dihydrate of naphthy-
lene.

c6h6

Benzol.

c10h8

c6h5oh

Hydrate of phenyl.

fi it j OH
viori6 j OH

Naphthylene. Dihydrate of naphthylene.

In this second example it will be seen that we have
obtained a body standing to naphthylene as alizarin does
to anthraquinone. In other words, two atoms of hydro¬
gen have been replaced by two hydroxyls.

It therefore appeared probable to me that, if a disulpho
acid of anthraquinone could be produced, alizarin might
possibly be obtained by a similar process.

From my previous knowledge of the remarkable
stability of anthraquinone, and that it might be dissolved
in strong hot sulphuric acid, and would then crystallize
out unchanged on cooling, it did not appear very probable
that a sulpho acid could be formed ; nevertheless, experi¬
ments were made, varying temperatures being employed,
when eventually it was found that by heating a mixture
of sulphuric acid and anthraquinone very strongly, com¬
bination actually took place, the mixture becoming
perfectly soluble in water. After removing the excess of
sulphuric acid from the new product it was mixed with
caustic potash and heated to about 180° C. ; it soon
became coloured, and then black. When the reaction
was considered complete, the black alkaline mass was
dissolved in water, and formed a rich purple solution.
On acidifying this it became yellow, from the separation
of a copious precipitate, which, on examination, proved to
be artificial alizarin. This product, when collected on a
filter and thoroughly washed, was found to dye madder
mordants with the greatest readiness.

The great obstacle to the preparation of alizarin, viz., the
use of bromine, was thus removed, and, as the result has
proved, a process had been obtained by which this
colouring matter could be manufactured in quantity.

I may here mention that, while these experiments were
in progress, Caro, Graebe, and Liebermann were investi¬
gating the same reaction in Germany.* * * * * §

* Graebe and Liebermann, in a paper published in the
Moniteur Scientifique, April, 1879, p. 399, state that “ Caro
was the first to observe that anthraquinone, when heated
with sulphuric acid above 200°, formed sulphoconjugated
acids, which, like the brominated compound, gave alizarin
on fusion with potassium hydrate ; soon afterwards, or
almost at the same time, Perkin made the same observa¬
tion.” Again, at pp. 400 — 401, they state “The patent of
Caro, Graebe, and Liebermann is dated a day before that of
Perkin. If any particular importance is attached to dates,
the advantages rests without dispute with Caro, for tho
filing of the patent of the German chemist was delayed
through irregularity ( vice de forme). The signatures had
already been given in to the Patent Office, Berlin, on the
15th June.” I may remark, in reference to the first state¬
ment, that Graebe and Liebermann neither give or adduoe
any evidence to substantiate their claim to priority. Their
remark that I had soon afterwards, or almost at the same
time, made the same observation, also goes to show that they
have none. And in reference to the statement that their |

A short time after I had discovered this method of
making artificial alizarin, I found an entirely new process,
in which anthraquinone is not required at all.*

Anthracene forms with chlorine a beautifully crystalline
body, called dichloranthracene, having the formula,
C14H8CL>. This substance combines with Nordhausen
sulphuric acid, forming a bright green solution, which
consists of a sulpho acid of dichloranthracene. This
compound undergoes a remarkable change when heated
with sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and sulphurous
anhydride being evolved, and a sulpho acid of anthra¬
quinone formed. This process has proved to be of great
value, as will be seen further on.

When artificial alizarin was first manufactured it was
noticed that the colours produced by it differed, to some
extent, from those produced with madder or alizarin. The
red shades were more brilliant and more scarlet, and the
purples bluer ; the blacks were also more intense, and
some persons went the length of saying that alizarin had
not been produced artificially at all. This I refuted in a
paper read before the Chemical Society in May, 1870,+
when I showed that alizarin could be readily separated
from the commercial product, and then possessed all the
properties of natural alizarin, both as regards its dyeing
power and in its other characteristics. As no doubt now
exists on this point, I think I need not further discuss it.

In a foot note+ in the paper just referred to I stated
that “ when purifying artificial alizarin by converting it
into an alumina lake, I found that, upon digestion with
carbonate of potash, this lake gave a red coloured solution,
containing a colouring matter dyeing mordants very
similarly to alizarin, with the difference that the reds were
more scarlet, and the purples bluer or more slaty. I have
not obtained this body in a perfectly pure state as yet,
but it appears to be crystalline. It gives two faint black
bands when examined in alkaline solution with the prism,
but these may perhaps be due to the presence of traces of
alizarin.” Some time after this, I made a complete
examination of this substance, § and my analytical results
showed it to have the same composition as natural pur-
purin, viz : —

\ °H )

C14H5 OH 02

(oh!

though it differs from it in properties, in fact, it is an
isomeride of that substance. Being a derivative of
anthracene, I therefore named it anthrapurpurin. Auer¬
bach, || in 1872, separated a colouring matter from
artificial alizarin. He named it isopurpurin. It is, how¬
ever, identical with anthrapurpurin. The name isopur¬
purin is now mostly used for this substance on the
Continent.

The importance of anthrapurpurin as a colouring matter
can scarcely be overrated. I believe I may truly say it is
of as great importance as alizarin itself, and its existence
in artificial alizarin has been the cause of its marvellously
rapid success, as it gives a brilliancy to the reds which
cannot be obtained with madder. Anthrapurpurin differs
from alizarin in many particulars. When heated it is
mostly decomposed, only a little subliming in orange-red
vapours, and condensing a3 yellowish red leaves. If a
mixture of anthrapurpurin and alizarin be sublimed, the

signatures had been given in to the Patent Office, Berlin,
on the 15th June, I find that on May 20th I wrote to Mr.
Robert Hogg, of Glasgow, enclosing patterns dyed with
artificial alizarin, which I had prepared by fusing the
sulphoconjugated acids of anthraquinone with potassium
hydrate, and my patent might then have been secured, but
was delayed. Therefore, their conclusions, from the argu¬
ment as to dates, should be reversed.

* Patented November, 1869, No. 3318.

+ Journal of the Chemical Society , 18/0, p. 133.

X Journal of the Chemical Society, 1870, p. 143.

§ Journal of the Chemical Society, 1872, p. 659 ; 1873, p.
425.

|J Moniteur Scientifique, 1872, p. 686.

36

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

(July 1?, 187*.

sublimate will consist almost entirely of alizarin, as
this substance is not so easily decomposed by heat.

Anthrapurpurin dissolves in caustic alkalies with a more
purple colour than alizarin. It also differs in its behaviour
with alumina. A solution of anthrapurpurin in sodic
carbonate, when mixed with freshly precipitated alumina,
is not absorbed by it, whereas alizarin under the same
conditions is perfectly absorbed. It crystallizes in orange
yellow needles, from alcohol or glacial acetic acid.

By heating it with acetic anhydride I obtained a
triacetyl derivative, and by using benzoyl chloride, a
tribenzoyl one, thus showing it to contain three replaceable
hydrogens. Its alkaline solutions give two faint absorption
bands when viewed with the spectroscope, these bands
being in the same region of the spectrum as those produced
with alkaline solutions of alizarin. When oxidized with
nitric acid it does not yield phthalic acid.

On heating anthrapurpurin with ammonia to a tempera¬
ture of 160° — 180°C., in a closed tube, I found it changed
into an amidated compound, which has been named
anthrapurpuramide. This substance does not dye
mordants. Its solution in alcohol is of a clear dark orange-
red colour. It dissolves in alkalies with a purple colour.
Anthrapurpuramide is isomeric with amido alizarin. Its
formula is —

( NH.2 )

C14H5 OH 02

( °H ) .

In my paper on anthrapurpurin it is mentioned that
there is a colouring matter in artificial alizarin dyeing
alumina mordants of an orange colour.* * * * § This was
afterwards obtained in a crystalline condition, and was
under investigation for some time, but the research was
laid aside on account of more pressing subjects. This
substance, however, proves to be flavopurpurin, a colouring
matter lately described by Schunck and Roemer,f and
obtained by them from anthraflavic acid. It has the
formula —

( 0H )

C14H5 \ OH } 0o
( OH )

and is therefore isomeric with anthrapurpurin.

The amount of it contained in artificial alizarin is not
very large. It is much more freely soluble in alcohol than
anthrapurpurin, and crystallizes from that solvent in
orange coloured silky needles. Its alcoholic solution,
when poured into water, forms a yellow precipitate ; this,
however, has a satiny aspect, owing to the crystalline
character of the precipitate ; it dissolves in caustic alkali
with a purple colour, redder than that produced with
anthrapurpurin, and in ammonia it forms a brownish red
colour, anthrapurpurin forming a purple solution.

Flavopurpurin dyes mordants, but the colours on those
of alumina are of an orange red colour, the pinks being
somewhat of a salmon shade. The purples are more like
those of alizarin, but very dull in comparison with them.

In artificial alizarin I believe there is yet another
colouring matter not investigated, dyeing alumina
mordants a still yellower shade than flavopurpurin. It is
apparently present in very small quantities.

We now see that the product at first made and called
“artificial alizarin,” contained at least three colouring
matters, viz., alizarin, anthrapurpurin, and flavopurpurin ;
as I think it will be convenient to retain this name at
present, for simplicity sake, it will be understood that,
when I use it, I do not refer to pure alizarin, but to
commercial products known by that name.

Before proceeding to speak of some of the products
found in artificial alizarin, I wish to draw attention to a
soluble intermediate substance which is obtained in its
preparation if the process of heating with caustic soda be
not carried on sufficiently long. In this case, although
the alkaline product dissolved with a strong violet colour,
I noticed that, when acidified, no colouring matter, or

* Journal of the Chemical Society, 1873, p. 425.
f Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., 1876, p. 679.

only a small quantity, was precipitated, a strong dark
yellow solution being obtained. On isolating this body
it was found to be crystalline, forming orange -coloured
needles, easily soluble in water, but insoluble in ether.
With alkalies it forms a blue violet-coloured solution ; it
does not dye mordants. When fused with caustic aklali
it is converted into anthrapurpurin. From the mode of
its formation and from its decomposition with alkalies I
gave it the formula : —

c14h6

i OH
\ S03H

o„

and named it sulphoxanthraquinonic acid.* Some time
afterwards Graebe and Liebermannf further investigated!
this compound and confirmed this formula. With the
alkaline earths it forms two sets of salts — acid and neutral
ones — the former being of a yellow colour ; the latter
violet. These probably could be used as pigments.

The artificial alizarin, as first made, contained not only
three colouring matters, but also other products not
possessing dyeing powers. These are of considerable
interest, as will be seen further on. Amongst these are
anthracene, anthraquinone, and hydroanthraquinone, pro¬
ducts which are the result of a peculiar reverse action, or
process of reduction, which takes place in the preparation
of artificial alizarin during the operation of heating with
caustic alkali. The first, viz., anthracene, was only
formed in the early experiments, and resulted from over¬
heating. But the two other substances are always
obtained if caustic alkalies alone are used. Of anthra¬
quinone I have already spoken, but I have not referred to
the action of reducing agents upon it. If anthraquinone
be mixed with a solution of caustic potash and ziuc dust,
the liquid quickly becomes red, especially if heated, the
anthraquinone dissolving. Tnis liquid may be filtered ;
but as the oxygen of the air quickly acts upon it, films of
anthraquinone are formed ; if the air be excluded, a clear
red-coloured fluid is obtained, and on the addition of an
acid, a yellow precipitate is formed. This substance is
hydroanthraquinone, produced from anthraquinone by its
union with hydrogen. Its formation may be represented
thus : —

C14H802+H2 = Ci4H10Oa
Anthraquinone. Hydroanthraquinone

The other bddies I have to speak of are not due to any
reverse chemical action, but are the products of direct
changes, and were regarded as secondary products.

On boiling up artificial alizarin with dilute caustic soda,
and adding milk of lime, it was found that the colouring,
matter was precipitated, leaving a yellow or orange coloured
solution. On filtering this off, and adding an acid to the
filtrate, a pale yellow precipitate was obtained. A
quantity of this was prepared, washed and dried, and
from some of it Dr. SchunckJ succeeded in isolating a
beautiful yellow crystalline product. This he called
anthraflavic acid, and assigned to it the formula, C15H10O4.
Not being satisfied with this: ormula, I afterwards sub¬
mitted it to investigation^ and showed it to have the
composition C14H804, which has since been confirmed by
others. I his formula is the same as that of alizarin, and
therefore, anthraflavic acid is an isomeride of that
substance. It is prepared from its barium salt, which is
somewhat difficultly soluble in water.

Anthraflavic acid is a beautiful substance, crystallizing-
in bright yellow silky needles, and, when heated, gives a*
sublimate of golden yellow crystals in the form of leaves
or plates, a certain amount being, at the same time,
carbonized. It does not dye mordants. It combines
with alkalies, forming compounds dissolving in water
with an orange red colour. The barium salt, already
referred to, crystallizes in needles of a brownish red

* Jou/rnal of the Chemical Society, 1870, p. 139.

f ‘ Jahresberioht,’ 1871, p. 685.

t ‘ Broc. Lit. and Phil. Soc./ Manchester, vol. x., p. 13$.

§ Journal of the Chemical Society, 1871, p. 1109.

July 12, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

37

colour, and its cold aqueous solution is somewhat similar
in appearance to that of potassic bichromate.

Dr. Schunck found that anthraflavic acid when fused
with caustic potash was converted into a colouring
matter, which he thought to be alizarin. I also believed
this to be the case until some time afterwards, when I
prepared a sufficient quantity of the colouring matter to
dye a pattern with. I then found it produced orange
red colours with alumina mordants.*

Schunck and Roemerf have since investigated this
reaction, and found that the colouring matter is an isomer
of anthrapurpurin ; in fact, it is flavopurpurin, which
has already been described. Its formation may be ex¬
pressed thus —

C14H804 + 3 OKH = C14H5K305+H2 + 20H2

Anthraflavic

acid.

Potassic

fiavopurpurate.

To effect this change in small experiments, a temperature
over 200° C. is necessary.

Dr. Schunck and H. RoemerJ have published an
account of another substance which accompanies anthra¬
flavic acid. They have named it isoanthraflavic acid.
I had also succeeded in obtaining this substance, and
also in preparing it without the formation of colouring
matter, except in small quantities.^ To this I shall refer
presently.

Isoanthraflavic acid crystallizes from glacial acetic
acid, in which it is difficultly soluble, in yellow needles.
These lose their lustre on being dried at 100° C. When
strongly heated it sublimes in leaves of a golden or
orange colour. This substance has the formula —

OH

c14h6

OH

O,

and is, therefore, another isomer of alizarin. It differs
from anthraflavic acid, in forming a barium derivative,
which is easily soluble in cold water with a dark red
colour. Heated with acetic anhydride it forms a pale
yellow crystalline body, having the formula-

OCoH.O

CUH,

6 1 OC0H3O

0„

Diacetoisoanthraflavic acid.

When heated to about 180° C. with caustic potash it
undergoes a very interesting change. The mixture gives
a black-looking product, which dissolves in water with a
beautiful purple colour. On acidifying this with an acid
a yellow precipitate is formed, which is found to consist
of anthrapurpurin. This change is similar to that which
takes place when anthraflavic acid is treated with caustic
alkalies, but occurs at a much lower temperature. This
reaction is as follows : —

C14H804 + 3 OKH = C14H5K305 + H2 + 2 OH,

Is >antbrafl»vic
acid.

Potassic

Anthrapu rpurate.

Isoanthraflavic acid does not dye mordants.

Another substance was found in artificial alizarin, as a
bye-product, by Caro and Glaser. It was first examined
in 1871 by Liebermann,|| who found it to have the for¬
mula: —

Cl4H7 (OH) 02

and named it monoxanthraquinone. It crystallizes from
alcohol in fine yellow needles. It does not dye mor¬
dants.

Monoxanthraquinone, when fused with alkalies, also
undergoes an interesting change. It becomes a nearly
black mass, which dissolves in water with a blue- violet
colour, and this solution, on being acidified, gives a
yellow precipitate, which is nothing but pure alizarin.

* Journal of the Chemical Society , 1873, p. 20.

t Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., 1876, p. 679.

X Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., 18/5, p. 1628, and 1876, p. 379.

§ Journal of the Chemical Society, 1876, i, 851.

|| Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., 1871, p. 108.

C14H7 (OH) 0,-f 2 0KH =

Monoxanthraquinone.

C!4Hg I Q]£ I °2 "k Ho “k 0H2

Potassic Alizarate.

Now, how can the presence of monoxanthraquinone,
anthraflavic, and isoanthraflavic acid in artificial alizarin
be accounted for ? When sulphuric acid acts upon
anthraquinone, two kinds of sulpho acids are formed,
namely, a mono and a di.

C14H7 (S03H) o2

Monosulphanthraquinonic

acid.

C»H« i SOgH i O.

V. _ /

Disulphanthraquinonic

acid.

After the manufacture of alizarin had been commenced,
Graebe and Liebermann published an account of these
bodies.*

They found that monosulphanthraquinonic acid,
when heated carefully with alkali, yields monoxanthra¬
quinone.

C14H7 (S03H) 02 4- 3 OKH =

C14H7 (OK) 0, + S03K2 + 2 0H,

Potassic

monoxanthraquinonate.

And this, when further heated, yielded alizarin as pre¬
viously stated. The disulpho acid, when heated with
alkali, they said, formed alizarin.

CuHejJgg j 02 + 6KHO =

02 + 2 S03K2 + 4 OH2

This, as we shall see presently, was a mistake, prob¬
ably from the fact that the need of a disulpho acid for
the preparation of alizarin had never been doubted, the
process being supposed to be analogous to that originally
described with dibromanthraquinone.

But it was gradually found, when manufacturing
artificial alizarin on the large scale, that the smaller the
amount of sulphuric acid used to convert the anthra¬
quinone into sulpho acids, the temperature being also
kept as low as practicable, that the colouring matter
made from such a product yielded with mordants shades
of colour more nearly approaching those produced with
madder, until eventually the unexpected result was
arrived at, that it was necessary to have a monosulpho
acid of anthraquinone for the preparation of pure
alizarin, and that the disulpho acid does not yield this
substance at all, so that, in the preparation of pure
alizarin, the following reactions take place, monosul¬
phanthraquinonic acid is first decomposed into monoxan¬
thraquinone ; and this, when further In ated with alkali,
is oxidized into alizarin.

We thus see that this formation of alizarin differs
entirely from that originally discovered by Graebe and
Liebermann, both as regards the chemicals employed and
the chemical changes which take place. We also see
that monoxanthraquinone is an intermediate product and
not a secondary one.

Disulphanthraquinonic acid, although it does not yield
alizarin when heated with alkalies, yields anthrapurpurin.
But how is this to be accounted for ? It has been shown
that the first action of caustic alkali on this acid results
in the formation of sulphoxanthraquinonic acid : —

C, ,H

Uu6

OH

S03H

O.,

This, when further treated with the same reagent, changes
into anthrapurpurin : —

OH

OH J. 0.,

OH

C'i4H5

* ‘Jahresbericht,’ 1871, 683-684.

38

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 12, 1879.

When I became fully acquainted with this fact, I was
under the impression that an intermediate body must be
formed, standing to anthrapurpurin as monoxanthra-
quinone does to alizarin, and formed simply by the
replacement of the SOoH group in sulphoxanthraquinonic
acid by HO.

Such a substance was found in artificial alizarin, and I
have already described it ; it is isoanthraflavic acid. In
proof of its being always formed previously to anthra-
purpurin, I succeeded in obtaining it directly by heating
a salt of disulphanthraquinonic acid with a dilute solution
of caustic potaslb. I employed a 5 per cent, solution of
this alkali, and only little more than a sufficient amount
to effect the decomposition indicated by theory, thus : —

Cl4H6 j J 03 + 60KH =

Disulphanthraquinonic

acid.

C14H8 j | 02 + 2S03K;! + 40H;,

Potassic Isoanthra-
fiavate.

The mixture was heated in a closed iron vessel to 180°-
190° C. for six or seven hours. In this manner scarcely
any anthrapurpurin was formed, and the alkaline solu¬
tion, when acidified, gave a precipitate consisting chiefly
of isoanthraflavic acid. So that in the formation of
anthrapurpurin from disulphoanthraquinonic acid we get
the following changes : — First, the formation of sulphox¬
anthraquinonic acid ; second, the formation of isoanthra¬
flavic acid ; third, the formation, of anthrapurpurin ; and
we see that isoanthraflavic acid is also an intermediate
product in the formation of anthrapurpurin, and not a
secondary one. The formation of anthraflavic acid has
now to be accounted for. When sulphuric acid acts upon
anthraquinone, it is found to form two isomeric disulpho
acids, one forming an easily soluble sodium salt, the other
a less soluble one. The former is known as the @ sodic
‘disulphanthraquinonate, the latter as the a. This less
soluble, or a salt, when treated with alkalies, undergoes
analogous changes to the (3 salt, but, instead of forming
isoanthraflavic acid, yields anthraflavic acid, and this,
as previously stated, when heated strongly with alkalies
yields flavopurpurin. Anthraflavic acid is, therefore, an
intermediate body and not a secondary one.

We see, then, how these various bodies are formed, and
as they are proved to be intermediate products, their
presence shows imperfection in the process of manufac¬
turing, because, if perfect, these substances should not
have been left, but have been converted into colouring
matter. There are two other substances whose presence
has not as yet been accounted for, and these are anthra-
■quinone and hydroanthraquinone.

Monexanthraquinone, isoanthraflavic acid, and anthra¬
flavic acid, when being converted into colouring matter
by treating with caustic alkali, cause nascent hydrogen to
be liberated, as we have seen. This, acting upon other
portions of these same substances, reduces them thus: —

cuh8o3 + h2 = c14h8o2 + oh2

Oxanthraquinone.

Ci^HsOi + H4 = C14H802 + 20H2

Isoanthraflavic and
anthraflavic acid.

And part of the anthraquinone thus formed also unites
with hydrogen, forming hydroanthraquinone.

The presence of these two substances, then, represents
a certain amount of reverse action, and, consequently,
iloss to the manufacturer. Fortunately, means have been
found of almost entirely preventing their formation, and
.also of ensuring the intermediate products being con¬
verted into colouring matter. I shall have to speak of
this further on.

(To be continued.)

arttameittarg and San ^rocfertiitgs.

The Prosecution under the Apothecaries Act at

Birmingham.

Mr. Motteram, Q.C., judge of the Birmingham
County Court, gave judgment on Friday, the 4th
inst., in the case of the Apothecaries’ Company of the
city of London against James Harrison, chemist, Stafford
Street, Birmingham. The action, which has been several
times before the Court, was brought to recover £20
damages, by way of penalty, under 55 Geo. III., cap. 194,
sec. 20, against the defendant for prescribing medicine to
one Julia Caddick, who was suffering from weakness sub¬
sequent to confinement, in November, 1876. The case
had been postponed pending the decision of a higher Court
in what is known as “Shepperley’s case,” of Nottingham.
The plaintiffs contended that in prescribing medicine for
the woman Caddick the defendant infringed the rights of
an apothecary. The defendant took refuge under a proviso
of the 28th section of the same Act, and counsel on his behalf
contended that he had a right to prescribe medicine in a
case like that under the notice of the Court. In giving
judgment, Mr. Motteram said that if the language of the
28 th section were carefully considered, he was afraid it
would be found not to have the effect contended for on the
part of the defendant. He found from the evidence that
the defendant had clearly and unmistakably acted as an
apothecary, and Jhe proviso relied upon afforded, in his
opinion, no defence in such a case as that. The verdict,
therefore, would be for the plaintiffs for £20 damages
and costs. — Times.

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

On the 24th of May, 1879, at Newark, Mr. John
Hanson Gibson. Aged 21 years. Mr. Gibson was a
Registered Apprentice of the Society.

On the 12th of June, 1879, Mr. James Briggs, Phar¬
maceutical Chemist, Tipton. Aged 64 years. Mr. Briggs
had been a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society since
1842.

On the 28th of June, 1879, Mr. William Henry Moon,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, High Street, Ilfracombe. Aged
43 years. Mr. Moon had been a Member of the Phar¬
maceutical Society since 1863.

On the 1st of July, 1879, Mr. Stephen Cox, Chemist
and Druggist, Fore Street, Hatfield. Aged 75 years.

Stspensittg Jftentoitanda.

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

Replies.

[315]. Sal Ammonise.

Spt. Nitre.

Sp. Wine.

Opodeldoc.

In this recipe “ sal ammonise ” means liq. ammon.,
B.P., and if “A Norfolk Man” tries it he will get a
clear solution.

In many districts liq. ammon. is well-know n by the
name of sal ammonise or spirit of sal ammoni se (just as

uly 12, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

39

liq. vol. c.c. is called Hartshorn), and recipes similar to
the one in question are so commonly met with that I am
surprised there should be any doubt or difficulty in the
matter.

Manchester. W. Wilkinson.

[319]. I think W. took an entirely mistaken \iew of
the prescription in question. In my opinion, he should
simply have triturated the litharge and olive oil in a
mortar till a liniment was formed. The late Professor
Hamilton, professor of midwifery in Edinburgh, used to
prescribe the following as a nipple liniment : — ■*

R Plumb. Oxy. Sem. Yit.

Acetum . a a oij.

01. Olivae . ‘ 3vj.

Rub together till a flesh colour is obtained.

H. C. B.

[322], What is meant by W. B. in regard to the puzzle
to solve, in the admixture of tr. lyttae, acid, sulph. dil.,
tr. lavand. co. and vaseline or lard ?

I have made a very nice ointment, almost similar in
appearance to pink shaving cream, with the proportions
given. I find no difficulty; but I was rather interested
in the prescription, owing to the addition of tr. lavand.
co., as I have employed a somewhat similar ointment for
ringworm. In regard to the compatibility or incompa¬
tibility I have nothing to say. It is sometimes very
useful as an application.

Northallerton. Henry Brown.

[323]. The gtt. 2 after sod. siccat. was evidently a slip
of the pen ; grs. 2 was clearly meant.

Northallerton. Henry Brown.

[324]. The prescription of “ Gulielmus ” is one of those
which a pharmacist is often at a loss to understand, and
if he be thoroughly orthodox and will adhere to the exact
written order of a physician or surgeon, it certainly is
sufficient to raise not only discussion but much doubt as to
what is meant by morphia when ordered in the proportion
of eight grains to half an ounce of a mixture of chloroform
and liniment of belladonna.

I observe “ Gulielmus ” adds after morphia “ the
alkaloid,” so as to italicise, as it were. Now morphia is
very sparingly soluble in chloroform ; so also are the
acetate and hydrochlorate. Cold alcohol dissolves one in
fifty of morphia, the hydrochlorate is soluble in about
sixty parts of cold alcohol, the acetate in a little less, and
the sulphate in still less.

I have often used the liniment, although not in exactly
the same proportions as given by “Gulielmus,” in painful
neuralgias of the face. The practical point is, How can
a complete solution be obtained ? I am sure in “ The
Month ” this question will occupy, as it deserves, some
consideration.

As an old compounder, I saw at once the difficulty.
The fact was that the person who first dispensed the
prescription fully understood the insolubility of morphia
in the menstruum ordered. Was a departure of only a
slight degree justifiable, so as to have morphia in perfect
solution, although that must necessarily be a salt of
morphia, under the circumstances ? I at once say it was.
In my opinion the medical man intended perfect solu¬
tion. How, then, is a perfect solution to be obtained ?
It cannot be obtained by using hydrochlorate or acetate
of morphia. Sulphate, if well prepared, will dissolve, but
the easiest mode is to add a small quantity of dilute sul¬
phuric acid, and all trouble vanishes, to either morphia,
or hydrochlorate or acetate.

Some one may say this is unjustifiable meddling with
a prescription. I say no. The intention is to have
morphia in solution, and if the prescriber is unaware of
the insolubility of such a large quantity in a given
quantity of menstruum, but yet intends a strong solu¬

tion, surely it is the business of the pharmacist to carry
out his intention.

I look upon this question as one of the most important
and interesting that has yet been asked. Not one
medical man in a hundred, and not one pharmacist in
fifty, has any idea of such exact proportions as given by
“Gulielmus.”

Northallerton. Henry Brown.

Queries .

[326]. I shall be glad if any reader can inform me if
the following prescription can be dispensed so as to form
a mixture of a presentable appearance : —

R Tinct. Gelsemin. Semper. . .

. . 3iv.

Ferri et Quiniae Cit .

. . 3iss.

Croton Chloral Hyclrat. . .

• • 3j-

Potass. Bromidi .

Potass. Iodid .

. . 3ss.

Aquae Chloroformi ....

. ad gviii.

M. Sign, sss 4tis horis ex aqua.

Sub Umbra Floresco.

[327]. What is the best method

of dispensing the

following to obtain a presentable mixture : —

R Sodae Salicylat .

. . [)iv.

Croton Chloral .

. . 5 iv.

Quiniae Sulphat .

• • Bj

Aq .

M. Ft. mist. 5j ter in die sd.

[328].

R Ammon. Bromid. ....... 3^*

Tinct. Hyoscyami,

Tinct. Humuli . a a 3^v<

Aquae . ad gviij.

M. Ft. mist.

Can any of your readers inform me how the above may
be dispensed so that the mixture should be of a clear
bright sherry colour — not at all opaque ?

I had the prescription brought by a customer, who
assured me it was made up in one of the well known
leading city establishments, and it was sent out as thus
described.

It was afterwards dispensed by respectable chemists in
the country and by myself. All the mixtures obtained
in the country corresponded with the one I mixed.

How is it that the London one was an exception, and
how can the compound result in a clear bright mixture ?

C. B.

[329]. Will you kindly inform me through the Journal
how I can make a clear mixture of “ dandelion and
quinine,” on mixing the tr. quiniae with liq. tarax. ?
Luton. W. C. S.

[330]. Will some of your readers kindly inform me
how the enclosed prescriptions should be dispensed ?

No. 1.

R Quinae Sulph . gr. xx.

Sodae Salicylatis . 3iss*

Acidi Sulph. Dil . 3j*

Aquae Piment . ad §viij.

Misce et signe — A tablespoonful to be taken three
times a day.

No. 2.

R Feni Perchlor. . 3’ss*

Acidi Hydrochlor . gtt. viij.

Aquae . ad §vj.

Misce et signe — A tablespoonful to be taken three
times a day.

J. S. Nemo.

40

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 12, 1879.

Jjtotys and

[609]. A good ruby colour for bottle lenses is formed
by adding a solution of iodine made the same as lin.
iodi, B.P. (omitting the camphor), to glycerine slightly
diluted. It should be added gradually until the required
shade is obtained. Stands well.

Cortex.

[610]. FURNITURE CREAM.— The following is a

good formula : —

r>f

Yellow Wax . . . 1 lb.

Yellow Soap . 2 ozs.

Spirit of Turpentine . 2 pints.

Boiling Water . 2 „

Melt the wax and soap over a slow fire, add the tur¬
pentine, and lastly, stir in the water gently until it is
quite cold.

Sub Umbra Floresco.

[611] . MOORE’S OINTMENT. — It is doubtful

whether “Unguentum” can obtain an authentic formula for
Moore’s ointment. Moore was a quack with a cart who
treated bad legs, etc., coram populo. Leather Lane on
Sunday morning was a favoui ite “ pitch.” He died a
short time ago. W. J. R.

[612] . SYRUP OF SCAMMONY.- Would' some
reader kindly oblige me with a good formula for pre¬
paring syrup, scammonii, dose 3j> ad 3ij? ' i

Sub Umbra Floresco.

[613]. DANDELION COFFEE.— Could any^eader
oblige me with a good foi’m for making dandelion coffee?

Ferri Cit

[614]. “PULV. SALINI EFFERYESC. APERI-
ENTIS.” — Information is required respecting the com¬
position of the above, occurring in a prescription snmed
j. p.

[615]. DENTIFRICE WATER.— Could any one ob¬
lige me with a recipe for a good dentifrice water.

Qujero.

[616]. SILVER PLATING LIQUID.— Will some
one kindly furnish me with a formula for a silver plating
liquid suitable for coating steel ? VfATOR.

[617], CHERRY TOOTH PASTE.— D. A. would be
greatly obliged for a recipe for cherry tooth paste. He
has tried several published in receipt books and journals,
but cannot obtain either a good consistency or that bright
transparent cherry colour which is so attractive in good
tooth paste.

SULPHO-TARTRATE OF QUTNIA.— Dr. Pren-
geber recommends for hypodermic use the following
solutions : —

1. Quinia Sulphate . . 2*00 gm. or 30 grs.

Tartaric Acid . . . 0’60 gm. or 9 grs.

Distilled Water. . . 6’00 gm. or 100 min.

To be dissolved by gently heating.

2. Quinia Sulphate . . 2*00 gm. or 30 grs.

Morphia (alkaloid). . 0‘006 gm. or gr.

Tartaric Acid . . . 065 gm. or 10 grs.

Cherry-laurel Water . 6‘00 gm. or 100 min.

Both of these injections are very rarely followed by
abscess. — Rep. de Pharm ., 1879, 99.

CINNABAR-PLASTER. — Dr. Yidal uses with
good success, in the treatment of scrofulous ulcerations and
of ecthyma, the following plaster, spread upon silk in the
usual manner : —

Red Oxide of Lead . 2*50 gm. or 40 grs.

Cinnabar . 1*50 gm. or 25 grs.

Lead-plaster .... 26’00 gm. or 400 grs.

Melt the lead-plaster, add the red lead and cinnabar,
mix well and spread. — Rep. de Pharm., 1879, 99.

SUMMER DRINKS:—

Milk Lemonade. — Loaf sugar, one and a half pounds,
dissolved in a quart of boiling water, with half a pint of
lemon juice, and one and a half pints of milk ; this makes
a capital summer beverage. A half-pint of sherry added
is a great improvement.

Still Lemonade. — The juice of three lemons, the peel of
one, quarter of a pound of lump sugar, and a quart of cold
water. Mix, digest for five hours, and strain.

Lemon Whey.- — One pint of boiling milk, half a pint of
lemon juice, sugar to taste. Mix and strain.

Lemon Shrub. — The juice of twelve lemons, the thin
rind of two, one pound of sugar, the whites of two eggs
well whisked, one pint of water, half a pint of rum, and
half a pint of brandy. Mix and strain. — Monthly Maga¬
zine of Pharm.

*,* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the uniter; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Lin. Potass. Iodid. c. Sapone, B.P.

Sir, — In answer to W. H. de B.’s inquiry as to the above
preparation, we have much pleasure in giving him the infor.
mation he requires.

The liniment was, we believe, originally introduced to
the Medical Council by the late Dr. Rumsey, of Chelten¬
ham, where it was very largely used. It was always
intended to be made with white curd soap dissolved in the
whole of the glycerine and water, mixed in a water-bath ;
then,~having powdered the iodide of potassium in a large
mortar previously warmed, pour the hot solution on the
iodide in the mortar, and stir a few minutes until cold ;
•lastly, add the oil of lemon.

You will then have a white solid preparation which does
not separate. It was sent out in covered pots as an oint¬
ment, although some London houses send it in wide-mouthed
bottles.

South Kensington. Plaister and Hillen.

“ Beta.” — Cotyledon Umbilicus.

R. G. Bumpstead. — The practice of pharmacy in France
is limited to persons possessing diplomas as pharmaciens.

Ricini. — We do not consider that an article answering
fairly to the name, or that can be sold without danger of
prosecution under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, can be
prepared.

R. Roberts. — (1), Not complete enough to identify; calyx
absent. (2) Cor nust sang uinea. (3) Vicia Cracca. (4)
Stellaria graminea. (5) Tamus communis. (6) Veronica
officinalis.

C. T. — (l) Lgsimachia nemorum. (2) Potentilla Tor¬
ment ilia. (3) Orchis maculata. (4) Erysimum cheiran-
thoides. (5) Galium saxatile. (6) Lycopus europceus.
(7) Hieracium umbellatum.

G. Morgan , j'in. — (1) Centaurea nigra. (2) Geum
urbanum. (3) Stachys sylvatica. (4) Alliaria officinalis.

A. H. Cleland. — We should be glad if you would watch
the growth and communicate the result at a future time.

F. N. — Ganot’s ‘ Elementary Treatise on Physics,’ pub¬
lished by Longmans.

W. Reynolds. — We believe not, but recommend you to
apply to the Registrar.

W. B. Stonham. — We are not acquainted with such a
work.

“ Owen.” — A number of papers upon the composition of
chlorodyne will be found in vol. xi. of the second series of
thia Journal. _ _ _ _

"Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. J. H. Dingle, H. Long, Audio, Alpha.

July IP, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

41

SPIRITUS .ZETHERIS NITROSI:

ITS COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS.

BY F. M. RIMMINGTON, F.C.S.

ij

The nature, substance and quality of spiritus
•setheris nitrosi has long been a problem asking for
solution ; and as I have given a good deal of atten¬
tion to it for a long time, and feel myself under a
pledge to contribute another paper on the question
raised some time ago as to the actual existence of
nitrite of ethyl in this compound, I now purpose
fulfilling that promise.

Perhaps some discriminating minds will draw a
distinction between sweet spirit of nitre and spiritus
setheris nitrosi. I make no such distinction, and all
that is said in this paper has reference to a spirit
that corresponds with that described in the British
Pharmacopoeia, in nature, substance and quality.

I think all who have attempted the analytical
examination of this preparation, will admit it is
surrounded with some difficulty.

There is first, an ethereal fluid, so designated ;
secondly, an ethereal oil or hydrocarbon ; thirdly,
.aldehyde ; fourthly, nitrous acid, uncombined ;
fifthly, acetic acid uncombinecl ; sixthly, alcohol
and water.

The presence of nitrite of ethyl in the spirit of
the Pharmacopoeia has been denied ; and I am
willing to admit it may be possibly true, but if true,
it is culpably wrong, and is the result of mismanage¬
ment. If no nitrite of ethyl be formed, what be¬
comes of the nitric acid used in the operation, and
what are the products of the chemical action that
takes place? It does not distil over, it does not pass
away as gas, but it is nevertheless consumed.

After many attempts to investigate this matter,
and trying all the methods that suggested themselves
to me, or that I could find described for the estima¬
tion of the nitrites, I found none that gave satis¬
factory results until I adopted the following scheme,
by which not only the nitrite of ethyl, but all the
other constituents, may be accurately estimated.

The following table, at all events, shows the
results in two analyses (out of a great many others)
of a typical sample, agreeing with the B.P. tests,
otc.: —

(0-

Oh-

Water ....

. . 7*96

7-93

Aldehyde . . .

. . 1T9

1-19

Alcohol . . .

. . 88-10

88-10

Acetic Acid . .

. . -47

•50

Nitrous Acid

. . -59

•56

Nitrite of Ethyl

. . 1-69

1-72

100-00

100-00

The method of analysis is as follows : —

The nitrite of ethyl is to be estimated by the con¬
version of its nitrogen into ammonia, first by
decomposing it with pure potash into KN02, and
distilling this with a zinc and copper couple some¬
what after the method recommended by Thorpe,
but modified by Dr. Cornelius Fox, and titrating
the result with standard acid (process in detail given
below).

The amount of nitrous and acetic acids are esti¬
mated volumetrically. The two acids are afterwards
separately estimated.

Aldehyde is estimated by conversion into acetic
acid by peroxide of hydrogen, and titrated.

Water and alcohol by difference.

Third Series, No. 473.

Estimation of Nitrite of Ethyl.

5 c. c. of the spirit are added to 1 gram of pure
potash (free from nitre) dissolved in 40 c.c. of pure
water in a 50 c.c. graduated, flask, stoppered and
capped with leather, digest in a warm place at a
temperature of 150° — 200° F. for three hours. Allow
the flask to cool and then dilute with water to 50 c.c.,
shake and then take out with a pipette 10 c.c. of the
liquid and run it into a platinum dish, and add to it
40 c.c. of water, evaporate on a water-bath to 20 c.c.
to get rid of the alcohol, etc. This residue is now to
be washed into a flask of 16 ounces (or 450 c.c.)
capacity, containing 10 grams of zinc foil coated with
copper, and the volume of liquid made up to about
350 c.c. with water, and connected with a condenser;
heat is now to be applied and the distillation carried
on as usual. Most of the ammonia comes over in
the first 100 c.c. of distillate, but it is necessary to
distil another 50 c.c. to ensure perfect exhaustion.
The ammonia thus obtained is now to be estimated
with a standard sulphuric acid, 1 c.c. equal to -001
gram ammonia.

The amount of NH3 found is to be multiplied by
100 x *824 which will equal the total nitrogen in the
spirit ; and this, minus the nitrogen present in the
free nitrous acid, when multiplied by 5-357 will give
the nitrite of ethyl contained in the spirit.

Estimation of Nitrous and Acetic Acids.

The amounts of these two acids are necessary to
be known in order to judge of the quality of the
preparation, and for correctly estimating the nitrite
of ethyl. 10 c.c. are to be measured with a pipette
and run into a platinum dish, and diluted with an
equal volume of pure water, and ’5 gram carbonate
of potash added, and stirred until dissolved ; the
solution is then evaporated on a water-batli to dry¬
ness. This saline residue is now to be treated with
5 c.c. of pure alcohol for the separation of the po¬
tassium acetate, from the potassium nitrite, and
again repeated, and the mixed solutions filtered
through a very small Swedish filter ; this filtrate
evaporated in a tared capsule to dryness, and rapidly
weighed. The weight minus *021 gram (the weight of
KN02 which is dissolved by 10 c.c. of alcohol) and
the amount multiplied by ’6122 gives the quantity
of acetic acid present in the spirit.

The amount of acetic acid thus found, multiplied

by ’7666 gives the equivalent of N02 to which it is
equal, and this product deducted from the total
acidity, (previously determined alkalimetrically,)
leaves the nett amount of N02 present.

Estimation of the Aldehyde.

Into a 25 or 50 c.c. flask run 10 c.c. of the spirit,
and add 10 c.c. of peroxide of hydrogen, and let it
stand two or three hours ; by this time the aldehyde
will have become converted into acetic acid, and
may be estimated by decinormal alkali; the amount
thus determined, less the number of c.c. required by
the free acids previously determined, multiplied by
•0044 will give the amount of aldehyde.

Estimation of Alcohol and Water.

The alcohol is estimated by the specific gravity,
and the water by difference.

The foregoing scheme of analysis probably may
look formidable in the eyes of very practical people.
It certainly involves some nicety of selection of
materials, as to purity, but otherwise it is not diffi¬
cult.

42

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 19, 187

I append the statement of analysis of four samples
of spirit of nitrons ether, obtained from different
sources and represented as the “best.”

No. 1

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

Water ....

10*55

14-12

16-17

15-49

Aldehyde . . .

•75

•21

•26

•00

Alcohol ....

87-5

85-2

82-60

83-6

Acetic Acid . . .

•16

•03

•18

•16

Nitrous Acid . .

•29

•27

•69

•68

Nitrite of Ethyl .

*75

T7

•10

•07

100-00

100-00

100-00

100-00

The nice gradation of 'quality here exhibited,
without any design, is very remarkable.

THE BOTANICAL SOURCE OF ARAROBA.

In a former note on Goa powder, which appeared
in this Journal,* it was suggested by Mr. E. M.
Holmes that this drug might perhaps be derived from
a species of Ccesa Ipinia nearly allied to C. Sappan, L.
This opinion was founded partly on a microscopical
examination of the structure of fragments of wood
found in the araroba of commerce, and partly on the
appearance of a single leaf of the araroba plant, which
was found to bear a considerable resemblance in habit
to those of G. Sappan. This leaf, kindly supplied from
the Royal Botanical Gardens at Edinburgh, was ob¬
tained from a slip of the plant brought home from
Bahia by Dr. J. L. Paterson. Those who are well
acquainted with the plants of the Leguminosre will
readily acknowledge the difficulty of judging of the
genus from a leaf alone, without flowers and fruit.
These have at length been procured, and the true
source of the araroba may now be considered to be
definitely settled, and the mystery which has so long
attended the natural history of the drug to be satis¬
factorily cleared up. This information is supplied
by Dr. J. M. de Aguiar, who has just published at
Bahiaf a pamphlet containing a very full and detailed
description of the plant, with illustrations of the
leaves and flowers, a copy of which has recently been
placed at our disposal by Mr. T. Christy.

According to Dr. de Aguiar the flowers and fruit
which have been obtained show that the araroba
plant is more nearly allied to Centrolobium than to
Ccesalpinia , having truly papilionaceous flowers,
and that it belongs to the genus Andira of the sub-
t.ribe Geofl'rieeai, which is characterized by having a
hard drupaceous one-seeded fruit, sweet-smelling
violet or purplish flowers arranged in panicles, a
calyx with short teeth, and five distinct petals. From
Centrolobium it is distinguished by the fruit, which
in that geniis resembles a samara and is furnished
with prickles at its base.

The araroba plant is therefore nearly allied to
Andira inermis , the bark of which was formerly a
well known remedy in this country for intestinal
parasites, under the name of cabbage-tree bark or
worm bark. J

The following description is a precis made from
the information contained in Dr. J. M. de Aguiar’s
pamphlet : —

The plant from which araroba is extracted is one
of the larger intertropical trees which are met with
between 13Q and 15° of latitude, south of Bahia,

* Pharmaceutical Journal [3], vol. v., p. 801, note f.

f Memoria Sobre a Araroba, pelo Dr. J. M. de Aguiar.
Bahia, 1870.

X Lewis, ‘Materia Medica,’ p. 320.

especially in the forests of Camamu, Igrapiunar
Santorem, Taperoa and Valencia, and rivals in height
the tree commonly known under the name of Oleo
( Myrocarpus fastigiatusPv Myrospermum erythroxy-
lum *), and sometimes attains even greater dimensions.
The ordinary height of the tree is 80 to 100 feet ;
the trunk is straight, cylindrical, and in the two
specimens which were measured in the thickest part
one was 31 and the other 48 centimetres in diameter.
The tree commences to branch at more than a third
of its whole height, and forms a not very leafy head,
having the form of a segment of a spheroid. The
bark of the tree is not very thick and appears to con¬
tain scarcely any of the active principle of the plant..
The wood has a yellow colour, and is very porous, hav¬
ing numerous longitudinal canals visible to the naked
eye, although these are more distinctly seen under a
lens. The trunk in a transverse or tangential section
presents lacunse, more or less large according to the
age of the tree, and in these a pulverulent substance
(araroba) is found, which in trees recently cut down
and before being dried is of a light or pale tint,
clearer than that of the wood. The medullary
centre exhibits a canal different in appearance from
the lacunsc, having a diameter much more consider¬
able. The young branches are entirely fistulose.

So far these particulars seem to correspond exactly
with the statement of Dr. Rameiro A. Monteiro,
published in the Journal de Therapeutique , vol. vi.,.
p. 248. f

The following details, however, have not, so far as-
is known, been before published in this country.

The leaves are alternate, compound and paripinnate.
The petiole in two specimens which were measured
was in the one 32 and in the other 44 centimetres
in length, having a variable number of pairs of
stalked leaflets, in one specimen 20, and in another,.
24. The leaflets are alternate and articulated,
oblong, obtuse, entire, and emarginate at the apex,
measuring from 2|- to 4| centimetres in length, and
from 1 to 1^ centimetres in width. The distance
between the points of insertion of the leaflets is about
2 centimetres, so that the leaflets only slightly over¬
lap each other.

The common petiole or racliis is slender, convex on
the under surface, and hollowed above into a small
very smooth furrow ; the secondary petioles which,
measure about half a centimetre in length are ac¬
companied for a small distance by the rudiments
of stipels. The leaflets are feather-veined, of a
green colour on the upper surface and of an ashy
hue beneath. The inflorescence is centripetal,
consisting of a panicle with a variable number
of racemes, each of which consists, in the more
luxuriant specimens, of about eight flowers or
flower buds. The flowers are shortly stalked,
alternately arranged, and are each furnished with
a bract, which does not develop at the same rate
as the flower, and hence the lower bracts appear
smaller than the upper ones. The common peduncle
is bare of flowers at the base for about a third of its
length. The flowers are purple, papilionaceous,
measuring to 3 centimetres without the claw,
which is about \ centimetre long. The calyx is
gamosepalous, 2 centimetres long, covered with rusty-
coloured hairs, a little flattened on three faces, like-

* Almeida Pinto, ‘Diccionaria de Botanica Brasileira/
p. 335.

f Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. viii., p. 1048.

July 19, 1679.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

43

a triangular prism with rounded angles, the dorsal
angle being the more prominent and corresponding
to the middle of the standard. The calyx is five¬
toothed, the two upper teeth being larger and longer

Leaf of Andira Araroba , showing venation, natural

size.

and separated by a more obtuse angle than the other
three, which are equal and of which two correspond
in position to the wings of the corolla and the central
one to the keel.

The corolla consists of five clawed petals, the
standard being entire, orbicular, about 2 centimetres

in diameter, slightly emarginate at the apex, and
furnished with a claw about \ centimetre long, and
consisting in great part of the thickened middle vein
of the standard. The alte or wings are obovate,
elongated, about 16 millimetres long by 6 broad,
curved towards the base, and forming a longitudinal
and oblique sinus* (gotteira) near the top of the claw
on the side opposite to the standard, the claw being
about 7 millimetres long. The two petals forming
the keel are similarly formed, but less curved, and
4 or 5 millimetres broad. The stamens, nine 'in
number, are monadelphous and perigynous, about 2
centimetres long, and adherent for about a third ot
their length, but having a slit opposite to the middle
of the vexillum. The anthers are ovoid with a
longitudinal furrow on their inferior surface, in the
middle of which the filament is inserted. The upper
surface is convex and smooth. The pistil consists of
a single carpel, and exceeds the stamens in length
by 1 or 2 millimetres. The ovary, which has a
stalk about 4 millimetres long, is flattened at the
sides, and presents two salient lines or rudimentary
wings. The ovary and style (the latter for two-thirds
of its length only) are covered with rusty hairs. The
ovary is convex on the side opposite to the slit in
the androphore, and concave on the side nearest to
the two lateral wings.

Flower of Andira Araroba.

■ 1. Showing three lower teeth of calyx ; 2. Corolla, lateral
view; 3. Pistil; 4. Petal of keel; 5. Petal ©f wing;
0. Standard; 7. Stamens in situ, after removal of
corolla; 8. Monadelphous stamens, separated from
calyx.

The ovary is one-celled and one-seeded. The
embryo is curved, and the seed exalbuminous . The
arillus is short and tortuous.

From the above description it will be seen that
the araroba plant belongs to the Leguminosoe, and
to the tribe of Dalbergiese. It much resembles in
some characters Dalbergia miscolobimn, Benth., and

* This is not well shown in the original wood- cut.

44

TIIE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 19, 1879.

Andira fraxinifolia, Bentli. Neither of these two
plants, nor the Andira inermis, has the obtuse emar-
ginate leaflets which characterize the araroha tree.

The author believes the plant to have been hitherto
un described, and proposes the name of Andira Ara-
roba , Aguiar, for it, since the drupaceous fruit,
panicled inflorescence, purple flowers and the other
characters above mentioned clearly point to its being
an Andira. This opinion is further strengthened by
the fact that some other Andiras possess parasiticiclal
properties, and that the natives, who call the A.
anthehnintica “ Angelim de folha grande,” the Andira
Fraxinifolia “ Angelim doce,” and the A. stipulacea
“Angelim Coco,” also call the A. Araroba “An¬
gelim amargoso/’ thus recognizing a close alliance in
the plants.

With regard to the production of the araroba, the
author gives it as his opinion that it is formed by
the oxidation of the resin which exists in great
abundance in the tree, the oxidation being facilitated
by the canals made by insects. He explains the
presence of the larger cavities in the tree by the
corrosive action of the araroba on the wood. He
lias not, however, as yet confirmed his theory by
experiment. The araroba is collected throughout
the year, the older trees being selected because the
powder occurs in them in greater abundance. The
trunk is cut into sections transversely and these are
then split longitudinally. The portions containing
powder are then chipped or scraped off with an axe,
which is done the more easily as the wood in these
parts offers but little resistance. The colour when
freshly collected varies from that of the flower of the
cotton plant (pale primrose colour), becoming by the
action of the air darker, to that of rhubarb, and finally
dark purple. The commerce of this article is now
chiefly developed in Camamu and Taperoa, although
the tree exists in abundance in all the southern part of
the Province of Bahia and, according to Drs. Bom-
fim and Agnello Leite, also in the forest of Sergipe.
The tree is not cultivated, but propagates itself spon¬
taneously.

LACTUCARIUM FROM LACTUCA CANADENSIS.*

BY HILAND FLOWERS, PH.G.

The milk-juice, which exudes almost at the commence¬
ment of the plant’s career, is perfectly inert, though a
large quantity is produced. As collected up to July 20,
the exudation has a strong narcotic odour, while the
palate perceives no bitterness, but simply a flat sweetish
taste. Up to this time the plant has borne its repro¬
ductive organs, but failed in giving the requisite bitter¬
ness. A change, however, occurs about the 25th of
July, when we find that the laticiferous vessels are
yielding a large supply of juice with a slightly bitter
taste and a stronger and more lasting odour. As the
season advances, both the bitter principle and the narcotic
odour increase.

The milk-juice collected during the latter part of the
season dried in irregular masses, crumbling into minute
fragments when rubbed between the fingers, and was of
a blackish-brown colour, a strong odour and very bitter
taste. If kept in a closely-corked bottle it remains soft
and is capable of being moulded into cakes. The odour
is slightly stronger in the fresh state, and the colour of a
greyish-brown.

Aubergier, in 1843, experimented upon this plant,
while investigating the subject to ascertain from which

* From th American Journal of Pharmacy, July, 1879.

lactucarium might be most advantageously obtained ; ho
stated that the millc-juice of Lactuca canadensis, or don -
gata, had a flat, sweetish taste and contained mannit,
etc., but no bitter principle.

In September, 1867, Professor Maisch commenced a
series of experiments upon the plant, and upon the
personal observation then made, as well as the reports of
Doctors DaCosta and Muller, of this city, rested con¬
vinced that the plant did contain a bitter principle and
did possess decidedly medicinal properties, and that
Aubergier had perhaps improperly conducted his experi¬
ments, possibly using the expressed juice of the plant,
which, according to Professor Maisch (ride American
Journal of Pharmacy , 1869, p. 145), has a flat, sweetish
taste.

Four drachms of the milk- juice collected in September
and October were exhausted upon a filter with boiling
alcohol. Eight ounces of filtrate were obtained, passed
through animal charcoal and concentrated by spontaneous
evaporation, when inodorous and tasteless needles were
obtained, which melted at about 175° F. and on cooling,
congealed to a granular mass. They were evidently*
lactucerin. On still further evaporating the mother
liquor and adding to it water, a whitish precipitate was
produced, from which the aqueous liquor was thoroughly
drained. On dissolving the precipitate in boiling alcohol
and evaporating the solution spontaneously, more of the
tasteless needles were obtained, and pale-brownish bitter
scales, which were evidently impure lactucin.

The aqueous mother liquor was precipitated by basic
acetate of lead, and both the precipitate and the filtrate
were freed from lead by sulphuretted hydrogen. On
evaporating the solutions, brownish amorphous masses,
having a bitter taste, were left, corresponding to the
lactacic acid and lactucopicrin of the European lactu¬
carium.

Lactucerin is in colourless needle-shaped crystals,
either united in stellate groups or crossing and over¬
lapping each other; tasteless, soluble in boiling alcohol,
petroleum benzin, ether, chloroform, and slightly soluble
in cold alcohol ; insoluble in water. If heated to above
its melting point (175° F.), it volatilizes slowly. Sul¬
phuric acid chars it; nitric acid has no effect unless-
heated.

Lactucin is insoluble, or nearly so, in water; soluble
in alcohol and acetic acid. When pure and not exposed
to much heat, the lactucin is in scales of a dull- white
cast ; under the microscope it presents a rugged surface,
slightly tinged with a reddish-brown colour. From my
experience, I am inclined to think that if the scales are
heated in solution for some time, they will not form
again very readily, and are deprived of some of their
bitterness. Ammonia will not precipitate it, but rather
tends to alter the taste. It is, however, precipitated
from alcohol by water, and may thus be purified by
repeated precipitation and crystallization. Nitric acid
will not dissolve it, nor will the addition of alcohol
facilitate this end. The characteristics given by Kromayer,
Ludwig and Walz are in accordance with these results.

Lactucic acid is precipitated by basic acetate of lead,
care being taken that an excess is not used, for it is
soluble in that salt when in excess. It changes blue
litmus paper to red, proving its acidity; has an acrid,
bitter taste; is soluble in alcohol, both hot and cold,
insoluble in petroleum benzin, bisulphide of carbon, ether
and chloroform, and has a brownish-green colour.

Lactucopicrin is a brown amorphous mass, and may
be purified by repeated treatment with ether, chloroform
or alcohol, filtering and evaporating. It has a strong and
purely bitter taste, is soluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether
and water, and is not precipitated by lead salts from its
solution.

The residue of the lactucarium, left after the above
principles had been removed by hot alcohol, was treated
with bisulphide of carbon, which dissolved a large amount
of caoutchouc (gum elastic ), but there yet remained a

July 19, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

45

residue, which was treated with ether, removing a pale-
yellowish granular powder; with chloroform, removing
the remaining caoutchouc and some of the colouring
matter, and with alcohol, which yielded, on evaporation,
a brownish, bitter, amorphous mass resembling lactuco-
picrin. Water extracted a large amount of colouring
matter. The residue which was now left defied the
solvent powers of carbon bisulphide, ether, chloroform,
alcohol, water and acetic acid.

The yellowish powder obtained on the evaporation of
ether in the above treatment closely resembles lactucerin ;
but the identity of the two was not proven. When
heated it will melt, and volatilize if the temperature is
increased. On cooling it forms a resinous mass. It is
soluble in hot alcohol, petroleum benzin and chloroform,
insoluble in hot or cold water. Sulphuric acid dissolves
it, but does not char it. Nitric acid has little or no
effect. Muriatic acid dissolves it slightly. Acetic acid
and ammonia have no effect. It is precipitated from the
alcoholic solution by water.

The statement of Aubergier regarding the worthlessness
of this plant is undoubtedly wrong, as there exist, beyond
question, several bitter principles with decided physio¬
logical action. It is very likely that he collected the
juice before the plants were sufficiently matured and the
bitter principles developed.

GLYCYRRHIZIN.* * * §

BY J. HABERMANN.

In a previous communication the author had stated
that by the treatment of commercial glycyrrliizin with
glacial acetic acid he had obtained a considerable quantity
of an almost colourless crystalline body. Since then he
has pursued the subject as opportunity offered and now
presents the result of his further investigation, first giving
a resume of the history of the subject.

Our knowledge of the nature of glycyrrhizin is princi¬
pally based upon the work of A. Vogel, jun.,+ T. Lade,^
Gorup-Besanez,§ and, more recently, Z. Roussin. ||

Vogel prepared glycyrrhizin by precipitating an aqueous
extract of liquorice root with lead acetate, carefully wash¬
ing the precipitate, suspending it in water and decomposing
it with sulphuretted hydrogen; it was only after re¬
peatedly boiling the mass that he was able to separate
the lead sulphide by filtration. Vogel purified the gly¬
cyrrhizin by dissolving it several times in absolute alcohol,
and he describes it as a light yellow mass, showing no
trace of crystallization when considerably magnified, soluble
in water, especially when boiling, readily soluble to a large
extent in alcohol, and melting at 200° C. to a transparent
dark brown mass. He described also the precipitate
obtained with neutral lead acetate, as well as a compound
with sulphuric acid, and attributed to glycyrrhizin the
formula C16H2406.

Lade obtained his glycyrrhizin by extracting liquorice
root with cold water, concentrating upon a water-bath,
filtering, precipitating with dilute acid, and purification
of the viscous pitchy black precipitate by continued
kneading in acidulated and pure water, repeatedly dis¬
solving it in absolute alcohol and evaporating the solution
on a water-bath. Lade describes his product as a shining
translucent, brown mass, forming upon trituration a
brownish-yellow powder, slightly soluble in cold water,
especially when containing a little acid, but dissolving
more readily in boiling water and giving off then a pecu¬
liar odour, recalling that of fusel alcohol. A solution
saturated when hot is said to be gelatinous at the ordinary
temperature or when perfectly cool to thicken to a clear

* Abstract of a paper read before the Vienna Academy of
Sciences ( Liebig’s Annalen d. Chemie, vol. cxcvii., p. ]05.

t Journ. f. prakt. Chemie , xxviii., 1.

X Annalen, lix., 224.

§ Annalen, cxviii., 236.

[1 Pharm. Journal [_3], vi., 53.

brown jelly. The taste was extremely sweet, but it was
accompanied by a peculiar bitter, and was unpleasant.
In absolute alcohol the substance was readily soluble. The
yellow colour appeared to Lade to be characteristic of gly¬
cyrrhizin . The solutions had an acid reaction upon litmus
paper, and small quantities of alkalies made the glycyrrhizin
much more soluble in water and coloured the solution
deep yellow-brown. Lade also described two lead com¬
pounds and attributed to glycyrrhizin the formula
C18H2407. He appears to have been of opinion (1) that
glycyrrhizin exists in the root combined with an organic
base like ammonia ; (2) that he did not succeed in obtain¬
ing glycyrrhizin free from nitrogen, although the quantity
present amounted to only 0’03 to 0‘06 per cent. ; (3) that
the body was a hydrate, represented by the rational
formula— C18H2206 + H20.

Gorup-Besanez modified Lade’s method by decom¬
posing the alcoholic solution with small quantities of
ether, by which a brown resinous mass was separated,
whilst a light wine-yellow solution resulted ; this upon
evaporation left a light yellow varnish -like residue that
yielded a faintly yellowish powder when triturated.
Gorup-Besanez expressly states that the product obtained
in this way corresponded in properties and composition
with the glycyrrhizin of A. Vogel, and differed in analy¬
tical results and especially in containing no nitrogen from
that of Lade. He describes the preparation and properties
of a lead and a lime compound, the former containing six
the latter three equivalents of base. Lastly, he describes
the decomposition of glycyrrhizin by dilute acids into
glycyrretin and sugar according to the equation —

P24H3609 + H20 = C18H2604 + CfiH1206

According to this glycyrrhizin would be a non-nitro-
genous glucoside, but Gorup-Besanez does not appear to
have effected the [decomposition by emulsin or any other
ferment. The glycyrretin he describes as a brown-yellow
resin, with a taste at first scarcely but afterwards strongly -
bitter, insoluble in water, freely soluble in alcohol, some¬
what less so in ether, and precipitated from its alcoholic
solution by water. When decolorized by animal charcoal
it formed a nearly white powder that he did not succeed
in obtaining in a crystalline form. The sugar was ob¬
tained as a brownish coloured only faintly sweetish tasted
syrup, which reduced alkaline cupric solution in the cold,
blackened oxide of bismuth in the presence of carbonate
of soda, took a brown colour with potash, showed Petten-
kofer’s reaction with galls and sulphuric acid, and lastly,
upon the addition of yeast, quickly passed into fermenta¬
tion.

Roussin, like Lade, looks upon glycyrrhizin as an acid,
which he calls glycyrrhizic acid, contained in the liquorice
root as an ammonia compound. He states that it forms
with ammonia two different compounds, of which one,
with an excess of ammonia, forms a dark yell®w solution,
the other, with half the quantity of base, forms an amber
solution. According to Roussin, glycyrrhizin plays in both
compounds the part of an actual acid, and the compounds
are actually salts, capable of undergoing double decom¬
position not only with all metallic salts, but also with
salts of the alkaloids. Roussin considers glycyrrhizic
acid to be intermediate in its principal characters
between tannic and pectic acids. Of the above-mentioned
ammonia compounds the first is a basic glycyrrhizate of
ammonia, the second and more important, since it repre¬
sents the actual sweet principle of liquorice, is glycyrrhi-
zate of ammonia, or ammoniacal glycyrrhizin. In its
preparation and purification Roussin followed the method
of Gorup-Besanez at first, and then precipitated the
ethereal-alcoholic solution with a strong alcoholic solution
of ammonia, and washed the precipitate with alcohol.
Roussin gives no analytical data.

The starting point of the present author, Herr Haber-
mann, was the glycyrrhizin of commerce, described in
the current price lists as “ ammoniacal glycyrrhizin,” and
occurring in more or less deep brown coloured shining
amorphous scales. From this substance he finds that a

46

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 19, 1879.

^crystalline body may be obtained as follows : — Some of it
is placed in a good sized retort with glacial acetic aeid
and heated, while carefully swinging the retort, to boiling.
Upon the addition of the acetic acid the substance forms
at first a black viscous syrup, which becomes thinner as
the temperature rises. The syrup is maintained in full
ebullition for a few moments and when solution is com¬
plete is filtered through paper as rapidly as possible,
preferably by means of a water-bath funnel into a glass or
porcelain dish. If sufficient glacial acetic acid has been
used solution is not difficult ; but if too small a quantity*
be used there is a separation of crystalline matter in the
retort and on the filter, and the filtration becomes pro¬
longed and troublesome. Nevertheless too much solvent
is a greater disadvantage than too little, the yield of crys¬
tals being smaller. The crystalline mass is separated
from the deep brownish black syrupy mother-liquor,
pressed, and washed with glacial acetic acid and with
absolute alcohol. It still remains contaminated with the
dark coloured mother-liquor, and to obtain it perfectly
pure and free from ash it requires to be again boiled with
glacial acetic acid, filtered rapidly, and the crystalline
mass that forms upon cooling recfystallized two or three
times from boiling alcohol.

The purified substance forms slightly yellowish bright
shining crystalline scales, which under the microscope
appear to be homogeneous, perfectly transparent and
colourless, and which are better formed in proportion as
the separation from the alcoholic solution takes place
slowly. In water at the ordinary temperature it is really
but little soluble, it forming a transparent faintly wine-
yellow coloured jelly, in which isolated hard particles
remain suspended in the form of small lumps even after
some days. Upon mixing 1 gram with 100 c.c. of water
the mass acquires after standing several hours a consis¬
tence that will allow an open vessel to be reversed with¬
out it falling out. When the jelly is heated it becomes
liquefied, and is quite thin when the water boils.
In boiling water the compound is very readily soluble.
Sufficiently dilute aqueous solutions are at the ordinary
temperature gum-like, viscous and frothy. The com¬
pound is insoluble in ether, slightly soluble in absolute
alcohol even when boiling, slightly soluble at the ordinary
temperature in alcohol above 90 per cent., but more
soluble therein when boiling. The solubility in alcohol
increases rapidly with the amount of water it contains.
T rom weak alcoholic and aqueous solutions it cannot be
obtained crystalline; an aqueous solution when evaporated
spontaneously or upon a water-bath only yields an amor¬
phous brittle gum-like slightly coloured mass which when
dried is not unlike white of egg. Upon treating the
aqueous jelly with a little dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric
acid it becomes turbid and of greater consistence. Small
quantities of ammonia and caustic alkalies added increase
the solubility of glycyrrhizin to an extraordinary extent,
the solution so obtained being, if the material is pure,
almost colourless, but if not pure it is more or less per¬
ceptibly coloured. In aqueous solutions sugar of lead and
other salts of the heavy metals produce voluminous pre¬
cipitates ; the silver precipitate is cheesy, runs together
in globules on being heated, and dissolves readily in
ammonia. Similar but more compact precipitates are
formed in the alcoholic solution by alcoholic solution of
sugar of lead, caustic baryta, etc. ; whilst alcoholic solutions
of ammonia and caustic potash produce in a strong alco¬
holic solution precipitates which after standing deposit on
the bottom of the vessel as a resinous m ass. Fehling’s cupric
liquor is reduced by it after prolonged heating. Nitric
acid dissolves the substance at the ordinary temperature
with considerable production of heat to an almost colour¬
less liquid, from which nothing separates upon dilution
with water. Upon heating the hydrochloric acid solution
over a spirit lamp a brief but tolerably brisk evolution of
gas takes place, the liquid becomes turbid through the
separation of resinous flocks, and upon dilution with water
there is a much more copious separation of colourless

flocks. In concentrated sulphuric acid the substance dis¬
solves to an orange-red liquid, from which colourless
flocks are precipitated by water.

The substance possesses an intensely sweet taste with
an after-flavour faintly resembling liquorice. This after¬
taste appears to be weaker in proportion with the increas¬
ing purity of the product, but in no case in the author’s
experience was it quite absent. The substance bears a
temperature of 100° C. without change, but turns brown
at 110° C. and melts at a higher temperature, decompos¬
ing to a black pitchy mass and diffusing an odour scarcely
resembling that of sugar; finally it inflames and bums
with a very sooty flame, and leaves a greyish-black coke¬
like residue.

Analysis of the crystalline substance was attended at
first with considerable difficulty in consequence of ad¬
herent acetic acid, which could not be got rid of in the
ordinary drying apparatus without discoloration ; es¬
pecially was this the case when the recrystallization from
alcohol had not been repeated several times. The
difficulty was overcome by drying in a vacuum. Analy¬
sis was made of specimens of ash-free substance obtained
from different preparations of glycyrrhizin, dried at 100°.
As the simplest expression of the mean of the analytical
data obtained, the author gives the formula C22H33N09,
but he does not look upon this as the true representation
of the molecular weight.

Mean of re- Required for

suits obtained. C22H33NO9.

C . . . . 58-03 “ 5-8-17

H . . . . 7-25 7*71

N . . . . 3-07 3-05

Upon treating a solution in strong alcohol with an
alcoholic solution of platinic chloride, a crystalline forma¬
tion of the platino- ammonium salt was obtained. A
further investigation, however, led the author to the
conclusion that only a portion of the nitrogen is present
in this body in the form of ammonia, whilst the other
part is combined in another way. The result corre¬
sponded with the composition of an acid ammonium salt
of a nitrogenous acid represented by the formula
C44H(;2N01g (NH4), and for this acid the author adopts
the name proposed by Roussin, of “ glycyrrhizic acid.”

Some other compounds of this acid are also described
by the author as follows, the analyses being made after
drying at 100° : —

Neutral Glycyrrhizate of Ammonium. — C44H60NO18
(NH4)3. — Obtained upon treating an alcoholic solution of
the acid salt with excess of ammonia and evaporating to
perfect dryness in a vacuum over sulphuric acid. It
formed an amorphous, brittle, light yellow-brown, trans¬
parent mass, resembling gum arabic. It was extremely
soluble in water and alcohol, but insoluble in absolute
alcohol ; its solutions were precipitated by various
metallic salts. It possessed a nauseous sweet taste. It
was rather hygroscopic and when heated readily un¬
derwent change, apparently giving up part of its am¬
monia

Neutral Glycyrrhizate of Potassium — C44H60NO18K3. —
Aqueous solution of potash was added in slight excess to
a concentrated solution of the acid ammonium salt in
weak alcohol. The smell of ammonia was perceptible
at the ordinary temperature. The solution was heated
for some time, then left to cool, and absolute alcohol
added as long as any precipitate was produced. It was
then allowed to stand twenty-four hours under a bell
glass, at the end of which time the flocculent precipitate
had collected into a resinous mass adhering closely to the
sides of the vessel. This, after the clear liquor had been
poured off, was washed repeatedly and carefully with
absolute alcohol and dried at the ordinary temperature
over sulphuric acid. It then appealed as a yellowish-
white, light, friable mass, very soluble in water and
dilute alcohol, butjalmost insoluble in absolute alcohol and
ether.

July 19, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

47

Acid Glycyrrhizate of Potassium. — C44H62N018K.— If
the previous compound be treated in the dry condition
with a moderate quantity of acetic acid and heated it
dissolves to a clear slightly coloured liquid. From this
solution, filtered whilst boiling, the acid compound quickly
separates on cooling in colourless microscopically small
granular crystals. It has a very persistent intensely
sweet taste, exceeding in this respect levulose, cane sugar,
and even the acid ammonium salt. The compound
swells up in cold water to a jell}’-, but it is soluble in hot
water to a considerable extent, such solution gela¬
tinizing as it cools. It is soluble in aqueous alcohol,
especially when heated, very slightly soluble in alcohol
above 90 per cent., soluble in glacial acetic acid
when heated, and scarcely soluble in ether. All the
solutions are colourless. The salt can be dried at
100° C., but upon heating it further it swells and
eventually burns with a smoky flame giving off a pecu¬
liar odour.

Neutral Glycyrrhizate of Barium, (C44H60NO18)2 Ba3, is
obtained as a yellowish-white amorphous body by adding
baryta water in slight excess to a hot alcoholic solution
of acid glycyrrhizate of ammonium.

Neutral Glycyrrhizate of Lead. — (C44H60NOj8)2 Pb3. —
Upon treating a solution of acid glycyrrhizate of ammo
nium with solution of sugar of lead there is produced a
very voluminous white transparent mucilaginous precipi¬
tate ; when alcoholic solutions are used the precipitate is
more compact and more convenient for filtering and
washing. Dried in a vacuum over sulphuric acid it forms
a yellow-brown, transparent, brittle and friable gum-like
mass, having a sweet taste. It is soluble in glacial acetic
acid, slightly soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol and
ether. Upon heating to 100° C. it is perceptibly coloured
browm.

Glycyrrhizic Acid. — C44H63N018. — The lead compound
is the most suitable material for the separation of
the free acid. The precipitate after being well puri¬
fied by washing and pressing is rubbed up with a
little water to a fine mucilage, placed in a beaker in
a water-bath and decomposed by a current of sulphu¬
retted hydrogen continued several hours, the mixture
being diligently stirred. The finely suspended lead
sulphide is removed by boiling and adding to the
liquid in small quantities at a time the white of egg
beaten to a froth, and when the precipitate appears
in large flocks in the colourless liquid filtering while
still boiling through coarse paper. The filtrate thickens
on cooling to a somewhat turbid jelly, which upon
heating in an open dish on a water-bath shrivels up in
a remarkable manner, leaving a brown residue resemb¬
ling dried egg-white. It has a persistent pure, but not
excessively sweet taste. The acid reddens blue litmus
paper and decomposes the carbonates of the alkaline
earths gradually by boiling. It swells up in water at
the ordinary temperature to a jelly, without actually
dissolving, and with boiling water forms a thin viscous
solution. It dissolves tolerably freely in weak alcohol,
especially when heated, also in boiling glacial acetic
acid, and only slightly in absolute alcohol and ether.
It turns brown at 100° C., and puffs up and burns upon
further heating to a black coal. Glycyrrhizic acid re¬
duces Fehling’s solution upon heating almost as quickly
as grape sugar.

The results of this investigation may be thus summed
up: — (1) In liquorice root there is contained a peculiar
nitrogenous acid in the form of .‘alts; (2) The acid is
tribasic and forms neutral and acid salts ; (3) Among
these salts the acid potassium and ammonium salts are,
from their crystallizability and intensely sweet tastes,
espeoially important ; (4) It is probably to the ammo¬
nium salts of glycyrrhizic' acid that liquorice root owes its
peculiar sweet taste.

The author is continuing his investigations upon various
decomposition products of glycyrrhizic acid and a second
constituent of liquorice root.

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF
DETONATING AGENTS.*

ET PROFESSOR ABEL, C.B. F.R.S.

(Continued from paye 29).

That the power possessed by different very highly
explosive substances, of inducing the detonation of such
bodies as gun-cotton and nitro-glycerine, is not solely
ascribable to the operation of mechanical force very sud¬
denly developed, is indicated not only by the singular
inertness of gun-cotton to the influence of nitro-glycerine
as a detonating agent, but also by a comparison of the
behaviour of other detonating substances with that of the
mercuric fulminate, when applied to the detonation of
gun-cotton. Thus the detonation of silver fulminate is
very decidedly sharper than that of the mercury com¬
pound, yet it is in no way superior to the latter in its
power as an initiative detonating agent ; indeed, a some¬
what larger amount of it appeared to be required than of
the mercury salt to induce detonation of gun-cotton with
certainty. Again, the iodide and chloride of nitrogen are
far more susceptible of sudden detonation than the silver
fulminate ; yet while five grains of the latter, confined in
a stout metal envelope, suffice to detonate gun-cotton, fifty
grains of chloride of nitrogen confined by water appeared
to be the minimum amount with which the detonation of
gun cotton could be accomplished with certainty, while no
success attended the employment of confined iodide of
nitrogen in quantities ranging up to 100 grains.

The incompatibility of these results with the general
conclusion, based upon numerous and greatly varied
experiments, that the facility with which the detonation
of gun-cotton and nitro glycerine, and bodies of a similar
character as explosives, is induced by an initiative
detonation, is proportionate to the mechanical force aided
by the heat developed by the latter, led the lecturer to
the conclusion that a synchronism or similarity in character
or quality of the vibrations developed by the detonation
of particular substances, operates in favouring the detona¬
tion of one such substance by the initiative detonation of
a small quantity of another, while in the absence of such
synchronism, a much more powerful detonation, or the
application of much greater force, would be needed to
effect the detonation of the material operated upon. This
view has received considerable support from results since
obtained by other experimenters, especially by MM.
Champion and Pellet ; but the subject is one which still
needs further experimental elucidation.

The physical character of explosive substances, as also
the mechanical condition of a mass of the particular
explosive substance operated on, are of great influence in
determining its behaviour when submitted to the action
of an initiative detonation. The liquid nitro-glycerine is
far more sensitive to detonation than gun-cotton ; one
grain of mercuric fulminate, confined in a metal case,
suffices to detonate nitro-glycerine when surrounded by
it : but, in order to attain this result with any degree of
certainty, it is necessary so to confine the nitro-glycerine
as to prevent its yielding to the blow developed by the
initiative detonation, and thus to some extent escaping
from the operation of the sudden concussion to which
the particles contiguous to the fulminate charge are sub¬
mitted.

If nitro-glycerine be mixed with solid substances in a
fine state of division, plastic mixtures may be obtained,
and the liquid may thus be presented in something like a
solid form to the detonating agent ; if the particles of
absorbent material be moreover of porous nature, as is
the case with the infusorial earth called Kieselguhr used
in the production of dynamite, a solid nitro-glycerine
preparation may be obtained which contains a very large
proportion of the liquid (75 per cent, by weight). In this
condition nitro-glycerine may be detonated without any
difficulty when freely exposed to air ; and although it is

* Lecture delivered at the Royal Institution of Great

Britain, Friday, March 21, 1879.

48

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 19, 1879.

diluted with a considerable proportion of absolutely inert
material, its sensitiveness to detonation is not in the least
diminished. Each particle of the diluent is enveloped in
the liquid, so that no portion of the latter becomes iso¬
lated from the remainder by the admixture of inert solid
matter ; hence, when the initiative detonator is sur¬
rounded by such a mass, it is in contact at all points with
some portion of the nitro-glycerine, and the latter is in
continuous connection throughout, though no longer in a
mobile condition ; detonation is consequently as readily
established and transmitted through the mass as though
it consisted entirely of nitro-glycerine. Indeed, while the
liquid in its undiluted state, if freely exposed to air in a
long layer, transmits detonation with difficulty, and very
slowly as compared with compressed gun-cotton (the
observed rate of progression being, in several experiments,
below 6000 feet per second), detonation is transmitted
with ease and certainty through very long trains of a
solid preparation of nitro-glycerine, such as dynamite, and
the rate of transmission is decidedly more rapid than it is
with compressed gun-cotton, a result which is in harmony
with the greater sensitiveness to detonation and the
greater violence of action of nitro-glycerine.

It has already been stated that gun-cotton may be
detonated if a confined charge of not less than 2 grains
of mercuric fulminate be detonated when closely sur¬
rounded by the substance. But in order to attain this
result, the cellulose-product must be presented to the
detonating agent in a mechanical condition favourable to
its action.

Gun-cotton in a loose flocculent condition, or even if in
the more compact form of a spun yarn or thread, cannot
be detonated through the agency of a large charge of
fulminate buried in the material. The light and loose
gun-cotton is simply scattered with violence ; portions
are sometimes inflamed by the heat developed where the
fulminate is detonated, a result which is obtained with
greater certainty the less violent the detonation produced
by the fulminate-charge. If, however, the gun-cotton
be converted into a compact form, either by ramming the
wool or thread very tightly into a case, or better still, by
reducing the gun-cotton fibre to a very fine state of
division, and compressing it, when in that condition, into
compact masses, it becomes susceptible of detonation by
the initiative action of mercuric fulminate, and the
quantity of the latter required to bring about detonation
is small (down to the limit which has been named above)
in proportion as the compactness or density of the com¬
pressed material is increased.

Detonation, when established in compressed gun¬
cotton, is transmitted with great velocity throughout the
mass, as already stated, or from one to another of con¬
tiguous masses, laid out in long rows, and even, though
at a reduced rate, if small spaces exist between the indi¬
vidual masses. But if a small mass of compressed gun¬
cotton freely exposed to air be detonated when in
immediate contact with gun-cotton wool or loosely twisted
yarn, the detonation will not be transmitted to these, but
they will merely be scattered and perhaps inflamed.

The difference in the behaviour of nitro-glycerine and
of gun-cotton when presented to the action of a so-called
initiative detonation under the different conditions
spoken of above, admits of ready explanation.

It was established, in the first instance, that the action
of an initiative detonation is not ascribable to the heat
developed within the detonating material itself, in under¬
going chemical metamorphosis. If it were so, the deto¬
nating mixture known as percussion cap composition and
other explosive mixtures, the detonation of which is
attended by much greater development of heat than is
obtained by the action of pure mercuric fulminate, should
detonate gun-cotton more readily tban the latter does,
whereas very much larger quantities of such materials
are required to attain that result ; moreover, the readi¬
ness with which gun-cotton is detonated should be solely
proportionate to the amount of fulminate used, which has

been shown not to be the case ; and gun-cotton should be
more readily detonated when in the loose and open con¬
dition than in the highly compressed or compact form,
because the latter presents it in the condition least
favourable, and the former in that most favourable, to
ready and rapid transformation by heat. Again, the
actual temperature required for the explosion of nitro¬
glycerine is very considerably above the exploding tem¬
perature of gun-cotton, yet a very much smaller charge
is required for the detonation of nitro-glycerine than is
needed for the detonation of gun-cotton. On the other
hand, a quantity of confined percussion cap composition
which, if it were pure mercuric fulminate, would be
altogether inadequate for the detonation of gun-cotton,
suffices for the detonation of nitro-glycerine.

The action of an initiative detonation has already been
compared to that of a blow from a hammer or falling
weight. The readiness and certainty with which gun¬
powder, gun-cotton, and other explosive agents are
detonated by the latter agency are regulated by several
circumstances ; they are in direct proportion to the
weight of the falling body, to the height of its fall, and
to the force with which it is impelled downwards ; to the
velocity of its motion ; to the mass and rigidity or hard¬
ness of the support upon which the substance to be
detonated rests ; lastly, to the quantity and mechanical
condition of the explosive agent struck, and to its sensi¬
tiveness.

Gunpowder is much more readily detonated by a sharp
blow from a small hammer, than by the simple fall of a
heavy hammer, or by a comparatively weak blow from
the latter. It is very difficult by repeated blows, applied
at very brief intervals, to detonate gun-cotton if placed
upon a support of wood or lead, both of which materials
yield to a blow, the force applied by that blow being
transferred through the explosive agent and absorbed in
work done upon the material composing the support.
But if the latter be of iron, which does not yield per¬
manently to the blow of tbe hammer, the detonation of
those substances is easily accomplished. If the quantity
of the explosive agent employed be so considerable as to
form a thick layer between the hammer and support, the
force applied is to so great an extent expended in impart¬
ing motion to the particles of the compressible mass, that
there remains little or none by which its detonation can
be accomplished, and if the material be in a loose or
porous condition (as in the case of a powder or of loose
wool), much work has to be accomplished in moving
particles of the mass through a comparatively considerable
space, in the operation of compressing them, so that a
second or even a third blow is required for their detona¬
tion ; whereas if, by blows or pressure previously applied,
the explosive material will be presented in the form of a
compact mass, the particles of which have little tendency
to motion when force is applied to them, detonation will
be much more readily developed. It appears therefore
that the detonation of an explosive substance by means
of a blow is the result of the development of heat suffi¬
cient to bring about most energetic chemical action, or
change, by expenditure of force in the compression of the
material, or by establishing violent friction between its
particles, consequent upon the motion momentarily im¬
parted to them, and that it is brought about with a
readiness proportionate to the resistance which they
oppose to their motion by the degree of their contiguity
to each other.

The exceedingly violent motion of particles resulting
from the sudden or extremely rapid transformation of a
solid or liquid explosive body into highly heated gas or
vapour (which is the effect of a detonation), must obvi¬
ously exert force which operates upon a body opposed to
it in a manner precisely similar to the force applied by
opposing a body in the path of a solid mass which is set
into very rapid motion. In other words, a detonation
exerts a mechanical effect upon resisting bodies precisely
similar to that of a blow from a hammer or from a pro-

July 19, 1879.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

49

jectile propelled from a gun. Just as the force of a
sufficiently sudden or powerful blow from a hammer is trans¬
formed into heat by the resistance to the motion of the
hammer which the particles of an opposing body offer,
and by the consequent friction established between them,
so the force or concussive action exerted by the matter
set in motion when a solid or liquid is converted into gas
or vapour, will also be transformed into heat, the develop¬
ment of which in an opposing body will be proportionate
to the resistance to motion which its particles offer, and
to the suddenness and violence of the concussion to which
it is subjected. The power of accomplishing the detona¬
tion of nitro-glycerine, gun-cotton, or other highly ex¬
plosive substances, freely exposed to the air, through the
agency of detonation produced in their vicinity or in close
contact with them, appears therefore correctly ascribable
to the heat suddenly developed in some portion of the
mass by the mechanical effect, or blow exerted by that
detonation, and is regulated by the violence and sudden¬
ness (either singly or combined) of the detonation, by the
extent to which the particles composing the mass of the
explosive material are in a condition to oppose resistance
to the force, and by the degree of sensitiveness of the
substance to detonation, or to sudden metamorphosis,
under the influence of heat thus developed.

It will now be evident why the readily yielding nature
of the particles of liquid nitro-glycerine tends to coun¬
teract its great sensitiveness to detonation, and why,
when the motion of the liquid particles is impeded by
their admixture with solid matter, and when they are
consequently placed in a position to resist mechanical
motion by the force applied through the agency of deto¬
nation, its natural sensitiveness to detonation, and the
rapidity with which it can be transmitted from particle
to particle became fully developed.

Again, the reduction of gun-cotton 'fibre to a fine state
of division, which renders the material readily convertible
into very compact and dense masses, places the particles
in the condition most favourable to resist mechanical
motion upon the application of a blow, or of the concus¬
sion resulting from a detonation ; hence, compressed gun¬
cotton is readily susceptible of detonation in proportion
to the extent of compression, or to its density and com¬
pactness, while loose gun-cotton wool, or the lightly
twisted or compressed material cannot be readily de¬
tonated, because the force applied is expended in imparting
motion to the readily yielding particles of the mass. If
the force applied through the agency of a detonator to a
mass of explosive material just borders upon that required
for the development of the detonation, or if the condition
of the mass is such as hardly to present the requisite
resistance to mechanical motion essential for its detona¬
tion, then, results intermediate between the mechanical
dispersion of the ma«s and its violent chemical dispersion
or disintegration, i.e., detonation, are obtained. Thus,
frequent instances have been observed, especially in the
experiments in the transmission of detonation through
tubes, in which the initiative detonation has brought
about an explosion attended with little, if any, destructive
effect, portions of the mass being at the same time
dispersed and occasionally inflamed. Not only have such
results often been obtained with gun-cotton and dynamite,
but even mercuric fulminate, exposed to the concussion
of a distant detonation transmitted through a tube, has
frequently been exploded in a manner quite distinct from
the violent detonation developed in other instances.
Silver fulminate, which under ordinary conditions de¬
tonates violently, even when only a particle of the mass
is subjected to a sufficient disturbing influence, has been
exploded without the usual demonstrations of force, by
the transmitted effect of a detonation of mercuric ful¬
minate. In these instances the violence of the concussion
produced by the initiative detonation was only just
bordering on that required for the development of detona
tion, and it appears probable that only some small
portion of the mass operated upon was in a condition or

position favourable to the action of the initiative blow.
The remainder of the mass would then be dispersed by
the gases developed from the detonated portion ; in some
instances the particles would be inflamed at the moment
of their dispersion, in others, they would even escape
ignition. The latter appears to be always the case when
gun-cotton is exploded by a blow from a hammer or
falling weight. However carefully the arrangements are
adjusted with a view to distribute such a blow uniformly
over the entire mass struck, the concentration of a pre¬
ponderance of the force applied upon some portion or
portions of the entire mass appears almost inevitable ;
hence, only a small portion is actually detonated, the
remainder being instantaneously dispersed by the gases
suddenly generated while the weight is still resting upon
the support.

Some experiments made in firing at masses of com¬
pressed gun-cotton, differently arranged and of different
thicknesses, with a Martini-Henry rifle, at short ranges,
afforded interesting confirmation of the correctness of the
explanation given of the operation of a blow upon masses
of explosive material under different conditions. Disks
of gun-cotton of the same density and diameter, but
differing in thickness, were fired at; they were freely
suspended, and their distance from the marksman was in
all instances 100 yards. The thinnest disks were simply
perforated by the bullets, not a particle of the gun-cotton
being ignited. Somewhat thicker disks were inflamed
by the impact of the bullet, while still thicker disks, fired
at under the same conditions, were exploded, portions
being in some instances dispersed in a burning state. No
instance of detonation was, however, obtained. These
differences in effect, obtained with masses of different
thickness and weight, are due to the difference in their
power to resist mechanical motion when struck by the
bullet, and in the different amount of resistance to pene¬
tration presented by the thin and the thicker disks.

It has been explained that nitro-glycerine may be
largely diluted with inert solid matters without its
sensitiveness to detonation being reduced, while its deto¬
nation in open air becomes very much facilitated, because
the mobility of the particles, and their consequent ten¬
dency to yield to the force of a blow or detonation is
very greatly diminished. But if a solid explosive agent
is diluted with inert solid matter the case is different ;
for in such a mixture of the finely divided solid with non¬
explosive solid particles, there must be a partial and
sometimes a complete separation of the particles of the
explosive by the interposed inert particles with which it
is diluted; hence the sensitiveness to detonation is
reduced, and its transmission by the particles is retarded
or altogether impeded, by a diminution of the extent of
contact between the substance to be detonated and the
initiative detonation, and by the barrier which the inter¬
posed non-explosive particles oppose to the transmission
of detonation. Thus a mixture of mercuric fulminate
with more than one-fifth its weight of French chalk could
not be detonated by means of one grain of pure fulminate
enclosed in a copper capsule, which was inserted into the
mixture ; that quantity, similarly confined, sufficed to
detonate undiluted fulminate through a tube 8 inches
long and 0'5 inch in diameter. In experiments made in
this direction with finely divided gun-cotton, it was found
that although dilution with an inert solid, applied in the
solid form, reduced the sensitiveness of the material to
detonation, this was not the case when it was incorpo¬
rated with a salt soluble in water, the mixture being then
compressed while in the wet state. The compressed
masses thus obtained were, when dried, in a condition of
greater rigidity than could be attained by submitting
undiluted gun-cotton to considerably more powerful
pressure, because the crystallization of the soluble salt
used as the diluent upon evaporation of the water,
cemented the particles composing the mass more rigidly
together. The gun-cotton was therefore presented in a
form more capable of resisting the mechanical action of a

50

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 19, 1879

small charge of fulminate than a more highly compressed
undiluted gun-cotton, and hence the reduction in sensi¬
tiveness due to the detonation of the explosive compound
is nearly counterbalanced by the greater rigidity imparted
to the mass. If a soluble oxidizing agent (a nitrate or
chlorate) be employed as the diluting material, the pre¬
disposition to chemical reaction between it and the gun¬
cotton (which is susceptible of some additional oxidation),
appears to operate in conjunction with the effect of the
salt in imparting rigidity to the mixture, thus rendering
the latter quite as sensitive to the detonating action of
the minimum fulminate charge as undiluted gun-cotton.
Moreover, the interesting fact has been conclusively
established, that these compressed mixtures of gun-cotton
with a nitrate or a chlorate are much less indifferent to
the influence of detonating nitro-glycerine than gun-cot¬
ton in its pure state. Chlorated and nitrated gun-cotton
are detonated with certainty by means of half-ounce of
nitro-glycerine, whereas the detonation of 2 oz. of the
latter accomplished the detonation of ordinary compressed
gun cotton only once in a large number of experiments.

[To be continued.)

QUEBRACHO, A PALLIATIVE REMEDY IN
DYSPNOEA.*

Dr. F. Penzoldt, of Erlangen (Berl. Klin. Wochen-
schri/t, No. 19, 1879), narrates some experiments both on
man and animals with a new drug, the bark of Aspiclo-
spervia quebracho ( Apocynacece ), sent from Brazil, where
it is reputed to have antipyretic properties. The form of
preparation used throughout was a watery solution of an
alcoholic extract of the bark, ten parts of the latter
being percolated with one hundred of alcohol for several
days, and the liquid filtered, evaporated, dissolved in
water, again evaporated to dryness, and the residue dis¬
solved in twenty parts. ,water.

The main results obtained in frogs were complete
motor paralysis of central origin, respiratory paralysis,
and diminished frequency of the pulse, independent of irri¬
tation of the vagus. In rabbits and dogs, motor paralysis
and dyspnoea, increasing with the dose administered, were
noticed. The dyspnoea in the rabbit, however, appeared
to depend on retardation and deepening of the inspira¬
tions ; while in the dog the inspirations were accelerated.
In the latter, also, there was salivation.

Experiments on animals "with artificial fever, produced
by injecting putrid fluids, showed no decided reduction of
the temperature, and hence quebracho is probably not, as
was supposed, an antipyretic. It should be added that
it is not an antiseptic, but only temporarily retards putre¬
faction. The results obtained in actual cases of fever in
men were also negative, but Dr. Penzoldt thinks that,
considering the close chemical relationship between the
alkaloid “ aspidodermine ” which Baeyer has extracted
from quebracho-bark, and quinine, the subject requires
further working out in this direction.

By the accidental observation of a patient with pleurisy
and emphysema, on whom the antifebrile effect of que¬
bracho was being tried, Dr. Penzoldt was led to try the
bark in various forms of dyspnoea, depending on emphy¬
sema, bronchitis, phthisis, pleurisy, etc., and obtained
remarkably good results. A teaspoonful of the above-
mentioned solution was given two or three times a
day. The most marked objective phenomenon after its
exhibition was a reddening of the previously cyanosed or
livid tint of the lips and face. In a case of emphysema
where the patient was blessed with a nose the seat
of acne hypertrophica, the ordinary violet-blue colour of
the organ became fiery red, and excited the surprise of
the other patients in the ward. The respirations generally
became deeper and less frequent, and the patients ex¬
pressed themselves subjectively much relieved. The first
feeling after taking the drug was one of warmth in the
head ; many said that they had less desire to cough, and

* From the Medical Times and Gazette, July 12, 1879.

that they found expectoration easier. Occasionally sweat¬
ing occurred, and in some cases abundant salivation. No
bad effects were noticed with the dose mentioned.

Dr. Penzoldt finds that the addition of quebracho
solution to blood, in the presence of oxygen, makes it
assume a bright red colour, and he is inclined to think
that possibly the blood is rendered capable of taking up
more oxygen than usual, and carrying it to the tissues.
This is, however, merely a provisional hypothesis, and at
present there is no satisfactory explanation of the fact
that, while moderate doses of the extract alleviate
dyspnoea in man, large doses cause dyspnoea in the lower
animals.

As yet, quebracho bark is not a commercial product,
but the wood is imported in large quantities for tanning
purposes. The action of an extract of the wood is similar
to that of the bark, but weaker. The alkaloid aspido¬
dermine affects the frog, on the whole, just as the extract
of the bark does.

ANALYSIS OF EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM. *

BY PETER COELIER.

The author reports the following result of the exami¬
nation of “Boneset,” Eupatorium perfoliatum, Lin. This
plant has long had the reputation in domestic medicine
of being a good tonic, especially valuable in the spring.
Physicians have also attributed to it virtues as a diaphor¬
etic, expectorant, emetic and anti-intermittent. Whether
all claimed for it is true must be settled by the physician,
but the present chemical examination has been under¬
taken with the hope of throwing some light upon the
proximate principles to which are due the medicinal
effects of the herb. Partial analyses have been made
by W. Peterson (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1851, xxiii., p. 206),
and by M. H. Bickley ( Amer . Jour. Pharm., 1854, xxvi.,
p. 459).

Probably the bitter principle is the only one of
medicinal importance. It is a brown uncrystallizable
substance, soluble in water and alcohol, insoluble in
ether. It was impossible to purify this substance well.

Upon evaporation of an alcoholic extract of the drug
a few white prismatic crystals were deposited. These
crystals were difficultly soluble in hot alcohol and in¬
soluble in ether, water, dilute acids and dilute alkalies.
They seem, therefore, to be neither acid nor alkaloid, but
rather of an indifferent character.

The drug appears to contain very little volatile oil,
although its odour may be accounted for by this small
amount present.

Starch is not abundant. The tannic acid found gave the
usual reactions, except that it failed to precipitate tartar
emetic from its aqueous solution. The albuminoids were
calculated from total nitrogen, multiplied by 6*25.

It is impossible to say whether sugar was present in
the substance, since the bitter principle would probably
give similar reactions.

The following analysis is regarded as an approximation
only, but care has been taken to eliminate all preventable
errors : —

Analysis of “ Boneset,'1' Eupatorium Perfoliatum.

Water . 917 per cent.

Ash . 7*51

Albuminoids . 13*30 „

Resins and Chlorophyll .... 15*15 „

Indifferent Crystalline Substance . 2*87 „

Tannic Acid . 5*04 „

Bitter Extractive . 18*84 „

Gum and Colouring Matter ... 7*23 „

Starch Isomers . 12*47 „

Cellulose . 9*32 „

Humus Substances . traces.

Volatile Oil . traces.

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy , July, 1879.

July 19, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

51

©ti Jjkpaqntica! Jtruptl.

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SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1879.

Communications for the Editorial department of this
Journal , boohs for review, etc., should be addressed to the
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transmission of the Journal should be sent to Mr. Elias
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Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , W.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

THE PROSECUTION UNDER THE APOTHECARIES
ACT AT BIRMINGHAM.

After a delay of about two years, judgment has
been given in the case of prosecution for breach of
the Apothecaries Act at Birmingham, and as re¬
ported in the Journal last week, that judgment is
adverse to the defendant . When the case was tried
in the Birmingham County Court in July, 1877, it
was believed and expected that the appeal then
being made against the decision given in the Shep-
perley case would result in causing some light
to be thrown upon the questions involved in this
prosecution as between medical practitioners and
chemists and druggists. Upon that ground the
County Court Judge resolved to defer judgment
until after a decision had been given in the appeal
so as to avoid putting the defendant to the trouble
and expense of taking a second case to be decided
by a higher tribunal.

At the time the Judge expressed himself as being
in some perplexity as to the proper intrepretation of
the law relating to the case, and as to what might
and might not be regarded as coming within the legi¬
timate functions of the chemist^ and druggist as a
vendor of drugs. Having regard to the opinion ex¬
pressed by Baron Bramwell shortly before, he con¬
sidered that the recommendation and supply of any
medicine or drug for the purpose of relieving some
bodily ailment might be technically construed as
infringing the terms of the Apothecaries Act, inas¬
much as that would be doing what the apothecary
had a right to do in the exercise of his calling and
under the licence of the Society of Apothecaries.

Whilst recognizing this strict reading of the law
as correct from a legal point of view, however, the
County Court Judge also concurred with Baron
Bramwell in thinking that it would be very un¬
reasonable for the Society of Apothecaries to inter¬
fere in a case so simple as that of a person asking for
and receiving a simple remedy for such an ailment
as a headache or any similar ordinary complaint.
But he also stated that in his own mind he was not
prepared to adopt in its entirety the view of Baron
Bramwell that in every instance a chemist and
druggist furnishing medicine to relieve bodily ail¬

ments would be stepping beyond his province and
— by infringing upon that of the medical practitioner
— be committing a breach of the Apothecaries Act.

The opinion expressed at the time by the Judge
was that the Society of Apothecaries never intended
to interfere with chemists and druggists supplying
remedies in trifling cases. He therefore considered
that such an interpretation of the law as Baron
Bramwell had adopted was too strict, and he
appears to have been led to this opinion by recog¬
nizing the possibility of a distinction being drawn
between mere advice or recommendation as to the
kind of medicine and its use for certain purposes,
as forming part of the business of vending, and the
prescribing of medicine as a result of the examina¬
tion of a patient by the ordinary means of ascertain¬
ing symptoms, and with the object of treating
disease.

From a common sense point of view there is much
reason for recognizing this distinction, but unfor¬
tunately the Apothecaries Act does not either define
what is meant by acting as an apothecary or specify
whether the rights specially reserved to chemists and
druggists by the 28th section comprised the right to
do as they and apothecaries also had previously done
in giving advice as to the use of simple remedies.
As a matter of law, therefore, it was difficult, if not
impossible, to decide whether or not the recom¬
mendation of medicine or advice as to its use in
connection with the vending of it was to be under¬
stood in the meaning of the Act as “ practising as
an apothecary.” If this were held to be the case it
was equally difficult to decide whether or not the
right of giving such recommendation and advice was
reserved to chemists and druggists in virtue of usage
prior to the Act of 1815.

For the sake of gaining from the decision of the
Shepperley appeal some information and guidance
on these points the Birmingham County Court
Judge adjourned the case heard by him in 1877.
That appeal has now been disposed of, but the
assistance it was expected to furnish towards the
settlement of the important questions above men¬
tioned has not been obtained. It is still an open
question what is meant by acting as an apothecary
within the meaning of the Act of 1815. It is still
a question where the line is to be drawn between
the recommendation and advice properly appertain¬
ing to the vending of drugs and medicines, as foaming
part of the chemist and druggist’s business, and the
application of remedies to the treatment and cure of
disease, which is the function of. the medical prac¬
titioner holding himself out to the public as specially
qualified for that work.

It was upon this view that the decision just given
by the Birmingham County Court Judge was based.
He takes the evidence of Mr. Parsons as showing
undoubtedly that before the year 1815 chemists and
druggists did something beyond merely selling medi¬
cines ; but he points out that even if they were then

52

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 19, 1879.

in the habit of advising patients or prescribing
medicine it does not follow that they ever had the
legal right to do so, or that at the present day
chemists and druggists are protected by the 28th sec¬
tion of the Act in case they do so. The legal right
to practise medicine or surgery and to treat disease
is given by the registration of the practitioner who
holds himself out, in virtue of the special qualification
by which he has secured registration, as the proper
person for performing those duties.

In the case that has now been decided at Bir¬
mingham the defendant had not the legal right to
practise medicine, and as the case for which he pre¬
scribed was considered to require medical knowledge
and skill, he is held to have “ acted as an apothe¬
cary ” and thus to have come within the provisions
of the Apothecaries Act. That this is a just decision
of the case we may gather from the resolve of the
Executive Committee of the Chemists and Druggists’
Trade Association not to appeal against it.

In connection with this matter it will be interest¬
ing to learn that the President of the Nottingham
Medical Defence Association also expresses regret that
the Shepperley case has not led to a decision of the
question as to the legality of counter practice, although
affording opportunity for an authoritative exposition
of the law. In speaking of the general weakness
of the case which has called forth so much comment,
he seeks to explain this by stating that it was never
intended Death’s evidence should be relied upon, and
that even in the original county court proceedings he
was not to be put into the box. There were — he
goes on to say— other witnesses, who, judging from
the statements they made to the solicitors of the
Medical Defence Association, were prepared to prove
a strong case against the defendant. Those wit¬
nesses entirely failed to support the objects of the
prosecutors, who, Mr. Stanger informs us, would
have accepted their defeat if the Judge had not
unfortunately given a decision in their favour,
partly on the evidence of Death, but chiefly on the
admissions made by the defendant.

It is seldom that litigation is productive of so
much satisfaction all round as is claimed to have
been the result of the Shepperley case, and though
we are inclined to think that the most substantial
satisfaction fell to the share of the lawyers, we are
not at all disposed to interfere with the happiness
of those who find reason to be pleased.

A NEW PHARMACY ACT IN THE STATES.

The “ People of the State of New York, repre¬
sented in Senate and Assembly,” have just enacted
a law “ governing the sale of drugs and poisons in
the County of Kings ” in that state. For conveni¬
ence of reference and to illustrate the position
which pharmacy is taking in the United States a
short abstract will be useful.

In accordance with its title this Act makes it
illegal for any one not registered under its pro¬
visions, after the first day of October next, to open
or conduct any pharmacy or store for retailing or
compounding medicines or poisons in the county of
Kings ; but it also goes further and makes it illegal
for any but a registered pharmacist to prepare phy¬
sicians’ prescriptions except under the supervision
of a registered pharmacist.

The Act is not wanting in stringency in other
directions, for in order to procure the registration
necessary a person must (1) be a graduate in phar¬
macy or in medicine, who has had at least four years’'
experience in stores where prescriptions of medical
practitioners have been compounded and hold a
diploma from a legally constituted college; or (2)
have had at the time of the passing of the Act ten
years’ practical experience in the preparation of phy¬
sicians’ prescriptions ; or (3) have had four years’
similar experience and pass an examination by a Board
appointed under the terms of the Act, consisting of
three pharmacists and two medical men, or some
other recognized Board of Pharmacy.

There are two schedules of poisons. Schedule A
corresponds to Part 1 of our schedule in containing
the poisons that are not to be sold without registra¬
tion. Among these are to be found several that are
in Part 2 of the British schedule, such as the white
and red precipitates, essential oil of bitter almonds,
and opium and its preparations, except paregoric
and other preparations of opium containing less than
two grains to the ounce. On the other hand aconite,
savin, ergot and cantharides are remitted to the
second schedule, which also includes henbane,
digitalis, croton oil, creosote, sulphate of zinc,
mineral acids and carbolic acid. The registers used
for recording the sale of poisons in Schedule A are
to be preserved for five years and to be open for
inspection by the proper authorities, and none of
the poisons in either schedule are to be sold without
labelling the bottle or other containing vessel, as
well as the outside wrapper, with the name and
address of the seller and the word “ poison,” or
without ascertaining that the buyers are aware of
their poisonous nature.

Another feature of the Bill is an adulteration
section, which provides that the pharmacist shall
be held responsible for the quality of his goods,
except in the case of original packages and patent
medicines. A conviction for fraudulent adulteration
is to be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars
and erasure of the offender’s name from the register.
The duty of prosecuting for offences under the Act
is thrown upon the district attorney upon informa¬
tion laid by the Board of Pharmacy.

The Sale of Food and Drugs Act (1875) Amend¬
ment Bill was read a third time in the House of
| Lords on Wednesday last.

July 19. 1879. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

53

§OTS!U|tiotts of |g barmaqrat teal

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

At a meeting of the Board of Examiners for England
and Wales, held in London, on Wednesday, July 16,
1879, the report of the College of Preceptors on the ex¬
amination held on July 1 was received.

Three hundred, and sixty-fire candidates had presented
themselves for examination, of whom • one hundred and
eighty -one had failed. The following one hundred and
eighty-four passed, and the Registrar was authorized to
place their names upon the Register of Apprentices or
Students : —

(Arranged alphabetically).

Allen, Ernest Edward . Winchester.

Allen, Richard . Ramsey.

Angus, Wm. Cockburn . Aberdeen.

Armstrong, Charles . Streatham.

Bailey, Henry . Chesterfield.

Bailey, Walter Thomas . Coventry.

Baker, Alfred, jun . March.

Barber, William John . Croydon.

Barnett, Henry Frederick . Uttoxeter.

Baron, Richard Edward . Alderney.

Barrass, Arthur . Hingham.

Beesly, Charles William . Cambridge.

Berry, Walter . Manchester.

Betts, George Priest . Norwich.

Blair, Thomas, jun . Girvan.

Blankley, T. E. B . Sleaford.

Bostock, Samuel . Hyde.

Bousie, William Hutton . Kirkcaldy.

Bradley, Frederick William ...Wisbech.

Brice, Ernest . Wirksworth.

Briggs, George . .Leeds.

Brindle, Edward . Edinburgh.

Broad, Arthur Edmund . London.

Broumpton, Frederick Richard. London.

Brown, Andrew P . Glasgow.

Brown, Charles Maltby . York.

Bruce, Alexander Gibb . Broughty Ferry.

Butterfield, Frederick Victor ...Thirsk.

Butler, Ernest F. N. G . London.

Callow, Ewan . Douglas.

Cameron, John Wallace . Sunderland.

Capper, William . Bath.

Carruthers, Christopher . Carlisle.

Chadwick, Arthur ' . Leeds.

Clarke, Walter . Bromley.

Clayton, Walter F . . London.

Clegg. George . Accrington.

Cooper, Harry Stanley . London.

Countze, Napoleon W . Bournemouth.

Crookes, George Wilkson . Eckington.

Cubey, Robert Hewison . South Shields.

Cummings, John Dickie . Alloa.

Deakin, John William . Leftwich.

Deck, Arthur Albert . London.

Dibble, Alfred Tom . Bristol.

Dickson, James Currie . Dumfries.

Dixon, Philip Thomas . King’s Lynn.

Dodds, Ernest . Sheffield.

Dunn, George M . London.

Edwards, Henry . Bootle.

Edwards, Llewelyn . Llandyssul.

Elliott, Henry . . . London.

Ellisson, Charles . Barnsley.

Elston, Albert . Long Sutton.

England, William . Sheffield.

Fairhurst, John James . Grappenhall.

Farlow, James Southward . London.

Farthing, Thomas William . Devonport.

Flower, Edward Ashbrook . Derby.

Fooks, Robert Spiller . Bridport.

Forster, James .

Foster, Henry Simpson .

Freshury, John William S. .

Gascoyne, Edward .

Gaskin, Alfred Charles .

Gibson, Matthew Henry ....

Glasspole, Lorenzo B .

Gooch, Stephen Leeds .

Greaves, John Elijah .

Green, Charles A. P .

Green, Frederick .

Green, Joseph H. B .

Grey, William .

Gourlay, Robert George ....
Graham, Frederick Albert .

Grant, Daniel .., .

Grim wade, Edward Hall _

Haining, Edward .

Hankinson, Alfred William.

Hall, Ernest Edward .

Hart, Edgar Thomas .

Hartley, George Thomas _

Hasler, Joseph .

Hawley, Arthur .

Henderson, David James .

Hill, Major .

Hocken, James Preston ....
Hornby, Robert William....

Horsfall, William . .

Hurcomb, Lawrence E .

Idenden, Richard Frederick
Ingham, William Linnell .,

Inman, Thomas Leonard _

Irvine, John C. D . .

Jarvis, Joseph Alexander .

John, Benjamin .

Johnson, Henry Haden .

Johnson, Sydney Arthur....

J ones, Eustace Harry .

Jones, Maurice Howell .

Jones, Thomas John .

Joye, Joseph .

Keene, Walter F. W .

Knox, John .

Lawton, Ernest .

Levick, George A. M .

Llewhelin, Ivor Vaughan .

Loudon, John James .

Lumby, Walter .

Macaulay, Colin McUlloch.

Marshall, Henry B. K .

Massey, William .

McEwan, David .

Me Master, Thomas .

Matthews, Henry Paget .

Melhado, Howard Emanuel
Mercer, Frederick Clarke .

Middleton, Burton .

Milton, Alexander .

Mohun, Charles Thomas ....

Morgan, Richard .

Morgan, William J ohn ....

Musse 11 white, William .

Naylor, James Louis .

Neale, Matthew Henry _

Neech, James Thomas .

Oldis, Edward Charles .

Owen, Robert Godfrey .

Owen, William .

Pawson, Frederick Thomas..

Priestly, William .

Pugh, Joseph .

Pye, Thomas .

Rees, Harding .

Roberts, Griffith .

Robinson, Thomas .

...Musselburgh.

...Rotherham.

...Lincoln.

. . .Wolverhampton.

. . . W olverhampton .
...Matlock Bath.
...Portsmouth.

, ...Reepham.
...London.

...London.

..London.

..Swindon.

...Blyth.

...Lytham.

..Leeds.

..Edinburgh.

..Croydon.

..Dumfries.

. . Grange-over-Sands.

..Wednesbury.

..Rochester.

..Bath.

..Blackburn.

..Coventry.

..Dunbar.

..Sleaford.

..Heaton Chapel.
...London.

..York.

..Nottingham.

..Dartford.

..London.

..Batley.

..Aberdeen.

...Devizes.

. .Narberth.

..Sedgley. j

..Wisbeach.

..Dartford.

..Machynlleth.

..Cardigan.

..Southport,

..Margate.

..March.

..Barnsley.

..Mansfield.

..Fishguard,

..Glasgow.

, . .Tranmere.

...Perth.

. .Hardingstone,

. .Preston.

..Perth.

..Stranraer.

. .Aldershot.

. . Ramsgate.

. .Coventry.

..Ilkley.

..Aberdeen.

. . Herne Bay.
..London.

..St. Clears.

..Basingstoke.

..Brownedge.

..Woolwich.

..Felmingham.

..London.

..Liverpool.

..Towyn.

..Oakham.

..Harrogate.

. . Wotton-under-Edge.
. .Bennetthorpe.
..South Norwood.
..London.

..Wigton.

54

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 19, 1879.

Roper, Joseph Charles . Chesterfield.

Rowe, Arthur . Windsor.

Rowell, Joseph Elsum . Whittlesea.

Rowntree, Alfred Henry . Manchester.

Rule, Alexander . Aberdeen.

Rushton, Martin . Liverpool.

Sant, Esdras . Pontypridd.

Sapsed, William George . London.

Saunders, Samuel Harry . Oswestry.

Scudamore, George William ...Bristol..

Shadwick, Joseph . Wigton.

Shepard, William . Newport, I.W.

Shepperd, William John . Newport, I.W.

Siddall, George Ward . Plymouth.

Skoulding, William George . Oakham.

Smalley, Arthur William . Stamford.

Smedley, Arthur William W.... Northampton.

Smedley, Erederic Robert . Northampton.

Smith, Corbet Edward . Newport, I.W.

Southwell, Charles Bullock . Bridgenorth.

Spicer, George William . Cranleigh.

Spivey, Fred . Huddersfield.

Spurge, Ernest Clements . Ipswich.

Staley, Henry . Burton-on-Trent.

Strachan, Alexander . . Rothienorman.

Stuart, Alexander . Dufftown.

Swinburn, Banks . Penrith.

Thomas, Thomas . Swansea.

Thomas, William Morgan . Glamorgan.

Thomason, Henry Williams ...Birmingham.

Thompson, Michael John . Hexham.

Timm, Edmund . Goole.

Valpy, Edmund Renouf . Aylesbury.

Vaughan, Edward Edwards ...Rhyl.

Vickery, William Henry . Plymouth.

Walker, Arthur . London.

Walker, Arthur Heesom . Altrincham.

Walker, James Henry . Hyde.

Watt, George . Aberdeen.

Watt, John . Leslie-by-Insch.

Whaley, Thomas Cope . Barnsley.

White, Cresswell Fitzherbert... Chippenham.

Whyte, James . . . Aberdeen.

Williams, George Alfred . Shrewsbury.

Wilson, John . Kirkcaldy.

Wilson, Joseph . Chislehurst.

Wing, Arthur Joseph . ....Cambridge.

Young, John . Arbroath.

The questions for examination were as follows : —

First or Preliminary Examination.
ls£ July 1879.

Time allowed : Three Hours for the three subjects.

1. Translate the following passages into English : —

A. Eo concilio dimisso, iidem principes civitatum, qui
ante fuerant ad Caesarem, reverterunt, petieruntque, uti
sibi secreto de sua omniumque salute cum eo agere liceret.
Ea re impetrata, sese omnes flentes Caesari ad pedes pro-
jecerunt : “ Non minus se id contendere et laborare, ne
ea, quae dixissent, enunciarentur, quam uti ea, quae
vellent, impetrarent ; propterea quod, si enunciatum
esset, summum in cruciatum se venturos viderent.”

B. Caesar loquendi finem fecit, seque ad suos recepit ;
suisque imperavit ne quod omnino telum in hostes rej ice-
rent. Nam, etsi sine ullo periculo legionis delectae cum
equitatu praelium fore videbat, tamen committendum non
putabat, ut, pulsis hostibus, dici posset, eos ab se per
fidem in colloquio circumventos.

2. Decline throughout principes, re, finem, equitatu,
colloquio.

3. Explain the construction known as the “ Ablative
Absolute,” by the aid of the examples of it in the above
passages.

4. Name the prepositions which occur above, arranging
them in a table, according to the case which each takes
after it.

5. ' Translate into Latin : — Caesar did not wish the
conference to be broken off. They appointed a day for
the conference. The Helvetii were defeated by Caesar.
The forces of Ariovistus were distant four and twenty
miles from our men.

II. ARITHMETIC.

(The working of these examples, as well as the answers
must be written out in full.)

6. Find the value of 1 cwt. 3 qrs. 12 lbs. at £1 2s. 6cL
per cwt.

7. Calculate the equivalent, on the metric system, of
10 oz. 5 dr. 2 scr.

8. Divide (f + Ar) by ($ + $).

9. Express as decimals *, -§,

10. What is the income corresponding to an Income
Tax of £13 2s. 6d., at the rate of 7d. in the £ ?

11. Compare the measurement of weight in the metric
system with the various English standards. Why is the
metric system easier to work ?

The following is a list of the centres at which the
examination was held, showing the number of candidates
examined at each centre and the result : —

Candidates. Candidates.

cS CD

O

m

a>

c3

P4

a

Aberdeen .

..16

9

7

Birmingham...

..21

10

11

Brighton .

.. 1

1

0

Bristol .

...12

7

5

Cambridge ...

... 4

2

2

Canterbury ...

... 2

2

0

Cardiff .

... 7

3

4

Carlisle .

... 9

6

3

Carmarthen ...

... 8

5

3

Carnarvon . . .

... 9

3

6

Cheltenham . . .

.. 3

0

3

Darlington . . .

... 6

0

6

Douglas, I. of M. 2

2

0

Dundee .

... 7

4

3

Edinburgh . . .

...16

6

10

Exeter .

... 8

3

5

Glasgow .

...12

5

7

Guernsey .

... 1

0

1

Hull .

... 5

1

4

V

T3

*1

Ha

OQ

8

Cu

CD

• H

C3

Lancaster .

. 6

4

2

Leeds .

.17

8

9

Lincoln .

. 7

4

3

Liverpool .

.13

7

6

London . . .

.52

36

16

Manchester ....

.20

9

11

Newcastle-on-T.

10

4

6

Northampton .

. 6

3

3

Norwich .

.14

4

10

Nottingham .

.12

4

8

Oxford .

. 1

1

0

Peterborough .

.15

10

5

Sheffield .

. 7

7

0

Shrewsbury ....

. 4

3

1

Southampton .

.15

6

9

Truro .

. 4

1

3

Worcester .

. 2

0

2

York .

.11

4

7

III. ENGLISH.

12. What parts of speech may an adverb qualify ?

13. Explain, by the help of examples, the correct use
of shall and will.

14. In what respects does the Relative agree with its
Antecedent? How far is it independent of its Ante¬
cedent ?

15. Parse: —

“If the pilot slumber at the helm,

The very wind that wafts us towards the port
May dash us on the shelves.”

16. Write a short essay on one of the following sub¬
jects : — The Electric Light, the Phonograph, the Tele¬
phone, the War in Zululand, Recreation, Co-operative
Stores.

|rouim[iai $ransaflttons.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE AS30-
CIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Meeting of the Executive Committee.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of this Associa¬
tion was held at the office of the Association, 23, Bur¬
lington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, on July 8,
1879, at 1 p.m., Mr. Thomas Barclay (Birmingham),

July 19, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

55

President, in the chair. Mr. Robert Hampson (London),
Vice-President.

Present — Messrs. Andrews (London), Arblaster (Bir¬
mingham), Bell (Hull), Churchill (Birmingham), Cross
(Shrewsbury), Davison (Glasgow), Holdsworth (Birming¬
ham), Jones (Leamington), Maltby (Lincoln), Reynolds
(Leeds), Southall (Birmingham), Symes (Liverpool),
Walker (Coventry), and the Solicitor of the Association.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive
were read and approved, the appointment of committees
and officials for the ensuing year was proceeded with.

In reply to a question, the Secretary said the taxed
costs of the defendant in the case of the Apothecaries’
Company v. Shepperley, amounting to £165 15s. Sd.,
had a few days previously been paid to the Association.

Mr. J ones directed the attention of the committee to
the medical bills before Parliament.

The President said he thought it would be undesirable
for the Association to take any steps in regard to these
bills until the Select Committee which had been ap¬
pointed by the House of Commons had issued their report.

Mr. Hampson said it appeared evident that the
medical profession were not disposed to allow the ques¬
tion of counter practice to rest. The Apothecaries’
Company had just sustained a case in that town and
gentlemen reading the medical journals would find their
tendency was to support all the demands of the medical
men. If the Select Committee were going into the whole
question of medical legislation the question naturally
arose as to the desirability of the Association moving in
the matter.

Mr. Davison said he thought the fact of so many
medical men keeping open shops, in very many instances
managed by unqualified persons, should be brought under
the notice of the chairman of the Select Committee. In
Glasgow alone there were about a hundred and twenty
such shops.

Mr. Symes said the Select Committee would scarcely
be likely to accept any dicta from the Association. If
the Association attempted to in any way regulate the
practice of medical men it would be stepping out of its
province.

Mr. Reynolds said the Duke of Richmond’s Bill was
the only medical bill which stood any chance of passing
during the present session of Parliament.

It was moved by Mr. Hampson, seconded by Mr. Rey¬
nolds, and unanimously resolved : — “ That the Law and
Parliamentary Committee be directed to watch the pro¬
ceedings of the Select Committee sitting to consider the
medioal bills in the House of Commons, and to take such
action as they may deem necessary.”

The President said the gentlemen present would be
aware that the Birmingham County Court judge had
given his decision a few days previously in the case of the
Apothecaries’ Company v. Harrison, tried in the Bir¬
mingham County Court so far back as July 2, 1877, the
judgment being withheld pending the decision in the
case of the Apothecaries’ Company v. Shepperley. The
decision of the judge was in favour of the plaintiffs, and
the defendant had been fined £20 and costs. The
Secretary would read the judgment.

The following judgment was then read : —

“ This is an action brought by the plaintiffs against the
defendant to recover the sum of £20 by way of penalty
under the 20th section of the 55 Geo. III. c. 194, for
practising as an apothecary without having first obtained
the necessary certificate. It was heard before me as far
back as July 2, 1877, and was adjourned in conse¬
quence of the pending of an appeal to the High Court of
Justice against the decision of the county court judge at
Nottingham, in a case similar to the present and under
the same Act of Parliament. That appeal has now been
disposed of, and I am sorry not to be able to derive the
assistance from it I anticipated. So far as concerns the
question of what is meant by ‘acting as an apothecary ’
within the meaning of the Act, or the still more important

question whether in virtue of usage prior to the Act in
1815, the right continued for chemists to act as apothe¬
caries in the treatment of simple ailments and the admin¬
istration of simple remedies for their relief, the law is left
very much in the same state of doubt as it was before.
The facts of the case are really these. The defendant is
a chemist and druggist carrying on business at Birming¬
ham, and a young woman named Julia Caddick being
unwell was advised to go to the defendant’s shop for
medicine. In her evidence she states that she went to
the defendant’s shop on November 27, 1876, and saw the
defendant and asked him if he would make up some
medicine to relieve her from a weakness she was suffering
from. She says, ‘ she told him it was a weakness left on
her from her last confinement, and that her womb came
down.’ She says further, ‘that the defendant felt her
pulse, looked at her tongue and asked her to describe her
feeling, when she told him she suffered much from pains
in the back.’ After this, according to her evidence, the
defendant gave her a bottle of medicine which he said
would do her good, and told her to take it according to
the instructions on the bottle. She says, ‘ she gave the
defendant one shilling for the medicine and took some of
it at once in the shop.’ A bottle half full of medicine
was produced in court at the trial by the witness and she
stated that it was the same she obtained from the de¬
fendant at his shop on November 27. The witness was
cross-examined at length, but her evidence was not
shaken in any respect. The above is all the evidence on
the part of the plaintiffs I consider necessary to state at
length except that of the medical man, Dr. Suffield, who,
in his examination stated, ‘ that he had heard the evi¬
dence given by the woman, and from her description of
her suffering, and from what she stated she had told the
defendant, he should imagine she was suffering from
anaemia, which was a constitutional complaint of a dan¬
gerous character, frequently leading to death, if the
patient was not properly treated.’ In diagnosing a com¬
plaint of the nature described, Dr. Suffield observed,

‘ that one would go a little deeper into particulars than
seemed to have been done in this case by the defend¬
ant.’ On cross-examination Dr. Suffield said, ‘he did
not think feeling the pulse was a sufficient diagnosis
of the disease.’ Upon being requested by defendant’s
counsel, he examined the medicine in the bottle and said
he thought it was a preparation of iron and would be a
proper medicine for the case. In opposition to this,
defendant himself was called as a witness and the
material parts of his evidence were to the effect ‘ that he
remembered Julia Caddick visiting his shop in Novem¬
ber in the afternoon. She came and asked him to supply
her with a bottle of strengthening medicine for a weak¬
ness after lying in.’ He denies that he examined her at
all and states it was not necessary. He says, ‘ he did
not feel her pulse, and she did not tell him anything
about the womb coming down.’ He admitted, however,

‘ that he did ask her if the weakness had anything to do
with her confinement, stating that he did so because he
saw she had been recently confined, and had a baby in
in her arms which she said was hers.’ The witness then
stated, ‘ I said to her, do you mean general weakness of
the constitution ; when she said, yes.’ The witness then
added, ‘ I mixed her up some stuff which I put into a
bottle and put a label upon it. The label on the bottle
which had been produced the witness admitted was his
label.’ He said, ‘ that the mixture in the bottle was not
what the woman had from his shop, that he would swear.’
This, with the exception of the evidence of an aged
chemist called by the defendant, to whose evidence he
should refer hereafter, is the whole of the evidence on the
one side and the other, so far as the real question to be
determined in the case is concerned. By the 20th section
of the 56 Geo. III., c. 194, under which this action is
brought, it is enacted, ‘ that if any person shall after the
1st August, 1815, act or practise as an apothecary in any
part of England or Wales without having obtained a

56

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

[July 19, 1879

certificate as mentioned in the preceding section of the Act
he shall be liable to forfeit and pay the sum of £20.’ The
28th section of the same Act, the one on which defendant
grounds his defence, enacts by way of proviso ‘ nothing in
this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend
to prejudice, or in any way to affect the trade or business
of a chemist and druggist in the buying, preparing, com¬
pounding, dispensing or vending drugs, medicines or
medicinable compounds, wholesale and retail, but all
persons using or exercising the said trade or business, or
who shall, or may hereafter, use or exercise the same,
shall and may use, exercise, and carry on the same
trade or business in such manner and as fully and
amply to all intents and purposes as the same trade
or business was used, exercised or carried on by chemists
and druggists before the passing of this Act.’ The first
point in this case to be considered is, has the defendant
in the instance proved by this evidence acted as an
apothecary ? if he has, and is not protected by the pro¬
viso (it being admitted he has not obtained a certificate
from the Society of Apothecaries), he is undoubtedly
liable to pay the penalty sued for and the verdict must be
for the plaintiffs. The defendant, however, raises two
questions by way of defence. First, he says in what he
did he did not act as an apothecary, and second, that if in
strictness it should be held that he did, inasmuch as he
was only carrying on his business of a chemist as chemists
carried on their business before the passing of the Act in
1815, he is protected by the proviso referred to, which he
contends permits chemists and druggists to carry on their
business in the same manner as they did before the pass¬
ing of the Act, and that chemists, so he says, the evidence
proves were in the habit of advising patients in trifling
cases as well as supplying them with medicines, and he
argues that the present is a case of that character which
a chemist would have treated before the passing of the
Act, as the defendant has done since. Now with refer¬
ence to the question raised by the first part of the defence,
whether in what the defendant did he acted as an apothe¬
cary, the case of the Apothecaries’ Company v. Lotinga,
2 M. and R., p. 500, decided in 1843, goes perhaps more
fu'lly into the question than any other, and in that case,
Mr. Justice Cresswell told the jury that, ‘ an apothecary
is a person who professes to judge of internal disease by
its symptoms and applies himself to cure that disease by
medicine,’ and in the same case he tells them that ‘ a
chemist is one who sells medicines which are asked for,’
and in effect states, ‘ that if a chemist himself selected
the medicines and determined on what he ought to give,
he is stepping out of his lawful province as a chemist and
entering upon that of an apothecary.’ The definition of a
chemist as given by Mr. Justice Cresswell in Lotinga’s
case would appear not to be large enough, because the
28th section of the Apothecaries Act referred to clearly
shows that the trade of a chemist was not confined to sell¬
ing medicines which were asked for merely, but extended
to the preparing, compounding and dispensing them. His
lordship’s definition of an apothecary is, however, doubt¬
less perfectly correct, for as recently observed by Mr.
Baron Pollock, in Shepperley’s case, it is to be presumed
that Mr. Justice Cresswell did not mean internal as
opposed to external disease, in the sense of a man having
an eruption produced by some diseased condition of the
body which the learned Baron observed would not be
any less an internal disease, and if anyone proceeded to
judge of it by the symptoms and apply medicine for its
cure the law would equally apply to him as it would to
the man who attempted to cure a persistent difficulty of
indigestion, a diseased condition of the lungs or any of
the other evils to which flesh is heir and which affect
mankind internally. There is another case, The Apothe¬
caries’ Company v. Nottingham (34 L. T. N. S. 76), tried
before Lord Justice (then Baron) Bramwell in 1876. In
that case it was proved ‘ that the defendant, who was a
certified chemist, but not an apothecary, had been in
partnership with a duly qualified medical practitioner,

but it was also shown that this medical man was not
always on the spot. It also appeared in evidence that
the defendant had on various occasions been applied to
for advice and medicine, both of which he gave to the
applicants, but did so as an ordinary shopkeeper from
behind the counter. It did not appear that he ever
went from his shop to attend on patients, and he was
proved in cases of serious illness always to have referred
the patients to the doctor with whom he was in partner¬
ship,’ and the learned Judge in addressing the jury said,

‘ I feel some little difficulty in putting the case to you,
for on the defendant's own admission he says he pre¬
scribed and that if a person brought a child to him
suffering from diarrhoea and asked what was good for it,
he gave a medicine ; if, however, the case was serious he
sent it to the doctor. Surely,’ said the learned Baron,

‘ that is acting and practising as an apothecary within
the meaning of the Act.’ There is also a third case,
known as ‘Wiggins’s cp.se,’ tried before Mr. Justice
Field, on the 23rd and 24th May, 1878, in the Bail Court
at Westminster (but not reported, so far as I know, in
any of the recognized legal reports), in which his Lord-
ship approves and adopts the definition of Mr. Justice
Cresswell in Lotinga’s case with the qualification men¬
tioned by Baron Pollock. Upon these authorities, and
there are several others of earlier date, I am bound te
find and must hold upon the evidence, which is clear and
decisive, that the defendant, in what he did, acted as an
apothecary in contravention of the Act of Parliament
and has incurred the penalty prescribed by it, for it is
distinctly proved by the plaintiffs’ evidence, and that of the
defendant cannot be relied on to alter it in any material
degree, that the defendant in performing the acts men¬
tioned in the evidence to enable him to form an opinion
on the case proceeded, in the language of Mr. Justice
Cresswell, to judge (or pretend to judge) of the internal
disease from which the young woman was suffering by
the symptoms ascertained by his acts, and applied himself
to cure it by medicine. If this is not acting as an
apothecary, it is really, I believe, impossible to define
what acting as an apothecary is. Upon the second part
of the defence the defendant called a witness, named
Thomas Parsons, who said ‘ he was eighty-four years old,
andhad been apprenticed to a chemist and druggist in 1809.’
He said he was apprenticed to Messrs. Blews and
Company of Worcester, where one of the partners was
an apothecary; and that he (the witness), in the shop, over
the counter, and as I understand him, others in the same
shop supposed to be competent, though not apothecaries,
were in the habit of giving advice as well as medicine in
trifling cases, but that if the case were a serious one it
would be attended to by the principal, meaning, I suppose,
the partner who was an apothecary. This evidence un¬
doubtedly shows that chemists in carrying on their
business before the year 1815 did something (lawful or
otherwise) beyond selling medicines merely, as stated by
Mr. Justice Cresswell, and if the present instead of being
a case of a serious character, as I find it from Dr.
Suffield’s evidence to have been, had been of the trivial
nature of those referred to in the evidence of Mr. Parsons,
the second part of the defence would have arisen and would
deserve serious consideration ; but the evidence of Mr. Par¬
sons convinces me that though chemists before 1815 might
have advised in trivial cases, they were not in the habit of
advising and prescribing as the defendant has done in a
case of the serious nature of the present, but would have
sent such a case to the apothecary. If, however, it be
correct, as Mr. Parsons in his evidence states, that before
1815 some chemists were in the habit, in trifling cases, of
advising as well as supplying persons with medicines, it
does not at least follow that they ever had the legal right
to so advise and supply the medicine or are protected
by the 28th section of the Act in case they do. If I
were at liberty to speculate, I think it is very probable
that some chemists, before 1815, did act as Mr. Parsons
says they did, and as is well known some do now,

July 19 '879.]

THE rilARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

57

but if they did, I believe they had no legal right to do so
and were usurping the rights of those who had, just as
the surgeon, as shown by Lotinga’s case, usurped and
contended for the right to advise and supply medicine as
an apothecary, or indeed as the apothecary did when, as
is known, he sometimes exercised, though illegally, the
right of the physician t ) attend and prescribe for patients,
before he possessed the legal right to do so, which at the
present time he undoubtedly possesses. If the language
of the 28th section is carefully considered I am afraid it
will be found not to have the effect contended for by Mr.
Herbert on the part of the defendant. He says that the
business of chemists before 1815 extended to, or was
carried on by them, ‘ in advising or prescribing in the
shop, over the counter as it were, in cases of a trifling
nature and supplying the persons with medicines for the
cure of them, and secondly are protected in what they do
now, provided they do no more than they did then ; but
the section with regard to the business of a chemist does
not say a word about advising or prescribing.’ On the
contrary it would seem, from the language used, rather to
ignore the fact that to do so formed, at the time of the
passing of the Act, any part of the chemist’s business.
The words of the section are ‘ that nothing in the Act
contained shall extend ’ or be construed to extend, to pre¬
judice, or in any way to affect the trade or business of a
chemist or druggist in — be it observed, not the advising
or prescribing as stated by Mr. Herbert was the chemist’s
business in small matters, but only in ‘the buying, prepar¬
ing, compounding, dispensing, and vending drugs, medi¬
cines and medicinable compounds wholesale and retail.’
The section then proceeds to provide that all persons
using or exercising the said trade or business, or who shall
or who may thereafter use or exercise the same, shall and
may use, exercise, and carry on the same trade or business,
in such manner and as fully and amply to all intents and
purposes as the same trade or business was used, exercised
or carried on by chemists and druggists before the passing
of the Act. What business, therefore, the section provides
is not to be affected by the Act, and what might be
carried on notwithstanding the Act, would appear to be
not that trade of a chemist as carried on by him according
to Mr. Parsons’s evidence in the ‘advising and selling
medicines,’ but only as he carried it on in the buying, pre¬
paring, compounding, dispensing and vending his drugs.
So it is this trade or business of a chemist so described,
not the enlarged or extended one as contended for by Mr.
Herbert, that the Act permits him to carry on (and pro¬
tects him in doing) as fully as he might have done before
the passing of the Act. The Legislature would appear
not to have known (if indeed it existed) of this extended
business of a chemist as now contended for, or if it did,
it appears to have ignored it as no part of the legitimate
business of the chemist, and declined to protect him in
tke exercise of it after the passing of the Act. The words
‘advising and prescribing’ are, as already remarked, not
mentioned in the proviso, and there is no word so used in
it that could by any ingenuity be construed as including
these words unless it be the word ‘dispensing,’ and that
word in my opinion does not, for the true meaning of the
word dispensing (in pharmacy), according to Bailey’s
Dictionary, is, when simples of a composition are set in
order lest any of the ingredients should be forgotten ; and
according to Rees’s Encyclopaedia, title ‘Dispense’ (in phar¬
macy) means ‘To dispose and arrange several medicines,
either simple or compound, by weight in their proper doses
or quantities in order to be employed in the making of
the composition.’ I have made these few observations for
the consideration of the defendant and those associated
with him ; they form no part of my judgment, which is in
no way founded upon them, for, as I have already said, I
find the present case was of a serious if not a dangerous
nature, and in that view of it I do not understand that even
the defendant’s counsel would contend his client had the
right to treat it as he has done. The defendant, I find
from the evidence, has clearly and unmistakeably ‘acted

as an apothecary,’ and the proviso relied upon, in my
opinion, affords him no defence in such a case as this,
even though I were to admit it is possible that he might
in those trifling cases contended for by Mr. Herbert,
which for the l’easons given, however, I very much doubt.
The verdict, therefore, will be for the plaintiffs.”

Verdict for the plaintiffs, £20, and costs.

In reply to a question from the President, the solicitor
said there were three courses open, provided the Associa¬
tion desired to carry the case further, namely, appli¬
cation for a new trial, appeal by case or appeal by motion.
An application for a new trial would have to be sup¬
ported by one of three grounds, either that the Judge
refused evidence that was proposed, that he admitted
evidence wrongfully, or that the verdict was against the
weight of evidence. Taking the last first, as the Judge
acted in the capacity of Judge and jury, he would no
doubt say the verdict was not against the weight of evi -
dence, and would refuse a new trial if it were applied
for. As regarded the admission of evidence wrongfully,
if any such course was taken, according to the Judge’s
view it was in admitting the testimony of the defendant’s
aged witness, as to the mode of conducting a chemist’s
business prior to 1815, and in no other respect had
evidence been improperly admitted. Then lastly, as to
the refusal of evidence, no evidence which was tendered
at the trial was refused. An appeal might be had by
case or motion ; of these the former was to be preferred
as the facts were in such a case stated by the Judge and
the matter was brought under review much more easily
than was the case where upon motion the Judge’s notes
taken at the trial were produced in court. After con¬
sultation with counsel and taking into consideration that
the Judge had found as a fact that the defendant had
treated a dangerous case, and that this must be admitted
in any subsequent appeal, and since the judgment of one
County Court would not govern a case in any other court,
he (the solicitor) could not advise the Association to pro¬
ceed further in that action.

The Executive then went into committee to consider
the question of an appeal and after a long and careful
discussion on all the points of the case, it was moved by
Mr. Churchill, seconded by Mr. Jones, and unanimously
resolved: — “ That the finding of the County Court Judge
in the case of the Apothecaries’ Company v. Harrison,
being as follows : ‘ I find the present case was of a "serious
if not a dangerous nature,’ this Committee is of opinion
that no further steps should be taken by the Association
in this action.”

Some considerable discussion took place on the advisa¬
bility of steps being taken by the Association to amend
the Pharmacy Act, 1868, when it was moved by Mr.
Arblaster, seconded by Mr. Symes, and unanimously
resolved : — “ That the Law and Parliamentary Committee
be directed to take any steps which they may deem desir¬
able to obtain information to enable them to bring about
modifications in the Pharmacy Act, 1868, to restrict the
sale of scheduled poisons under cover of the patent medi¬
cine stamp to registered chemists and druggists, and to
report to the next meeting of the Executive.”

The President said the next question on the agenda
paper was the consideration of the advisability of steps
being taken by the Association to endeavour to obtain
the exemption of all registered chemists and druggists
from jury service. He continued to say that he was fre¬
quently receiving letters from chemists and druggists,
relative to the extreme hardship which they suffered from
being compelled to attend bn juries, and he would move: —
“ That the Law and Parliamentary Committee be and
are hereby empowered to take such steps as they deem
advisable to obtain the exemption of all registered che¬
mists and druggists from jury service.”

The resolution was seconded by Mr. Andrews, sup¬
ported by Mr. Arblaster, and carried unanimously.

Several letters were read from members of the Associa¬
tion complaining of cases of infringements of the Pharmacy

•58

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 19, 1879.

Act, when it was moved by Mr. Andrews, seconded by
Mr. Symes, and unanimously resolved : — “ That the
secretary be instructed to collect evidence of infringe¬
ments of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, and forward particu¬
lars of same to the Secretary and Registrar of the
Pharmaceutical Society.”

The case of a member of the Association against whom
an action had been brought by the Excise authorities for
the sale of methylated spirit without a licence was con¬
sidered. It was moved by Mr. Davison, seconded
by Mr. Hampson, and unanimously resolved: — “That
the secretary be instructed to investigate the case of a
member against whom legal proceedings have been taken
by the Excise authorities for the sale of methylated
.spirit without a licence, and that the solicitor be instructed
to defend the action if the case on investigation be found
satisfactory.”

|ro(t«eilin[p of ^oqietics.

SCHOOL OP PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association was held on June
26, Mr. C. H. Hutchinson, P.C.S., in the chair.

After the reading of the minutes, Mr. R. H. Parker
read a paper on “ Myrrh.” This paper will be printed in
a future number of the Journal.

After a short discussion,

Mr. J. G. Sangster read his report on “Pharmacy,”
in which he gave an account of the following prepara¬
tions: — Vaseline, oleate of mercury, oleate of zinc and
guaiacate or lithia.

Oleate of Mercury is made by triturating together for
some hours oleicacid and freshly precipitated mercuric oxide
till combination is effected. In this process heat must be
avoided. The ordinary strengths used are 5 per cent., 10
per cent, and 20 per cent. The first and second are thick
liquids, the third having the consistenceof a soft ointment.

Oleate of Zinc is usually prepared by mixing together hot
solutions of soft soap and sulphate of zinc. The precipitated
oleate is washed and dried by hydraulic pressure. It is of
the consistence of suet, and possesses a pearly- white colour.
To mix it with other fats it must be first melted.

Guaiacate of Lithia , introduced by Dr. Garrod, is in
the form of dark brown scales. It is prepared by digest¬
ing pure guaiacum resin with a saturated solution of
lithium hydrate, decanting the clear solution, evaporating
.and scaling. It is usually ordered in the form of pills,
for which spirit is the best excipient.

Mr. Sangster then noticed the following mixture which
•he had dispensed : —

R Eerri Am. Cit . 3SS<

Quin. Su'.ph . . . . . gr. 12.

Acid. Citric . 3j*

Sp. Chlorof . 3j.

Aquie . . ad ^vj.

The quinine was dissolved with the citric acid in a
small quantity of water and the scale compound in
another portion of water. On mixing the two solutions
a reddish-brown precipitate occurred, which in a few days
•dissolved in the supernatant liquid, giving a clear green
solution. It seemed to him probable therefore that a
compound resembling the citrate of iron and quinine of
the Pharmacopoeia was formed.

After a short discussion the meeting adjourned.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The History of Alizarin and Allied Colouring
Matters, and their Production from Coal Tar.*

BY W. H. PERKIN, F.R.S.

{Continued from page 38).

I will now refer to’the process of making artificial alizarin
by means of dichloranthracene in place of anthraquinone.

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts.

Sulphuric acid forms two sulpho acids with dichloran¬
thracene, a mono and a di.

To obtain the former, pure dichloranthracene is
intimately mixed with concentrated sulphuric acid,
warmed up to about 50° C., the mixture being well
stirred ; this process is continued for about twenty-four
hours. It is then diluted, boiled, and filtered from any
undissolved dichloranthracene. This filtrate gelatinizes
on cooling, and consists chiefly of monosulphodichloran-
thracenic acid ; it is formed thus : —

C14H8C12 + S04H2 = C14H7 (S03H) ci2 + oh2.

iionosulphodichlorantlii acenic
acid.

On boiling this with an oxidizing agent, it yields mono¬
sulpha nthraquinonic acid.

CuH7 (S03H) C12 + 02 = CuH7 (S03H) 02 + Cl2.

And this, when fused with caustic alkali, behaves in
the same manner as the acid prepared from anthraquinone,
yielding finally, pure alizarin.

If the dichloranthracene be heated more strongly with
sulphuric acid, it is converted into the disulphodichloran-
thracenic acid* thus : — •

C14H8C12 + 2 S04H2 =

cuh«|!o:hK+2oh*

v'" - - * —

Disulphodicliloranthracenic acid.

An acid remarkable for the fluorescence of its solutions
and salts. If the heating with sulphuric acid be in¬
creased after the acid is formed, a very remarkable
change takes place, sulphurous anhydride and hydro¬
chloric acid being evolved in abundance, disulphanthra-
quinonic acid being at the same time formed: —

CwH«js033H!C1= + S°A =
c«h«|IoJh|°2+so^+2hci

This, of course, when fused with alkali, eventually forms
anthrapurpurin ; and, as some of the disulphanthra-
quinonate is also formed, a little flavopurpurin is likewise
produced.

There is also another reaction which takes place. As
dichloranthracene combines with sulphuric acid, water is
liberated, so that this acid becomes somewhat diluted.
This does not readily form a sulpho acid with the di¬
chloranthracene which has not dissolved, but when
heated with it, converts it into anthraquinone.

ChH8C12 + S04H2 = Cl4H802 + 2 HOI + S02

Dichloranthracene. Anthraquinone.

As the temperature rises, the acid becomes concentrated,
and then combines Avith it, forming chiefly monosulphan-
thraquinonic acid.

The process of making monosulphanthraquinonic acid
from the monosulphodichloranthracenic acid has not been
carried out successfully on the large scale, partly owing to
the processes of filtration being very difficult to perform.
But the preparation of artificial alizarin from the sulpho
acids prepared by heating dichloranthracene strongly with
sulphuric acid, is a process of very great importance.

As pure alizarin can now be obtained in any quantity,
attention has been turned to the preparation of its deriva¬
tives. In 1874, I studied the action of bromine upon it,
and obtained monobrom alizarin, having the formula
C14H7Br04.+ This compound dyes mordants somewhat
similiarly to alizarin, the colours being a little redder in
shade, but not sufficiently different to make it of technical
interest. In 1875, I also obtained a nitroderivative of
alizarin by acting on diaceto alizarin Avith fuming nitric

* Journal of the Chemical Society, 1871, p- 15.
f Journal of the Chemical Society, 1874 p. 401.

July If), 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

GD

acid.* * * § This substance crystallizes in beautiful orange
needles, and has the formula, C14H7(N0o)04. It produces
with mordants colours very different from alizarin, giving
with alumina brilliant orange, and with iron mordants
reddish purple colours. It would be a valuable deying
agent if it could be produced by a more easy process.

When treated with reducing agents, such as sodium
amalgam, or metallic tin and potash, its blue alkaline
solution changes to a clear bright red colour, contain¬
ing another new derivative, namely amidoalizarin,
C14H7(NHo)04. This also dyes mordants, the alumina
ones of a purple and the iron ones of a bluish or steel-like
colour.

A second, or @ nitroalizarin, isomeric with that I pro¬
duced, has been obtained by Rosenstiehl,+ and, apparently
about the same time, by Caro, if: by submitting dry alizarin
to the action of nitrous acid vapours. It is now manu¬
factured in some quantities, and is known as alizarin
orange. Like the nitroalizarin previously described, it
gives orange colours with alumina mordants. They are,
however, much yellower, and not so fine. This nitro¬
alizarin dissolves in dilute alkalies with a purplish crimson
colour ; but strong alkaline solutions precipitate it,
especially caustic soda, and this property affords a means
of purifying it. When boiled with metallic tin and
caustic potash, it is reduced, becoming blue and then
yellowish green ; but, on exposure to the air, this solution
changes back to bluish green. Schunck and Roemer§ have
just published an account of this reduction product ; it is
an amidoalizarin isomeric with that just described. It
crystallizes in deep yellow prismatic needles, and dissolves
in potash with a blue colour. It dyes alumina mordants
a dull red, and iron mordants a dull grey colour.

A very peculiar result has been obtained by M. Prud’
homme|| by heating a mixture of glycerine, /3 nitroalizarin,
and concentrated sulphuric acid. By this means a colour¬
ing matter is obtained which dyes alumina, and especially
iron mordants, an indigo blue shade. It crystallizes in
needles of an almost black colour, but having a coppery
reflection. The formula is Cl7H9N04. It is manufactured
commercially, but as its colours are fugitive it has not met
with much favour.

F. de LalandeTfhas made the interesting discovery that
purpurin, identical with that found in madder, can be
obtained by the oxidation of alizarin. He takes a solution
of one part of alizarin in eight or ten parts of sulphuric acid,
and adds to it one part of arsenic acid or peroxide of
manganese, and heats this mixture to a temperature of 150°
to 160° C., until a drop of the fluid mixed with an alkali
gives a red coloration. The product is then thrown into
water, and the purpurin which precipitates is collected on a
filter and well washed.

In this paper I have purposely confined my remarks to
the colouring matters and other substances obtained in
the manufacture of artificial alizarin, and also to some of
the more important derivatives of alizarin; a considerable
number of products have, however, been obtained, which
are related to anthracene, although this hydrocarbon has
not been used in their preparation, such, for example, as
anthraflavone from oxybenzoic acid, etc. And, although
I do not propose to give an account of these bodies, I wish
briefly to refer to some very interesting results which have
been obtained by Baeyer and Caro.

These chemists have observed that, when phenol is
heated with phthalic acid or anhydride and an excess of
sulphuric acid, that two monoxanthraquinones are pro¬
duced, one identical with that already described, the other
being an isomeride of that body. Both of these, however,
when fused with caustic alkali, yield alizarin.

* Journal of the Chemical Society, 1870, vol. ii., p. 5 78,
and Dent. Chem. Ges. Ber., 1875, pi 780.

t Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., 1876, 1003.

X Patent No. 1, 229, March 22, 1876.

§ Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., 1879, 558.

II Bull. Soc. Chem. (2), xxviii, 62— <54.

T ‘ Jahresbericht,’ 1874, p. 486.

By substituting pyrocatechin for phenol in the above
process, they succeeded in obtaining alizarin at once.
These results, although at present of no practical value,
are of considerable scientific interest, and also show us that
anthracene is not the only artificial soi ree of alizarin.

From what I have already said it will be seen
to what an advanced state the chemistry of my subject
has arrived (and yet there is much to be done), and only
those who have been interested in the progress of the
manufacture can rightly appreciate the great value of all
this research in forwarding the successful and enconomical
production of these colouring matters.

As I have already shown, both of the important colour¬
ing matters of madder have now been obtained from
anthracene, and not only so, but new products allied to
these have also been produced, the most important one
being that valuable colouring matter anthrapurpurin ; we
have also flavopurpurin and the derivatives of alizarin.
So that, with these colouring matters, dyers and calico
printers are not only able to produce all the various
madder styles, but to introduce colours of greater beauty
and variety than when employing the natural dye-stuff
madder.

(To he continued.)

IRtinoi’aiutd

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

Replies.

[315]. In my reply to this question in last week’s
Journal, I am made, by a printer’s error, to say, “ sal
ammoniae ” in three instances. It ought in each case to
be “ sal ammoniac.” W. Wilkinson.

[322]. Will Mr. Brown kindly detail the method of
making a stable preparation of this formula ? I can, like
him, get a pink creamy ointment; but I fail to induce
the components to remain in the combination any suffi¬
cient time for the daily use of the patient, and obviously
that is the intention of the prescribes — Anon.

[324]. Permit me to correct what I gather from the
remarks of Mr. Henry Brown is a misunderstanding rela¬
tive to this prescription. Mr. Brown, to whom I am
greatly indebted for his clear and lucid arguments, says : — •
“I observe ‘Gulielmus’ adds after morphia, ‘the alkaloid,’
so as to italicize as it were.” The words however were not
my addition, but formed part of the prescription, and
this being so forced me to the conclusion that the pre-
scriber meant what he had written. I cannot think that
the pharmacist under those circumstances would be justified
in adding anything to convert the morphia into a salt,
but having explained my position in relation to this point
shall be glad with further expressions of opinion thereon.

Gulielmus.

[324]. In Mr. H. Brown’s very practical answer to
No. 324, he does not explain how the preparation which
was first obtained by the patient was (according to the
statement by “Gulielmus”) about twice as much in bulk.

The addition of a small quantity of acid, sulph. dil.
could not cause such a difference.

G. H. Weight.

[326]. The mixture containing tr. gelsemin., fer. et quime
cit., butyl chloral hyd., potass, bromid., potass, iodid.

60

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 10, 1879.

.and aq. chloroform., may be made perfectly transparent,
and therefore “ presentable,” by adding a little magnesia,
and filtei ing through fine filtering paper. The question
is, How far is a dispenser justified in thus turning out a
slightly opaque mixture as bright and as clear as dark
.sherry wine ? In this case, and in many other instances
(328, infra), a perfectly bright mixture may be obtained
by the simple act of filtration through magnesia, bismuth
or orris root, as the case may be. I hold, however,
whilst a strong advocate for elegant dispensing, that a
mixture like the above, which is only slightly opaque,
should not be sent out clear. By filtration, as sug¬
gested, I have convinced myself that no change in con¬
stitution occurs ; but, there is a manifest injustice done
to other compounders and other houses, by having resort
to the process indicated.

I am aware some houses make it a study to send all
mixtures out transparent, if such is possible without
undue interference. If therefore, a prescription similar
to that given by “ Sub Umbra Flortsco ” or C. B., 328,
is filtered, and sent out bright by the first house at which
it is compounded, and then the patient has it dispensed
at another pharmacist’s, will he not naturally wonder
why in the one case it was transparent, but in the other
opaque? And will he not think that in the first instance
it was properly compounded, and look upon the first
pharmacist as superior in his art to the second, because
from the same ingredients he is able to turn out a bright
and pleasing mixture, whilst the second is only able to
form a muddy looking compound? I see a great injustice
to members of the pharmaceutical body by such pro¬
cedures. If the patient is whimsical, or if the medical
man’s wish is understood in such instances, I think in all
fairness a note might and ought to be written, such as,
■“ Filter through magnesia,” by the medical man or phar¬
macist who first dispenses the mixture. If such is not
done, there is manifest unfairness in thus Heating any
such prescription.

By what means is a pharmacist, even in the same town,
to know exactly how a mixture was at first compounded
and its subsequent treatment, if a note be not appended
indicative of the mode in which it was dispensed, i. e.,
provided such a mixture was sent out perfectly trans¬
parent ?

Northallerton. Hy. Brown.

[327]. I am afraid J. H. cannot, without materially
altering the prescription, send out a mixture of sodse
salicyl., croton, butyl, and quinse sulph., so as to have the
quinine in perfect solution. If the quinine is dissolved
by the aid of an acid it is at once precipitated on the
addition of the salicylate and, in the form of a resin oid
mass, adheres to the sides of the bottle. The best mode
is just to powder the quinine very fine and add “ shake
the bottle.” The mixture is not unsightly and the quinine
will remain long enough in suspension to enable a correct
dose to be measured.

Hy. Brown.

[328]. Is sufficiently answered in my note, vide supra,
326. When filtered the mixture is a beautiful light
sherry colour and has its original taste unaltered. The
small quantity of the resin of the hop only removed.

Hy. Brown.

[330]. No. 1 is another example somewhat akin to
No. 327. In this case the only way I see out of a diffi¬
culty is to omit the acid, sulph. dil., dissolve the sodae
salicyl. and rub up the quinine. The same remarks
apply, in the main, as in No. 327, supra.

No. 2. “ J. S. Nemo ” should use solid perchloride of
iron and add the acid, hydrochlor. after solution. The
HC1 is added to obviate oxidation.

Hy. Brown.

and (funks.

[614]. “PULV. SALINI EFFERVESC. APE-
RIENTIS.” — The composition of this preparation is
published by Messrs. H. and S. Kirby and Co., of 14,
Newman Street, W., in their formulae.

London, W. Veritas.

[618]. NICOTINE. — Will some reader state a process
for extracting the nicotine from tobacco, and leaving the
tobacco inert for smoking?

Fraxinus.

[619]. STAMPING INK.— Wanted a formula for a
good black ink to use with india-rubber stamps on paper.

W. W.

^oimespndqnq.

*»* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Supply of Gas.

Sir, — No doubt I only express the sentiments of hun¬
dreds of your readers when 1 express my thanks that you
have taken up the gas question.

I have had my attention drawn to a discussion now going
on in The English Mechanic , and to the evident partiality
“ and unfairness of that journal to any but one side of the
discussion,” and have come to the conclusion that the Me¬
chanic, like a good many other journals connected with
trade interests, is probably influenced in favour of the gas
companies and the great body of gas engineers up and down
the country. This last year, as witnessed by newspapers in
every part of the country, has given rise to complaints from
every class, but instead of trying to help and trace the
cause— and most assuredly there is one — the effort seems to
be to try and intimidate and “ burke ” any inquiry.

I trust you will exercise patience and give scope in your
columns for free ventilation of the subject, and if the ap¬
proaching Conference would add “ Gas Deterioration ” to
the list of subjects requiring elucidation, it would be a very
legitimate inquiry. Gas engineers and gas officials certainly
have net the ability, even if they had the willingness to
clear up the present difficulty.

The reference to the production of “ marsh gas ” by gas
companies in place of olifiant gas, as explained in the letter
of your last number, to my mind goes a long way to ex¬
plain matters and 1 should like to ask my brother chemists
if they can bring any evidence to prove that consumers
uear the works are more often complaining than those at a
greater distance away ? My theory is that ordinary coal
gas is a “ wonderful ” compound of various gases, and that
the lighter and least luminous find their way to the nearest
outlets, and those streets nearest the works are the worst
lighted.

Any evidence pro or con. would tend to clear up a diffi*
cult problem. More Light.

“ Natura.” — It is a mixture of the light hydrocarbons of
petroleum.

“ Apprentice." — Boil with nitro-muriatic acid and pre¬
cipitate with ammonia.

J. H. Dingle. — (1) Sonchus asper. (2) Festuca ovina.
(3) Lolium perenne. (4) Festuca Myurus. (5) Festuca
loliacea. (6) Pinus sylvestris.

A. P. S. — (1) Fellowship of the Chemical Society is con¬
ferred by election. (2) The other degree is granted by
some foreign universities upon conditions varying with the
university.

C. Marshall. — The seeds of Garcinia purpurea yield
the fat known as “ Kokum butter.” A description will be
found in ‘ Pharmacographia,’ p. 79.

C. Kemp. — (1) Hypericum perforatum. (2) Listera
ovata. (3) Lithospermum officinale.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Berm ingham, Davidson, Roberts, Sawyer, C. II . F.
Student.

July 26, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

61

“ THE MpNTH.”

After the continuous rain of May and June, it
might have been expected that St. Swithin would
waive his claim to his accustomed sway of forty
days, hut since such has not been the case, it is
only natural that the long continued rainy weather
should give rise to grumbling in agricultural
districts ; still there is perhaps some reason to be
thankful that the weather has been wet rather than
fine. Owing most likely to the heat of last summer and
to other conditions, as yet not well understood, the
number of insects would probably have amounted
to a plague this year, had not the wet weather to
a certain extent limited their numbers. In Nature *
accounts are given of a swarm of butterflies (appar¬
ently Vanessa Cardui ), being observed on the con¬
tinent, which obscured the light of day and took
two hours to pass, proceeding in a north-westerly
direction. This or a similar swarm appears to have
passed through Turin on June 2nd, through Swit¬
zerland from the 2nd to the 9tli, Alsace, France and
Spain from the 5th to the 10th, and through Wur-
temberg from the 11th to the 21st. The majority
of specimens examined by Professor Eimer, of
Tubingen, proved to be females, apparently seeking
a place to deposit their eggs, of which they were full.
This insect is very common this year in the south of
England.

Another instance of the abundance of insects this
year occurred at Elizabetlipol, in Armenia, where
the vegetation has been devasted by grasshoppers
and locusts. At this place the locusts were so
numerous and settled so thickly on the Russian
soldiers’ faces, uniforms and muskets, that the major
ordered firing at them for half an hour, to drive
them off, but as this produced no effect a march back
was ordered.

Some results of an interesting series of experiments
as to the proportion of carbonic anhydride present in
the atmosphere and the extent to which it is affected
by various causes are reported by M. Reiset in the
current number of the Repertoire de Pharmacie (vol.
viii., p. 308). At a station in the open country a
few miles outside Dieppe, having the sea on its west
and north-east horizon, and at an elevation of 320
feet, which was taken as a standard for comparison,
the mean of ninety-two observations gave equal to
2 942 parts, by volume, of C02 to 10,000 of air.
The observations at this station were very con¬
cordant, the difference between the maximum and
minimum proportion of carbonic anhydride observed
not exceeding 3 parts in 100,000. Air taken in a
leafy wood gave an average of 2'917 parts of C02
per 10,000, the average in the air taken at the
standard station at the same time being 2’902 ; air
taken in a fine crop of red clover gave 2-898 parts
C02 per 10,000 against 2 915 at the standard station;
air taken in a field of barley and lucerne grass in
July gave 2-829 parts of C02 per 10,000 against
2'933 at the standard station. These results de¬
monstrate how instantaneously the diffusion of
gases takes place. On the other hand the presence
of a flock of three hundred sheep at pasture, on a
calm day, in the neighbourhood of the apparatus,
raised the proportion of carbonic anhydride to 3*178
parts in 10,000 of air. In Paris, in the month ol
May, observations extending over three years gave
an average of 3 027 parts by volume in 10,000 of air.

Comparatively few fresh plants are out in flowei

* June 2b, p. 197.

Third Series, No. 474.

this month in the Botanical Gardens. At Regent’s
Park, in the Economic House, the pimento is in
blossom, and in the Herbaceous Ground at Kew,
Adcea spicata, Delphinium Staphisagria , Nigella
saliva , Pyrethrum roseum and P. Parthenium ,
valerian, coriander, rue, black and white mustard,
lavender, alkanet, borage and motherwort are in
flower.

Of rarer British plants now in blossom at Kew
may be mentioned Liparis Loeselii, Stacliys germanica,
Verbascum Lychnitis and V. pulverulentum, Echiwm
violaceum and a variety of Linncea borealis.

In the country the elder may now be seen covered
with blossom, and the red poppy and the white
mustard already deck the railway embankments
and chalky cornfields with their lively hues, while
the pretty pink-flowered cent ary, always retiring
when a cloud overcasts the sun, scarcely opens its
blossoms for more than an hour or two now and
then.

The digitalis, one of our handsomest wild flowers,
is now in perfection. In London it seems coming
into fashion again as a garden ornament, cartloads of
plants in full blossom being hawked about the
streets. A correspondent in the Gardeners’ Chron icle
calls attention to the absence of this plant from the
Cotswold Hills and attributes it to the fact that it
loves a sandy soil, but does not flourish on the
Silurian limestones and shales. The Cotswold Hills
are almost entirely composed of the cream coloured
limestones of the inferior oolite, and to this he attri¬
butes its absence. The writer has, however, seen
magnificent specimens of the foxglove on the chalk
hills of Kent, and it is probably rather the porous
character of the soil that it prefers, than its chemical
composition, although digitalis can scarcely be called
a plant of the chalk.

The flowers of this plant are said to be exclusively
fertilized by humble bees, which alone are large
enough to fill the corolla, and thus deposit pollen on
the stigma. The flowers are proterandrous and
appears to be capable of self-fertilization if not
visited in time by insects. The anthers at first
occupy a transverse position but as they ripen become
longitudinal.*

Another plant belonging to the Scrophulariacece
deserves notice from having been used in former
times for the disease known as “burnt holes” in
children. A formula for the ointment of Scrap /at-
laria may still be found in Cooley’s ‘ Cyclopedia ’
This is the Scrophularia nodosa , a common plant in
damp ditches by roadsides, etc. From the other
British species it is easily distinguished by its
acutely pointed, smooth leaves and tuberous knobby
root ; S. aquatica , which grows in similar situations,
having obtuse leaves. The flower is interesting on
account of the presence of the rudiment of a fifth
stamen (staminode) at the base of the upper lip of the
flower. This staminode differs slightly in shape in
the different species, and in some cases it bears pollen
In the genus Pentstemon, which is not uncommon,
in gardens, the fifth stamen is furnished with a long
filament, but the anther is abortive, and the filament
is bent in a curious manner from the upper towards
the lower lip of the flower, from which it appears to
spring, so as to be out of the way of the pistil. Scro¬
phularia nodosa is proterogynous ; both this species
and S. aquatica are fertilized by wasps, and as the

* Lubbock, ‘British Wild Flowers in Relation to Insects/
p. 138.

62

THE PHARMACEOTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 26, 187SK.

pistil is l>ent ‘downwards from tlie mouth of the
corolla it strikes the pollen-dusted breast of the wasps
when they visit the flower. It is rather singular
that irregular flowers are hardly ever wind-fertilized. "

The leaves of S. nodosa are. said to possess emetic
and purgative properties and are sometimes used
externally as an application to burns and swellings,
being simply bruised before being applied. In olden
times this plant was considered an excellent remedy
for the scrofula or king’s evil, whence its name.
A decoction of the root is sometimes used by farmers
for the scab in swine. The juice of the leaves of the
water betony, Scrophularia aquatica, formerly had a
reputation as a cosmetic for the face, “to take away
the redness and deformity of it.” This plant must
not be confounded with the wood betony ( Bdonica
officinalis), which is quite a different plant, belonging
to the Labia tae.

Another little plant, common in heathy places
and woods, Veronica officinalis, is now in blossom.
As its name indicates it was formerly used in medi¬
cine. It was at one time official in the Edinburgh
Pharmacopoeia, under the name of Veronica mas or
Betonica pauli. At the present day it is sometimes
used by homoeopaths. It possesses bitter and
astringent properties, although probably in a less
degree than the Koromiko ( Veronica salicifolia),
which a short time ago was so highly spoken of as a
New Zealand remedy for diarrhoea. When the
Linnean system of botany was in vogue the plant
was comparatively easy to determine, but at the
present day the tyro in botany finds it somewhat
difficult to assign a place to the plants of this genus,
since the ovary when young is difficult to examine,
and the plants differ from the majority of the order
to which they belong in having only two stamens
in the flower, as well as in the corolla being not
very obviously irregular, at least to an unpractised
observer. The present species is easily distinguished
by its small flowers and obovate stalked leaves from
V. Chanmdrys , fire most beautiful and consequently
the most commonly recognized species, which has
sessile leaves, and from V. montana which has
ovate stalked leaves.

The arrangements for fertilization differ consider¬
ably in the different species of this genus. In V.
Chamcedrys the anthers and stigmas ripen at the
same time, but the stamens turn outwards, while
the stigma projects straight forward, so that self-
fertilization is impossible. In V Beccabuncja (whose
curious name is supposed to be derived from the
German bachlmnge) the flowers are proterogynous,
and in V hederaifolia the flowers are minute and
fertilize themselves.

The Scotch fir (Tinus Sylvestris ) seems to have
produced an unusual abundance of male flowers this
year, and the paths and roads in plantations are now
everywhere strown with the fallen catkins.

In a letter to the Times a few weeks ago, a corre¬
spondent wrote, 44 After a heavy rain a thin film of
sulphur has been observed at Windsor, Slough, and
in the neighbourhood generally, to settle upon the
surface of rain water caught in butts and cisterns.”
According to a letter on the same subject in Nature,
by Mr. P. H. Carpenter, 4 4 it was first observed on
the afternoon of Sunday, June 8, after a remarkably
heavy shower, and much disturbed the inhabitants
of some of the villages around Eton, who fancied
that it smelt 4 awful like brimstone,’ of which its
f Darwin, ‘ Forms of Flowers,’ p. 147.

yellow colour was somewhat suggestive. In some
places it gave rise to such a feeling of fright that the
people were afraid to go to bed, thinking that the
judgment day was at hand.” On investigation the
sulphur proved, as might have been supposed, to be
pine pollen (probably from Pinus sylvestris) blown
from Windsor Forest. A local chemist and druggist
is said to have supported the sulphur theory — a
statement which it may be hoped is mistaken. The
pollen of Conifers is so different in appearance
from sulphur, under the microseope, and is so
characteristic, that such a mistake could hardly have
occurred to any one familiar with the use of a
microscope.

The compound pollen of theGymnosperms has long
been known, but it is only lately that F. Elfiring, of
Helsingfors, has proved in Strasburger’s laboratory,
at Jena, that the pollen cell of wind-fertilized or
self-fertilized angiosperms is also compound, or in
other words that each pollen grain becomes divided
into two cells, the one of which plays the part of a
vegetative cell merely, and the other takes upon itself
the growth and functions of the pollen tube. Of
these cells the vegetative one is the smaller and is-
only separated from the larger by a wall of 44 cortical
plasm,” which in particular instances can become
transformed into a firmer membrane. The pollen
grain may thus be likened to the microspore of a
lycopod. This observer does not, how'ever, appear
yet to have examined the pollen of cleistogamous
flowers, which, as suggested by Dr. E. P. Wright in
Nature ,* might reveal some interesting facts.

The little pine tortrix moth, Ortholcma turionana,.
may now be seen hovering around the fir trees and
depositing its eggs on the buds. Later on in
October, little turpentine drops may be seen on the
buds, underneath which the grub may be found.

It is a singular fact that the flowers of the dahlia
have a narcotic effect upon the bees which visit them,
so much so that the cultivation of the dahlia has been
pronounced to be incompatible with the success of
bee-keeping. The honey of the oleander is also-
avoided by bees and is known to be fatal to Hies.
The dahlia is such a common flower in gardens that
its insecticidal properties might easily be investigated
with regard to other insects.

Most persons who live in the country are familiar
with the singular botanical monstrosity known as
the 44 hen and chicken ” daisy, in -which a number of
small stalked capitula arise from the primary one.
Such a growth in the water-lily family is, however, a
great rarity. An instance of this kind is figured in
the Garden, for July 12th, in which secondary
stalked flowers are produced from the primary
flower, and in another specimen leaves as well as
flowers arise from the primary flower.f

The extent to which a medicinal preparation may
be affected by the soil upon which the plant it is
prepared from has grown is illustrated by an ex¬
perience of M. Gerardin, a pliarmacien in the Marne
department. Having prepared some extract of bella¬
donna from a defecated juice, he found it after some
weeks full of granulations. These were removed by
dissolving the extract in distilled water and decant¬
ing. After washing and drying at 100° C., they
proved to consist of a mixture of silicate and chloride
of potassium equal in weight to 6*8 per cent, of the
original extract. It was then remembered that the

* June 19, p. 183.

f See Journ. Bot., 1877, p. 59.

J-aly 26, 1679.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

G 3

belladonna plants used liad been collected from a
spot which had long been frecpiented by charcoal
burners for their operations and the remainder of
the explanation was to be found in the pronounced
taste of solanaceous plants for silica and potash.

Some time ago an attempt was made in Mozam¬
bique to cultivate the opium poppy. The yield of
opium from the first crop only amounted to a few
pounds, which upon examination proved to be only
of moderate quality ; it had the appearance of a soft
■extract of a clay-brown colour and contained 4 per
cent, of morphia, 4 -3 per cent, of narcotine and 40 ’9 per
cent, of moisture. A specimen of this Mozambique
opium was recently presented to the Society’s Museum
by Messrs. T. and H. Smith ; another is included in
the case sent by them to the Sydney International
Exhibition, and it is noticeable that it has been
described by two journals at least, when referring to
this case, as the first opium grown in Africa, a state¬
ment that would hardly pass muster in the Board
■schools, notwithstanding the extent to which Egypt
has become Europeanized. Messrs. Smith’s case
appears to rival in interest and value that sent to Paris
by the same firm and described in this Journal last
year. Perhaps the most striking objects would be
some splendid crystallizations of caffein, aloin, muriate
of thebaia, codeia and muriate of papaverine, the
•demand for the latter alkaloid on the continent
being said to be in excess of the supply. There is
also the cryptopia from 10,000 lbs. of opium, as well
as specimens of the new bodies gnoscopine and
meconoisine. Among the salts of morphia are the
muriate in crystalline cubes, the sulphate in woolly
needles resembling sulphate of quinine and the
tartrate which has been recently recommended by
Dr. Erskine Stuart as the best preparation of morphia
for hypodermic injection. There are also specimens,
several ounces in weight, of muriate of apomorphia
in large steel grey crystals and of cantharidin in flue
four-sided prisms.

M. Carles recently called the attention of the Bor¬
deaux Pharmaceutical Society to the presence in
commerce of quinine containing an exaggerated
quantity of water. A sample examined lost 17 per
cent, of water when dried at 100° C., or 5 per cent,
in excess of the normal quantity. The same sample
was found to contain a quantity of quinidine. M.
Dambier said that he had recognized the same fact
•several times in sulphate of quinine obtained from
..good houses.

Japanese wax has been the subject of an inves¬
tigation by Dr. E. Buri, of the University of
Strasburg. From the results obtained (Archiv d.
Pkarm., xiv. 403) he has come to the conclusion that
.this substance, like other fats, is a mixture of several
glycerides, the mixture of fatty acids yielded upon
saponification consisting principally of palmitic acid.
Tire palmitic acid is accompanied by one or more
acids having a higher melting point, the presence of
one having been ascertained which has a melting-
point considerably higher than that of stearic acid.
There is also a small quantity of oleic acid.

According to the Pharniaceutische Zeitung a
■German house is bringing into the market a number
of so-called “extra strong essential oils,” obtained
by the fractional distillation of the finest and most
aromatic parts of the respective oils from the less
characteristic and more or less indifferent portions.
They have, as a rule, a higher boiling-point, and a
higher specific gravity than the unseparated oils, and

some of them are more soluble in spirit, but this is
not always the case. It is claimed, however, that all
these oils are essentially improved in aroma.

According to MM. E. Duvillier, and A. Buisine,
in the Comptes Rendus , the trimethylamine of French
commerce, which is chiefly obtained, as indicated by
M. Vincent, by the calcination in a close vessel of
the residue after the distillation of spirit from beet¬
root mash, is far from being a pure product, it
containing only about 5 — 10 per cent, of trimethyla¬
mine, while dimethylamine is present to the extent
of 50 per cent., besides which there are present in the
remainder monomethylamine, monopropylamine
and monoisobutyl amine in about equal proportions.

A new antiseptic agent is reported to have been
recently discovered accidentally, during experiments
on separating the crystalline sugar from molasses.
It is, according to the Scientific American, now sold
at twenty-five cents the pound, and is made in large
quantities by dissolving in water equal parts of
chloride of potassium, nitrate of sodium and boracic
acid, filtering and evaporating to dryness. It is
easily soluble in water and is deliquescent. It
passes under the unscientific name of double borate
of potassium and sodium, and its action as an
antiseptic is said to be prompt and to continue un-
diminished for a long time.

Messrs. Paterno and Oglialoro, in the Gazetta
Chimica Italiana, state that the limonine of
Schmidt, extracted from the seeds of oranges and
lemons, is not identical, as that writer supposed,
with the calumbin of Wittstock, derived from
calumba root. Limonin is obtained in magnificent
colourless shining laminae, fusible at 275°, while
calumbin crystallizes in colourless prisms, fusible at
182°. Its formula is C21H22Or, while that of limonin
is O2gH30O8.

In the Practitioner, Dr. T. N. Dolan reports that
he has found chloride of barium successful in certain
forms of aneurism, and recommends a trial of it in
some cases in which the administration of iodide of
potassium is inadmissible. The dose given' appears
to have been one-fifcli to two-fifths of a grain.

Dr. Rutherford in a communication to the British.
Medical Journal , referring to the variation in the dose
of euonymin required to produce the desired effect,
remarks that “ allowing for individual peculiarities,
I cannot but suspect that the substance found in the
market is not always of the same strength. ” ^ It is
highly desirable either that a definite process for the
manufacture of this substance or that tests for dis¬
criminating its quality should be sought for and
published by those who have introduced these re¬
medies into medicinal use in this country, so that
dispensers may know what particular preparation to
use.

An interesting account of the dugong, the oil of
which is used as a substitute for cod liver oil, is
given in New Remedies for July. One merchant
engaged in the fishery is said to capture as many as
six in a day. Unless some protection be afforded it,
this interesting cetacean will probably become an
extinct animal in the course of years, especially since
its flesh makes an excellent substitute for bacon,
dugong rashers being easily mistaken for those of
pork.

The possibility of poisoning by the absorption of
an iline through the skin deserves to be known. _ A
chemist in Poland was experimenting with aniline,
when the bottle burst and part of the contents satu-

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 26, 1879.

G4

rated some of liis clothing. A few hours afterwards
weakness in the muscles set in, his speech became
affected, he forgot a number of words and became
comatose. By the use of stimulants he recovered,
but the muscular weakness remained during the fol¬
lowing day. The fact of the symptoms not appearing
until a few hours afterwards, although a quantity of
the aniline had evaporated in the room, seem to show
that the aniline acted as a poison by entering the
circulation through the skin.

M. Battandier, in the Journal de Pharmacie, points
out the danger of using gla<s wool in analysis. He
has found certain samples to contain a quantity of
lead, which is easily dissolved out by alkaline or acid
liquids.

In Comptes Rendus for July 7, it is stated Dr.
Tellef Dahll has found a new metal in the arseniuret
of nickel and nickel-glance at Otero, a little island
situated some kilometres from the town of Krage.
It is obtained by roasting the ore to drive off sul¬
phur and arsenic, dissolving the product in acids
and precipitating by sulphuretted hydrogen ; the
precipitate washed free from nickel and again roasted
is the crude oxide of the metal. To the new metal the
author has given the name of Norvegium with the
symbol Ng. The metal is white, malleable to a
certain extent ; sp. gr. 9-66. It is soluble easily in
nitric acid, but only with difficulty in hydrochloric
acid. It is also soluble in sulphuric acid. The
solution of the oxide in nitric acid is blue, becoming
green on dilution with water. The new metal is
characterized especially by the green precipitates
formed in solution of its salts by caustic potash,
ammonia, and carbonate of soda, the precipitate being
soluble in excess, giving blue solutions, and by the
insoluble brown precipitate which is produced even
in acid solutions by sulphide of ammonium. In the
oxidizing flame of the blowpipe, with borax , it gives
a yellowish green glass, which turns blue on cooling,
the blue colour being clearer in the reducing flame.
Microcosmic salt gives a yellow glass, turning emerald
green, then violet and blue on cooling. With
carbonate of soda upon charcoal the oxide is easily
reduced, as also in a current of hydrogen gas.

At the recent drug sales there have been noticed
Botany Bay kino, hog tragacanth, salep, jaborandi,
patchouli and coca leaves, and Australian gum arabic.
(loa powder, which has lately been scarce, has been
ottered in quantity and of good quality ; but the
Calabar beans which have been noticed have occurred
only in small quantity and present an immature
appearance .

From Manchester, offered as cinchona bark, we
have seen the bark of Stenostomvm acutatum in long
smooth cylindrical quills. In the London market
a new kind of cinchona bark has recently been
offered, having the quilled appearance of C. land-
folia with the hard character of C. cordifolia, and
possessing a fracture scarcely at all fibrous ; it con¬
tains 1'75 per cent, of quinine.

It must often have been observed by those
engaged in the compounding of prescriptions, that
of the many formulae which puzzle dispensers, not a
few are for external applications in some one form
or other of skin disease. The intractable character
of these affections may oblige that part of the
medical profession who make these diseases their
special study to seek for remedies beyond the pre¬
cincts of the Pharmacopoeia. To that course there
would be little or no objection, indeed it may be

considered an ultimate advantage to medical science,
were it not for the fact that these remedies are too
often pitchforked together in defiance of chemical
laws, or in relative proportions utterly at variance
with their physical properties, and this too when
a trifling alteration would in many instances result
in an efficient, and, perhaps, elegant preparation. A
member of the medical profession may be excused
his ignorance of pharmacy, the study of disease is of
itself sufficient to absorb his leisure time, but he
may with advantage to himself and his patients
recollect that there exists a pharmaceutical body
trained to the art of compounding medicines, and
read)r to assist him with the pharmacy of any new
remedial agent, or the judicious combination of the
older ones, either for his formula) in private practice
or for the compilation of a hospital pharmacopoeia.

In considering the prescriptions seriatim , the first
that requires notice is that of No. 322, where “vaseline
or prepared lard’' is directed as a base for the other
ingredients of the formula. Vaseline is ill adapted
to letain, without separation, the quantity of fluid
contained in this prescription; but an elegant pre¬
paration may be made by using the lard, and for
the present purpose it should be melted in a water-
bath, and, the other ingredients being added, kept
well stirred until set or nearly cold, when the whole
of the fluid will be taken up, a pink ointment
resulting without any appreciable separation and of a
suitable consistence for external application. Oint¬
ments are usually directed to be made on a slab, or
by trituration in a good sized mortar ; but it should
at the same time be borne in mind that a more
satisfactory preparation can sometimes be made by
melting the base, such as lard, and after the addition
of any otlier ingredient continuing the stirring until
the ointment by gradual cooling has become of a
suitable consistence.

The dispenser may reasonably conclude that the
“gtt 2” after sodae siccatae, in No. 323, is an error
due to a slip of the pen on the part of the writer,
and that he intended it to be two grains. The com¬
bination of soda siccat. with ext. gentian, is quite
usual, and the proportion just that which would be
expected to form a pill with the extract of gentian.

It must be accepted that the writer of the pre¬
scription No. 324 intended pure morphia to be used
from his having written “the alkaloid’’ after morphia,
the dispenser therefore has no alternative but to use
morphia, and as it is not soluble in the chloroform
or in the rectified spirit of the liniment, or both
combined, his next best course is to diffuse the
alkaloid through the fluid. This may be facilitated
by. rubbing it in a mortar with a few drops of
glycerine, and then adding the chloroform and lini¬
ment of belladonna. The morphia will by this
means be thoroughly diffused through the fluid. It
is difficult to understand why an alkaloid, incapable
of solution in the menstruum, should by the writer
be preferred to a dissolved salt of that alkaloid, in
the same relative proportions. He may have had
an end in view when he ordered the alkaloid, or he
may not have been aware of its comparative insolu¬
bility in chloroform or rectified spirit. “Gulielmus”
observes that the patient had previously obtained
the liniment from the same prescription of a high
colour — a brownish tint, and about twice as much in
bulk. Accurately prepared the bulk should not
exceed four fluid drachms, and if the liniment
was sent out in the usual blue fluted poison bottle,

July 26, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

65

the morphia, though only diffused, may have escaped
the patient’s observation.

No. 325. Bismuth is very frequently ordered in a
prescription without its being indicated what pre¬
paration of bismuth the writer intends ; but it is
usual to use the subnitrate. It should be borne in
mind for the dispenser’s guidance that the subnitrate,
as a salt of bismuth, stood alone in some Pharma¬
copoeias prior to the issue of the B. P. It was the only
preparation of bismuth in the London Pharmacopoeia,
and was the “bismuthum album” of the Edinburgh.
Many of the profession, so long accustomed to one
Pharmacopoeia preparation of bismuth, still continue
to write “ bismuth,” regardless of the carbonate which
has been more recently introduced. The subnitrate
is very valuable as an external application in many
forms of skin disease. It may often advantageously
supersede the oxide of zinc when there exists a very
irritable condition of the surface of the skin, and in
the case of children the subnitrate is especially
soothing.

The prescription, No. 326, must be dispensed as
others previously discussed containing ferri et quinae
citrat. with potass, iodid. The ferri et quinae cit.
should be dissolved in about ^j of the aq. chlorof.
and the other ingredients in the remainder, with
which a little mucilage has been previously mixed ;
to this should be added the solution of the ferri et
quinae cit. There must necessarily result a decom¬
position with the formation of a precipitate which
may be easily shaken up ; the combination does not
result in an elegant mixture, but in appearance is not
very objectionable.

In the mixture, No. 327, the quinine is not di¬
rected to be dissolved, and if it were to be made into
a solution, directly on the addition of the salicylate
of soda, the quinine would separate as a resinous
substance more or less adhering subsequently to the
sides of the bottle. If the following method be
adopted a satisfactory mixture will result. The
salicylate of soda and chloral hydrate should be dis¬
solved separately and then mixed together, and the
quinine rubbed in a mortar to a fine powder should
be suspended by the aid of about 3iv of mucilage,
and then added to the other ingredients previously
in a state of solution ; the quinine will be well sus¬
pended in the milky mixture. Care should be taken
to have the quinine in a state of minute division,
and this may be assisted by the addition of about an
equal weight of sugar of milk to the quinine whilst
being triturated in a mortar previous to the addition
of the mucilage.

The prescription, No. 328, cannot be dispensed
“ so that the mixture should be of a clear bright
sherry colour and not at all opaque.” If the tincture
of hop be of the proper strength there will be a de¬
posit of organic matter with resin of the hop. The
flocculent deposition is determined by the bromide
of ammonium; without this ingredient neither of the
tinctures deposit, but with this salt there is a preci¬
pitate from the hop only and not from the henbane.
It is scarcely necessary to discuss the question how
it was that a London house sent the mixture out
bright, and besides it is quite immaterial in presence
of the fact that if correctly dispensed there will be a
flocculent separation which ultimately deposits
leaving the supernatant fluid bright and of a pale
yellow colour.

In No. 329, W. C. S. asks, “ how a clear mixture
can be made of dandelion and quinine, on mixing

tr. quinae with liq. taraxaci ?” In the B. P. there is a
sue. tarax., a recognized preparation made according
to a prescribed formula, but many wholesale houses
send out another preparation as liquor tarax. ; it is
therefore difficult to answer this question without
being made aware of the mode of preparation of the
liq. tarax. used. There is a turbidity in the mixture
of tr. quinae and sue. tarax., B. P., and it will be
followed by a precipitate due to the mixture of tr.
quinine with a preparation of a weaker spirituous
strength, as the precipitate disappears on the addition
of a little rectified spirit.

The mixture, No. 1 of No. 330, must be treated in
principle as the prescription previously referred to,
No. 327, but in this there is acid, sulph. dil. to dis¬
solve the quinine, which will necessarily make a
little difference in the manipulation. The salicylate
of soda dissolved in a part of the pimento water
should have a little mucilage mixed with it, and the
quinine dissolved by the acid and diluted with
another portion of the pimento water should be
gradually and with shaking added to the salicylate
of soda; the result here will also be milky, and
closely resembling in appearance the one previously
commented on. There is no essential difference
with regard to manipulation in these two mixtures
of salicylate of soda and quinine. In the former one
the quinine is not dissolved, but rubbed to a fine
powder and suspended by the aid of mucilage; in
the latter the quinine is dissolved in dilute acid, but
that acid is neutralized immediately on its coming
into contact with the soda, and the quinine, thrown
out of solution by the loss of the acid is retained in
suspension by the mucilage.

With No. 2 of No. 330 the difficulty is not ap¬
parent. The prescription should be dispensed
exactly as written, with solid perchloride of iron,
adding the acid during solution. This method is
adopted in making the tinct. ferri chlorati, ‘German
Pharmacopoeia,’ using solid perchloride, dilute spirit
and hydrochloric acid.

An emphatic protest must be entered here against
the doctrine that medicines dispensed with pliarma-
copoeial preparations and in accordance with the
prescription must necessarily be sent out bright.
All pharmacopceial preparations should be of the
B. P. standard, and if the result of mixing any of
these in varying proportions in accordance with the
prescription of a medical practitioner should be a
turbid mixture, or one with a flocculent deposit,
however unsightly this may be, the dispenser is not
justified in removing, by filtration or otherwise, for
the sake of an elegant result, any of that separated
matter without the special sanction of the writer
of the prescription; the result would often be a re¬
moval of the most active constituents of the medi¬
cine prescribed.

PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS OF COCA.*

BY GEO. W. KENNEDY, PH.G.

Although coca leaf is, comparatively speaking, a new
remedial agent in many localities, yet in other places it
is extensively known and largely used both in families
and prescribed by physicians. In taking a retrospective
view of the literature of the drug, I was agreeably
surprised to find that so much had been written and so
many experiments made with the object of isolating the

* From the ‘ Proceedings of the American Pharma¬
ceutical Association,’ 187G

66

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 26, 1879.

active constituents of the leaves, as well as to determine
their therapeutic action.

In the last issue of the ‘Proceedings,’ for the year
1877, page 188, a very correct drawing of the plant will
be found, made from a plant growing in the Eoyal
Botanic Gardens, Regent’s Park, London, to which I
call your attention. The leaves of several species of
Erythroxylon have been known from time immemorial,
and were used especially among the Indians for chewing,
mixed with lime and wood-ashes. Numerous and some¬
what fabulous accounts are given of their physiological
action : a moderate use is said to produce excitement of
the functions, to relieve or prevent muscular fatigue, and
to some extent to take the place of food ; while an im¬
moderate chewing of the leaf, like that of opium, fre¬
quently becomes an habitual vice, producing all the
deleterious symptoms and consequences of narcotics, such
as a state of half intoxication, stupor, with visionary
dreams, premature decay, complete apathy and idiocy.
These peculiar symptoms rendered the presence of a nar¬
cotic principle probable and induced experimentalists to
undertake the investigation of the drug.

Neumann made approximate analyses of the leaf and
discovered and described the alkaloid named cocaina.
Stanislas Martin made a hasty examination, from which
it appears that he discovered a bitter principle and a
substance analogous to theina. Maisch subsequently was
led to think that the plant contained also a volatile
alkaloid. This supposition was afterwards confirmed by
Lossen and Woehler, who separated the new alkaloid
and named it Hygrina. They also discovered that when
cocaina is heated with muriatic acid it is decomposed,
benzoic acid and a new base, Ecgonia, being formed.
Dr. S. R. Percy, of New York, also claims to have been
the first to separate the active principle, to which he
proposed the name Erythroxylin , inasmuch as the name
cocaina might be confounded with other substances of a
similar name.

So far, then, we have the following interesting and
important active constituents of the drug : — Cocaina (or
Erythroxylin), hygrina, besides the essential oil, to which
I have not yet alluded and to which the odour of the
plant is due, and of these the first-named alkaloid is
undoubtedly the principle to which attention should be
given in making galenical pieparations. I find from the
condensed reports of investigators that it is soluble in
704 parts of water, more soluble in cold alcohol, and
quite soluble in hot alcohol and ether. From all the
information I have been able to obtain appertaining to
this subject, I would recommend a fluid extract and an
elixir, and would propose the following formulae, which
I have found to furnish very satisfactory preparations : —

Extractum Cocce Fluidum.

Coca leaves, in moderately fine

powder . 16 troy ounces.

Alcohol (95) per cent. ... 12 fluid „

Moisten the powdered leaves with the above menstruum,
pack it carefully into a conical percolator, cover the
surface of the powder with a disk of paper and add the
remainder of the menstruum ; when the liquid begins to
drop from the percolator close the lower orifice with a
cork, cover the percolator closely so as to prevent evapo¬
ration and allow it to remain in this condition forty-eight
hours. The cork is then to he removed and percolation
allowed to proceed, dropping not faster than at the rate
of forty drops per minute, as quick percolation will not
furnish good results and should be discountenanced, more
especially in the manufacture of concentrated prepara¬
tions. When the drug to be operated upon is small and
the menstruum large, as in most of the tinctures, perco¬
lation can be allowed to proceed at the rate of sixty
drops per minute with excellent results. The first twelve
ounces of the percolate should be reserved and perco- |

lation continued with the same menstruum until the
drug is thoroughly exhausted ; evaporate the last portion
at a temperature not higher than 130° F., until reduced
to four fluid ounces and mix this with the reserved por¬
tion. The fluid extract prepared in accordance with this
formula will be found of a dark greenish-brown colour
and to contain in the highest degree the odour and taste
characteristic of the drug,

Elixir Cocce.

Coca leaves in moderately fine powder . ^iv.

Alcohol and water, of each a sufficient quantity.

Oil of orange . , . gtt. vj.

Oil of cinnamon . gtt. ij.

Syrup . §iv.

Mix three measures of alcohol with one of water, moisten
the powder with two fluid ounces of the mixture, pack
it firmly in a conical percolator and gradually pour on a
sufficient quantity of the menstruum until eleven and a
half fluid ounces of percolate are obtained. Dissolve the
oils in a half ounce of alcohol, add to the percolate and
finally the syrup. This will furnish a very elegant elixir,
and each fluid drachm will represent the active consti¬
tuents of fifteen grains of the drug when carefully
prepared.

THE VALUATION OF TINCTURE OF OPIUM.*

BY PKOFESSOR ALB. B. PRESCOTT, M.D.

Twelve samples were obtained, each from a different
drug store in Michigan ; three in Ann Arbor ; three in
Detroit ; three in East Saginaw, and three in Grand
Rapid s, the best tincture being asked for in each case.

Each sample was worked by Hager’s process (as given
in Dragendorff’s Werthbestimmung einiger starkicirkender
Droguin, p. 91) and by Staples’ process as used by
Procter {Pro. Amer. Phar. Asso., 1870, p. 131 ; Am. Jour.
Phar., 1871, p. 65). I also would refer to the report
of L. M. Rice, Pro. Amer. Phar. Asso., 1871, p. 447, and
to that of D. C. Dott, Phar. Jour. Trans., 1876, Septem¬
ber 16, p. 239. All the operations here reported were
done by Mr. Henry Heim, to whom this report is in¬
debted for faithful work and careful study.

The process of Hager, modified for the tincture and in
other details, was conducted as follows : The specific
gravity of the tincture was taken, and a weighed quan¬
tity (from 25 to 30 grams) evaporated nearly to dryness
on the water-bath ; 1 gram of freshly slaked lime was
added, with trituration, then 24 c c. of distilled water
added, and the mixture heated on the water-bath for one
hour. The whole was then transferred to a small filter
previously wetted, and the residue of the filtration
washed with warm water until the filtrate dropped nearly
colourless, and the filtrate evaporated on the water-bath
to about 25 grams. The liquid was transferred, with
rinsings, to a small wide-mouthed bottle, and while it
was still warm 1 c.c. of ether and 3 drops of benzole
were added with shaking, then IT gram of ammonium
chloride added and dissolved and the mixture set aside
twenty-four hours. The liquid was then agitated, the
crystals detached from the interior of the bottle, the
whole brought upon a small filter, previously dried and
weighed, the crystalline residue washed with about 8 c.c.
of distilled water, dried at about 50° C. (120° F. ) and
weighed. Hager directed to leave the mixture three
hours for separation of morphia. He has also advised to
deduct one-tenth for impurities in the crude morphia of
the process (the crystals not being washed with ether or
chloroform). But the filtrate, about 25 grams, if holding
only one-thousandth of its weight of morphia in solu-

* Paper read at the twenty-sixth annual meeting of the
American Pharmaceutical Association. From the ‘ Pro¬
ceedings.’

July 26, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

67

tion,* would carry about 0‘025 of the alkaloid, fully as
much as the one-tenth for foreign substances weighed
with the morphia. Now when twenty-four hours are
given for crystallization of morphia, there can scarcely
be less than 1 part of morphia remaining in 1000 parts
of the filtrate. It is not likely, however, that one-tenth
the weight of the crystals (not ether-washed) is as much
as the impurities. It will be seen from the results given
with Staples’ process that the ether-washing alone re¬
moves a variable quantity, averaging not far from one-
tenth the weight of the crystals, and ether-washing
certainly does not leave absolute morphia. I should
advise ether- washing of the crude morphia in this Hager’s
process for the tincture and then leave remaining im¬
purities to balance the morphia remaining in the filtrate.
The process after Staples was conducted as follows : —

Mcnphiometric Work with Tincture of Opium. With

Hager’s Process.

1

Number

Specific

gravity.

Tincture

taken.

Grams.

Crude.

Morphia

Grams.

Morphia
per cent,
of Tinc¬
ture.

Grains
Morphia
(crude) per
fl. oz. of
tincture.

1

0-957

28-730

0-2560

0-891

3-88

2

0-959

27-910

0-1494

0-535

2-81

3

0-959

26-984

0-1998

0-740

3-22

4

0-962

27-112

0-1809

0-670

2-88

5

0-955

28-630

0-2187

0-763

3-31

6

0-969

27-860

0-2970

1-08

4-88

7

0-959

26-100

0-1800

0-689

3-00

8

0-944

27-774

0-1890

0-681

2-92

9

0-952

27-870

0-1845

0-662

2-58

10

0-958

27-700

0-2268

0-755

3-43

11

0-950

—

—

—

—

12

0-950

25-338

0-0837

0-330

1-42

Mean

0-956

—

—

—

3-11

U. S. P. standard

(officinal morphia).

0-867

3-75

With Staples’ Process.

Number

Tincture

taken.

Grams.

Ether

wash.

Morphia.

Grams.

Morphia
per cent,
of

Tincture.

Grains
Morphia
per fl.
ounce.

Grams
lost in
ether
washing.

i

25-608

0-214

0-885

3-64

0-019

2

28-200

0-167

0-595

2-81

0-034

3

28-010

0-180

0-642

2-69

0-027

4

27-965

0-159

0-568

2-48

0-016

5

28-870

0-251

0-862

3-78

0-026

6

28-045

0-265

0-944

4-16

0-019

7

28-175

0-195

0-692

3-01

0-026

8

27-505

0-117

0-422

1-82

0-014

9

28-935

0-176

0-608

2-55

0-016

10

28-028

0-223

0-795

3-47

0-021

11

29-302

0-158

0-539

2-32

0-018

12

26-120

0-115

0-440

1-89

0-013

j Mean

'

2-84

'

The tincture (about 25 grams, of ascertained specific
gravity) was evaporated to one-half its bulk on the
water-bath, then set aside twenty-four hours for the
tarry matters (soluble in alcohol but not in water) to sub¬
side, and decanted upon a filter, the filtrate being re¬
ceived in a small wide-mouth bottle. The tarry residue
was washed with 4 c.c. (about 1 fluid drachm) of water
and the washings filtered into the previously obtained

* See report of volumetric estimation of total alkaloids
as morphia in the filtrates of this work with Hager’s pro¬
cess in the writer’s paper on Morphiometric Processes for
Opium, read at the Atlanta Meeting and to be published
hereafter.

filtrate. To the clear liquid in bottle was added an
equal bulk of alcohol of specific gravity 0'835 and then a
mixture of 1'3 c.c. (20 minims) of water of ammonia
(specific gravity 0"96) with 1*7 c.c. (25 minims) of alcohol.
After agitation, the bottle was closed with a stopper and
set aside for four days. The liquid was then agitated,
the crystals detached from the side of the bottle, and the
whole filtered upon a small filter previously dried and
weighed. The last portion of crystals was rinsed from
the bottle upon the filter with a little of the filtrate.
The crystals were then washed with 4 c.c. (1 fluid
drachm) of diluted alcohol, then with the same measure
of distilled water, then dried at about 50° C. (120° F.)
and weighed. The dried crystals were then washed
with 8 c.c. (2 fluid drachms) of washed ether, dried at
50° C. and again weighed.

The directions in Staples’ process are to leave twenty-
four hours for crystallization of the morphia and to add
the ammonia in two portions, in both which particulars
the process was departed from.

The process of Hager, it will be seen, takes less time
than that of Staples, but the time depends greatly on the
period given for formation of morphia crystals. By long
standing a slightly greater yield is obtained.*

I have for some time been of the belief that Staples’
process was the best for tincture of opium, but as Mr.
Heim’s results somewhat strengthened the comparative
usefulness of Hager’s process, I must hold it as nearly
or quite as good as the other. Staples’ process yields
the best crystals of morphia.

INDIGO-BLUE.+

BY E. SCHUNCK.

In the first part of this paper reference is made to
previous papers containing accounts of indigo-blue obtained
from Isatis tinctoria, in which it exists in the form of a
glucoside, indican : this when treated with acids, splits
up into indigo-blue and indiglucin. It is also decomposed
by the action of caustic alkalies, a substance being formed
which yields indigo-red, indifulvin, and leucine, when
treated with acids. In some more recent experiments on
indican from woad leaves, tyrosine has been found amongst
the products of decomposition. The indican used con¬
sisted of a crude alcoholic extract of the leaves ; it is there¬
fore difficult to say whether the tyrosine existed ready
formed in the leaves, or was the result of the decomposition
of the indican; the latter is more probable, since tyrosine is
almost insoluble in alcohol, and therefore would not be
contained in the alcoholic extract in quantity. That
there is some connection between indigo-blue and tyrosine
is seen from the fact that tyrosine, C9HnN03, is indigo-
blue, C8H5NO + 2 molecules of water, in which one
atom of hydrogen is replaced by CH3. Its formation
may be, explained by supposing indican to split up into
tyrosine indiglucin, acetic acid, and carbonic anhydride,
C26H32N018 + 3HoO = C9HnN03 + 2(C6H10O6) + 2C2H403
+ C02.

In order to ascertain whether other indigo-yielding
plants contain indigo-blue in the form of a glucoside as iu
Isatis tinctoria , or in the free state, the following experi¬
ments were carried out : —

Polygonum tinctorium. — The leaves of this plant which,
are large, oval, and glossy, and of a lively green colour,
contain a large quantity of the colour-yielding substance.
On cutting them to pieces and rubbing with water to a thin

* The filtrates of Mr. Heim’s work were extracted with
amyl alcohol (preceded by benzole-washing in case of
Staples’ process), and the extracted alcohol, after evapo¬
ration of the amyl alcohol, was estimated in acid solution
by Mayer’s solution. The details and results are given
(from Mr. Stecher’s work) in the writer’s report on Mor¬
phiometric Processes for Opium.

f From the Chemical News, 39, 119 — 120, 129 — 130,
143 — 144. Reprinted from the Journal of the Chemical
Society, July, 1879.

68

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 26, 1879.

paste, filtering through calico, and separting the chloro¬
phyll, albumin, etc., from the filtrate by precipitating
with lead acetate, a liquid is obtained which yields
indigo-blue on the addition of sulphuric or hydrochloric
acid and allowing the mixture to stand for several hours.
The isolation of the colour-yielding substance is effected
by the method formerly employed to extract indican from
Isatis tinctoria, or by the following, which is preferable : —
The leaves are dried ina stove, and while still warm, ground
to a powder, and exhausted with alcohol in a percolator.
The alcoholic extract is evaporated at the ordinary
temperature, and the residue freed from chlorophyll and
other impurities by precipitation with lead acetate. On
adding basic lead acetate to the filtrate, a primrose-yellow
precipitate is thrown down ; this is washed with water
and with alcohol, and finally suspended in absolute alcohol,
and carbonic anhydride is passed through the mixture
until the liquid assumes a yellow colour. On evaporating
the filtrate at the ordinary temperature and adding water,
a portion remains insoluble. This is separated by
filtration, and the lead in the filtrate precipitated with
sulphuretted hydrogen. The clear solution, evaporated
at the ordinary temperature by means of a current of air,
leaves a syrupy residue, from which the colour-yielding
substance is obtained as a yellow syrup on treatment
with absolute ether and evaporation. It shows no signs
of crystallization, is soluble in water, alcohol, and ether,
the aqueous solution possessing a more or less acid reaction.
It assumes a deep yellow colour when treated with caustic
alkalies, and gives a light yellow precipitate with lead
acetate. When it is mixed with sulphuric or hydro¬
chloric acid, indigo-blue separates out, and the filtered
solution gives the characteristic test for glucose with
Eehling’s solution. If, however, the aqueous solution is
allowed to stand or is boiled, or mixed with caustic alkali
and allowed to stand, no indigo-blue is deposited on
addition of acid. In all probability the substance
analogous to indican undergoes a molecular change,
resulting in the formation of a body which yields indirubin
and resinous matters on treatment with acids.

By allowing a large quantity of the aqueous solution
to stand in contact with acids, indirubin and indifulvin
are deposited, besides indigo-blue, showing that a portion
of the substance undergoes some change, which in all
probability may also take place in the cells of the leaf :
for from leaves gathered late in the season a substance is
obtained which, when treated with acids, yields far less
indigo-blue and more indirubin and other products than
the substance obtained from the younger leaves.

From these experiments it is inferred that the leaves of
Polygonum tinctorium contain a substance identical with
the indican from Isatis tinctoria , and also that no
colouring matter exists ready formed in the healthy
living plant.

If the leaves of Polygonum tinctorium be crushed, and
after a short time plunged into boiling alcohol, the bruised
portion assumes an intense blue colour, whilst the other
portion becomes white.

If the leaves be immersed in water and the water
frozen, the portion of the leaves which have been frozen
appears of a dark colour after complete thawing, and
after steeping in boiling alcohol they assume a dark-
blue colour, whilst the unfrozen portions become white.
The fresh leaves, after being plunged in cold alcohol or
ether, and extraction of the chlorophyll, appear blue;
this was supposed to prove the pre-existence of the free
colouring matter in the leaves ; but by plunging them in
boiling instead of cold alcohol, the colour-yielding
substance is dissolved before it can decompose, and the
leaves become of a pale yellow colour. Moreover, the
alcoholic extract on evaporation does not deposit a trace
of indigo-blue. The explanation offered for these
phenomena is as follows : — The molecules of the glucoside,
indican, are in a state of unstable equilibrium, and are
enabled to preserve that equilibrium so long as they are
contained in the cells of the living plant. As soon as

that vitality ceases the indican begins to decompose, and
the molecules arrange themselves as their chemical
affinities predispose them ; the result is, indigo-blue and
indiglucin. This reaction takes place so rapidly that in
some cases it would appear as if indigo-blue pre-existed
in the living plant. By immersing freshly cut sprigs of
Polygonum tinctorium in dilute hydrochloric acid for
some days, and exposing them to the air, the acid is
rapidly absorbed by the stalk, passing first to the lower
leaves and then to the upper. The absorption of the
acid is attended with a change of colour from dark green
to dirty yellow, and after some time to dark blue,
commencing at the base of the leaf, and gradually ex¬
tending to the apex, which is reached only in the case of
the lower leaves. When the change of colour begins to
appear in the upper leaves, they are immersed in hot
alcohol, whereby the chlorophyll is dissolved, leaving those
parts which have changed colour, blue, and the other
portions white.

All these experiments were performed when the plants
were in a state of vigorous growth.

The leaves of the Polygonum tinctorium, after develop¬
ing the blue colour, present certain characteristic appear¬
ances.

(1) . The colouring matter is confined to the parenchyma
of the leaves ; the stem and ramifications in the coloured
leaf may be traced as white veins on a coloured ground.

(2) . The younger leaves show more intense coloration,
although probably all the leaves contain the same
amount of colouring matter; but in the lower leaves it is
more widely spread.

(3) . The colouring matter, when developed, is contained
in the cells of the parenchyma in dots and parcels of
various sizes, and in the amorphous state, the intensity of
colour being determined by the crowding of the blue
particles in the cells.

Bletia Tanker cilice. — Similar experiments, made with
the leaves of the Bletia Tankcrvillce, were attended with
similar results, leading to the conclusion that these leaves
contained a glucoside, similar to indican, which, on
treatment with acids, yields a glucose and indigo-blue.

Indigofera tinctoria.— From want of material it was
impossible to conduct experiments on this, the most
important of all indigo -yielding plants ; but according to
P. Michea, a glucoside exists in the indigoferas of India,
similar and in all probability identical with the indican
from Isatis tinctoria.

From tbe following plants, supposed to yield indigo-
blue, all attempts to obtain a body resembling indican
have failed, and they show no indication of the presence
of a colouring matter like indigo-blue. They are : —
Galega officinalis,

Hedysarum Onobrychis (sainfoin),

Polygonum Fagopyrum (buckwheat),

Polygonum Persicaria,

Rhinanthus Crista Galli,

Sophora japonica,

Spelanthes oleracca.

THE PAPAW TREE.

The following letter from Mr. S. P. Oliver on the
subject of the papaw tree appears in Nature for the 10th
inst. : —

“In Nature, vol. xix., p. 447, is a paragraph relative to
the singular qualities of the Cavica papaya. I cannot
but think that some of the properties attributed to this
vegetable in British Guiana by the natives of that colony
are exaggerated somewhat, e.g., the tempering of steel by
its sap, etc.

“ Sir Wyville Thomson, in the first volume of ‘ The
Voyage of the Challenger ,’ gives a capital representation
of a group of these papaw-trees in the garden of the
admiral commanding on the North American station at
Clarence Hill, Bermudas, where they seem to abound ;
I do not know if these dioecious plants are indigenous to

July 26, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

G9

these islands or introduced from the West Indies and
tropical America. From the cut above mentioned can
be seen the quaint growth of these paradoxical trees,
which must have been esteemed by the early voyagers,
as they have been introduced into all parts of the tropics.
The singular-looking straight stems (not unlike the
gigantesque tree cabbage stalks of the Channel Islands)
are crowned with a tuft of digitate leaves, somewhat at
a distance resembling those of the Aralia papyrifera,
under which the clusters of black purple fruit protrude.
In the islands of Bourbon and Mauritius they make a
passable compote of these fruits, which are pulpy and full
of black seeds when ripe, and the Creole children eat
them raw, with what effect on their insides I know not ;
the birds, however, will not touch them, and as they fall
they rot on the ground beneath. In Mauritius, where
we lived principally on ration beef cut from the tough
flesh of Malagasy oxen, we were in the habit of hanging
the ration under the leaves itself, and if we were in a
hurry for a very tender piece of filet, our cook would
wrap up the undercut of the sirloin in the leaves, when
the newly-killed meat would be as tender as if it had been
hung for a considerable time. Whence are these dele¬
terious effects causing rapid decomposition of animal
fibre ? and are there any other trees which possess similar
properties ?

“The Malabars, who were introduced into Mauritius as
Coolies, would not sleep under tamarind trees, on account
of their supposed noxious effects ; but it is possible that
superstition has something to do with their objection.”

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF
DETONATING AGENTS.*

BY PROFESSOR ABEL, C.B. F.R.S.

[Continued from page 50).

If compressed gun-cotton is diluted by impregnating
the mass with a liquid, or with a solid which is intro¬
duced into the mass in a fused state, its susceptibility of
detonation is reduced to a very much greater extent than
by a corresponding quantity of a solid inert body, incor¬
porated as such with the gun-cotton, the cause being the
converse of that which operates in preventing a reduction
of the sensitiveness to detonation of nitro-glycerine by its
dilution with an inert solid. In this case, the explosive
liquid envelops the solid diluent, and remains continuous
throughout, occupying the spaces which exist between the
solid particles ; hence detonation is readily established
and transmitted. But in the case of the solid explosive,
the diluent, which is liquid, or at any rate is introduced
into the mass in the liquid state, envelops each particle
of the solid, so that a film of inert material surrounds
each, isolating it from its neighbours, and thus opposing
resistance to the transmission of detonation, which is pro¬
portionate to the original porosity or absorbent power of
the mass.

While compressed gun-cotton, in the air-dry state, is
detonated by 2 grains of mercuric fulminate imbedded in
the material, its detonation by 15 grains, applied in the
same manner, becomes doubtful when it contains 3 per
cent, of water, over and above the 2 per cent, which
exists normally in the air-dry substance. Specimens
which had been impregnated with oil or soaked in melted
fat and allowed to cool, could not be detonated by means
of 15 grains of fulminate. These diluted samples of gun¬
cotton could only be detonated by adding very consider¬
ably to the power of the initiative detonation ; 100 grains
of confined fulminate generally failed to detonate gun¬
cotton containing from 10 to 12 per cent, of water, and if
the amount reached 17 per cent., 200 grains of fulminate
were needed to ensure its detonation.

But moist or wet compressed gun-cotton is decidedly
more susceptible of detonation by (dry) compressed gun¬
cotton itself than by mercuric fulminate.

* Lecture "delivered at the Royal Institution of Great
Britain, Friday, March 21, 1879.

Thus 100 grains of dry gun-cotton, detonated through
the agency of the ordinary fulminate fuze, suffice to
detonate wet gun-cotton containing 17 per cent, of water,
though this result is somewhat uncertain. If the diluting
agent amounts to 20 per cent., detonation is not certain
with less than 1 oz. of dry gun-cotton, and if the com¬
pressed material be completely saturated with water ( i.e .,
containing 30 to 35 per cent.), 4 oz. of the air-dry sub¬
stance, applied in close contact, are needed to ensure its
detonation.

Detonation is transmitted through tubes from dry com¬
pressed gun-cotton to a moist disk of the material with
the same facility as to the dry substance ; and this is
also the case with regard to the propagation of detonation
from one mass of moist gun-cotton to another, in open air,
all the pieces being ranged in a row, in contact with each
other, provided that the piece first detonated does not
contain less water than the others to which detonation is
transmitted. Some curious results, obtained in experi¬
ments on the transmission of detonation, with gun-cotton
containing different proportions of water, appeared to
indicate that the character or quality of detonation
developed by gun-cotton is subject to modification by the
proportion of water which the latter contains.

Gun-cotton containing 12 to 14 per cent, of water is
ignited with much difficulty on applying a highly heated
body. As it leaves the hydraulic press upon being con¬
verted from the pulped state to masses having about the
density of water, it contains about 15 per cent, of water ;
in this condition it may be thrown on to a fire or held in
a flame without exhibiting any tendency to burn ; the
masses may be perforated by means of a red-hot iron or
with a drilling tool, and they may with perfect safety be
cut into slices by means of saws revolving with great
rapidity. If placed upon a fire and allowed to remain
there, a feeble and transparent flame flickers over the
surface of the wet gun-cotton from time to time as the
exterior becomes sufficiently dry to inflame ; and in this
way a piece of compressed gun-cotton will burn away
very gradually indeed. A pile of boxes containing in all
6 cwt. of gun-cotton, impregnated with about 20 per
cent, of water, when surrounded by burning wood and
shavings in a wooden building, was very gradually con¬
sumed, the gun-cotton burning as already described when
the surfaces of the masses became partially dried. In
two other experiments quantities of wet gun-cotton of
20 cwt. each, packed in one instance in a large, strong
wooden case, and, in the other, in a number of strong
packing cases, were placed in small magazines, very sub¬
stantially constructed of concrete and brickwork. Large
fires were kindled around the packages in each building,
the doors being just left ajar. The entire contents of
both buildings had burned away, without anything
approaching explosive action, in less than two hours.
This comparatively great safety of wet gun-cotton, coupled
with the fact that its detonation in that condition may
be readily accomplished through the agency of a small
quantity of dry gun-cotton, which, through the medium
of a fulminate fuze or detonator, is made to act as the
initiative detonating agent, gives to gun-cotton important
advantages over other violent explosive agents for pur¬
poses which involve the employment of more or less
considerable quantities at one time, on account of the
comparative safety attending its storage and the necessary
manipulation of it. Moreover, it has been well estab¬
lished by experiments of many kinds carried out on a
considerable scale, as well as by accurate scientific
observations, that the detonation of wet gun-cotton is
decidedly sharper or more violent than that of the dry
material ; a circumstance which affords an interesting
illustration of the influence exerted by the physical
condition of the mass upon the facility with which deto¬
nation is transmitted from particle to particle. In the
determinations made by means of the Noble chronoscope,
of the velocity with which detonation is transmitted
, along layers or trains of gun-cotton and nitro-glycerine,

70

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

[ i uly 26, 1879*

the lecturer has included experiments with gun-cotton
containing different proportions of water. When the
material contained 15 per cent, of the liquid, some
indications were obtained that the rate of transmission of
detonation was a little higher than with dry gun-cotton ;
the difference was very decidedly in favour of wet gun¬
cotton, when the latter was thoroughly saturated with
water. (With air-dry gun-cotton the mean rate of trans¬
mission ranged in several experiments between 17,000
and 18,900 feet per second ; with gun-cotton containing
about 30 per cent, of water, the mean rate of transinisson
ranged between 19,300 and 19,950 feet per second.)
The air in the masses of compressed gun-cotton being
replaced entirely by the comparatively incompressible
body, water, the particles of explosive are in a much
more favourable condition to resist displacement by the
force of the detonation, and hence they are more readily
suceptible of sudden chemical disintegration. Moreover,
the variations in the rate of travel of detonation in dry
gun-cotton, resulting from differences in the compactness
or rigidity of different masses of the material, are very
greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated, by saturating
the disks with water and thus equalizing their power of
resisting motion by a sudden blow.

Another striking illustration of the influence which the
physical character of an explosive substance exercises
over its susceptibility to detonation and the degree of
facility with which its full explosive force is developed, is
furnished by one of the most recently devised, and one of
the most interesting of existing, explosive agents.

Twelve years ago, soon after the process of producing
compressed and granulated gan-cotton had been elaborated
by the lecturer, it occurred to him to employ these forms
of gun-cotton as vehicles for the application of nitro¬
glycerine. A considerable proportion of the liquid was
absorbed by the porous masses of gun-cotton, and a nitro¬
glycerine preparation analogous in character to dynamite
was thus obtained. The absorbent was in this case a
violently explosive body instead of an inert solid as in
dynamite, but the quantity of nitro-glycerine in a given
weight of the preparation (to which the name of Glyoxilin
was given), was considerably less than in the Kieselguhr
preparation ; hence the latter was nearly on a point of
equality with it, in regard to power, as an explosive agent.

Nobel has observed that if, instead of making use of
the most explosive form of gun-cotton, or trinitrocellu¬
lose, a lower product of nitration of cellulose (the so-
called soluble or collodion gun-cotton) is added to nitro¬
glycerine, the liquid exerts a peculiar solvent action upon
it, the fibrous material becoming gelatinized while the
nitro-glycerine becomes at the same time fixed, the two
substances furnishing a product having almost the
characters of a compound. By macerating only from 7
to 10 per cent, of soluble gun-cotton with 90 to 93 per
cent, of nitro-glycerine, the whole becomes converted into
an adhesive plastic material, more gummy than gelatinous
in character, from which, if it be prepared with sufficient
care, no nitro-glycerine will separate even by its exposure
to heat in contact with bibulous paper, or by its prolonged
immersion in water, the components being not easily
susceptible of separation even through the agency of a
solvent of both. As the nitro-glycerine is only diluted
with a small proportion of a solidfying agent which is
itself an explosive (though a somewhat feeble one), this
Masting gelatine . as Nobel has called it, is more powerful
not only than dynamite but also than the mixture of a
smaller quantity of nitro-glycerine with the most ex¬
plosive gun-cotton, as the liquid substance is decidedly
the most violent explosive of the two. Moreover, as
nitro-glycerine contains a small amount of oxygen in
excess of that required for the 'perfect oxidation of its
carbon and hydrogen constituents, while the soluble gun¬
cotton is deficient in the requisite oxygen for its com¬
plete transformation into thoroughly oxidized products,
the result of an incorporation of the latter in small
proportion with nitro-glycerine is the production of an

explosive agent which contains the proportion of oxygen
requisite for the development of the maximum of chemical
energy by the complete burning of the carbon and
hydrogen, and hence this blasting gelatine should, theo¬
retically, be even slightly more powerful as an explosive
agent than pure nitro-glycerine.

That such is the case has been well established by
numerous experiments, but although this blasting gelatine
may be detonated like dynamite by means of small
quantities of confined detonating composition, when it is
employed in strongly tamped blast-holes, or under con¬
ditions very favourable to the development of great
initial pressure, it behaves very differently from that
material, or other solid though plastic preparations of
nitro-glycerine, if the attempt is made to detonate it
when freely exposed to the air or only partially confined.
It not only needs a much more considerable amount of
strongly confined detonating composition than dynamite
and similar preparations do, to bring about a detonation
with it under those conditions ; but when as much as 15
or 20 grains of confined fulminate are detonated in direct
contact with it, although a sharp explosion occurs, little
or no destructive action results, and a considerable portion
of the charge operated upon is dispersed in a finely-
divided condition. This dispersion appears to take place
to some slight extent with dynamite also, when a small
charge is detonated in open air, in consequence of its
want of rigidity, though the amount of explosive which
thus escapes detonation is very small as compared with
the gelatine. {To be continued .)

RESIN OF PODOPHYLLUM.*

BY J. U. LLOYD.

Resin of podophyllum is found upon the market in
colour ranging from light brown to deep yellow. Can
these various shades be obtained from may-apple root
without the use of foreign substances ?

At first resin of podophyllum was prepared by distilling
all the alcohol from an alcoholic tincture of the root and
pouring the residue into cold water. It settled into a lump
of dark brown colour; when pounded it was a little lighter.

In the present U. S. officinal process there is enough
alcohol to cause the resin to separate in a finely divided form
if the water be cold. Such an article has either a yellowish
or slightly brown cast. The first portions of the perco¬
late furnish the darkest shade. If it be dissolved in its
weight of cold alcohol, filtered and precipitated in sixteen
parts ice-cold water, it will be much lighter in colour, as
impurities are thus separated which were mechanically
carried down by the first precipitate. An article thus
produced is a shade darker than powdered ipecac, usually
of a faint yellowish shade. As a rule, the nearer resin
of podophyllum approaches white the better.

If instead of water, or water acidulated with muriatic
acid, we use an aqueous solution of alum for the preci¬
pitant, the colour before mentioned quickly changes,
acquiring in a few hours a rich greenish yellow. The
supernatant liquid also turns yellow ; this shade cannot be
obtained with water or water acidulated according to the
Pharmacopoeia. It results from a change in the resin, instead
of the addition of another substance from the tincture.

Alum -water will scarcely produce an additional preci¬
pitate from the liquid after making officinal resin of
podophyllum, but will change the powdered resin to
greenish yellow, which shade, so frequently found in the
market and so often demanded of manufacturers, I have
never been able to obtain without the use of foreign
substances. Almost any of the colours, excepting that
just named, from deep yellowish brown to nearly white,
can be produced with pure water for the precipitant, as
the variations result generally from impurities carried
down by the precipitate or from resins of different
densities.

* From the ‘ Proceedings of the American Pharmaceu¬

tical Association,’ 1878.

July 26, 1S79.] ' THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

71

®h£ |ki[maqutital Jcupal.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , JULY 26, 1879.

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

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

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

THE CO-OPERATIVE CRAZE.

The reports of tlie evidence given before tlie Se¬
lect Committee on Co-operative Stores, as they appear
an the daily papers, afford but small reason for anti¬
cipating that the result of this inquiry will be much
to the advantage of the retail traders who are
damaged by the competition of these large trading
•organizations. On the contrary, we fear that the
chief effect of the entire proceeding will be to give
.greater prominence to the stores, in fact to advertise
them to the disadvantage of shopkeepers, and to
induce imitation of their mode of doing business by
large firms. That, we think, will be at least the
more immediate consequence, and it is for this rea¬
son that we have always maintained that the less
there was said about the stores the better. Co¬
operation is the whim of the day and “ going to the
stores,” one of the most popular amusements of the
leisurely and the idle; but like spelling bees, skating
rinks, fat claimants, fancy bazaars, and even worship
of Miss Sarah Bernhardt, and many other popular
whims which those classes bring into notoriety, the
u store ” craze cannot be expected to have any greater
vitality than any other nine days’ wonder which may
acquire an inflated notoriety by being run after by
the herd of sensation seekers.

But there is a further reason for believing the
present craze after co-operative association will sub¬
side and perhaps die away altogether. Begarding
this system as a means of obtaining ordinary neces¬
saries without allowing the retail trader to perform
tor the general public the service of distribution,
-and as the purveyor of such commodities deriving from
the performance of that service a remuneration
which makes it worth his while to devote his time
•and energies entirely to that work, the extensive
^carrying out of the system involves such a disregard
of the division of labour and such a violation of the
principle of live and let live that it is scarcely possible
to imagine its continuance for any long period with¬
out being productive of evils that will materially
affect the classes which are for the time beiim

O

benefited by doing for themselves the work of tlie
•retail trader and taking the bread out of his mouth.

We do not seek to question the right of a few
individuals associating together to economize their
aneans by purchasing a chest of tea and dividing it

among themselves; they would be, we think, equally
free to make their own coats and trousers or shoes,
j ust as much as they would be entitled to dispense
with the use of a carriage and pair, or the services
of a footman in plush. If this kind of self-help by
association were at all widely carried out, no doubt
tailors, shoemakers and carriage builders, as well as
other retail traders, would suffer to some extent by
loss of business ; but, on the one hand, they would
not have any real reason to complain of being un¬
fairly used, and, on the other hand, it is not probable
that the advantages of such a system would be
sufficient to make it so universal as to seriously
damage retail traders.

The case is, however, very different when the
individuals who have associated themselves together
in this way for their own benefit proceed to make
their organization a source of profit to themselves
by inviting the general public to obtain their sup¬
plies of ordinary commodities through the same
channel, and thus enter into competition with the
retail tradesmen. The unfairness of such competi¬
tion is in itself sufficient to condemn it, and the
probable effect of it upon the trading community is
a further reason for regarding it as a thoroughly ill-
founded proceeding.

The evidence given last Wednesday affords some
indication of what, is expected to be the result of co¬
operative store trading. Mr. Charles J. Cox, one
of the principal clerks in the Admiralty, was asked
what was to become of the small traders if stores
were to go on increasing at the same rate that they
have done in the past, and his answer was that some
of them must go. He did not think the shopkeepers
would soon become a relic of the past and could
hardly give an idea of the time it would take to
bring this about ; but he was clearly possessed with
the idea that some of them would have to go, and
that this result would be to the advantage of them¬
selves as well as of the public. In reference to the
business of the chemist and druggist especially, he
had not the least idea what people would do if they
wanted to get medicine on Sundays when the drug¬
gists’ shops were all swept away by the stores, but
had no doubt some method of meeting the wants of
the public would be found. It might have been
worth while to ascertain from Mr. Cox what was
his opinion as to the probable destination of those
tradesmen who, to use his language, “ would have to
go ; ” also, whether their having to go would have
any influence in augmenting the Queen’s taxes or the
parish rates ; but perhaps the members of the Com¬
mittee had their own views on this subject, and will
be able in their report to indicate what may be
naturally expected to result from a s}rstem of trading
by which shares originally worth only £2 are now
worth from £75 to £100. This is not a result of the
commendable economy of Civil Service clerks, but it
is one achieved by unfairly enabling the outside
public to dispense with the services of the retail

72

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 26. 1875-

tracler, who in the faith of being employed as here¬
tofore has invested his capital in some one or other
branch of the business of purveying.

But we do not believe the influence of the “ stores ”
will extend so far as to bring about Mr. Cox’s pre¬
dictions. Considerable hardship and loss will, no
doubt, be experienced by tradesmen while the stores
remain in favour and while some of them are as
prosperous as the one referred to above. That, how¬
ever, is a precedent that is not likely to be imitated:
“ Stores ” are already entering into competition with
stores: the exploitation de I’homme par Vhomme ,
under the segis of limited liability, is being com¬
menced upon the basis of “ store ” popularity, and
we shall not be surprised to see before long some of
the numerous schemes for providing every one with
commodities for less than they are worth turn out
to have their philanthropy limited to the promoters
and others concerned in their inception. We have
already seen the collapse of some of these literally
speaking “ too promising ” concerns and we think it
only requires some degree of patience and fortitude
to arrive at a time when the seeds of weakness in¬
herent in this co-operative store craze shall become
thoroughly clear to all. That there is foundation for
these opinions may be gathered from the evidence
furnished by one of our contemporaries devoted
especially to the interests of the Civil Service. Testi¬
mony from such an unexpected source against the
mode in which “ store ” trading has been carried on
is especially significant, and the treatment of the
subject in a recent number of the Civil Service Gazette
is so thoroughly to the point, so much more rational
than most of the articles which have appeared in
the daily papers — simply echoing the popular cry —
that we think it desirable to publish the article in
extenso as one of the best commentaries on the
subject.

“ We have often ventured to advise members of Her
Majesty’s Civil Service to be cautious in their chase after
that wild sprite, the treacherous will o’ the wisp, named
co-operation; and warned them that, unless extremely
careful, they would be led by it into a quagmire. Our
admonitions were not, as the event has proved, unneces¬
sary, for the mischance we apprehended has come to pass.
By running heedlessly after this ‘ ignis fatuvs ’ the ser¬
vants of the Crown have got plunged into a bog, extrication
from which will not be easy. Had they strictly confined
themselves to co-operation pure and simple, to the pur¬
chase at wholesale prices and distribution among them¬
selves of articles of first necessity for their own use and
that of their families, in classes or departments, there
would have been no valid objection in principle to their
economic combinations ; but when they constituted them,
selves genuine traders and storekeepers for the sale of all
kinds of commodities to the public at large, which they
virtually did — the ticket lim itations being in practice a trans¬
parent sham — they transgressed the limits of legitimate
club or class co-operation, and laid their commercial adven¬
tures open to reasonable opposition from the regular trading
community. To embark openly in trade and enter into

competition with those who derived their living, supported
their families, and contributed to the national taxation from
the business of buying and selling, was not merely foolish
but impolitic. The permanent and certain interests of
the whole body of public servants were jeopardized for
the temporary and uncertain advantage of a few members,,
and a feeling of hostility was excited against the Service
throughout the country among an active and influential class ■
previously disposed to be friendly towards it. Great
Britain is truly, as it has been designated, a nation of
shopkeepers, and to provoke the constituents of such a
nation to vindictive antogonism was certainly unwise-
Beyond requiring the habit of paying cash for whatever
was wanted and inducing the reduction of credit prices by
tradesmen to ready money rates, we do not see any present-
compensating advantages the great majority of Civil Ser¬
vants have obtained; but we foresee much injury looming-
in the future from the warfare which has been stirred up -
between them and a numerous body of the Queens subjects..
For a season co-operation is a word to conjure with, and co¬
operative stores are a la mode', but the charm and the novelty
will, we may safely predict, soon wear away, and the
natural order of things will be restored. Indeed, already
the most fashionable stores are fast getting into disrepute v
losing their character in more ivays than one. Scandalous,
tongues are busy denouncing them as places of assigna¬
tion, flirtation, intrigue, pastime for the gay and idle,,
and broadly insinuating that the mob of carriage-people, of
wonderfully- got-up girls, nice young men, elderly dandies,,
and frisky dames who flock thither to promenade, to chat-
to lunch, etc., are quite as much in search of pleasurable^
excitement as of cheap groceries and articles of domestic:
use at wholesale prices. However that may be, it is to be
regretted that servants of the Crown, Civil or Military y
should have provoked the enmity of any considerable body
of Her Majesty's subjects engaged in fighting the hard
battle of life by entering into competition with them in trade,,
disguised or undisguised ; and we hope that some means-
may be found for removing the cause of anger and re¬
storing the good-will and fraternal feeling which should
subsist between all orders of hard-working men.”

So far as Civil Service co-operation is concerned*
the light here thrown upon it from a source that is.
not likely to be antagonistic, gives prospect of some
mitigation at least of the injuries that have been
inflicted upon retail traders, and as regards “stores”
carried on or projected as limited liability companies,
we do not think there is much to fear.

POSTHUMOUS HONOURS TO A FRENCH
PHARMACIST.

By a recent decree the mayor of Saint Omer lias,
changed the name of a street in that town to “Rue
Caventou,” in honour of the celebrated pharmacist
whose native place it was. Among the reasons for
thus commemorating Caventou it is specially stated
in the decree that he was the discoverer of sulphate
of quinine, “by which he could have realized an im¬
mense fortune, but that in his love for science and
humanity, he did not hesitate to publish his dis¬
covery.”

July 26, 1879. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

73

itomtas jofl % f liamaqwlkal ^ trig*

EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.

July 9, 1879.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Cai’teighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Eight candidates were examined. Four failed. The fol¬
lowing four passed, and wTere declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Alcock, Frank Harris . Burslem.

Allan, James Henry . Stockton.

Betts, George . Norwich.

Bird, Henry . London.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Eighteen candidates were examined. Eight failed. The
following ten passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Atkins, Ernest . Southampton.

Ballard, Frank English . Aylesbury.

Beard, James Hogg . ...Manchester.

Bennett, Frank William . London.

Bourne, Chas. Matthew Kemsey... Wolverhampton.

Bo wn, John Quinton . . . Nottingham.

Bridge, George Edward . Maidstone.

Brook, Joe . Lofthouse.

Cambridge, John Underwood... Hartlepool.

Carter, Francis . London.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

Four candidates wTere examined. One failed. The fol¬
lowing three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Bemrose, Weigh tman ..<v. . London.

Capon, Charles William . London.

Still, David Usborne . Staplehurst.

July 10, 1879.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish, Lin¬
ford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Eight candidates were examined. Six failed. The
following tico passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Dutton, Hugh Odard . Rock Ferry.

Grimble, Albert . Boston.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-one candidates -were examined. Twelve failed.
The following nine passed, and were declared qualified to
foe registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Cheers, Robert Salmon . Northwich.

Clerke, William Burdett . Leamington.

Crow, W7illiam . Berwick.

Crowther, Arthur . Tickhill.

Davies, Thomas . Bridgend.

JDe Peare, John Thomas . Spalding.

Dixon, William . Stratford-on-Avon.

Drew, Henry William . Southwark.

Feaver, William . Truro.

July 11, 1879.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish, Lin¬
ford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-seven candidates were examined. Nineteen
failed. The following eight passed, and were declared
-qualified to be registeied as Chemists and Druggists : —

Gibson, James Edward . Sheffield.

Green, William James . Yeovil.

Harburn, Alfred . London.

Holland, Tom . Lincoln.

Hope, Arthur Peach . Uppingham.

Howell, Edmund . Oxford.

Humphreys, Griffith . Cor wen.

James, Charles Frederick . Higliworth.

July 16, 1879.

Present — Mr. Sandffcrd, President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was also present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Eleven candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following six passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Horton, Thomas . . Peterborough.

Lapthorn, George. . . . . Taunton.

Mayger, William John . Northampton.

Nowell, Barnes . London.

Pisani, Orestes Victoriano . London.

Ratcliff e, Henry Norman . Torquay.

MINOR .EXAMINATION.

Eighteen candidates were examined. Eight failed.
The following ten passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Llewellyn, David . Cilcerin.

Lodge, Arthur William . Merthyr.

Lupton, George Frederick . York.

Macaulay, William Henry . Rotherham.

Manning, Alfred . . Strood.

Morgan, John Daniel . Swansea.

Morris, David . . Cardigan.

Olden, Loathan . Romsey.

Oldfield, Arthur . Grantham.

Parkin, George Anthony _ .....Ripon.

July 17, 1879. *

Present — Mr. Sandford, President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman, Southall and
Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was also present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Ten candidates were examined. Four failed. The
following six passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists: —

Lomax, Alban Edward . Liverpool.

Porter, Thomas . Fleetwood.

Remfry, Samuel Alfred . London.

Shirley, Stephen Shillito . London

Smithson, Thomas Henry . Bradford.

Villar, Arthur . Staplegrove.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Seventeen candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following twelve passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Peck, Frederick William . Cambridge.

Pickles, Walter . London.

Plattin, Henry Ramin . Fakenham.

Powell, William . Swansea.

Ratcliff e, George . London.

Reddish, Augustus Frederick... Patricroft.

Rossiter, Thomas Edward . Tiverton.

Rough ton, William . Loughborough.

Sagar, Hartley . Nelson-in-Marsden.

Selleck, William Robert . Bovey Tracey.

Shadford, Major . Spalding.

Shrivell, Frederick Wm. Edwd.Hadlow.

74

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 26, 1879..

July 18, 1879.

Present — Mr. Sandford, President; Messrs. Alkhin,
Barnes, Benger, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish, Lin¬
ford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-six candidates were examined. Ten failed,
the following sixteen passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Smith, John Thomas . Donington.

Stableforth, John William ...'...London.

Stedman, Walter . West Mailing.

Stevenson, David Archibald ...Chertsey.

Taylor, James Bennett . Bedford.

Taylor, Philip Neville . Tipton.

Thompson, Arthur Stevens . Barking.

Topliss, Walter George . Wainfleet.

Watson, Edward Arthur . Cheltenham.

Wild, George Erederick . Hyde.

Willis, Henry James . London.

Willis, Joseph Darrin gton . Northampton.

Wimshurst, Frederick . Southborough.

Wise, Joseph Norman . Carlisle.

Wood, Robert . Loughborough.

Wyatt, Charles Frederick ......Old Brompton.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination: —

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Laffere, John Athanasius . Hatherleigh.

Nicholls, Reginald E . Lee.

Certificates of the University of Cambridge.

Roberts, William . Chester.

Wilson, John . Wolverhampton.

Certificates of the University of Oxford.

Maillard, William Job . Brecon.

Patey, William James . Banbury.

Irowfdittjgs of Jsduttifii; Roddies.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting was held at 32a, George Street, Hanover
Square, on Wednesday evening, July 9th, Mr. Branson
in the chair, when Mr. Naylor read a paper on
“Explosions.”

The author divided his subject into two great classes,
those in which the explosion was the sole result of purely
mechanical action and those in which the force exerted
is the product of chemical decomposition. To the latter
class more especial reference was made. An explosion was
shown to differ from expansion merely in that the one takes
place slowly, while the other is instantaneous. Boiler
explosions were next considered and referred to one of
two causes : either to furring or defects of repair. The
manner in which these deposits act in producing an ex¬
plosion was fully explained, accompanied by a reference
to those substances which are used as “anti-foulers.”
The explosions resulting from the mixture of various
gases with air, notably marsh gas and coal gas with air,
received a large share of attention.

The Davy lamp was exhibited and the principles of its
construction explained and illustrated by experiment.

Reference was next made to those explosions which
have occurred during the manufacture of oxygen gas on
the large scale from KC103 and Mn02. These were said
to owe their origin, with but few exceptions, to the
admixture of small quantities of soot or sulphide of
antimony with the Mn02 used. Simple methods of
detecting these contaminations were described and shown
practically. Following this was a somewhat detailed
account of the manufacture of gunpowder.

A number of beautiful specimens were exhibited in<
illustration of the different grain powders, including the
various kinds of sporting powder, rifle powder, and
blasting powders, and cubes of the kind used by Her
Majesty’s Government for loading the 100 ton gun.

Brief references were also made to the manufacture,
uses, etc., of gun cotton and nitro-glycerine. Specimens of
Abel’s compressed gun cotton, lithofracteur and dyna*
mite were handed round for inspection. A few remarks ,
upon Abel’s fuses and Robinson’s universal fuse brought
this very interesting paper to a close.

A discussion then followed in which several members
took part, and a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to-
Mr. Naylor, on the proposition of Messrs. E. Cardwell
and Robinson.

The president announced donations and subscriptions to
the amount of <£*3 13s. 0 cl.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The History of Alizarin and Allied Colouring

Matters, and their Production from Coal Tar.*

BY W. H. PERKIN, F.R.S.

(Continued from page 59.)

Lecture II. — Delivered May 22.

In the previous lecture I gave a brief account of the-
dye-stuff, “madder,” and also of the chemical history of'
its colouring matters, alizarin and purpurin, their artificial
production from anthracene, and of the new dyes which,
are allied to them, etc. I treated the matter, to some-
extent, from a purely scientific point of view, as I felt it
necessary to do so before proceeding to give an account-
of the practical operations involved in the manufacture of
these substauces.

I now propose bringing before you the history of
the technical part of my subject; but before entering int»
this, I wish to mention that I had the good fortune of being
associated with my brother, Mr. T. D. Perkin, in carrying
out this manufacture, and to his business habits and skid
in devising and erecting new plant, the rapid development
and success of this new industry was to a great extent
due.+ Our works were at Greenford Green, near Harrow,
and on the Grand Junction Canal. They were erected in
1857 for the manufacture of the the mauve dye, and
afterwards also used for the production of various other
coal tar colours. I mention this because we were able
to employ some of our plant which had fallen into disuse
for our preliminary operations, and thus a considerable
amount of time was saved. Our manufacturing experiments
for the production of artificial alizarin were commenced
about the middle of 1869, and the first question which natu¬
rally came before us was that of the production of the raw
materia], “anthracene.” At this period anthracene was
unknown to the tar distillers, and, consequently, was not a
commercial product. Experiments had, therefore, to be.
made upon its preparation, not only to obtain it, but also to
get some rough idea of the amount that could be produced
from coal tar, because, unless it were practicable to get it in
quantity, artificial alizarin could not successfully compete
with madder.

F or the purpose of preparing anthracene for my experi¬
ments in 1855 I had employed coal-tar pitch, and distilled
it in iron pots. I, therefore, naturally selected pitch as-
the scource of anthracene, and having a number of iron;
retorts ready for use, many tons were distilled. From the
amount of anthracene we obtained in this manner, we felt
assured there was no reason to fear there would be any
lack of raw material.

When distilling pitch, we found it generally best not to
allow the very last portions of the distillate to mix with
the earlier ones, as they are sticky, and contain little, if
any, anthracene. Sometimes we re-distilled the distillate;
this improved it considerably. (Distillation of pitch in.

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts.
t Our firm was known as Perkin and Sons.

July 26, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

75

pitch ovens destroys most of the anthracene.) The oily
distillate, on being allowed to stand for some days,
■deposits the anthracene ; this we separated, by draining
the products in canvas bags, and then pressing out as
much of the remaining oil as possible with a screw press.
In July, we set up our first hydraulic press for this
purpose. The crude anthracene was then washed with
coal-tar naphtha, and afterwards distilled. The appa¬
ratus for distilling consisted of two retorts, set side by
•side, connected to each other by a large bent iron pipe,
one retort being used as a still, the other acting as a
receiver. The connecting-pipe was kept hot, to prevent
the anthracene from blocking it by condensing. The
distilled anthracene was partly in the form of a hard,
yellow, crystalline mass, and partly in the form of a
■crystalline powder.

We obtained by this means about f to 1 per cent, of
pure anthracene from the pitch we employed. During
the time we were carrying on these experiments we asked
some large tar distillers, Messrs. Blott, of Poplar,
London, to collect the last runnings of their tar stills,
and set them aside to cool. These deposited considerable
quantities of anthracene, which were collected in canvas
bags, and it was soon found that by this means large
quantities of anthracene could be obtained. Messrs.
Blott then commenced to prepare this substance in
quantity,* and to supply us with it. Other tar dis¬
tilleries were then communicated with, in fact, nearly all
the tar distillers in the United Kingdom were either
visited or written to on the subject, and the result was
that in a short time such quantities of anthracene came
in that it was unnecessary for us to continue to distil pitch.

The anthracene obtained from the tar distillers was sent
■out in casks, and was in a thick pasty condition. It was
pressed in hydraulic presses between thick linen sheets, in
the same manner as paraffin is pressed when being purified,
and was thus obtained in solid cakes, weighing about one-
fourth of the unpressed product. Most of the tar distillers
now press their anthracene before sending it into the
market. The anthracene supplied at first was usually of
a veiy good quality, much better than afterwards, when it
was found to be an important product, because the distillers
then endeavoured to extract all they could from their tar,
and thus many other products were separated with it.

The pressed anthracene was at first purified, as above,
with coal-tar naphtha, and then distilled, but it was found
to be still far from pure; this was a great drawback, because,
when converting it into anthraquinone , by oxidation with
potassic bichromate and sulphuric acid, in the way we
then conducted the process, a large quantity of the
■oxidizing mixture was used upon the worthless impurities
as well as on the anthracene, thus adding greatly to the
expense of the anthraquinone, and not only so, but
rendering the purification of that substance more trouble¬
some.

After making a number of experiments with different
solvents, which were only partially successful in remov¬
ing the impurities of the anthracene, I thought that, by
■distilling it with a caustic alkali, some good might be
effected, as all substances of a phenolic character would
be removed, and some of the high boiling and less stable
jjroducts might be charred. In this I was not disap¬
pointed. A quantity of anthracene which had been
purified with naphtha and distilled was re-distilled in a glass
retort with solid caustic potash. The distillate was consider¬
ably less in weight than the anthracene taken, and in the
retort there was a large quantity of a black carbonaceous
residue. Although still not pure, the anthracene was
immensely improved in quality, and, with but little treat¬
ment with solvents, yielded a chemically pure product,
crystallizing in a most beautiful manner, superior to any¬
thing I had ever seen before.

The process was next tried on the large scale, caustic
soda being employed in place of caustic potash, but I was

* July, 1869.

surprised to find that no purification of any consequence
was effected ; on repeating it, however, with caustic
potash, the same result was obtained as that in the
laboratory.

After experimentally proving that anthracene is not
destroyed when distilled with potash, this process was
adopted on the large scale.

In purifying anthracene with coal-tar naphtha, a loss
of anthracene was found to take place, on account of its
solubility in that fluid. We found, however, that, by
using petroleum spirit, this loss was, to a great extent,
avoided ; therefore, the use of naphtha was discarded.

After many experiments, the purification of crude
anthracene was conducted in the following manner, the
first operation, viz., the treatment with petroleum spirit,
being conducted in a large, separate building. The crude
anthracene was first thoroughly ground under edge-
runners, which made most of the ordinary qualities of
pressed anthracene into a very stiff, pasty mass. The
ground anthracene was then put into boxes, and hoisted
to the top floor of the building by means of a windlass.
It was then introduced into the large iron cylindrical
vessels, which had been previously half-filled with
petroleum spirit, and the agitator also set in motion.
About 1500 to 1830 lbs. of crude anthracene and about
300 gallons of petroleum were used in each operation,
the proportion of petroleum, however, being varied
according to the quality of the anthracene.

Steam was then turned on to the steam jacket, with
which the cylinder is provided until the petroleum nearly
boiled, the manhole being kept loosely covered, to avoid
evaporation. The stirring was continued for an hour or
two, after which the product was run into cooling tanks.
These were not very large, and kept apart, so that the
air might freely circulate around them. The principal
object of the cooling was to allow any anthracene which
had dissolved in the petroleum spirit to crystallize out.
When cold, the wooden plugs which close the outlets of
these tanks were removed and their contents run out into
the filter tank. The filter consists of a perforated wooden
floor, covered with coarse canvas. As the petroleum
charged with impurities drained away, it was received in
a large tank sunk in the ground. The anthracene on the
filter was afterwards washed by pouring over it a little
clean petroleum spirit.

When thoroughly drained, the anthracene was removed
to a tank, provided with a still head, connected to a
worm tub ; some water was then added, and steam
blown through the mixture, to volatilize the petroleum,
which afterwards condensed in the worm, and ran into
the tank.

In the bottom of the tank, there was a large tap
connected with a pipe. When the operation was finished,
this was opened to allow the water to flow out, and as
this usually carried anthracene with it, it was passed
through canvas bags. The front manhole was then
opened, and the anthracene removed and placed in dry
casks to further drain. In this operation, average
qualities of anthracene usually lost about 30 per cent of
impurities.

The dirty petroleum in the tank, was pumped into the
still, and distilled by blowing steam through it ; it then
flowed into the tanks, and after the water which had
condensed with it was run off sufficiently by the taps
near the bottom of the tanks, so that only petroleum
flowed from the two little taps placed higher up, it
was pumped into the cylinders, and used for a fresh
operation, and thus it was used over and over again.

The residue in the still was a dirty, thick, oily product
mixed with water ; it was run out into tanks, and on
cooling became a semi-solid mass. This product was
used as fuel under evaporating pans. For this purpose
it was kept fluid, by being warmed in a boiler, it was
then run through a pipe into a special jet supplied with
steam, which converted it into spray. This was kept
ignited under the pans by means of a small coke fire.

76

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 2«, 1373?T

The next operation consisted in distilling the anthra¬
cene, thus far purified with caustic potash. For this
purpose ordinary Montreal potash was used. This was
usually found to contain considerable quantities of caustic
potash, and answered the purpose perfectly. We found
it necessary to use some caustic lime with it, other¬
wise the residue left in the retorts caked so hard that
it was only with great difficulty that it could be re¬
moved.

The proportions used were usually in the ratio of 100
parts of washed anthracene, 80 parts potash, and 6 parts
ground lime. These substances were thoroughly ground
under edge runners, and introduced into iron retorts and
distilled.

When we first distilled the anthracene with potash, we
employed retorts with the outlets at the back bolted on,
but we found it impossible to get joints to stand the con¬
stantly repeated heatings and coolings of the apparatus.
We, therefore, had the necks cast on the retorts. It was
also found necessary to keep the mouths of the retorts
well over the dead plates, otherwise anthracene condensed
on the retort door.

For some time we used large iron tanks as condensers,
two or three retorts distilling into each, but as consider¬
able quantities of hydrogen gas were given off, the
operation of cleaning them out was dangerous, because,
as the air mixed with the hydrogen, it became an ex¬
plosive mixture, and if any part of the retorts had not
cooled down sufficiently, this would be ignited ; in fact,
it was owing to an accident of this kind, that we first
noticed the evolution of hydrogen. Afterwards we made
experiments to see how small a receptacle could be used,
and at last obtained reservoirs of a shape and con¬
struction that answered perfectly. They consisted
of iron troughs fitted to the retort neck. The
further end of the receiver was closed with a loosely-
fitting piece of wood. The top consisted of loose iron lids,
hinged on one side of the trough, and provided with long
ir©n handles, so that they could be easily opened or closed.

Before the distillation was commenced, these lids were
luted down, but this was scarcely necessary, as the sub¬
limed anthracene soon stopped up the crevices. The
hydrogen escaped at the back end of the trough. The
retorts were set on fire lumps, to prevent their burning
out. The distillation was commenced in the morning,
after the previous day’s residues had been cleaned out
from the retorts, and they had been recharged.

Before the receivers were emptied, the lids were opened
from below, so that any permanent gas might escape, and
then the anthracene removed. This was found to be
partly in the form of very pale primrose yellow crystalline
cakes and partly as a light sublimate. As it contained
some water locked up in its interstices, it was ground
under edge runners and then dried. The black carbon¬
aceous residue left in the retorts, when heaped together,
easily catches fire and continues to burn for a very loDg
time. The potash was recovered from this residue,
causticized and again used. ,

When commencing the manufacture of artificial alizarin,
we employed the process described in my first patent, in
which anthraquinone is used. By this method we pre¬
pared large quantities of colouring matter. My second
process, however, was found, especially at that date, to
possess considerable advantages over the first. In this,
it will be remembered, dichloranthracene is used, and
therefore, as soon as the technical difficulties were mas¬
tered, we employed it in preference to the first, though
sometimes we manufactured by both.

As most of the colouring matter manufactured by us
was prepared by the dichloranthracene process, I have
thought it best to describe it first, afterwards returning
to our experiences with the anthraquinone method.

A large number of experiments were made upon the
preparation of dichloranthracene, such as passing chlorine
over anthracene suspended in solvents ; or over anthracene
which had been purified with petroleum spirit or bisul¬

phide of carbon and then distilled ; or anthracene whicla
had been distilled with caustic potash.

The result of these experiments was, that it was found
that the best process consisted in passing chlorine over
anthracene which had been purified by distillation with
potash, as, by this means, a beautiful product was ob¬
tained, which could be easily purified ; whereas, anthra¬
cene which had not been distilled with potash usually
gave a confusedly crystallized, sticky mass, very difficult
to deal with.

As it was very important to produce colouring matter
with the least possible delay, the manufacture of chlorine-
for the preparation of dichloranthracene was a matter re¬
quiring a good deal of consideration ; because, if plant
had to be erected to prepare it in the ordinary method
from black oxide of manganese, a great deal of time would
have been lost. We, therefore, thought that, until the
ordinary plant could be erected, we might make it ex¬
peditiously by decomposing chloride of lime with hydros
chloric acid ; and we found this to answer our purpose.
The apparatus we used was of a very simple nature. It
consisted of a large well pitched wooden cask in which a
hole was made near the bottom, and fitted with a plugr
so that it could be easily emptied. In the top a square
bole was cut, from which an earthenware jar was sus¬
pended by means of leaden straps. The square hole was
closed with a perforated piece of wood, through which a*
leaden pipe was placed, reaching to the bottom of the
earthen jar, the bottom of the pipe was partly cut away,
so that liquid could run freely through it. A funnel was
also fitted to the top of the pipe. Through another per¬
foration in the top of the cask, a bent leaden pipe was
fitted to serve as a delivery tube. This passed to a stone¬
ware Woulfe’s bottle. In using this apparatus, hydro¬
chloric acid was poured into the cask. The necessary
amount of chloride of lime was then mixed with water in
a tub, so as to form a creamy fluid. This was then passed
through the funnel into the hydrochloric acid by degrees,
and, according as the chlorine was wanted in a rapid or
slow current, the chloride of lime was added quickly or
slowly. This process does not work well if the chloride
of lime is placed in the cask, and the hydrochloric acid
added, on account of the greater density of the chloride
of lime. One advantage of this method of generating
chlorine is that the amount can be easily regulated by
the chloride of lime used. Of course, this is an expensive
method of preparing chlorine, and we always intended
putting down proper plant, with Weldon’s arrangement
for recovering the manganese ; but our attention was then
so taken up with other matters, that we kept putting it
off, and continued to use chloride of lime until we gave
up manufacturing. I should imagine this was the first
instance of chlorine being prepared in large quantities in
wooden tubs, and I have described it, as it might be useful
to others who want a supply of this gas without loss of
time.

For treating the anthracene with chlorine, leaden
chambers were used, technically called “ chlorine ovens.’*
They were about 10ft. long, 4ft. 6in. wide, and 1ft. 6in.
deep in the centre. The bottoms are flat until within
about 1ft. 6in. of the end. They then gradually slope up
about 6in., to the manholes at the ends. The doors of
these manholes are slabs of wood covered with lead and
held in their place by means of a cross-bar and screw.
The lugs are connected with an iron frame, over which
the lead is beaten. In the centre of the top are other
openings for charging the ovens. They are provided
with lids, made air-tight by means of hydraulic joints.
The channels in these joints, however, were not filled
with water, but by an impurity obtained in the manu¬
facture, called “chlorine oils.” At each end of these
ovens, two lead pipes are inserted, one for the inlet of
chlorine, and the other for the escape of hydrochloric acid
and unused chlorine. These pipes are made to project into>
the ovens, to prevent the action of any “drip,” which
might otherwise injure the top of the oven. The top is

July '26 >879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

77

strengthened by cross pieces of timber, fastened with
leaden straps. The ovens were usually made of 20-lb.
Lad. The luting for the end manholes was made of china
clay and chlorine oils.

When first made, these ovens were supported on solid
brickwork, and it was found that by passing a good
ourrent of chlorine oves the anthracene, sufficient heat
was, by the chemical action, evolved to complete the
process ; if, however, the temperature was allowed to fall
from an interrupted or slow supply of chlorine, the pro¬
duct partially crystallized, and the temperature could not
be got up again sufficiently. The anthracene was, there¬
fore, imperfectly chlorinated. To avoid this, a steam
chamber was formed in the brickwork and covered b}7 an
iron plate, on which the oven rested, and in this way the
temperature was always sufficiently maintained.

The hydrochloric acid gas which was formed in this
operation, was condensed in coke towers, and the acid
used again. The reaction may be written thus : —

C14H10 + 4 Cl = C14H8CL + 2 H Cl.

Anthracene. Dichloranthracene.

It is, however, probably much more complicated.
Chlorine when acting upon anthracene first forms a di-
cMoride : —

C14H10 + C12=C14H10, Cl2.

This substance is extremely unstable, and unless the
temperature be kept near 0° C., decomposes as quickly
as it forms, yielding monochloranthracene : —

C14H10C12 = Cl4HyCl + HC1.

Monochloranthracene.

This substance, when meeting with fresh chlorine, is
be'ieved to combine directly, and form a dichloride of
monochloranthracene : — -

Ct 4HyCl + CL, = C4 4H9C1 CL.

Dichloride of monochloranthracene.

and, lastly, this, on decomposing, to yield dichloran¬
thracene : —

c14h„ci, cl = C14H8CL + H Cl.

Dichloranthracene.

Towards the end of the operation of chlorinating
anthracene the chlorine is not all absorbed, and escapes
into the air from the coke towers. This was not only a
nuisance but also a loss. To avoid this the ovens were
put up in pairs, and connected with a leaden pipe ; both
were charged with anthracene, but only one chlorinated.
.Any unused chlorine passing away with the hydrochloric
acid over the anthracene in the second oven was thus
absorbed. The next day the anthracene in the second
oven was chlorinated, and the gases passed over the
o’htr one, which had been re-charged with anthracene.

The charge for each oven was usually about 400 lbs.
of anthracene which had been distilled with potash, and
of between 45 and 50 per cent, quality. On passing the
chlorine gas into the charged ovens, the anthracene gets
dark in colour and fuses,* hydrochloric acid being evolved
in abundance. After a time, this fluid product begins to
deposit crystals, and soon becomes a semi-solid mass.
The operation occupies about five or six hours. When
finished, the top manholes were removed, and a light
wooden flue placed over them, and connected with the
opening into the chimney shaft, the end manholes were
then opened, and in a short time the excess of hydro¬
chloric acid and chlorine in the ovens was drawn out.
The crude dichloranthracene, which covers the bottom of
the oven as a crystalline cake, was loosened by a wooden
tool, and then drawn out with a wooden hoe into some
convenient vessel. When broken up, the pieces of di-
chloranthracene appear as a mass of beautiful bright
yellow interlaced needles.

* This is due to the chlorination of the impurities, the
dichloranthracene being formed afterwards.

This product was next broken up with a wooden beater
in tubs containing dilute caustic soda (it must not be
ground, however), to remove adhering hydrochloric acid.
It was then separated from the alkaline solution, and
pressed between linen cloths in the hydraulic press, when
a dark, thick, oily product separated out. This consists,
principally of chlorinated phenanthrene, holding in solu¬
tion a little dichloranthracene and anthracene, and was-
called “ chlorine oils.” I shall have occasion to refer to
these again presently.

After pressure, the dichloranthracene was obtained in
hard yellow crystalline cakes, but not sufficiently pure
for use. It was again broken, and allowed to soak in
coal-tar naphtha* for some time, and pressed; this
operation was again repeated. The adhering naphtha
was then recovered by blowing steam through the pro¬
duct.

The dichloranthracene thus purified was afterwards
placed on trays, and dried in a drying-room, and was
then ready for the next process. It contains about 84 per
cent, pure dichloranthracene.

The chlorine oils, and also the residue left after dis¬
tilling the naphtha used for washing the dichloranthracene
contains a certain amount of dichloranthracene and an¬
thracene. This separates out to a considerable extent if
the oils be cooled with ice, but the product is then so
thick that it cannot be filtered or pressed. t

Experiments were made on distilling them alone, but
owing to the copious evolution of hydrochloric acid, and
the frothing of the product, it was not found practicable
to treat tlnm in this manner; but by previously mixing
an excess of ground lime, and then distilling in iron
retorts, a considerable amount of solid product came over
containing about 25 per cent, anthracene, which only
required to be treated with petroleum spirit to fit it for
use. It is believed that the anthracene represents that
which had not been chlorinated, the dichloranthracene
being decomposed by distillation with lime.

The next process consists in converting the dichloran¬
thracene into the sulpho acids of anthraquinone by treat¬
ing it with ordinary concentrated sulphuric acid, and the
ease with which this is effected was originally one of the
advantages of the use of dichloranthracene over anthra¬
quinone.

For this process iron pots were used, as they were
found to answer nearly as well as glass, and, of course,
were more manageable. As hydrochloric and sulphurous-
acids are evolved in quantity in the operation, special
arrangements had to be made for conducting these away
and condensing them. The apparatus used consists of a
row of cast iron pots, capable of holding about 30 gallons.
These are cast with half-covers, in which there is an
opening f<~>r the escape of the acid vapours. Earthenware
pipes are luted into these openings and connected with a
large main, which leads to arrangements filled with coke
and supplied with water for the condensation of the
hydrochloric and sulphurous acids.

The pots are set in brickwork, and heated by a fire,
the upper part being also surrounded by brickwork to
prevent loss of heat-, the open part of the pot is covered
with a lid made of 20-lb. lead, which can be removed
when they are emptied. In the centre of this lid an
oblong hole, about 6 in. by 8 in., is cut, for the introduc¬
tion of the dichloranthracene. This is covered by a piece
of lead. There are also two small round holes in the lid ;
one for the introduction of a thermometer, the other as a
testing-hole, and fitted with a wooden plug.

These pots were charged with 350 lbs. of sulphuric
acid. This was then heated up to about 140° to 1(50%
and the dichloranthracene gradually added in small
sliovelfulls at a time, hydrochloric and sulphurous acid
being evolved after each addition, causing frothing,

* Petroleum spirit does not answer well for this purpose.

f Perhaps a filter press might be used for this purpose
successfully.

78

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 26, 1879.

-especially if the dichloranthracene be of a low quality or
clamp. The charge used was usually 7 Q lbs.

After all the dichloranthracene had been added, the
temperature was gradually raised until it reached about
2609 C., and then continued at this until a sample, taken
out by a glass rod and diluted with water, formed a
nearly clear solution, devoid of fluorescence. The fire
was then drawn, and the product left to cool down until
the next morning. It was then found to be still warm,
of a brown colour, and the consistency of treacle. The
lids being lifted off, it was ladled into copper pails, and
carried away to be neutralized with lime.

In this process the following reactions take place : —
First, disulphodichloranthracenic acid is formed by the
union of the sulphuric acid with the dichloranthracene ;
and, secondly, this product is oxidized by the excess of
sulphuric acid forming disulphanthraquinonic acid. These,
however, are not the only changes. Anthraquinone is
also formed, which becomes converted chiefly into mono-
sulphanthraquinonic acid ; some of it also sublimes, and
then condenses in the earthenware main, through which
the acid vapours pass.

When fuming sulphuric acid is used in place of the
ordinary, no anthraquinone or monosulphanthraquinonic
acids are formed.

Pure dichloranthracene, when treated with Nordhausen
sulphuric acid, gives the theoretical yield of disulphan-
thraquinonic acid.

( To be continued.)

j3arliamimt;irj) anti Haiti Inqmtutgs.

Alleged Death , by .Opium (?) Poisoning through
eating Lettuces.

On Friday, July 19, Mr. C. Aspinall, Liverpool borough
coroner, held an inquest on the body of John M’George,
sixty-nine years of age. The deceased, who was said to
have been a strong and healthy man, was seized with what
appeared to be a bilious attack on Monday morning
and died about two o’clock the same afternoon. On
Sunday evening, at tea, the deceased partook of lettuce,
of which the other members of the family had a share.
After being taken ill on Monday morning he had some1
breakfast, but was found apparently in a fit at nine
o’clock and was unable to speak afterwards. Dr. Fisher,
Walton Road, Kirkdale, was called to the deceased on
Monday morning, about half -past ten, and found him in
a comatose state. The pupils of the eyes were much
contracted, the face livid, the body cold, the mouth wide
open, the limbs relaxed and the breathing difficult, all of
which were symptoms of narcotic poisoning. The stomach
pump was used and remedies prescribed, but without the
desired result. Dr. Fisher said he had made a post¬
mortem examination of the body and found traces of
•opium in the stomach and enough of digested lettuce to
account for the symptoms of opium poisoning. He was
quite certain that the deceased had died from the effects
of opium. In reply to a juror, Dr. Fisher said that the
stomach would hold much more lettuce than would be
sufficient to account for the traces of opium found. Dr.
Anderson, who assisted the last witness in the post¬
mortem examination, said that in his opinion the deceased
died from apoplexy, induced by narcotic poisoning. He
thought it reasonable to attribute the presence of an
■opiate in the system to the lettuce deceased had eaten
overnight. A very small dose of narcotic would affect
an elderly person.

The jury returned a verdict that they were of opinion
deceased had died from the effects of poison, but there
was not sufficient evidence to show that it was attribut¬
able to eating lettuce. — Liverpool Daily Post.

Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Asso¬
ciation at the Twenty- Sixth Annual Meeting, held in

Atlanta, Ga., November, 1878. Also the Constitution,

By-Laws, and Roll of Members. Philadelphia: Sher¬
man and Co. 1879.

At an unusually late date the annual volume of the
Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association
has come to hand. A partial explanation of its retarda¬
tion is to be found in the postponement of the last annual
meeting until November, in consequence of the prevalence
of yellow fever in the Southern States last summer. The
volume is very bulky, as it contains just one thousand
pages, upwards of six hundred being occupied by the
Report on Pharmacy, by Mr. Louis Diehl, which corre¬
sponds with the Year-Book of the British volume. This
report is very copious. It is preceded by an Introduction
and is divided into sections of “Pharmacy” (with sub¬
sections of “Apparatus and Manipulations,” which is use¬
fully illustrated, and “Preparations”), “ Materia Medica,”
“Inorganic Chemistry” and “Organic Chemistry.” The re¬
porter has evidently spared no trouble to make his resume
of the history of pharmacy as complete as possible ; in fact
he has almost exceeded proper limits, for some of the
authorities, which are carefully placed at the end of each
quotation, date as far back as 1876.

The Reports of Standing Committees appointed by
the Association to deal with special subjects always
form an interesting feature of these volumes, and in the
present one there are reports on the Drug Market, Legis¬
lation and the Revision of the Pharmacopoeia. The
last-named lays down the general principles which the
Committee thinks should be followed in constructing the
Pharmacopoeia, and on a future occasion it is proposed to
refer to them in this Journal in greater detail; it also
contains a scheme for co-operative experiments on the
fluid extracts.

The latter part of the volume is taken up with the
papers read at the meeting, the discussions on them and
the general business. The papers are many of them of
much practical interest. As to the business, we regret
that some embarrassment exists in the ways and means,
due apparently to the commutation for life membership
having been fixed at too low a rate at a time when the
volume of proceedings, a copy of which is supplied free to
each member, was not nearly so large and expensive as
now. Several propositions were made, such as a kind of
sliding scale of life subscriptions and a per capita tax, but
after discussion the attempt to find a remedy was post¬
poned until the next meeting, which is to commence in
the city of Indianapolis, Ind., on the 9th of September.

©biiffitvjT.

Notice has been received of the death of the follow¬
ing : —

On the 4th of June, 1879, Mr. George Masson, Phar¬
maceutical Chemist, Grenada House, Torquay. Aged
30 years. Mr. Masson had been a Member of the Phar¬
maceutical Society since 1871, and on several occasions
contributed papers to this Journal.

On the 8th of July, 1879, Mr. William Glencross,
Chemist and Druggist, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.
Aged 47 years.

On the 14th of July, 1879, Mr. William Powell,
Chemist and Druggist, Bridgend, Glamorganshire. Aged
40 years.

July 26, 1*79.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

79

gisj^nsmjg Uftmmputa.

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

Replies.

[322]. “Anon” asks how I am able to make a “'stable
preparation” of tr. lyttse, acid. 3ulph. dil., tr. lavand. co.,
and vaseline or prepared lard, as given in the formula by
W. B., July 5? I enclose you two specimens of the
ointment prepared with vaseline and lard. I need hardly
say the mixture is mechanical, and the simplest way is to
rub the tinctures, acid, and vaseline or lard together on a
slab, using an ebonite spatula. The rubbing should be in
one direction, as in making “ Cold Cream.” I have
experienced no difficulty.

Northallerton. Hr. Brown.

[324], In further elucidation of the question asked by
“ Gulielmus,” and in reply to Mr. G. H. Wright, permit
me to say I think the pharmacist is justified in dissolving
such an alkaloid as m Drphine. It must be observed eight
grains are ordered with one drachm of chloroform and
three drachms of liniment of belladonna. Practically
morphine is insoluble in chloroform, and cold alcohol dis¬
solves only one in fifty. Now, Mr. Wright call’s attention
to the statement that the person who compounded the
prescription first sent “ twice the bulk.” I observed that,
but I had nothing to do with the fact. My object was to
show that eight grains of morphine can be dissolved in
three drachms of liniment of belladonna. I purposely
leave out the chloroform at present. Sulphate of morphine
is a very soluble salt, indeed the most soluble of the
morphia series. Its solubility in boiling water is one in
two. I must not enter into the molecular weight question,
as it might be considered foreign ; but I may observe that
in my opinion it is more scientific to use a soluble salt of
morphia than to apply morphine to the skin in the form
of a fine powder, trusting to the acids of the sweat— formic,
butyric, propionic, or sudoric — to combine with it so as to
form an absorbable compound. Of course I cannot tell
whether or not the prescriber knew the exact solubility
of morphine. He evidently intended a strong solution,
and one equal to eight grains of the alkaloid in four
drachms of menstruum. I have shown how this can be
accomplished without in any way interfering with the
activity of the liniment, but rather increasing its curative
properties.

If spirit, or water, or double the quantity of liniment of
belladonna was added, so as to accomplish solution, by the
first compounder, it is manifest the liniment would only
be half the strength intended. I may inform Mr. Wright
I did not overlook this point, but I had nothing to say
upon it except that it was obviously wrong, and I there¬
fore confined my remarks to “Gulielmus’s” query.

Hy. Brown.

Queries.

[331]. Would some of your readers kindly tell me
what should be the colour of the following when correctly
dispensed? —

R Liq. Hydrarg. Perchlor., B.P. . . . jij.

Liq. Arsenici et Hydrarg. Hydriod.,

(Donovan) . ttlclx.

Infusi Gentian . ^ij.

Aquas . . ad 5viij.

M.

[332].

R Acid. Tannic . gr. xx

Gelatine . . . . gr. iv.

Aq. q. s.,

Glycerin . itlxvi.

M. ft. pess.

Will some of your readers kindly inform me if it is at
all possible to make up the above as written; if not, how
it should be dispensed ?

It was written by a well-known London doctor, and
has been presented at one of the co-operative stores to be
made up. They refused to do it.

B. Sawyer.

and Entries.

[615]. DENTIFRICE WATER.—

R Radicis Calami . 5SS.

Radicis Pyrethri,

Resinse Guaiaci . aa 3vj.

Ligni Santalini Rubri . 3’h

Corticis Cinnamomi,

Caryophyllorum . aa [)iiss.

Eoliorum* Cochlearke Recentium . . Jiv.

Spiritus Rectificati . wxij.

Aquae Destillatse . t^vij.

Acidi Acetici Diluti . Jiij.

Sepone per dies octo, turn expressione cola. In colla-
tura solve —

Acidi Salicylici . [)i.

Turn filtra.

Popp's Anatherine Dentifrice.

(Hager’s ‘Manuale Pharmaceuticum.’)

R Caryophyllorum,

Ligni Santalini Rubri . aa 3iy.

Ligni Guaiaci,

Corticis Cinnamomi . f.a 7)ij.

Myrrhae . . 3V* Bj-

Olei Caryophyllorum,

Olei Cassiae Cinnamomi . . . . f.a gtt. xx.

Spiritus Rectificati . ^lij.

Aquas Rosarum . §xxvj.

H. W. Langbeck.

[616]. SILVER PLATING LIQUID. — The Che-
on iker Zeitung gives the following prescription, which I
myself have tried with success: —

Nitrate of Silver . 55 parts.

Solution of Ammonia ... 60 ,,

Hyposulphite of Soda,

Precipitated Chalk . . of each 100 „

Distilled Water . 1000 „

H. W. Langbeck.

[617]. CHERRY TOOTH PASTE.—

Cochineal in powder . £iij.

Cream of Tartar . ....... ^j.

Honey . 21bs.

Radix Ireos subtile pulverat. . . . §iv.

Mix in a stone mortar and allow to ferment in a warm
place. After fermentation has ceased, add —

Glycerine . ,^vj.

Tragacanth . ^ss.

Burnt Alum . 3iij.

Dried Carbonate of Soda ..... 31-
Precipitated chalk sufficient to make a suitable paste,,
which may be perfumed with —

01. Gaultherise . 7)j.

01. Caryophyllorum . >)iv.

01. Geranii . 3iss*

H. W. Langbeck.

W. R. Roberts.

* The leaves ought to be bruised in a stone mortar.

80

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[July 16 1879.

[618]. NICOTINE. — It is impossible to extract nico¬
tine from tobacco without injuring more or less its quality.
The tobacco should be either treated with dilute sul¬
phuric acid or distilled in a current of hydrogen.

H. W. Langbeck.

[619]. STAMPING- INK. — One part of nigrosine
{aniline black) dissolved in ten parts of rectified spirit,
and mixed with eight parts of distilled water and two
parts of glycerine (sp. gr. 1*260), gives a good black ink
to use with india-rubber stamp on paper

H. W. Langbeck.

(^otftesptulqtq.

The Confusion of Medicine with Pharmacy.

Sir, — “ The confusion of pharmacy with medicine which
has come to the medical practitioners and the pharmacies
of to-day is an inheritance from the apothecaries of last
century . Therefore gratitude is due to any in¬

dividuals or association that strive by any means to show
the desirability of effecting, as far as possible, a separa¬
tion of the duties of the dispenser from those of the pre-
scriber.”

The above quotation from your temperate and sensible
“ leader” in the Journal, July 12, cannot fail to arrest the
attention of every one who sincerely desires to see the long
vexed question set at rest, viz., shall chemists continue to
be perpetually dragged into County Courts for an infringe¬
ment of the Apothecaries Act of 1815 ?

The genus “ homo,” species “ John Bull,” is notoriously
a physic-loving mammal. He has always preferred, and
ever will prefer, to call at a “ doctor’s shop,” no matter to
him whether that establishment is under the jurisdiction
of a L.A.S. of Blackfriars, or a M.P.S. of Bloomsbury
Square, London, for help, advice and mediciue in every
little malaise that may befall him. No one can blame the
man, and no sober minded person can find fault with the
chemist who listens to a tale of suffeiing, proposes this or
that dose, then makes it up and receives the money for
his goods. If this is prescribing and violating the Apothe¬
caries Act of 1815, the sooner such a condemnatory power
is expunged from the statute book the better, for it is
violated every hour of the year. A more unjust clause
affecting the lower millions of our population could not
•exist.

As a veteran apothecary let me claim your gratitude if
I point out briefly a ready method by which this frequent
.collision between the authorities at Blackfriars and the
respectable chemists can be fully prevented in future.

The great increase in non -dispensing general practitioners
throughout England, as shown by the Rochdale report of
May 3, has tended to enable the lower classes to recognize
only a “ doctor’s shop,” by the presence of show bottles and
nostrums displayed in the windows of our druggists, which
were formerly the “sign posts” to the apothecary who
dwelt within. Let the chemists seek to be legally permitted
to prescribe behind the counter under the following re¬
strictions — the xvii. and xviii. clauses of the Apothecaries
Act will certainly aid them in the attempt.

After the Minor examination is over let the apprentice
to the chemist devote two years of study, 1st to elementary
anatomy and physiolog'y with dissections; 2nd, to attend¬
ance on the out-patient practice of a recognized hospital,
infirmary or dispensary throughout the country.

When such course is completed, let him present himself
for the ‘‘assistant’s licence” at the Apothecaries’ Hall,
where in addition to the present examination, his know¬
ledge in visceral anatomy and the elementary principles of
medicine shall be tested.

A sho.t Bill in 1874 amended the Apothecaries Act (37
and 38 Viet. c. 34) and removed the apothecaries’ appren¬
ticeship. Let the pharmacist seek for a brief Act to acquire
this privilege at the hands of the Executive at Blackfriars
and all would be finally and amicably arranged.

The dental fee for special lectures and hospital practice
required for L.D.S. is £31 10.«. The chemist’s outlay would
not exceed £21.

The present law restricting the dispenser to Wuik ouly in
the premises would still remain untouched.

With these brief suggestions for the consideration of the
large body of pharmacists and chemists in England, I would
conclude by adding a quotation from clause xviii. of the
Act of 1815 : —

“Five apothecaries in any county or counties respectively
throughout England and Wales, except within the said City
of London, the liberties or suburbs thereof, or within 30
miles of the same .... shall have full power and
authority and are hereby authorized and empowered to
examine all assistants to apothecaries throughout the county
or counties, ia regard of which such apothecaries shall have

been so appointed as aforesaid . The meetings

shall take place monthly in some one of the county towns.”

The whole wording of this clause xviii. sets forth the
purpose of the Act to be one for the benefit of the publie
and of the dispenser also. An Apothecary.

Sir, — Tn my humble opinion the time is fast approaching
w hen pharmacists as a body should endeavour all in their
power to wrest the dispensing of medicine entirely from
medical practitioners, but it must be accomplished so that
no loss shall be sustained by either side. In cases where
doctors receive large fees for their advice, they are satisfied
and do not require also the profit accruing from the sale of
the medicine. In districts where they could only get small
fees they would prefer not to give a prescription at all, but
to vend their medicine and advice for one charge, as they
do at present. I would suggest the following arrangement
as regards the latter class of prescribing, viz., that the
medical man should write his prescription and place a
certain mark on it which would signify that when it had
been dispensed it was to be returned to the writer of it or
else destroyed, that in no case, unless otherwise specified,
should the prescription be given back to the patient. By
this means I do not think anyone would be at a disadvan¬
tage. The chemist would necessarily have to dispense these
prescriptions at a very moderate rate, but he would gain by
reason of the quantity. C. H. F.

Gas Supply.

Sir, — 1 think we are all much indebted to Professor Red¬
wood for taking up the very difficult subject of gas supply,
inasmuch as we have found our gas account to increase a
good deal without sufficient cause to show, and on a recent
occasion I took the liberty of questioning the right of this
increase. The result was that we disconnected our meter
and sent it down to Westminster to be examined, the cost of
which was only one shilling, and the meter was condemned
for registering too fast.

I gather from this that it is quite within the province of
any consumer to have his meter thus examined and tested,
when, as in my case, the company would no doubt refund the
difference and supply a new one.

I think, howeyer, that there should he some more secure
method, presenting less difficulty to the consumer, for cor¬
rectly estimating the quantity of gas burnt, and thus in a
simple manner to check the reading of the company’s in¬
spector at each quarterly visit. A. W. Postans.

R. Roberts. — 1 add 2 are correctly named. (3) Aspleidum
tricliomanes. (4) Anthyllis Vulneraria. (5) Hypericum
pulchrum. (6) Melicu nutans.

T. C. — (1) Lithospermum arvense. (2) Echium vulgare,
white-flowered variety. (3) Arctium ( majus ?), not ad¬
vanced enough to say what species. (4) Valeriana officinalis,
white -flowered variety.

W. Maunder. — We should think not, as long as no claim
is made to the title of dentist.

A. Mitchell. — Hottonia palustris and Melampyrum
pratense.

G. A. Thompson. — (1) Sanicula europcea. (2) Linum
catharticum. (3) Vida hirsuta.

“ Gulielmas.” — (1) Galium palustre. (2) Galium verinn.
(3) Alcliemilla vulgaris. (4) Aira composita. (5)
Lolium peren ie. (6) Hordeum pratense. (7) Plileiim
pratense.

W. Green. — (1) We know of no periodical in which the
information required will be found to a greater extent than
this Journal. (2) Blyth’s ‘Manual of Practical Chemistry.,

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Hart, Pollard, Dallas, Story, Will, Price, 1 ulus.
Nihil, Yolo semper juvare.

August 2, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

81

MYRRH :

ITS COMPOSITION AND IMPURITIES.*

BY R. H. PARKER.

The first market at which myrrh appears is
Berbera — a small seaport town in Eastern Africa,
nearly opposite Aden — where it is brought by the
natives from the district about Hurrar and Somali¬
land. Here it is purchased by Aden agents (English
and Indian goods being given in exchange) and
shipped to Bombay. When sorted at the latter port, it
is found to consist of all equalities of myrrh, together
with opaque bdellium, foreign resins, such as juniper,
and various other impurities (bark, stone, etc.).f
The best selections are sent to Europe, the commoner
to China, where it is probably used as incense.^
Bales of bdellium also appear at Berbera, consisting

the opaque and perfumed kinds (bissa bol).

Since myrrh is collected by uncontrolled natives,
who probably know very little and care less about
the quality of the gums taken to Berbera, it is not
surprising that spurious gum resins and foreign sub¬
stances find their way into English markets.

The sorting at Bombay is by no means carefully
conducted and leaves a great deal to be picked out
by London wholesale houses and dealers. Here it
is of course most efficiently done and the best parcels
of “Picked Turkey Myrrh ” contain but a very
small proportion of impurity.

Myrrh is first sifted in order to remove the small
fragments and is then sorted by hand ; still, however,
pieces ^ of spurious gums will occasionally find their
way into the best parcels. I will, therefore, first
describe myrrh and afterwards individually the
various substances which occur in bales of the drug
us imported, viz. : —

1 . Opaque bdellium.

2. African bdellium.

3. Bissa bol (perfumed bdellium).

4. Indian bdellium.

5. Perfumed amyriclaceous (I) gum resin.

■6. Odourless amyridaceous (?) gum resin.

7. Opaque tasteless gum.

8. Bitter gum.

9. Transparent gum.

The relative preponderance of these varies con¬
siderably. Mr. E. M. Holmes found, in 1876, opaque
bdellium in largest quantity, next, Indian bdellium,
and third, bissa bol. At the present time in one
bale of unpicked myrrh I found African bdellium
chiefly, next, opaque bdellium. Of the “ spurious
gums ” picked out from another bale, opaque bdel¬
lium constituted about one-third, the remainder
being opaque tasteless gum, transparent gums and
odourless amyridaceous (?) gum resin. Very little
bissa bol or Indian bdellium occurred in any of the
bales I examined.

The substances thus rejected are commercially

valueless.

Myrrh and its impurities are readily distinguished
by observing —

(1) The characters of the fracture,

. (2) The odour, and

(3) The taste.

African Myrrh “ Heera Bol,” the “ Turkey Myrrh”
of commerce.

* Read before the School of Pharmacy Students’ Asso¬
ciation, June 26, 1879.

+ Yaughan, Pharm. Journ. [1], vol. xii., p. 226.

X Dyinock, Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. vi., p. 661.

Third Series, No. 475.

Botanical source, Balsamodendron Myrrha .* This
may be divided into “ soft or oily myrrh ” and “ dry
or gummy myrrh.”

“ Soft myrrh ” occurs in irregularly roundish
masses, varying in size from small grains to pieces as
large as a hen’s egg and occasionally much larger ; it
has a dull waxy fracture, is readily impressed by the
nail, and gives at the same time an oily exudation.
The fracture frequently exhibits whitish markings,
which in the more globular pieces appear in narrow
curved streaks arranged concentrically to the side
which was attached to the tree. They are often broad
but do not then exhibit the straight interstices or
cracks filled with transparent resin characteristic of
bissa bol. The fragrant odour of myrrh is too well
known to need description and differs entirely from
that of any of the impurities. The taste resembles the
odour, it is aromatic and slightly bitter. The colour
varies from deep reddish brown to light yellowish
brown, some pieces are almost colourless. The
paler kinds are to be preferred. Minute transparent
resinous tears sometimes appear on the usually
powdery surface, due to the exudation of oil which
has resinified. Soft myrrh cannot be reduced to a
fine powder ; indeed if beaten in a mortar for some
time it gives a greasy paste.

“Dry myrrh” occurs in masses having a very irre¬
gular surface, it is rarely rounded or globular. The
fracture is conchoidal, shiny, resists the nail and
gives no oily exudation. In odour and taste it
agrees precisely with “soft myrrh,” but the white
markings usually present in the latter are absent.
It contains a large percentage of gum (75 per cent.).
From the description in ‘ Pharmacograpliia,’ p.
129, this would appear to be identical with Arabian
myrrh, but examination of the specimen in the
Hanbury collection proves the latter to differ ; it is
in small grains or tears, dark coloured, with an
almost glassy surface, the larger pieces being formed
by agglomeration of the smaller ones. It also is
wanting in odour and the powdery exterior of African
myrrh.

The “meetiga” of the Bombay market, called Ara¬
bian myrrh by Dymock,f differs entirely from either
“ dry myrrh ” or Hanbury’s “ Arabian myrrh.” %
j > The “soft” and “dry” myrrhs, as above described,
are very distinct and would almost suggest their
being produced by different varieties of Balsamoden¬
dron myrrha-, but since (1) the chemical characters
of both resins and gums agree (as shown subse¬
quently), (2) the odour and taste are identical, and
(3) the relative percentage of gum is by no means
constant, it seems more probable that they are pro¬
ducts of the same variety, but from plants either of
different ages, or existing under dissimilar climatic
conditions.

It is possible that the same tree may, at different
seasons of the year, give exudations as unlike as
“ soft ” and “ dry ” myrrh.

That “soft myrrh ” is not converted into “ dry
myrrh ” by long exposure to air is proved as follows: —

(1) The “ drying ” consists in oxidation of the oil,
which would give increased weight § and therefore a
relative increment of resinous percentage. Now,

* Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. viii., p. 893.
f Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. vi., p. 661.

X See * Museum Catalogue,’ 139c and 139/.

§ 3 325 grams of soft myrrh in thin shavings exposed to
the air for three weeks weighed 3'506 ; an increase equal to
5'4 per cent.

82

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND ’PLANS ACTIONS.

[August 2, IS791.

“ dry myrrh ” has a very much higher gum per¬
centage ( vide subsequent table). The loss of water,
if such take place, must be so small that the differ¬
ence would in no way be explained by it.

(2). In a non-porous body like myrrh, oxidation
would be confined to the surface. I have never
found a piece of “dry m}7rrli” with a “soft” interior;
on the other hand, a very small tear of “soft, myrrh,”
not more than one-eiglith of an inch in thickness,
which must have been exposed to the atmosphere
ever since its exudation, proved on fracture to be
very soft and oily close beneath the surface.

“ Spurious Gums ” fou?id in Myrrh as imported.

1. Opaque Bdellium ( Balsamodendron Playfairiil) .
— Identical with the bdellium opaque, of Guibourt*
Dy mock’s specimen, however, of opaque bdellium,
is a very brittle opaque gum, which agrees chemically
with the “gum hotai” of Vaughan, but is rather
darker coloured, Vaughan’s specimen being white.
The latter is identified in the Hanbury collection as
the gum resin of B. Playfairii.

Opaque bdellium may be at once recognized by its
opaque, yellow- ochre coloured, conch oictal fracture ;
if resists the nail. It is very hard and difficult to
fracture (difference from “gum hotai ”), almost odour¬
less, and its taste bitter without acidity. Occurs fre¬
quently in large elliptical tears with a coarsely
granular surface.

2. African Bdellium (Balsamodendron Africanum )
is met with in large tears like opaque bdellium, but
the granulation is less coarse and the surface is
traversed by deep cracks. It is very hard ; the con-
choidal fracture appears slightly opaque, of a dull
bluish stony hue, with a characteristic resinous
margin ; it is reddish and translucent in thin layers,
almost odourless, and its taste feebly bitter.

3. Bissa bol (Balsamodendron Kafal ?), is identical
with the perfumed bdellium or “habifk hadee”
mentioned by Dymock; the “hebbakhade” of the
Somalis, and the Myrrha Indica , of Martiny. Bales
of “ bis -a bol ” are shipped from Berbera to Bombay;
probably a large proportion of it goes to Cliina,t
where it is used as incense and, according to Dymock,
is mixed with the food of milch cows and buffaloes
for the purpose of increasing the quantity and im¬
proving the quality of the milk.

“ Bissa bol ” resembles myrrh much more closely
than either of the bdelliums previously described. In
external appearance it is very similar, the fracture is
waxy, yields to the nail, giving an oily exudation
like “ soft myrrh ;” yellowish white markings also
appear, which, however, differ essentially from those
of myrrh in being traversed by angular interstices
filled with transparent reddish brown resin (or gum
resin). It may be readily distinguished by its
powerful aromatic odour, totally unlike myrrh,
difficult to describe (perhaps because nothing re¬
sembles it), but easily recognized after one intro¬
duction to the olfactory nerve. It has been likened
by Mr. Holmes to the taste of the spring mushroom
(Agaricus gambosus), by Dymock to the odour of
“lemon lollipop;” when diffused by evaporating the
tincture on blotting paper, it is somewhat apple-like.
The taste is aromatic and slightly bitter.

4. Indian Bdellium ( Balsamodendron Muhul and
B. pubescens), or “ Googul,” collected in Deccan.

* ‘ Histoire des Drogues/ tome iii., 515.

f A specimen of bissa bol appears in Hanbury ’s collection
of Chinese drugs.

Occurs in large irregular masses of a dark reddish
brown colour. The fracture resists the nail and is
covered with characteristic minute shiny points of
resin, which also appear on the outer surface. The
odour is feeble and cedar like ; it appears to be de¬
veloped on keeping. The taste is slightly acrid and
devoid of bitterness.

5. Perf umed Amyridaceous (?) Gum Resin. — Tins'
substance does not appear to have been previously
described,* but I have found a few pieces of it in
parcels of myrrh obtained from different sources. In
external characters it somewhat resembles olibanum
or tacamahac, the colour varies fiorn light yellowish
brown to light yellow, more translucent than myrrh,
some pieces being transparent in mass. It has a
waxy fracture, and from the presence of minute
cavities filled with oleo-resin of treacly consistence,
numerous silky strings join the fractured portions
as they are pulled asunder. It is cheesy to the nail,
softens in the hand and is very sticky. The odour
is powerful, resembling some samples of elemi, but
is more pleasantly aromatic. The taste is slightly
aromatic without bitterness or acridity. When
crushed in a mortar it gives a very adhesive paste.
It is not entirely soluble in ether, alcohol, turpentine
or chloroform.

-6. Odourless Amyridaceous (?) Gum Resin. — This I
have found in considerable quantity ; it has a bright
yellow powdery exterior similar to the last mentioned
gum resin, is very brittle, resinous and mostly trans¬
parent. It lacks, however, the cheesy character, the
stringy fracture, and is odourless and almost tasteless.

7. Opaque Tasteless Gum occurs in irregular tears.
It is very hard, fracture dull, somewhat opaque,
nearly colourless, odourless and devoid oi taste.

8. Bitter Gum. — This is more transparent than the
last; the colour varies from reddish brown to almost
colourless ; its very bitter and acrid taste recalls
ammoniacum.

9. Transparent Gum. — Very variable in appearance,
but seems closely to resemble the inferior kinds of
acacia gum in colour, taste and glassy fracture. Some
pieces of white acacia gum frequently occur.

Composition of Myrrh.

The proximate constituents are —

(1) . Resin (two according to Brandes).

(2) . Two gums (one precipitable by both lead solu¬
tions, the other thrown out by subacetate only).

(3) . Essential oil.

The very variable relative proportion in which
these occur is best seen by reference to different
authors, f

* The nearest approach to this substance is the Tacama-
que jaune liuileuse, of Guibourt, (‘ Drogues Simples,’
1870, tome iii., 483), the Luban Meyeti of the ‘Pharma-
cographia,’ p. 135; but this author says it contains no
gum. Now, 42 per cent, of perfumed amyridaceous gum
resin is insoluble in cold or hot S.V.R., and dissolves to a
large extent in water; the latter solution, however, is
scarcely precipitated by acetate or subacetate of lead,
f Planclion, ‘ Drogues Simples/ tome ii., 156.

Brandes.

Bracannot.

Ruick-

holdt.

Huile essentielle ....

2*60

2*5

2*18

t, . . C molle 22*24 7

Resme . .jg|che j.ggJ

27*80

23*

44*76

n C soluble 54*38 7

G°mme | insoluble9'32 $

63*70

{“}»*

40*81

Sels .

1*36

—

3*65

Impuretes .

1*60

—

3*86

Eau .

—

—

1*47

August *2, 1679.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

S3

Gum. — I have estimated the percentage of gum in
different samples of myrrh, the results I have tabu¬
lated : —

5. Anoy-

. 2. 3. 4. ridaceous

*, “Soft “Diy Bissa psrfumed

wyrm* Myrrh.” Myrrh.” bol. gum

resin.

Filter and gum . . G73 6 95 5 ’45 5'54 9'15 9 11 6 13 6 01 G'05 6-03
Filter . 2 '09 2 33 1*50 1*55 1‘65 1 60 1-80 1'72 1-83 1*77

4 64 4-62 3 95 3 99 7*50 7 ‘51 4'33 4’29 4*23 4'26
Gum, mean per cent 46-3 89 7 75*0 43* 1 42*4

Ten grams of the gum resin were powdered, ex¬
hausted with cold rectified spirit, the insoluble gum
collected on a weighed filter and dried in a hot air
chamber till the weight became constant.

In each case the figures were checked by dupli¬
cated experiments.

1. Myrrli. — A representative sample of a large
parcel of myrrh, powdered and well mixed.

2. “ Soft Myrrh.” — Very oily pieces selected, the
outer portions rejected; was almost pasty when
powdered.

3. “ Dry Myrrh.” — Characteristic specimen with
bright glossy hard fracture, easily reduced to a light
yellow powder.

4. “Bissa Bol” obtained from a parcel of myrrh,
outer portion not removed, powder very yellow and
oily.

5. Perfumed Amy ridaceous Gum Resin. — Specimen
picked from parcel of myrrh, formed a very sticky
paste when crushed.

Equal weights of the dried gums from “ soft ” and
“ dry ” myrrh were separately dissolved in equal
volumes of water; the filtered solutions were pre¬
cipitated by neutral acetate of lead, again filtered
and solution of snbacetate of lead added ; the amount
of precipitates in the parallel experiments were
approximately identical.

Resin. — Brandes distinguishes two resins, (1) a soft
resin, odorous, and (2) a hard resin (myrrhic acid),
inodorous, both soluble in rectified spirit and in¬
soluble in ether.

Unverdorben regards the soft odorous resin as
a mixture of the hard resin with volatile oil.

Volatile Oil , sp. gr. *988, b.p. 266° C. — Fluckiger
and Hanbury in working on 25 lb. of myrrh obtained
only | per cent. (‘ Pharmacographia,’ p. 1 28) ; Bley
and Diesel produced 3*4 per cent.

* If the liquid which exudes on pressing “ soft
myrrh ” with the nail be volatile oil, a much larger
proportion than 3 per cent, must be present.

The following experiments were tried with the
object of obtaining a greater percentage: —

(1) . A sample of soft myrrh was made into a thin
paste with water and distilled in a current of hy¬
drogen. The result was similar to that obtained by
distillation with water in atmospheric air, viz., a
very small quantity of nearly colourless oil, lighter
than water, together with white flocks of a substance
of butyraceous consistence, also lighter than water,
but becoming heavier than it by prolonged contact.

(2) . Some soft myrrh was macerated in a small
quantity of chloroform and the filtered solution dis¬
tilled ; the chloroform came over rapidly and the
residue soon acquired an empyreumatic odour.

(3) . Soft myrrh was treated with a small quantity
of benzole and the filtrate allowed to evaporate spon¬
taneously. The residue, however, soon became very

viscid, proving that the solvent did not separate the
oil from the resin.

(4). About twelve ounces of “ soft myrrh ” were
selected, reduced in a mortar to a pasty consistence,
and subjected to powerful hydraulic pressure ; a
reddish yellow liquid, of thin treacly consistence,
heavier than water was expressed ; it is probably
volatile oil holding resin in solution, if so, the quan¬
tity obtained (about an ounce and three-quarters by
weight) would indicate at least 10 per cent, of oil in
the sample. I obtained a similar liquid some twelve
months since in making an emulsion of myrrh: —
One ounce of myrrh was powdered (the odour indi¬
cated contamination with bissa b61) and rubbed
with 3ij of water, the gum at once assumed a doughy
consistence, from which 3iij of liquid was readily
expressed by the pestle. This mixture (of oil and
resin) was reddish brown, heavier than water and
very slowly distillable therewith ; the distilled oil
was lighter than water, but on prolonged contact
became a heavier solid. Removed from the water
and allowed to dry it formed a transparent brittle
resin.

I have several times endeavoured to repeat this
experiment with myrrh free from bissa bol, but could
in no case get any exudation.

The expressed liquid is possibly that mentioned
by Plaff* as being “ heavier than water and
not distillable therewith.” Brandes describes a
volatile oil also heavier than water and distillable
therewith, but not with alcohol.

The specimen of oil of myrrh in the Society’s
museum, prepared at Plough Court (1873), is a light
yellow mobile liquid.

Formic acid is said to be produced during dis¬
tillation.

From the above it appears probable that a large
quantity of volatile oil exists in myrrh, only a small
proportion of which has, as yet, been isolated, on
account of its high boiling point (266° C.) and the
readiness with which it is decomposed or resinified
by contact with air and moisture at a high tem¬
perature.

Probably distillation in vacuo per se, or distillation
under reduced pressure in an atmosphere from which
oxygen would be excluded might prove the correct¬
ness of this assumption. The colouring matter of
myrrh is probably due to the presence of a small
proportion of a deep reddish brown resin, which is
almost absent from the paler specimens.

The action of nitric acid at once distinguishes
true myrrh from any of the “ spurious gums ” that
have been mentioned. It is best observed by satu¬
rating white filter paper with the freshly prepared
tincture (1 of gum resin and 6 of sp. rectif.), and
when the alcohol is almost entirely dissipated, draw¬
ing across the paper a glass rod previously dipped in
nitric acid (sp. gr. 1*42). True myrrh gives an imme¬
diate deep yellowish-brown colour, rapidly becoming
almost black. The margin soon acquires a red tint,
passing through bright crimson to dull purple,
which is permanent.

The presence of alcohol of course modifies the
action of the acid ; the latter should be applied
when the alcohol has evaporated, and yet avoiding
undue exposure of the dried resin to air, i.e., when
the paper begins to recover its stiffness.

The resins from bissa b61 and African bdellium

* ‘ Grnelin/ xiv., 413.

84

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 2, 187?.

are much less powerfully acted upon; those from the
remaining impurities give scarcely any colour at all.

A few drops of the tincture evaporated on glass
also give distinctive features. The residues from
perfumed amyridaceous gum resin, opaque and
African bdelliums, are opaque; those from myrrh
and bissa bol are transparent.

I cannot conclude without expressing my obli¬
gation to Mr. E. M. Holmes for much of the in¬
formation given in this paper and a great deal of
valuable assistance with reference to the history of
authentic specimens of the gum resins in the So¬
ciety’s museum.

PHARMACEUTICAL EXTRACTS.*

CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS UPON THEIR PRE¬
PARATION, CLASSIFICATION, GENERAL CHA¬
RACTERS, USES, ETC.

BY E. SCHMITT,

Professor of Medicine and Pharmacy at Lille,

The extracts are very important preparations, never¬
theless but little is generally known concerning their
raison d'etre, their different modifications, the very
diverse modes of their preparation, and their general or
specific characters. I shall attempt in this paper to
make a study of them under all these aspects, and in
order to do so logically I shall proceed as follows : first,
define an extract, then describe the origin and advantages
of extracts, give the general rules of preparation, indicate
the classification of the extracts and finish by giving
theh general characters.

I. An extract is the product of the evaporation of a
natural or artificial juice to the consistence known as
“ the consistence of an extract,” i.e., a paste that is soft,
but nevertheless sufficiently firm not to run like a liquid
or adhere to the well dried fingers. This primitive defi¬
nition can in the present day no longer be applied ; the
consistence of the extract is more variable ; thus, the
Codex indicates three different types, when it says,
“ The extract is the product of the evaporation to a soft,
firm or dry consistence, of a solution obtained by treating
a vegetable substance with a vaporizable menstruum,
such as water, alcohol or ether.”

Some operators define the extract in a manner more
simple still : to them it is the product of the evaporation
of aqueous, alcoholic, ethereal or acetic liquids to a pasty
consistence. Whatever may be the definition adopted,
the extract may be characterized by two essential con¬
ditions : the concentration of a medicinal liquid (a natural
or artificial juice) and a special consistence to which I
shall refer further on.

All the juices, and the juices of indigenous plants
especially, contain within themselves germs of fermenta¬
tion and destruction ; they are besides exposed to a second
alteration, due to external agents of decomposition. In
concentrating the juices, their volume is diminished, the
causes of internal decomposition are modified or destroyed
and less access is permitted to external agents of fer¬
mentation ; the causes of disorganization of the juice are
thus diminished. Preservation is the primary object of
the preparation of an extract ; but it is not the only one,
for the syrups, wines and tinctures answer to the same
want. In concentrating the juice the pharmacist also,
by successive operations, effects the removal from the
liquid of useless and inactive matters, the albumenoid,
pectic and amylaceous principles, for example. Lastly,
the extract offers to the medical man a preparation that
is active in a small volume, capable of reproducing im¬
mediately in a mixture or a syrup, the original juice
with all its active elements and also lending itself with a

* Repertoire de Pharmacie, vol, vii., p. 249,

marvellous facility to other pharmaceutical preparations,
such as pills, pastes, pomades, etc.

To recapitulate, the extracts supply in a small volume
the medicinal principles of plants and animals, and they
include all the soluble elements of the plant or animal to
the exclusion of inert principles. The active principles
are moreover modified in such a manner that they can be
better borne, and in higher doses, as has been demonstrated
with the squill and digitalis. Further the extract is a
good active preparation accommodating itself to all phar¬
maceutical forms. One single shadow there is to this
picture: the preparation of an extract is a delicate
operation and its preservation for any length of time is
difficult.

II. We are thus led to study in a general way the pre¬
paration of extracts. Some among them, — the commer¬
cial extracts, aloes, catechu, kino, etc., — are supplied by
the druggists, all the others ought to be prepared in the
laboratory of the pharmacist.

When operating with a natural juice it may be concen¬
trated immediately or after clarification : we have thus
two kinds of juice extracts, the extract from defecated
juices and the feculent or non-defecated extracts, called
also Storck’s extracts. Sometimes there is incorporated
with the fresh juice as much powder of the plant as there
is real dry extract in the juice and evaporation is carried
on to dryness at from 40° to 50° C., extracts being thus ob¬
tained under the form of grumous dark green powders. In
this way are prepared the narcotic extracts of the Belgian
Pharmacopoeia (aconite, belladonna, conium, lactuca, etc.).
These extracts are very active, but are difficult to preserve,
so that the pharmacist ought to renew them every year.
The name of “rob” is given to the product of the evapora¬
tion of the juice of fruits ; for instance the robs of buck¬
thorn, juniper and elder.

The natural juices are rather rare: the questions of
locality, collection and time interfering with their pre
paration. In order to obviate this inconvenience the
pharmacist prepares artificial juices by treating the dry
products with menstrua capable of dissolving their active
principles. When the menstruum is vapourizable the
artificial juice can be concentrated, and we have then a
new series of extracts, the aqueous, alcoholic and ethereal.
To these may be added the acetic extracts, of which at
present there are but two representatives, — the acetic
extract of colchicum and Lalouette’s acetic extract of
opium, — notwithstanding the efforts of Ferrari to extol
the extracts prepared with vinegar. Finally there are
the mixed extracts, in the preparation of which ether and
alcohol and water and alcohol have been employed as
menstrua successsively, as is done with the cubebine of
Lab^lonye and the ergotine of Bon jean.

In all the extracts it is necessary to commence with the
study of the juice, then its concentration. Let us com¬
mence with the aqueous extracts, which ought always to
be supplied when the medical man does not specially in¬
dicate the alcoholic or ethereal extract.

Whatever may be the menstruum the substance ought
always to be well divided, either by cutting or by coarse
pulverization ; it is necessary to eliminate carefully the
fine powder which would interfere further on with the
decantations and filtrations. Thus prepared, the primary
substance is exhausted by maceration or digestion, infusion
or displacement with distilled water, when that is ordered,
or at any rate with water very poor in carbonate of lime.
Maceration is effected between 10° and 20° C., for opium
and gentian, for example 5 digestion between 35° and
40° C., for cinchona. Infusion is made with water at
70° C., for digitalis, the extiacto-aromatic plants, and
valerian root ; but these extracts ought to be replaced by
alcoholic extracts, wrhich are very superior to them. Dis¬
placement is recommended for extract of liquorice, and
with me it has succeeded very well for extracts of guaia-
cum and couch-grass. Decoction I reject, because it
determines the coagulation of albumenoid matters in the
substance itself, and prevents the solution of some prin-

August 2, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

85

ciples which, like astringent principles, form with vegetable
albumen and starch insoluble compounds.

The product of these operations is thrown upon a cloth
or hair sieve, and the liquid thus separated is reduced to
one-third by evaporation ; the evaporation can be con¬
ducted over the bare fire, ebullition being avoided and the
liquid stirred continually. When reduced to one-tliird
the liquid is removed to another vessel and placed in a
cellar or some other cool place where it is left to stand two
or three days, after which it is decanted or filtered if neces¬
sary. The juice is then ready for further concentration.

The alcoholic and ethereal extracts are prepared by
maceration or displacement with 60° to 90° alcohol, ether,
or ether containing alcohol. The clear tincture is intro¬
duced into a distillatory apparatus to collect the greater
part of the alcohol or ether, and concentration is effected
generally as with the aqueous extracts. The evaporation
of all these liquids is carried on in a water-bath; the
temperature ought not to exceed 80° C. for alcoholic
extracts and 50° C. for ethereal extracts. It is advisable
to operate in flat vessels having a large surface but of
small capacity; to add the liquid in portions and in pro¬
portion as evaporation goes on, and to agitate constantly
to favour the disengagement of vapour and to prevent
the adherence of the extract to the bottom of the vessel.
The action of heat is continued until the attainment of
the proper consistence, which it is proposed to define more
closely than in the Codex.

Formerly, only the “consistence of an extract” was
known : the Codex only specified that the paste should
be soft, firm, or dry. The following scale of consistence
for extracts is now proposed : —

(1) “ Soft or semi-fluid extract,” the mellcigo of the Ger¬
mans, of the consistence of fresh honey.

Examples : The ethereal extracts of male fern, mezereon,
semen contra and cantharides ; the alcoholic extract of
thapsia and the “ robs.”

(2) “Firm extract,” extmctum spissum, of the true con¬
sistence of an extract, not capable of running, like the
preceding, when cooled, but allowing threads to be drawn
from it by the spatula. Examples : the extracts of cin¬
chona, valerian and gentian.

(3) “ Pilular extract,” extractum spissius, much firmer
than the preceding, no longer yielding threads and capable
of being used in the manufacture of pills without the
incorporation of powder.

(4) “ Dry extract,” extractum siccum, capable of being
pulverized. Examples : the extracts of rhatany, monesia
and cinchona (Lagaraye’s “sel essentiel”). To these may
be added the resinous extracts or resins (jalap and scam-
mony), which are in fact alcoholic or mixed extracts, and
should not be placed in the saine category as Burgundy
pitch, tar and the gum resins.

To bring the extract to the dry consistence it is evapo¬
rated to the point when the mass becomes friable upon
cooling ; it adheres no longer then to sized paper, and it
may be spread while hot with the spatula upon sheets of
paper having the edges turned up. The drying is finished
in a stove at between 40° and 50° C. The product is
then coarsely powdered and introduced into previously
heated glass flasks, the mouths of which are closed with
good corks.

The soft, firm and pilular extracts are also placed in
flasks, or tall porcelain pots having narrow openings.

All extracts should be kept in a dry and cool place.

These general rules having been laid down some modi¬
fications of the modus operandi will be described.

Extract of opium is re-dissolved in water and again
filtered. This fresh aqueous solution has for its object the
elimination of fatty or aqueous matters, wax or sub¬
stances analogous to caoutchouc, which have been taken
up in the first treatment, partly on account of their
abundance and partly through the presence of other
principles, such as sugar, gum and extractive matter, which
favour their solution.

The operator often desires to retain these resinous or

resinified matters in the extract, but at the end of the
operation they separate from the extractive (the total of
the parts soluble in water) and the result is an extract of
bad consistence and without homogeneity ; the defect is
corrected by incorporating in the mass, at the last
moment, a little alcohol, as recommended in the Codex
for extract of guaiacum, and in the Belgian Pharma¬
copoeia for the dry extract of cinchona.

Dry extracts less alterable and more easy to preserve
may be obtained by incorporating in the mass, while still
hot, vegetable powders or dextrin and finishing the drying
in a stove at between 40° and 50° C. Extracts containing
dextrin are prepared principally in Germany from the
narcotic juices and the quantity of excipient added equals
in weight the amount of real extract. It is only necessary
then in making up prescriptions to use of these extracts
double the quantity prescribed by the physician.

A few words more upon mixed extracts requiring the
employment successively of several menstrua. The
cubebine of Labdlonye and the ergotine of Wiggers are
prepared by treating with alcohol the ethereal extracts of
cubebs and ergot ; the extracts are thus freed from waxy
and fatty matters which are inert or even dangerous.
Bonjean’s ergotine is obtained by treating the aqueous
solution of ergot with 90° alcohol, which precipitates
gummy and albuminous matters and the salts insoluble in
alcohol ; the preparation is twice as active as the ordinary
aqueous extract. Dausse has proposed the successive
treatment with ether, alcohol and water for the exhaustion
of the extracto-aromatic plants. Mohr also recommends
this mixed treatment for the preparation of the narcotic
extracts. According to this learned operator the purified
juice ought to be evaporated to the consistence of a syrup,
then treated with anhydrous alcohol, which precipitates
the gums and insoluble salts ; the alcoholic liquid should
then be evaporated to the consistence of an extract.
Mohr’s extracts are very active and are easily preserved.
The resins of jalap and scammony may also be included
in the category of mixed extracts.

In the laboratory of the pharmacist the concentration
of the juices is effected by the action of heat : to accelerate
the preparation of the extract and prevent prolonged
contact with the air it has been suggested to operate in
a vacuum. The preparation of extracts, in consequence
of the apparatus this would require, would then necessarily
become industrial, which ought not to be encouraged.
Extracts should be prepared by the pharmacist; they
are very active medicinal agents upon which the medical
man ought to be able to depend, and notwithstanding the
authority of such names as Grandval, Berjot, Dausse and
others, I always prefer the extract prepared in a phar¬
macy, for the following reasons : — The dry extracts
prepared in a vacuum are very hygrometric ; after a very
short time and by simple contact with the atmosphere
they form a mass more or less elastic and difficult to
manipulate. Also, it is very easy for an isolated phar¬
macist to collect the two or three kilograms of the sub¬
stance which he requires for the preparation of his
extract, but would it be possible to find the hundreds
and thousands of kilograms required for an industrial
manufacture in good condition and of certain origin ?
The analysis of extracts is very little understood; the
adulteration of commercial products is therefore too easy
to execute and impossible to detect. Lastly, it has not
been proved, so far as I know, that the extracts prepared
in a vacuum ha,re a therapeutic value superior to that of
the extracts prepared by the ordinary method.

The following process appears to me to be preferable : —
Quite recently an attempt has been made to substitute
the action of cold for that of heat in the concentration
of juices, and extracts have been prepared by congelation.
This congelation may be effected by the cold of winter or
by means of well-known apparatus, such as Carre’s. It
is advisable not to purify the juices of plants or fruits
before proceeding to congelation, for the coagulation of
the vegetable albumen takes up much of the active

86

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 2, 18T*.

principle, which is then wanting in the extract. The
juice is submitted to two or three successive congelations,
the frozen juice is broken up, put into a linen or hair bag,
and then strongly pressed. The concentration is such
that the evaporation of the juice may be finished by
putting it on plates in a stove heated to 30° C. The
alteration of the juice is much less than by the ordinary
processes, and extracts of rhatany, catechu and aloes are
obtained which are perfectly soluble.

This process, employed by myself in the preparation of
medicinal diastase, has given excellent results in respect
of the yield as well as the quality of the product. Some
milk after three congelations had lost 57 per cent, of its
original volume ; its density had increased from 1032 to
1108, and by exposure on a plate to the sun this milk gave
a very fine dry extract.

The question of yield ought also to occupy the
attention of the pharmacist; this is treated of in the
Codex, p. 433, in a table very well drawn up. I would
only wish to add to this table a column in which the
figures 1, 2, 3, 4, should indicate to the operator the
degrees of consistence, from the semi-fluid to the dry
extract. The consistence is moreover strictly correlative
to the yield, without which it has no practical value.

I should like to see the preparation and employment
of dry extracts more extended. Whether prepared by
immediate desiccation, or by incorporation of vegetable
powders or of dextrine, these extracts are better for
preservation and they are more certain from a posological
point of view. The German Pharmacopoeia orders several
extracts to be dry which in French pharmacies are kept
soft. For example, take the extract of opium : in Ger¬
many it is the powder of opium which should contain
10 per cent, of morphia, and the dry extract 20 per cent.
These requirements are certainly very reasonable ; in the
Codex it is absolutely indispensable to indicate the
amount of water which opium and its extract may con¬
tain. The same remark applies to all the extracts of
soft or firm consistence. In Germany, besides opium,
the dry extracts are those of aloes, colocynth (simple and
compound), campechy, calumba, myrrh, nux vomica
(aqueous and alcoholic), rhatany, compound rhubarb and
senega. The narcotic extracts dry and containing dextrine
are often demanded ; they are besides necessary for the
preparation of the compound powders.

I have intentionally omitted to speak of the fluid
extracts, the use of which has spread so rapidly in England
and America. I think, and I hope to prove subsequently,
that the fluid extracts ought to be excluded from medici¬
nal use.

It now remains to treat of the general constitution of
the extracts, their classification, and their general
characters.

{To be continued.)

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF
DETONATING AGENTS.*

BY PROFESSOR ABEL, C.B., F.R.S.

( C<mcludecl from page 7 0.)

In comparing the effects of these nitro-glycerine pre¬
parations with each other and with compressed gun¬
cotton and preparations of it, by detonating equal
quantities quite unconfined upon iron plates, the results
appear to establish great superiority, in point of violence
of action or destructive effect, of the more rigid explosive
agents (the gun-cotton preparations). Thus, employing
iron plates 1 inch thick (supported upon an anvil with a
central cavity), and 4 oz. of each material unconfined,
the charges being all about the same diameter, exploded
by detonators of equal strength, and simply resting upon
the upper surface of the plate, compressed gun-cotton

* Lecture delivered at the Royal Institution of Great
Britain, Friday, March 21, 1879,

produced a considerable indentation of the upper surface
of the plate, and long cracks in the lower surface ; a
species of nitrated gun-cotton, called tonite, produced a
much shallower indentation, though still a very marked
one, but did not crack the lower surface. Dynamite
produced only a very slight impression upon the plate,
and none could be detected by the eye on the plate upon
which the blasting gelatine was exploded. The diffi¬
culties, brought out by past experience, which attend the
contrivance of really comparative tests of the explosive
power of such substances as those under discussion, is
well exemplified by the foregoing results, which were
influenced to the maximum extent by the physical
characters of the several substances when applied, as they
were upon these iron plates, in a perfectly unconfined
condition, so that the particles were free to yield to the
force of the initiative detonation in proportion to their
mobility. But, for this very reason, these experiments
afford excellent illustration of the extent to which the
development of detonation and the sharpness of its trans¬
mission through the mass is influenced, not only by the
inherent sensitiveness of the substance to detonation (or
by its chemical instability) but also by the degree of
proneness of their particles to yield mechanically to the
force of a blow as applied by an initiative detonation.
Thus, although in comparing two substances of similar
physical characters, compressed gun-cotton and com¬
pressed nitrated gun-cotton or tonite, the superiority of
the pure compound over the mixture, in point of sharp¬
ness and violence of action, is well illustrated, a com¬
parison of the result furnished by the weakest of the
four explosive agents tried, viz., tonite, with that of the
substance which should be superior to all the others in
explosive force ( i.e ., the blasting gelatine) demonstrates
the important influence which the comparatively great
rigidity of the mass in the one case exerts in favouring
the completeness and sharpness of its detonation in open
air, and the great disadvantage under which the other
explosive is applied, arising out of the plastic and there¬
fore readily yielding nature of the material. But if, by
exposure to a moderate degree of cold, this plastic nitro¬
glycerine preparation is made to freeze (for it partakes of
the property of the liquid itself of freezing at a tempera¬
ture above the freezing point of water, and becomes
thereby converted into at least as rigid a substance as the
two descriptions of gun-cotton) its detonation upon an
iron plate produces an indentation, as well as a destruc¬
tive effect upon the lower surface of the plate, very
decidedly greater than those furnished by the correspond¬
ing amount of pure compressed gun-cotton. Similarly,
the effect produced by the detonation of dynamite upon
a plate of the kind used, is but little inferior to that of
gun-cotton, and decidedly greater than that of tonite, if
it is employed in the frozen condition.

A series of experiments has been made with cylinders
of lead having a central perforation 1*3 inch in diameter
extending to a depth of 7 inches, and leaving solid metal
beneath of a thickness ranging from 3 ‘5 to 5'5 inches,
according to the size of the cylinders used. These fur¬
nished results of considerable interest as illustrating the
action of these several detonating agents. Charges of
1‘25 oz. of each explosive substance were used throughout
the experiments, and were placed at the bottoms of the
holes. By the detonation of the charges the cylindrical
holes in the lead were enlarged into cavities of a pear
shape (and sometimes approaching the spherical form), of
various diameters ; in some instances the metal was
besides partially torn open in a line from the bottom of
the charge-hole to the circumference of the lower face of
the cylinder ; and in the case of some of the gun-cotton
charges, the fissure in the metal in this direction was
complete, the base of the block being separated from the
remainder, in the form of a cone. In the first place the
portions of the holes above the charges were simply left
open ; in the subsequent experiments they were filled up
to a level with the upper surface, with dry, fine, loose

August 2, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

87

sand, or with water. The dimensions of the cylinders
were increased in successive experiments until, in the
case of every one of the explosives used, the mass of metal
was sufficiently great to resist actual fracture at the base
of the cylinder. Under the conditions of these experi¬
ments, more or less considerable resistance being opposed
to the mechanical dispersion of the plastic explosive sub¬
stances, their detonation was greatly facilitated, though
even then, the holes in the lead blocks being left open to
the air, some amount of the blasting gelatine evidently
escaped detonation ; the widening of the upper part of
the charge-hole, in experiments of this nature made with
the gelatine, indicated that detonation was transmitted to
small portions dispersed in the first instance and in the
act of escaping from the block. In all the experiments,
whether the holes were left open or filled with sand or
water, the effect produced upon the base of the block by
the detonation of compressed gun-cotton was consider¬
ably more violent than with the other explosive agents,
indicating a sharpness of action which was only shared
by the blasting gelatine when used in a frozen state in one
of these experiments. The dimensions of the cavities
produced by the gelatine were, at the largest part, con¬
siderably greater than those produced by the dynamite
and nitrated gun-cotton (tonite), and slightly greater than
those of the gun-cotton charges ; but in the latter, the
fracture of the base of the cylinder gave rise in most of
the experiments to an escape of force, so that in these
cases the effects of the detonation could not be well com¬
pared by measurements of the cavities. When the
gelatine was converted by freezing into a rigid mass its
superiority in explosive force even over compressed gun¬
cotton was well illustrated ; the base of the lead block
was all but blown out, the cavity produced was consider¬
ably the largest, and the suddenness and violence with
which motion was imparted to the water tamping caused
the top of the block also to be blown off in the form of a
cone. An excellent illustration was obtained, by com¬
paring this result with those furnished by the gelatine in
its normal plastic state, of the influence exercised by the
physical condition of an explosive substance upon the
rapidity and completeness with which detonation is trans¬
mitted through its mass.

The difficulties attending the application of blasting
gelatine, in some directions in which explosive agents are
applied, on account of the uncertainty attending the devel¬
opment of its explosive force, even with the use of a com¬
paratively powerful detonator, unless it be very strongly
confined, has led to attempts to reduce its non-sensitive¬
ness to detonation by mixing it with materials intended
to operate either by virtue of their comparatively great
sensitiveness, or of their property, as solids, of reducing the
very yielding character of the substance, or in both ways.

Some of these attempts have been attended with con¬
siderable success. Thus the incorporation of about 10
per cent, of the most explosive form of gun-cotton or
trinitrocellulose, in a very finely divided state, with the
gelatine, renders it so much more sensitive that it can be
detonated with certainty in the open air by means of the
strongest detonating cap now used for exploding dynamite.
This effect appears to be less due to the comparative
sensitiveness of gun-cotton to detonation than to the
modification effected in the consistency of the material,
which, though still plastic, offers decidedly greater
resistance to a blow than the original gummy substance.
The particles of hollow fibre of the gun-cotton appear also
to have the effect of absorbing small quantities of nitro¬
glycerine which are less perfectly united with the soluble
gun-cotton than the remainder, and which, existing as
they do in somewhat variable proportions in the gelatine,
have occasionally an objectionable tendency to exudation,
if the incorporation of the ingredients has been less per¬
fect than usual. The substance, when modified as
described, has no longer that great adhesiveness which is
exhibited by it in the original state, and which renders it
less easy to manipulate.

Lastly, its explosive force appears to be in no way
diminished by this modification of its composition ; on
the contrary, its superiority in this respect to compressed
gun-cotton becomes more manifest, as demonstrated by
some of the experiments with lead blocks, while its action
partakes of that sharpness peculiar to the detonation of
the rigid gun-cotton, as indicated by the fissure of that
part of the metal situated beneath the charge. Finely
divided cotton fibre has a similar effect to trinitrocellulose
in modifying the physical character and increasing the
sensitiveness to detonation of the blasting gelatine, but
its explosive force is, of course, proportionately reduced
with its dilution with an inert substance.

Nobel has made the interesting observation, that an
addition to the blasting gelatine of small proportions of
certain substances rich in carbon and hydrogen, which are
soluble in nitro-glycerine, such as benzol and nitro-benzol,
increases to a remarkable extent the non-sensitiveness to
detonation of the original material ; and this observation
has led to experiments being conducted by engineer officers
in Austria, with a view of endeavouring to convert the
blasting gelatine into a material which should compete, as
regards some special advantages in point of safety, with
wet gun-cotton in its application to military and naval
purposes, and especially as regards non-liability to detona¬
tion or explosion by the impact of rifle bullets. If boxes
containing dry compressed gun-cotton are fired into from
small arms even at a short range, the gun-cotton is gene¬
rally inflamed, but has never been known to explode ; the
sharpness of the blow essential to the latter result, which
the bullet might otherwise give, being diminished by its
penetration through the side of the box before reaching
the explosive . It is scarcely necessary to state that wet
gun-cotton, containing even as little as 15 per cent, of
water, is never inflamed under these conditions. On the
other hand, dynamite is invariably detonated when struck
by a bullet on passing through the side of the box, and
blasting gelatine, though so much less sensitive than
dynamite, behaves in the same way in its ordinary as well
as in the frozen condition. The Austrian experiments
indicated that the gelatine when intimately mixed with
only 1 per cent, of camphor , generally, though not
invariably, escaped explosion by the impact of a bullet,
but that when the proportion of camphor amounted to 4
per cent, the material was neither exploded nor inflamed,
though, in the frozen state, it was still liable to occasional
explosion. These results were considered indicative of a
degree of safety in regard to service exigencies, approach¬
ing that of wet compressed gun-cotton. The camphoretted
gelatine still labours, however, under the disadvantage of
being readily inflammable, and of burning fiercely, and
consequently, of giving rise, like dynamite and dry gun¬
cotton, to violent explosion, or detonation, if burned in
considerable bulk ; a result which was explained by the
lecturer in his discourse delivered at the Royal Institution
in 1872. Moreover, the camphoretted blasting gelatine
is so difficult of detonation by the means ordinarily applied
that a large initiative charge of a very violent detonating
mixture consisting of pure specially prepared trinitrocel¬
lulose and nitro-glycerine is prescribed, by the Austrian
experimenters, as being indispensable to its proper
detonation.

The action of camphor and of other substances rich in
carbon and hydrogen in reducing greatly the sensitiveness
to detonation of the preparation of soluble gun-cotton and
nitro-glycerine, is not to be traced to any physical modifi¬
cation of that material produced by the addition of such
substances, and no satisfactory theory can at present be
advanced to account for it on chemical grounds.

The camphoretted gelatine, like Nobel’s original
gelatine itself, may be kept immersed in water for a con¬
siderable time without any important change ; the surface
of the mass thus immersed becomes white and opaque,
apparently in consequence of some small absorption of
water, but no nitro-glycerine is separated, and on re¬
exposure to the air the material gradually assumes once

88

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 2, 1879.

more its original aspect. It has consequently been pro¬
posed to render the storage of blasting gelatine com¬
paratively safe by keeping it immersed in water till
required for use, but the test of time is still needed to
establish the unalterableness of the material under this
condition.

There can be little question that this interesting nitro¬
glycerine preparation, either in its most simple form, or
modified in various ways, by the addition of other ingre¬
dients, promises, by virtue of its great peculiarities as a
detonating agent, to present means for importantly
extending the application of nitro-glycerine to industrial
purposes ; and it is not improbable that, through its
agency, this most violent of all explosive agents at present
producible upon a large scale may also come to acquire
special value for important war-purposes.

It has been pointed out that the complete solidification,
by freezing, of plastic preparations containing nitro¬
glycerine, such as dynamite and the blasting gelatine, has
the effect of facilitating the transmission of detonation
throughout the mass, and of thus developing or increasing
the violence of their action, under certain conditions of
their applications, i.e., when they are either freely exposed
to air or not very closely or rigidly confined. But while,
under circumstances favourable to the detonation of these
substances, when in the frozen state, their full explosive
force is thus much more readily applied than when they
are in their normal (thawed) condition, the frozen sub¬
stances are less sensitive to detonation by a blow or an
initiative detonation. On the other hand, if subjected to
the rapid application of great heat (as for example by the
burning of portions of a mass of the explosive substance
itself), a detonation is much more readily brought about
with the frozen material than if it be in its normal con¬
dition. Thus a package containing 50 lbs. of cartridges of
plastic dynamite, when surrounded by fire, burned away
without any indication of explosive action ; on submitting
10 lbs. of frozen dynamite to the same treatment, that
quantity also burned without explosion, though at one
time the combustion was so fierce as to indicate an
approach to explosive action ; but when the experiment
was repeated on the same occasioned th 15 lbs. of frozen
dynamite a very violent detonation took place after the
material had been burning for a short time, a deep crater
being produced in the ground beneath.

The following is offered as the most probable explana¬
tion of this result. When a mass of dynamite, as in these
cartridges, is exposed to sufficient cold to cause the nitro¬
glycerine to freeze, it does not become uniformly hardened
throughout, partly because of slight variations in the
proportion of nitro-glycerine in different portions of the
mixture composing the cartridge, and partly because
unless the exposure to cold be very prolonged the external
portions of the cartridges will be frozen harder or more
thoroughly than the interior. It may thus arise that
portions of only partially frozen or still unfrozen dynamite
may be more or less completely enclosed in hard crusts,
or strong envelopes, of perfectly frozen and comparatively
very cold dynamite. On exposure of such cartridges to a
fierce heat very rapidly applied, as would result from the
burning of a considerable quantity of the material, some
portion of one or other of the cartridges would be likely
to be much more readily raised to the igniting or explod¬
ing point than the remaining more perfectly frozen part
in which it is partly or completely imbedded. If the
ignition of this portion be brought about (which it will be
with a rapidity proportionate to the intensity of heat to
which the cartridge is exposed), the envelope of hard
frozen dynamite by which it is still more or less completely
surrounded and strongly confined, will operate like the
metal envelope of a detonator, in developing the initial
pressure essential for the sudden raising of the more
readily inflammable portion of the dynamite to the
temperature necessary for the sudden transformation of
the nitro-glycerine into gas, and will thus bring about the
detonation of a portion of the cartridge, which will act as

the initiative detonator to the remainder of the dynamite.
On igniting separately, at one of their extremities, some
dynamite cartridges which had been buried in snow for a
considerable period, the lecturer has observed that, as
the frozen material gradually burned away, very slight
but sharp explosions (like the snapping of a small per¬
cussion cap on. a gun nipple) occurred from time to time,
portions of the frozen dynamite being scattered with some
violence. He did not succeed in obtaining actual detona¬
tion by thus burning frozen cartridges surrounded by
others in a similar condition, but he has been informed
by Mr. McRoberts, of the Ar deer Dynamite Works, that
he has more than once detonated a small heap of hard-
frozen cartridges weighing altogether one pound, by
igniting one cartridge which was surrounded by the
remainder. These facts appear to substantiate the cor¬
rectness of the foregoing explanation. They point to the
danger of assuming that, because dynamite in the frozen
state is less sensitive to the effects of a blow or initiative
detonation than the thawed material, it may therefore
be submitted without special care to the action of heat,
for the purpose of thawing it. Instances of the detona¬
tion, with disastrous results, of even single cartridges of
frozen dynamite, through the incautious application of
considerable heat (as for example by placing them in an
oven, or close to a fire), have been, and are still, of not
unfrequent occurrence, even though Mr. Nobel has
insisted upon the application of heat through the agency
only of warm water, as the sole reliable method of safely
thawing dynamite cartridges.

While the sensitiveness to detonation of air-dry gun¬
cotton remains unaffected by great reduction in tempera¬
ture of the mass, and while in this respect it presents
advantages over nitro-glycerine preparations, wet gun¬
cotton becomes very decidedly more susceptible to detona¬
tion when frozen. Thus the detonation of gun-cotton
containing an addition of from 10 to 12 per cent, of
water is somewhat uncertain with the employment of
100 grains of strongly confined fulminate, and 200 grains
are required for the detonation of the substance when
containing 15 to 17 per cent, of water ; but the latter in
a frozen state can be detonated by means of 30 grains
of fulminate, and 15 grains are just upon the
margin of the amount requisite for detonating, with
certainty, frozen gun-cotton containing 10 to 12 per cent,
of water. The deadening effect of solid water upon the
sensitiveness of gun-cotton to detonation is, in fact, inters
mediate between those of a liquid and of inert solid sub¬
stances.

The effects produced and products formed by the
explosion of gun-cotton in perfectly closed spaces, both
in the loose, and the compressed form, and by its deto¬
nation in the dry and wet state, have been made the
subject of study by Captain Noble and Mr. Abel, the
method of research pursued being the same as that followed
in their published researches on fired gunpowder; results
of considerable interest in regard to the heat of explosion,
the pressures developed, and the products of explosion of
dry and wet gun-cotton have been obtained, which are
about to be communicated to the Royal Society.

In may briefly be stated that the temperature of explo¬
sion of gun-cotton is more than double that of gunpowder
(being about 4400° C.) ; that the tension of the products
of explosion, assuming the material to fill entirely the
space in which it is fired, is considerably more than
double that of the powder-products under the same con¬
ditions ; that the products obtained by the explosion of
dry gun-cotton are comparatively simple and very uniform
under different conditions as regards pressiu’e ; that the
products of detonation of dry gun-cotton do not differ
materially from those of its explosion in a confined space,
but that those furnished by the detonation of wet gun¬
cotton present some interesting points of difference.
Messrs. Noble and Abel are extending their investigations
to the nitro-glycerine preparations.

The great advance which has been made within the

August 2, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

89

last twelve years in our knowledge of tbe conditions
which determine the character of the metamorphosis
that explosive substances undergo, and which develop or
control the violence of their action, finds its parallel in
the progress which has been made in the production,
perfection, and application of the two most prominent
of modern explosive agents, nitro-glycerine and gun¬
cotton. Discovered at nearly the same time, less than
forty years ago, the one speedily attained great promi¬
nence, on account of the apparent ease with which it
could be prepared and put to practical use ; a prominence
short-lived, however, because the first, and somewhat
rash, attempts to utilize it preceded the acquisition of
sound and sufficient knowledge of its nature and pro¬
perties. Even many years afterwards, when the diffi¬
culties attending its employment appeared to have been
surmounted, the confidence of its most indefatigable
partisans and staunchest friends received a rude shock
from which it needed the support of much faith and
some fortitude to recover.

Meanwhile, the other substance, which now shares with
it the honours of important victories won over gunpowder,
continued to be generally regarded as a dangerous
chemical curiosity, even for some time after its present
position as one of the most important industrial products
and useful explosive agents was being gradually but
firmly secured for it, step by step, by the talent and
untiring energy of a single individual.

Almost from the day of its discovery, the fortunes of
gun-cotton continued to fluctuate, and much adversity
marked its career, until at last its properties became well
understood, and its position as a most formidable ex¬
plosive agent, applicable on a large scale, with ease, great
simplicity, and with a degree of safety far greater than
that as yet possessed by any other substance of this class,
has now become thoroughly established. Since the
lecturer last discoursed on the properties of gun-cotton,
seven years ago, this material has attained a firm footing
as one of the most formidable agents of defence and
offence. For all military engineering operations, and for
employment in submarine mines and torpedoes, com¬
pressed gun-cotton, stored and used in the wet condition,
has become the accepted explosive agent in Great
Britain ; within the last five years upwards of 550 tons
have been manufactured for this purpose, and are dis¬
tributed over our chief naval stations at home and abroad.
Germany some years since copied our system of manu¬
facture and use of guii-cotton; France has provided
itself with a large supply for the same purposes, and
Austria, where the acquisition of bitter experience of the
uncertainty of gun-cotton in the earlier stages of history,
naturally gave rise to a persistent scepticism regarding
its present trustworthiness, appears now also about to
adopt wet gun-cotton for military and naval uses.

But while the usefulness and great value of compressed
gun-cotton in these important directions has been estab¬
lished, its technical application has made but slow pro¬
gress as compared with that of the simple nitro-glycerine
preparation known as dynamite, which, in point of cost of
production and convenience for general blasting purposes,
can claim superiority over compressed gun - cotton.
Already in 1867 a number of dynamite factories, working
under Nobel’s supervision, existed in different countries ;
in that year the total quantity manufactured amounted
to eleven tons ; in another year the produce had risen to
seventy-eight tons ; in 1872 it had attained to 1350 tons.
Two years afterwards the total production of dynamite
was nearly ti'ebled, and in 1878 it amounted to 6140
tons.

There are as many as fifteen factories in different parts

of the wrorld (including a very extensive one in Scotland)

working under the supervision of Mr. Nobel, the originator

of the nitro-glycerine industry, and some six or seven

other establishments exist where dynamite or preparations

of verv similar character are also manufactured.

«/

How far the rate of production of dynamite will be

affected by the further development of the value of Nobel’s
new preparation, the blasting gelatine, it is difficult to
foresee, but there appears great prospect of an important
future for this very peculiar and interesting detonating
agent.

It is hoped that the subjects dealt with in this discourse
afford interesting illustration of the intimate connection
of scientific research with important practical achieve¬
ments.

TINCTURE OF KINO*

BY R. ROTHER.

The tendency which many tinctures, fluid extracts, and
other solutions have to deposit a bulky sediment ; of
ointments to rancidify, and even of syrups to ferment
and otherwise change, cannot compare in point of annoy¬
ance with the disposition of tincture of kino to gelatinize.
It would be idle to relate the numerous inefficient devices
that have been resorted to in order to circumvent this
change. The writer once entertained the theory that
the cause of the transformation resides in a septic move¬
ment transmitted by a soluble septase originally present
in the gum, or imparted to it by some extraneous or¬
ganism. To exclude this or nullify its action, the writer
proposed the application of the strongest alcohol, and also
by increasing the material strength of the tincture. Owing
to the fact that the different varieties of kino do not
possess the instability in a like degree, the writer for a
time believed he had found the true remedy. But on a
later occasion, a concentrated tincture (1 in 4) solidified
with surprising rapidity, and thereby demonstrated that
neither strong alcohol nor a high degree of concentration
can obviate the change. The writer then thought that
to light might, perhaps, be ascribed the cause of the phe¬
nomenon, especially since a dark bottle partially filled
with officinal tincture, whilst remaining in a closet pro¬
tected from light, had for a long time retained its contents
intact, but on being removed to another receptacle and
exposed to diffused daylight, the tincture speedily gela¬
tinized. It was, howevei', proposed to test this thoroughly,
and in order to ascertain what possible influence the at¬
mosphere might also exert, the writer on the 12th day of
J anuary, 1878, prepared eight fluid ounces of U. S. officinal
tincture of kino, by maceration and filtration through
starch. Four fluid ounces of this was poured into a pint
bottle, and set away, exposed to diffused light, this was
marked No. 1. No. 2 was a half-ounce phial filled with
the tincture and tightly corked. No. 3 was a two-ounce
phial, loosely corked, containing one fluid ounce of the
tincture. No. 4 was the same as No. 3, with the ad¬
dition of one grain of benzoic acid. No. 5 was a two-
ounce phial containing half a fluid ounce of the tincture
and half a fluid ounce of water. No. 6 was a duplicate of
No. 3, kept in a dark closet, preserved from light. Nos.
2, 3, 4 and 5 were so situated that, during part of every
day when the sun was shining, they were exposed to the
direct rays.

On the 23rd of May, 1878, the contents of No. 1, which
had in the meantime been occasionally shaken and given
fresh air, showed signs of becoming viscid. To find what
effect ammonia would have on it at this stage, half a
fluid ounce was mixed with three drops of aqua ammoniae.
It gelatinized instantly. The remaining tincture of No. 1
now gradually thickened, and by the end of July had set
to a firm jelly.

At the 10th of April, 1879, no change had yet occurred
in No. 2. No. 3 was barely fluid. No. 4 was a thick
jelly. No. 5 was quite fluid, showing a slight tendency
to viscidness. No. 6 was a thick jelly.

In the course of observing these indications, it was
decided, on the 5th of February, 1879, to make a second
experiment, and to this end eight fluid ounces of tincture
of kino was prepared by maceration ; double the officinal
strength in kino, but with a menstruum composed of one
part by measure of strong alcohol and three parts water.

* From New Remedies , July, 1879.

90

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 2, 1*79.

One-half of this, marked No. 7, was placed into a twelve-
ounce wide-mouthed bottle, loosely stopped, and so
disposed of as to stand, at intervals, in direct sunlight.
The other half, marked No. 8, was diluted with an equal
measure of its menstruum, and stored away in a pint
bottle under similar conditions to No. 7.

Both No. 7 and 8 were frequently shaken and exposed
to fresh air by removing the stoppers of the bottles. At
the 18th of May, 1879, No. 7, which had for some time
back been thickening by imperceptible degrees, became
firmly gelatinous. But No. 8, at the present writing,
shows no signs of viscid tendency. No. 2 has also re¬
mained in statu quo. No. 5 has now became quite
syrupy, and all the others have become more firmly solid.

Now, on reviewing these results, it appears that No. 2,
although having been freely submitted to the action of
light, but securely shielded from the access of air, has
remained in prime condition. Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 prove
that the contact of air has caused their alteration. No.

4 indicates that benzoic acid hastens the change. No. 6
gives evidence that air without light is as active as with
it, and, in conjunction with No. 2, confirms the non-inter¬
vention of light. Nos. 5 and 8 plainly point out that a
tincture wTeak both in kino and alcohol is the most
permanent in the jresence of air. No. 7, together with
the strong tincture first cited (1 in 4), demonstrate that a
concentrated tincture of kino, especially when prepared
with a strongly alcoholic menstruum, is the most unstable
form.

It appears, therefore, that the gelatinous condition is
due to an oxidation product. The ramifying propensity
of this insoluble substance causes it to pervade the liquid
with invisible filaments and thus produce the impression
of homogeneity. On the appearance, however, of the
slightest trace of viscidity, the addition of water precipi¬
tates the gelatinous body in purplish flakes, which rapidly
subside, leaving a red supernatant solution.

The abundant supply of air in the large bottles has
promoted the transformation at a higher rate, as will be
seen from the experiments, the tinctures in the smaller
phials requiring a proportionately longer time to undergo
decomposition. When the tincture is yet homogeneous,
the liquid adhering to the walls of the vessels, after
agitation, all runs down again, but after the alteration
has begun, much of the liquid permanently adheres, the
insoluble matter, owing to its uneven contraction, giving
the residue after drying a peculiar veined appearance.
The partially gelatinized tinctures cannot be filtered, the
viscid body retaining the liquid portion. The semi-con¬
gealed fluid, however, on drying, yields a compact residue,
from which alcohol or water readily removes the soluble
parts. In fact, it seems as though much of the kino of
the market is the residue of a partially gelatinized juice,
and it is probable that the instability of some tinctures is
partly chargeable to this altered gum. The success that
is claimed to attend the U. S. officinal method of preparing
the tincture, that is, the percolation through sand, may be
accounted for by the fact that this very faulty operation
sacrifices a large proportion of the gum by agglutination
amidst the sand, and thus yielding a weak percolate, such
a solution having, according to the writer’s experiments,
elements of more stability. A trial of oxidation with
potassium permanganate was made, but since this agent
in contact with organic matter always gives a precipitate
of manganese dioxide, its effect in this instance was not
easily judged. Still a weak solution of permanganate
acidulated with acetic acid poured into the tincture pro¬
duced a precipitate which, although it may have been
contaminated with dioxide, yet had great resemblance to
the curdy, flesh-coloured mass thrown down by water
from the tincture in an advanced state of change. In
conclusion, the expression for the sum of the foregoing
results is, that tincture of kino is best prepared by mace¬
ration with a weak alcohol and then preserved in small
phials, well filled and securely stopped, so as to exclude
the action of the air,

ASPHALTUM AND AMBER FROM VINUENTOWN,
NEW JERSEY.*

Mr. E. Goldsmith reports that he had received from
Col. T. M. Bryan a specimen of asphaltum, a mass of
which, weighing about 100 pounds, had been found in
the ash marl, a layer above the green sand proper, about
16 feet from the surface, in the neighbourhood of Yincen-
town. It seems that this peculiar hydrocarbon had not
been observed in the State of New Jersey before; at least
no mention of it is made in the geological reports up to
1868. The specimen presented to the Academy had
attached on one side a layer of the marl in which it was
found.

As the material in question is properly considered a
mixture of various hydrocarbons, it seems to be obvious
that the properties vary according to the predominance
of one or the other substance contained therein. This
kind is very brittle, black, with a resinous lustre. Its
fracture is uneven, inclined to conchoidal ; the streak
and powder appear brown. It melts easily in the flame,
like wax, and burns with a yellow smoky flame, leaving,
after burning, a voluminous coal and but little ashes. In
water, alcohol and solution of caustic potassa, it is not
soluble. It dissolves in chloroform and in oil of turpen¬
tine. In ether it dissolves with difficulty, forming a
yellow ish-brown solution by transmitted and a dirty
greenish solution by reflected light. Oil of vitriol dis¬
solves it into a black liquor, which, when poured into
water, shows that a part of the substance is retained in
solution, whilst another subsides as a dark-coloured pow¬
der. Nitric acid reacts on the substance at an elevated
temperature, forming therewith soluble products of oxida¬
tion.

Not far from the pit from which the asphaltum had
been obtained a specimen of yellow mineral resin was
found. It occurs frequently in the marl of the cretaceous
formation, but not regularly ; sometimes hundreds of tons
may be looked over without finding a single piece ; at
other times enough has been found to fill a barrel within
a day. It is usually known under the name of amber or
succinite. .

It differed in several particulars from the typical amber
found at the bottom and on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Our specimen is lighter than water, whilst the amber
from the Baltic is specifically heavier. The latter fuses
into a thick sluggish fluid, the Vincentown amber into a
very fluid mobile liquid ; the cohesion of the Baltic pro¬
duct is stronger than in the specimen in question.
These differences indicate its analogy to the variety of
succinite called Krantzite by C. Bergeman, who reported
its occurrence near Neuberg, Germany.

It melts on heated platium foil into a brow n liquid,
which runs like water. It takes fire easily, and burns
with a yellowish, strongly- smoking flame, leaving but
little coal, which rapidly burns aw ay and leaves a small
quantity of dark-coloured ashes as a residue. Heated in
a closed tube it melts and vaporizes into a grey cloud,
which condenses easily into an oily liquid and some small
crystals, which are probably succinic acid. The odour of
the fumes is strongly penetrating, like acrolein. In water,
alcohol or ether it seems to be but sparingly soluble. In
chloroform, bisulphide of carbon and in oil of turpentine
it dissolves freely. Oil of vitriol makes with it a red
solution. Cold nitric acid seems not to affect it much.
On warming, the yellowish powder becomes orange-red.
It is partly dissolved by caustic potassa. In this yellow¬
ish-brown Krantzite Mr. Goldsmith noticed on a fresh
fracture a row of white crystals, arranged in radiating
groups. The crystals were too small for mechanical sepa¬
ration, but the opinion was expressed that they were
succinellite.

* From the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia, February 25. Reprinted from
the American Journal of Pharmacy , July, 1879.

August ?, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

91

©hi Ikrnmqtttical Jaqttal.

- + -

SATURDAY , AUGUST 2, 1879.

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

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

A dvertisements, and payments for Copies of the J ournal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London, IV.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

. MEDICAL LEGISLATION AND ITS RELATION TO

PHARMACY.

To those who have followed the proceedings of
the Select Committee on the Medical Acts Amend¬
ment Bill it will probably be no surprise that this
inquiry is still without any definite result. It is
true the Committee has concluded its proceedings
and has agreed to its report, but at the same time it
has decided that, taking into consideration the con¬
flict of evidence and the impossibility of completing
the investigation of the subject during the present
session of Parliament, much yet remains to be done.
Consequently, the Committee has determined to
report on the evidence taken up to the present time
without comment and to recommend that the in¬
quiry be renewed in the next session of Parliament.

So long as the settlement of the questions raised
by the Medical Bills now before Parliament remains
unachieved, chemists and druggists will naturally
feel some considerable interest in the progress of the
measure by which it is sought to ameliorate the posi¬
tion of medical practitioners. It would be unwise
for them to ignore the fact that certain members of
the medical profession are desirous of imposing re¬
strictions upon the chemist and druggist which could
not be enforced in regard to other members of the
community, and therefore any expression of opinion
upon the relations between the two classes is deserv¬
ing of careful consideration.

The recent decision of the Birmingham County
Court J udge, in the case of the Society of Apothe¬
caries v. Harrison, has furnished the Medical Press
and Circular with an opportunity of reverting to
the subject of counter prescribing and medical
dispensing, and in the main the conclusions arrived
at are far from being such as to justify dissatisfaction
on the part of the chemist and druggist. The view
expressed at the outset of the article that chemists
and druggists had been transported into a fool’s
paradise by the result of the Shepperley case is,
however, one we cannot concur with, and we regard
it rather as the indication of a habit of mind than as
having any more important significance. The re¬
presentation of the decision in the Shepperley
case as being “ half favourable ” to the right of
chemists and druggists to prescribe across the

counter is at best unsupported by any foundation of
fact. If it was a decision having reference to the
question whether chemists and druggists possess
such a right, it was unquestionably a decision in
their favour altogether. But we have always looked
upon this unhappy case as being one that could not
possibly decide anything. The unquestionable fact
that the complaint for which the pretended patient
in that case sought prescription from the chemist
and druggist was a “ bogus ” complaint entirely de¬
stroyed any value the case might have had as a test
case, and the evidence of Mr. Shepperley as to his
impression respecting Death’s ailment sufficiently
shows that he suspected being trifled with.

It seems, therefore, absurd to say, as the writer in
the Medical Press and Circular does, that by the
decision given in the Shepperley case, chemists
and druggists were lulled into a “ gratifying sense of
security” as regards counter prescribing. Allowance
may fairly be made for the representations of those
more immediately connected with the conduct of
the defence, and all things considered they may well
be excused for indulging in a blast of trumpets, and
the proclamation of a great victory. All this may
be tolerated as akin to the loud voiced laudation
with which a showman proclaims the wonders of the
objects to be seen within his booth. But after all
this had been got over, it was still obvious that in
any case of prosecution under the Apothecaries Act
the real question would be first, whether the indi¬
vidual prosecuted had acted as an apothecary, and
second, whether in so acting he had kept within the
privileges secured to chemists and druggists by the
28th section of the Act.

As regards the first question it appears that juries
no less than judges are disposed to be guided in their
decision by their estimate of the nature of the case
treated. If that was of a “ trivial” nature the decision
would be in favour of the defendant. In Shep-
perley’s case the decision was in this direction,
because no disease was treated. If, on the other
hand, the nature of the. case treated was serious, or
what is still more important if the ultimate issue of
it was fatal, the tendency of jury and of judge has
been to regard its treatment as coming within the
terms “ acting as an apothecary,” and on that ground
to give a decision against the defendant.

And then in considering the further question
whether the particular instance of “ acting as an
apothecary” was within the privilege of chemists
and druggists according to the 28th section, the
vagueness of the terms of that section and the un¬
certainty what was to be comprised in the exemption
it gave would be in most cases likely to result un¬
favourably to the defendant.

The decision in the Birmingham case is distinctly
of this latter kind; it does not in reality touch the
question whether a chemist and druggist or any
other man has or has not a right to administer or
recommend to others medicine for the relief of their

92

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 2, 1879

ailments ; but it simply decides that the case
treated was of a serious if not dangerous nature,
and that consequently the defendant was in¬
fringing the Apothecaries Act by acting as an
apothecary. ,

It seems therefore mere idle assertion to state
that by this decision “the gratifying sense of security”
created by the decision given in the Shepperley case
“ has been rudely broken.” No sense of security was
ever called into existence by the decision of the
Shepperley case and the decision in the Birming¬
ham case does not in any way differ in its effect from
the views expressed as to the Apothecaries Act by
the judges upon other occasions.

But in the Medical Press and Circular the decision
of the Birmingham County Court Judge is repre¬
sented as being conclusive as to the chemist and
druggist never having had any legal right to advise
or prescribe, and satisfaction is expressed in the same
unfounded way that the decision in the Shepperley
case was held by the opposite party to be a victory.
The true foundation of the County Court Judge’s
decision is, however, too apparent to be overlooked,
and consequently the satisfaction to be derived from
its assumed significance is considerably less than it
might have been if the assumption were correct.

The limitation of illegality to such instances of
prescribing as relate to serious cases, is so obviously
and clearly the ruling principle of the decision given
by the Birmingham County Court Judge that even
the writer in the Medical Press and Circular cannot
avoid saying the decision affords reason for inferring
that a chemist and druggist may legally advise and
prescribe for any patient who at the time is not
“ seriously ” ill. The possibility of such an inference
may be “ altogether unsatisfactory ” to some medical
men who hold the views of the writer in the
Medical Press and Circidar, but all the judicial
dicta concerning the Apothecaries Act agree in
furnishing ground for the same inference. Accord¬
ing to their views it is only the “ serious” nature of
the ailment treated, and to some extent also the
mode of procedure for its treatment, that determines
whether the treatment comes within the term “ act¬
ing as an apothecary,” and whether it is to be dealt
with as a breach of the law.

We cannot therefore agree with our contemporary
that the decision of the Birmingham County Court
Judge is a reductio ad absurdum because it was
based upon a consideration whether the case pre¬
scribed for was “ serious ” or of a “ trivial ” nature.
On the contrary, that is the very essence of the dis¬
tinction between what may and may not be done.
The line of demarcation may not be very definite,
but that is one of the difficulties of the matter that
is to be faced and dealt with by the exercise of indi¬
vidual discretion, no less on the part of those who
seek to prevent improper exercise of medical
functions, than by the chemist and druggist who is
called upon in the ordinary exercise of his business

to be useful in recommending his wares for the
relief of his customers’ ailments.

We are glad, however, to find our medical con¬
temporary looks hopefully forward to the entire
severance of pharmacy and medicine as the best
remedy for the discord and ill feeling that have pre¬
vailed between medical practitioners and chemists and
druggists as to counter practice. Speaking of the re¬
cent proceedings of the Rochdale Chemists’ Associa¬
tion they are characterized as constituting a decided
advance in that direction, and with the view of giving
some strength to the movement it is pointed out that
the complete separation of pharmacy and medicine is
working with perfect success in Ireland. There it
is stated very few practitioners in the large towns*
ever think of dispensing their own medicines, and
even in country places no one does so who can
possibly supply his patients with their medicines in
any other way.

The result is that the time and freedom of mind
gained by the practitioner by tabooing personal con¬
nection with dispensing more than compensates in
earning power fur the profits he would derive from
making up mixtures, lotions and pills, while at the
same time he enjoys the advantage of getting his
fees paid in cash at once and avoids the keeping of
books, the furnishing of bills at Christmas or Easter.

We entirely join our contemporary in hoping that
in this country also the medical practitioner will
eventually devote his energies to the use of the tools
which the pharmacist places in his hands, and that
the pharmacist may be able to content himself with
producing medicines of the best attainable quality so
as to render the republic of medicine a co-operative
compact for the mutual benefit of the parties who
have been injuring themselves and each other by an
unmeaning contention.

SALE OF POISONS IN INDIA.

We learn from the Delhi Gazette that an attempt
is being made to obtain legislation to regulate the
sale of poisons in India. The movement has been
originated by Mr. Bilney, chemist to a firm of
druggists in India, who proposes the establishment of
a Pharmaceutical Society, one of the rules of which
should be that no medicine shall be dispensed or
poison sold by other than legally qualified men, who
shall have been examined by a Board appointed by
Government. The Delhi Gazette in wishing Mr.
Bilney success in his enterprise expresses an opinion
that some law of this description is certainly needed.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

The meeting at Sheffield will commence on the
20th inst., and as we learn from a circular issued by
the local secretaries, arrangements are being made
for a number of attractive excursions to places of
historical and scientific interest. Facilities will also
be afforded to visitors attending the meeting for
seeing various interesting manufacturing operations,
such as the rolling of armour plates, BESSEMER_steel
making and electroplating. In tliis respect the
present meeting will have especial interest.

August 2, 1879. j

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

93

SFnmsiuttums of % flarmapiual

EXAMINATIONS IN EDINBURGH.

July 22, 23 and 24, 1879.

Present on each day — Messrs. Ainslie, Borland, Gilmour,
Kemp, Kinninmont, Stephenson and Young.

Professor Maclagan was present on the 22nd on bebalf
of the Privy Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Jidy 22.

Three candidates were examined. Two failed. The
undermentioned passed, and was declared qualified to be
registered as a Pharmaceutical Chemist : —

Russell, James Lawson . Edinburgh.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

July 22.

Thirteen candidates were examined. Seven failed. The
following six passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Bain, John . Edinburgh.

Bottomley, Albert Frederic ...Halifax.

Burrell, Thomas . Montrose.

Clark, Adam Douglas . Kelso.

Greig, James . Glasgow.

Jones, John . Liverpool.

July 23.

Thirteen candidates were examined. Eight failed.
The following five passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Jones, James Lewis . Jlangor.

Kelly, Hugh . Kilmarnock.

Macdonald, Robert . Edinburgh.

Palmer, Edwin Thomas . Hammersmith.

Pigott, Samuel . Manchester.

July 24.

Twelve candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following seven passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Ramsay, David Robertson . Dundee.

Robson, William Stubbs . Scarborough.

Scott, John . . . Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Simpson, Robert George . Stowmarket.

Thomas, Thomas Gratton . Bagillt.

Tidswell, Frederick . Bradford.

Wilks, Charles Frederick . York.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

July 24.

Three candidates were examined. All passed, and were
declared qualified to be registered as Chemists and
Druggists : —

Carter, John . London.

Greenwood, Samuel . Bradford.

Manners, John . Newcastle-on-Tyne.

froiiMtUnp of pieties.

SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS.

At a general meeting of this Society held at Burlington
House, Piccadilly, on Wednesday, June 4th, the following
papers, among others, were read : —

Note on the Examination of Spiritus AStheris

Nitrosi.*

BY A. DUPR£, PH.D., F.R.S.

Having at various times been asked for explanations as
to the method I use for estimating the amount of nitrous
ether contained in a sample of spiritus setheris nitrosi,

# Reprinted From The Analyst.

I take this opportunity of describing the method once for
all. The principle of the method will be found in Duflos’
‘Apothekerbuch,’ edition 1867, p. 251, and I have simply
worked out the details a little more fully. For the present
I confine myself to the analytical method, and must leave
many points of interest connected with the subject to
some future time.

Spiritus setheris nitrosi, as is well known, is directed to
be prepared (‘Brit. Pharm.’) by distilling a mixture of
spirit, nitric and stilphuric acids and copper, and mixing
the distillate obtained with a certain proportion of spirit.
If all the nitric acid employed were used up in the forma¬
tion of nitrous ether, the proportion of such contained in
the finished product, if two pints of spirit are added to
the 15 ounces of distillate, would amount to about 6 5 per
cent. In practice this result is, however, never obtained ;
and, according to my experience, we may consider a pro¬
duct containing 8 per cent, of nitrous ether as fairly
representing the B.P. preparation.

In judging of the purity, or otherwise, of any given
sample of spiritus setheris nitrosi, B.P., the particular
method of manufacture adopted in the preparation of the
sample is, of course, perfectly immaterial ; as long as it
fairly corresponds in strength to the B.P. standard it
must be considered as of the nature, substance and quality
demanded, however produced.

Characters . B.P. Transparent, very slight tinge of
yellow. Specific gravitjq 0 845. Effervesces feebly, or
not at all, when shaken with a little bicarbonate of soda.
When agitated with a solution of sulphate of iron and a
few drops of sulphuric acid it becomes olive brown or
black. If it be agitated with twice its volume of satu¬
rated solution of chloride of calcium in a closed tube, 2
per cent*, of its original volume separates in the form of
nitrous ether, and rises to the surface of the mixture.

Further Tests of Purity. Should give no precipitate
wit*h nitrate of silver ; absence of hydrocyanic and formic
acids. A small quantity poured on a little water, and
ignited, should leave an aqueous solution, which gives no
precipitate with nitrate of silver ; absence of hydrochloric
ether, chloride of ethylene, etc.

The chloride of calcium test is not of much value.
Firstly, because only those samples respond to it which
are nearly of the proper strength, and no information is
gained as to the composition of those samples, from which
nothing separates, except of course that they are below
the proper strength. Secondly, because the substance
separating though chiefly, is not by any means only,
nitrous ether. The iron test may be used as a rough
quantitative test by using a sample of known strength
for comparison, and it offers a very ready means, before
a magistrate for example, to show the character of any
impugned sample.

Estimation of Nitrous Ether. Ten cubic centimetres of
the ether are introduced into a small flask already con¬
taining about 1’5 gram of solid potash hydrate. The flask
is closed with a well-fitting cork, gently agitated from
time to time to promote solution of the potash, and left
standing over night. Next day the contents of the flask,
more or less yellow according to the amount of aldehyde
present, are washed into an evaporating basin with 50 c.c.
of water, and the mixture evaporated on a water-bath to
about half or one-third. The remainder is allowed to
cool, filtered through a little glass wool into a beaker, made
up to 300 c.c. with water, 50 c.c. of diluted sulphuric
acid (1 in 4) are added, and the nitrous acid present
determined by a standard solution of permanganate. This
standard solution is prepared by dissolving 8'475 grams
of pure permanganate of potassium (or its equivalent) in
one litre water; 1 c.c. of this solution is equivalent to
0’01 gram of nitrous ether, and therefore indicates 0T
per cent, of nitrous ether, if 10 c.c. of ether have been
taken. The decoloration of the permanganate is rapid
at first, gradually becoming slower. As soon as this is
perceived not more than 0-5 c.c. are added at a time, and
the process must be considered as at an end if the solution

94

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 2, 1*7J\

still shows a distinct pink or red coloration two minutes
after such addition. For every cubic centimetre of per¬
manganate solution then used, the spiritus tetheris nitrosi
contains, at a maximum, OT per cent, of nitrous ether.
The solution still continues to decolorize permanganate,
though but slowly, and much more will have to be added
before the coloration becomes permanent. I have how¬
ever convinced myself, by many experiments, that all
nitrous acid present is oxidized when the above indicated
point is reached. No doubt other substances are oxidized
as well, and the process indicates more nitrous ether than
is actually present; but as the error is on the side of
leniency, it is perhaps an advantage rather than otherwise.
By following out strictly the directions here giveD, it will
be found that duplicate analyses of a sample rarely differ
more than OT per cent, from each other; while, with poor
samples, the agreement is even more perfect. Should a
sample require much permanganate, and the solution,
instead of becoming colourless, remains brown or yellow,
more sulphuric acid must be added.

If, instead of evaporating and filtering the alcoholic
solution, it is at once diluted, acidified, and permanganate
added, more of the latter will be required than in the
former case. In good samples the difference is sometimes
great, but in most poor samples it is but slight, and in
such case this more rapid process may be adopted. I
have also tried the process of adding at once an excess of
permanganate, letting stand five minutes and estimating
the excess remaining, but the results given are decidedly
too high. Various other methods have been proposed for
the estimation of the nitrous ether, but I do not propose
to enter into such, as the process given fulfils, I believe,
all necessary conditions.

It is stated in most works on the subject that nitrous
ether is rapidly decomposed and becomes acid. The latter
statement is correct, as far at least as ordinary spiritus
aetheris nitrosi is concerned, but the former 'is not in
accordance with my experience. Spiritus aetheris nitrosi
becomes acid mainly on account of the oxidation of the
aldehyde it contains, while the nitrous ether present suffers
but slow decomposition, at least when dissolved in spirit
of sufficient strength. The following analyses will illus¬
trate this. Sample I. was prepared by myself on February
21st, 1872, and has been kept ever since in a glass stop¬
pered bottle (white glass) of one litre capacity, which it
filled about half at first. About one half of the neck of
the bottle was broken off early in 1872, so that the stopper
does not fit very tightly since. The bottle stood on a
shelf in the laboratory exposed to ordinary diffused day¬
light, but never to direct sunlight. On the bench below,
and near to where the bottle stands, a Bunsen gas burner
is frequently in use. Sample II. was bought as a sample
of spiritus astheris nitrosi ( ‘Brit. Pharm.’) from a well
known wholesale house on December 2nd, 1873. It was
contained in the ordinary pint bottle of green glass, and
stood ever since in a cupboard of the laboratory, or in
other words chiefly in the dark. Both bottles were
frequently opened, and small portions of ether taken out
in the intervals between the analyses given : —

No. of
sami le.

Spe-

Date of examin- cific
ation. grav¬

ity.

Corresponding

alcoholic

strength.

Total
acid free
as ac< tic
acid.

Real
niti ous
ether.

Per cent. b. w.

I.

Feb. 21, 1872 -836

84-8

0T0

2-00

I.

Nov. 15, 1873/839

83-6

0-90

1-98

I.

April 23, 1879 ‘844

81-7

0-85

0-89

II.

Dec. 2, 1873 -824

89-5

1-19

1-35

! II.

April 15, 1879 -847

|

80-5

1-38

0-96

We see, therefore, that even under somewhat unfavour¬
able conditions the decomposition of the nitrous ether
proceeds but slowly, and the plea sometimes advanced by

chemists that the sample of spiritus aetheris nitrosi
obtained at their shops, and found wanting, had been
kept for some time and had decomposed, may safely be
set aside as untrue.

In conclusion, I give tie analyses of a number of samples,
every one of which was bought as spiritus aetheris
nitrosi (‘Brit. Pharm.’), and should therefore have had a
sp. gr. of 0'845, and contained about 3 per cent, of nitrous
ether. All, except the last, were, however, bought before
the present Sale of Food and Drugs Act came into opera¬
tion. The last sample was supplied to the Westminster
Hospital early in April, 1879. The bottle containing it,
a Winchester quart, was labelled “Spiritus iEtheris Nitrosi,
l-rit. Pharm., sp. gr. 0 845.” The bottle was quite full,
and had not been opened at the Hospital, the stopper
being still tied over with bladder vhen I took the sample
on April 23rd, 1879.

Corresponding

Total free acid

Real

* pccinc

alcoholic strength.

as acetic acid.

nitn us ether.

gravity.

per cent. b. w.

per cent.

per cent.

0-908

54-05

0-42

0-23

0-913

52-0 '

0-39

0T9

0-851

79-

0-09

0-06

0-892

61-5

0-32

0-38

0-854

77-7

0-47

0-44

0-936

41-8

0-41

010

0 851

79-

1 14

1-30

0-928

45-6

0-33

0-25

0-852

78-5

0-28

0-07

0-848

80-

1-28

1-40 .

0-849

79-7

0-96

052

Mr. Hehner suggested that the direct addition of iodide
of potassium would give a much fairer measure of the
quantity of nitre present. He would add acetic acid and
iodide of potassium, which both Dr. Muter and Mr.
Wigner said they thought was a very good idea.

The Estimation of Ethyl Nitrite in Spiritus
yEtheris Nitrosi B.P.

BY JOHN MUTER, PH.D., F.C.S.

I have been in the habit of using a saponification pi’o-
cess for this spirit, but I work in a manner somewhat
different from that used by Dr. Dupr3, which I think
possesses several advantages. The solutions I use are : —

(1) . Decinormal solution of hyposulphite of soda
(sodium thiosulphate), made exactly according to the
directions of the British Pharmacopoeia, each c.c. of which
= •0127 free iodine.

(2) . Solution of potassium permanganate, containing
3*175 grams per litre, and checked to balance the “hypo.”
solution, by adding excess of saturated solution of potas¬
sium iodide to 100 c.c., and then seeing that the iodine
set free exactly requires 100 c.c. of “hypo.” for complete
decolorization, starch paste being added as an indicator
towards the end of the process.

I first take the specific gravity of the sample at 60°
Fahr., and I then measure out 10 c.c. of the spirit for
analysis. This I digest with sufficient potassium hydrate
in a small strong glass flask, closed by a cork, through
which passes a bent delivery tube, dipping under a column
of mercury in a test tube, of such a height as will enable
me to heat gently on a water- bath underpressure without
bursting the flask. This point is ascertained by a blank
experiment, during which the flask is wrapped in a cover
to prevent accident; and once arrived at, the same flask
and mercury column are always employed. After diges¬
tion under pressure with frequent agitation for some time
(an hour being usually ample), water is added, and the
contents of the flask evaporated in a basin until no smell
of spirit is perceptible. The residual liquid having been
rendered just neutral with sulphuric acid, is filtered into
a flask containing 75 c.c. of permanganate solution, pre¬
viously diluted to 200 c.c. with water and acidulated with
20 c.c. dilute sulphuric acid (1 in 3), and the flask having
been corked is left for half an hour. At the end of that

August 2, l&7y.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

95

time excess of saturated solution of potassium iodide is
added (which should produce a clear deep orange solution),
and the whole brought under a burette containing the
hyposulphite solution and titrated. The number of c.c.
of “hypo.” used is deducted from the number of c.c. of
permanganate put in, and the difference multiplied by
•00375 gives the amount of ethyl nitrite in the 10 c.c.
taken for analysis, and if this be multiplied by 100 and
divided by 10 times the specific gravity of the original
spirit, the answer will be the percentage of ethyl nitrite
by weight. In working with spirits of unknown strength
it is advisable to put only 20 c.c. of permanganate into
the flask at first, diluted and acidulated as directed, and
then if all the colour disappears under five minutes, to
add 5 c.c. more at a time, until a permanent colour is
obtained, lasting five minutes, when the addition of another
5 c.c. will suffice before setting aside for the half hour.
In a good spirit it is sufficient to take 5 c.c. for analysis,
and to use 35 to 38 c.c. permanganate,

I am the more inclined to believe in the accuracy of this
method, because I have found, by experiment, that the
action of potassium nitrite on permanganate is not
thoroughly trustworthy under half an hour. Ethyl nitrite
is, however, much more rapidly affected, and I am at
present engaged on a process whereby saponification is
entirely avoided, and the whole thing does not occupy
more than ten minutes. Until I publish this, I reserve
my results on the actual constitution of the spirit, and the
loss it undergoes by keeping. I am not at all clear that we
should depend entirely on the ethyl nitrite alone for the
real value of this medicine, and my other method depends
on the estimation of the aldehyd and other bodies present
in the article when properly made according to the official
process.

The following are some analyses of pure spirits (speci¬
ally made for me by Mr. Phillips — of Messrs. Knowles
and Phillips — strictly by the B.P. process, and answering
the gravity and separation tests of that authority), which
were recently performed by one of my advanced students,
Mr. Luther Scammell : —

Sample No. 1 contained 3 05 ethyl nitrite

99

99

99

99

99

99

2-91

99

99

99

2-96

99

99

99

2-85

99

99

99

2-89

99

99

99

2-93

99

99

I always prefer to do a blank experiment, using 20 c.c.
pure rectified spirit, and the same weight of potassium
hydrate as I use to the ether, and check it side by side with
the sample experiment. In practice I use about two
grams KHO and add 10 c.c. of rectified spirit, which aids
its solution and helps saponification of the ethyl nitrite.
I have also often used for the saponification a small flask
fitted to a well cooled upright condenser, and worked at
the boiling point ; but I find the simple arrangement above
stated does just as well.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The History of Alizarin and Allied Colouring

Matters, and their Production from Coal Tar.*

BY W. H. PERKIN, F.R.S.

{Continued from page 78.)

We see, then, that when ordinary sulphuric acid acts
upon dichloranthracene, that we get a mixture of the
mono and disulpho acids of anthraquinone ; the latter,
however, greatly preponderates. The product also con¬
tains a considerable quantity of free sulphuric acid, which
it is necessary to remove ; this is done by means of slacked
lime, with which it forms a nearly insoluble sulphate, and
at the same time neutralizes the sulpho acids, forming
soluble lime salts. We conducted this operation in the
following manner : —

The crude sulpho acids from the iron pots were diluted

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts.

in a large wooden tank, and boiled by blowing steam into
it. Slacked lime in a wet state was then added by
degrees, with constant stirring, until the product was
neutralized. Wooden tubs, with mechanical stirrers,
were afterwards subsiituted for the tanks, but by using
Korting’s steam jet air injectors all stirring arrangements
may be dispensed with.

The neutral product was then run into the vacuum
filters, to separate the sulphate of lime, the clear filtrate
passing into the exhausted receivers. The filters consisted
of large shallow wooden tanks, on the bottom of which
bricks were laid about three inches apart, so as to form
channels, and on the top of these some more bricks,
placed side by side so as to form a floor. A layer of
about three inches of small pebbles was spread upon this,
and then about three inches of washed sand. This filter¬
ing medium was protected by a coarse canvas, kept in its
place by a wooden framing.

Two iron reservoirs, in which a vacuum could be pro¬
duced by means of an air pump, were connected with
these filters, and so arranged with stopcocks that the
filtrate might be passed either into the one or the other.
One receiver was kept for the first, and, therefore, the
strong filtrate and the first washings of the sulphate of
lime. These were made with weak liquors from a pre¬
vious operation. The further washings were made with
boiling water, and were drawn into the second receiver.
To get all the useful product out of the sulphate of lime,
it was necessary to remove it after it had been well
washed, boil it with #water and again pour it into the
filter. It should always be tested before it is thrown
away. A great number of these filters were arranged
side by side.

The strong lime salts of the sulpho acids in the first
receiver thus obtained were concentrated in iron pans,
heated either over a fire or by steam, until they contained
about 15 per cent, of lime salts. Soda crystals (sodic
carbonate) were then added in sufficient quantity to pre¬
cipitate all the lime as carbonate, and thus to produce
sodic salts of the sulpho acids. These were syphoned off
from the carbonate of lime, and concentrated until they
contained about 30 per cent, of sodic salts.

This product, which is technically called “soda salt,”
consists of at least three compounds, by far the principal
one being the 0 disulphanthraquinonate, which yields
anthrapurpurin. On standing, the a disulphanthraquin¬
onate separates out with some of the 0. The third salt
is the sodic salt of monosulphanthraquinonic acid ; but,
curiously, this salt, which, when pure, is difficultly soluble
in water, remains in solution. There is undoubtedly a
small quantity of other salts present, some of which are
probably derived from sulpho acids of the impurities of
the dichloranthracene, but are of no interest to the colour
maker. The three salts just mentioned are also formed
when anthraquinone is used instead of dichloranthracene.
They are sometimes separated, so that the different
colouring matters they produce may be obtained in a
more or less pure state.

The next operation consists in the conversion of the
product just described, and called “soda salt,” into
colouring matter. This, it will be remembered, is effected
by heating it strongly with caustic alkali. This operation
we found difficult to perform on the large scale. First
of all, it was necessary to keep the heating within certain
limits. If too high a temperature were employed, the
pioluct was destroyed; if too low, the colouring matter
was not formed, or only partially, and, consequently,
a small yield resulted.

In the laboratory the experiments on this subject were
performed in an air-bath, the products being heated in
metallic dishes, a mixture of “ soda salt ” in a dry state
with a saturated solution of the alkali being taken,
caustic potash, caustic soda and mixtures of these alka¬
lies being used, and it was considered that caustic potash
gave, on the small scale, the best yield of colouring
matter.

96

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 2, 1879.

A mixture of caustic alkali and “soda salt,” wlien
heated to about 180° C., soon changes in colour, be¬
coming blue, violet and then appearing as a black mass.
As the water evaporates it also becomes pasty. On
testing this, it is found to have decomposed so far as to
form sulphoxyanthraquinonic acid. To complete the
reaction the heating has to be continued for a consider¬
able time.

To carry this process out very many experiments were
made, and often with only partial success. One method
we tried consisted in employing a long chamber, hpated
with flues to the requisite temperature, and arranged on
the same principle as the ovens used for the continuous
baking of fancy biscuits. It was hoped that by intro¬
ducing shallow iron trays, with the mixture of soda salt
and alkali in thin layers, and gradually working them
forward to the othor end of the oven, that by the time
they had arrived there the decomposition would be
complete, and thus a continuous method might be es¬
tablished.

This succeeded in a measure, but the time required to
keep the mixture in the oven was too long to make it
work continuously; moreover, it was found difficult to
keep the temperature sufficiently uniform, and local
overheating at times occurred, destroying the product.

Another apparatus we tried consisted of a large wrought
iron cylinder, which was made to revolve inside a second,
but fixed, cylinder of thick cast iron, sufficiently large to
allow of an air space of several inches between it and the
interior cylinder. This was heated so as to form a hot
air chamber, the temperature being carefully regulated
and observed with a thermometer. The axis of the
revolving cylinder was hollow and perforated with small
holes, so that the steam, evolved from the mixture of
caustic alkali and soda salt with which it was charged,
could freely escape. In this arrangement the heating
was very satisfactory, but the operation took a consider¬
able time, especially if the charge were large. Iron
cannon balls were afterwards introduced, to keep the
mass well mixed ; but, curiously, they did not answer
the desired purpose, as they became coated to such an
extent with the alkaline mixture that when the operation
was over they were found to be three or four times as
large as when put in. Anthraquinone was found to
sublime from this apparatus, and in a smaller one, which
was overheated, anthracene was obtained.

This apparatus, although a considerable improvement,
was not perfect, a good deal of sulphoxyanthraquinonic
acid being often found in the product. However, some
considerable quantity of colouring manner was manu¬
factured in it.

Experiments were then made in closed iron tubes,
with the products mixed with water. It was assumed
that if an excess of alkali were used and a sufficiently
high temperature that the presence of water would not
interfere with the result. Curiously, this was found not
to be true, or only partially so, and it was found that if
the caustic alkali and soda salt were in a considerably
diluted condition very little colouring matter was formed ;
the mixture, instead of becoming violet, was of a brown,
or chocolate colour, and contained, as we now know,
chiefly intermediate products, such as isoanthraflavic acid.
On using less water, however, so that the mixture would
contain about 25 per cent., or more, of caustic alkali,
colouring matter was readily formed.

After experimenting for some time in closed iron
tubes, capable of holding ten or fifteen gallons, some
larger apparatus was set up. As it was necessary that
this should bear a very considerable pressure, we selected
sections of Howard’s patent safety boilers, which were
made of 10-inch drawn iron tubes. At the end of the
horizontal tube of this arrangement there is a hole, about
four inches in diameter, fitted with a cap, fastened on
with screw's, and made tight with a vulcanized washer.
This hole was used for cleaning out the apparatus. At
the other end there is a smaller hole, into which a pipe

was screwed and connected with the necessary stop
valves and pipes. It was charged and discharged through
this aperture. At the top it is provided with a pressure
gauge, safety valve and steam cock.

To heat these “pressure tubes,” as they were techni¬
cally termed, we employed a hot air chamber, in which
flues passed underneath and at the sides. A thermo¬
meter was suspended through a hole in this chamber,
and, in case of the temperature rising too high, iron doors
in the side were provided, which could be opened so as to
quickly admit cold air.

The pressure tubes were charged by gravitation from
the floor above, and when the operation was completed
their contents were forced up, by the pressure of steam
in them, into iron tanks on the top floor of the building,
so that all succeeding operations could be performed by
gravitation.

The product thus obtained is an intense purple fluid,
becoming thick on cooling. It consists chiefly of colour¬
ing matter, in combination with soda, of sodic sulphite,
and a large quantity of caustic soda. To separate the
colouring matter from this purple solution it is first
diluted and then acidified.

We performed this operation in large wooden tanks,
lined with lead, and called “ precipitating tanks;” these
were provided with steam pipes ; three cocks were also
inserted into the front sides of them. A quantity of
sulphuric acid being first diluted in these tanks, the
purple solution, when gradually run in, becomes orange
in colour, owing to the separation of the artificial alizarin
as a yellow precipitate ; it also froths up, from the evo¬
lution of sulphurous acid, which was carried into the
atmosphere by means of wooden funnels. If too little
acid had been put into the tank some more was after¬
wards added.

When the operation is thus far completed, the steam
should be turned on and the product in the tanks well
boiled for about an hour, the object being to make the
colouring matter more granular than it is when freshly
precipitated, so that the next operation may be facili¬
tated.

After being allowed to cool and settle during the night,
the yellow supernatant liquor* can be run off from one
of the side cocks. For these liquors we provided large
tanks on the ground floor ; some water was then run into
the precipitating tanks, and then their contents were
allowed to flow out on to the filters on the first floor.

These “ colour filters,” as they were termed, were
fitted up in a similar manner to those employed in
filtering the lime salt of the sulpho acids of anthra¬
quinone, and were also provided with an exhausted
receiver, so that the colouring matter could be washed
rapidly. As the first drainings always passed quickly
through the filters, they were run into the tanks on the
ground floor.

The object of these tanks was that any colouring matter
which might have run away mechanically, or separated
out on the further cooling of the liquors, would be saved.
These tanks were emptied when necessary to within about
a foot of the bottom, the colouring matter being removed
from time to time, when sufficient has accumulated to make
it worth the trouble. But to return to the colouiing
matter on the filters. To fit it for the market, it must
be repeatedly washed until nearly perfectly free from
saline matter, and neutral to test paper. It is then
allowed to drain for some time and afterwards removed to
the stock tub.

As we collected the artificial alizarin from the filters,
we used to transfer it to a truck, capable of holding
several hundredweight of this product, and running on
rails. It was weighed before being filled, and again after¬
wards. It was then wheeled over the large stock tub,

* Herr Glaser has separated from these an acid which
has been examined by Graebe and found to consist of a
sulpho acid of alizarin. — Deut. Chem . Qes. Ber., 1879,
p. 571.

August 2, 1879 ] THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

97

capable of holding several tons, and emptied into it by
withdrawing a plug. It was then again re-weighed, filled,
weighed and emptied, and this process continued until the
stock tub was suffiiciently full. The sum of the weight of
the colouring matter from the truck gave the amount
s tocked.

The colouring matter then requires to be thoroughly
mixed, either by hand or other agitators, and, when per¬
fectly homogeneous, a sample is taken out and tested.
As the artificial alizarin is always put into the stock tubs
in a concentrated state, when its strength is known, water
is added, to reduce it to the pi’oper standard. As a
precaution it is then re-examined, and if found of the
proper strength, is drawn off into casks and sent to the
consumer. There are always several stock tubs, the
number greatly increasing where many shades of artificial
alizarin are produced.

Instead cf the “ colour filters,” for washing and
draining the colouring matter above described, filter presses
are now very frequently employed, as they act much
quicker. In these the artificial alizarin can be concen¬
trated, until it contains thirty or forty per cent, of dry
colouring matter ; but this is not necessary, as it is
usually sent into the market with about ten or eleven per
cent., these being convenient strengths for the dyer. The
value of the colouring matter may be determined by
evaporating a weighed quantity in a dish, and when
dry, again weighing. As it usually contains a little inor¬
ganic matter, the ash should be determined and weighed,
but the more reliable method is to dye pieces of mordanted
cloth, as in madder testing.

It will now be necessary to go back again a little to
the formation of the colouring matter from the soda salt.

I have mentioned the various changes through which
the monosulpho and disulpho compounds of anthraquinone
go when being converted into colouring matter. In the
case of monosulphoanthraquinone, it will be remembered
that monoxyanthraquinone is first produced ; and in the
case of disulpho acids, anthraflavic and isoantliraflavic
acids are produced before the colouring matters.

As I have already shown, these substances, when con¬
verted into colouring matter by heating with caustic alkali,
cause nascent hydrogen to form, which reacts upon other
portions of them, reducing them to anthraquinone and
hydroanthraquinone. The presence of this latter substance
in the purple alkaline product from the pressure tubes is
easily seen by exposing some of it to the air, when a film
of anthraquinone will rapidly form.

As I mentioned before, this formation of anthraquinone
and hydroanthraquinone represents loss of valuable
products, which should have been converted into colouring
matter, and it was, therefore, an important problem to
solve as to whether it could be avoided. Success attended
the experiments in this direction, and all that was
found necessar}7 was to introduce a quantity of potassic
chlorate, containing enough oxygen to unite with the nascent
hydrogen. The sodic monosulphoanthraquinonate theo¬
retically requires 13 2 per cent; the sodic disulplioanthra-
quinonates, 10 per cent. In practice, three or four per
cent, more is usually employed, but any large excess must
be avoided. This improvement was discovered by J
J. Koch.*

By employing chlorate of potash in this operation, the
yield of colouring matter is very materially increased, as
would be expected from the foregoing experiments. From
experiments I have made, it is doubtful whether it acts
upon the sodic sulphite at all. The conversion of mon
oxyanthraquinone, isoanthraflavic acid, and anthraflavic
acid, or their sodic derivatives, into colouring matter, may
by this modification be represented thus —

CJ4H7(0Na)02+Na0H+0 =

Sodic monoxyan-
thraquinonate.

* Moniteur Scientifique, April, 1879 ; p. 419.

P tj ) ONa
ONa

02+0H2

~\s~

Sodic ali zarate.

C,4H"SoNai02+NaOH+0 =

Sodic isoanthraflavate
or anthraflavate.

( ONa

CuH5 \ ONa \ 02+0H2
( ONa

Sodic attthrapur-
purate or flavopurpurate.

It is also found to be an advantage to use less water
and more caustic soda. As this makes a very thick
mixture, the pressure tubes previously described are not
suitable for the operation, and instead of them very strong
double ri vetted boilers are used, about 11 or 12 feet long
and 4 feet 6 inches wide. These are fitted with a stirrer,
which is kept moving during the operation, and are fitted
up practically in the same manner as the pressure tubes.
They are, however, charged through the top manhole.
The mixture with which they are charged is about as
follows, the amount, of course, being in proportion to
the size of the boiler.

A quantity of the soda salt previously described, and
representing 100 parts of dry salt, is mixed with about
400 parts of caustic soda, dissolved in as little water as
possible, and 15 parts of potassic chlorate. The mixture
is best made in the boiler, the stirrer being kept moving
all the time, to render it homogeneous.

If sodic monosulphanthraquinonate be used instead of
the above soda salt, a little more potassic chlorate may be
used, and somewhat less caustic soda, as a smaller amount
of the latter substance is used up in the chemical reaction.
The preparation of sodic monosulphanthraquinonate will
be described further on.

The temperature used is about 170° to 180°, some
manufacturers using somewhat lower and others higher
temperatures. When the charge contains chiefly sodic
disulphanthraquinonate, the operation is carried on for
several days and nights, not unfrequently a week ; but if
it contains sodic monosulphanthraquinonate, two or three
days will be found sufficient.

I have often noticed, on heating a mixture of the mono
and disulpho compound with caustic alkali, that by
stopping the action early, only alizarin is produced, the
decomposition of the disulpho acid, and consequent
formation of anthrapurpurin, requiring considerably more
time.

The products formed in these boilers are treated just
in the same way as those from the pressure tubes pre¬
viously described, i.e., they are blown into iron tanks,
diluted, acidified, and the precipitated coloured matter
well washed.

I wish now to draw your attention to the first process
we used for the preparation of artificial alizarin, viz., the
process in which anthraquinone is employed. The
anthracene we first used for this purpose was obtained
from pitch. We then employed that from the tar
distillers. In our earlier operations it was purified
simply by treatment with naphtha and subsequent dis¬
tillation, but afterwards by distillation with potash.

The purified anthracene was ground very thoroughly
with water under edge-runners. It was then placed
in a lead lined tank, with twice its weight of powdered
potassic bichromate dissolved in water. About 3 parts
of sulphuric acid, previously diluted, were then
added. After well stirring, a very energetic reaction set
in, the mixture boiling up to near the top of the tank.
When this had been moderated, steam was turned on,
and the mixture well boiled for an hour or two. The
yellow granular crude anthraquinone was then separated
from the chrome alum solution, well washed, and after it

98

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 2, 1879.

had drained, though still wet, was purified by sublimation.
At first we used two iron retorts, with openings at the
top, and connected with a wide bent iron tube for this
purpose, the one acting as a sublimer, the other as a
receiver. Afterwards we employed retorts, with an outlet
from the end connected with a large sheet-iron cylinder,
having one end closed with canvas only.

The wet crude anthraquinone, when heated, gave off
a considerable amount of steam, this helped to carry the
vapour of the anthraquinone forward, which condensed as
an impalpable powder. As the sublimation proceeded,
and less steam was given off, small crystals of anthra¬
quinone deposited. On opening the retorts after the
operation, magnificent hard yellow crystals were often
found suspended from the roofs of them.

The sublimed anthraquinone was then dried, and finally
purified by crystallization from high-boiling coal-tar
naphtha. The crystallized product was collected on canvas
bags, drained, washed with a little clean naphtha, pressed,
and then dried.

The amount of pure anthraquinone we obtained from
pitch anthracene was, speaking from memory, about 20
to 25 per cent. The yield from ordinary anthracene from
the tar distillers, was, of course, much greater. The
use of potash in the distillation of anthracene we did not
adopt until after we had ceased using the anthracene
from pitch, otherwise better results would have been
obtained with this product.

Since these early operations were made, a great deal of
attention has been and is still being given to the
preparation of anthraquinone. A number of experiments
were made in my laboratory on the use of peroxide of
manganese as the oxidizing agent, but I never succeeded in
obtaining such a satisfactory yield as when potassic
bichromate was employed. Anthraquinone is now usually
prepared in the following manner : — The crude anthra¬
cene is first washed with coal-tar naphtha. In employing
this as the purifying agent, it is used cold, and well
agitated with the anthracene, until every particle has
been brought in contact with it. If the crude anthracene
contains 20 or 30 percent, of pure anthracene, it is treated
with its own weight of naphtha.

The naphtha is then well drained off from the anthracene,
which is afterwards pressed as dry as possible by means
of - a hydraulic press. If the quality is lower than 20
per cent., it is first treated with about one-fourth its weight
of naphtha, and afterwards as if of a quality over 20 or
30 per cent. The adhering naphtha, which is generally
about one-tenth the weight of the pressed anthracene, is
then removed by steaming, and thus recovered, or it is
allowed to evaporate away.

The naphtha which has been used is purified by dis¬
tillation, and thus rendered fit for a fresh operation. An
arrangement of apparatus, such as that described for
treating anthracene with petroleum spirit, answers equally
when naphtha is used, omitting the cooling tanks.
Horizontal stirring machines are now preferred to the
vertical ones, as in the latter, the anthracene and solvent,
after a short time, move round together with the stirrer,
and therefore do not get well mixed. This, however, can
be avoided by fixing a few blades to the sides of the
machine.

{To be continued.)

farlianmttarg and Jfam f nullings.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE ASSO¬
CIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Prosecution of a Chemist by the Excise
Authorities.

At the Sunderland Police Court on Wednesday, July
23, 1879, before Mr. Alderman Potts, and Andrew
Common, Esq., Mr. John W. Gillies, chemist and druggist,
High Street, Sunderland, was charged at the instance of

the Excise authorities, “ That on May 17, 1879, at Sun¬
derland, he not being a distiller or rectifier of spirits or
other person duly authorized or specially licensed by the
Commissioners of the Inland Revenue to mix and make
methylated spirit, sold a certain quantity, to wit, one gill,
of methylated spirit without having in force a licence on
that behalf, granted under the authority of the Act,
contrary to the terms of the statute in that case made
and provided.”

Mr. W. A. Young, district supervisor of Excise, con¬
ducted the prosecution, and Mr. Henry Glaisyer, of Bir¬
mingham, solicitor to the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade
Association of Great Britain, appeared for the defendant.

Mr. Young said the information was laid under the
5th section of the 24th and 25th Yictoria, c. 91, which
enacted that every person not being a distiller or rectifier
of spirits or other person duly authorized or specially
licensed by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to
mix and make methylated spirits, who shall sell any such
spirits in any quantity without having in force a licence
on that behalf, granted under the authority of this Act,
shall forfeit the sum of £50 over and above all other
penalties to which he may be liable under any other Act
or Acts in force. The authorities, he said, had had
complaints made to them that Mr. Gillies was selling
methylated spirits, and an officer of the Inland Revenue
visited his shop on May 17 last. He asked for a gill of
methylated spirits, with which he was supplied ; Mr.
Gillies stating at the time that he had no licence to sell
it and must put something in it. There was an article
sold under the regulations of the Board without a licence
called “finish,” which was methylated spirit, to every
gallon of which had been added three ounces of gum
resin or shellac. Part of the sample purchased from Mr.
Gillies was sent to the laboratory at Somerset House for
analysis. It did not contain sufficient gum resin to con¬
stitute what was called “finish” by the Board’s regu¬
lations.

E. Lewth waite, an officer of Inland Revenue, stated
that acting on instructions he visited the defendant’s
shop on May 17 last, and asked for a gill of methylated
spirit. Mr. Gillies supplied him. He said there had
been a great deal of bother about that sort of thing and
he must put a little of something in it before he could
sell it as he had no licence. Fivepence was paid for it.
Witness took the spirit home and kept it till he gave it
to Mr. Young the supervisor.

Cross-examined by Mr. Glaisyer : When I went into
the shop I asked for a gill of methylated spirit, and the
defendant replied that he had no licence to sell it and
must put something in it before he could sell it. De¬
fendant did not say that he did not sell it. I did not
suggest that he had it in stock. Defendant did not say
that he kept it only for making his preparations. De¬
fendant did not ask me what I wanted it for. I did not
say my son was making experiments and I wanted it for
burning. I did not say anything about burning it or
making experiments. Defendant did not say he was
making “finish.” He said he would do something to it.
I did not ask whether that would destroy its burning
power. I did not see what he put in it. I did not see
him put anything in it. I have not seen much methy¬
lated spirit ; what I bought had a yellowish tinge. I did
not see him put any resin into it. I did not shake it up.
I kept it a few days and then handed it to the supervisor.
It was put in my own bottle.

By the Bench : The defendant went into the back shop
to fill the bottle and handed it to me over the counter.
He told me before going into the back shop that he would
have to put this stuff into it.

William Anthony Young, supervisor, said : I received
this sample of methylated spirit from Lewthwaite. It
looked about the same as it does now. The bottle con¬
tained a gill. I sent about half of it to the laboratory at
Somerset House for analysis. I secured the sample
myself in the box (produced), addressed it, and sealed it

August 2, 1*79.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

99

with the Revenue seal. It was addressed, “ The Prin¬
cipal, Laboratory, Inland Revenue, Somerset House.”
It was sent 'off on June 11. I could not be positive when
Lewth waite gave me the spirit. He got it on May 17,
and it was two or three days after I packed it up and
sent it to London on June 11. I shook it up when I
received it from Lewthwaite, and at the time I divided it
I shook it thoroughly.

Henry James Helen said : I am one of the analysts to
the Board of Inland Revenue at Somerset House. I
remember receiving a parcel from Sunderland on June 12.
The box produced is the one in which the bottle was en¬
closed. The seal was perfect, I analysed it and found it
to be methylated spirit containing 429-8 grains or rather
less than one ounce of gum resin to the gallon. Methy¬
lated spirit to be what the Board of Inland Revenue call
“ finish” must have dissolved in it three ounces of gum
resin.

By Mr. Glaisyer : There was an earlier regulation of
the Board which required less. On April 23, 1837, the
Board issued an order allowing it to be sold with one
ounce of gum resin. If the resin was not thoroughly
dissolved, the liquid taken from the top of the bottle
would contain less resin than that at the bottom.

This was all the evidence produced.

Mr. Glaisyer (addressing the Bench) said : The charge
against the defendant is for selling methylated spirit
without a licence. The answer I am instructed to make
is that he sold the article known as “ finish.” If this is
proved to your satisfaction the summons must be dis¬
missed. I think I am entitled to go further and say,
that in construing this very penal statute, most ample
proof is required on the part of the prosecution before the
defendant can be convicted, and if there exists a doubt in
your minds, the defendant is entitled to the benefit of
that doubt, and the charge against him should be dis¬
missed. There is no doubt that the sale of methylated
spirit as “ finish ” is allowed without a licence, and there
are the two general orders of the Board of Inland
Revenue on that subject which have been mentioned to
you to day. Perhaps I may be allowed in passing to call
the attention of the Bench in a few words to the law
which sanctions the manufacture and regulates the sale
of methylated spirit. In the first place I may tell you
that methylated spirit is not spirits of wine. The sale of
spirits of wine has been for many years regulated by
statute and prohibited except under a wine licence. But
for the purposes of art and manufacture it has become
requisite that a preparation of spirits of wine should be
sold much more generally than is allowed by this pro¬
vision ; and therefore, in the year 1855, an Act was
passed by which a mixture of spirits of wine with wood
naphtha or methylic alcohol was permitted to be sold
under another licence, and that mixture is called methy¬
lated spirit. It cannot be sold in its pure state except
persons who have taken out a licence ; and the
penalty for selling it without a licence is £50, the amount
claimed in the present proceedings. Under an Act passed
in the reign of Geo. IV. the magistrates have power to
diminish that penalty to £12 10s., or one-fourth of
the amount ; though they cannot make a greater re¬
duction they have power to recommend the Commissioners
of Inland Revenue to further remit the penalty, and these
recommendations I am glad to say receive the very careful
consideration of that Board. Spirits of wine as methylated
spirits can therefore be sold with a licence, but the use of
methylated spirit as medicine or an ingredient in medi¬
cine is most strictly prohibited, and it is chiefly needed
in the manufacture of furniture polish and varnish in
making various liniments and f r burning in spirit lamps.
The use of methylated spirit in art and manufacture
has constantly called for modifications in the restrictions
in its sale, and in consequence the 'general orders, to
which allusion has been before made, have been published
by the Inland Revenue Board, and the article known as
“ finish ” is the outcome of these modifications in the law.

“ Finish ” is made by the addition to a gallon of methy¬
lated spirit of three ounces of gum resin; thus whilst
preserving its utility in art and manufacture it is rendered
so nauseous and unpalatable that no one will drink itr
and that is really the object with which the resin is added,,
for nauseous as methylated spirit is, people ha- e been
found who had such a craving for spirits that they had
actually drunk it. No other alteration is allowed in the
constitution of “finish,” except the addition of more gum
resin or a little colouring matter, and any alteration in
other respects incurs a liability to a very heavy penalty —
£200 if I recollect correctly. The defence is that the
defendant has really sold the article “finish.” He would
tell you if his mouth were not closed that when this
informer came into his premises he told him he did not
sell methylated spirit, and had no licence for the purpose.
The informer asked if he did not keep it in stock. He
said he did, and the informer said he might let him have
a gill, and the defendant again replied that he could not
sell him methylated spirit, but he could sell him “ finish,”
and proposed to sell him that article, and asked him for
what purpose he wanted it. The informer replied that
his son was making experiments, and required it for
burning, and also inquired if the “ finish ” which the
defendant proposed to sell would burn in a lamp. The
defendant said he believed it would, and on those terms
he sold him the article “finish.” As he measured it out
he added to the half pint of spirit at least half an ounce
of gum resin, or more than was actually required by the
general order. The general order authorized him to sell
“finish,” and he was under the impression that he had
sold it. He would further tell you that he never keeps
more than half a gallon of methylated spirit on his
premises at one time, that quantity being quite sufficient
for the requirements of his business for four months, his
sole use for it being the manufacture of certain liniments.
He is never asked for methylated spirit, and therefore
takes out no licence for its sale. For twelve years he has
been carrying on the business of a chemist and druggist
in High Street, and this is the only charge that has ever
been made against him. On this occasion he says he had
sold “ finish,” and had therefore not infringed the law.
I hope you will take that view of the case and discharge
the summons.

After some remarks from Mr. Young, the Bench retired
to consider the case, and on their return shortly after¬
wards,

The Chairman (Mr. Alderman Potts) said : The Bench
find that the law has been clearly violated, and we can¬
not do otherwise than convict. We impose the minimum
penalty £12 10.?. and recommend a reduction to £5. This
is the first case, so far as we know, that has arisen in this
town, and the defendant, we think, may not have been
aware of the order of 1867.

Mr. Young: I will forward the recommendation.

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

Reply.

[328]. In reply to this query I think C. B. obtained
the correct result. Probably the tine, hyoscyami used by
the London firm was made from leaves of the annual
plant instead of biennial.

Volo Semper Jcvare.

100

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 2, 187k

Queries.

[333]. How is extract, bela. liquid usually dispensed, as
a clear dark-brown liquid or as an opaque syrupy liquid
with an abundant precipitate? In the directions for its
preparation in the B.P. no notice is given as to it being
filtered after the addition of the spirit.

Norwich. W. W. Will.

cause the copper (sulphate precipitated by zinc) and mer¬
cury to amalgamate thoroughly.

Parade , Canterbury. Geo. A. Story.

[622]. “Aqua” wishes address of an importer of rad.
glycyrrli. exot.

[334].

fit Calomel powd .

Bals. Copaib . oss*

Spts. /Eth. Nit . ^j.

Aqua. Menth. Pip . Oss.

3ss. ter die.

Can any reader of the Journal inform me the best mode
of dispensing the above ?

An Apprentice.

[335]. A prescription was presented to me the other day
ordering “Emp. Iodinii.” I shall be glad of the opinion of
your readers as to what I ought to have used, there being
no preparation of that name in the B.P. The prescription
was written at Birmingham and had been previously dis¬
pensed seventeen times in the south of England, but the
patient remarked that he could not get “the right stuff”
in the north, and on my asking him wrhat had been the
colour of the previous plasters he instantly took the pre¬
scription out of my hand and left the shop remarking
that I did not know my business. Nihil.

[336]. Can any one inform me
following ? —

Take of —

Extract of Bark . . .

Extract of Rhatany . .

Extract of Burdock . .

Eixed Oil of Nutmegs

Camphor .

Beef Marrow ....

Olive Oil .

Citron Juice .

Bergamot .

Otto Rose .

Mix and make into a pomade.

what is the use of the

15 grains.

8 grains.

2 drams.

2 drams.

15 grains.

2 ounces.

1 ounce.

\ dram.

10 drops.

2 drops.

Edward Pratt.

[337]. Can any of your readers inform me how to dis¬
pense the following prescription without separating? —

R Liq. Ferri Dial. (Hyth.) .

Syr. Aurant . 5j.

Aquse . ad giv.

M. f. m. 3j three times a day.

G. W. W.

ftok's anti (futrns.

[618]. NICOTINE. — Nicotine is extracted from the
tobacco leaves by exhausting them with a mixture of
equal parts of rectified spirit and water, evaporating the
liquid to one-third of the original bulk, when cold shake
up with strong caustic lye and ether, decant the ethereal
solution and expell the ether by the addition of a gentle
heat, mix the residue with freshly prepared sleaked lime
and distill in a stream of hydrogen, when the nicotine
passes over at a temperature of 365° Eahr.

Norwich. W. W. Will.

[620]. NICKEL PLATING. — Will some correspond¬
ent kindly state a reliable mode of depositing nickel on
dental and other small instruments?

Parade , Canterbury. Geo. A. Story.

[621]. SULLIVAN S AMALGAM. — I wish to learn
the process for the above amalgam, my difficulty being to

UtoriUfspiul^nr^.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated oy the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Spiritus 2Etheris Nitrosi.

Sir, — The subject of the above compound has lately been
one of deep interest to me as it no doubt has to many
others.

I am persuaded that it is very gratifying to many that
spiritus mtheris nitrosi is again occupying the attention of
chemists, and trust that something more definite and satis-
factory will be arrived at respecting this very remarkable
compound.

1 have read Mr. Rimmington’s paper in your issue of the
19th ult. with much care and attention. There are, however,
one or two peculiarities in the results obtained by him that
are somewhat difficult to comprehend.

He remarks at the outset that all that is said in
this paper “has reference to a spirit that corresponds with
that described in the British Pharmacoepia in nature, sub¬
stance and quality.” That I understand to mean, that the
sample tested, ou being agitated with twice its volume of
the saturated solution of calcic chloride, 2 per cent, of
nitrite of ethyl will float on the surface ; and yet in the
analysis of his best sample the per cent, given is 172 as
being the total amount it contains.

Another peculiarity in Mr. Rimmington’s results is that
the amount of nitric peroxide obtained is only a little more
than one -third of the amount contained in the quantity of
nitric acid used. What has become of the other ?

I am sure this subject needs further investigation and
probably if the contents of the retort were carefully examined
after the operation of nitre making is concluded, some
further information would be obtained.

Wakefield. Wm. Pollard.

T. S. W. — (1) Epilobium montanum. (2) Potentilla
tormentilla. (3) Helianthemum vulgare. (4) Lychnis
vespertine. (5) Erodium cicutarium. (6) Asplenium
trichomanes. (7) Polypodium vulgare. (8) Asplenium
adiantum nigrum.

T. Hope. — (1) Vida Cracca. (2) Lathyrus pratensis.
(3) Lotus major.

Dulcus. — (1) Cruciferce. (2) There is some mistake
about the spelling of this name. (3) TJmbelliferce.

R. Roberts. — (1) Lysimachia nummularia. (2) Correct.
(3) Ligustrum vulgare. (4) Melilotus officinalis.

“ Fug am.” — To obtain the information you desire we
should advise you to apply to the proprietors or to analyse
the preparation.

Caution. — A correspondent writing from Handsworth
wishes to caution chemists and druggists against the wiles
of an enterprising individual who, under the pretence that
he is a medical man, oi ders goods to be procured for him
and sent to a place where he obtained possession of them
by a device which left the vendor without payment.

Fredk. H. Fainveather.- (1) Triodia decumbens. (2)
Aira caryopliylla. (3) Not British, cannot say without
fruit. (4) Acer campestre.

Jno. Hutchinson. — “ Cleistogamous.” This term is ap¬
plied to flowers fertilized by their own pollen without the
petals unfolding. “ Proterandrous.” When the anthers are
mature before the stigma. “ Proterogynous ” signifies that
the stigma matures before the anthers. See Lubbock’s
‘ British Wild Flowers in Relation to Insects,’ or Thome’s
‘Text Book of Structural and Physiological Botany,*

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. S. Atkins, A. Strachan, 0. H., F. E. Rimmington,
A. H., H. Sparshott, J. T. Robinson, Herbert Chambers,
Novice, Hy. Brown.

August 9, 18T9.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

101

NOTES ON SOME JAPANESE DRUGS.

BY E. M. HOLMES, F.L.S.,

Curator of the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society .

ROOTS.

(■ Continued from page 23.)

Botan (59) : — Pceonia M out an, Dec.

Syn. Mau-tan, Porter Smith, Chinese Mat. Med.
p. 1G9, Phonzou Zonfou, vol. ix. p. 14.

This drug .consists of the root hark, which occurs
in half quills, from one to three inches long. Ex¬
ternally the pieces are of a dark lilac-brown colour
and moderately smooth ; internally, pinkish-white
and starchy, but hard, or in some pieces horny and
darker coloured. The taste is aromatic and pungent
and the odour is very similar to that of Hemidesmus
vndicus, but more powerful.

In China this bark is largely used for congestion,
haemorrhages and menstrual disorders, and, according
to Dr. Martin, is often prescribed by the Japanese
physicians. It is forbidden to be used by pregnant
women, being considered abortive. Analysed by
Iago* at the pharmaceutical laboratory, at Tokio, it
yielded an aromatic crystalline substance, which was
apparently a fatty acid allied to caprinic acid, but
had a higher melting point. The crystals are very
soluble in alcohol and ether, and are precipitated from
the alcoholic solution by a large quantity of water.
They melt at 45° C. and sublime at a higher tem¬
perature. This plant is quite a favourite with
florists in Japan and China, who make more than
thirty varieties of it. A large number of varieties
were exhibited at the last Paris Exhibition, some of
them having the delicate perfume as well as the
blush tint of the cabbage rose.

Rew-tang soh (20) : — Gentiana Buergen , Miq.

Syn. Rindo, So mokou Zouss. vol. iv. fig. 47 ;
Sasa Rindo, Fr. et Sav. vol. i. p. 323 ; Phonzou
Zoufou, vol. viii. p. 5.

This drug consists of a short rhizome, giving off a
number of brown roots about the thickness of a crow
quill, and three or four inches long ; these are
strongly furrowed longitudinally. The transverse
section of the rhizome is pale and spongy, the taste
is bitter and resembles that of gentian in character.
It corresponds well with the specimens of “Gentian”
(Lung-tan-ts‘au) in the collection of Chinese drugs
presented to the Society by Dr. Porter Smith, but
does not answer to his description of the drug. He
refers it to Gentiana asclepiadea, and other species.
G. Buergeri was, however, identified from the
Japanese description in the So moukou Zoussetz by
Mr. Takemura as being identical with Rew-tang sau.
Gentiana Buergeri is found in damp grassy places in
Japan, and flowers in September and November.

The name both in Chinese and Japanese has the
snne meaning, viz., Dragon’s-gall-herb, and is given
by the Chinese, according to Dr. Porter Smith, to any
intensely bitter plant.

Sang- yak (41) : — Dioscorea japonica, Th., FI. Jap.
p. 151.

Syn. Yama-no-imo, Jijenjo ; So mokou Zoussetz,
vol. xx. fig. 56; Dsojo, Iamma imo, Koenipf.
Amoen. p. 828.

Sang-yak occurs in white cylindrical tapering
pieces, varying from one-half to one inch or more in

* ArcMv der Pharmacie, October, 1878, p. 334.
Third Series, No. 476.

diameter, and four or five inches long. The outer
surface owes its whiteness to being decorticated ;
the transverse section is also white and presents a
uniform appearance. It has no taste or smell. It
is probably used, like the Hwai-san-yoh of the
Chinese, in diarrhoea. Koempfer states that the
root is edible.

The word Yak means “medicinal” in Japanese, so
that it may be inferred from the name of the drug
that it is also used as a medicine, probably in the
same way that arrowroot is used in this country.
The plant is frequent in shrubberies in Japan, and
flowers in September. The leaves much resemble
those of the black bryony in shape, but the fruit is
capsular. .

Seki-sho kung (3) : — Acorus gramineus, Ait. So
mokou Zoussetz, vol. vii. fig. 10 ; Phonzou Zoufou,
vol. xxxiii., p. 17; Fr. et Sav. vol. ii. pt. 1,

p. 10.

This drug consists of a slender rhizome, two to
four inches long, and about a quarter of an inch in
diameter, sparingly branched and marked with
numerous leaf scars like that of Acorus Calamus , to
which it bears a strong general resemblance, but
differs in taste, which in Acorus gramineus is pungent
and faintly bitter, and in the absence of aroma. The
rhizome has been compared with that of specimens
of the plant in the British Musenm, and corresponds
well with it.

The drug described under this name in Dr. Porter
Smith’s ‘Materia Medica’ is not that of A. gramineus.

According to Mr. Takemura, the article on this
plant in So mokou Zoussetz, states that A. gramineus
is more used in China than in Japan. The name
Sekisko appears to be derived from seld, meaning
a stone (it is the same character as the Chinese Shih),
and sho, acorus, probably in allusion to the plant
growing in damp stony places instead of in the water.
It flowers in April.

Seng-kiu (7) : — So mokou Zoussetz, vol. v. fig. 1 ;

Conioselinum univittatum, Turcz, Fr. et Sav.

vol. ii. p. 375.

Sen-kiuis a hard, somewhat rounded, very knotty
rhizome, one or two inches in circumference, and
apparently formed at first by swellings of the inter¬
nodes, which are distant about half an inch from
each other. These swellings seem to be formed into
a rounded mass in the course of development of the
rhizome. This mode of growth appears evident from
the portions of the cylindrical stem which may be
found attached to some of the specimens, and which
have smaller knobs at the nodes. The rhizome is
greyish-brown externally, and greyish and horny,
and slightly marbled with white internally, and
has an aromatic taste, recalling that of fenugreek or
lovage seeds. Seng-kiu grows in shady places in
mountainous woods, and flowers in July.

Seng-kootz (1 1) : — Nuphar japonicum, D. C. (Nym-

phseacese).

Syn. A ymphcea lutea, L. ; Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 223.

K aw a hone, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. x. fig.

10 ; Feiso, Kawahone, Kcernpf. Amcen. p. 880.

This drug occurs in flattish pieces, three to six inches
long or more, and about one inch broad, and half an
inch in thickness, consisting of the rhizome cut in
half longitudinally. On the outside the pieces are of

] 02

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 9, 1879.

brown colour, marked with round blackish scars where
the leaves were attached, and present a swelling
beneath each scar where the rootlets have been given
off. The cut side and indeed the whole inner sur¬
face is of a yellowish or dirty white tint, and very
starchy. The substance is soft and tough, and under
a lens is seen to be as full of minute holes as a piece
of coral. The taste is insipid, and the odour re¬
sembles that of marshmallow root.

The name seng signifies a river, and hootz a bone,
possibly in allusion to the colour and porosity of the
root.

See-yoh-bei (29) : — Geum japonicum, Th. (Rosacese).

Syn. Daikonso, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. ix. fig.
41 ; Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 220 ; Fr. et Sav. vol.
i. p. 128.

This root consists of a short central woody portion,
about half-inch long and one-third of an inch in
diameter, almost concealed by a dense tuft of slender
slightly furrowed rootlets, which are two or three
inches long, and about the thickness of ordinary
twine.

The root is pale brown internally, with a darker
horny centre (not purple as in Geum urbanum) .
The taste is astringent and has the same peculiar
clove-like character as that of Geum urbanum. The
odour also faintly resembles cloves. It was this
characteristic that led to its identification, which
was confirmed by a comparison of the Japanese
characters with those in the So mokou Zoussetz, by
Mr. Takemura.

The properties, judging from the taste, must be
aromatic and astringent. See-yoh-bei grows by road¬
sides and margins of fields, and flowers from August
to October.

Shau-bookung (37): — A corns spurius, Schott, Ann.
Mus. Lugd. Batav. 1 p. 284 ; Aracese.

Syn . Shobu, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. vii. fig. 9 ;
Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xxxiii. p. 17 ; Kawa sob,
Kawa sobu, Koempf. Amcen. p. 912.

This drug, except in being split longitudinally
into two halves, and in its smaller size, differs in
nothing from the Calamus aromaticus rhizome
obtainable in this country.

As a species it is chiefly distinguished by the
shortness of the spathe, which near the apex is only
about four lines broad, the spadix being three or four
lines thick. Judging from the taste alone, it
appears to be only a small variety of A. Calamus, L.

Teng-ma (38): — Urtica tuberosa , Roxb.(?); Porter
Smith, Chinese Mat. Med. p. 225, JPouzohia
tuberosa, Wight, Icon. PI. Ind., vol. ii. t. 697.

This drug consists of flattened shrivelled tubercules
about two inches long, one inch broad and one-fourth
to one-third of an inch in thickness. Externally they
are of a greyish- brown colour and internally present
a blackish-brown shining fracture. The tubercules
appear to have been hollow inside. The taste is
sweet and mucilaginous. The odour is somewhat
smoky. In China, according to Dr. Porter Smith,
the plant is prescribed in rheumatism, neuralgia, palsy
and lumbago.

The Japanese drug closely resembles both in
appearance and taste the Chinese specimens presented
to the Society by Dr. Porter Smith.

The Chinese name T’ien-ma, or Teng-ma as it is
pronounced in Japanese, means teng, heaven, ma,

nettle. Heaven, being the idea of excellence, seems
almost an equivalent for good ; so that the name
seems to imply a nettle possessing unusually good
qualities. The root is edible.

Tak sha (2): — Alisma Plantago, L. (Alismacete).

Syn. Saji-omodaka, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. vii.
fig. 33; Tokusa, Sasi-omodaka, Thunb. FI.
Jap. p. 153.

This drug consists of the dried corms. They are
somewhat conical in shape, the wide upper end pre¬
senting traces of the stem, while the lower tapering
portion is covered with the bristly remains of root¬
lets. The transverse section presents a yellowish-
white uniform appearance, sparkling by reflected
light, with bright points. The taste is sweetish and
the odour aromatic and slightly ammoniacal. It is
used in China for dropsy and similar complaints.

Thunberg states that Sasi-omodaka means spoon¬
like, and that this name is probably given from the
shape of the leaves.

Teng-mong-dau (26): — Asparagus lucidus, Lindl.
(Liliaceee).

Syn. Kusasugikadzura, So mokou Zoussetz,
vol. vii. fig. 6; Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xxviii.

. p. 3 ; Teen-mun-tung, Hanbury ‘ Science Papers,’
p. 257 ; Ke mundo, Ten mondo, Thunberg, FI.
Jap. p. 257; T‘ien-men-tung, Dr. Porter Smith,
Chinese Mat. Med. p. 145, Tomo-roki, Ten mada,
Fr. et Sav. vol. ii. p. 1, p. 59.

This drug consists of spindle-shaped brownish
horny looking tubercules, showing traces of a pale
thin longitudinally furrowed skin which has evidently
been eaten away by insects ; the tubercules vary
in thickness from one-fourth to one-third or even
half-an-incli in diameter in the centre. The taste
is sweet and mucilaginous at first with a distinct
but somewhat sickly flavour and afterwards a bitter
taste. They do not possess a marked odour. T he horny
portion of the tubercules is not attacked by insects.
The tubercules of Melantliium cochinchinense in the
collection presented to this Society by Dr. Porter
Smith agree exactly in taste and appearance with
the Japanese drug, and the written character for the
Japanese and Chinese drug is identical, although pro¬
nounced differently.

The above identification is given on the authority
of So mokou Zoussetz, but not without some hesita¬
tion on my part, since the asparagus flowers in July
and the Japanese native name mong dau means gate
of winter, implying a plant flowering (or fruiting ?)
late in autumn. Hanbury and Porter Smith both
refer it to Melantliium cochinchinense, but several
other writers to asparagus.

Tau-hoong-so (16) : — Veratrum album (?)

Syn. Bai-kai-so, Fr. et Sav. vol. ii. pi. 1. p. 91.

This root presents all the appearance of the Vera¬
trum album of commerce, and gives the same orange-
red tint when the root is touched with strong sul¬
phuric acid. It consists of a central portion, about
two- thirds of an inch in diameter and about one
inch or more long, crowned with the membranous
bases of leaves and furnished with numerous brown
rootlets about a line in thickness and two or three
inches long. These rootlets have the numerous
transverse wrinkles so characteristic of the roots
of Veratrum alb um and viride. The taste is bitter at

August 9, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

103

first, but afterwards a burning sensation is produced.
The Japanese name does not, however, correspond
to that of either Veratrum nigrum or V. viride , which
are figured and described in the So mokou Zoussetz,
vol. xx. fig. 62, 63. The central axis of the root shows
the same crenated ridge where it joins the root bark,
which Professor Bentley lias shown to be characteristic
of the Veratrum album of commerce. V. album is
is, however, a native of Japan, although not described
in the So mokou Zoussetz.

To-kee (8) : — Ligusticum acutilobum, Sieb. el Zucc.

Syn. Toki, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. v. fig. 4 ; Fr. et
Sav. vol i. p. 186.

To-kee root bears a strong external resemblance to
angelica root, both in size and shape, but the rootlets
are less furrowed. It consists of a tap root about one
inch in diameter near the top, tapering down to
a quarter of an inch, and surrounded by a number of
stout rootlets from one-fourth to one-third of an inch
thick. The side roots are marked with numerous
transverse slightly warty scars ; internally the roots
present adark brown colour, with a darker ring around
the meditullium and a soft waxy section with very
few and small oil vesicles. The taste is sweet and
mucilaginous and very faintly pungent. The odour
has a faint resemblance to fenugreek.

To-sai-ahin (1): — Asarum Sieboldii, Miq. fol. coria-
ceis (Aristolochiacese), S6 mokou Zouss. vol. ix.
fig 5; Phonzou Zoufou, vol. viii. p. 8.

The rhizome of this plant is very similar in ap"
pearance to serpentary root, consisting of a slender
rhizome crowned with numerous crowded discs
marking the base of the leafy stems ; from this
Thizome the rootlets depend in a dense tuft three
or four inches long. The roots are of a pale brown
colour, cylindrical, quite smooth and unbranclied.
The transverse section is white and starchy with a
slender yellow woody thread in the centre. The
taste is aromatic, at first somewhat resembling that of
nutmeg or sassafras, then powerfully pungent and
causing a flow of saliva like pellitory. The odour is
slightly aromatic, but not at all camphoraceous like
serpentary.

This variety of Asarum Sieboldii is found in copses
and woods on the sides of hills, and flowers in April
and May. It is not often cultivated in Japan.

{To be continued.)

RESEARCHES ON ALBUMIN.*

BY SCHUTZENBERGER.

It having been observed that albuminoid substances
when submitted to the action of baryta under suitable
conditions appear to be transformed entirely into
crystallizable or into definite principles, it seemed reason¬
able to suppose that a carefully conducted and complete
study of this reaction would be likely to materially contri¬
bute to a knowledge of the proximate composition of these
bodies, if it did not ultimately solve the question respecting
their constitution.

With this end in view, the author instituted and has
carried out an extended series of experiments upon the
action of baryta solution at high temperatures on
coagulated egg-albumin and other nitrogenous principles,

* From the Ann. Chim. Phys. [5], 16, 289—419. Re¬
printed from the Journal of the Chemical Society, July,

1879.

the results of which investigation form the subject of the
present memoir.

The albuminoid under experiment was placed with the
alkaline solution in an iron silver-lined autoclave, and
heated to a definite temperature for some hours. After
cooling, the contents of the cylinder, consisting of an
amber-coloured liquid and a solid deposit, were trans¬
ferred to a large flask, and the ammonia (1) distilled off
into hydrochloric acid and estimated ; the residue (2) in
the flask was brought upon a weighed filter, washed with
boiling water until the baryta was removed, then dried
and weighed. The filtrate from the latter was precipi¬
tated by a current of carbonic anhydride, the barium
carbonate removed, and the baryta remaining in the
liquor exactly precipitated by sulphuric acid and its
weight ascertained. The acid thus set free, which
proved to be acetic acid (3) with traces of formic acid,
was distilled off in a vacuum and again determined. The
residue remaining from the distillation of the acetic acid,
which the author terms fixed residue (4), is of a clear
yellow colour, friable and easily removable from the
vessel ; it contains all the fixed principles, such as leucine,
tyrosine, etc., which are formed at the expense of the
organic substance, in the proportions in which they are
produced.

Determination of the Ammonia. — Having proved that
coagulated albumin, washed with ether and dried at
140°, contained 16'5 per cent, of nitrogen, the effect of
boiling it with three times its weight of baryta under
ordinary pressure was ascertained. T2 per cent, of
nitrogen was evolved in the form of ammonia within the
first half hour, the disengagement proceeding slowly,
until after one hundred and twenty hours' boiling 2*2
per cent, had been eliminated : this number was never
exceeded. At 120° in the autoclave, 2 *2 per cent, of
nitrogen was evolved by digestion during six or eight
hours; at 150°, with only twice its weight of baryta, 3*1
per cent, was obtained; whilst between 150° and 180°,
with three parts of baryta for twenty-four hours, 3*95 per
cent, was disengaged, and the limit of 4*0 per cent, was
not exceeded even by heating with six parts of baryta for
six or eight days. These three limits indicate clearly
three successive and different stages of decomposition.

Insoluble Barium Salts. — The ’quantity of this deposit,
like the ammonia, varies with the temperature and with
the proportion of baryta used : in composition as well as
in weight it undoubtedly bears a direct relation to the
quantity of ammoniacal nitrogen disengaged. It consists
mainly of barium carbonate and oxalate, with a certain
amount of barium phosphate and sulphate ; the propor¬
tions of the two former, the only important elements in
the mixture, were as follows: From 100 grams of
albumin —

With 200 grams of BaU.,0.2

>1

99

99

99

99

99

5*

300 grams

99

99

99

99

9?

600 grams

99

99

99

99

N.

BaCO-i.

BaC-.O.

at

100°

2*1

3*6

3*4

at

120

2*3

4*7

4*3

at

150

3*1

10*5

5*0

at

180

4*0

10*8

8*0

at

200

3*95

11*0

8*6

at

180

3*79

11*2

18*2

at

250

4*41

12*5

24*2

Acetic Acid. — The proportion of this acid is always
relatively small, it varies with the temperature and the
proportion of the baryta, as in the previous instances, the
smallest quantity obtained being 2*7 per cent., and the
greatest 5*4 per cent.

Fixed Residue. — The total weight of this residue,
obtained as before mentioned (including 6*53 per cent, of
organic matter carried down by the barium carbonate),
amounted in one experiment to 95*83 per cent., and in
another to 96*5 per cent, of the albumin used ; it is evident
therefore that the decomposition under the influence of
baryta is accompanied by a fixation of the elements of
water, inasmuch as the separate weights < f the com¬
ponents being added together, there is always an excess
varying from 10 to 1 4 percent. The ultimate analysis

104

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTION'S. [August 9, 1879,

of the fixed residue gave very constant numbers, which did
not vary greatly even under different formative conditions,
the mean numbers being C = 4ST6 ; H = 8‘2 ; N = 11*03 ;
O = 30-75 per cent.

Volatile Oil. — There is formed, during the decomposition
of albumin in the manner under discrission, a very small
quantity of a volatile oil, about 1 or 2 per cent., which could
hot be obtained in sufficient quantity for analysis under
ordinary conditions. An operation on the large scale with
10 kilograms of albumin enabled about 50 or 60 grams of
the oil to be collected and an examination to be made. It
had no fixed boiling point ; on account of the small quantity
at disposal it was not possible to separate its constituents
by fractional distillation : it was therefore divided into
four portions boiling from 113° to 120° ; 120° to 140° ;
140° to 180° ; and above 180°, and an analysis of each
portion made. From the results of these analyses the
author is of opinion that the oil is a mixture of two sub¬
stances, one, the more volatile, containing oxygen but not
nitrogen ; the other, nitrogen but not oxygen. The
presence of pyrrol in the oil was clearly established by
means of its well-marked reactions. The formula,
Ci6H23N03, calculates very nearly to the percentage
obtained, from which if the formula of pyrrol be deducted
(C4H5N) there remains 3 (C4H60), which may be con¬
sidered to represent approximately the composition of the
remainder. A small quantity of a sulphuretted body is
also contained in the oil. The quantity of this albuminol
obtainable is so small that it is impossible to assign to it
any important part in the constitution, or in the reactions
representing the decomposition of albumin.

The proximate analysis of the fixed residue was a work
of very great difficulty, and every method that could be
devised was tried with only partial success. It was
eventually found that the best method was to treat the
residue with neutral solvents, and to separate the con¬
stituents as far as possible by means of fractional crystal¬
lization. The identification of the various principles was
afterwards effected by means of ultimate analysis, which,
in the absence of any well characterized reactions, was
found to be the only sure or practicable means of arriving
at satisfactory results. More than 500 combustions were
thus made.

The two terms which were the easiest to isolate from
the fixed residue, on account of their slight solubility, were
tyrosine and leucine, the former, which is produced to an
extent varying from 2‘3 to 3'5 per cent., was recognized
by its crystalline form, and by its well-known colour
reaction with mercurous nitrate ; the latter was also
obtained in a well-crystallized condition, and gave results
on analysis agreeing accurately with the formula
CfiH13N02. .

The successive crystalline deposits, obtained by pro¬
gressively concentrating the solutions from which the
leucine, etc., had been partially separated, were composed
of amido-valeric and amido-butyric acids, together with
two new, definite, crystallizable products, tyroleucine
C7HnN02(CnH2n-3N02) and a body corresponding with
the formula C6H11N02(CnH2n-1N0o) : the quantity of
tyroleucine obtained was about 60 or 70 grams from 10
kilograms of albumin. Tyroleucine presents itself as a
white crystalline deposit of chalky aspect, possessing
scarcely any taste, but soluble in about 20 parts of water
at 15°. It melts and decomposes at 240°, breaking up
into a white sublimate and a volatile oily base having an
odour of radish ; it leaves behind an abundant yellow
vitreous residue. The analysis of the chloroplatinate of
the base gives it the formula of collidine, C8HnN, and of
the vitreous residue the formula C14H]8N.,0„ ; the
decomposition of tyroleucine may therefore be taken as
proceeding thus —

2(C7HuN02) = C14H18N.,0o + 2Ho0
2(C7HuN02) = C02 + C8HnN + C5HnN02

Collidine. Amido-valeric
acid.

from which one is led to suppose tyroleucine to be a com¬
pound of amido-valeric acid with a body of the formula
C9HnN02, the latter differing from tyrosine only by an
atom of oxygen. This is rendered more probable by the
fact that tyrosine, when heated under similar conditions,
breaks up into C02 and a base, C8H14NO, which differs
from collidine only by an atom of oxygen.

Among the homologues of leucine, amido-valeric and
amido-butyric acids were met with in quantity, but amido-
propionic acid in very small proportion only ; its presence,
however, was clearly and distinctly made out.

To the compounds of the formula CnH2n + 2N02, the
author gives the generic name leucines, and to those of
the formula C^H^-iNO^ the names leucetnes {n~d).
Both seem to be frequently produced by the splitting up
on crystallization of bodies of the formula CmH2mN204.
(wi — 10 or 12); however by repeated fractional crystal¬
lization the compound Cl2H24N204 gave always the same
analytical numbers, from which it is fair to suppose that
it has an independent existence. The supposition is more¬
over strengthened by the fact that similar results were
obtained with the lower homologues containing 11, 10, 9,
and even 7 atoms of carbon.

For these latter bodies, the name glucoproteins has been
adopted, on account of their sweet taste ; they crystallize
less easily than the leucines, especially the lower terms *
they are very soluble in water, but almost insoluble in
cold absolute alcohol ; hot alcohol of 90 per cent, however
dissolves them with ease.

Another substance resulting from the decomposition of
albumin, which is produced in important quantity, is a-,
yellow viscous body obtained by precipitating certain
mother-liquors from which leucines have been crystallized
by ether. Dried at 120°, it is converted into a transparent
amorphous mass, which on analysis gives numbers com¬
prised between the formulae C5H9N02 and C4H7N02, very
often sensibly approximating to the formula C9H16N204 ;
it appears in fact to be constituted in great part of butyric
leucine with an admixture of some superior homologue.

The longer the action of baryta on albumin is continued,,
and the more concentrated the solution, the greater is the-
proportion of leucines and of leuceines formed, whilst
under the contrary conditions, the intermediate bodies, or
glucoproteins, constitute the bulk of the fixed residue,
representing the initial terms of the hydration of albumin ;;
under all circumstances caproic leucine and tyrosine
appear to be the ultimate terms of the decomposition.

The mechanism of the reaction would therefore appear
to admit of the following explanation. The albuminoid
molecule losing ammonia and carbon as carbonic, oxalic,,
and acetic acids, and assimilating water, is converted
into a comparatively simple mixture of glucoproteins,,
CnH2nN204, containing as its principle term C9H18N204:
by the prolonged action of baryta and a high temperature^
these glucoproteins split up partly into leucines and
leuceines, and partly into double compounds formed by the
union of glucoproteins and leuceines with the leucines.

The leuceines may perhaps be regarded as amido-acids-
of the acrylic, or of an isomeric series. They reduce
ammoniacal silver nitrate on warming, and are attacked
by bromine in the cold with formation of HBr and an.
acid of formula CnH2n~1N03. In the analysis of the
fixed residue, the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen is never-
rigorously 1 : 2, but there is always a slight excess of
oxygen, so that the ratio is nearer 1 : 2T or 1 : 2’3 ; this
difference indicating the presence of small quantities of
non-nitrogenous compounds, or of bodies in which the
atomic relation of nitrogen to oxygen is greater than 1 : 2..
A careful examination for such bodies among the crystal¬
line deposits resulted in the detection of a few grams of
an acicl from 1 kilogram of albumin, offering a composi¬
tion very close to that of glutamic acicl, C5H9N04, and a.
smaller quantity of a second, whose composition was that
of glutamic acid minus water, C6H7N03, which has been
called gluthnic acid. Judging from their amount, these-
acids play but a secondary part in the constitution of the

August 9, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

105

mixture resulting from the decomposition of albumin : the
.acids, on the other hand, which are capable of being
•extracted in reasonable quantity from the insoluble barium
salts, do not exhibit a constant composition ; they appear
to be residues of a progressive decomposition, and to be
susceptible of being resolved by the continued action of
baryta into a mixture of leucines and oxalic acid.

Without following all the steps by which the author
succeeded in tracing the presence of the various bodies
which are met with in small proportions as constituents
of the fixed residue, and modify slightly the ratio between
the nitrogen and oxygen, we may sum them up as
follows : — 1. Traces of succinic and lactic acids. 2.
Tyrosine. 3. Amido-acids of the type of CnH2n-1N03
glutamic and aspartic acids. 4. Amido-acids of the type
OnH2u— 3N03 glutimic acid. 5. Amido-acids of the
types CmH2m-4N206 and CnH2n-1N03. 6. Intermediate

compounds of the type CmH2mN205.

The principle, which is the most constant among the
^products of the decomposition, and whose proportion is
the most easy to determine on account of its sparing
solubility, is tyrosine. The maximum quantity obtained
of this body was 3*5 per cent. ; if, therefore, one molecule
of albumin reacts in the formation of one molecule of
tyrosine, it points to the approximate molecular weight

181

-5500 for the former, since ■— — - = 3*3. An expression of

ODUU

the form CO40H387N65075S3 corresponds with a molecular
weight equal to 5473, which satisfies the conditions involved
in the determination of the sulphur and tyrosine, as well
.as the results ef elementary analysis, thus —

Mol.

C. H. N. 0. S. weight.

Experiment 52*57 7*16 16*6 2T8 1*8 —

Theory . . 52*62 7*07 16*62 21*94 1*75 5473

Again, taking as the basis of calculation the experiments
made with 5 or 6 pai*ts of baryta at 180°, the centesimal
proportions of the products were —

N as NH3. BaC03. BaC204. H4C20..

4*03 17*6 11*0 4*6

which corresponds very fairly for 5473 parts of albumin
with —

NU3. H2C204. C02. h4c2o2.

16 mols. 4 mols. 3 mols. 4 mols*

Erom these numbers the following equation may be
written, which moreover would give a fixed residue of
99*6 per cent. : —

C240H387N65O75S3 + 60H2O = 16NH3 + 4C2H204 + 3C02
+ 4C2H402 + C221H435N49O105 -f S3.

Deducting a molecule of tyrosine from the formula of
the fixed residue, we have C2l2H4o4N48O102, which approxi¬
mates very closely to an expression of the form CnH2nN02,
differing from it only by a slight excess of oxygen.

By taking in this manner the series of experiments
made with different proportions of baryta and at different
temperatures, a number of equations may be written, in
all of which the theoretical composition of the fixed residue
corresponds very closely with that obtained experimentally.

There can be no doubt that, during the hydration of
albumin, as many molecules of water are assimilated as
there are molecules of ammonia liberated ; if then from
the proposed formula for albumin we deduct the ammonia,
carbonic, oxalic, and acetic acids in the proportion
furnished by experiment, less a number of molecules of
water equal to the number of molecules of ammonia (add¬
ing as many molecules of water as there are molecules of
carbonic anhydride produced, since the latter probably
results from the decomposition of urea) we shall have —

[16NH3 + 4C2H204 + 3C02 + 4C2H402 — 16N20 + 3H.,0],
which leaves C221H341N490581, an expression which corre¬
sponds with the type CnH2n-2NO quite as nearly as that
of the fixed residue with the type CnH2nN02, the differ¬
ence on both sides being a slight excess of oxygen. The
molecule of albumin therefore resembles that of a body

whose formula is as(CmH2m-4N204), where m = 2 n, and
undergoes hydration in two distinct steps. At 100°, with
a limited proportion of baryta, the grouping fixes a number
of molecules of water equal to one-half the number of
atoms of nitrogen which it contains, and becomes
£c(CmH2m-2N203). The latter, at a higher temperature,
can in its turn fix a number of molecules of water equal
to the number of atoms of nitrogen which it contains,
changing itself to the formula r(CmH2mN204), the final
result being the assimilation of as many molecules of
water as the albumin contains atoms of nitrogen. Albumin
is then probably an imido-derivative , which by hydration
changes into a mixture of amido-derivatives.

To return to the observed relation between the
ammoniacal nitrogen evolved, and the carbonic and oxalic
acids produced, it is noticeable that two molecules of
ammonia are disengaged for each molecule of acid
generated ; the simplest reaction which could account for
such a phenomenon would be to suppose that the ammonia
results from the hydration of urea or cyanamide and
oxamide, a supposition which acquires a much greater
degree of probability when it is shown that a very large
majority of animal nitrogenous principles, when similarly
decomposed, yield a quantity of ammonia which is pre¬
cisely the amount that should be furnished by the carbonic
and oxalic acids produced at the same time, supposing the
whole to result from the reaction above mentioned. The
author has examined wool, hair, ossein, isinglass, gelatin,
goat’s hair, silk, fibrin, and chondrin, in all of which the
above relations held good.

Summary. — It has been shown : 1. That the mixture
of fixed principles derived from albumin by hydration
contains only amido-derivatives. 2. That these derivatives
can be divided into two unequal portions, one, the weight
of which is about 16 to 18 per cent., containing the sub¬
stances in which the ratio of nitrogen is 1 : 3, or 1 : 4, or
2:5; the most important fraction of this portion con¬
sists of acids of the formula CnH2n-1N04, CnH2n-3,
N03C2nH4n-4N20G, and CnH2n-1N03, the intermediate
term being only a molecular combination of the terms
CnH2n— 3N03 and CI1H2n-1N03. The second portion,
which constitutes |ths of the residue, may be represented
by the formula x(CnH2nN204) with a value for n a little
less than 9. According as the limit of hydration is
attained, the products formed belonging to the type
CmH2mN204 (where m is a multiple of n) are progressively
resolved into simple bodies belonging to the same apparent
type ; these again are resolved into bodies of the type
CnH2nN204, which in their turn are resolved into leucines,
CuH2n + iN02, and leuce'ines, CnH2n-1N02. This inter¬
pretation is not affected by the presence of more highly
oxygenated acids in the fixed residue, since they may be
considered as derived from any of these bodies by
substitution of O for H2.

To the memoir is added an appendix, in which are given
the results of some analyses made of fixed residues
obtained from different sources. Albumin purified by
Wurtz’s method was substituted for crude albumin ; the
baryta was precipitated in one instance by carbonic anhy¬
dride, in another by carbonic anhydride and sulphuric
acid, and in a third by carbonic anhydride, ammonia, and
ammonium carbonate, but no important differences were
observable in the products of decomposition. It was also
found to be a matter of indifference whether the hydration
of the albumin was begun by the action of other agents
less energetic than baryta, such as dilute sulphuric acid ;
on completing the action by the intervention of baryta as
usual, the same result was obtained as in the previous
instances. A fixed residue obtained by the action of
baryta was subsequently boiled for twenty-four hours with
a 20 per cent, sulphuric acid, but its composition was not
found to be sensibly affected.

In a final operation, conducted with the usual reagents,
the action of baryta upon albumin was carried to its
extreme limit. The fixed residue was carefully examined
to see whether any substance was produced under such

106

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[Augu t 9, 1879.

condition, which had not been found, or had been over¬
looked in previous experiments : nothing, however, was
met with but the usual mixture of leucines and leuceines.

The molecular weight of the various glucoproteins still
remains to be determined.

THE REMOVAL OF FIXED OIL FROM COLCHICUM

SEED.*

BY EMIL L. BCERNER.

With the view of determining upon a suitable solvent
for the fixed oil contained in colchicum seed, one which,
while removing all of this for the preparation of the fluid
extract objectionable constituent, would yet dissolve out
none of the active principles of the drug, the following
course was pursued, viz. : — Separate portions of the drug,
in powder No. 60, were treated by percolation, the one
with gasolin, a second with petroleum benzin, and a third
with stronger ether, U. S. P. ; the several percolates
resulting were carefully evaporated until entirely free
from the odour of their respective solvents.

The fixed oil thus obtained was of a density not unlike
that of castor oil at a summer temperature, of a fatty
odour, a pale olive colour, and very slightly bitterish
taste in the case of the gasolin and petroleum benzin
residues, while that exhausted with ether was of a some¬
what darker colour and more decidedly bitter.

To ascertain whether the oil, as removed from the
powdered seed by the process described, contained any
colchicia, portions of each of the three residues were
severally agitated with distilled water acidulated with
hydrochloric acid, the liquids filtered and the filtrates
treated for colchicia, as follows : —

That from the ethereal preparation gave, with concen¬
trated nitric acid, concentrated sulphuric acid, hydro¬
chloric acid and carbonate of potassium, a lemon yellow
coloration ; a slight white flocculent precipitate with
tannic acid ; a denser, nearly white, flocculent precipitate
with iodo-hydrargyrate of potassium ; a heavy, kermes
coloured, flocculent precipitate with iodine and a tur¬
bidity with chlorine water — the solution becoming yellow
upon the subsequent addition of water of ammonia —
while the filtrates from the gasolin and petroleum benzin
residues, when treated in exactly the same manner, gave
no precipitates with any of the reagents mentioned, only
a slight yellow coloration being produced by concentrated
sulphuric acid.

Upon subjecting a portion of fixed oil separated from
a fluid extract prepared by the process of the U. S. P. of
1870 to the same treatment as was pursued in the fore¬
going experiments, a slight yellow coloration was pro¬
duced with each of muriatic, nitric and sulphuric acids.

Ether, because of its solvent action upon colchicia, as
well as on account of its greater cost, as compared with
the other solvents used, was considered objectionable, and
was accordingly abandoned for any further experiments.
Gasolin and petroleum benzin having, apparently, about
equal solvent powers, the former of these was preferred
as being more readily expelled from the drug after perco¬
lation with it, and before subjecting to the usual treat¬
ment for the preparation of the fluid extract. Upon
treating a larger quantity of the powdered seed with
gasolin, in the manner above described, an oil answering
to the description of that first mentioned was obtained to
the amount of 9'05 per cent, and having a specific gravity
of *922 at 60° F.

A portion of this oil, tested for the presence of col¬
chicia, in the same manner as that obtained by a previous
experiment, gave exactly the same results.

A suitable solvent having thus been found for the
fixed oil contained in colchicum seed, its removal from
the drug, before treatment in the usual manner for the
fluid extract, would seem practicable, as the product

* From the ‘ Proceedings of the American Pharma,
eutical Association,’ 1878.

obtained, unlike that of the officinal process, which
separates the oil upon standing and necessitates its
removal, is a perfectly clear preparation.

The advantages resulting from such a removal of the
oil would seem to be quite evident, inasmuch as the fluid
extract would not then be loaded with it, and would
present a much more elegant appearance than does the
officinal preparation. This extract being miscible with
water, might perhaps even be used hypodermically by
evaporating off the alcohol and diluting with water.
The more evident may seem these advantages when it is
remembered that nothing is sacrificed medicinally and
only a slight expense incurred for gasolin, the quantity
necessary for exhaustion being scarcely twice the weight
of the powder to be treated with it.

Aware of the difficulty of powdering colchicum seed,
the writer sought to remove the oil by maceration before
grinding, but was unsuccessful, as only a part can be
extracted in this way.

Though having no direct bearing upon the query here
attempted to answer, the writer would state that, in
availing himself of the suggestions offered in Mr. J. U.
Lloyd’s papers, published on pages 408 and 409 of last
year’s ‘ Proceedings,’ by omitting the use of glycerin and
finishing the preparation with a mixture of three parts-
alcohol and one part water, a more satisfactory pre¬
paration was obtained than when the Pharmacopoeia
formula was strictly followed.

ACETOUS PERFUMES.*

1. Concentrated Aromatic Vinegar.

Concentrated Acetic or Glacial Acetic

Acid . 8 ounces.

Oil of Lavender (English) .... 2 drachms.

Oil of Rosemary . 1 drachm.

Oil of Cloves . b ,,

Gum Camphor . 1 ounce.

2. Hygienic Vinegar.

Strong Brown Vinegar .... 2 pints.

Gum Benzoin . 1 ounce.

Oil of Marjoram . \ drachm.

Brandy . . 1 pint.

Oil of Cloves . 1 drachm.

Oil of Lavender (English) ... 1 ,,

3. Toilet Vinegar (d la Violet).

White Wine Vinegar .... 2 pints.

Extract of Cassie . h pint.

Extract of Orris | „

Extract of Rose (triple) . . . . I „

4. Toilet Vinegar (d la Hose).

Extract of Rose (triple) . . . . A pint.

Dx-ied Rose Leaves . 4 ounces.

White Wine Vinegar . 2 pints.

5. Vinaigre de Cologne.

Eau de Cologne . 1 pint.

Glacial Acetic Acid . 1 ounce.

6. Cosmetic Vinegar (Pi esse and Lnbin's).

Concentrated Vinegar .... 1 ounce.

Gum Benzoin . 3 ounces.

Alcohol, Pure . 1 quart.

Balsam of Peru . 1 ounce.

Oil of Neroli . 1 drachm.

Oil of Nutmegs . i „

7. Vinaigre a la Rose.

Glacial Acetic Acid . 1 ounce.

Oil of Rose . ^ drachm.

8. White Wine Vinegar .

Filter best ordinary brown vinegar through animal
charcoal till perfectly white.

* From New Remedies , July, 1879.

AugBt 9, 1879. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

107

§fmpaqttlital Jmtptl.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1879.

A MEDICAL TITUS OATES (?).

When a ready writer is at a loss to find a subject
on which to exercise his skill his pen is a weapon especi¬
ally liable to be engaged in the mischief which a nursery
poet tells us is the inevitable consequence of idleness.
At the present day, when the possession of a free
press oilers such abundant scope for literary taleht,
it is scarcely surprising that we should now and
then meet with cases of this kind, referable partly
to the inexorable necessity of filling a certain
number of columns and partly to the exigencies of
the young lions of the press.

But besides the lack of subjects to write about
there are other circumstances which tend to bring
about the same mischievous exercise of literary
skill, and chief among these is the love of sensation
which prevails with so large a portion of the public.
People demand highly spiced literary food for their
daily entertainment, and if divorce cases or breaches
of privilege do not afford the requisite 'pabulum
the young lions must draw upon their inventive
faculties, and manufacture something which will for
the moment appease the desire for excitement.

We have recently been made acquainted with a
flagrant instance of this kind through the kindness
of a friend who has forwarded to us some pages of
the Philadelphia] Medical Times , of June 7. The
managers of that journal appear to be impressed
with the idea that correspondence between different
parts of the civilized world is desirable in order to
make the manners and customs of one country
known in other countries for mutual benefit, and
with that object, as we presume, they publish in the
number we now refer to a “ London letter.’7 The
writer of that letter is an English medical man resi¬
dent in London, and it might reasonably have been
expected that he would have something to say in his
letter that would be useful or instructive, and in that
sense worth being read by his American colleagues.

The first glance, however, at the London letter
of the Philadelphia Medical Times serves to dispel
such an idea, and it becomes evident that the
London correspondent has either been in a state of
literary destitution, without any suitable subject to
write upon, or he has perversely devoted himself to
the production of a sensational story no more fit to
appear in the pages of a scientific journal than the
ghost stories which school bo}^s delight to find in
our illustrated papers at Christmas time.

The article we refer to commences with the state¬
ment that amidst the varied "relations of the pro¬
fessions there is none more curious than that of
consultants and chemists, and especially chemists’
assistants. Then it is remarked that any possi¬
bility of collusion between the two is not at first

sight very apparent, and that of course it is natural
for assistants in chemists and druggists’ shops to
recommend any consultant who is either known to
them by repute or in the habit of sending his
patients to the shops in which they serve. It is also
admitted that chemists and druggists’ assistants have
some ojyportunity in common with other folk of
seeing whose names most commonly occur in medical
journals in connection with certain specialties, and
it is lurther admitted that any reply upon such
grounds to the inquiry, “ Who is the man to consult
lor so and so?” would be quite unobjectionable.

So far then chemists and druggists or their assistants
may be grateful to the London correspondent of the
Philadelphia Medical Times for the liberty he is
pleased to accord them. But, as he says, “ the matter
does not stop here he has penetrated deeper below
the surface ; and then he proceeds to lay before his
American readers a description of what he pretends
to have discovered. No one yill deny that many
persons who do not know anything about consult¬
ants, but yet wish to consult some one for an ailment
or disease, think the readiest and surest plan is to
drop into some well-known chemist’s shop and ask
who is the best man to see f r such a complaint.
What could be more natural than for the person
whose daily avocations make him familiar with the
repute of certain medical practitioners to be asked for
such information ? But the unsuspecting and con¬
fiding inquirer who does so is thoroughly “ sold and
liookwinked ” by the quiet and “ innocent looking
youth who when thus interrogated immediately raps
out some consultant’s name” — at least that is the
statement made in the letter published in an Ameri¬
can medical journal for the information of medical
men across the Atlantic.

This instructive correspondent next proceeds to
relate how this is done and the statements he makes
in that part of his letter are of such a nature that
we will not venture to give them in abstract. After
referring to the importance attached by English
people to a physician’s prescription and the anxiety
to have it carefully dispensed, the writer says : —

“ The youth to whom the prescription is handed looks
at it sardonically, and remarks contemptuously, ‘ F or
piles ? ’ Of course the patient is very much taken aback
at this, and exclaims, ‘ Bless me ! no ! For bronchitis ! ’
The youth has achieved his end, and the surprised
and startled patient’s confidence in the man he has
just consulted is irrevocably shaken. That he should
have got a prescription for piles when he went about
his bronchitis, comes to him as a very unpleasant
revelation. It is not only that he has spent his money
in vain, but that he has been cheated into risking
his health, and possibly ruining his constitution, by
having the wrong medicine prescribed; the thought is
very shocking that he should thus have been trifled with
by ignorance or carelessness. In the midst of his pertur¬
bation he gasps out, ‘Who is the best man to consult
about brochitis ? ’ The placid answer is, ‘ Oh, Dr. Vitreous
Tendon, of course!’ The deed is done; an assassin-like
stab has been given to the reputation of an unoffending
man, and the young scoundrel chuckles at the skilful man¬
ner in which the blow has been delivered. The patient

108

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 9, 1S79.

goes away wrathful and indignant that the doctor he had
just consulted should have treated him so badly, and
vows with genuine earnestness that he himself will never
consult him again ; ‘No; nor, by Jove, shall anybody I
know consult him either, if I can help it ! ’ Away he goes
circulating the story among his acquaintances, getting
this unlucky physician a bad name so far as he can.
Now, this is certainly diabolical wickedness ; and the
apparent artlessness with which it is done disarms all
suspicion. That the chemist’s assistant had any motive
other than of saving him from taking a medicine
unsuitable if not possibly dangerous, any ulterior design
in his apparently friendly action, never crosses the victim’s
imagination. It is the apparent ii nocence of the scound-
relism which is at once it strength and its protection. The
utter guilelessness of the ingenious surprise of the young
man behind the counter ‘ fetches ’ the victim, who never
detects the trap that is so skilfully laid for him. That
that young villain, that moral assassin, is ‘ squared,’ there
can be no doubt ; and possibly enough he does not realize
the injury he is doing to the unoffending physician to
whose reputation he has delivered a nasty stab ; but he
does it all the same, and as effectually as if his conduct
had been inspired by the most deliberate malice. He
wished to put a fee into the pocket of Dr. Vitreous
Tendon, that was his main object ; we will hope, for the
sake of humanity, that he does not realize the injury he
is doing to another man. A less indecent but equally
effective plan is for the chemist’s assistant to have three
names on a card, and when asked about whom to consult,
he declares his inability to decide, until the question is
put home to him, ‘ Whom would he consult, if necessary ? ’
He then mentions the lowest name on the list. The ap¬
parent absolute bonafides of this crafty villain allays any
possible suspicion of ‘ a plant ’ which might arise in the
mind of the sold individual, and the inquirer goes away
perfectly satisfied.”

As regards the motive for such conduct as that
described in the above paragraph very little more
than insinuation is ventured upon by the writer of
the letter who evidently perceives that some of the
dirt he seeks to cast at chemists and druggists must
stick to his brother physicians, for we are told there
are two kinds of physicians, one like the writer who
says “ Take your prescription to any good chemist,”
without recommending anyone in particular. Then
the phrase “secret understanding between pre¬
server and dispenser ” is slipped in and a story is
told of a particular medical man being recommended
by a chemist and druggist for syphilis, stricture,
hemorrhoids, heart disease and every ill that man is
heir to.

In this way the suggestion of a dishonest influence
is conveyed to the minds of the reader, and then we
have the remark “ By what underground communi¬
cation the chemist’s assistant is rewarded for his
“ share in the unholy compact has not yet transpired;
“ but it is quite obvious some arrangement does
“exist.” It is almost suggested that the chemist
and druggist is the prime mover of the arrangement
as well as the only culpable participator in it, for it
is anticipated that “ doubtless the chemists’ journals
will res. nt what is here written,” and “will cast
doubts on the statements here made.” No such
resentment is referred to, however, as being likely
to come from the medical journals, for the charge is
adroitly made only to affect chemists and druggists and

“ black sheep ” in the medical profession. Perhaps
a reason for this is to be found in the letter itself,
since the writer says he has heard of a chemist
and druggist’s assistant who stated that “There
was no such medical man in London.” Such
ignorance may be more reprehensible than we are
disposed to consider it, but it certainly does not
justify the designation of the assistant as a “youth¬
ful young sprig of rascality.”

It is very difficult to come to any conclusion con¬
cerning such an effusion as the one we have above
dealt with. Charity forbids us to entertain the
latent suspicion that it is an ingenious mode of ob¬
taining the “ bold advertisement ” so much sought
after by professional as well as trading men. But
we cannot any the more regard it as wholesome
criticism since it lacks the truthfulness and temper¬
ance that should always characterize a critic. More
likely it is the result of an illusion provoked by the
circumstance of being unknown to some chemist and
druggist’s assistant, and that the writer brooding on
this indignity has conjured up the form and semblance
of a foeman worthy of his steel and madly possessed
by this idea has made himself as ridiculous as Cer¬
vantes’ lanky and lugrubrious knight in attacking
a harmless and inoffensive windmill.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

By the courtesy of the Secretaries we have been
favoured with the following list of papers to be read
at the meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference, at Sheffield, August 19 and 20 : —

1. Report on the Aconite Alkaloids. C. R. A. Weight
D.Sc., F.C.S.

2. The Capacity of Different Organs to Absorb and
Retain Arsenic in Cases of Chronic Poisoning. N. P.
Hamberg, M.D., H.M.P.S.

3. The Growth and Development of Ergot. W. W.
Stoddart, F.I.C., F.C.S.

4. The Application of Chloroform in the Testing of
Drugs. Louis Siebold, F.I.C., F.C.S.

5. Note on the Specific Gravity of Liquids. Louis
Siebold, F.I.C., F.C.S.

6. Proximate Analysis of the Rhizome of Zingiber
officinalis. J. C. Thresh, F.C.S.

7. Soluble Essence of Ginger. J. C. Thresh, F.C.S.

8. The Polarimeter and its Use in Pharmacy. C.
Symes, Ph.D.

9. The Assay of Commercial Disinfecting Powders
containing Carbolic Acid. A. H. Allen, F.I.C., F.C.S.

10. Notes on Petroleum Spirit. A. H. Allen, F.C.S.

11. Cinnamon Bark. Mr. A. H. Jackson.

12. The Gelatinization of Tincture of Kino. Mr.
T. H. Bamford.

1 3. Amylic Alcohol and Amylic Nitrite. Mr. Dott.

14. Extraction of Pilocarpine. Mr. A. W. Gerrard.

15. Anhydrous Air as a Therapeutic Agent. G. A.
Keyworth, F.C.S.

16. Quillaia Bark, its Chemical Composition and Use
in Pharmacy. Mr. H. Collier.

17. Note on Aricine. John Eliot Howard, F.R.S.

18. The Chemistry of Chaulmoogra. J. Moss, F.I.C.

19. The Determination of Water in Iodine. E.
Davies, F.I.C., F.C.S.

20. The Presence of Tannin in Gentian Root. E.
Davies, F.I.C., F.C.S.

Augusts, 1879.] the pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

109

transit (jtions #J t| t ftaniutcmtiral

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, August 6, 1879.

MR. GEORGE WEBB SANDFORD, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Atkins, Bottle, Gostling, Hampson,
Hills, Mackay, Bimmington, Savage, Symes, Williams
and Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read.
Previous to their being signed,

Mr. Woolley said he wished to make an observation
on two matters arising out of the minutes. The first
referred to the conversation which took place respecting
the Sale of Food and Drugs Act Amendment Bill. A
friend of his had commiserated with him on the rap over
the knuckles which it was thought he had received in the
matter, but he did not want to say anything about that,
except that he had never seen the Bill before. The im¬
portant point was that this Bill was ordered to be printed
on April 29, but it did not seem to have ever been
brought before the Law and Parliamentary Committee,
and carefully considered. He was not one of those who
complained of the Adulteration Act, which in many in¬
stances had been of great advantage, but that it needed
amendment was evident from the new Act having been
passed, and as this bore so directly on the trade, the Com¬
mittee ought at all events to have gone through it and
seen .whether some improvements could not be suggested.
For instance, it was a great hardship that an innocent
man could never recover his costs. He should like to
ask how it was that the Bill had not been brought before
the Committee.

. The President thought it had been many times men¬
tioned at that table or in the Committee.

Mr. Woolley thought it ought to have been brought
regularly before the specially appointed Committee for
considering such questions, and gone through in a proper
way.

Mr. Bimmington said the Bill in the first place only
referred to the strength at which spirit should be sold,
and excited very little interest even in parliament.

The President said that one gentleman who was
examined before the Committee, the government analyst
from Somerset House, called on him respecting a matter,
which had been incidentally referred to and which would
have affected chemists; that was mentioned at the Council
table on more than one occasion. There never was any
attempt on the part of the promoters of the Bill to intro¬
duce any clause which would specially affect chemists
and druggists, and he had never heard a suggestion made
by. the Committee or Council that alterations were re¬
quired. So far as Mr. Woolley had been in error, he
thought all the members of Council were in the same
boat, for none of them were aware of the last line in the
Bill when the matter was discussed at the last meeting of
Council.

Mr. Woolley said the other matter he wished to refer
to was the increase of salary voted to the Editor and
Sub-Editor at the last meeting. He thought this was a
matter of sufficient importance to appear in the report of
the Council proceedings.

The President said the members of the Society were
apprised of any alterations in these matters by the
balance sheet issued preparatory to the annual meeting.

Mr. Williams said this matter arose out of the pro¬
ceedings of a Committee. If they were to publish all the
reports of the Committees as well as the Council it would
become a very serious matter. Unless it were made a
practice to publish the reports of the Committees, such
matters could not very well be published.

Mr. Hampson thought Mr. Williams’s view was scarcely
accurate, because the report very frequently contained a
statement of what had been done by the Committee.

For instance, in the General Purposes Committee,
certain prosecutions were agreed to, and a notification of
this effect was frequently made.

Mr. Atkins was disposed to support the view taken
by Mr. Woolley, though perhaps it would be discussed
better at a later period in connection with a motion to
which Mr. Symes had given notice.

The minutes were then confirmed.

The India Museum.

The President said the Council was aware that it
was the intention of the Government to break up the
India Museum, and the Curator, Mr. Holmes, on going
over it was informed that if the Society made applica¬
tion in all probability it would obtain certain things
which were very interesting. He (the President) there¬
upon wrote to the Honourable E. Stanhope on the sub¬
ject, and had received a reply, promising to lay the
matter before the Secretary of State for India in Council
for his consideration, so that he hoped, if any distribu¬
tion of this collection were made, the Society would be
thought of.

The Vice-President wished it was within the province
of the Council to express a disapproval of the course
which the Government had thought fit to adopt. A more
unfortunate resolution he could hardly conceive than
that of scattering this fine collection of Indian products.

Diplomas to Pharmaceutical Chemists

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

Alcock, Frank Harris.

Allan, James Henry.

Betts, George.

Bird, Henry.

Dutton, Hugh Odard.

Grimble, Albert.

Horton, Thomas.

Lapthorn, George.

Lomax, Alban Edward.

Mayger, William John.

Nowell, Barnes.

Pisani, Orestes Victoriano.

Porter, Thomas.

B.atcliffe, Henry Norman.

Bemfry, Samuel Alfred.

Bussell, James Lawson.

Shirley, Stephen Shillito.

Smithson, Thomas Henry.

Yillar, Arthur.

Elections.

members

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and having tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected Members of the Society : —

Alcock, Frank Harris . Stoke-on-Trent.

Allan, James Henry . Stockton-on-Tees.

Betts, George . Scottow.

Horton, Thomas . Burton-Overy.

Lapthorn, George . Southsea.

Lomax, Alban Edward . Birkenhead.

Mayger, William John . Northampton.

Nowell, Barnes . London.

Batcliffe, Henry Norman . Malmesbury.

Smithson, Thomas Henry . Thirsk.

Villar, Arthur . Taunton.

The following, an Associate of the Society before 1842,
having tendered his subscription for the current year, was
elected a Member of the Society : —

Ashmall , George . . . . W allingf ord.

Chemists and Druggists,

The following, who was in business on his own account
before August 1, 1868, having tendered his subscription

110

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 9, 1*79.

for the current year was elected a “ Member ” of the
Society : —

Moore, Francis Samuel . . Castle Cary.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

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

Davis, Henry John . Newbury.

Hulland, Charles Richard . Framlingham.

Pickles, Walter . Dewsbury.

ASSOCIATES.

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

Ballard, Frank English . Aylesbury.

Bourne, Charles M. K . Wolverhampton.

Bown, John Quinton . Nottingham.

Bridge, George Edward . Maidstone.

Carter, Francis . London.

Clerke, William Burdett . Leamington.

Crow, William . ..Berwick-on-Tweed.

Crowther, Arthur . Tickhill.

Davies, Thomas . Bridgend.

De Peare, John Thomas . Spalding.

Drew, Henry William . Southwark.

Feaver, William . Truro.

Green, William James . Yeovil.

Harburn, Alfred . London.

Hope, Arthur Peach . U ppingham.

Humphreys, Griffith . Corwen.

Kelly, Francis Charles . Great Yarmouth.

Lindewald, Wilhelm Edvard ...London.

Macaulay, William Henry . Rotherham.

Manning, Alfred . Strood.

Morgan, John Daniel . ..Swansea.

Morris, David . Cardigan.

Olden, Loathan . Romsey.

Peck, Frederick William . Cambridge.

Plattin, Henry Ramm . Fakenham.

Powell, William . Swansea.

Ratcliffe, George . London.

Rossiter, Thomas Edward . Tiverton.

Roughton, William . Loughborough.

Selleck, William Robert . Bovey Tracey.

Shrivell, Frederick WilliamE. .. .Hadlow.

Smith, John Thomas . Spalding.

Stableforth, John William . London.

Stedman, Walter . West Mailing.

Taylor, James Bennett . Bedford.

Thompson, Arthur Stevens . Barking.

Topliss, Walter George . Wainfleet.

Wild, George Frederick . Hyde.

Willis, Henry James . London.

Willis, Joseph Darrington . Northampton.

Wimshurst, Frederick . Southborough.

Wood, Robert . Loughborough.

Wyatt, Charles Frederick . Old Brompton.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary examina¬
tion and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the

Society : —

Baron, Richard Edward . Alderney.

Barnett, Henry Frederick . Uttoxeter.

Bruce, Alexander Gibb . Brough ty Ferry.

Butler, Ernest F. N. G . London.

Callow, Ewan . Douglas.

Clayton, Walter Flower . London.

Cubey, Robert Hewison . South Shields.

Edwards, Henry . Liverpool.

Ellisson, Charles . Barnsley.

Farthing, Thomas William . Devonport.

Gibson, Matthew Henry .

Gooch, Stephen Leeds .

Green, Frederick .

Grey, William .

Grigs, Emerson Fenwick G.

Grim wade, Edward H .

Hopper, James Henry .

Hutchinson, John .

Inman, Thomas Leonard

Joye, Joseph .

Knox, John .

Lawton, Ernest .

McEwan, David .

Melhado, Howard Emanuel
Moore, Joseph Edward ....
Morris, Harold Edward

Morgan, Richard .

Owen, William .

Pawson, Frederick Thomas.

Pumphrey, Arthur .

Roberts, Griffith .

Robinson, Thomas .

Shepperd, William J ohn

Taylor, George .

Whaley, Thomas Cope .

Young, John .

.Matlock Bath.
.Reepham.

.London.

.Blyth.

.North Shields.
.Croydon.

.Ryde.

.Kendal.

. .Batley.

..Southport.

..March.

..Barnsley.

..Perth.

..Ramsgate.

..Bristol.

..London.

..London.

..Towyn.

..Banbury.

..York.

..London.

..Wigton.

..Newport, I. of W.
..Fairfield.
..Barnsley.
..Arbroath.

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

The names of the following persons who have severally
made the required declarations and paid a fine of one
guinea were restored to the Register of Chemists and
Druggists : —

William Halket, 74, Talbot Road, Bayswater, London,
W.,

Richard Hammersley Forrester, 2, Merthyr Road,
Abergavenny.

Addition to the Register.

The Secretary reported that —

Thomas Farren Humble, Abergavenny,

having made a statutory declaration that he was in busi¬
ness before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, and
this declaration having been duly supported by medical
practitioners, his name had been placed on the Register.

Reports op Committees,
finance.

The report of this Committee was received and adopted,
and various accounts ordered to be paid.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included recommenda¬
tions of the following grants : —

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

£15 to aid in the education of the younger son of the
widow of a registered chemist and druggist. The appli¬
cant has had two previous grants.

£10 to the widow of a pharmaceutical chemist. Appli¬
cant had a grant of £15 in September last.

£17 for continuing the education of an orphan in an
establishment in Belgium for another year. This case
stood over last month for further consideration.

£5 to a registered chemist and druggist who recently
sustained an accident and had a grant of £10 in Feb¬
ruary last.

A letter was read from Annie Isherwood, stating that
she had a very happy and comfortable home.

> The Committee had declined to entertain one applica¬
tion, as it appeared that the applicant was of intemperate
habits.

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

August £>, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Ill

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

The report of this Committee included the usual report
from the Librarian, to the following effect : —

Attendance during the day: highest, .26, lowest, 10,
average, 20 ; evening, highest, 17, lowest, 7, average, 10.
Circulation of books: town, 154; country, 49; carriage
paid, £1 5s. 9 \d. He had also reported the following
donations to the Library : —

Cooley (A. J.), Cyclopteuia of Practical Receipts,
6 ed., 1879, pt. 18. Prom Messrs. Churchill.

Dragendorff (G.), Bemerkungen in Bezug auf die
Nachweisbarkeit des Strychnins in verwesenden
Cadavern, 1879.

Mandelin (K. F.), Chinincitrater, 1879.

Scheibe (E.), Darstellung und Beschreibung der
Borcitronensiiure and ihrer Salze, 1879.

From Professor Dragendorff.

Tilden (Dr. W. A.), Theory of Solution and Crystal¬
lization, being the substance of a Lecture given to
the Bristol Naturalists’ Society, 1878.

From the Author.

Pifferi (G.), Breve cenno e preparazione di un nuovo
composto di chinina, 1879. From the Author.

The Committee recommended that the usual letters of
thanks be forwarded.

The Committee recommended the purchase of the fol¬
lowing books for the Library : —

General Fund : —

Allen (A. H.), Introduction to Commercial Organic
Analysis; vol. i. Cyanogen Compounds, Alcohols,
Phenols, Acids, etc., 1879.

Hermann (L.), Elements of Human Physiology,
translated by A. Gamgee, 2 ed., 1878.

Neubauer (C.), and J. Vogel, Guide to Qualitative
and Quantitative Analysis of Urine, translated by
W. 0. Markham, 1863.

Squire (P.), Pharmacopoeias of London Hospitals,
4ed., 1879.

Unity of Medicine, its Corruptions and Divisions: by
F.R.C.S., 1858.

Yvon (P.), Traite de l’Art de Formuler, comprenant
un abrege de pharmacie chimique, etc., 1879.

llanbury Fund : —

Baillon (H.), Natural History of Plants, vols. 1-5,
1871-8, and vol. 6 when published.

Siebold and Zuccarini, Flora Japonica, 1825-70, 2 v.,
150 coloured plates.

Wallich (N.), Plantte Asiaticte rariores, 1829-32, 300
coloured plates.

The Curator had reported the attendance in the
Museum to have been as follows : — During the day,
average, 17 ; evening, average, 6. He had also reported
the following donations to the Museum : —

Ninety-five specimens of drugs used in the United
States and eleven specimens of active principles, com¬
prising three specimens of Podophyllin; two speci¬
mens of Hydrastine, one precipitated and the other
crystallized; Cimicifugin ; Berberine; Sulphate,
Hydrochlorate and Hypophosphite of Berberine;
and Nitrate of Sanguinarina. From the Phila¬
delphia College of Pharmacy.

Specimens of Paracoto Bark and the following sub¬
stances obtained from it: — Paracotoin, Hydroco¬
tom, Dinitro-coton, Leucotin, Oxyleucotin and
Dibenzoy 1* hydrocoton. *

Coto bark and Cotoin, Sulpho-carbolate of Quinine,
Quinine, Chinamine, Aricine, Cusconine, Paricine;

* With regard to these substances Dr. O. Hesse states that
leucotin, oxyleucotin and dibenzoyl-hydrocoton are ethers
of the hexatomic alcohol, hydrocoton; that dinitro-coton
stands to hydrocoton in nearly the same relation as chinone
to hydrochinone ; and that the formation of dinitro-coton
is the origin of the peculiar coloration of leucotin and oxy¬
leucotin and dibenzoyl-hydrocoton when these are touched
with strong nitric acid.

and the following active principles of Opium,
Laudanine, Cryptopine, Cryptopine Oxalate,
Pseudo Morphine.

Also the following liquids : —

a. Paracotol, CigH240.

1). Paracotol, C18H40O2.
c. Paracoto], C28H40O2.

Paracoto-oil.

The particulars concerning these bodies are promised
in a future communication. From Dr. O. Hesse.
Specimens of the undermentioned essential oils, in
illustration of a paper read by Mr. W. E. Bush at
the Students’ Association: —

Almond, Aniseed, Bergamot, Camomile, Caraway,
Cassia, Cinnamon, Cinnamon leaf, Citronelle,
Cloves, Copaiba, Coriander, Cubebs, Dill, Geranium
(Spanish), J uniper, Lavender (ExoticandMitcham),
Lemons, pure, Mustard, Mustard (artificial), Neroli,
Nutmeg, Orange peel, Origanum, Parsley, Pep¬
permint (Mitcham), Petit Grain, Pimento, Sassa¬
fras, Rose, Rosemary.

From Messrs. W. J. Bush and Co.

The Committee recommended that the usual letters of
thanks be forwarded, with aspecial one for the Philadelphia
College of Pharmacy.

The Curator had reported that a shark’s skin had been
sent by Mr. Fresson of Demerara, but as it was not suitable
for the Society’s Museum, it was suggested that it should
be offered to some society collecting natural history
specimens.

Professor Bentley had reported that his class was pro¬
gressing favourably, and had kept up better at the gardens
than on any former occasion. Professor Redwood had
stated that there was no special matter to report in
reference to his class.

It had been ordered that the Library and Museum be
closed in the evenings during the months of August and
September.

A letter had been submitted from an assistant residing
in the country, requesting that the regulation requiring
the guarantee of a member for the safe keeping and due
return of books might in his case be relaxed. The Com¬
mittee did not deem it advisable to make any exceptions
to this rule.

The Committee recommended that the Librarian should
attend the annual meeting of the Library Association to
be held in Manchester in September, and that ten guineas
be allowed for his expenses.

The Sub-Editor had reported that the manuscript of the
Index to the Journal from 1868 to 78 was complete, and the
Committee had directed that an estimate be obtained for
printing the same.

Professor Redwood had reported that he had made
considerable progress with the continuation of Jacob
Bell’s ‘Historical Sketch of Pharmacy,’ which he thought
would make about 300 pages octavo, and he had sug¬
gested that the earlier part should be put into the hands
of the printer in order that the manner in which he was
continuing the work might be submitted to the Com¬
mittee for approval.

The Committee recommended that estimates should be
obtained for printing the book in the form suggested by
the Professor.

The Committee also recommended that the Editor and
Sub-Editor should attend the meeting of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Germany at Hanover, and that £20
be allowed to meet expenses.

The President said it would be noticed that the Han-
bury Fund was exhausted, and he believed it had been
as well laid out as possible.

Mr. Rimmington asked if the index could be bound
with the previous index.

Mr. Williams said it would be a different size, owing
to the change in the size of the Journal.

Mr. Bottle said the same point had occurred to his
mind, and he should like to know if it was a matter of

112

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 9, 1879

necessity that the index should be of the same size as the
Journal.

The Assistant-Secretary said the estimate had been
obtained and all arrangements made on the footing of the
index being the size of the Journal.

Mr. Williams hoped that a sufficient number would
be printed both of the index and of the “ Historical
Sketch,” to allow of sending a copy to each member and
associate of the Society.

Mr. Hampson wished to know if the manuscript of the
“ Historical Sketch” were complete. He thought it would
be premature to make arrangements for printing before it
was complete.

Mr. Williams did not see how the Council or the
Committee could sit in judgment on the work of two
literary gentlemen to whom it had been entrusted.

Mr. Rimmington said he should certainly object to
giving these things away broadcast. The cheaper any¬
thing was made, the less it was appreciated. If people
would not give Is. or 2s. for a copy of the “ Historical
Sketch,” it was quite clear they did not want it, and to
give them what they did not want was simply to waste.
The same with regard to the index. It was certainly
worth 2s. to anyone who had the J ournal, and if a person
had not the set it would be entirely thrown away. Com¬
paratively few kept their Journals and bound them,
perhaps not one in one hundred.

The President thought the time had hardly arrived
for settling these details. The present question Avas, who
should print it.

The Vice-President thought it was premature to
discuss the printing of the “ Historical Sketch ” until the
manuscript was in a more complete condition. The Council
did not knoAV how much of it Avas ready. He thought it
would be better to send the whole matter back to the Com¬
mittee.

The President thought the Council should adopt the
recommendation of the Committee that Avhen the “ His¬
torical Sketch ” was printed it should be in the form
suggested, of Avhich specimens were submitted. But the
Council might suggest to the Committee that the printing
should not be commenced until the manuscript was com¬
plete or nearly so.

Mr. Williams said the manuscript of the index was
quite complete. The question to be decided was whether
it should be printed for sale, in which case 1000 copies
would be ample, or if copies should be given away, in
which case 5000 Avould be required.

Some details having been given as to the estimates
which had been obtained, —

Mr. Woolley thought it would be useless to giveaway
the copies of the index.

Mr. Mackay said he should not be in favour of giving
away a single copy.

The Vice-President thought it would be a mistake to
distribute these things gratis. This might seem some¬
what different to the opinion he had expressed on a former
occasion, but the subject matter was different. When
the catalogue of the museum was published he was anxious
that it should be given away, because he considered it
had a certain educational value in itself ; but this index
had no educational value, it was simply a matter of con¬
venience to those Avho Avanted to use the index. The
“ Historical Sketch ” too, ought, he thought, to be paid for
by those Avho desired to possess it.

Mr. Atkins asked if a via media could not be adopted,
to give the index to any person who applied for it.

Mr Williams said this index was far superior] to the
one appended to each volume.

Mr. Atkins said it seemed to him rather strange to
charge for an index to a book which was supplied to al.
members in return for their subscriptions. He thought
perhaps it would be wise to give it on application.

The President said that was the regulation with
regard to the catalogue.

Mr. Savage said he was at first in favour o :

adopting the same rule, but on further consideration he
thought those Avho AA7anted the index should pay for it;
that which was a small matter individually became a
i.arge matter collectively.

Mr. Williams could not agree with what seemed to be
the opinion of the Council, and thought it was a pity it
had undertaken the publication of the “Historical Sketch”
if this was to be the result. It would be mere waste of
money to bring out books the circulation of which it was
mown would be very limited if they were sold. When
the matter was initiated he trusted it would have done
much good by arousing an interest in pharmacy and in
the Journal, by members receiving the index for the last
ten years. If members had been foolish enough to throw their
numbers away they Avould probably regret it. He should
not have taken so much interest in the matter unless he
had thought the Council was going to carry it out in the
liberal manner which it had lately talked so much about
encouraging.

Mr. Gostling sympathized very much with the remarks
of Mr. Williams. It Avas quite possible more energy and
enthusiasm might be put into the members if something
Avere put before them. There was a work undertaken for
the benefit of all, so that anything that had been published
in the Journal for ten years might be referred to, and he
thought it should be sent to every member even if it were
in paper covers.

The President said he was informed that the original
proposition was that a copy should be sent to every
member. The better plan would be to refer it back to
the Committee to ascertain.

Mr. Rimmington asked how many catalogues had been
applied for.

The Secretary said very few.

The Vice-President asked what was the object of
the Librarian attending the meeting of the Libra¬
rians’ Association ; and on what ground the Committee
recommended the expenditure of ten guineas in this
Avay.

The President said when the Society of Librarians
Avas established the Librarian attended the meeting at the
request of the Committee. He was a member of the
Association, of course as representing the Society, and he
had quite satisfied the Committee that it would be an
advantage that he should attend the conference.

Mr. Williams said it was not a question of pharmacy
but Jo f libraries. The Society’s was a large public library,
and he thought it essential the Librarian should be in
correspondence and communication with other librarians,
and in fact be a part of the commonwealth of librarians.
He was very glad to find that the Society’s Librarian took
so much interest in the matter.

Mr. Savage desired to endorse all that Mr. Williams
had said. It Avas very important that the Council should
be in possession of all the information accessible with
regard to the arrangement and management of libraries
in general.

The President added that the same thing was done
last year.

Mr. Williams thought it Avas very desirable in the
interest of the Journal that the Editor and Sub-Editor
should attend the Conference in Hanover. The Editor
came into personal contact with many gentlemen from
Avhom he might afterwards receive communications which
Avould be of interest.

It was then resolved that the printing of the “Historical
Sketch” be deferred until the completion of the work, and
that further estimates be obtained for the printing of the
index, and that the Committee report again to the
Council. The remainder of the report of the Committee
was adopted.

Mr. Bottle having remarked that the shark’s skin
referred to in the Committee’s report would be acceptable
to the Dover Museum, it was unanimously resolved on
the motion of Mr. Williams that it be presented to that
’ body.

August 9, 1879. J

THE PHARMACEUTiCAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

113

HOUSE.

The Secretary had submitted to this Committee a
table showing the quantity of gas consumed each year
during the years 1873-79, by which it appeared that the
late increase still continued. Professor Redwood had
attended and stated the result of experiments he had
made, showing that there was no leakage anywhere, but
that there was a greater day pressure than formerly, and
to this circumstance, together with the more abundant
supply which the companies had recently provided, he
ascribed the increased consumption.

The Committee recommended that the gas used in the
laboratories should pass through a separate meter.

Mr. Atkins said he had mentioned on a former occasion
that he had had his gas meter repaired ; but the result did
not answer his expectations, for he found the consumption
for the last quarter almost double that of the corresponding
quarter in last year. He was satisfied, having taken great
pains about it, that he burned less gas, and he therefore
consulted the gas manager who told him that the com¬
plaint was very general, and his explanation was, that
owing to complaints of insufficient pressure, the plant
had been largely increased, and there was more than
double the pressure and therefore more gas passed through
the burners. The manager advised him to regulate the
supply at the meter, and not allow more gas to pass than
was requsite for a due supply to the burners ; and having
done so he was satisfied there would be a reduction.

Mr. Woolley said Mr. Atkins was quite right. He
himself had Carnaby’s apparatus in use, which could be
put up in any convenient place, and by it he could regu¬
late the supply at the meter down to a single burner if
required.

The report of the Committee was received and adopted.

The Confekence.

The Vice-President, as representing the British
Pharmaceutical Conference, said last year delegates were
appointed to that body from the Council and it would be
considered an honour if the same course were followed
now.

It was moved by Mr. Mackay, seconded by Mr.
Bottle, and carried unanimously —

“ That the President and such members of the Council
as are present at the meeting of the British Pharma¬
ceutical Conference be requested to represent the
Society as delegates.”

general purposes.

This Committee had received the reports from the
Professors as to the prize examinations, and opened the
motto envelopes to ascertain the names of the successful
candidates.

Botany and Materia Medica.

Professor Bentley had reported that six candidates had
presented themselves for examination for the bronze
medal and certificates of merit, all of whom passed a
satisfactory examination and three were worthy of special
distinction. With regard to the Terminal examination
for the silver medal and certificates of honour and merit
for the session 1878-9, fourteen candidates had presented
themselves, being rather over the average for the last five
years, and the answers of the majority were highly credit¬
able. The number of students attending his class during
the last session had been notably in advance of last year,
and the general attendance and uniform good conduct of
the students, both at Bloomsbury Square and at the Botanic
Gardens, proved that the school maintained its high
character for order, progress and discipline.

Herbarium Prize.

Professor Bentley had reported that four collections
had been sent in. The first in order of merit, that of
Mr. Perkins was eminently worthy of the silver medal,
it containing over 800 specimens. The second contained
nearly GOO and reflected great credit on Mr. Walker, to

whom he recommended that the bronze medal be awarded.
The third also showed great merit and he recommended
that a certificate of merit be awarded to Mr. Norman.

Chemistry and Pharmacy.

Professor Redwood had reported that in this class, the
general conduct and industry of which had been very
satisfactory, there were eleven competitors for the
silver medal and certificates, the first six having furnished
papers to which he had attached values entitling the
authors to some marks of distinction. In the competition
for the bronze medal and certificates there had been
seven competitors, five of whom had acquitted themselves
well, the first two remarkably so.

Practical Chemistry.

Professor Attfield had presented a report showing the
number of marks obtained by the first eight out of seven¬
teen competitors.

Council Examination Prizes.

Mr. Moss on behalf of Mr. Southall and himself had
presented a report of this examination, giving the mottoes
and number of marks of the seven competitors.

Legal and Parliamentary.

The Solicitor had presented to the Committee his
usual report. It stated that

William B. Mason, 14, Arcade, Briggate, Leeds,
had, prior to the hearing of the case against him, paid the
amount of penalty and costs into Court, amounting to
£5 8s. 3d. He had also reported that the Special Com¬
mittee on the Medical Act had concluded its sittings, and
that no point had arisen in which the Society was
specially interested. Various cases of alleged infringe¬
ment had been brought before the Committee, five of
which were recommended to be placed in the Solicitor’s
hands with a view to taking proceedings. The considera¬
tion of the question of the sale of patent medicines had
been deferred.

The Council considered in Committee, as usual, some
of the cases of alleged infringement, and ultimately the
report and recommendations of the Committee were re¬
ceived and adopted .

Prize Awards.

The following awards were made on the recommenda¬
tion of the General Purposes Committee : —

Chemistry and Pharmacy.

[Five months’ course.]

Bronze Medal .

Certificates of Merit

. . Thomas Horton.

I Henry William Drew.

\ William Herbert Hyatt.
j George Wale.

( William Inchle Gulliver.

Silver Medal
Certificates of Honour

Certificates of Merit .

Thomas Horton
. Edward Jarrett Eaton.
( James Henry Allan.
Frank Harris Alcock.
Henry William Drew.

[Ten months’ course.]

James B. Lillie Mackay.

Botany and Materia Medica.

[Five months’ course.]

Bronze Medal . .

Certificates of Merit

Thomas Horton.

Henry William Drew.
William Inchle Gulliver.

[Ten months’ course.]

Silver Medal .

Certificates of Honour

James B. Lillie Mackay.
Thomas Horton.

Frank Harris Alcock.
Henry William Drew.
Edward Jarrett Eatoa.

114

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 9, 1M9

Certificates of Merit

f James Edward Williams.
| William Inchle Gulliver,
j Fred. Wm. Ed. Shrivell.
] James Henry Allan.

| Percival C. Powrie.

Isaac Leach.

Practical Chemistry.

Silver Medal . Frank Harris Alcock.

Fredlc. Walm sley W ar rick
Robert John Price.
j Edwaid Jarrett Eaton.
j James B. Lillie Mackay.

Certificates of Merit . ; William Inchle Gulliver.

j BeresfordF. H.Maudson.
I Thomas Horton.

Bronze Medals

Botanical Prize.

Silver Medal . Thos. Frampton Perkins.

Bronze Medal . Charles Walker.

Certificate of Merit . : . William Francis Norman

Council Examination Prizes.

Pereira Medal ( silver ) ; and Books value £5, presented by

Mr. T. H. Hills.

Frank Harris Alcock.

Pharmaceutical Society's Medal ( silver ) ; and Books value
£3, presented by Mr. T. H. Ilills.

Marshall Leigh.

Pharmaceutical Society's Medal ( bronze ) ; and Books value
£2, presented by Mr. T. II. Ilills.

Henry Allen.

Jacob Bell Memokial Scholarships.

The Committee appointed to award these scholarships,
subject to the approval of the Council, reported that the
examination was held on July 1, when eleven candidates
competed, viz., in London, 8 ; Brighton, 1 ; Manchester,
1 ; Nottingham, 1.

The mottoes adopted by the two candidates who had
obtained the highest number of marks were “Alere flam-
mam n and “ Minimus,” and the Committee recom¬
mended that the scholarships should be awarded to the
competitors who had used those mottoes.

The Committee had opened the envelopes bearing those
mottoes, and the successful candidates were found to be —

William Elborne
and

John Thomas.

Superintendents of Examinations.

The following list of Superintendents and Deputy-
Superintendents of written examinations for the ensuing
year was agreed to : —

Aberdeen . . ,
Birmingham
Brighton
Bristol
Cambridge
Canterbury

Cardiff .

Carlisle .

Carmarthen
Carnarvon . .
Cheltenham
Darlington..

Douglas, Isle of Man

Dundee .

Edinburgh .

Exeter . ,

Glasgow . ,

Guernsey

Hull .

Inverness
J ersey

Davidson, Charles.
Southall, William.
Gwatkin, James Thomas.
Stroud, John.

Deck, Arthur.

Bing, Edwin.

Ilollway, A. B.
Thompson, Andrew.
Davies, R. M.

Lloyd, William.

Smith, Nathaniel. .
Robinson, James.
Brearey, William A.
Hardie, James.

Mackay, John.

Delves, George.
Kinninmont, Alexander.
Arnold, Adolphus.

Bell, Charles B.
Galloway, George R.
Ereaut, John, jun.

Lancaster .

Leeds .

Lincoln .

Liverpool .

London .

Manchester .

Newcastle-on-Tyne

Northampton .

Norwich .

Nottingham .

Oxford .

Peterborough .

Sheffield .

Shrewsbury .

Southampton .

Truro .

Worcester .

York .

Bagnall, William Henry.
Reynolds, Richard.
.Maltby, Joseph.
Abraham, Thomas Fell.
.Taylor, George Spratt.
Wilkinson, William.
Martin, Nathaniel H.
Bingley, John.

Sutton, Francis.

F itzHugh, Richard.

Prior, George T.
Heanley, Marshall.
.Ward, William.

Cross, William Gowen.
Dawson, Oliver R.

Percy, Thomas B.

Virgo, Charles.

Davison, Ralph.

Deputy-Superintendents of Examinations.

Aberdeen . Kay, James Petrie.

Birmingham . Churchill, Walter J.

Brighton . Gwatkin, James Ross.

Bristol . Tucker, Robert Lewis.

Cambridge . Church, Henry James.

Canterbury . Amos, Daniel.

Cardiff . Sanders, W. J.

Carlisle . Hallaway, John.

Carmarthen . Davies, R. M., jun,

Carnarvon . Hughes, Richard.

Cheltenham . Barron, William.

Darlington . Hutchinson, Rev. E.

Douglas, Isle of Man . Brearey, Arthur W.

Dundee . Kerr, Charles.

Edinburgh . . Ainslie, W illiam.

Exeter . Lake, J. H.

Glasgow . Davison, Thomas.

Guernsey . Collenette, Adolphus.

Hull . Baynes, James.

Inverness . . . . . Galloway, George.

Jersey . Ereaut, John.

Lancaster . Hall, William.

Leeds . . Smeeton, William.

Lincoln . Battle, John Scoley.

Liverpool . Shaw, John.

{Bremridge, Richard.
Knapman, John W.
Holmes, Edward M.

Manchester . . . Wilkinson, George.

Newcastle-on-Tyne . Stuart, Charles E.

Northampton . ....Mayger, W. D.

Norwich . Corder, Octavius.

Nottingham . Rayner, John.

Oxford . Thurland, Thomas Henry.

Peterborough . Buckle, Frank George.

Sheffield . Maleham, H. W.

Shrewsbury . Cross, William G., jun.

Southampton . Spearing, James.

Truro . Fiddick, Thomas.

Worcester . Lunn, Thomas.

York . Sowray, Joseph.

Reports of the Council Proceedings.

Mr. Symes moved a resolution of which he had given
notice, though he had slightly modified the wording of it
to this effect : —

“ That when any matter is considered in Committee
during the Council proceedings, a record of the fact
be stated in the Journal report of the Council pro¬
ceedings, except under some special circumstances
where the Council by vote decide that it is un¬
desirable.”

His idea was that everything taken into Committee
should be reported in name, not necessarily in detail,
but that the Council should still have the power by a
special vote to decide that it was undesirable that some
special matter should be reported. He scarcely knew

August!*, 187 1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

115

whether it was necessary to say much in support of the
motion, but he had brought it forward under the full
impression that there was a necessity for something of
the kind. The first impression perhaps on reading it
would be that it implied nothing which was not
now provided for, and he did not wish to propose any
innovation ; but it occurred to him that on several occa¬
sions the Council had gone in and out of Committee, and
the members had hardly known where they were ; it had
occurred that day and he was informed it had occurred
frequently before, which rather showed that when the
Council went into Committee it should do so more for¬
mally. The motion also suggested that at present the
report was not as full as it might be, that it was not
adequate to the importance or commensurate with the
amount of work which the Council did. Its constituency
had a right to be fully informed of the method of pro¬
cedure by which it was governed, and not only members
of the Society, but chemists and druggists, for whom it
legislated, had a right to be informed, not merely of the
skeleton of its proceedings, but to have something more
of the substance of them. It was complained sometimes
that the members of the calling did not take as much
interest in the proceedings of the Society as they might
do, and the latter retaliated, when they had the
opportunity, by saying that the Council did not con¬
sider their interests. It occurred to him that one
means by which the Council might more fully do its
part, would be by more deeply interesting these gen¬
tlemen in what it was doing. There was scarcely a
subject considered there, of however little importance it
might appear, the bearings of which had not some im¬
portance for persons who were concerned in the business
in other matters. A report in the Journal would help
to excite that interest which he was desirous of creating.
They had been told that day that a matter which was
not reported would appear in the balance sheet at the
Annual Meeting, but if it were of sufficient interest to
be stated there, it would be of more interest if it were
found in the ordinary proceedings. The Annual
Meeting lasted but a few hours, and when on the last
occasion a gentleman got up and asked for figures, they
all felt that he was straining a point too far in asking
for such details. Probably he would not have asked for
any figures at all if he had been able to read in the
ordinary reports what had been done with the money of
the Society. The Council met to conduct the business
of the Society and to expend the money obtained from
individual members. If those subscriptions came from
wealthy men, it would not so much matter how they were
expended, provided it was done wisely and not extrava¬
gantly, but many of these subscriptions came from men
in a small way of business to whom it was really a tax,
and they looked to get some equivalent for it. Their
connection with the Society was the equivalent and they
ought to have as mucli as possible for their money. By
making the reports more full this would be done. The
most interesting part of the work was generally done in
Committee, and that the members of the Council should
keep the most interesting part to themselves and hand
over the least interesting part to their constituents,
seemed a proceeding which it was not necessary to
argue upon.

Mr. Atkins seconded the motion. He did not pre¬
cisely know how it could be carried out, but he had had
a strong conviction in his own mind for years that the
constituency had a right to know what went on. He
had known interesting questions occupy the Council for
an hour or more, and yet in the country he had been
asked why they had not been mentioned. He knew there
might be a difficulty often as to what should be elimi¬
nated, but it had occurred to him that there was a middle
course which r-!id not require a great amount of discrimi¬
nation to find, viz., to intimate that at a particular
stage the Council resolved itself into Committee and
discussed such and such a matter. Names need not be

mentioned or any particulars which would frustrate
legal action, if legal action were to be taken, but the
fullest report consistent with prudence ought to be
furnished. Certainly the unjust criticism which took
place outside ought to be disarmed, that after spending
four, five or six hours at the Council Board there was
but a very sparse report of what had occupied the best
intellects there for a number of hours. He hoped some
means would be found of complying with the very
reasonable suggestion contained in the motion.

The President said he had no objection to the motion,
the modification introduced having entirely taken the
sting out of it. There was a very good example of un¬
authorized reporting in the Chemist and Druggist with
regard to the proceedings last month, for as there put it
was altogether a misrepresentation of the facts.

Mr. Hampson said the Council had the cure in its own
hands. If there had been an unofficial reporter present
he would not have fallen into the error. He should be
in favour of another reporter being admitted.

The President said the inference expressed in the
words he had quoted could not be drawn from the report
which appeared in the Journal.

Mr. (Jostling- said he had felt very strongly the
injustice of the report which appeared in the Chemist and
Druggist, and on reading it he thought he could not vote
for Mr. Symes’s motion. What the Council did last
month was perfectly consistent with the interests of the
trade, viz., not to publish what was said with regard to
the prosecution of co-operative stores generally. As the
motion was now altered, he could vote for it with plea-
‘ sure. There was a good deal of point in some of the
remarks made as to extending information amongst
members as to what was done in Committee.

The President, having read the Journal report, repeated
that it contained nothing to justify what appeared in the
Chemist and Druggist.

Mr. Rimmington said he should like to know who
communicated that to the Chemist and Druggist.

The President said he was quite unable to answer
that question.

Mr. Williams said he had thought over this subject a
good deal, and had long been of opinion that it would
be well if the reports of Council meetings were fuller
and more complete; but the present motion did not seem
to him practical enough to be of real service, and he
should like to see it modified so as to make it really
practical instead of a mere expression of opinion. He
thought he could see how the Council could get out of
the difficulty. He could quite understand the difficulty
which the reporter felt sometimes in knowing what to
report and what to omit, and of course when the Council
went into Committee he did not take down anything of
the discussion, though frequently it turned out tha* there
was no reason why the discussion should not be reported.
He thought the best plan would be to have full notes taken
of all transactions, whether in Council or Committee ; but
that before being published they should be submitted to
some one, either an individual or a Committee, who
should take the responsibility of what was fit to be
published, or rather of what it was necessary to omit.
In his own opinion the President for the the time being
would be the most suitable to undertake this office. If
any check were required it could be afforded by the
original notes with the alterations being placed before
the next Council meeting. He thought it would be
found in practice that very little alteration was required.

Mr. Hampson asked if the doctoring would be done in
the Editor’s room or there.

Mr. Williams said certainly not in the Editor’s room.
He should object to placing any paid servant of the
Society in such a position. He only wished to prevent
the publication of matter which would be decidedly objec¬
tionable, but to have as much unobjectionable matter as
possible published.

Mr. Mackay said he quite agreed with the principle

116

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 9, 1879.

of the motion, for he had always argued that the pro¬
ceedings of the Council as reported were not satisfactory
to the outside members. He had always felt that they
were far too short, but he also felt that if the motion as
originally drawn were carried, and everything that tran¬
spired were put into print the members of the Council
would be running their heads against a post. As an ad¬
dition had been made to the original motion that difficulty
was avoided, and therefore he could vote for it. He could
see, however, that there would be some difficulty in carrying
it out in detail. But Mr. Williams’s suggestion, he thought,
was about the most unpractical he had ever heard ; he
did not think the man was born who would take the
office of President if he had to do what Mr. Williams
suggested — to be reponsible, first for reporting what took
place, and next to be called over the coals a month after¬
wards for having either published or omitted something
he ought not. He had more than once advocated, and
would again throw out the suggestion that the Editor
should have a seat at the reporter’s table, and be repon¬
sible for giving a full account of the Council’s proceedings.
Let him be furnished with full notes of what took place
.and be responsible for what appeared.

Mr. Bottle said, with every desire to follow up Mr.
Symes’s wish to have a full account of all that occurred
at the Council table, he could not help feeling that the
mode in which the motion had now been put was peculiarly
unfortunate, inasmuch as it would require that the Coun¬
cil should publish to its constituents that it had voted
that a certain something should not be communicated to
them. The members were to consider a certain thing n
Committee and then in Council resolve that what they
had done should be kept secret. He would rather put it
the other way and let it be the vote of the Council that
such and such a thing should be communicated.

Mr. Symes said he was pleased to find that the opinion
of the Council was so entirely with him, as he had indeed
expected ; but he should like to reply to some of the
remarks which had been made. If the report of the
proceedings were a verbatim one there would be no
difficulty in the mattei', because everything uttered would
be reported ; but the Council now threw on the reporter
a very serious responsibility. Mr. Mackay said the Pre¬
sident would not think of undertaking such a respon¬
sibility, and yet at every meeting the Council threw
on the reporter the responsibility of sifting out what he
thought desirable to report. Now the President, being a
chemist and druggist, would have to some extent a long
-education in what was required by chemists and druggists
to be known; but the reporter was a professional re¬
porter, who could hardly be expected to be able to select
such matter as would be interesting to chemists and
druggists throughout the country, and it was most unfair
to Iiim to cast this duty upon him. He had nothing
to complain of as to the manner in which the reporter
did his duty, but he was put in a false position. As to
that report in the Chemist and Druggist, the first thing
which occurred to him was that some one had been
breaking faith in communicating it, but the second
reflection was that no one had done so, but that it was a
deduction from the official report, and it illustrated his
position most forcibly. It showed that by giving these
meagre reports and half sentences more danger was
really introduced than a full report of the discussion
would have done. There seemed a good deal of mystery
.about the reporting. One gentleman at the last meeting,
who had been a member of Council ten years, said he did
mot know what became of the report when it left there, —
whether the reports published were the same as the
reporter furnished or not. He had no wish to suggest that
the report was altered ; he hoped it was not ; but there
seemed to be a vast amount of ignorance prevailing as to
whether the reporter handed to the Editor certain matter
which he was to publish, or whether the Editor had any
right to alter it or cut it down. He quite agreed that it
was desirable to make some suggestion of how the • reso¬

lution should be carried out. He had had some difficulty
in maturing a plan; but it occurred to him that the vote
could be taken in Committee in connection with the
subject under discussion, so that if it were decided not to
publish it, the vote would be part of the matter which
would not be published, but if the majority of the
Council thought it well to publish it, the fact might be
stated. That would be a healthy thing too, as it would
give the constitituency an opportunity of seeing how far
the Council was disposed, and which of its members were,
disposed, to give them a larger share of the information
which they thought they ought to possess. The only
thing he would suggest was that when the Council went
into Committee — and it ought to go in and out of Com¬
mittee more formally than it often did — then it should
ask the reporter to state what he proposed to report as
the result of the discussion, or it might suggest to him
what he should report. That seemed the only solution:
that the Council should decide on the spot what should
be reported, the form in which it should be reported, or
how much and also what was not to be reported.

The Vice-President wished to know in what respect
the motion, if carried, would alter the existing state of
things.

Mr. Symes said it made a rule for what was now
optional.

The motion was then put and carried.

The President stated that according to usual custom
no business beyond what was absolutely necessary would
be brought forward at the September meeting, so that
only a quorum, which could be obtained in London, need
attend.

Report of Examinations.

July , 1879.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, 9th . .

.... 8

4

4

,, 10th . .

.... 8

2

6

,, 16th . .

.... 11

6

5

„ 17th . .

.... 10

6

4

— 37

—18

—19

Minor, 9 th . .

.... 18

10

8

„ 10th . .

.... 21

9

12

„ 11th . .

.... 27

8

19

„ 16th . .

.... 18

10

8

,, 17th . .

.... 17

12

5

„ 18th . .

16

10

—127

— 65

—62

Modified, 9th .

4

• • • • *

3

1

—

—

—

168

86

82

Scotland .

Candidates

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, 22nd . .

.... 3

1

2

Minor, 22 nd . .

.... 13

6

7

„ 23rd . .

.... 13

5

8

„ 24th . .

7

5

— 38

—18

—20

Modified, 24th .

.... 3

3

0

—

—

—

44

22

22

_

—

Preliminary Examination.
Candidates.

Examined. Passed. Failed.

365 . . 184 181

August 9, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

117

6 Certi6cates in lieu of the Society's Examination had
been received : —

2 from the College of Preceptors.

2 from the University of Cambridge.

2 from the University of Oxford.

Erratum. — Page 93, column 1, line 31, for Macdonald
Robert, Edinburgh, reac l Macgregor, Donald, Edinburgh.

fvccjetUngs of Societies.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The History of Alizarin and Allied Colouring

Matters, and their Production from Coal Tar.*

BY W. H. PERKIN, F.R.S.

(Continued from paye 98.)

The anthracene, after the treatment with naphtha,
should contain about 50 per cent of pure anthracene. It
is not distilled in the same manner as for the preparation
of dichloranthracene, but is heated in a retort, or more
generally, in a semicircular iron pot. The lid of this is
furnished with a safety valve, and also a steam pipe. The
receiver consists of a tank, the top of which is sometimes
made of canvas ; a perforated tube passes round this tank
near the top, which is supplied with water and produces a
gentle spray, which facilitates the condensation of the
anthracene. When working this arrangement, a known
weight of anthracene is introduced into the iron pot,
which may be called a subliming pot, and is heated until
it is quite fluid. Steam is then blown in ; this carries
the anthracene vapour forward with it into the receiver,
when both are condensed by the spray of cold water.

The condensed anthraceneis found in a wet and extremely
finely divided state, very suitable for oxidation. Its weight
is known from the amount of washed anthracene used
in the operation. Other methods of condensing the
anthracene and steam are used, but the above, I believe,
is the most common. Obtaining the anthracene in this
finely divided state is a great improvement upon the old
process of grinding it.

The oxidation of this anthracene is performed much
more slowly than it was at first, the solution of potassic
bichromate and sulphuric acid being kept more diluted.
In this way the amount of oxidizing agent required is
smaller, less being expended on the useless impurities.

In carrying out this operation in its present form, the
potassic bichromate is first dissolved in water, and the
wet anthracene well mixed with it. The requisite quan¬
tity of sulphuric acid, previously diluted with water, is
then added by degrees, and the mixture kept gently boil¬
ing for ten or twelve hours. A Korting’s air injector
should be used with the steam, to keep up the agitation
of the mixture. The oxidized anthracene, which h^s the
appearance of a yellow powder, is then collected in
woollen bags, thoroughly washed, pressed and dried.

The amount of potassic bichromate used is regulated
principally by the proportion of pure anthracene con¬
tained in the product to be oxidized. Pure anthracene
requires about 1‘66 times its weight of potassic bichro¬
mate to convert it into anthraquinone. The amount used
by different manufacturers varies, some employing a little
under two parts, others more ; but no fixed quantity can
be given, as the amount required evidently must differ
with the kind of impurities contained in different parcels
of anthracene, some of these oxidizing more freely than
others. It is remarkable that so little answers the purpose,
and shows that the anthracene takes up the oxygen more
greedily than the impurities. Too much oxidizing agent
is injurious.

The anthraquinone is still very crude, and needs puri¬
fication. The method that has been most generally
adopted consists in treating it with concentrated sulphuric

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts.

acid. This dissolves tbe anthraquinone, but does not act
upon it. The impurities, however, become soluble in
water, being converted in sulpho acids, etc., so that after
treating the crude anthraquinone in this manner, and then
mixing the product with water, nearly pure anthraquinone
is alone precipitated. This method of subliming anthra¬
cene, oxidizing it and purifying it with sulphuric acid,
was first proposed, I believe, by H. Caro. The process is
carried out as follows : — The crude anthraquinone is
placed in large iron, semicircular, cast iron pots, capable
of holding a ton or more of the product. These are fur¬
nished with a steam jacket, and a strong stirrer, also of
cast iron, and worked by machinery, the blades being
arranged so as to work the mixture constantly upwards.
These pots are charged with crude anthraquinone and sul¬
phuric acid, in the proportion of one of the former to three
or four of the latter ; the steam is turned on to the jacket,,
and the mixture heated with continuous stirring for about
twenty-four hours. The product is then run into shallow
leaden trays, and exposed to the air, or the trays are
arranged in a proper chamber, the atmosphere of which
is kept moist by steam. In this way the acid becomes-
very gradually diluted, causing the anthraquinone to cry¬
stallize out. In a proper chamber this occupies about two
days. The crystalline product is boiled with water, and
then washed by decantation, any anthraquinone found in
the liquors being afterwards collected. The anthraquinone
is then pressed and dried, and is usually so pure as to
contain over 95 per cent, of anthraquinone.

Instead of placing it on trays and allowing it to crys¬
tallize by the absorption of moisture by the sulphuric
acid, some manufacturers pour it at once into water, boil
the resulting mixture and wash it in filter presses.

During the last year or two, a modification of our ori¬
ginal process has been coming into use ; I mean the process-
of sublimation. The modification principally consists in
assisting the process by passing superheated steam through
the subliming retort, and this is important.

Although anthraquinone is such a remarkably stable
body, we often noticed that a good deal of loss occurred
in our subliming operations, apparently from reduction,
and especially if the charges were large, because the}'
then required a high temperature continued for a long
time, the residues being bad conductors of heat. This re¬
duction is probably caused by the steam and anthraqui¬
none coming in contact with the iron of the retort. To
avoid this loss, it is evident that the temperature should not
be higher than absolutely necessary, and the charge should
also be spread out in thin layers, so as to be quickly
volatilized. The anthraquinone vapour and steam may
be condensed in a similar manner to anthracene. The-
sublimed anthraquinone, which is pressed and dried, has
to be still further pmified. It will be remembered that
we used coal-tar naphtha for the purpose, but the sulphuric
acid process above described, I believe, is now always
employed.

The large amount of chrome alum liquors produced in.
the manufacture of anthraquinone has always been a
source of trouble to manufacturers, their dark green
colour and acid character making them objectionable in
the drains, and chrome alum being of itself of very limited
consumption. Processes, however, have been now devised
for working this up again into a chromate.

There is, however, another residue which, so far as I
am aware, has not been turned to account, and that is the-
acid liquors from the purification of anthraquinone, con.
sisting of sulphuric acid, sulpho acids, etc., and it is
difficult to see to what use they can be turned, especially
as such enormous quantities are produced, probably over
3,000 tons of sulphuric acid being used in this process
yearly. If the original process of crystallizing the sub¬
limed anthraquinone from naphtha were adopted, this
difficulty would not exist.

In converting the anthraquinone into the sulpho acids,,
we at first used Nordhausen sulphuric acid, and heated,
the mixture in glass retorts, such as are used in the con-

118

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 9, 1 87P.

centration of sulphuric acid, but, owing to the fragility of
these vesse's, we were induced to try cast iron pots. These
we found to answer very well, though not quite so well
as glass.

On account of the expense and difficulty in getting
Nordhausen sulphuric acid imported into this country —
few vessels liking it as a cargo — we commenced ^working
with ordinary sulphuric acid. We usually employed four
or five parts of this to every one part of anthraquinone,
and heated the mixture up to 270° — 280° C. The anthra¬
cene, as it sublimed from the operation, was put back into
the acid. The sulpho acids produced in this way were
treated with lime, etc., just as those obtained from di-
chloranthracene, and alreadv described.

I find we employed this process principally in our works
until the middle of June, 1870. We then began to work
on a larger scale than we had hitherto done with dichlor-
anthracene, and carried both processes on for a time ; but
finding the latter the most economical, partially on account
of the ease with which it yielded the sulpho acids with
ordinary sulphuric acid, we employed it almost exclusively
after a time, although frequently making colouring matter
by the other method.

As already mentioned, in the early experiments made
with anthraquinone, it was noticed that, by reducing the
amount of sulphuric acid with which it was heated and
keeping the temperature as low as practicable that the
colouring matter produced with the resulting sulpho acids
gave purples on mordanted cloth more closely resembling
those produced with madder than when a large excess of
s lphuric acid had been employed. The cause of this was
not understood for some time, until it was eventually found
out that a monosulpho acid was required to produce
alizarin. I believe this was first discovered by Messrs.
Meister, Lucius and Brtining, as they were the earliest
to send practically pure alizarin into the market.

The production of the monosulpho acid of anthra¬
quinone as the chief product, by means of ordinary sul¬
phuric acid, is difficult. I have generally thought it best
to work with an excess of anthraquinone, to use a high
temperature and only small operations, so that they may
be quickly finished. When using ordinary sulphuric acid,
every facility should be given for the escape of aqueous
vapour which forms, so as to keep the acid as concentrated
as possible. At temperatures over 260® C. sulphuric
acid commences to oxidize anthraquinone, carbonic anhy¬
dride being slowly formed, so that high temperature
should not be long continued.

The large quantity of ordinary sulphuric acid which
had to be employed to convert anthraquinone into the
sulpho acids, and the high temperature which had to be
used, causing a certain amount of destruction to take
place, evidently showed that it was desirable to employ
fuming sulphuric acid in this process. In this country
we found it costly, but as it was more readily procurable
in Germany, the manufacturers there used it. They were
afterwards supplied with a very strong fuming acid from
Bohemia, containing about 40 per cent, of sulphuric an¬
hydride. This was prepared, I believe, by distilling the
sulphuric anhydride from one portion of ordinary Nord¬
hausen sulphuric acid into another. This very strong acid
was found to be without action upon ordinary tinned iron
and it is now actually stored in vessels made of that
material.

Within the last few years a very elegant process'* has
been devised by Dr. Alessel and Mr. Squire for the pro¬
duction of sulphuric anhydride and fuming sulphuric acid.
Sulphuric acid, when strongly heated, dissociates into
steam, sulphurous anhydride and oxygen, thus : —

S04H2 = 0H2+0 + S02.

* Patented l$th September, 1875, and now manufactured
largely in this country by Chapman, Messel and Co. Pro¬
fessor C. Winkler a short time afterwards also showed that
fuming acid could be made in this manner. — Dingier , Polgt.
Journ., ccxviii., 128 — 139.

This decomposition is taken advantage of to give supply
of sulphurous anhydride and oxygen in the proportions
required, the water being condensed and thoroughly re¬
moved by passing the gases through sulphuric acid.

The mixed gases are afterwards combined by passing
them over heated platinized asbestos, and thus form
sulphuric anhydride.

so.,+o=so3.

The sulphuric anhydride is then condensed, either alone
or in ordinary sulphuric acid. It is remarkable that acid
containing 60 to 70 per cent, of anhydride is liquid
even below 0° C., acid containing 40 to 50 per cent, is
solid, and acid containing 20 to 30 per cent., liquid. By
this means fuming acid can be produced in any quantity,
and of any strength ; that usually employed in the manu¬
facture of alizarin containing 40 or 50 per cent, of anhy-
diide. We thus see that the demand for this acid in the
production of artificial alizarin has created a new in¬
dustry" .

On treating anthraquinone with fuming sulphuric acid,
iron pots somewhat similar to those described for the
conversion of dichloranthracene into sulpho acids are
used, but, as but little acid vapours escape, very little pro¬
vision need be made for condensing them. In fact, if the
anthraquinone be pure, there is no reason why they should
not be entirely closed, though, of course, it would be
desirable to have a safety valve, or some similar sort of
arrangement.

The sizes of the iron pots used for treating anthra¬
quinone with fuming sulphuric acid vary, but usually
hold from 30 to 40 gallons. They should be fitted with
stirrers, especially when required for the preparation of
the monosulphanthraquinonic acid, and heated by means
of an oil bath. The fuming acid, after being sufficiently
heated to render it fluid, is emptied into these pots by
means of a syphon, or by piercing the tins, after having
placed them over the pots by passing an iron bar right
through the top and then through the bottom ; the upper
hole thus made serves as an inlet for the air, and allows
the acid to flow freely through the hole in the bottom of
the tin.

When the monosulphanthraquinonic acid is required,
a mixture of about one part of fuming acid, containing
40 to 50 per cent, of anhydride, is very thoroughly mixed
with from one to one and a quarter parts of anthra¬
quinone. The mixture is then gradually heated up to
about 170®, or even to 190°, and kept at this temperature
for eight or ten hours, the stirrer being kept constantly
in motion. The product thus formed consists chiefly of
monosulphanthraquinonic acid, together with a little of
the disulpho acid and unchanged anthraquinone. It is
then removed from the pots whilst rather hot and diluted
with water. The anthraquinone is then separated by
passing this solution through a filter press or other con¬
venient arrangement.

The monosulpho acid is easily separated from the
disulpho acid by converting it into its soda salt, which is
difficultly soluble in water, this solvent dissolving only
about 5 per cent, at the ordinary temperature. The
filtrate is, therefore, nearly neutralized with caustic soda.
This causes it to become a thick crystalline mass, which
is then thoroughly pressed from the mother liquors ; if
required still purer, it can be re-crystailized, or purified
by mixing it with about 15 or 20 per cent, of sulphuric
acid, diluting with a little water and again pressing and
washing with water. This salt forms beautiful small
brilliant white pearly scales.

When pure, sodic monosulphanthraquinonate gives, on
heating with caustic soda and chlorate of potash, prac¬
tically pure alizarin. This operation I have already re¬
marked upon.

To make the disulpho acid from anthraquinone, an
excess of fuming sulphuric acid is used, about twice as
much, or rather more, than in the preparation of the
monosulpho acid ; the temperature is also raised (as com¬
bination of the products takes place) considerably higher;

August 9, 1879.] THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

119

it may be allowed to rise, if a very red shade of colour is
to be made, as high as 260°, but should not be taken
much higher for any length of time.

The product thus obtained is perfectly soluble in water,
and, when sufficiently cool, should be removed from the
pots and diluted. It may then be treated with lime, as
when dichloranthracene has been used, or, as some prefer,
neutralized at once with caustic soda. It will then, of
course, be mixed with a considerable quantity of sodic
sulphate, and, so far as my . experience goes, I have
always found that the purer the soda salt the better it
worked when treated with caustic soda to convert it into
colouring matter.

Dichloranthracene, if treated with about twice its
weight of fuming acid, containing 25 per cent, of anhy¬
dride, instead of with five times its weight of ordinary
acid, works very well, and undoubtedly could be used at
once by neutralizing with caustic soda.

It is remarkable that the artificial alizarin produced
from disulpho acids, prepared from anthraquinone, does
not yield such pure shades of colour on mordants as that
made with the disulpho acids prepared from dichloran¬
thracene. The latter colouring matter gives the calico
printer more delicate pink and red shades, and is, there¬
fore, also much liked by Turkey red dyers ; and, notwith¬
standing it is sent into the market in a weaker form than
the corresponding anthraquinone colouring matter, still it
demands a higher price. Taking both circumstances to¬
gether, the price it fetches is about 25 per cent. nDre than
the colouring matter produced with anthraquiuone.

Tne process with dichloranthracene has also the great
advantage of always giving an artificial alizarin producing
uniform shades of colour, according as ordinary or fuming
sulphuric add is used, whereas with anthraquinone it is
impossible to tell with certainty the exact tint the product
you are making will give.

Curiously, Continental manufacturers do not appear to
have been as yet successful in manufacturing artificial
alizarin from dichloranthracene in quantity, an I what little
they have produced in this way does not seem to have
been equal in quality to that produced in this country.

The dichloranthracene and anthraquinone processes I
have described are the only ones employed for the pro¬
duction of artificial alizarin. The method of converting
anthracene into sulpho acids, and then oxidizing them so
as to form sulpho acids of anthraquinone, although appa¬
rently very simple, does not work satisfactorily, the yield
of colouring matter being small. The only process I have
found to approach those in use is that patented by
Meister, Lucius and Briining, in which mononitroanthx-a-
quinone is use I. By this process the only colouring
matter dyeing mordants produced is alizarin, and from
experiments I made I found the yield of colouring matter
to be, on the whole, satisfactory. It is, however, 'obtained
in a brown and impure condition.

When commencing to supply dyers and printers with
artificial alizarin, we kn6w that we ha l to compete with
m idder. And although the new product possessed certain
advantages, yet we felt it was useless to ask prices rela¬
tively much higher than those of that product, and from
the first we endeavoured to act upon this principle.*

At first, nearly all the artificial alizarin we made was
consumed by the Turkey red dyers of Glasgow and Man¬
chester. The colour at this time contained large quan¬
tities of anthrapurpurin, and therefore produced a more
scarlet shade than madder or garancine, and for some
time it was used along with garancine, as by this means
shades of colour were produced which were far more
brilliant than when garancine alone was employed ; but at
the same time not too scarlet to be disliked by the Turkey
red buyers. Of course, the use of garancine with artificial
alizarin has now ceased, and much better results are

* The prices given in the Moniteur Scientifique (April,
1879, p. 420), for the years 1870—1873, are very much
higher than those ever obtained in this country.

obtained by employing a mixture of the red shade and
blue shade.

Unfortunately, the market is now supplied, not only
with the red or anthrapurpurin shade, and blue or pure
alizarin shade, but mixtures of these in various propor¬
tions, so that there are more than a dozen shades in the
market, and thus much of the manufacturer’s time is
occupied with preparing these ; moreover, he is forced to
keep a considerable stock of colour on hand.

It would appear that on the Continent great difficulties
were experienced in the use of artificial alizarin for
Turkey red dyeing,* whereas in this country it was
employed for this purpose from the very first, and no
difficulties worth mentioning were experienced, the chief
modification, being, I believe, the use of soap only in the
clearing process, instead of soap and an alkaline carbonate.
Several modifications, however, have since been made in
oiling and mordanting the goods, which have rendered
the process more simple ; and the colouring matter being
a purer product than madder or garancine, the clearing
ojoerations can be performed with greater facility.

In dyeing ordinary printed goods the process can be
conducted much more rapidly than when madder is used,
as no loss of colouring matter is experienced by using a
high temperature at once, as I showed you was the case
with madder; however, I believe, when good pink and
red shades are to be dyed, dyers do not usually allow
their dye bath to rise much above 80° — 85° C.

The use of a product called “ oleine,” prepared by
treating castor and other oils with sulphuric acid, has
been found of great service, as it increases the brilliancy
of the shades, especially the red or scarlet ones.

A good deal of artificial alizarin is used for topical
printing. To fit it for this purpose it is mixed with a few
per cent, of its weight of acetate of lime, and by dyeing
patterns with light shades, say, with pure alizarin, and
then printing on dark shades with anthrapurpurin, very
beautiful results can be obtained.

The use of artificial alizarin, in place of madder or
garancine, has a very important influence in the pollution
of our rivers, as when this is used the water from the
dye baths is nearly pure, whereas when madder and
garancine are employed it is full of ground woody matter
and I think I shall be making a very low estimate if I
say that over 10,000 tons of this was annually passed into
our rivers before the introduction of artificial alizarin.
Surely this is a great advantage in itself.

Now that the production of artificial alizarin is equal
to the demand, it is interesting to find that the supply of
raw material anthracene, has been quite adequate, so
that all the fears that were entertained on this subject
have proved groundless; and it is also well to remember
that up to the present time the anthracene contained in
pitch has not been extracted to any large extent, so that
much more anthracene could yet be produced if required.

(To be continued.)

Parliamentary and Sam proceedings.

Sale of Food and Drugs Act Amendment Act, 1879.

The following is the text of this Act, which has now
received the Royal Assent : —

Whereas conflicting decisions have been given in Eng¬
land and in Scotland in regard to the meaning and effect
of section six of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875,
in this Act referred to as the principal Act, and it is ex¬
pedient, in this respect and otherwise, to amend the said
Act: Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent
Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, in this present

* Moniteur Scientifique , April, 1879, p. 417.

120

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 9, 1879„

Parliament assembled, and by tlie authority of the same,
as follows :

1. This Act may be cited for all purposes as the Sale
of Pood and Drugs Act Amendment Act, 1879.

2. In any prosecution under the provisions of the prin¬
cipal Act for selling to the prejudice of the purchaser
any article of food or any drug which is not of the nature,
substance, and quality of the article demanded by such
purchaser, it shall be no defence to any such prosecution
to allege that the purchaser, having bought only for
analysis, was not prejudiced by such sale. Neither shall
it be a gDod defence to prove that the article of food or
drug in question, though defective in nature or in
substance or in quality, was not defective in all three
respects.

3. Any medical officer of health, inspector of nuisances,
or inspector of weights and measures, or any inspector of
a market, or any police constable under the direction and
at the cost of the local authority appointing such officer,
inspector, or constable, or charged with the execution of
this Act, may procure at the place of delivery any sample
of any milk in course of delivery to the purchaser or
consignee in pursuance of any contract for the sale to such
purchaser or consignee of such milk ; and such officer, in¬
spector, or constable, if he suspect the same to have been
sold contrary to any of the provisions of the principal
Act, shall submit the same to be analysed, and the same
shall be analysed, and proceedings shall be taken, and
penalties on conviction be enforced in like manner in all
respects as if such officer, inspector, or constable had pur¬
chased the same from the seller or consignor under section
thirteen of the principal Act.

4. The seller or consignor, or any person or persons
entrusted by him for the time being with the charge of
such milk, if he shall refuse to allow such officer, in¬
spector, or constable to take the quantity which such
officer, inspector, or constable shall require for the purpose
of analysis, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten
pounds.

5. Any street or open place of public resort shall be
held to come within the meaning of section seventeen of
the principal Act.

6. In determining whether an offence has been com¬
mitted under section six of the said Act by selling, to the
prejudice of the purchaser, spirits not adulterated other¬
wise than by the admixture of water, it shall be a good
defence to prove that such admixture has not reduced
the spirit more than twenty-five degrees under proof for
brandy, whisky, or rum, or thirty-five degrees under
proof for gin.

7. Every liberty having a separate court of quarter
sessions, except a liberty of a cinque port, shall be deemed
to be a county within the meaning of the said Act.

8. The town council of any borough having a separate
court of quarter sessions shall be exempt from contribut¬
ing towards the expenses incurred in the execution of the
principal Act in respect of the county within which such
borough is situate, and the treasurer of the county shall
exclude the expenses so incurred from the account re¬
quired by section one hundred and seventeen of the
Municipal Corporation Act, 1835, to be sent by him to
such town council.

9. The town council of any borough having under any
general or local Act of Parliament, or otherwise, a sepa¬
rate police establishment, and being liable to be assessed
to the county rate of the county within which the borough
is situate, shall be paid by the justices of such county
the proportionate amount contributed towards the expenses
incurred by the county in the execution of the principal
Act by the several parishes and parts of parishes within
such borough in respect of the rateable value of the property
assessable therein, as ascertained by the valuation lists
for the time being in force.

10. In all prosecutions under the principal Act, and
notwithstanding the provisions of section twenty of the
said Act, the summons to appear before the magistrates

shall be served upon the person charged with violating,
the provisions of the said Act within a reasonable time,
and in the case of a perishable article not exceeding
twenty-eight days from the time of the purchase from such
person for test purposes of the food or drug, for the sale
of which in contravention to the terms of the principal
Act the seller is rendered liable to prosecution, and par¬
ticulars of the offence or offences against the said Act of
which the seller is accused, and also the name of the pro¬
secutor, shall be stated on the summons, and the summons
shall not be made returnable in a less time than seven
days from the day it is served upon the person summoned.

Poisoning by Carbolic Acid.

An inquest has been held in the Coventry and War¬
wickshire Hospital, touching the circumstances attending
the death of a girl named Edgington, from poisoning by
carbolic acid. It appeared that some carbolic acid,
which had been obtained for sanitary purposes had been
placed on a shelf in a bottle similar to that in which
some wine was usually kept, and for which it is probable
that the deceased mistook it. A verdict was returned
that deceased died from the effects of carbolic acid taken
inadvertently, and the jury added a rider suggesting to
the sanitary authorities of the town that in future a
poison label should be attached to every bottle in which
the acid was contained.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated oy the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for 'publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Tincture of Kino.

Sir, — After the interesting paper by Mr. R. Pother,
which appeared in the Journal of August 2, perhaps the
following note may be of some value.

Some fifteen or sixteen years ago, the idea occurred to
my mind that the addition of a small quantity of glycerine
to tincture of kino, might, by preventing the aggregation of
the gum particles, do away with the annoying tendency to
gelatinization.

I found it answer the purpose admirably and have never
been troubled with gelatinized tincture since.

The proportion of glycerine I use is 5 per cent.

August 5, 1879. John B. Merrikin.

“ Gulielnius.” — (1). Send specimen with basal sheath.

(2) . Carex remota. (3). Car ex divulsa. (4). J uncus
bufonius. (5). Juncus effusus. (6). Juncus lampro -
carpus.

J. U. Dingle. — (1). Pteris aquilina. (2). TJsnea florida.

(3) . Festuca gigantea, probably; send a more mature
specimen. (4). Pinus sylvestns.

T. J. S. Blaine. — Daphne Mezereum.

B. Roberts. — (1). Vicia sylvatica. (2). Lathyrus syl-
vestris. (3). Send a specimen with the lower leaves. (4).
Correct. (5). Stachys palustris. . (6). Cichorius Intybus.

J. M. — See a paper on Permanent Essence of Rennet in
vol. ix., p. 307.

“ Patent .” — A preparation is liable to stamp duty — (1)
If it is a secret or occult preparation ; (2) If it is stated
to be prepared only by the person whose name it bears;
(3) If it is, or has been, recommended on the label, or on a
handbill, or by any public advertisement, as a remedy for
the cure or relief of any disorder.

Messrs. Duncan, Flockhart and Co. — Your communica¬
tion has been forwarded to the publishers, Messrs. Churchill,
New Burlington Street.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Cowan, Eade, Strachan, Gulielmus, Congius, In¬
quirer, An Associate, Lavandula, M. R. I., J. A.

August 16, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

121

NOTES ON INDIAN DRUGS.

BY W. DYMOCK.

{Continued from Vol. IX, page 1035.)

Spilanthes oleracea, Linn., Composite ; Para
cress of Brazil. Vernacular : Akurkura (Bomb).,
is commonly cultivated in gardens in Bombay. It is
a small annual plant with round smooth succulent
branching stems ; the leaves are opposite, petioled,
subcordifomi, subdentate. The flowerlieacls are
solitary, at the ends of pedicels longer than the leaves,
of a conical form and of the size of an acorn ; they are
entirely composed of yellow or brownish yellow
hermaphrodite tubular flowers.

The achenes are compressed with ciliated margins
and are surmounted by two naked awns. The whole
plant is very acrid, but the flower heads are especially
so, having a hot burning taste which causes profuse
salivation. It is on this account that the plant has
been named Akurkura by the gardeners. The name
properly belongs to the pellitory root of the shops.
The flower heads are sometimes chewed to relieve
toothache. The S. acmella is a native of India and
has similar properties.

Artemisia Ixdica, Willd., Composite. The plant.

Vernacular : Nagdoavn (Hind., Beng.); Dauna

(Bomb.); Machipatri (Tam.).

History , Uses, etc. — This plant, in Sankrit Nagada-
mani, may be regarded as the wormwood of India.
The Hindus consider it to be a valuable stomachic,
deobstruent, and antispasmodic ; they prescribe it in
infusion and electuary, in cases of obstructed menses
and hysteria. Externally it is used in fomentations.
In Hindu temples downa is placed upon the heads
of the goddesses, but not on those of the gods. A.
Indica is probably one of the kinds of afsanteen
described in Mahometan works, but owing to the
number of species which belong to the genus, and
which all have very similar properties, it is difficult
to decide this point.

The authors of the Pharmacopoeia of India say the
strong aromatic odour and bitter taste of this plant,
scarcely distinct from A. vulgaris, indicate stomachic
and tonic properties. Dr. Wight (Illust., ii., 92)
states that the leaves and tops are administered in
nervous and spasmodic affections connected with
debility, and also that an infusion of them is used as
a fomentation in phagedenic ulceration. Dr. L.
Stewart describes an infusion of the tops and leaves
as “ a good mild stomachic tonic.”

Description. — Erect, suffruticose; leaves ashy and
tomentose beneath, lower pinnatifld, upper trifid,
uppermost undivided or with lanceolate lobes ; lobes
of the lower leaves toothed or cut. Heads of the
flowers racemose-panicled, ovate ; panicle leafy, spread¬
ing partial racemes pendulous before flowering, young
involucre a little tomentose, at length glabrous ;
exterior scales foliaceous, acute, interior membran¬
aceous, obtuse; corolla naked (Roxb. FI. Incl., iii.,419).

Commerce. — The dry plant is sold by the herbalists
and the fresh tops in the markets. Value Rs. 6 per
Surat maund of 37£ lbs.

Artemisia Sternutatoria. The plant. Vernacu¬
lar : Nakk-chikxee (Hind., Beng., and Bomb.).

Description, Uses, etc. — According to Roxburgh this
plant appears during the latter part of the cold
season, on cultivated land. The whole plant does not
cover a space more than about 0 — 8 inches in diameter.
Third Series, No. 477.

Root simple, the stems several, branchy, pressing
on the earth ; all are somewhat woolly. Leaves
numerous, sessile, wedge-shaped, deeply dentate,
villous. Flowersaxillary, or in the divisions of the
branches, solitary sessile, subglobular, hermaphrodite.
Florets, from 10 — 12 in the centre, with their border 4-
toothed, coloured and expanding ; the female ones
very numerous in the circumference, most minute,
with the border seemingly 3-toothed, and the tooth-
lets incurved. Receptacle naked. It differs from
A. minima in having sessile downy leaves and
numerous flosculi in each flower. The minute seeds
are used as a sternutatory by the Hindus, also the
powdered herb. The plant does not grow in this
part of India, but the dry herb, both entire and in
powder, is always to be obtained in the druggists
shops. Value about annas 6 per lb.

Doronicum Scorpioides? Composite. The rhizome.

Vernacular : Darunaj-i-akrabi (Pers., Bomb.).

History, Uses, etc. — The author of the ‘Maklizan-ul-
Adwiya tells us that Darunaj is a scorpioid knotted
root, with a greyish exterior and white interior;
that it is hard, faintly bitter and aromatic. He
describes the plant as having fleshy yellowish leaves
of the shape of those of the almond, which lie flat
upon the ground. The flower stem he says is hollow ;
it rises from the midst of the leaves to a height of
two cubits, and bears from 5 — 7 scattered leaves,
thinner and longer than the lower leaves. The
flower is yellow and hollow. The plant grows in
Andalusia and the mountainous parts of Syria, espe¬
cially about mount Yabroorat, where it goes by the
name of Akrabi. There are two varieties of the
drug, Persian and Turkish ; the latter is most
esteemed. With regard to its medicinal properties, he
says that it is a resolvent of phlegm, a remedy against
bile and flatulencies, cardiacal and tonic, useful in
nervous depression, melancholy and impaired diges¬
tion, also in pain of the womb and flatulent dyspepsia.

Besides this it is prescribed for persons who have
been bitten by scorpions and other venomous reptiles,
and is hung up in houses to keep away the plague.
Pregnant Avomen wear it round the waist suspended
by a silken thread, which must be made by the
Avearer. It is supposed to act as a charm, protecting
the foetus and procuring a painless delivery. Hung
up over the bed it pre Agents night terrors and ensures
pleasant dreams. There Avould appear to be a demand
for it in Bombay, as it is kept by all Mahometan
druggists.

Description. — Rhizomes scorpioid, occasionally
branched, flat, jointed, of a dirty Avhite colour, 3 — 4
inches long, finch broad, and about inch thick.
Upper surface scaly, under surface marked by the scars
of numerous rootlets, a feAv of Avhich sometimes remain
attached ; substance brittle and horny, yelloAArish
white, central portion someAvhat spongy, odourless;
taste at first insipid, but after a feAv minutes a sensa¬
tion of warmth and pricking is felt upon the tongue.

Microscopic structure. — Sections sIioav that the
bulk of the rhizome consists of a parenchyma, each
cell of which is occupied by a mass having the
appearence of inulin, inactive in polarized light,
but which is coloured intensely black by iodine ;
toAvards the circumference the cells become gradu¬
ally smaller, and upon the surface become scaly,
forming a greyish epidermis. The vascular bundles
are of a bright yellow colour, and consist of spiral
vessels; they form one irregular ring round the

122

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 16, IS79-.

rhizome, about midway between the circumterence
and centre. No starch grains are to be seen in any
part of the rhizome.

Tricholepis procumbens, Wight , Ic, : Composite.

Plant. Vernacular : Badaward (Pers. and

Bomb.).

This drug is described by Mahometan writers as
the shaukat-ul-baida of the Arabs, the loofiniki of
the Turks and the sanakhurd of the Syrians. Other
Persian names given for it are kangar-i-sufed and
asfar-i-baree. It is generally described as a thorny
plant about two cubits high with downy triangular
stems as thick as the thumb, or larger ; heads of seed
like those of a thistle, thorny and full of down ;
flowers purple ; seeds like these of carthamus, but
rounder. M. Husain says, “Some have supposed
this plant to be the same as the shukai ; this is not
the case, but the two plants are nearly related. The
true badaward has slender, white, round stems, little
more than a span high, slightly downy ; flower heads
white, surrounding them are three delicate soft spines
like needles, so that altogether they have much the
appearance of a brooch. Within is a quantity of
white down, which when the seeds are ripe causes
them to be carried about by the wind ; hence the
name badaward. Medicinally the plant has tonic,
aperient and deobstruent properties. It is said to
drive away noxious reptiles when kept in the house ”
(‘ Makhzan ’ article “ Badaward ”).

The badaward of Bombay shops agrees with the de¬
scription of Meer Muhammad Husain. T. procumbens
is found on sandy ground in Guzerat, and is thus
described in the ‘Bombay Flora,’ “ Stem flexuose, short,
ramous ; branches diffuse, procumbent, angularly
striated, subglabrous ; leaves shortly pubescent or
subglabrous, those of the stem lvrate, of the branches
sinuatelv pinnatifid, the lobes spinously mucronate ;
involucre ovate ; scales ovate, at the base araneose,
terminating in a prickle-like appendage ; flowers
purple, appear in the cold weather ; common in light
soils in Guzerat.” Syn. : Carduus ramosus, Roxb. FI.
Ind., iii., 407. The drug has a bitter taste. It is
imported from Persia.

NyCTANTHES ARBOR TRIST1S, Linn, : JASMINACE2E.
Flowers, leaves and f ruit. Vernacular : Harsing-
har (Hind.); Siuli (Beng.) ; Partak (Bomb.);
Pagala mullai (Tam.).

History, Uses, etc. — Royle in his ‘Himalayan Botany’
tells us that this tree is extremely common along the
foot of the mountains which skirt the Deyra Dhoon,
and may be seen for several hundred feet above
Rajpore in the ascent to Mussooree.

Hr. Wallich found it in a wild state near the banks
of the Irrawaddy, on the hills near Prome. In
Western India it is one of the commonest cultivated
trees. Its flowers open at sunset, and fall before
morning ; they have very strong perfume. The
Sanskrit names for the tree are sephalika, parajatak,
and rajanikasa. The author of the ‘ Makhzan’ gives
a minute description of all parts of the tree and tells
us that the Indians use the white portion of the
flowers as a purple dye, which they call gul kamah,
and the orange part as a yellow dye. The seeds and
leaves are considered by them to have medicinal pro¬
perties. Six or seven of the young leaves are rubbed

up with water and a little fresh ginger and administered
in obstinate fevers of the intermittent type ; at the
same time a purely vegetable diet is enforced. The
powdered seeds are used to cure scurfy affections of
the scalp. Directions for the preparation of gul
kamah will be found in the ‘ Karabadeen-i-kabir.’'
Chakradatta mentions the use of the leaves in fever
and rheumatism. A decoction of the leaves prepared
over a gentle fire is recommended by several writers
as a specific for obstinate sciatica (Confer. Dutt’s
‘ Hindu Mat. Med.,’ p. 189).

Description. — Tree, 15 — 20 feet ; young shoots
four-sided : leaves opposite, short-petioled, cordate
or oblong, pointed, entire or coarsely serrate,,
scabrous ; panicles terminal, composed of smaller
six-flowrered terminal umbellets ; calyx companulate,
slightly five-notched, downy ; corolla tube cylindric,
as long as the calyx, segments 5— 7 ; involucre of four
inverse, cordate, opposite, sessile leaflets ; flowers
numerous ; tube orange-coloured ; border white,
fragrant (Drury). The fruit is a dry, flat, oblong,
mucronate capsule, prominently veined, f inch loEg
by | broad. It is of a brown colour when ripe and is
divided into two cells each of which contains a flat
foliaceous seed of a light brown colour ; the testa of
the seed is thin, the kernel white, bitter and very
astringent. The leaves have similar properties and
stain the saliva yellow when chewed.

Calotrobis gigantea, E.Br.; Calotropis procera,

E.Br.: Asclepiade^e. The root, leaves and flowers.

Vernacular : Ak, Mudar (Hind.) ; Akanda

(Beng.); Akra, Rui (Bomb.); Erukku Erukkam

(Tam.).

History, Uses, etc. — The same Indian names are
applied to both of these plants ; Sanskrit writers*
however, notice two varieties, which are distinguished
by the colour of their flowers, viz., alarka or white
and arka or red. Dutt (‘Hindu Mat. Med.’), gives
us the following summary of the uses of the plant,
extracted from Sanskrit works, chiefly that of Chak¬
radatta. “The root bark is said to promote the
secretions and to be useful in skin diseases, enlarge¬
ments of the abdominal viscera, intestinal worms,
cough, ascites, anasarca, etc. The milky juice is-
regarded as a drastic purgative, and caustic, and is-
generally used as such in combination with the
milky juice of Euphorbia neriifolia. The flowers
are considered digestive, stomachic, tonic and useful
in cough, asthma, catarrh and loss of appetite. The
leaves mixed with rock salt are roasted within closed
vessels, so that the fumes may not escape. The
ashes thus produced are given with whey in ascites
and enlargements of the abdominal viscera. The
following inhalation is prescribed for cough : — Soak
the powdered root bark of arka in its own milky
juice and dry. Bougies are then prepared from the-
powder, and their fumes inhaled. The root bark,
reduced to a paste with sour congee, is applied to
elephantiasis of the legs and scrotum. The milky
juices of C. gigantea and Euphorbia neriifolia are
made into tents with the powdered wood of Berberis
Asiaticci, for introduction into sinuses and fistuloe
in ano. The milky juice is applied to carious teeth
for relief of pain.” An oily preparation (arkataila),
made by boiling together 8 parts sesamum oil, 16
parts calotropis juice, and one part turmeric, is said
to be useful in eczema and other eruptive skin
diseases.

August 10, 1879.1 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

123

In Western India and probably elsewhere there is
a curious superstition that a leaf of the akra, fetched
from the. tree with certain ceremonies, is of use in
tedious labour. The friends of the woman take a
packet of betel nut and leaf, and a piece of money,
and proceed to the plant, which they address in the
most respectful manner, placing the betel packet at
its root and asking for the loan of one of its leaves
which they promise to return shortly. They then
ttake away a leaf and place it upon the head of the
parturient woman, where it remains for a short time
and is afterwards returned to the plant. This practice
appears to be connected with the worship of Ma-
irootee which is popular in this part of the country.
He is the god of wind, and was born from a pinda
under the shelter of an akra tree. The tree is con¬
sidered sacred to him, as it afforded him protection
when all the other trees had been destroyed. Maho¬
metan writers describe it under the Arabic name of
ushar. In Persian it is called khark. Meer Mu¬
hammad Husain gives a good description of the plant,
mid notices the use of the silky cotton of the pods
by the wandering Arabs and Tartars to make their
makhad twist or yalisli (tinder). He says there are
three varieties, 1st. A large kind with white flowers,
large leaves, and much milky juice. It is found near
towns and the habitations of man. 2nd. A smaller
kind with smaller leaves, the flowers white externally
but lilac within. 3rd. A still smaller plant, with
pale yellowish green flowers. The second and third
kinds grow in sandy deserts. The properties of all
three are similar, but the first kind is to be preferred
as it produces the largest quantity of milk. The
juice is described as caustic, a purge for phlegm,
depilatory, and the most acrid of all milky juices.
Tanners use it to remove the hair from skins. Medi¬
cinally it is useful in ringworm of the scalp, and to
•destroy piles ; mixed with honey it may be applied
to aphthae of the mouth ; a piece of cotton dipped in
it may be inserted into a hollow tooth to relieve the
pain. Hakeem Meer Abdul Hameecl in his com¬
mentary upon the Tuhfat strongly recommends it in
leprosy, hepatic and splenic enlargements, dropsy and
worms. A peculiar method of administration is to
steep different kinds of grain in the milk and then
administer them. The milk itself is a favourite
application to painful joints, swellings, etc.; the fresh
leaves also, slightly roasted, are used for the same
purpose. Oil in which the leaves have been boiled
is applied to paralysed parts ; a powder of dried
leaves is scattered upon wounds to destroy excessive
granulation and promote healthy action.

All parts of the plant are considered to have
valuable alterative properties when taken in small
doses. Lastly, some of our Mahometan writers give
very exaggerated accounts of the poisonous properties
of the plant. C. procera was observed in Egypt by
Prosper Alpinus (1580 — 84), and upon his return to
Italy was figured, and some account given of its
medicinal properties (‘De plantis BKgypti,’ Yenet. 1592,
cap. 25). 0. gigantea was figured by Rheede in 1679
(‘Hort. Malabar.’ ii. tab. 31).

Ainslie in his ‘ Materia Medica of Hindustan’ (1813)
mentions two kinds of calotropis, and in the ‘Materia
Indica,’ he says, “ Both plants in their leaves and
stalks contain much milky juice which when care¬
fully dried is considered as powerfully alterative and
purgative, and has been long used as an efficacious
remedy in the hoostura (lepra Arabum) of the
Tamools ; the dose about the quarter of a pagoda

weight in the day, and continued for some weeks.
The root of the yercum has a bitter and somewhat
acrid, or rather warm taste ; it is occasionally given
in infusion as a stimulant in low fever. Of the other
variety, the vullerkoo, the bark is warmish and when
powdered and mixed with a certain portion of mar-
gosa oil, is used as an external application in rheu¬
matic affections. In the higher provinces of Bengal
the arka (6'. gigantea) is supposed to have antispas-
modic qualities. Mr. Robinson has written a paper
on elephantiasis, which may be seen in vol. x. of
the Medico-Chirurgical Society, extolling the mudar
root ( Yercum vagr ) as most efficacious in that disease,
as also in venereal affections. In the elephantiasis he
gave it in conjunction with calomel and antimonial
powder, in a pill consisting of half a "rain of calomel,
three of antimonial powder, and from six to ten
of the bark of the root mudar, every eight hours.
Mr. Playfair has also written a paper on the same
root, which may be seen in vol. i. of the Edinburgh
Medical Chirurgical Transactions , p. 414, wherein he
speaks in praise of the alterative, stimulant, and
deobstruent virtues of the bark, or rather rind below
the outer crust of the root, reduced to fine powder, in
cases of syphilis, leprohectic fever, etc.; dose from
gr. 3 — 10 or 12, three times in the day, gradually
increasing it. Messrs. Robertson, Playfair, and others
seem chiefly to dwell on the virtues of the rind or
bark of the root ; but I must observe that in lower
India, where I was for many years, I found the
simple dried milky juice considered as infinitely
more efficacious, and later communications from the
East confirm me in this opinion ( ‘ Materia Indica,’
vol. i., p. 487). The emetic properties of mudar
were first brought to the notice of the profession by
Dr. Duncan in 1829 ( Edinburgh Mediccd and Surgi¬
cal Journal, vol. xxxii., p. 65). They are noticed in
the Bengal ‘ Dispensatory,’ where the drug is recom¬
mended as a substitute for ipecacuanha. Since the
publication of that work abundant testimony in its
favour has been collected, a summary of which will
be found in the Pharmacopoeia of India. Duncan
made a chemical examination of the root bark, the
activity of which he referred to an extractive matter
which he termed mudarine.

Description. — The root barks of C. gigantea and
C. procera are similar in appearance, as collected in
Bombay, where they are removed by a few blows with
a hammer or piece of hard wood. They occur in short
quilled pieces £ to £th of an inch thick. The outer
surface is yellowish-grey, soft and corky, fissured
longitudinally, and can be easily separated from the
middle cortical layer, which is white, friable, and
traversed by narrow brown liber rays. The taste
is mucilaginous, bitter and acrid, and the odour
peculiar.

Microscopic structure. — In both kinds of root bark
the suber consists of large thin-walled cells, generally
polyhedral. The parenchyma of the middle cortical
Ayer is loaded with starch and contains some scler-
enchymatous cells. The cells of the medullary rays
also contain starch and crystals of oxalate of lime.
In the middle layer are numerous lacticiferous vessels,
the contents of which are of a brown colour.

Chemical composition. — The authors of the ‘ Phar-
macographia,’ following Duncan’s process, failed to
obtain anything like his mudarine, they found, how¬
ever, that the plant contains an acrid, bitter resin,
which is probably the active principle.

{To be continued.)

124

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 16, 1879.

PHARMACEUTICAL EXTRACTS.*

CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS UPON THEIR PRE¬
PARATION, CLASSIFICATION, GENERAL CHA¬
RACTERS, USES, ETC.

BY E. SCHMITT,

Professor of Medicine and Pharmacy at Lille.

{Concluded from page 86.)

III. The extract should contain all the soluble prin¬
ciples of the vegetable or animal substance to the exclusion
of inert matters. The number of principles contained in
a vegetable juice is very large ; but without entering
into details apart from the subject it may be said that
such juices contain immediate principles that are alka¬
line, neutral or acid, volatile oils, gums and mucilages,
resins and gum resins, pectic and albuminoid matters,
sugars, tannins, soluble and insoluble fecula, fatty and
•waxy matters, organic and inorganic salts (especially
those having lime and potash for a base), chlorophyll,
debris of fibre and parenchyma (for the feculent extracts),
and lastly, extractive matters, i.e., badly defined sub¬
stances, possibly belonging to one of the previous groups,
or resulting from their transformation and slow destruc¬
tion.

The extractive is characterized by its solubility in
water. It may comprehend all the so-called colouring,
bitter and depurative principles. It may exist in very
small proportions in the fresh juice ; but with time, by
the action of air, heat, ferments, etc., it may gradually
augment in a preparation of extract, and frequently
finish, in a badly prepared extract, by constituting the
whole of the mass.

It is very difficult to follow all these successive states
of transformation, but some idea may be formed of them
by recalling the modifications that crystallizable sugar
undergoes under the influence of water and heat, starting
with uncrystallizable barley sugar and finishing with
caramel. The sugar is submitted to the phenomena of
hydration and oxidation ; the oxygen of the air burns a
part of the hydrogen and a little carbon ; vapour of water
and carbonic acid are disengaged, and eventually there
remains a compound richer in carbon and strongly
coloured like caramel. The caramel is still soluble in
water ; but in the preparation of extract there is always
produced a more or less large proportion of a new sub¬
stance, coloured brown, green or black, and insoluble in
water. This substance dissolves in alkaline liquors and
acids re-precipitate it from this solution. It has much
analogy with humic acid, and Berzelius named it “ oxy¬
genated extractive or apotheme.” Apotheme is very
little known ; it is a very complex substance, and it re¬
mains as a residue when extracts are dissolved. Probably
it ought not to exist in a typical or ideal extract, and it
may be affirmed that the more care there is given to the
preparation of extracts the less oxygenated extractive
will be found in them.

In generalizing the phenomena that take place in the
preparation of extracts, — phenomena of hydration, oxi¬
dation, or others, — it may be said that the volatile
principles disappear or are altered, that they are retained
partially by the apotheme, either alone or united with
fatty or resinous matters : the aqueous extract of vale¬
rian may be quoted for an example. These volatile
principles at the moment of their elaboration are hydro¬
carbons, which become hydrated and oxidized and yield
a series of alcohols, aldehydes and ethers that in the
course of the operations are volatilized, decomposed or
resinified. The sugar becomes glucose, and the fecula,
bassorin and cerasin become soluble.

The tannins alter more rapidly still, and it is probable
that to the alteration of the astringent principles is due
the greater part of the apotheme, which contains also
the products of coagulation and destruction of pectic and
albuminoid matters.

* Repertoire de Pharmacie, vol. vii., p. 249.

It may be concluded from this rapid glance at the
phenomena that occur during the preparation of an ex¬
tract that the alteration would be most rapid in the
extracts of juices and that this alteration would diminish
in energy from the aqueous extract to the ethereal, which
of them all is that which contains the least amount of
alterable principles. It may be concluded also, that the
preparation of extracts by congelation, when it shall
have become more practical, will be the most rational,
because all the principles that represent the juice of the
plant will be certainly thus the least altered, cold being
a condition of conservation and heat of destruction.

IV. Should extracts be submitted to a pharmaceutical
classification? Rouelle has divided the extracts into
saponaceous extracts (containing only extractive matters),
gummy extracts, gum-resinous extracts and resinous
extracts. This classification is very primitive and in¬
complete ; it does not include nearly all the extracts
employed at the present day.

Without taking note of consistence, it appears tome
more simple and more rational, from the pharmaceutical
point of view, to classify the extracts according to the
nature of the menstruum used in their preparation ; but
it is necessary first to divide them into simple and
compound extracts. The simple extract represents the
active principles of a single species of a plant or animal ;
the compound extract represents, on the contrary, a
mixture of principles belonging to several plants, as the
compound extract of rhubarb and the compound extract,
of- colocynth. The compound extracts are little known,
and not much employed in France.

For the simple extracts I propose the following classi¬
fication : —

1. Aqueous Extracts.

a. Commercial Extracts (aloes, catechu, etc).

b. Extracts of juices (feculent or defecated, robs)-

c. Aqueous Extracts, properly so-called.

2. Alcoholic Extracts.

3. Ethereal Extracts.

4. Acetic Extracts.

5. Mixed Extracts.

It is necessary also to define clearly the part of the
plant which has yielded the extract, so as not to confound
the extract of aconite root or of henbane seeds with the
extracts of the leaves of the same plants.

The pharmacist has nothing to do with a therapeutic
classification of these extracts, but it may be remarked
that from this special point of view these preparations
ought to be classified so as to take into account the phar¬
macodynamic object the medical man proposes to attain.
The object being well defined, the physician and the
pharmacist ought essentially to remember that the part
of the plant, the menstruum and the consistence of the
extracts are the elements which should occupy their
attention, especially from a posological point of view.
To cite only one example, it may be said there exist five
extracts of aconite : the defecated and feculent extracts
of the juice of the leaves, the aqueous and alcoholic ex¬
tracts of the leaves and the alcoholic extract of the root,
and that this last, the most active of all, is given in doses
of some milligrams. The pharmacist, on the simple pre¬
scription of “ extract of aconite,” will dispense in France,
the soft defecated extract of the juice ; in Belgium, a dry
extract, with aconite powder added, under the form of a
greenish grumous powder; in Germany, the alcoholic
extract of the roots. It may be mentioned also that the
ergotine of Wiggers would be dangerous in the ordinary
dose of that of Bon jean, which is itself more active than
the aqueous extract of ergot.

The necessity has thus incidentally been made manifest
for a Universal Pharmacopoeia, especially for very active
medicines ; this necessity has long been recognized by
physicians having foreign patients and by travellers re¬
quiring the same prescription to be made up in different
countries through which they pass.

V. The next point is the general characters of the ex-

August 16, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

125

tracts. Extracts ought to have, before al], the prescribed
consistence ; they are always coloured brown or green,
but should not be black, as happens with extracts prepared
over the bare fire. They should have the odour and
taste of the substance they represent, and especially
should they be free from any empyreumatic odour. The
surface should be smooth, not grumous ; further, it should
not be covered with mould or puffed up with bubbles of
gas, which would be a sign of fermentation.

The aqueous extract ought to be nearly entirely soluble
in water ; it dissolves better in water containing alcohol
and in saccharine liquids than in pure water, so that in
the preparation of a mixture it is often an advantage for
the pharmacist to diffuse the extract in the syrup. The
alcoholic and ethereal extracts ought to dissolve com¬
pletely in their original menstruum.

Very fine crystallizations of organic or inorganic pro¬
ducts are often found at the bottom of pots containing
soft extracts ; for instance, asparagin, oxalate of lime,
chloride of sodium, nitrate and sulphate of potash. The
extracts of bellodonna, henbane, borage and taraxacum
are those which most frequently present these crystalliza¬
tions ; they are confined nearly always to the vegetable
juices, and may also sometimes be the result of the
action of atmospheric oxygen, as in the case of the
nitrates.

Besides these general characters, extracts present
specific or even generic characters. Some are charac¬
terized by their colour (rhatany and campeachy), odour
(valerian), or taste (aloes and rhubarb); others by their
chemical characters, such as the alkaloids in opium, cin¬
chona and the narcotic plants, the astringent principles
in catechu and rhatany, and the acids in opium, cin-
• chona and the juices of fruits. Some extracts can be
recognized rapidly by the action of certain reagents
which produce a special odour or colour ; for instance, the
odour produced by the action of caustic potash upon
extract of conium, or the colour produced by the action
of alkalies upon the colouring matter of rhubarb. These
chemical characters have been given with care by MM.
Patrouillard and Lepage in their ‘ Guide Pratique de
l’Essai des Medicaments ; ’ but for the greater part of
the extracts, and especially the “ saponaceous extracts ”
of Rouelle, they are difficultly applicable. The study of
the extractive is far from being complete, perhaps it
never can be completed in consequence of the modifica¬
tions which continue to take place even in the finished
preparation. If this problem, then, be one of the most
arduous, if the spontaneous alteration of extracts be often
inevitable, and if their adulteration be difficult to detect,
it will be manifest that it is the duty, as well as the
interest, of pharmacists to prepare their own extracts.

This is not all ; the extract has issued from the shop of
the pharmacist and become a food product. Originally
a medicine and even a poison in the laboratory it has
become an aliment in the manufactory. The scientific
preparation of extracts upon the largest scale in the present
day provides for food Liebig’s extract of meat, extract of
milk or condensed milk, extract or essence of coffee, and
the extracts of peas, hops, malt, etc. It would be easy
to discuss the alimentary value of Liebig’s extract and to
indicate the services rendered by concentrated milk, but
to broach these questions in this paper would be to go
completely outside the pharmaceutical domain.

THE PREPARATION OF SALTS OF BERBERINA.*

BY J. U. LLOYD.

How can the salts of berberina be most easily prepared
from the root of Hydrastis Canadensis ? What will be
the practical yield and what are the solubilities of the
different salts ?

Of the many processes investigated, I suggest the

* From the ‘ Proceedings of the American Pharmacev.-
tical Association,’ 1878.

following as applicable to small amounts. Owing to the
slight yield of this yellow alka'oid, it is hardly advisable
for experimenters to work lots cf less than ten pounds of
hydrastis.

Moisten sixteen troy ounces of Hydrastis canadensis in
fine powder with eight fluid ounces of alcohol ; press
firmly into a cylindrical percolator not exceeding three
inches in diameter, previously prepared for percolation ;
cover the surface of the powder with a piece of blotting-
paper, held in position with a few fragments of glass ;
add alcohol until the percolate appears at the exit, then
close the orifice, cover the top of the percolator tightly
by tying over it a sheet of soft rubber and place the
percolator in a warm situation ; macerate twenty-four
hours ; remove the rubber and replace with a cover of
glass or tin. Cautiously open the exit and graduate the
dropping so that the passage of each fluid ounce wrill
occupy about thirty minutes. Suspend the operation
when five fluid ounces have been obtained. Macerate
until the next day under the former conditions and again
procure five fluid ounces of percolate, observing the pre¬
ceding directions. A continuous supply of alcohol must
be provided. The surface of the powder must not be¬
come exposed during the operation. Mix the percolates,
surround the vessel with ice and reduce the temperature,
then add sulphuric acid in excess and stir well. Keep
the mixture cold for twelve or more hours, then
pour it upon a muslin strainer or a filtering paper, and
when the liquid ceases to pass return the precipitate to a
vessel containing eight fluid ounces of cold alcohol ; mix
well together and again separate the crystalline preci¬
pitate of impure sulphate of berberin. Dry by exposure
to atmosphere.

Sulphate of Berber in a. — Add one part of impure sul¬
phate of berberina, obtained as above, to sixteen parts of
cold distilled water and cautiously drop in, with constant
stirring, ammonia water until in slight excess, allow the
mixture to stand in a cool place from twelve to twenty-
four hours, then filter and surround the vessel containing
the filtrate with ice and stir sulphuric acid into the
solution until the ammonia and alkaloid are saturated.
In a few hours the magma of minute crystals of sulphate
of berberina can be separated with a muslin strainer or a
filtering paper. Care must be taken to avoid an excess
of sulphuric acid. If this occur the moist magma should
be removed to a vessel containing cold alcohol, washed
by decantation and drained on a muslin strainer. Lastly,
dry the salt by exposure to atmosphere.

Sulphate of berberina is of an orange colour, soluble in
about 100 parts of wTater, temperature 60° to 80° E. It
is readily decomposed by alkalies when in solution,
yielding free berberina.

I obtain from eighteen to twenty- one ounces from a
hundred pounds of hydrastis. The specimen of salts
exhibited represents the sulphate of berberina from a
fifteen hundred pound batch of root. This batch yielded
very nearly three hundred ounces. Although the ex¬
haustion was incomplete, with economy I could not carry
the percolation farther.

Sulphate of berberina is permanent; exposure to atmo¬
sphere does not affect it. If moisture be absorbed, either
the salt is impure from hygroscopic extractive matter or
free sulphuric acid.

Berberina. — Rub eight parts sulphate of herberina in a
Wedgewood mortar, cautiously adding ammonia water
until in slight excess. Pour the dark liquid into thirty-
two parts of boiling alcohol and allow the mixture to
stand thirty minutes, then filter. Stir into the filtrate
thirty-two parts cold sulphuric ether and cover tightly.
Surround the vessel with ice and allow it to stand from
twelve to twenty-four hours, then separate the magma of
minute crystals of berberina with a muslin strainer or
filtering paper and dry by exposure to atmosphere.

Berberina is lemon-yellow when pure. It should not
be dark or orange, which shade denotes impurity. It
unites directly with acids and is a beautiful organic base.

126

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 16, 187P.

It forms salts, some of which are very soluble, as, for
example, the pyrophosphate ; others almost insoluble. I
find it impossible to make one part of carbazotate of
berberina dissolve in forty-five thousand parts of cold
distilled water. Berberina and all its soluble salts are
bitter. The carbazotate will not impart a trace of bitter¬
ness to distilled water, notwithstanding its constituents
are both intensely bitter ; therefore, I believe it to be
almost if not absolutely insoluble.

Berberina is soluble in about four and a half parts of
water, temperature 60° to 80° F. It dissolves moderately
in officinal alcohol, is insoluble in ether and chloroform.
It changes to orange colour when heated to 150° F., and
slowly resumes its original shade when cooled.

Phosphate of Berberina. — Dissolve berberina in its
weight of boiling water and add two parts of dilute
phosphoric acid, drain and dry the precipitate by expo¬
sure to atmosphere. Care must be taken that the acid
be made from phosphorus and perfectly free from nitric
acid.

The orthophosphate is, according to Mr. Lord, soluble
in 280 parts of water.

Hypoph osph ite of Berberina. — This salt may be pre¬
pared by substituting in the above formula hypophos-
phorous acid for phosphoric. Hypophosphite of berberina
is soluble to the extent of from five to ten grains in the
ounce of water.

Muriate of Berberina. — Dissolve berberina in sixteen
times its weight of distilled water and cautiously stir in
lAdrochloric acid until in slight excess ; drain the preci-
Prate and dry by exposure to atmosphere.

Muriate of berberina was the first preparation of this
alkaloid introduced to the medical profession from hy-
drastis. It was discovered accidentally. It is soluble in
about five hundred parts of water 60° to 80° F., scarcely
soluble at all in cold alcohol, ether and chloroform. It
is the most difficult of the berberina salts to decompose,
holding its acid in presence of alkalies, and even long
digestion with litharge fails to thoroughly remove it.
Oxide of silver at once frees the berberina from a heated
solution. When dry it is changed from the natural light
lemon colour to orange by a heat of from 13S° to 150° F.
LTpon cooling the lemon colour is resumed. It is rapMly
falling into disuse, giving place to the more soluble
salts.

Nitrate of Berberina. — This salt can be obtained by
substituting nitric acid for the muriatic acid of the
preceding formula. It is of greenish yellow colour,
soluble in about five hundred parts of water, temperature
60Q to 80° F., more soluble in hot water, scarcely soluble
in alcohol, ether or chloroform. Its use is limited.

Remarks. — Alcohol extracts from Hydrastis canadensis
in addition to berberina a greenish fixed oil, an acrid resin,
a white alkaloid, a vegetable acid, yellow colouring-
matter and small amounts of other substances of little
interest here. The materials named are intimately asso¬
ciated or combined while in the root ; such combinations
being broken up by the addition of the acid, resulting
perhaps simply in the formation of sulphate of the white
alkaloid, hydrastia ; sulphate of the yellow alkaloid,
berberina, and the liberation of the resinous substances,
colouring matter and acid.

The yellow sulphate of berberina quickly crystallizes,
carrying down some of the other materials, the larger
amount of the latter, however, remains in solution. This
impure sulphate of berberina is difficult to dry even if
well washed, the reason being the mechanical admixture
of the oil alluded to ; consequently at this stage it has a
greenish cast and imparts an unctuous feeling when
rubbed 'between the fingers.

Sulphate of berberina is decomposed by alkalies with
the liberation of the alkaloid berberina. When we add
ammonia water in slight excess to a mixture of the
impure sulphate of berberina and water, sulphate of am¬
monium is formed, which dissolves, together with the
liberated berberira, an alkaloid very soluble in water and

alkaline solutions. The slight excess of ammonia pre¬
cipitates the hydrastia in an amorphous state, which,
with the adhering resin and oil, are separated by filtra¬
tion ; afterwards sulphuric acid, added to the filtrate
again, forms sulphate of berberina, which crystallizes.
This is pure enough for all practical purposes. I«t con¬
tains a small amount of sulphate of ammonium and a
little foreign matter. It can be purified further if de¬
sirable by repeating the last operation, dissolving in hot
alcohol and crystallizing. For practical purposes this is
unnecessary.

When ammonia water is added to sulphate of berberina
the salt is decomposed with formation of sulphate of
ammonium and the liberation of berberina. Both sub¬
stances remain in solution, the berberina imparting a
dark red colour. The addition of the hot alcohol pre¬
cipitates the larger portion of the sulphate of ammonium,
and when the filtrate containing the berberina is poured
into sulphuric ether, that alkaloid crystallizes in conse¬
quence of its slight solubility in ether and a mixture of
alcohol and ether. The impurities may be traces of
sulphate of ammonium.

The other salts, simply combinations of berberina and
the acids, do not require mention. Almost any salt may
be produced in like manner by the substitution of various
acids.

I have met with little success in endeavouring to ob¬
tain berberina by evaporation of a solution of the alka¬
loid, unless by spontaneous evaporation, the heat of
"expanded steam 150° to 180° F. seeming to decom¬
pose it.

Fixed Oil of Hydrastis. — After separating the sulphate
of berberina from the tincture, add to the liquid its bulk
of water and evaporate the alcohol. Allow the residuum
to remain in a cool place some days and carefully skim
off the green oil which collects on the surface of the
water associated with a little resin. It can be purified
by dissolving in sulphuric ether.

This oil has a disagreeable odour and taste, but is not
bitter. It turns reddish-brown by age.

Volatile Oil of Hydrastis. — In addition hydrastis con¬
tains a very small amount of volatile oil, which imparts
the peculiar odour of the root. It may be procured in
minute quantities by distilling water in contact with the
root.

Resinous Substances. — Decant the aqueous solution
from which the oil was separated, and at the bottom of
the vessel will be found a black tarry substance, thickly
interspersed with yellow particles. Usually a yellow
shining layer covers the top. This consists of resin, a
little oil and mixtures of both the white and yellow
alkaloids, with the resin and yellow colouring matter.
Perhaps a combination exists between this substance and
the alkaloids which settle with it. It is difficult to
separate them by simply washing in hot water, which
should scarcely be the case if they are disassociated,
inasmuch as the sulphates of both alkaloids are quite
soluble in this menstruum ; wash the precipitate well
and dry. The black resinous substance is acrid to the
taste, slightly soluble in hot water and dilute acids,

, soluble in concentrated sulphuric acid, to which it im¬
parts a deep red colour and from which it is separated
by the addition of water. It may be a mixture of
several proximate principles.

In some respects this substance reminds us of the
amorphous material obtained from cinchona, known as
chinoidine, and it may perhaps be largely composed of a
principle from hydrastis, bearing a somewhat similar
relation to hydrastia that chinoidine bears to the crystal-
lizable alkaloids of the cinchonas.

Hydrastia. — This white or yellowish-white alkaloid
exists as sulphate in the liquid decanted from the last-
named preparation. It is associated with small amounts
of all the preceding substances and a soluble vegetable
acid. To obtain it add an alkali, preferably ammonia
water, in excess to the cold liquid and allow the brown

August 16, 1879.]

THE rHARKACETTTICU.il JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

127

or brownish-yellow precipitate to settle ; then decant the
supernatant liquid and wash the precipitate with cold
water. Add cold water enough to the drained precipitate
to bring to the original volume and then slight excess of
sulphuric acid. Allow it to stand in a cold place twenty-
four hours and filter. To the filtrate add an alkali in
excess and wash the precipitate as before. Dry the
precipitate, dissolve in boiling alcohol, filter and crystal¬
lize. These crystals are of a deep daik yellow colour.
They are not bitter, but impart a disagreeable acrid
sensation to the throat and fauces. The yellow colour
results from the intimate admixture of a yellow sub¬
stance, very soluble in acid solutions and imperfectly in
neutral and alkaline. It is not berberina.

Purify hydrastia by dissolving in a dilute acid, digest¬
ing with animal charcoal and filtering, repeating the
operation several times. Or dissolve the crystals of
impure hydrastia in boiling alcohol and crystallize, re¬
peating the operation several times. Specimens of small
hydrastia crystals, apparently white, are found to be
yellow when crystallized in large masses. It is very
difficult to obtain an article free from yellowness if the
crystals be large. I have none.

Hydrastia is insoluble or nearly insoluble in water,
freely soluble in cold chloroform and to an extent in cold
alcohol, very soluble in boiling alcohol, from wffiich it
crystallizes in beautiful crystals. It forms salt with
acids, mostly very soluble in wrater, uncrystallizable or
crystallizing with difficulty.

These incidental products are of little general interest
to manufacturers, as only berberina salts are in demand.

I have already digressed from the direct line of my
query. I wrill close by saying that there is a doubt in
my mind as to ti e relations of these several principles
while associated in the plant. I cannot believe they are
as simple as we might expect and is generally believed.
I doubt even if berberina and hydrastia are not mutually
combined with other bodies. The splitting up of these
organic compounds under the influence of chemical agents,
drying the plants and the action of solvents, is with me
very obscure.

AEGAN OIL.*

Except a brief notice of the exportation into Europe
of Argan oil by the Danish Councillor of State, Georges
Host, who travelled in the kingdoms of Marocco and Eez
during the years 1766 — 1768, the only published account
of the uses of the Argan is given in a very little known
Danish work, published by P. K. A. Schousboe, entitled
‘ Iagttagelser over Voextriget i Marokko.’ Eorste Sty eke.
Kiobnhavn, 1800, 4, 7 tab., of which a German edition
appeared in 1801, in 8vo, by J. A. Markussen. It gives
an account of seme Marocco plants ; and, after an intro- \
ductory sketch of the physical geography of Marocco, it
contains descriptions of the plants of the country in
Latin and German, with occasional observations in
German. The account of the Argan under Betz’s
name of Elceodendron Argan is long : first comes a
technical description, follow'ed by a history of its syn¬
onymy, and then the following notes (kindly translated
for us by Mr. Bentham) : —

“ It is surprising that this tree should hitherto have
been so little known ; as it is found in a country near
Europe, and visited by many travellers, who speak in
their diaries and descriptions of oil of Argan and of
Argan trees, these last as constituting a considerable
proportion of the forests of the countiy. It is, however,
not to be met with in the northern provinces, but only
towards the south. All those persons from whom I have
sought more accurate information on the subject are
unanimous in stating that it only grows between the
rivers Tansif and Sus — that is, between the 29° and 32°
N. lat. — and there constitutes forests of considerable
extent. It flowers in the middle of June, and the fruit

* Fiona the Gardiners’ Chronicle, August 2, 18/9.

remains on the tree the greater part of the year. The
young fruit sets in the end of July or beginning of
August, and growls slowly till the rainy season com¬
mences towards the end of September. It now enlarges
rapidly and attains its full size during that season, so as
that by the middle or end of March it is ripe enough to
be gathered for economical uses. Both the fruit and the
wood are serviceable, but especially the former ; for from
the kernel an oil is extracted which is much employed
for domestic purposes by the Moors, and is an important
production of the country, as it saves much olive oil,
which can thus be thrown into commerce and made to
bring money into the country. It is calculated that in
the whole Ar-gan region 1000 cwt. of oil is annually con¬
sumed, thus setting free an equal quantity of olive oil for
exportation to Europe. Our countryman, Host, in his
‘ Efterretninger cm Marokos,’ p. 285, says that the Argan
oil is exported to Europe, where it is used in manufac¬
tures. Such may have been the case in former times
w'hen it might be cheaper ; but now there would be no
advantage in doing so, as it costs almost as much as olive
oil. At present no Argan oil whatever is exported.

“As the practice in preparing this oil is somewhat
different from that of common olive oil, it may be useful
to enter into some details on the subject. I have myself
been present during the whole operation, and consequently
speak from experience.

“ In the end of March the countryman goes into the
wood, where the fruits are shaken down from the trees
and stripped of their husks on the spot. The green
fleshy pericarp, which is good for nothing else, is greedily
eaten by ruminating animals, such as camels, goats,
sheep and cows, but especially by the first two. There¬
fore, wffien the Arab goes into the wrood to collect Argan
nuts, he gladly takes with him his herds of the above
animals, that they may eat their fill of the green husks
whilst he and his family are collecting and shelling the
nuts. The horse, the ass and the mule, on the contrary,
do not like this food. When a sufficient quantity of nuts
are collected they are brought home, the haid wooden
shell is cracked between stones and the inner white
kernels are carefully extracted. These are roasted or
burnt like coffee on eaithen, stone or iron plates ; in
order that they may not be too much done they are
constantly stirred with a stick. When properly roasted
they should be all over of a brown colour, but not charred
on the outside. The smoke w'hich is disengaged during
the process has a very agreeable odour. As soon as the
kernels have cooltd, they are ground in a hanclmill into
a thick meal, not unlike that of pounded almonds, only
that it is of a brown colour, and the meal is put into a
vessel in vvhich the oil is separated, which is done by
sprinkling the mass now and then with hot water, and
keeping it constantly stirred and kneaded with the hand.
This process is carried on until the mass becomes so hard
that it can no longer be kneaded : the harder and firmer
are the residuary coarse parts, the more completely is the
oil extracted. At the last, cold water is sprinkled upon
it, in order, as they say, to expel the last particles of the
oil. During the operation the oil runs out at the sides,
and is from time to time poured into a clean vessel.
The main point to be attended to in order to extract the
greatest quantity and the best quality of oil, is that it
should be well kneaded, and that the proper proportion
of hot water for the extraction of the oil should be used;
it is always safer to be sparing of it than to be too pro¬
fuse. The residuary mass, often as hard as a stone, is
of a black-brown colour, and has a disagreeable bitter
flavour. The oil itself, when it has settled, is clear, of a
light brown colour and has a rancid smell and flavour.
When it is used without other preparations in cooking,
it has a stimulating and pungent taste w hich is long felt
on the gums. The vapour which arises w’hen anything
is fried in it affects the lungs and occasions coughing.
The common people use it generally without preparation,
but in better houses it is the custom, in order to take off

128

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 16, 1579.

that pungency, to mix it previously with water, or to put
a bit of bread into it and let it simmer before the fire.

“ The wood, which is hard, tough, fine-grained and of
a yellow colour, is used in house carpentry and for other
purposes.”

MORPHIOMETRIC PROCESSES FOR OPIUM.* *

BY ALBERT B. PRESCOTT, M.D.

The following pharmacopceial assay process for opium
is submitted to the Committee of Revision : —

Opium, when dried (in powder) at (about) 100° Centi¬
grade (212° Fahrenheit) until it ceases to lose weight,
should yield (from 10 to 12?) per cent, of morphia.+

The proportion of morphia may be determined by the
following'process : — Take of opium, in powder and dried
as above required, 6J grams (100'3 grains) ; lime, freshly
slaked with one-third its weight of water, 3 grams (46*3
grains) ; chloride of ammonium, in powder, 4J grams
(6-9'4 grains) ; benzole (see List of Reagepts), 50 cubic
centimetres (the volume of 772 grains of water); washed
ether (List of Reagents), 6 cubic centimetres (the volume
of 92 grains of water); distilled water, 70 cubic centi¬
metres (1080 grains), or a sufficient quantity. Place the
opium in a paper filter of 4 inches (10 centimetres)
diameter, in a small funnel; add benzole to fill and
cover the powder, and when the filtrate begins to drop,
close the neck of the funnel and leave to macerate one
hour. Then percolate, by adding the remainder of the
benzole, and dry the filter and its contents at a gentle
heat until the odour of benzole has disappeared. Care¬
fully transfer the contents of the filter (which is to be
preserved) to an exactly weighed flask, of the capacity of
100 to 120 cubic centimetres, add the lime, with 20 to 30
cubic centimetres of distilled water, agitate for several
minutes, then stopper the flask and shake till a uniform
mixture is obtained. Add distilled water enough to
make the contents of the flask weigh 74J grams (11 49 ‘7
grains). Digest, by immersing the flask in nearly boiling
water, with occasional agitation, for one hour. Cool,
and add distilled water to restore the exact weight of
74*5 grams. Filter, through the paper filter previously
used, into a test-tube or other cylindrical glass of the
capacity of 80 to 90 cubic centimetres, and previously
marked for the volume of 50 cubic centimetres (771*6
grains of water), until the filtered liquid reaches the
mark. Should the filtrate lack a few drops of the re¬
quired volume, the filter-contents are gently pressed to
bring the liquid to the mark, but in any case no more
than this volume is received. To the filtered liquid (now
representing 5 grams of the opium), add eight drops of
the benzin, and 3 cubic centimetres of the washed ether
(the volume of 46 grains of water), then stopper the tube
and agitate. Add the chloride of ammonium, and when
it has dissolved, agitate again, and set aside in a cool
place for three to three and a-half hours. The crystalline
deposit is now gathered by filtration, in a small filter
previously weighed and moistened, collecting the deposit,
and washing the filter with several portions of distilled
water, using but a few drops in each portion. The filter-
contents are now dried at about 50° Centigrade (122°
Fahrenheit), washed with the remainder of the washed
ether (3 cubic centimetres), dried again and weighed. t

* From the ‘ Proceedings of the American Pharmaceu¬
tical Association,’ 1878. /

t I would suggest, as others have done, that opium ought
to be limited in maximum as well as in minimum strength.
The Pharmacopoeia can hardly depend upon commercial
interest alivays to carry over-rich opium to the morphia
manufacturer. But I am not confident as to what limits
should be fixed, and it seems to me that a requirement
permitting a variation of only 2 per cent, is more strict than
can be enforced.

X Hager (after Jacobsen) directs to subtract from this
weight its one -thirtieth for impurities (not removed by ether
washing of the morphia previous). In his process, however,

The weight represents the morphia in 5 grams (77*16
grains) of opium. The per cent, is found by multiplying
the weight in grams by 2, or by dividing the weight in
grains by 0*7716.

The plan of Mohr : The use of lime solution in excess
to dissolve morphia from opium or its infusion, and the
use of ammonium chloride to neutralize the lime and
precipitate the alkaloid — a plan corresponding to the
successive use of potasea and ammonium chloride for
aluminium separation- — has been well approved by the
best authorities for the practical assay of opium. It has
been adopted in the British Pharmacopoeia, with exhaus¬
tion of the opium with water before adding the lime, and
with acidulation with hydrochloric acid and then evapo¬
ration, before adding ammonia to throw down the
morphia. The addition of a little ether and benzole to
hasten the crystallization of the morphia, and especially
to prevent the crystals from adhering to the sides of the
dish, was recommended by Hager ( Pkar . Centralhalle, Jg.
9, No. 1, u. 2), and the process so executed was designated
Hager’s later process. Hager directed to deduct one-
tenth the weight of the crystalline precipitate for im¬
purities. In view of the fact that some of the narcotina
is dissolved by the lime solution, and crystallizes with
the morphia, Jacobsen advised to wash the dried crystals
with chloroform ; this suggestion, with preference of
ether instead of chloroform, Hager accepted, directing
the deduction of one-thirtieth for impurities. Hager
Jacobsen’s process, with the lime solution of 5 grams of
opium all washed through the filter (and consequent
concentration of the filtrate) is chosen by Dragendorff,
in his ‘Werthbestimmungen starkwirkender Droguen ’
(1874), p. 93, as the best process for practical uses, and
only second to Schaeht’s prooess, with correction by amyl
alcohol extraction and volumetric estimation, for a method
of greatest exactness. Then Hager devised the improve¬
ment of taking 6^ grams of opium, and having 65 grams
of water in the lime solution, taking the first 50 grams
of filtrate, to represent 5 grams of the opium, thereby
avoiding tlie washing of the filter and the concentration of
the filtrate, saving the morphia from waste by wet heat,
and shortening the operation. This form of Hager-
Jacobsen’s process is given in Hager’s ‘ Untersuchungen,’
ii., 176; also in Hoffmann’s ‘Examination of Medicinal
Chemicals,’ p. 268. I submit the process, very nearly as
given in the two workg last named, but with addition
of the preliminary treatment with benzole, for the con¬
sideration of the Committee of Revision.*

With the desire to contribute some proof of the com¬
parative exactness of different processes of morphiometric
assay, I have instituted a series of comparative trials,
each process being applied in turn to each one of a set of
samples of opium, holding the conditions as nearly parallel
as possible. Then, as a test of each result, the purity of
the morphia was estimated volumetrically by Mayer’s
solution, and the morphia remaining uncrystallized in the
mother liquor was sought to be extracted by -amyl alcohol
and estimated volumetrically ; these means of correction,
the one against overvalue and the other against under¬
value, being essentially those which were proposed and
used by Dragendorff, in his ‘ Werthbestimmungen stark¬
wirkender Droguen.’ All the operations here reported
were intrusted to the execution of Mr. Henry Stecher,f
and I desire to acknowledge, still farther, the benefit of
his counsel in conducting the work throughout the in¬
vestigation.

there is no treatment of the opium with benzole. This
treatment with benzole lessens the impurities of the
morphia weighed, and probably wastes some morphia (not
over 2uVo of the weight of the benzole used). The subtrac¬
tion of one -thirtieth is more fully discussed farther on.

* A strong approval of Hager- Jacobsen’s process, by Dr.
Schlosser, is given in the Am. Jour. Phar., 1871, p. 224.

4* Mr. Stecher has been Assistant in the Chemical
Laboratory at Michigan University.

August 16, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

129

The following named processes were tried : —

A. The process here proposed for the U. S. P., Hager-
Jacobsen’s, with a preliminary treatment of the opium
with a limited quantity of cold benzole.

B. The same, Hager- Jacobsen’s process, modified in
treatment of the opium at the start with a sufficient quan¬
tity of hot benzole.

C. Hager- Jacobsen’s process, as given by Hager, with-,
out initiatory treatment of the opium with benzole. The
results being taken before as well as after washing the
morphia with ether.

D. Procter’s Staples’s process (‘Am. Pharm. Asso.
Proceed.,’ 1870, p. 130), the plan of the preparation of
morphia by U. S. P., 1870, with initiatory treatment of
the opium with benzole.

E. Schachtrupp’s process for estimation of morphia
and narcotina (‘ Zeitschrift fiir Analyt. Chemie,’ 1868,
vii., 509). The plan of this method consists in exhaustion
of the opium, made alkaline and dried, with hot benzole,
the benzole solution being evaporated and its residue
dissolved in acidulated water and titrated with Mayer’s
solution, for narcotina, when the benzole-washed opium
is exhausted with amyl alcohol, this solution evaporated,
and its residue taken up in acidulated water, and ammonia
added, for the crystallization of the morphia, so estimated,
gravimetrically. The morphia gravimetric results of this
process, as of the others, were subjected to volumetric
trial.

Four of the samples of opium used were obtained at
different drug stores in Ann Arbor, and one was taken
from the laboratory stock, all being “ powdered opium.”
The samples were all dried at 100° C., till drying ceased
to diminish the weight. Except for process C, only
four samples were worked in the trial of each process.

A. The process proposed by the writer, for the U. S. P.,
as described at the beginning of this paper, Hager-
Jacobsen’s process, with initiatory treatment of the opium
with a limited quantity of benzol not heated. The results
represent 5 grams of opium (6‘5 grams being taken), as
the directions stipulate. Corrections were undertaken,
by volumetric estimation of the precipitates, and also of
the amyl alcohol extract of the filtrates, with Mayer’s
solution of potassium mercuric iodide, as described in
detail below : —

Process A.

a. Crystalline precipitate

of crude morphia* .

b. Ether-washed mor¬

phia .

c. By estimating b with

Mayer’s solution . .

d. From filtrate, by amyl

alcohol and Mayer’s
solution . . . .

e. Total morphia by

Mayer’s solution
(c + d) .

Percentages.

No. 1. No. 'i. No. 3. .No. 4. Mean.
12-20 1310 12-32 12-05 12-42
10-74 11-94 11-84 11-68 11*55

7-40 8-80 8-48 8-80 8-37

2T2 1-92 2-76 3-21 2*50

9-52 10-72 11-24 12-01 10-87

/. Subtracting from b A

(Jacobsen). . . . 10-38 11-54 11-44 11*29 11*16
fj. Subtracting from a fa

(Hager)f .... 10*98 11-79 11-09 10-85 10-18

The quantities of benzole used upon the opium in this
series of trials were larger than the directions specify,

* The weight of these precipitates were, respectively for
the four samples, 1st, 0 610; 2nd, 0’655; 3rd, 0"616 ; 4th,
0-6025 grams.

t Hager’s directions to subtract A from the crude pre¬
cipitate and take the remainder for morphia, as well as
Jacobsen’s direction, accepted by Hager, to subtract fa
from the ether- washed precipitate and take the remainder
as the morphia, were both given for processes without
initiatory benzole washing of the opium.

being, for No. 1, 100 c.c.; for No. 2, 80 c.c. ; for No. 3,
80 c.c.; for No. 4, 70 c.c. Even these quantities did not
complete the removal of colour by the benzole, the last
portions being still slightly coloured. The reason for
restricting the quantity of benzole, and using it cold, is
given under process B.

For estimation with Mayer's solution, the volumetric
potassium mercuric iodide, the precipitates were dissolved
in sulphuric acidulated water, and so diluted that, at the
final reaction in titrating, the solution should be about
200 parts to 1 part of morphia (as Dragendorff advises).
Mayer’s solution* is made by dissolving 13 "55 grams
mercuric chloride and 49"84 grams potassium iodide, both
strictly dry, in water to make 1 litre. The solution is,
therefore, twentieth normal (old decin(rrmal) of HgCl2 +
6KI. Mayer gave the value of 1 c.c. of the solution as
0*020 of alkaloid. Dragendorff reports trials giving (in
solutions of 200 to 1) 0-0224 and 0’0221 of crystallized
morphia, and of morphia, dried at 120° C., 0-0191 and
0-0205, respectively, for 1 c.c. Again, 0*020 of crystal¬
lized alkaloid. The precipitate is not insoluble in water ;
therefore a uniform dilution of 200 to 1 is advised. If four
molecules of morphia salt react with three molecules of the
iodomercurate [(KI)2HgT2 + 2KI?], then 0-0202 should be
the value of 1 c.c. of the solution, in crystallized morphia,
c17h19no3 • H20 = 303, no allowance being made for the
solubility of the precipitate in water. Dragendorff has
stated that the precipitate was visible in a solution of
morphia salt in 2500 parts of water. From all the
evidence at command, and some trials with crystallized
morphia, I believe that titration of morphia with Mayer’s
solution, at 0*020 alkaloid to the c.c., gives results
certainly not tco high, and possibly a little too low ; also
that these results of titration are closer than can be
obtained gravimetrically by methods of purification of
the crystals. Nevertheless, more investigation is needed
as to the conditions of accuracy in titrating with Mayer’s
solution.

The final reaction was found by patiently waiting for
the precipitate to subside after each addition liable to be
final, then taking a drop with a glass rod, upon a glass
plate resting on black colour, and adding thereto a drop
from the burette. If a precipitate appears, these drops
are rinsed from the glass plate, into the solution, with a
drop or two of water.

In undertaking to exhaust the mother liquors (the fil¬
trates) of their remaining morphia, the following plan,
after Dragendorff, was adopted : — The crude morphia
was filtered out, at the time specified by the process,
and the filtrate set aside some time longer for additional
crystallization of morphia. The precipitate so obtained
was filtered out, washed slightly with water, dried, and
washed with ether, dissolved in sulphuric acidulated

* F. F. Mayer, ‘Pro. Am. Pharm. Asso.,’ 1862, x., 238;
Am. Jour. Plxarm., 1863, xxxv., 20 ; Cliem. News, 1863,
159. George Dragendorff : ‘ Werthbestimmungen stark -

wirkender Droguen ’ (1874), 9; ‘ Gerichtlich-cliemische
Ermittelung von Giften’ (1868), 227.

f The solubility of morphia in pure water is about 1
milligram to 1 cubic centimetre, and Cleaver ( Phar . Jour,
and Trans., vii., 243, 1876) advises to add to the weight
of purified morphia crystals, one-thousandth of the weight
of all the water of the mother liquors and washings, to
compensate for the morphia so held in solution. It is of
interest to note that this correction, with the 50 grams of
mother liquor in the Hager- Jacobsen process, just makes
one-tenth the morphia of U. S. P. standard opium, the
correction formerly advised by Hager to be deducted for
impurities (see result g of process A, above). But it has
been clearly shown that opium mother waters, even when
non-alcoholic, dissolve more morphia than pure water does.
Cleaver states that “solutions of opium from which the
morphia has been precipitated, if allowed to stand until the
smell of ammonia has disappeared, will re-dissolve large
quantities of morphia.” if, however, much excess of
ammonia is left in the liquid, the amount of dissolved
morphia is much greater (Phar. Jour., 1876, vii., 242).

130

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 16, wi

water, and titrated with Mayer’s solution. The opium
filtrate (from the morphia precipitate) was then shaken
in a large test-tube with amyl alcohol, and the separated
alcohol removed, three portions respectively of 15, 10 and
5 c.c. of amyl alcohol being so applied, each portion
being heated in a mixture. The united amylic solutions
were then evaporated to dryness, the residue dissolved in
sulphuric acidulated water, and this solution titrated with
Mayer’s solution. The following results were obtained : —
In the work with Nos. 1 and 2, after treatment with
ammonium chloride, the solutions were left twelve hours,
and in Nos, 3 and 4, four hours, instead of the “three to
three and a-half hours ” of the process, for the precipitate
to form.*

Supplementary to Process A.

Percentages.

a. Additionalprecipitates,
estimated by May er’s

No. I.

No. 2

No. 3.

No. 4.

Mean.

solution .

b. From last filtration by
amyl alcohol and

0-36

0-20

0 80

0-28

0-41

Mayer’s solution
c. Total additional, as

1-76

1-72

1-96

2-93

2-09

given in A, d . . .

2T2

1-92

2-76

3-21

2’50

(To be continued.)

ANTISEPTIC GAUZE AND COTTQN.f

Although we have already given one or the other of
the below-mentioned formulae for the preparation of anti¬
septic gauze, we take this occasion to republish a series
of the most approved formulae, in order to answer the
inquiries of several correspondents : —

1. Lister's Carbolized Gauze.

Paraffin . . 7 parts.

Resin . 5 parts.

Carbolic Acid . 1 part.

Melt the paraffin and resin and add the carbolic acid.
The mixture contains 7'7 per cent, of carbolic acid. The
original formula of Dr. Lister prescribed that the mixture
should be applied by means of a syringe, provided with a
sprinkling nozzle, upon the gauze, and that the latter
should then be heated under pressure in an air-tight
apparatus. For some time past, manufacturers of this
gauze have found it more advantageous to dip the gauze
into the mixture, and then pas3 it through rollers in order
to remove the excess.

All carbolized gauze must be kept in air-tight boxes, to
prevent evaporation of the carbolic acid.

2. Bruns' Carbolized Gauze.

Resin, in coarse ) , AA ,, . , _ .

400 §’ms* (14 av* oz- * 1 2 3 4 53 grs.)

powder
Castor Oil .
Carbolic Acid
Alcohol . .

Dissolve the first

40 gms. ( 1 av. oz. 180 grs.)

100 gms. ( 3 av. oz. 230 grs.)

2 litres (67^ fl. £.)
three ingredients in the alcohol.

Saturate the gauze with it thoroughly, wring it out and

* Dragendorff reports, from Mr. Fricker’s work (‘ Werth-
bestimmung,’ 92) : —

1. Morphia by Hager’s process, 5'9 per cent.; by three
days’ crystallization, 0 3 per cent. ; by amyl alcohol, T06
per cent.

2. Morphia by Hager’s process, 5 8 per cent. ; by three
days’ crystallization, 0-85 per cent. ; by am>l alcohol, 0‘73
j>er cent.

3. Morphia by Hager’s process, 7'3 per cent. ; by three
days’ crystallization, 127 per cent.; by amyl alcohol, 0‘56
per cent.

4. Morphia by Hager’s process, 6-24 per cent. ; by three
days’ crystallization, 0‘80 per cent. ; by amyl alcohol, 0-46
per cent.

5. Morphia by Hager’s process, 0 38 per cent. ; by three
days’ crystallization, 0’07 per cent.; by amyl alcohol, 062
per cent.

t From New Remedies, August, 1879.

dry it by hanging it up horizontally, or by shaking it,
spread out in lengths of about seven yards ; if done in
the latter way, two persons holding the two ends and
shaking it up and down, it will be sufficiently dry in a
few minutes.

This gauze is much softer and pliable than Lister’s, and
is free from the drawback of irritating the skin, which is
sometimes caused by paraffin.

The above solution contains 10 per cent, of carbolic
acid.

3. Eilau's Carbolized Gauze.

Linseed Oil, boiled . 4 ounces.

Yellow Wax . 2 ounces.

Resin . 4 ounces.

Oil of Turpentine . 8 ounces.

Carbolic Acid, Calvert’s No. 2 . 1 ounce.

Melt the first three ingredients, then add the other
two. Immerse the fabric in the liquid and pass it
through a clothes wringer several times; then fold it,
wrap it in oiled silk or carbolized paper, and keep it in a
well closed tin box. The above solution contains a little
over 5 per cent, of carbolic acid.

4. Pohl's Carbolized Gauze.

Deprive the gauze of fat or grease by treatment with
caustic soda, thorough washing and drying. Then make
a mixture of 100 parts of pure carbolic acid and 5 parts
of strong alcohol, of which about 4 grams (1 3) are
sprinkled upon each square metre (a little over a yard) of
the fabric. This is then introduced into a copper boiler
which is provided with a safety valve, and is to be her¬
metically closed, where it is heated to a temperature of
120'*’ C. ( = 248° Ft).

5. Benzoated Gauze or Cotton (Bruns).

This is either made with a 5 per cent, or with a 10 per
cent, solution, namely : —

a. 5 per cent, solution.

Benzoic Acid . . 50 gms. (1 av. oz. 334 grs.)

Castor Oil . . . 20 gms. (309 grs.)

j or Castor Oil . 10 gms. (154 grs.) )

( Resin. . . 10 gms. (154 grs.) )

Alcohol .... 2430 c.c. (82 fl. oz. 110 min.)

b. 10 per cent, solution.

Benzoic Acid . . 100 gms. (3 av. oz. 231 grs.)

Castor Oil ... 20 gms. (309 grs.)

) or Castor Oil 10 gms. (154 grs.) )

( Resin . . 10 gms. (154 grs.) )

Alcohol. . . . 2360 c.c. (79 fl. oz. 447 min.)

The gauze or cotton (which latter should have pre¬
viously been deprived of oil), is dipped in the liquid,
expressed, and dried at a gentle heat.

6. Salicylated Gauze or Cotton (Bruns).

a. 5 per cent, solution, and b. 10 per cent, solution are
prepared exactly like the preceding.

7. Benzoated or Salicylated Gauze or Cotton (Thiersch).

These are prepared like those under Nos. 5 and 6; only

in place of castor oil an equal quantity of glycerin is
used. But this is found not to entirely prevent the loss
of benzoic or salicylic acid in the shape of fine dust on
handling.

8. Borated Gauze or Cotton.

Boracic Acid . 10 oz.

Glycerin . 4 fl. oz.

Water . q. s. to make 100 fl. oz.

Dissolve by the aid of a heat, which should not be
raised higher than necessary, but should be kept up
during the saturation of the cotton, so that the acid will
not crystallize upon it. The cotton must have been pre¬
viously deprived completely of its fat by boiling with soda,
and subsequent thorough washing and drying.

9. Borated Lint.

Dr. Vulpius, of Heidelberg, directs to dissolve 1 part
of boracic acid in 4 parts of boiling water, to saturate
1 part of lint with this solution, and to dry.

August lfi, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

131

©he $ftai;maqutual Jjarpral.

- -

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1C, 1879.

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

Instructions from Members and A ssociates respecting the
transmission of the Journal should he sent to Mr. Elias
Brkmridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

A dvertisements, and payments for Copies of the J ournal,
Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington Street, London , IV.
Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

THE CONFERENCE MEETING.

By the time this Journal reaches the hands oi its
readers many of them will, it is hoped, he turning
their thoughts towards the steel metropolis and the
gathering there of the British Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference during next week. It will, therefore, he of
interest to them to know what are the arrangements
made for that event hy the Local Committee.

The meeting will he commenced on Tuesday
morning, the 19th inst., at half past ten, in the
Freemasons’ Hall, Surrey Street, under the presi¬
dency of Mr. George Frederick Schacht, of Clif¬
ton. After the usual preliminary business, the
reception of the Report of the Executive and the
Address of the President, the reading of papers— a
partial list of which appeared in this Journal last
week — ' will he commenced ; this will he continued
until five o’clock, and resumed on the following day
at half-past ten.

On each day there will he an adjournment, extend¬
ing from one until half-past two o’clock, for luncheon,
and on Tuesday the members will have the oppor¬
tunity during this interval of visiting the extensive
cutlery works of Messrs. Rodgers and Son, under
the guidance of some appointed members of the Local
Committee. In the evening of the same day special
cars will he provided to convey visitors to the Armour
Plate Works of Messrs. J. Brown and Co., Limited.

On Wednesday morning, at half-past nine, mem¬
bers of the Local Committee will he in attendance
to accompany visitors to electro-plate and other
works, previous to the resumption of the Conference.
No arrangement has been made for Wednesday
evening, in order that members may he at liberty to
hear the Inaugural Address of Professor Allman,
the President of the British Association.

After two days of hard work the members of the
Conference will he ready for a holiday, and should
this most unseasonable of summers prove capable of
yielding one more fine day on Thursday, the 21st, the
Excursion to which the Local Committee invites the
visitors, both ladies and gentlemen, should be a most
enjoyable one. Starting at nine o’clock the company
will be conveyed in carriages via Owler Bar, Frog-
gatt Edge, Calver and Bake well to Haddon Hall, an

old baronial mansion, situated on the banks of the
Wye, and belonging to His Grace the Duke of Rut¬
land. This will be the most distant point of the
excursion and here lunch will be provided. After
ample opportunity has been given for exploring the
old mansion, the company will leave for Chatsworth,
where the celebrated mansion of the Duke of Devon¬
shire will be thrown open to the visitors. After a
ramble through the park the road back to Sheffield
will be struck where it crosses the Derwent at the
village of Baslow. But before proceeding further
“ high tea ” will be served at the Wlieatsheaf Arms.
This it is expected will be brought to a close about
half-past eight, and then the company will make their
way northward to Sheffield.

We do not presume to say which part of this pro¬
gramme is most enticing, the scientific conference or
the scientific outing ; but we think that as a whole
it is sufficient to decide the minds of any waverers
in favour of being present at the Sixteenth Meeting
of the Conference. We are glad to learn that, so far
as can be judged from the number who have applied
to Mr. Maleham, the Honorary Local Secretary, to
secure them accommodation, there are already indi¬
cations of its being a most successful gathering.

PHARMACOPOEIA REVISION.

As mentioned on several occasions recently the
question of Pharmacopoeia revision has been taken
up by the pharmacists of the United States with
considerable vigour. In that country the construc¬
tion of the Pharmacopoeia is not at present controlled
by legislation, and among the consequences of this
freedom are a multitude of suggestions and a large
amount of volunteer work from pharmacists which
under proper guidance will probably leave a benefi¬
cial impress upon future editions of the United States
Pharmacopoeia and at the same time profit pharmacy
generally. Such guidance may be expected from the
American Pharmaceutical Association, which has
shown considerable interest in the work, and a report
of a committee of that body, presented at the last
annual meeting at Atlanta, describes the general
principles which it is recommended should be fol¬
lowed in the next revision.

Language is the first subject dealt with, and with
respect to this it is distinctly stated that whatever
might be urged in favour of the use of the Latin lan¬
guage ill European pharmacopoeias, it would be im¬
practicable in the United States, for that if it were
adopted the original text would be seldom consulted
and most pharmacists would use a translation.

In the arrangement it is proposed to abolish the divi¬
sion of the materia medica into primary and secondary
lists, — a practice which has been recommended more
than once for imitation in this country, — and to arrange
all the articles in one alphabetical order, retaining
however such headings as aquoe, infusa, decocta, etc.,
where it is thought desirable to give general direc-

132

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 13, 1879.

tions referring to a whole class. It is also proposed
to continue the plan of placing the name of a plant
first, followed by the name of the particular part.

The question as to the elimination of articles at
present in the Pharmacopoeia and the introduction
of others is next discussed and lists are given which
are too long to quote entire. Among those it is
proposed to discard are several indigenous remedies,
some of which have more or less been recommended
as substitutes for foreign ones, such as Americian
elder flowers, Cannabis americana, Euphorbia Ipe¬
cacuanha , Gentiana Catesbcei. Chiretta and oil of
rue are also included in this list. Among the crude
drugs proposed to be added may be mentioned coca,
guarana, tea, Eriodictyon Calif ornicum, Eucalyptus
globulus , Ehamnus Frangula , Fucus vesiculosus .
Grindelia robusta and G. squarrosa, Hamamelis
Virginica and jaborandi. Seventy chemicals are
proposed to be added, including clirysophanic, dilute
hydrobromic, purified oleic and salicylic acids, cin¬
chonine and sulphate of cinchonidine, salicylates
of iron, lithium and quinine, hypophospliites of cal¬
cium, iron, potassium, and sodium, and pilocarpine
hydrochlorate. The list of pharmaceutical prepara¬
tions is still larger, and includes a number of extracts,
oleates of the alkaloids and of mercury, tincture of
gelsemium, hydrastin, viburnin, and leptandrin,
and solutions of the silicates of potassium and
sodium.

The descriptions of crude drugs are to be sufficient
to indicate the distinctive characteristics visible to
the naked eye and when necessary such as are
visible under an ordinarily good pocket lens. Common
admixtures and falsifications are to be mentioned
and the differences pointed out. The Committee
further recommends that all chemicals of definite
composition should have their formulae added, accord¬
ing to both the old and the new notation, together
with their atomic weights; but that except when
differences of process would give different results,
chemicals should only be described and defined by
concise but complete tests of identity and purity.
Also, that temperatures should be stated both in
degrees of Centigrade and Fahrenheit.

In the expression of quantities the Committee
thinks that all measures of capacity should be
abandoned and quantities expressed only in parts by
weight. It also recommends that the opportunity
afforded by the reconstruction of the formulse for
this purpose should be taken advantage of, in cases
where a slight variation of dose is of no importance,
to make the tinctures, wines, etc., of uniform strength,
so far as relates to the proportion of the crude drug
used to a definite quantity of product, and that in
doing so the quantities of the ingredients entering
into a compound should be expressed in the simplest
possible terms and whenever possible in a decimal
ratio ; but that in the case of very active prepara¬
tions the present strength should be as nearly as
possible preserved.

In cases where certain weights of ingredients are
directed to be combined under conditions that may
involve a partial loss of any of them— as for instance,
when a variable quantity of water may be lost by
heat— it is recommended that the weight of the end-
product should be specified. Recognition of the
progress the metric system is making in the United
States is indicated in the proposition that wherever
it is necessary to employ definite expressions of
weight the quantity should be expressed both in apo¬
thecaries’ and decimal weights.

The fluid extracts appear to be the most difficult
problem the Committee has to deal with. It has
decided to recommend that in regard to strength
they shall all represent the drug, grain for grain ;
but as to the practical process for their preparation
the Committee hesitates between an improvement of
Procter’s process and Squibb’s process of repercola¬
tion recently described in this Journal. Co-operative
experiments are still being carried on under the
superintendence of Professor Diehl to assist the
Committee to come to a decision on this point.

As an Appendix the Committee think the next
edition of the United States Pharmacopoeia should
be provided with a table of solubilities of the
officinal chemicals in water and in alcohol, at 60° F.,
and the boiling points ■; a table of maximum safe
doses of powerful remedies ; an alcoholometric table;
an acidimetric table ; a table of reagents ; a list of
synonyms ; a weight and volume table, to facilitate
the introduction of the metric system in prescribing ;
and a table comparing the strength of powerful
galenical preparations of other pharmacopoeias 'with
that of the corresponding preparations in the United
States Pharmacopoeia.

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Meeting of this Association was held
in Cork last week, commencing on Tuesday the 5th
inst. The number of members present in the city
on the first day is estimated at four hundred ; there
were also many eminent foreign practitioners present.
The new President is Dr. O’Connor. The Address
in Medicine was delivered by Dr. A. Hudson,
of Dublin, and that in Surgery, by Mr. Savory,
the subject of the former being the labours of
Laennec and their influence in medicine, and the
latter being mainly a criticism of Lister’s antiseptic
method. Amongst the business transacted was the
award of the gold medal of the Association, for dis¬
tinguished merit, to Surgeon-Major Reynolds, in
recognition of his services at Rorke’s Drift.

SIR WILLIAM JENNER.

We learn from the medical journals that Sir
William J enner is suffering from an attack of
whooping cough, and that he has ceased to practise
for the present in order that he may not spread the

disease.

August 16, 1879.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

133

rocincial Sfransajfitms.

LEICESTER CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The half-yearly meeting of the above Association was
held at the rooms, Halford Street, on Tuesday, August 5,
1879, the Vice-President, Mr. Brampton, in the chair.
After transacting some preliminary business the following-
report was read and adopted : —

“ In submitting the report of the proceedings of the
Association for the past session, your Committee con¬
gratulate the members upon the fact that the Association
has now completed its twenty-first session. In looking
at the results attained in the past through the medium of
the Association, your Committee have every reason to be
highly gratified; whilst at the same time they are
assured that with the applianoes they now possess,
mugh greater success may reasonably be looked for in
the future.

“ Your Committee regret to notice that the attendance
of members has not been so good as could be desired, but
are pleased that the rooms have been used by the
members for private study on other than class nights to
a considerable extent.

“Your Committee are highly gratified at the success
of Uhe botany class which has been conducted by Mr.
W. J. Harrison, F.G.S.,in connection with the Science
and Art Department of South Kensington. At the
Government examination held in May, the following
members were successful: — First Class, Mr. Burford;
Second Class, Messrs. Brampton, Lewitt, Llewellyn,
Shuttlewood and Raynor.

“ Three lectures have been delivered during the past
session, viz.: — By the Rev. E. Atkins, B.Sc., on ‘Elec¬
trolysis;’ Mr. W. B. Clark, on ‘Chemical Toxicology,’
and J. E. Weatherhead, Esq., on ‘Cetacea;’ to these
gentlemen your Committee tender their sincere thanks
for the very able and interesting lectures with which
they have favoured the Association.

“ Your Committee are pleased, to notice that a member
of the Association, Mr. Raynor, has passed the Minor
examination.

“The library is in a flourishing condition, and the
valuable books it contains have been in constant re¬
quisition.

“ In conclusion, your Committee desire to thank those
who have rendered help in the past, and to remind the
members that the welfare of the Association depends, to
a great extent, upon the efforts put forth by each
individual member to further the interests of the Asso¬
ciation.”

The Treasurer’s report, showing a balance in hand of
8s. 8|c?., having been received and adopted,

Mr. Clark proposed that the Secretary be instructed to
forward to the late President the following resolu¬
tion : —

“ The members of this Association having heard with
regret of the departure from Leicester of Mr. Raynor, beg
him to accept their thanks for the many services he has
rendered, and assure him that in whatever position he
may be placed, he will have their best wishes for his
future welfare.”

Mr. Shuttlewood seconded the resolution.

The Chairman having put it to the meeting, it was
carried unanimously.

The meeting then proceeded to the election of a Com¬
mittee for the ensuing session, with the following result : —
President, Mr. J. J. Edwards; Vice-President, Mr. W.
*3. H. Brampton; Honorary Seci-etary, Mr. S. F. Bur-
ford ; Treasurer, Mr. W. B. Clark ; Messrs. Lewitt,
Shuttlewood, Thirlby.

Prmjrrdinjgs of ^cknlific Jsnrietifs.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The History of Alizarin and Allied Colouring
Matters, and theie Peoduction from Coal Tar.*

BY W. H. PERKIN, F.R.S.

{Concluded from page 119.)

The tars from different gasworks yield very different
quantities of anthracene ; this is to a great extent due to
the kind of coal employed and the temperatures to which
the retorts are heated in the gasworks. To take two
extreme cases. Newcastle coal yields a tar which is very
suitable for the preparation of anthracene, whereas cannel
coal gives a tar containing but little anthracene and a
great deal of paraffin. Now, at some gasworks cannel
coal is principally used, as in Scotland. At others, some
is often mixed with Newcastle or other variety of coal
to increase the illuminating power of the gas ; this is done
frequently in cold weather. Thus tars of all sorts of
qualities are formed, and consequently, the kind and
quantity of impurities in the anthracene prepared from
them differ.

Further complications also arise in the tar works ac¬
cording to the way the distillation of the tar is conducted.
If k is carried only so far as to leave a soft pitch in the
still, it does not contain so many varieties of impurities
as when the distillation is carried on until hard pitch is
produced, or the pitch coked. Crude anthracene is, there¬
fore, found to be not altogether of value according to the
percentage ©f anthracene it contains, but to a considerable
extent upon the nature of the impurities associated with
it. Thus, anthracene obtained from pitoh is scarcely a
saleable article to those who purify their anthracene by
washing it with naphtha, and then by sublimation.

It would be very interesting to see if it would not be
worth while distilling coal near the pit’s mouth, for the
purpose of manufacturing benzol, anthracene, and other
useful products, selecting the most suitable qualities of
coal, and employing temperatures which experiment
proved to be the most suitable. The gas and eoke, of
course, could be utilized as fuel. Should the supply of
coal tar from any circumstance become insufficient, as,
for example, by gas being superseded by the electric or
any other source of light, this undoubtedly would have to
be done, and it would be a great advantage to get pro¬
ducts of a uniform quality.

It will, perhaps, be of interest here to record the prices
paid for anthracene during the first year or two of the
manufacture of artificial alizarin. In 1870 — 1871, we
gave from 9c?. to Is. 6d. per cent, per cwt., and in 1872
from Is. 6d. to 5s. , and a small quantity at 5s. 6d. This
shows how the price advanced with the demand ;+ since
then there have been great variations, and much higher
prices are said to have been given by some buyers.

The anthracene was at first valued by the bisulphide
of carbon or petroleum and bisulphide of carbon tests, and
also, by the alcohol process, the present anthraquinone
method not being then proposed. For our own informa¬
tion, wTe employed from nearly the first an anthraquinone
test, which consisted in oxidizing about ten grams of
the anthracene, previously purified with petroleum and
distillation with caustic potash, subliming off the anthra¬
quinone in a retort, crystallizing it from naphtha and
then weighing. This, although not very accurate, we
found to be practically of much value to us.

As to the advantage of the use of naphtha or petroleum
spirit for purifying anthracene, manufacturers differ in
Opinion. It is evident, however, that petroleum spirit has
the great advantage of dissolving less anthracene, and, at
the same time, the other impurities are sufficiently soluble

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts.

f The prices of anthracene given in the Moniteur Scien -
tifique, April 19, p. 420, are much too high.

134

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 16, 1H7P.

in it to be removed if enough be employed, say two or
three times as much as the crude anthracene to be puri¬
fied; it is also easily removed from the purified anthra¬
cene by steam, on account of its volatility. Coal-tar
naphtha, however, dissolves out a good deal of anthracene;
so that the impurities dissolved by it, and left after it has
been distilled off, contain often seven or eight per cent, of
anthracene, which is difficult to recover. Neither naph¬
tha nor petroleum remove much of the carbazol. The
following is a table of solubilities of anthracene, etc., in
benzene and petroleum : —

Petrol*

;um.

Benzene.

B,

.P. 70°-

-100°

C.

B.P. S0°-10o° C.

Anthracene . .

■115

per

cent. .

. ‘976 per cent.

Phenanthrene . .

3-206

99 •

. 21-94 „

Carbazol ....

•016

99

. -51

Dichloranthracene

T37

99

• '52

Anthraquinone

•013

99

. -166 „

There is an impurity in anthracene which is sometimes
very troublesome, and that is paraffin. This paraffin is
of high fusing point, and of little solubility either in
petroleum or in naphtha — very different in this respect
from ordinary paraffin. It will dissolve in these solvents
when they are hot, but on cooling is almost entirely
deposited again. A small quantity of this left in the
anthracene frequently greatly impedes the filtration in
the succeeding operations, and being a stable compound,
passes through most of the processes; it is, therefore, a very
troublesome substance, and interferes with the value of a
crude anthracene containing it. Crude anthracene is
very much purified by being hot-pressed, so much so, that
if it is thoroughly done, it is scarcely needful to treat it
with naphtha or petroleum. The anthracene, which dis¬
solves in the fused impurities and is then pressed out,
may be afterwards recovered.

I will now make a few remarks upon the process of
distilling anthracene with caustic potash. This process
has been very much spoken against, as destroying a con¬
siderable quantity of the anthracene. I may remark
that anthracene is not acted upon by heating with caustic
potash ; and from all the experiments I have made on
the subject, which are very numerous, I have not found
that there is any more loss of anthracene by distilling it
with caustic potash than by distilling it alone.

The effect of caustic potash on crude anthracene is
very remarkable, sometimes as much as forty and fifty
per cent, of impurities being removed by distilling it with
this alkali. The action appears to be twofold : first, it
chars all the difficultly volatile and unstable products
and bodies of a phenolic character ; and, secondly, it
combines with the carbazol, forming with it a remark¬
able compound. Carbazol is present in considerable
quantities ; crude anthracene, after being washed with
naphtha, containing from ten to twelve per cent, of car¬
bazol ; washed anthracene, which has been distilled with
caustic potash, consists chiefly of anthracene and phe-
nanthrene.

For the economical production of dichloranthracene,
we found anthracene which had been purified by dis¬
tillation with potash essential. This, when properly
chlorinated, gives a beautifully crystalline mass, con¬
taining a certain amount of oily bodies, which can easily
be removed by pressure. Whereas anthracene, which
has not been treated with potash, yields a confusedly
crystalline mass mixed with sticky impurities, which
cannot be pressed out until rendered fluid by the addition
of coal-tar naphtha, which results in a considerable loss
of product.

One advantage of this process of treating anthracene is
that it brings anthracenes of different origins to similar
conditions — even pitch anthracene works perfectly well
after being subjected to this process. It is also useful as
indicating the origin of the anthracene. The further the
distillation of the tar has been carried, it w ill be found
the greater the loss of weight the crude anthracene

obtained from it will suffer on distillation with potash,,
on account of the impurities it contains being more easily
charred.

There is one curious fact in connection with the pro¬
cess. If anthracene which has been well washed with
naphtha or petroleum be distilled with potash, it will be
found that on treatment with these solvents again, a
considerable amount of impurity will freely dissolve out,,
apparently consisting chiefly of phenanthrene.

I know of no method of procuring anthracene in a pure
state easily and in quantity but by purifying it by dis¬
tillation with caustic potash. Anthracene thus treated,
if washed with benzol or other suitable solvents, and
then dissolved in boiling benzole, will crystallize out on
cooling in a most beautiful manner- in nearly colourless
plates with a blue fluorescence, one or two crystalliza¬
tions rendering it perfectly pure. And this brings me to
the subject of the use of pure anthracene in the manu¬
facture of alizarin.

Generally speaking, as a manufacture advances, so the-
quality of the materials used are improved, and I quite
think that the need of anthracene in a pure or purer
condition than it is now employed in, will be found to be
very desirable in the production of artificial alizarin.
Just before I left off manufacturing this product, at the
end of 1873, I was engaged upon experiments in this
direction, for the purpose of improving the method of
preparing dichloranthracene, so as to reduce the amount
of chlorine oils formed, or to avoid their formation
altogether. As chlorine forms, with pure anthracene,,
the theoretical amount of dichloranthracene, it is evident,
that if some convenient method were adopted to allow
these bodies to freely react upon each other, pure-
dichloranthracene could be produced very cheaply, as
there would be no loss and no purification needed. I
quite think this might be accomplished.

The oxidation of pure anthracene for the preparation
of anthraquinone does not succeed well by the process at-
present adopted, so that this would likewise have to be
modified ; but if it could be obtained pure, or nearly
pure, at once, instead of having to be dissolved in oil of
vitriol, or sublimed and then treated with this acid, it
would be a great advantage. To obtain anthracene in a
pure or nearly pure state on the large scale, I think that
it would probably be found best to distil hot-pressed
anthracene with potash ; then to grind it fine, wash it
with petroleum or naphtha and lastly crystallize it from
naphtha.

I may here, perhaps, make a few remarks upon car¬
bazol, as it is quite probable that it may yet be found to
be a valuable product. To obtain it, anthracene, pre¬
ferably hot-pressed or washed with naphtha, is distilled
with caustic potash until no more anthracene passes
over. The black residue is then freed from potash by
being well washed with water, and on being distilled
yields carbazol ; as I mentioned before, crude anthra¬
cene gives as much as 10 or 12 per cent, of this sub¬
stance. Another method consists in boiling the anthra¬
cene with fused caustic potash in a cylinder, until free
from water, and then allowing the mixture to stand to
cool. On opening the cylinder, the anthracene will be
found as a layer on the top of the potash containing the
carbazol, and can be scaled off. After this is removed,,
the remaining product is treated as just indicated.*

This remarkable compound of potash and carbazol,
whtn heated to redness, gives off large quantities of
hydrogen gas, the carbazol being decomposed. From
experiments I have made, this compound appears to
contain one atom of potassium to one of carbazol, its-
formula probably being C12H8KN. It is now under
investigation.

* The process of distilling crude anthracene with caustic
potash was communicated to H. Caro, of the Badische
Aniline and Soda Fabrik, and it was by this means that
the carbazol investigated by Graebe and Giaser was ob¬
tained.

August 16, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

135

Carbazol is a beautifully crystallized body, not unlike
anthracene. When heated with mercuric chloride, or
various other oxidizing agents, it produces a blue colour¬
ing matter. This, however, has not been found to be of
practical value. It is probably the substance which was
described several years ago as anthracene blue, the an¬
thracene used probably containing carbazol.

In crude anthracene and oil, accompanying it, there is
a peculiar organic base called acridine, having the formula
C12H9N. It was first observed by Caro, and investigated
by Graebe and Caro. It crystallizes in brownish yellow
four-sided rectangular prisms, and is a most stable com¬
pound. The vapour causes sneezing and coughing, and
it gives to the oils accompanying anthracene a very
irritating action when rubbed on the skin. In hot
weather the workmen employed in pressing or otherwise
working with crude anthracene sometimes suffer very
considerably from the pain it temporarily produces.

Some improvement in the treatment of sulpho acids of
antbraquinone with caustic soda in the production of
colouring matter is very desirable. The amount of alkali
used is often six or eight times more than indicated by
theory, and, as no suitable means have been obtained for
recovering this before precipitating the colouring matter,
it is all converted into sodic sulphate, for which a large
amount of sulphuric acid has also to be employed. The
sulphate of soda, being in solution, does not pay for
evaporation, otherwise it might be reconverted into
caustic soda.

Some experiments have been made to precipitate the
colouring matter from the alkaline solution with lime,
but this, unfortunately, especially with red shades of
colours, acts very imperfectly, and is therefore of no
value. It is also very desirable that the condition under
which the a and jj disulphoanthraquinonic acids are
formed as also of the disulpho acid giving the sulpho
acid of alizarin should he studied, so that their separate
formation may be effected at will.

Having now given an account of the manufacture of
artificial alizarin, it will be interesting to inquire into the
commercial results of this industry, and, firstly, what has
been its influence upon the sale of madder and its de¬
rivatives. I mentioned at the commencement of this
piper that the annual value of the imports into the
United Kingdom of madder and garancine, from 1859 to
1863, amounted to about £1,000,000 sterling, with prices
averaging for madder 45s. and 50s. per cwt., and for
garancine, 150s. In the subjoined table will be seen the
remarkable changes that have taken place in the imports,
and also the great reduction in price : —

Average Annual Imports of Madder and Garancine into
the United Kingdom.

! Year.

. ■ -- ,

Madder.

Garan¬

cine.

French

madder.

Turkey

roots.

Garan¬

cine.

1859 )
1868 \

cwts.

cwts.

s.

s.

S.

305,840

45,560

45

50

150

1875 '

100,280

(

25,860
15,396 )

—

1876

59,137 j

or >

—

—

_

6,436 )

1877

38,711

8,875

—

—

—

1878

32,990

2,790

18

17

65

Up to and during 1876 considerable quantities of
artificial alizarin were imported from the Continent, and
entered at the Customs as garancine or madder, which
having been brought to the notice of the officials, the
returns made subsequently are more reliable. The im¬
ports df garancine were returned by the Board of Trade
in 1876 as 15,396 cwts. when first published, but in the
following year, when the figures for 1876 were given for

comparison with those of 1877 and 1878, the returns
were stated as only 6436 cwts. The erroneous entries
were most probably made to evade the penalties for the
infringement of patent rights.*

Dutch ground madder has been relatively much higher
in price than the other qualities. This is owing to its
extensive use in wool dyeing. For various reasons arti¬
ficial alizarin has made but little progress in its appli¬
cation to wool dyeing, and Dutch madder being mostly
used for this purpose, its prices have been maintained at
from 28s. for ordinary “ Ombro” to about 40s. to 45s. for
crop madder. The wool dyers have, however, been
working cautiously with artificial alizarin, and now some
of them are using it somewhat largely, and, considering
its cheapness as compared with Dutch madder, no doubt
they will soon find how to use it successfully, and cease
to employ madder.

The decline in the sale of madder is still rapidly going
on. During the first two months of last year the imports
were —

Madder . 6846 cwts.

Garancine . 533 „

During the first two months of this year they were —

Madder . 2185 cwts.

Garancine . 175 „

Or about two -thirds less. And not only so, but the price
is still declining. Turkey roots may now be bought at
11s. per cwt., whereas before artificial alizarin was intro¬
duced they were sold, on an average, at 50s. At the
present prices of madder its cultivation is unremunerative,
and will undoubtedly be soon a thing of the past. Such
has been the success of artificial alizarin in competing
with madder and garancine in this country, and it is
equally true of other countries. The quantity of madder
grown in all the madder-growing countries of the world
prior to 1868 is estimated at about 70,000 tons per
annum. The amount of artificial alizarin now produced
is equal in dyeing power to considerably more than this ;
in fact, the lowest estimate I have been able to get for
1878, and which is confirmed from other sources, is 9500
tons, which is equivalent to 950,000 tons of madder.
This remarkable result has been arrived at in ten years
°nly.

To produce this quantity of artificial alizarin there
are about nine manufacturers on the Continent and one
in this country, Messrs. Burt, Bolton and Haywood,
who have two large works for its production, viz., the
original works at Greenford Green, and new ones at
Silvertown.

Graebe and Liebermann, in their paper in the Mpniteur
Scientifique give some statistics of the production of
artificial alizarin, which, however, require correcting.
They also leave out the years 1869 and 1870. In 1869
we had advanced in the manufacture so far as to send
colour into the market, the first invoice being dated
October 4th, and that year we produced about one ton.
In 1870 we produced 40 tons ; in 1871, 220 tons ; in
1872, 300 tons ; and in 1873, 435 tons. Up to the end
of 1870 we were practically the only makers of this
product. One of the largest chemical and coal-tar colour
manufacturing firms of Germany, with whom we were in
correspondence, stating that in November, 1870, they
had only lately commenced producing 50 pounds of
alizarin, 10 per cent, quality, per day, and that no one
else in that country was supplying artificial alizarin ;
and in 1871 we were practically the only producers of
quantity, at any rate during the first part of the year,
for in March, 1871, the firm already referred to, and who
had great opportunities of knowing what was being done
in their country, wrote that they had not received know-

* A method so often resorted to as to render English
chemical patents nearly useless as a protection against
infringements by foreign manufacturers, the results of this
being alike detrimental to the inventor and injurious to the
national interests.

f April, 1879, p. 416.

136

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 1 6, 1879.

ledge of any establishment but their own manufacturing
artificial alizarin.

In November, 1871, however, Messrs. Gessert Freres
announced to the Industrial Society of Mulhouse that
they had produced 30,792 kilogrammes of alizarin in
paste. This is equal to about 30 tons, an amount which
was evidently considered by them a very large quantity.*
Graebe and Liebermann’s statistics are as follows com¬
pared with our production : —

Graebe and Lieber- Perkin and Son’s

no arm.

Production?.

Tons.

Tons.

1869 ....

1

1870 ....

40

1871 ....

125— 150

220

1872 ....

400— 500

300

1873 ....

900—1000

435

Without wishing to detract from Graebe and Lieber¬
mann’s original discovery, we may say that the birthplace
of the manufacture of artificial alizarin was in England.
It was in this country that the difficulties and doubts
about the manufacture and supply of the raw material,
anthracene, were solved, and the production of artificial
alizarin by new processes successfully accomplished. After
these results were obtained in this country, continental
chemists were encouraged to manufactd^ on a compara¬
tively large scale, but up to the end of 1873 the English
manufacturers had practically no competition in the home
market.

Having considered the amount of artificial alizarin now
manufactured, it will be of interest to see what its money
value is.

Taking the lowest estimate, viz., 9500 tons, and calculat¬
ing its selling prices at £150 per ton, the annual value
amounts to no less than £1,425,000, or nearly a million
and a-half. =/

As a dye, it is now at most not more than one-third of
the average price of madder in 1859-1868. Consequently,
in the United Kingdom, when the annual value of madder
imported was £1,000,000, the annual saving is very great.

While collecting the statistics about alizarin, I thought
it would be of interest to get, if possible, the statistics
of the entire coal-tar colour industry, and to the kindness
of H. Caro, of the Badische Aniline and Soda Fabrik, I am
indebted for most of the following particulars : —

Estimated Value of the Production of Coal-Tar

Colours in 1878.

Germany . . £2,000,000 of which four-fifths are exported.

England . . 450,000

France . . . 350,000

Switzerland 350,000

Total. . £3,150,000

In referring to the works which have been set up for
the purpose of making coal-tar colours, I thought it would
be of interest to show a copy of a rough sketch of the first
works erected for this purpose as they appeared in 186$,
two years after the patent for the mauve was taken out.

These works were not one year old when sketched, and
the practicability of making the mauve commercially had
only been proved a short time. In 1873 they had in¬
creased to such an extent as to cover about six acres.

There are now in this country six coal-tar colour works ;
in Germany, no less than seventeen ; in France, about
five ; and in Switzerland, four. There are also three
works in Germany and three in France which manufac¬
ture aniline in enormous quantities for the production of
coal-tar colours.

Such is the wonderful growth of this industry, which
dates only from 1856. It is the fruit of scientific researches
in organic chemistry, conducted mostly from a scientific
point of view ; and, while this industry has made such a
great progress, it has, in its turn, acted as a handmaid to
chemical science, by placing at the disposal of chemists

* Moniteur Scientifique, April 1879, 416.

products which otherwise could not have been obtained,
and thus an amount of research has beep conducted
through it so extensive that it is difficult to realize, and
this may before long produce practical fruit to an extent
we have no conception of. One very important colouring
matter related to coal-tar, and one of the original sources of
aniline — a product of as great importance as alizarin — ha&
yet to be produced on the large scale. I refer to indigo.
Baeyer has shown that it can be produced artificially, but
at present no practical means of accomplishing it have
been discovered. No doubt, however, it will not be many
years before this is achieved, and the cultivation of the
indigo plant share the fate of madder.

ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN,

A New Chemical Industry, Established by M.
Camille Vincent.*

BY PROFESSOR ROSCOE, LL.D., F.R.S.

“After I had made the discovery of the marine acid air?
which the vapour of spirit of salt may properly enough
be called, it occurred to me that, by a process similar to*
that by which this acid air is expelled from the spirit of
salt, an alkaline air might be expelled from substances,
containing the volatile alkali. Accordingly I procured
some volatile spirit of sal-ammoniac, and having put it.
into a thin phial and heated it with the flame of a candle,
I presently found that a great quantity of vapour was
discharged from it, and being received into a basin of
quicksilver it continued in the form of a transparent and
permanent air, not at all condensed by cold.” These:
words, written by Joseph Priestley rather more than one
hundred years ago, describe the experiment by which
ammonia was first obtained in the gaseous state.

Unacquainted with the composition of this alkaline air,
Priestley showed that it increased in volume when electric
sparks are passed through it, or when the alkaline air
(ammonia) is heated the residue consists of inflammable
air (hydrogen).

Berthollet, in 1785, proved that this increase in bulk is
due to the decomposition of ammonia into nitrogen and
hydrogen, whilst Henry and Davy ascertained that two
volumes of ammonia are resolved into one volume of
nitrogen and three volumes of hydrogen.

The early history of sal-ammoniac and of ammonia is
very obscure. The salt appears to have been brought
into Europe from Asia in the seventh century, probably
from volcanic sources. An artificial mode of producing
the ammoniacal salts from decomposing animal matter
was soon discovered, and the early alchemists were well
acquainted with the carbonate under the name of spiritus.
salts urince. In later times sal-ammoniac was obtained
from Egypt, where it was prepared by collecting the sub¬
limate obtained by burning camels’ dung.

Although we are constantly surrounded by an atmo¬
sphere of nitrogen, chemists have not yet succeeded ir>
inducing this inert substance to combine readily, so that
we are still dependent for our supply of combined nitro¬
gen, whether as nitric acid or ammonia, upon the decom¬
position of the nitrogenous constituents of the bodies of
plants and animals. This may be effected either by
natural decay, giving rise to the ammonia which is always
contained in the atmosphere, or by the dry distillation of
the same bodies, that is, by heating them strongly out of
contact with air; and it is from this source that the
world derives the whole of its commercial ammonia and
sal-ammoniac.

Coal, the remains of an ancient vegetable world, con¬
tains about 2 per cent, of nitrogen, the greater part of
which is obtained in the form of ammonia when the coal
undergoes the process of dry distillation. In round
numbers two million tons of coal are annually distilled
for the manufacture of coal gas in this country, and the

* Read at the Weekly Evening Meeting, Friday, February
21, 1879.

August 16, 1879.3 THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

137

I

I

I

ammoniacal water of the gas works contains the salts of
ammonium in solution.

According to the most reliable data 100 tons of coal
were distilled so as to yield 10,000 cubic feet of gas of
specific gravity Of), giving the following products, in
tons : —

Gas.

Tar.

Ammouia

Water.

Coke.

22*25 8*5 9*5 59*75 average.

This ammonia water contains about 1*5 per cent, of
ammonia, hence the total quantity of the volatile alkali
obtainable from the gasworks in England amounts to
some 9000 tons per annum.

A singular difference is observed between the dry dis¬
tillation of altered woody fibre as we have it in coal, and
woody fibre itself. In the products of the first operation
we chiefly find in the tar the aromatic hydrocarbons, such
as benzene, whilst in the second we find acetic acid and
methyl alcohol are predominant.

The year 1848 is a memorable one in the annals of
revolutionary chemistry, for in that year Wurtz j roved
that ammonia is in reality only one member of a very
large family. By acting with caustic potash on the
nitriles of the alcohol radicals he obtained the first series
of the large class of compound ammonias, the primary
monamines. Of these methylamine is the first on our
list

CHo

CO

N + 2 KOH =

CH

H2

n

N + CO

OK

OK

The years that followed, 1849-51, were prolific in
ammoniacal discoveries. Hofmann pointed out that not
only one atom of hydrogen in ammonia can be replaced
by its equivalent of organic radical, but that two or all
the three atoms of the hydrogen in ammonia can be
likewise replaced, giving rise to the secondaiy and ter¬
tiary amines, by the following simple reactions : —

H ) CH3 )

1. ch3i + h[n=hi+ H'[N

H ) H )

CH3 ) CU3 )

2. CH3I + H f N = HI + CH., \ N

H H3)

ch3 ch3 )

3. CH3I + CH3 > N = HI -f CH, N

H ) CH3 )

To these bodies the names of methylamine, dimethyl-
amine, and trimethylamine were given. They resemble
ammonia in being volatile alkaline liquids or gases, which
combine with acids to form crystalline and well-defined
salts.

Hitherto these compound ammonias have been chemi¬
cal curiosities ; they have, however, recently become, as
has so often been the case in other instance'*, of great
commercial importance, and are now manufactured on a
large scale.

We are all well aware that the French beet-root sugar
industry is one of great magnitude, and that it has been
largely extended in late years. In this industry, as in
the manufacture of cane sugar, large quantities of
molasses or treacle remain behind after the whole of the
crystallizable sugar has been withdrawn. These molasses
are invariably employed to yield alcohol by fermentation.
The juice of the beet, as well as that of cane sugar,
contains, in addition to the sugar, a large quantity of
extractive and nitrogenous matters, together with consi¬
derable quantities of alkaline salts. In some sugar-
producing districts the waste-liquors or spent- wash from
the stills — called vinasses in French — are wastefully and
ignorantly thrown aw*ay, instead of being returned to the
land as a fertilizer, and thus the soil becomes impover¬
ished. In France it has long been the custom of the
distiller to evaporate these liquors ( vinasses ) to dryness,
and to calcine the mass in a reverberatory furnace, thus
destroying the whole of the organic matter, but recover¬

ing the alkaline salts of the beet-root. In this way 2000'
tons of carbonate of potash are annually produced in the-
French distilleries. For more than thirty years the idea
has been entertained of collecting the ammonia water,
tar, and oils which are given off when this organic matter-
is calcined, but the practical realization of the project has.
only quite recently been accomplished, and a most unex¬
pected new field of chemical industry thus opened out
thi'ough the persevering and sagacious labours of M-
Camille Vincent, of Paris.

The following is an outline of the process as carried,
out at the large distillery of Messrs. Tilloy, Delaune and
Co., at Courrieres. The spent-wash having been evapo¬
rated until it has attained a specific gravity of 1*31, is
allowed to run into cast-iron retorts, in which it is
submitted to dry distillation. This process lasts four
hours ; the volatile products pass over, whilst a residue of
porous charcoal and alkaline salts remains behind in the
retort. The gaseous products given off during the dis¬
tillation are passed through coolers, in order to condense
all the portions which are liquid or solid at the ordinary
temperature, and the combustible gases pass on uncon-
densed and serve as fuel for heating the retorts.

The liquid portion of the distillate is a very complex,
mixture oi chemical compounds, resembling in this respect
the corresponding product in the manufacture of coal-gas.
Like this latter, the liquid distillate from the spent-wash
may be divided into —

1. The ammonia water.

2. The tar.

The ammonia water of the vinasse resembles that of
the coal-gas manufacture in so far as it contains carbon-
ate, sulphydrate and hydrocyanide of ammonia ; but it
differs from this (and approximates to the products of tho
diy distillation of wood) by containing in addition methyl
alcohol, methyl sulphide, methyl cyanide, many of the
members of the fatty acid series and, most remarkable of
all, large quantities of the salts of trimethylamine.

The tar, on re-distillation, yields more ammonia water,
a large number of oils, the alkaloids of the pyridener
series, solid hydrocarbons, carbolic acid and, lastly, a pitch
of fine quality.

The crude alkaline aqueous distillate is first neutralized
by sulphuric acid, and the saline solution evaporated,
when crystals of sulphate of ammonia are deposited ; and
these, after separating and draining off, leave a mother
liquor, which contains the more soluble sulphate of tri¬
methylamine. During the process of concentration,
vapours of methyl alcohol, methyl cyanide, and other
nitrils are given off, these being condensed, and the
cyanide used for the preparation of ammonia and acetioc
acid by decomposing it with an alkali.

Trimethylamine itself is at present of no commercial
value, though perhaps the time is not far distant when an
important use for this substance will be found. The
question arises as to how this material can be made to-
yield substances capable of ready employment in the
arts. This problem has been solved by M. Vincent in a
most ingenious wav. He finds that the hydrochlorate of
trimethylamine, when heated to a temperature of 260°,.
decomposes into (1) ammonia, (2) free trimethylamine,.
and (3) chloride of methyl.

3 NMe3HCl = 2 NMe3 + NH3 + 3 MeCl.

By bubbling the vapours through hydrochloric acid the
alkaline gases are retained, and the gaseous chloride of.
methyl passes on to be purified by washing w-ith dilute
caustic soda and drying with strong sulphuric acid. This
is then collected in a gas-holder, whence it is pumped
into strong receivers and condensed. These receivers are
wrought-iron cylinders, tested to resist a pressure of 20-
kilos. per square centimetre, and containing 50, 110, 220
kilos, chloride of methyl.

Both ammonia and chloride of methyl are, however,
substances possessing a considerable commercial value-
The latter compound has lip to this time, indeed, not

138

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 16, 1879.

been obtained in large quantities, but it can be employed
for two distinct purposes : (1) it serves as a means of
producing artificial cold ; (2) it is most valuable for pre¬
paring methylated dyes, which are at present costly,
inasmuch as they have hitherto been obtained by the use
of methyl iodide, an expensive substance.

Methyl chloride was discovered in 1804 by MM.
Dumas and Pdligot, who obtained it by heating a mixture
of common salt, methyl alcohol and sulphuric acid. It
is a gas at the ordinary temperature, possesses an ethereal
smell and a sweet taste and its specific gravity is 1 *738.
It is somewhat soluble in "water (about 3 volumes), but
much more in acetic acid (40 volumes) and in alcohol
(35 volumes). It burns with a luminous flame, tinged at
the edges with green, yielding carbonic and hydrochloric
.acids. Under pressure, methyl chloride can be readily
condensed to a colourless, very mobile liquid, boiling at
— 23° C. under a pressure of 760 mm. As the tension of
the vapour is not high, and as it does not increase very
rapidly with the temperature, the liquefaction can be
readily effected, and the collection and transport of the
liquefied chloride can be carried on without danger.

The following table shows the tension of chloride of
methyl at varying temperatures : —

At

»

11

11

19

19

0°

15°

20°

25°

30°

35°

the tension of CH3C1 is 2'48 atmospheres.

99

99

99

99

4-11

4-81

99

11

19

91

5-62

99

9 9
99

19

91

6"50

7-50

91

11

From these numbers we must of course subtract one
to obtain the pressure which the vapour exerts on the
-containing vessel.

As a means of producing low temperatures chloride of
methyl will prove of great service both in the laboratory
and on a larger industrial scale. When the liquid is
allowed to escape from the receiver into an open vessel, it
begins to boil, and in a few moments the temperature of
the liquid is lowered by the ebullition below -23®, the
boiling point of the chloride. The liquid then remains
for a length of time in a quiescent state, and may be used
as a freezing agent. By increasing the rapidity of the
evaporation by means of a current of air blown through
the liquid, or better by placing the liquid in connection
with a good air-pump, the temperature of the liquid can
in a few moments be reduced to - 55°, and large masses of
mercury easily solidified. A small freezing machine em¬
ployed by M. Camille Vincent consists of a double-cased
copper vessel, between the two casings of which the
methyl chloride is introduced. The central space is filled
with some liquid, such as alcohol, incapable of solidification.
The chloride of methyl is allowed to enter from the cylin¬
drical reservoir by a screw tap, and the screw left open to
permit of the escape of the gas. As soon as the whole
mass of liquid has been reduced to a temperature of - 23®,
ebullition ceases, the screw may be replaced and, if a
temperature lower than -23® be required, the tube placed
in connection with a good air-pump. By this simple
means a litre of alcohol can be kept for several hours
temperatures either of -23° or- 55®, and thus a large
number of experiments can be performed for which
hitherto the expensive liquid nitrous oxide or solid car¬
bonic acid was required.

M. Vincent has recently constructed a much larger
and more perfect and continuous form of freezing machine,
in which by means of an air-pump and a forcing pump the
chloride of methyl is evaporated in the freezing machine
and again condensed in the cylinders. This enlarged
form of apparatus will probably compete favourably with
the ether and sulphurous acid freezing machines now in
use, as they can be simply constructed, and as the vapour
and liquid do not attack metal and are non- poisonous,
and as the frigorific effects which it is capable of produc¬
ing are most energetic.

The second, and perhaps more important, application

of methyl chloride is to the manufacture of methylated
colours.

It is well known that rosaniline or aniline-red, C20H]9N;!,
yields compounds possessing a fine blue, violet, or green
colour, when a portion of the hydrogen has been replaced
by the radicals methyl or ethyl, and the larger the pro¬
portion of hydrogen replaced the deeper is the shade of
violet which is produced. Thus we have triethyl rosani¬
line or Hofmann’s* violet, C20H16(C2H5)3N3.

By replacing one or two atoms of the hydrogen of
aniline by methyl and by oxidizing the methyl anilines
thus obtained, Charles Lauth obtained fine violet colours,
whilst about the same time Hofmann observed the pro¬
duction of a bright green colouring matter, now known
as iodine green, formed during the manufacture of the
violet, and produced from the latter colour by the action
of methyl iodide.

In order to prepare aniline green from the pure
chloride of methyl, a solution of methyl-aniline violet in
methyl alcohol is placed in an iron digester and the
liquid rendered alkaline by caustic soda. Having closed
the digester, a given quantity of liquid chloride of methyl
is introduced by opening a tap, and the digester thus
charged is placed in a water-bath and heated by a jet of
steam until the temperature reaches 95° and the indi¬
cated pressure amounts to from four to five atmospheres.
As soon as the reaction is complete, the hot water is
replaced by cold and the internal pressure reduced by
opening the screw tap of the digester. The product of
this reaction, heated and filtered, yields the soluble and
colourless base, whose salts are green. To the acidulated
solution a zinc salt is added to form a double salt and the
green compound is then precipitated by the addition of com¬
mon salt. By adding ammonia to a solution of the green
salt a colourless liquid is obtained, in which cloth mor¬
danted with tannic acid and tartar emetic becomes dyed
of a splendid green.

If rosaniline be substituted for methyl aniline in the
preceding reaction, Hofmann’s violet is obtained. The
application of methyl chloride to the preparation of
violets and greens is, however, it must be remembered,
not due to M. Vincent ; it has been practised for some
years by aniline-colour makers. M. Vincent’s merit is
in establishing a cheap method by which perfectly pure
chloride of methyl can be obtained, and thus rendering
the processes of the manufacture of colours much more
certain than they have been hitherto.

The production of methyl violet from di-methyl aniline
may be easily shown by heating this body with a small
quantity of chloral hydrate and then introducing some
copper turnings into the hot liquid. On pouring the
mixture into alcohol the violet colour is well seen.

In reviewing this new chemical industiy of the beet¬
root vinasses , one cannot help being struck by the know¬
ledge and ability which have been so successfully ex¬
pended by M. Camille Vincent on the working out of
the processes.

Here, again, we have another instance of the utiliza¬
tion of waste chemical products and of the preparation
on a large scale of compounds hitherto known only as
chemical rarities.

All those interested in scientific research must con¬
gratulate M. Camille Vincent on this most successful
issue of his labours.

fartiamentarg amt Jtaa flroqicduujs;.

Prosecution for the Sale of Adulterated Sweet
Spirit of Nitre.

At the Leeds Town Hall, cn Friday the 8th inst.,
William Greenwood, of Commercial Hoad, Kirk stall, +
was summoned by the Corporation under the Sale of Food

# Hofmann, ‘Proc. Roy. Soc.,’ xiii., 13 (1863).

+ Not on tho Register of Chemists and Druggists. —
El. P. J.

August 16, 1879. ] THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

139

and Drugs Act, 1875. The Town Clerk appeared on
behalf of the Corporation, and stated that the proceedings
were instituted under the 6th section of the above Act,
which provided that “no person shall sell to the prejudice
of the purchaser any article of food or any drug which is
not of the nature, substance, and quality of the article
demanded by such purchaser, under a penalty not ex¬
ceeding £20.”

It appeared that Inspector Handford went on July
10th to the shop kept by the defendant and asked for
six ounces of spirit of sweet nitre, for which he paid him
Is. 6(7. He told the defendant he had purchased the
nitre for the purpose of having it analysed by the public
analyst.

The Public Analyst stated that the medicinal value of
the liquid depended chiefly on the quantity of nitrous
ether contained therein, and that the sample submitted to
him contained scarcely any of that element. The de¬
fendant stated that he had bought the spirit of nitre as
it was from two chemists in the town.

The defendant was fined 20s. and costs. — Leeds Mer¬
cury.

JiU.iB !.i^ l r-ir t T*^' “

©Mtnavjj.

Notice has been received of the death of the follow¬
ing : —

On the 6th of July, 1879, Mr. Thomas Britten, Che¬
mist and Druggist, Liverpool Road, Southport. Aged 56
years.

On the 10th of July, 1879, Mr. William Griffiths, Che¬
mist and Druggist, Aberayron, Cardiganshire. Aged 51
years.

On the 13th of July, 1879, Mr. Thomas Eyre, Che¬
mist and Druggist, Hayfield, Derbyshire. Aged 31
years.

On the 24th of July, 1879, Mr. David Moir Mackay,
Chemist and Druggist, Aberdeen. Aged 52 years.

On the 3rd of August, 1879, Mr. Walter Ferguson
Leadbitter, Chemist and Druggist, Sunderland. Aged 71
years.

On the 8th of August, 1879, Mr. Edward Thurland,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Magdalen Street, Oxford.
Aged 85 years. Mr. Thurland had been a Member of
the Pharmaceutical Society since 1853.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

An Introduction to the Practice of Commercial
Organic Analysis. By Alfred H. Allen, E.C.S.
Vol. I. London: J. and A. Churchill, 1879. From the
Publishers.

International Medical-Pharmaceutical Dictionary,
in Three Languages: French, English and German.
Compiled by George Herman Moeller. Munich: J.
Grubert. 1879. From the Publisher.

Elements of Modern Chemistry. By Ad olphe Wurtz.
Translated and Edited from the Fourth Edition, by
Wm. H. Greene, M.D. Illustrated. London and
Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott and Co. 1879. From
the Publishers.

Jjtotyii and fipncrics.

[621], SULLIVAN’S AMALGAM.— The reason of
the non-amalgamation is, your precipitate was in too fine
powder.

Let the zinc remain twice as long in contact with the
solution ; the result will be grains the size of ordinary
filings. The fine powder should be thrown away with
the washings.

Dingwall, P. J. Dewar.

[623]. EMP. COLCHICI. — I have several times had
emp. colchici prescribed. It is an American preparation.
Having failed to procure it from the wholesale house I
shall feel greatly obliged if you will ask for the formula
for making the same.

M. R. J.

THE INTRODUCTION OF CHLOROFORM
AS AN ANAESTHETIC. — The following letter on this
subject, from Mr. Henry Brown, of Northallerton, has
appeared in the British Medical Journal : —

The subject of anaesthesia is one ever of interest,
and many have not taken the trouble to read the litera¬
ture of thirty or forty years ago bearing upon the question.
I have for some time doubted the priority of Sir J. Y.
Simpson’s discovery; but he must be credited with great
patience and enormous working power ; and he never
threw away a palpable suggestion, even if emanating from
a babe in science, literature, or medicine.

In regard to the composition of the chloric ether (or
shall I say chloroform ? ) introduced into the practice of
the Liverpool medical men, in 1838, by Mr. Waldie, I can
find no reliable data. I am now referring to exact
chemical composition. Whether the chloroform, as sug¬
gested by Mr. Waldie to Sir James Simpson, was the
chloric ether of Thomson, Robiquet, and Colin, I am not
able to say- I leave Liebig out of the discussion altogether:
his analysis was defective and inaccurate, inasmuch as
hydrogen is completely omitted in his calculation.

In 1834, Dumas determined the true composition of
chloroform, and gave it the name by which it is univer¬
sally known. Mr. Guthrie, of America, and Soubeiran, of
France, in 1831, prepared chloroform; but does Guthrie’s
description at all correspond to our modern article ? He
writes, in 1832, that “he had used the product very freely
during the previous six months to the point of intoxication ;
that he had found it singularly grateful, producing
promptly a lively flow of animal spirits and consequent
loquacity, and leaving little of the depression consequent
on the use of ardent spirits ; that it promises much as a
remedy in cases requiring a safe, quick, energetic, and
palatable stimulus ; and that, for drinking, it requires an
equal weight of water.”

Dr. Black, of Bolton, speakes of it, in 1833, as a new
remedy, and considers it useful in asthma and adynamic
conditions of the system.

In 1847, the United States' Dispensatory, published in
July, describes it thus : “It acts as a diffusible soothing
stimulus in the same manner as sulphuric ether, but with
this decided advantage, that, when sufficiently diluted, it
possesses a bland sweet taste, which renders its admini s-
tration easy even to children. The dose for an adult is a
teaspoonful diluted with water. In affections character -
ized by difficult respiration it may be used by inhala¬
tion.”

We have thus Guthrie and the United States' Dispensa¬
tory speaking of a something called “chloroform,” but
which is miscible with water. Now we know chloroform
is only soluble in water to the extent of one in two hun¬
dred, and barely soluble in an equal weight of rectified
spirit ; how, then, could pure chloroform be described by
Guthrie and the United States Pharmacopoeia as possess¬
ing the properties above mentioned ? I believe it was a
spirituous solution of chloroform that Waldie introduced
into Liverpool, and it was called chloric ether ; but it was
not the chloride of olefiant gas of Thomson and others.
The question maj be asked, Was it chloroform as we now
know it that was used by Sir James Simpson in his first
experiments, or was it the spirituous solution? I have
searched all available records, and confess that upon this
point we are in ignorance. I know it is stated a liquid,
by some means or other put aside, was used, and most
unexpectedly answered the purpose — i.e., of anaesthesia.
The party grew exhilarated, we are told, and some become
insensible. I need not refer to the fact that, for more
than ten years, ether and ether-anaesthesia were the rage,

140

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 16, 1.V9.

and every medical and pharmaceutical journal literally
u teemed with accounts of ether-inhalation and descriptions
• of apparatus up to 1847. Mr. Jacob Bell, editor of the
Pharmaceutical Journal, in a note on p. 357, No. viii., for
February, 1847, thus writes: “Chloric ether has been
tried in some cases with success ; it is more pleasant to
. the taste, but appears to be rather less powerful in its
effects than sulphuric ether.”

Of the dead we must say nothing but in praise ; but I
am bound to add, Sir James Simpson got his first hint in
regard to the anaesthetic power of chloroform from Mr.
Waldie; but the name cf Jacob Bell must not be over¬
looked. Bell’s note was written in February, 1847, and
Waldie’s suggestion was offered in November of the same
year. I thus leave the subject ; but with ample material
behind to prove that, although Sir James Simpson was
the first to put thoroughly to the test the anesthetic
power of chloroform or chloric ether of 1847, he was in¬
debted to others for the suggestion, and Mr. Waldie
followed in the wake of Mr. Jacob Bell. Mr. Bell does
not inform us as to his authority ; but anesthesia with
ether, and no doubt with chloric ether, was practised for
reality’s sake, or for the purpose of scientific curiosity,
years before the discovery of Sir James Simpson took the
medical and civil world by storm.

Ufcmmtantfa.

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

[334]. In this prescription “An Apprentice ” does not
give the quantity of calomel, and from the general
character of the formula I should be disposed to regard
it as one of those lay recipes which are dispensed from
time to time rather than as the prescription of a qualified
practitioner. In dispensing these the pharmacist has to
draw largely as a rule on his judgment, and if the dose
of calomel be not excessive I think “An Apprentice”
would find mucilage of acacia go far to remove his
difficulty. At the same time it is hard to see the object
of the combination of calomel and bals. copaibae.

Gulielmus.

[335]. In answer to “Nihil ” the following formula for
emp. iodinii is from Beasley’s ‘ Pocket Formulary,’ p. 126 :

Lead Plaster . 3v.j

Besin Plaster . 3^j

Melt together and add iodine 7)j rubbed with olive oil
‘ 3s s- In the same work may also be found formulae for
. emplastrum iodinii compositum and emp. iodinii c. bella¬
donna, and in Squire’s * Hospital Pharmacopoeias,’ a

formula for emp. iodi co. as follows : —

Iodine . 3ij

Potass. Iodid .

Emplast. Plumbi . ixvj

Emp. Opii . ,3vj

As the prescription ordered emp. iodinii merely, I should
think the first of these formulae the proper plaster to
have used. Gulielmus.

An answer has also been received from “Lavandula.”

[337]. In reply to query No. 337, I think “ G. W. W.”
must have used hard water. Pure distilled water will
make a perfectly clear solution with liq. ferri dialysati
and syr. aurant., but if the mixture be only slightly
alkaline, the iron will be immediately precipitated.

(ji ^ rji ^ j

(foiUtespiutynnt.

The Benevolent Fund.

Sir,— In reading over flie reports of the Benevolent Fund
Committee, which are given in your Journal from time to
time, there is food for much reflection, yet, strangely
enough, there is too much reason to suppose that, by the
vast majority in our community, they are not treated with
the attention they deserve.

Lying quite outside the pale of pharmaceutical politics,
away from scientific controversy, and rigidly apart from all
questions of trade and trade interests, there exists in our
midst a neutral ground — a border- land, where charity and
goodwill reign supreme, and where the cry of the sorrow-
stricken is seldom heard in vain.

When one sees, month after month, a system of relief,
extended without ostentation to decayed fellow workers,
to bereaved and desolate women, to orphans who have
been dearer than life itself to those who have gone before,
surely silence can be stretched beyond the point of en¬
durance and the iron-grip of apathy clog the efforts of
good men who wTere working so wisely and so well.

How it is possible for any individual amongst us to
withhold his practical sympathy from a work which so per¬
sistently proves its nobility it is indeed difficult to say, and
it would be a thought reflecting bitterly upon our boasted
intelligence as a class if we could for one moment suppose
that there existed the man who realized to the full the
generous nature of the work done and who still could give
some plausible reasons why he should not enlist side by
side with those whose only object is to relieve the suffering
and distress of fellow creatures— brothers in the close com¬
munion of a hard and earnest calling, and whose “ crown of
sorrow ” may he the remembrance of brighter and better
days.

Surely, in such a course as this, argument must be
unnecessary. I will simply ask my reader, if he should
chance to be a non-subscriber to this fund, to turn through
some of the back numbers of this Journal, to read over these
recoids of charity — charity in the true sense of the word —
to give them a few moments’ quiet thought, and then to ask
himself “Can no more be done ? ” The issue I am con¬
tent to leave to himself and his conscience.

Kilburn, N. IF. Charles B. Allen.

Tincture of Kino.

Sir, — Those who have been troubled with a gelatinized
tinct. kino will, I am sure, be pleased to know that the
remedy suggested by Mr. Merrikin is of the utmost value.
But (having had at one time and another, considerable
trouble with this preparation) I would suggest that the
percentage of glycerine which he advises be doubled. As
a revision of the B.P. is occasionally talked of, would it not
be advisable to discard the present tincture and introduce a
liquor kino in its place ? A preparation which I have used
for some time, and which has given the utmost satisfaction,
has been prepared as follows : —

Kino in coarse powder . ^ij

Sp. V. Kect . 5v

Glycerine . 5V

Aquae Dest. . . . • 3X

Macerate for seven days.

I have found the above to make a preparation which
may be confidently relied upon, and I would therefore
suggest to those who have been troubled in this matter to
give it one trial. 1 am sure they will be pleased.

Carey.’*

on “ Permanent Essence of

It is

F. A. B.— Pereira’s ‘ Selecta e Prescripts, published by
Churchill.

“ Carbolic.” —See a paper
Bennet,” in vol. ix., p. 307.

J. Griffiths. — The Drugging of Animals Act, 1876.
printed in the Society’s Calendar, p. 422.

D. W. — The Act is for the protection of the title.

G. J. Gostling.—We do not know, and must refer you to
the gentlemen mentioned for the information.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Mitchell, Harrison, Cairns, Watts, Cherry,
Reynolds, Hesse, D. Howard, ltump, Maw, Minor, Dewar.

Auguet 23, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

141

pmpaqntfeal Joupal
- ♦ -

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1879.

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

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

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

THE CONFERENCE MEETING.

After an interval of six years the British Phar¬
maceutical Conference has again visited the county
of the ridings and for the second time experienced
the hospitality of their Yorkshire confreres. In point
of numbers the meeting has been a most successful
one, one hundred and forty-five names having been
signed in the visitors’ book. The company included
many of the best known pharmacists in the three
Kingdoms as well as delegates from several kindred
associations, amongst them, notably, the Pharmaceu¬
tical Societies of Great Britain and Ireland, which
were represented by their respective Presidents and
several members of their Councils. N or do we think
that the general verdict upon the papers read and the
discussions, as compared with those of former years,
will be an unfavourable one. Early in the meeting,
however, one most unwelcome fact was revealed in
the reading of the report, namely, that the Senior
General Secretary, Professor Attfield, to whose
energy and enthusiasm the present position of the
Conference may be in a large measure attributed,
had unexpectedly intimated his intention of resign¬
ing his present office, although at the request of
the Committee he had consented to hold it during
one more year. The appreciation of his services by
the Executive Committee was evinced by the prompt
formation of a provisional committee, to which many
other members present added their names. The
Honorary Secretary is Mr. M. Carteighe, and the
business of the Committee will be to consider the
best method of testifying to Professor Attfield the
sense of the Conference as to its indebtedness to
him.

The Presidential Address was chiefly devoted to
carrying out the contrast between the ideal and
actual position of the pharmacist in Great Britain
which Mr. Schacht had presented to the Conference
last year. As the Address itself will be found in
extenso at another portion of this Journal, we leave
any more detailed reference to it until a future
occasion.

Once more Dr. Wright has provided a report on
the aconite alkaloids, the present one being devoted
to the alkaloids from Japanese aconite, atis root, and
the leaves, flower 'and stalks of English grown

Third Series, No. 478.

aconite. From Japanese aconite Dr. Wright re¬
ports that he has obtained a crystallizable alkaloid,
agreeing in composition with the formula C0(.H88N2On,
which is itself in some respects more stable than
aconitine and pseudaconitine, in not yielding “apo”
derivatives, and he appears to think it may be a
dehydrated derivative of a hypothetical parent base.
As an incident of the research he also reports that
“ treatment with alcohol alone, unacidulated by
any acid at all, extracted practically all the alkaloids
present in the roots examined.” These results
confirm those obtained when Japanese aconite was
first examined two years ago* in regard to the
points of pharmaceutical interest, namely, that
Japanese aconite contains more alkaloid — amountin '-
to about 2-5 per cent, soluble Li ether — than any
other kind of aconite, and that the crystallizable
alkaloid obtainable from it is of a specific nature.
In the course of the discussion Mr. Greenish
suggested the desirability of ascertaining the
botanical origin of the Japanese aconite roots worked
upon, and expressed the opinion that as met with
in commerce this drug is not always of the
same character. This point is of special import¬
ance, as this kind of aconite, as pointed out by
Mr. Umney, is now the kind almost exclusively met
with in the market. The examination of atis roots
( Aconiticm heterophyllum ) has not led to any definite
results sufficient either to confirm or controvert those
recorded by Broughton, some years ago, in reference
to the substance he termed “ atisine.” In the ex¬
amination of the flowers, leaves and stalk of aconite
plants no definite result was obtained, and although
the quantity of material worked upon amounted to
nearly three hundredweight, it was only by inference
from the comparative absence of inconvenience ex¬
perienced in working that the non-existence of
poisonous alkaloids was conjectured.

The next report presented to the Conference con¬
tained a statement of the results obtained by Mr.
Thresh in carrying out the investigation of com¬
mercial ginger, for which a grant was placed at his
disposal last year. These results show that ordinary
Jamaica ginger contains, in the portion extracted by
ether — (1) a crystalline fat, consisting of a dark
red, tasteless and odourless portion, insoluble in
strong alcohol, a white amorphous tasteless and
odourless portion, soluble in alcohol, and a wax-like
tasteless and odourless resin ; (2) a red fatty sub¬
stance, very pungent and soluble in alcohol ; (3) a
limpid, volatile, straw-coloured oil of an aromatic,
somewhat camplioraceous taste, having a sp. gr. of
0-853 at 15° C.; (4) a neutral resin, soluble in strong
alcohol; and (5) acid resins of a dark brown colour.
The pungent or active principle of ginger, to which
Mr. Thresh gives the name of “gingerol,” is a
viscid odourless liquid, about the consistency of
treacle, readily soluble in alcohol even when dilute.

* Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. viii., p. 172, and ‘ Year-Book’
(1877), P. 469.

]42 THE PHARMACE'JTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 23, i87».

That portion of ginger which is insoluble in ether
consists chiefly of mucilage, inorganic constituents,
a substance precipitated by tannin, metarabin,
cellulose, albumenoids, etc. The comparative ex¬
amination of different kinds of ginger showed that
the variety most esteemed contains only half as
much essential oil as the others, also less active
principle than African or common Jamaica. The
volatile oil of line Jamaica ginger has, however, the
finest bouquet.

The first paper read after the presentation of
these reports was on the “ Soluble Essence of
Ginger,” and it described a modification of the
method originally proposed by Mr. Thresh for its
preparation. The rationale of this process was to
be gathered from a consideration of the constituents
of ginger root ; in carrying it out, the alcoholic
tincture which contains, together with the extractive
soluble in water, neutral and other resins, gingerol,
mall quantities of the red fat, wax, etc., is mixed
with slacked lime, by which the greater part of the
resin is precipitated. On adding dilute sulphuric
acid to the clear liquid the dissolved lime is pre¬
cipitated, and by diluting the resulting clear liquid,
and filtering through powdered pumice or silica, the
wax, fat, extractive, and the rest of the resin is got
rid of, together with any excess of volatile oil.

The next paper gave an account of an investigation
conducted by Mr. Stoddart, to ascertain the cause
of a periodical fatality amongst sheep in the neigh¬
bourhood of Bristol. Though the inquiry was not
originally of any apparent pharmaceutical interest,
it incidentally furnished results of value in regard to
the period at which ergot should be gathered for
medicinal purposes. It was observed that the sheep
fed on natural herbage alwavs had foot-rot, even in
summer, and other circumstances led Mr. Stoddart
to suspect that the mischievous effects might be due
to ergotism. On examining the old mature plants
of Lolium perenne he noticed well-formed purplish
dark coloured ergots, but could not discover these
upon the younger plants, which were greedily de¬
voured by the lambs, while they sought to avoid the
old plants. In the following spring Mr. Stoddart ob¬
tained specimens of Lolium perenne the inflorescence
of which was just commencing, and he traced the
development of the ergot from this stage of its
growth until the commencement of August, at which
period he found the fungus had reached the limit of
its vegetative or myceloid growth. It is at this
stage that the peculiar medical effect of the Claviceps
on the animal economy exists in greatest intensity,
and it was at this period that the effect produced
upon the sheep was greatest. After carrying out
these observations for six or seven years he came to
the conclusion that for all medicinal purposes ergot
should be gathered in the months of August or Sep¬
tember, because at the end of the vegetative period
its action k greatest.

Dr. Symes then read a paper describing the

construction and principles of the different forms
of polarimeter and its application in pharmacy.
Among other illustrations of this lie gave the results
of the determination of the rotatory power of a
number of essential oils. Another illustration of
the utility of the polarimeter had reference to the
examination of urine, a legitimate branch of the
pharmacist’s calling, not subject to the influence of
unfair competition on the part of uneducated outside
traders.

Next in order were three papers by Mr. Siebold.
The first described the application of chloroform in
the testing of drugs, and was based upon the prin¬
ciple indicated by Dr. Himley, that the presence of
mineral adulterants in flour can be detected by their
sinking in that liquid, while the normal constituents
of the flour float at the surface. Mr. Siebold-
described the results obtained in this way as being
more satisfactory than those obtained by incineration.
The second paper suggested that the difference in
the coloration of chloroform by iodine according to>
the presence or absence of alcohol afforded a means-
of detecting the presence of alcohol in chloroform..
With a mixture of chloroform and alcohol the
brown colour of the alcoholic solution of iodine
predominates over the purple colour of the chloro¬
form solution sufficiently to give indications to-
satisfy the requirements of the pharmacist, as in
this way the presence of half per cent, of alcohol
can be detected. The third paper was on the use of
the hydrometer in determining the specific gravity
of liquids, and described a number of experiments-
undertaken with the object of deciding whether the
indications of the hydrometer can be depended upon
with liquids containing undissolved powders, oils,
resins, etc., uniformly suspended. The results-
tended to show that the presence of such substances
does not affect the indications of carefully made
hydrometers.

The last paper read at Tuesday’s sitting of the
Conference was by Mr. Gerrard, on the extrac¬
tion of pilocarpine by ammoniatecl alcohol, which
he has found to be a much more convenient solvent
than those hitherto used, it furnishing a larger
amount of product and effecting the separation of
the alkaloid from the dark colouring matter much
more readily. It was pointed out by Mr. Williams*
in the course of the discussion on this paper, that
the use of ammoniated alcohol may possibly be
adopted with advantage in the extraction of alka¬
loids from other materials.

On the second dav’s sitting the business was com-
menced by the reading, by Mr. Allen, of some
“Notes on Petroleum Spirit,” describing some
characteristic reactions of petroleum spirit as com¬
pared with those of benzene from coal tar, as well
as a method of testing mixtures of petroleum spirit
and benzole. The different behaviour of these
substances when treated with nitric acid furnished
the basis for this method of testing.

August 23, 1679.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

143

Mr. F. W. Fletcher then read a paper on the moisture gave relief from the pain and inconvenience
-“Valuation of Citrate of Iron and Quinine.” After caused by tension in various morbid conditions,
adverting to the circumstance that the Pharmacopoeia such as cancerous growths, ulcers, etc. A jet of
test furnished no indication whether the alkaloid dried air applied for an hour in the evening was
obtained by its directions was or was not quinine, said to have been found to cause cessation of pain
the author suggested the application of the plan of for several hours and secure a good night’s rest,
fractional crystallization to the sulphate as a means Mr. PI. Collier read a paper on the use of
of detecting the presence of cinchonidine. The tincture of quillaia bark as an emulsifying agent,
necessity of employing this test was shown by the in which he described the efficacy of this preparation
anention of the circumstance that certain foreign in producing emulsions with materials of a resinous
makes of “sulphate of quinine” invariably contain or oily nature and suggested that on this account it
a large proportion of cinchonidine sulphate. was deserving of consideration as a pharmaceutical

Two papers by Mr. E. Davies were then read, agent. Some strong doubts were expressed in the
The first, on the “Estimation of Water in Iodine,” discussion of this paper that the peculiar activity of
by combining a known quantity of iodine with a quillaia bark would render it inappropriate for use
weighed excess of mercury, and weighing the dried as the means of effecting emulsification, but the
residue, elicited some useful information. The remarkable efficacy of the tincture in causing the
-other paper, on the “ Presence of Tannin in Gentian rapid subdivision of mercury was considered to
Root,” suggested the possibility that the tannin promise well for its application in the preparation of
contained in the root is liable to decomposition when sheep ointment.

the gentian is powdered, or that tannin is not a | Another paper by Mr. Collier dealt with the
uniform constituent of gentian root.

chemical condition in which saponin exists in the
A paper on “ Amylic Alcohol and Amy lie Nitrite,” I quillaia bark,
by Mr. Dott, consisted mainly of a reply to certain Next in order was a note on Aricine, by Mr. John
criticisms* of the paper read by Mr. Dott upon this Eliot Howard. Referring to the recent paper on
subject at the meeting of the Conference last year.f this subject by Dr. Hesse, and to the specimen of
The author maintained the correctness of the state- aricine presented by that chemist to the museum of
anents in his original paper and he was supported the Society, the author stated that he had compared
in that position by speakers who stated their ex- this sample with the one deposited in the museum

perience in the course of the discussion.

by himself in 1852 and was satisfied as to their

The “Gelatinization of Tincture of Kino” formed identity. He also found the bark from which Dr.
the subject of a paper by Mr. Bamford. The author Hesse obtained his alkaloid to be exactly like his
suggested frequent agitations of the tincture as an own, namely, the jaune cle Cuzco of Delondre and
-efficient remedy of the inconvenience experienced Bouchardat, which was imported as Calisaya in

by many dispensers from the behaviour of tincture
of kino. In the course of the discussion that
followed the reading of this paper it soon became
-evident that gelatinization of tincture of kino is not
by any means invariably experienced. Some of the
speakers had never seen a case during many years ;
others had observed it only on one or two occasions,

1829. This, Mr. Howard believes, is the only bark
from wliieh aricine has been obtained, and he points
out that the suggestion of the existence of aricine
among the alkaloids of Cinchona succincbra is merely
matter of conjecture. Mr. Howard disavows any
claim to the discovery of aricine, though he has
satisfied himself of the substantial accuracy of

and it was suggested that the result was probably Pelletier’s observations, and has therefore main-
due to some peculiarity in the kino used rather than tained the existence of the alkaloid described by
a constant characteristic of this drug. Amongst him as aricine, although it has generally been denied,
•other preventives of gelatinization the effect of the It is suggested that the further examination of bark
addition of glycerine, as suggested by Mr. Ellinor, yielding aricine promises to be of interest as regards

was in the main spoken of favourably, but it was
also remarked that the glycerine might to some
-extent counteract the astringent action of the kino.
The judicious selection of the proper kind of kino
for the preparation of tincture of kino will probably
be the most effective remedy for this kind of diffi¬
culty and its attainment may therefore be intrusted
to the relative intelligence of wholesale houses.

The use of Anhydrous Air as a Therapeutic Agent
was described in a paper by Mr. Keyworth, who

had found that its application as an absorbent of

- •» _ _ _ _

* American Journal of Pharmacy, for February, and
Pharrn. Journ. vol. ix, p. 899.
t Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. ix. p. 172.

the classification of different species of the genus
Cinchona, and that in connection with this inquiry it
will also be desirable to study the physiological action
of aricine, as well as that of paricine, which appears
to occur among the alkaloids of Cinchona, succirubra.

A paper on the “ Chemistry of Chaulmoogra Oil,”
by Mr. Moss, showed that the existence of any alka-
loidal substance in this oil was doubtful, at least so
far as to account for any medicinal efficacy. Chemi¬
cally, the specific characteristic of chaulmoogra oil
consists, according to the author’s results, in its con¬
taining a peculiar fatty acid, gynocardic acid, asso¬
ciated with palmitic acid, hypogoeic acid and cocini'e
acid.

144

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. August 32, 187?,

Dr. Hamberg’s paper on the “Capacity of Different
Organs to absorb and retain Arsenic in Cases of
Chronic Poisoning ’5 described the chemical results
obtained in a physiological investigation carried ont
for the purpose of elucidating this subject.

The last paper read was on the “Estimation of
Morphia in Turkey Opium/’ by Professor Fluckiger.
The author recommended the exhaustion of the
opium with cold water as being the most convenient
for extracting the morphia. The clear liquid is then
mixed with definite proportions of alcohol, ether and
ammonia, and after shaking crystals of morphia are
formed at the surface of the layer of ether. After a
day Of two, the whole of it is deposited and can be
collected and weighed.

At the conclusion of the reading of papers, a
ballot was taken for the election of officers of the
Conference for the ensuing year, which resulted in
the choice of Mr. William Southall, of Birming¬
ham, as President. The place of the next meeting,
decided in accordance with the previous custom of
accompanying the meeting of the British Association,
is Swansea, and Mr. J. Hughes, of that town, has been
elected Local Secretary ; the Vice-Presidents being
Mr. Grose, of Swansea, Mr. Reynolds, of Leeds,
Mr. Ward, of Sheffield, and Mr. Sandford, of
London.

The usual votes of thanks for the services rendered
by the members of the Local Committee were then
proposed, special mention being made of the names
of Mr. Ward, President of the Sheffield Chemical
and Pharmaceutical Association, Mr. Maleham, the
Local Secretary of the Conference, and Mr. Learoyd,
who has actively assisted him. These complimentary
acknowledgments of the service rendered to the
Conference were never more thoroughly well
merited, and we think that all who were present at
this meeting will share the opinion expressed by a
Yorkshire man, that Yorkshire has reason to be
’ proud of the way that Sheffield has received the
Conference and maintained the credit of the county.

On the following day the prospects of fine weather
at an early hour were very slender, but at the time
fixed for meeting at the Freemasons’ Hall it had
so far improved that there was a large muster of
members, a few of whom were accompanied by ladies,
and the excursion was carried out in accordance with
the programme indicate! last week. With the ex¬
ception of one brisk shower, a kicking mare and
some mountain dew there was nothing to mar the
enjoyment of the entertainment that had been pro¬
vided by the zealous exertions of the Local Com¬
mittee. Before eleven o’clock at night the whole
party had returned safely to Sheffield without any
mishap and highly delighted with the excursion.

Besides providing for the convenient lodging ac¬
commodation of visitors and for their amusement
the efforts of the Local Committee were extended to
obtaining for them access to some of the interesting
manufactories existing in Sheffield. First amongst

these must be mentioned the works where the manu¬
facture of steel according to the Bessemer method is
carried on in the manner described in this Journal
when the process was only in its infancy. It was-
naturally at Sheffield that the inauguration of this-
method took place, and those who had an opportu¬
nity of witnessing the enormous extent to which'
it has developed during the last thirty years have-
great reason to be grateful to the Local Committee*
for having procured for them an opportunity o£
witnessing the operations of this interesting branch
of manufacture. In addition to the treat thnw
afforded, the members were also enabled to visit the
electro-plating works of Messrs. Walker and Hall
and the show-rooms of .Messrs. Rodgers, and so to*
obtain an actual knowledge of the way in which two
of the chief manufacturing trades in Sheffield are
carried out. For these facilities the members are-
under great obligation to the Local Committee, and
they are no less indebted to the proprietors of the
works visited, as well as to the various officials con¬
nected with them, for the extreme liberality with
which everything was shown, and for the courtesy
and attention displayed, no doubt at the cost of some-
considerable personal inconvenience.

In this superficial sketch of the Pharmaceutical
Conference at Sheffield it has only been possible to
indicate some of its most salient features, and there
are many things we should have been glad to speak,
of had time and space permitted. But we may,,
from a general point of view, say that this has been,,
in every respect, one of the most successful and satis- .
factory meetings that have yet been held.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

The customary proceedings of the British Associa¬
tion commenced on Wednesday evening with the
delivery of the Presidential Address, the attendance*
at which was far from sufficient to fill the Albert
Hall. A portion of this Address will be found at
another part of the Journal. On Thursday the busi¬
ness of the sections commenced with the delivery of
addresses, some of which we hope to print in subse¬
quent numbers. Up to the present time the number
of visitors appears to be somewhat small.

THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT.

The following Order in Council, creating new
denominations of standards of apothecaries’ weights,
and measures under this Act, appeared in the
London Gazette of the 15th inst. It will be ob¬
served that it differs from the draft Schedule for¬
warded by the Board of Trade to the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society* in including the half a
scruple weight, and there is no doubt that this im¬
portant concession is due to the representation of the
Council on the subject. Nothing is said as to the
stamping of the small weights and subdivisions of

* See Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. ix., p. 1003.

August f3, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

145

glass measures, but probably, as suggested in tlie
letter of the President to Mr. Trevor, of the 9th of
May, the arrangements for carrying this out will be
provided for in a less formal manner.

At the Court at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, the 14th
day of A ugust, 1879.

Present — The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in
Council.

Whereas by “The Weights and Measures Act, 1878,”
it is (among other things) provided that the Board of
Trade shall from time to time cause such new denomi¬
nations of standards, being either equivalent to or multi¬
ples or aliquot parts of the imperial weights and measures
ascertained by the said Act, as appear to them to be
required in addition to those mentioned in the Second
Schedule to the said Act, to be made and duly verified,
and that those new denominations of standards, when
approved by Her Majesty in Council, shall be Board of
Trade Standards in like manner as if they were men¬
tioned in the said Schedule :

And whereas it has been made to appear to the Board
•of Trade that new denominations of standards of apothe¬
caries’ weight and measure, being multiples and aliquot
parts of the imperial weights and measures ascertained
by the said Act, are required, and they have caused the
same to be made and duly verified and deposited in their
custody :

And whereas the Board of Trade have given to the
said new standards of apothecaries’ weight and measure
the several denominations set forth in the Schedule hereto:

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by virtue of the power
vested in Her by the said Act, by and with the advice of
Her Privy Council, is pleased to approve the several
denominations of standards of apothecaries’ weight and
measure set forth in the Schedule hereto as new denomi¬
nations of standards, and doth direct that the same shall
be Board of Trade Standards in like manner as if they
were mentioned in the Second Schedule to “The Weights
and Measures Act, 1878.” C. L. Peel.

SCHEDULE.

Denominations op Standards of Apothecaries’
Weight and Measure.

1 . A pothecaries’j Weight.

Denomination.

Weight in grains in terms of
the Imperial Standard
Pound which contains 7000 such
grains.

Ounces. 10 ounces . . .

4800 grains

8 „ . . .

3840 „

6 „ • . .

2880 „

4 „ • • •

1920 „

2 „ . . .

960 ,,

1 ounce . . .

480 „

Drachms. 4 drachms orhalf

f 240 „

an ounce . .

2 drachms . .

120 „

1 drachm . . .

60 „

Scruples. 2 scruples . .

40 „

1^ „ or half

a drachm . .

} 80 „

1 scruple . . .

20 „

half a scruple .

10 „

6 grains . . .

6 „

5 „ . . .

■5 „

4 „ . . •

4 „

3 „ . . .

3 „

2 „ . . .

2 „

1 grain . . .

1 grain

half a grain . .

0-5 „

2. Apothecaries'1 Measure.

Denomination.

Containing the following weight
of Distilled Water.
Temperature=62° Farenheit.

Barometer=30 inches.
Imperial Found=7000 grains.

A fluid ounce and the )
multiples thereof from f
one to 40 fluid ounces . t
Half a fluid ounce . . . )

A fluid drachm and the ]
multiples thereof from f
one to 16 fluid drachms t
Half a fluid drachm . . )

A minim and the multi- j
pies thereof from one ;■
to 60 minims . . . . )

One fluid ounce contains
437'5 grains weight, or
imperial gallon.

One fluid drachm equals
-i fluid ounce.

One minim equals -Dg- fluid
drachm.

tuinmimiticat ^ociettr of J ret and.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, August 6, 1879.

Present — Charles R. C. Tichborne, LL.D., Ph.D.,
President ; Sir George Owens, M.D., Dr. Collins, Messrs.
Allen, Brunker, Doran (Bray), Goodwin, Hayes, Hodgson,
Holmes, Simpson.

The minutes of the meeting held on July 2, were read
and signed.

Read a letter from Messrs. Ennis and Son, solicitors,
with reference to proposed prosecutions, and also, in con¬
nection therewith, the Report of the Law Committee.

Proposed by Mr. Simpson, seconded by Mr'. Allen, and
resolved —

“ That Messrs. Ennis be instructed to take legal pro¬
ceedings against the offenders in the two cases of
illegal compounding in which proof has been obtained,
as recommended by the Committee.”

Read a letter from Mr. Harry N. Draper, Dublin, to¬
gether with a correspondence which he had had with the
Clerk of the Peace, respecting his being summoned as a
grand juror to the county court, at Kilmainham, and
fined for non-attendance ; although as a pharmaceutical
chemist he was exempt from service, under the provisions
of the Juries Procedure (Ireland) Act, 1876.

Proposed by Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr. Hayes, and
resolved —

“ That Mr. Fennell be directed to send to the clerks of
the North and South Dublin Unions a copy of a list
of licentiate pharmaceutical chemists and request
that they shall be returned as exempt in all future
lists of persons liable to serve as jurors for the
county or city of Dublin, and at the same time to
state that this course has been rendered necessary by
the fact that several of our body have been replaced
on the jury lists after having been struck off in
previous years.”

Read a letter from Professor Schaer, of Zurich, thank¬
ing the Council for the books relating to the history of
pharmacy in Ireland, which they had sent him.

The reports of the examinations held in July were
laid on the table. At the examination for Pharmaceu¬
tical Chemists, held on July 2, five candidates presented
themselves. The following three passed —

Thomas Batt, jun., 48, Fontenoy Street, Dublin.
Robert James Hardy, Tandragee.

John Patrick Henry, 160, York Street, Belfast.

Eighteen candidates presented themselves at the Pre¬
liminary examinations held on July 7 and 8, of whom
sixteen passed and two were rejected.

146

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 23, 1 8 79.

William Whitla, M.D., 41, Victoria Place, Belfast,
who was proposed and seconded at the July meeting,
was now elected a member of the Society.

On the motion of Mr. Hodgson, the Treasurer,
seconded by Mr. Doran, it was resolved that £300 of the
Society’s funds be invested in 3 per cent. Consols, in the
names of the President, the Vice-President, and the
Treasurer.

Proposed by Mr. Holmes, seconded by Mr. Doran,
and resolved —

“ That the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland be repre¬
sented at the forthcoming Meeting of the Pharma¬
ceutical Conference, to be held in Sheffield in
August, and that the following be accredited as
representatives: — the President; Mr. R. W. Pring,
Belfast ; Mr. H. N. Draper ; Mr. W. Hayes ; Mr.
E. M. Hodgson.

jpro^fdinc;;; of gtoitniijty Jsocictks.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

The Sixteenth Annual Meeting of the British Phar¬
maceutical Conference was commenced on Tuesday, the
19th of August, in the Freemasons’ Hall, Surrey Street,
Sheffield. The chair was taken at half -past ten o’clock
by the President, G. F. Schacht, F.C.S.

Prior to the commencement of the general business —

Mr. W. Ward (Sheffield) welcomed the members of
the Association on behalf of the Sheffield Committee,
and after adverting to the pleasurable anticipation he
and his confreres had enjoyed in the prospect of the visit
of the Association to the town, said he trusted that the
arrangements made were such that the members would
carry away many vivid and lively impressions that would
live in their memories for years to come.

Reception of Delegates.

The Senior General Secretary then read the following
list of gentlemen representing other associations at the
Conference : —

From the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. —
Mr. G. W. Sandford, President, Mr. G. F. Schacht,
Vice-President, T. Greenish, F.C.S., Treasurer, and
Messrs. J. Robbins, W. D. Savage, J. Shaw, C. Symes
and J. Williams.

From the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.— Professor
Tichborne, President, and Messrs. J. E. Brunker, H. N.
Draper, W. Hayes, E. M. Hodgson and R. W. Pring.

From the Bradford Chemists' Association. — Mr. Silson.

From the Bristol Pharmaceutical Association. — Messrs .
Pitman, W. W. Stoddart and G. F. Schacht.

From the Brighton Association of Pharmacy. — Messrs.
T. Billing and W. D. Savage.

From the Glasgow Chemists' Association. — Mr. E. C. C.
Stanford.

From the Hull Chemists' Association.— Messrs. C. B. Bell
and J. Oldham.

From the Leeds Chemists’ Association . — Messrs. P. Jeffer¬
son, R. Reynolds and E. Yewdall.

From the Leicester Chemists' Association. — Mr. J. W.
Clark.

From the Liverpool Chemist s\ Association . — Messrs. T. F.
Abraham, A. H. Mason, R. Sumner and C. Symes.

From the Manchester Chemists and Druggists' Asso¬
ciation. — Messrs. F. B. Benger, Robinson, L. Siebold
and W. Wilkinson.

From the Sheffield Chemical and Pharmaceutical Asso¬
ciation. — Messrs. G. Carr, J. T. Dobb, G. T. W. News-
holme, J. Preston, J. Turner and J. Watts.

Mr. F. Baden Benger, General Secretary, then read
the following —

Report of the Executive Committee.

During the past year the various objects of the

Association have been successfully promoted or accom¬
plished.

It is again the pleasant duty of your Committee to-
report a satisfactory condition of the British Pharmaceu¬
tical Conference. The annual Year-Book was issued in
good time and fully maintained the reputation of its
predecessors as a faithful resume of pharmaceutical pro¬
gress. The MSS. of the 1879 volume is now in the
hands of the printer, and its issue to members will take
place as soon as the report of the forthcoming meeting
and the Editor’s introductory chapter can be added to it.

At a meeting of your Committee, held in London on
October 2nd of last year, applications for grants of money
to aid authbrs to defray the cost of materials used in
carrying out stated researches were received and con¬
sidered. It was resolved — “That £10 be placed at the
disposal of Mr. Thresh for the purchase of materials for
an analysis of the rhizome of Zingiber officinalis, and a
Comparative Examination of the gingers of trade ; that
£10 be at the disposal of Mr. Gerrard and Dr. Senier
for the purchase of the drug termed Pituri, and for the
materials for its pharmaceutical and chemical examina¬
tion ; and, that £40 be placed at the disposal of Dr,
Wright towards the cost of the materials for an investiga¬
tion of the active principle or principles of Japanese
aconite, and for an investigation of the active principles
in the leaves and flowers of ordinary aconite.”

Reports by these gentlemen will be presented.

At a second Committee meeting, held on July 2nd, Pro¬
fessor Attfield, Senior General Secretary, reported in
detail the work done since the last meeting of Committee,
including matters relating to the editing, printing and
publishing, and delivery to members of the Year-Book ;
the grants in aid of research ; correspondence respecting
improper use of the membership of the Conference ;
correspondence respecting the Bell and Hills Fund
books ; compilation and distribution of the list of subjects
for research ; collection of subscriptions ; organization
of the approaching meeting at Sheffield ; correspondence
with members likely to work on the Executive Committee
in 1879-80 ; and arrangements for inviting all registered
chemists and druggists not already members to join the
Conference.

The very successful meeting held in Dublin last year
will be still fresh in your memories. The pleasant
relationships with our Irish brethren then formed or
strengthened fully justified (if justification were needed)
our acceptance of the invitation to visit Ireland, and
proved with what satisfactory results two societies may
form one conference. In returning once more to its
native land, approaching indeed its very birthplace, the
Conference is welcomed with a heartiness which must be
highly gratifying to its members, but which is so invari¬
ably extended to it that there is danger of our accepting
it more as a right than a privilege. On the present
occasion we have perhaps a special reason for remarking
on the thoughtfulness which has characterized the ar¬
rangements of the Local Committee. It has been
repeatedly urged that the objects of the Conference are
best promoted by the avoidance of formal entertainments,
and whilst fully appreciating the generous impulse which
has so often in the past disregarded this perhaps not
sufficiently strongly expressed conviction, your Com¬
mittee venture to hope that the action of the Sheffield
Local Committee in this particular may be allowed to
form a precedent. The excursion, which usually takes
place on the Thursday following the business meetings,
affords an admirable opportunity for the renewal ot old
friendships and the formation of new ones ; or to quote
the words of the first article of our constitution, of pro¬
moting “the friendly reunion of those engaged in the
practice or interested in the advancement of pharmacy.”
The organization of reunions of this kind will, your
Committee is assured, be always gratefully accepted by
the Conference as an ample indication of the hospitable
feelings of its entertainers.

August 23, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

147

Sufficient papers of pharmaceutical interest have been
received to fully occupy the time which can be devoted
to their reading and discussion at the present meeting.
The names of many old and valued friends of the Con¬
ference appear in this list, as well as those of new
contributors, to whom a cordial welcome will be given.

The Committee have to announce with much regret
that at a meeting held last evening they received a
formal communication from their valued Senior
Honorary Secretary, in which he tenders his resignation
of the post he has so long filled with such distinguished
success. The communication runs as follows —

“ Ashlands, Watford,

“ August 16, 1879.

“ To the President of the British Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference : —

“ Dear Schacht,

’ “ After sixteen years of pleasant labours as one of the
Honorary Secretaries of our Association, I regretfully, and
yet with a feeling of satisfaction at having done useful
service, place my resignation in your hands. I thank my
colleagues for the opportunities they have given me of
joining them in promoting scientific development in
pharmacy and good fellowship amongst pharmacists. From
the birth of our organization we have all worked together
with the utmost heartiness and harmony, and although I
now return to the ranks, I trust I shall be allowed to con¬
tinue to support the objects of the Conference with
undiminished enthusiasm and with all the experience and
knowledge I have gained as a member of the staff. I
hope and believe that the welfare of the Conference and
its objects has not suffered either at my hands as a
secretary or during my secretaryship, and I do not resign
until I have assured myself that that welfare will be
maintained, if not enhanced, by the change or changes
that will, I know, necessarily be consequent on my
resignation.

“ I am, Dear Schacht,

“ Yours faithfully,

“John Attfield.”

The Committee felt that the changes involved in
Professor Attfield’s resignation were of so serious a
nature that they shrank from the responsibility of
accepting it until a very mature consideration had pro¬
vided the means for meeting them with a fair prospect
of efficiency, and at their earnest request Professor Attfield
consented to continue the duties for one year more, in
order to afford them the necessary time. The Committee
are sure every member of the Conference will concur in
a feeling of real gratitude to Professor Attfield for this
further manifestation of his self-denying devotion to the
best interests of the Conference.

Professor Attfield then read the financial statement, and
the statement of the Hon. Treasurer in account with the
Bell and Hills Library Fund, which is printed on p. 148.

The President moved the adoption of the report and
financial statement, and referred with great satisfaction
to the fact that Professor Attfield had, waiving all
personal feeling, decided to continue his services for
one year longer, and said he had no doubt that he
would act with the same energy, ability and skill as
heretofore.

Mr. G. Ellinor (Sheffield), an seconding the motion,
adverted to the prosperous condition of the funds, which
he was sure would be used well in promoting pharmacy
in general in connection with the Conference.

The motion was then put to the Conference, and car¬
ried unanimously.

Professor Attfield read a communication which the
President had received from Mr. H. B. Brady, one
of the oldest friends of the Conference, apologizing
for not being able to attend, and mentioning as evidence
of the wide-spread influence of the Conference that he
had observed in Japan that a native firm of booksellers

offered the Year-Books for sale at four and a-half dollars
per volume.

The Gift of Books.

Professor Attfield explained that the sum of ten
guineas, placed at the disposal of the Committee from the
Bell and Hills Library Fund, had been expended for the
purchase of such books as the officers of the Local Asso¬
ciation thought would be the most useful in their library.
In addition to those books there were two others — Han-
bury’s ‘ Science Papers,’ and Fluckiger and Hanbury’s
‘ Pharmacographia,’ presented to the Local Association
in memory of Daniel Hanbury by his brother Thomas
Hanbury. There were, moreover, along with these books,
engravings of Jacob Bell, William Alien and Jonathan
Pereira offered to the Local Association by Mr. Thomas
Hyde Hills.

Mr. Ward and Mr. Learoyd returned thanks on be¬
half of the Sheffield Association.

Mr. Schacht then proceeded to read the following : —
President’s Address.

Amidst the customs which rule this Conference in
its relations with its President are two that in their
co-existence may not always conduce to fortunate re¬
sults. The same individual is retained in his exalted
position for two consecutive years, and he is expected
to deliver an address on the occasion of each Annual
Meeting.

In defence of the latter, it may perhaps, with other
considerations, be reasonably urged that he who is se¬
lected by the voice of this Association to a dignity so
distinguished as the occupancy of this chair, may fairly
be expected to have something to say to his fellow phar¬
macists, gathered from either his personal knowledge, his
experience or his aspirations, worthy of being uttered.
But when he finds himself called upon to repeat the duty
after the short interval of one year, he may be excused
for feeling, as I feel, that his chance of enlisting the im
terest of those who listen is sadly diminished, and that
he must, even more earnestly than on the occasion of his
former effort, hope for indulgent sympathy.

In days gone by, the course of events during the
current year, so far as they affected scientific pharmacy,
assisted much to indicate the plan and scheme of a
Presidential Address ; and some of the ablest discourses
recorded in our annals consist chiefly of judicious sum¬
maries of the progress of the sciences connected with our
calling and of such movements within and outside our
body as appeared to affect pharmaceutical culture. But
the conditions which rendered such a course wise in the
eai'iier Conference days are now much changed. The
same interest, perhaps even greater interest, is felt
in those matters, but the work of summarizing them
appears to have passed to other hands.

The press, which is ubiquitous, and whose chiefest
apparent function is to absorb most other functions,
has grown strong in our midst, and able editors obligingly
offer to us all month by month, and journal by journal,
a taste of the plums and a slice of the pie your Presi¬
dent might otherwise be fondly regarding as destined
for his own gathering and maturing as a bonne louche
for his expected guests ; and to complete his discomfort
lurks the conviction that should even a stray blossom
escape this scrutiny and he succeed in impressing it to his
service, the Conference itself, in its own elaborate and well
ordered Year-Book, will, a few weeks later, completely
extinguish his puny entertainment and make the remem¬
brance of it stale and flat.

The area for my choice appearing thus somewhat nar¬
rowed, I endeavoured last year to select a subject which
for complete consideration would afford matter for
two addresses, and which yet could be so arranged that
the portion first delivered might stand fairly well by
itself should any cross stream of events interfere with
the original purpose, and I finally determined to make, as
well as I could, two presentments of the same fact, viz.,

148

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 23, 1870.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1878-79.

THE GENERAL FUND.

The Senior Hon. Secretary in Account with the British Pharmaceutical Conference.
Dr. £

cl.

Cr ,

£ s. cl.

By Expenses connected with Year-Book :
Butler and Tanner for
printing, binding, and
banding ....

Editor’s Salary .

Messrs. Churchill: —

Com mission on Ad vertise-

£410

150

5 9
0 0

ments

35 8 4

Advertising Year-Book .

2

1 0

Delivery to Members

53 16 9

Foreign Journals (Nutt)

3

1 6

654

18

4

General Printing : —

Butler and Tanner

3 15 0

Stevens and Richardson .

3 15 3

Parkins and Gotto .

7

l 7

14

12

10

Printing and postage of

10,500 Invitations to

Membership

• •

•

86

10

&

Directing Circulars and En-

vclopes

. .

5

0

3

Assistant-Secretary’s Salary

• •

40

0

O

Postage (about 10,000

letters)

■ •

41

10

0*

Sundries ....

• *

13

1

6.

Expenses of Meeting at

Dublin

•

12

6

4

Purchase of a few sets of

Year-Books, 1870 — 1872

• •

24

3

4

Grants in Aid of Research

• •

50

0

O

Balance to Treasurer

•

71

16

0

£1013

19

3

The Hon. Treasurer in Account with the British Pharmaceutical Conference.

£ s. d.

. 33 7 5
. 3 13 6

1878. Dr.

To Balance in hand on July 1
July. To Dividend on £250 Consols

1879.

Jan. To „ „

June 30. To Cash from Hon. Sec.

3 13
71 16

£112 10 5

1879. Cr.

Jan. 29. By Power of Attorney
By Balance ....

Assets July 1, 1879

Cash in hand
Consols (stock)

£

112

250

s. d.
4 5
0 0

THE BELL AND HILLS LIBRARY FUND.

The Hon. Treasurer in Account with the British Pharmaceutical Conference

for Year ending June 30, 1878.

1878. Dr.

To Balance in hand on July 1
July. To Dividend on £350 Consols

1879.

Jan. To

£ s. d.
5 4 1
5 2 9

5 2 9

£15 9 7

1878. Cr.

By Purchase of Books for Sheffield
„ Balance .

£ s. d.
10 10 0
4 19 7

£15 9 7

( Cash in hand
\ Consols (stock)

Assets July 1, 1879

Examined and found correct,

£ s. d.
4 19 7
350 0 0

W. HAYES, Dublin.

G. A. CUBLEY, Sheffield

.!

Auditors.

£ s. d.
0 6 0
112 4 5

£112. 10 5

August 23, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

149

the pharmacist as we see him ourselves, and the phar¬
macist as seen by others ; and further, should those
two images be found to differ (and I scarcely expected
them to coincide) to reflect upon some of the points that
difference might suggest.

Last year then I offered the first part of this scheme,
& view of the pharmacist as seen by ourselves.

It would doubtless be wrong to assume that the picture
then offered was universally approved ; but I know it to
have been the result of truth-seeking observation, and
twelve months’ further experience assures me that it was
fairly correct. I find that the more I know of my fellow
labourers, the more good stuff I see in them, and the
closer I become familiarized with the work they are
doing the more I am able to respect it. Hence I feel no
hesitation in repeating the opinion expressed last year,
that the typical pharmacist “ stands the illustration of a
high order of citizen.”

But, lest there be danger that such an estimate resting
long unchallenged provoke conceit, let me turn to what
may prove an antidote of the severest kind, viz., the esti¬
mate of ourselves by others.

Already I can fancy that the recollection of a well-
worn couplet has passed through many minds, and has
prepared their conceit, had it begun to develop, for a
heavy fall —

“ Oh wad some power the giftie gie us
To see ourselves as others see us —

for whatever was really prevailing in the poet’s mind
when he penned those lines, the usual sense in which they
are quoted is one that implies erroneous self-estimate, on
the one hand, and wisdom, superior if not supreme, on
the other ; and by this reading I and those who are in¬
clined to support my views ought to stand convicted by
a jury of our own choice, not only of great conceit, but
of great folly also. But to such -a position and to such a
verdict I demur. A solicitude to ascertain what others
think of us need not necessarily coincide with any such
relation. “ Whom do men say that I am ?” was the in¬
quiry of one vfre should be little inclined to charge with
folly or conceit; it was “ men,” not the speaker, that were
likely to be the better for a correct appreciation of the
speaker’s self; and at the risk of being charged with an
unwise comparing of small things with great, I venture
the opinion that what the public think of us pharmacists
is of graver import to the public than to us.

Every art must rest its claim for existence upon some
great public want. The universality of disease created
the art of medicine. The cure or relief of human suffer¬
ing is the great aim and purpose of that art, and hence
in its pure and wholesome progress, every single creature
of the public must ever have the profoundest interest. If
public ignorance or public prejudice in any way warps
that wholesome progress, it is the public that chiefly suf¬
fer ; they are the many, we are the few ; the penalties
we may be called upon to pay are but sectional, theirs
must be universal. We have but to accommodate our¬
selves to the conditions, they have to endure them. Con¬
versely, should the public wisdom tend, but in the
least degree, to favour the full, fair, scientific progress of
medicine, the benefit must be experienced in a thousand¬
fold degree where there is a thousand times the capa¬
city for its reception.

Does that wisdom then display itself in a fashion most
conducive to the best interests of the public ? Let us
frankly and gratefully answer, that in many respects it is
manifested with high intelligence, and with noble
generosity. The hospitals that adorn our entire land, and
many of the laws that grace our statute books stand
.among the living monuments of both ; moreover few of the
recognized professors of medicine pass through the labour
of their lives without achieving fair reward in honour or
in money, perhaps I might truthfully say in honour and
in money. And if the same or similar sentiments pre¬
vailed towards pharmacy and its professors, the two pre¬
sentments I am supposed to be offering would probably

coincide, and I should have to say but little more on this
topic to-day. But with the majority of the public, certainly
with the section that is called “society,” this is not the
case, and but little of the honour, and as little as possible
of the money, is given to us in exchange for our life-long
work. The sole monuments of our professional existence
are of our own raising, and “a House” can scarcely be got
together to consider a bill, having for its object the regu¬
lation of so iminteresting a matter as pharmacy. It is
true we are credited with being concenied in a “clean”
sort of business, from which we are oddly enough accused
of making very small incomes out of very large profits ;
we are admitted to possess decent shops which it is not
unseemly to enter, and which indeed it is quite correct to
make use of for any purpose not demanding a fee ; we
are supposed to be bound by some law of custom (certainly
not by any sense of duty) to obey all behests, at all hours,
on all days; we are credited, in short, with being “society’s ”
most obliged and humble servants, slavishly ready to do
whatever is told us, and to take for payment whatever
cannot be conveniently bestowed upon the professional
man on the one hand or the co-operative stores on the
other. To find a man or woman “in society” content to
be publicly seen in friendly talk with a pharmacist, or in¬
deed permitting the association of their children with ours
at a public school, is to see a phenomenon of rare order.
The doctor is the lady’s and sometimes the gentleman’s
hero ; the pharmacist is the tradesman to both.

Such, I fear is the view very generally taken of us by
others, and I need scarcely say this presentiment does not
coincide with the one I offered last year. Shall I endea¬
vour to account for the difference before passing to other
reflections ?

With my already declared estimate of ourselves, and of
our art (so different from my lady’s), it is natural I should
conceive that the phenomenon may be traced through a
course that lies mainly outside us ; and remembering how
many-headed is that great outside public, how prone to
the instinct of speciation, and how prone is each species
to become absorbed in matters of its own concern, taking
impressions of other things mainly at second hand, seldom
by original effort; I have thought that the first step should
consist in the search for that section of the outside world
which is likely to be chiefly responsible for the delivery of
the initiatory bias.

A very short consideration leads to the suggestion that
the public would almost instinctively assume that the
doctors would know more about pharmacy and pharma¬
cists than anyone else, and therefore that what they
thought about us, and the attitude they assumed towards
us, would be the proper thing to adopt and to imitate.
And the public would have much to justify such an as¬
sumption.

More or less the story is known to all (and the more it
is remembered the better) that for a long period, until in
fact quite recent times, pharmacy constituted both practi¬
cally as well as theoretically an integral portion of the
medical art, and the pharmacist and the physician were one
man. It is true this latter condition- no longer obtains;
it has been found desirable to entrust the different depart¬
ments to distinct sets of hands in order that each may be
worked to its fullest perfection, and under the completest
personal responsibility. But the art remains the same,
one portion being no more capable of repudiating another
or declaring its independence of the rest than is the eye
or the heart of the human body.

And hence this assumption of a kind of perpetual
alliance between the professors of all its departments
would be both instinctive and reasonable, and the esti¬
mate of the one by the others would be deemed authori¬
tative.

Whatever, then, the public estimate of us may be, I
think it is mainly the echo and the reflection of that pre¬
viously adopted by our neighbours the doctors. I do not
mean that they would pronounce as right the treatment
which I have asserted so many of us receive at the hands

150

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 23, 1879*.

of the public, but that their general tone and manner
towards us have furnished the germ which has thus
fructified.

But does our experience with the profession justify this
interpretation of their views towards us?

I have heard of cases, and have experience of cases, in
which individual members of the profession have mani¬
fested, by their thoughtful treatment of all pharmaceutical
matters, an appreciation of their importance so high and
just, and a respect for those engaged in them so fair, that,
were the question to be answered from such examples, the
reply would be to the effect that there is no justification
for it whatever. I fear, however, that these cases are ex¬
ceptional.

Of the large majority, some, the greater proportion, are
as nearly as possible indifferent to ourselves and to our
work.

There exists, however, a third section of the profession,
and I trust it is a diminishing one, that holds us at a
very low estimate, that professes to believe us systemati¬
cally familiar with mean doings, and open to mean
temptations.

Prom the first of these divisions I pass with a cordial
expression of respect, my chief hopes for the bettering of
pharmacy in the future resting with its honoured mem¬
bers — from the last with a hope that they may be speedily
delivered from their delusion; and our business for the
present lies with the indifferentism that remains, and
which is unfortunately only something less damaging than
actual hostility. How is it to be accounted for ?

I believe it to be mainly due to want of knowledge in two
important directions. This large majority of medical men
do not know enough of our subjects to appreciate them at
their proper value, and they do not know the extent of
our professional qualifications sufficiently well to give us
due credit for them. Notwithstanding the fact to which I
have already referred, the essential oneness of all the
subjects that together make up the art of medicine, in no
modern medical school do chemistry, botany and phar¬
macy rank in educational importance with, let us say,
anatomy, surgery and medical practice ; the former are
the off-subjects, and are very generally done any-how or
no-how ; the latter are among the prime subjects and
must be done well. The traditions of the school enlist all
the student’s enthusiasm for what are called the medi¬
cal subjects proper, and as an inevitable consequence, a
sentiment near akin to contempt pervades his view of the
rest. Caring but little for them in the abstract, and taught
to think but little of their practical value to his art, the
student of medicine when he becomes the professor is but
little likely to respect very highly even those he is com¬
pelled to admit as their recognized professors, and from
the curious separation that has hitherto characterized the
training of the pharmaceutical and the medical student,
all that the latter knows of the former amounts to but
hearsay, and he finds no particular reason in after life to
mature or enlarge his information.

For this state of things we must ourselves take some
share of blame. There is no doubt that ignorance of mat¬
ters that should have ranged within our knowledge did,
in past times, prevail, and, since miraculous changes in
social phenomena do not frequently occur, that ignorance
may not have entirely yielded yet ; but a great effort for
improvement has been made, an effort be it remembered
entirely from within our own body, and its practical results
have been sufficiently remarkable to suffice in a large
degree to absolve us from that portion of the blame.

But the very circumstance that appears to stamp phar¬
maceutical progress as unique, and to give it a special
dignity, I mean its self-originating and self-sustained
character, has largely tended to limit all knowledge of it
to those who have specially watched the phenomenon or
taken part in it.

The policy of those who initiated, as of those who con¬
tinued the effort was one that all can respect for its in¬
dependence, but which I cannot but fear time and

experience will show to have been, in this one important
respect, unwise. It has served to intensify isolation where
unification should prevail. The withdrawal of ourselves
and our educational processes from the general pro¬
fessional ken has tended to encourage the elimination
of the sciences we specially cultivate from the complete
medical curriculum, and to foster the notion I have already
deplored that they are accessories of inferior value, and
non-essential to medical culture. For this we must still
bear our share of the blame.

But wheresoever the blame should chiefly lie I think
that the fact of the practical isolation of pharmacy and
its professors, from the rest of medicine is due to the
general defective acquaintance on the part of the professed
medical man with both our subjects and our men.

I must now pass to a consideration of the loss to the
art of medicine that accrues from so extended an indiffer¬
ence to the pharmaceutical sciences. It would perhaps
be in better taste to let others speak to this point rather
than myself. I am content, therefore, simply to remind
you of the frequent publicly expressed lament of many
distinguished physicians that so much of their practice is
still perforce empirical, and of their equally emphatic re¬
joicings when some ardent student of science has succeeded
in wresting from its mysteries some secret that has offered
a glimmer of firmer resting ground for their doctrines.
The teaching of her highest authorities tells us that medi¬
cine cannot afford to fling away the help of her natural
allies; that she is exposed to constant attack at almost every
point ; that her growth is not in perfect comeliness and
undisturbed proportions, but is liable to distortions and
excrescences of formidable type ; and that her best hopes
for future progress rest in the patient scientific work of
her acutest and largest-brained sons — men who have the
power to enlist within their sympathies every depart¬
ment of knowledge that can bring its modicum of truth,
and focus all upon that one supreme point, the great
problem, life.

I think that among the first regions such men would
wish to explore are the very subjects in which we are daily
engaged ; and with such aspirations animating the great
mind of medicine on the one hand, and such opportunities
existing for practical co-operation on the other, is it not
the simplest of all possible deductions that an effort-
serving to bring all into better mutual estimation and
closer mutual confidence, must be attended with a fair
hope of distinct gain to the art itself ?

So far I have attempted to show what the public estimate
of us is ; who are chiefly responsible for it ; the probable
causes that have led to it, and the mischief to medicine
that attends it.

One more consideration mnst be stated in order to-
show that the error is, as I have said, of great practical
interest to the public itself.

We are not above the influence of that estimate.

Who in this world, whether the question be asked of
individuals or of communities, is so strong, either in good
or evil as to be able to resist such influence ? Is “ the
publican ” likely to become a patriot for being daily de¬
clared to be an outcast ? Branded as a social enemy, an
enemy he will continue or become. Should we presume
to expect brave deeds in the field if we systematically
treated our soldiers as cowards ? Brave deeds alone being
assumed as possible, brave deeds are done. In short the
opinion of society reacts in a thousand ways upon society’s
elements; and I fear the constant treatment to which
some of us are subjected, — that says more forcibly than
words can say, “You druggists are but hirelings, labour¬
ing like other hirelings for greed ; take your pay and be
thankful” — exerts a power for degradation that cannot
fail to promote the very condition it professes to re¬
probate.

I say that for its own sake the public should make
haste to see that we are of stuff much better than this.

I am quite aware that at every step of these statements
their accuracy may be challenged; I have attempted

August 23, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

151

to do this myself in many ways, and during the process
have had to admit, from our own side, how often my
standard of pharmaceutical excellence is missed, and
that ignorance, carelessness and looseness of principle
are to be found amongst us ; and from the other side, that
many just and considerate individuals can be found in
English society, as also doctors whose scientific culture is
as ample, and whose disposition to make the most of ours
is as generous as heart could desire. Nevertheless, having
taken these and kindred facts into full consideration, I
allow the statements to stand as what I believe to be the
truth.

But to another challenge I have perhaps also laid
myself fairly open, namely, to suggest some remedy for
the condition of things I profess to have studied and
to deplore. To this challenge I have but what may
appear a feeble reply, I am prepared with no mature
scheme, and can offer nothing that can claim to be
regarded as a cure for all that is wrong, but being most
anxious to see ground broken in the direction that appears
to me most hopeful for the extinction of the isolation that
besets us and thus give opportunity for a clearer view
of ourselves and our doings to the rest of the profession,
I am ready to suggest a first step. It is, that every
student in medicine, whatever department of the art he
may be aiming for as the sphere of his ultimate work,
be brought at some period of his training through one
single portal. So many practical objections have been
found to exist against the mingling of medical and phar¬
maceutical students during their attendance at classes or
during any portion of their actual studies, that I think
the portal would have to consist of one of the sets of exami¬
nations ; but if that examination could be made a common
one for all, whether ultimately destined for Medicine or
Pharmacy, the step would be a useful one. It would
serve to declare with authority that certain scientific
studies were equally essential in all the departments of
the medical art ; and it would demand of every student
that he attain the required standard of proficiency in
them. He would thus be prepared by actual personal
knowledge (not through the traditions of his school) to
estimate aright the proportionate value of those attain¬
ments towards his full professional equipment ; he would
realize the serious amount of effort required to achieve
that knowledge, and he would naturally conceive a feeling
of respect for all who had laboured for its acquisition
even as he himself had laboured.

Whether such an experiment would be attended with
results proportionate to the distinctness of the change,
requires a better prophet than myself to declare. As far
as we are concerned it would be the commencement of a
reversal of much of our past policy. It would tend from
isolation towards unification, from, estrangement towards
co-operation, from suspicion towards trust ; but these very
words seem to me to be full of hope.

One possible comment upon the suggestion itself I
should like to anticipate ; it may appear to some to involve
the placing of our examinations in the hands of the
medical profession.

Were this the only course open for adoption, I should
not shrink from its close consideration, nor fail to enter¬
tain it with great hope of ultimate benefit; but at
present I do not think this by any means a necessary
consequence. The story of our own progress, and my
personal knowledge of the completeness of the organi¬
zation that lies within our midst, suggest rather the
alternative, that for every man’s certificate of qualification
in our subjects he might be required to come to our ex¬
aminations; I say “at present,” for in speaking of “our¬
selves” and “medical men” as distinct organizations I
shall hope to be using but the language of to-day.

My subject, however, now approaches somewhat too
nearly the region of pharmaceutical politics to be con¬
tinued here; the arena for its discussion in detail lies else¬
where. But I sincerely hope and think that in urging it
from this place to the point at -which I now leave it, I

have acted in sympathy with the pervading spirit of the
Conference. To this extent, at any rate, I know that I
must carry with me the sympathy of all its members,
namely, in a warm desire to exalt the dignity of Pharmacy
and in an earnest hope that we pharmacists may ever be
found, as truly in fact as in aspiration, Pharmacy’s worthy
representatives.

Mr. W. H. Maleham (Sheffield) said the members of
the Conference were much indebted for the exhaustive
address delivered by the President, Mr. Schacht, and he
had great pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to the
President for his valuable address. The time was
rapidly coming when they must make a stand against
the attacks launched against them, and it was by such'
addresses that they could gain valuable information te
aid them in repelling opposition.

Mr. G-. W. Sandford seconded the motion, and ob¬
served how ardently the President loved the science he
had adopted as his calling, and how anxious he was not
only to elevate pharmacy but pharmacists. He could not
refrain from saying, as a delegate of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain, how heartily that Society ap¬
preciated the work of the Conference. It was his privilege
to be connected with the Pharmaceutical Council, and
he thought he was the President when this Conference
was established. The objects of the Conference and the
objects of the Society were identical, and he thought he
might congratulate the Members of the Conference on
having throughout the course of their work done much
towards elevating pharmacy and pharmacists. Regretting
that they would soon see the end of Mr. Schacht’s presi¬
dency, yet hoping the same good work would continue.,
he must say the Pharmaceutical Conference deserved
great credit for the results it had already achieved.

Mr. R. Reynolds, Vice-President, in putting the
motion to the Conference, said it was an easy task
when they were all agreed, and referred in terms of
eulogy to Mr. Schacht’s philosophical conclideration of
the position of pharmacy and his great interest in the
welfare and elevation of pharmacists.

The motion was carried unanimously.

The President, in acknowledging the resolution,
thanked the members of the Conference for the expres¬
sions of emotion that had graced the vote, and said he-
was very grateful for their approval. He wished to say,
however, that it must be understood that any expression
of opinion on matters he had thought fit to introduce
must be regarded simply as his opinion, for he should be
very sorry to commit the Conference, outside those walls,
to opinions which were only held by an individual. In
expressing those opinions he wished rather to suggest the
present position to maturer intellects, so that these ques¬
tions, might be pondered, not only for the benefit of
pharmacists but of the community.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

The meeting of the above Association commenced on
Monday, August 18, at Sheffield, under the Presidency
of G. J. Allman, M.D., LL.D., F.R.SS.L. and E.,
M.R.I.A., Pres. L.S., who delivered the opening
address : —

The President’s Address.

It is no easy thing to find material suited to an occasion
like the present. For on the one hand there is risk that
a presidential address may be too special for an audience
necessarily large and general, while on the other hand it
may treat too much of generalities to take hold of the
sympathies and command the attention of the hearers.

It may be supposed that my subject should have been
suggested by the great manufacturing industries of the
town which has brought us together ; but I felt convinced

152

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 23, 1879.

that a worker in only the biological sciences coxild not
do justice to the workers in so very different a field.

I am not therefore going to discourse to you of any of
those great industries which make civilized society what
it is, — of those practical applications of scientific truth
which within the last half century have become developed
with such marvellous rapidity, and which have already
become interwoven with our everyday life, as the warp
of the weaver is interwoven with the woof. Such sub¬
jects must be left to other occupiers of this chair, from
whom they may receive that justice which I could not
pretend to give them ; and I believe I shall act most
wisely by keeping to a field with which my own studies
have been more directly connected.

I know that there are many here present from whom
I have no right to expect that previous knowledge which
would justify me in dispensing with such an amount of
elementary treatment as can alone bring my subject
intelligibly before them, and my fellow members of the
British Association who have the advantage of being no
novices in that department of biology with which I pro¬
pose to occupy you, will pardon me if I address myself
mainly to those for whom the field of research on which
we are about to enter has now been opened for the first
time.

I have chosen, then, as the matter of my address to
you to-night, a subject in whose study there has during
the last few years prevailed an unwonted amount of
activity, resulting in the discovery of many remarkable
facts, and the justification of many significant generaliza¬
tions. I propose, in short, to give you in as untechnical
a form as possible some account of the most generalized
expression of living matter, and of the results of the
more recent researches into its nature and phenomena.

More than forty years have now passed away since
the French naturalist Dujardin drew attention to the
fact that the bodies of some of the lowest members of the
animal kingdom consist of a structureless, semi-fluid,
contractile substance, to which he gave the name of
Sarcode. A similar substance occurring in the cells of
plants was afterwards studied by Hugo von Mohl, and
named by him Protoplasm. It remained for Max
Schultze to demonstrate that the sarcode of animals and
the protoplasm of plants were identical.

The conclusions of Max Schultze have been in all re¬
spects confirmed by subsequent research, and it has
further been rendered certain that this same protoplasm
lies at the base of all the phenomena of life, whether in
the animal or the vegetable kingdom. Thus has arisen
the most important and significant generalization in the
whole domain of biological science.

Within the last few years protoplasm has again been
made a subject of special study, unexpected and often
startling facts have been brought to light and a volumi¬
nous literature has gathered round this new centre of
research. I believe, therefore, that I cannot do better
than call your attention to some of the more important
results of these inquiries, and endeavour to give you
some knowledge of the properties of protoplasm, and of
the part it plays in the two great kingdoms of organic
nature.

As has just been said, protoplasm lies at the base of
every vital phenomenon. It is, as Huxley has well ex¬
pressed it, “ the physical basis of life.” Wherever there
is life, from its lowest to its highest manifestations, there
is protoplasm ; wherever there is protoplasm, there too is
life. Thus co-extensive with the whole of organic nature
— every vital act being referable to some mode or property
of protoplasm — it becomes to the biologist what the ether
is to the physicist ; only that instead of being a hypothe¬
tical conception, accepted as a reality from its adequacy
in the explanation of phenomena, it is a tangible and
visible reality, which the chemist may analyse in his
laboratory, the biologist scrutinize beneath his microscope
and his dissecting needle.

The chemical composition of protoplasm is very com¬

plex, ar.d has not been exactly determined. It may,
however, be stated that protoplasm is essentially a com¬
bination of albuminoid bodies, and that its principal
elements are, therefore, oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and
nitrogen. In its typical state it presents the condition
of a semi-fluid substance — a tenacious, glairy liquid, with
a consistence somewhat like that of the white of an
unboiled egg. While we watch it beneath the microscope
movements are set up in it ; waves traverse its surface,
or it may be seen to flow away in streams, either broad
and attaining but a slight distance from the main mass,
or else stretching away far from their source, as narrow
liquid threads, which may continue simple, or may divide
into branches, each following its own independent course ;
or the streams may flow one into the other, as streamlets
would flow into rivulets and rivulets into rivers, and
this not only where gravity would carry them, but in a
direction diametrically opposed to gravitation ; now we
see it spreading itself out on all sides into a thin liquid
stratum, and again drawing itself together within the
narrow limits which had at first confined it, and all this
without any obvious impulse from without which would
send the ripples over its surface or set the streams
flowing from its margin. Though it is certain that all
these phenomena are in response to some stimulus
exerted on it by the outer world, they are such as we
never meet with in a simply physical fluid — they are
spontaneous movements resulting from its proper irrita¬
bility, from its essential constitution as living matter.

Examine it closer, bring to bear on it the highest
powers of your microscope — you will probably find dis¬
seminated through it countless multitudes of exceedingly
minute granules ; but you may also find it absolutely
homogeneous, and, whether containing granules or not, it
is certain that you will find nothing to which the term
organization can be applied. You have before you a
glairy, tenacious fluid, which, if not absolutely homo¬
geneous, is yet totally destitute of structure.

And yet no one who contemplates this spontaneously
moving matter can deny that it is alive. Liquid as it is,
it is a living liquid ; organless and structureless as it is,
it manifests the essential phenomena of life.

The picture which I have thus endeavoured to trace
for you in a few leading outlines is that of protoplasm in
its most generalized aspect. Such generalizations, how'-
ever, are in themselves unable to satisfy the conditions
demanded by an exact scientific inquiry, and I propose
now, before passing to the further consideration of the
place and purport of protoplasm in nature, to bring
before you some definite examples of protoplasm, such
as are actually met with in the organic world.

A quantity of a peculiar slimy matter was dredged in
the North Atlantic by the naturalists of the exploring
ship “ Porcupine ” from a depth of from 5000 to 25,000
feet. It is described as exhibiting, when examined on
the spot, spontaneous movements, and as being obviously
endowed with life. Specimens of this, preserved in
spirits, were examined by Professor Huxley, and
declared by him to consist of protoplasm, vast masses of
which must thus in a living state extend over wide areas
of sea bottom. To this wonderful slime Huxley gave the
name of Bathybius Haeclcelii.

Bathybius has since been subjected to an exhaustive
examination by Professor Haeckel, who believes that he
is able to confirm in all points the conclusions of Huxley,
and arrives at the conviction that the bottom of the open
ocean, at depths below 5000 feet, is covered with an
enormous mass of living protoplasm, which lingers there
in the simplest and most primitive condition, having as
yet acquired no definite form. He suggests that it may
have originated by spontaneous generation, but leaves
this question for future investigators to decide.

The reality of Bathybius, however, has not been
universally accepted. In the more recent investigations
of the “ Challenger ” the explorers have failed in their
attempts to bring further evidence of the existence of

August 23, 1879.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

153

masses of amorphous protoplasm spreading over the bed
of the ocean. They have met with no trace of Bathy-
bius in any of the regions explored by them, and they
believe that they are justified in the conclusion that the
matter found in the dredgings of the “ Porcupine ” and
preserved in spirits for further examination was only
an inorganic precipitate due to the action of the alcohol.

It is not easy to believe, however, that the very
tlaborate investigations of Huxley and Haeckel can be
thus disposed of. These, moreover, have received strong
confirmation from the still more recent observations of
the Arctic voyager, Bessels, who was one of the explorers
of the ill-fated “ Polaris,” and who states that he dredged
from the Greenland seas masses of living undifferentiated
protoplasm. Bessels assigns to these the name of Proto-
bathybius, but they are apparently indistinguishable from
the Bathybius of the “ Porcupine.” Further arguments
against the reality of Bathybius will therefore be needed
before a doctrine founded on observations so carefully
conducted shall be relegated to the region of confuted
hypotheses.

Assuming, then, that Bathybius, however much its
supposed wide distribution may have been limited by
more recent researches, has a real existence, it presents us
with a condition of living matter the most rudimental it
is possible to conceive. No law of morphology has as yet
exerted itself in this formless slime. Even the simplest
individualization is absent. We have a living mass, but
we know not where to draw its boundary lines ; it is
living matter, but we can scarcely call it a living being.

We are not, however, confined to Bathybius for
examples of protoplasm in a condition of extreme sim¬
plicity. Haeckel has found, inhabiting the fresh waters
in the neighbourhood of Jena, minute lumps of proto¬
plasm, which when placed under the microscope were
seen to have no constant shape, their outline being in a
state of perpetual change, caused by the protrusion from
various parts of their surface of broad lobes and thick
finger-like projections, which, after remaining visible
for a time, would be withdrawn, to make their appear¬
ance again on some other part of the surface.

These changeable protrusions of its substance, without
fixed position or definite form, are eminently characteristic
of protoplasm in some of its simplest conditions. They
have been termed “ Pseudopodia,” and will frequently
come before you in what I have yet to say.

To the little protoplasmic lumps thus constituted,
Haeckel has given the nameofProtamoeba primitiva. They
may be compared to minute detached pieces of Bathybius.
He has seen them multiplying themselves by spontaneous
division into two pieces, which, on becoming independent,
increase in size and acquire all the characters of the
parent.

Several other beings as simple as Protaw ceba have been
described by various observers, and especially by Haeckel,
who brings the whole together into a group to which he
gives the name of Monera, suggested by the extreme
simplicity of the beings included in it.

But we must now pass to a stage a little higher in the
development of protoplasmic beings. Widely distributed
in the fresh and salt waters of Britain, and probably of
almost all parts of the world, are small particles of
protoplasm closely resembling the Protamoeba just de¬
scribed. Like it, they have no definite shape, and are
perpetually changing their form, throwing out and
drawing in thick lobes and finger-like pseudopodia, in
which their body seems to flow away over the field of the
microscope. They are no longer, however, the homo¬
geneous particle of protoplasm which forms the body of
Protamoeba. Towards the centre a small globular mass
of firmer protoplasm has become differentiated off from
the remainder, and forms what is known as a nucleus,
while the protoplasm forming the extreme outer boundary
differs slightly from the rest, being more transparent,
destitute of granules, and apparently somewhat firmer
than the interior. We may also notice that at one spot

a clear spherical space has made its appearance, but that
while we watch it has suddenly contracted and vanished,
and after a few seconds has begun to dilate so as again
to come into view, once more to disappear, then again to
return, and all this in regular rhythmical sequence. This
little rhythmically pulsating cavity is called the “ con¬
tractile vacuole.” It is of very frequent occurrence
among those beings which lie low down in the scale of
life.

We have now before us a being which has arrested the
attention of naturalists almost from the commencement
of microscopical observation. It is the famous Amoeba ,
for which ponds and pools and gutters on the house-roof
have for the last two hundred years been ransacked by the
microscopist, who has many a time stood in amazement
at the undefinable form and Protean changes of this
particle of living matter. It is only the science of our
own days, however, which has revealed its biological
importance, and shown that in this little soft nucleated
particle we have a body whose significance for the mor¬
phology and physiology of living beings cannot be over-
• estimated, for in Amoeba we have the essential characters
of a cell, the morphological unit of organization, the
physiological source of specialized function.

The term “ cell ” has been so long in use that it cannot
now be displaced from our terminology; and yet it tends
to convey an incorrect notion, suggesting, as it does, the
idea of a hollow body or vesicle, this having been the
form under which it was first studied. The cell, however,
is essentially a definite mass of protoplasm having a
nucleus imbedded in it. It may, or may not, assume the
form of a vesicle ; it may, or may not, be protected by
an enveloping membrane ; it may, or may not, contain a
contractile vacuole ; and the nucleus may, or may not,
contain within it one or more minute secondary nuclei or
“nucleoli.”

Haeckel has done good service to biology in insisting
on the necessity of distinguishing such non-nucleated
forms as are presented by Protamoeba and the other
Monera from the nucleated forms as seen in Amoeba. To
the latter he would restrict the word cell, while he would
assign that of “ cytode ” to the former.

Let us observe our Amoeba a little closer. Like all
living beings it must be nourished. It cannot grow as
a crystal would grow, by accumulating on its surface
molecule after molecule of matter. It must feed. It
must take into its substance the necessary nutriment ; it
must assimilate this nutriment and convert it into the
material of which it is itself composed.

If we seek, however, for a mouth by which the nutri¬
ment can enter into its body, or a stomach by which this
nutriment can be digested, we seek in vain. Yet watch
it for a moment as it lies in a drop of water beneath our
microscope. Some living denizen of the same drop is in
its neighbourhood, and its presence exerts on the proto¬
plasm of the Amoeba a special stimulus which gives rise to
the movements necessary for the prehension of nutriment.
A stream of protoplasm instantly runs away from the
body of the Amoeba towards the destined prey, envelops
it in its current, and then flows back with it to the
central protoplasm, where it sinks deeper and deeper
into the soft yielding mass, and becomes dissolved,
digested and assimilated in order that it may increase
the size and restore the energy of its captor.

But again, like all living things, Amoeba must multiply
itself, and so after attaining a certain size its nucleus
divides into two halves, and then the surrounding proto¬
plasm becomes similarly cleft, each half retaining one
half of the original nucleus. The two new nucleated
masses which thus arise now lead an independent life,
assimilate nutriment, and attain the size and characters
of the parent.

We have just seen that in the body of an Amoeba we
have the type of a cell. Now both the fresh waters and
the sea contain many living beings beside Amoeba which
never pass beyond the condition of a simple cell Many

rl54

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. t August 23, 1>T9

•of these, instead of emitting the broad lobe-like pseudo¬
podia of Amoeba, have the faculty of sending out long
thin threads of protoplasm, which they can again retract,
:and by the aid of which they capture their prey or move
from place to place. Simple strtxctureless protoplasm as
they are, many of them fashion for themselves an outer
membranous or calcareous case, often of symmetrical
form and elaborate ornamentation, or construct a silicious
skeleton of radiating spicula, or crystal clear concentric
spheres of exquisite symmetry and beauty.

Some move about by the aid of a flagellum, or long
whip-like projection of their bodies, by which they lash
the surrounding waters, and which, unlike the pseudo¬
podia of Amoeba, cannot, during active life, be withdrawn
into the general protoplasm of the body; while among
many others locomotion is effected by means of cilia —
microscopic vibratible hairs, which are distributed in
various ways over the surface, and which, like the pseu¬
dopodia and flagella, are simple prolongations of their
protoplasm.

In every one of these cases the entire body has the
morphological Value of a cell, and in this simple cell
•reside the whole of the properties which manifest them¬
selves in the vital phenomena of the organism.

The part fulfilled by these simple unicellular beings in
the economy of nature has at all times been very great,
and many geological formations, largely built up of their
calcareous or silicious skeletons, bear testimony to the
multitudes in which they must have swarmed in the
waters of the ancient earth.

Those which have thus come down to us from ancient
times owe their preservation to the presence of the hard
persistent structures secreted by their protoplasm, and
» must, after all, have formed but a very small proportion
'df the unicellular organisms which peopled the ancient
world, and there fulfilled the duties allotted to them in
natffre, but whose soft, perishable bodies have left no
trace behind.

In our own days similar unicellular organisms are at
work, taking their part silently and unobtrusively in the
great scheme of creation, and mostly destined, like their
predecessors, to leave behind them no record of their
^ristence. The Red Snow Plant, to which is mainly due
rfche foeautiful phenomenon by which tracts of Arctic and
Alpine snow become tinged of a delicate crimson, is a
microscopic organism whose whole body consists of a
simple spherical cell. In the protoplasm of this little
cell must reside all the essential attributes of life ; it
must grow by the reception of nutriment ; it must repeat
by multiplication that form which it has itself inherited
from its parent; it must be able to respond to the
- -stimulus of the physical conditions by which it is sur¬
rounded. And there it is, with its structure almost on
• the bounds of extremest simplification, taking its allotted
•part in the economy of nature, combining into living
vmatter the lifeless elements which lie around it, redeeming
from sterility tbe regions of never-thawing ice, and
peopling with its countless millions the wastes of the
snow land.

But organization does not long rest on this low stage
of unicellular simplicity, for as we pass from these lowest
forms into higher, we find cell added to cell, until many
millions of such units become associated in a single
organism, where each cell, or each group of cells, has its
•own special work, while all combine for the welfare and
unity of the whole.

In the most complex animals, however, even in man
himself, the component cells, notwithstanding their fre¬
quent modification and the usual intimacy of their union,
are far from losing their individuality. Examine under
the microscope a drop of blood freshly taken from the
human subject, or from any of the higher animals. It is
seen to be composed of a multitude of red corpuscles,
swimming in a nearly colourless liquid, and along with
these, but in much smaller numbers, somewhat larger
colourless corpuscles. The red corpuscles are modified

cells, while the colourless corpuscles are cells still re¬
taining their typical form and properties. These last are
little masses of protoplasm, each enveloping a central
nucleus. Watch them. They will be seen to change
their shape ; they will project and withdraw pseudopodia,
and creep about like an Amoeba. But, more than this,
like an Amoeba they will take in solid matter as nutri¬
ment. They may be fed with coloured food, which will
then be seen to have accumulated in the interior of their
soft transparent protoplasm ; and in some cases the
colourless blood corpuscles have actually been seen to
devour their more diminutive companions, the red ones.

Again, there are certain cells filled with peculiar coloured
matters, and called pigment cells, which are especially
abundant, as constituents of the skin in fishes, frogs and
other low vertebrate, as well as many invertebrate ani¬
mals. Under certain stimuli, such as that of light, or of
emotion, these pigment cells change their form, protrude
or retract pseudopodial prolongations of their protoplasm,
and assume the form of stars or of irregularly lobed
figures, or again draw themselves together into little
globular masses. To this change of form in the pigment
cell the rapid change of colour so frequently noticed in
the animals provided with them is to be attributed.

The animal egg, which in its young state forms an
element in the structure of the parent organism, possesses
in the relations now under consideration a peculiar in¬
terest. The egg is a true cell, consisting essentially of a
lump of protoplasm enclosing a nucleus, and having a
nucleolus included in the interior of the nucleus. While
still very young it has no constant form, and is perpetu¬
ally changing its shape. Indeed, it is often impossible to
distinguish it from an Amoeba; and it may, like an Amoeba,
wander from place to place by the aid of its pseudopodial
projections. I have shown elsewhere that the primitive
egg of the remarkable hydroid Myriothela manifests
amoeboid motions : while Haeckel has shown that in the
sponges certain amoeba-like organisms, which are seen
wandering about in the various canals and cavities of
their bodies, and had been until lately regarded as
parasites which had gained access from without, are
really the eggs of the sponge ; and a similar amoeboid
condition is presented by the very young eggs of even the
highest animals.

Again, Reichenbach has proved that during the de¬
velopment of the crayfish the cells of the embyro throw
out pseudopodia by which, exactly as in an Amoeba, the
yolk spheres which serve as nutriment for the embryo
are surrounded and engulphed in the protoplasm of the
cells.

I had shown some years ago that in Myriothela pseudo¬
podial processes are being constantly projected from the
walls of the alimentary canal into its cavity. They ap¬
pear as direct extensions of a layer of clear, soft homo¬
geneous protoplasm which lies over the surface of the
naked cells lining the cavity, and which I now regard as
the “Hautschicht,” or cortical layer of these cells. I then
suggested that the function of these pseudopodia lay in
seizing, in the manner of an amoeba, such alimentary
matter as may be found in the contents of the canal, and
applying it to the nutrition of the hydroid.

What I had thus suggested with regard to Myriothela
has been since proved in certain planarian worms by
Metschnikoff, who has seen the cells which line the ali¬
mentary canal in these animals act like independent
Amoebae, and egulph in their protoplasm such solid nutri¬
ment as may be contained in the canal. When the
Planaria was fed with colouring matter these amoeboid
cells became gorged with the coloured particles just as
would have happened in an amoeba when similarly fed.

But it is not alone in such loosely aggregated cells as
those of the blood, or in the amoeboid cells of the alimen¬
tary canal, or in such scattered constituents of the tissues
as the pigment cells or in cells destined for an ultimate
state of freedom, as the egg, that there exists an indepen¬
dence. The whole complex organism is a society of cells,

August 23, 1679.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

155

in which every individual cell possesses an independence,
an autonomy, not at once so obvious as in the blood cells,
but not the less real. With this autonomy of each
element there is at the same time a subordination of each
to the whole, thus establishing a unity in the entire organ¬
ism, and a concert and harmony between all the phenomena
of its life.

In this society of cells each has its own work to per¬
form, and the life of the organism is made up of the lives
of its component cells. Here it is that we find most
distinctly expressed the great law of the physiological
division of labour. In the lowest organisms, where
the whole being consists of a single cel), the performance
of all the processes which constitute its life must devolve
on the protoplasm of this one cell ; but as we pass to
more highly organized beings, the work becomes distri¬
buted among a multitude of workers. These workers are
the cells Avhich now make up the complex organism.
The distribution of labour, however, is not a uniform
one, and we are not to suppose that the work performed
by each cell is but a repetition of that of every other,
j For the life processes, which are accumulated in the single
cell of the unicellular organism become in the more com¬
plex organism differentiated, some being intensified and
otherwise modified and allocated to special cells, or to
special groups of cells, which we call organs, and whose
proper duty is now to take charge of the special processes
which have been assigned to them. In all this we have
a true division of labour, — a division of labour, however,
by no means absolute ; for the processes which are essen¬
tial to the life of the cell must still continue common to
all the cells of the organism. No cell, however great may
be the differentiation of function in the organism, can dis¬
pense with its irritability, the one constant and essential
property of every living cell. There thus devolves on
each cell or group of cells some special work which con¬
tributes to the well-being of all, and their combined
labours secure the necessary conditions of life for every
cell in the community, and result in those complex and
wonderful phenomena which constitute the life of the
higher organisms.

We have hitherto considered the cell only as a mass of
active nucleated protoplasm, either absolutely naked or
partially enclosed in a protective case, which still permits
free contact of the protoplasm with the surrounding
medium. In very many instances, however, the proto¬
plasm becomes confined within resisting walls, which
entirely shut it in from all direct contact with the
medium which surrounds it. With the plant this is
almost always so after the earliest stages of its life.
Here the protoplasm of the cells is endowed with the
faculty of secreting over its surface a firm, resisting
membrane, composed of cellulose, a substance destitute
of nitrogen, thus totally different from the contained
protoplasm, and incapable of manifesting any of the
phenomena of life.

Within the wTalls of cellulose the protoplasm is now
closely imprisoned, but we are not on that account to
suppose that it has lost its activity, or has abandoned its
work as a living being. Though it is now no longer in
direct contact with the surrounding medium, it is not the
less dependent on it, and the reaction between the im¬
prisoned protoplasm and the outer world is still permitted
by the permeability of the surrounding wall of cellulose.

When the protoplasm thus becomes surrounded by a
cellulose wall it seldom retains the uniform arrangement
of its parts which is often found in the naked cells.
Minute cavities or vacuoles make their appearance in it ;
these increase in size and run one into the other, and
may finally form one large cavity in the centre, which
becomes filled with a watery fluid, known as the Cell
Sap. This condition of the cell was the first observed,
and it was it which suggested the often inapplicable
term “ cell.” By the formation of this central sap cavity
the surrounding protoplasm is pushed aside, and pressed
against the cellulose wTall, over which it now extends as

a continuous layer. The nucleus either continues near
the centre, enveloped by a layer of protoplasm, which is
connected by radiating bands of protoplasm with that of
the walls, or it accompanies the displaced protoplasm,
and lies embedded in this on the walls of the cell.

We have abundant evidence to show that the impri¬
soned protoplasm loses none of its activity. The Charaae
constitute an exceedingly interesting group of simple
plants, common in the clear water of ponds and of slowly
running streams. The cells of which they are built up
are comparatively large, and, like almost all vegetable
cells, are each enclosed in a wall of cellulose. The cellu¬
lose is perfectly transparent, and if the microscope, even
with a low power, be brought to bear on one of these
cells, a portion of its protoplasm may be seen in active
rotation flowing up one side of the long tubular cell and
down the other, and sweeping on with it such more solid
particles as may become enveloped in its current. In
another water plant, the Valisneria spiralis, a similar
active rotation of the protoplasm maybe seen in the cells
of the leaf, where the continuous stream of liquid proto¬
plasm sweeping along the green granules of chlorophyll,
and even carrying the globular nucleus with it in its cur¬
rent, presents one of the most beautiful of the many
beautiful phenomena which the microscope has revealed
to us.

In many other cells with large sap cavities, such as
those which form the stinging hairs of nettles and other
kinds of vegetable hairs, the protoplasmic lining of the
wall may send off into the sap cavity projecting ridges
and strings, forming an irregular network, along which,
under a high power of the microscope, a slow streaming
of granules may be witnessed. The form and position
of this protoplasmic network undergo constant changes,
and the analogy with the changes of form in an Amoeba
becomes obvious. The external wall of cellulose renders
it impossible for the confined protoplasm to emit, like a
naked Amoeba, pseudopodia from its outer side; but on
the inner side there is no obstacle to the extension of the
protoplasm, and here the cavity of the cell becomes more
or less completely traversed by protoplasmic projections
from the wall. These often stretch themselves out in the
form of thin filaments, which, meeting with a neighbour¬
ing one, become fused into it; they show currents of
granules streaming along their length, and after a time
become withdrawn and disappear. The vegetable cell,
in short, wTith its surrounding wall of cellulose, is in all
essential points a closely imprisoned Rhizopod.

Further proof that the imprisoned protoplasm has lost
by its imprisonment none of its essential irritability, is
afforded by the fact that if the transparent cell of a
Nitella, one of the simple water-plants just referred to,
be touched under the microscope with the point of a
blunt needle, its green protoplasm will be seen to recede,
under the irritation of the needle, from the cellulose wall.
If the cellulose wall of the comparatively large cell which
forms the entire plant in a Yaucheria, a unicellular alga,
very common in shallow ditches, be ruptured under the
microscope, its protoplasm will escape, and may then be
often seen to throw out pseudopodial projections and ex¬
hibit amoeboid movements.

Even in the higher plants, without adducing such
obvious and well-known instances as those of the Sensitive
Plant and Venus’s Flytrap, the irritability of the proto¬
plasm may be easily rendered manifest. There are many
herbaceous plants in which if the young succulent stem
of a vigorously growing specimen receive a sharp blow,
of such a nature, however, as not to bruise its tissues, or
in any way wound it, the blow will sometimes be imme¬
diately followed by a drooping of the stem commencing
at some distance above the point to which the stroke had
been applied : its strength appears to have here suddenly
left it, it is no longer able to bear its own weight, and
seems to be dying. The protoplasm, however, of its cells,
is in th;s instance not killed, it is only stunned by the
violence cf the blow, and needs time for its restoration.

i

156

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 23, 1879.

After remaining-, it may be for some hours, in this droop¬
ing and flaccid state, the stem begins to raise itself, and
soon regains its original vigour. This experiment will
generally succeed well in plants with a rather large t er-
minal spike or raceme when the stroke is applied some
little distance below the inflorescence shortly before the
expansion of the flower.

In the several instances now adduced the protoplasm is
in the mature state of the plant entirely included within
n, wall of cellulose. Some recent beautiful observations,
however, of Mr. Francis Darwin, have shown that even
in the higher plants truly naked protoplasm may occur.
From the cells of certain glandular hairs contained within
the cup-like receptacles formed by the united bases of two
opposite leaves in the Teazel { Dipsacus ) he has seen
-emitted long pseudopodia-like projections of the proto¬
plasm. What may be the significance of this very
•exceptional phenomenon is still undetermined. It is
probably, as Mr. Darwin supposes, connected with the
absorption of nitrogenous matter.

That there is no essential difference between the proto¬
plasm of plants and that of animals is rendered further
■evident by other motor phenomena, which we are in the
habit of regarding as the exclusive attribute of animals.
Many of the more simply organized plants give origin to
peculiar cells called “spores,” which separate from the
parent, and, like the seeds of the higher plants, are
destined to repeat its form. In many cases these spores are
eminently locomotive. They are then termed “swarm-
spores,” and their movements are brought about, some¬
times by changes of shape, when they move about in the
manner of an Amoeba, but more frequently by minute
vibratile cilia, or by more strongly developed flagella or
whip-like projections of their protoplasm. These cilia
and flagella are absolutely indistinguishable from similar
structures widely distributed among animals, and by their
vibratory or lashing strokes upon the surrounding water
the swarm -spores are rapidly carried from place to place.
In these motions they often present a curious semblance
of volition, for if the swarm-spore meet with an
obstacle in its course, it will, as if to avoid it, change the
direction of its motion, and retreat by a reversion of the
stroke of its cilia. They are usually attracted by light,
.and congregate at the light side of the vessel which con¬
tains them, though in some cases light has the opposite
•effect on them and they recede from it.

Another fact may here be adduced to show the uniform
character of protoplasm and how ver}T different are its pro¬
perties from those of lifeless matter, namely, the faculty
which all living protoplasm possesses of resisting the en¬
trance of colouring matter into its substance. As many
here present are aware, microscopists are in the habit of
using in their investigations various colouring matters, such
as solutions of carmine. These act differently on the dif¬
ferent tissues, staining some, for example, more deeply than
•others, and thus enabling the histologist to detect certain
elements of °tructure which would otherwise remain un¬
known. N ow if a solution of carmine be brought into con¬
tact with living protoplasm, this will remain, so long as it
•continues alive, unaffected by the colouring matter. But
if the protoplasm be killed the carmine will at once per¬
vade its whole substance, and stain it throughout with a
colour more intense than even that of the colouring
solution itself.

But no more illustrative example can be offered of the
properties of protoplasm as living matter, independently
of any part it may take in organization, than that presented
by the Myxomycetae.

The Myxomycetae constitute a group of remarkable
organisms, which from their comparatively large size and
their consisting, during a great part of their lives, of naked
protoplasm, have afforded a fine field for research, and
Lave become one of the chief sources from which our
knowledge of the nature and phenomena of protoplasm
has been derived.

They have generally been associated by botanists with

the Fungi, but though their affinities with these are per¬
haps closer than with any other plants, they differ from
them in so many points, especially in their development, as
to render this association untenable. They are found in
moist situations, growing on old tan or on moss, or decay¬
ing leaves or rotten wood, over which they spread in the
form of a network of naked protoplasmic filaments, of a
soft creamy consistence and usually of a yellowish colour.

Under the microscope the filaments of the network
exhibit active spontaneous movements, which in the
larger branches are visible under an ordinary lens, or
even by the naked eye. A succession of undulations may
then be noticed passing along the course of the threads.
Under higher magnifying powers, a constant movement of
granules may be seen flowing along the threads, and
streaming from branch to branch of this wonderful net¬
work. Here and there offshoots of the protoplasm are
projected, and again withdrawn in the manner of the
pseudopodia of an Amoeba, while the whole organism may
be occasionally seen to abandon the support over which
it had grown, and to creep over neighbouring surfaces,
thus far resembling in all respects a colossal ramified
Amoeba. It is also curiously sensitive to light, and may be
sometimes found to have retreated during the day to
the dark side of the leaves, or into the recesses of the tan
over which it had been growing, and again to creep out on
the approach of night.

After a time there arise from the surface of this proto¬
plasmic net oval capsules or spore-cases, in which are
contained the spores or reproductive bodies of the My-
-xomycetae. When the spore-case has arrived at maturity,
it bursts and allows the spores to escape. These are in
the form of spherical cells, each included in a delicate
membranous wall, and when they fall into water the wall
becomes ruptured, and the little cell creeps out. This
consists of a little mass of protoplasm with a round centre
nucleus, enclosing a nucleolus and with a clear vacuole,
which exhibits a rhythmically pulsating movement . The
little naked spore thus set at liberty is soon seen to
be drawn out at one point into a long vibratile whip-like
flagellum, which by its lashing action carries the spore from
place to place. After a time the flagellum disappears,
and the spore may now be seen emitting and with¬
drawing finger-like pseudopodia, by means of which it
creeps about like an Amoeba, and like an Amoeba devours
solid particles by engulphing them in its soft protoplasm.

So far these young amceba-like Myxomycetae have
enjoyed each an independent existence. Now, however,
a singular and significant phenomenon is presented. Two
or more of these Myxamoebae, as they have been called,
approach one another, come into contact, and finally
become completely fused together into a single mass of
protoplasm, in which the components are no longer to be
distinguished. To the body thus formed by the fusion
of the Myxamoebae the name of “ plasmodium ” has been
given.

The plasmodium continues, like the simple amoebiform
bodies of which it is composed, to grow by the ingestion
and assimilation of solid nutriment, which it envelops in
its substance ; it throws out ramifying and inosculating
processes, and finally becomes converted into a proto¬
plasmic network, which in its turn gives rise to spore-
cases with their contained spores and thus completes the
cycle of its development.

Under certain external conditions the Myxomycetae
have been observed to pass from an active mobile state
into a resting state, and this may occur both in the
amoebiform spores and in the plasmodium. When the
plasmodium is about to pass into a resting state, it usually
withdraws its finer branches and expels such solid ingesta
as may be included in it. Its motions then gradually
cease, it breaks up into a multitude of polyhedral cells,
which, however, remain connected, and the whole body
dries into a horny brittle mass, known by the name of
‘ sclerotium.’

In this condition, without giving the slightest sign of

August 23, 1879.] THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

157

life, the sclerotium may remain for many months. Life,
however, is not destroyed, its manifestations are only
suspended, and if after an indefinite time the apparently
dead sclerotium be placed in water, it immediately begins
to swell up, the membranous covering of its component
cells becomes dissolved and disappears, and the cells them¬
selves flow together into an active amoeboid plasmodium.

We have already seen that every cell possesses an
autonomy or independent individuality, and from this we
should expect that, like all living beings, it had the
faculty of multiplying itself, and of becoming the parent
of other cells. This is truly the case, and the process of
cell-multiplication has of late years been studied, with
the result of adding largely to our knowledge of the
phenomena of life.

The labours of Strasburger, of Auerbach, of Oscar
Hertwig, of Eduard van Beneden, Biitschli, Fol, and
others, here come prominently before us, but neither the
time at my disposal nor the purport of this address will
allow me to do more than call your attention to some of
the more striking results of their investigations.

By far the most frequent mode of multiplication
among cells shows itself in a spontaneous division of the
protoplasm into two separate portions, which then become
independent of one another, so that instead of the single
parent cell two new ones have made their appearance.
In this process the nucleus usually takes an important
part. Strasburger has studied it with great care in
certain plant cells, such as the so-called “corpuscula ” or
“ secondary embryo-sacs ” of the Coniferse and the cells of
Spirogyra ; and has further shown a close correspondence
between cell division in animals and that in plants.

It may be generally stated as the results of his obser¬
vations on the corpuscula of the Conifera?, that the
nucleus of the cell about to divide assumes a spindle
shape, and at the same time presents a peculiar striated
differentiation, as if it were composed of parallel filaments
reaching from end to end of the spindle. These filaments
become thickened in the middle and there form by the
approximation of the thickened portions a transverse
plate of protoplasm (the “nucleus-plate”). This soon
splits into two halves, which recede from one another
towards the poles of the spindle, travelling in this course
along the filaments, which remain continuous from end
to end. When arrived near the poles they form there
two new’ nuclei, still connected with one another by the
intervening portion of the spindle.

In the equator of this intervening portion there is now
formed in a similar way a second plate of protoplasm (the
“cell-plate ”), which, extending to the walls of the dividing-
cell, cuts the whole protoplasm into two halves, each
half -containing one of the newly formed nuclei. This
partition plate is at first single, but it soon splits into two
laminae, which become the apposed bounding surfaces of
the two p»roti plasm masses into which the mother cell
has been divided. A wall of celluose is then all' at once
secreted between them, and the twro daughter cells are
complete.

It sometimes happens in the generation of cells that a
young brood of cells arises from the parent cell by what
is called “ free cell formation.” In this only a part of the
protoplasm of the mother cell is used up in the production
of the offspring. It is seen chiefly in the formation of
the spore of the lower plants, in the first foundation of
the embryo in the higher, and in the formation of the
endosperm — a cellular mass wdiich serves as the first
nutriment for the embryo — in the seeds of most Phanero¬
gams. The formation of the endosperm has been
carefully studied by Strasbtirger in the embryo-sac of the
kidney bean, and may serve as an example of the process
of free cell formation. The embyro-sac is morphologically
a large cell with its protoplasm, nucleus, and cellulose
wall, while the endosperm which arises within it is com¬
posed of a multitude of minute cells united into a tissue.
The formation of the endosperm is preceded by the
dissolution and disappearance of the nucleus of the

embryo-sac, and then in the midst of the protoplasm of
the sac several new nuclei make their appearance.
Around each of these as a centre the protoplasm of the
mother cell is seen to have become differentiated in the
form of a clear spherule, and we have thus corresponding
to each of the new nuclei a young naked cell, wrhich soon
secretes over its surface a membrane of celhdose. The
new cells, w7hen once formed, multiply by division, press
one on the other, and so combining into a cellular mass,,
constitute the completed endosperm.

Related to the formation of new cells, whether by-
division or by free ce 1 formation, is another very inter¬
esting phenomenon of living protoplasm known as
“rejuvenescence.” In this the whole protoplasm of a
cell, by a new arrangement of its parts, assumes a new
shape and acquires new properties. It then abandons
its cellulose chamber, and enters on a new and independent-
life in the surrounding medium.

A good example of this is afforded by the formation of
swarm-spores in Oedogonium, one of the fresh-water-
Algse. Here the whole of the protoplasm of an adult
cell contracts, and by the expulsion of its cell sap changes-,
from a cylindrical to a globular shape. Then one spot,
becomes clear, and a pencil of vibratile cilia here shows
itself. The cellulose wall which had hitherto confined it
now becomes ruptured, and the protoplasmic sphere,,
endowed with new faculties of development and with
powers of active locomotion, escapes as a swarm spore,
which, after enjoying for a time the free life of an animal,,
comes to rest, and develops itself into a new plant.

The beautiful researches which have within the last
few years been made by the observers already mentioned,,
on the division of animal cel's, show how close is the-
agreement between plants and animals in all the leading
phenomena of cell division, and afford one more proof off
the essential unity of the two great organic kingdoms.

There is one form of cell which, in its relation to the-
organic world possesses a significance beyond that of
every other, namely, the egg. As already stated, the egg
is, wherever it occurs, a typical cell, consisting essentially
of a globule of protoplasm enveloping a nucleus (the
“ germinal vesicle ”), and with one or more nucleoli (the
“ germinal spots ”) in the interior of the nucleus. This
cell, distinguishable by no tangible characters from
thousands of other cells, is nevertheless destined to run
through a definite series of developmental changes, which,
have as their end the building up of an organism like
that to which the egg owes its origin.

It is obvious that such complex organisms as thus
result — composed, it may be, of countless millions of
cells — can be derived from the simple egg cell only by a
process of cell multiplication. The birth of new cells
derived from the primary cell or egg thus lies at the basis
of embryonic development. It is here that the phenomena
of cell multiplication in the animal kingdom can in gene¬
ral be most satisfactorily observed, and the greater number
of recent researches into the nature of these phenomena
have found their most fertile field in the early periods of
the development of the egg.

A discussion of the still earlier changes which the egg
undergoes in order to bring it into the condition in which
cell multiplication may be possible, would, however full
of interest, be here out of place ; and I shall therefore
confine myself to the first moments of actual develop¬
ment — to what is called “ the cleavage of the egg ” — •
which is nothing more than a multiplication of the fegg
cell by repeated division. I shall further confine myself
to an account of this phenomenon as presented in typical
cases leaving out of consideration certain modifications
whish would only complicate and obscure our picture.

The egg, notwithstanding the preliminary changes to
which I have alluded, is still, at the commencement of
development, a true cell. It has its protoplasm and its
nucleus, and it is, as a rule, enveloped in a delicate mem¬
brane. The protoplasm forms what is known as the
vitellus, or yolk, and the surrounding membrane is called

158 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 23, 1M

the “ vitellary membrane.” The division which is now
about to take place in it is introduced by a change of
form in the nucleus. This becomes elongated, and as¬
sumes the shape of a spindle, similar to what we have
already seen in the cell division of plants. On each pole
of the spindle transparent protoplasm collects, forming
here a clear spherical area.

At this time a very striking and characteristic pheno¬
menon is witnessed in the egg. Each pole of the spindle
has become the centre of a s}rstem of rays which stream
out in all directions into the surrounding protoplasm.
The protoplasm thus shows, enveloped in its mass, two
sun-like figures, whose centres are connected to one
another by the spindle-shaped nucleus. To this, with the
sun-like rays streaming from its poles, Auei’bach gives
the name of “ Karyolitic figure,” suggested by its con¬
nection with the breaking up of the original nucleus,
to which our attention must next be directed.

A phenomenon similar to one we have already seen in
cell division among plants now shows itself. The nucleus
becomes broken up into a number of filaments, which lie
together in a bundle, each filament stretching from pole
to pole of the spindle. Exactly in its central point every
filament shows a knot-like enlargement, and from the
close approximation of the knots there results a thick
zone of protoplasm in the equator of the spindle. Each
knot soon divides into two halves, and each half recedes
from the equator and travels along the filament towards
its extremity. When arrived at the poles of the spindle
each set of half knots becomes fused together into a
globular body, while the intervening portion of the spindle
becoming torn up, and gradually drawn into the substance
of the two globular masses, finally disappears. And now,
instead of the single fusiform nucleus whose changes we
have been tracing, we have two new globular nuclei, each
occupying the place of one of its poles, and formed at its
expense. The egg now begins to divide along a plane at
right angles to a line connecting the two nuclei. The
division takes place without the formation of a cell plate
such as we saw in the division of the plant cell, and is
introduced by a constriction of its protoplasm, which
commences at the circumference just within the vitelline
membrane, and, extending towards the centre, divides the
whole mass of protoplasm into two halves, each including
within it one of the new nuclei. Thus the simple cell
which constituted the condition of the egg at the com¬
mencement of development becomes divided into two
similar cells. This forms the first stage of cleavage.
Each of these two young cells divides in its turn in a
direction at right angles to the first division-plane, while
by continued repetition of the same act the whole of the
protoplasm or yolk becomes broken up into a vast multi¬
tude of cells, and the unicellular organism — the egg, with
which we began our history — has become converted into
an organism composed of many thousands of cells. This
is one of the most widely distributed phenomena of the
organic world. It is called “ the cleavage of the egg,”
and consists essentially in the production, by division, of
successive broods of cells from a single ancestral cell —
the egg.

It is no part of my purpose to carry on the phenomena
of development further than this. Such of my hearers
as may desire to become acquainted with the further
history of the embryo, I would refer to the excellent
address delivered two years ago at the Plymouth meeting
of the Association by one of my predecessors in this chair
— Professor Allen Thompson.

That protoplasm, however, may present a phenomenon
the reverse of that in which a simple cell becomes multi¬
plied into many, is shown by a phenomenon already re¬
ferred to — the production of plasmodia in the Myxomy-
cetae by the fusion into one another of cells originally
distinct.

The genus Myriothela will afford another example in
which the formation of plasmodia becomes introduced
into the cycle of development. The primitive eggs are

here, as elsewhere, true cell's with nucleolated nuclei, but
without any boundary membrane. They are formed in
considerable numbers, but remain only for a short time
separate and distinct. After this they begin to exhibit
amoeboid changes of shape, project pseudopodial prolong¬
ations which coalesce with those of others in their vicinity,
and finally a multitude of these primitive ova become
fused together into a common plasmodium, in which, as
in the simple egg cell of other animals, the phenomena
of development take place.

In many of the lower plants a very similar coalescence
is known to take place between the protoplasmic bodies
of separate cells, and constitutes the phenomenon of con¬
jugation. Spirogyra is a genus of Algae, consisting of
long green threads common in ponds. Every thread is
composed of a series of cylindrical chambers of trans¬
parent cellulose placed end to end, each containing a sac
of protoplasm with a large quantity of cell sap, and with
a green band of chlorophyll wound spirally on its walls.
When the threads have attained their full growth they
approach one another in pairs, and lie in close proximity,
parallel one to the other. A communication is then
established by means of short connecting tubes between
the chambers of adjacent filaments, and across the
channel thus formed the whole of the protoplasm of one
of the conjugating chambers passes into the cavity of the
other, and then immediately fuses with the protoplasm
it finds there. The single mass thus formed shapes itself
into a solid oval body, known as a “ zygospore.’ This
now frees itself from the filament, secretes over its naked
surface a new wall of cellulose, and, when placed in the
conditions necessary for its development, attaches itself
by one end, and then, by repeated acts of cell division,
grows into a many-celled filament like those in which it
originated.

The formation of plasmodia, regarded as a coalescence
and absolute fusion into one another of separate naked
masses of protoplasm, is a phenomenon of great signifi¬
cance. It is highly probable that, notwithstanding the
complete loss of individuality in the combining elements,
such differences as may have been present in these will
always find itself expressed in the properties of the re¬
sulting plasmodia — a fact of great importance in its
bearing on the phenomena of inheritance. Recent
researches, indeed, render it almost certain that fertiliza¬
tion, whether in the animal or the vegetable kingdom,
consists essentially in the coalescence and consequent loss
of individuality of the protoplasmic contents of two
cells.

In by far the greater number of plants the protoplasm
of most of the cells which are exposed to the sunlight
undergoes a curious and important differentiation, part of
it becoming separated from the remainder in the form
usually of green granules, known as chlorophyll granules.
The chlorophyll granules thus consist of true protoplasm,
their colour being due to the presence of a green colour¬
ing matter, which may be extracted, leaving behind the
colourless protoplasmic base.

The colouring matter of chlorophyll presents under the
spectroscope a very characteristic spectrum. For our
knowledge of its optical properties, on which time will
not now permit me to dwell, we are mainly indebted to
the researches of your townsman, Dr. Sorby, who has
made these the subject of a series of elaborate investiga¬
tions, which have contributed largely to the advancement
of an important department of physical science.

That the chlorophyll is a living substance, like the
uncoloured protoplasm of the cell, is sufficiently obvious.
When once formed, the chlorophyll granule may grow
by intussusception of nutriment to many times its original
size, and may multiply itself by division.

To the presence of chlorophyll is due one of the most
striking aspects of external nature — the green colour of
the vegetation which clothes the surface of the earth;
and with its formation is introduced a function of
fundamental importance in the economy of plants, for it

August 23, 1ST9.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

15&

is on the cells which contain this substance that devolves
the faculty of decomposing carbonic acid. On this
depends the assimilation of plants, a process which be¬
comes manifest externally by the exhalation of oxygen.
Now it is under the influence of light on the chlorophyll-
containing cells that this evolution of oxygen is brought
about. The recent observations of Draper and of Pfeffer
have shown that in this action the solar spectrum is not
equally effective in all its parts; that the yellow and
least refrangible rays are these which act with most
intensity; that the violet and other highly refrangible
rays of the visible spectrum take but a very subordinate
part in assimilation ; and that the invisible rays which
lie beyond the violet are totally inoperative.

In almost every grain of chlorophyll one or more
starch granules may be seen. This starch is chemically
isomeric with the cellulose cell wall, with woody fibre,
and other hard parts of plants, and is one of the most
important products of assimilation. When plants whose
chlorophyll contains starch are left for a sufficient time
in darkness, the starch is absorbed and completely dis¬
appears; but when they are restored to the light the
starch reappears in the chlorophyll of. the cells.

With this dependence of assimilation on the presence
of chlorophyll a new physiological division of labour is
introduced into the life of plants. In the higher plants,
while the work of assimilation is allocated to the chloro¬
phyll-containing cells, that of cell division and growth
devolves on another set of cells, which, lying deeper in
the plant, are removed from the direct action of light,
and in which chlorophyll is therefore never produced.
In certain lower plants, in consequence of their simplicity
of structure and the fact that all the cells are equally
exposed to the influence of light, this physiological
division of labour shows itself in a somewhat different
fashion. Thus in some of the simple green algae, such as
Spirogyra and H ydrodictyon, assimilation takes place as
in other cases during the day, while their cell division
and growth takes place chiefly, if not exclusively, at
night. Strasburger, in his Remarkable observations on
cell divisions in Spirogyra, was obliged to adopt an
artificial device in order to compel the Spirogyra to post¬
pone the division of its cells to the morning.

Here the functions of assimilation and growth devolve
on one and the same cell, but while one of these functions
is exei*cisei only during the day, the time for the other
is the night. It seems impossible for the same cell at
the same time to exercise both functions, and these are
here accordingly divided between different periods of the
twenty-four hours.

The action of chlorophyll in bringing about the de¬
composition of carbonic acid is not, as was recently
believed, absolutely confined to plants. In some of the
lower animals, such as Stentor and other infusoria, the
Green Hydra, and certain green planarioe and other
worms, chlorophyll is differentiated in their protoplasm,
and probably always acts here under the influence of
light exactly as in plants.

Indeed, it has been proved by some recent researches
of Mr. Geddes, that the green planarize when placed in
water and exposed to the sunlight give out bubbles of
gas which contain from 41 to 55 per cent, of oxygen.
Mr. Geddes has further shown that these animals contain
granules of starch in their tissues, and in this fact we
have another striking point of resemblance between them
and plants.

A similar approximation of the two organic kingdoms
has been shown by the beautiful researches of Mr.
Darwin — confirmed and extended by his son, Mr. Francis
Darwin — on Drosera and other so-called carnivorous
plants. These researches, as is now well known, have
shown that in all carnivorous plants there is a mechanism
fitted for the capture of living prey, and that the animal
matter of the prey is absorbed by the plant after having
been digested by a secretion which acts like the gastric
juice of animals.

Again, Nageli has recently shown that the cell of the
yeast fungus contains about 2 per cent, of peptine, a
substance hitherto known only as a product of the diges¬
tion of azotized matter by animals.

Indeed, all recent research has been bringing out in a
more and more decisive manner the fact that there is no
dualism in life — that the life of the animal and the life
of the plant are, like their protoplasm, in all essential
points identical.

But there is, perhaps, nothing which shows more
strikingly the identity of the protoplasm in plants and
animals, and the absence of any deep-pervading difference
between the life of the animal and that of the plant,
than the fact that plants may be placed, just like animals,
under the influence of anaesthetics.

When the vapour of chloroform or of ether is inhaled
by the human subject, it passes into the lungs, where it
is absorbed by the blood and thence carried by the
circulation to all the tissues of the body. The first to-
be affected by it is the delicate nervous element of the
brain, and loss of consciousness is the result. If the
action of the amesthetic be continued, all the other tissues
are in their turn attacked by it and their irritability
arrested. A set of phenomena entirely parallel to these
may be presented by plants.

We owe to Claude Bernard a series of interesting and
most instructive experiments on the action of ether and
chloroform on plants. He exposed to the vapour of ether
a healthy and vigorous sensitive plant, by confining it
under a bell-glass into which he introduced a sponge
filled with ether. At the end of half an hour the plant
was in a state of anaesthesia, all its leaflets remained
fully extended, but they showed no tendency to shrink
when touched. It was then withdrawn from the in¬
fluence of the ether, when it gradually recovered its
irritability, and finally responded, as before, to the touch.

It is obvious that the irritability of the protoplasm
was here arrested by the anaesthetic, so that the plant
became unable to give a response to the action of an ex¬
ternal stimulus.

It is not, however, the irritability of the protoplasm of
only the motor elements of plants that anaesthetics are
capable of arresting. These may act also on the proto¬
plasm of those cells whose function lies in chemical
synthesis, such as is manifested in the phenomena of the
germination of the seed and in nutrition generally, and
Claude Bernard has shown that germination is suspended
by the action of ether or chloroform.

Seeds of cress, a plant whose germination is very rapid,
were placed in conditions favourable to a speedy ger¬
mination, and while thus placed were exposed to the
vapour of ether. The germination, which would other¬
wise have shown itself by the next day, was arrested.
For five or six days the seeds were kept under the in¬
fluence of the ether, and showed during this time no
disposition to germinate. They were not killed, however,
they only slept, for on the substitution of common air
for the etherized air with which they had been sur¬
rounded, germination at once set in and proceeded with
activity.

Experiments were also made on that function of plants
by which they absorb carbonic acid and exhale oxygen, and
which, as we have already seen, is carried on through the
agency of the green protoplasm or chlorophyll, under the
influence of light — a function which is commonly, but
erroneously, called the respiration of plants.

Aquatic plants afford the most convenient subjects for
such experiments. If one of these be placed in a jar
of wa'er holding ether or chloroform in solution, and a
bell-glass be placed over the submerged plant, we shall
find that the plant no longer absorbs carbonic acid or
emits oxygen. It remains, however, quite green and
healthy. In order to awaken the plant, it is only
necessary to place it in non-etherized water, when it will
begin once more to absorb carbonic acid and exhale
oxygen under the influence of sunlight.

160 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 23, 1*79.

The same great physiologist has also investigated the
action of anaesthetics on fermentation. It is well known
that alcoholic fermentation is due to the presence of a
minute fungus, the yeast fungus, the living protoplasm of
•whose cells has the property of separating solutions of
sugar into alcohol, which remains in the liquid, and car¬
bonic acid, which escapes into the air.

Now, if the yeast plant be placed along with sugar in
etheiized water it will no longer act as a ferment. It is
unaesthesiated, and cannot respond to the stimulus which,
under ordinary circumstances, it would find in the
^presence of the sugar. If, now, it be placed on a filter,
and the ether washed completely away, it will, on re¬
storation to a saccharine liquid, soon resume its duty of
separating the sugar into alcohol and carbonic acid.

Claude Bernard has further called attention to a very
significant fact which is observable in this experiment.
'While the proper alcoholic fermentation is entirely
arrested by the etherization of the yeast plant, there still
goes on in the saccharine solution a curious chemical
■change, the cane sugar of the solution being converted
into grape sugar, a substance identical in its chemical
•composition with the cane sugar, but different in its
molecular constitution. Now it is well known from the
researches of Bertholet that this conversion of cane sugar
into grape sugar is due to a peculiar inversive ferment,
which, while it accompanies the living yeast plant, is
itself soluble and destitute of life. Indeed it has been
shown that in its natural conditions the yeast fungus is
amable of itself to assimilate cane sugar, and that in order
that this may be brought into a state fitted for the
nutrition of the fungus, it must be first digested and con¬
verted into grape sugar, exactly as happens in our own
digestive organs. To quote Claude Bernard’s graphic
account : —

“ The fungns ferment has thus beside it in the same
yeast a sort of servant given by nature to effect this di¬
gestion. The servant is the unorganized inversive
ferment. This ferment is soluble, and as it is not a plant,
but an unorganized body destitute of sensibility, it has
not gone to sleep under the action of the ether, and thus
•continues to fulfil its task.”

In the experiment already recorded on the germination
>of seeds the interest is by no means confined to that
which attaches itself to the arrest of the organizing
functions of the seed, those, namely, which manifest them¬
selves in the development of the radicle and plumule and
other organs of the young plant. Another phenomenon
•of great significance becomes at the same time apparent —
the anaesthetic exerts no action on the concomitant
chemical phenomena which in germinating seeds show
themselves in the transformation of starch into sugar
under the influence of diastase (a soluble and non-living
ferment which also exists in the seed), and the absorption
of oxygen with the exhalation of carbonic acid. These
go on as usual, the ansesthesiated seed continuing to
respire, as proved by the accumulation of carbonic acid in
the surrounding air. The presence of the carbonic acid
was rendered evident by placing in the same vessel
with the seeds which were the object of the experiment a
solution of barytes, when the carbonate became precipi¬
tated from the solution in quantity equal to that pro¬
duced in a similar experiment with seeds germinating in
unetherized air.

So, also, in the experiment which proves the faculty
possessed by the chlorophyllian cells of absorbing car¬
bonic acid and exhaling oxygen under the influence of
light may be arrested by anaesthetics, it could be seen
that the plant, while in a state of anaesthesia, continued
to respire in the manner of animals : that is, it continued
to absorb oxygen and exhale carbonic acid. This is the
true respiratory function which was previously masked
by the predominant function of assimilation, which de¬
volves on the green cells of plants, and which manifests
itself under the influence of light in the absorption of
carbonic acid and the exhalation of oxygen.

It must not, however, be supposed that the respiration
of plants is entirely independent of life. The conditions
which bring the oxygen of the air and the combustible
matter of the respiring plant into such relations as may
allow them to act on one another are still under its
control, and we must conclude that in Claude Bernard’s
experiment the anaesthesia had not been carried so far as
to arrest such properties of the living tissues as are needed
for this.

The quite recent researches of Schiitzenberger, who
has investigated the process of respiration as it takes
place in the cell of the yeast fungus, have shown that
vitality is a factor in this process. He has shown that
fresh yeast, placed in water, breathes like an aquatic
animal, disengaging carbonic acid, and causing the oxygen
contained in the water to disappear. That this pheno¬
menon is a function of the living cell is proved by the
fact that, if the yeast be first heated to 60° C. and then
placed in the oxygenated water, the quantity of oxygen
in the water remains unchanged; in other words, the
yeast ceases to breathe.

Schiitzenberger has further shown that light exerts no
influence on the respiration of the yeast cell — that the
absorption of oxygen by the cell takes place in the dark
exactly as in sunlight. On the other hand, the influence
of temperature is well marked. Respiration is almost
entirely arrested at temperatures below 10° C., it reaches
its maximum at about 40° C., while at 60° C., it again
ceases.

All this proves that the respiration of living beings is
identical, whether manifested in the plant or in the
animal. It is essentially a destructive phenomenon — as
much so as the burning of a piece of charcoal in the open
air, and, like it, is characterized by the disappearance of
oxygen and the formation of carbonic acid.

One of the most valuable results of the recent careful
application of the experimental method of research to
the life phenomena of plants is thus the complete demoli¬
tion of the supposed antagonism between respiration in
plants and that in animals. •

I have thus endeavoured to give you in a few broad
outlines a sketch of the nature and properties of one
special modification of matter, which will yield to none
other in the interest which attaches to its study, and in
the importance of the part allocated to it in the economy
of nature. Did the occasion permit I might have entered
into many details which I have left untouched ; but
enough has been said to convince you that in protoplasm
we find the only form of matter in which life can manifest
itself ; and that, though the outer conditions of life —
heat, air, water, food — may all be present, protoplasm
would still be needed, in order that these conditions may
be utilized, in order that the energy of lifeless nature
may be converted into that of the countless multitudes
of animal and vegetable forms which dwell upon the
surface of the earth or people the great depths of its seas.

We are thus led to the conception of an essential unity
in the two great kingdoms of organic nature — a struc¬
tural unity, in the fact that every living being has
protoplasm as the essential matter of every living element
of its structure ; and a physiological unity, in the
universal attribute of irritability which has its seat in
this same protoplasm, and is the prime mover of every
phenomenon of life.

( To be continued.)

^owfsjjotttlqtq.

Messrs. Mclhuaine and Marshall. — We are not aware
that any such code of rules has been published.

E. Ware. — Artemisia vulgaris. _

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Radclyffe, Wheeler, George, Reynolds, Mcllwaine
and Marshall, Ware, Jarmay, Talbot, J. K. Nicol, Secre¬
tary of Leicester Association, Inquirer, Pendennis, Country
Apprentice, H. S. N.

August 30, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

161

“ THE MONTH.”

When tho§e industrious little insects, the bees,
cease working, or at all events collect but little
honey, on account of the weather, it is hardly to be
expected that flowers under such circumstances
should prove more attractive to human beings,
unless, like the Ligurian bees, they defy the
weather. Studying plants under an umbrella is by
no means an agreeable operation, and as sunny
skies seem out of the question at present, our floral
calendar this month may well be a short one.

The terrific thunderstorm early in this month,
which spent its fury chiefly in the neighbourhood of
Kew and Richmond, committed such havoc, that the
conservatories have had to be closed against the
public for repairs, no less than 16,000 panes of glass
having been destroyed. The house containing medi¬
cinal plants, however, appears to have been com¬
paratively uninjured, although great damage was
done in its immediate neighbourhood.

In the Economic House, at Kew, the cacao tree
has the upper portion of its diminutive trunk and
the lower branches studded with little white flowers,
the size of which is absurdly small when compared
with the large fruit, which is often a foot in length.
The Indian variety of the arrowroot and the papaw
tree (male plant) are also in flower, and the Guizotia
oleifera, which yields the niger seed of commerce, is
covered with handsome yellow flowers bearing some
resemblance to those of the corn marigold ( Chrysan¬
themum segetum). Cinchona anglica is now in bud,
and will shortly expand its flowers. Chlorantlius
officinalis, used in Java as an aromatic stimulant in
typhus fever, is also opening its minute green flowers.
Adenantherci pavonina, which yields the bright
scarlet seeds often used as necklaces, and which are
used by jewellers in the east as weights, since they
weigh almost uniformly 4 grains, is just showing its
small yellowish flowers ; these are most disappoint¬
ing when compared with the brilliant colour and
polish of the seeds.

On the outside wall of the Economic House the
jalap plant may be seen flowering freely. In the
Herbaceous Ground several American medicinal
plants may now be seen in blossom, including Eupa-
torium purpureum, Liatris spicata, Leptandra vir-
ginica and Monarcla didyma. Leptandra virginica
is not unlike the ordinary Veronica genticinoides
grown in gardens, but is a taller plant with rather
smaller flowers. It has, however, a very pretty and
neat appearance and seems to flourish well in the
open air. Now that the root, or rather its active
principle, leptandrin, is coming into use in this
country, it might be worth cultivating. Monarda
didyma is a very handsome plant ; its head of bril¬
liant crimson flowers and bracts forming a most
striking object when surrounded by plenty of green
foliage. The upper lip of the ringent corolla is
remarkably long and narrow and conceals the two
anthers.

At Mr. Ware’s Nursery, at Tottenham, may now
be seen in flower a mass of Nardostachys Jatamansi,
the plant supposed to be the spikenard of Scripture.
It is said to bear cultivation well. It is not, how¬
ever, a very handsome plant. The leaves are
lanceolate and the flower stems are only 3 — 6 inches
long, terminated by a cluster of small and not very
attractive violet-coloured blossoms. The odour of
the root somewhat resembles that of patchouli.

Other medicinal plants in blossom now are Althcea
Third Series, No. 479.

officinalis, Cannabis sativa, Lactuca virosa, Artemisia
Absinthium, Lobelia syphilitica and Origanum Dic-
tcimnus.

On chalky or calcareous banks the wild marjoram,
Origanum vidgare, may now be seen giving quite a
gay appearance to the waste places where it grows
in any abundance ; indeed it is to this fact that it
owes its name, derived from two Greek words or os
and ganos, meaning mountain joy.

This plant has a very ancient reputation, as it was
used by the Greeks, both internally and for fomen¬
tations, and considered as a remedy for narcotic
poisons, such as opium and hemlock. Gerarde
speaks of it as being a diuretic, useful in dropsy,
and externally of service in some skin diseases.

The English or wild marjoram propagates itself
extensively by slender stolons. Two forms are re¬
cognized in k English Botany,’ one with ovate few-
flowered spikes, and the other with few prismatic
many-flowered spikes. Specimens with pale pink
and white flowers may occasionally be met with.

The marjoram used as a sweet herb is not this
plant, but 0. Majorana or 0. Onites. The former
has small, roundish spikes and small, stalked, ellip¬
tical, smooth leaves, and the latter, oblong spikes
and downy cordate leaves. Neither have the pretty
appearance of the wild marjoram, which is largely due
to the coloured bracts that subtend the flowers.

There are few, probably, do not —

“ Know a bank where the wild thyme blows.”

But a few other facts connected with thyme do not
appear to be so generally known as might be expected
in these days of advanced education. In the adver¬
tisement columns of a contemporary may be noticed
the statement that thymol is obtained from “ wild
thyme ( Origanum vulgar e)T Wild thyme ( Thymus
Serpyllum , L.) includes two forms, which by some
authors are regarded as species. The form described
in 1 Babington’s Manual ’ under the name of T. Ser¬
pyllum, L., forms dense cushions, consisting in
great measure of barren shoots with comparatively
few short, erect flowering stems rising one or two
inches above the tuft. The other Thymus Chamve-
drys grows in loose tufts with long slender flowering
stems, five or six inches or more in height, and has
altogether a different habit, by which, indeed, rather
than by any good botanical characters, it is dis¬
tinguished. In the latter plant the upper corolla lip
is more rounded and less notched than in T. Ser¬
pyllum. The common thyme of the gardens, Thy¬
mus vulgaris, L., is distinguished by its erect habit
and revolute leaves, and is a native of the South of
Europe. It is from this plant that the Oleum origani
of the shops is obtained, and of which, when pure,
thymol is said to form about one half. Thymol has,
however, been obtained of late years from the essen¬
tial oil of the seeds of Ptychotis Ajowan, an umbel¬
liferous plant grown in India. The lemon thyme
used as a culinary herb is Thymus citrriodorus,
Schreb.

A good idea of the variety of forms to which
plants are subject may be obtained by studying the
varieties of the common dandelion. The true natu¬
ralist will not be satisfied with knowing merely the
typical form of any species, but will seek a know¬
ledge of the life-history of the commoner plants
which come under his daily notice. With regard to
the dandelion it would be an interesting inquiry as to
which of the various forms yield the largest amount
and best quality of extract, and how far the medi-

162 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 80, 1 879.

eiual properties and forms of the plant are affected
by the circumstances under which it grows.

In Sowerhy’s ‘ English Botany,’ four varieties are
described, a genuinum, with bright green decidedly
luncinate leaves, and the outer bracts of the in¬
volucre recurved ; /3 erythrospermum, having dull
green, deeply runcinate leaves, the segments reach¬
ing almost to the midrib, and the outer bracts of the
involucre spreading horizontally ; y lacvigatum, with
dull green leaves, deeply pinnatifid with triangular
strap-shaped lobes, and the outer bracts loosely
adpressed to the involucre ; and 5 palustre , with
dull green leaves, having few broad spreading lobes,
©r almost entire. Yar. /3 prefers a dry sandy soil, and
flowers in early summer. Yar. 5 grows in moist
situations and flowers in the beginning of autumn.
Those who are interested in knowing more of our
sommon plants, will find useful monthly notes in
©ur excellent contemporary Science Gossip, under
the heading of “Botanical Work for the Month.”

In the Bulletin de la Societe de Pharmacie de Bor¬
deaux, M. Leon Perier gives an account of the
hairs found on the leaves of digitalis. The structure
©f these hairs enables the microscopist to recognize
the leaves of digitalis, even when powdered, from
those of henbane, tobacco, aconite, stramonium,
hemlock, etc., with the greatest ease, as anyone
may find who will take the trouble to compare the
hairs of these plants, first in their perfect state and
then as found in powdered leaves.

The present number of ‘Medicinal Plants’ contains
figures of Balsamodendron Myrrha, Aloe spicata ,
Roccella tinctoria, Cetraria islandica, Claviceps pur¬
purea , Fucus vesiculosus, Chondrus crispms and Graci-
laria lichenoides. Much light has been thrown upon
the plants producing myrrh and the allied gum-
resins mixed with it, by the excellent specimens
collected by Mr. Wykebam Peiry, and presented to
Kew Gardens, where the bissa-bol plant is still
growing, although the myrrh plant is unfortunately
dead. The authors think that B. Kafal will pro¬
bably turn out to be the plant yielding bissa-bol.
Until the specimen at Kew flowers, however, this
point cannot be satisfactorily determined. Those
who choose to supplement the article on myrrh
by the information contained on p. 81 of the current
volume of this Journal will be in possession of the
most recent contributions to our knowledge of this
interesting subject. Aloe spicata, the drawing of
which is a very characteristic one, has not previously
been figured. The authors have followed Mudd in
uniting Roccella phycopsis, Ach., and R. tinctoria, DC.,
and perhaps rightly so. So far as the writer has ob¬
served R. phycopsis, Ach., is the only form which occurs
in this country, and may be readily distinguished
when gathered by the yellowish colour of its point of
attachment to the rock ; that of R. fnciformis and of
R. tinctoria (at all events in dried specimens) being
always white. No notice is taken of Roccella Mon-
tagnei, Bel., as a plant yielding litmus or archil,
although a large quantity arrives in this country for
commercial purposes. This species is easily distin¬
guished from R. fuciformis by its soft texture.
Variolaria, which the authors quote, is now not
xecognized as a genus of lichens. The article on
ergot is a remarkably clear and concise resume both
©f the botany and chemistry of the subject and is
brought up to the most recent date. It may in¬
terest some readers to know that specimens of all
the chemical principles obtained from ergot by

Dragendorff, as well as crystallized ergotinine pre¬
pared by Tauret, may be seen in the Museum of the
Pharmaceutical Society. The drawing of Fucus
vesiculosus is a remarkably good one. The authors
do not agree with Thuret in separating Fucus
platycarpus, as a species. The two plants, besides
differing in the shape of the organs of fructification,
and in the latter plant being monoecious, may be
seen growing together on the same shore and within
a few yards of each other, preserving their distinctive
characters.

From the anniversary report of the Royal Botani¬
cal Society, Regent’s Park, it appears that 540 free
students’ and artists’ tickets, for teims of one to six
months each, have been issued during the year, and
about 25,000 cut specimens given to the holders, besides
which nearly 29,000 specimens of plants have been
distributed to the several medical and art schools of
the metropolis. The meteorological report of the
same society shows that the mean temperature of
the first six months of this year was 49*35 against
54*7 last year, and that the rain for the same period
was in an excess of 3 inches over that of last year.

From the Garden we learn that in Germany
nearly every town has its botanical garden for fur¬
nishing means of instruction in botany. Berlin has
two, the larger of which supplies 120 institutions of
learning, including 100 common schools, requiring
3,000,000 specimens. The plants are arranged in
bundles and. distributed in -waggons. The flower
described by the teacher is illustrated by a living
specimen placed in the hand of each pupil. In a
letter to the same journal, a correspondent suggests
that the nosegays of flow'ers sent to hospitals should
contain svreet smelling green plants along with the
flowTers, such as rosemary, lavender and gum cistus,
an idea, which at first sight, when considered in
connection with the ozone-producing power of some
essential oils, would appear to be a very good one.
It should not, liowTever, be forgotten that the per¬
fumes of some flowers are apt to cause headache and
discomfort in peculiarly susceptible patients.

Most botanists are familiar with the odour pos¬
sessed by the curious water plant Chara feetida.
This odour has recently been attributed to a kind of
camphor, which its discoverer, Dr. Phipson,* has
called cliaracine. The name is perhaps ill- chosen,
since he has obtained the substance also from Pal-
mella cruenta, Oscillaria autumnalis, 0. tenuis and
Nostoc. It is obtained from Palmella cruenta (a
purplish-red substance, found at the base of damp
walls, etc.) by drying it in the air at less than
summer heat, then placing it in a covered glass
vessel ; in thirty-six or more hours the characine
torms a film on the water, and the clear decanted
liquid is then shaken up with ether. On evaporation
the ether leaves the characine as a white greasy
substance having a strong marshy odour, lighter
than water, and. disappearing either by volatilization
or oxidation. To this substance the marshy odour
of fresh-water algae in general is attributed by Dr.
Phipson.

From the Boston Journal of Chemistry we learn
that an analysis of a Florida orange gave 23*33 per
cent, for the weight of the rind, 2*84 per cent, for
the seeds and 73*83 per cent, for the pulp, the free
acid in the latter consisting of about equal parts of
malic and citric acids.

Reports from the Isle of Reunion state that most

* Chemical News, August 22, 18/9, p. S6.

AnguBt 30, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

163

!

i

i

I

of the vanilla plantations there have been destroyed
by a frightful cyclone of three days’ duration, and
that those which have not been destroyed are greatly
damaged, so that there will be hardly any harvest
this year ; consequently, a high price for this article
may be expected.

In a recent report on the Government plantations
at Adelaide, South Australia, Dr. Schomburgk states
that a great demand has arisen in that colony for the
Phytolacca decandra , which is freely used by homoeo¬
paths in the treatment of diphtheria. The parts of
the plant official in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia
are the roots and berries.

M. Colin, in the Revue Hebdomadaire des Sciences,
states that santonin is a complete cure for the obsti¬
nate endemic diarrhoea of Cochin China, and that it
acts by destroying the anguillulse by which the
disease is occasioned.

“ There is no new thing under the sun,” is a de¬
claration generally accepted with the reverence due to
the wise preacher who uttered it, but it was hardly
to have been expected that the noble savage could
claim priority of Dr. Maclagan in the use of salicin
in the treatment of rheumatism. Nevertheless the
special correspondent of the Medical Times and
■Gazette in Zululand relates that having, in the year
1861, prescribed the usual remedies for a Dutch
woman suffering severely from rheumatic swellings
and pain, and meeting her two months afterwards
looking well and hearty, he was about to congratu¬
late her when he was met by the exclamation, “ De
doktor goot had nict gehelp the interpretation of
which is, “The doctor’s medicine did not help a bit.”
Upon inquiring what had helped lier, she said the
old Hottentot shepherd had cured her with a decoc¬
tion of the tips of willow, which fringe the banks of
the Orange river. And yet, had a list of South
African drugs, including “ willow tips,” been pub¬
lished at that time, it would probably not have
attracted the least attention.

In a recent number of the British Medical Journal
complaint is made by a correspondent of the varia¬
tion in character of commercial euonymin, one
specimen which was received from a first class house
consisting of brown particles mixed with the greenish
particles of euonymin in considerable quantity. The
euonymin used by Professor Rutherford and made
by a New York firm, did not contain the brown
particles. From the description given it would
appear as if the euonymin alluded to were a
mixture of a watery and spirituous extract in
powder. The euonymin prepared by the same pro¬
cess as podophyllin is a very hygroscopic substance
and cannot easily be kept in a powdered state. It
is time that some of our practical pharmacists should
experiment as to the best means of making euony¬
min in a convenient and active form.

A correspondent of the British Medical Journal
states that bromide of potassium given in doses of
not more than 20 grains is a most valuable remedy
for the sickness of pregnancy. Given in conjunction
with other agents applicable to the local gastric irri¬
tation which may have ensued from the time sickness
commenced, he has never found it to fail.

Another writer to the Lancet finds that hydro-
bromic acid in doses of 20 minims is very superior in
its action to bromide of potassium in controlling the
obstinate sickness arising from ulceration of the
stomach.

In the Louisville Medical News sulphate of eserine

has recently been recommended by Dr. Cheatham as
a means of delaying the use of spectacles, so that they
are not required for several years, this alkaloid
having the power of stimulating the ciliary muscle
and thus assisting accommodation. The strength
used is one grain of the sulphate of eserine to an
ounce of water. One drop of this solution is put in
the eye at night or when required.

Professor Laden berg, of Kiel University, has been
studying the artificial production of atropine, and
has succeeded in recombining tropic acid and tropin e
into atropine which is un distinguishable physically,
chemically or physiologically from the original alka¬
loid. Among other interesting discoveries to which
his inquiry has led is that of tropine being converted
under special treatment with strorg hydrochloric
acid into a new oily base called t.opidine, which
bears a singular relation to conine and collidine.
Thus, collidine has the formula C8HnN ; tropidine
CsH13N ; and conine C8H15N.

H. Weidel (Deut. Ch. Ges. Ber., xii., 410) has been
repeating the experiment of Fleitmann, in the oxi¬
dation of berberine by means of nitric acid. Instead
of obtaining oxalic acid, as reported by Fleitmann, he
obtained a new tribasic nitrogenous acid, which he
has named berberonic acid. It is prepared by
heating berberine with eight or ten times its weight
of nitric acid, concentrating the solution, and puri¬
fying the crystalline mass which separates on cooling
by recrystallization from boiling water and conver¬
sion into a calcium salt. Upon decomposing this
with an acid and crystallizing from hot water ber¬
beronic acid is obtained in groups of transparent
prismatic crystals, sparingly soluble in alcohol and
cold water, easily soluble in hot water, and insoluble
in ether, benzene and chloroform. Freshly crystal¬
lized the composition is represented by the formula
C8H6N0c + 2H20, but on exposure to air the crystals
lose one molecule of water, and become opaque.

A test to distinguish between tartaric acid and
citric acid is published by Cailletet ( Chem . Centralbl.,
1879, p. 14), based upon the difference in the be¬
haviour of these two acids towards a cold saturated
solution of potassium bichromate, tartaric acid
assuming a dark brown colour and giving off car¬
bonic anhydride, whilst citric acid is affected only
slowly and gives a light brown colour. If 10 c.c. of *
the potassium dichromate solution be added to a
gram of pure oitrie acid the orange red colour is
unaltered at the end of ten minutes ; if 5 per cent,
of tartaric acid be present a dark brown colour is
produced, and if 1 per cent, a coffee-browu tint.
Vinegar made from wine, and containing tartrate,
may be distinguished by this test from vinegar made
from fruit and beer or wood vinigar.

Another soluble albuminate of mercury for hypo¬
dermic use has been patented in Germany by a Mr.
H. Drees. According to the specification it is pre¬
pared by mixing with an alkaline solution of
albumen sufficient mercuric acetate to leave neither
albumen nor mercury in excess, and removing
excess of alkali together with the secondary salts
produced in the reaction by dialysis or precipitation
with carbonic acid gas and dilute alcohol. Or freshly
precipitated mercuric oxide may be added to the
alkaline solution of albumen, allowed to digest and
the resulting albuminate separated as above. This
albuminate is described as soluble in water rendered
slightly alkaline by a trace of caustic alkalies, alka¬
line earths or ammonia.

164

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

August 3.0, 1879-

Much confusion arises from the fact that henzol
and benzin are often used as synonymous terms.
In some works the name benzin is now applied to a
light petroleum product. In the Archiv cler Phar-
macie , it is pointed out that benzol is soluble in one-
half to three-quarters its weight of alcohol, while
benzin (used in the sense just named) requires six
times its weight, so that the two may be thus dis¬
tinguished.

In the Chemiker Zeitung, Maumene states that he
considers the best characteristic test for oils is the
amount of heat liberated when 10 c.c. of concentrated
sulphuric acid are mixed with 50 grams of the oil.
The acid is added with a pipette and the mixture
stirred with a thermometer. Under these conditions
olive oil gives a temperature of 42° C. and linseed
103° C.

In the Technologiste it is stated that common rosin
prevents the formation of acetic acid in fermented
liquids without hindering alcoholic fermentation and
the writer suggests that the peculiar effect of the hop
may be due to its resinous matter rather than to its
essential oil. The custom of using Burgundy pitch
in lining beer-casks in Germany is thus evidently
not without its value.

The Lancet, commenting upon a statement that
has appeared in various journals to the effect that
arsenic is present in paper collars, etc., states that it
has been ascertained by analysis that arsenic is not
present, but that the substance used for glazing or
facing them is sulphate of baryta.

Mr. C. T. Gage, in New Remedies for this month,
gives a paper on the structure and adulterations of
powdered capsicum, with illustrations of the micro¬
scopical appearances of the drug. Out of seventeen
samples analysed by him only three proved to be
pure and free from adulteration, the chief adulterants
being maize, wheat, oat and pea starches, with small
quantities of black pepper, mustard and turmeric.

A writer in the Deutsche Gartner- Zeitung recalls
the fact that a decoction of the stems and leaves of
the tomato plant forms a useful insecticide for the
greenhouse. He has found that when the decoction
is syringed over plants attacked by insects it at once
destroys black or green fly, caterpillars, etc., and
that it leaves behind a peculiar odour which
prevents insects from visiting the plants for a long
time.

The Scientific American, which never misses an
opportunity of extolling the progress of home in¬
dustries in the United States, says that the manu¬
facture of cream of tartar has so developed there
that the imports of it from France have fallen in six
years from 6,000,0C0 pounds yearly to none, whilst
the price has been reduced from 32 to 24 cents per
pound. In like manner the imports of citric acid
from England have fallen from 250,000 pounds
yearly to 27,000 pounds last year, the price having
fallen to about one-half. In the case of borax the
relations are even more completely reversed ; for
in consequence of the development of the borax
mines in Nevada, England now appears as a buyer
of crude and refined borax in the United States
market, where she used to be the principal seller.

In the Moniteur Scientifique, M. Bardy points out
that the actual amount of acid contained in glacial
acetic aeid may be determined by the solubility of oil
of turpentine in it. To a known volume of the aeid
8 to 10 times its volume of the oil is added and the
mixture stirred two or three times. If the mixture

remains clear the acid contains 97 to 98 per cent.
In order to obtain comparable results the samples
operated on should be of the same temperature, 15° C.
being most suitable. The author found that the per¬
centage in the fifty-seven samples examined by him
varied from 87 to 99 '5 j)er cent.

In the same journal, M. Guyard describes the
metal uralium, discovered by him in 1869 in
commercial Russian platinum, as being, next to silver',,
the whitest metal known, and as malleable as pla¬
tinum, but much more ductile and almost as soft as
lead, while it is not volatile and its melting point is
near that of platinum. Its sp. gr. is 2025, its mole¬
cular volume 6*25, and its atomic weight 187 ’25.

The present year indeed promises to be an event¬
ful one in the history of the elements. On, the one
hand scarcely a month passes without the reported
discovery of some new substance to which this term
is applied, and, on the other there is an accumula¬
tion of evidence that appears to give strength to the
doubt whether more than a few, if any, known sub¬
stances are entitled to that name. Some most
interesting speculations have been put forward by
Professor Victor Meyer in a lecture delivered at
Zurich last month, based upon results obtained
whilst working out the determination of the vapour
densities of various bodies by the process invented
by himself and Herr Carl Meyer, and described in
this Journal last May (vol. ix., p. 936). At a tem¬
perature of about 1567° C., results were obtained
indicating that the molecular constitution of mer¬
cury, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur is correctly
indicated by the formulae usually adopted — Hg, 02, N2,
and S2. But it has been found that at this tempera¬
ture the vapour density of chlorine is only two-
thiids of what it is at 620° C., and that at 808° C.
some kind of dissociation commences which becomes
and remained constant at 1567°. Professor Meyer
appears to think that the chlorine molecule as at
present understood, having the molecular value of
70-4, must therefore contain at least six atoms of a
hypothetic body, having the atomic weight of 11*4,
and probably trivalent, and to this the name-
chlorogene is given ; the hypothetic atom of iodine
is similarly named iogene. Mr. Watson Smith, in
reporting this lecture to the Chemical News (Aug. I),
remarks that these results, considered in connection
with the relationship between chlorine, bromine and
iodine, and sulphur, selenium and tellurium, as to
melting and boiling points, calculated from abso¬
lute zero, observed by Dr. Carnelly nd Mr. W.
C. Williams ( Pharm . Journ. [3], ix., 1066), suggests
the probability that all these “ so-called elements
contain one and the same essence and will ulti¬
mately be decomposed so as to yield this essence
common to all six.”

But this is not all. Professor Meyer has pro¬
ceeded to a practical investigation as to the constitu¬
ents of chlorine, and following the hint of Berzelius,
who looked upon chlorine as an oxygen compound,
has tried to ascertain how far this opinion was based
upon fact. After conducting his experiments with
the utmost precaution, so as to eliminate causes of
error as far as possible, he has arrived at the coiir
elusion that “to all appearance” by heating chlorine
oxygen is obtained. The theory put forward is that
two atoms of oxygen exist combined with two atoms
of a univalent body, to which the name “murium’*
is applied, and that at a high temperature this com¬
bination is broken up, half the oxygen being set

August 30, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

165

free. Dr. Armstrong, writing upon tliis subject in
Nature (Aug. 14), says tliat some results obtained
by Mr. Norman Lockyer in the spectroscopic inves¬
tigation of the non-metals are confirmatory of
Professor Meyer’s discovery, and that Mr. Lockyer
has shown him that “ with the spark at a particular
tension the red line of oxygen is one of the most
prominent lines in the spectrum of chlorine the
freedom of which from admixed air is attested by the
absence of the characteristic nitrogen and hydrogen
lines.”

In a letter to the Chemical News Mr. J. Gibbons
suggests that the peculiar spectra sometimes observed
in lightning may be due to metals with which the
lightning comes into contact and that the instrumental
observation of the spectroscopic character and direc¬
tion of the lightning, with the interval of flash and
report, would be sufficient to determine the character
and situation of exposed metalliferous deposits in
unexplored districts.

The veteran chemist, Chevreul, whose name is
associated with researches on fats and fatty acids,
although now in his ninety-third year, began his usual
course of lectures on organic chemistry at the
Museum of Natural History at Paris a short time
since.

Mr. Holloway appears to be bent upon the per¬
petuation of his name as a benefactor of his species
in more than one direction. According to Nature
he has purchased and vested in trustees ninety-five
acres of land at Egham, upon which he intends to
erect a building for a college, the object and scope of
which is to be to afford the best education suitable
for women of the upper and upper middle classes. The
contract for the building of the college within four
years has been signed, the price being upwards of
£250,000, exclusive of fittings. It is the founder’s
desire that power for the college to confer degrees
should be sought at some future time, but that mean¬
while students should qualify themselves to pass
the women’s examination of the London University.
■“ Denominational theology ” is not to be taught, and,
instead of being regulated by the “ traditions and
methods of former ages,” the system of education is.
to be mainly based upon studies and sciences which
the experience of modem times has shown to be
most valuable and best adapted for the intellectual
and social requirements of the students. Mr.
Holloway has also agreed to provide an endowment
fund of £100,000, in addition to such proceeds as
may be derived from the sale of any portion of the
land not required for the purposes of the College.

It must be apparent from the continuous flow of
inquiry that increased attention is being directed to
these columns devoted to the difficulties which beset
dispensers. The questions generally exhibit a very
imperfect acquaintance even with prescriptions
possessing no special characters, others refer to incom¬
patibilities which must have escaped the observation
of the writer, and some have reference to obscure
preparations, the formulae for which have never been
published ; but there are those also which indicate
that sufficient attention is not paid to the information
supplied by correspondents, and recorded continu¬
ously in the Journal. This latter is to be regretted
as repetition occupies valuable space, and should,
unless in quite exceptional instances be unnecessary.

The first question in the series refers to the result
of a mixture of Donovan’s solution with liq. hyd.
perclilor. in No. 331. Immediately on the addition

being made there is a decomposition with a copious
separation, and ultimately a deposit of red iodide of
mercury, which settles at the bottom, the super¬
natant liquid being pinky- white ; the addition of a
little iodide of potassium would render the mixture
transparent, but, of course, this liberty cannot be
taken with a prescription. The mixture is an in¬
elegant one, and most probably the writer was not
aware of the result of mixing liq. hyd. perch, with
liq. arsen. et hydrarg. hydriod. (Donovan ,s solution),
an already delicately balanced compound.

Gelatine is not suitable as a vehicle for tannin
in pessaries or suppositories, as in No. 332. A
decomposition occurs with the formation of tannate
of gelatine, and the otherwise gelatinous vehicle
breaks down in the preparation. In those instances
where medical men require a gelatine vehicle it
would be better that they left the most suitable
relative proportions of the ingredients for that
vehicle to the dispenser. It is usual to keep a
gelatine medium ready prepared in proper propor¬
tions, and on liquefying this for the addition of the
of the medicament, the pessaries are moulded in the
usual manner. The usual vehicles for pessaries and
suppositories are cacao butter or some such substance
as a basis, on the one hand, and gelatine on the
other, and it will be better for the prescriber to
specify one or other of these, leaving the relative
proportions to the dispenser, the writer of the
prescription proportioning only the medicament.
Very rarely do medical men give suitable propor¬
tions for the vehicle desired. The .same may be
said of pill masses. A dispenser is often at his wit’s
end in. too literally interpreting the excipient and
its quantity ordered in a prescription. The in¬
gredients being written, those minor details, in fact,
the mode of combining those ingredients so as to form
a pill mass, may well be left to the practical ex¬
perience of the dispenser.

The query No. 333 refers to ext. belte liq. Made
according to the formula in the B.P. the result may
be termed a dark brown syrupy liquid, which on
standing deposits, the supernatant liquid being clear,
and the portion containing the deposited matter
opaque. It will be obvious from these remarks that
the appearance of the ext. belce liq. will much
depend on the time it has been allowed to stand
subsequent to its preparation. The addition of
spirit will also necessarily cause a separation of some
of the constituents of the bael, which on standing
deposits. The Pharmacopoeia does not direct it to
be filtered. It is presumable, therefore, that the
ext. belse liq. should be shaken each time that the
prescription is dispensed, as the separated portion is
not inert matter. If reference be made to the ext.
ergot, liq. the distinction will be at once apparent.
In that preparation the spirit is added to coagulate
albumenoid matter, and then, after the addition of
spirit, the liquid is directed to be filtered ; but the
spirit in the ext. beke is more as a preservative than
for the purposes of coagulation, though at the same
time it probably promotes a subsidence of some of
the proximate constituents of the bael, which forms
an integral part of the finished preparation.

The recipe No. 334 is very likely one of those
sometimes met with by the dispenser. In its present
condition it is not complete, and it would not be
judicious or safe to put calomel into such a mixture
to be taken three times a day. It is scarcely
possible that such a formula could emanate from a

166

THE EH ARMACEU TIOAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (Augu>t 30. 1879..

duly qualified medical practitioner. The usual
method of mixing copaiba is to emulsify that sub¬
stance by trituration with mucilage in a mortar, and
gradually adding the other ingredients. In the
presence of such a powerful agent as calomel, the
dispenser, having no medical qualification, would
not be justified in determining any proportion as a
suitable addition to the other ingredients of the
mixture.

There is no formula for emp. iodin. in the B.P. ;
but dispensers have facilities afforded them of re¬
ferring to other works for their guidance in similar
difficulties. One that is frequently found useful is
Squire’s ‘ Pharmacopoeias of London Hospitals,’ and
again an extremely valuable little work, and one
kept abreast of the time, is Beasley’s ‘Pocket
Formulary.’ When a preparation met with in a
prescription is absent in the B.P., and therefore
unofficial, every dispenser is not bound to go t) the
same source to supply the deficiency ; one may take
a formula from Beasley, another from a foieign phar¬
macopoeia, and a third from a hospital pharmacopoeia.
This may account for the emp. iodinii as sent out by
different establishments not being of the same
colour. It must clearly be annoying to a dispenser
to be told that he does not know his business; but
if his reading be so limited that he stands aghast in
the presence of such a small difficulty, he must
expect some such a remark, and should profit by the
hint. The formula for emp. iodinii in Beasley is
given by “ Gulielmus.”

The formula for pomade, No. 336, corresponds
with similar preparations which have been intended
for promoting the growth of the hair.

There being no official preparation of dialysed
iron, difficulties are very likely to occur with liquors
of different makers. The strength generally accepted
as suitable is a liquor containing 5 per cent, of oxide
of iron. Should it ever become official, probably a
strength equivalent to that of the tr. ferri perchlor.,
containing about 6 per cent, oxide would for the
sake of uniformity be better. The prescription No.
337 is readily made, and does not separate or deposit,
but forms a clear transparent mixture, which keeps
well without apparent change. If the medical pro¬
fession consider dialysed iron a remedial agent,
having a therapeutic value, or some merit not
possessed by other preparations of iron, which now
occupy a place in the British Pharmacopoeia, the
sooner a definite strength be determined on the
better, that is that it should contain a definite
quantity of oxide of iron, and probably a liquor of
the same strength as the tinct. ferri perchlor. would
be the best that could be adopted. Advertised
medicinal preparations of unknown strength should
be discountenanced, and their places supplied by
preparations of definite strength.

On this subject some remarks taken from a report
on the progress of pharmacy, by Mr. C. L. Diehl,
may be quoted here. He considers it under two
heads : “ The progress that is secured by research and
by the furtherance of educational facilities,” and,
secondly, “ The progress that is made by the dis¬
couragement of empiricism* and the establishment
ot a proper ethical and professional standard.” The
first need not be considered here ; with regard to the
second, he says: — “Pharmaceutic progress, as em¬
braced under the second head, however, is not so
satisfactory. The relations of pharmacists to the
public, to each other, and to physicians, leave much

to be desired, and instead of being progressive, ap¬
pear rather to tend in the opposite direction. The-
demand of the public for cheap goods, the variety
demanded, competition, the profuse supply of ‘ready¬
made ’ pharmaceuticals, and the disposition of phy¬
sicians to prescribe medicines of a questionable
composition or proprietary character, all have a
tendency to reduce pharmacists to the condition of
mere tradesmen, and to discourage those having
higher aims.”

CAVIAR*

This substance, which is considered a great delicacy by
gourmands, is the prepared roe of the sturgeon and has
its origin in Russia. This roe differs materially from that
of other fish, in being of a large size and very thin
skinred, containing only an oily jelly which melts away
in the mouth, leaving little or no residuum, and these
are held together by a network of cellular tissue, fat
and muscle in large masses, which generally exceed in
size the head of the largest man.

A net of very small mesh, spread over a frame, does
duty as a kind of coarse sieve, and the roes being lightly
pressed and kneaded over this, the eggs are detached and
fall into wooden tubs placed below, each grain being of a
very dark brown or black colour, and utterly distinct
from the others.

To make “ grained caviar ” the eggs are now sprinkled
with salt ground very fine, of which from 3 to 5 pounds
to thirty-six of eggs are used in the hotter months, while
only If to 2^ pounds are sufficient in cold weather, the
least possible quantity of salt being a great desideratum.
A wooden fork with from eight to ten prongs is used to
stir in the salt, and the eggs become first doughy, then
swell, and finally give out a noise like the stirring of
small scales of glass, a sure proof that the process is
completed, after which the caviar is close packed in hard¬
wood kegs.

In making “ grain caviar ” the eggs fall into tubs of
brine stirred as before, and in lots of about one hundred¬
weight subjected to heavy pressure in coarse sacks, until
the brine is expelled and the whole compressed into a
cheesy mass.

Nearly one-third of the contents of the eggs are pressed
out with the brine, and the caviar thus made is packed in
large casts lined with napkin linen, from whence it is
called caviar d la serviette, or “napkin caviar.” Caviar
a sac, as its name denotes, is choice pressed caviar, put up
in linen sacks, and other choice preparations are shipped
in hermetically sealed cans and boxes.

The fattest caviar, made in midsummer, is merely
soaked in brine and packed, without pressing, in casks
holding from 180 to 360 lbs. each. Much roe which is
tender to the touch and half spoiled is soaked in very
strong brine, packed in large casks holding from 900 to
1000 pounds, and is worth only from six to eight cents
per pound, while the fat summer caviar brings from
twelve to eighteen cents.

The choice kinds of fresh caviar packed in small kegs
costs in Astrachan from sixty to seventy cents per pound,
while the pressed brings but about forty-five to forty-
eight cents ; that of the “ sterliad ” and some especially
choice makes are never exported.

Nearly 400,000 pounds are annually sent from Astrachan
to Berlin, Dresden and Vienna, and England uses nearly
10,000 dollars worth yearly, but in the United States
little is used except by foreigners, who have contracted a
taste for it elsewhere.

* From the Boston Journal of Commerce. Reprinted
from N&iv JRemedies, August, 1879.

August so, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

1G7

♦

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1879.

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

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

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

THE USE AND ABUSE OF EXAMINATIONS.

The leading journal has within the last few days
directed attention to some of the evils of the ex¬
amination system, and it has done good service by
insisting upon the mischief likely to arise from the
modern tendency to make examinations the sole
test and crown of all processes of education. We
quite agree with the opinion that this tendency
entirely distorts every rational view of what educa¬
tion is and should be. But this is a result attribut¬
able more to the circumstance that too much faith
has been placed in the virtue of examinations than
to the absolute worthlessness of examinations as a
test of merit, capacity and attainment ; it is a result
of the misuse of examinations that has led students
to look upon the passing of them as being of more
importance than the acquisition of sound kliowledge,
that has led teachers to devote their energies to the
production of manuals by which superficial pro¬
ficiency can be readily acquired, and candidates
enabled to pass the ordeal of examination without
its being really that test of educational training that
it was designed to be.

From this point of view there is no doubt much
reason to fear that however good examination may
be when properly used, we are exposed to the possi¬
bility of having too much of a good thing, and as the
Times remarks very many competent judges are
already beginning to dread an educational surfeit in
this respect. The exaggerated application of the
examination system has not operated as a stimulus
to sound and thorough education, but has rather
called into existence and created a demand for
facilities for passing examinations without under¬
going the preparatory educational labour necessary
for acquiring a proficiency in the subjects. In this
way the pupil has been made a mere racer and one
who contends for heavy pecuniary stakes, while the
teacher is made a trainer whose whole prosperity
depends, not on his power of imparting sonnd know¬
ledge and drawing out the natural capacities of the
mind, but on his skill in preparing his pupils for a
particular examination . At the same time there is a
tendency to make the examiner a judge not of
mental capacity and general sound information, but
of those qualities alone which are readily estimated
in marks.

These results are undoubted evils, and there are
others not much less serious which justify the ques¬
tion put by the Times as to whether it is not possible
that, as so often happens, we have confounded ends
with means and made a successful examination the
paramount purpose instead of merely the indispens¬
able test of educational training ? But while ad¬
mitting the existence of these we cannot share the
opinion that the blame is entirely to be thrown upon
examination. What in our opinion is needful as a
remedy is not the abandonment of the examination
system which some would recommend, but some
means of reducing the exaggerated importance that
has been attached to the passing of an examination.

In many cases examinations are necessary as rough
tests of required attainments, and where they are to
be tested for some specific purpose it is indeed
scarcely possible to dispense with examinations alto¬
gether, but even then they should not be placed
higher than the category of necessary evils.

Another remedy for^the mischievous influence of
the examination system in limiting and restricting
sound education is by some believed to be attainable
by the establishment ol a compulsory curriculum,
but we are far from sharing the opinion that such a
plan would be effectual. At the best it would only
furnish a guarantee that the student had enjoyed
the opportunity of having the requisite education,
but it would fail altogether to give assurance that
he had made proper use of that opportunity. As
regards this most important point we think that no
real good would result from having recourse to the
teacher’s testimony as to the assiduity of liis pupils
in attending lectures, etc. It would be merely sub¬
stituting for the fallacious evidence of success in
examination, the equally fallacious evidence of
formal compliance with the requirements of a curri¬
culum. Neither is in itself sufficient to prove that
the pupil has been properly educated.

To take the case of pharmaceutical education,
involving as it does the acquisition of a sound know¬
ledge of several branches of science and a practical
training in their application to special objects, we
are altogether averse to the establishment of a
scholastic curriculum, because we do not believe it
would ensure the education that is required. It is
in the training of the apprentice in the shop that
the proper curriculum of the pharmacist is to be
sought for, and as the improvement in the practice
of pharmacy in this country advances and becomes
more general, it may be hoped that it will be found
there more frequently than has been the case.

In many cases the nature of a chemist and
druggist’s business is not such as to afford apprentices
much opportunity of studying science, but the de¬
ficiency in this respect might be largely compensated
for by the local schools connected with provincial
societies, and it is to be regretted that hitherto these
provisions for the instruction of apprentices have
not been more zealously taken advantage of.

168

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 30, 1S7&.

VERIFICATION OF WEIGHTS IN NEW YORK.

It is a little curious that whilst pharmacists in
Great Britain have recently been under some anxiety
as to the course that would he adopted by the State
in respect to the verification of their weights and
measures, their brethren in New York have had a
similar experience. Some time ago, it was mentioned
in this Journal that a Bill had been introduced into
the Legislature of the State of New York, providing
for the appointment of an Inspector of Apothecaries’
Weights, the amount of whose salary would have
depended upon the number of penalties he succeeded
in levying from persons whose weights he pronounced
incorrect, although no provision was made that he
himself should possess verified standard weights for
use in the testing. The strong remonstrances of a
committee of the New York College of Pharmacy
procured the withdrawal of the Bill, upon a promise
that the College would take the matter in hand and
establish a bureau for the examination of apothe¬
caries’ weights, to be placed under the authority and
control of the Board of Pharmacy for the city and
county of New York.

The arrangements for carrying this promise into
effect having now been completed, and special
balances and sets of troy and decimal weights, which
have been verified by the United States Standards?
having been provided, the New York College has
sent out an appeal to all apothecaries, whether
members or not, to help in carrying out its plan as
aiming at a “wise and conscientious self-govern¬
ment.” It is proposed to deal with the weights
first, leaving the measures untouched for the present.
These the College offers to examine upon application
of the owner, and to stamp as correct if found either
absolutely identical with the standard or heavier up
to a certain limit; if at all lighter or if heavier
beyond the specified limit, they will be returned
unstamped, and it is recommended that such weights
should be at once destroyed. The limit of excess,
as established for decimal weights ranges from not
more than 0‘200 gram in the 1000 grams or 1 kilo
weight to not over O- 00025 gram in the 0T gram
and lesser weights. In the troy weights the limit
of excess ranges from not exceeding 1 grain in the
12 ounce weight to not over 0'01 grain in the £ grain
weight.

The charge for examining weights, including the
stamping of those found correct, is only five cents
for each weight. The stamp of verification adopted
consists of a monogram of the letters CP, and it will
be noticed that it is proposed to apply it to weights
so small as to be generally supposed to present
almost insuperable difficulties in stamping them.
Indeed the College offers to supply “ correct and
stamped sets of weights ” of the decimal and troy
systems reaching down to 1 milligram and of a
grain respectively. If this offer is to be understood
literally the method of carrying it out would prob¬
ably not be devoid of interest to the Board of Trade
officials in this country just at the present moment.

LEICESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ AS¬
SISTANTS AND APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of the twenty-second session of the
Leicester Chemists’ Assistants and Apprentices’ Asso¬
ciation was held at the Rooms, Halford Street, on
Tuesday evening, August 12.

The proceedings of the evening were commenced by a
tea, to which a good number of members sat down.

After tea the newly elected President, Mr. J. J.
Edwards, delivered an inaugural address, and in com¬
mencing referred to the necessity for individual effort
and advised each member to attend regularly, to put his
shoulder to the wheel, and to do all in his power to make
the Association a success. Referring to past members of
the Association who had passed their examinations, he
stated that many of them had acknowledged the valuable
aid they had received from the Association. Referring
to the question what to read, the President said it was
much more difficult to know how to read, so as not to
follow the example of some, “who, like sponges, return
ail they read in about the same condition, only a little
dirtier ; ” nor of others, “ who, like strain bags, merely
retain the dregs of what they read.” In concluding, the
President reminded the members that not only was talent
necessary to make a successful pharmacist, but it was
imperative that there should be tact in conjunction with
talent, for whilst “ talent knows how to do it, tact does
it ; ” whilst “ knowledge is the treasury of the world,
tact is the key to it ; ” and whilst “ talent beats about
the bush, tact catches the bird.”

The President announced that during the forthcoming
session several lectures on subjects connected with phar¬
macy would be delivered by gentlemen of repute.

Some remarks by Mf. W. B. Clark and Mr. Thirlby
brought a very pleasant evening to a close.

fjnnifMtinp of JlcmttiJiit foi’icties.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

( Contin u ed from page 151.)

The reading of papers was then proceeded with.

The first paper was a —

Report on the Aconite Alkaloids.

BY C. R. ALDER WRIGHT, D.SC. (LOND.).

Lecturer on Chemistry in St. Mary's Hospital Medical

School.

§ 1. — Alkaloids of Japanese Aconite Roots.

In the report presented last year there were briefly
described some preliminary results obtained in the ex¬
amination of Japanese aconite roots. Since that date,
several batches of roots have been examined with per¬
fectly uniform results ; as the numerical and other data
on which these results are founded have been already
published in the Journal of the Chemical Society (July,
1879, p. 387), it will be unnecessary to quote them here
at full length.

The first batch (about 14 \ kilos of ground roots obtained
from Messrs. Wright, Layman and Umney) was worked
up by the reporter and Mr. A. P. Luff, by percolating
with alcohol acidulated with tartaric acid (1 part of acid
per 100 of roots being used in all). The percolate was
condensed to a small bulk by distillation, treated with
water, filtered from precipitated resin, rendered alkaline
with carbonate of soda and repeatedly shaken with ether,
the ethereal solution being subsequently shaken with
tartaric acid. The acid tartrate solution thus obtained
free from resinous matters was then treated with soda

August 30, 1879.] THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

169

and ether ; on spontaneous evaporation a copious crop of
crystals was obtained, together with a quantity of varnish¬
like alkaloidal matters that wouH neither crystallize nor
yield crystalline salts.

The total yield of alkaloids from this batch was as
follows : —

crystallizable about

12

grams = 00S

non-crystalline „

25

„ = 0-17

37

0-25

| non-crystalline „

20

„ = 0*14

)tal .

57

0-39

»

The alkaloids insoluble in ether were separated by pre¬
cipitating as mercuriodide, and decomposing the pre cipi-
tate by sulphuretted hydrogen; they appeared to be mainly
identical with the non-crystalline alkaloid that was
dissolved out by ether, being prevented from complete
solution in ether by the solvent action of the soda liquors,
just as is often the case with alkaline solutions of alka¬
loids, e.g., morphine and caustic potash, cotarnine and
sodium carbonate.

The non-crystalline alkaloids appeared, like the similar
bodies obtained by analogous means from A. Napellus and
A . ferox , to contain a higher percentage of carbon than
the crystallizable base, and to possess a lower molecular
weight ; on saponification with caustic potash, they
yielded benzoic acid to nearly the same extent as the
crystallizable base, whence it is probable that the two
bodies are closely related.

The second batch of roots examined was worked up
by Messrs. Hopkin and Williams in precisely the same
way as the first, about a hundredweight of roots being
employed. From the rough alkaloids extracted by ether,
etc., and sent to the reporter for examination, about 60 per
cent, was isolated as crystallizable base, and 40 as non-crys¬
talline alkaloid.

These two quantities of crystallizable base were purified
by recrystallization, conversion into crystallized salts
{the nitrate and hydrobromide being selected!, and re¬
generation by soda and ether. By fractional crystallization
of the different portions, attempts were made to separate
the crystals into two or more portions differing from one
another. No success whatever attended these efforts ;
in every case absolutely identical analytical numbers
were yielded by the several fractions ; the melting point
and general properties also were invariably the same,
whence it results that only one alkaloid can be supposed
to be present.

The numbers obtained agreed closely with those re¬
quired for the formula, C66H88N2On, and with no other.
On heating the base with strong tartaric acid solution to
100° for several hours no change whatever was brought
about in its composition (aconitine and pseudaconitine
become dehydrated to apo-derivatives by this treatment).

From this circumstance it appears likely that the crys¬
tallized base was already as far dehydrated as possible,
either by the effect of the tartaric acid in the alcohol used
for extraction or by the heat alone. Accordingly, a third
batch of roots was worked up, alcohol not acidulated at
all being employed ; one hundredweight of roots was thus
treated by Messrs. Hopkin and Williams, and the con¬
densed percolate sent to the reporter, who examined it (in
conjunction with Mr. A. E. Menlce) as before, i.e., by
treating with water, filtering, adding alkali and ether, etc.

The crystallizable alkaloid obtained from this batch
amounted to about 50 grams or OTO per cent., the non¬
crystalline bases dissolved by ether being about 55 grams
=0T1 per cent. No difference whatever could be de¬
tected between the crystallized base thus obtained and
the former samples, showing that if dehydration took
place at all during extraction, it was brought about by
the heat alone conjoined with the natural acids of the

roots (the alcoholic extract was distinctly acid to test-
paper). It is noticeable that the spent marc obtained in
this process was percolated again by alcohol acidulated
with sulphuric acid (about 30 grains of concentrated acid
per gallon). This percolate, after condensation, was
found to contain only between 2 and 3 grams of alka¬
loidal matter, of which half was non-crystalline, the other
half crystallizable and identical with that above described;
so that treatment with alcohol alone unacidulated by any
acid at all, extracted practically all the alkaloids 'present in
the roots examined.

On examining the action of benzoic anhydride on the
crystallized alkaloid thus obtained, it was found to be
different from that occurring with aconitine and pseud¬
aconitine, inasmuch as three additional benzoyl radicals
were thus introduced into the alkaloid per C33 present
instead of one only. On treating the crystallized alka¬
loid with alcoholic potash, saponification ensued, benzoic
acid being produced, and a new base very closely resem¬
bling aconine being formed. The following equations
represent the actions of the benzoic anhydride and caustic
potash : —

CG6H88N2021 + 3 (C7HsO)0 = 2 c7hgo2 + (C26h89no7)

(0.u7h50)4

^66^88-^2^21 + 3HoO — 2C7H602 + 2C26H40InO10

These results may be conveniently represented, in har¬
mony with the formulae arrived at in the previous re¬
searches on aconitine and pseudaconitine, by supposing
that the roots originally contain an alkaloid C33H47N012
differing from aconitine by containing H4 more ; and
that this hypothetical parent base loses 14 molecules of
water, producing the crystallized base above described,
thus : —

Hypothetical Parent Base.

/o.c7h5o.

- O.H.

'7 8 -O.H.
\O.H.

Crystallized Base above described.

o.c7h5o.

^C26H:isN07^

(c26H39N07)_q)

('

o

I

C£6H39NO;

\ — o.

7 -o.c7h5

0.

Product of the Action of Caustic Potash.

\ /O.H.

c26h39no71=o.

-8 7 \O.H.

Product of Action of Benzoic Anhydride.

)/o.c7h5o.

— 0.C7H50.

- O fl»H.O.

o.c7h5o.
\o.c7h5o.

Aconitine.

v /o.c7h5o.
c20h35no7 ) :g;g;

/ \O.H.

Apoaconitine.

\/0.C7H50.
C26H35N07 -O.H.

\\o.

Apoaconine. *

/ \/OH.

Ic26h35no7)=o.

V / \OH.

Dibenzoyl apoaconine.

, \ /0.07H50. 1

JCoCH35N07) = 0.

V / \o.c7h5o.

(

170

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 30, 1*79.

As above stated, attempts to isolate this hypothetical
parent base in an unaltered state did not succeed; to
avoid confusion it is proposed, for the present at any
rate, to designate the crystallized base, C66H88N2021,
above described, as jap aconitine, and the product of the
action of potash upon it as japaconine. It is noticeable
that the same tetrabenzoylated derivative is obtained
when benzoic anhydride acts on japaconine as is formed
with japaconitine itself.

Japaconitine and japaconine respectively resemble
aconitine and aconine so closely that, saving by actual
combustion or studying the effects of benzoic anhydride
upon them, it is practically impossible to distinguish the
one from the other. Japaconitine melts at 184° to 186°
when purified as far as possible, the purest aconitine
tested side by side melting at 183°-184°. In physio¬
logical action the two are very closely allied, if not
identical, so far as the involuntary observations made
whilst working with them go. Dr. Eraser, of Edinburgh,
is now investigating the two bases and their derivatives
in these respects.

Inasmuch as Japanese aconite roots appear to be con¬
siderably richer in crystallizable base than A. napellus
roots, it is evident that this class of roots is likely to be
in future a valuable source of active alkaloid ; further,
it is evident from the above experiments that in working
out the active constituents of roots of the kind, it is not
necessary to acidulate the alcohol used, whereby chance
of alteration during extraction is diminished.

On contrasting the results above described with those
obtained two years ago (‘ Year-Book of Pharmacy,’ 1877,
469) by Paul and Kingzett, it is open to some doubt as
to whether the body obtained by those gentlemen was
actually japaconitine ; their analytical numbers are quite
compatible with their body being either japaconitine or
pseudaconitine. On the one hand, they failed to obtain
any crystallized salts from their alkaloid, whilst jap¬
aconitine yields a well crystallized nitrate, hydrobromide
and hydrochloride with ease, pseudaconitine only yielding
a crystallized nitrate by employing a particular mode of
manipulation unknown at the time Paul and Kingzett’s
experiments were made ; this would seem to indicate, as
suggested at the time by the reporter, that the base ex¬
amined by them was simply pseudaconitine. On the
other hand, Paul and Kingzett found that their base
showed much greater tendency to crystallize than pseud¬
aconitine, and on boiling with dilute sulphuric acid it
furnished a liquid capable of reducing Fehling’s solution.
Whilst japaconine, like aconine, reduces Eehling’s solution
pseudaconine does not do so ; whence these circumstances
would tend to indicate that the base isolated by Paul and
Kingzett was actually japaconitine ; a conclusion also in
harmony with the fact that only japaconitine and no other
crystallizable alkaloid of any kind was obtained from each
of three different batches of roots examined by the re¬
porter.

§ 2. — Alkaloids of Atis Hoots [A. heterophyllum).

Through the kindness of Mr. E. M. Holmes, the re¬
porter was enabled to examine the alkaloidal constituents
of some 2 pounds of these roots. By percolating the
coarsely powdered dry roots with alcohol containing a
little tartaric acid, and evaporating the percolate, a con¬
densed liquid was obtained containing scarcely any resin;
by adding water, filtering, and shaking with ether after
rendering alkaline, a small quantity of an alkaloid was
extracted. This agreed very well with the description
given by Broughton of Atisine ; it was uncry stallizable
but yielded a crystalline readily soluble hydrodichloride ;
its taste was intensely bitter without the slightest
tendency to produce the tingling characteristic of the
active aconite alkaloids. The quantity obtained was not
quite so much as a gram (less than 0"1 per cent.), where¬
fore its purification was impossible, and still more was it
impracticable to find out if it was a mixture of alkaloids.
The following numbers were obtained on analysis of the

gold salt, which formed a yellow flocculent precipitate
almost insoluble in cold water. The substance examined
was dried by standing several days over sulphuric acid ;
at 100° it fused, losing in weight and becoming apparently
partially decomposed.

0-3710 gram gave 0*5175 C02 and 0T70 H20.

0"4565 gram burnt with soda lime gave 0-00882 nitrogen
by titration, 0"070 Pt. by platinum salt.

0-3970 gram gave 0T140 Au.

These numbers are close to those required for the' for¬

mula, C22H31N02, HC1, AuC13.

Calculated. Found.

Carbon . 38"82 38‘04

Hydrogen .... 4*71 5"09

Nitrogen .... 2"06 P93, 2T7

Gold . 28-82 28-72

Broughton deduced from his analysis of his platinum
salt the formula, C46H74N205, which requires, carbon =
39"09, hydrogen = 5 "38, nitrogen = 1 ‘98, gold = 27"76, as¬
suming the gold salt to be C46H74N205, 2HC1, 2AuC13.
It cannot, however, be concluded with certainty from the
above experiments that his formula requires modification
owing to the minute quantity examined. A priori the
formula, C22H31N02, seems somewhat more probable
than his di-nitrogenous one. The alkaline fluid from
which ether had extracted this base still contained a
small quantity of alkaloid permanently dissolved ; on
slightly acidulating with acetic acid and addition of
potassium mercuriodide, a dirty yellow precipitate was
thrown down.

After washing and drying over sulphuric acid —

0"432 gram gave 0*321, Ag I, iodine = 40T6.

The formula, C22H31N02, HI, Hgl2, would require
41 ’19, whence it is very probable that the base dissolved
by the soda was mainly the same as that dissolved out
by the ether.

§ 3. — Alkaloids of the Flowers, Leaves and Stalk of Aconite.

In order to examine the nature of the alkaloids present
in the aconite herbs (distinct from the roots), it was
found to be necessary to wait until the present spring for
fresh material. Messrs. Wright, Layman and Umney
obligingly undertook to prepare the raw material, and
ultimately succeeded in obtaining 300 pounds of fresh
aconite herb grown at Eoxton, Cambridgeshire. This
was crushed under granite millstones, and the pulpy mass
digested with 30 gallons altogether of methylated spirit
of about 90 per cent, alcohol at the ordinary temperature
for seven days, no acid of any kind being added ; as
much of the tincture as could be removed by draining
was so recovered, and the marc pressed in cocoa fibre
bags ultimately with a pressure of 1 ton to the square
inch. The total tincture was then filtered and distilled
in four portions, so- as to expose to heat for as short a
time as possible ; the residues were not completely freed
from alcohol by heat for the same reason ; they were
united and exposed to the air in shallow pans for a night
to facilitate removal of some of the remaining alcohol,
and then sent to the reporter as a brown aqueous fluid
smelling somewhat agreeably, not unlike treacle, the
total quantity being about 59 pounds.

This material was thus worked up by adding soda and
repeatedly shaking with ether, the ethereal solution bein^
shaken with tartaric acid, and then used over again.
From the acid tartrates thus formed, there was obtained
by shaking with soda and ether an ethereal solution
which did not crystallize on quick evaporation in a watch
glass. These operations having only been performed
within the last few days, and the reporter being on the
point of leaving town, it is impossible to report to the
Conference, at this meeting, what is the nature of the
alkaloids present. Judging from the comparative
absence of inconvenience experienced in working out
the crude alkaloid, the amount of active bases present is
not large ; the ethereal solution finally obtained is being

August so, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

171

abandoned to spontaneous evaporation in the hope that
crystallizable bases will separate.

_

The author of the paper was not present, and it was
read by Professor Attfield.

The President observed that Dr. Wright had given
this subject very great attention, and had, in this last
paper, arrived at much more definite conclusions.

Mr. J. Williams (London) said the most important
point in Dr. Wright’s investigation appeared to be the
fact that he had now proved that it was no longer
necessary to use acid in the preparation of aconitine, and
it was proved pretty clearly that the use of acid was to be
avoided. This was not known a year ago and therefore
he thought the investigation was of great practical value.
He had taken practical advantage already in a working
sense of this discovery, and finding that it was really true
that acid was not required, he might say that they as
pharmacists had been benefited by an amount of know¬
ledge they had not previously possessed. With regard to
the recent aconite plant he thought it was a very inter¬
esting portion of the research, and he was surprised that
no more distinct result had been obtained. He thought
it went to prove that the process of separating the alka¬
loid to be adopted would have to be rather different
to get a satisfactory result. The process of merely
shaking up with ether and carbonate of soda would fail
in extracting the alkaloid out of such a large bulk. The
quantity of recent plant used he should have thought must
have contained a large amount of alkaloid, although not so
much as in the root. The plant was of a highly poisonous
character, for their knowledge of the poisonous nature of
aconite was not derived from the root, but the plant itself.
It would have been satisfactory if Dr. Wright had been
able to isolate and show them the alkaloid of the plant,
and he trusted further investigation would enable him to
do so.

Mr. Umney (London) said the great thing that had mili¬
tated against Dr. Wright in his observations on the aconite
plant was time. Dr. Wright had only had the extract
three weeks, and he hoped they might hear something
further from him on the matter. He was glad to find the
deductions he had obtained from his chemical experiments
confirmed what they knew, that Japanese aconite was of
excellent quality. In London large quantities had been
put in the market and used almost exclusively in phar¬
macy, and there could be no question that it was a more
powerful drug than that grown in Germany and
England.

Mr. Greenish (London) was anxious to know what
kind of aconite Dr. Wright had used, for the broad term
“ Japanese aconite” was not very definite. It was well
known that in Japan there were at least three species of
aconite. He had examined many samples of Japanese
aconite, and had found at least two kinds continually
mixed together, one root had a round, turnip shape, as
described by Hanbury in ‘Science Papers,’ and the other
root was more tapering. They were evidently to his
mind distinct roots. It must leave Dr. Wright’s experi¬
ments in an uncertain condition until he made them
from one species of aconite. These two roots mixed
together in the Japanese aconite differed in character
when sections were made from them. He had submitted
one to Professor Fluckiger, who was of opinion that
Japanese aconite was not from the same species as that
which was imported from Germany, the produce of
Aconitum Napellus. In course of time it might be ascer¬
tained from what aconites these roots were produced, and
it was desirable that experiments should be made on the
different roots, of which there were certainly two kinds,
separately. Schroff had made experiments on aconite
leaves, and had arrived at the conclusion that they con¬
tained but a very small portion of the alkaloid, even if
they contained any.

Prof ss or Attfield said the remarks made by Mr.
Greenish were valuable, and members would like to know

if he could suggest any method by which the experiments
could be made on one species, and not on two or three
different kinds. Unless some remedy were found he
feared they must take Dr. Wright’s work as it was.

Mr. Umney (London) said he could not state what was
the particular aconite plant from which the Japanese
aconite roots that had been used, had been derived,
whether Aconitum Napellus, Aconitum ferox or Aconitum
paniculatum, but he believed that Mr. Holmes was at
the present time engaged in investigating the botanical
source.

Mr. Luff said that he had worked at the roots with
Dr. Wright, and was able to state positively they only
got one alkaloid from the Japanese roots, and the same
alkaloid from the two batches.

Mr. Greenish was of opinion that there would be
little trouble in separating the aconites, and did not
think they could arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, until
they knew what species were used. If the species
were separated, and the alkaloid were extracted from
each species, he thought the investigators would arrive at
something more definite.

The President, in moving a vote of thanks to Dr.
Wright for his paper and able report, said he was glad
to hear that the grant was not entirely expended, and
consequently they might expect further communications
from him on the subject.

The next paper read was the following : —

Proximate Analysis of the Rhizome (Dried and

Decorticated) of Zingiber Officinalis, and Com¬
parative Examination of Typical Specimens of

Commercial Gingers.

BY J. C. THRESH, F.C.S.,

Pharmaceutical Chemist.

Part I. — Proximate Analysis of Rhizome of Z. Officinalis ,

The sample of ginger selected for analysis was a variety
of what is known in commerce as Jamaica ginger. The
decorticated irregular lobes were from 1 to 2 inches long,
pale yellow brown externally, and yielded a decidedly
brown powder ; fracture slightly resinous. Preliminary
experiments lead me to the conclusion that it would be
best to treat the powder with the following solvents, in
the order given; — ether, water, rectified spirit, 1 percent,
soda solution, 1 per cent, hydrochloric acid.

As the constituents soluble in ether were known to be
those most worthy of investigation, I got Mr. Umney to
exhaust 28 pounds of the ginger with ether, to distil off
the solvent, and forward me the extract and the marc.
This extract was of a deep red-brown colour, semi-fluid
consistency, and had the strong characteristic odour and
pungent taste of ginger. It dissolved readily and com¬
pletely in ether, alcohol, chloroform and benzol, required
a rather large proportion of 84 per cent, alcohol for
complete solution, was imperfectly soluble in glacial
acetic acid, and but slightly soluble in petroleum ether.

A part of the ethereal extract was agitated first with water,
then with successive portions of petroleum ether, until the
solvent came off nearly colourless. After being treated a
great number of times with this ether, the residue continues
to impart to it both a slight colour and pungency, hence
it was not deemed advisable to continue the treatment
more than three or four times. The solution was of a
deep red colour and very pungent. Upon allowing the
petroleum ether to evaporate spontaneously, a quantity of
deep red, apparently crystalline, fatty matter was de¬
posited. This was removed by filtration, washed with a
little petroleum ether, and pressed between folds of
bibulous paper. Let this be called^ “ crystalline fatty
matter.”

The fluid which had passed through the filter was ex¬
posed to a current of warm air until the last trace of the
petroleum ether* was removed, then placed in a flask and

* The petroleum ether employed boiled at 50° C.

172

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 80, 1879.

a current of steam passed through it, and condensed so
long as any volatile oil came over. The residue in retort
consisted of a transparent red fat, about the consistence
of lard. Call this “red fatty matter.”

The residue of ethereal extract, insoluble in petroleum
ether was of semi-fluid consistency, of a red-brown
colour, with a scarcely perceptible odour, but intensely
pungent taste. It dissolved readily in absolute and 84
per cent, alcohol, but when treated with 50 per cent,
alcohol a residue was left which after washing with
several successive quantities of alcohol of this strength,
finally yielded nothing further to the solvent. This
substance was of resinous consistency, nearly black in
colour, and quite tasteless. “ Neutral resin.”

The dilute spiritous solution when evaporated left a soft
transparent red-brown residue, which although I soon
found evidence of its compound nature, has proved most
troublesome to resolve into its proximate constituents.
It dissolved readily in benzol, bisulphide of carbon,
glacial acetic acid, dilute alcohol and alkaline solutions.
Its alcoholic solution precipitated most copiously with
neutral and basic lead acetates, milk of lime and baryta
water. In each case the precipitate first thrown down
by the reagent differed in colour from the portions preci¬
pitated afterwards. In the former case the precipitate
was a pale orange brown, in the latter orange yellow, and
the supernatant fluid after addition of excess of the pre¬
cipitate was exceedingly pungent, and much paler in
■colour than the original solution. A quantity of the
tincture was shaken with successive portions of slacked
lime so long as anything was carried down, and the lime
precipitate removed by filtration. After repeated wash¬
ings with spirit it still retained some pungency, and when
treated with hot spirit, what was previously a soft sticky
flocculent precipitate fused into a semi-transparent mass
which adhered tenaciously to the sides of the flask. This
was digested in alcohol and sufficient sulphuric acid added
to completely decompose it, excess of acid removed with
baryta, the solution filtered and evaporated to dryness.
The residue was a dark brown-black, brittle solid, pos¬
sessed of a slightly pungent taste, but no odour. “ Acid
resins.”

The 50 per cent, alcohol solution from which the resins
had been removed by lime when acidified with sulphuric
acid gave an abundant precipitate of sulphate of lime,
indicating the presence of a lime salt in the solution.
This fluid was carefully freed from excess of sulphuric
acid, filtered and evaporated to dryness. The residue
was semi-fluid, transparent, pale red, and intensely pun¬
gent. “ Active principle.”

There remains now to examine further —

1. Crystalline fatty matter.

2. Red fatty matter.

3. Volatile oil.

4. Neutral resin.

5. Resinous acids.

6. Active principle.

1. Crystalline Fatty Matter. — This had a slightly pun¬
gent taste, which, however, was easily removed by treatment
with 84 per cent, alcohol, which when cold did not appear
otherwise to affect the residue. Boiled with spirit, and
filtered hot, the filtrate deposited voluminous flakes of t
brownish colour. The portion insoluble in 84 per cent,
alcohol was a soft red fat, which has resisted all efforts
to resolve it into simple constituents, and hence may be
regarded as a proximate constituent of the ginger rhi¬
zome.

a. Soft Red Fat. — Properties, transparent, dark red,
tasteless and odourless. Soluble in alcohol, petroleum
ether, ether, benzol, carbon disulphide, and turpentine.
Very slightly soluble in 84 per cent, alcohol, and forming
with solution of potash an imperfect soapy solution. Not
further examined.

The brownish flocculent matter deposited by the spirit
upon cooling, when collected and placed on a water-bath,
shrivelled up to an exceedingly small residue, of a pale

brown colour and waxy consistency. I at first regarded
this as a kind of wax, but when pui'ified by being a great
number of times dissolved in hot alcohol, and re-de¬
posited on cooling, a very small quantity of a snow white
amorphous substance remained.

b. White Amorphous Substance. — White, amorphous,
pulverulent, odourless and tasteless. Heated on the mer¬
curial bath to 250° C., it did not fuse, but began to
exhibit a slight brown coloration. At a higher tempera¬
ture it becomes darker in colour, melts and evolves in¬
flammable vapours which burn with a luminous smokeless
flame, emitting no characteristic odour. It is insoluble
in water, acid or alkaline solutions. Its behaviour with
other solvents is somewhat peculiar. Cold ether dis¬
solves it very sparingly, but in boiling ether it is more
soluble, depositing the excess as the fluid cools in a
granular form. Benzol and carbon disulphide dissolve it
rather more freely and the solutions when left to
evaporate spontaneously, become covered with a trans¬
parent gelatinous film, which increases in thickness as the
evaporation continues, until at length the residue is
wholly of this consistence and the vessel may be upturned
without losing any of the contents. If the evaporation
be now continued on the water-bath, the bulky mass
dwindles away, leaving a very slight residue. From
boiling absolute alcohol it is deposited in granular waxy
looking masses upon the side of the containing vessel.
From boiling rectified spirit, if saturated, it is deposited
in the gelatinous or bulky form, the whole becoming
semi-solid, and resembling in appearance a strong solu¬
tion of an aluminium salt to which ammonia has been
added. Boiling glacial acetic acid takes up a small
portion, and deposits it upon cooling or dilution in the
gelatinous condition.

c. Resin 5. The wax-like appearance of the crude sub¬
stance “5” is due to the presence of a hard brittle fusible
resin, which I have not isolated in the pure state. It
appears to be but slightly soluble in alcohol, but soluble
in petroleum ether, benzol, carbon disulphide and turpen¬
tine. It is tasteless and odourless.

2. Red fatty matter. This portion of the ethereal ex¬
tract was very pungent, but when treated with successive
portions of 50 per cent, alcohol, the pungent principle
passed into the alcohol, together with other substances
which upon further examination proved to be identical
with those contained in the alcoholic solution of the
ethereal extract, which had been treated with petroleum
ether. Besides these (gingerol, resins a and (3) there was
the red fat already described, and traces of resin, and of
the white amorphous substance.

3. Volatile Oil. — This is the only constituent of the
ginger root hitherto examined, and the statements con¬
cerning it are somewhat conflicting. Gmelin says that
its colour is yellowish, Neumann that it is red, and Morin
affirms that it is greenish-blue. Paponselc ( Wien. akad.
Ber. 9, 315), who submitted the oil to chemical examina¬
tion, obtaining the formula C10H16.H2O, states that it has
a strong odour of ginger, and a burning aromatic taste,
Bucholz on the contrary asserting that its taste is “rather
mild at first but somewhat bitter and biting after.” Time
has only allowed me to note the following physical and
other properties of the oil obtained in the manner pre¬
viously described.

It is a limpid, straw coloured fluid, with a peculiar aro¬
matic odour by no means recalling that of the rhizome
from which it was prepared, and of an aromatic and some¬
what camphoraceous taste. Sp. gr. ’853 at 15° C. (Hanbury
andFliickiger in ‘Pharmacographia,’ '878, Paponselc '893)
It is neutral in reaction, forms no compound with sodium
bisulphite, and is very soluble in absolute alcohol, benzol,
petroleum ether, ether and bisulphide of carbon.

One part of the oil dissolves in 25 of alcohol (sp. gr.
*815), in 50 parts of alcohol (sp. gr. '834) but requires
about 600 to 700 parts of alcohol of sp. gr. '920. These
approximations were obtained by adding with agitation
alcohol of the above strengths, to 1 c.c. of the volatile

August 30 1379.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

173

oil contained in a flask, until a clear solution resulted.
Dropped upon dry powdered iodine, instantaneous reaction
takes place, accompanied by evolution of heat and effer¬
vescence. A few drops digested with a fragment of sodium
produced a slight effervescence which continued for several
days, the ultimate product being much darker in colour,
and very viscid. The strange difference between the odour
of the oil as it exists in the ginger and as obtained by distil¬
lation accounts for the statement made by Mr. Draper at
the last Conference, that “an essence prepared from oil of
ginger did not give the same results as that obtained
from ginger itself.” A sample of this oil, obtained from
a London firm who import it from Germany, is identical
in colour, odour and taste with that prepared by myself,
but its specific gravity is '907. A sample of oil obtained
from an ethereal extract which had lost a great portion of
its volatile oil from too long exposure to steam heat in
the retort had a slightly darker colour and a specific
gravity of *874. Hence it appears most probable that
the oil of ginger really contains two or more volatile oils
differing in specific gravity, boiling point, etc.

4. Neutral resin. — This is the most abundant constitu¬
ent of the ethereal extract, and, after treatment with
50 per cent, alcohol, remains as an odourless and tasteless
brittle but somewhat soft resin, slowly taking the form
of the vessel in which it is kept. Its colour by reflected
light is nearly black, but by transmitted light, if viewed
in thin layers, it appears transparent and of a dark red-
brown colour. It dissolves readily in absolute alcohol,
ether, benzol, carbon disulphide and turpentine. In
rectified spirit it dissolves slowly but somewhat freely,
but is almost totally unaffected by proof spirit and petro¬
leum ether. Glacial acetic acid dissolves it, but it is only
slightly acted upon by solutions of potash, soda or ammo¬
nia. The alcoholic solution is neutral to test paper.

5. Acid resins. — This portion of the original extract
evidently contained, as before stated, at least two resins,
besides traces of the active principle, and possibly also of
an oxidation product of the essential oil. When treated
with benzol or carbon disulphide it separated into two
portions, the one taken up by the solvent, the other unaf¬
fected by it. This residue after being treated repeatedly
with benzol and carbon disulphide until nothing further

| was dissolved I have called resin a.

Resin a. — As above obtained is a dark brown rather
soft solid, breaking with a short resinous fracture, readily
soluble in dilute alcohol, ether and chloroform, but almost
entirely insoluble in benzol, carbon disulphide and tur¬
pentine. Glacial acetic acid dissolves it freely, as also
does solution of potash, the fluid becoming of a dark
brown colour. The alcoholic tincture gives a pale brown
precipitate with both acetate and subacetate of lead.
Does not dissolve in liquor ammonise, and is precipitated
from its solution in potass by addition of ammonium chlo¬
ride. The alcoholic solution is neutral to test paper.

Boiled with absolute alcohol and so die carbonate the
solution becomes of a dark brown colour, and sodium is
readily detected in it. Hydrochloric acid does not affect
the resin ; sulphuric acid forms with it a brown solution
which is decolorized by addition of potassium bichrom¬
ate ; nitric acid gives a brown solution which evolves
nitrous fumes and becomes orange red.

The benzol solution of No. 5 was very pungent in
taste, and when the benzol had been removed by evapo¬
ration and the semi-fluid residue dissolved in rectified
spirit, addition of basic lead acetate gave a copious pre¬
cipitate; but when the precipitant was added very
gradually it was noted that the colour of the precipitate
varied from an orange-brown to an orange-yellow. By
fractional precipitation, decomposition of the orange-
yellow lead salt, resolution of the resulting resin in
alcohol, and re -precipitation (partial) by subacetate of
lead, a compound of lead and resin was obtained, from
which the resin was finally extracted.

Resin (3. — In external appearance, consistency, etc.,
it closely ressmbles resin a; like it also it is readily

soluble in dilute alcohol, ether, chloroform, glacial acetic
acid and solution of potash; but it differs from resin a in
being soluble in benzol, bisulphide of carbon and turpen¬
tine, and in giving an orange precipitate with subacetate
of lead and a deep orange solution with liquor potassm.
It does not dissolve in ammonia, is tasteless and odourless,
and in alcoholic solution has a barely perceptible acid
reaction.

Dissolved in absolute alcohol and boiled with sodium
carbonate, the solution assumes an orange-red colour and
contains sodium. By action of hydrochloric, nitric and
sulphuric acids it can scarcely be distinguished from
resin a.

The alcoholic solution from which the resins a and /3
had been removed by lime yielded upon evaporation,
etc. , as before stated, a reddish, thick, oily -looking substance,
which was intensely pungent in taste. This was dissolved
in as small a quantity as possible of 50 per cent, alcohol,
and shaken with a little lime, whereby more of the resins
a and (3 were removed. When neutralized with sulphuric
acid, filtered and evaporated, the residue was found to
be much paler than before, but when dissolved in liquor
potassae it still gave a rich orange coloured solution. It
undoubtedly contained traces of resin (3, to remove which
is an exceedingly difficult matter. It can, however, be
accomplished by boiling the impure substance (which I
have called gingerol) in petroleum ether and rapidly de¬
canting. The ether as it cools deposits the gingerol in
oily drops. By treating the crude substance several
times with the same ether, collecting the still slightly
impure principle, and subjecting it to a repetition of the
above treatment, the pure or very approximately pure
gingerol is obtained. Only the portions first taken up by
the petroleum ether are employed (as by repetitions of
the treatment the whole of the impure substance can be
dissolved); hence the product of pure gingerol is small.

Gingerol. — This, which is the pungent or active prin¬
ciple of ginger, is a viscid fluid of about the consistency
of treacle, of a pale straw colour, entirely devoid of
odour and of an extremely pungent and slightly bitter
taste. It is very soluble in alcohol (even when diluted
to 50 per cent.), benzol, volatile oils, carbon bisulphide,
solutions of potash and ammonia and glacial acetic acid.
It is very slightly soluble in petroleum ether. The alco¬
holic solution is neutral in reaction and gives no precipi¬
tate with the acetates of lead nor with lime. It does
not yield glucose when treated with dilute sulphuric acid;
strong sulphuric acid dissolves it with production of a
brown colour ; hydrochloric acid does not affect it ; nitric
acid converts it into a blood red resinous substance. The
specific gravity of a slightly impure specimen was 1*09
at 15° C.

Aqueous Solution of Ethereal Extract. — Upon evapora¬
tion this deposited a considerable amount of soft resinous
matter; was acid in reaction and pungent in taste. It
contained considerable traces of an alkaloid, malic acid
and other substances, found in aqueous extract of the
rhizome.

A second lot of ethereal extract was treated in a some¬
what different manner. The whole was placed in a flask
and the essential oil carried off by a current of steam.
The residue was then treated first with petroleum ether
and afterwards with proof spirit. What remained was
completely soluble in benzol, but upon addition of a little
petroleum ether the fluid separated into two distinct
layers. The lower and darker coloured was removed and
more benzol and petroleum ether added to it and the
lower layer again removed. This residue was now found
to consist almost entirely of resin a, and after treatment
with successive portions of benzol to remove traces of
gingerol and resin /3, pure resin a remained. The benzol
and petroleum ether solution when shaken with slightly
diluted alcohol (about 75 per cent.) yielded up nearly all
the gingerol, together with a part of the resins. Upon
repeating this treatment the active principle contained
still less of the resins and was further purified by treat-

174

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August SO, 1U9

ment with petroleum ether as before described. The
gingerol and resin a thus obtained are identical with
those obtained by treatment with lime, decomposition of
lime salt by acid, etc. Resin /3 can only be obtained by
evaporating off the benzol and petroleum ether from solu¬
tion which has been treated with spirit, dissolving residue
in dilute alcohol, fractional precipitation with lime, etc.

Aqueous Extract of Ginger. — The ginger, or rather a
portion of the ginger, which had been exhausted writh
ether, was macerated for a couple of days in sufficient
cold water to cover it, then transferred to a percolator,
and water passed through until the marc was exhausted.
The first portion of the percolate had an acid reaction,
was limpid, and of a pale brown colour. It was carefully
evaporated upon the water-bath to a small bulk, a pellicle
constantly forming upon the surface, which readily dis¬
solved when the fluid was stirred. This solution gave
with ammonia a copious crystalline precipitate, which
when removed by filtration proved to be almost pure
ammonio-magnesium phosphate. Both mineral and or¬
ganic acids gave a flocculent, very voluminous flesh-
coloured precipitate which only re-dissolved in large
excess of mineral acid. Both acetates of lead gave bulky
precipitates, as also did admixture with alcohol. The
concentrated solution was mixed with 3 volumes of 85
per cent, alcohol, and after standing some time the pre¬
cipitate was removed by filtration, and washed with a
little alcohol. When now diffused in warm water, only
part dissolved, a beautifully white crystalline powder re¬
maining behind. This was separated and washed, and
proved to be almost pure phosphate of magnesia, but
contained traces of manganese, potassium, ii'on, calcium
and oxalic acid. The aqueous solution derived from the
alcoholic precipitate, when mixed with a little acetic acid,
gave a voluminous precipitate, and the filtrate when mixed
with alcohol gave a further precipitate (mucilage or gum).
From the filtrate the alcohol was removed at a gentle
heat, and to the solution acetate of lead was added. This
gave a brownish coloured precipitate, a part of which
dissolved in boiling water, and was redeposited in an
indefinitely crystalline form upon cooling. The fawn-
coloured crystalline mass was diffused through water and
decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen. The resulting acid
when neutralized gave no precipitate with calcium chloride
until alcohol was added, and was apparently malic acid
associated with a little impurity. The lead salt when
ignited left a residue of lead oxide somewhat under the
normal amount. The portion of lead precipitate not
dissolved by boiling water yielded but little to acetic
acid, and the residue was phosphate of lead together
with a little oxalate and brown humus-like matter. The
aqueous infusion which had been treated with neutral
lead acetate was rendered slightly alkaline by ammonia
and excess of basic lead acetate added ; the precipitate
which fell was not further examined. The excess of lead
was removed from the liquid by H2S, and the excess of
H2S got rid of by warming the solution whilst exposed
to a current of air. When rendered alkaline tannin pro¬
duced a most abundant precipitate, and phosphomolybdate
of ammonia, Nessler’s reagent, and iodine gave indications
of the presence of an alkaloid, but not in sufficient
amount to warrant an attempt at its isolation. The
tannin precipitate was collected, washed, dried, rubbed
with lead oxide and rectified spirit, and digested at a
gentle heat for several hours. The resulting solution
when evaporated left a residue, which I will call “In¬
different substance precipitated by tannin.”

The original infusion did not reduce Fehling’s solution.

Acidified with acetic acid and filtered CaCl2 gave a
precipitate which readily dissolved in hydrochloric acid.
Evaporated to a small bulk, traces of Ca and Mg removed,
then acidified with hydrochloric acid and perchloride of
platinum added, abundant evidence of the presence of
potassium was obtained. Tnese reactions together with
the acid character of the infusion lead me to infer that
the binoxalate of potash is a normal constituent of ginger

rhizome. The substance precipitated by acids, mucilage,
and indifferent principle precipitated by tannin were
submitted to such further examination as my limited time
allowed.

Substance Precipitated by Acids. — This substance, when
obtained, together with mucilage, by precipitating an infu¬
sion of ginger with alcohol, easily dissolves in pure water ;
when obtained by addition of an acid it is not so readily
soluble. Solutions of potash, soda, and ammonia dissolve it,
and when an acid is added it is reprecipitated. When
washed with a little water, and dried, the residue is
transparent, reddish, very brittle, and readily reduced to
a red-brown powder. It dissolves in strong hydrochloric,
nitric, and sulphuric acids, the hydrochloric solution
after some time acquiring a purplish yellow tint; the
nitric solution is bright yellow ; the sulphuric solution is
similar in colour to that in hydrochloric acid. In each
case dilution with water causes precipitation of the original
substance. When burnt upon a platinum dish it swells up
considerably, leaving a voluminous char, which burns
away with difficulty, leaving a little slightly coloured ash,
which appeared to be chiefly Mg32P04.

'4200 gram yielded '0105 ash or 2'5 per cent.

A little of the dried substance when fused with sodium
in a test-tube and the resulting mass treated successively
with solution of oxidized ferrous sulphate and hydro¬
chloric acid, gave a copious precipitate of Prussian blue.
'651 gram when burnt with soda lime yielded T35 gram
of double chloride of platinum and ammonium, corre¬
sponding to 1'3 per cent, of nitrogen. (This substance
is probably a mixture of albuminoid and arabinoid bodies.)

Mucilage. — This is precipitated by alcohol, after the
nitrogenous substance has been removed by addition of
acetic acid and filtration. When dried it is an amorphous
gum-like mass. As precipitated from a strong aqueous
infusion of the ginger it contained 25 per cent, of mineral
salts (chiefly Mg3P2Os and KH0204) ; as obtained from
a more dilute solution it yielded 13 per cent, of ash. It
is soluble in water, forming a slightly mucilaginous
solution, which is not affected by solution of borax,
precipitates slightly with neutral lead acetates, ferric
chloride, and mercuric chloride (probably only oxalate
and phosphates), and solidifies (in concentrated solution)
upon addition of basic lead acetate. After boiling some
time with dilute sulphuric acid the product reduces
Fehling’s solution. No blue colour is exhibited when
moistened with iodine and sulphuric acid.

Indifferent Substance precipitated by Tannin. — The
matter precipitated by tannin was left as a pale brown
amorphous residue upon evaporation of the tincture
obtained by digesting the tannic precipitate with carbonate
of lead. It did not reduce Fehling’s solution after treat¬
ment with dilute acid. Its aqueous solution gave indica¬
tions of the presence of an alkaloid with the phosphomolybic,
meta tungstic, iodine, and Nessler’s reagents, but it was
evident that this existed in it only in minute proportion.
From its aqueous solution tannin only precipitated it
after addition of an alkali.

Alcoholic Extract. — A portion of the powdered ginger
which had been treated with ether and water was next
percolated with 84 per cent, alcohol. The percolate
was of a very pale red colour and when evaporated
left an exceedingly small residue of a resinous character.
It was insoluble in water or dilute acids, soluble in
alkaline solutions, absolute and diluted alcohol. Did not
affect Fehling’s solution after treatment with acid. Not
further examined.

The marc insoluble in ether, water and alcohol was
digested in 1 per cent, soda solution for several days.
The infusion was mucilaginous ; it filtered with very great
difficulty, the filtrate being opalescent. Neutralized
with acid, only a very slight turbidity was produced, but
upon addition of 3 volumes of 95 per cent, alcohol, a very
voluminous, white, flocculent precipitate fell, which
rapidly cohered into lumps, leaving the supernatant fluid
perfectly clear.

August 30, 1679.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

175

Metardbin. — The substance, as above isolated, appeared
to be an insoluble variety of gum, it was free from colour,
and when dried left a brittle, slightly coloured residue.
It contained a barely detectable trace of nitrogenous
matter, and left upon ignition 5 per cent, of ash. It
dissolved readily in alkalies, but very slightly, if at all, in
strong hydrochloric acid.

The alkaline solution (together with the marc) was
diluted, boiled (to dissolve and remove the starch), and the
insoluble residue washed by subsidence and decantation,
boiled and digested with a 1 per cent, hydrochloric acid.
The infusion when filtered and neutralized became
slightly turbid, and upon admixture of alcohol a
flocculent precipitate was formed. This, which appeared
to be pararabin or a closely allied body, yielded upon
incineration nearly 20 per cent of ash, chiefly calcium
oxide (but possibly also a little phosphate), derived from
the calcium oxalate contained in the rhizome.

The quantitative analysis of the rhizome, the result of
which will be found tabulated with those obtained upon
examination of typical samples of commercial ginger, and
given at end of part 2 of this paper, was made in a
similar manner to that detailed in part 2, but not upon
same quantities of ginger. The percentage of ethereal
extract and of its constituents is calculated from amounts
yielded by 28 pounds of powder, and the other con¬
stituents from 10 grams only. The total oxalates de¬
rived from analysis of a hydrochloric infusion, by pre-
cipitation with calcium chloride after addition of excess of
an alkaline acetate correspond to T52 per cent, of oxalic-
acid. The phosphoric acid, as determined in solution
from which the oxalate had been removed, equalled 'T
per cent.

Appended is a tabulated statement of the action of the
various solvents, etc., upon the constituents of the
ethereal extract : —

Name.

Alcohol.

Petro¬

leum

Ether.

cs2.

Benzol.

Essential

Oil.

KHO solution.

Glacial

Acetic

Acid.

Physical

Properties.

Volatile Oil. . .

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Insoluble

Soluble

Straw coloured,
limpid, not
pungent in
taste.

Amorph. Substance

Soluble*

Soluble*

Soluble*

Soluble*

Soluble*

Insoluble

Soluble*

White, amor¬
phous.

Red fat ... .

Soluble*

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Forming a soapy
solution

Insoluble

Deep red trans¬
parent fat.

Resin 8 ... .

Soluble

Soluble

—

—

—

—

—

—

Neutral Resin . .

Solublef

Insoluble

Insoluble

Soluble

Soluble

Insoluble

Soluble

Black, pitch like
resin.

a Resin ....

Soluble

Insoluble

Insoluble

Insoluble

Insoluble

Soluble (deep

brown)

Soluble

Odourless and
tasteless, soft
but brittle

resin.

/3 Resin ....

Soluble

Soluble*

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble (orange
red)

Soluble

Odourless and
tasteless, soft
but brittle

resin.

Gingerol . . . .

Soluble

Soluble*

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Soluble

Straw coloured,
viscid, odour¬
less fluid ;

taste extreme¬
ly pungent.

* Slightly soluble. f Insoluble in proof spirit.

{To be continued.)

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

•

The President’s Address.

{Concluded from page 160.)

We have seen how little mere form has to do with the
essential properties of protoplasm. This may shape
itself into cells, and the cells may combine into organs
in ever-increasing complexity, and protoplasm force may
be thus intensified, and, by the mechanism of organiza¬
tion, turned to the best possible account ; but we must
still go back to protoplasm as a naked formless plasma
if we would find — freed from all non-essential complica¬
tions — the agent to which has been assigned the duty of
building up structure and of transforming the energy of
lifeless matter into that of living.

To suppose, however, that all protoplasm is identical
where no difference cognizable by any means at our dis¬
posal can be detected would be an error. Of two
particles of protoplasm, between which we may defy all
the power of the microscope, all the resources of the
laboratory, to detect a difference, one can develop only

to a jelly-fish, the other only to a man, and one conclusion
alone is here possible — that deep within them there must
be a fundamental difference which thus determines their
inevitable destiny, but of which we know nothing, and
can assert nothing beyond the statement that it must
depend on their hidden molecular constitution.

In the molecular condition of protoplasm there is
probably as much complexity as in the disposition of
organs in the most highly differentiated organisms ; and
between two masses of protoplasm indistinguishable from
one another there may be as much molecular difference
as there is between the form and arrangement of organs
in the most widely separated animals or plants.

Herein lies the many-sidedness of protoplasm ; herein
lies its significance as the basis of all morphological
expression, as the agent of all physiological work, while
in all this there must be an adaptiveness to purpose as
great as any claimed for the most complicated organism.

From the facts which have been now brought to your
notice there is but one legitimate conclusion — that life is
a property of protoplasm. In this assertion there is
nothing that need startle us. The essential phenomena

176

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August so, 1879.

of living beings are not so widely separated from the phe¬
nomena of lifeless matter as to render it impossible to
recognize an analogy between them : for even irritability,
■the one grand character of all living beings, is not more
difficult to be conceived of as a property of matter than
the physical phenomena of radial energy.

It is quite true that between lifeless and living matter
there is a vast difference, a difference greater far than
any which can be found between the most diverse mani¬
festations of lifeless matter. Though the refined synthe¬
sis of modern chemistry may have succeeded in forming
a few principles which until lately had been deemed the
proper product of vitality, the fact still remains that no
one has ever yet built up one particle of living matter
out of lifeless elements — that every living creature, from
the simplest dweller on the confines of organization up to
the highest and most complex organism, has its origin in
pre-existent living matter — that the protoplasm of to-day
is but the continuation of the protoplasm of other ages,
handed down to us through periods of indefinable and in¬
determinable time.

Yet with all this, vast as the differences may be, there
is nothing which precludes a comparison of the properties
of living matter with those of lifeless.

When, however, we say that life is a property of pro¬
toplasm, we assert as much as we are justified in doing.
Here, we stand upon the boundary between life in its
proper conception, as a group of phenomena having irrita¬
bility as their common bond, and that other and higher
group of phenomena which we designate as consciousness
or thought, and which, however intimately connected
with those of life, are yet essentially distinct from them.

When the heart of a recently killed frog is separated
from its body and touched with the point of a needle, it
begins to beat under the excitation of the stimulus, and
we believe ourselves justified in referring the contraction
of the cardiac fibres to the irritability of their protoplasm
as its proper cause. We see in it a remarkable pheno¬
menon, but one nevertheless in which we can see un¬
mistakable analogies with phenomena purely physical.
There is no greater difficulty in conceiving of contractility
as a property of protoplasm than there is in conceiving
of attraction as a property of the magnet.

When a thought passes through the mind, it is associ¬
ated, as we have now abundant reason for believing, with
some change in the protoplasm of the cerebral cells. Are
we, therefore, justified in regarding thought as a property
of the protoplasm of these cells in the sense in which we
regard muscular contraction as a property of the proto¬
plasm of muscle? or is it really a property i*esiding in
something far different, but which may yet need for its
manifestation the activity of cerebral protoplasm ?

If we could see any analogy between thought and any
one of the admitted phenomena of matter, we should be
bound to accept the first of these conclusions as the
simplest, and as affording a hypothesis most in accordance
with the comprehensiveness of natural laws ; but between
thought and the physical phenomena of matter there is
not only no analogy, but there is no conceivable analogy ;
and the obvious and continuous path which we have hitherto
followed up in our reasonings from the phenomena of
lifeless matter through those of living matter here comes
suddenly to an end. The chasm between unconscious life
and thought is deep and impassable, and no transitional
phenomena can be found by which as by a bridge we may
span it over; for even from irritability, to which on a
superficial view, consciousness may seem related, it is as
absolutely distinct as it is from any of the ordinary
phenomena of matter.

It has been argued that because physiological activity
must be a property of every living cell, psychical activity
must be equally so, and the language of the metaphysician
has been carried into biology, and the “cell soul” spoken
of as a conception inseparable from that of life.

That psychical phenomena, however, characterized as
"they essentially are by consciousness, are not necessarily

coextensive with those of life there cannot be a doubt.
How far back in the scale of life consciousness may exist
we have as yet no means of determining, nor is it
necessary for our argument that we should. Certain it is
that many things, to all appearance the result of volition,
are capable of being explained as absolutely unconscious
acts; and when the swimming swarm-spore of an alga
avoids collision, and by a reversal of the stroke of its cilia
backs from an obstacle lying in its course, there is almost
certainly in all this nothing but a purely unconscious act.
It is but a case in which we find expressed the great law
of the adaptation of living beings to the conditions which
surround them. The irritability of the protoplasm of the
ciliated spore responding to an external stimulus sets in
motion a mechanism derived by inheritance from its
ancestors, and whose parts are correlated to a common
end — the preservation of the individual.

But even admitting that every living cell were a con¬
scious and thinking being, are we therefore justified in
asserting that its consciousness, like its irritability, is a
property of the matter of which it is composed? The sole
argument on which this view is made to rest is that from
analogy. It is argued that because the life phenomena,
which are invariably found in the cell, must be regarded
as a property of the cell, the phenomena of consciousness
by which they are accompanied must be also so regarded.
The weak point in the argument is the absence of all
analogy between the things compared, and as the
conclusion rests solely on the argument from analogy, the
two must fall to the ground together.

In a lecture to which I once had the pleasure of listen¬
ing — a lecture characterized no less by lucid exposition
than by the fascinating form in which its facts were pre¬
sented to the hearers, Professor Huxley argues that no
difference, however great, between the phenomena of
living matter and those of the lifeless elements of which
this matter is composed should militate against our
attributing to protoplasm the phenomena of life as pro¬
perties essentially inherent in it ; since we know that the
result of a chemical combination of physical elements
may exhibit physical properties totally different from
those of the elements combined ; the physical phenomena
presented by water, for example, having no resemblance
to those of its combining elements, oxygen and hydrogen.

I believe that Professor Huxley intended to apply this
argument only to the phenomena of life in the stricter
sense of the word. As such it is conclusive. But if it be
pushed further and extended to the phenomena of con¬
sciousness it loses all its force. The analogy, perfectly
valid in the former case, here fails. The properties of the
chemical compound are, like those of its components, still
physical properties. They come within the wide category
of the universally accepted properties of matter, while
those of consciousness belong to a category absolutely
distinct — one which presents not a trace of a connection
with any of those which physicists have agreed in assign¬
ing to matter as its proper characteristics. The argument
thus breaks down, for its force depends on analogy alone,
and here all analogy vanishes.

That consciousness is never manifested except in the
presence of cerebral matter or of something like it, there
cannot be a question ; but this is a very different thing
from its being a property of such matter in the sense in
which polarity is a property of the magnet, or irritability
of protoplasm. The generation of the rays which lie
invisible beyond the violet in the spectrum of the sun
cannot be regarded as a property of the medium which by
changing their refrangibility can alone render them
apparent.

I know that there is a special charm in those broad
generalizations which would refer many very different
phenomena to a common source. But in this very charm
there is undoubtedly a danger, and we must be all the
more careful lest it should exert an influence in arresting
the progress of truth, just as at an earlier period tradi¬
tional beliefs exerted an authority from which the mind

August 30, 1879.) THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

177

I

I

t

r

;

but slowly and with difficulty succeeded in emancipating

itself.

But have we, it may be asked, made in all this one step
forward towards an explanation of the phenomena of con¬
sciousness or the discovery of its source ? Assuredly not.
The power of conceiving of a substance different from
that of matter is still beyond the limits of human intelli¬
gence, and the physical or objective conditions which are
the concomitants of thought are the only ones of which
it is possible to know anything, and the only ones whose
study is of value.

We are not, however, on that account forced to the con¬
clusion that there is nothing in the universe but matter
and force. The simplest physical law absolutely incon¬
ceivable by the highest of the brutes, and no one would be
justified in assuming that man had already attained the
limit of his power. Whatever may be that mysterious
bond which connects organization with psychical endow¬
ments, the one grand fact — a fact of inestimable import¬
ance — stands out clear and freed from all obscurity and
doubt, that from the first dawn of intelligence there is
with every advance in organization a corresponding
advance in mind. Mind as well as body is thus travelling
onwards through higher and still higher phases ; the great
law of Evolution is shaping the destiny of our race ; and
though now we may at most but indicate some weak point
in the generalization which would refer consciousness as
well as life to a common material source, who can say that
in the far off future there may not yet be evolved other and
higher faculties from which light may stream in upon
the darkness, and reveal to man the great mystery of

Thought ? - -

Meetings of the Sections.

The various Sections commenced their meetings on
Thursday morning, the 22nd inst., when the proceedings
were opened by addresses from their respective presidents
as follows : —

Section A. — Mathematical and Physical Science. — Pre¬
sident : G. Johnstone Stoney, M.A., F.R.S.

Section B. — Chemical Science. — President: James

Dewar, M.A., F.R.S. L. & E.

Section C. — Geology.— President : P. Martin Duncan,
M.B., F.R.S., F.G.S.

Section D .—Biology. — President (Department of Zoo¬
logy and Botany) : St. George Mivart, F.R.S., F.L.S.,
F.Z.S. Vice-President (Department of Anthropology) :
E. B. Tylor, D.O.L., F.R.S. Vice-President (Depart¬
ment of Anatomy and Physiology) : Dr. Pye Smith.
This Department did not meet until Friday.

Section E. — Geography. — President : Clements R. Mark¬
ham, C.B., F.R.S., F.L.S.

Section F .—Economic Science and Statistics. — President
(in the absence of Mr. G. Shaw Lefevre, owing to the
death of his father) : Mr. Mundella, M.P.

Section G. — Mechanical Science. — President : J. Robin¬
son, Pres. Inst. Mech. Eng.

Soiries, Lectures, etc.

On Thursday Evening a Soiree was given by the Mas¬
ter Cutler in the Cutlers’ Hall, and on Tuesday the 26th
a Soiree was given by the Local Committee in this same
building.

On Friday Evening, the 22nd, Mr. William Crookes
delivered a lecture on “ Radiant Matter,” ' to a large
audience assembled in the Albert Hall. This lecture it is
intended to print in an early number of this Journal.
Another lecture was delivered in the Albert H,all on
Monday evening, the 25th, the lecturer being Pi'ofessor

E. Ray Lankester and his subject “Degeneration.” On
Saturday, the 23rd, the lecture to the operative classes
was delivered by Professor Ayrton, on “Electricity as a
Motive Power.”

Next Place of Meeting.

At a meeting of the General Committee on Monday;
for the election of Officers, Professor A. C. Ramsay, LL.D.j

F. R.S., was chosen President of the Association for the

meeting next year in Swansea. It was also finally decided
to accept the invitation of the municipality of York to
meet in that city in 1881.

At the concluding meeting on Wednesday it was an¬
nounced that the total attendance had been 1404, against
2578 last year at Dublin, 1217 in 1878 at Plymouth, and
2652 in 1877 at Glasgow'.

o

The following is a list of the papers read in the Chemi¬
cal Section : —

Report of Committee on the Chemistry of some of the
lesser known Alkaloids. Read by W. Chandler Roberts,
F.R.S.

On some relations between the numbers expressing the
Atomic Weights of the Elements. By Walter Weldon,,

F.R.S.E.

On the Synthesis of Diphenyl Propyl. By M. R. D.
Silva.

Recent Researches in Explosive Agents. By F. A*
Abel, F.R.S.

On Vapour Densities. By Professor Dewar, F.R.S.

To Describe a large Crystal of Mercury Sulphate. By
P. Braham.

On the Manufacture of Crucible Steel. By Henry S.
Bell, F.C.S.

On the Separation of Iron and Phosphorus especially
with reference to the Manufacture of Steel. By Thomas
Blair.

A new Process in Metallurgy. By John Hollway.

A Lecture Experiment in Illustration of the Hollway
Process of Smelting Sulphide Ores. By A. H. Allen, F.C.S

On Lead Fume with a description of a New Process
of Fume Condensing. By Andrew French.

On the constitution of Aluminic Compounds. By Pro¬
fessor Odling, F.R.S.

On the presence of Nitrogen in Steel. By A. H. Alien*

Colour tests for Phosphorus and Sulphur in Iron and
Steel. By A. Vernon Harcourt, F.R.S.

To exhibit some experiments with Hughes’ Voltaic
Induction Balance. By W. Chandler Roberts, F.R.S.

Historical Sketch of the various Vapour Density
Methods. By J. T. Brown.

Note on certain Vapour Densities. By Professor
Wanklyn.

Note on Isocyan-propionic Acid. By Professor
Wanklyn.

Physical Constants of Liquid Acetylene and Hydro¬
chloric Acid. By G. Andsell.

The Action of Ammoniacal Salts on Metallic Sulphides
By M. De Clermont.

On the Chemical Composition of a nodule of Ozokerite
found at Kinghorn-ness. By W. Ivison Macadam.

On some curious Concretion Balls derived from a
Colliery Mineral Water. By Thomas Andrews.

On some points in connection with Agricultural Che¬
mistry. By Dr. Gilbert, F.R.S.

On the rare Metals of the Yttrium Group. By T. S.
Humpidge, B.Sc.

On the Synthesis of Hydrocyanic Acid. By Professor

Dewar, F.R.S.

On the amount of Nitrous Acid produced in Electric
Illumination. By Professor Dewar, F.R.S.

On the Kinoline Bases. By Professor Dewar, F.R.S.
An account of some recent Experiments on Super¬
saturated Solutions. By John M. Thomson.

Notes of some recent Spectral Observation. By J..
Norman Lockyer, F.R.S.

Notes on Petroleum Spirit or Benzoline. By A. H. Allen*
On the illuminative value of a mixture of Hydrogen.
By A. Vernon Harcourt, F.R.S.

On a new form of Condenser. By G. T. Hazelhurst.
Notes on a sample of Fullers Earth found in an old
Fullonica recently excavated at Pompeii. By W. Thom¬
son, F.R.S.E.

On the detection of Milk Adulteration. By W. H*

Watson.

178

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[August 30, 1879

Chemical researches on the Palmella cruenta. By Dr.
Phipson.

Description of a glass burette for collecting, mea¬
suring, and discharging gas over mercury. By Philip
Braham.

Ipartiamentarg and lam |roqtedtn()s.

PROSECUTIONS UNDER THE PHARMACY ACT, IRELAND.

In the Northern Division of the Dublin Police Courts,
before Mr. J. W. O’Donnell, the chief magistrate, two
summonses have been heard, brought under the Pharmacy
Act, Ireland, by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
The first case gone into was one against Messrs. George
P. Beater and James North Hardy, trading under the
name of Beater and Co., as druggists, of 17, Lower
Sackville Street, the allegation being that they, “not
being persons registered as a pharmaceutical chemist or
chemist and druggist under the Pharmacy Act of 1875,
did compound a certain prescription and sell same at
Lower Sackville Street, in the Police District of Dub¬
lin Metropolis, on the 10th of July, 1879, between the
hours of 10 and 11 o’clock, a,m., contrary to the form of
the satute in such case made and provided.”

Mr. Purcell, Q.C., instructed by Messrs. Ennis and
Son, appeared on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Society
of Ireland for the prosecution. Mr. Gerald Byrne ap¬
peared for the defendants.

Mr. Purcell said the Society were proceeding under the
30th section of the 57th chapter of the Pharmacy Act of
1875. That statute enacted that the Society should be a
body corporate, and the 30 th section was : “ So much of
the Act of 1791 as prohibits the keeping of open shops
within the meaning of the said Act by any person other
than a licentiate of Apothecaries’ Hall shall be repealed ;
provided always, that it shall be unlawful for any pei-son
to sell or keep open shop for retailing, dispensing, or com¬
pounding poisons within the meaning of the Act of the session
of the thirty-third and thirty-fourth years of the reign
of Her present Majesty, chapter twenty-six, or medical
prescriptions, unless such person is registered as a phar¬
maceutical chemist or a chemist and druggist under this
Act, or to assume or use the title of pharmaceutical
chemist, or pharmaceutist, or pharmacist, or dispensing
chemist, or the title of chemist and druggist in any part
of Ireland, unless such person shall be registered as a
pharmaceutical chemist or as a chemist and druggist
respectively under this Act ; and any person acting in
contravention of this enactment, or compounding any
medicines of the British Pharmacopoeia, except according
to the formularies of the said pharmacopoeia, shall for
every such offence be liable to pay a penalty of five
pounds ; but no such penalty shall exempt any person
from being liable to any other penalty, damage, or
punishment to which he would have been subject if this
Act had not passed.” On the 10th of July last, Messrs.
Beater and Hardy, who carry on business as (chemists
and) druggists in Lower Sackville Street, compounded a
medical prescription and sold it to the party who pre¬
sented it, and he (counsel) held a receipt given by the
defendants for compounding. He did not think that the
facts were disputed, but if they were the Society had
their witnesses ready who would prove the offence
alleged.

Mr. O’Donnell : What is the particular offence with
which the defendants are here charged ?

Mr. Ennis, solicitor: Selling and compounding medi¬
cines.

Mr. O’Donnell : Then it is for the sale and compound¬
ing of medicines, and not of poisons ?

Mr. Purcell : Yes. On the 10th of July a medical
prescription, which we have here, was presented at the
establishment of Messrs. Beater and Hardy, who are not

registered pharmaceutical chemists under the Act of
Parliament, and in the presence of our witnesses it was
made up. But I believe they do not dispute the facts.

Mr. Byrne, solicitor : I appear for Messrs. Beater and
Hardy, and they admit that a breach of the law was
committed in their establishment, but it was committed
by one of the employes and not by themselves. Under
the circumstances I hope the Society will not press the
case.

Mr. Purcell : If they express regret that it occurred
and promise that there shall be no repetition of it in
future we will not press for the full penalty. It is not
the object of the Society to do so Under such circum-
stances -

Mr. O’Donnell : I am sure of that.

Mr. Purcell : But we are bound to vindicate the law.

Mr. O’Donnell : It is a very salutary Act. Mistakes
occur every day in London in consequence of prescrip¬
tions being compounded by persons who are not properly
qualified to do so, but, I am happy to say, there have
been very few here.

Mr. Byrne : My clients will take every measure to
prevent a similar occurrence in future, and as far as
Messrs. Beater and Hardy are personally concerned they
knew nothing of it.

Mr. Purcell : That is no justification.

Mr. O’Donnell: They would be both personally and
pecuniarily responsible for any neglect that might occur
in their establishment.

Mr. Purcell: On the undertaking of Messrs, Beater
and Hardy that there will not be any repetition -

Mr. O’Donnell : I will impose a nominal penalty of
ten shillings.

Mr. Purcell : I think that will do. And five guineas
costs, your worship.

Mr. O’Donnell : This is the first case of the kind that
has been heard, and it settles the law on the subject.
Should a similar case be again brought the penalty in¬
flicted will be very serious.

Mr. Purcell: That is the object of the Society.

Mr. O’Donnell: Of course, as a public body they act
on public grounds and they will not prosecute in a mere
squabble between different establishments. When they
find anyone violating the law they should chasser him at
once. The defendants are now fined 10s., but if any
person, with that conviction in his face, commits a similar
offence he will be severely dealt with.

An order was made for the payment of 10s. and five
guineas costs.

The second summons, which was brought against Mr.
Joseph Brownrigg, of Talbot Street, trading as Brown-
rigg and Co., and was in respect of a similar offence
alleged to have been committed by him on the 10th of
July, was then heard.

Mr. Brownrigg, when the case was called, denied that
the prescription had been compounded in his establish¬
ment, and asserted that' he had sent it out to Messrs.
Hamilton, Long and Co., where it was compounded.

Mr. Purcell : We will prove the facts.

Mr. Robert Cowan, 23, Geraldine Street, was examined
by Mr. Purcell, and deposed : On the 10th of July I took
this prescription (produced) into the establishment of the
defendant. I was standing by all the time while it was
being made up by Mr. Brownrigg himself.

By himself ? — I saw him.

Did you see the stamp put on it ? — I did.

Was it done by him in your presence ? — It was.

Who wrote the directions ? — He himself.

Is that the box of pills that you got with the bottle ?—
It is.

And who wrote the directions ? — Mr. Brownrigg
himself.

I ask a conviction in this case for the full amount.

Mr. Cowan, cross-examined by the defendant, who
conducted his own case, stated : When I first went in you

August 30, 1ST9.] THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

179

said it would require an hour to make up the prescrip¬
tion, and I went away for that time. On my return I
stayed in the shop half an hour.

Did you see me send out ? — No. I was looking at you
all the time, and I saw' you making it up.

To Mr. O’Donnell. — When I came back to the shop
the defendant said he had not made up the prescription,
and then he wrent and did it. He had not!.*- g done
when I came back, and he made it up before my face.

Mr. Brownrigg : I have a witness to prove that I sent
to Hamilton, Long and Co.’s, and it was compounded
there. I put on the labels myself.

Mr. Cowan : I saw Mr. Brownrigg filling the bottle
from the bottles on the shelves in the shop.

Mr. Purcell: Not only is the label, as the witness
swears, written in the handwriting of the defendant, but
he actually has the audacity to have on it that he is a
member of the Pharmaceutical Society — “Joseph Brown-
rigg, M.P.S.’:'

Mr. Cowan : I sawr him put his name to it.

Mr. Purcell (to witness) : Did you go a second time to
his shop ? — I did, on the 16th of July.

Mr. O’Donnell : I will not take that as evidence. (To
the witness.) Take the bottle in your hands. Did you
see him write that on it ? — I did.

Coidd any other person have written on the bottle ? —
No. There was a young man sitting on a chair, but Mr.
Brownrigg w'rote the label himself and put the wrapper
on the bottle, and made up the prescription himself.

Mr. Purcell : Look at the stamp on the prescription.
Do you see Brownrigg and Company on it ? I do. The
defendant W'rote on it in my presence. The letters
“ M.P.S.” are after his name.

That is “ Member of the Pharmaceutical Society ” of
chemists and druggists and so forth, Talbot Street,
Dublin, and he admits that he is not a member.

Witness, in reply to Mr. Purcell : The receipt produced
is the one that Mr. Brownrigg wrote.

Cross-examined by Mr. Brownrigg : When I returned
at the end of the hour you said the medicine was not
ready, and that its preparation wrould take half an hour,
but from the time you began to make it you were not
twenty-five minutes. I saw you fill the bottle from
bottles on your shelves.

Mr. Brownngg (to Mr. O’Donnell) : I admit he got it
from me, but it was made up elsewhere.

Mr. Hugh James Pennell, Registrar of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Ireland, was sworn, but before he was
examined,

Mr. Brownrigg said : I admit I am not a member of
the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

Mr. Purcell (to witness) : Do you see the letters
“M.P.S.”?— I do.

That is member of the Pharmaceutical Society ? — That
is the usual meaning of the letters.

Is it true or false ? — It is not true that Mr. Brownrigg
is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

This closed the case for the prosecution.

Mr. William Coulson, defendant’s assistant, was exa¬
mined for the defence. He stated, in reply to Mr.

! Brownrigg : I remember the prescription perfectly well .
I took it to Hamilton and Long’s. Having some other
things to get at the same time, I did not return at once
with it. Mr. Cowan was kept near to an hour altogether.

Was the bottle corked and labelled when you brought
it in ? — It was. You then wrote a label yourself and put
it on, taking off the other one. I saw the man (Mr.
Cowan) when he came back. Prom where he was in the
shop he could not possibly have seen you label the bottle,
i He was sitting down.

Cross-examined by Mr. Purcell: I am a chemist’s
assistant. I do not know the name of the assistant at
Hamilton and Long’s who made up the prescription. He
would not put his number on it when it was for another
chemist. I went out through the hall door of Mr.
Brownrigg’s.

What was your object? — Not to let the person in the
shop know what we were doing. If we let every one see
us go out for what we might be short of, people would
say, “ It is no good going there for they have nothing.”

Did you hear the evidence sworn here to-day ? — I did.

And was it false or true ? — It is quite untrue that Mr.
Brownrigg compounded the prescription himself.

Mr. CVIJonnell : Suppose you brought the prescription
to Hamilton and Long’s would they not make an entry
of it? — Not when it was for another druggist.

Mr. Purcell : Is it your evidence that they assist the
druggists of Dublin in violating an Act of Parliament by
making up prescriptions for them and letting them sell
them? — It is no violation.

Mr. Purcell: Well, I think it is.

Mr. Coulson : That is the difference of opinion be¬
tween us. — It is made up by a qualified apothecary.

Mr. O’Donnell: Are you in the habit of going to
Hamilton and Long’s? — When we have prescriptions,
but we have very few.

Mr. Cowan : From the time I went in till when I came
out, he (the witness) was not in the shop at all.

Witness : The shop is a divided shop.

Mr. O’Donnell (to Mr. Cowan) : You said there was a
young man on a chair in the shop? — But this is not the
one, nor did I sit down. He has told a falsehood. I
stood and looked at Mr. Brownrigg mixing the things.

Did any one bring in a bottle and hand it to him ? —
No one.

Mr. Purcell (to Mr. Coulson) : Have you a receipt
from Messrs. Hamilton and Long? — No. Receipts are
only given when they are asked for. If you came to my
shop I would not give you a receipt unless you asked for
one. Mr. Cowan asked for the one he was given.

Mr. Purcell : Even if there were a shadow of founda¬
tion for this statement the Act covers it, for it is not
only an offence against the 30th section to compound,
but it is an offence to sell a medical prescription by a
person who is not registered as a pharmaceutical chemist.
The summons is not only for compounding, but selling.

(To Mr. Coulson) : You brought the prescription to
Messrs. Hamilton and Long’s? — Yes.

Mr. O’Donnell : How long did that delay ? — From ten
or fifteen minutes.

Mr. Purcell: What did you pay at Messrs. Hamilton
and Long’s? — One shilling.

And got no receipt ? — And got no receipt. There is
not a day I am not in the habit of going there. They
know who I am and give me things at trade prices.

Mr. Cowan, examined by Mr. Brownrigg, said: I did
not see a glass counter dividing the shop.

To Mr. O’Donnell : I was quite close to the defendant
all the time he was making up the prescription.

Mr. Brownrigg : Was not a little girl in the shop when
I was called down first* — Yes, when I entered first.

And you said very wrell you are at your breakfast ? — I
said no such thing.

Mr. Purcell : Then it appears there was only a little
girl in the shop.

Mr. Brownrigg : This was at nine o’clock in the
morning.

Cross-examination of Mr. Coulson resumed by Mr.
Purcell : This pill box (produced) is not the one we got
from Messrs. Hamilton and Long’s, as we could not wash
the label off.

Is that the bottle you got from Messrs. Hamilton and
Long? — I don’t suppose they changed it. You don’t
imagine we pay twopence for a bottle when we can get
them so much cheaper by the dozen.

Mr. O’Donnell (to Mr. Purcell) : You say the section
embraces selling and compounding ?

Mr. Purcell (reading) : “ Provided always that it shall
be unlawful for any person to sell or keep open shop for
retailing, dispensing, or compounding poisons ....
or medical prescriptions.” To sell or compound medical
prescriptions, for that it is so intended is shown by the

180

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [August 30, 1379.

use of the disjunctive “ or.” — (To the witness) : Were
the pills made up at Messrs. Hamilton and Long’s? —
Yes.

How much did you pay? — I paid a shilling in all. We
charged Mr. Cowan one shilling and sixpence.

Mr. O’Donnell (to the defendant) : At all events by the
sale that day you made a profit of sixpence. I fine you
£5 and £3 10s. costs.

Mr. Brow-nrigg contended that the 31st section should
be considered conjointly with the 30th, and in support of
his argument quoted the following passage from the
former, “ Nothing in this Act contained shall extend to
or interfere with the making or dealing in patent medi¬
cines, or with the business of wholesale dealers in supply¬
ing poisons in the course of wholesale dealing or of
chemists and druggists who are practising as such in
Ireland upon their own account at the time of the passing
of this Act, save and except the provisions against the
compounding of poisons or medical prescriptions, and
against the preparing of any medicines of the British
Pharmacopoeia, except according to the formularies of
the said Pharmacopoeia.”

Mr. O’Donnell held that the provisions of the 31st
section did not alter the meaning of those of the 30th,
and refused to change his ruling.

able to keep all the leeches alive for months, even during
the hottest weather, when the mortality amongst them
is usually very great.

Edmund E. Cheery.

COURT PLASTER. — Soak isinglass in a little warm
water for seventy-four hours, then evaporate nearly all
the whaler by gentle heat, dissolve the residue in a
little proof spirits of wine, and strain the whole through,
a piece of open linen. The strained mass should be a
stiff jelly when cool. Now stretch a piece of silk or
sarsenet on a wooden frame, and fix it tight with tacks
or pack-thread. Melt the jelly and apply it to the silk
thinly and evenly, with a badger hair brush. A second1
coating must be applied when the first has dried. When,
both are dry, apply over the whole surface two or three
coatings of balsam of Peru. Plaster thus made is very
pliable and never breaks.

INDELIBLE ANILINE INK. — Triturate If grams
of aniline-black with 60 drops of strong hydrochloric-
acid and 42 or 43 grams strongest alcohol; then add to-
it a hot solution of 2 4 grams gum-arabic in 170 grams
of water.

This ink attacks steel-pens but little. It is not destroyed
either by strong mineral acids or by strong lye.

If fhe first alcoholic solution of aniline black be diluted

giqiqismrj JJtmmpda.

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

[338].

Argent. Nitratis . ^ij.

Aquae Destill . giij.

Liq. Ammon. Port . q s.

Ut ft. solutio secund. artem.

How should the above be prepared ?

Herbert Chambers.

[339]. How should the following be dispensed ? —

R. Ferri Ammon. Cit . ?jj.

Quiniae Disulph . gr. xv.

Aquae Fort . jjss.

M. ft. Guttae. Five drops three times a day in sugar
and water.

Minor.

and Queries.

[624]. COLOUR OF CLOTH.— Will some corre¬
spondent kindly state what acid is generally used for
testing the colour of cloth ?

Minor.

THE PRESERVATION OF- LEECHES.—
Complaints are frequently heard of the inability of che¬
mists to keep their leeehes in health for any length of
time. I have avoided the advertised leech aquariums and
the like, and have for years kept leeches in perfect health
by the following simple plan : —

I got a 7 lb. ointment jar, made of glazed white earthen¬
ware, and put my leeches into it. Then instead of
replacing the top I covered the jar with white muslin,
and tied it round tightly.

The w-ater was never allowed to go unchanged more
than a week, and by these simple means I have been

with a solution of grams of shellac (instead of gum-
arabic) in 170 grams of water, an ink is produced which
may be employed for writing on wood, brass or leather,,
and which is remarkable for its deep black colour.

(^oiir^sjond^nr^.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

J. C. Talbot. — See the Pharm. Journ. for February 22
last, p. 695, and May 21, p. 988.

“ Tonic.” — We think the label would necessitate the use
of a stamp, but recommend you to submit it to the revenue
authorities who alone can decide the point.

T. H. C. (Southsea). — Nostoc commune. By some it is
considered an alga, by others a stage in the life-history of a
lichen, Collena pulposum.

J. H. Dingle. — Festuca gigantea is correct. The other
plant is Pyrus torminalis.

E. Parrett. — Veratrum nigrum.

D. Dickinson. — 1 and 3. Send better specimens. (2)

Veronica serpyllifolia. (4) Pmmella vulgaris.

Diogeoxes. — Staphylea pinnata (bladder nut ? ).

T. D. — Euphorbia Helioscopia.

P. Roberts. — 1, 2 and 3 are correctly named. (4) Athy-
rium Filix Mas. (5) Betonica officinalis , (6) Mentha
arvensis.

F. H. Fairweatlier. — (1) Beta maritima. (2) Sinapis
nigra. (3) Sinapis arvensis. (4) Crepis virens. (5)
Leycesteria formosa : not British.

J. B. (who should have sent his name) is recommended
to address his question to the editor of a veterinary
journal.

“Student.” — Potassium ferrocyanide is not a poison
and is not included in Schedule A of the Pharmacy Act.

“ Pendennis.” — The latest edition of the * Elements of
Materia Medica ’ was published in 1872 by Messrs. Long¬
man and Co., and was edited by Professors Bentley and
Redwood. This is an abridgment of the original work
published by Dr. Pereira.

R. Radclyffe. — See an article on Bisulphite of Lime and
its use in Brewing, in the Pharm. Journal for March 3,
1877, p. 720.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Howie, Prollius, Atkin, Moss. Attfield, Claypole,
Fox. Pedler, Cocks, A. B., Sanders, Martindale, Benger.

September 6, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

18 L

NOTES ON CINCHONA BARE.

BY DAVID HOWARD.

Recent importations of East Indian cinchona
bark have thrown light on several points worthy of
the notice of those interested in the subject.

The officinalis bark from the Government Planta¬
tion at Dodabetta gives us some valuable information
as to the effect of age on the value of the bark. The
date of the plantation from which each parcel was
obtained was given, and we thus have a series of
barks, classed as natural, mossed and renewed from
trees planted each year from 1863 to 1867.

As “ natural ” bark from the lower stems is only
obtained from trees not yet treated for “ renewing,”
it is evident that in the older plantations the natural
bark will be chiefly from the upper stem or from
saplings and inferior trees, and thus, as Dr. De Yrij
has shown, will be of inferior quality.

The result shows this to be the case, the best
parcel of natural bark being from the plantation of
1867, that from the other plantations being of uneven
quality showing no regular variation. The mossed
bark on the other hand may fairly be taken to
represent the oldest bark from the main stems in
each plantation, and therefore is the best guide as to
the influence of age on the quality of the bark.

The result is highly satisfactory, showing that as
yet the bark from the oldest plantations, so far from
deteriorating, continues to improve. Both the quinine
and the total crystallizable alkaloid steadily increase
from the bark of the 1867 plantation to that of 1864,
that of the 1863 plantation yielding the same quinine
as that of 1864, and slightly more cinchonidine and
quinidine.

It is certainly more likely that so regular a pro¬
gression is the result of greater maturity than that
the difference should be caused by any variety in
the C. officinalis cultivated.

This is a most important point, for recent importa¬
tions of the bark of G. succirubra confirm the
opinion so often expressed by my uncle, J. E.
Howard, F.R.S., and by Mr. Broughton, the late
Quinologist to the Indian Government (‘ Quinology
of the East Indian Plantations,’ p. 71), that in this
species the bark deteriorates beyond a certain age.
It is difficult to say exactly what that age may be,
and it probably varies according to the growth of
the tree, but some of the very finest of the red bark
now coming from India, as far as appearance goes,
certainly seems to have passed its maximum of rich¬
ness in quinine.

As to the “ renewed ” officinalis bark, the time
during which the different parcels have been forming
is not given, nor is it stated whether it is from the
first, second, or later crops, and therefore the com¬
parison may not be accurate ; but it is interesting to
see that here also the older plantations show no
deterioration, the best being from the 1863 planta¬
tion.

From a private plantation I have received a sample
of root bark of C. officinalis from trees which were
coppiced three years ago. It gives quinine 2-2 per
cent., cinchonidine, *2 per cent., quinidine, P5 per
cent., and cinchonine, 3*3 per cent.

The stem bark from this plantation, at the time
when the trees were cut down, gave: quinine, 2-6
per cent., cinchonidine, *6 per cent., cinchonine, 1*
per cent., and but a trace of quinidine.

We find, therefore, that in this sample the
Third Series, No. 480.

ordinary tendency of root bark to produce the
dextrogyrate alkaloids is developed to a most unusual
degree, the percentage of quinidine is a most extra¬
ordinary one for bark from G. officinalis.

I have also received from Darjeeling a very in¬
teresting sample of the bark of C. succirubra
accidentally renewed. It is entirely the produce of
accidental injuries to the trees (not deep enough to
injure the cambium, and prevent the bark forming
over the whole surface), no protection whatever
having been given where the bark was removed.

• The result is as successful as could have been
expected from renewing under the most favourable
conditions, the contained alkaloids being, quinine,
2’3 per cent., cinchonidine, 1*5 per cent , cinchonine,
T2 per cent., quinidine, T per cent.

Two parcels of the stem bark sent over at the
same time from this plantation gave, first, quinine,
•8 per cent., cinchonidine, T2 per cent., cinchonine,
1-2 per cent., and secondly, quinine, ’9 per cent.,
cinchonidine, 1*1 per cent., cinchonine, 2‘0 per cent.

The improvement in value in renewed bark is
therefore not owing to the covering, but is found
equally in this accidentally renewed bark, and it
would seem that the mossing is valuable chiefly as
enabling the tree to produce the renewed bark with
as little injury to its health as possible. It will
probably be found that a less perfect shelter than
moss may in some circumstances be sufficient to
preserve the health of the tree under this process.

It has been proposed by M. Moens to shave off
the outer layers of bark without cutting quite
through the bark. No doubt the cellular portion
of the bark is richer in alkaloids than the inner
fibrous layer (vide ‘ Quinology of the East Indian
Plantations,’ by J. E. Howard, F.R.S., pp. 23, 24 and
38), although the corky excrescences thrown out by
the variety of G. officinalis, the u knotty bark ot
Jussieu,” contain but little alkaloid (Pharmaceutical
Journal, third series, No. 454, p. 769; ‘ Quinology of
the East Indian Plantations,’ p. 70). The inner and
outer portions of a sample of the bark of G. succirubra

gave the following results

Quinine. Cinchonidine. Cinchonine.

Inner . *6 per cent. T2 per cent. 1*4 per cent.

Outer . 1*2 „ 1‘4 „ 1'7 „

It will be noted that not only is the total alkaloid
more in the outer bark, but the quinine is in greater
proportion, and therefore the outer bark would be of
much greater value per pound to a manufacturer
than the whole bark.

The practical value of the process chiefly depends
on the effect on the tree. If when thus treated the
tree throws out fresh bark of a similar quality to
that produced in the old method of renewing
without greater injury to its health, the process may
be successful, but of course it is essential not to cut
so deeply as to injure the cambium, and thus destroy
the recuperative power of the bark.

AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MAK'NG
PHOSPHORUS PILLS.

BY E. F. CHERRY.

Many have been the methods proposed for making
phosphorus pills ; most of them however, have
something in the process to which objection may
be made.

I believe the following process will be found iree

3 82

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 6, 1879.

from all objection?, and it lias been in use now for
years without a single instance of failure.

For the sake of example let it be supposed that
lot) pil. phospliori are to be made, each to contain
one-fiftietk of a grain of phosphorus. For this
quantity we shall, of course, require 3 grains of
phosphorus. This is to be put into a 1 ounce wide-
mouth bottle: on it pour ^ ounce of chloroform,
close the bottle, and allow it to stand until the
phosphorus is completely dissolved. Carbonic di¬
sulphide has been recommended as a good men¬
struum in which to dissolve the phosphorus, but it
is open to two objections : 1st. It is unpleasant to
use on account of its disgusting odour ; and 2ndly.
It is not so volatile as chloroform, which is a disad¬
vantage in the after part of the process.

When the process of solution is completed, pour the
phospliorized chloroform into a mortar containing
150 grains of pulv. glycyrrhizse. By stirring continu¬
ously for a few minutes, a dry powder is obtained
consisting of liquorice combined with the phosphorus
in a minute state of subdivision. This forms a good
pill-mass by the addition of equal parts of syrup and
mucilage of acacia.

These pills have been submitted to various
eminent medical men, and have been found superior
to those made by the B. P. process. In the latter
it is often found that the presence of the wax pre¬
vents their solution in the stomach, and consequently
their virtue is to a great extent lost.

Another recommendation is that the pills made
as above are much less trouble to make than the
B. P. ones ; the latter process taking a long time
to perform, while this new method only occupies
a few minutes.

A NEW METHOD OF MAKING TINCTURE

OF IODINE.

13Y EDMUND F. CHERRY.

The ordinary method of making tinct. iodi often
entails the dirtying of several measures, and not
unfrequently stains on the skin. By the following
method this is avoided ; the tincture is made in a
cleanly manner and can be allowed to proceed
automatically, as it does not require any attention.

Suppose 2 pints are going to be made. Into a
measure pour about 30 ounces of spirit, then take
a funnel and loosely but completely plug the narrow
part with cotton wool. On this bed place the pot.
iodid. and the iodine. Then introduce this into the
measure, taking care that the level of the spirit
outside is above that of the solid ingredients in the
funnel. It will be found that by a simple process
of displacement the spirit will rise in the funnel and
gradually dissolve the iodine and iodide of potash.
This solution, by reason of its superior specific
gravity, will sink to the bottom and fresh spirit will
rise to continue the operation.

When the solids are completely dissolved, the
remainder of the spirit may be added and the
tincture is complete without any mess whatever.

MQEPHIOMETRIC PROCESSES POE OPIUM.*

BY ALBERT B. PRESCOTT, M.D.

( Concluded from page 130.)

B. Process A, Modified by the Initiatory Treatment of
the Opium with Hot Benzole. — Each portion of the opium
was digested, with heat, for one hour, with 35 c.c. of

* From the ' Proceedings of the American Pharmaceu¬
tical Association,5 1878.

benzole, then washed on a filter with a little benzole,
dried, and worked thereafter as directed in the process
first given in this paper. The following results were
obtained : —

Process B.

. Percentages.

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. Mean.

a. Crystallized precipitate

of crude morphia* . 10*82 11 80 1P66 10*32 11-15

b. Ether-washed morphia. 10*26 11*18 11-08 9*84 10*59

c. By estimating b with

Mayer’s solution . . 7*20 7*60 7*40 6"92 7*28

d. From filtrate, by amyl

alcohol and Mayer’s

solution . 3*08 2"72 3*60 3’72 3*28

e. Total morphia by

Mayer’s solution . . 10-28 10-32 11-00 10*64 10*56

/. Subtracting from ^ At

(Jacobsen) .... 9*92 10-81 1071 9*51 10*28

g. Subtracting from a ~

(Hager) ‘ . 974 10‘62 10*49 9*29 10-04

Comparison between Results of A and B.

Percentages.
Mean of A. Mean of B.

a. Crude morphia . 12*42 11*15

b. Ether-washed morphia . 11*55 10*59

c*. By estimating b with Mayer’s solu¬
tion . 8*37 7‘28

d. From filtrate, by amyl alcohol and

Mayer’s solution . 2*50 3*28

e. Total morphia by Mayer’s solution . 10*87 10*56

It appears, then, that the use of hot benzole, instead of
cold benzole, upon the opium, causes lower gravimetric
results and lower results of the sum of the volumetric
estimation. Result b is lower with each sample, as well
as in the mean, from the use of hot benzole. The ether-
washed morphia is purer in process A than in process B ;
the former giving of the mean 72 "47 per cent, and the
later only 68"84 per cent, of absolute morphia, by Mayer’s
volumetric estimation. Finally, the morphia precipita¬
tion is more nearly complete with process A than with
process B; the former giving in the precipitate a mean
of 77*00 per cent, and the latter a mean of 68*94 per
cent, of the total morphia obtained by volumetric estima¬
tion. According to Cleaver ( Pharm . Jour. Trans., 1876,
vii., 240), morphia is soluble in 2000 parts of benzole, at
ordinary temperatures. The results of process B here
seem to show that, when hot, benzole dissolves more
morphia. The morphia volumetric yield is 0 0155 gram
less after treatment with 35 c.c. hot benzole than after
treatment with 50 to 100 c.c. cold benzole.

I will not venture to surmise why hot treatment, with
benzole should make the precipitate less pure and less
complete, but it was found, not only in the mean, as
above stated, but in each of the four samples, the hot
benzole treatment gave precipitates less pure and less
nearly complete. Therefore, it appears inadvisable to
use the benzole hot. And, because morphia is not with¬
out waste by cold benzole, the quantity to be used is
limited, in the process recommended.

C. Hager- Jacobsen's Process, as given by Hager, without
Initiatory Treatment of the Opium with Benzole. — (Hager’s
‘ Untersuchungen,’ii., 176.) The materials and directions
are essentially the same given in the proposed U. S.
Pharmacopoeia process, at the beginning of this paper,
except that only eight drops of benzole are taken, and
the initiatory treatment with benzole is omitted. The
time of formation of the morphia precipitate was limited
to three to three and a-half hours. As with processes A
and B, the crude morphia was weighed, then ether- washed

* The weights of these precipitates were, in grams, for
No. 1, 0-541 ; No. 2, 0*590; No. 3, 0*583; No. 4, 0*516.

eptember 6, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

183

and again weighed, and comparisons are given with crude
morphia, minus tVj and then ether-washed morphia,
minus gL. The precipitates were estimated volumetric-
ally, and additional precipitates were obtained by twenty-
four hours’ standing, and volumetrically estimated, but,
I regret to say, the final filtrates were not exhausted with
amyl alcohol.

Process C.

a. Crystallized precipitate

of crude morphia . .

b. Ether-washed morphia.

c. By estimating b with

Mayer’s solution . .

cl. From additional pre¬
cipitate by Mayer’s

solution .

e. Total precipitates, by
Mayer’s solution . .

/. Subtracting from b ^
(Jacobsen) ....
g. Subtracting from a -Jg
(Hager) .

No. 1.

Percentages.

No 2. No. 3. No. 4.

Mean.

9*96

8*82

14*14

12*34

12*80

11*82

10*28 11*79
9*30 10*57

7*80

8*60

8*20

6*60

7*80

0*80

0*24

o*so

0*40

0*56

8*60

8*84

9*00

7*00

8*36

8*53

11*93

11*54

8*99 10*21

8*96

12*72

11*52

9*25 10*61

Here the gravimetric mean result of ether- washed mor¬
phia is lower than in process A, and nearly the same as in
process B. The additional precipitates contain, in the
mean, 0*56 per cent, against 0*41 per cent, in process A.
Of the morphia in the last mother liquor (filtrate) no
estimation was made. By the volumetric estimation of
the ether- washed precipitate it was, in the mean, 73 ‘7 9
per cent, of morphia, a little purer than by process A
(72*47 per cent.), and purer than B (68*84 per cent.).
Judged by processes A and B (and D), the precipitation
in C was deficient in No. 1, and notably impure in No. 2.
Process C makes No. 2 to be 3*52 higher in per cent, than
No. 1, A giving the difference 1*20, and B only 0*92 (for
ether- washed morphia). The omission of the initiatory
treatment with benzole leaves the opium-lime mixture
loaded with the opium-wax and renders the filtrations
more difficult and the entire operation less satisfactory.
Indeed, one might say that the trouble of using the
benzole was compensated for simply by the greater neat¬
ness of all the work afterwards.

D. Procter's Staples's Process (‘Pro. Am. Pharm. Asso.,’
1870, p. 130; Am. Jour. Pharm., 1871, p. 65; the first
of the three methods tried by Procter). — The plan of the
U. S. Pharmacopoeia preparation of morphia modified by
the washing of the opium with benzole.

The proportion of benzole used was 50 c.c. for the 100
grains of opium, the quantity taken by Procter. The
benzole was applied by maceration in a filter and perco¬
lation, as directed for the proposed U. S. Pharmacopoeia
process. Following the proportions and directions used
by Procter, the following results were obtained : —

Process I).

Percentages.

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. Mean.

a. Crystallized precipitate

of crude morphia* . 15*52 15*89 15*28 14*00 15*17

b. Ether-washed precipi¬

tate . 14*91 14*87 14*54 13*28 14.40

c. By estimating b with

Mayer’s solution . . 11*20 11*11 11*60 10*40 11*08

d. From filtrates, by amyl

alcohol and Mayer’s

solution . Results not satisfactory.

The results with Staples’s process were so evidently
incorrect that I give them only as a confession of failure,

* No. 1, from 2*5 grams opium, 0*388 crude morphia ;
No. 2, 3*24 of opium, 0*517 crude morphia ; No. 3, 2*5 of
opium, 0*382 crude morphia; No. 4, 2*5 of opium, 0*350
of crude morphia.

the cause of which Mr. Stecher and myself had not time
to investigate. In my own hands, and in the hands of
those working under my instruction, Staples’s process
has usually given results rather lower than Hager-
Jacobsen’s. In this case the quantities of the samples
were small, as given in the foot-note, but the balance
was delicate and the work seemed satisfactory. The
crude morphia was beautifully crystallized and of light
colour, as is usual from Staples’s process. I can only
surmise that the “ether-washed morphia” contained
something besides morphia, which can react with Mayer’s
solution. The results of working the filtrates were still
less satisfactory. The filtrate from No. 1 was exhausted
with amyl alcohol, this solution evaporated to dryness,
the residue dissolved in sulphuric acidulated water, when
it took 7*5 c.c. of Mayer’s solution, indicating 6*00 per oent.
of morphia. Then, with Nos. 3 and 4, the amyl alcohol
residue was dissolved, as before, in acidulated water, this
solution made barely alkaline with ammonia, and a
bulky, light-coloured precipitate obtained. Filtered out
and dried, the precipitate turned dark, coherent and
waxy. Dissolved in acidulated water, the No. 3 solution
took 3*5 c.c. of Mayer’s solution (giving 2*80 per cent,
morphia), and the No. 4 solution took 4*5 c.c. of Mayer’s
solution (indicating 3*60 per cent, morphia). The am-
moniacal filtrates from these precipitates, last above
named, were washed with benzole, then acidulated and
titrated, when that of No. 3 took 3 c.c. of Mayer’s
solution (2*4 per cent, morphia), and that of No. 4 took
2*3 c.c. Mayer’s solution (1*84 per cent, morphia). These
benzole washings evaporated, and their residue dissolved
in acidulated water and titrated, used for No. 3, 1*8 c.c.
Mayer’s solution (indicating of narcotina, 1*53 per cent.),
and for No. 4, also 1*8 c.c. (same per cent, narcotina
given by No. 3).

I would advise, in extracting filtrates from Staples’s
process with amyl alcohol, first to exhaust them with
benzole, as was done for the estimations tabulated below.
Narcotina, when free, is sufficiently insoluble in water,
but narcotina, partially combined, may dissolve in the
water solution of opium to a notable extent. If the crude
morphia of process D, a, was loaded with narcotina, the
ether washings have been insufficient to remove all nar¬
cotina, and the weights, b, may have represented this
impurity.

May there be something beside alkaloids which pre¬
cipitates Mayer’s solution, obtained in the amyl alcohol
extract from Staples’s filtrates (though not so obtained
from filtrates of Hager’s process) ? Dragendorff calls
attention to the fact, that an aqueous extract of opium
contains substances, aside from known alkaloids, which
precipitate Mayer’s solution, whatever those substances
may be. Some results of the titration of water solutions
of opium, acidulated with sulphuric acid, were found to
correspond to 50 and 60 per cent, of morphia (‘ Werth-
bestimmung.,’ p. 88). Again, titrating ammoniacal
filtrates from opium, Dragendorff reports that when
additions showing 19 per cent, and 21 per cent, of
morphia had been made, the precipitates were still in¬
complete. Certainly no results so widely out of the way
are obtained by titrating the amyl alcohol extract (a
method used by Dragendorff himself), but it is desirable
to know more positively whether amyl alcohol (always
aqueous) takes up anything at all to precipitate Mayer’s
solution beside alkaloids. The work recorded in the
next paragraph was entered upon before this question
had defined itself in our investigation; but, although
undertaken as a measure of the morphia left in Hager’s .
filtrates and Staples’s filtrates, and not as a test of the
accuracy of amyl alcohol extraction, nevertheless it may
be said that the results have such reasonable proportions
as to do credit to the amyl alcohol extraction by which
they were obtained.

Comparative Estimation of the Morphia remaining in a
Set of the Final Filtrates of Hager's Process ancl of
Staples's Process. — The estimation being done by Mayer’s

184

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 6, is:?.

solution applied to amyl alcohol extracts, and the extrac¬
tion with amyl alcohol, being preceded with benzole
washing in case of the Staples’s filtrates. These filtrates
were obtained in a set of assays of tincture of opium,
done by Mr. Henry Heim, in parallel operations by
Hager’s and Staples’s process.* The work upon the
filtrates, done by Mr. Stecher, was as follows : — The
filtrates of Staples’s process were first exhausted with
two successive portions of benzole ; those of Hager’s
process were treated directly with the amyl alcohol, the
total alkaloid so obtained being estimated as morphia.
In every case the amyl alcohol was used in three portions,
successively, of 15 c.c., 10 c.c.. and 5 c.c. — 30c.c. in all —
each portion being shaken with the opium filtrate in a
tube, the mixture left to separate, and the clear amyl
alcohol layer drawn off. The united amyl solutions were
evaporated to dryness on a steam-bath, the residue dis¬
solved in sulphuric acidulated water, and this solution
titrated with Mayer’s solution. The results were as
follows : —

From Filtrates Left in Valuation of Opium Tinctures.

With Hagf.u’s Process.

No.

Filtrate.

Morphia.

Morphia, per c.c.

1

45 c.c.

0*046 gram.

1*02 milligram.

2

50 „

0*100 „

2*00

3

33 „

0*060 „

1*82

4

40 „

0*070 „

1*75

5

38 „

0 080 „

2*10

6

40 „

0 060 „

1*50

7

40 „

0*096 „

2*40

8

35 „

0*094 „

2-70

9

35 „

0*052 „

1*51

10

40 „

0*094 „

2*35

11

—

—

12

o

0*090 „

2*25

With Staples’s Process.

No.

*

Filtrate.

Morphia.

Morphia per c.c.

1

40 c.c

0*100 gram.

2*50 milligram.

2

40 „

_

3

• 40 „

0*110 „

2-75

4

35 „

0-062 „

1*77

5

30 „

0*090 „

3*00

6

35 „

0-096 „

2-74

7

40 „

0*108 „

2-70

8

36 „

0-072 „

2*00

9

37 „

0*080 „

2*16

10

-

11

—

_

_

12

—

—

* Valuation of tincture of opium, twelve samples, in
parallel assays by Hager’s process and Staples’s process,
reported by the writer from works by Henry Heim See.

The earlier process of Hager was used, differing from
“ Hager- Jacobsen’ s ” in taking only 5 grams of opium (or
the residue by evaporating an equivalent quantity of tinc¬
ture), washing the residue into the lime opium solution,
and concentrating the latter to about 25 grams before
adding the ammonium chloride (and benzole and ether),
then leaving twenty-four hours for precipitating the crude
morphia. (Dragendorff’s ‘ Werthbestimmung.,’ 91.) For
Staples’s process, that given by Procter, ‘ Pro. Am. Phar.

Mean morphia per c.c. for 8 Nos., omitting 2, 10, 11,
12; Hager’s, 1*85 milligrams; Staples’s 2*45 milligrams.

For the total 436 c.c. of 11 Nos. with Hager’s process,
the mean was 193 milligram morphia per c.c. of filtrate.
The solubility of morphia in water, and to a greater
extent in the mother liquor of morphiometric assays,
even when no excess of ammonia is present, has been
alluded to in a foot-note under process A. As the filtrate
of Staples’s is alcoholic, it ought to dissolve more morphia
than the filtrate of Hager’s process. Taking the solu¬
bility of morphia in pure water as 0*001 gram per c.c., it
is indicated by this work that Hager’s filtrates dissolve,
in the average, 1*9 times more than water does (the
extreme being T02 times, and 2*4 times) ; while Staples’s
filtrates dissolve, in the average, 2 ’45 times (in extremes,
1*77 times and 3 0 times) more than water dissolves.

As having a bearing on the comparison of Hager’s
process with Staples’s it may be quoted here that Mr.
Heim’s gravimetric results, in valuation of tincture of
opium give, as the average with the twelve samples, by
Hager’s process, 3*103 grains ether- washed morphia per
fluid ounce of tincture; by Staples’s process, 2*84 grains
morphia per fluid ounce of tincture.

E. Schachtrupp’ s Process for Estimation of Morphia and
Narcotina. — ( Zeitschrift fiir Analyt. Chemie, 1868, vii.,
509.) A weighed amount of opium (5 grams), is covered
in an evaporating dish (porcelain), with a solution of
sodium carbonate, heated on the water-bath, and when
semi-fluid, evaporated to dryness. The dry mass is
transferred to a perfectly dry beaker or flask, covered
with benzole, agitated and heated moderately, then de¬
canted on a filter, and the residue treated two or three
times with portions of benzole and filtered. [The quan¬
tities of benzole were not stated by Schachtrupp. The
solubility of morphia in benzole has been discussed under
“ Process B.” It is advised to use, in all, about 40 c.c.
for 5 grams opium, but a good deal more was used in our
operations.] (The benzole solution is reserved for estima¬
tion of the narcotina). The dried filter with its contents
is now added to the residue in the flask or beaker, and
the whole warmed to expel the last trace of benzole.
Amyl alcohol is now added to the dry residue, in the
flask, the mixture stirred and heated to near boiling, and
while hot decanted upon a filter, adding successively two
more portions of amyl alcohol. [Schachtrupp does not
specify how much amyl alcohol to use.] Set the mixed
filtrates aside for a few hours. Decant from crystals of
crude morphia ; distil the solution to its one-third ; add
dilute hydrochloric acid, in the retort, and shake. Re¬
move the amyl alcohol, the upper layer (from the water
solution of morphia hydrochlorate, below); wash the
decanted amyl alcohol with two or three additional
portions of the dilute acid, and pour the united acid
water solutions upon the crystals of crude morphia, pre¬
viously separated, to dissolve them. [Schachtrupp does
not give strength or qualities of the dilute hydrochloric
acid. Mr. Stecher used four portions, and found the
last to take up a notable proportion of morphia. Dragen-
dorff states that all the morphia can hardly be obtained
in this way. It would be better to evaporate the amyl
solution to dryness, and then dissolve in acidulated
water, as done by Mr. Stecher in extracting mother
liquors with amyl alcohol described under process A.]
The acidulated water solution of morphia is now evapo¬
rated on the water-bath, to a weight double to that of
the opium taken, filtered, the filtrate treated with am¬
monia in slight excess, covered loosely, and set aside for
twenty-four hours. The precipitate (at first bulky and
afterwards growing crystalline) is collected on a filter,
washed several times with distilled water, and dried and
weighed. [The gravimetric morphia of this process
retains considerable colour.] The reserved benzole solu¬
tion is evaporated to dryness, the residue dissolved in

Asso.,’ 1870, 131, was followed, evaporating tincture to
one-half, and proceeding as directed, but leaving four days
for the crude morphia to precipitate.

September 6, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

185

sulphuric acidulated water, and the solution titrated for
narcotina, with Mayer’s solution. Each c.c. of the latter
precipitates 0 0218 gram narcotina.

The following results were obtained by Schachtrupp’s
process

Process E.

Percentages.

No. 1.

No. 2. No. 3.

No. 4. No. 5.

Mean.

a. Coloured morphia,

precipitate . .

7-53

8-82 1146

10-27

9-44

b. By estimating a

with Mayer’s

solution . . .

4-80

5-60 10-20

10-00 7-00

752

c. Benzole alkaloids,
by Mayer’s solu¬
tion, estimated as

narcotina . . . 14*91 1044 9 58 9"80 9'04 1045

Eliickiger and Hanbury mention percentages of nar¬
cotina, from l-30 to 10’30. Dragendorff gives results for
narcotina, from 8 '8 to 14"7 per cent. (‘Werthbestimmung.,’
83). As previously mentioned, Mr. Stecher used more
benzole than should be used, and considerations of the
benzole solubility of morphia make it certain that a
notable proportion of morphia was obtained with the
narcotina.* No work was done to separate morphia
from the other alkaloids dissolved by the benzole, and it
can only be declared that the results are untrustworthy,
and the process of Schachtrupp an inexpedient one.

The trial of process E gives additional evidence that
the initiatory treatment of the opium with benzole cannot
be used to remove all the narcotina, while leaving all the
morphia behind. To dissolve all the narcotina, which is
partly held in feeble combination alkali must be added, d
as in Schachtrupp’s process, and then the use of another
benzole to take out the wax, etc., seriously diminishes
the morphia. The office of the benzole is to free the
opium of caoutchouc-like matter, colour, etc., and the
additional service of making it unnecessary to purify the
crude morphia crystals seems to be more than benzole
can accomplish. The advantages of preliminary benzole
treatment appear from the results of process C, where¬
with they have been named. As to the results by the
use of the benzole hot, see process B. It can hardly be
said that the benzole treatment is very important ; but as
it is otherwise required in the Hager- Jacobsen process,
the preliminary use of the agent does increase the number
of materials to be taken.J

The purification of the crude morphia crystals is best
done, I believe, by the ether, non-alcoholic or water-
washed. I suggest to put water-washed ether in the list
of reagents, unless otherwise included, with direction to
wash shortly before use, because any pharmacist can,
from any grade in stock, in a few minutes, make a
uniform quality of ether, free from those common im¬
purities most objectionable for use as a solvent, alcohol and
acetic acid, the latter derived in keeping.

With the Hager- Jacobsen process as proposed for the
Pharmacopoeia, I regret the unavoidable length of the
directions, giving an appearance of complexity, perhaps
forbidding to the pharmacist. In the execution of the
process there is nothing difficult ; all the operations define
themselves sharply and satisfactorily, and there is little
more weighing and much less waiting than in other pro¬
cesses. Some features of leading processes may be com¬
pared as follows : —

* Benzole dissolves narcotina, codeina, papaverina and
narceina (slightly).

f Obtaining, by Mayer’s solution, from the benzole
extract of a sample of dried opium (not made alkaline), 2 3
per cent, of narcotina, I found from the similar extract of
another portion which was made alkaline, 3‘3 per cent, of
narcotina.

X I hardly need mention that Mr. William Procter re¬
commended the adoption of. the benzole treatment, referring
to its use by Fluckiger, and that the modification (of the
Staples’ process) very properly bears the cognomen due to
Mr. Procter’s important report on morphiometric methods.

Process.

Hager-Jacobsen’s .

Quantity of Filtrate to 1
of Opium.

1 to 10

Time Required.
5 to 6 hours.

>»

with benzole pre¬
liminary treat¬
ment .... 1 to 10 6 to 8 hours.

Staples-Procter’s . 1 to 6 or 7 (alcoholic) 48 „

British Pharma¬
copoeia .... 1 to 2^ 50 „

As to the purity of the morphia weighed, considered
with the incompleteness of its extraction, and as to deduct¬
ing a fraction for impurities, I would only add to what is
given under “Process A,” a remark of Dragendorff
(‘Werthbestimmung.,’ 92), to the effect that, for ordinary
purposes, the foreign substances left in the (chloroform-
washed) crystals by Hager’s process may be left to balance
the loss in mother liquor and washings.

The reports made by careful analysts in different parts
of the world render it evident that exact morphiometric
methods for opium have not been attained, and the
obstacles in the way towards exactness appear only the
more apparent in the work I have undertaken. Indeed,
absolute exactness is rarely if ever reached in human
science. We must be patient with imperfection, always
measuring our results by the truth beyond them, as
nearly as we can, and we must work heartily for the
uses of mankind with such approximate measures as we
have.

University of Michigan.

CULTIVATION OF PERFUME PLANTS IN SOUTH

AUSTRALIA.*

A recent report on the progress and condition of the
botanic garden and Government plantations at Adelaide,
South Australia, by the Director, Dr. Schomburgk, con¬
tains some interesting remarks on the cultivation of
perfume plants in that colony.

A bianch of cultivation that promises to become of
very great importance in South Australia is the syste¬
matic growth of perfume plants. Of the magnitude of
the commercial aspect of the perfumery trade, we are
reminded that British India and Europe consume about
150,000 gallons of handkerchief perfume yearly, and the
English revenue from eau-de-cologne alone is about
£8000 a year; that the total revenue from imported
perfumes is estimated at about £40,000, and that one
great perfume distillery at Cannes uses yearly about
100,000 lbs. of ■ acacia flowers ( Acacia farnesiana),
140,000 lbs. of rose petals, 32,000 lbs. of jasmine blossoms,
20,000 lbs. of tuberose, besides a great many other fra¬
grant plants. Dr. Schomburgk says: — “Most of the
flowers which provide the material for perfumes grow
most luxuriantly with us, viz. : mignonette, sweet verbena,
jasmine, rose, lavender, Acacia farnesiana, heliotrope,
rosemary, peppermint, violets, wallflower, laurel, orange,
and the sweet scented geranium. I may say that these
plants thrive probably in greater perfection here than in
any other part of the world. No doubt South Australia
should be a perfume-producing country. We see flourish¬
ing here some of the most valuable scent plants, and even
some of our native plants will yield a valuable scent ; but
two things are needed to encourage the enterprise. First
if the scent is manufactured in South Australia, freedom
of the still, so as to license distilling in vessels of less than
twenty-five gallons capacity, and, secondly, the bond fide
advertisement of a capitalist manufacturer that he will
buy any quantify of specified flowers, leaves, roots, or
plants, at a marketable price, then some farmers might
be tempted to plant a few acres of lavender or mint ;
another, geraniums or rosemary; another, jasmine ; whilst
plantations in hedgerows, or - otherwise of roses, cassia,
together with contributions of 'gardens, would lay the

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts , August 22,
1879.

186

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 6, 1879

foundation of an export trade. Then it must also be
noted that whatever the value which plants yield in
flowers, fruit, leaves, and stems, it is increased threefold
under manufacture, and this manufacture again consumes
other local produce called into existence by it, such as
olive and other oils, fats, alkalies, wheaten flour, colour¬
ing matter, pottery, and glass ware, which combine to
make the farmer and the manufacturer contribute largely
to the maintenance of the population and the wealth of
perfume-producing countries.” Dr. Schomburgk further
points out the profits likely to accrue from an extended
cultivation of scent-bearing plants, as against the cost of
land in England, acres of which in certain localities are
under cultivation of peppermint, lavender, and other well-
known plants of the same class. The failure of these
crops, or more particularly those on the farms of Grasse,
Cannes, and Nice, would be a serious disaster to this
branch of commerce, the importance of which may be
proved from the fact, that a member of a well-known
perfumery house in Bond Street has thought it worth his
while to visit Australia for the purpose of encouraging
this branch of culture. Regarding the manufacture of
the perfumes, an opinion is expressed which will no doubt
be fully endorsed by practical men at home, that it is un-
advisable to prepare them in the colony; this work
would of course be much more effectually done in this
country ; at the same time, the plants might go through
some manipulation or partial preparation, so as to reduce
their bulk and consequent cost of freight. The outcome
of this endeavour to open a new branch of commerce with
Australia will be looked to with much interest.

The introduction and extended cultivation of the olive
(Olea europea) in Australia is now un fait accompli ; it is
nevertheless satisfactory to find that a choice variety —
that which produces the famous Lucca oil — has been suc¬
cessfully raised. This new introduction seems due to the
energy and liberality of a private gentleman, by whom it
is hoped the plants will be freely distributed.

VERATRUM VIRIDE— NOTES OF AN
EXAMINATION.*

BY CHARLES BULLOCK.

When the root of Veratrum viride is digested in water
acidulated with sulphuric acid at a temperature of 150°
E., the mass becomes gelatinous and swells up to an in¬
creased bulk. When expressed and alcohol is added to
the expressed liquor, a copious deposit of pectic acid is
occasioned.

The presence of pectose and the large amount of resin
and fatty matter contained in the root makes the use of
alcohol necessary for its exhaustion.

Fifty-three pounds of Veratrum viride — rhizome with
rootlets — from North Carolina, in powder, was exhausted
with alcohol, the alcohol distilled off and the resulting
extract exposed to a continued moderate heat until all of
the alcohol was expelled. During this process the resin
separated from the soft extract. It was removed and
allowed to drain for several weeks during the warm
weather of summer.

Weight of the soft extract . 6 lbs. 10| ozs.

Weight of the hard resin . 3 lbs. 4 ozs.

Total weight of extract from 53

lbs. of root . 9 lbs. 14^ ozs.

This extract furnished the material for examination.

In separating the alkaloids, advantage was taken of
the previously-ascertained fact that all of the alkaloids
were imperfectly precipitated from acid solutions by
caustic alkalies or alkaline carbonates at ordinary tem¬
peratures, but if the solution is heated to 150° F., the
precipitation is almost complete.

Trie Soft Extract . — 86 per cent, of this extract is
soluble in water. Petroleum fcenzin removes 4 ’3 per

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, July, 1879.

cent, of fatty matter. After removal of the alkaloids,
the watery solution was treated in the usual manner
with subacetate of lead, and after separating the excess
of lead and neutralizing the free acid with carbonate of
baryta, the filtered solution was evaporated to a syrup
and thrown into alcohol. The filtered alcohol solution,
evaporated and exposed to a temperature of 212° F.
until it ceased to lose weight, gave a product representing
85 ‘5 per cent, of the extract.

This product has a transparent red colour, a saccharine
taste, with some bitterness, and acts energetically as a
reducing agent with salts of copper and silver. In
chemical character it appears to be almost entirely glu¬
cose.

The amount of alkaloids contained in this extract
was determined for the portion soluble in water and for
the resin separately.

880 grains of the extract, representing the yield from
one pound of root, was exhausted with water, the wash¬
ings were evaporated to reduce the volume and carbonate
of soda added to alkaline reaction. After separating the
precipitate, the solution was beated to 150° F. and a little
caustic soda added. The precipitate occasioned was re¬
moved while the solution was warm.

The weight of the first precipitate

by carbonate of soda was . . 167 grains.

The second, by caustic soda, was . 2‘6 „

Total . . 19-3 „

These alkaloids contained a large amount of colouring
matter, from which they were purified by re-solution in
acetic acid, filtering and precipitation from a warm solu¬
tion. The precipitate, when dry, weighed 107 grains.

All of the mother- waters were made acid and evapora¬
ted, then made alkaline and treated with ether. The
ether product was dissolved in acetic acid, filtered and
precipitated as before. Weight of product, 17 grain;
total weight of mixed alkaloids, 12’4 grains.

The jervia was separated by precipitation, as a nitrate,
from an acetic solution representing 3 grains in each
■ fluidounce, by addition of an equal volume of a saturated
solution of nitrate of potassium. After standing six
hours, the nitrate of jervia was collected on a filter and
washed with a solution of nitrate of potassium, pressed
between folds of bibulous paper and dried. Weight of
nitrate of jervia, 7'9 grains. After the separation of the
jervia the solution was evaporated, heated to 150° F. and
precipitated by soda. Weight of other alkaloids, 3 '2
grains.

Resin from the Soft Extract. — To prevent any change
which might be caused in saponifying the resin with
lime, the following process was adopted with this as also,
subsequently, with the hard resin : —

The fatty matter was removed by petroleum benzin.
The resin, rubbed to a fine powder, was made into
a smooth paste with water introduced into a bottle
and a solution of carbonate of soda containing a little
caustic soda added until the resin was dissolved. It was
then agitated with ether and the ether removed. The
washing with ether was then repeated. The product left
on distillation of the ether was dissolved in acetic acid,
filtered and precipitated by carbonate of soda, con¬
taining a little caustic soda. Weight of product, 9 '3
grains.

The mother- water was made acid, evaporated, and
after being made alkaline, treated with ether. The pro¬
duct, dissolved in acetic acid, filtered and precipitated,
gave 07 grain more of alkaloids. Total weight of mixed
alkaloids from the resin, 10 grains.

The alkaloids separated by nitrate of potassium gave —

Nitrate of Jervia . 8- 4 grains.

Other Alkaloids . L6 ,,

Hard Resin. — 429 grains, representing the yield from
one pound of root, was powdered and digested in petro-

September 6, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

187

leum benzin. The loss of weight representing fatty-
matter, was 847 grains. After removal of the benzin by
evaporation, the resin was reduced to a fine powder and
treated as in the previous experiment, by dissolving it in
an alkaline solution and treating the solution with ether.
The weight of mixed alkaloids obtained was 22’5 grains.
The mother- water was made acid, evaporated, and, after
addition of caustic soda, treated with ether. The pro¬
duct obtained weighed 0‘8 grain. The alkaloids, separa¬
ted in the manner preceding, gave —

Nitrate of Jervia . . . . 14*1 grains.

Other Alkaloids . 6 ’1 „

The resin from the soft extract and the hard resin
were then precipitated from their alkaline solution by
hydrochloric acid, and dried. The solution was made
neutral with soda and evaporated to dryness. This pro¬
duct was added to the precipitated resin and the whole
mixed with an equal weight of lime previously slaked,
and the mixture boiled for a few minutes, then evapora¬
ted to dryness by steam heat. The dry mass was
powdered and exhausted by hot alcohol. The product
left on distillation of the alcohol was dissolved in diluted
acetic acid, filtered and precipitated. Weight of mixed
alkaloids obtained, 0'9 grain. The alkaloids, separated
as before, gave —

Nitrate of Jervia . 0’1 grain.

Other Alkaloids ...... 0'8 „

The total amount of alkaloids obtained from the ex¬
tract representing one pound of root, was —

From Soft Extract .... 12-4 grains.

Resin from Soft Extract . . 10 „

Hard Resin . 24 '2 ,,

Total yield of mixed Alkaloids, 46*6

When separated, the alkaloids represented-

From soft Resin from
extract. soft extract.

Nitrate of Jervia. 7’9 grs. 8’4 grs.

Other Alkaloids . 3'2 ,, 1’6 „ 6‘2

Total amount of Nitrate of Jervia . . 31 ’2 grains

,, other Alkaloids . . 11*0 ,,

Hard resin.
14'9 grs.

)>

Loss

42-2

4-4

46’6

The loss of over 10 per cent, which occurred in
separating the alkaloids is due both to separation of
foreign matter and loss in manipulation.

An examination under the microscope of the alkaloids,
after separation of the jervia, was made by allowing a
drop of their alcoholic solution to evaporate on a glass
slide. Crystalline forms were found, differing in form
from jervia, indicating the probable presence of another
alkaloid which crystallizes from its alcoholic solution.
When further purified by solution in ether, dissolving the
ether product in acetic acid and precipitating by nitrate
of potassium until a solution containing 1 part in 200 of
acetic solution was no longer disturbed by addition of the
nitrate, then precipitating the solution at 150° F., by
caustic soda, a product representing 5 per cent, of the
mixed alkaloids was obtained.

Saponification of the Resin by Lime. — One pound
avoirdupois of the hard resin was powdered and rubbed
into a smooth paste with one pound of lime previously
slaked. Sufficient water was added and the mixture
boiled for a few minutes. After evaporation and drying
on a steam-bath, the mass was powdered and exhausted
with three gallons of hot alcohol. The product left on
distillation of the alcohol was treated with warm diluted

acetic acid,* filtered and precipitated while warm by
caustic soda. The precipitate was purified by drying, re¬
solution and precipitation. The weight of mixed alka¬
loids obtained was 485 grains.

A better result was obtained from a second pound of
the resin, by first removing the fatty matter with benzin
and using two pounds of lime. The yield of alkaloids
by the process of saponifying with lime was 20 per cent,
greater than by the ether process.

Volatile Principles. — 300 grains of the hard resin, de¬
prived of fatty matter, was dissolved in water by addition
of carbonate of soda mixed with a little caustic soda.
The alkaline solution was submitted to distillation,
collecting the product in a receiver containing water
acidulated with acetic acid. The distillate was evapo¬
rated to reduce its volume, made alkaline and treated
with ether. The result was negative.

Note. — After concluding the examination recited in
this paper, I have seen the abstract of a paper read by
Dr. Wright before the Chemical Society, London, May
15th, “ On the Alkaloids of Veratrum Viride ,” in which
the able and exhaustive examinations made by him con¬
tribute greatly to our knowledge of the constituents of
this interesting drug. The name “ rubijervine ” has been
given by him to the alkaloid which has claimed my
attention, a name which is very appropriate to the
reactions of the alkaloid. The alkaloid which I found
to crystallize from solution in alcohol along with “rubi¬
jervine ” is probably his “ pseuclojervine.”

The large amount of alkaloids which are associated
with the resin, and removed from it only by saponifying
with lime, render it probable that by his process of
obtaining the alkaloids a considerable amount escaped
his notice.

The approximate yield of the bases which I obtained
from 1 pound avoirdupois of the root by the ether process
was 46'6 grains = 6 612 grams per kilo. The amount
obtained by Dr. Wright was 0'80 gram per kilo.

The amount obtained from the hard resin alone by
saponifying with lime represented 297 grains for one
pound of root = 4'21 grams per kilo.

Philadelphia , June 6, 1879.

SOAP BARK IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN
DISEASES.-!

The Quillaia saponaria is indigenous to Chili. Its bark
is imported in flat pieces, which are usually several inches
wide, and from 2 to 3 feet in length. These are hard
and tough and of light grey colour. In the shops it is
generally found in raspings and small woody fibres mixed
with an acrid dust which readily provokes sneezing. It
contains, among other ingredients, saponin, sulphate of
calcium and a small quantity of starch.

A saturated alcoholic solution of saponin possesses the
power of dissolving gums, resins and oils, and will form
with them after being mixed with water, permanent
emulsions. This same solution, when shaken with mer¬
cury, will keep it suspended. It will be seen that saponin
in solution possesses all the chemical action of soap, and
is often preferred to the latter. As a therapeutic agent
this natural soap can be used in the form of infusion,
tincture, or fluid extract.

An infusion of the bark can be easily made by tying
some of it in a piece of white flannel, and allowing it to
remain in a bowl of water for one or two hours, until the
saponin is dissolved. I resort to this method of extract¬
ing the active principle in order to avoid the irritating
effect of the minute fibres of the bark. If this solution
is applied to any part of the body it will be found to

* Repeated treatment with hot water containing acetic
acid until two gallons were used was necessary to exhaust
the product.

f From the Druggists’ Circular and Chemical Gazette,
August, 1S79.

188

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 6. 1879.

fulfil all the requirements of a mild soap, and act in
addition as a moderate stimulant and astringent on the
skin. I have used it with marked benefit in dandruff of
the scalp. It causes the enlarged glands of the part to
contract, and often removes all infiltration of the skin.
It has often been of great service in removing the scales
in simple pityriasis, and in producing at the same time
its moderately stimulant and astringent action. Simi¬
larly, I have had some excellent results from its use in
chronic ulcers and eczema of the extremeties. I usually
saturate a roller bandage with the infusion and bandage
up the part. The cases in which I tried this means had
previously used both the simple dry and wet roller
bandage, but no success was attained until the above
method was adopted.

The infusion is also a valuable remedy for aiding in
arresting excessive secretion and fetid perspiration. The
parts that are usually affected by these troubles are the
face, armpits, hands and feet. In cases involving the
face and armpits, I instruct the patient to dip a small
piece of sponge in the infusion, and carefully mop over
the surface once or twice daily. When the hands and
feet are affected they should be bathed in the solution
nightly, or on alternate nights, according to the condition.

When a more active stimulant and astringent effect is
required, the tincture of saponin can be employed with
much advantage. The tincture is prepared by extracting
the bark, as already mentioned, by means of strong boil¬
ing alcohol. The solution thus formed is clear and of a
deep wine colour, and a pungent taste. It is chiefly em¬
ployed as an external remedy, and when applied to apart
has a refrigerant effect. It is miscible with both water
and oil, and has the power of dissolving, emulsifying, and
removing fats and dirt from the skin. In many diseases,
especially in Seborrhcea sicca, I have found it far prefer¬
able to the tincture of green soap. It has all the advan¬
tages that are claimed for the tincture of green soap, and
at the same time is free from the high diffusive, pene¬
trating, and destructive action on the tissues that the
latter possesses.

I have used this tincture with great benefit, not only
in the diseases to which the infusion is applicable, but
also in general thinning and loss of hair in different parts
of the body. It can be employed with great advantage
as an addition to the internal treatment in that variety
of the loss of hair in which the scalp is to all appearances
healthy, but the surface is covered with short, fine, and
downy hairs. In cases of this description it should be
applied in full strength with a sponge, and should always
be thoroughly rubbed into the scalp, and afterwards
rinsed off with water.

NOTE ON HYRACEUM*

BY WM. H. GREENE, M.D., AND A. J. PARKER, M.D.

Among the native remedies from the Cape of Good
Hope, exhibited at the Centennial Exhibition, was a
peculiar substance called hyraceum, which was supposed
to be the inspissated urine of the Cape Hyrax ( Ilyrax
capensis).

The material was obtained from Dr. Leidy, who, in
the ‘Proceedings of the Academy,’ December, 1876, p.
325, gave a short account of it. According to this account
“ the hyrax is reputed to inhabit gregariously rocky places
at the Cape of Good Hope, and the accumulated urine in
the hollows of rocks, gradually evaporating, is supposed
to give rise to the product in question. It is reported as
having been employed in medicine with the same effect
as castoreum.”

* From the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia, January 28, p. 12. Reprinted
from the American Journal of Pharmacy, July, 1879.

Professor Cope remarked that “a material resembling
the concretion made by the urine of the hyrax was found
in the fissures of the rocks of New Mexico. It is prob¬
ably the fecal and renal deposit of the wild rat, NeotomaP

About two years ago we made an exhaustive examina¬
tion of this substance. It is a dark-brown, brittle and
resinous material, having an aromatic odour and a bitter
taste. About 56 per cent, of it is soluble in water, and
nearly one-third of the residue from the aqueous extrac¬
tion is soluble in alcohol, ether and chloroform.

The soluble material amounts in all to about 70 per
cent., and the remainder is composed of 14 per cent, of
woody fibre and insoluble organic material, and 16 per
cent, of sand and other inorganic substances.

On ignition, hyraceum yields about 34 per cent, of ash,
which is composed of chlorides, sulphates, phosphates and
carbonates of the alkaline metals, and of lime and mag¬
nesia. It also contains nitrates in small proportion.

On precipitating the organic material contained in the
aqueous extract with lead acetate, and afterwards decom¬
posing the suspended precipitate by means of sulphuric
acid, a substanee was obtained which constitutes the
greater portion of the organic material soluble in water.
It was hard, horny and of a resinous character, trans¬
parent, and of a bright-brown tint. It probably consists
of several substances, but we were unable to obtain a
sufficient quantity for separation, and an ultimate organic
analysis. It gives out a fecal odour, and seems to be
derived from fecal matter.

TThe analysis, the details of which are subjoined, shows
that the substance is a mixture of various salts and organic
matter, the latter constituting about one-half, and con¬
taining traces of urea, together with uric, hippuric and
benzoic acids. We also obtained from the material a small
quantity of a substance having a sweet taste, and which
is probably glycocol ( ? ) derived from the breaking up of
hippuric into benzoic acid and this substance.

Hyraceum is undoubtedly derived from the urine of
some animal, but the large amount of lime (6 per cent.)
in proportion to the other salts, and the character of the
organic matter contained, indicates that it also contains
fecal matter.

Analysis of Hyraceum. — Water, by desiccation, 7 per
cent.

A microscopical examination revealed nothing of im¬
portance. Woody fibres, particles of sand and a general
granular appearance were found.

Dried Material.

Ash ^ . . . . . 34T5

Organic substances soluble in water . . 37'44

Organic substances soluble in water,

alcohol, ether and chloroform . . . 14’54

Woody fibre and insoluble organic sub¬

stances; residue . 13‘87

100-00

A sh.

Soluble in water . 1 9*20

Insoluble in water . 14 -95

Potassa . 2'95

Soda . 8*95

Lime . 6-00

Magnesia . 2’10

Iron . T2

Sand . 2'00

Sulphuric acid . *60

Carbonic acid . 3-64

Phosphoric acid . ‘97

Chlorine . 6-45

Traces of nitric acid, and loss .... '37

34'15

September 6, 1379.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

189

fjjhf phanntaqtttual Journal.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1879.

PROTECTION OF THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY IN

IRELAND.

The two cases of prosecution under the Pharmacy
Act, Ireland, of which we published reports last
week, serve to show that the Council of the Irish
Pharmaceutical Society is resolved to maintain the
character of the degree of pharmaceutical chemist,
and we rejoice to be able to congratulate that body
upon the manifestation of so laudable an intent.

At the time the Irish Act was passed there were
some misgivings in this country that the adoption of
only one grade of pharmaceutical practitioners and
the application of the title of pharmaceutical chemist
to that grade might have a prejudicial influence on
the value — acquired and anticipated — of the same
designation in this country.

The Irish Society was able to do -what could not
be done here in legislating for the pharmaceutical
practitioners that were to succeed the old apothe¬
caries. Here the practice of pharmacy was cast
adrift to all comers, and in assuming new functions
the English apothecaries abandoned the trust that
was confided to them in the interest of the public.
In Ireland, on the contrary, the right to compound
physicians’ prescriptions has always been zealously
guarded by the apothecaries as their exclusive
privilege in virtue of special preparation for the
duty, and though they, like the apothecaries of
England, are gradually developing into medical
practitioners simply, the protection of the public
and of the qualified pharmacist has been secured by
the provisions of the Irish Pharmacy Act in a
manner that could not be done here when our
Pharmacy Act was passed in 1868, though the
eventual realization of this object is thereby pro¬
vided for.

As an incident of the first of these cases we find
that the magistrate gave utterance to one of those
expressions of opinion which are sometimes exceed¬
ingly damaging in their influence upon particular
classes, but at the same time are totally destitute
of any just foundation, and should therefore be
studiously avoided by magistrates or other judicial
functionaries. We refer to the comments of the
magistrate upon the propriety of the action taken by
the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. It was natu¬
rally urged by the counsel for the plaintiffs that the
prosecution was not intended to be oppressive, but
that it was merely the action incumbent on the
representatives of the Irish pharmaceutical body for
the purpose of vindicating the law and protecting
the public. This view was at once accepted by the
magistrate, who also proceeded to observe — in illus¬
tration, we presume, of the salutary nature of the

Act — that “ mistakes occur every day in London in
“ consequence of prescriptions being compounded by
“ persons who are not properly qualified to do so,”
and he then went on to say that happily there had
been very few such cases in Ireland.

It is not our desire to open old wounds by
following out the comparison thus instituted by the
magistrate, though we think that if some members
of the Council of the Irish Society had pointed out
the total absence of any justification for the magis¬
trate’s remarks to the disadvantage of London he
would not have done more than justice to his English
colleagues nor would he have overdone that generous
chivalry for which Irishmen are justly famous. But
as this was not done it becomes our duty to give the
most emphatic contradiction to the statement of the
Dublin magistrate. Comparisons are always dan¬
gerous, no less than odious, and in this instance it
would scarcely have been possible within so small a
number of words to express a greater amount of
inaccuracy. It is not the case that in London mis¬
takes occur every day in the compounding of pre¬
scriptions ; it is not the case that in London, or any
other part of Great Britain, prescriptions are com¬
pounded by persons not properly qualified to do so.
There is no contrast in these respects between Great
Britain and Ireland which is to the disadvantage of
the former. In the expression of a sense of what is
necessary in the public interest as regards dispensing
of medicines, Great Britain lies under the advantage
of having led the way through the medium of the
Pharmaceutical Society to establishing a regulation
of the practice of pharmacy by which the competence
and skill of pharmaceutists is ensured, and it is upon
the model of the example thus afforded that phar¬
macists in Ireland have carried out the application
of similar measures. In their labours to this end
they have always had the cordial sympathy of their
confreres in this country ; we trust their efforts may
always be united in the same direction, and that
these amicable relations may never be interfered
with by unwise comments in the spirit of the Phari¬
see, whether they be accidental or intentional.

THE FLOODS IN HUNGARY.

We have received a communication from Mr.
Gustav Jarmay, the President of the Hungarian
Pharmaceutical Society, acknowledging the receipt
of <£39 Is. in aid of the fund for the relief of the
distressed pharmacists of Szegedin, and requesting
us to express to those pharmacists of Great Britain
whose contributions that sum represents the grateful
thanks of himself and the other members of the
Committee. We also will take this opportunity to
express our hearty thanks to those who have sup¬
ported our endeavour to obtain on the part of British
pharmacists a fitting expression of sympathy with
the misfortunes of their brethren in Hungary.

190

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 6, is79.

POISONOUS HONEY.

In a report by Mr. Vice-Consul Biliotti on the
trade of the port and district of Trebizond, he refers
to the poisonous effects produced by some of the
honey obtained near the coast of that province.
Those who partake of it suffer from giddiness, vomit¬
ing and intoxication, exactly as did Xenophon’s
soldiers in the same locality more than two thousand
years ago. This poisonous quality has been on a
former occasion attributed to the bees having col¬
lected the honey from the flowers of henbane and
hemlock, which occur plentifully in the neighbour¬
hood, but Mr. Biliotti appears to be inclined to
refer the mischief rather to the Datura Stramonium,
which grows in abundance on the coast. Although
therefore bees are reared on a somewhat extensive
scale in the province of Trebizond, in the neighbour¬
hood of the coast, the hives are only remunerative
in wax, but the honey produced in the high lands is
innocuous, an 1 is said to be of superior quality.

In the list of candidates who have passed the
recent honours examinations of the London Univer¬
sity the first name in the first B.Sc. and Preliminary
Scientific Examinations is that of Mr. A. P. Luff,
formerly a Bell Scholar, whilst bracketed with
another gentleman in the second place is Mr. W. A.
Gostling, a son, we believe, of Mr. Gostling, of
Diss, a member of the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society.

Itasitittitmjs of tl]c fljarmaiptital JlDjittg.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, September 3, 1879.

Present — Mr. George Webb Sandford, President;
Messrs. Atkins, Bottle, Churchill, Hills, Richardson,
Robbins and Savage.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Pharmaceutical Conference.

The President said he might state that he and several
ether members of the Council represented the Society at
the Pharmaceutical Conference, and they were very
warmly received. It was as good a meeting, he believed,
as they had ever had, and the Sheffield chemists did
everything to render their visit a pleasant one.

Weights and Measures.

The President read the following correspondence on
the above matter : —

“ Board of Trade,

“ (Harbour Department),

“ Whitehall Gardens, S.W.,
“August 21, 1879.

“ Sir, — With reference to previous correspondence on
the subject of providing proper standards of the weights
and measures used in trade by apothecaries, I am directed
by the Board of Trade to transmit to you, herewith, copy
of the Order of Her Majesty in Council legalizing certain

denominations of standards of apothecaries’ weight and
measure.

“ I am, sir,

“ Your obedient servant,

“ Henry G. Calcraft.

“ The President of

“ The Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,

“17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.”

[The Order in Council here referred to was published
in the Pharmaceutical Journal of August 23, p. 145.]

“ Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,

“17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.,

“ August 27, 1879.

“ Henry G. Calcraft, Esq.,

“ Harbour Department,

“ Board of Trade,

“ Whitehall Gardens, S.W.

“ Sir, — In reference to your letter of the 21th inst.,
enclosing a copy of the Order in Council ‘ legalizing
certain denominations of Standards of Apothecaries’
Weight and Measure,’ may I venture to refer you to a
memorandum sent to F. H. Farrer, Esq., by the then
President of this Society, on the 30th January last,
especially on the subject of verifying small weights and
certain sub-divisions on glass measures, which are in
daily use by chemists, and stamping them ?

“ If you will kindly favour me with the decision of the
Board of Trade on these points or refer me for further
information to the officer who has authority in the stamp¬
ing-department, I shall be greatly obliged.

“ I am, sir,

“ Your obedient servant,

(Signed) “ G. W. Sandford,

“ President .”

The President said he had not received any answer
to the last communication, and on inquiry at a scale-
maker’s was informed that he had not at present received
any instructions for stamping weights. It would be
remembered that the question submitted was, whether
the sub-divisions of glass measures would be verified.

Mr. Richardson asked if it was intended that glass
measures should be stamped.

The President said no doubt they would be marked
in some way — probably engraved.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemist.

Hugh Odard Dutton, Rock Ferry, having passed the
Major examination and having tendered his subscription
for the current year, was elected a Member of the Society.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following, who were in business on their own
account before August 1, 1868, having tendered their
subscriptions for the current year, were elected Members
of the Society : —

Carr, Walter Paterson . Berwick-on-Tweed.

James, Joseph . Cheltenham.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

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

Jones, John . Liverpool.

Scott, John . Newcastle-on- Tyne.

Steele, John Cockburn . Glasgow.

ASSOCIATE.

John Carter, London, having passed the Modified ex¬
amination and tendered his subscription for the current
year, was elected an Associate of the Society.

Mr. Richardson asked when the Modified examina¬
tion would cease.

I

September 6, is79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 191

Mr. Bottle said when they got a new Act of Parlia¬
ment.

The President said all who were on a certain register
were entitled to come up for the Modified examination.

Mr. Robbins asked how many came up in the coarse
of the year.

The Secretary said about 20 or 25 per annum. There
were, he believed, about 1200 men still eligible to pass
the Modified examination.

apprentices or students.

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

Allen, Ernest Edward . Winchester.

Bradley, Frederick William ...Wisbeach.

Clarke, William Seth . Coventry.

Hall, Ernest Edward . Wednesbury.

Hepple, Thomas . North Shields.

Hill, Major . Sleaford.

Ingham, William Linnell . London.

Middleton, Burton . Ilkley.

Mitchell, Charles Edward . Bolton-le-Moor.

Newman, Alfred Pointon . Crewe.

Staley, Henry . Burton-on-Trent.

Skoulding, William George . Oakham.

Talbot, William Widdowson ...Bulwell.

Thomas, William Morgan . Glamorgan.

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

The names of the following persons who have severally
made the required declarations and paid a fine of one
guinea were restored to the Register of Chemists and
Druggists : —

John Brierley, Barrow-in-Furness.

Archibald James Millar, 2, Railway Terrace, York
Road, Wandsworth, Surrey.

Minutes op Committees.

FINANCE.

The report of this Committee was received and
adopted, and sundry accounts were ordered to bo paid.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants : —

£15 to a pharmaceutical chemist, formerly in business,
but now out of employment. Applicant has had five
previous grants.

£10 to the widow of a chemist and druggist, having
three daughters dependent upon her.

£10 to the widow of a late annuitant on the Benevolent
Fund.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 67,
suffering from partial paralysis.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

Mr. Savage said he was recently in the town where
one of Isherwood’s children was placed, and he thought
it right to make some inquiry about her. He had not an
opportunity of seeing the child, but he heard from an
independent source a very nice character, both of the
child and the gentleman with whom she was placed.

The Secretary said this information quite agreed
with the letter received last month.

Infringements of the Pharmacy Act.

A letter was read from the Solicitor enclosing corre¬
spondence 'with regard to certain cases of alleged infringe¬
ment. The Council, according to the usual practice,
went into Committee to consider the various matters
referred to.

rowcdugfi of Scientific ^kicidifs.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

(Continued from page 175).

Proximate Analysis of the Rhizome (Dried and

Decorticated) of Zingiber Officinalis, and Com¬
parative Examination of Typical Specimens of

Commercial Gingers.

BY J. C. THRESH, F.C.S.,

Pharmaceutical Chemist.

Part II. — Comparative Examination of the Gingers •
of Commerce.

For the above purpose Mr. Umney kindly selected for
me a typical specimen of each of the varieties found in
commerce, viz., Jamaica, Cochin and African.

No. 1. Jamaica ginger. A fine B.P. specimen. Ir¬
regular lobed decorticated pieces, three or four inches
long, sub-compressed, yellowish-white, but not chalky on
surface. Fracture short, mealy. Powder yellowish-
white.

No 2. Cochin ginger. Irregularly lobed pieces, decor¬
ticated, two or three inches long, a little smaller than
the Jamaica, and pale brown externally. Fracture,
fibrous, short. Powder yellowish- white.

No. 3. African ginger. Short irregular coated lobes,
of a brown colour. Fracture short, rather resinous.

Powder brown.

Moisture and Volatile Oil. — A quantity of each of the
above was reduced to powdery and small weighed portions
placed in tared dishes on the water-bath, until they ceased
to lose weight and no longer retained an odour of ginger.

No. 1. l-652 grams lost *234 or 14T7 per cent.

„ 2. 1-311 „ „ -195 or 14-88

„ 3. 1-476 „ „ -235 or 16*13

Ash. — The above quantities were burnt at a dull red

heat, cooled in dry air, and rapidly weighed.

No. 1 yielded ash weighing "059 or 3*57 per cent.

„ 2 „ ,, -063 or 4-80 „

„ 3 „ „ -063 or 4-27 „

Ethereal Extract. — Twenty grams of each were packed
in small percolators, and ether passed through to exhaus¬
tion. For this purpose the African required twice as
much of the solvent as the Jamaica and Cochin. The
ether was driven off at a low temperature, and the residue
kept on water-bath until the loss of weight between con¬
secutive weighings at short intervals was trifling.

• No. 1 extract weighed "658 grams.

2

3

•993

1-613

Volatile Oil. — The above residues were kept for eight
to ten hours upon a chloride of calcium bath, until they
no longer lost weight.

No. 1 extract lost -150= -75 per cent, volatile oil.

„ 2 „ -270 = 1-35 „

„ 3 „ -323 = 1-61

A second determination of above was made by treating
fresh portions of the powdered ginger with petroleum
ether (boiling at £0° C.), removing ether by, first, a
current of air, and, second, exposure for a few minutes to
a temperature of 100° C. The extracts were then kept
at about 115° C. until the weights were constant.

No. 1 gave results corresponding to "830 per cent,
volatile oil.

No 2 gave results corresponding to 1*14 per cent,
volatile oil.

No. 3 gave results corresponding to 1"97 per cent,
volatile oil.

No. 4 gave results corresponding to 1*38 per cent,
volatile oil

No. 4 was the sample used in investigation of proxi¬
mate constituents of ginger. The amount of volatile oil

192

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. iSeptember 6, 1879.

actually obtained from 28 lb. of this ginger was as before
stated ozs. or 1*23 per cent., and as this was un¬
doubtedly not the whole of the oil contained in the
ethereal extract, the above determinations may be taken
as close approximations.

Deducting the volatile oil, from the moisture + volatile
oil, we have —

Moisture in No. 1, 13 '42 per cent.

„ ,, 2, 13*53 „

„ „ 3, 14-515 „

Soft Fat, Resin 8 and Wax (?). The ethereal extracts
were next treated with small portions of petroleum ether
to extract the fat, etc., the ether driven off, the residues
washed with a little proof spirit, dried and weighed.

No. 1 yielded *140 grams or *7 per cent.

„ 2 „ -241 „ 1-2 „

„ 3 „ ‘245 . 1-22 „

Neutral Resin.— -The residues insoluble in petroleum
ether were exhausted with proof spirit, and the washings
of petroleum ether extracts added thereto. The portions
insoluble in proof spirit consisted of the neutral resin,
which was dried and weighed.

No. 1 weighed -173= '865 per cent.

2 „ T90 = -950

33

-461=2-305

Gingerol. — The above proof spirit solutions were pre¬
cipitated with basic lead acetate, filtered, evaporated, and
residue washed with dilute acetic acid, dried and weighed.
This residue consisted of the active principle with traces
of resins a and (j . The lead precipitate retained traces
of active principle, so that these determinations, gingerol
and resins a and /3 are mere approximations.

No. 1 yielded *132 or *66 per cent.

„ 2 „ ‘120 or -60 „

„ 3 „ ’290 or 1'45 „

Resins a and (3. — Calculated by difference we have
from —

No. 1. "063 gram or ’315 per cent.

2. -172 „ or -860

99

99

3. -294

or 1*470

99

Aqueous Extract — The portions of the original gingers
insoluble in ether were dried and mixed with water until
each measured 400 c.c.’s. The mixtures were stirred at
frequent intervals for several days, the insoluble portions
then allowed to subside, £0 c.c. ( = 1 gram ginger) of the
clear supernatant fluid removed from each, evaporated to
dryness and weighed, and the ash afterwards ascertained
by ignition and re-weighing.

No. 1 gave -143 extract less -023 ash = 12-0 per cent.

2 „ -146 „ '025 „ =12-1

99

99

*105

•030

99

7-5

99

Substance Precipitated by Acids. — Other portions of 100
c.c. each ( = 5 grams ginger) were acidified with acetic
acid, allowed to stand for a few hours, then warmed,
and filtered through tared filters, the precipitates washed
with a little dilute acid, dried and weighed.

No. 1 yielded -266 less ash -0035 = 5*25 per cent.

2 „ -262 -0045 = 5-35

33

•235

•005 =4-60

99

Mucilage. — The acid filtrate and washings from above
were evaporated to 20 c.c., and mixed with 60 c.c. of
95 per cent, alcohol. (In each case during the evapora¬
tion a little flocculent matter was deposited, but the amount
was too small to materially affect the estimations.) The
mixtures were set aside for a day, the precipitates then
thrown upon tared filters, washed with a little alcohol,
dried and weighed, and the ash afterwards determined
and deducted.

No. 1 yielded *1725, ash -053 = 2-39 per cent.

„ 2 „ -1155 „ -043 = 1.45

„ 3 „ -097 „ -038 = 1-19

Organic Acids, etc. — The combustible portion of aqueous

extract unaccounted for consisted of malic (?) and oxalic
acids, an indifferent substance precipitated by tannin and
possibly other bodies. These amount in

No. 1 to 4-36 per cent.

„ 2 to 6"80 „

„ 3 to 1’70 „

Alcoholic Extract. — The marcs insoluble in ether and
water were drained upon filters, re- packed in the per¬
colators, and 84 per cent, alcohol passed through so long
as anything was dissolved. (200 c.c. in each case )
The Jamaica and Cochin tinctures had a pale amber
tint, the African a pale brown. 40 c.c. of each were
evaporated to dryness and the residue weighed.

No. 1 gave "016 or *4 per cent.

„ 2 „ ‘Oil or -28 „

„ 3 „ *025 or -625 „

The residues from treatment with ether, water and
alcohol were next digested in sufficient 1 per cent, soda
solution to measure 400 c.c. The Jamaica ginger
yielded a mucilaginous solution, in which the insoluble
matter settled very slowly; the Cochin ginger gave but
a slightly mucilaginous solution, whereas the African
variety yielded a perfectly limpid infusion. 50 c.c.
( = grams ginger) were neutralized with acetic acid
mixed with 100 c.c. of 95 per cent, alcohol, and
allowed to stand for a day. The precipitates were then
collected on tared filters, washed, dried, weighed, then
ignited and the ash estimated.

No. 1 yielded "731, ash -029 = 28*08 per cent.

„ 2 „ -210, „ -007= 8-12
„ 3 „ -049, „ -001 5 = 1-86

Starch. — The remainder of the alkaline infusions were
in each case diluted to 1200 c.c., boiled for a few minutes,
allowed to cool to 50° and digested at the latter
temperature for forty-eight hours with a little diastase-
50 c.c. were then taken and boiled with 8 c.c. of
dilute sulphuric acid (1 in 8) until the fluid ceased to
react with iodine, or the volume was reduced to 50 c.c.
After cooling the solutions were each run into 10 c.c. of
Fehling’s solution ( = -044 gram starch), until the blue
tint disappeared.

No. 1. 14'9 c.c. = -044 starch or 18-12 per cent.

„ 2. 17-1 „ =-044 „ 1579

„ 3. 20- „ =-044 „ 13-50

Pararabin and Calcium Oxalate. — The residues in¬
soluble in caustic soda and boiling water were slightly
washed by subsidence and decantation, and mixed with
sufficient 1 per cent, hydrochloric acid to measure each
400 c.c. After macerating twenty-four hours, they
were boiled for a few minutes, and 50 c.c. ( = 2J grama
ginger) of each, filtered, neutralized with ammonia,
and diluted with three volumes of 95 per cent, alcohol.
The addition of ammonia to the Jamaica infusion caused
a slight turbidity ; the Cochin infusion was not affected,,
but a rather bulky brown gelatinous precipitate was
produced in the African solution. The ammonia and
alcohol precipitates were collected on tared filters, dried
and weighed, then incinerated and the ashes weighed.
The ashes from the Cochin and Jamaica gingers con¬
sisted of CaO derived from the calcium oxalate in acid
solution ; the African ash was of a brown colour, and
contained manganese.

No. 1. Pararabin and calcium oxalate -025 = 1*00 percent.

No. 2. Pararabin and calcium oxalate -374 = 14"96 per
cent.

No. 3. Pararabin and calcium oxalate, etc., *273 =
10*92 per cent.

The ash of No. 1 weighed "010 = *914 per cent, of cal¬
cium oxalate.

The ash of No. 2 weighed *006 = "580 per cent, of cal¬
cium oxalate.

The ash of No. 3 weighed *085, but of this only *022 was
CaO, equivalent to 2 04 per cent. CaC204. Deducting
the proportions of this salt from the result of last experi¬
ment, we have the yield of pararabin in
No. 1. *086 per cent.

„ 2. 14-40 „

„ 3. 6*36 „

(the ash not CaO also being deducted).

)

September 6, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 193

Cellulose. — The marcs from treatment with dilute acid
were digested for several days with constant agitation in
nitric acid of sp. gr. 1*16, to which a little powdered
potassium chlorate had been added. The insoluble por¬
tions, which were nearly colourless, were washed succes¬
sively with water, dilute ammonia and alcohol, then dried
and weighed.

No. 1 yielded 7 cellulose = 3*5 per cent.

„ 2 „ *75 „ =37 „

„ 3 „ 1*25 „ =6-25 „

Albuminoids. — Portions of the original gingers in
powder were burnt with soda lime as in Will and
Varentrap’s method, and the ammonia estimated as
double chloride of platinum and ammonium. As the
precipitates were rather dark in colour, one of them was
ignited, and the platinum weighed. The results were
closely concordant.

l-069 gram No. 1 yielded ‘245 pt. salt = l*38 per cent. N.

1-360 „ „ 2 „ -193 „ = *891 „

1-130 „ „ 3 „ -094 „ = *522

In a second determination of the No. 1,

"833 grams yielded *211 pt. salt = 1*44 per cent. N.

Taking one part of nitrogen as representing 6*25 parts
of albuminoids, and neglecting to take into consideration
the small percentage of nitrogen in the substance precipi¬
tated by acids, we obtain the following proportions : —

No. 1. 8-8 per cent, albuminoids.

„ 2. 5-57 „

„ 3. 3*27 „ „

Vasculose, Pectose, Loss, etc. — These have simply been
calculated by difference. Thus, in No. 1, 91*908; in No.
2, 85*237 ; and in No. 3, 67*695 per cent, has been ac¬
counted for, leaving in

No. 1. 8*092 per cent.

„ 2. 14*763 „

„ 3. 32*305 „

to represent the fibrous and pectic matters, loss, etc.

Tabulated Results of Analyses.

Original

Sample.

No. 1.

No. 2.

CO

©

Volatile Oil . . .

1*380

750

1*350

1*615

Fat, Wax (?) and Resin
(P. ether solution) .

*835

700

1*205

1*225

Neutral Resin . . .

*915

*865

*950

2*305

a and 0 Resins . .

1*300

*315

•865

1*470

Gingerol ....

1*210

•660

•600

1*450

Substance precip. by
acids • • • • •

4*600

5*250

5*350

4*650

Mucilage . . . .

1*600

2*390

1*450

1*190

Indifferent Substance
precipitated by
Tannin . . . .

Organic Acids, etc. .

1*500

1*750

J 4*360

6*800

1*700

Extractive (soluble in
S. V. R., not in
Ether or Water

*800

*400

•280

•625

Alkaloid .

a trace.

a trace.

a trace.

a trace.

Metarabin . . . .

23*880

28*080

8*120

1*860

Starch .

18*750

18*120

15*790

13*500

Pararabin . . . .

2*490

•086

14*400

6*360

Oxalic Acid
(as CaC204) . . .

1*240

•642

*427

1*440

Cellulose . . .

5.710

3*500

3*750

6*250

Albuminoids . . .

6*880

8*809

5*570

3*270

Vasculose, etc.. . .

9.080

8*092

14763

32*305

Moisture . . . .

11*020

13*420

13*530

14*515

Ash .

5*060

3*570

4*800

4*270

100*

o

o

100*

100*

Original

Sample.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

Ethereal Extract . .

5*64

3*28

4*97

8*06

Aqueous „ . .

9*45

12*00

12*10

7*50

Alcoholic „ . .

*80

*40

*28

*63

Alkaline „ . .

23*88

28*08

8*12

1*86

Starch .

1875

18*12

1579

13*50

Acid Extract . . .

4*32

1*00

14*96

10*92

Cellulose, etc. . . .

21*08

20*13

25*45

3874

Moisture . . . .

11*02

13*42

13*53

14*52

Ash .

5*06

3*57

4*80

4*27

100*

100*

100*

100*

Comparison of these results reveals the singular fact
that the variety of ginger most esteemed contains only
about half the quantity of essential oil found in the
other varieties, and less of the active principle than
either the African or common Jamaica, and about as
much as good Cochin. It would be interesting to have
prepared samples of the essential oils from these various
sources, in order to ascertain their physical and chemical
properties. But as possibly in all cases the aroma would
be affected by distillation, it would be necessary to devise
some other method of obtaining them. Undoubtedly the
volatile oil in the finest Jamaica gingers possesses a finer
bouquet than the others.

The very dark colour of tincture of ginger when made
from the African rhizome is evidently due to the large
percentage of the neutral, a and 0, resins contained therein,
and as these are tasteless and apparently inert, their pre¬
sence only deteriorates the value of the ginger.

The most striking difference in the constitution of the
varieties examined is the relative proportions of metarabin
and pararabin which they contain. It is easy to dis¬
tinguish between a sample of Jamaica and one of Cochin
ginger, when in powder, by maceration for forty-eight
hours in a 1 per cent, soda or potash solution. If,
however, the fibrous portion of the rhizome has been
removed by sifting, as is generally the case with the
finer qualities of powder, the test does not give such
decided indications, from which it may be inferred that
the fibrous portion is the seat of this metarabinoid
substance.

The same author also read a paper on —

Soluble Essence of Ginger.

BY J. C. THRESH, F.C.S.

Since the publication of my short paper on the above
subject, which was read at the Conference last year, I
have received a number of letters from chemists, and
others interested, some containing suggestions, others
queries. These chiefly referred to the essence becoming
turbid after being kept some time, and to the evident loss
of active principle, in the magnesia precipitate, this being
exceedingly pungent.

To remedy these defects the following modification of
the process was devised, by which almost all the active
principle is removed from the precipitate, and the product
does not become turbid by keeping, as is evidenced by
the sample upon the table, which was made before last
Christmas.

Take of strong tincture (1 to 1) of finest Jamaica
ginger one pint, add in small portions at a time finely
powdered slacked lime, shaking vigorously after each
addition, until the tincture ceases to lose colour, throw
the whole upon a filter, and pass through the residue
proof spirit until the product measures two pints.
Now add drop by drop dilute sulphuric acid until the
rich yellow colour of the tincture suddenly disappears,
let stand for twenty-four hours, filter, dilute with water

194

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 6, W*.

to four pints, shake with a little powdered pumice or
silica (by no means lime or magnesia), and filter at 0° C.
if possible.

Rationale of the Process. — As may be gathered from a
consideration of the constituents of ginger root, the
alcoholic tincture will contain besides the extractive
soluble in water, which need not further be considered,
essential oil, neutral resin, a and resins, gingerol, and
small quantities of the red fat, wax (?) and peculiar
extractive insoluble in ether. Upon agitating the tincture
with lime the greater part of the a and /3 resins is re¬
moved, and by addition of the acid the lime which has
entered into solution is precipitated. The addition of
wnter precipitates the neutral resin, wax, fat, and
peculiar extractive, and unless the ginger from which the
original tincture was prepared was poor in oil, the excess
of volatile oil also.

As in probably all cases the soluble essence is saturated
with essential oil, the final filtration must be effected at
a lower temperature than any to which the essence is
likely to be exposed.

The product as thus obtained is very pale in colour, but
if a darker essence is preferred it is only necessary to add
one or two drops of solution of potash to give an alkaline
reaction, when the rich orange tint due to the action of
the alkali upon the @ resin will be immediately produced.

The President congratulated Mr. Thresh upon his
able report, and congratulated the Conference on being
the means of inducing him to pursue his inquiries on this
truly pharmaceutical subject.

Mr. Umney (London) said scientific chemists and
pharmacists were greatly indebted to Mr. Thresh for
having brought this subject forward. It had been a stand¬
ing disgrace that a drug they daily handled in a variety of
forms, such as African, Cochin and Jamaica ginger, was
not thoroughly understood by them. Mr. Thresh had placed
the subject before them very exhaustively, and from his
paper they would be able to follow with certainty the phar¬
maceutical aspect of ginger. The soluble essence of ginger
wTas a most elegant preparation, and useful for the manu¬
facture of aerated water. The difference noticed in specific
gravity of portions of the volatile oil was probably due
in the main to the different processes by which the oils
had been obtained. Those who had distilled essential
oils knew that according to the heat used in their pro¬
duction they differed slightly in specific gravity. ' No
doubt, according to whether this oil were made with
petroleum spirit, or by distillation, the specific gravity
would vary somewhat.

Mr. Greenish remarked that he had examined micro¬
scopically sections of Jamaica and African ginger root,
and found that a very large amount of starchy matter
was developed in the Jamaica root as compared with the
African ginger; but African ginger, if subjected for a
series of years to the same amount of cultivation as
Jamaica ginger, might possibly lose some of its pungent
character, and develop starchy matter to an equivalent
extent.

Mr. W. L. Howie (London) adverting to Mr. Thresh’ s
statement that the oil of ginger odour did not recall that of
ginger, said he was inclined to think that possibly the
smell was masked by that of the petroleum spirit used in
its extraction. The difference in the specific gravity of the
oils was due to some extent to the method followed, but it
might also be due to a change which he believed took
place in the oil when it had been kept some time. A
small quantity of oil of ginger, which he had had in his
possession some years, and wLich had, he believed, been
made by distillation, he found to be but sparingly soluble
in rectified spirit — not more perhaps than one in ten, and
even with one in fifty there wnre still left some small
whitish globules, which, when separated and exposed to
heat, dried into a clear glassy resin, with scarcely any
odour or taste. After exposing a little of the oil, for some
days, in a watch-glass to a temperature of 100° F., there

remained a resinous residue like the other in appearance.
He made these remarks in order that Mr. Thresh’s
attention might be directed to the further examination of
the oil so as to discover whether or not it was a com¬
pound, and what was the character and extent of the
change which occurred in it when kept for a long period.

Mr. Martindale (London) observed that from a
medical point of view and having before them the prospect
of a new Pharmacopoeia, it was doubtful whether it would
be advisable to introduce soluble essence of ginger into it
or not ; although as a commercial article it might be very
useful. The syrup of ginger was, in the present Pharma¬
copoeia, prepared from the essence and did not make a
very elegant preparation. It might be improved if it
were not opaque, but prepared from a soluble essence.
The old London syrup was made from an infusion, which
contained the metarabin Mr. Thresh had mentioned and
made it a mucilaginous, and not very satisfactory pre¬
paration.

Mr. P. B. Benger (Manchester) remarked that the
paper, which was by a pharmaceutical chemist actively
engaged in their business, was of great practical value
and might be taken as the type of the sort of papers it
was desirable to bring before tbe Conference.

Mr. Thresh, in replying, said that he thought the
essential oil exhibited did not smell of petroleum spirit.
He had distilled a sample of the oil directly from an
ethereal extract, and found that it had exactly the same
odour as that distilled from petroleum extract; it was
therefore quite impossible for it to have the odour of
petroleum. He had observed (as also had Mr. Umney)
that in distilling an ethereal or alcoholic essence of ginger
a considerable quantity of oil came over at that low
temperature, and he felt confident that this more volatile
portion, which was lost, had the finest aroma. Again, he
did not think it desirable to put the soluble essence of
ginger into the Pharmacopoeia for its own sake ; but, as
suggested by Mr. Martindale, it might be advisable to
employ it for making the syrup of ginger, as the syrup
thus prepared was really a much more elegant one than
that made by the officinal process. The active principle
was certainly very soluble in dilute spirit, but as the
soluble essence must contain some essential oil also, it
was impossible to make it of equal strength with the
B.P. strong tincture ; nevertheless by removing the inert
resins they were enabled to make a stronger solution than
would otherwise be possible.

The President asked if Mr. Thresh had made any
special examination into the nature of the oil itself, as to
its boiling point.

Mr. Thresh said he had not. His time was limited
and the isolation of the active principle took so much
time that he had not been able to pursue the subject
further.

Professor Attfield hoped Mr. Thresh wTould continue
the inA'-estigation further, and examine the oil as well as
the other principles, applying to the committee for a grant
to cover any outlay.

The President was exceedingly glad so many able
men had spoken of the value of the paper, and he hoped
they would join him in passing a very hearty vrote of
thanks to Mr. Thresh for his able report.

The motion was carried unanimously.

The Conference then adjourned for luncheon.

After returning from luncheon the first paper read AA'as
on —

The Growth and Development of Clayiceps
Purpurea (Tulasne).

BY W. \V. STODDART, F.C.S., F.G.S., ETC.,

Lecturer on Forensic Medicine at TJniv. Coll., Bristol.

At the end of the year 1877, a farmer residing in the
neighbourhood of Bristol requested me to investigate the
death of some sheep which had taken place every autumn
without any assignable cause, so much so that a heavy

September 6, 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

195

loss was annually incurred. Many visits were conse¬
quently paid to the farm for the purpose of finding out
the cause of disease. I noticed that the sheep were fed
only on the natural herbage grown on the spot. It con-
•isted of two kinds of clover, the ordinary Dutch ( Tri¬
folium repens , L.), and the common purple (A pratense. L.).
With these were the ray grass [Lolium perenne, L.), or as
it is commonly but erroneously spelled “rye” grass. A
strict inquiry being made as to the symptoms, the farmer
informed me that they were always the same and
generally supervened in the month of August, when this
very peculiar illness on the farm became prevalent. It
took the form of dysentery, inflammation of the bowels,
diarrhoea, the evacuations resembling coffee grounds,
afterwards succeeded by exhaustion, collapse and death.

Analyses of water and the soil were made for the
purpose of detecting any deleterious metal or other
irritant poison. No satisfactory result followed and the
cause of the illness seemed to be mysterious and inex¬
plicable. At length 1 heard that the ewes sometimes
slipped their young, which gave a remote suspicion that
the cause, of all might be due to ergotism. An inquiry
was then made as to the presence of gangrene, when the
unexpected but significant remark was made, that
although the farm was on a dry, porous, sandy slope, yet
the sheep always had the “foot rot,” even in the summer,
which defied all the remedies that usually proved
effectual . With this idea in my mind and while watching
the lambs feeding I noticed that they avoided the old
mature plants, while they greedily devoured the young
green ones.

On examining more minutely the former, I noticed
several well formed, purplish, dark coloured ergots were
projecting from the palese, but could not discover a
single specimen on the younger fresh plants. Several of
these ergots were then taken home for chemical and
microscopic examination. I made a considerable number
of sections which exactly coincided with the beautiful
and truthful engravings in the paper by Tulasne, in the
‘ Annales Sc. Nat.’ for 1853, Sur l’Ergot des G-lumacdes.
While here, I must stop to express my admiration both
at the accuracy of these microscopic delineations and
the description of the metamorphoses of this curious
fungus. I thought that this would be a good opportunity
of studying the growth of this vegetable, and that the
result of my observations during the following year may
prove to be of some service in the cause of pharmacy.

During the next few months I had only the olcl and
nearly dead stems of the Lolium on which I could work,
but on the 12th of April I obtained some specimens of
the Lolium 'perenne in which the commencement of the
inflorescence was just to be observed. Soon afterwards
I made several sections of caryopsides, on which were
many thousands of conidia, which seemed rapidly to
multiply and to completely fill some of the grains till
they protruded far beyond the glumes. In two or three
days the sclerotium stage of the mycelium began to
change colour and assumed a purplish brown tinge. The
sclerotium seemed now to have arrived at what was
formerly termed the “ sphacelia ” condition, and was
soft, while the upper portion was wrinkled. The exterior
was white from the growth of the liyphae, which seemed
to grow with marvellous rapidity till at length only a
small portion of the pistil remained free. Although the
conidia were so numerous, I never noticed any on the
androecium, even when examined with a one-sixth of-an-
inch object glass, while close to them four or five of the
caryopsides were completely filled with the little conidia,
which are blunt and ellipsoid bodies about mm-

to mm. in length, and from iTtVtf mm- to iTXothy

mm. in breadth. They are curved and divided into
two parts, each part containing a nucleus. On touching
them with a drop of diluted sulphuric acid, a cilium or
minute flagellum was extruded, and when placed in
water had a vibratile motion. On examining suspected
flour, bread or pastry, the microscope would always show

these conidia, especially with the addition of a little
chromic acid.

In the third week of May several small drops of a
syrupy substance made their appearance on the stem near
the spikelet. If dissolved in a little distilled water and
placed under the microscope, the solution would be seen
to contain the conidia, and hence I suppose gave rise to
the supposition that the honey-dew was intimately con¬
nected with the formation of ergot by aiding the growth
of the mycelium. But it most probably only attracts
and adheres to insects, who by this means convey the
conidia to other spikelets and thus spread the infection
to other grains. This saccharine mixture instantly re¬
duces the copper solution of Trommer’s test, thus showing
the presence of sugar. When boiled, a slight milkiness
is produced and not removed by nitric acid in excess,
pointing out the presence of albumen. At this period
the ergot attains its full development and gives no blue
with iodine, because by the well-known metastatic power
of fungi all starch is removed and an oil substituted. Of
this oil, ergot sometimes contains about a third part of
its weight.

At this period of its growth each sclerotium gives off
the odour of trimethylamine when treated with potass,
and produces a red colour. With spontaneous evapora¬
tion, after mixing the honey- dew with alcohol and a
little ether, minute octahedra of mycose are formed and
may be seen with the lens.

On July 18th I first gathered fully formed and mature
ergots, which I now produce. They have a dark exterior
with a white interior and give the ordinary red infusion.

On August 1st one of the lambs was taken ill with
the usual inflammatory symptoms. The feet also in a
few days had a gangrenous appearance, which did not
seem to be alleviated by any of the usual applications of
silver nitrate, carbolic or cresylic acids. The affection of
the feet strongly reminded me of “ clavellization,” so
destructive among the flocks of Italy, France and
Moravia, and has frequently been supposed to have been
a variety of variola.

The fungus has now reached the limit of its vegetative
or myceloid growth, which plainly ends at the sclerotium
stage as our medicinal agent called ergot, by means of
which the embryo and most of the caryopsides have been
destroyed.

The hyphae are now ready to spread in every direction
and thus extend the vegetative growth, from which only
we derive the peculiar medical properties of the Claviceps
in their greatest intensity and power on the animal
economy, and it is now that the greatest effects are pro¬
duced which are included under the name of “ ergotism.”

A poU mortem examination of the sheep showed the
presence of the conidia among the “ coffee ground ”
looking fasces. The fungus having now ari-ived at this
stage awaits for appropriate weather and other suitable
conditions for the fructifying metamorphosis.

At the end of August one or two of the ergots that
had fallen with the stems of the grass on the damp
ground I placed, for more convenient observation, on the
moist soil of a flower pot. In a few days I noticed on
the dark cuticle of the sclerotium several minute excres¬
cences from which gradually emanated some stalks about
11 to 18 millimetres in length, each supporting a minute
round head about 4 millimetres in diameter, in fact
furnishing good characteristic specimens of Claviceps
purpurea.

It is' not to be wondered at that these fungi should
have received the names of sphoeria or torrubia, because
they so much resemble the growth so often desci’ibed as
being found on the heads of caterpillars or larvae, and
used as a medicine in China and Japan.

A very remarkable change now took place in the oil
that was so noticeable as long as the condition of sclero¬
tium continued, but directly the mature Claviceps
appeared the oil oxidized, dried up and was found no
longer. The round heads of the fungus now became

I

196

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. ISeptomber 6, 1879.

covered with a large number of brown dots, which even¬
tually became the openings of pear-shaped sacs or asci of
the perithecium. If a section was made with a sharp
scalpel each ascus was seen to be filled with a glutinous
substance containing seven or eight spores. These last
adhered to the ergot, looking like a powdery coating and
causing the production of many thousands of conidia on
each ergot and ready for the evolution of fresh mycelium.

This seems to me the true mode of development of
Claviceps. It commences and proceeds with the vegeta¬
tive growth till it reaches the sclerotium stage and at
that period possesses in the greatest vigour the medicinal
characteristics of ergot.

I have, I think, conclusively found that ergot has the
greatest medicinal power in the month of August, and
that the experience of six or seven years shows that the
same changes take place in the plant at the same period
of every year.

It has been known to medical men that the so-called
essences of ergot are so uncertain in their efficacy that
many, in order to ensure success, have determined to use
the powder itself. Dr. Kluge, of Berlin, observed some
years since, that for some reason or other the properties
of ergot varied according to whether it was gathered
before or after the harvest. In the former case it had an
energetic action, while in the latter it was frequently
powerless.

The sheep were distinctly seen to choose the young
green grasses and to particularly avoid the older and ripe
ones, probably directed by the odour of trimethylamine,
for I found that I could not produce this odour till the
sclerotium was fully developed and the starch completely
gone.

I therefore think the following conclusions may be
safely drawn —

1. That for all medicinal purposes, or pharmaceutical
preparations, ergot ought to be gathered in the months
0? August or September.

2. That ergot always attains its greatest intensity at
the end of the vegetative period.

3. That the medicinal powers of ergot diminish or dis¬
appear as soon as the fructifying period commences.

I have chemically and microscopically examined the
ergots produced from the Lolium perenne while the plants
have been living. The infusion was first treated by the
ether process of Stas. On the evaporation of the ether an
oily residuum was obtained containing a minute quantity
of a resinous substance. The extract was then dissolved
in alcohol, afterwards mixed with water and filtered.
Chloriodide of mercury caused a precipitate reminding
one of a vegetable alkaloid.

I did not detect any crystals of cholesterine that are
said to exist in Sccale cornutum, but phosphoric acid was
clearly shown by using molybdate of ammonia and nitric
acid.

In toxicological investigations the microscope is the
most to be depended upon. The conidia are very
abundant and may always be detected in bread, pastry
or flour, especially if acetic or chromic acids be used to
make their presence more evident. The one-sixth or
one-eighth of an inch is a sufficiently high power. I
always find that this mode of detection is preferable to
the use of potass and distillation alone. The little
conidia may be generally observed in the intestinal canal
of a poisoned person or animal.

The President, in inviting discussion, remarked that
the Conference had been favoured by Mr. Stoddart with
an extremely suggestive and interesting paper.

Mr. Luff said he should like to ask two questions of
Mr. Stoddart. Some months ago a toxicological case was
entrusted to him for investigation. It was that of a
young woman’s stomach in which ergot was found. He
would ask Mr. Stoddart whether he noticed in the
stomachs of thesheep during post mortem examinations very
rapid decomposition. He was present at the post mortem

examination of the young woman and very rapid decompo¬
sition set in during the course of twenty-four hours. At
the inquest the medical witnesses wished to show that
that proved the presence indirectly of ergot. He also
wished to ask Mr. Stoddart whether he noticed the pre¬
sence of the poison in the second or in the fourth stomach
of the sheep.

Mr. Thresh said he should like to know definitely
whether it was the same fimgus that produced ergot in
the rye grass as produced it in the rye.

Mr. Greenish thought this an extremely interesting
subject to pharmacists, because ergot was the only fungus
in the Pharmacopoeia. To investigate the subject properly
it really required a knowledge of botany, of the microscope
and of fungology. It was important to observe that the
ergot just referred to was not ergot of rye, but an ergot
from one of the grasses, and it appeared to have been ex¬
ceedingly active and very poisonous. There had been lately
presented to the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society
some of the ergot of Diss, also a grass ergot from Algeria
which was longer and more slender than the ordinary
ergot of rye. It was said to be a much more active
ergot. There had not been sufficient opportunity yet
to enable this point to be decided, but it would be possible
to get any quantity from Algeria. There was one point
he could not very well understand. Mr. Stoddart had
said that the ergot on the young grass was very poisonous
to sheep; and he (Mr. Greenish) assumed that on the
young grass it would not be the fully developed ergot.
At the same time Mr. Stoddart had stated that the
ergot for pharmaceutical purposes would be best ob¬
tained fully developed, and the fully developed ergot
could not be got until about the month of August. He
asked how it was that the ergot was more active before
it was fully developed on the young grass, and yet that it
should not be obtained for pharmaceutical purposes until
it was fully developed.

Mr. Umney said, with regard to the closing statement
of Mr. Stoddart’ s remarks on the pharmacy of ergot,
viz., “that the preparation of ergot must either be an
ethereal or an ammoniacal one,” he would say that he
must take exception. The ether directed in the
Pharmacopoeia process was used to extract the fixed oil,
and for the preparation of the extract the ether was
driven off and the oily residue thrown away, the prepara¬
tion therefore was an aqueous one.

Professor Attfield said that probably many cases of
poisoning which had hitherto puzzled analysts were ex¬
plicable now with the facts which Mr. Stoddart had
brought forward. A few weeks ago he had had one of
these puzzling cases brought under his own notice ; and
he mentioned it because he thought a great deal of light
had been thrown upon it by what he had heard from Mr.
Stoddart, and because it to some extent supported Mr.
Stoddart’s conclusions. Some heifers which were turned
into a particular pasture died. He examined the contents
of the stomachs of these animals, but could find no trace
whatever of any of the ordinary poisons or even of unusual
poisons. He suggested that the farmer should instruct a
botanist to examine the pasturage for poisonous plants or
plants which would be likely to produce irritation enough
to cause death; but he examined the contents of the
stomach microscopically as well as chemically and found
present crowds of minute bodies which he now thought
must be the conidia to which Mr. Stoddart had referred.
They were minute things seen very easily with a quarter
inch power. They were somewhat sausage shaped, only
thicker at one end than the other ; and they afforded
evidence of structure. He believed they were identical
with those alluded to by Mr. Stoddart.

Mr. Stoddart, in summing up the discussion, alluded
first to the question put by Mr. Luff as to putrefaction
taking place in the stomach. He generally found that
blood was the first thing to putrefy; and he believed that
what he had alluded to as being comparable to coffee
grounds was simply coagulated blood. Whenever he got a

s ptember 6, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

197

stomach — and they were very frequently brought to him —
and he saw there was much congestion — in other words,
much blood— he assumed that probably strychnine had
been used. So accustomed had he been to see the effects
of strychnine that he was often able to say whether
animals or men had been poisoned by that means, as
decomposition would set in sooner than by the use of any
other poison. He had usually found that to be the case.
In answer to Mr. Greenish he repeated what he had pre¬
viously stated, that the best time to gather ergot was in
its maturity in the sclerotium condition. With regard
to Mr. Umney’s observation it only proved what he had
said, that doctors differed considerably.

The President said the Conference was much obliged
to Mr. Stoddart for his extremely interesting paper, and
gave him a cordial vote of thanks for his labours in this
direction. (To be continued.)

BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

The Process of Investigation in the Exact

Sciences.*

BY G. JOHNSTONE STONEY, M.A., F.R.S.

The process of investigation in the exact sciences is
fundamentally one in all cases. It has been well
described by Mill in the third book of his ‘ Logic.’
Nevertheless it is notorious that minds which are well
fitted for some branches of physical inquiry find difficulty
— sometimes insuperable difficulty — in pursuing others.
It is not every eminent mathematican who would have
made an equally good chemist, or vice versa. This is
because there exists a practical distinction separating the
investigation of exact science into two well-marked
classes when they are viewed, not as they are in them¬
selves, but in their relation to the powers of us human
beings. I refer to the distinction between the experi¬
mental method or the method of observation, on the one
hand ; and the deductive method, or the method of
reasoning, on the other. All valid investigations in
exact science appeal to what can be directly perceived,
and all lead to a conclusion which can be reasoned out
from it ; but there are some of these investigations in
which the main difficulty consists in making the appeal
to the senses, and there are others in which the main
difficulty lies in the process of reasoning.

To contend with these difficulties successfully requires
very different qualities of mind and body. In experi¬
mental science the powers principally called into re¬
quisition are readiness and closeness of observation,
dexterity in manipulation, skill in devising expedients,
accuracy in making adjustments, and great patience. It
also requires that the investigator should have an accurate
memory of what else he has witnessed resembling the
phenomenon under observation, that he should be quick
to detect every point of agreement and difference that
can be perceived, and be skilful to select those which are
significant, and to employ them as materials for provision
to guide his further proceedings. But the strain on the
reasoning powers is generally less, often of trifling amount.
The question is put to Nature, and it is Nature usually
that gives the bulk of the answer. The most striking
monument of splendid achievements by the experimental
method of investigation unaided by the deductive method
is to be found in the science of chemistry.

An equally typical instance of the power of the
deductive method is the science of mechanics. This
science, which has sunk deeper into the secrets of Nature
than any other science, and which is the science towards
whom all other physical sciences are at present more or
less gravitating, is essentially deductive. There is little
or no difficulty about its fundamental data. They are
facts of Nature so patent to all men, and so indelibly
implanted in human conception, that some persons have

* Extract from a Presidential Address to the Mathematical
and Physical Science Section, August 21, 1879.

supposed that we have an intuitive perception of them.
But, while the materials from which the mind is to work
are thus easily obtained, it lias taxed to the utmost the
reasoning powers of understandings like Newton’s to
evolve the few consequences of them which are already
known, and the investigator has to call to his assistance
every aid to prolonged consecutive thought which mathe¬
maticians can devise.

In grappling with the problems of Nature we are
seldom allowed the choice of the method of investigation
we shall employ. This is commonly settled for us and
not by us. Where we cannot advance without further
information, we must make further observations, i.e., we
must employ the experimental method, the appeal ad
experientiam : where we cannot advance without under¬
standing better what the information we possess really
amounts to, we must employ the deductive method.

No reach of intellect applied to the materials in
existence before 1860 could have elicited the fact that
iron exists upon the sun. This great discovery was made
by Professor Kirchhoff, a scientific man who was equally
versed in both methods of investigation. On the present
occasion it was the experimental method he employed.
He applied to the scrutiny of the sun’s spectrum four
prisms of the most homogeneous glass that could be
procured, figured with the greatest accuracy that the
eminent artist Steinheil could attain. He expended far
more pains on their adjustment for each successive part of
the spectrum than any of his predecessors had done, and
he was rewarded by a more perfect vision of the sun’s
glorious spectrum than had met the human eye before. In
a collateral inquiry, suggested by an observation made by
Foucault, he and Bunsen placed a metallic vapour emit¬
ting bright rays in front of a still brighter incandescent
body, so that the light from the brighter background had
to pass through this vapour, and they found that this
vapour now caused dark lines in the spectrum occupying
the positions which its own bright lines had before filled.
Professor Kirchhoff thereupon added an appliance to his
spectroscope which enabled him to bring a metallic spec¬
trum and the solar spectrum together into the field of
view, alongside of one another. On accomplishing this
he saw sixty of the brightest of the iron rays as continu¬
ations of sixty of the strongest of the dark lines in the
sun’s spectrum ; and by an elaborate scrutiny, he satisfied
himself that the observations had been pushed to a suffi¬
cient degree of exactness to make ' sure that a deviation
would have been detected in any one of these sixty cases
if it had amounted to as much as one-fourth of the
average interval between consecutive lines of the solar
spectrum. From this it was obvious that the sixty coin¬
cidences are not due to chance, but indicate that there is
really iron vapour in the path of the rays. It will be
observed that Kirchhoff’s great merit and the real diffi¬
culty of his work lay in the scientific foresight and the in¬
dustry which were required to frame hypotheses that
were worth testing, to guide the investigation by these
hypotheses, to contrive, construct, and adjust adequate
apparatus, and to make with it the elaborate observations
and the exact observations and maps which were neces¬
sary. But when by these means the new facts had been
brought to light, the inference from them that there i3
iron in the atmosphere of the sun was an easy one. This
example will better convey than a definition what are
the characteristic features of an experimental inquiry.

On the other hand, no series of observations or
experiments, however skilfully arranged, could have
enabled anyone to understand the cause of that familiar
but truly surprising phenomenon that a top stands upon
its peg while it is spinning. But a full explanation of it
is within the reach of any student who will train his
mind to reason consecutively, and avail himself of the
aids to prolonged consecutive thought which mathema¬
ticians have contrived. He will then see that the most
obvious and familiar mechanical facts involve as necessary
consequences all the phenomena which he finds in the

i

198

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 6, 1879.

schoolboy’s top, in the physicist’s gyroscope, and in the
precision and nutation of the heavens. This then is a
problem of Nature which falls within the province of the
deductive method.

Wherever data are known exactly, these inferences from
these data, however remote, may be depended upon as
corresponding with what actually occurs in Nature. And
if in such cases the mind of man has proved equal to the
task of drawing inferences which can effectually grapple
with the problems he finds around him in the Universe —
which is, alas! as yet but too seldom — then will the
deductive method, our plummet, explore depths in the
great ocean of existence which our anchors of experiment
could not have reached.

The distinction which is here made between deductive
and experimental investigations would have no place in a
logical system. But it has dii'ect reference to human
convenience, and derives its importance from this circum¬
stance. It is obvious, too, that an investigation may
partake of both characters — that it may require all the
powers of the scientific observer to get at the facts, or
even to appreciate them, and all the resources of the
mathematician to elicit the consequences of them. For
instance, on beginning his electrical studies, the student
of Nature must master a mixed experimental and deduc¬
tive inquiry to get at the elementary fact that free
electricity resides either at or outside the surfaces of
conductors ; and he must engage in a further inquiry,
and one only within the reach of a trained mind, to
deduce from this the law of the inverse square. And,
again, no full appreciation or even intelligent use of the
common electrostatic and electrodynamic measures which
he meets at the threshold of his electrical studies is
within the reach of the mere experimentalist or the mere
theorist. And if this treacherous ground lies before the
immature student at his entrance, what shall we say of
the bogs he struggles into as he advances ? We are per¬
petually meeting with inquiries of this mixed character
in electricity and some of the other physical sciences, but
they are comparatively rare in either medicine or che¬
mistry, and none that is difficult lies in the path of the
beginner. How many students are there who are made
to slur over the above and a multitude of similar difficul¬
ties, and who are told that they are learning science,
when in fact what they are really learning is the perni¬
cious habit of being content to see Nature through a fog
or through other men’s mental eyes ?

In mechanics valuable progress can be made by the
mere mathematician, the student of deductive science ; and
in chemistry similar progress can be made by the mere ex¬
perimentalist. Of all the physical sciences these are the
most purely deductive, and the most purely experimental.
What I desire particularly to invite attention to is that
the two great methods of investigation may best be
acquired in these two sciences, and that for a really sound
grasp of the remaining physical sciences, and especially
with a view to further advance in physical science, a com¬
mand of both methods of investigation is essential.

We must bear in mind, too, that either method of in¬
vestigation may be misapplied, and that this is a risk
carefully to be guarded against. The deductive method
when misapplied lands us in speculation, the experimental
method becomes empiricism ; and it so happens that the
sciences of mechanics and chemistry are not only monu¬
ments of the power of the two great methods of investi-
gation,but instructive examples of their weakness also. For
in chemistry, scarce any attempt at prolonged reasoning,
carrying us by any lengthened flight to a distance from the
experiments, can be relied on. The result has seldom risen
to any thingbetter than speculation. And on the other hand,
in mechanics, conclusions which depend on experiments
only are empirical ; that is, they are deficient in accuracy,
and their relation to the other phenomena of the science is
left in darkness. Here, then, we find in these two sciences
not only how strong these two methods of investigation
are, but how weak they may become if misapplied.

fjarliamentarg aiut Ifoui ^ro^dtngs.

An Act to Continue and Amend the Petroleum

Act, 1871.

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same,

as follows : —

1. This Act may be cited as the Petroleum Act, 1879.

This Act shall be construed as one with the Petroleum

Act, 1871, and together with that Act may be cited as
the Petroleum Acts, 1871 and 1879.

2. Whereas by the Petroleum Act, 1871, it is enacted
that the term “ petroleum to which this Act applies ”
means such of the petroleum defined by that Act as,
when tested in manner set forth in Schedule 1 to that
Act, gives off an inflammable vapour at a temperature of
less than 100° of Fahrenheit’s thermometer, and it is
expedient to alter the said test : Be it therefore enacted
that —

In the Petroleum Act, 1871, the term “petroleum to
which this Act applies” shall mean such of the petroleum
defined by section 3 of that Act as, when tested in
manner set forth in Schedule 1 to this Act, gives off an
inflammable vapour at a temperature of less than 73° of
Fahrenheit’s thermometer.

Every reference in the Petroleum Act, 1871, to Schedule
1 to that Act shall be construed to refer to Schedule 1 to
this Act.

3. A model of the apparatus for testing petroleum, as
described in Schedule 1 to this Act, shall be deposited
with the Board of Trade, and the Board of Trade shall,
on payment of such fee, not exceeding five shillings, as
they from time to time prescribe, cause to be compared
with such model and verified every apparatus constructed
in accordance with Schedule 1 to this Act which is sub¬
mitted to them for the purpose, and if the same is found
correct shall stamp the same with a mark approved of by
the Board and notified in the London Gazette.

An apparatus for testing petroleum purporting to be
stamped with the said mark shall, until the contrary is
proved, be deemed to have been verified by the Board of
Trade.

All fees under this section shall be paid into the Ex¬
chequer.

4. The Petroleum Act, 1871, shall continue in force
until otherwise directed by Parliament.

5. This Act shall come into operation on the thirty-
first day of December one thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine, which day is in this Act referred to as the
commencement of this Act.

6. The Petroleum Act, 1871, shall be repealed after
the commencement of this Act to the extent in the
third column of the Second Schedule to this Act men¬
tioned.

Provided that any sample of petroleum taken before
the commencement of this Act shall be tested in manner
set forth in Schedule 1 to the Petroleum Act, 1871, and
any offence committed before the commencement of this
Act shall be prosecuted, and any investigation, legal pro¬
ceeding, or remedy in relation to such offence, or to any
act done before the commencement of this Act, shall be
instituted, carried on, and have effect as if the provisions
of this Act, other than those continuing the Petroleum
Act, 1871, had not been passed.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

Mode of testing Petroleum so as to ascertain the Tempera¬
ture at which it will give off Inflammable Vapour.

Specification of the Test Apparatus.

The following is a description of the details of the ap¬
paratus : —

The oil cup consists of a cylindrical vessel 2" diameter,
i 2t‘2q " height (internal), with outward projecting rim TV'

September 6, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

199

wide, §'•' from the top, and 1-|» from the bottom of the
cup. It is made of gun metal or brass (17 B.W.G.)
tinned inside. A bracket, consisting of a short stout
piece of wire bent upwards and terminating in a point,
is fixed to the inside of the cup to serve as a gauge. The
distance of the point from the bottom of the cup is 1J".
The cup is provided with a close-fitting overlapping cover
made of brass (22 B.W.G. ), which carries the thermo¬
meter and test lamp. The latter is suspended from two
supports from the side by means of trunnions upon which
it may be made to oscillate, it is provided with a spout,
the mouth of which is one- sixteenth of an inch in dia¬
meter. The socket which is to hold the thermometer is
fixed at such an angle and its length is so adjusted that
the bulb of the thermometer when inserted to its full
depth shall be 1^" below the centre of the lid.

The cover is provided with three square holes, one in
the centre, TV' by TV'> and two smaller ones, To" by jVb
close to the sides and opposite each other. These three
holes may be closed and uncovered by means of a slide
moving in grooves, and having perforations corresponding
to those on the lid.

In moving the slide so as to uncover the holes, the
oscillating lamp is caught by a pin fixed in the slide, and
tilted in such a way as to bring the end of the spout just
below the surface of the lid. Upon the slide being pushed
back so as to cover the holes, the lamp returns to its
original position.

Upon the cover, in front of and in line with the mouth
of the lamp, is fixed a white bead, the dimensions of
which represent the size of the test flame to be used.

The bath or heated vessel consists of two flat-bottomed
copper cylinders (24 B.W.G.), an inner one of 3” dia¬
meter and 2^» height, and an outer one of 5|" diameter
and 5f '' height ; they are soldered to a circular copper
plate (20 B.W.G.) perforated in the centre, which forms
the top of the bath, in such a manner as to enclose the
space between the two cylinders, but leaving access to
the inner cylinder. The top of the bath projects both
outwards and inwards about ■§" ; that is, its diameter is
about greater than that of the body of the bath, while
the diameter of the circular opening in the centre is about
the same amount less than that of the inner copper
cylinder. To the inner projection of the top is fastened,
by . six small screws, a flat ring of ebonite, the screws
being sunk below the surface of the ebonite, to avoid
metallic contact between the bath and the oil cup. The
exact distance between the sides and bottom of the bath
and of the oil lamp is one-half of an inch. A split
socket similar to that on the cover of the oil cup, but set
at a right angle, allows a thermometer to be inserted into
the space between the two cylinders. The bath is
further provided with a funnel, an overflow pipe, and two
loop handles.

The bath rests upon a cast-iron tripod stand, to the
ring of which is attached a copper cylinder or jacket
(24 B.W.G.) flanged at the top, and of such dimensions
that the bath, while firmly resting on the iron ring, just
touches with its projecting top the inward-turned flange.
The diameter of this outer jacket is 6%". One of the
three legs of the stand serves as support for the spirit
lamp attached to it by means of a small swing bracket.
The distance of the wick holder from the bottom of the
bath is 1 “ .

Two thermometers are provided with the apparatus,
the one for ascertaining the temperature of the bath, the
other for determining the flashing point. The thermo¬
meter for ascertaining the temperature of the water has
a long bulb and a space at the top. Its range is from
about 90° to 190° Fahrenheit. The scale (in degrees of
Fahrenheit) is marked on an ivory back fastened to the
tirbe in the usual way. It is fitted with a metal collar,
fitting the socket, and the part of the tube below the
scale should have a length of about 3^" measured from
the lower end of the scale to the end of the bulb. The
thermometer for ascertaining the temperature of the oil

is fitted with collar and ivory scale in a similar manner
to the one described. It has a round bulb, a space at the
top, and ranges from about 55° F. to 150° F. ; it measures
from end of ivory back to bulb 2^".

Note. — A model apparatus is deposited at the Weights
and Measures Department of the Board of Trade.

Directions for applying the Flashing Test.

1. The test apparatus is to be placed for use in a
position where it is not exposed to currents of air or
draughts.

2. The heating vessel or water-bath is filled by pouring
water into the funnel until it begins to flow out at the
spout of the vessel. The temperature of the water at the
commencement of the test is to be 130° Fahrenheit, and
this is attained in the first instance either by mixing hot
and cold water in the bath, or in a vessel from which the
bath is filled, until the thermometer which is provided for
testing the temperature of the water gives the proper in¬
dication, or by heating the water with the spirit lamp
(which is attached to the stand of the apparatus) until
the required temperature is indicated.

If the water has been heated too highly, it is easily re¬
duced to 130 9 by pouring in cold water little by little (to
replace a portion of the warm water) until the thermo¬
meter gives the proper reading.

When a test has been completed, this water-batli is
again raised to 1309 by placing the lamp underneath,
and the result is readily obtained while the petroleum
cup is being emptied, cooled, and refilled with a fresh
sample to be tested. The lamp is then turned on its
swivel from under the apparatus, and the next testis pro¬
ceeded with.

3. The test lamp is prepared for use by fitting it with
a piece of flat plaited candle wick and filling it with
colza or rape oil up to the lower edge of the opening of the
spout or wick tube. The lamp is trimmed so that when
lighted it gives a flame of about 0T5 of an inch diameter,
and this size of flame which is represented by the pro¬
jecting white bead on the cover of the oil cup is readily
maintained by simple manipulation from time to time
with a small wire trimmer.

When gas is available it may be conveniently used in
place of the little oil lamp, and for this purpose a test-
flame arrangement for use with gas may be substituted
for the lamp.

4. The bath having been raised to the proper tempera¬
ture, the oil to be tested is introduced into the petroleum
cup, being poured in slowly until the level of the liquid
just reaches the point of the gauge which is fixed in the
cup. In warm weather the temperature of the room in
which the samples to be tested have been kept should be
observed in the first instance, and if it exceeds 65° the
samples to be tested should be cooled down (to about 60°)
by immersing the bottles containing them in cold water,
or by any other convenient method. The lid of the cup,
with the slide closed, is then put on, and the cup is placed
into the bath or heating vessel . The thermometer in the
lid of the cup has been adjusted so as to have its bulb
just immersed in the liquid, and its position is not under
any circumstances to be altered. When the cup has
been placed in the proper position, the scale of the ther¬
mometer faces the operator.

5. The test lamp is then placed in position upon the
lid of the cup, the lead line or pendulum, which has been
been fixed in a convenient position in front of the
operator, is set in motion, and the rise of the thermometer
in the petroleum cup is watched. When the temperature
has reached about 66° the operation of testing is to be
commenced, the test-flame being applied once for every
rise of one degree, in the following manner : —

The slide is slowly drawn open while the pendulum
performs three oscillations, and is closed during the fourth
oscillation.

Note. — If it is desired to employ the test apparatus to

200

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 6, 1379.

determine the flashing points of oils of very low volatility,
the mode of proceeding is to be modified as follows : —
The air-chamber which surrounds the cup is filled with
cold water, to a depth of 1^ inches, and the heating vessel
or water-bath is filled as usual, but also with cold water.
The lamp is then placed under the apparatus and kept
there during the entire operation. If a very heavy oil is
being dealt with, the operation may be commenced with
water previously heated to 120°, instead of with cold
water.

SECOND SCHEDULE.
Act repealed.

Year and Chapter.

Title.

Extent of Repeal.

34 and 35 Yict.
c. 105.

The Petroleum Act,
1871.

Section three, from
“ and the term
petroleum to
which this Act
applies ” inclu¬
sive to the end
of the section.
Section eighteen.

i

gispensiitjg Ukwopitdit.

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

[340]. Will any readers of the Journal kindly inform me
if it would be right in making “ung. sulph. iodidi” to
rub the iodide of sulphur with a little glycerine before
mixing the lard, glycerine being a solvent for iodide of
sulphur ? Inquirer.

[341] , The following prescription was presented to me
to-day. Will some of your readers kindly inform me what
the first ingredient is ? —

R Ung. Calcis Hydr. Alb . 3ij.

01, Amygd. Dulc,

Aq. Calcis . aa § j.

M. ft. ung.

(Cream for the face). H. S. N.

[342] . Would some reader kindly inform me the cause
of my failure in making ung. plumbi subacetatis com-
positum ? I strictly followed the directions given in the
B.P., but in the course of a week or so, the ointment
began to change to a pale orange colour. The jar in which
it is kept is free from lead, but it being standing next to
the iodine ointment jar I thought that might be the cause.
Having thrown the first lot out I began again, this time
isolating the jar, but with no better results?

An Apprentice.

The Introduction op Chloroform.

Sir, —Referring to Mr. Brown’s note on the introduction
of chloroform, 1 subjoin the following extract from my
laboratory book : —

154 lbs. chloride of lime,

631 pints of wood naphtha.

The above mixed with a sufficient quantity of water was

distilled in a large still heated with steam and the product
distilled with strong sulphuric acid and again distilled with
carbonate of baryta and dried chloride of calcium. The
purified product weighed 13 lbs. 2 oz. and was supplied to Dr.
Simpson, of Edinburgh, early in November, 1847, having
been prepared by myself at the end of October and during
the first few days of November in that year, and was, I
believe, the first chloroform ever prepared as a commercial
article in this country. Subsequently I prepared large
quantities from pure spirit of wine which was found to yield
a larger and purer product. At the time in question I was
an apprentice to Mr. George Simpson, of Kennington, the
head of the subsequently well-known firm of Simpson,
Maule and Nicholson, manufacturers of aniline dyes.

13, Curzon Street, W. E. N. Butt.

Weights and Measures Act.

Sir, — In the schedule of apothecaries’ weights abstracted
from the London Gazette of the 15th ult. and published in
the Journal (Aug. 23), p. 145, 1 observe the largest single
measure of weight is 10 ounces, equal to 4800 grains. I am
at a loss to understand why this is the case when the troy
pound contains 12 ounces and the sets of cup-weights in
general use have always had this— the troy pound — as their
largest weight. And will the 12 ounce weight now become
illegal, or will it still be a lawful weight as being the
silversmith’s troy pound? I have not the late Act at hand,
but I think the latter was legalized.

When the subject was before the Council, in your report
I noticed the above peculiarity, but thought it was a mis¬
print in the numerals 10 to 12, to which 1 had intended to
draw attention. It had escaped my memory till now, when
I again see the 10 ounce weight in print, with its equivalent
in grains, which I think was not the case before.

This new weight will be a decimal blunder and a reproach
on the originators of the Act for having discarded the
metric decimal system.

Winchelsea. Wm. Martindale.

The Health of the Drug Trade.

Sir, — From frequent perusal of the Obituary in the
Pharmaceutical Journal, and from other sources, my atten¬
tion has been drawn to the peculiar fact that nearly 80 per
cent, of chemists and druggists die at an age when men are
generally supposed to be in their prime, both intellectually
and physically, and a considerable number even under that
age, while very few reach the allotted span of three score
and ten years. The subject seems to me to be of sufficient
importance to warrant a short discussion on the matter in
the Journal. The question naturally arises, what are the
causes of this lamentable fact? can that odour which is so
characteristic of a chemist’s shop be injurious to health ?
The atmosphere of our shops must frequently be vitiated
by the escape of gases from many drugs and chemicals,
whose injurious qualities, overloading the normal impure
atmosphere which is generally found in large towns, cannot
improve the condition of the respiratory organs.

In the absence of correct statistics as to the actual causes
of death in each individual case, a just decision is imprac¬
ticable, but I have been led to believe that consumption and
cardiac affections are the two principal agents at work in
our ranks. Do these insidious enemies find a footing
amongst us through any fault of our own ? Do the
anxiety, the long hours, the constant deep attention which
every druggist requires to devote to all the little minutije
which go to make up his daily duties, and the want of that
active exercise to the muscular system which is to be found
in almost every other trade, induce towards an enervated
nerve power ?

This letter, I hope, will be the means of inclining some
who are abler than I to give an explanation of the causes,
so that those of our suffering brethren whose pale faces and
degenerated nervous system may apply the remedy.

Edinburgh. _ J. K. Nicol.

“Inquirer.” — Under the circumstances you mention
there may be a kind of acid fermentation set up, resembling
lactic fermentation, but we are not aware that there would
be any formation of valerianic acid.

“ Country Apprentice.” — You are learning the business of
a chemist and druggist as it is not unfrequently carried on
in country districts. You are recommended to prepare for
future eventualities by studying chemistry, botany and
materia medica.

September 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

201

NOTES ON SOME JAPANESE DRUGS.

BY E. M. HOLMES, F.L.S.,

Cw'ator of the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society.

(' Continued from page 103.)

HERBS AND LEAVES.

Hakka (57) : — Mentha austriaca, Jacq.1? Fr. et Sav.
yoI. i. p. 366.

Syn. Mentha arvensis , L., var. Jcivanica, Bl.; Phar-
macographia, p. 434, note 1 ; Mentha arvensis ,
var. vulgaris, Benth. Megusa, So mokou Zoussetz,
vol. xi. tig. 27 ; Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xii. fol. 10.

This drug consists of the dried herb.

- The leaves are lanceolate and nearly glabrous,
with a tapering base and with few short but sharp
serrations. The taste is powerfully pungent and
strongly resembles that of Mentha 'piperita. The
oil, ho-wever, of the two plants is not identical, as
■shown by Fluckiger, since it does not give a fluores¬
cence when treated with nitric acid. *■

The leaves are probably used as tea by the
Japanese. Mr. T. Christy informs me that he ex¬
perienced great relief when in China, in an attack
•of sunstroke, by the application of the oil, which a
Chinese doctor rubbed over his head. It produced a
most profuse perspiration and tranquil sleep.

. The Japanese peppermint plant has been attributed
•to Mentha javanica, Bl., by Fluckiger and Hanbury ;
but all the specimens of that plant which I have
seen have the taste of Mentha viridis , L., not of
Mentha piperita , L. In the So Mokou Zoussetz
the figure of the Japanese peppermint plant exactly
•corresponds to the drug ; but is by mistake referred
to M. arvensis, var. vulgaris, Benth., which is quite a
different plant, with leaves widest below, like those
of M. arvensis, and a similar taste. All the speci¬
mens of M. Austriaca, Jacq., including a type speci¬
men, to which I have had access, have not the taste
of peppermint. The plant yielding the Japanese
peppermint oil must therefore be regarded as a yet
unnamed form. In shape of the leaf and character
•of the calyx it seems to approach most nearly to M.
u Canadensis , but the leaves of that species, according
to a living specimen of the hairy variety, kindly
supplied by Professor Asa Gray, have a taste more
approaching to pennyroyal.

Kei-ning-soh (10) : — Digenea simplex, Ag. (Alg?e).

This seaweed is of a dull green colour, having lost
its original purplish red tint by exposure to air
and heat probably. It is well known that all sea¬
weeds contain chlorophyll, the green colour of which
in the case of red algce is hidden by a red colouring
matter, phycerythrine, and in the black or olive
algse by phycoplueine and pliy coxanthine. f By
the action of fresh water and heat the colouring
matter which conceals the chlorophyll is destroyed,
and the presence of the latter becomes evident.
From the quantity of sand and foreign matter pre¬
sent, the decoloration in this case would appear to
be due to the action of the heat of the sun on a
sandy shore, rather than to the effects of fresh
water.

King-ki-yo (15) : — Malm sylvestris, Lin.

Syn. Zeni-aoi, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. xii. fig. 54.
This drug consists chiefly of the leaves of this
well-known plant mixed occasionally with fragments

* Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. i., p. 682.
t Millardet, Comptes Rendus, Feb. 22, 1869.

Third Series, No. 481.

of those of Althaea rosea, L. (Tachi-avi) and appa¬
rently also of Malva pulchella, Bernh. (Fuyu-avi).
See So mokou Zouss., vol. xii. figs. 53, 55.

Shisso (21): — Perilla arguta, Benth. ; Fr. et Sav.,
vol. i. p. 365 ; So mokou Zouss. , vol. xi. fig. 24 ;
Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xii. p. 113 (calyx bad).

Syn. Sissoo, Jakosju, Miq. Prol., p. 36.

Shisso consists of the stems and leaves of the
plant. The leaves are ovate, lanceolate, acuminate,
the largest about two inches long by one inch broad,
sharply serrate, and of a purplish tint underneath.

Shisso blossoms in September.

To-yak (17) : — Pleurogyne rotata, Griseb. (Gentian-
aceoe) ; Swertia rotata, Thunb. FI. Jap., p. 115.

Syn. Senburi, Toyaku ; So mokou Zoussetz,
vol. iv. f. 54.

This is a small plant, having a slight resemblance
to centaury, but with pinkish-white flowers striped
with purple, somewhat similar in size and shape to
those of Ghlora perfoliata ; the leaves are linear-
lanceolate, about one inch long and two or three
lines broad in the middle. The taste is extremely
bitter, like that of chiretta, and the odour hardly
anyl To-yak flowers in October. This plant is
interesting botanically on account of the stigma
being prolonged downwards over the edges of the
valves of the ovary. The corolla has also at its base
little glands terminating in hairs.

FLOWERS.

Chacj-to-ko (13) Uncar ia Gcimbir, Roxb. (Cin-
chonacese).

Syn. Tiax-t'ang, Porter Smith, Chinese Mat.
Med. p. 224.

This drug consists of short portions of the slender
stems half an inch to one inch in length and one to
two lines broad, with one or two strongly recurved
hooks. The whole is of a brown colour and has an as¬
tringent taste. These curious hooks do not consist, as
described by Dr. Porter Smith, of the stipules, but of
the stalk which bears the flower-heads. The flower
stalks, as described in Bentley and Trimen’s ‘Medicinal
Plants/ are furnished near the m iddle with a few bracts,
beyond which the peduncle is more slender. After
the fall of the fruit the portion of stem below the
bracts elongates, hardens and forms a strong recurved
hook by means of which the plant climbs. On some
of the hooks the traces of the fall of the peduncle
and bract may still be seen, on others, which have
probably arisen from abortive inflorescences, there
is no sign of them. It is probable that these hooks
are also obtained from U.acida, Roxb., a plant which
is used in the Malay Islands in the same manner.

The hooks possess astringent properties, and a
wine is made from them used for infantile diseases,
according to Dr. Porter Smith. Neither of these
species are mentioned in Franchet and Savatier’s
work, and this drug may therefore be a J apanese
importation from China.

Biak-tau kah (52): — Amygdalus persical

Syn. Too, Thunb. Flor. Jap., p. 199; T‘au,
Porter Smith, Chinese Mat. Med. p. 168.

These flowers evidently belong to some species of
Amygdalits , and are called by Mr. Takemura “peach
flowers.” They are apparently derived from some
cultivated species, since the majority of the blossoms

202

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 13, i879v

are partially double. Kali means flowers, and Tan or
Too is a sort of generic name both in Japanese
and Chinese for fruits of the peach kind, and Biak
means white, according to Mr. Takemura, so that
some variety of Amygdalus Persica with white
flowers may be the source of Biak-tau-kah. The
dried flowers however have a slight pinkish tinge.
Thunberg mentions a variety of peach with simple
white flowers called “Sato Momu.”

Hoh-oh (32) : — Typha japonica , Miq.

Syn. P’u hwaug, Porter Smith, Chinese Mat.
Med., p. 224.

This yellow powder consists of the pollen. It is
inflammable, like lycopodium, but shows a tendency
to agglomerate into lumps. Dr. Porter Smith states
that in China it is obtained from Typlia Bungeana,
and is used as a desiccant, astringent, styptic and
sedative remedy, and also that it is made into a
confection for external and internal use. It has
neither taste nor odour.

The Chinese character, translated P’u liwang, is
exactly the same as the Japanese character, Hoh-oh.
P’u or Hoh being the name of the plant, and Hwang
or Oh meaning yellow.

The spikes are said by Miquel to be used as a
styptic.

The only species mentioned by Fr. and Savatier
as a native of Japan is T. japonica, although the
Phonzou Zoufou, vol. 33, figures two which are
supposed to be (fig. 19 Kobo) T. japonica, Miq., and
(fig. 29, Rindziakou) T. angustifolia, L.

In t’ying (31): — Artemisia capillaris, Tliunb.

Syn. Intsjin; Fki Iamogi and Kawara Iamogi;
Ksempf. Amoen., p. 897 ; Iamma Intsjin ;
Thunb. FI. Jap., p. 30.9; Kawara Yomogi, So
mokou Zouss. vol. xvi. fig. 27 ; Phonzou Zoufou,
vol. xiv. fol. 2.

This consists of the flower heads, and bears some
resemblance to Levant santonica, than which the
flower heads are smaller. The paleae are oval, obtuse
and membranous, about six in number, and closely
imbricated. The scales separate more readily than
in santonica, and are mixed with the flower heads,
as well as portions of the capillary leaflets. The
taste is slightly pungent and aromatic, but not
bitter.

The plant flowers in August, and is not an inland,
but a littoral species.

Set-kotz-mo kah (22) : — Sambucus nigra, L.

Syn. Niwa Toka, Tonga, Kiempf. Amcen. fasc.
v. p. 787 ; Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 126.

This drug consists of the flowers freed from the
stalks, and dried just before expansion. They are
of a clark brown colour, and not to be compared in
quality with those dried in this country. The
species of Sambucus is given on Mr. Takemura’s
authority.

Thunberg states (p. 126) that neither this species
nor S. canadensis, L., matures fruit in Japan, and
are therefore evidently not natives. Probably for
this reason S. nigra is omitted by Fr. and Savatier,
in their Enum. PI, Jap., p. 198.

Sbin-ee (4) : — Magnolia Yulan, Desf.

Syn. SiN-if Porter Smith, Chinese Mat. Med.,
, P* 142.

Shin-ee consists of the very young flower buds of

a

this tree. The two outer scales are smooth, and the-
two inner are covered with a dense coat of silky
hair ; when these are removed the flower in a very
rudimentary state may be traced. The taste is bitter-
and aromatic ; of odour there is almost none.

According to Dr. Porter Smith, a kind of snuff
made of the powdered drug was formerly used in
China. It is probably imported from that country. .

FRUITS AND SEEDS.

Gobo see (25): — Arc'.ium Lappa, L. (Composite).

Syn. Lappa Major, Gaertn, Fr. et Sav. vol. i..
p. 262; Gobo, LTmma Busuki ; Koempf. Amcen..
p. 828 ; Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 304 ; Kouma tori
bokoudsi, Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xv. fol. 23
Gobo, So mokou Zoussetz, vol. xv. fig. 33.

The small fruits of this plant are about a quarter
of an inch long, linear, somewhat flattened, about
one line wide at the apex, and tapering thence to the
base. The taste is bitter and slightly pungent.
They are of a greyish brown colour, speckled with
minute black dots.

In Japan the burdock is cultivated as a vegetable
under the name of gobo, and the root is used to put
in soups. For this purpose it is taken up before the
flowering stem appears (Koempfer). It is probably
identical with the Arctium edule of Siebold. I have-
no information concerning the uses of this seed in
Japan. Rather more than one hundred years ago-
they were used in this country in doses of one-
drachm as a diuretic and aperient, and the root is still
used by herbalists in this country as an alterative in
skin diseases and syphilis. The Japanese character
for “ see ” is exactly the same as the Chinese for
“ tsze,” and stands for “ seed ” in both cases.

Gome see (6) :— Schizcmdra nigra, Max.

Syn. Madzi-ssa, Maximowicz, Diag. PI. Nov. Jap.,
et Mandsh. Dec. x. p. 370.

This drug consists of reddish or black wrinkled
fruits about the size of a pea, each containing two*
flattened kidney-shaped seeds. The seeds have a
minutely tuberculatecl testa, and contain an oily
albuminous nucleus. The berry is sweetish and
mucilaginous, and the kernel of the seed has a
slightly bitter oily taste, but no odour.

Gomichi is given by Franchet and Savatier as the
Japanese name for Schizandra Chinensis , Baill. That
plant, however, has smooth seeds. Maximowicz, in
the work above quoted, states that S. nigra is at
once distinguished from all the other species of this
genus by the black berries with a glaucous bloom
and the tuberculated seeds.

S. nigra is a climbing plant, clothing the pine and
fir trees with its foliage in alpine woods, especially
those of the Kundslio san chain of mountains in
central Kiusiu. The fruit is ripe in October, and
is considered edible.

The Chinese character Wu-wei-tsze, which, ac¬
cording to Dr. Porter Smith, is the Chinese name
for the fruits of Kadsura Cliinensis ( Schizandra
Chinensis, Baill.), is identical with the Japanese
character above translated, gome-see, and means in
both languages five-tasted seeds. The berries
abound in a viscid mucus.*

Go-siu-ju (50) : — Evodia rutcecarpa, Benth.

Syn. Boymia rutcecarpa, Sieb. et Zucc, vol. i.
p. 50 ; Go-sju-ju ; Kawa hasikami, habite kobtjra,

* Porter Smith’s 7 Chinese Materia MedicaJ p. 126.

September 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

203

Fr. et Sav. vol. i. pp. 71, 72 ; Phonzou Zoufou,
vol. lxx. fol. 11.

Tins drag consists of the pedicels and very young
fruits of the plant. The stalks are cylindrical, about
one line in diameter, covered with down consisting
of minute spreading hairs. The fruits are reddish
brown, deeply pitted with oil glands, varying in size
from a swan shot to a small pea, and divided half
way down into five segments. The taste is decidedly
rutaceous and pungent, although not exactly that of
rue. The odour is very similar, but less powerful.
Possibly the young fruits of E. glauca, Miq., are
-also used, since “koshiou you” is given as the Japanese
name for this species in ‘ Phonzou Zoufou, vol. lxx.,
fol. 10.

Boymia rutcecarpa is a handsome shrub, six to ten
feet high, and frequently cultivated in the south of
-Japan for its beauty. The flowers, which are dioe¬
cious, are produced in May and June. By the
Japanese doctors of the Chinese school this drug is
considered to be a most valuable remedy, and is
used as a purgative, emmenagogue, sudorific and
stimulant, and, in fact, seems to possess properties
very similar to those accredited to the common rue.

Kee-kock (45) : — Citrus fusca, Lour.

8yn. Chi-koh, Porter Smith, Chin. Mat. Med.
p. 66; Cay Baong, Chi xac, Chi rest, Lour.
FI. Oochinchinensis, p. 467.

This drug consists of what appears to be fruits
gathered when unripe, and then cut in half and dried.
The rind is thick and externally of a dark or brownish
black colour, internally whitish ; the dried pulp is
blackish. The taste is bitter and the odour very
faintly that of orange. The drug is identical with
that presented to the Museum of the Pharmaceutical
■Society by Dr. Porter Smith under the name of Citrus
fusca.

The Japanese character is not, however, abso¬
lutely identical with the Chinese one given by Dr.
Porter Smith.

The Japanese character translated “ kee,” and the
Chinese “ chi,” is identical, but the one translated
u kock ” is not identical in appearance, although Mr.
Takemura assures me it is identical in meaning with
the Chinese character for “ koh.” Loureiro, however,
gives as a synonym “ chi xac,” which more nearly
approaches the Japanese name in sound.

Thunberg (FI. Jap., p. 294) gives the very similar
name “ kikokf” as a synonym of Citrus trifoliata, L.

Citrus fusca is supposed by the Chinese to possess
cooling, deobstruent and stomachic properties.

Ketz-may see (49): — Cassia Tora, L. (Leguminosm).
Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. vii. p. 350.

Syn. Kiueh-ming-tsze, Porter Smith, Chinese
Mat. Med. p. 54 ; Keue-ming tsze, Hanbury
Science Papers, p. 231 ; Tagaray-elley, Ainslie
Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 405 ; Ketsumei, Miq. Prol.
p. 243 ; Yebisugusa, So mokou Zoussetz, vol.
viii. fig. 1; Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xviii. fol. 12.

The seeds, which are to be seen in most collections
■of drugs from India or China, are of a dark brown
colour and polished, about two lines long, quad¬
rangular, oblique at both ends, but blunt at one end
and pointed at the other, and having two very faint
stripes on opposite sides.

Dr. Porter Smith states that in China they are
used both externally and internally for sore eyes
-and for herpetic or furunculoid sores.

In India, according to Udoy Chand Dutt (‘Hindu
Mat. Med.,’ p. 156), the seeds are dipped into the
juice of Euphorbia neriifolia and made into a paste
with cow’s urine for keloid tumours ; or equal parts
of them mixed with the seeds of Pongamia glabra
and a fourth part of the root of Tinospora cor difolia
are made into a paste for ringworm.

Fr. et Savat. ‘FI. Jap.,’ vol. i., express the opinion
that neither this plant, nor C. occidentalism nor C.
Foplioragrow spontaneously in Japan. The seeds of
C. Tora are therefore probably imported into Japan.
The J apanese and Chinese characters for Cassia Tora
seed are identical, although in Chinese the word is
pronounced, according to Dr. Porter Smith, Kiueh-
ming-tsze.

Kieu-ess (44) : — Allium senescens, Thunb. , FI. Jap.
p. 132.

Syn. Yama-rakkyo, Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xlv.
fol. 13; So mokou Zouss. vol. vi. fig. 37; Allium
japonicum, Regel., Fr. et Sav. vol. ii. pt. 1,
p. 77.

These seeds have the appearance of ordinary onion
seeds. They are black and angular, without odour,
and have only a very slight alliaceous taste.

In China they are used for various fluxes and for
haemorrhages.

In ‘ Loureiro FI. Cochin Chinensis ’ the term kieu
is applied to three species, A. triquetrum , L., A.
odorum, L., and A. angulosum, L.

(To be continued.)

LIQUID PREPARATIONS OE L ACTU CARIUM. *

BY JOSEPH L. LEMBERGER.

In accepting the query to give a formula for a con¬
centrated liquid preparation of lactucarium, from which
can be made the syrup, tincture, or other preparations,
the writer is fully aware of the difficulty usually met
with in making the lactucarium preparations occasioned
by the caoutchouc principle always present in this as
well as most, if not all, the products from the lactescent
plants ; in order to overcome this difficulty petroleum ben-
zin has been found the most practical, being efficient and
cheaper than most of the solvents for caoutchouc. It
was found that by beating the lactucarium in an iron
mortar until it is well crushed it separates into layers, or
plates, or very coarse granulation (according to its degree
of dryness), as the nearest possible approach to comminu¬
tion, it being impossible to powder it without the addition
of sand or other foreign substance. Thus treated and
macerated with benzin the caoutchouc principle is readily
dissolved and the lactucarium is fitted for treatment with
other menstruum. After numerous experiments the fol¬
lowing is offered as a practical working formula for the —
Fluid Extract of Lactucarium.

Take of —

Lactucarium . 16 troy ounces.

Petroleum benzin deodorized . 32 fluid ounces.

Diluted alcohol a sufficient quantity.

Beat the lactucarium thoroughly in an iron mortar,
then introduce it into a wide-mouth bottle of about three
pints capacity, adding the benzin, corking tight, and
allowing it to macerate, with frequent agitation, for
twenty-four hour3 ; then let it rest about twenty-four
hours, or until the lactucarium subsides and the benzin
solution becomes clear or nearly so ; then, haying de¬
canted the benzin solution, transfer the lactucarium to a
stone or glass slab or other similar vessel, spreading it as
thin as possible, allowing it to remain in this situation
until completely dry (at least twenty-four hours); then

* Prom the ‘ Proceedings of the American Pharma¬
ceutical Association,’ 1878.

204

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 18, 197»-

rub it up in an iron mortar with an equal bulk of clean
sand; next introduce it into a cylindrical percolator, first
prepared with a disc of flannel and a thin layer of sand,
pack lightly and add sufficient diluted alcohol to cover
several inches, and after closing the outlet with a cork
or otherwise allow it to macerate twenty-four hours;
then percolate to exhaustion, reserving the first four
fluid ounces. By means of a still reclaim the alcohol
and evaporate the residue in a water-bath to ten (10)
fluid ounces, mixing this with the reserved percolate and
filter, adding sufficient diluted alcohol to wash the filter
and remaining residue until the product weighs sixteen
troy ounces.

With this fluid extract you can readily make — -

Tincture of Lactucarium, as follows : — -

Take of —

Fluid extract lactucarium . . 1 troy ounce (^j).

Diluted alcohol . q. s. for f 5viij.

A fluid drachm representing 7h grains.

For —

Syrup of Lactucarium ,

Take of —

Fluid extract of lactucarium . 1 troy ounce (3j).

Simple syrup . q. s. for f§xvi.

A fluid drachm representing 3§ grains.

SMILAX GLAUCA *

BY JOHN BLANKENHOKN, PH.G.

With the view of ascertaining the constituents of the
long cylindrical light-coloured rhizome, a sample furnished
by Professor Maisch was submitted to the following
treatment : — Two pounds of the ground rhizome were
exhausted by a mixture of two parts alcohol and seven
parts water, and the percolate concentrated at a low tem¬
perature. After cooling, the whole was treated with
acetate of lead until no further precipitate occurred, then
filtered. The filtrate, thus deprived of nearly all colour¬
ing matter, was subjected to the action of sulphuretted
hydrogen, in order to free it from lead, and again filtered
The sulphide of lead after thorough washing with water,
was treated with boiling alcohol, filtered, the filtrate con¬
centrated and spread on glass to scale ; attempts were
made at crystallization, but without success.

The precipitate with acetate of lead was thoroughly
washed, suspended in water and decomposed by sulphu¬
retted hydrogen, then filtered. The liquid was now
evaporated ; at first the colour was dark-red, and the
colour of blue litmus was changed to red. Both charac¬
ters became greatly augmented as the process of evapora¬
tion went on. A small quantity diluted with water
gave the following reactions : — With alkalies, the colour
was deepened ; with ferric chloride, a greenish-black
colour ; with Mayer’s test, a yellowish colour ; with
subacetate of lead, gelatinous precipitate; with solution
of gelatin, gelatinous precipitate. These reactions showed
the presence of tannin. After concentration to a small
bulk, and setting aside for a few days, crystals of what
appeared to be a magnesium compound were deposited.
The filtrate from these crystals was now treated with
twice its bulk of alcohol, filtered, and then found to be
free from tartaric, citric and malic acids. After having
been treated with ammonia and solution of alum, no pre¬
cipitate was abtained with salts of iron, calcium, mercury
and copper, but lead acetate occasioned a white precipitate.

The sulphide of lead remaining after the decomposition
of the lead precipitate by IBS was thoroughly washed
and treated with boiling alcohol, filtered and allowed to
evaporate spontaneously, then spread on glass to scale.
The product was of a beautiful red colour, perfectly trans¬
parent, taste slightly bitter, wholly soluble in alcohol and
partially so in water, but insoluble in ether and chloro¬
form. Ammonia dissolved it, deepening the colour, and
on the addition of an acid the colour was discharged. A
small quantity dissolved in water with the aid of alcohol,

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, June, 1879.

and agitated, produced copious foaming, and was precipi¬
tated by acetate of lead. On digesting with water, a
portion was dissolved, and on being evaporated was left
behind as a red transparent mass ; the portion insoluble
in water dissolved in alcohol, and after evaporation left
a brown transparent mass, both portions foaming on being
agitated with water.

The filtrate, after precipitation by acetate of lead, left,,
on evaporation, an amorphous dark red-brown mass, with a
tint of green, and perfectly transparent ; the taste is very
bitter and slightly acrid. It is freely soluble in alcohol
and water, insoluble in ether and chloroform. With strong
sulphuric acid it produces an orange-red coloration chang¬
ing to brown.

The presence of starch, sugar, albumen, resin and
pectic compounds was also incidentally noticed.

CHEMICAL NATURE OF PEPTONE.*

BY R. HERTH.

Peptone was prepared by digesting the finely powdered
white of egg from 50 to 60 boiled eggs for 24 to 30 horns
with a 1 per cent, solution of phosphoric acid, then treat¬
ing with hot water, and digesting with 4 litres of a 0'65
per cent, solution of phosphoric acid and 40 c.c. of a clear
pepsin solution which had been purified by dialysis, and
was free from calcium and chlorine. When the liquid
had become clear (after 5 or 6 hours) it was heated on a
sand-bath, and freshly precipitated lead carbonate was
added to neutral reaction. The small quantity of lead
present in the filtrate was removed by means of sulphur¬
etted hydrogen; the liquid was again filtered, concentrated
on the water- bath, precipitated, and digested with con¬
centrated alcohol, again dissolved, and the liquid repre¬
cipitated. This process was repeated three times. The
precipitated lead phosphate was quite white, showing the
absence of sulphide. A concentrated solution of the pep¬
tone thus prepared gave a slight turbidity with potassium
ferrocyanide and acetic acid. Various methods of purifica¬
tion were employed, but the reaction with ferrocyanide
was invariably obtained. Whether this reaction is due
to a trace of unchanged albumin in the peptone, is regarded
by the author as a yet unsettled point.

In the original paper a number of analyses of the pep¬
tone are given, both of the substance prepared as described
above and of the various precipitates obtained by fraction¬
ally precipitating with alcohol and with lead acetate and
ammonia. These analyses show that peptone is not a
mixture, but a distinct chemical compound. The percent¬
age composition of peptone appears to be identical with
that of albumin obtained from egg white. The author
regards albumin as a polymeride of peptone, and the
change brought about by the action of pepsin solution in
albumin as analogous to the action of heat in effecting the
change of paraldehyde into vapour of aldehyde.

A solution of peptone is not precipitated by many o£
the salts of heavy metals, by acids, or by boiling. Alcohol,
mercuric chloride, and lead acetate, followed by ammonia,,
cause precipitates in solutions of peptone. The statement
of Adamkiewicz (Die Natur unci Ncihrwerth des Peptons,
Berlin, 1877) that those reagents which precipitate egg
albumin also precipitate peptone is regarded by the author
as incorrect. Peptone forms compounds with metals,
analogous to those formed by albumin, but the compounds
of peptone are generally soluble, while those of albumin
are insoluble.

The author claims for his process of preparing peptone
that it ensures a complete or almost complete conversion
of the albumin into peptone, that it entirely removes
syntonin, and that the absence of salts of the alkaline
earths is also ensured. These salts are very difficult ta
remove from solutions of peptone.

The amount of ash in the peptone prepared by the
author’s process is not more than 1 per cent.

* From the Journal of the Chemical Society, August*
1879 (Wien. Akad. Ber. [ii], 76, 986-890).

September 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

205

Ske papaqutual Jonptl

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1879.

PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE PHARMACY ACT.

Although the present month is to a great extent
devoted to holiday making by pharmacists, as well as
others who have opportunity to do so, it has, as yet,
not been altogether wanting in incidents of im¬
portance and interest to those engaged in this
business. As will be seen from our report of legal
proceedings this week, a step has been taken towards
repressing the unlawful trade in scheduled poisons
without the labels required by the Pharmacy Act,
stating the name and address of the seller, and
bearing the word “poison.” The prosecution was
instituted by direction of the Council of the Phar¬
maceutical Society in reference to the illegal sale of
laudanum, a practice that has frequently been cause
of complaint among chemists and druggists, besides
being one that is extremely prejudicial to the well¬
being of the public. In some parts of the eastern
counties, as many of our readers are aware, the
habitual consumption of opium, in the crude state and
in the form of laudanum, is carried on to a degree
that is almost incredible, and the demand for the
drug or preparations of it is so considerable that they
are to be obtained at many of the small grocers’ or
other village shops throughout the district.

Of course the trade thus carried on by persons who
are not registered in conformity with the provisions
of the Pharmacy Act involves a breach of the 15th
section of that Act, and renders the persons selling
opium or any of its preparations, such as laudanum,
liable to the penalty therein prescribed. It is there¬
fore competent for the authorities of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society, as charged with the execution of the
law regulating the practice of pharmacy, to institute
proceedings against offenders under this 15th section
of the Act ; but in the great majority of cases the
persons so offending by the sale of laudanum or
opium belong to the class of very small shopkeepers
in villages, and owing to the difficulty as well as the
expense of obtaining information and proceeding
against offenders in distant parts of the country it
has been found undesirable to have recourse to this
mode of procedure as a general plan.

The illegal sale of opium and laudanum in the
manner we now refer to is no doubt to some extent
an interference with the privileges which are by
law accorded to the legally qualified chemist and
druggist in virtue of his conforming to those require¬
ments as to education and examination which are
held to be necessary for the interests of the public.
The sale of these drugs by unqualified persons de¬
prives those who have a right to deal in them of some
business they might otherwise have, and of the
profits arising from that trade. It may also be the
case that the sale of these drugs will eventually lead

to the usurpation of other parts of the business
properly belonging to the chemist and druggist. In
such cases, when clearly made out, it would un¬
doubtedly be proper to enforce the provisions of the
15th section of the Pharmacy Act as a means of
protecting the interests of the pharmaceutical body,
and with that object to make use of the funds and
resources of the Pharmaceutical Society. But this
protective application of the Act being only in¬
cidentally a result of the provisions for securing the
main object of protecting the public interests, and
the petty sale of laudanum, etc., being more directly
pernicious to the public health than to the trade
interests of chemists and druggists, it is more fitting
that its prosecution should be conducted under the
17th section of the Pharmacy Act. It is in that
section declared to be unlawful to sell poison with¬
out a distinct label having the word “ poison ” and
the name and address of the seller. This is a pro¬
vision made for the safety of the public, to warn people
against the dangerous character of certain drugs or
preparations, and designed, in case of their criminal
misuse or of accident, to furnish a clue to the dis¬
covery of the person by whom they have been
misapplied. It is entirely a provision for the pro¬
tection of the public ; it is fully sufficient for that
purpose, and as the capability of enforcing it is not
confined to any particular body or set of individuals
any person can be the prosecutor in a case of the
kind now referred to.

One of the devices by which it has been sought to
make this illegal sale of poison evade the provision
of the Pharmacy Act has been to affix a label bearing
the name of some registered person, but the present
case at Horncastle serves to illustrate the insuffi¬
ciency of this proceeding to protect the seller against
conviction, and it is to be hoped the decision of the
magistrates will be a timely warning to others en¬
gaged in similar ways.

It is also evident that the plea of selling with a
patent medicine stamp will not avoid conviction, and
that if some trouble be taken to obtain definite
evidence of this mode of selling laudanum or other
preparations, as suggested by Mr. Hampron, it may
soon be demonstrated that unregistered persons
adopting this plan are liable nevertheless as con¬
travening the law.

THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT.

Among other matters that have attracted attention
within the past few weeks is the new Act in reference
to weights and measures. Some uneasiness is ex¬
perienced in regard to the carrying out of the
provisions of this Act, but we believe there is
really no reason to fear vexatious interference.

We understand that no arrangements have yet
been made for affixing a Government mark of
verification to the glass measures used by chemists.

An idea seems to prevail that all weights and
measures must have the stamp of the particular dis-

206

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 13, i87».

trict in which they are used. This is clearly an
error and should he corrected. The Act does not
thus needlessly interfere with traders, hut it
specially provides that a -weight or measure
stamped hy a duly appointed authority shall he
deemed legally authorized for the whole kingdom
irrespective of districts.

FORMATION OF A PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY
IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

Although the regeneration of Turkey is not a
very hopeful subject, the pharmaceutical portion of
the Turkish community appear to be making an
effort to raise themselves more nearly to the position
occupied hy followers of the same calling in other
lands. Nor have they taken action a minute too
soon, for never was pharmacy at a lower level in
Turkey than now. It is true that the cumbrous
alembic and pan of former times have disappeared,
but they are not replaced by the glass retort or
the porcelain capsule ; neither is it to the delicate
modern balance or graduated burette that the old
weighing machine and rude measuring vessels have
given way. The laboratory as a rule is absolutely
wanting and the shelves are now filled with foreign
specialties, drugs which were originally derived from
the country now coming back to it in the shape of
preparations from Paris, Vienna and other places.
This appears to be attributed to a great extent to
the law regulating the practice of pharmacy, -which
sets no limit on the number of pharmacies, and
whilst pharmacists are placed by it under severe
restrictions as to the sale of poisons and active
medicines it is alleged that the sale of such articles
by lower classes of traders is winked at.

On the 9th of June last a number of pharmacists
met in the room of the Imperial Society of Medicine
in Pera and agreed to form a “ Societe de Pharmacie
de Constantinople,” which should have for its ob¬
jects to raise the level of pharmacy in Constantinople
and other cities of the Ottoman empire, to assist the
authorities in all scientific questions within its com¬
petence, and the defence of professional interests.
After the election of officers, — C. Bonkowski
Effendi being chosen the first President and J.
Zanni the General Secretary, — the statutes of the
Society were agreed to, and a copy ordered to be
sent to Munif Effendi, Minister of Public Instruc¬
tion, with a request for his approbation and pro¬
tection of the Society as a work of public utility.
The President was also requested to put himself in
communication with other societies abroad asking for
their advice and assistance.

The second meeting was attended by the Minister
of Public Instruction, who assured the Society of
the sympathy of the Imperial Government, and,
what was quite as important, the Secretary was able
to state that one hundred and forty pharmacists had
expressed their desire to become foundation members.
Several papers were read, and it was decided to

make arrangements for the publication of the pro¬
ceedings ; the outcome has been the appearance of
the first number of a journal, which is to be supplied
free to the members. Steps have also been taken
for the foundation of a library and museum, and in
order to bring the literature of other countries within
the reach of the members generally, committees of
gentlemen acquainted with the respective languages
have been appointed to prepare reports on the
salient features of the journals and other books
received, to be read at the weekly meetings.

It is a somewhat “far cry” from London to Con¬
stantinople, but we feel justified in assuring the
members of the new Society that they have the
hearty sympathy of British pharmacists in their
efforts to improve the status of their common calling
in the East.

THE METRIC SYSTEM.

Those of our readers who are interested in the
progress of the metric system will be glad to learn
that the subject came under the consideration of the
British Medical Association during its recent meet¬
ing in Cork, and that, on the motion of Mr. Ernest
Hart, a committee was appointed to consider and
report whether it would be desirable to adopt the
metric system in medicine in Great Britain and
Ireland, and whether the British Medical Association
should by any means, and if so by what, facilitate
its introduction. The Committee consists of Dr.
Clifford Allbutt, Dr. Lauder Brunton, Dr. A.
Carpenter, Dr. Farquharson, Dr. T. Frazer,
Dr. Harvey, Dr. Quain, Dr. Sieveking and Mr.
Ernest Hart.

In introducing the subject Mr. Hart said the
metric system had made great progress, and now the
profession in Great Britain was to some extent
isolated, since foreigners were cut off from following
the results of work carried out by their English
colleagues through not being able to follow the
British system of notation, while the British medical
man could not follow the system now adopted in
foreign countries. Dr. Seguin, in supporting the
motion, gave an account of the “ brilliant metric
campaign” in America, which has resulted in the
adoption of the metric system in many public de¬
partments and by several medical societies, including
the American Medical Association. In the new
edition of the ‘ National Dispensatory,’ by Stills
and Maisch, the metric weights are given second ;
but Professor Maisch states that had he not been
hindered he would have given all the weights and
measures of this book either preeminently or ex¬
clusively in the metric language.

EXEMPTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTS

FROM JURY SERVICE.

As the lists of persons liable to serve on juries are
now being exhibited at the doors of all places of
public worship, we take the opportunity of suggest¬
ing to pharmaceutical chemists the advisability of
examining them. If their names have been impro¬
perly included it is necessary, in order to secure
exemption from service, to give proper notice to the
parish authorities within the specified time.

September is, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

207

jprooimjiat iCransautions.

LEICESTER CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

A lecture was delivered by Mr. S. F. Burford, on Thurs
day evening1, August 14, before the above Association on
■“The History of Chemistry,” being the opening lecture
of a course on chemistry.

The lecturer said he thought it advisable in commenc¬
ing a series of classes on chemistry to give the members
a general view of the history of chemistry from the
earliest times. Quoting from the works of Frankland
and Fownes for a good definition of the term chemistry
and what was embraced therein, and the various laws
which governed it, he went on to say that as far as could be
learnt the origin of chemistry was lost in antiquity.
Tubal Cain has been considered its founder, as he was
conversant with the art of working in metals, but it was
more likely that it took its rise among the early Egyptians.
Thoth or JEthotis is the first Egyptian of whom men¬
tion is made as having been a chemist. Siphoas, sur-
named Hermes by the Greeks, 1900 B.C., wrote forty-two
books on philosophy, and from him chemistry was en¬
titled the Hermetic philosophy.

The priests of Egypt, though they studied chemistry
with considerable success, veiled their discoveries in
mystery and hieroglyphics, so that their studies were lost
to others. Nevertheless they seemed to have been well
acquainted with the arts of making imitations of precious
stones, working metals, etc. They were also conversant
with the uses of nitrate of silver, which they employed to
write on linen, evidence of which is to be found on the
linen bandages around mummies. From the Egyptians
the Israelites gained some knowledge of chemistry, and
Moses must have been acquainted with it to enable him
to dissolve the Golden Calf, which Stahl states was rendered
soluble in water by means of liver of sulphur.

During several centuries the study seemed to have been
neglected till it appeared among the Arabians. In the ninth
century Gebber, of Thus, in Persia, wrote three excellent
books on chemistry; and so this study passed through
the various stages of superstition and alchemy when men
spent best part of their lives in the vain effort to trans¬
form the baser metals into gold and to discover the elixir
of life. Even as late as 1825 the study of alchemy was
pursued in England.

The lecturer then reviewed in detail the various studies
•of Lavoisier, Boyle, Locke, Brandt, Glauber, Roger Bacon,
Leibnitz and Newton with their discoveries, goingminutely
into the studies of Priestley, Faraday, Davy, to our own
time, passing to the statements of Lockyer and the an¬
nouncement that Meyer had decomposed the element
chlorine.

The lecturer concluded by remarking that it was im¬
possible to glance around without seeing the benefits
which every day accrue from the study of chemistry in
the arts, manufactures, and in medicine, contributing to
the health and happiness of the human race. The
human mind cannot depict in its entirety the mag¬
nificent future of chemistry, but overwhelmed with
the vastness which everywhere surrounds them, the
noblest, purest minds return from contact with this
awful infinity, and like the Angel in Jean Paul Richter’s
•dream can only find relief in tears.

At the conclusion of the lecture, which was listened to
with marked interest, a vote of thanks to the lecturer
was proposed by Mr. J. J. Edwards, seconded by Mr.
Brampton and carried.

MEETING OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS
AT LIVERPOOL.

A general meeting of the chemists and druggists of
Liverpool was held on September 1, at the Royal Institu¬
tion, to resist the tendency to reduction of prices of pro¬

prietary articles. The chair was taken by Mr. A. Red-
ford, President of the Registered Chemists’ Association.
The good attendance showed the interest generally taken
in the subject of the meeting. Communications were
received from Messrs. C. Jones, Birkenhead; Greenall,
Flint; Stanton, Rock Ferry; Barton and Williams, approv¬
ing the object of the meeting.

The Chairman, Messrs. Shaw, Symes, Edisbury, Marson,
M. Hughes, Turner, T. F. Abraham, Peet, Woodcock,
Warhurst, Wright, Hocken, Paddock, Wharrie, Mackin-
lay, Fletcher, Lloyd of Garston, and Messrs. Ball, Fore
and Cooke, of Birkenhead, spoke with only one exception
strongly against departing from makers’ advertised prices.
It would inevitably lead to reduction in other departments
of the business, and the opinion was strongly expressed
that its effects would be disastrous, and that no sufficient
reason at present existed to justify its adoption. The
meeting adopted resolutions affirming the determination
of the trade generally to maintain the uniformity attain¬
able by adhering to the makers’ advertised retail prices.

rorwMttgs of Jsrirntijk poddies.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.
[Continued from 'page 197).

The next paper read was on —

The Polarimeter and its Use in Pharmacy.

BY CHARLES S1AIES, PH.D.

For the development and perfecting of the science and
practice of pharmacy, various instruments and forms of
apparatus have from time to time been introduced ; it is
not, however, to a new instrument that I am desirous of
directing your attention, but to one which, although it
came into existence some sixty years ago, has not in this
country and in recent times received the amount of
attention which it appears to me to merit, nor has it
been applied to many purposes for which it seems calcu¬
lated to be of use.

In its variously modified forms it is known as the
polariscope, saccharimeter, polaristrobometer and polari¬
meter, men of science and manufacturers having pro¬
gressively introduced such alterations as appeared
desirable for the better accomplishment of the object
aimed at, viz., polarizing a ray of light and accurately
measuring the amount of rotation produced in that ray
when it is passed through an optically active liquid or
liquid possessing rotatory power. My chief aim in bring¬
ing this subject before the members of the Conference is
to offer for their consideration some of my experience and
to render familiar, as far as I am capable of so doing, this
instrument which has hitherto been dealt with chiefly in
works of a purely scientific character, and which has
been regarded by the working pharmacist as outside his
province and useful only in the prosecution of abstract
science. That too little is known of its general applica¬
tion has long been my opinion, but this was brought more
forcibly to my mind in June of last year, when (in com¬
pany with Mr. Greenish) I paid a short visit to M. Petit,
of Paris, and found him using the instrument of Laurent
practically in his business for determining the purity of
certain alkaloids, etc., and was assured by him that the
results obtained were as trustworthy as those of the most
accurate chemical analysis. To accomplish the object
already mentioned and render the subject thoroughly
clear to those who have not previously given any atten¬
tion to it, I may be allowed to say a few words on
polarized light.

A ray of common light, as you will be aware, is
assumed to consist of vibrations in the ethereal medium
or luminiferous ether occurring in two directions at right
angles to each other, and by interference the primary
planes are constantly shifting. If, however, these two

208

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 1 3 879.

vibrations are split up by the absorption, reflection or
dispersion of one, or by refraction of both, the remain¬
ing portion, or one of the portions separated, constitutes
a ray of polarized light and as the phenomenon of inter¬
ference ceases it vibrates in one plane only. If now this
is made to traverse certain media, the plane no longer
remains in this direction, but is deviated either to the
right or left, and is caused to rotate or assume a spiral
form, and it is as already stated for the measurement of
the amount of rotation caused by different fluids when
so traversed that the polarimeter has been constructed.

The property possessed by quartz of circularly polariz¬
ing a ray of light was known to Sebeck and Arago, but
it is to Biot in 1818, that we owe the discovery of the
property possessed by many fluids of rotating a ray of
plane polarized light. He states that this occurred to
him accidentally whilst examining crystallized laminae,
placed in highly refractive media, such as oil of tur¬
pentine. He thoroughly investigated the phenomenon,
and laid the foundation of a very important study, his
early results being obtained by means of an instrument
devised by himself, not unlike the polariscope attached
to the microscope, except that the polarization was ob¬
tained by reflection from a blackened mirror and that the
analyser was placed in the centre of a graduated disc.
When the analysing prism was so placed as to obscure
the polarized ray, on interposing a tube containing an
active fluid the light was again found to pass until the
analyser had been rotated through a certain number of
degrees; that number being taken as the rotatory power
of the fluid ; but it was found difficult to determine the
exact point of maximum darkness, and somewhat wide
and inaccurate results were obtained. M. Soleil, an in¬
strument maker of Paris, next constructed with con¬
siderable ingenuity and skill an improved form, by the
use of which much greater accuracy could be obtained.
In it the light first passes through a doubly refracting
prism as analyser, then through a plate of quartz 375
mm. thick (subsequently replaced by a double plate) ;
then through the fluid under examination, another plate
of quartz, the compensator consisting of two wedges of
quartz, and finally through the analyser. To this there
was added what Soleil called a produce of sensible tints ,
consisting of a prism, Galileo telescope and quartz plate.
On one occasion I spent a profitable hour or two in tho¬
roughly examining this instrument, taking it to pieces
and tracing the tortuous course of a ray of light through
it ; the study was interesting as showing what optical
skill can accomplish and what complicated means had
here been employed to surmount difficulties, which have
since been overcome in a more simple manner. The
special features in this instrument are first, that the ray
of polarized light emerging in a vertical plane from the
prism meets the double plate of quartz, one half of which
rotates to the right, the other half to the left, the rotation
being sufficiently great (90°) to decompose the ray and to
produce a rose- violet tint uniformly over the whole field.
This is known as the sensitive or transition tint, also the
tint of passage. Secondly, the analyser is fixed with its
axis corresponding to that of the polarizer, the amount of
rotation produced being measured by compensation,
effected by a plate of quartz, divided into two wedges
and fitted with rack and pinion motion, by which they
are moved over each other so as to increase or diminish
the thickness ; they are also attached to a vernier and scale.
When the compensator is at zero, the whole of the disc
is rose-violet, but the introduction of an active fluid
causes one half to become red ; the compensator is then
moved through a sufficient number of degrees to restore
uniformity and the amount of rotation is thus ascertained.
Actual degrees are not marked in the scale, but the
rotation produced by a plate of quartz 1 mm. thick, equal
to that given by 200 mm. of solution of sucrose (1679
grams in 100 c.c. of water), being marked on the scale
and divided into 100 equal parts.

The instrument was specially constructed with a view

to its use for sugar solutions and is best known as Soleil’ s
saccharimeter, of which there are several modifications,
such as the Soleil- Yentzke, Soleil-Scheibler, etc.

Accurate as were the results obtained by this means,
there were some difficulties, such as the interference of
coloured solutions with the sensitive tint, the shortness of
the scale, etc., which have caused it to be superseded by
more simple forms in which, as in Biot’s instrument, the
analyser is made to rotate, and these forms have been
adopted by the two opticians Duboscq and Laurent, who
may be regarded as the successors of Soleil.

In 1860, Professor Jellett, of Dublin, described to the.
British Association at Oxford, a new analysing prism,
which he had invented, by which greater accuracy
could be obtained than by any previous arrangement.
The report is as follows: — “Professor Jellett described
to the section a new analysing prism, by which the
plane of polarization of polarized light may be deter¬
mined with great precision. This instrument consists of
a large prism of calc-spar, which is reduced to the form
of a right prism by grinding off its ends, and sliced
lengthwise by a plane, nearly, but not quite perpendicular
to its principal plane. The parts into which the prism
is thus divided are joined in reversed positions and a
diaphragm with a circular opening is placed at each end.
The light which passes through both diaphragms pro¬
duces a circular field, divided by a diametrical slit into
two parts, in which the planes of polarization are slightly
inclined to each other. If then light, which has been
previously polarized, be transmitted, it will be extin¬
guished in the two parts of the field of view in positions
which lie close together, and the light will become uni¬
form in a position midway between these. This position
determines the plane in which the incident light was
polarized with a precision much greater than has been
otherwise attained. Professor Jellett stated that the
different observations did not differ from one another by
an angle greater than a minute, and that the instrument
was equally applicable to the case of homogeneous
light.”

The first practical application of this invention was in the
construction of a polarimeter for the Professor by Bryson in
that year, and the manufacture is continued by the same
optician at the present time ; it is the most simple form
with which I am acquainted, efficient and inexpensive ;
it is the instrument now before you, the one ’with which
my observations have been made, and which I have com¬
pared with those of Wild, Laurent and Duboscq, with
very satisfactory results. The instrument of the last
named maker still retains the double quartz plate of
Soleil, but dispenses with the compensator, having been
fitted with a Jellett’ s prism as analyser on a suggestion
made by him in 1869.

That of Laurent has as its special feature the polarized
ray passed through a diaphragm with circular opening,
one half of which is covered by a plate of quartz, the
division of the field by this means giving great precision,
to the readings ; the analyser is an ordinary Nicol’s
prism. By this means the optical work is simplified as-
compared with the old form and the perfection of work¬
ing is enhanced. Wild’s polaristrobometer, manufactured
by Hermann and Pfister, of Berne, is a special form of
the instrument. It is somewhat elaborate in construction ;
the readings are taken at the disappearance from the
centre of the field of certain lines or bands which cross
it and which are produced by two plates of calx spar
crossed at right angles to their principal faces. Those
who work with this instrument speak of it as giving
very satisfactory results. In 1872, Professor Jellett,
in a paper read before the Royal Irish Academy, de¬
scribed a “ new optical saccharometer,” an ingenious
arrangement by which the polarized ray is made to-
traverse a fluid, the rotatory power of which is previously
determined and which is opposite in character to that of
the fluid to be examined. In general terms it might be
, described as an instrument by means of which the relative

September 13, 1379. ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

209

rotatory power of any transparent fluid to that of a stan*
dard fluid may be accurately determined. Although
delicate in its results it is somewhat troublesome in work¬
ing and does not appear to have come into general use.

Originally, ordinary daylight, or that from an Argand
lamp was used; but on discarding the more complicated
instrument of Soieil, with its compensator, whereby the
decomposition of the light due to the unequal refrangi-
bility of the different rays was overcome, monochromatic
light was adopted. Different operators, however, used
different coloured rays with, as a matter of course, dif¬
ferent results; hence it became necessary when stating
the rotatory power of a body to indicate by what ray the
reading was taken, andldiis still obtains to a large extent;
thus, in the Agenda du Chemiste last year there are four
tables giving the rotatory power of 76 bodies — 12 by
the “ teinte du passage," 7 by the red ray, 10 by the
yellow, and 20 without any indication as to the ray, and
the remainder indicated by letters corresponding to certain
Fraunhofer lines, as used by the authorities from whom
the results are quoted. It is true we have a factor, *7 67,
by which to multiply the values obtained by the yellow
ray to convert them into those which could be obtained
by the red, but it has been shown that this is not constant
for all bodies. Further, one object of a table is to show
at a glance without calculation the relative rotatory
power of different bodies; now this clearly cannot be
the case with such tables as those referred to. This
chaotic state of things is to some extent in process of
rectification, and modern instruments are all constructed
with a special view to them use with the yellow flame,
corresponding to the line d of the spectrum, or in other
words, with a Bunsen flame containing a salt of sodium.
This gives a grey field quite as sensitive as the transition
tint, and where observations are continued for any length
of time it is far less fatiguing to the eye of the observer.

Certain natural crystals possess high rotatory power. Thus
a plate of quartz 3’75 mm. in thickness gives a rotation of
90°, whilst a column of English oil of turpentine, 100mm. in
length, gives only 14°’30. Some few salts, such as bromate
and chlorate of sodium, acetourate of sodium, and hypo¬
sulphite of lead possess double rotatory power; but most
inorganic salts, and some liquids, such as water, alcohol,
ether and chloroform, are inactive. The activity in crys¬
tals and liquids depends on different causes, the former
belongs to the domain of physics, the latter to that of
chemistry, and it is this, viz., the molecular rotatory
power, which we are more especially considering. The
rotation produced by any given liquid (all else being equal)
depends on the length of the column ; it will be evident
therefore that to have uniformly correct results the
greatest accuracy must be observed in this respect, and
that either the same length of tube must always be used
or the readings must be brought to the same standard
by calculation. The usual working length is 200 mm., but
most operators supply themselves with tubes of 100, 50,
and even 25 mm., as some of the fluids to be operated on
possess so much colour that light will not pass through a
larger column satisfactorily. It is desirable to use the
larger tube whenever available, inasmuch as the error
will be thereby diminished; but whatever be the dimen¬
sions of the tube used the results should be stated in
terms corresponding to a column of fluid 100 mm. in
length, this now being generally accepted, and [a] is used
to indicate the molecularly rotatory power of such a
column. Hesse, however ( Chem . Centr., 1875,369; Journ.
Chem. Soc., 1S76, 667), in referring to the results obtained
by De Montgolfier, Weiss and Biot, points out the dif¬
ference obtained by the ray D, the red and transition
tints, and concludes that this symbol is equivocal, and
suggests that it is better to use a0 for the rotatory power
obtained by the yellow ray, as has indeed been the
practice for some time in Germany.

When the transition tint was almost exclusively adopted
the sign [a] was used to indicate the rotatory power read
by it, otherwise it would have been more simple to have

adopted this sign where the sodium ray was used, and to
have used the qualifying letter only when other rays were
employed, which is now rarely done.

Temperature influences the rotatory power to some
extent, 15'5° C. (60° F.) being that at which readings are
usually taken, and it has been found that the rotation
decreases as the temperature increases, and vice versd ;
but Landolt has shown that the diminution is not always
uniform at all temperatures for the same body, or equal
for all bodies. He gives as examples —

Oil of Turpentine [a]0 360,61 : diminished rotatory power
for an increase of 1° C. =’004437.

Oil of Orange [«]0 115°*31: diminished rotatory power
for an increase of 18 C.r=T2371.

This diminution being represented graphically, not by a
straight but by a slightly curved line. This, I think,
would depend entirely on the expansion and rate of
expansion of the liquid, inasmuch as an increase of
temperature would necessarily increase the volume and
reduce the number of molecules in a column of a given
length; the slight expansion of the tube would tend in
some degree to compensate for this, and in most fluids
the difference for two or three degrees of temperature is
so slight that it might be disregarded as being less than
the probable error of observation.

Magnetism also influences rotation; indeed some bodies
which are void of this property under ordinary circum¬
stances will under its influence exercise it in a marked
degree. The discovery of this phenomenon we owe to
Faraday (Phil. Trans., 1846, p. 1), and it has been further
investigated by De La Rive ( Archives des Sciences, etc.,
vol. xxxii., p. 193 : Annales de Chimie, 4th series, vol. xv.,
p. 57 ; Phil. Mag., 4th series, vol. xl., p. 393) ; this is,
however, a study in itself, and those who wish to prosecute
it will find abundant matter of interest in the papers
quoted ; suffice it to say that under the influence of mag¬
netism the same law holds good as regards decreased
rotation for increased temperature.

The advantage of having certain commonly occurring
liquids, such as those mentioned, void of activity, is ob¬
vious, as it enables us to make concentrated solutions of
most solid substances, such as sugar, camphor, the alka¬
loids, etc., and to select a menstruum in which the body
is most soluble, since concentrated solutions are most
desirable, inasmuch as the calculation is made for the
solid substance, and any error in observation will be in¬
creased in proportion to the dilution. Not only so, but
it has been shown by Landolt (Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber. [9],
901 — 904) that to obtain accurate results, saturated solu¬
tions are absolutely necessary, for as in the case of tem¬
perature so in dilution, the effect cannot be represented
graphically by a straight line. In concentrated solutions
the divergence is only a few tenths of a degree, and the
rotatory power of the body remains the same whatever
be the (inactive) solyent employed, but observations
taken with dilute solutions are utterly worthless. He
further finds (Liebig’s ‘Analen,’ clxxxix., 241 — 337) that
some substances have an increased proportional rotation
by dilution, whilst others are diminished; turpentine
and ethyl tartrate always show increase, nicotine and
camphor both show diminution, and these results are
constant wirh all solvents.

Organic liquids and solutions are sometimes so much
coloured that light will not pass through even 25 mm.
sufficiently for our purpose. In such cases filtration
through charcoal is usually resorted to ; this under ordi¬
nary circumstances removes enough of the colour to
admit of the observation being made, or indeed some¬
times entirely decolorizes. But this procedure intro¬
duces a possible source of error, inasmuch as it has been
shown by Dr. Stammer ( American Chemist, from the
Sugar Cam, Pliarm. Journ. [3], vol. i., p. 926), that in
the case of saccharine solutions the char absorbs sugar
from the first portion of the liquid, which passes through
and so reduces the strength and rotatory power. This
would doubtless occur equally with solutions containing

210

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 13, i87».

alkaloidal bodies and possibly some others ; but as the
char becomes saturated before it loses its decolorizing
property, if a sufficient quantity be passed through, and
the latter portion be taken for examination, the chance
of error on this point is obviated.

The great commercial industry in which the polari-
meter has been most useful is the sugar trade, and as
the expenditure of large sums of money is not unfre-
quently dependent on the results so obtained, it is not
surprising that the greatest perfection in construction and
working has been sought for its special requirements.*
There is, however, good reason to believe that of the
other spheres of usefulness as yet unknown (in addition
to those which are known) some are closely allied, whilst
others belong to the domain of pharmacy. By its means
(as already stated) the purity of the alkaloids can be
readily determined ; castor oil, croton oil, and doubtless
some others of this class possess their specific rotatory
powers, whilst the majority of essential oils do so in a
high degree. Landolt, who has worked largely with
bodies of a definite and constant chemical constitution,
does not appear to have as much faith in its application
to essential oils on account of some amount of variation
dependent on soil, climate, etc., and in his recently pub¬
lished memoir he devotes but little space and consideration
to them.

Oil of turpentine and other volatile oils were,
however, amongst the first liquids examined in
this way, and connected with which an interesting
incident occurred. Biot, in announcing his discovery in
1818, called special attention to the fact that whilst in
quartz or rock crystal there existed two opposite direc¬
tions of rotation, in oil of turpentine the rotation was
in one direction only, viz., from the right to the left of
the observer, and this was the same in direction, although
slightly different in degree for all samples examined.
This statement remained unchallenged until 1843, when
Dr. Leeson read a paper before the Chemical Society of
London, entitled “ Observations on the Circular Polariza¬
tion of Light by transmission through Fluids.” In this
paper he stated that every sample of oil of turpentine
which he had examined possessed a right handed rotation
coinciding in direction with that produced by essence of
lemon. These conclusions were so thoroughly opposed
to those of Biot, that Dr. Pereira undertook to further
investigate the subject, and by procuring reliable samples
of French oil of turpentine from M. Guibourt, of Paris,
he was enabled to demonstrate the fact that both ob¬
servers were correct ; that the French oil rotated to the
left, the English or American to the right, and that a
mixture of the two in proper proportions possessed no rota¬
tory power whatever. ( Pharm . Journ. [1], vol. v., p. 67.)

My first experience in the use of the polarimeter was
in a direction not altogether pharmaceutical, but one which
nevertheless merits attention from pharmacists, viz., in
the examination of urine ; it is a legitimate branch of our
calling and one which medical men are usually willing
to delegate to us ; it possesses considerable interest and the
remuneration is not influenced by unfair competition on
the part of uneducated outside traders. It was diabetic
urine containing in round numbers only 2 grains sugar
per ounce ; subsequently other experiments were made
with samples containing larger quantities, but my ex¬
perience led me to the conclusion that this method of
determination is more troublesome and not more accurate
than the copper test of Fehling or the recent one of Pavy,
although its use has been recommended by Mdhu and
others. Passing on to essential oils, the work became in¬
teresting, although occasionally disappointing ; for example,
essential oil of bitter almonds distilled in this country,
that from abroad which is often obtained from a mixture

* Those who are interested in the various kinds of sugar
will do well to peruse an excellent paper by Dr. O. Hesse,

‘ The Behaviour of Solutions of some Substances to Polar¬
ized Light’ {Pharm. Journ., 3rd series, vol. vii., pp. 191,
410 and 473).

of peach kernels and almonds, and the artificial, or oil of
mirbane, are all optically inactive, hence the polarimeter
does not furnish us with a means of distinguishing between
them. Other results were very satisfactory. Thus, finest
imported otto of rose is levogyrate, giving a rotation of
- 3-52°. A common quality was found to be dextrogy¬
rate giving + 1'50°. Now the lower qualities of otto are
known to contain varying proportions of oil of geranium;
but on examining the only sample of this oil which was
then at my disposal and which had been received from the
south of France, it was found to give — 6*73°. This, then,
could not have been the article used in adulterating the
sample in question ; but subsequently on examining the
Turkey oil of geranium a solution of the problem was
furnished, since it gave a rotation of +1*72° and indicated
that it constituted the bulk of the so called common otto
of rose. It was found too that otto of rose distilled in
this country possessed an opposite rotatory power to
that of the finest imported, as indicated in the table
appended to this paper. On examining many samples of
oil of lavender it was found that some of the commoner
were adulterated with turpentine, and there was no diffi¬
culty in determining whether this had been done in France
or England, on account of the different rotatory powers of
the turpentines in the two countries. Whilst prosecuting
this study my attention was directed to an excellent paper
by Dr. J. H. Gladstone on essential oils {Jour. Chem. Soc .,
new series, vol. ii., p. 1), in which he gives the specific
gravity, rotatory power and refractive indices of a number of
essential oils ; also to a less important paper by Dr. J ulius
Maier, of New York, “Detection of the Adulteration of
Essential Oils with Oil of Turpentine” {Chemical News ,
vol. xi., p. 301, from the Amzr. Joum. Science, xxxix. ; p.
273). Since the publication of these, some oils have come
into use which were then less known than at the present
time and some others are now supplied from different
localities ; it was therefore thought desirable to go over
the ground anew and to compile a table giving the rota¬
tory power and specific gravity of a somewhat larger
number. Such a table is appended to this paper, the
samples of oil operated on being the most reliable I
could obtain, except where a second quality is mentioned
for comparison, and all that were sufficiently colourless to
be viewed through a column of 200 mm. were so examined.
Some oils, such as those of hops, cassia, chamomiles, myrtle,
etc., could only be read through 100 mm. ; whilst some,
such as patchouli and cajuput, admitted only sufficient
light through 50 mm. All have been calculated to 100 mm.
and at a temperature of 15*5° C. Many results were
obtained which being unimportant are not here recorded,
but all tended to experience, and as deductions from
which might be mentioned that turbidity even though
very slight, materially interferes with the accuracy
and sharpness of the readings; it is therefore necessary to
filter any oils or solutions which are not perfectly bright.
Age does not influence to any extent the optical activity
of essential oils. Oil of cloves, new and colourless, and
samples of a light sherry and dark sherry colour all
registered very nearly the same, and samples of English
oil of lavender less than a year, four years and five
years old differed from each other less than one degree.

The modus opcrandi is exceedingly simple. A correct zero
must be first obtained thus — one of the tubes being filled
with distilled water, the glass disc is slid on so as to
exclude air bubbles, and screwed firmly down. It is then
placed in position and the instrument brought opposite to
a sodium flame ; the operation must be conducted in a
dark room, or a black covering cloth be used. The analyser
is then set so that the arrowhead on the vernier points to
0 on the scale when the whole of the disc is at a maximum
of obscurity, i.e., both halves equally obscure ; it is
necessary to take several readings of this and note down
the results, taking the mean of the observations, and if, as
sometimes happens, there is any difficulty in getting an
exact zero it is convenient to make a note of the error and
add or subtract this from the subsequent readings.

September 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

211

If now the tube be replaced by one containing an
optically active liquid, it will be found that the field is
entirely illuminated, or that one half is so whilst the other is
obscure; The analyser is then rotated until equal obscurity
is regained and the number of degrees, minutes or decimal
parts of a degree, through which it has been moved, as well
as the direction, is noted. For each of the following results
ten readings were taken ; two of these (the highest and the
lowest) were struck out, and the sum of the others divided
by 8 gave the mean reading, or where the 200 mm. tube
was used, division by 16 gave at once the correct mean
for 100 mm. It is, of oourse, necessary from time to
time to check the accuracy of the zero, just as a careful
dispenser does the correctness of his scales.

With solid substances, a saturated solution being
made in water or other suitable inactive liquid the specific
rotatory power [a] is found by dividing the amount of
observed rotation a, by the length of the column in deci¬
metres l , by the weight of the active body in each unit
of liquid w, and by the density of the solution d thus, —

[>]=—”■-- =

L J txwxd

For the loan of authentic specimens of some of the
following oils I have to thank Mr. E. M. Holmes, Curator
of the Pharmaceutical Society’s Museum.

Specific Gravity and Rotatory Power of Essential Oils.

Oil of —
Anise
Do.

Ajowan .
Angelica

Almond, Eng. . .

Do. Foreign . .

Do. Artificial .

Amber .

Bay .

Bergamotte . . .

Birch .

Canada Balsam . .

Clove Bark . . .

Cardamoms . . .

Ccdrat .

Cedar, Commercial .
Do. Red . . . .

Caraway . . . .

Cassia, Pure . . .

Do. Commercial .
Cascarilla . . . .

Chio Turpentine . .

Cinnamon . . . .

Do. Leaf . .

Citron .

Cherry Laurel . .

Citronelle . . . .

Cloves, Eng. . . .

Do. Foreign . .

Chamomile, Eng.

Do. Foreign
Coriander . . . .

Cummin . . . .

Cajuput . . . .

Cubebs .

Copaiba, New . .

Do. Old . . .

Camphor . . . .

[a]=100 mm. 15 56° C. Sp gr.

. Pimpinella Anisum . 0"936 +
. Illicium Anisatum . 0'980 -
. Ptychotis Ajowan . 0-919
. Archangelica offici¬
nalis ....

. Amygdalus communis 1 '0 49

Rot.

1°'

0°'

0

P-

00

82

Do

Mirbane .

Succinum . . . .

Laurus Nobilis . .

Citrus Limetta . .

Betula alba. . . .

Abies Balsamea . .

Dicypellium Caryo-
phyllatum . . .

Elettaria Cardamo-

mum .

Citrus medica. . .

0-897+ 1 °*78
0
0
0

? 1-063
1-152
0-859+ 0°
0-904-18°
0-872 + 31°
0-872+ 2°
0-914-30°

■85

■88

25

18

07

1-052- 2°-25

. 0-976 + 14°
.0-969- 3°
0-968-16°'
Juniperus Virginiana 0*960 —28

Carum Carui
Cinnamomum
maticum . .

0-940-20

aro-

, . .1-053- 1°

1-021+ 2°

Croton Eluteria . .0”88S+ 8

Pistacia Terebinthus 0'889 + 22°
Cinnamomum Zeyla-

nicum . 1*025 0

Do. 1-060 0

Citrus medica . . .0-901+38°

0

0°

0°

0°

0°

6°

Dm

Lauro- Cerasus. . . 1-046

Andropogon Nardus. 0"881
Caryophyllus aroma-

ticus . 1*064 +

Do. 1-064 +

Anthemis Nobilis . 0-906 -
Do. 0-910 +

Coriandrum sativum 0*876 + 10°
Cuminum Cyminum 0*933 + 4°
Melalueca minor . .0‘924- 1°

Piper Cubeba . . .0*924-29°
C opaif era multi j uga 0-920-13°"
Do. 0-920 - 12°

Dryobalanops aroma-

tica . 0*956+ 7°

Anethum graveolens 0*860 — 6°

59

00

00

75

68

00

02

65

55

31

■81

50

32
95
16
65
29
52
07
50
52

87

24

Oil of-^ [a]=103nrm. 15-56° C. Sp. gr. Rot. p.

Elemi . Canarium commune . 0-867 - 3°-65

Eucalyptus . . . Eucalyptus Globulus 0’881 - 36° -30
Do. . .* . E. Amygdala, odorata 0*912 — 42°-33
Erigeron .... Erigeron Canadense . 0*885 + 72°-41

Fennel . Foeniculum dulce. . 0‘998 + 25°*7l

Geranium, French . Pelargonium species. 0*906 — 6°‘73
Do. Turkey . AndropogonSchoenan.0-880 + 10,72
Do. Indian . Andropogon . . . 0’896 0

Do. Spanish. 0-911— 4°*45

Ginger, Jamaica . . (Eng. dist.) . . . . 0‘853- 27°’15

Do . Do. 0-870 -52°*25

Do . (Distilled Abroad) . 0-907 — 65°-00

Ginger Grass . . . Andr. Schoenanthus . 0-951 + 39°-65

Hyssop . Hyssopus officinalis . 1*005— 23°*63

Hops . Humulus Lupulus . 0*890 + 1 *42

Horsemint, Amer. . Monarda punctata. .0-934— 0 *76
Juniper, English . . Juniperus communis 0 -882— 5 *00

Do. Foreign. . Do. 0-855-18 *71

Jaborandi. . . .

Pilocarpus pennati

-

folius .

0-879- 4 -10

Lavender, Eng., New Lavandula vera .

0-887- 8 -29

Do. Do. Old .

Do.

0-903- 8 -48

Do. Foreign petal

0-876- 5 -93

Do. Do. spike Lavandula Spica . .

0-880 + 13 -75

Lemons, best Com-

mercial ....

Citrus Limonum . .

0-856 + 52 -05

Do. extracted by

Spirit .

Do.

0-852 + 57 -23

Do. Distilled. .

Do.

0-848 + 22 -10

Do. obtained by

Sponge Process

(Hanbury) . . .

Do.

0-957 + 24 -26

Limes .

Citrus Limetta . .

0-887-43 -80

Lign Aloe ....

Elaphrium species

0-925- 2 -45

Mustard . . . .

Sinapis nigra . .

1-000 0

Do. Artificial .

Sulphocyanide of Al-

lyi .

1-010 0

Myrrh .

Balsamodendron

Myrrha . . . .

0-989 — 59o,06

Myrtle .

Myrtus communis .

0-89S + 18°-79

Myrcia .

Myrcia acris . . .

0-939+ 6°-59

Neroli .

Citrus vulgaris

Flowers . . . .

0-873 + 10 -62

Nutmeg .

Myristica officinalis .

0-988 + 24 -22

Olibanum ....

Boswellia Frereana .

0-872- 4 -61

Origanum Y ulgare,

true .

—

0-891- 30 -27

Do. Commer-

cial, white . . .

- >

0-877-16 -20

Do. Commer-

cial, yellow . . .

—

0-877-23 -74

Do. Commer-

cial, red ....

—

0-876-15 -15

Oreodaphne Opifera
(from British

Guiana) ....

—

0-917 + 27 -56

Orange, Sweet . .

Essence de Portugal. 0-848-16 -40

Orange Bitter, Bi-

garade ....

—

0-856- 2°-30

Do. Bi-

garade, distilled .

—

0-850- 3°-10

Patchouli, French .

—

0-988- 57°-10

Do. Penang .

—

0-970 — 48°-26

Parsley .

Petroselinum sativum 1 -000 - 8o,90

Do. Seed . . .

Do.

0-945- 14°-75

Pennyroyal, English

Mentha Pulegium .

0-945+ 7°‘10

Do. Foreign

—

1-019- 8°-30

Do. American Hedesma Pulegioides 0-938 + 29Q,82

Pimento ....

Eugenia Pimenta

1-038+ 2°*35

Peppermint, English Mentha piperita . . 0-912 - 21°-23

Do. Foreign Do. 0-924- 7°*49

Do. Japanese Mentha Canad ? . . 0*880 - 21°*81

Petit Grain . . . Citrus vulgaris, leaves

and shoots . . .0:900- 4°-14

Rhodium .... Genista Canariensis . 0*931 — 10°*28

212

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 13. l»79.

Oil of—

Rose Otto (distilled
in England) . .

Rose Otto, Finest
Imported . . .

Do. Common
Rosemary, English .
Do. Foreign .

Rue . .

Sassafras (English
distilled) . . .

Do. Commercial
Sandal Wood (Eng.
distilled) . . .

Do. Foreign

Spearmint, E nglish .
S olidago 0 dora, s we et
scentedGoldenRod
Savin, English . .

Do. Foreign . .

Sweet-flag ....
Do. Commercial

Sage .

Silver-fir ....
Scotch-fir ....

Tansey .

Thyme . . . . .

Turpentine, Ameri-
cftn • • • • •

Do. French

V erbena ....

Valerian . . . .

Wintergreen . . .

Wormwood . . .

Wormseed ....

Ylangylang . . .

[a]=100 mm. 15-56° C. Sp. gr. Rot. p.

— 0-854 + 2°-50

— 0-877- 3°T5

— 0-867+ l°-50

Rosmarinus officinalis 0"881 — 16^-47

— 0-952+ 4°'47

.0-886- 3°-61

Ruta graveolens

Sassafras offic.
Do.

Santal. Alb.
Mentha viridis

Juniperus Sabina

Calamus aromat.

Salvia officinalis .
Abies pectinata .
Pinus sylvestris .
Tanacetum vulgare
Thymus vulgare .

Andropogon Citra

tus .

Valeriana officinalis
Gaultheria procum
lens ....
Artemisia Absin
thium ....
Chenopodium an
thelminticum .

1-072 +
1-084 +

2°-64

2°-64

.0-958+ 2°-36
0-986+ 8°-29
.0-950-30°-28

0-912
0-927
0-884
0.926
0-957
,0-925
, 0-864
, 0-886
0-923
0-891

+ 10°*53

— 32°*78
+ 2°-25
+ 14°-31
+ 19°-60
+ 12° -23
— 14Q-

— 9°"

+ 29°-

'18

•78

•48

•10°-60

0-870 + 14°-30
0-938 -25°-35

0-890- 2°-61
0-971-31 -50

1-162+ 0 -81

0-971 + 17°-43

0-941- 8°-53
0-056— 20°-10

Mr. Stoddart referred to the extensive use of the
polarimeter in the examination of sugar, but said that
the value was affected by the difficulty of determining
the zero, as in Soleil’s polarimeter, different people arriv¬
ing at different conclusions respecting shades of colour.

Mr. Umney, adverting to the results Dr. Symes had
obtained from the various oils, said he should expect to
get a different result from the grass oil of India (Andro¬
pogon), than from the geranium oil obtained in the south
of France.

Professor Attfield observed that the substances Dr.
Symes had examined were nearly all mixtures of distinct
things. The polariscope was extremely useful in examin¬
ing a solution of a single substance, such as sugar, but it
was not so useful in other cases unless the nature of the
constituents of the mixture was known. Nevertheless,
such observations as Dr. Symes’s must be useful if they
were multiplied, especially as a substance such as an
essential oil, when properly obtained and pure, might
give a fair average amount of rotation to a polarized ray
of light. But he would suggest that many observations
would be necessary on the same essential oil before they
could well trust to the figures given to them. He hoped
D*. Symes would continue the subject. Perhaps, also,
Dr. Symes with his intimate knowledge of the modes of
construction of polariscopes would eventually be able to
put pharmacists in the way of obtaining a cheap variety
of the instrument.

The President said Dr. Symes had spoken of the use
of the polarimeter in detecting sugar in urine, and it was
a nice point for the physician to discover when the last
trace of sugar disappeared from a patient's urine. Before
the sugar was lost altogether it became a • very difficult
matter to estimate the exact percentage by the ordinary
process, and he found when sugar existed in less than

1 per cent, in urine it was difficult to determine the exam,
percentage by the ordinary process. If this instrument,
therefore, would detect more minutely the exact propor¬
tion when it arrived at such a degree of dilution it
would be very useful. Although they might arrive at
the exact figure as to the rotatory power of different
essential oils, would not the figures have to be varied
according to the age of each particular sample ?

Dr. Symes, replying, said that most persons had no
difficulty in getting the coloured zero with the Soliel
instrument, but the maker finding that it did not suit the
eyes of all observers introduced what he called a producer
of sensible tints, whereby the flax flower tint could be
changed for some other ; it consisted of a Galileo tele¬
scope and quartz plate. He could scarcely understand
any difference existing between the estimation of sugar
by chemical means and by the polarimeter. Reading
sugar solutions was almost a profession in itself, and the
French who are sellers of sugar usually read higher than
the English who are buyers. He regarded both Fehling’s
and Pavy’s tests for diabetic urine as equally accurate
with the results obtainable by the polarimeter; they were
less troublesome, and the work could be with more con¬
fidence delegated to another person. He hoped to go on
with the study and that others would take it up, so that
ultimately the subject migh tassume a more definite and
important position pharmaceutically. He then spoke of
the desirability of obtaining cheaper instruments, and
agreed with Professor Attfield that they ought to get
them at half their present price.

A vote of thanks was then passed to Dr. Symes for
his paper.

The next paper read was on —

The Application of Chloroform in the Testing-

of Drugs.

BY L. SIEBOLD.

In the ‘Year-Book of Pharmacy’ for 1877 there occurs an
abstract of an article by Dr. C. Himly on the Detection of
Mineral Adulterants in Flour by means of Chloroform.
Having frequently tried this test and finding it extremely
useful both as a qualitative and as a quantitative process, it
appeared to me desirable to ascertain to what extent it
might be advantageously employed in the testing of
powdered vegetable drugs. As many of the latter are
lighter than chloroform, and the usual mineral adulterants
sink in that liquid, it was but reasonable to infer that this
mode of separation might prove of value to the phar¬
macist.

I will not trouble the meeting with the details of ray
experiments, but confine myself to a brief summary of the
results. In each experiment a small quantity of the dry
powder was well shaken with about half a test-tubeful of
chloroform, and the mixture allowed to stand at rest for
twelve hours. The following drugs were found to rise so
completely to the surface of the chloroform, that the obser¬
vation and estimation of any mineral adulterant became a
very simple and easy task : — Acacia, tragacanth, starches,
myrrh, Barbadoes aloes, jalap, saffron, cinchonas, nux
vomica, mustard, white pepper, capsicum and guarana.
Known quantities of selenite and of chalk were added to
these drugs, and subsequently determined by running the
lower stratum of the chloroform with the sediment into a
small dish, carefully pouring off the chloroform, drying the
sediment at a gentle heat and weighing it. The result in
each case was very satisfactory. No such accuracy could be
attained by incineration, as in the presence of chalk there
was always a loss of carbonic acid, and in that of selenite
a loss of water and of oxygen, the sulphate being partly
reduced to sulphide. An estimation of these adulterants
by the usual analytical processess would, of course, give
exact results, but prove much more tedious.

Both for qualitative and for quantitative purposes, the
chloroform test therefore answers extremely well with the
drugs named. In the case of the following substances no

September 13. 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

213

complete rise to the surface of the chloroform took place,
but a portion was found to float and another portion to
sink, though the absence of mineral adulterants was
proved by analysis : — Gamboge, scammony, opium, socco-
trine aloes, liquorice root, ginger, colocynth, cousso, ipe¬
cacuanha, cinnamon and cardamoms. Of the last two by
far the greater portion was found to sink in chloroform.
But even in these cases the test is not altogether without
value, for a careful inspection of the sediment will show
whether or not it is a mixture of various substances,
differing in appearance, weight, etc. The mineral adul¬
terant will generally, in such a case, form the lowest
stratum of the sediment. A comparison with a genuine
sample helps to arrive at a correct conclusion. More¬
over, the chemical examination of the sediment gives
results which cannot always be obtained by testing the
ash. Take the case of cinnamon, for instance, which
contains organic calcium salts. These upon incineration
leave calcium carbonate, and a qualitative analysis of
the ash would therefore fail to show whether this calcium
oarbonate was solely the result of ignition, or whether a
part of it pre-existed in the cinnamon powder as an
adulterant; while the addition of hydrochloric acid to
the lowest stratum of the chloroform sediment would
settle this point at once.

It is, however, in the case of the drug first named that
I wish specially to recommend this mode of testing to
pharmacists.

The next paper was by the same author on —

Note on the Behaviour of Iodine to Chloroform,

and a New Test for the Detection of Alcohol

in Chloroform.

Every chemist knows the beautiful purple colour of
a solution of iodine in chloroform. It does not seem to
be so generally known, however, that this colour varies
with the degree of purity of the chloroform employed,
and that this variation of colour is due to the presence or
absence of alcohol.

A solution of iodine in pure chloroform is deep purple-
violet, or if very weak it is purplish-pink, while a solu¬
tion of the same substance in alcohol is brown, red or
yellow, according to its strength. In solutions of iodine
in mixtures of chloroform and alcohol, the colour of the
alcohol solution so predominates over that of the chloro¬
form solution, that the presence of even a small per¬
centage of alcohol may be readily recognized in a sample
of chloroform by comparing the colour of its iodine
solution with that of a solution of iodine in perfectly
pure chloroform. This mode of testing, however, would
necessitate the use of exactly equal proportions of iodine,
and of iodine of the same quality and purity, as otherwise
the difference in the depth of coloration would materially
interfere with the result. I therefore propose the fol¬
lowing modus operandi, which on the strength of numerous
trials I can recommend as a very simple, expeditious and
reliable one : —

Introduce a small quantity of iodine into about 10 to
15 c.c. of the chloroform to be tested, shake until the
solution has acquired a deep purple or purplish-red colour,
not so deep, however, as to render it opaque, and decant
the solution from the undissolved iodine. Divide the
solution into two equal parts, which place in two separate
test tubes of equal diameter, shake one with about four
times its volume of water, and keep the other as it is,
for comparison. The water will absorb the alcohol, and
what settles down is a solution of iodine in pure chloro¬
form, the colour of which will be exactly the same as
that of the other portion if the chloroform was pure, but
will distinctly differ from it if the sample contained
alcohol. With 2 per cent, of alcohol or more, the
difference of colour is very striking indeed ; with 1 per
cent, it is very distinct, and in the presence of only half
a per cent, it is still clearly discernible. As little as half
a per cent, of alcohol can therefore be readily detected in

this manner. By resorting to distillation, a quarter of a
per cent, and even less of this impurity may be detected
by using the first portion of the distillate for the test.
It is a curious fact that, though chloroform boils at 62°
C., and alcohol not under 78° C., the first portion of the
distillate is richer in alcohol than the original sample, and
that the distillation, if continued, finally leaves pure
chloroform quite free from alcohol in the retort. The
cause of this must be sought in the different densities of
the vapours of alcohol and chloroform, that of the former
being 23, while that of chloroform is nearly 60. I think,
however, that the test as above described, without the
trouble of a distillation, is sufficiently delicate for all
practical purposes, and that it will commend itself in that
form especially to pharmacists, on account of its sim¬
plicity and ease of application.

A third paper, by the same author, was a —

Note on the Specific Gravity of Liquids.

While the great usefulness of the hydrometer for the
rapid determination of the specific, gravity of all kinds of
clear liquids is universally recognized, there appears to be
anything but unanimity of opinion as to the value of this
instrument as an indicator of the specific gravity of
mixtures owing part of their weight to the presence of
undissolved or suspended matter. I have therefore made
a number of experiments with the object of deciding
whether or not the indications of the hydrometer may be
depended upon in the case of mixtures containing insoluble
powders, oils, resins, etc., uniformly suspended. The results
were as follows : —

Mixtures of Precipitated Chalk, Mucilage of Acacia,
Syrup and Water —

Specific gravity
by liydiometer.

No. 1. 1106

„ 2. 1-070

Specific gravity
by balance.
1T066
1-0710

Mixtures of Magnesia, Mucilage and Water —

Specific gravity Specific gravity

by hydrometer. by balance.

No. 1. 1-059 1-0598

,, 2. 1-036 1-0359

Mixture of Precipitated Chalk and Water only —

Specific gravity Specific gravity

by hydrometer. by balance.

1-037 1-0396

The difference in this case arose from the fact that it
wasi mpossible to read off the specific gravity quickly
enough, for in the absence of mucilage or any otker
binding substance, the chalk began to subside immediately
after shaking, thus causing a continual decrease in the
specific gravity.

Mixtures containing subnitrate of bismuth, heavy spar
and other mineral powders, each suspended by mucilage,
were tested in the same manner and likewise gave con¬
cordant results.

Emulsions of
Water —

Oil of Almonds,

Gum Acacia

Specific gravity
by hydrometer.

Specific gravity
by balance.

No. 1.

1-010

1-0110

„ 2.

1-007

1-0070

Emulsion of Copaiba, Mucilage and Water —

Specific gravity
by hydrometer.

Specific gravity
by balance.

1-014

1-0144

Various Samples of Milk —

Specific gravity
by hydrometer.

Specific gravity
by balance.

No. 1.

1*030

1-0305

„ 2.

1-028

1-0278

„ 3.

1-032

1-0316

,, 4.

1-029

1-0300

and

2 1.4

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. iSeptemoer 13, W9

Officinal Mucilage of Acacia —

Specific gravity Specific gravity

by hydrometer. by balance.

1T65 1-1670

The last determination was made in order to see
whether the great viscosity of the liquid would have any
notable effect on the indications of the hydrometer.

All the determinations were made at 62 Q F. The set
of hydrometers used consisted of instruments specially
made for very short ranges of specific gravities, the
correctness of which I had frequently -checked in previous
determinations.

The foregoing experiments prove that carefully made
hydrometers afford reliable indications of the specific
gravities of liquids, no matter whether their gravity is
due to dissolved or suspended substances.

The President having invited discussion on these
three papers —

Mr. Martindale asked a question as to the detection
of chloroform in dichloride of ethidene.

Mr. C. Umney much admired as a chemist the simple
test for detecting the presence of minute quantities of
alcohol in chloroform. But the Pharmacopoeia recognized
the presence of 1 per cent, of alcohol in chloroform of
trade, and they as pharmacists must not encourage the
idea that chloroform was not medicinally pure because
the specific gravity was l-490. The accuracy of this
statement could be checked by calculating the specific
gravity of a mixture of 100 parts of chloroform at l-500
and 1 part of alcohol at ‘795.

Mr. E. C. C. Stanford said in using chloroform he
did not know whether the presence of alcohol did not
very often give a disagreeable colour to the iodine solution.
He had now discarded it for some years, and used no¬
thing but bisulphide of carbon. That was an exceedingly
good method of testing certain substances, such as kelp,
where the actual amount of iodine was not more than 0*5
per cent.

Professor Attfield asked Mr. Siebold whether there
really was any adulteration in powdered drugs ; his own
experience was that there was little or none.

Mr. Reynolds referred to the use of chloroform for
testing drugs, and mentioned that he had by this means
easily ascertained that the active constituent of . an an¬
thelmintic lozenge was santonin.

Mr. Siebold said he had observed adulterations of
powdered drugs during his experiments, but not many,
and in order to see to what extent the test might prove
available, he had himself adulterated most of the drugs
experimented with. With regard to the solubility of
alkaloids and some other constituents of drugs, alluded
to by one of the speakers, he said that in every case in
which chloroform dissolved anything from the substance
under examination, it was necessary of course to wash
the sediment with chloroform before drying and weighing
it. He thought this mode of separating mineral from
light organic substances might also prove valuable in cer¬
tain toxicological analyses. Respecting the purity of
commercial chloroform, he stated that among the samples
he had examined those manufactured in this country were,
on the whole, very pure.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Siebold for his papers was
passed.

The last paper read at this sitting was on —

The Extraction of Pilocarpine.

BY A. W. GERRARD, F.C.S.,

Demonstrator of Materia Medica at University College.

Having during the past year worked some large quanti¬
ties of the leaves of jaborandi ( Pelocarpus pennatifolius)
for the alkaloid pilocarpine, I on three occasions varied
my process with the view of obtaining the most economi¬
cal results.

Exhaustion of the leaves with water instead of alcohol
was tried and abandoned, as the volume of water required
for a thorough exhaustion was so large as to necessitate
the employment of much time and unnecessary heat in
its evaporation ; and moreover the large yield of extractive,
most of which was albumenoid, required considerable and
prolonged washing with alcohol to free it entirely from
commingled alkaloids.

A process similar to that adopted by Wright for ex¬
hausting aconite root, viz., treating the root with alcohol
acidified with tartaric acid, was tried with the jaborandi
leaves; the presence of the acid did not in any way influence
the process or result, neither to its advantage nor dis
advantage, simple alcohol being equally efficient as a
solvent.

In my first process for the preparation, of pilocarpine
{vide Pharmaceutical Journal), I found on treating the con¬
centrated washings of the alcoholic extract with ammonia
instead of potash, that much brownish black colouring
matter subsided, freeing the mother liquor from a very
objectionable accompaniment; this observation several
times repeated led me to believe that ammoniated alcohol
might be with advantage substituted for ordinary alcohol
as the solvent of the pilocarpine. Another reason why I
considered the use of ammonia might prove advantageous
was that most salts of pilocarpine are only sparingly soluble
in cold alcohol, but the hydrate is freely soluble, and
in the percolation of the ammoniated spirit through the
drug, the ammonia would liberate the alkaloid, which
would be freely taken up by the alcohol. Tested on a
small scale this process was successful, and the experiment
was repeated upon 100 lbs. of jaborandi leaves as follows:
84 per cent, alcohol was treated with 1 per cent, of strong
solution of ammonia, and the leaves percolated to exhaus¬
tion with this solvent, the alkaline alcoholic percolate was
made neutral with tartaric acid, the alcohol distilled, and
the residue treated with excess of ammonia and alcohol,
again distilled and the pilocarpine dissolved out from the
residue with chloroform converted into nitrate and crys¬
tallized to purity from boiling absolute alcohol.

The yield of alkaloid by the above process was greater
than I had previously attained by other methods of work¬
ing upon the same sample of leaf ; the yield being *7 per
cent., and the ammonia (as I inferred it would) effectually
liberated the pilocarpine, so that a comparatively small
volume of alcohol was required for its solution, also leav¬
ing behind the brownish black colouring matter. The
contact of free ammonia with the alkaloid during percola¬
tion might be objected to as likely to produce decomposi¬
tion. This does not appear to be the case judging by the
yield.

To purify the nitrate of pilocarpine, which is by far the
best and most convenient salt for medicinal use, it is usual
to boil the crude brown coloured salt of the first crystal¬
lization with absolute alcohol and set aside for a few hours,
when the separated crystals may be thrown on a filter
and washed with cold alcohol until colourless ; the mixed
washings will by further treatment yield a further supply
of crystals, and the process may be carried on until at last
will be obtained a viscous dark brown mass still contain¬
ing alkaloid but no longer crystallizing. This residue is best
worked up by treating with a large volume of water, and
allowing to stand for twenty-four hours, when the larger
part of the colour separates in flocks, falling to the bottom
of the vessel; the solution now evaporated will again
crystallize, and the crystals can be treated as before-
mentioned.

The percentage of pilocarpine in different samples of
jaborandi is very variable, one specimen yielding me only
*03 per cent, whilst from others I have obtained ‘3, '5, ’7
per cent., the leaf giving the lowest percentage possessed
the true characters of Pilocarpus pennatifolius, except that
it was much thinner. I was unable to trace its source, but
the differences I have alluded to lead one to think that
it may be a second variety or grown in a different locality
than that from whence we obtain our regular supplies of

September 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

215

jaborandi. At any rate it is important to know that there
are inferior qualities of the drug which if used in making
tinctures, extracts, etc., would possess but little therapeutic
value and this is an additional argument for the use of
definite principles in medicine such as is found in the
alkaloid pilocarpine, which is one of the most powerful
and certain diaphoretics known in materia medica.

Mr. Martindale said that having worked at pilo¬
carpine he thought he might have a prior claim to Mr.
Gerrard for having first purified the crude crystals of
nitrate of pilocarpine. Mr. Gerrard read a paper and
showed specimens of nitrate of pilocarpine at the Bristol
meeting. The crystals exhibited were contaminated with
uncrystallizable matter. Towards the end of 1875, he (Mr.
Martindale) worked some bark and stem of jaborandi, from
which he got two drams of crude pilocarpine, and on
January 18, 1876, experimenting with this, he dissolved
it in one ounce of absolute alcohol, and added fifteen
minims of nitric acid previously diluted with fifteen
minims of distilled water. The small crystals separated
readily and were purified by pouring off the spirit, by
dissolving in boiling absolute alcohol, from which they
separated free from colour. A quarter of a grain admin¬
istered by the mouth produced the usual perspiration and
salivation in forty minutes. The action was over in three
hours. A physiologist who had worked a great deal at
the subject had informed him lately that pilocarpine did
not produce all the actions of jaborandi. It possessed the
sialogogue and diaphoretic properties, but did not produce
the same action on the heart as the extract of jaborandi.
This was probably the effect of a second alkaloid. He
should have liked to have asked Mr. Gerrard if he had
sought for this in the uncrystallized residues in making
this nitrate of pilocarpine.

Mr. Williams said Mr. Gerrard had suggested a
new and very important process and they ought to
thank him very much for his discovery by which they
could get a better yield at a smaller expense of spirit. Not
only was credit due to him for this discovery, but for
the liberality with which he had made it known.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Gerrard for his
paper, and the first day’s sitting of the Conference
terminated.

The proceedings on Wednesday morning were com¬
menced by the reading of a paper entitled —

Notes on Petroleum Spirit or “ Benzoline.”

BY ALFRED H. ALLEN.

Although it is well known to professional chemists that
petroleum spirit is composed of hydrocarbons quite dis¬
tinct from those constituting coal-tar naphtha, among the
general public, and to a certain extent among people
possessed of some knowledge of chemistry, great con¬
fusion has arisen as to the nature of the liquids known in
commerce as “ benzine,” “ benzene,” “ benzol,” and
“ benzoline.” Of these, the hydrocarbon benzol or benzene,
C6Hn, is the chief and characteristic constituent of coal-
tar naphtha, while it is present in very insignificant amount
in petroleum spirit or mineral naphtha. The terms
benzine and benzoline have no scientific application, and
are merely commercial names for petroleum spirit. It is
owing, in a great measure, to the similarity of these
names to those of the chief constituent of coal-tar naphtha
that confusion has occurred, but it has been made far
worse by the accidental or intentional substitution of one
liquid for the other, until it is difficult to obtain the coal-
tar product retail, even when it is asked for by its proper
name. This would be of but little consequence if the two
liquids were of exactly similar nature, but in certain
cases they present decided differences of behaviour,
although in general characters there are very close re¬
semblances.

The following tabular statement of the characteristic
differences between petroleum spirit and coal-tar naphtha

has been compiled from various sources and includes a
few original tests. All the characters given have been
carefully verified by actual experiment on representa¬
tive samples of commercial petroleum spirit and coal-tar
benzol.

Petroleum Spirit, “benzo¬
line,” or “benzine.”

1. Consists of heptane,
C7Hlfi, and its homologues.

2. Heptane contains
84 0 per cent, of carbon.

3. Burns with a some¬
what smoky flame.

4. Commences to boil at
54° to 60° C.

5. Specific gravity about
•69 to -72.

6. Smells of petroleum.

7. Dissolves iodine, form¬
ing a solution of a rasp¬
berry red colour.

8. Does not sensibly dis¬
solve pitch, and is scarcely
coloured by it, even on pro¬
longed contact.

9. When shaken in the
cold with one-third of its
volume of fused crystals of
absolute carbolic acid, the
latter remains undissolved.

10. Requires two vo¬
lumes of absolute alcohol,
or four or five volumes of
methylated spirit of *828
specific gravity for com¬
plete solution at the or¬
dinary temperature.

Coal-Tar Naphtha, or
“ benzol.”

1. Consists of benzene,
C6H6, and its homologues.

2. Benzene contains
92 ’3 per cent, of carbon.

3. Burns with a very
smoky flame.

4. Commences to boil at
about 80° C.

5. Specific gravity about
*88.

6. Smells of coal-tar.

7. Dissolves iodine, form¬
ing a liquid having the
colour of a solution of po¬
tassium permanganate.

8. Readily dissolves
pitch, forming a deep-brown
solution.

9. Miscible with absolute
carbolic acid in all propor¬
tions.

10. Miscible with abso¬
lute alcohol in all propor¬
tions. Forms a homo¬
geneous liquid with an equal
measure of methylated
spirit of ’828 specific
gravity.

Although the foregoing tests are abundantly sufficient
for the distinction of petroleum spirit and benzol, when
applied to mixtures of the two products they are of but
little value even as qualitative indications, and in that
case the density is the only one of the above characters
which is capable of giving even an approximation to the
quantities in which the constituent liquids are mixed.

The action of nitric acid on coal-tar naphtha is well
known to result in the formation of nitrobenzene and
its homologues, and has been employed by Scborlemmer
for detecting traces of benzene, etc., in petroleum. On
the other hand, the action of nitric acid on the hydro¬
carbons of the paraffin series, which constitute practically
the whole of petroleum spirit, is almost nil in the cold,
even if fuming acid be used, and is very limited in
extent if hot acid be employed, provided that the very
strongest be avoided. I found by experiment that the
action of nitric acid on petroleum spirit was, under
certain conditions, even more limited that I had supposed,
and eventually I found that by employing the acid in a
particular manner it was not only possible but easy to
effect a tolerably perfect quantitative separation of coal-
tar naphtha and petroleum spirit.

The following was the mode of treatment eventually
employed, and, by adhering to it, it is possible to detect
and approximately estimate the proportion of petroleum
spirit existing in a mixture of it with benzol, in ten or
fifteen minutes : —

A known measure of the sample (from 4 to 6 c.c.) was
treated with four times its measure of yellow nitric acid
of 1‘45 specific gravity. The mixture was made in a
flask, to which a condensing arrangement was attached.
Slight heat was applied externally by means of a flame
if the spontaneous action was not sufficiently vigorous.
After about five minutes the contents of the flask were
cooled, and then poured into a narrow graduated tube.
Any oily layer was measured and removed with a pipette,

216

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 13, 1879.

and the remaining liquid poured into a large excess of
water.

When ordinary petroleum spirit is thus treated the
nitric acid becomes coloured more or less brown. Very
little heat is evolved, but on applying moderate heat
externally the production of red fumes proves the occur¬
rence of a certain amount of action. The effect, however,
is not so violent as I had anticipated from a perusal of
Schorlemmer’s description of the reaction, and, if the
experiment be carefully made, the petroleum spirit em¬
ployed forms a layer on the nitric acid, and on transferring
the liquid to a graduated tube is found to occupy the
original volume of the sample used. This is true whether
petroleum spirit alone be operated on or whether it be
previously mixed with various proportions of coal-tar
naphtha. If the proportion of the latter be large, the
quantity of nitrobenzene formed is larger than can be
retained in permanent solution in the nitric acid. This
fact causes no inconvenience, for the nitrobenzene forms
a separate layer below the petroleum spirit, and in pre¬
sence of nitric acid is not miscible with it. Nitrobenzene
and petroleum spirit are perfectly miscible alone, but on
shaking the mixture with strong nitric acid the nitro¬
benzene is dissolved out. It will be seen therefore that
the reaction with nitric acid may be conveniently em¬
ployed for the determination of petroleum spirit in
admixture with benzene. Very fair approximate results
are obtainable. If the layer of petroleum spirit be
removed with a pipette and shaken with water to remove
dissolved nitrous fumes, it is obtained in a suitable condi¬
tion for further examination.

If, after removing the layer of unacted-on petroleum
spirit, the nitric acid solution be poured into water, a
very sensible turbidity is usually produced, even with
petroleum spirit free from coal-tar products, and on
filtering off the precipitate, or allowing it to settle, and
decanting the liquid, distinct evidence of the formation
of nitrobenzene is obtainable by the aniline test. When
the more volatile portion of petroleum spirit is thus
treated, the nitric acid is scarcely coloured at all, and
hardly a trace of milkiness is produced when the acid is
poured into water. The brown colour and turbidity on
dilution increase with the boiling point of the sample of
naphtha, and are strongest with kerosine oil ; but in all
cases in which petroleum products are treated with nitric
acid, the quantity of precipitate on dilution is very
insignificant. Although nitrobenzene is recognizable
among the products of the action of nitric acid on petroleum
spirit, as was shown long since by Schorlemmer, I do not
think the turbidity produced on dilution is due solely to
its formation. It is probably rather due to the production
of various nitro-substitution products, as it is well known
thet the higher numbers of the paraffin series are far
more readily acted on by nitric acid than their lower
homologues.

I have attempted to determine the proportion of
benzene in a mixture with petroleum spirit, by measuring
the nitrobenzene produced, but the results have not been
satisfactory, partly in consequence of the solubility of
nitrobenzene in water and acid liquids. By employing
250 c.c. of water for dilution, allowing the nitrobenzene
to settle completely, decanting the greater part of the
water, and pouring the “bottoms” into a graduated tube,
the nitrobenzene may be readily measured. If an allow¬
ance of 1*5 c.c. be made for solubility in the one-quarter
litre of acid liquid, the measure of benzene present in the
sample taken may be roughly ascertained by multiplying
the number of c.c. of nitrobenzene obtained by the
factor 0-S5. Thus if V be the volume in c.c. of nitro¬
benzene, then the benzene in the amount of sample taken
was (V + 1’5) x ‘85. The method is not capable of giving
accurate residts, but may be useful in some cases as
a check on the determination of petroleum spirit by
measurement of the layer insoluble in nitric acid.

With a view of learning something respecting the
proportion of heptane present in ordinary petroleum

spirit, I made a mixture in equal measures of four
samples of commercial “ benzoline,” such as is used for
sponge lamps. This mixed specimen had a density of
*7001 at 15‘5° C., and commenced to boil at about 54° C.
It was distilled in the manner first described by Warren,
in a flask furnished with an inverted condenser, filled with
water, maintained at a temperature of 70° C., a second
condenser being kept well cooled by a current of cold
water. The distillation ceased when the temperature in
the flask was 84° C., that is, 14° C. above that of the
first condenser. The water in the first condenser was
then raised to the boiling point, and the distillation
continued till scarcely anything more came over, by
which time the contents of the flask were at 114° C. The
result of the distillation was as follows — for 100 measures
of petroleum spirit taken

Condensed
below
70° C.

Percentage by measure . . 16

Density at 15‘5° C., com¬
pared with water at same
temperature . *667

Condensed Condensed
between above

70° and 100° C.

100° C. (residue).

56 26

•707 *742

The loss was about 2 per cent, of the original measure.
Another specimen of petroleum spirit gave 22^ measures
of distillate with the receiver at 70° C., 42 per cent,
between 70° and 100° C., and 32 per cent, of residue;
the loss being 3J per cent. The densities of the three
products were almost identical with those previously
obtained.

The observed specific gravities of the first and second
distillates correspond approximately with the recorded
densities of hexane and heptane, and from this and the
known boiling points of these liquids it is evident that
the portion of petroleum spirit not condensed at 70° C.
will consist chiefly of hexane and lower homologues,
while the part condensed at 70° C., but distilling at
100° C., will be chiefly heptane and isoheptane. As, in
the experiments described, this fraction measured from
42 to 56 per cent, of the entire spirit, it is evident that
the proportion of heptane present equals if it does not
exceed that of all the other constituents.*

The President said Mr. Allen’s paper was an exceed¬
ingly useful and able one, and invited discussion of it by
those who had knowledge of this particular class of
chemicals.

Professor Tichborne (Dublin) said the paper they had
just heard represented a class of papers exceedingly
valuable to the analytical chemist, papers dealing with
questions bearing on the reactions and detection of
admixtures in articles met with in commerce. He should
be glad if Mr. Allen would answer two questions. Mr.
Allen mentioned that the solvent action of benzole and
American light oils were different as regarded pitch. He
presumed Mr. Allen meant coal-tar pitch. There were
many pitches. One used in road making in Ireland
was a pitch procured as a residue in distilling these
American oils, and it was probable that that pitch
would behave in the same way as regarded the heptane
as the coal-tar pitch would behave as regarded benzole,
that was, it would be soluble. He wished to know
whether Mr. Allen had tried any experiments as regarded
the action of these two solvent bodies upon creosote, and
whether there was any difference. They knew already

* The physical properties of the benzoline examined by
me are very different from those attributed to the liquid by
Wiederhold, who on fractionally distilling benzoline of
*715 sp. gr., which commenced to boil at 60°, obtained —

48 6 per cent, of ‘70 sp. gr., boiling at 100°*

45‘7 „ ‘73 „ „ 200°.

5‘7 „ ‘80 „ ,, above 200°.

September 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

217

that creosote was frequently adulterated with carbolic
acid, and he desired to know if they had any means of
distinguishing the adultei’ation by means of these solvents
of creosote and carbolic acid.

Dr. Symes said with regard to the odour of the two
bodies in question, although they appeared to be some¬
what similar, they smelt quite differently. If they were
at all compared the odour was a very satisfactory test of
the difference between the two, and if the admixture was
agitated with water there always seemed to be quite
sufficient evidence, not of the quantity, but of the pre¬
sence of petroleum spirit. The difference in the solvent
properties was very great. In separating chrysarobine
from araroba the solvent powers of benzole were con¬
siderably greater than those of petroleum spirit, and a
much larger yield was obtained. In exercising this great
solvent property in this particular instance it perhaps
produced a less pure product; but he had tried the
solvent powers comparatively on some other bodies, and he
thought it was exceedingly desirable to know thoroughly
what they were using when they were supposed to use
either petroleum spirit or benzole. A quantitative
test which would readily determine the proportions in
which the two had been mixed would doubtless prove
valuable.

Professor Attfield said some varieties of petroleums
were so highly cleaned, that he questioned if they would
be detected in benzole by their odour.

Mr. J. T. Dobb said Mr. Allen in his statement had
referred to pitch. He should like to know if the kind
of pitch that was used to ascertain the solubility was
Swedish, Stockholm or mineral pitch. The gentleman
who had pi’eviously addressed them spoke of pitch as a
product of petroleum spirit from America, and used for
roads only in Ireland. He found that in the distillation
of tar the residue was pitch, commonly and commercially
called mineral pitch. He had found himself that it
was only partially soluble in petroleum spirit ; but was
perfectly soluble in coal-tar naphtha. He wished to
ask Mr. Allen what kind of pitch he used to ascertain
the solubility of petroleum spirit and the solubility of
coal-tar naphtha.

Mr. Allen, in reply, said he was very glad gentlemen
had called his attention to the kind of pitch he used. He
certainly ought to have explained that he used coal-tar
pitch. It seemed probable, as Professor Tichborne had
suggested, that pitch from petroleum would dissolve in
petroleum spirit better than the other. He might add
that anthracene, one of the most characteristic constitu¬
ents of coal-tar pitch, was much more soluble in benzol
than in petroleum spirit. He had not made any experi¬
ments on wood pitch or petroleum pitch. He had never
seen any petroleum pitch, and he would like to obtain a
sample. In a paper, written by himself, that appeared
in the ‘ Year-Book,’ he had said, “ Absolute carbolic
acid dissolves half its volume of petroleum spirit, forming
a clear liquid. On addition of a larger portion of
petroleum spirit precipitation occurs. With one volume
of carbolic acid and three of petroleum spirit, the layers
have about the same measures as the original liquid.
Each layer, however, contains both liquids, as may be
proved by cooling the tube with a freezing mixture (or
by wrapping filter paper round it, and dropping ether on
the outside) when carbolic acid crystallizes out. Absolute
carbolic acid is permanently soluble in about ten measures
of petroleum spirit at 15'5° C. ( = 00° F.).” When carbolic
acid was shaken with petroleum spirit it must not be
supposed that the layers which separated consisted of the
original liquors. Each was a solution of the one in the
other. With ten measures of petroleum spirit to one of
carbolic acid complete solution took place at ordinary
temperatures. The solubility was enormously increased
by rise of temperature, so that carbolic acid and hot
petroleum spirit were miscible in all proportions.

Mr. Allen was thanked for his paper.

{To be continued.)

Parliamentary and Ham §nn[Mliiujs.

Prosecution under the Pharmacy Act.

At the Horncastle Petty Sessions, held on Saturday,,
the 7th inst., before the Rev. Thomas Livesey (Chair¬
man) and the Revs. Samuel Lodge and Arthur White,
magistrates, a summons issued by Messrs. Clitherow ancl
Elsey, of Horncastle, as agents for Messrs. Flux and Co.„
of London, solicitors of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain, in respect of a sale of laudanum, by Robert
Croft at his shop at Horsington on the 19th of July last,,
contained in a bottle not distinctly labelled with the
name and address of the seller of the poison, was heard.

In the absence of the accused, a police constable proved
due service of the summons.

Mr. Flux, addressing the Court, said that he appeared
to support the case on the instructions of the Council of
the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and as he
understood that no prior case under the Pharmacy Act.
had been under the consideration of their Worships, he;
would shortly read the 17th section as being the one
most especially applicable to the offence of the accused,
and with the Court’s permission would refer to earlier
clauses as showing that in some respects the Pharma¬
ceutical Society were specially charged with sundry
duties concerning sales of poisons, and thus that the
Council was justified in bringing this case before;
the Court in order to direct the attention of offenders-
and the public in the county to the law regulating;
the sale of poisons. He might mention that the
consumption of laudanum in the county of Lincoln
was excessive, that his clients had special means of
information in regard to it, and had knowledge that the
consumption of the dangerous and pernicious drug in.
and about the fen country had engaged the serious atten¬
tion of the medical officers of the Privy Council. Lau¬
danum was undoubtedly a poison, and Parliament had by
the statute expressly enacted that opium and all prepara¬
tions of opium should be deemed poisons, and that sales-
of them should be conducted by duly qualified persons*
known as chemists and druggists, and with certain for¬
malities, which included labelling with the name and
address of the seller. In respect of sales by unqualified
persons, penalties were enacted, and in the instance
under consideration, the sale had been made by a person
not duly qualified, but with that class of penalties
the Court had not to deal. The offence of the
accused was that of having sold a poison without a
label bearing the name and address of the seller so that
on any improper use of the article there would not have
existed, for the public protection, those traces concerning,
the sale which the law contempl ited. He submitted that
in thus bringing one case to the Court’s attention and
under public notice, his clients fulfilled their mission, and
that it was now for the public and those generally charged
with the administration of the law within the district to
enforce the provisions of the statute. In regard to irregular
sales any person might be the prosecutor in a case of the-
kind, whether the offender was or was not a duly quali¬
fied seller. Mr. Flux then read from the statute 31 and.
32 Yict. c. exxi, section 17, “It shall be unlawful to sell
any poison, either by wholesale or retail, unless the box,,
bottle, vessel, wrapper, or cover in which such poison is-
contained be distinctly labelled with the name of the;
article and the word poison and with the name and
address of the seller of the poison, and any person selling,
poison otherwise than is herein provided, shall upon a-
summary conviction before two Justices of the Peace, be
liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds for the first
offence, and to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds for
the second or any subsequent offence, and for the pur¬
poses of this section the person on whose behalf any sale;
is made by any apprentice or servant, shall be deemed to-
be the seller.”

218

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 13, 1879.

Police Constable Samuel Kempston, examined by Mr.
Flux, proved knowing Robert Croft, who keeps a grocer’s
.shop at Horsington. The name of Robert Croft appears
over the door. On the 19th July last witness went to
the shop, and asked of a person in charge of it if they
sold laudanum, and was supplied with the article in a
bottle, for which he paid 8%d. The bottle bore a label
which did not mention the name or the address of Robert
Uroft. He kept the bottle in the condition in which he
had received it until Wednesday, the 3rd instant, when
he handed it to Dr. George May-Lowe.

By the Court : — The label bore the words “ Laudanum
— poison,” and also the name of J. H. Elmitt, chemist,
Horncastle.

Dr. George May-Lowe, of Lincoln, lately public
.analyst for the county, examined by Mr. Flux, proved
having received the bottle from the constable, and having
analysed the contents, and that the contents consisted of
a preparation of opium called laudanum.

As the magistrates were engaged in consultation, the
accused arrived and made a statement not disputing the
facts proved, but adding that the bottle was stamped
with a patent medicine stamp.

The Bench fined the accused £2 10s., and ordered him
t) piy costs, £2 12s. 6c?.

The accused expressed his inability to raise the
amount.

The Court (on the suggestion of Mr. Flux) informed
the accused of the clause in the Act of Parliament which
would expose him to a penalty of £10 on a second or any
subsequent offence.

Arbitration in a Plaster Dispute.

In the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division,
there has recently been decided a case which should be
of interest to those engaged in pharmacy.

The parties to the suit were Leslie and Co., Limited,
-of Walbrook, plaster spreaders, plaintiffs, and Gale and
Company, wholesale druggists, of Bouverie Street, defen¬
dants. The warehouses of both firms being within the
city of London, the case was heard at the Guildhall,
before Mr. Justice Field and a jury.

Scientific evidence was given in support of plaintiffs’
case by Mr. Oxton, F.C.S., and for the defence by Pro¬
fessors Redwood and Attfield.

The plaintiffs’ claim was one of damages arising, it
was alleged, out of defects in the manufacture of resin
and white soap plasters, which the defendants, as whole¬
sale druggists, had supplied to them in the ordinary
•course of their business. The plaintiffs’ practice was, it
would seem, to purchase the crude plaister, and spread
upon tapes and other material for which their firm had
obtained a reputation. In addition, it was also alleged
That on account of the rancidity of the plaster, after it
had been spread but a short time only, they had sustained
■a considerable loss.

After the case had been fairly opened, the learned
-counsel contended that it was one of those disputes that
should have been referred to an arbitrator, and that even
at this stage it would be much better for a referee to be
appointed under the authority of the Court. As both
parties, seemed desirous that the case should be
decided at the present hearing a mass of evidence
extending into the second dav was taken, when the
foreman of the jury expressed his conviction that the
•case ought to be decided by reference to an expert, in
which opinion Mr. Justice Field quite concurred, and
directed that both parties should agree upon some one
conversant with the subject.

Mr. C. Umney, (Wright, Layman and Umney), of
Southwark, was accordingly elected as referee, and his
appointment was confirmed by Mr. Justice Field, who
gave him full liberty to examine the respective parties
and their witnesses upon oath. Evidence was taken
upon three days at the Cannon Street Hotel, in the City

of London, supported on both sides by the same scientific
evidence as at the first hearing at Guildhall, Mr.
Courtenay appearing for the plaintiffs and Mr. St. John
Wontner for the defendants. Mr. Umney ’s award was as
under : —

1. That the plaintiffs in this action were a firm of
plaster spreaders, who had, during a period of several
years supplied the medical profession and the public with
adhesive and other plasters in a novel and most con¬
venient form, but that the plaintiffs did not in any way
manufacture the crude plasters of which their spread
plasters were composed, neither did they, either through
their managing director, Mr. J. S. C. Renwick, or their
foreman, Mr. Wallace Burnett, profess to have knowledge
of such manufacture.

2. That one of the shareholders in the company of
which the plaintiffs’ firm was composed, viz., Frederick
Henry Smith, doctor of medicine of St. Andrew’s Univer¬
sity, and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of
England, who lays some claim to a knowledge of manu¬
facture of crude, as well as spread plasters was, and is,
entirely ignorant of the former, and the composition of
plaster as detailed in the specification of letters patent
of himself for the manufacture of tape plasters or
bandages, dated January 16, 18.74, was not only im¬
practicable, but that he himself did never prepare any
plaster either of such composition, or from such recipe
that was suitable for producing spread plasters.

3. That the plaintiffs not being possessed of that
special knowledge of manufacture which is necessary in
order that the business of a plaster spreader may be
successfully conducted resorted for the purchase of such
crude plasters as they manipulated, viz., resin and white
soap plaster, to wholesale druggists and others, part of
whose business it is to prepare crude plasters (either
from formulae tabulated in the British Pharmacopoeia, or
from recipes which they find are generally approved by
medical practitioners and pharmacists to whom they
generally supply them), and that such crude plasters are
made of different proportions of ingredients (notably in
litharge and oil), as compared with those designedly
made for spreading purposes, a fact well known to those
conversant with each branch of this industry.

4. That the defendants were in the habit of preparing
various plasters, including those used by the plaintiffs,
and that they did from time to time supply such from
their private recipes in preference to those compounded
from official formulae.

5. That the complaint made by the plaintiffs against
the defendants’ plasters was in the main non-adhesiveness
and rancidity.

6. That the formula given in evidence by the de¬
fendants through one of their firm, Mr. J. S. Walton,
who regulated the manufactures of their laboratory, was
although non-official, a recipe from which good plaster
could be made, and that, when carefully prepared, such
plaster, from the fact that it contained to 100 parts of
oleaginous or fatty basis upwards of fifty (54) parts of
litharge, would not either be rancid or likely to become so
during such time in which plasters are generally ex¬
pected to remain in a sound condition, neither could it
have been non-adhesive made from the proportion of
ingredients combined with the amount of resin prescribed
in the formula.

7. That the plasters sold by the defendants were
divided into two portions, the one comprised in the total
supply from May to September 12, 1877, and the other
that manufactured and supplied subsequently.

8. That the plaster supplied previous to September
12, 1877, was prepared from commercially pure ingre¬
dients and was of good average quality, and although jt
occasionally contained specks caused by slight defects in
certain brands of litharge, these were not uncommon,
and might in all probability have been removed by
judicious melting, straining and subsidence (by no means
an uncommon process in the manipulation of plasters)

September 13, lsTf.] TIIE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

219

had plaintiffs or their workmen been conversant with
such treatment.

9. That the defendants’ plasters were good and fairly
uniform, but even if this were not so, as applied to that
supplied subsequent to September 12, 1877, no claim
should be made for any defect therein, inasmuch, as re-
melting had been resorted to, and this was opposed to a
stipulation made by the defendants in a letter written
on or about that date which contained conditions upon
which the defendants would continue to do business with
the plaintiffs and their accountability for their plaster
being only so long as it remained in the state supplied,
and not after its condition had been altered by melting,
spreading or any other process ; the defendants having
had at this time a clear notion that the complaint of
previous plaster was in the main due to and caused by,
the unskilled treatment to which the same was subjected
in plaintiffs’ factory prior to spreading, and they, there¬
fore, clearly thought it expedient thus to protect them¬
selves.

10. That plaintiffs’ factory men were in the habit of
melting the plaister in pipkins and other vessels over gas
burners (Bunsen’s) constructed to give a maximum of
heat, and that they did not exercise proper precautions
in so doing, stirring of the plaster during the melting
process being only sometimes resorted to, as stated
by W. Metzner, when diligent stirring to prevent decom¬
position was necessary.

11. That a plaster prepared since hearing evidence,
in accordance with defendants’ recipe gave, when chemi¬
cally examined, results corresponding to those obtained
from plaister put in evidence and fully corroborated the
statements of Professors Redwood, and Attfield.

12. Finally, that for the reasons previously stated the
plaintiffs have not proved their case, and judgment,
therefore, should be entered for the defendants.

The above award being taken up by defendants was
handed to Mr. Justice Field, the plaintiffs raising ob-
, jections to the same upon finding that it was adverse to
them. Mr. Justice Field, however, confirmed Mr.
Umney s award, and gave judgment for the defendants
with costs.

Sis^nsing $fU'moramt;t.

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

[338]. Add the Liq. Ammon. Fort, drop by drop to the
Arg. Nit. solution until the precipitate first formed is re¬
dissolved.

It is the formula for a dark brown hair dye, which I
inserted in this J ournal two or three years ago.

HuU. F. Stayeley.

[338]. In this prescription it is evidently intended that
the Liq. Ammon. Fort, is to be added to the nitrate of
silver dissolved in the water, until the precipitate which
is at first produced is redissolved. This is a common
receipt for hair dye, and is used after an application of a
solution of pyrogallic acid.

W. Fowler.

[340]. Iodide of sulphur should be triturated with a
few drops of S. V. R. in making the B.P. ointment. It
is less objectionable than glycerine, and it ensures the
production of a faultless ointment.

In the next edition of the B.P. the form might, with
advantage be altered to —

Take of

Iodide of Sulphur . 30 grains.

Rectified Spirit . 15 minims.

Prepared Lard . 1 ounce.

Triturate the iodide of sulphur with the spirit in
porcelain mortar, and gi'adually add the lard, rubbin
them together until the ointment is perfectly smooth.

R. H. Parker.

International Medical Pharmaceutical Dictionary,,
in three languages, French, English and German, com¬
piled for the use of physicians and chemists in inter¬
course with foreigners, by George Herman Moeller,
chemist, professor, etc. Munich : 1879. Jul. Grubert,
publisher.

Perhaps a good dictionary may be considered one of
the most valuable books in a library, and a library, how¬
ever well chosen, must, without a dictionary, be considered
incomplete; but there are dictionaries and dictionaries,
and whilst there exists so great a variety and “ still they
come,” it is necessary to use some discrimination as
regards their choice.

The general principle in the arrangement of a dic¬
tionary should be that it contain the words or subjects of
which it treats arranged in alphabetical order ; but in
modern times, to meet the extension in several branches
of science, and the daily increasing desire for knowledge,
works of very varied kinds have been prepared on the
principle of alphabetical arrangement, and are termed
dictionaries.

The title of the one before us is attractive; it professes
to give the equivalent terms in three different languages
necessary for mutual understanding of the medical man
and the pharmacist in their intercourse with foreigners.

The book is divided into four parts ; the first embraces
materia medica, the second, man and his maladies, or the
human body and its physiology, the third, phai-maceutics,
the fourth, chemistry and physics, and these again are
sub-divided ; for instance, materia medica is subdivided
into the therapeutic classification of medicaments, the
pharmaceutic classification of the same, patent medicines
with their prices, and finally the art of prescribing.

The materia medica proper embraces probably all the
organic and inorganic materials that ever have formed
a part of the materia medica of any European country,
from “ Ping-war-har-jamby” to “spirit of treacle.” The
second division, man and his maladies, is subdivided into
physiology, including every part of the human body and
diseases with all the “ills that flesh is heir to.” The
third, pharmaceutics, has in its subdivision every article
required in pharmacy, from a bung to a thermometer,
and every appliance found in the laboratory from a screw
press to a gridiron. The fourth, chemistry, is so sub¬
divided as to include the elements, simple combinations,
and chemical analysis, from a simple element to a
“compound atom,” together with botany and zoology.

Every object in the several sciences named, with every
term required to be used in their pursuit, are here given
in three languages, followed by a complementary vocabu¬
lary, and a copious index in the German language, from
which it may be inferred that the work is primarily in¬
tended for the German aerzte and apotheker. If it were
leasonable to ask a person to employ his leisure time in
learning a dictionary, doubtless much information would
be acquired from this one, but life is too short to admit,
of such a luxury. The work may sometimes prove
useful, but it is too diffuse to be readily available. Where
there is a dictionary it can scarcely be said to supply a
want, or where there is not one to compensate for the
deficiency; and the labour bestowed upon it by the author
will, we fear, be ill requited if its sale be dependent

as a?

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 13, 1379.

^20

•on its being used by physicians and chemists in Great
Britain as ai assistance in their intercourse with
foreigners.

df o ititcsg o n d r

No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for 'publication, but as a guarantee of good faith,

A Request.

Sir, — With your permission, I wish to ask those who are
in a position to give it, for tangible proof that the patent
medicine stamp is used to cover the sale of scheduled
poisons. As the sale of poisons under the guise of so-called
patent medicines is likely to engage the attention of the
Pharmaceutical Council, I am anxious to demonstrate by
ample proof that the Act of Parliament is thus infringed.

May I ask therefore that members of the trade will kindly
obtain for me, as soon as convenient, samples of pokons
sold under cover of the medicine stamp, and that they may
be sent to my address as annexed ?

205, St. John Street Road, E.O. Eobt. Hampson.

How can a Chemists’ Assistant register Himself
as a Dentist in bona fide Practice?

Sir, — The above question has been asked me during the
last few months by numerous friends in both the dental
and medical piofessions; in consequence I have been at
considerable trouble to ascertain if any chemists’ assistants
really had registered as such, and I find that they have. I
have also had chemists pointed out to me who have never
done any dental operation beyond extracting a tooth, and
have probably never seen inside a dental laboratory, and
know absolutely nothing of “ dentistry,” who have registered
as being in bond fide practice as dentists. Now the Act
never contemplated registration by any persons other than
those known as being engaged in the practice of dentistry,
either separately or iu conjunction with pharmacy or
surgery.

It does not follow that because a chemist placed an en¬
graved plate with the word dentist on it, upon his door, at
the passing of the Act, that the law will recognize him as
a dentist. A dentist in the eye of the law must have been
a person engaged in every branch of the dental art, i.e.,
able to undertake any operation and do any mechanical
woik that may be required for the mouth by the public.

The various dental associations, formed for the express
purpose of sifting out fraudulent registrations, have an
agent in every town now busily engaged in compiling a
list of such registrations. Section xxxv. of the Dental Act,
1873, provides for such by fine and imprisonment.

Many think that because they have filled up the declara¬
tion paper sent by the Registrar, and received from him
the “Dental Registration Certificate,” that they are now
safe ; such, however, will not be the case without legal
evidence of qualification and fitness, which will be de¬
manded by the “ British Dental Association.” No chemist
regularly engaged in “ bond fide practice as a dentist”
need fear any annoyance or subsequent trouble from the
requirements of the Dental Act ; such, however, as cannot
bear the strictest investigation as being bond fide in practice
at the passing of the Act had better at once, and previous
to the publication of the register, apply to Mr. Miller, and
have their names erased to prevent “ Section xxxv. ” being
carried into effect.

1, St. Domingo Vale, Liverpool. J. J. Musgeave.

SP. iETHER. NlTROSI.

Sir, — In your issue of August 2, there appeared a letter
on this subject by Mr. W. Pollard in reference to the paper
by me in the Journal of July 19. The usual derangement
of business consequent upon holiday time must be my
apology for the delay in replying.

Two questions appear to have suggested themselves to
Mr. Pollard, and upon which he asks information.

1st. How is it that 2 per cent, of aether. is separated by
the solution of calcic chloride, and only 1*72 is obtained by
analysis?

In answer to this query, I must refer Mr. Pollard to the
discussion that followed the reading of a paper at Blooms¬
bury Square, reported in the Journal, on page 377, vol. viii.,
1877, and he will find it stated by some of the speakers that
the ethereal fluid that rises in the tube is not all nitrite of
ethyl, and the analysis I have given shows this to be true.

2nd. What becomes of two-thirds of the nitric acid used
in the process P

Some of the nitric acid is decomposed by the alcohol,
aldehyde and -water being formed, a further portion remain¬
ing in the retort unused.

Bradford, Sept. 10, 1879. F. M. Rimmington,

Weights and Measures.

Sir, — Mr. Martindale in his note says that “the troy
cup weights in general use have always had this, the troy
pound of 12oz., as their largest weight.” This is certainly
not “ always ” the case, all the troy cup weights I have
ever seen run thus— 5ij, 5ij, 5iv, 5j, 3u» §iv, gviij, going
on to 16 and 32oz., the larger cup being always of the same
weight as those fitting into it. I would give a hint to
people having the larger cups of 16 and 32oz., that if the
inspectors see them it may not be altogether pleasant, as
these weights are not mentioned in the schedule and there
is no standard for them ; but in this as in some other
matters connected with the Act, we can only hope the
authorities will not ask too many questions.

Manchester. W. Wilkinson.

Liq. Kino (‘Year-Book,’ 1873).

Sir, — I take the opportunity now the subject is again
before the members of the Conference and readers of your
Journal to make a necessary correction. In the ‘ Year-Book ’
for 1873, in the paper on page 554, line 12, “four” should
be “one and a half,” which dilution would then bring the
solution to the same strength as the tincture, i.e., 2oz.
Kino to Oj. I would ask those possessing the ‘ Year-Book’
to make the necessary alteration. I did not observe the
mistake till after the ‘Year-Book ’ was published, and had not
that paper been mentioned at the Sheffield Conference by
Mr. Benger, I should not have thought it necessary to call
attention to the error which was an oversight of mine at
the time of writing the paper.

Sheffield. G. Ellinor.

Gilvach, M. — See a letter on the subject in the previous
column.

F. Watts. — (1) Ballota nigra. (2) Stachys Betonica.
(3) Origanum vulgare.

“ Querist .” — The latest edition of Fownes’s ‘ Chemistry ’
is the 12th, published in two volumes iu 1877.

J. Thompson. — Salvia verbenaca.

G. R. P. — Ohenopodium album.

J. H. Dingle. — (1) Peplis Portula. (2) TJsnea plicata.
(3) Molinea ccerulea. 4 and 5 belong to the genus
Ampelopsis, but the materials are not sufficient to deter¬
mine the species.

“Fred.” — The Army Medical Department.

“ Spes.” — We are unable to give the inforinatioh asked for.

“ Apprentice .” — If possible, send the original prescrip¬
tion ; probably you have misread it.

A. N. — See the discussion in the “Dispensing Memo¬
randa” in vol. viii., pp. 19, 38 and 67.

“ Associate .” — There is no such preparation in the
United States Pharmacopoeia.

B. T. Gregory. — You should apply to a respectable book¬
seller for the information.

T. P. Blunt.' — The substance in question is not included
in the schedule, it not being a cyanide.

D. Dickinson. — Registration in America does not protect
a title in England.

W. J. Sanders. — Probably Galangal root (Alpinia offici -
narum, Hance).

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Parsons, Hamilton, Long and Co., Dickson, Hop-
kinson, Fletcher, Howard, Benger, Robinson, Pope, Rim¬
mington, Tait, Mason, Atkins, Naylor, Collier, Elton,
Gosling, Draper, Landerer, Corder, Musgrave, Bostock,
Barnaby, Stoner, Abraham, Laing, Norman, Chadwick,
Tupholme, Junior, Tyro, Inquirer, Epsilon, Greek Fire,
Ignoramus, Junius, Minor, Sandford, R. W., M. P. S.,
J. T., W. L., T. S. W.

September 20, 1879.) THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

!

221

NOTE ON GENTIAN ROOT.

BY 0. CORDER.

Whilst walking through the Engadine, Switzer¬
land, this summer, I found in some valleys, as in the
Beveos Thai, great quantities of Gentiana punctata,
and in one chalet saw several tons dug up for
medicinal use ; in others as in the Fex Thai, only G.
lutea was noticed, and upon inquiry from a local
botanist, M. Cavretzel of Pontresina, he informed me
that I was correct in supposing that hotli are indis¬
criminately collected for pharmaceutical purposes.
The two plants differ but little in the growing state,
but when in flower would never be mistaken, G. lutea,
having a yellow corolla and G. punctata a yellowish
green one profusely spotted over with black dots.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL EXHIBITION
IN HANOVER.

One of the most interesting features of the
meetings of the Deutsche Apotheker-Verein consists
in the exhibition of objects more or less closely
associated with pharmacy, and the display in con¬
nection with the recent meeting in Hanover, although
including many exhibits which have lost the charm
of novelty, well recompensed the trouble of a careful
examination. The larger portion of this exhibition
was shown in the basement and gallery of a good
sized hall in the “Odeon,” adjoining the hall in
which the meetings of the Association were held,
but the machinery and larger pharmaceutical ap¬
paratus overflowed into the concert grounds, where
they were placed under a long shed.

The number of exhibitors was considerable, the
Catalogue containing 161 names. It was rather
noticeable, however, that the manufacture of che¬
micals, as distinct from pharmaceutical preparations,
was almost entirely unrepresented. On the other
hand, several of the exhibits might be looked upon
as being rather excrescences of pharmacy than
pharmaceutical. Paper and labels, bottles and boxes,
infants’ foods and extracts of meat, condensed milk
and soluble cocoa, aniline dyes and phosphorus
paste, all had their exhibitors, and most of the cases
were praiseworthy, but they presented in this direc¬
tion little beyond what pharmacists are accustomed
to see in this country. 1

Amongst the knickknackeries of elegant phar¬
macy one could hardly help being struck by the
development in the preparation of gelatine capsules
and perles. Some very fine and elastic specimens
of these were exhibited by H. Kalile, of Konigsberg,
and G. Pohl, of Schonbaum. In fact the gelatine
capsule has developed in more ways than one, speci¬
mens being shown as containing 15 grams of oil. A
remark as to the large size of these led to a practical
demonstration with one by an obliging bystander,
and the capsule was bolted without any indication
of present difficulty or —what was quite as noticeable,
perhaps — fear of subsequent inconvenience. Pas¬
tilles were also shown in considerable number, and
of tempting appearance, one of sal ammoniac being
frequently met with. Much nattiness was also
evident in the getting up of plaster in small quan¬
tities, long strips of different widths being rolled up
and enclosed in tin boxes for sale for a few pfennigs.
Allied with these were also to be seen small rolls of
linen, charged with plaster of paris, put up in air¬
tight cases, requiring only to be wetted to be ready
Third Series, No. 482.

for use as plaster bandages. It may be remarked
here, that some of the plasters appeared to be of
admirable quality; especially may be mentioned an
adhesive plaster on silk, exhibited by R. H. Paulcke,
of Leipzig. This exhibitor also showed a fine speci¬
men of glass wool, prepared from crystal glass and
warranted to be free from lead, which metal has been
alleged to be a source of impurity when glass wool
is used as a filtering material.

Some very good specimens of drugs in powder,
both coarse and fine, were shown by different ex¬
hibitors, notably by Dr. Brunnengraber, of Rostock,
in whose case was also a fine cake of expressed oil of
nutmeg. Many specimens of barks and roots cut
small, but to a uniform size, for the convenience of
pharmaceutical operations, were also to be seen,
though perhaps the best show of these was made by
W. Kathe, of Halle. Especially noticeable in this
display were the fine specimens of rhizoma iridis,
rhizoma galangae, radix liquiritise, and radix rhei
cut into small cubes. Some remarkably fine ergot
was also shown by Mr. Kathe. It was stated to
be the choice pickings of large parcels of ergot of
rye collected in different parts of Germany, especially
in Prussian Silesia, but the size was so enormous as
to suggest the idea that it might have been parasitic
on some other plant than rye.

A very fine case of pharmaceutical preparations
was displayed by Dr. F.. Witte, of Rostock. It con¬
tained a very large and handsome crystallization of
caffein, but of not less interest was a series of pre¬
parations of pepsin and peptones. Amongst these
was an “Eisen-pepton,” prepared from a fibrin pep¬
tone. It is claimed that iron administered in combi¬
nation with peptone is presented to the stomach
in a form in which it does not cause irritation to
the mucous membrane and is very easily assimilable.
This preparation is in the form of powder, is said to be
easily and perfectly soluble in water at a temperature
of 28° C., and to contain 5 per cent, of iron oxide.
A “ tinctura episcopalis ” gave rise to some specu¬
lations as to its possible origin, which were by no
means allayed by the subsequent visit to the old
cathedral at Hildesheim, where the remains of
several bishops are supposed to lie at rest.

Attention has recently been directed to the subject
of crystallization, and especially to the behaviour in
this respect of solutions of isomorphous salts to each
other. ■ A case of crystals exhibited by F. Meyer,
of Geestemiinde, contained some very fine crystals,
which well illustrated some principles laid down in
two papers that have appeared in this Journal
during the present year.* One very fine and perfect
octahedron of chrome alum crystallized over ordi¬
nary alum weighed 1550 grams. From mixtures of
solutions of the two alums the crystallization of
chrome alum appears to take place most rapidly at
starting, as indicated by the centre of the crystal
being much darker than the outer portion. J udging
from similar evidence, when a crystallization of
magnesia sulphate is grown over nickelous sulphate
the greater part of the deposit takes place at the
ends of the prism as compared with the sides.

In the exhibit of Schmidt and Haensch, of Berlin,
was an instrument that promises to respond to what
was mentioned at the recent Conference meeting at
Sheffield as a desideratum. This was a small pola-
rimeter, which is described as a “ half-shade Mit-
scherlich.” From a cursory examination it appeared

* 1'twi m. Jour.L. p>], voJ. ix., pi . 6.r8 and 7a>.

9,9,9,

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 20, 1879;

to "be a fairly good and delicate instrument,— tlie
vernier being graduated to degrees representing each
1 per cent, of sugar, — and the price was five guineas.
It is probable that an opportunity of examining this
instrument, as well as a low-priced, but apparently
very good, students’ microscope, will be afforded at
an evening meeting in the coming session. Some of
the microscopes of this firm were fitted with an
ingenious arrangement by which, after the traveller
has carried the object glass from end to end hori¬
zontally across the field of vision, upon reversing the
movement the object glass is, by a ratchet action,
shifted vertically just sufficiently to expose a fresh
field, and thus a systematic examination of an object
can be attained.

In the machinery and apparatus shed were some
very handsome and comprehensive pharmaceutical
apparatus, aiming at the same objects as those
described and illustrated in this Journal in the
papers by Mr. Corder and Mr. Schacht* A small
vacuum apparatus, valued at £35, was also exhibited
by F. H. Meyer, of Hanover. There were also several
pharmaceutical presses. One consisted essentially of
two vertical plates, with cavities to contain hot water,
and was worked by a double screw (one to each plate).
In another the pressure was effected by drawing
four rvedges placed above the pressure plate from an
inclined into a perpendicular position. Mills, appa¬
ratus for filling, corking and washing bottles, etc. ,
were also shown, but these call for no particular
remark. There was also a small stove, adapted for
the use of petroleum as a source of heat.

Different people have different tastes, and to some
probably the small side room, devoted to the “His-
torisch-pliarmaceutische Austellung,” was the most
acceptable part of the whole. This was the first time
in connection with this Association that an attempt
had been made to gather together literary and other
antiquities more or less belonging to pharmacy, and
the committee at Hanover maybe fairly congratulated
upon the success that followed their effort. This
is not the place for a catalogue, but it may be men¬
tioned that the collection included some very curious
old specimens of pharmaceutical utensils, including
a brass mortar, which has just completed its five
hundredth year, as would appear from the inscrip¬
tion, “ ghegote van ian verpiet. 1379.” Some
bezoar stones, mounted in gold filagree and formerly
worn as charms, recalled a materia medica that has
passed away. But this was done more vividly by a
case of ancient remedies from the Altstaclen Apotheke .
It contained a large number of specimens in small
bottles, and among those of which the labels could
be deciphered -were the following : — viperarum
spinoe, viperarum exuvite, dentes lupi, dentes lio-
minis, pili cervi, pili leporis, pili liirci, calculus ex
vess. fel. bovini, calc, ex vess. humance, priapus
cervi, testiculi equi, testiculi cervi, testiculi cervis,
testae fiuviatilis, succinum rubrum, succinum artifici-
ale, stercus pavonis, stercus murium, stercus hiru-
dinum, stercus equorum, stercus columbarum, and
stercus anseris. There was a considerable collection
of old documents, consisting of “ privilegiums,”
indentures, certificates, and the like, most of them
bearing a date in the latter half of the eighteenth
century, but some much earlier. Many of these
documents were elaborately emblazoned and other¬
wise ornamented, and most of them were written in
the German language and characters. Amongst the

# Phcwm. Journ. [3], vol. vii., p. 349, and vol. viii., p. 225.

— . ' ' ' - : - ^

books were several very old herbaria and herbals, a
number of old pharmacopoeias, mostly of German
states, but some British, and several ancient works
on alchemy and chemistry. Perhaps, as Victor
Meyer has recently shown that it is not always safe
to overlook as exploded the theories of these old
masters, there may be a tendency just now to hunt
up the literature of the past for hints. It will not
therefore be out of place to conclude this notice with
mention of the ‘ Zymotechnia Fundamentalis, or.
the General Principles of the Art of Fermentation,’
published at Frankfort in 1734, a book which ap¬
pears promising forage ground at a time when the-
nature of the “ elements ” is so much discussed, since
it claims on the title-page to describe how a true
sulphur may be artificially produced (“ wie ein
wahrer Schwefel durch Kunst zum Vorschem zu
bringen ”) .

CITRATES OF QTJINIAA

BY A. F. MANDELIN.

The author has made investigations in the pharma¬
ceutical laboratory of the University of Dorpat, under -
Professor G. Dragendorff, on the composition of various
citrates of quinia which may be obtained of a definite -
composition. He first gives an historical review of the
labours of his predecessors.

Dr. Guleani, of Venice, was the first who proposed (in
1832) a method for preparing a citrate of quinia by
double decomposition of sulphate of quinia and sodium
citrate. The former salt may be either neutral or acid
according to its nature the proportions of the two salts
required to react upon each other will somewhat vary,
but they will yield in each case the same product, namely,,
a neutral salt.f

a.) 3(2Qu.H2S04) + 2Na3H3(C6H507)2t =

neutral quinia sulphate + “acid ” sodium citrate =
3Na2S04 + 2(3Qu.2Ci).

sodium sulphate + neutral quinia citrate.
h.) 3(Qu.H2S04) -!- 2Na3C6H507.

acid quinia sulphate + neutral sodium citrate.

= 3Na2S04 + . 3 Qu.2 Ci.

sodium sulphate + neutral quinia citrate.

Wittstein analysed the crystallized salt and found it to-
correspond to a formula which in the new notation would-
be 2Qu.Ci.5JH20.

Dr. Hager, in 1859, directed to prepare it from Id-
parts of citric acid and 29 parts of pure quinia. Its
composition was given as 3Qu.2Ci.l0H2O. In 1875, the
same author changed his directions to 1 part of citric
acid to 3-5 parts of pure quinia. He called the resulting
salt neutral citrate of quinia, and gave its composition
as 2Qu.Ci.7H20. In 1876, however, he reduced the
proportion of quinia to 3 parts, and returned to the
original formula, namely, 3Qu.2Ci. 10H2O.

The Austrian Pharmacopoeia directs to saturate citric
acid with freshly precipitated quinia hydrate. Dcebereiner
(1861) gives for this the following formula: 2Qu.Ci.

Geiger, in 1845, directed the same method of pre¬
paration.

The Netherland Pharmacopoeia (1871) directs 1 part
of citric acid and 3 parts of quinia hydrate, which yield,
according to Stceder (1878), a salt of the composition
3Qu.Ci.lOH20.

* Prom New Remedies, September, 1879. Abstract of a
paper by K. P. Mandelin. Chinincitrater : TJndersok -
ningar i farmaceutisha laboratoriet i Dorpat. Af K, F.
Mandelin, fr. Jcensuu i Finland. 8vo. Dorpat, 1879.

+ Throughout the above text we have abbreviated the
formula for quinia (C2oHo4N202) by “ Qu.,” and the for¬
mula for citric acid (CgHgO-) "by “ Ci.”

X This stands really for 2 Na;jCtiH507+2H3C;iHa07.

September 20, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

223

Wurtz gives the composition 2Qu.Ci.5H20.

The author now proceeds to give an account of his
•own investigations. He brought together citric acid
and quinia in four different proportions, and analysed
•the resulting crystallized salts with the following re-
•suits : —

a. Three molecules of quinia and two molecules of
citric acid. He obtained a salt containing 0'3963 per cent,
of water, 72 ‘99 per cent, of anhydrous quinia, and (28*14
per cent, corrected) 26 '62 per cent, of citric acid, and
corresponding to the formula 3Qu.2Ci.

b. One molecule of quinia and one molecule of citric
acid. The resulting salt was anhydrous, and contained
i64*55 per cent, of anhydrous quinia and (32 '43 per cent.,
•corrected) 35*45 per cent, citric acid. Composition :
'Qu.Ci.

c. One molecule of quinia and two molecules of citric
•acid gave a salt containing, when dried in the air, 0'60
per cent, of water, 63*79 per cent, of anhydrous quinia
.and 35*59 per cent, of citric acid (calculated by dif¬
ference). The composition is, therefore, probably the
same as that of the preceding salt. Hesse has already
stated that by treating one molecule of quinia with a
little more than one molecule of citric acid, a salt of the
composition Qu.Ci. is obtained.

d. Two molecules of quinia and one molecule of citric
.acid. This salt contained 1*14 per cent, of water, 78*28
per cent, of anhydrous quinia, and 20 '32 per cent, of citric
.acid. Composition: 2Qu.Ci.£H20.

The solubilities of the three obtained citrates are the
following in 100 parts of water : —

Cold. BjiliDg

part8 parts

Basic Quinia Citrate (2 Qu.Ci.) 0'1093 2*25.

Neutral „ „ (3Qu.2Ci.) 0 'll 33 2*39.

Acid „ „ (Qu.Ci) 01566 2'60

PETROLEUM FROM THE CASPIAN.*

A correspondent of the Daily News, writing from Baku,
on the Caspian, gives an account of the petroleum springs
•existing there. All around Baku the ground is sodden
with natural issues of naphtha. In some places the earth
is converted into a natural asphalte, hard during cold
weather, but into which the foot sinks a couple of inches
at midday. Add to this that, owing to the scarcity of
water, the streets are moistened with coarse black residual
naphtha. It effectually lays the dust during fifteen days.
After this period a thick ih-own dust lies four or five
•inches deep in the roadway, over which the numerous
“ phaetons ” or street carriages glide so softly and noise¬
lessly that the foot passenger is frequently in danger of
being run over. When a north or west wind arises, the
air is thick with impalpable marly earth, combined with
•bitumen. The least glow of sunshine fixes this indelibly
in one’s clothes. No amount of brushing or washing can
remove it.

The shores of Baku bay north of the town trend towards
the east, and some five or six miles distant are the petro-
. leum, or, as they are termed, the naphtha springs. The
surrounding district is almost entirely destitute of vegeta¬
tion ; and in its midst are some black-looking brick
buildings, interspersed with curious wooden structures,
twenty feet high, resembling Continental windmills.
‘These latter are the pump or well-houses covering the
borings for oil, and in which the crude liquid is brought
■ to the surface. All around smells of petroleum, and the
ground is black with waste liquid and natural infiltrations.
Boring for naphtha is conducted much in the same manner
as that for coal. An iron bit, gouge-shaped, is fitted
to a boring bar, eight or ten feet in length, which is
successively fitted to other lengths as the depth of the
piercing increases. This depth varies from fifty to one

* From the Journal of the Society of Arts , August 29,

hundred and fifty yards, this difference existing even at
very short horizontal distances, sometimes not over forty
yards. Layers of sand and rock have to be pierced. It
is in the sand that often the greatest difficulties have been
met with. A loose boulder will meet the boring tool, and
displacing itself leave the passage free. But when the
l’ods are withdrawn to allow the introduction of the
tubes which form the lining of the well, the boulder falls
back to its place, and baffles all attempts to continue the
orifice. This boulder difficulty is the great terror of those
commencing to bore. Sometimes, after a lengthened
discharge of heavy carburetted hydrogen, the naphtha
rises to the surface, and even flows over abundantly, as in
the case of the artesian well. Under ordinary circum¬
stances, it has to be fished up from a considerable depth.
The boring is generally ten, or at most eighteen inches in
diameter. A long bucket, or rather a tube stopped at
bottom and fifteen feet in length is lowered into the well,
and drawn up full of crude petroleum, fifty gallons at a
time. This, which is a blue-pink transparent liquid, is
poured into a rudely constructed, plank-lined trough at
the door of the well-house, whence it flows by an equally
rude channel to the distillery. The distillation is con¬
ducted at a temperature commencing with 140 degrees
Centigrade, much lower, I am told, than the first boiling
point for that from Pennsylvania. When no more oil
comes over at this heat, the result is withdrawn and the
temperature increased by ten degrees. This second result
is also laid aside, and the heat being again increased a
third distillation is carried on until no further easily evapo¬
rated liquid remains. This last is the best quality of
petroleum for lamps. That which preceded it is the second
quality; and the first, or highly volatile, liquid is either
thrown away or mixed with the best and second best % j
an adulteration. The thick dark brown treacly fluid
remaining after distillation is termed astalki, and is that
used for the irrigation of the streets. The distilled petro¬
leum, if used in lamps, would quickly clog the wick with
a carbonaceous deposit. Previous to being offered for
sale, it is placed in a large reservoir, within which revolves
a large paddle-wheel. Sulphuric acid is first added, and
after being allowed to settle, the clear top liquor is drawn
off, and similarly treated with caustic potash. After this
it is ready for sale. Up to the present, the residues,
after the acid and potash treatments, have not been
utilized. I have no doubt but that, later on, valuable
products can be derived from them. With the astalki, or
remnant after the first distillation, it is different. For
years past it has been the only fuel used on board the war
ships and the mercantile steamers of the Caspian. At
Baku its price is only nominal, vast quantities being
poured into the sea for lack of stowing space or demand.
In cooking apparatus it is used, and for the production of
gas for lighting purposes. In the latter case it is allowed
to trickle slowly into retorts raised to a dull red heat,
pure gas with little graphite being the result. Weight
for weight this waste product gives four times as great a
volume of gas as ordinary coal. By distillation at a high
temperature and treatment with an alkaline substance, a
product is obtained which is used as a substitute for oil
in greasing machinery.

Apart from the local use of petroleum for lighting
purposes, and its exportation for a similar use, comes its
application to steam navigation. With the old-fashioned
boilers in use, having a central opening running longitu¬
dinally, no modification is necessary for the application of
the new fuel. A reservoir, containing some hundred
pounds weight of the refuse (astalki), is furnished with a
small tube, bearing another at its extremity, a few inches
long, and at right angles with the conduit. From this
latter it trickles slowly. Close by is the mouth of another
tube, connected with the boiler. A pan containing tow
or wood saturated with astalki is first introduced to heat
the water, and once the slightest steam pressure is pro¬
duced, a jet of vapour is thrown upon the dropping bitu¬
minous fluid, which is thus converted into spray. A ligh

224

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 20, 1879.

is applied, and then a roaring deluge of fire inundates the
central opening of the boiler. It is a kind of self-acting
blow-pipe. This volume of fire can be controlled by one
man by means of the two stop-cocks as easily as the flame
in an ordinary gas jet. This I have repeatedly witnessed
on board the Caspian steamers. As regards the expense,
I give the following data on the authority of a merchant
captain who has used naphtha fuel for years. His steamer
is of four hundred and fifty tons, and of one hundred and
twenty-horse power. He burns thirty poods per hour of
astalki to obtain a speed of thirteen nautical miles in the
same time. One pood is about thirty-three English
pounds (16 kilogrammes), and costs on an average from
five to six pence. Thus a twenty hours’ voyage at full
speed for such a vessel costs about twelve pounds sterling.
The fuel is as safe and occupies much less space than the
amount of coal necessary to produce a similar effect, not
to speak of the enormous difference in price, and the
saving of manual labour. Two engineers and two stokers
suffice for a steamer of a thousand tons burden. With
the immense supply of natural petroleum, as yet only
very slightly developed, and its application to the already
guaranteed railway from Tiflis to Baku, and to the in¬
evitable future ones beyond the Caspian over the plains
of the far East, I think this subject is worthy of every
attention. Yet there are proprietors of large tracts of
petroleum-bearing ground Avhose capital rests unproduc¬
tive because of a want of demand. The island of Tchili-
can, not far from Krasnavodsk, teems with the precious
liquid. The sea-ward cliffs are black with its streams
flowing idly into the sea ; and a natural paraffin, or
‘•'mineral wax,” is found abundantly in the island and in
the low hills a hundred versts west of Krasnavodsk. All
round Baku the ground is full of naphtha. I11 hundreds
of places it exhales from the ground and burns freely
when a light is applied. Only a couple of months ago
the volatile products produced a remarkable effect a
couple of miles south of Baku. A large earth cliff front¬
ing the sea was tumbled over as by an earthquake shock
and, as I saw myself, hugh boulders and weighty ship’s
boilers were thrown a hundred yards. In some places I
have seen fifty or sixty furnaces for burning lime, the
flame used being solely that of the carburetted hydrogen
issuing naturally from fissures in the earth.

OIL OF GATJLTHERIA.*

BY JOSEPH BRAKELEY, PH.G.

The manufacturers of this oil are generally men of
limited means and knowledge, and the apparatus used
is very crude and simple in its arrangement, being easily
taken down and removed to other parts when the supply
of leaves is exhausted. This generally occurs in two or
three years.

The first point in locating, after finding where the
plant grows plentifully, is to secure a stream of water
with enough fall to allow it to be carried to the top of the
refrigerating tub. Under a rough shed the apparatus is
erected, consisting generally of an ordinary copper whisky
still with a capacity of from two to four hundred gallons,
enclosed in brick work, and with the head only projecting.
The still is connected with a copper worm, and a cask or
tub to receive the distillate completes the arrangement.
The process followed is the one generally used in dis¬
tilling volatile oils. The leaves are placed in the still,
covered with water, and heated by an open fire beneath.
The steam carrying the volatile oil passes through the
worm, is condensed, and the product is collected in the
receiving vessel. The oil settling to the bottom, most of
the water is dipped out and used again with the next
lot of leaves, while the oil is collected by means of a tin

_^*^From the American Journal of Pharmacy , September,

separating funnel. The advantage of using the same
water in each succeeding operation seems to be under¬
stood and is in general practice.

The above method is the one nearly always followed,
and the amount of volatile oil obtained varies from
‘66 per cent, to ‘80 per cent. This is the percentage as
given to me by a number of manufacturers. From their
statements I believe the average yield to be abont seven-
tenths of one per cent. From certain facts given to me
by one manufacturer I believe that were a close wooden
cask or vessel substituted for the metallic still, and live
steam introduced and passed through the leaves, a
larger product would be obtained. This process was the
only excejffion to that usually followed. He made his
still of heavy tin plate in place of copper ; this would be
of the usual size and shape, and one would last five or six
months. He always noticed that when the still was new
and first used the amount of oil produced was very large,
and gradually and steadily grew less as the still became
older. Finally he would hardly get -o per cent of oil,
and would be obliged to throw the still aside. On ex¬
amining it then he would find it very much corroded and
eaten away inside where the steam and oil came most in
contact with the metal. He also noticed that a brown
spongy mass would collect in the bottom of the receiving
vessel, and that the amount of this deposit seemed to be
inversely in proportion to the yield of oil. That is, when
the still was new it would be almost wanting, and would
gradually increase with the age of the still. This
decrease in yield could hardly be ascribed to the plant
giving a greater quantity of oil at one season of the year
than at another, as the stills were renewed at different
times in the year, and always with the same result. The
most probable couclusion is that the oil acts on the metal
at the temperature used in distilling, and forms the
deposit referred to as collecting in the oil. I could not
ascertain if other manufacturers using copper stills had
noticed the same corroding effect, but as the average
yield with all seemed to be about the same, I should
think it very probable. This same party used also a false
bottom in his still, srqrporting the leaves over a small
quantity of water, merely the steam passing through the
leaves. He found this arrangement to give better results.
There was an arrangement by which the overflowing
water from the receiving tub was returned directly and
continuously to the still, thus retaining the water there
at a constant level.

The oil as thu3 obtained has the specific gravity 1T7
and is of a pale red to a deep brown colour, and by most
manufacturers is thus sent into the market, packed in tin
cans of various shapes and sizes. One party uses animal
charcoal, obtaining a product entirely colourless. He
tried redistilling the oil with water and a small quantity
of fixed oil, but did not get a satisfactory result; then
he tried filtering through animal charcoal and was still
unsatisfied. Then he adopted the plan of maceratiug
the charcoal with the oil for several o’ays and then
filtering off the oil, which is thus well decolorized. The
filter and charcoal are returned to the still with the next
lot of leaves, thus losing no oil.

The leaves are gathered principally by woman and
children. The price paid varies with the locality and
abundance of the plants, seldom going below 1 ‘00 dollars
or over 1*75 dollars per one hundred pounds. To gather
fifty pounds of leaves is considered a good day’s
work. The average is less, being nearer twenty-five
or thirty pounds. The wages earned are small, but
the entire family will turn out in the morning, so that
by evening they will have collected a good quantity.
The people, though, are apt to be indolent, and the
manufacturer often finds himself without the material
to operate on, and so earns rather a precarious living.
None, so far as I know, have ever grown rich at
the business, and the decline in the price of the oil in
the market of late years has still further reduced their
profit.

September 20, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

225

§harnt;i apical Journal

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1879.

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

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

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

THE STATE OF PHARMACY IN GERMANY.

Pharmaceutical affairs in Germany are at tlie
present time in a state of agitation in reference to
several important questions, the discussion of 'which
will not be without some interest on this side of the
Channel as throwing a light upon subjects which
have here engaged the attention of pharmacists
during the last few years. As our readers are prob¬
ably aware, the practice of pharmacy in Germany
has been for ages carried on under conditions especi¬
ally favourable for the interests of those engaged in
the business. The old established usage by which
the possibility of competition was almost done away
with is a condition so foreign to our experience at
home that some will be inclined to envy the position
of a German pharmacist under that regime , and
almost to wish that something of the same kind
could be established here.

Unquestionably the system of limitation of phar¬
macies in Germany has been productive of good,
inasmuch as it has tended to make the business one
eminently attractive for men of capital and scientific
ability, and it has had the further effect of making
the position of the pharmacist in Germany one very
superior to that which must be taken as obtaining
in regard to the general body in this country. But
as in process of time it happens with most old insti¬
tutions, their merits fall into disregard, so with the
established system of limitation of pharmacies in
Germany ; there has grown up a feeling of dissatis¬
faction with it and a desire to replace it by a more
free exercise of individual inclination.

Even among the proprietors of old-established
German pharmacies the opinion is held that the
restrictions which have been in force to prevent
the opening of pharmaceutical establishments are
out of date and not suited to the present require¬
ments of society. Consequently there is an eager
controversy going on as to the relative advantages
of the protective system and that which is proposed
as its substitute on the basis of absolute free trade
principles.

Since Germany became one, the two pharmaceu¬
tical associations of North and South Germany have
been united, but the official amalgamation has not
obliterated either in the north or in the south the
desire to hold a prominent, if not a preponderating,

position in the regulation of pharmaceutical affairs.
The union of Germany has in this respect, as in
others, given additional force to the desire of Prussia
to take the lead, and of Berlin to imitate the role of
Paris in being Germany as Paris has been France.
Those who know the character of the Germans who
are not Prussians will be able to understand that
this endeavour meets with strenuous opposition
among those whom we may term provincial Germans,
and hence it is possible to recognize in many of the
proceedings of the German Pharmaceutical Associa¬
tion an expression of this contest between centraliza¬
tion and provincialism which gives marked animation
to the discussions of various subjects.

The constitution of the German Association is
especially representative, and the maintenance of
active centres for the transaction of business relating
to pharmaceutical affairs, is one of the best features
of this body. It is one which, if properly used,
scarcely admits of the complaint that the provinces
are not adequately represented or that the ruling
body can be insensible to the representations of its
provincial members.

Among the subjects which commanded most atten¬
tion at the late meeting in Hanover, the re- construc¬
tion of the statutes of the Association is perhaps the
most important to those immediately concerned, but
as it would be unreasonable to expect that it would
have the same interest here, it will suffice to say
that most of the principal pharmacists in Germany
are actively engaged in the consideration of this
matter. Next in order and in import for the well
being of the pharmaceutical body, comes the question
as to the system of education to be adopted. On this
point there is great diversity of opinion, some adhering
to the old system of education in the pharmacy, while
others lean to or advocate the adoption of a system
of university education. For both views cogent
arguments are adduced and equally cogent objections
are brought forward on either side. A special com¬
mittee has been appointed by the Association to
consider and report upon this matter, and we shall
take the opportunity, when this report appears, to
place before our readers the substance of the views
put forward on the subject.

The preparation of a new Pharmacopoeia is another
subject which engaged the members of the Associa¬
tion at the late meeting. At the meeting in
Coblentz last year a committee vTas appointed to
deal with this subject and some steps were taken to
that end, but a number of difficulties have arisen to
prevent the presentation of a report, and at the
meeting in Hanover various questions connected
with the subject vrere discussed. As the chief
among these we may mention the following : —
Whether the Pharmacopoeia should be published in
Latin or in German ? Whether chemical formulae
should be used ? Whether in naming metallic com¬
pounds the name of the metal should be placed first?
Whether the use of synonyms should be limited l

226

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. >r eptember 20, 1879.

The discussion of these and other questions occupied
a considerable time, and from the interest manifested
by the speakers it was evident that the pharmacists
of Germany are determined to have some consider¬
able voice in the construction of their new book of
law.

In speaking of the Coblentz meeting last year we
pointed out that one of the most striking impressions
produced upon us as strangers was the amount of
attention devoted to matters connected with “ trade
interests.” The same tendency was this year equally
manifest, and though running in a direction some¬
what remote from the mere endeavour to monopolize
the trade in patent medicines it served to show that
if the material well-being of the pharmaceutical body
is to be maintained, or if possible augmented, it is
only by the active co-operation of those engaged in
the business that this can be done. While looking
over the records of the work done by the provincial
branches of the German Pharmaceutical Associa¬
tion it was impossible to avoid drawing a com¬
parison, or rather a contrast, between the general
activity there displayed and the small extent to
which this is the case throughout this country. The
number of our provincial associations is also dispro¬
portionately small, and though some of them are well
kept up there is too frequently an absence of any
sustained effort to advance the interest of the busi¬
ness or even total quiescence except when some
burning question is being agitated. In this respect
there is much to be learnt with profit from the
example of our German colleagues and we trust the
opportunity may not be missed.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD ON THE WORK.

ING OF THE SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACT.

It is satisfactory to learn from the returns in the
Report of the Local Government Board just issued
that the proportion of the samples analysed under
the provisions of the Sale of F ood and Drugs Act in
the year 1878 reported to have been adulterated is
lower by 2 per cent, than in the preceding year.
The total number of samples reported upon was
16,191, and of these 2,782, or 19’2 per cent., were
returned as adulterated. Too much importance,
however, must not be attached to these figures, for
irrespective of the fact judiciously emphasized in
the Report, that these percentages are based on the
results of analyses as given in the quarterly reports
of public analysts, and not upon the number of
cases that have been tested in a law court, it needs
only a glance at the abstract of returns to see that
the figures may be affected seriously by local condi¬
tions and the number of samples examined, as well
as the idiosyncrasy of the analyst. Thus in the
column showing the percentage proportion of samples
reported to be adulterated in the different counties we
find Bucks returned as 0; Rutland, 0; Anglesey,
7-4 ; Bedford, 7*7 ; and Gloucester, 7*8 ; whilst
Essex stands at 71 '4 and Cumberland at 62*5 per

cent. It can hardly be contended that these figures
represent correctly the relative proportions in which
trading in adulterated articles exists in these counties.
Moreover, the whole returns would be affected to the
extent of 2 per cent, if spirits were excluded from
the calculation, and the diversity of opinion as to
what constituted an adulteration of spirit, until the
passing of the Act of last session, is notorious.

The number of samples of “ drugs” reported to have
been examined is 491, of which 125, or 25’4 per
cent, have been returned as adulterated. Here again
there is great diversity, Lancaster returning 22
adulterated out of 45, or nearly 50 per cent., whilst
Lincoln reports none adulterated out of 25. The
Board expresses regret that more samples of drugs
are not submitted to analysis, “ for it is obvious that
prescriptions may have very different effects, accord¬
ing as they are made up with genuine or with
adulterated medicines,” and it then goes on to quote
the report of the analyst for the West Riding of
Yorkshire as to the evil results attending the dilu¬
tion of sweet spirit of nitre with water. The aptness
of the apposition is not, however, quite evident, in
the face of the fact that in few, if any, recorded cases
of a conviction for the sale of adulterated sweet spirit
of nitre has the vendor been a registered chemist and
druggist. Moreover, “ sweet spirit of nitre ” is not
a preparation that would be used in dispensing.

On the 31st of December, 1878, the number of
authorities who had appointed analysts was 196, —
49 counties, 108 boroughs, and 39 district boards and
vestries in the metropolis, — and 5 other boroughs
had made arrangements with the county analyst or
the analyst of a neighbouring borough.

THE LOCAL SECRETARY OF THE CONFERENCE AT

SHEFFIELD.

Those who had the opportunity of taking part in
the very successful gathering of the British Pharma¬
ceutical Conference at Sheffield will be able to
understand that very much of their enjoyment in
various ways was due to the exertions of the Local
Committee. Organizations of this kind sometimes
fail to do what they should do, and then they are
very difficult to get at for punishment by those who
suffer for their shortcomings ; but though in general
they may be destitute of some of the usual attributes
of humanity it is certain that when they do their
work well they must possess a head to direct
and a working hand to execute. In neither
of these was the Sheffield Local Committee
wanting, and it is with great pleasure we learn
that the services of Mr. Maleham, the Local
Secretary upon whom devolved the arduous labours
of preparing for the meeting, have met with recog¬
nition from his colleagues, and that they have
expressed their appreciation of his zealous exertions
by presenting him with a handsome piece of silver
plate as a token of their respect and admiration. We
are sure that few who were present at the Sheffield
meeting will fail to be gratified at hearing this.

September £0, 1879. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

227

off J^crnttific Storieliqs.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE,
{Continued from page 217.)

The next paper read was on —

The Valuation of Citrate of Iron and Quinine.

BY FREDERICK W. FLETCHER, F.C.S.

Notwithstanding the large number of papers which
have been published during the last few years on the
estimation of quinine in the Citrate of Iron and Quinine
of the British Pharmacopoeia, there still appears to be a
lack of trustworthy information upon one point in the
process which ought by no means to be overlooked. Re¬
corded observations have hitherto been confined, with
scarcely an exception, to the determination of the total
alkaloid present in the citrate, without regard to its purity
as quinine. That such should have been the case is not,
however, surprising, when it is remembered that, until
recently, the separation of quinine from some other
cinchona alkaloids closely resembling it in their behaviour
to certain solvents was a matter of extreme difficulty.
But the process described by Dr. Paul, in the valuable
paper which he communicated to the Pharmaceutical
Society at an Evening Meeting in February, 1877,* may
be said to have revolutionized the subject of quinine
analysis. In that paper, it will be recollected,
the author stated that a sample of sulphate of quinine,
containing an admixture of no less than thirty per
cent, of sulphate of cinchonidine might, if examined
by the Pharmacopoeia test, be passed as pure quinine.
That this astonishing statement was well grounded, any¬
one who has since interested himself in quinine analysis
can testify. Nor indeed was the possibility of such
an extensive adulteration a matter of fancy. Not long
since I met with a parcel of German quinine containing
over twenty-five per cent, of sulphate of cinchonidine,
and the opinions of those most competent to judge, con¬
firm my own experience that from ten to fifteen per cent,
of cinchonidine is invariably present in certain brands
of foreign quinine.

The question now arises, whether if such sulphate is
used in the manufacture of citrate of iron and quinine
the Pharmacopoeia test will detect the cinchonidine. The
reply, as might have been expected, is in the negative.
The alkaloid obtained from the citrate in ‘'the manner
directed in the Pharmacopoeia will dissolve in pure ether,
even though 25 per cent, of its weight is cinchonidine.
But this is not all. The process of extraction of the
alkaloid by ether, which has now superseded the charac¬
teristically indefinite official test, will not eliminate cin¬
chonidine for the same reason that it fails to do so when
applied to sulphate of quinine. It is therefore necessary
to have recourse to some other method. The process
which I have devised for the purpose, and which I
have found to succeed remarkably well, is simply an
adaptation of Dr. Paul’s plan of fractional crystalliza¬
tion. It is exceedingly easy of application, and although
a considerable quantity of the citrate has to be operated
upon, there is little or no loss of quinine, most of the
alkaloid being recovered as sulphate. It has, moreover,
the advantage of combining three operations in one, as
the results indicate: — (1) The exact amount of anhy¬
drous alkaloid ; (2) The proportion of the latter which
can be converted into crystallizable sulphate of quinine ;
and (3) The percentage of alkaloids other than quinine.

The operations involved are briefly as follows: — Place
20 grms. of the citrate in a 100 c.c. flask, dissolve in 50
c.c. of distilled water, and add gradually an excess of
ammonia (*960), shaking well after each addition. This
is important, in order that the quinine may separate in
a state of fine division, as otherwise it is apt to be thrown
out in tough lumps, difficult of subsequent solution.

* Pkarm. Journ., [3] vol. vii. (1877), p. 653.

Pour in 25 c.c. of washed ether, and agitate with a
rotatory motion till the alkaloid has completely dissolved.
Transfer the mixture to a small glass separatory funnel,
and having rim the lower stratum of liquid back into the
flask, pour the ethereal solution into a 100 c.c. platinum
capsule. Treat the liquid in the flask with 20 c.c. more
ether, and proceed as before. Repeat this operation a
third time. The capsule containing the mixed ethereal
solutions is then placed in a saucer of water, and the
ether blown off by a current of air from a Fletcher’s
bellows. This immersion of the capsule in water obviates
the tendency of the ether to creep up the sides. The
platinum dish, which will now contain a pasty residue,
is next placed in the air-bath, previously heated to 120°,
and in fifteen minutes desiccation is complete. After
cooling in an exsiccator, the capsule is covered and re¬
moved to the balance. The weight, minus that of the
capsule and cover, multiplied by 5, is the percentage of
total alkaloid. I may mention that having made many
hundreds of analyses by this process, I can testify to the
accuracy of the results obtained. In cases where a de¬
termination has been repeated, I have never found the
results to vary more than 0T per cent. When an esti¬
mation of total alkaloid only is required, 2 grms. of
citrate is a sufficient quantity to operate upon.

The anhydrous alkaloid is now to be converted into
basic sulphate. Since a molecule of the latter salt
contains 648 parts ofquinia to 98 parts of sulphuric acid,
and as decinormal sulphuric acid contains 4*9 grms. of
H2S04 per litre, it follows that one grm of anhydrous
quinia will require 30*86 c.c. of decinormal sulphuric acid
to effect its conversion into basic sulphate. The weight of
anhydrous alkaloid in grms. is, therefore, multiplied by
30*86, and the number of c.c. of decinormal sulphuric acid
thus indicated are run into the platinum capsule from a
burette, and the former being placed on wire gauze over
the flame of a rose burner, the • contents are briskly
stirred until the alkaloid is all taken up and a clear
solution obtained. This is then transferred to a flask and
allowed to cool spontaneously. The crystalline mass
which will then have formed is thrown on to a small
calico filter, about three inches square, stretched over a
beaker, and, when drained, tightly squeezed to remove
the last few drops of liquid. The latter is then filtered
into a stoppered graduated tube of about 150 c.c. capacity,
and its volume noted. 20 c.c. of washed ether and an
excess of ammonia are then introduced, and the whole,
after being well agitated, is set aside for six hours.

In the meantime the squeezed residue is detached from
the calico filter, dried in the air-bath at a temperature
of 100 degrees C. and weighed as anhydrous sulphate of

quinine j (C20H24N2O2)2. H2S04 = 746 j ’ To express

the result in terms of ordinary crystallized sulphate

| (C20H24N2O2)2 H2S04j72H20 = 881 | the weight found

is multiplied by = j 1*18. To this is added the

amount of the latter contained in the mother liquor
which has been separated (and which may be estimated
to contain 1 part in 750), and the total will then represent
the proportion of anhydrous alkaloid which can be con¬
verted into sulphate.

At the expiration of the time mentioned, the tube
which has been set aside is examined, when the cinchoni¬
dine and quinidine present will be found to have crystal¬
lized out at the junction of the two liquids. The stratum
of ether is removed by a small Nessler pipette ; the
crystals washed with two successive portions of 10 c.c. of
ether, the last few drops of which can be absorbed by a
little roll of filter paper. The crystals are then thrown
upon a double-tared filter, made of two papers weighed
one against the other, dried at 120°, and placed on the
balance, the outside paper acting as a counterpoise. In
practice I find that the weight of this first crop of crys¬
tals represents on an average two-thirds of the total cin-

228

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (September 20, 1879

clionidine or quinidine present. If, therefore, the amount
does not exceed '1 grin, the percentage of these alkaloids
may be estimated to be below 5 per cent. Should the first
weighing exceed this limit, the sulphate obtained from
the first crystallization must be dissolved in 100 c.c.
boiling water, and treated as before, the weight of
alkaloid separated by ether being of course added to the
amount first obtained.

As thus described the process may seem tedious, but
in reality it is not so. Not counting the time which
must be allowed for crystallizing, the entire estimation
may be completed in something under two hours. The
method, of course, does not distinguish between quinidine
and cinchonidine, the usual tests for which must be
applied to the solution of the mixed sulphates. This,
however, is a point of minor importance, as the question
of chief interest for the pharmacist is the determination
of the exact amount of pure quinine present in the
citrate. Two examples will be sufficient to illustrate the
working of the process.

A. 20 grins, citrate taken. Yield of anhydrous alkaloid
— extracted as above, by ether and dried at 120° C., = 2‘67
grms., or 13 '3 5 per cent. The number of c.c. of deci-
normal sulphuric acid required to convert it into sulphate
was therefore (2-673 x 0‘86 — ) 82’5 c.c. This volume was
run in from a burette and the alkaloid dissolved in the
manner described. When cool, the filtered mother liquor,
which measured 85 c.c., was treated with ether and
ammonia. The first crop of crystals of cinchonidine
weighed when dry T13 grm., the second ‘06 grm., there-

(•113 + *06) x 100 „ , ,. _ A xl

fore - — - = 6*4, which represents the per-

Z'O (

centage of cinchonidine in the total alkaloid. The
sulphate obtained in the first crystallization weighed,
when dried at 100°, 2*67 grm., or (2*67x1*18 = ) 3’1
grms. of ordinary crystallized sulphate. On adding to this
the amount present in the 85 c.c. mother liquor, which will
equal = T1 grms., we get (3T + T1 = ) 3*21 grms. of sul¬
phate of quinine. The weight of anhydrous alkaloid
found by experiment being 2*67 grms. would be equi¬
valent to 3 '6 grms. of sulphate ; the cinchonidine found
represents To grms., so that the crystallizable salt would
stand as 3'4 grm. found against 3’6 grm. calculated,
proving the absence of any appreciable amount of amor¬
phous alkaloid.

B. 20 grms. of citrate taken. Yield of anhydrous
alkaloid 3’06 grms., or 15*3 per cent. Weight of cin¬
chonidine found, first crystallization, *120; second,

•065

(T20 + -065.)x
3-06

6‘04 per cent, of the total alka¬

loid. The hot aqueous solution of the sulphate was
sherry-coloured, and the sulphate which separated on
cooling was very far from being white. It weighed when
dry 2'46 grms., equal to (2*46x1*18 = ) 2*9 grms. crys¬
tallized sulphate. This amount, 'plus *113 grms., the
quantity estimated to be present in 85 c.c. mother liquor,
and *15 grms. allowed for first crop of cinchonidine, gives
a total of 3T6 of crystallizable salt. But the weight of
anhydrous alkaloid found was 3-06 grms., equivalent to
(3*06 x|f| = ) 4*16 of crystallized sulphate; the difference
of 1 grm. must therefore be considered to be amorphous
alkaloid — which would thus constitute over 30 per cent,
of. the whole.

Whether the presence of 5, 10 or 20 per cent, of cin¬
chonidine would bring a sample of citrate of iron and
quinine, which nevertheless answered the B.P. test,
within the reach of the Adulteration Act, is a point upon
which I offer no opinion. An eminent analyst, with
whom I was lately discussing the subject, took the nega¬
tive view. If such is really the case, a revision of the
Pharmacopoeia will come none too soon. The plausible
excuse which is sometimes set up, that manufacturers
cannot perfectly separate the cinchonidine from the
quinine except at a greatly enhanced cost, is utterly
without foundation. The white sulphate manufactured

both by Messrs. Howard and Mr. Whiffen I have never
found to give the slightest reaction with Paul’s test, and
what is a still more striking fact, the so-called unbleached
quinine of the latter maker is frequently quite free from
cinchonidine. Certain of the foreign makes are also, as
a rule, unimpeachable in this respect, whilst on the other
hand, some others are systematically adulterated.

It may be worth noting, as a matter of practical
interest, that the substitution of 1 per cent, of cinchon¬
idine for quinine, in the manufacture of citrate of iron
and quinine, reduces the value \d. per ounce for each
such addition ; and when it is remembered that the
Pharmacopoeia test will easily pass 20 per cent, of cin¬
chonidine, and that the consumption of the citrate is
considerably over 100,000 ounces per annum, the valuation
of this preparation resolves itself from a chemical into a
question of commercial interest.

The President said this was one of those useful prac¬
tical papers the importance of which appealed to them,
and as there were practical manufacturers of the article
present it would tbe interesting to hear what they had to
say on the subject.

Mr. Umney said that the subject of citrate of iron
and quinine had for some years been of interest to him.
In a paper by himself in the Pharmaceutical Journal,
August 30, 1873, he endeavoured to show that the Phar¬
macopoeia directions and its test for this salt were written
in somewhat of a haze. Those who remembered citrate
of iron and quinine in its infancy would bear him out
that it was customary for the labels to bear the words
“this preparation contains an equivalent of 25 per cent,
of sulphate of quinine.” Even latterly the same labels
have been affixed, but to some the statement “ that this
preparation contains 16 per cent, of quinia ” has been
added. The compilers of the Pharmacopoeia presumed
that from one part of quinine sulphate they would obtain
by the formula indicated four parts only of citrate of iron
and quinine. Now as a manufacturer he knew that from
100 ounces of sulphate of quinine he could produce 445 to
450 ounces of citrate of iron and quinine. The starting
point, therefore, was wrong, and it was absolutely im¬
possible to get a preparation working by that formula
that would contain the equivalent of 25 per cent, of
sulphate of quinine. This had been pointed out in the
Pharmaceutical Journal, and he had no doubt some
alteration would in the next Pharmacopoeia be made in
this respect. The Pharmacopoeia in directing the pre¬
cipitation of the alkaloid limited them to the quantity
of water. It prescribed that 50 grains should be dissolved
in one ounce of water, and that the precipitate when
dried should weigh eight grains. They were therefore to
infer that it contained 16 per cent, of anhydrous quinia.
Now the experiments of Mr. Fletcher would show that
citrate of quinine and iron would not give 16 per cent,
of anhydrous quinia. To obtain the alkaloid anhydrous
they must resort to a temperature of about 225° F., and
such heat must be continued for four or five hours, for at
212° F. the precipitate would for hours continue to lose
weight. He maintained that the tests in the British
Pharmacopoeia wanted revising, or one day pharmacists
might find themselves landed in great difficulty with
gentlemen known as public analysts. It had been
given on the authority of a public analyst, in the
case Mr. Fletcher had mentioned, that a prosecution
would be with a negative result. Another point required
modification. Mr. Fletcher had referred to the dissolving
of cinchonidine by ether. Had the Pharmacopoeia limited
the quantity of ether used they might have prescribed
the ether test with advantage. The question of the
purity of the quinia precipitate was a very important one,
for cinchonidine was now largely used, and was unques¬
tionably a valuable remedy. He thought the paper was
a most important one, and that the observations on
the revision of the Pharmacopoeia were not the least
important part of it.

September 20, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

229

Mr. A. H. Mason (Liverpool) said that whilst it was
universally admitted that the Pharmacopoeia test was
faulty, it was quite possible to guard against trouble
from public analysts by adding such a quantity of
quinine to the formula as shall yield the desired per¬
centage to the Pharmacopoeia test, and this plan was
now adopted by some manufacturers.

Professor Attfield said it was only fair to the editor
of the British Pharmacopoeia to say that at the meeting
of the Conference in Glasgow that gentleman admitted
that the quantitative test for quinine in citrate of iron
and quinine was not all that could be desired, and thought
that it was important to go a step further so that they
might arrive at more accurate results.

Mr. Symes said it had been shown in Mr. Fletcher's
paper and the discussion — indeed, it had become a re¬
cognized fact — that the Pharmacopoeia process strictly
followed did not yield the product it described, and the
tests given would not detect a considerable amount of
impurity if present. Professor Attfield had stated that
in justice to the editor of the work he should say that he
was now aware of this. He (Mr. Symes) wished to
remark that this being the state of things with regard
to so important a preparation, it furnished further
evidence of the necessity for a new edition of the Phar¬
macopoeia, and he thought in justice to pharmacists this
work ought to be proceeded with in a much more active
manner than it appeared to be doing.

The President said he might be pardoned for the
reflection that the discussion seemed to indicate how
desirable it was that in the re-arrangement of the next
Pharmacopoeia pharmacists proper should be well repre¬
sented. He hoped they would join him in a vote of
thanks to Mr. Fletcher.

Mr. Fletcher said he quite agreed with Mr. Umney
that the B.P. test was most unsatisfactory, and as a
manufacturer he could also endorse Mr. Umney’s state¬
ment that citrate prepared strictly in accordance with
the directions of the Pharmacopoeia would not be found
to contain 16 per cent, of quinine. With regard to what
Mr. Mason had said respecting the 16 per cent, of alka¬
loid, it should be borne in mind that the Pharmacopoeia
method of weighing the alkaloid precipitated by ammonia
was not intended to give anhydrous quinia. The preci¬
pitate was generally regarded as a tri-hydrate, 16 parts
of which were equivalent to 13 *7 parts of anhydrous
quinia. He had verified this experimentally by adopting
a slight modification of the process described in the
Pharmaceutical Journal a few months since by Mr. W.
Stevenson. Instead of dissolving the citrate in water he
dissolved it in a saturated aqueous solution of quinine,
containing a very small quantity of ammonia. The
quinine, precipitated in the usual way, was then thrown
upon a double tared filter, washed free from iron by a
further quantity of the ammoniacal solution of quinine,
and the precipitate dried without heat. Proceeding in
this way, a sample of citrate which yielded to ether 13 7
per cent, of anhydrous quinia would afford very nearly
16 per cent, of air- dried alkaloid.

Mr. E. Davies, F.I.C., sent a paper on “ The Esti¬
mation of Water in Iodine,” which was read by Mr.
Benger.

The Estimation of Water in Iodine.

BY EDWARD DAVIES, F.C.S., F.I.C.

In endeavouring to discover a method for quantitatively
determining the moisture in iodine several difficulties had
to be overcome, owing to the conditions laid down in the
blue list, namely, that the process should be “ handy and
direct.” By the first requirement I understand that it
should be performed with such ordinary apparatus as may
usually be found in a chemist’s shop, that the manipulation
should be easy and simple, and that the time should not
be very long. The second requirement, strictly construed,
is that the water should be weighed, and, so far, I cannot

claim to have complied with it. All attempts to retain
the iodine whilst the water passed on into an absorption
tube were failures. The best was to volatilize the iodine
in a current of carbon dioxide over clean iron filings gently
heated. The apparatus was troublesome to put together,
and practically it was impossible to heat the iron suffi¬
ciently to make it absorb the iodine without decomposing
some of the water.

I was therefore driven to adopt an indirect method
and I think that the following process will answer the
purpose satisfactorily : —

It consists in combining the iodine with mercury and
weighing the resulting iodide. A small thin porcelain
dish, about 2J inches in diameter and weighing about
250 grains, is fitted with a small glass pestle, made from
a piece of solid glass rod, 3 inches long and about Jg thick,
by heating one end in the blowpipe flame until soft, and
then pressing it on the bottom of the dish so that it may
have the same curvature. About 60 grains of dry mercury
are put in the dish with the pestle, and the whole accu¬
rately weighed. Twenty grains of the iodine are then
added and a few drops of absolute alcohol to moisten it.
The iodine and mercury are rubbed together until com¬
plete combination takes place, which is shown by adding
a few more drops of alcohol, and allowing them to flow
upon the side of the dish. If there is no free iodine the
alcohol remains colourless. The rubbing requires about
five or six minutes if much water is present, but only
about one minute with dry iodine. The dish and its
contents are now dried in a desiccator over sulphuric acid
for twelve hours and weighed. The loss of weight of the
dish, mercury and iodine, represents the amount of water
contained in the iodine.

The residue must be dried at ordinary temperature of
the air, as mercury is far too volatile for a temperature
of 212° F. to be used.

The iodine used in these experiments was resublimed
and dried over sulphuric acid in vacuo. The mercury
used was the commercial article not quite pure. The
following are some of the results obtained, from 60 to
80 grains of mercury being used in each case : —

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Mercury, pestle and dish . . 494 "23 509 "35 493 21 532 "Ho 52*2*03

Resublimed Iodine . 20'00 20*00 20*00 30*00 30 00

Water added . 5*87 6*86 6*59 7*77 6*29

Total . 520*10 536*21 519 80 670*1*2 558*32

Residue after drying . 514*10 529*20 513*10 662*20 551*90

Water found . 6 00 7*01 6*70 7*92 6*42

Excess . *13 *15 *11 *15 *13

As these results showed a constant excess of about
*13 grain, the iodine was examined with a view to
ascertain if it contained water which was retained on

drying in vacuo over sulphuric

acid.

Two results

gave : —

Mercury, pestle and dish

513*4*2

509-92

Iodine .

20*00

20-00

Total .

533*42

529-92

Residue after drying . . .

533-42

529*92

The iodine being thus found to be free from moisture and
the mercury also by the same experiment, the only expla¬
nation of the excess of loss which I can suggest is, that
as five or six times as long is required to bring about the
combination when water equal to about 20 per cent, is
present, some of the iodine escapes with the alcohol
vapour.

The drying was continued for twenty-four hours and
in some cases for forty-eight hours, but no perceptible
loss was experienced after the first twelve hours.

The trifling excess which would amount at the outside
to ^ per cent, in an excessively wet sample, and is abso¬
lutely nothing in dry iodine, cannot be considered a great
objection to the process. A sample of resublimed iodine

230

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 20, 1879

purchased in Liverpool contained 0’60 per cent, of
moisture. A sample of commercial iodine contained 0'70
per cent.

Professor Attfield remarked that he had made some
experiments on the best means of estimating water in
iodine, but he had not come to a very satisfactory con¬
clusion. He believed the method adopted by those
who used iodine tolerably largely was to expose a given
weight of the iodine over sulphuric acid under a small
bell-jar at as low a temperature as possible. No great
amount of iodine escaped, and the loss suffered by the
substance represented the amount of water present.
That was a crude method, and he hoped they would
arrive at a more exact one on the lines followed by Mr.
Davies, namely, to endeavour to find some metal which
would at, if necessary, a high temperature, and in large
excess, absorb all the iodine, allowing the moisture to
pass off in some way or other, and be collected and
weighed. Hitherto he had found, that however large the
excess of the metal might be, and whatever the amount of
affinity of that metal for iodine, a little iodine did escape
along with the moisture and gave an inaccurate result.
With regard to Mr. Davies’s suggested defect in the
process followed, namely, that a little of the iodme
itself escaped, and caused the percentage of water to
appear too high, he thought many samples of iodine
would give a loss due to another cause, namely, the
presence of sulphuric acid in iodine. This would
probably decompose iodide of mercury and form sulphate
of mercury, an equivalent amount of iodine previously
combined with the mercury passing off.

Mr. E. C. C. Stanford was surprised to hear this
spoken of as a new process. It was one he had adopted
for several years ; it was first suggested by Bolley, and
would be found in Slater’s ‘ Commercial Analysis.’ His
method was to use eight times the quantity of mercury
and to use it dry ; they used five times the quantity,
and found the process correct to 0T per cent. It was
also rapid and convenient. Mr. R. R. Talloch, of
Glasgow, used zinc, and had kindly sent him the details
of the process employed : — Place a weighed quantity of
the iodine in a weighed platinum capsule or small basin,
in which has been placed a weighed quantity (say twice
that of the iodine) of zinc sheet clippings in size about
one-eighth of an inch square, add a little water and move
the capsule and contents gently about. Immediately the
iodine acts upon the zinc, the first small portion of iodide
of zinc produced dissolving the free iodine, which is thus
presented to the zinc in a dissolved state. The fluid by-
and-by becomes colourless, after which the contents are
carefully evaporated to dryness, and the dry residue
heated till it ceases to lose weight, taking care that no
iodide of zinc is volatilized, which, however, is not easy.
With the clippings the temperature does not rise beyond
control. The dry residue which remains in the capsule
is that of the zinc originally added, plus that of the dry
iodine which has combined with a portion of it.

Professor Tichborne had used the process for many
years, and he preferred that of drying over sulphuric acid.
If a small bell jar was used practically the process became
correct, or nearly so; the error in the loss of the iodine
would depend in a great measure on the size of the vessel
in which the iodine was dried. As regarded the old
process in connection with mercury he might suggest that
perhaps the best means of performing that would be to
use a large excess of mercury, and to do it with a stopper
bottle, shaking it up with the addition of alcohol. In
that case there would be no loss from the volatilization of
the iodine. In such a process as that detailed in the
experiment they must make every allowance, and de¬
termine separately the presence of bromine, cyanogen, etc.

Mr. Foster observed that he had had some little
experience in the estimation of iodine, and he had
adopted the usual method, that was to expose a weighed
quantity of iodine over sulphuric acid to which some

iodine had been previously added, observing the precau¬
tion of having a very limited atmosphere in the way
Professor Tichborne had pointed out. With these pre¬
cautions he thought the ordinary process met the
requirements of manufacturers, buyers and sellers. The
other processes, ingenious as they were, scarcely met the
requirements of the case.

Mr. Draper asked what was the objection to the use
of hyposulphite of soda.

Professor Attfield explained that the use of hypo¬
sulphite of soda was a very good process when there were
no other substances to be estimated.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Davies for his
paper.

The next paper read was on —

The Presence of Tannin in Gentian Root.

BY EDWARD DAVIES, F.C.S., F.I.C.

The paper on this subject by Professor J. M. Maisch, in
the American Journal of Pharmacy, 1876, p. 117, would seem
to have settled the question of the presence of tannin in
gentian root in the negative. The researches of M. Yille,
reported in the ‘Year-Book of Pharmacy,’1877, p. 217, on
the other hand, are directly contradictory in their result.
The subject thus presents some interest, both with regard
to the fact itself, and to the reason of the discordant results
obtained in such an apparently simple matter. My first
experiments were made on a sample of ground gentian
root. A hot infusion was first made, but as it was impos¬
sible to get this perfectly clear, an infusion was made with
cold water. This solution gave negative results ; gelatine
gave a very faint precipitate after long standing, tartar
emetic with chloride of ammonium gave no precipitate,
and ferric chloride only produced a slight darkening of
the colour.

This appeared decisive, but I thought it better to test
some of the unground root. A piece, which probably had
been kept some time, was thinly sliced and digested with
cold water for two or three days. The solution had
a bright yellow colour, and although considerably less
material had been used than in the previous one, it gave a
decided precipitate with gelatine. I then obtained a
quantity of roots as fresh as possible, for which I am
indebted to Messrs. Evans, Sons and Co., and made a cold
infusion of the sliced root. In the liquid obtained gela¬
tine gave a decided precipitate, acetate of chinchonine
a strong precipitate, tartar emetic small precipitate,
ferric chloride distinct darkening of colour.

This result was so decided that I made an attempt to
obtain an approximate determination of the amount of
tannin. Making use of an improvement in volumetric
analysis made by Mr. A. Haddock {Chemical News, 1879,
April 10), consisting in the use of a mirror instead of the
usual black glass plate, by means of which the faintest
turbidity is shown whilst the effect of colour is eliminated,
a drop of the clear solution of the gentian root, 300 grains
in 3000 of water, was put on a mirror, a drop of perfectly
clear gelatine solution added, and a strong turbidity was
produced. By the side of this a drop of a dilute solution
of tannin was placed, and gelatine added to it. The
tannin solution was diluted until the turbidity in the two
drops was apparently identical. In this way the amount
of tannin was estimated at 0‘08 per cent, two tests agree¬
ing very closely.

It is possible that this trace of tannin is liable to
decomposition when the root is powdered and so exposed
to oxidation ; or that it is not a constant constituent of
gentian root. Either of these suggestions, if correct, will
explain the discrepancy in the results obtained by com¬
petent observers.

The small quantity contained in the root renders its
isolation a matter of great difficulty, and until it can be
so separated the proof that the tannin in the root is

September 20, 1H79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

231

gallotannic acid is only partial. So far as the tests
ehow, they indicate gallotannic acid.

A vote of thanks was accorded to the author.

The next paper was a note on —

Amylic Alcohol and Amylic Nitrite.

BY D. B. DOTT.

It was not my intention to write anything further on
the subject of amylic nitrite, but a paper which has
appeared in the American Journal of Pharmacy, by Dr.
W. H. Greene, containing an adverse criticism of my
contribution to the work of last year’s Conference, almost
necessitates some notice on my part. I think I ought to
say at the outset that Dr. Greene seems somewhat to
have mistaken the nature and scope of my paper. It
was intended more as a contribution to pharmacy than
as a research in pure chemistry. Be that as it may,
however, I have carefully gone over the same ground
as last year, with the general result of substantiating
what was then said. Dr. Greene’s vague allegation of
inaccuracy resolves itself on examination into three points,
that is to say, I stated erroneously : —

1st. That amylic alcohol may be obtained boiling at
128°— 129°.

2nd. That nitrite of amyl does not distil at a constant
temperature.

3rd. That nitrite of amyl decomposes when distilled.

As regards the first of these assertions I have now
proved its accuracy by more rigorous experiment than
was formerly applied. Fusel oil from a large Scotch
distillery was rectified at first roughly in a capacious
flask, the portion passing over at 125° — 135° being
-retained. This was then distilled from chloride of
calcium and repeatedly rectified. No distillate was
obtained at so high a temperature as 132°. If any small
quantity of that boiling point existed it must have been
left behind in the syrupy solution of calcic chloride. It
was soon found that the greater part of the above-men¬
tioned fraction distilled at 128° — 129°. The portion
obtained at these temperatures was rectified at 129°, but
even after many distillations it still yielded 2 or 3 per
cent., passing over at 128°. This liquid was mixed with
caustic baryta and agitated therewith from time to time.
After forty-eight hours the alcohol was distilled from
fresh portions of baryta, but without any alteration in
the boiling point, the calcic chloride having doubtless
completely removed the water originally present. The
liquid obtained in this way had the characteristic odour
of amylic alcohol and possessed the specific gravity of
*814 at 60° F. A quantity of it was oxidized by means
of potassic dichromate and sulphuric acid, the alcohol
being mixed with the acid and the mixture dropped into
the strong aqueous solution of the dichromate. The flask
containing the solution was attached to a reversed con¬
denser and the solution gently boiled for two hours, after
which the acid was distilled off. The distillate was
neutralized with sodic carbonate and evaporated to dry¬
ness ; the residue mixed with sulphuric acid and distilled.
The valeric acid obtained was equal to about 20 per cent,
of the alcohol used. The acid was converted into sodium
salt, and the solution of the latter mixed with solution
of argentic nitrate. The resulting valerate of silver was
washed with cold water and dried in exsiccator. By
ignition —

6 *1 70 grs. gave 3*195 Ag. = 51*78 per cent.

9-035 „ „ 4*685 „ =51*85

C8H.AgOt= 51*67 „ Ag.

When we consider this result along with the circumstance
that the alcohol in question yielded a product by the
action of nitrous acid having the well-known properties
of amylic nitrite, I think there can be no doubt that the
liquid obtained from fusel oil at 129° was amylic alcohol.
This is said with all the more confidence that my results
agree exactly with those of Alexander Pedler, mentioned

in his memoir on the valerianic acids ( Chem . Soc. Journ.
[2], vi., 74). It may be here mentioned that the apparatus
used, both in distilling the alcohol and nitrite, was essen¬
tially the same as that of Le Bel and Henninger, described
and figured in the Comptes Rendus (vol. lxxiv., p. 480).
It consisted of an ordinary three-bulb condensing tube,
with a contraction under each bulb, so that the ascending
vapours had to pass through portions of liquid before
reaching the condenser.

We come now to the second statement previously
referred to, viz. : “ That nitrite of amyl does not distil
at a constant temperature.'’ I never affirmed that it is
impossible to prepare a nitrite of constant boiling point,
but simply that I had found it impracticable to purify
the medicinal nitrite to such an extent, and that therefore
the Pharmacopoeia test of a liquid boiling at 96° was one
which the commercial nitrite could not reasonably be
expected to answer. However, I think I am now in a
position to state that even pure amylic nitrite does not
distil at a constant temperature, in case it has been pre¬
pared from the 128° — 129° alcohol. A quantity of the
nitrite was prepared by passing the vapours obtained by
the action of nitric acid on starch through amylic alcohol
(B.P. 128° — 129°). After saturation with the gas the
liquid was of a bright green colour. It was agitated with
water and after being separated therefrom was shaken
up with anhydrous sodic carbonate. The product was
now quite neutral to test paper and had a specific gravity
of *881. On being distilled it evolved dense red fumes
and yielded 78 per cent, between 95° and 100°. This
fraction was retained and shaken up thrice with solution
of sodic carbonate in successive portions and then with
dry carbonate before being rectified. At the commence¬
ment of the distillation red vapours were given off and
the first portions of distillate were strongly acid. The
fraction 95° — 98° was retained and re-distilled, the por¬
tion coming over at 96° — 97° being collected apart. Very
little was obtained at 96°, the greater part distilling
between 96° and 97°. Can it be that the nitrites corre¬
sponding to the 128° and 129° alcohols boil at 96° and
at 97° ? After twelve rectifications the nitrite had
diminished to 20 per cent, of the original product and
even then did not distil entirely at 96° — 97°, the last
three rectifications showing no increase in the percentage
of the correct fraction. When this result is considered
along with the fact that the amylic alcohol had been
rectified sixteen times, it will surely be admitted that it
is not easy to obtain an amylic nitrite of nearly constant
boiling point, and that such a process is out of the question
for a pharmaceutical preparation.

Regarding the third statement, “ That nitrite of amyl
decomposes when distilled,” I certainly think that a very
fair inference from the phenomena observed. If a liquid
which has been washed with an alkaline solution until
quite neutral to litmus be distilled, and the distillate is
strongly acid, it is manifest that decomposition has
occurred ; and this is just what takes place with amylic
nitrite, at least with as pure a preparation as I have
examined. In the twelfth rectification red fumes were
evolved as at first. Of course it is open to anyone to say
that some impurity may persistently adhere to the nitrite,
which former, by its decomposition under the influence of
heat, may evolve nitrous vapours. That may be quite
within the bounds of possibility, though I do not think
it is probable; but even supposing it to be the case, it
only confirms my original assertion, which obviously
referred to medicinal nitrite of amyl obtained at 90° —
100°, and not to a compound which (as then stated) I had
never seen.

The President said the paper was a refutation of the
charges brought against the author, and it struck him
that Mr. Dott had succeeded in perfectly establishing his
case.

Mr. Williams said he could to a great extent confirm
the statements in the paper. In making nitrite of amy

232

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 20, 1-79.

he had had considerable experience in one or two of the
points, and the fact of its decomposition by constant dis¬
tillation he could quite confirm. With respect, however,
to the statement concerning amyl alcohol, he thought
there could be no question that it had a constant boiling
point. A paper read a year ago contained another
point which he should like to refer to, and that was that
nitrite of amyl might have a higher boiling point than
that given in the Pharmacopoeia and still be a justifiable
and good pharmaceutical product for use ; but he did not
agree with that, and thought that as the higher boiling
point might be due to the presence of other bodies like
nitrite of caproyl, the nitrite of amyl used in medicine
ought not to have a higher boiling point than that
indicated in the Pharmacopoeia.

Professor Tichborne also bore testimony to decom¬
position of nitrite of amyl in distillation.

Mr. Abraham said in these experiments one or two
degrees of boiling point were matter of considerable
importance. Did the experimentalists take cognizance
of the variation in barometric pressure, for half an inch
would make about one degree variation in the boiling
point?

Mr. Mackenzie asked if nitrite of amyl became de¬
composed with keeping.

Mr. Williams thought perhaps it would ke^p any
length of time if properly preserved ; still it was ques¬
tionable whether it was as good at the end of twelve
months as at the end of one.

Mr. Naylor maintained that it could not be kept for
any great length of time, and that he had known it,
turn acid when kept at a low temperature.

In reply to Mr. Williams, it was admitted by Mr.
Naylor that the specimen spoken of had not been re¬
distilled.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Dott for his paper.

The following paper was then read on : —

The Gelatinization of Tincture of Kino with a
Possible Remedy for its Prevention.

BY THOS. H. BAMFORD.

One of the very first subjects discussed at the evening
meetings of the Pharmaceutical Society on its institution,
was the gelatinization of tincture of kino, introduced by
Dr. Redwood, and the general opinion expressed was,
that this tincture kept best in small corked bottles in
preference to large stoppered and partially filled bottles.
However this may be, it has always been a source of
trouble to the dispenser, which would be greatly aggra¬
vated if the tincture were a more popular one with pre-
scribers.

In the majority of establishments, along with other
seldom used preparations, it lies on a shelf in some out of
the way place, and on the second or third occasion of its
being required, it is usually found to have become con¬
solidated into a stiffish, translucent, pinkish jelly, very
elegant in appearance, bearing as it does a tolerable re¬
semblance to red currant jelly, but altogether useless as a
medicine. Then, if the dispenser be inexperienced and
unaccustomed to this phenomenon, he begins a series of
experiments in the hope of inducing the fickle tincture to
resume its normal condition ; the agency of heat and the
addition of more spirit will sometimes induce it to leave
the bottle, but hardly in a state of solution, and in this
condition it should never be used by the conscientious
pharmacist, since it would altogether fail in its action on
the patient, as in passing into the gelatinous condition it
likewise loses its astringency.

Pereira, in the article on kino in his ‘ Materia Medica,’
dismisses the fact in a brief sentence, and accounts for it
as follows : — “ It is said that by keeping this tincture
has, in some instances, become gelatinous and lost its
astringency. Where this occurred, probably the Botany
Bay kino (the inspissated juice of the Eucalyptus resinfera)
had been employed,”

It is doubtful whether the use of inferior specimens of
kino will account for the deterioration of the tincture, as-
I have seen samples of all kinds, made expressly and kept
under what were supposed to be the most auspicious cir¬
cumstances, fail entirely as regards their keeping qualities,
and the experience of any practical dispenser will bear
out the statement that nine out of ten tinctures of this-
gum will pass into the gelatinous condition with more or
less rapidity.

In the Pharmaceutical Journal for 1842, is the above
named paper, entitled, “The Gelatinization of Tincture
of Kino,” and in thisDr. Redwood states as his opinion that
the change is dependent on the conversion of the tannin
into a partially insoluble substance, ulmic acid, and in the
discussion which took place after the reading tif the paper,
a general opinion was expressed that this change was-
expedited by the contact of atmospheric air in partially
filled bottles. Messrs. Bell, Morson, Ince, and other well-
known pharmacists took part in the discussion, and the
general opinion seemed to be that to its storage rather
than preparation were we to look for the means of com¬
bating its unfortunate peculiarity. A somewhat pro¬
tracted acquaintance with a sample kept in an unusual
manner convinced me that I had at last seen a perfect
panacea for this failing. The sample in question has-
now been kept in its present position (this is written from
notes made in 1876), about twelve or fourteen years, and
is to all appearances as good as on the day it was received
into stock. It was placed in an ordinary quart stoppered
round, in such a position that it was necessarily taken up
and dusted every morning, and consequently was well
shaken every twenty-four hours ; the bottle was likewise-
covered with blue paper so as to perfectly exclude the
light. The bottle was never full (possibly now there are
8 ounces in a 40 ounce bottle), so that it has always been
in contact with air. When it is stated that it was pro¬
cured from a London drug house, some time between
1862 and 1864, and has been in its present position since
that time, all that is known of its history has been told..
My advice to any druggist who has been troubled with
this tincture is to remove his stock of it into a position
where it must necessarily get a daily shaking (that is
amongst the bottles which are dusted daily), and also coat
the bottle with blue paper.

As during fifteen years’ experience this is the only
tincture of kino I have seen keep for twelve months,

I am convinced that I have brought a remedy to the
notice of the British pharmacist.

P.S. (1879). — The experience above recorded has re¬
ceived strong confirmation from the fact that a fresh
supply was obtained three years ago from a local (Liver- '
pool) house and turned into the same bottle, and remains-
to this present day in as good a condition as on the day
of its reception into stock.

Mr. Umney thought before this question could be-
finally settled, experimenters must operate upon authentic
specimens of kino. They had three distinct varieties that
occasionally appeared in commerce. The official kino,,
the product of Pterocarpus marsupium, of the East Indies,
the kino from Pterocarpus erinaceus, and the Australian
or eucalyptus kino, from the Eucalyptus resinifera. (See-
Hanbury’s ‘ Pharmacographia.’) Anyone in the habit
of visiting the drug warehouses of London where these
imports were shown previous to sale was able, after a
little practice, to distinguish one kino from another by
tasting and observing the effect upon the palate and
saliva.

Mr. Mackenzie said he had had great experience in
the use of kino, and he had no faith whatever in shak¬
ing it.

Mr. Martindale was of opinion that much depended
upon the age of the kino as to whether it was astringent
or not.

Mr. Cottrell paid the London houses a high compli¬
ment for great intelligence and probity, but expressed the

!

September 2 \ 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

233

opinion that some of the samples of kino sent out were
not perfectly pure.

Mr. Benger referred to a paper read by Mr. George
Ellinor at the Bradford meeting of the Conference in
1873, in which a liquor was recommended as a substitute
for tincture of kino. If he remembered rightly Mr.
Groves on that occasion expressed the opinion that old
kino yielded a tincture liable to pectization, whilst that
which was fresh did not.

Mr. Long thought the subject of tincture of kino a
very interesting one. From the immense range of remedies
they had to contend with, there were difficulties in keeping
all their preparations in a proper state unless they had a
very large practice, and he thought as new remedies were
introduced that old and useless remedies should be
knocked out.

Mr. Hasselby said he had been familiar with kino for
twenty-five years and only recently had he seen a
specimen of it gelatinized.

Mr. Greenish said in a paper on this subject introduced
nearly forty years ago by Professor Redwood the same diffi¬
culties presented themselves as now had to be contended
with. He hoped it would occupy a place upon the
blue paper of the Conference, and that some phar¬
macist capable of undertaking the subject would ascer¬
tain whether gelatinization depended upon a particular
kino or upon the age of the kino.

* Mr. Chipperfield said he had never known any
tincture of kino that had not gelatinized sooner or later,
from the fact he supposed that it had been kept a some¬
what unusually long time.

Mr. T. F. Abraham stated that he had known tincture
of kino for fifteen years, and he had never seen it gelatinize.
The only difficulty he had had with it was that it wedged
the stoppers of the bottles. To provide for this in their
•establishment there were two bottles, one a standard
bottle which was placed on the ordinary shelves and with
the other bottles, dusted and consequently shaken once a
week, and another a bottle which was kept in the back
part of the shop and which was shaken perhaps not once
in two months. The contents of both bottles were made
at the same time from the same variety of kino and both
kept equally well. The gentleman whose paper they had
listened to, before he sugested remedies should have been
C[uite sure that what he used was really B.P. tincture of
kino. j

Mr. Preston stated that their tincture of kino had
gelatinized once in seventeen years, and he believed that
was caused by the stopper of the bottle having become a
little loose.

Mr. Robbins had known tincture of kino for some time
and only once, had he known it gelatinize.

Mr. Savage gave his experience with the tincture,
which was to the effect that at one establishment it had
gelatinized, and at the other it had not, but had kept
exceedingly well. The little that had gelatinized had been
put carefully away in a cupboard ; the one that had
kept well had been exposed to the light and dusted every
day.

Mr. Elltnor said he had ordered kino from different
houses and the tincture made from some of them would
gelatinize, and that made from others would not. That
which tinged saliva was the best kind and it never
gelatinized as far as his experience went. He had, in a
paper read at Bradford, recommeaded the substitution of
a liquor containing glycerine in the place of the tincture,
the object of which was, a3 far a3 possible, to avoid the
use of spirit, but he had somewhat modified his opinion in
consequence of Mr. Brady having then pointed out the
extraordinary extent to which glycerine sometimes affected
the characteristic property of astringents. He had ob¬
served in the Journal two recommendations for the use
of glycerine in preparing the tincture, one preferring
Aouble the quantity of glycerine to be added to the other,
but he thought they should be careful before altering a
Pharmacopoeia formula. If necessary at all to add gly¬

cerine the smallest possible quantity to effect the object
should be ascertained.

Dr. S YME3 remarked that he had only met with
tincture of kino that had gelatinized once, and he
did not believe its gelatinization was so common as was
generally supposed. Mr. Bamford had suggested a remedy
in the keeping rather than in the preparation, but his
own opinion was that the real remedy was in the pre¬
paration itself. The addition of a small quantity of
glycerine appeared to be effectual, but it remained to be
proved whether it affected prejudicially the astringency
of the tincture.

Mr. Lee said he had known tincture of kino to keep
for years in a fluid transparent condition when exposed to
a strong light and frequently removed.

The President, in presenting the thanks of the Con¬
ference to Mr. Bamford for his paper, said it was his
opinion that the remedy lay not so much in the manage¬
ment of the preparation as in the selection of the material
of which it was composed.

The Conference then adjourned for luncheon and upon
resuming the first paper read was —

Anhydrous Air as a Therapeutic Agent.

BY G. A. KEYWORTH, F.C.S.

Some time since my attention was drawn to the great
pain and inconvenience caused by tension in various
morbid conditions. It occurred to me that air artificially
dried and heated and so made an energetic absorbent of
moisture would give relief by causing shrinking of the
parts. This I found to be the case. Frequent oppor¬
tunities were presented of observing this effect upon a
cancerous growth affecting the hand, with moist fetid
surface. The jet was applied for an hour in the evening
and caused cessation of pain for some eight hours, en¬
suring a good night’s rest. After the application the
surface presented a dried, shrivelled appearance. The
loss of pain and stiffness was well marked and repeatedly
verified. Anhydrous air as a mechanical anodyne may
therefore prove a useful addition to the therapeutic
armoury. The medical practitioner may see fit to apply
it to gouty and edematous swellings, to inflamed surfaces,
to indolent ulcers and intractable wounds with a view to
promote healing by desiccation, and to various tumours
and cancerous growths to relieve the pain and if possible
check their increase. The apparatus I employed consisted
of an eprouvette of glass, containing fragments of calcic
chloride, through which large volumes of air were driven
by means of a foot bellows of the Fletcher type. The
exit end of the eprouvette was connected by india-rubber
tubing with an iron tube 3 feet in length, with a diameter
of J an inch, having a spirit lamp burning beneath the
centre, and a piece of india-rubber tubing attached to the
extremity for the purpose of applying the current. In
this manner a stream of dried air heated to 100° F.
could be maintained. A plug of cotton wool inserted
within the entrance tube to the eprouvette acts as a filter
when the jet is applied to unsound skin. The air might
(if desirable) be impregnated with carbolic acid or other
volatile substance by introducing a portion with the wool.
Large volumes of air must be used and for a considerable
time (sometimes several hours) in order to produce sen¬
sible effects. If the process should be found useful in
medical practice dispensing chemists will probably be
called upon to supply the apparatus on hire. An econo¬
mical form of it will be supplied by the usual dealers in
pharmaceutical apparatus. If used in hospitals on a
large scale, a small gas engine or hydraulic motor could
be adjusted in order to drive large bellows or a fan wheel,
the eprouvette being of increased dimensions and the
spirit lamp replaced by a Bunsen flame. The addition of
india-rubber gas bags and pressure boards or other
methods of compression can be made if increased force to
the jet is required. It may be remembered that warm
dry air ha3 long been observed to promote, and cold air

234

THE r H ARMACEUT1C AI j JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. ISeptemoer 20, i*T»

o retard the healing- of wounds. Anhydrous air, though
not a caustic in the usual sense, shares with such sub¬
stances a certain power of disintegration by its affinity
for moisture. The Michel process, introduced in Paris for
removing tumours, consisted in the application of a paste
of asbestos and sulphuric acid, the latter effecting destruc¬
tion by absorbing moisture. Caustic potash, soda and
lime act in the same manner.

The effect of nitric acid is due partly to this and to its
power of oxidation. Anhydrous air is, however, free
from the dangers and objections which attach to the use
of these energetic chemical agents.

Mr. Keyworth’s paper was read by Mr. Benger.

There was no discussion on this paper, and a vote of
thanks was awarded to the writer.

The next paper was on —

Saponine from the Bark of Quillaia Saponaria.

BY H. COLLIER,

Teacher of Pharmacy at Gay's Hospital.

One of the subjects on the list of the Pharmaceutical
Conference for investigation is Quillaia bark, its chemical
composition, properties and uses. This bark had been
under my notice for some time before the issue of this
list, but as my chief aim has been to determine more
precisely the nature of the saponaceous principle which
it contains, I have adopted the above title for my paper.
I have been assisted in my endeavours by my friend, Mr.
Scard, F.C.S., chemical assistant to Dr. Pavy, F.R.S.,
Guy’s Hospital, to whose practical chemical knowledge I
am indebted for the various analyses of saponine which I
am able to lay before you. I have by no means ex¬
hausted the subject ; in fact, what I have to say must not
be regarded as a complete investigation of saponine. I
have obtained some results which may be looked upon as
so many steps of progress towards the goal, but never¬
theless there remain many points which are still obscure.

A principle which'tmakes a froth with water, similar to
that formed by ordinary soap, is very widely diffused
throughout the vegetable kingdom. Although generally
known as saponine, from its original source, Saponaria
officinalis , it has other names according to the plant from
which it is obtained. All these saponaceous principles
may be one and the same substance modified perhaps by
the impurities belonging to its extraction. Saponine has
been the object of numerous investigations, but most dis¬
cordant results have been published respecting it by
different experimenters. Thus Bussy, Henry, Plisson
and Overbeck state it to be a white non-crystalline friable
powder. Rochleder and Schwartz that it is colourless, and
Quevenne that it is yellowish white. Again, according
to Henry and Plisson it is inodorous, whilst Quevenne
asserts that it has a peculiar aromatic odour, and Shar¬
ing that the aqueous solution has a repulsive odour.
There is also a great difference in the formulas assigned
to saponine. According to Rochleder and Schwartz it is
C24H40OJ4, Overbeck C42H76O30, and Bolley C36H56024.
Before proceeding any further with the consideration of
saponine, I think it will be well to say a few words re¬
specting the source, character and microscopic appearance
of quillaia bark. The following description is from the
‘Treasury of Botany,’ part ii., 952 : — “Quillaia saponaria,
quillaia or cullay of the Chilians, is a tree from 50 to 60
feet high, with smooth, shining, short stalked, oval leaves
and usually terminal white flowers. Its bark, called
quillaia or soap bark, is rough or dark coloured externally,
but consisting of numerous regular whitish or yellowish
layers, and contains a large quantity of carbonate of lime
and other mineral matters. It is rich in saponine, a
vegetable soap principle, and on this account it is
commonly used as a substitute for washing clothes, two
ounces of the bark being sufficient to wash a dress. It is
also said to remove all spots or stains, and to impart a
remarkable lustre to wool, and it is used to wash the hair,

for which purpose it is powdered between stones, then
rubbed with the hands in water, making a foam like
soap.” The cortex quillaiae which I have examined
consisted of heavy flat or slightly curved pieces varying
in size from 1 to 4 feet in length, 4 to 8 inches in breadth,
and from a \ to | an inch in thickness. The outer bark
had been removed ; there were, however, a few scattered
pieces still remaining. Le Boeuf, who described the colour
of the tincture he obtained as “d’une couleur orang^e
foncee,” no doubt employed the bark without removing
the remaining outside portions. Now this is an important
matter, as this outer bark contains a colouring principle
which contaminates the saponine. In all my experiments
I have operated upon a bark from which every portion
of outside layer had been removed by planing and the
use of the chisel. The tincture from this is of a pale
yellow colour. It is not difficult to reduce the bark to
coarse powder, if it is thoroughly dry, but if exposed te
the air it absorbs moisture, and although it may easily be
separated into layers, it is not friable. It is rather an
unpleasant substance to powder, the fine dust which
arises causing a great amount of coughing and sneezing.
Examined by the microscope an opaque longitudinal
section of the bark with one inch object glass and oblique
light gives a general view of the woody tissue, upon and
among which lie large crystals of what are undoubtedly
oxalate of calcium, as they are unaffected by acetic acid,
but are dissolved without any effervescence by hydro¬
chloric. A longitudinal transparent section, part of
which is stained with aniline, shows principally the woody
fibre with crystals lying about. In the coloured section
some cellular tissue may be observed, and a few resinoid
looking bodies of a brown colour. I have one section
here which is made in a part where the resinoid bodies
are chiefly deposited. These are somewhat of an oval
form, and I have every reason to believe they consist of
saponine with impurities, giving them a brown colour.
The bark ignites very readily, and during combustion
gives off an aromatic odour somewhat resembling cedar
wood. It yields 11*8 per cent, of ash which consists
chiefly of calcium carbonate ; there is also a trace of iron.

Henry and Boutron-Charland were, I believe, the first
who investigated quillaia bark and separated its sapon¬
aceous matter, which they described as an acrid principle.
The method they adopted was to boil the aqueous extract
with water, filter at the boiling heat, and the saponine
which fell down on cooling and concentration was purified
by solution in alcohol with aid of animal charcoal. I
have prepared saponine by this method, but I was unable
to obtain it pure; it would persistently remain brown
after all treatment. The best process is that of Le Boeuf,
which consists in boiling the bark with 84 per cent, alco¬
hol, filtering at the boiling point, and upon cooling the
saponine deposits. It is purified by washing with alcohol
and ether. The principle of the above process is that
saponine is more soluble in boiling rectified spirit than in
cold, so that the excess deposits upon cooling, leaving
above a saturated solution of saponine with colouring and
other matters. This tincture upon evaporation yields
2-24 per cent, of solid residue. The first saponine I ob¬
tained by this process, after thorough washing with alcohol
and ether and drying over a water-bath, was a white
friable amorphous mass. There were some portions how¬
ever which were not white but of a decided brown colour,
and there appeared an oily stain upon the filter paper
round the edge of the saponine. I found it to be very
soluble in water, but ether, chloroform, benzol, carbon
bisulphide appeared to have no effect in dissolving it. A
portion heated on platinum foil burnt very easily, and a
white ash remained. This was insoluble in water, but
dissolved at once with considerable effervescence in hydro¬
chloric acid. A platinum wire dipped into this solution
and held in the flame of a Bunsen burner produced a very
well marked red colour. The acid solution neutralized
with liq. ammoniae gave on the addition of ammonium
oxalate a white precipitate insoluble in acetic but dissolved

September 20, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

235

by hydrochloric acid. An examination for other bodies
■gave negative results so, that the ash of saponine is com¬
posed entirely of calcium carbonate. Now Bolley’s sapo-
mine contained 1 per cent, of ash, and one sample examined
by Rochleder and Schwartz contained 4*3 per cent. These
investigators are I believe the only persons who mention
anything about an ash. This discovery of the fact that
my saponine contained an ash was the result of a pre¬
liminary examination before submitting it to analysis ; it
was therefore necessary to obtain the amount before pro¬
ceeding. The plan adopted was to ignite the saponine in
a platinum dish; when the carbonaceous residue had
become quite white it was cooled and moistened with
solution of ammonium carbonate, evaporated to dryness
and again heated gently to expel excess of ammonia.
The ash was thus weighed as carbonate: '49 of saponine
yielded *0195 of ash carbonated as described, which gave
3'979 per cent. I could not regard this saponine as a pure
substance. It had been most carefully prepared accord¬
ing to the process given by Le Bceuf, but the oily stain on
"the filter paper upon which the saponine had been dried,
and the brownish tinge of some of it were so many in¬
dications of impurities. It was necessary for me, there¬
fore, to endeavour to ascertain what was the nature of
the impurities associated with saponine, and if possible to
•obtain a pure specimen in order to determine the formula
■of it.

I have worked upon three different lots of bark obtained
at various periods, and the saponine prepared from all of
fhem upon ignition left an ash consisting of calcium car¬
bonate : —

Saponine from 1st bark 3'979 per cent, of ash.

„ 2nd „ 3'904 „ „

,, 3rd ,, 3*843 „ ,,

The saponine prepared by boiling watery extract of bark
with rectified spirit and deposition on cooling contained
4 ’37 per cent, of ash.

It is a question in what state the calcium exists in
■saponine ; from its mode of extraction and after treatment
it is hardly possible to suppose that the calcium oxalate
existing in the bark had been dissolved out with the
■saponine, and then appeared in the ash as carbonate.
The fact that the saponine from different specimens of
bark should yield such nearly equal amounts of ash is
very strong evidence that saponine from quillaia bark is a
calcium salt. I have endeavoured to obtain saponine free
from calcium, but up to the present time I haVe failed to
•do so. It is stated by Rochleder and V. Payr that baryta
water added to a strong watery solution of saponine pre¬
cipitates saponine-baryta, and that the white precipitate
washed with baryta water, dissolved in water and then
C02 passed through the solution gives carbonate of baryta
which separates out, and after its removal the saponine
may be precipitated by ether-alcohol. My saponine threw
down a brown gelatinous precipitate with the baryta;
which did not appear to dissolve in water, and C02 pro¬
duced no effect in the filtrate from the digestion of the
barium precipitate. I next tried precipitating a watery
solution of saponine with neutral acetate of lead ; the
precipitate, which was a very gelatinous one, after washing
was dissolved in water and a current of sulphuretted hy¬
drogen passed through the solution for several hours. No
precipitate was produced but simply a black coloured
liquid which upon dilation with water formed a clear
dark brown solution. Afterwards to a similar solution of
saponine in water I added oxalic acid until the liquid was
distinctly acid. It was then laid aside for several days
by which time the bottom of the beaker was covered with
a white precipitate of calcium oxalate. The clear super¬
natant liquid was decanted and then neutralized with
barium carbonate. It was impossible to filter quite
bright and so it was allowed to remain for a week. At
the end of that time the clear upper liquid, which I
hoped was nothing but saponine in solution, was drawn
off and carefully evaporated to dryness ; the result was a
brown amorphous mass, which upon ignition left some

amount of ash in which barium was present. I next
turned my attention to an examination of the tincture
from which the saponine had been deposited upon cooling.

I considered, that as this tincture was only a solution of
impure saponine, a knowledge of its composition might
suggest the purification of the saponine. The tincture
evaporated over a water-bath left a soft reddish-brown
sticky extract. This was digested with washed ether for
some days ; by this treatment it lost much of its colour
but still retained its tenacious character. The ethereal
solution was of a yellow colour, and when mixed with
water became opaque, and after a short time a fatty
matter appeared adhering to the sides of the tube. If
hydrochloric acid instead of water were employed, the
fatty substance at once separated in the form of distinct
lumps floating on the surface of the liquid. These were
not dissolved on the addition of alcohol, and no change of
colour was produced by the application of heat to the
alcoholic mixture. Upon evaporating the ethereal solution
a soft oily substance remained, which imparted a perma¬
nent greasy stain to white paper ; it was insoluble in
water and alcohol, but readily dissolved by benzol. It
was unaffected by alkalies or diluted acids. A similar
oily matter may be obtained by adding tincture quillaia
to water acidulated with hydrochloric acid. After standing
for some time a yellowish precipitate separates which
collected upon a filter and well washed with water dissolves
entirely in ether and this solution upon evaporation gives
this oily residue. If washed ether be added to the
tincture this oily principle is also precipitated together
with saponine. In this case the precipitate after being
well washed with rectified spirit and then dried over a
water-bath is resolved J into an oily fluid which soaks
through the filter. The extract after being treated with
ether as above was then digested with absolute alcohol
for a week; at the end of this time the alcohol had
acquired a reddish-brown tint and the extract had become
a grey amorphous powder entirely devoid of stickiness.
The alcoholic solution acidified with hydrochloric acid
and then heated became of a cherry-red colour, which
was changed to a dark olive green by alkalies and restored
again upon the addition of acid. The residual extract
treated with water dissolved entirely and appeared to be
only impure saponine. I had thus acquired two facts, that
the impurities present in precipitated saponine were an oily
matter soluble in ether, and a colouring principle soluble
in alcohol. It would be necessaiy therefore only to treat
with alcohol and ether in order to obtain pure saponine.
But this had been the method of purification always
adopted and I have never obtained saponine without
a marked oily stain upon the filter paper and more or less
brown colour. I tried digestion with alcohol and ether for
several days, but the product was still impure. At last after
numerous experiments I found that by boiling the saponine
in rectified spirit, filtering at a boiling heat, allowing the
precipitate to settle by cooling, and digesting this in absolute
alcohol and ether, that a very much whiter product was
the result : it still, however, gave a red colour when
heated with rectified spirit and hydrochloric acid. The
saponine of which the analysis is given was purified
as above, but the solution, deposition, and digestion
were repeated a second time. It was a white amorphous
substance, and the filter upon which it had been dried
presented no appearance of any oily stain, and dissolved
in rectified spirit, and acidified with hydrochloric acid,
upon heating no red colour was produced. I thus believed
it to be a perfectly pure specimen of quillaia bark
saponine. It contained 4T3 per cent, of ash, which is
higher than that yielded by the other saponines prepared
in a similar manner, but not subjected to so thorough a
process of purification. Now the saponine obtained from
the watery extract gave 4'37 per cent, of ash which
corresponds more closely to the amount obtained from
purified saponine. I can say in explanation of this that
the last sample being free from oily matter would yield a
higher percentage of ash, and that the product from the

236

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. : September 20, 18?»

watery extract probably contained no oil, as this is not
soluble in water, so that its ash approaches more closely
that of pure saponine.

The absence of this oily impurity made a perceptible
difference in the amount of carbon contained in the last
sample of saponine compared with the first in which it
was present. Now this has an important bearing, for the
amount of carbon contained in the first saponine I prepared
and submitted to analysis was 49-31 per cent, and this
corresponds closely to the amount given in the published
analyses : thus —

Rochleder and Schwartz. . . 52 T 7 per cent.

Overbeck . 47*54 „

Bolley . 49‘54 „

Rochleder and V. Payr . . . 5 2 ‘97 „

Bussy . 50'00 „

It is therefore very probable that these saponines
containing such a high amount of carbon were not pure
and that the different results are owing to various degrees
of purity of the sample examined.

The following is the result of the analysis of purified
saponine.

Calculated from
formula (OgH^CkhoCaO.

c

43-63

H

8-88

O

45-23

CaO

2-26

Found.

43-51

8-88

45-30

2-31

100-00

100 00

Deducting the CaO the percentage composition runs as
follows : —

C 44-53

H 9-09

O 46-38

100-00

Corresponding to the formula C9H2207 which requires —

C 44-62

H 909

O 46-29

100-00

Considering the large number of atoms in combination
with one of lime it may be inferred that the lime is simply
united with the saponine and that it does not displace any
hydrogen or compound radical, therefore, we should be
justified in calculating the formula for saponine in
deducting the lime found, and recalculating the percentage
proportion. In fact, it may be assumed that saponine has
a similar structure to that of arabine, which is said to be a
calcium salt.

Another paper read by the same author was —
Tincture of Quillaia as an Emulsifying Agent.

EY HENRY COLLIER,

Teacher of Pharmacy at Guy’s Hospital.

I now pass on to a consideration of the use of a tincture
of the bark of Quillaia sapor aria for the preparation of
emulsions. The tincture which has been employed in the
preparation of the various mixtures upon the table has
been made according to the following formula, which is
taken from Guy’s Hospital Pharmacopoeia : —

Quillaia Bark, in coarse powder . 4 oz.

Rectified Spirit of Wine .... 1 pint.

Digest for three days and then strain.

The bark before powdering is carefully freed from all
remains of outside layer, and the tincture produced is of
a pale yellow- colour.

Into this bottle I have put some mercury and shaken it
up with tincture of quillaia, the result is that the mer¬
cury has been reduced to a very fine state of division.
It has very much the appearance of hyd. c. creta, and
examined with a lens it is seen to be composed of distinct
globules of mercury. So long as there is some tincture
present this division of the metal remains; if it be dried,
it at once runs together and appears in its ordinary liquid
state. This is a remarkable power which tinct. quillaiae-
possesses of destroying the cohesion between the globules
of mercury, breaking them up and preventing them from
uniting together, and it is this property which renders it
so valuable an emulsifying agent.

A true emulsion consists, as is well known, of a number
of oily or resinous particles floating about in a watery
liquid by means of some agent which prevents them from
cohering. To be perfect the emulsion should have a
milky appearance, and the suspended particles should not
subside or rise too rapidly. In the British Pharmacopoeia
there is a preparation containing mercury in a very fine
state of division, and which is in fact an emulsion con¬
taining mercury finely divided. The preparation I mean
is the Linimentum Hydrargyri , which Squire says “ should
be a lead- coloured cream, but is curds and whey.” By
using tinct. quillaiae a lead-coloured cream may be formed
which does not turn to curds and whey. The preparation
here contains the same proportion of active ingredients as
is ordered in the Pharmacopoeia ; if left undisturbed for
some time the ung. hydrargyri settles to the bottom, but
a vigorous shaking blends it again perfectly. The follow¬
ing is the formula : —

Lin. Camph . %j.

Tinct. Quillaiae . fpj],

(Liq. Amm. Fort. 3ijj 1Tl 40 Aq. ad). 3V-

Ung. Hydrarg . 1 oz.

M.

Chloroform is made into an excellent emulsion by
means of this tincture.

Chloroform . trix.

Tinct. Quillaiae . 3j*

Aq. Destil . ad §j.

Misce.

Although chloroform is such a heavy liquid, yet it
remains suspended for some minutes after shaking. It
finally settles as a creamy layer at the bottom of the
bottle. A solution of saponine in water shaken with
chloroform converts it into a thick creamy fluid ; the
water separates, but the chloroform permanently retains
its creamy character.

Here is a mixture of castor oil made according to the

following formula : —

01. Ricini . gss.

Tinct. Quillaiae . ' 3ss.

Aq. ad

The tincture is first put into the bottle, afterwards the
oil, and shaken together, then the water is added and
again shaken. The emulsion thus formed resembles its
prototype milk in appearance and like it separates after
the lapse of some time into a cream at the top, w-hich
mixes again upon agitation. Emulsions prepared in a
similar manner of oleum morrhuse and oleum olivse are
of as perfect a character.

Ext. Filicis Liquid . 3j-

Tinct. Quillaiae . 3SS*

Aq. Destil . ad ^j.

Misce.

This forms an excellent emulsion, and with the addition
of syrup zingiberis 3SS constitutes the Mistura Filicis.
Maris of Guy’s Hospital.

Copaiba* . 3SS-

Tinct. Quillaiae . 3SS*

Aq. Destil . ad

Misce.

The copaiba in this mixture is perfectly emulsified.

S pteraber 20, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

237

Here is an example of an essential oil.

01. Terebinth. ........ itlxx.

Tinct. Quillaue . Rlxx.

Aq. Destil. . . . * . . . .ad 3j .

Misce.

This formula, with the addition of tinct. limonis, is the
mistura terebinthinae (Guy’s).

I have found that resinous tinctures require more than
their bulk of tinct. quillaise to prevent any separation of
resin.

Tinct. Tolut . in. 40.

Tinct. Quillaise . 3j-

Aq. Destil . ad §j.

Misce.

The resin deposits after some time, but upon shaking it
is easily diffused.

This mixture contains the soluble matter of 12 grains
of guaiacum resin in every fluid ounce, so that it is about
the same strength as mist, guaiaci, B.P. The following
is the formula : —

Resin Guaiaci . gr. xij.

Tinct. Quillaise . 5j*

Aq. Destil . ad §j.

Dissolve the guaiacum in the tincture, filter, and then
mix with the Avater.

Resin of copaiba is largely used at Guy’s Hospital where
it is considered a valuable diuretic. It does not appear
to me to make so perfect a mixture with tinct. quillaise as
the hospital formula with pulv. tragacanth co. The
liquid is not thick enough to prevent the resin separating
too rapidly. Here are mixtures of copaiba resin made
after the folloAving formulas : —

Mist. Resince Copaibce {Guy's).

Resin of Copaiba . 15 grains

Rectified Spt. of Wine ... 20 minims

Compound Powder of Traganth. 15 grains.

Syrup of Ginger . 1 fl. dr.

Distilled Water to . 1 fi. oz.

Misce.

The resin and spirit are put into an evaporating dish
and blended together by heating over a water-bath ; then
poured into a mortar containing the pulv. tragacanth co.
previously made into a thick mucilage with a little of the
water and well rubbed together, the syrup and the re¬
mainder of the water being gradually added.

Resinse Copaibas . gr. xv.

Tinct. Quillaise . 3j.

Aq. Destilat . ad §j.

The resin is dissolved in the tincture and the water
gradually added with agitation.

Bals. Peru . ill xv.

Tinct. Quillaise . 3j*

Aq. Distil . ad §j.

This mixture is open to the same objection — the bal¬
sam subsides too rapidly. The above quantity of balsam
with gr.xv. of pulv. tragacanth co. gives an excellent result.

I have now placed before you examples of emulsions of
the various substances which are administered in that
form, and I have no doubt but that you will agree with
me that tincture of quill aia is worthy of a place in phar¬
macy for the preparation of this class of medicines.

Mr. Benger asked Mr. Collier if the taste of the tinc¬
ture of quillaia was not sometimes objectionable.

Mr. Reynolds said he should like to extend the ques¬
tion put by Mr. Benger. The use of quillaia bark for these
necessary purposes of pharmacy would divide itself into
two sections : — Its use for external and its use for internal
purposes. The question of physiological action and ques¬
tionable taste might be taken as parts of the same subject.
He would like to inquire if there were any other instances
than the use of the male fern oil emulsion for which Guy’s
Hospital would reccommend the use of quillaia in an in¬
ternal application, and if they were to understand that
the half drachm close containing 6 grains of bark was the

maximum. Dr. Soulle had recommended an emulsion so
as to bring carbolic acid into the form of a lotion and had
written very highly of its effects in the treatment of
wounds after certain operations.

Mr. Greenish observed that tincture of quillaia had
been highly recommended by the Paris Pharmaceutical
Society as an emulsifying agent. He had tried it in
many instances, and had found it exceedingly useful.
Dr. Vogl, of Vienna, had written most exhaustively on
this bark ; not only on its chemical composition, but its
microscopical structure. There was also a valuable paper
on its microscopical structure by Schlesinger in Wiesner’s
‘ Untersuchungen.’ He believed that tinct. quillaia would
occupy a place in pharmacy.

Mr. A. H. Mason (Liverpool) remarked that the
author spoke of quillaia bark in the natural state ; his
experience was that only the inner bark was offered for
sale in this country ; this was frequently stained, and he
would like to ask if this was caused by exposure or if any
decomposition took place likely to deteriorate the bark.
He would like to know, moreover, if the frothing power of
quillaia bark was due to the presence of saponine, and
if so whether saponine obtained from other sources had
the same properties. He would also ask whether the
watery or the alcoholic extract yielded the greater per¬
centage of frothing power and what the yield of extracts
was.

Mr. Lee asked what strength of spirit Avas required to
extract saponine from quillaia bark, and what tempera¬
ture should be used.

Mr. Umney said he knew this bark Avas occasionally
used medicinally, also that it was a most poAverful drug
applied externally. It entered into the composition of
one well -known patent medicine, which had been before
the public for years, and it was well known as a stimu¬
lant in certain skin diseases. Before it Avas recommended
broadcast as an emulsifying body for .all kinds of
mixtures they ought really to ascertain if it Avas harmless
in its nature when administered internally.

Dr. Symes referred to the use of quillaia bark in tooth
powders and mouth Avashes as objectionable on account
of its nauseous acrid taste, and asked if saponine in the
purest form in which Mr. Collier had been able to obtain
^it still possessed this objectionable character.

Mr. Fletcher asked if the saponifying property was
peculiar to the lime compound.

Mr. Hasselby asked how the author broke up the
mercury, and said the process seemed so simple and
effective that it might be u-ed Avith advantage in sheep
ointment.

Mr. Collier said as regarded the physiological action
of quillaia bark he could only refer to Husem aim’s
‘ Fflanzenstoffe,’ in which saponin AAras mentioned as being
poisonous to the lower animals ; but the fact of its being
adopted by the Paris Society of Pharmacy induced him
to think there could not be any harm in the substance.
He had made a considerable quantity of emulsions Avith
it, but more particularly of cod liver oil. The tincture of
quillaia added to cod liver oil, and flavoured with cin¬
namon, made really a very palatable mixture, and he
knew one person, Avho having an objection to oil, even
liked it in this Avay. He explained the process of break¬
ing up mercury, and showed that it would do well to
make sheep ointment.

The thanks of the Conference were given to Mr. Collier
for his paper.

{To be continued.)

©bituarg.

Notice has been received of the death of the follow¬
ing : —

On the 10th of August, 1879, Mr. William Rowland,
Chemist and Druggist, East Street, Chichester.

On the 15th of August, 1879, at Chelsea, Mr. William

238

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 20, 1«!9.

Bartlett. Aged 75 years. Mr. Bartlett was one of the
Founders of the Pharmaceutical Society, and served as a
Member of the Council in the years 1845-46 and 1846-47.

On the 16th of August, lb79, Mr. Joseph Barnett,
Chemist and Druggist, New Street, Burton-on-Trent.
Aged 35 years.

On the 22nd of August, 1879, Mr. Thomas Rush worth,
Chemist and Druggist, Wellington Street, Leeds. Aged
63 years.

On the 22nd of August, 1879, Mr. Joseph Pearce,
Chemist and Druggist, Sheep Market Street, Crewkerne.
Aged 67 years. Mr. Pearce had been a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society since 1869.

On the 22nd of August, 1879, Mr. Clement Dallas,
Chemist and Druggist, Lavender Hill, Clapham, S.W.
Aged 42 years.

On the 31st of August, 1879, Mr. Thomas Pass,
Chemist and Druggist, Melbourne. Aged 72 years.

On the 1st of September, 1879, Mr. James Holiday,
Chemist and Druggist, St. Dunstan’s Street, Canterbury.
Aged 76 years.

On the 6th of September, 1879, Mr. John Joseph
Nicholson, Pharmaceutical Chemist, High Street West,
Sunderland. Aged 42 years. Mr. Nicholson had been
a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1861.

On the 13th of September, 1879, Mr. Richard Flower
Ellis Wilton, Chemist and Druggist, Bridgwater. Aged
33 years.

d|oiit[«8]jon<l4nt4.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Registered Dental Practitioners.

Sir, — I was utterly astonished upon reading Mr. J. J.
Musgrave’s letter in your last issue. Could anything be
wider of the mark ? The Act states “ dentistry ” or “ dental
surgery.” That is “dentistry” (mechanical) or “dentistry”
(surgical), either the one or the other, “ separately ” or in
connection with medicine or pharmacy.

Our friend’s lucid description of a dentist fails the further
deduction, that “a dentist” (though eminently qualified or
otherwise) shall not be compelled to do both if he chooses
otherwise. If words mean anything at all, in the sentence
dentistry or dental surgery, in the eyes of the law, common
sense, or a dental surgeon, I think it must mean either the
one or the other, or both. If it is not optional I am in the
dark. A medical man may be a M.D., M.R.C.S., and
L.S.A., I am not aware the eye of the law compels him to
practise any one branch for which he is “ registered” at the
instigation of any person, whether he chooses or not.

Does not Mr. Musgrave’s letter savour too much of what
we call in Sheffield Broadheadism? By what authority can
the British Dental Association or any other association,
“demand legal evidence of fitness”? Who gave them
that authority ? The Dental Act does not. Intimidation,
based upon such a foundation, can only find its reward in
the treatment which doubtless such a communication will
receive.

G. Ellinor, Ph.C., Dental Surgeon, etc.

Sheffield, Sept. 16, 1879.

Sir, — It is refreshing but not particularly instructive to
■read the letter of Mr. J. J. Musgrave tinder the above
heading in your last issue. Mr. Musgrave evidently views
with a jaundiced eye that portion of the Dentists’ Act which
permits chemists who were engaged in dentistry to register
as such. Perhaps it may be well, however, to remind Mr.
Musgrave that, however powerful a brief he may hold from
his “numerous friends in both the dental and medical pro¬
fession,” it is — happily for those to whom he offers such
disinterested advice — only a brief, and not the dictum of
either judge or jury in the matter.

The new dental associations have a broad field of useful¬
ness before them, and it will be to be regretted if they initiate
their existence by stirring up strife between themselves as
representing the dentist p \ir et simple and those associations
who would represent the dentist “ in conjunction with the
practice of pharmacy.”

Imperturbed.

Sir, — In your last issue there appeared a letter on this
subject by Mr. J. J. Musgrave in which he states that a
deutist in the eye of the law must have been a person en¬
gaged in every branch of the dental art, i.e., able to under¬
take any operation and do any mechanical work that may be
required for the mouth by the public.

He then goes on to say that any chemists who cannot
show legal evidence of such qualification and fitness had
better apply to Mr. Miller, to have their names erased
from the register to prevent sect. xxxv. of the Act being
carried into effect, as it provides for such fraudulent regis¬
trations by fine and imprisonment.

About the 27th of last December I wrote to Mr. Miller
asking him if it was necessary for any person engaged in
extracting teeth to be registered. I expected a plain answer
to a plain question. On the 30 bh of December I received a
letter containing a form of declaration and an intimation
that December 31 was the last day on which I could be
registered for the sum of £2. I sent the money and was
registered as a dentist, as I concluded it was necessary to
do so in order to continue to extract teeth. Now I wish to
know if on applying to Mr. Miller to erase my name from
the register, he will return the £2 ; if not, could an action
stand for obtaining money under false pretences ? Perhaps
Mr. Musgrave can inform me ; if not, I shall set the whole
affair down as a big swindle.

September 16, 1879. Lower Molar.

Sir, — What is the object of your correspondent J. J.
Musgrave in writing the letter which appeared in last
week’s Journal? Does he wish to prevent chemists’ assist¬
ants from registering as dentists ?

It is a well-known and indubitable fact, that there are
hundreds of chemists, their managers and assistants, who
practise dentistry, that is, who extract, scale, stop, etc., as
ably as any professional dentist can do, who under the late
state of the law could not be hindered or prevented from
so practising ; and I take it that the new Act has been
passed to give such practitioners a legal status, and to
prevent from so practising unqualified men, mere empirics
and charlatans.

Another fact equally well known with the above, is that
in country places throughout the length and breadth of the
land, there are uneducated and vulgar men who take first
to “cow-doctoring” and farriery, but who are equally
ready at any time to bleed a horse or cow, or to cut a whit¬
low or extract a tooth for a human patient ; and these are
the men, I apprehend, who were intended to be, and who
will be prevented by the new Registration Act from prac¬
tising dentistry.

If a chemist’s assistant were able to perform, in a proper
manner, all the operations of dental surgery, he would not
need a new Act of Parliament to enable him to register,
and so give him a legal position ; nor would he long stand,
behind a chemist’s counter. He would be, or soon could be,
in a position to have his abilities fully recognized by the
College of Dental Surgeons and to practise as a full-blown
dentist.

Manager.

How can a Chemists’ Assistant register Himself
as a Dentist in bona fide Practice?

Sir, — Under the above heading, in your last week’s issue,
Mr. Musgrave says, “ I have also had chemists pointed out
to me who have never done any dental operation beyond
extracting a tooth, etc., who have registered as being in
bond fide practice as dentists.” Now, sir, if extracting a
tooth is not practising as a dentist, I should like to know
what it is ? Probably a great many chemists have registered
whose business engagements will not permit them to do
anything more than simple tooth extraction, and have
thereby registered, as a precaution, against a possible pro-
, secution for breaking the law. The registration of assist-

September 20, W9.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

239

ants, I should imagine, was illegal, because they are not
actually practising surgery and pharmacy, only acting as
assistants.

The Dental Act is like the Pharmacy Act; it must of
necessity recognize a certain class of men, who have no
right, so far as their qualifications are concerned, to be
registered. Asa natural consequence, it will be some years
hence before these Acts have the beneficial effect intended.

Walworth , Sept. 15, 1879. if. W. S.

The Health of the Drug Trade.

Sir, — The subject which Mr. Nicol, of Edinburgh, has
broached in a recent Journal is certainly of sufficient
importance to claim discussion, and if some of our thought¬
ful members would give us the benefit of their opinions, it
would prove instructive and interesting, for in these days
of competition and restless anxiety to get our trade prices
and honest due, this all important subject is, I fear, lost
sight of.

Dr. Richardson, in his manual of ‘Health and Life,’
gives very interesting facts respecting the conditions and
mortalities of all workers. He has collected tables of the
death rate of males engaged in seventy occupations during
three years, and perhaps it would surprise some of your
readers, as it did me, that the lives of bakers, millers,
tobacco manufacturers, and workers in metals, etc., stand
higher in point of vitality than those of our own trade.

Dr. Richardson comments on the causes in a great
number of cases, but with reference to chemists he says
nothing. I suppose he thinks we are sufficiently competent
to examine and trace the cause ourselves; but there is one
circumstance he names with reference to grocers and
drapers (both of which are better lives than chemists). He
says, “that seventy-six grocers die to one hundred and
eight drapers,'5 and the explanation of the mortality given
is that the grocer lives and works in an open shop, with doors
rarely closed from morning to night. He deals in goods
which give off little dust. He is rapid in his movements,
and keeps himself warm by exercise without the aid of hot
stoves. The draper, on the other hand, works in a close atmo¬
sphere. His shop door is on swing hinges. He is engaged
handling goods which fill the air with dust and fluff, and
the temperature is kept up by artificial means.

It has occurred to me this might be fitly applied to
ourselves, for I have often noticed that chemists are very
fond of keeping their doors closed, thereby retaining the
vitiating gases the atmosphere of the shop is laden with,
thus exerting their baneful influence on those employed
in it.

Is it because it gives a mysterious air or professional
appearance to the business ? The most startling fact named
by Dr. Richardson is that the lowest class in the vital
scale are innkeepers and publicans.

His favourite theory then comes in to explain the reason,
for he says, “ the occupation is one that is most nearly
allied to alcohol, for it tempts most rapidly into destruction
those who are the dispensers of it.”

Are we as chemists fond of the alcohol which kills, or is
it the physic which kills too ?

Sandford.

Sir,— Mr. Nicol has raised a very important question,
and. it is one to which I have given a great deal of attention
during the last twenty years.

I believe I can supply him with the information which
he requires. The obituary column of this Journal has for
a long time had a horrible attraction for me. I should like
to ask the contributors to it to endeavour in future to
supply the name of the disease of which the person died.

There is no need to dwell upon this sad subject, but I will
proceed to say that the result of my investigations goes to
prove that if a pharmacist can avoid the practice of manu¬
facturing chemistry, and confine himself to the ordinary
retail or wholesale branches of our business, and conduct
this business with ordinary prudence, and with a know¬
ledge of the laws of health, he will live to a good old age,
and enjoy his life as well or better than the tradesmen who
live around him, and who are not possessed of the know¬
ledge which I think he ought to have, and which I am
not surprised to find that his neighbours are deficient of.

There are probably exceptional cases where the victim is

placed in a very unhealthy part of a very large city, and
where he is left with no assistance of any kind; my remarks
do not apply to a slave like this, for I would say that his
occupation is simply a living death, and that the sooner he
is translated to another sphere, the better it will be for
him.

bhould this letter be read by any assistants in search of a
business, let me implore them to shun “a snug little concern
where the coming in is very low.” The unlucky keeper of
these shops is the most complete slave in the world ; the
negroes in America are quite happy people in comparison, for
they work very little, eat a great deal, and find lying in the
sun “ berry pleasant.”

I am much tempted to encroach upon your space in
explaining the mode of life which a pharmacist should lead
to enable him to be healthier than his neighbours, but I am
also deeply impressed with the idea that very little will
come of this discussion, for most of our brethren have
drifted into a series of habits which have become part of
themselves, and I fear that nothing can be said to warn
them from the way which “ seemeth good unto a man, and
the end of these things is death.” Upon the other hand,
should any reader feel sufficient interest in this subject to
challenge me in public, or to write to me in private, I shall
be pleased to show how it is done.

Rochester . H. Barnaby.

Sir, — In taking up the subject of Mr. Nicol’s letter o
Saturday last, I would preface my remarks by saying that
I do not write with the intention of trying to explain or
give reasons for the alleged high percentage of mortality
among chemists. Is it a fact jjroved and undisputed that
our business is less healthy than any other indoor occupation
of the shopkeeping species, even allowing for the few extra
hours we are occupied, or that “nearly 80 per cent, of
chemists and druggists die at an age when men are supposed
to be in their prime?” I do not think it is possible to
gather from the obituary notices of a scientific journal or
two (which, it is unnecessary to say, do not obtain reports
of all the deaths) a correct estimate of the average age at
which chemists die, and for this reason, and looking to the
source from which Mr. Nicol presumably draws his state¬
ment, I think he has been a little premature in his specula¬
tions. It has been said, not unfrequently, “ How is it that
chemists, as a rule, die young?” but has it occurred to one
in a hundred to inquire if this assertion is really fact — that
there is a greater mortality, and at an earlier age, among
our class than among drapers, clerks, grocers, etc. ?

I grant that in some large towns, where the system of
keeping indoor assistants is for the most part the rule, and
from the consequent night and day labour in the smaller
establishments, where there are no relieving hands, many
young men unconsciously, though slowly and surely, lay up
the embryo seeds of future disease. In such cases the
cause of the evil is obvious, and the remedy lies with them¬
selves. It will be asked, of course, how the requirements
of the trade and the medical profession are to be met in
doing away with night attendance. I would ask too, “Is
it not in the power of medical men to obviate, at least in a
great measure, the necessity of night work by chemists,
more especially in the case of those chemists and doctors
who have almost exclusive dealings with each other ?” By
having at hand a few such remedies as chloroform, lauda¬
num, etc., the majority of “emergency cases” could be
dealt with by physicians with greater despatch, and there¬
fore with gain both to themselves and their patients. And
the loss to the chemist would be more than balanced by a
well earned night’s repose. This most desirable boon for
the hard-worked assistant is certainly within the bounds of
possibility, and for its acquisition it would only require a
little friendly co-operation. Our sympathies in this respect
with our English brother- assistants are genuine and sincere,
but the hopes of better days in store for one and all of us
will help to sustain us until we are eventually in possession
of many such privileges, which we are at present deprived
of. Although the gist of these remarks may appear in
some measure to bear out Mr. Nicol’s statements, yet with
all respect to that gentleman, I hope that the publication
of authentic statistics will refute the melancholy rate of
mortality which, he alleges, exists in our midst.

Edinburgh. Alexander G. Laing.

240

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 20. 13:9.

Nitrate oe Pilocarpine.

Sir, — My inability to be present at the Pharmaceutical
Conference this year prevented me from replying to some
remarks made upon my paper in discussion, I therefore ask
you the favour of inserting the following reply.

The difference Mr. Martindale alludes to between the
action of an extract of jaborandi am! its alkaloid pilocarpine
is a fact well known to me, as established by the physio¬
logical experiments of Professors Michael Foster and Sydney
Finger, an l I intend shortly to commence some experiments
on the secondary products of the manufacture of pilocarpine
■with the view, if possible, of settling the matter.

As to Mr. Martindale’s discovery of the insolubility of
nitrate of pilocarpine in cold alcohol, and its use for puri¬
fying the nitrate, I may say to such a trifle he is welcome;
but he fails to point out what is of much more importance,
viz., the solubility of the nitrate in boiling alcohol, from
which it is deposited on cooling in colourless transparent
crystals, much purer than can be obtained by any length of
washing with cold alcohol.

University College Hospital , A. W. Gerrard.

September 16, 1879.

Soluble Essence of Ginger.

Sir, — We have failed to obtain a satisfactory result by
Mr. Thresh’ s formula. Although cooled down to the freez¬
ing point the solution was quite opaque when filtered.
Perhaps Mr. Thresh can explain this ?

There is surely a misprint in the third paragraph order¬
ing the tincture to be shaken with slacked lime “ until it
ceases to lose colour. . . Now add drop by drop dil.

sulph. acid until the rich yellow colour of the tincture sud¬
denly disappears.” Shaking with the slacked lime deepens
the colour.

Edinburgh. H. C. Baildon.

New and Improved Pharmaceutical Processes.

Sir, — In the “New Method for Making Tincture of
Iodine,” by Mr. E. F. Cherry, appearing in your issue of
the 6th inst„ I fail to see improvement; there may be
novelty, but it is of questionable advantage.

He must be a very clumsy manipulator who could not
make a pint of tinct. iodi without “ dirtying several
measures” and “ staining his skin.”

The method of placing the ingredients in a bottle and
occasionally agitating leaves nothing to be desired, and to
say tlio least, avoids dirtyiug a measure and funnel, which
unimportant consideration should not be thought, of in
compiling a pharmaceutical process.

Mr. Cherry’s improved method for phosphorus pills
differs only from one which has been long in use in the
substitution of chloroform for carbon bisulphide as the
phosphorus solvent.

On account of the extremely divided state of the phos¬
phorus, I think it highly probable that considerable oxida¬
tion takes place in this method, the vapour of the CHC13 or
CS2 may retard it while the mass is in the mortar (the
motion of the pestle, however, and atmospheric currents
would, most likely, displace it), but during rolling and
dividing oxidation would proceed rapidly (as instanced by
“ Greek Fire”). Finally, Mr. Cherry says nothing about
coating or varnishing the pills, without which they would
be valueless after having been kept a short time.

R. H. Parker.

Sir, — The only innovation in the paper entitled, “ An
Improved Method of Making Phosphorus Pills,” seems
to be the substitution of chloroform for bisulphide of carbon,
and as no mention is made of the fact that this prevents
the pill mass smoking, the only advantage of so doing is
overlooked.

Of course no one likes the mephitic smell of bisulphide
of carbon, but the mortar used can surely be placed in the
open air for a couple of minutes.

Carbon bisulphide is preferable to chloroform for three
reasons: — It costs much less ; it is a better solvent, and it
is much more volatile.

I am aware that on the last point I differ from Mr.
Cherry. An experiment will at once settle the matter.

As to “ The New Method of Making Tincture of Iodine,” I
fail to see how it improves on the old, in which the iodine
and iodide of potassium were placed in a bottle, the spirit
added, and the bottle gently shaken at intervals till com¬
plete solution had taken place, so rendering it unnecessary
to dirty a funnel, and filter and waste a plug of cotton wool
and a certain quantity of spirit by evaporation, as must be
the case if the new method be adopted.

Greek Fire.

The Prosecutions by the Pharmaceutical Society

of Ireland.

Sir, — Referring to your report of the proceedings in the
case of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland v. Beater
and Hardy, and the same v. Brownrigg, we beg to inform
you that the rule of our establishments is to enter and
number all prescriptions dispensed by us, and that this
practice is invariably followed.

We may remark, at the same time, that we have fre¬
quently compounded prescriptions for Messrs. Beater and
Hardy.

Dublin. Hamilton, Long and Co., Limited.

A. B. — The regulations respecting the appointment of
Navy dispensers will be found in the ‘ Calendar of the
Pharmaceutical Society.’

J. T. Fox. — (1) Ranunculus arvensis. (2) Lamium
purpureum. (3) Sanicula europcea. (4) Crepis virens ,
probably ; materials too meagre to determine. (5) Vicia
Saliva, 0 angustifolia. (6) Galium Aparine. (7) Vicia
sepium. (8) Knautia arvensis. (9 and 10) send., better
specimens. (11) Lactuca muralis. (12) Carex glauca,
probably. Please limit the number of specimens to six in
future.

A. B. C. — Saponaria vaccaria.

J. Sliadwick. — Species of Juniper us ; impossible to de¬
termine which in the absence of fruit.

J. H. Williams. — Garrod’s ‘Essentials of Materia Medica,’
published by Longmans.

“Aloe.” — Snively’s ‘Manufacture of Perfumes and
Toilet Articles,’ published by Trubner.

J. Johnson. — The provisions of the 17th section as to the
regulations to be observed in the sale of poisons do not
apply to any medicine supplied by a legally qualified
apothecary to his patient, nor apply to any article when
forming part of the ingredients of any medicine dispensed
by a person registered under the Pharmacy Act, provided
such medicine be labelled with the name and address of the
seller, and the ingredients thereof be entered, with the name
of the person to whom it is sold or delivered, in a book to
be kept by a seller for that purpose. But the regulations
apply to all retail sales of scheduled poisons.

“ Prosier ucian.” — A process for the deodorization of
petroleum ivas described in the Journal for January 26,
1878, p. 582.

“ Associate .” — Persons registered under the Dental Act
are exempt from jury service.

“ Junior .” — We do not possess sufficient information on
the subject to warrant the expression of an opinion.

J. Gosling. — See the Journal for March 1 in the present
year, p. 718 ; other recipes have also been given.

E. Robinson. — You will find an explanation in any good
work on Physics. The action is primarily due to atmo¬
spheric pressure.

“ Wednesbury ” (who should have sent his name and
address) will find several papers on pill coating by reference
to the indexes of recent volumes of this Journal.

“ Eupatorium perfoliatumP — With reference to the
paper on this subject that recently appeared in this
Journal, before, p. 50, we are requested to add the follow¬
ing paragraph, which appeared in the original communi¬
cation in the American Journal of Pharmacy : — “ The
analysis was made by Mr. Parsons [Department of Agri¬
culture, Washington], who also submits this report.”

R. W. — Sneezewort and evening primrose.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. A tt field, J. H. Williams, Jackson, Wyborn, Davis,
Mrs. Clarke, Euryowie, Dispenser, Alterative, Assistant,
Qusero, Alchemist, Juvenis, T. S. W.

.September 27, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

241

“ THE MONTH.”

Unusual seasons generally bring unusual phe¬
nomena, and abnormal conditions of plant life may
therefore be naturally expected this year. Thus a
Manchester correspondent writes that he recently
came across a bed of hemlock with stems much
above the average height, one of which, on being
cut down, was found to measure 8 feet 9 inches in
height, while the stem was 3l> inches in circumference.
A similar patch of the plant was recently noticed by
the writer, near Dartford, quite an effort being re¬
quired to reach the fruits with an outstretched arm,
the plants, which were not measured, being probably
close upon 9 feet high and much branched.

Fungi also, which might have been expected from
the damp state of the ground and the recent warmth
of atmosphere, at all events in the day, to have been
•abundant, are in fact unusually late and scarce.
A recent search for Amanita muscaria, in a well
known locality for it, near London, proved quite a
failure. So great is the scarcity of fungi that it is
feared that the fungus foray of the Woolhope Club
at Hereford this year will prove less successful than
usual, which would be rather an unfortunate occur¬
rence, since several fungological celebrities from
France are coming over to attend the meeting.

The unusual abundance of insects this year is
■another curious circumstance, and it would be in¬
teresting to ascertain how far it has affected the crops
of medicinal plants. The writer recently observed
a patch of peppermint completely stripped of leaves
by one of the common garden caterpillars, Mamestra
persicaricz. Most insects appear to dislike strong
odours, but whether the moist weather has diminished
the quantity Of oil usually present in the leaves, or
whether it is possible for insects to become habitu¬
ated to unusual food, it is not possible to say. At
all events, neither the elder nor the peppermint
appears to be generally attacked by insects.

In damp meadows, in localities where it occurs,
the colchicum may now be seen in full beauty, and
almost reminds one of the early spring time when
the crocus displays the same delicate hue. Many
spring plants often blossom again in the autumn if
the weather be damp and mild. This year there
may be seen at the Botanical Gardens the bistort,
Actcea spicata, crosswort, comfrey, and several others.
The same thing often happens when flowers which
naturally blossom in spring, are transplanted at that
season. Thus primroses transplanted in spring will
sometimes flower in autumn for two or three years
in succession.

Among the rarer wild plants to be seen in flower
this month are, Linosyris vulgaris, Artemisia campes-
tris, JJrtica pilulifera, Spiranthes autumnalis, Lactuca
Scariola, L. saligna, and Bupleurum tenuissivium.
The first three may now be seen in blossom in the
Herbaceous Ground at Kew, where several families
are still well represented by plants in flower. Those
which more especially afford abundant material for
study are, Chenopodiacece, Polygonaceai, Composite,
Scrophulariacece, Labiate, Convolvulacea3,Dipsacace9e
and Boraginaceie. The Chenopodiacece are, even to
advanced botanists, a very troublesome group, but a
veritable bete noir to the tyro in botany, to whom
it may be useful to know that although it is neces¬
sary to gather specimens in flower, as well as speci¬
mens having the lower leaves, it is best not to
attempt to name the species until specimens with
ripe fruit can be obtained.

Third Series, No. 483.

Among medicinal plants at Kew a number which
were recorded for last month still remain in blossom,
such as lavender, peppermint, borage, camomile,
hyssop, tansy, tobacco, melilot, wormwood, alkanet,
and Monarda didyma.

Another species of Monarda, M. fistulosa, with
pale pink flowers, presents a much less brilliant
appearance than M. didyma, but its leaves give
off a highly fragrant odour, like bergamot, when
bruised. It is a curious coincidence that the odour
both of lemon and bergamot should occur in more
than one plant of the Labiate, while that of the
orange does not seem to occur in that natural order.

A solitary flower of the cochineal cactus, Opuntia
vulgaris, may be seen in the Herbaceous Ground, a
sight of apparently rare occurrence in this country.
Among the plants in the same ground worth a pass¬
ing attention, at least, are several species of Eryngium,
with their curious thistle-like habit. In the Com¬
posite may be noticed several plants of the genus
Echinops , of which we have no indigenous repre¬
sentative, and which derive their name of globe
thistle from their spherical capitulum, differing from
ordinary composite flowers in each floret having an
involucre of its own, while a general involucre is
absent, or perhaps it would be more correct to say
that what is apparently a flower-head consists of an
aggregation of eapitula, each of which contains only
a single flower.

In the Onagracese bed may be observed a flower,
Lopezia coronata, worthy of notice on account of its
unusual structure. The parts of the flower in
this family are usually four in number, or the
stamens are sometimes reduced to two, but in this
case theie are apparently five petals, which gives an
irregular appearance to the flower. This is due to
one of the two stamens having no anther at its
apex, but the filament developed instead in the form
of a petal.

In hedgesides and damp waste places near old
towns and villages, the soapwort, Saponaria officin¬
alis, may be seen in blossom, its pretty pink flower
frequently showing a tendency to become double.
This plant has lately been spoken of as likely to be
useful in carcinoma. Gerarde in his ‘ Herball ’
speaks of it as being used “ for greene wounds, to
hinder inflammation and speedily to heale them,”
and quotes from Ludovicus Septalius a remark which
would have been doubtless much resented, had it been
written in these democratic days. “ I have some¬
times used it with happy success in the most con¬
tumacious (venereal) disease, but it is of a somewhat
ungrateful taste and therefore must be reserved for
the poorer sort” It derives its name from the
lather which may be made with water and the
bruised leaves, and which is due to saponine, first
obtained from this plant.

By the .sides of streams may be seen the gipsy wort
(Ly copus europoeus), remarkable for having only two
stamens, the upper two being imperfect. This plant
has the reputation of being one used by the gipsies
to dye their skin.

The curious little plant Samolus Valerandi, may
now be looked for in wet marshy or dripping places.
Although the flowers are small and have an un¬
attractive appearance, they are interesting on
account of possessing, in the modified form of small
scales, the second row of stamens, which is absent
in most Primulacecz, and by reason of which absence
the stamens in this order are opposite to the petals,

242

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 27, i879„.

instead of alternate with them, as should, if the
flowers were normal, he the case.

On damp sandy turfy heaths the Calathian violet,
Gentiana Pneumonanthe, may now be found in flower.
It is one of the prettiest of our native species, but is
somewhat local and rare. The flowers differ from
those of the commoner species, G. Amarella, in the
stamens coming to maturity "before the stigma, so
that the pollen is carried by bees (which can only
creep half way down the corolla) from the flowers in
which the pollen is ripe to the older in which the
anthers are withered and the stigma is viscid. As
the stigma is higher up the tube than the stamens,
self-fertilization is not possible.

In Gentiana Amarella, which is common on chalky
hills at this time of year, although the anthers and
stigma are mature at the same time, the stigma is
above the stamens by reason of the style being
longer than the stamens, so that cross-fertilization
must also take place in this case. The G. Amarella
is still sometimes gathered by herbalists under the
name of English Gentian.

Most of those who have attended botanical lectures
at Regent’s Park Gardens are acquainted with the
curious leaves of Bryopliijllum calycinum, which
when placed on damp earth in a warm place give
rise to young plants from each notch at the margin
of the leaves. Dr. W. Berge, of Zurich, has recently
been examining the origin of these buds and their
development into plants, and has found them to be
of exogenous production and entirely developed from
a meristem tissue in the base of the notches of the
leaves.

Some interesting experiments on the action of
anaesthetics on the sensitive plant have been made
by M. Arloing. He found that chloral had not the
same action on the plant as upon animals, while
the contrary was the case with chloroform and ether.
The anaesthetics were administered in the form of
watery mixture to the roots, and the vessels contain¬
ing the plants were then covered over so as to
arrest evaporation, so that the anaesthetics must of
necessity penetrate the plants either by the roots or
leaves. The experiments showed that the rate of
ascent of liquids in the plant increased from the
base of the stem upwards, being one and a half to
twice as great in the petioles as in the stem.

In the Gardeners’ Chronicle , this month, Mr. W. G.
Smith points out that a fungus very common at this
time of the year possesses poisonous properties. A
gentleman observing that it wras eaten by slugs or
snails most erroneously supposed it was therefore
suitable for human beings and suffered severely for
his theory. The fungus in question, known tofungo-
logists as Paxillus involutus, is remarkable for the
rim of the pileus or cap being distinctly curled
under. The pileus is pale brownish and the gills
run down the rather stout stem. The flesh when
broken is dirty white, becoming brown, and the
spores are reddish.

At the drug sales in London there has been
noticed this month some spurious matico, with
an aromatic odour between that of aniseed and
sassafras, and another kind with leaves extremely
similar to those of matico, but quite inodorous. A
bag of the fruits of the doum palm, Hyplicene
thebctica was also observed, but with what object
they were imported it wras not possible to as¬
certain. The fruit is said to be eaten by the
lower classes in Egypt and to taste like gingerbread,

— . -

whence it is sometimes called the gingerbread tree;
its dry fibrous fruit, however, look so little like
“gingerbread nuts” that there is not much temptation
to try them. The seeds which are hard and horny
are sometimes made into beads for rosaries. Goa
powder of good quality was noticed and Calabar
beans appeared to be more plentiful than of late.

Several inquiries concerning Alstonia bark have
recently been made, and as some confusion appears
to exist between Alstonia scholaris and Alstonia con -
stricta, some readers may be glad to know that
an account of the former may be found in Bentley
and Trimen’s ‘Medicinal Plants,’ No. 173. This
bark is also called Echites scholaris • and Dita bark.
Attention was called to it so long ago as 1853, by
Dr. Gibson. In his paper in the Pharmaceutical
Journal, series 1, vol. xii., p. 422, a formula for the
tincture (3 oz. of the coarsely bruised bark to a pint
of proof spirit) is given, and some idea as to the dose
and uses.

Alstonia constricta is an Australian bark used in
Queensland as a substitute for quinine and is now
coming into use in the United States. It is also
known under the name of Queensland Fever Bark.
It is quite different in appearance from Dita bark,,
which is used for dysentery rather than for fever.

At the meeting of the International Congress of
Medical Science, at Amsterdam, among the papers
read was one by Mr. Van Gorkom, on the
culture of the different species of cinchona barks in
Java. His experience, as superintendent of the
quinine plantations in Java, naturally gives great
value to his opinions. He considers that regular
culture has done much to increase the value of the
cinchonas for medical purposes, but that neither by
outward nor by anatomical structure is it possible to
determine the richness in active principles of any
given sample of the bark and that chemical analysis
alone can determine this point. He also finds that the
properties of each species remain the same, although
growing in foreign lands. Their tendency to hybri¬
dization, however, renders careful supervision of the
plantations necessary, so as to secure seed of the best
varieties only, or in other words, such, as yield the
largest amount of quinine. He believes that the
growth of cinchonas in the East Indies is more in¬
fluenced by the local condition of the climate and the
soil than by a difference in the elevation of the land
and that it is best not to attempt to grow them above
4500 or 5000 feet.

In the Gardeners' Chronicle an interesting extract
from the Colonies and India is given concerning the
collection of kauri gum. It is there stated that the
districts in which the gum is found are generally
covered with small mounds which indicate its
presence. The gum hunter carries a steel-tipped
spear with which he probes the mass, a little ex¬
perience enabling him to ascertain the existence
of the gum without further search. It is found in
blocks from a few ounces to 50 or 60 pounds. The
gum which is dug up is said to be used in this
country for dressing calicoes, while the recent resin,,
or that from the existing tree, is employed princi¬
pally in varnish making.

In the Lancet for September 6th attention i3
called to the fact that the use of sulphate of duboi¬
sine is liable to produce giddiness or even in some
cases delirium. The writer says : — “ When the supply
of pure alkaloid becomes large enough to ensure uni¬
formity of strength in the solution made by different

••September 27, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

243

chemists, it may he unsafe to prescribe a four grain
solution of sulphate of duboisine, and the use of
the drug for rapidly dilating the pupil or paralysing
the accommodation in the out-patient or the con¬
sulting room may not be free from disadvantage.”

On this subject Dr. J. Tweedy remarks in a sub¬
sequent paper, in the same journal, that “ Duboisine,
like many other remedies, has been and still is ex¬
travagantly abused. It is of immense power and
value and necessary only in special cases, for which
it should be reserved. Bulk for bulk, it is much
stronger than atropine and should be employed with
corresponding caution.” From these remarks it is
evident that duboisine is an unsafe drug to be used
by patients themselves, and it behoves chemists,
•should they meet with prescriptions containing it, to
tell the patient to be extremely careful not to exceed
the quantity directed to be used. Apropos of the
above remarks it is not quite evident in what
way uniformity in streligth of the solution made
by different chemists depends upon the supply
of the pure alkaloid. Does the writer mean to
imply that chemists do not make solutions
of the strength ordered, because duboisine is an
expensive article ? Solutions of alkaloids, etc., are
usually made at the request of medical men, and
such solutions naturally differ in strength according
to the requirements of the prescriber; therefore
it must rest with the prescriber alone to regulate
the strength in the absence of a published formula.

This experience of duboisine does not appear to
be universal with experimentalists, for in Dr. H.
Macnaughten Jones’s able summary, in the British
Medical Journal , no mention is made of giddiness
or delirium being induced by its_ application ; on the
contrary, he observes, “ of the two (atropine and
-duboisine), so far as my experience teaches me, save
for its expense, I prefer the sulphate of duboisine to
the sulphate of atropine.” The production of these
symptoms may therefore be due to a peculiar intoler¬
ance of the drug similar to that which is well known
to occur in some persons as regards atropine, and
which is alluded to by Dr. Jones in the above paper.

Benzoate of sodium is said to be much us:d in
Germany at present. It is stated that it reduces fever
less rapidly than quiniie and salicylate of sodium,
but that the effect lasts longer. The dose given is 5
to 6 grams for children and 10 to 20 grams for adults.

In the Medial and Surgical Reporter, Dr. Mary
J. Matlack calls attention to the value of asparagin
as a diuretic. She considers it to be one of the best
remedies in dropsy dependent on disease of the
heart, and to be especially valuable in chronic gout.
The dose given is 1 grain, three times a day, in
conjunction with 12 grains of bromide of potassium.

Many of our readers have probably heard of the
singular case of Alexis St. Martin, who had an open¬
ing into his stomach from a bullet wound which
never closed, and who w'as the subject of experiments
on gastric digestion, by Dr. Beaumont. The Detroit
Lancet , for August, states that he is still alive and
lives at Joliette county, Quebec province, Canada,
and although seventy-nine years old, is strong and
healthy. The hole in his stomach is an inch in dia¬
meter, yet his digestion has never failed. It should
be added that he has been a hard worker all his life.

A new use for thymol has been discovered by Dr.
Emil Stern, of Breslau, who states in the Breslaue
drztliche Zeitschrift (No. 8, 1879), that so far as he
has been able to observe a mixture of a one per

1000 aqueous solution of thymol preserves vaccine
lymph from decomposition, while it does not destroy
its specific action and the mixture is not more
irritating than ordinary vaccine matter. It does not
appear, however, that tliymolized lymph is infallible
in its action, it seeming to vary in activity according
to its age. The discovery, however, that thymol
does not, like carbolic acid, destroy the power of the
vaccine lymph is a remarkable one.

From the Ammi Visnaga , an umbelliferous plant
common in Lower Egypt, and the rigid pedicels of
whose umbels are used by the Arabs as toothpicks,
Mr. Ibrahim Mustaplia has extracted a glucoside to
which he has given the name of kelline, from kell,
the Arabic name of the plant. It is obtained by
treating a mixture in equal parts of the powdered
seeds of the plant and slacked lime with alcohol,
evaporating to dryness in a water-bath, exhausting
with ether, filtering and treating with boiling water
the yellowish residue and filtering while warm. On
cooling crystals are obtained which are purified by
recrystallization first from hot acetic and then from
boiling water. Kelline is described as a white very
bitter substance, very slightly soluble in water,
methylic, ethylic and amylic alcohols and chloro¬
form when cold, but much more soluble in them
when hot.

Pelletierine, the alkaloid isolated by Tanret from
pomegranate root bark, and considered by him to be
the active tsenicide principle, appears to be making
its way into favour on the Continent. The free
alkaloid is a volatile oleaginous liquid, and the salts
described by Tanret in his original paper ( Pharm .
Journ. [3], ix., 1023), — the sulphate, hyclrochlorate
and nitrate, — although obtainable in the crystalline
form, are very hygroscopic and liable to undergo
alteration through atmospheric influences, and are
consequently qot suitable for dispensing. For this
purpose Messrs. Gehe recommend as most con¬
venient the tannate, which forms a dirty white
powder, stable when exposed to the air. In bringing
the subject before the Paris Society at its August
meeting M. Petit said that judging from the com¬
position of the tannate of pelletierine the dose would
vary from 1*50 to 2-0 grams, but as he admitted that
the results of a polarimetric examination were abso¬
lutely different from those reported by M. Tanret it
is not quite certain that the substances obtained by
these two chenists were identical.

Aspidospermine, the alkaloid of the bark of Aspi-
dosperma Quebracho, which has been recently recom¬
mended in the treatment of dyspnoea accompanying
diseases of the lungs and other organs, has been the
subject of a further examination by its discoverer,
Herr Fraude ( Ber . cl. deutscli. chem. Gesells, xii. , 1561).
The author represents it by the formula C^F^NgC^,
and states that at 14° C. one part of it is soluble in 48
parts of 99 per cent, alcohol, in 106 parts of ether free
from alcohol and water, and in 6000 parts of water, the
aqueous solution having a distinctly bitter taste. In
many of its reactions it closely resembles strychnia, but
its reaction with hypochlorous acid is characteristic.
If a very small quantity be boiled for a few minutes
in a tew c.c. of aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid,
sp. gr. 1T3 to 1T4, the liquid acquires an intense red
colour, resembling that of a solution of fuchsin, which
is persistent during a week’s exposure to air and light.
Brucine under similar conditions gives a dark Madeira
colour, and strychnine a reddish yellow colour. The
cinchona and opium alkaloids, veratrine, caffeine,

244

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 27, 1879..

atropine, nicotine and coniine give no colour reaction
with the solution of hypochlorous acid.

Bromide of zinc having come recently into use in
medicine M. Yvon recommends its preparation by
double decomposition between zinc sulphate and
potassium bromide. Upon triturating equivalent
quantities of these in a mortar liquefaction quickly
takes place, the water * being afforded by the zinc
sulphate. This product is left in contact about
twenty minutes, then suspended in double its weight
of perfectly rectified 95 per cent, alcohol and filtered.
The solution of zinc bromide, which should pass
through colourless, is evaporated to dryness first in
a water-bath and then in a sand-bath. The product
should be volatile, without residue and entirely
soluble in water, alcohol and ether.

In the French Academy of Medicine, M. Vulpian
has called attention to the fact that pepsines de¬
livered from different pharmacies vary much in their
digestive power, some of them modifying albumen
so slowly as to make it doubtful what good effect
they can have when administered to dyspeptics. He
also confirmed a conclusion arrived at some time ago
by Dr. Symes ( Pharm . Journ. [3], iv., 1), that the
action of pepsine is retarded by the presence of
alcohol. Wines and elixirs of pepsine are very much
used in France, and as M. Vulpian went on to say
that some of the most renowned elixirs contained an
extremely small quantity of pepsine, the rest in¬
tended to have been present having probably been
precipitated by the alcohol during the manufacture
of the preparations, the statement has caused some
little sensation amongst the makers. M. Vulpian
also described some experiments made by a pupil,
M. Mourrut, which appeared to indicate that sufficient
hydrochloric acid to correspond to the acidity of
the gastric juice, added to a liquid containing dias¬
tase or pancreatine, retards the action of the diastase
and stops that of the pancreatine, the former recover¬
ing its activity upon the neutralization of the liquid,
but the latter remaining inert.

Some interesting experiments on the propagation
of sponges, made by Dr. Schmidt, of the University
of Gratz (Stvria), have just been reported to the
Paris Acclimatization Society ( Bulletin , xxvi., 374).
Dr. Schmidt has found that if a sponge be taken
early in the spring, cut into small pieces, and
immersed in water by attaching the pieces to wooden
stakes, growth soon commences and eventually in
about three years each piece may become a perfect
sponge worth ten centimes. An estimate based upon
what appears to be rather slender experience sets the
probable profits from the investment of capital in
this direction at about 60 per cent.

The disastrous consequences that might result from
a person affected with colour blindness being placed
m charge of a vessel induced the Board of Trade at
the beginning of 1877 to issue instructions that
persons presenting themselves for examination for
masters’ or mates’ certificates should undergo a
preliminary test as to their ability to distinguish
the following colours, which enter largely into the
combinations of signals used at sea - black, white,
red, green, yellow and blue. As a result, out of
5967 candidates 26 — or rather less than half per cent.
— were finally rejected as colour blind, and 13 others
were only allowed to proceed to examination after
a second trial. Green seems to have been the greatest
stumbling block, it having been described wrongly
by each of these 39 men, and in 25 cases referred

to red. On the other hand, 12 referred red to
green.

It may be remarked that some time since it was
stated in La France Medicate that this infirmity
could be overcome by looking through a layer of
fuchsine in solution. A M. Javal has made a
practical application of this observation by interpos¬
ing between two glasses a thin layer of gelatine
tinted with fuchsine, and it is claimed that by the
use of such spectacles the errors caused by colour
blindness are corrected. According to the Medical
and Surgical Reporter , some experiments made in
Philadelphia have confirmed this statement.

Still more additions to the “elements,” and again the
spectroscope has been the principal instrument used
in the detection. M. Cleve reports to the Academy of
Sciences {Compt. Rend., September 1) that he has dis¬
tinguished in erbia two new elements, making four
that have been separated from this substance, which
was until recently looked upon as itself being the
oxide of a single element, erbium. A writer in the
Chemical News asks some pertinent questions as to the
manner in which these strangers are to be treated in
the text-books. Since June, 1877, the following new
elements have been named — davyum, neptunium,
lavoesium, mosandrum, philiipium, ytterbium, deci-
pium, scandium, norwegium, uralium; and to these
are now added, thullium and holmium. Whilst some
workers are thus increasing the list of elements, others-
are steadily seeking to reduce it. In a short note read
by Mr. Lockyer before the British Association he
makes the following statement, leaving to others
apparently to draw their own inferences: — “When
carefully distilled metallic sodium was condensed in
a capillary tube, placed in a retort, and heated in a
Sprengel vacuum, it gave off twenty volumes of
hydrogen. Phosphorus, carefully dried, and sub¬
mitted to the same treatment, gave off seventy
volumes of a gas which appeared to consist chiefly
of hydrogen.” Magnesium is said to have given off
two volumes of hydrogen, and from sulphur sulphur¬
ous anhydride was always obtained. Iridium always
gave off hydrogen in vacuo without heating, whilst
lithium gave off as much as one hundred volumes.

Corresponding with the advance of science there
must necessarily occur in national pharmacopoeias
successive changes in the names of many of the
chemicals employed as therapeutic agents ; with the
lapse of time some of the earlier names have become
quite obsolete. When, therefore, a prescription con¬
taining a well-known chemical, but with its more
ancient name, is placed before a pharmacist whose
acquaintance with drugs and chemicals dates no
further back than the advent of the British Phar¬
macopoeia, he is ignorant of the preparation when
ordered by a name not found in that volume.

The library of everyone engaged in a business
composed of the usual mixture of the retail of drugs
and the dispensing of prescriptions may 'with ad¬
vantage have on its shelves, in addition to the
British Pharmacopoeia, subsidiary works of reference*
in which category may be named as specially useful
Beasley’s ‘ Pocket Formulary,’ also Gray’s ‘ Supple¬
ment,’ a valuable work and one that well merits,
another edition, together with Jourdain’s ‘Pharma¬
copoeia Universalis, or a complete encyclopaedia of the.
materia medica contained in the pharmacopoeias of
London, Edinburgh and Dublin, as well as of all those:
of Europe and America, and of dispensaries formu¬
laries, etc.,’ and, as hospital formulae very frequently

September 27, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

245

I

I

:

find their way into private practice, to the above
may with advantage be added that valuable little
work, Squire’s ‘Pharmacopoeias of -the London Hos¬
pitals.’

It must be obvious that the number can be greatly
increased, but the few above named may be considered
almost essential as works of reference in a well
regulated pharmacy, and these should be so placed
as to be readily accessible to the dispenser. Some
of the questions asked and repeated in these pages
may be taken to indicate that in many establish¬
ments no such facilities exist of easy reference
when a difficulty occurs in the case of synonyms or
formulae which the British Pharmacopoeia does not

supply-

Correspondents would materially assist their less
favoured brethren by naming works of reference
which they have found valuable and could recom¬
mend to others similarly situated.

The first formula, No. 338, is evidently intended
for a hair dye and the inquiry has been answered by
several correspondents the answer of Mr. Staveley is
definite. As regards the addition of liq. ammon. fort,
to the solution of argent, nit., the ammonia should
be added drop by drop with constant stirring and
discontinued just before the disappearance of the last
trace of precipitate. The addition of ammonia to a
solution of argent, nit. precipitates the silver in the
state of oxide, which is redissolved in excess of the
precipitant, and care should be taken towards the end
of the process that no more ammonia be added than
is barely sufficient to dissolve the oxide precipitated.

The prescription No. 339 may be dispensed by
rubbing the quinine to a fine powder, and then
mixing it with one half the water ordered, and the
ferri am. cit. being dissolved in the other half, they
should be mixed. The result will be a turbid
mixture, which will require being shaken before the
administration of each dose. Probably the question
refers merely as to whether the quinine should be
dissolved by the addition of an acid, previously to its
mixture with the ferri am. cit. The writer has
not added an acid, its addition by the dispenser
would consequently not be justifiable. The presence
of an acid produces a more elegant result, and may
with propriety be suggested to the prescriber, but
should not be employed without his sanction, as he
may have sufficiently satisfactory reasons of his own
for the omission.

No. 340 contains the question whether it would
be right in making ung. sulph. iodid. to rub the
iodide with a little glycerine before adding the lard,
“ glycerine being a solvent of iodide of sulphur.” In
making the ointment it is very desirable that it
should be smooth and without grit, and although any
addition to a prescription must be adopted with
great care, to either a few drops of glycerine or
spirit in this case there can be no objection, and
more especially as one correspondent says the addi¬
tion of one of them “ ensures the production of a
faultless ointment.”

Mr. R. H. Parker, in his reply to the question
regarding the production of this ointment, states that
in the next edition of the British Pharmacopoeia the
formula may with advantage have the addition of
the rectified spirit. This remark points to another
direction in which the discussions taking place in
these columns may be of value, namely, in improving
the formulae for the next Pharmacopoeia. It is
well known that the accumulation of small but

valuable facts with regard to the make of these and
similar preparations, and their general application in
practice, constitute that essential difference which is
now and then observed in the same prescription
dispensed at different establishments.

The prescription No. 341 contains an ingredient
well known under its present name, hydrarg. ammon.,
but it is not so generally known by pharmacists of
the present day under its former one, calx hydrargyri
alba. It is one that in name has seen many changes,
and probably the present one will not be final. A
formula for the ointment occurred in the £ Pharma¬
copoeia Londiniensis ’ of 1788, and is quoted by a
correspondent in another column. An ointment of
this preparation is frequently used as an external
application in eruptions of the skin on the head or
face.

No. 342 refers to a change of colour which takes
place in ung. plumbi subacet. co. after being kept
some time. This subject has been discussed on
previous occasions, and it can only be necessary to
refer “ An Apprentice ” to the remarks on this
change in prescriptions Nos. 130 and 243, and some
observations on the same in “ The Month,” Feb. 22,
1879, p. 698, and July 7, 1878, p. 65.

MELIA AZEDARACH, LIN.*

BY J. JACOBS, PH.G.

This beautiful tree is highly appreciated in the Southern
United States for the beauty of its flowers, the elegance
of its foliage and the medicinal uses to which it is applied ;
as a shade tree its popularity is equal to that of the
maple in the North. It appears to be indigenous to Asia,
but is planted as an ornamental tree in southern Europe,
whence it was introduced into and naturalized in the
United States at an early period, after the settlement of
Carolina and Georgia. It is not found farther north
than Virginia, as \h e severity of the climate of the more
northern districts destroys it. The common names, pride
of China and pride of India, undoubtedly originated from
its rare beauty ; Indian lilac from the resemblance of its
flowers to those of the common syringa, and bead tree
from the use of the nuts in rosaries, to which also, the
German name Paternosterbaum (paternostertree) alludes.
In the southern States it is known as China-berry , and to
the young as popgun tree, in allusion to the use of its
green fruit.

The tree attains a height of 30 to 40 feet, aud from 15
to 20 inches in diameter ; it grows rapidly, reaching the
height of 12 or 15 feet in four years. The green fruit is
very astringent, but when ripe it is a fleshy -yellow drupe,
of a sweet taste, rather larger than a cherry, and contain¬
ing a five-celled bony nut. The green fruit is used in
Texas for making blacking.

The ripe berries were largely used in Georgia during
the late war for the purpose of obtaining alcohol, by the
usual process of fermentation and distillation ; the
whisky thus obtained was preferred by many to that
produced from corn or rye. By expressing the fleshy
part of the fruit, like the olive, a fixed oil is furnished
from which a “ Poor Man’s Soap ” is made.

Remarkable qualities are said to reside in the fruit,
such as will intoxicate robins, which are particularly
fond of and feed upon them during their annual migration
southward { the seeds are widely dispersed by these birds,
and hence trees are found in secluded places. Instances
are known of the fruit being destructive to hogs, by what
means it is not yet ascertained. A decoction of the
berries sprinkled on plants prevents the depredations of

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy , September,

1879-

246

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. September 27, 1 879.

the grub-worm. The leaves and berries will preserve
dried fruit from insects, and when packed with clothing
will prevent the attack of moths.

The dried berries in whisky have been employed
against ascarides, tape- worm and verminous maladies.
The pulp of the berries stewed in lard has been used with
success as an oir.tment in scald head. The decoction of
the leaves has been employed in hysteria, and is astrin¬
gent and stomachic. A decoction of the green bark, 4
ounces to the pint, is administered as an anthelmintic in
doses of 1 or 2 fluid ounces, followed by a cathartic.
When prepared in March or April, while the sap is
ascending, unpleasant effects have been observed, such as
stupor, dilation of the pupil, etc., which symptoms,
however, pass off -without perceptible injury to the
system.

For the following experiments the bark of the root was
employed, and as the liber is very easily separated, and
this portion is the most effective in the Nim Bark ( Melia
Azadirachta , Lin.), this alone was used. The liber is of
an extremely bitter taste, devoid of astringency, and its
decoction gave no evidence of tannin ; the outer portion,
on the other hand, is very astringent, and its decoction
gave abundant evidence of tannin by gelatin and ferric
chloride. I may also mention that the inner bark is the
portion used in making the decoction for administering.

After several preliminary experiments made with the
view of determining the best course to pursue, one pound
of the powdered bark was percolated with diluted alcohol
until thoroughly exhausted. Upon distilling off the
alcohol the aqueous residue held in suspension a con¬
siderable amount of insoluble matter. This residue was
divided into two parts, one being filtered ( A ), the
other evaporated (B).

The aqueous filtrate, A, was treated with solution of
acetate of lead as long as a precipitate was produced ;
the precipitate was brought on a filter and washed well
with water. The filtrate was treated with subacetate
of lead, and this precipitate likewise collected and
washed. The filtrate was freed from lead by sulphuretted
hydrogen, separated from the sulphide of lead, and the
sulphuretted hydrogen expelled by heating.

The sulphide of lead yielded nothing to hot water, but
when treated with hot alcohol, a small amount of
resinous or extractive matter was obtained. The filtrate
from the sulphide of lead was concentrated to a syrupy
consistence ; alcohol produced a slight precipitate, and
on the addition of ether a slight semi-fluid mass se¬
parated. Both precipitates occasioned by alcohol and
ether redissolved in water and alcohol, respectively,
and, evaporated spontaneously, left a dark amorphous
residue, which was also obtained from the filtrate after
ether and alcohol had been expelled ; the ether precipitate
proved to be sugar.

The examination of the lead precipitate did not lead to
any decided results.

The evaporated portion, B, had a peculiar odour and
bitter taste ; it was treated with hot water, acidulated
with hydrochloric acid and filtered from the residue, C.
The filtrate w-as treated with magnesia and tested for an
alkaloid, but none was found. The residue, C, was well
washed with water, had a brownish-yellow colour and a
strongly bitter taste, was not affected by hot or cold
water, was slightly soluble in carbon bisulphide, insoluble
in petroleum benzin and oil of turpentine, and soluble in
alcohol, ether and chloroform, which solutions, on
evaporation, refused to crystallize. The alcoholic solution
was acid to test paper, but apparently did not combine
with alkalies. On dissolving the substance repeatedly in
alcohol, and precipitating it by water most of the colour
was removed, the resinous principle remaining as a
yellowish-white mass. It was given as an anthelmintic
to a child aged four years, in the quantity of 3 grains,
followed by a mercurial purgative, and proved to be at
least as effectual as other vermifuges which had been
previously given.

The results of his observations and experiments lead
the author to the following conclusions : —

1. The activity of the bark resides in the liber, and this
alone should be employed.

2. The active principle is a yellowish -white resin.

3. The drug is one of the best anthelmintics, and a
fluid extract, prepared with diluted alcohol, or a tincture,
would be a valuable preparation that would seem to'
deserve a place in the Pharmacopoeia.

CHEMICAL NATURE OF THE ESSENCE OF LAURO-
CERASUS AND OF BITTER ALMONDS.*

BY M. FILETI.

The great difficulty of separating the whole of the
hydrogen cyanide from essence of bitter almonds, and of
the laurocerasus, renders it probably that it is present in
some form of combination with the benzaldehyde ; this
compound would be the nitril, C6H5.CH(OH).CN, corre¬
sponding with mandelic acid. In order to test the truth,
of this supposition, the crude essences were treated with
zinc and hydrochloric acid, in presence of alcohol and a
platinum plate ; twenty-four hours afterwards, the mix¬
ture was precipitated with water, and evaporated at lOO01
to remove alcohol. After filtration from the hydroben-
zo'in, the liquid was supersaturated with potash, and
agitated with ether, the ethereal solution being sub¬
sequently washed with water, and agitated with dilutes
hydrochloric acid. On evaporating the acid solution, the
hydrochloride of a base was obtained, which was converted
into the platinochloride and analysed, as was also the.
hydrochloride. The results correspond with the formula.
C6H5.CH2.CH2NH2 for the base. From this it would
appear that the nitril C6H5.CH(OH).CN is present in the
crude essences, and that by the action of nascent hydro¬
gen it is not converted into the amide

C6H5.CH(OH).CH2.NH2,

as might have been expected, but that an atom of oxygen,
is eliminated in the process, so that the final product is-
the base C6H5CH2.CH2.NH2. A mixture of pure benzal¬
dehyde and hydrogen cyanide, when treated with zinc,
and hydrochloric acid in a similar manner, yields a base
having the composition and properties of methylamine.

In a similar manner, both chlorine and fuming sul¬
phuric acid act differently on the essences to what they
do on a mixture of pure benzaldehyde with hydrogen
cyanide. W ith the crude essence, a solid crystalline sub¬
stance is formed, which Zinin has shown to be benzylidene-
formobenzamide, Ph.CH(OH).CO.N : CHPh; whilst the
author finds that no solid substance is produced by the
action of fuming sulphuric acid on the mixture, and with
chlorine it fields ammonium chloride and mbnochloro-
benzoic chloride.

The base above described is obtained in much larger
quantity by the action of zinc and hydrochloric acid on
amygdalin in aqueous solution. The hydrochloride of the
base is more soluble in water than in alcohol, crystallizing
from the latter in large plates, melting at 217°, and
subliming near its fusing point. It would appear to be
identical with that obtained by Colombo and Spica, by
the action of nascent hydrogen on the compound of
benzyl cyanide with hydrogen sulphide ( Gaz ., 5, 124).
On decomposing the solution of the hydrochloride with
potash, agitating with ether, and leaving the ethereal
solution to evaporate, the free base is obtained as a syrupy
liquid, which after a time crystallizes in large plates
(m. p. 101—104°). The author proposes to continue his
examination of the more obscure reactions of the essences
of bitter almonds and laurocerasus.

* From the Gazzetta chimica italiana, 8, 446 — 452.
Reprinted from the Journal of the Chemical Society, Sei -
tember, 1879.

September 27, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

247

SUhf $hat;maqutuat Jmtptl.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 27, 1879.

QUESTIONABLE PROSECUTION UNDER THE SALE
OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACT.

We have not unfrequently had occasion to com¬
ment upon the oppressive and vexatious mode in
which the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act are
brought to bear upon chemists and druggists without
in any way serving the purposes for which that Act
was passed, though at the same time tending to
inflict serious personal inconvenience and injury.
We regret especially that it has been necessary to
make this complaint against the application of an
Act which in its spirit harmonizes so thoroughly
with the endeavours of the Pharmaceutical Society
to expose and put a stop to the falsification of drugs.

Without going back to past instances we may
refer to the case that has just been 'decided at the
Cliertsey Petty Sessions as affording a fair illustra¬
tion of what is meant. According to the report of
this case, which will be found at page 257, it will be
seen that Police-constable Waters, acting upon the
instructions of his superintendent, went to the shop
of Mr. Boyce, an old-established pharmaceutical
chemist at Chertsey, and purchased sundry articles,
namely, quinine wine, citrate of iron and quinine,
citric acid and cream of tartar. After having ob¬
tained and paid for these articles, he informed Mr.
Boyce’s assistant that they would be handed over
to the county analyst for examination, and he offered
to leave a portion of each article under seal. In due
course these articles were passed through the hands
of Superintendent Bungard to the county analyst,
who examined them and reported the results he had
obtained.

So far there is absolutely nothing to complain of
in the manner of carrying out the provisions of the
Act. The subsequent reports of the county analyst
represented three out of the four articles in question
to be genuine, as they might reasonably be expected
to be when obtained from such a source. As regards
the cream of tartar, however, the report of the
analyst represented that it contained tartrate of
lime to the extent of 11 *7 per cent., and sulphate of
baryta to the extent of 0 6 per cent. Both of these
substances were spoken of in the analyst’s report as
being “ foreign ingredients,” and hence, we presume,
the local authorities inferred that the analyst’s report
showed the cream of tartar not to be of the nature,
substance and quality of the article demanded by the
purchaser. It is true the analyst’s report also stated
that the “ foreign ingredients ” were insoluble, and
not injurious to health, so that on this score, ac¬
cording to him, there was no ground for concluding
that their presence would be to the prejudice
of the purchaser, or the consumer, and it might have
been expected that the vendor’s freedom from

liability to penalty under the provisions of the
Act would have beefi apparent. But it cannot be
expected that the local authorities of a town like
Chertsey are always qualified to judge of such
matters and they may well be excused for having,
as it seems, put such an interpretation upon the
analyst’s report as to induce them to institute a
prosecution under the sixth section of the Act against
Mr. Boyce, for selling cream of tartar that was not
of the nature, substance and quality, etc., demanded
by the purchaser.

It is in this way that Mr. Boyce has found himself
arraigned on a charge of having transgressed the law
by selling an adulterated article and called upon to
defend himself from the most damaging imputations
that could be made against him in his business
capacity. And now let us consider what are the
data upon which this grave charge has been brought
against him. Of the two so-called u foreign ingre¬
dients ” reported to be present in the cream of tartar,
the one that was in the largest proportion, and that,
according to the analyst’s report, would consequently
have been chiefly to the prejudice of the purchaser,
is the tartrate of lime, the other foreign ingredient,
the sulphate of baryta, is of itself too small in amount
to justify the inference that it was added as an adul¬
teration. What then is the origin of the tartrate of
lime 1 Is there any reason to suspect that it was
added fraudulently to increase the weight of the
cream of tartar, for that is the imputation conveyed
by the charge preferred ?

Upon referring to the British Pharmacopoeia for
information on this point, we find under the head
of Potassse tartras acida, a description of the sub¬
stance commonly known as “ cream of tartar.” It
is there stated to be an acid salt obtained from the
crude tartar which is deposited during the fermenta¬
tion of grape juice. Proceeding on this basis for
further information from other sources, we find that
crude tartar, the raw material from which the
Pharmacopoeia article ,“ cream of tartar,” is prepared,
generally if not invariably contains tartrate of lime;
moreover, that grape j uice itself contains tartrate of
lime as well as tartrate of potash, and that in conse¬
quence of this association of these two tartrates in
the primary source of crude tartar as well as of
“ cream of tartar,” they continue to be associated in
its products, so that tartrate of lime is not, as the
analyst for the county of Surrey represents, “ foreign”
to cream of tartar, but a natural ingredient of it.
And if we return now to the British Pharmacopoeia
we find this fact recognized by that authority. The
solution of the charred substance in hydrochloric
acid is described as becoming slightly turbid when
neutralized with ammonia and mixed with oxalic
acid and the presence of lime is thus indicated.

But this indication that acid tartrate of potash, in
the sense referred to in the British Pharmacopoeia,
contains some proportion of tartrate of lime is totally
ignored by the analyst for the county of Surrey. He

248

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 27, 1879.

like the peculiar people is above considerations which
regulate the proceedings of more ordinary folk, and
acting upon the esoteric conception that the term acid
tartrate of potash is to be interpreted from an absolute
chemical point of view, expects a policeman’s request
for “ cream of tartar ” to be responded to by a pro¬
vincial druggist by the supply of perfectly pure
bitartrate of potash. This and this alone is the basis
upon which tartrate of lime has been treated as a
“ foreign ingredient ” of cream of tartar, and it is
only by allowing such superfine and unauthorized
views to regulate his proceedings that the analyst
has brought about the prosecution of Mr. Boyce.

Nor is this the only point in vThich exception is to
be taken to the report now in question. From an
analyst it might be expected that in such a docu¬
ment, fraught with possible prejudice to another
man’s reputation, care would be taken not to state
anything contrary to well-established chemical know¬
ledge. Unless, indeed, it be unreasonable to expect
a public analyst to respect chemical fact, we protest
against the representation that tartrate of lime, as an
ingredient of cream of tartar, is “ insoluble.” The
assumption that it is an insoluble substance may in¬
duce the belief that it is also a “ foreign ingredient,”
but certainly this belief has no better foundation.

It is scarcely to be wondered at that a very simple
statement of facts relating to the presence of tar¬
trate of lime in cream of tartar should have led the
magistrates unanimously to dismiss this case. Pro¬
vision had been made to support the defence of the
case in this particular by reference to authorities,
and by direction of the Council of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society, Mr. Flux attended to watch the case
and assist the defence in case of need. At the same
time, Mr. W. Hodgkinson, appeared on behalf of
the firm from which Mr. Boyce obtained the cream
of tartar to testify that they had always been in the
habit of supplying him with the very best drugs.
While thus loyally supporting his customer he was
also able, with the aid of Mr. Allem, to prove that
the conditions under which cream of tartar passed
into his hands and was supplied to retailers pre¬
cluded the possibility of its being adulterated or in
any way tampered with.

In these results there is a reason for satisfaction, but
it certainly seems to be a somewhat superfluous
thing that with the object of protecting the public
against adulteration individuals should thus be put
to the severest social torture that can be devised.
The mere fact of having to appear before a bench of
magistrates charged with an offence of the kind that
Mr. Boyce has been charged with is sufficient to
furnish evil-disposed persons with opportunity for
damaging a man in his reputation and in his busi¬
ness. In the present instance it has been satis¬
factorily proved that the charge was unfounded; it has
also we think been made evident that the prose¬
cution should never have been undertaken and Mr.
Boyce should never have been exposed to the pos¬

sibility of being asked as he was on coming out of
court how his “ little job ” had been settled 1

This experience is one that may fall to the lot of
any member of the trade who happens to become
“ corpore vili ” upon which the public analyst chances
to operate. Surely some arrangement could be de¬
vised by which this kind of human vivisection might
be avoided without counteracting anv beneficent influ-
ence that the Food and Drugs Act is calculated to<
exercise. While public analysts produce such certi¬
ficates as that upon which the case in question was
based, would it not be well to submit these docu¬
ments to some competent central authority for deci¬
sion* whether prosecution is requisite or justifiable ?
At any rate, such proceedings as that above described
are calculated to bring the Act into contempt, and
to make the public analyst, for some sections of the
community, a public nuisance.

THE NEW SESSION.

Two or three more days will bring the summer
vacation of 1879 to an end, and during the coming

'OO

week the medical and pharmaceutical schools of the
metropolis will be alive with audiences who have-
assembled to hear the Introductories. On Wednes¬
day the new session in Bloomsbury Square will as
usual be inaugurated by an Evening Meeting of the
Pharmaceutical Society, the special business of which
will be the reception of the reports of the Professors
of the School of Pharmacy, the Distribution of the
Prizes awarded to the successful competitors of last
session, and an Introductory Address to the Students
of the present. The occasion promises to be of special
interest, as the Address is to be delivered by a former
Bell Scholar, Prizeman and Teacher in the School
Dr. W. A. Tilden, of Clifton. It will not be out of
place to point out that the invitation given to the
Students and Friends extends to the ladies, and we
hope that on this, as on former similar occasions, the
meeting may be graced by the presence of many of
the fair sex.

COUNTER PRACTICE IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

The counter practice controversy appears to have
spread to the antipodes, a Dr. Bowker having intro¬
duced into the New South Wales Legislative
Assembly a Medical Bill which the chemists and
druggists of the colony condemn as ignoring the
rights, customs, immunities and privileges secured
to them by the Imperial legislation in the Apothe¬
caries Act of 1815. At a recent Annual Meeting
of the New South Wales Pharmaceutical Society,
held in Sydney, a petition was adopted asking for
the erasure of the obnoxious clause and the insertion
of one repeating the saving clause of the Apothe¬
caries Act ; the construction of which has furnished
so much food for argument in this country. It was
also decided at the same meeting to take steps to
draft a new Pharmacy Bill to be submitted to the
Legislature.

«Ptember27, ls79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

249

$rcrindal ®ran8a#ti<ms.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE ASSO¬
CIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Meeting of the Law and Parliamentary
Committee.

A meeting of the Law and Parliamentary Committee
of this Association was held at the office of the Asso¬
ciation, 23, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birming¬
ham, on September 19, 1879, at 1 p.m. Mr. Thomas
Barclay, President, in the chair. Present — Messrs. An¬
drews, Churchill, Holdsworth, Jones, Southall and the
Solicitor of the Association.

The President said the first question on the agenda
paper related to the patent medicine question. The
Executive at its last meeting passed a resolution directing
the Law and Parliamentary Committee to take any
steps which they may deem desirable to obtain in¬
formation to enable them to bring about modifications in
the Pharmacy Act, 1868, to restrict the sale of scheduled
poisons under cover of the patent medicine stamp to
registered chemists and druggists, and to report to the
next meeting of the Executive. The question they had
to consider was what steps they should take to obtain
information to bring about modifications in the Act.
The necessity of dealing with that question was becoming
greater every day, and it appeared to him to be the
right thing that the Association should pndeavour to
procure such information as would enable the Executive
to grapple with the subject.

Mr. Holdsworth said there were really two sides to
the patent medicine question ; one, that of prices at
which they were sold, and the other the fact of unre¬
gistered men selling patent medicines containing scheduled
poisons.

Mr. Jones said it was the law in France that all pro¬
prietors of patent medicines should make a declaration
as to whether they contained poisonous ingredients.

The President said it would be damaging to the patent
medicine trade in this country if it were made com¬
pulsory on the proprietors to make a declaration of the
■composition of their goods. On the other hand the
Association would probably have the sympathy of medical
men in asking the Legislature to pass an Act of that
description.

Mr. Holdsworth said it would be necessary in the first
instance to prove to the satisfaction of the Legislature
that the present system of unregistered persons vend¬
ing patent medicines containing scheduled poisons was
dangerous.

Mr. Andrews concurred with Mr. Holdsworth’s remarks.
He said they would get very little sympathy from the
Government unless they were in a position to show that
an evil to the public existed in dangerous poisons being
sold by unqualified persons under cover of the patent
medicine stamp.

The President said he thought if that was proved they
would have the medical men on their side and that the
Legislature would be disposed to so modify the Act
as to comply with their request. He added that he
thought circulars might be issued from the office to
influential members of the trade in various parts of the
■country inquiring for particulars of any serious accidents
that had happened from the sale of patent medicines
containing scheduled poisons.

After some further discussion it was moved by Mr.
Andrews, seconded by Mr. Jones and unanimously
resolved, “ That a circular should be sent to members
•of the General Committee and others asking for well
authenticated instances in which fatal results have
followed from the sale of scheduled poisons under cover
■of the patent medicine stamp and for suggestions and
information on the sale of patent medicines generally.”

The President said the next question for the considera¬

tion of the committee had reference to jury service. A
resolution was passed by the Executive at its last
meeting, “ That the Law and Parliamentary Committee
be and are hereby empowered to take such steps as they
deem advisable to obtain the exemption of all registered
chemists and druggists from jury service.”

The Solicitor said he feared nothing could be done by
the Association in that matter at present.

The President said he knew from personal experience
that it was a very sore point with the trade and one
which they were very anxious should be taken up.

The Solicitor said no active steps could be taken until
an amended Pharmacy Act or Jury Bill was before the
House.

Mr. Holdsworth said it would be a mere waste of time
and money to move in the matter just then.

Mr. Andrews said he was exceedingly anxious that all
chemists and druggists should be exempt from jury
service, but he thought they must wait for a favourable
opportunity to accomplish their object.

The Secretary stated that in compliance with instruc¬
tions received from the Executive at its last meeting, he
had collected evidence in a number of cases of infringe¬
ments of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, the particulars of
which were laid on the table.

After a careful examination of the evidence collected,
it was moved by Mr. Andrews, seconded by Mr. Southall
and unanimously resolved, “That the Solicitor be in
structed to take proceedings under the 17th section of the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, against three illegal traders, and
that particulars of these cases with the remaining cases
of infringements of the Act, collected by the Secretary,
be forwarded to the Secretary and Registrar of the
Pharmaceutical Society.”

The Secretary reported that, in accordance with a reso¬
lution passed by the Executive at its last meeting, he
proceeded to Sunderland and investigated the case of a
member of the Association, against whom proceedings
had been taken by the Excise authorities for the sale of
methylated spirit without a licence, and that the case was
heard by the Sunderland borough magistrates on July
23rd, 1879, when tH*e Solicitor of the Association de¬
fended. The defendant was fined a mitigated penalty of
£12 10s., with a recommendation from the bench to the
Excise authorities to still farther reduce the penalty to
£5. A letter from the defendant was read, stating that
he had received a notice from the Inland Revenue autho¬
rities, to pay the reduced penalty of £5, as recommended
by the borough bench, and thanking the Executive for
the way in which his case had been supported by the
Association.

A number of letters were read from members of the
Association, and instructions given to the Secretary as
to the manner in which he should deal with the same.

rorn'MircjS of Scientific Societies.

BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.

{Concluded from page 237.)

The next paper read was —

Note on Aricine.

BY JOHN ELIOT HOWARD, F.R.S.

Aricine was discovered by Pelletier and Corriol* in a
cinchona bark coming from Arica to Bordeaux. M.
Pelletier thought that he had obtained a characteristic
green colour by nitric acid, but as no one has been able
(as I think) to verify this observation, it is probable that
the colour, which he detected, was owing to the pre¬
sence of some impurity in the nitric acid which he em-
employed.+

* Pelletier ec Uurrioi, 1829, Journ. de Pharmacie, xv.,
595.

f Pelletier, Ann. de Chimie et de Phys., li., 183.

250

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [ September 27, iS7&,

Subsequent researches were less successful, and much
obscurity was permitted to involve the question, increased
by the supposed identification of cincliovatine , discovered
by M. Manzini, with this alkaloid.

Recently the whole subject has been elucidated by the
researches of Dr. Hesse, who has.sent over specimens of
various alkaloids to the Museum of the Pharmaceutical
Society, together with the barks from which they were
derived.

My attention has been directed by one of the officials
of the Society to the apparent perfect identity of the
aricine of Dr. Hesse, with a specimen of the same alka¬
loid which I deposited in the Museum of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society, in December, 1852, attached to a portion of
the bark from which it was obtained. In company with
some of the authorities of the Society, I have compared
the two specimens, and am satisfied they are the same
substance.*

The bark of Dr. Hesse and mine are exactly alike. It
is the jaune de Cuzco of Delondre and Bouchardat (of
which I have an example from the collection of these gen¬
tlemen), figured in plate xix., and described in pages 38 and
39 of their ‘Quinologie.’ M. Delondrej' met with it in
the forests of Sta Ana, in his excursions in 1847 with Dr.
Weddell ; and I have a botanical specimen gathered in the
same year by the latter, which he calls “ Cinchona JPubes-
cens, Vahl.,var. Pelletierana, Peru, Province de Carabaya,
June 18, 1847.” The bark was imported and sought to
be introduced as calisaya, with which it was mixed in
1829. This gave rise to the researches of M. Pelletier.
The jaune de Cuzco I have referred to is perfectly identi¬
cal with the bark from Avhich both Dr. Hesse and I
have obtained aricine ; and I doubt much its having been
obtained in a crystallized form from any other. I have
never said that I had extracted it from the bark of C.
succirubra; though in the strange medley of substances
which the old red bark contains I indicated aricine ( ? )
as possibly one of its contents. Probably this material
was p aricine, but it baffled my investigations.

M. A. C. Oudemans, junior, has been good enough to
send me his ‘ Recherches sur la Quinamine,’ which con¬
tains the analysis of 600 grams of the “mixed alkaloids”
or quinetum from the bark of C. succirubra grown at
Darjeeling.

It is as follows : —

Cinchonine . 37*0 per cent.

Quinine . 6*1 ,,

Cinchonidine . 22*9 „

Quinamine . 4*5 „

Alcaloides amorphes .... 21*1 ,,

Carbonate de sodium .... 2*9 „

Eau . 2*7 „

Also in another experiment: —

Quinidine . 0*5 „

Conquinamine . 0*3 „

I have been asked by the East Indian G-overnment to
give my opinion of the above as a medicament ; and
have objected to this mixture as containing so large a
portion of alkaloid of uncertain description and of pos¬
sibly injurious operation. Dr. HesseJ has found in the
same compound UP aricine and two or three other
amorphous basic substances.” I myself found (in the

product first sentf copper in so large a proportion as to
coat the blade of a knife when introduced into a solution
of the greenish powder. I have no doubt that the whole
taken together would cure Indian fever, but should not
like to subject myself to the treatment.

I have never put forward any claim to original dis¬
coveries as to Aricine ; but having pretty frequently met
with the bark in past years, I satisfied myself by many

* The only perceptible difference is in the colour. Mine
having been purposely crystallized in the first place from
pure ether to distinguish it from cinchonine, retains some
of the peculiar yellow colouring matter.

t Delondre, ‘ Quinologie,’ p. 39, p. 21.

X Pharm. Journ., April, 1879, p. 839.

experiments of the substantial accuracy of the first
published researches of Pelletier ; and consequently have
asserted the same at the time that the existence of
Aricine was generally denied.

The first specimen of crystallized Aricine in my museum
is dated October, 1849, and I have specimens of com¬
pounds of this alkaloid in 1853-’54 and ’57. I have
also some results from researches on the very peculiar
colouring matter.

I am pleased that this subject is now again occupying
the attention of chemists, and hope that the physiological
effects of this singular substance, as well as those of
P aricine will be investigated by some competent member
of the medical profession.

This research possesses an interest beyond that which
would at first appear, because it has relation to the classi¬
fication of the different species of the genus Cinchona.
It is obvious that the large production of quinine by the
C. Calisaya ; of cinchonine by the C. Peruviana and its
congeners ; of quinidine by the C. Pitayensis ; of
cinchonidine by varieties of C. officinalis and C. lancifolia ;
and of aricine by C. Pelletierana, point to real specific
differences ; and there is more even than this fact to be
learned in the above connection.

In “ Observations on the Present State of our
Knowledge of the Genus Cinchona,”* published in the
Report of the Botanical Congress of 1866, under the
head “ Jaen and Cusco barks,” I have noticed that the
C. Pelletierana is the true Quina amarilla or yellow bark >
and that “ around this are gathered other species of
cinchona, which, viewed in this light, constitute a very
exceptional and anomalous group of plants ;+ which most
certainly belong to the genus cinchona, but in which the
typical cinchonaceous elements are superseded by those
corresponding to, and perhaps identical with, the pro¬
ducts of other families of plants. I have shown under
the heads C. lutea ( quod vide) and C. decurrentifiolia, in
my illustrations of the ‘Nueva Quinologia,’ how botanical
and microscopical researches illustrate and confirm each
other; and how microscopical examination comes in to^
aid the diagnosis of the barks ; all tending to show the
Ladenberyia-like character which pervades them ; and
under the C. lutea it appears that Pavon’s careful obser¬
vation of the living plant brings out indirectly the same
fact. He says that “a milky juice flows out when the
tree is cut down or amputated that is to say, the milk
cells are abundant and full of their peculiar product, in
which respect the tree symbolizes specially with' the
kindred genus.

I refer to the “Report” itself for further observations
on these yellow barks, and to my remarks^ under C. lutea
for the yellow colour. In conclusion I would briefly add
that, the red barks are equally a group of plants of which
the C. succiruba may be looked upon as the centre. (See
my account of specimens of C. succirubra in my ‘Nueva
Quinologia, pp. 4, 5.) The red bark is only beginning
to be fully investigated as to its alkaloids, and even less so
as to its other constituents, as I have partly remarked in.
the work alluded to ; but this much may be said with
certainty, that the physiological effects must be consider¬
ably different from those of other barks. The Spanish
physicians had an opinion about it, to which I cannot at
the moment refer. I understand that a fluid extract of C.
succirubra has recently obtained some celebrity, but have
not yet had an opportunity of examining it. It is
probable that its medicinal effects may vary from those
of a tincture of pale bark, and still more widely from a
tincture of yellow (cordifolia) or of Calisaya bark.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Howard was passed.

* Report, p. 208.

f The group comprehends C. Pelletierana, C. cordifolia,
C. lutea, C. decurrentifolia, C. villosa, C. ovata, C.
obovata, C. microphylla.

X Vide ‘ Nueva Quin.,’ sub C. lutea.

September 27, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

251

The author of the next paper not being present, an
abstract of it was given by Mr. W. H. Naylor. The full
text is as follows : —

The Chemistry of Chaulmoogra Oil.

BY JOHN MOSS, F.I.C., F.C.S. BOND. ET BER.

A body possessing well marked physical characters, and
capable of producing effects interesting alike to the
physiologist and the therapeutist is sure to excite that
spirit of inquisitiveness which is the moving force in all
scientific inquiry. The physiologist and the therapeutist
both want to know what is the proximate cause of the
phenomena noted by them, and the chemist busies him¬
self to find it out ; separating by his art the inert and
diluting material. The members of this Conference
sympathize most with the latter, and if each could be
persuaded to tell the conclusion to which a scientific use
of the imagination has led him in speculating as to the
nature of the said proximate cause, nine times out of ten
he would suggest an alkaloid. There is about an alkaloid
something so definite, so’tangible and real; it is so compact
an expression of ideas and properties, is so representative
and genuine, that to discover it is a desirable thing, and
its presence is easily assumed where strongly marked
properties exist. The thought is begot by a powerful
desire, and is itself strong — so strong that all others
relating to the same body are for the time subservient to
it. That Chaulmoogra is a most powerful drug need not
be insisted on here, seeing that the widely known favour¬
able testimony of highly qualified observers in Europe and
Hindoostan is concurrent with the position it occupies in
the ‘Pharmacopoeia of India,’ and the almost veneration
with which it is regarded by the native Hindoos. That
an alkaloid should be the first thing looked for when an
examination of the oil was resolved upon, was a matter
of course ; had one been discovered further investigation
had probably been stayed. As a guide and a warning to
others who may be encouraged by this failure, the method
adopted in searching for the possible alkaloid is here

i Siven-

§ 1 . Exami nation for A Ikalo id.

a. Volatile. — One pound of chaulmoogra was placed in
a retort with twice its weight of water and boiled. The
collected distillate, (4 ozs.), was perfectly clear, possessed
the odour of the oil in a marked degree, and was neutral
to test paper. With acetate of lead a precipitate was thrown
down, as also with chloride of barium when made perfectly
neutral with potash. W ith the usual alkaloidal reagents no
change was produced in the liquid, which was accordingly
precipitated with lead acetate, the precipitate collected, de¬
composed with hydrochloric acid and agitated with ether.
Evaporation of the ethereal solution gave a fatty body,
which was not further examined. The contents of the
retort were now made alkaline with solution of soda and
the distillation was continued ; this time the distillate
gave no indication with any of the reagents used in the
first instance and was returned to the retort along
with sufficient sulphuric acid to be in excess.
Twelve ounces of distillate were collected and on the
surface of it were floating aggregations of white, silky
needles. The liquid was negative to reagents. The white
needles were collected and found to weigh 2 grains. They
possessed all the characters of cocinic acid, treated of
afterwards.

b. Non-Volatile. — A pound of the oil was agitated
with successive portions of warm water, acidulated with
hydrochloric acid in a Winchester quart bottle. After
each agitation the bottle was inverted and allowed to
stand till cool, when the oil formed a solid cake, from
which the liquid could be easily run away below. The

► united liquids were reduced in bulk over a water- bath and
tested with the usual alkaloidal reagents, namely, phos-
phomolybdic acid, iodo-hydrargyrate of potassium, iodine
in iodide of potassium, iodide of bismuth and potassium,
and iodide of cadmium, each one of which produced a
precipitate. The whole was now rendered alkaline by soda,

filtered, and half the filtrate agitated with chloroform.
The chloroform on evaporation to dryness gave a residue
which was treated with very dilute sulphuric acid, and the
acid solution was shaken with chloroform after addition
of sufficient ammonia to make it alkaline. The chlor©-
form solution was separated and divided, one portion
being shaken with water containing sulphuric acid, and
the other with hydrochloric acid. Very slightly coloured
residues were obtained on allowing each of these solutions
to evaporate spontaneously. The residues when micro¬
scopically examined exhibited after a time well defined
isolated needles and prisms, few in number and widely
scattered ; the quantity of these crystals was so very
minute that any attempt at a chemical examination was
entirely precluded, even if its minuteness as compared
with the original bulk of oil had not robbed them of all
significance. The residues when dissolved in weak acid —
they would not dissolve in water — gave a precipitate with
ammonia which was found to agree in character with the
ammonia salt of a fatty acid.

A like result attended the treatment of the second half
of the filtrate with ether in place of chloroform. A
further search for an alkaloid was made on the liquor pro¬
duced when one pound of oil was saponified. The treat¬
ment was precisely as the foregoing after addition of soda.
The precipitate formed by soda in the first instance, and
already existing in the second, and which consisted of the
hydrate and phosphate of calcium, vegetable tissue, etc.,
was digested in chloroform and further examined for alka¬
loid. Each attempt was rewarded with non-success.

Satisfied either that chaulmoogra contained no alkaloid
at all, or that if it did the quantity was so very small that
no share in the properties of the drug could be reasonably
claimed for it, a fuller and more systematic examination
than was at first contemplated seemed to be desirable.
Such examination was accordingly instituted, and it grew
in interest as fact after fact was slowly and laboriously
laid bare. And here I would say that I know of no re¬
search drawing more frequently and more largely upon the
patience and the resources both of mind and fingers of the
chemist than the unravelling of the constitution of a com¬
plex fatty body, and my thanks a, re due and are cheerfully
given to my friend and assistant, Mr. W. A. H. Naylor,
for his unwearied and painstaking attention to my wishes
and for his suggestive interest in the work, which was
rendered more difficult by the exigencies of a busy labora¬
tory where numerous and varied operations were proceed¬
ing at the same time.

§ 2. General Examination.

To make this account more complete it is necessary that
I should refer to a previous paper published in the Chemist
and Druggist for December, 1878.

To a general description there given of chaulmoogra were
joined certain remarks having industrial and pharma¬
ceutical interest ; and besides these, the paper furnished
results obtained in a preliminary examination undertaken
as stated “ with a view to obtain indications of the direc¬
tion in which more particular investigation would lead to
the most interesting and valuable results.” A summary of
these results will not be out of place here, inasmuch as it
will assist in avoiding subsequent explanations.

a. Summary of results previously obtained. — Chaulmoogra
oil has a decided acid reaction. The melting point is 42° C.
and at that temperature the specific gravity is '930. It
froths freely when agitated with warm water and after
standing separates over the surface of a milky emulsion.
At the ordinary temperature alcohol (’807) dissolves a con¬
siderable proportion, including those constituents of higher
melting point and aodd reaction possessing the character¬
istic odour and acrid taste of the oil and giving Dymock’s
reaction (a rich olive-green colour with oil of vitriol) very
readily. The portion not dissolved by cold alcohol exhibits
a pale green colour with oil of vitriol and is completely
dissolved by repeated treatment with warm alcohol of the
same strength. Ether (’720), chloroform, carbon disulphide

252

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 27, i™

and benzine ('872) completely dissolve the oil, except (and
the exception equally applies to alcohol) a minute propor¬
tion of flocculent dust consisting of oxalate and phosphate
of calcium, sodium and potassium salts, vegetable tissue
and albumenoid bodies. The albumenoid bodies are
present in sufficient quantity to form a milky emulsion
with a small proportion of whatever quantity of oil is
agitated with water.

By saponification with potash and decomposition of the
resulting soap by hydrochloric acid 81 T1 per cent, of fatty
acids are obtained, which after exposure assume a white
bloom similiar to that observed on the surface of Japan
wax. The fatty acids give a fine green colour on the
application of Dymock’s test.

b. The results which follow have been obtained since
the publication of the paper above referred to, and though
they still leave the chemical history of chaulmoogra oil in
a somewhat incomplete state they form an interesting
addition to our knowledge of this important drug.

The melting point of the fatty acids just as obtained
from the oil in a mixed condition is 44°C. Numerous pre¬
liminary trials were made of processes for separating and
identifying them which promised well on paper and were
serviceable as illustrating the behaviour of the acids and
their compounds under certain treatment, and which in
addition to this, did indeed suggest the probable presence
of acids afterwards found, but however interesting and
instructive to the experimenter, the details would prove
but tedious to others, and accordingly I shall confine
myself to describing the processes finally adopted, by
which the proximate principles to be described were
actually separated. ,

c. Free fatty adds in the oil. — The strong acidity of
the oil and its solutions indicates the presence of one or
more free acids ; to separate and identify these was the
first part of the problem to be attacked. Half a fluid
ounce of the oil was shaken with three fluid ounces of a
saturated aqueous solution of hydrate of barium at 100° F.
The watery liquid was removed and the oil washed with
successive quantities of water at the same temperature as
the solution originally used, until the washings came
away neutral.

The united liquids were filtered, acidified with hydro¬
chloric acid, and boiled. There was no separation. The
oil therefore does not contain any compound of a fatty
acid, and does not form with hydrate of barium any such
compound, which is soluble in water or baryta water.

d. Oil treated as above will contain the fatty bodies
originally present in it, and barium compounds of the free
acids originally present. From this oil cold alcohol ("807)
and ether (*735), used successively, dissolve away the
former, leaving all the barium compounds ; boiling alcohol
dissolves a very few grains of the residue. The residue
consisting of barium compounds was then fused by
admixture with boiling water, hydrochloric acid added, and
the fatty acids collected on a filter and washed with hot
water till the washings were neutral and free from barium
chloride. After this the fatty acids were kept melted on a
water bath till dry, when they were treated w>th alcohol
and the solution set aside. In a little while crystals
appeared which when first tried melted at 55° C. By
repeated crystallization from warm alcohol these were
finally obtained of a pure white colour and having a
constant melting point of 62° C. With the aid of a
microscope and selenite plate this crystalline body was
recognized as palmitic acid. The crystalline form and the
arrangement of the crystals corresponded exactly with a
beautifully executed photograph of palmitic acid forming
one of a number in a pamphlet* published by Price’s Patent
Candle Company, and besides it corresponded in all
characters to a specimen of chemically pure palmitic acid,
for which as well as the pamphlet I am indebted to the
kindness of the company.

On the first treatment with alcohol of the fatty acids

* 1 Examen der A-cides G-ras par la lumiere olarisee.’

separated as above a portion remained undissolved, which
was subsequently found to go into solution when more
alcohol was used, especially when warmed. This portion
consisted of palmitic acid solely.

e. The alcoholic solution first obtained, from which
crystals of impure palmitic acid separated as the alcohol
slowly passed away into the air, yielded on evaporation
to dryness a fatty acid, which when purified by repeated
treatment with small quantities of cold alcohol had a
fixed melting point of 29° C. This body is more fully
described later on ( h ).

/. Turning now to the fatty acids obtained by decom¬
posing the soap of chaulmoogra,, 317 grams of the mixed
acids were dissolved in just sufficient alcohol for the
purpose and the solution was saturated by adding solution
of ammonia (-959). This converted all the acids present
into ammonia salts. Acid palmitate of ammonia is not
freely soluble in spirit and separated'out at once ; the
acid from this precipitate was prepared in the free’state
and identified. It was not pure but contained another
acid not recognized at the time, which will be found
freely described in h ; this acid is also mentioned in e.
The spirituous solution of the ammonium salts was now
treated with chloride of ammonium and acetate of mag¬
nesium. These failed to produce any visible chang'e in
the solution, thus indicating the absence of more than
traces of palmitic acid. On the further addition of an
aqueous solution of chloride of barium a precipitate fell
of a viscous character. JThis was collected and digested
with cold alcohol, which dissolved a small portion, leaving
a precipitate which was decomposed, washed', dried,
dissolved in alcohol, and exposed to cold. The solution
separated from the crystalline deposit of palmitic acid
was now treated with lead acetate in presence of ammonia
and warmed, and the precipitate resulting from this
treatment was likewise set aside. The filtrate was kept
warm until all the alcohol was expelled, and 'the liquid
containing the lead salt thrown out of solution by the
expulsion of the alcohol was treated with ether, by which
it was completely cleared. Hydrochloric acid was now
added, the chloride of lead produced removed by a filter,
and the ethereal solution of fatty acid allowed to evaporate
spontaneously. A crystalline substance separated in
rosettes, which when subsequently crystallized from
alcohol was quite colourless, but turned yellow in a few
hours. It melted at 33° C. This is the melting point of
hypogseic acid, which moreover possesses the characteristic
of turning yellow a few hours after it is prepared.
-^-yP°S3ea^e lead is readily dissolved by ether; it also
dissolves in warm alcohol, but the greater proportion
separates out upon cooling. It is not precipitated by
magnesium acetate in presence of alcohol. The barium
compound also dissolves in hot alcohol but falls out of
solution on cooling. The compounds of the acid under
consideration possessed all these characters, and its identity
with hypogseic acid was established by a combustion.
0781 gramme was burned with chromate of lead and
yielded -1369 gramme of carbon and -0217 gramme of
hydrogen ; side by side I give the numbers obtained,
calculated into percentages, with those required by the
formula for hypogaeic acid, C16H30O2.

Numbers Obtained. Theoretical Numbers

Carbon . . 75'63. 75-59.

Hydrogen . 11-99. 11-81.

O' The precipitate produced by acetate of lead and not
dissolved by warm alcohol was freed from adhering
liquor by pressure between folds of bibulous paper and
then digested in ether ; hypogaeate of lead was dissolved
away. The insoluble portion was decomposed by hydro¬
chloric acid and the free fatty acid crystallized from
ether. It melted at 38"5° C. and crystallized in a form
very closely resembling that assumed by palmitic acid,
but when crystallized under the same conditions it is not
so . delicate as the latter. A further small quantity of
this acid, as also of hypogaeic acid, was obtained from the

September 27, 187?. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

£53

cold alcohol washings of the viscous barium precipitate.
To examine it more particularly 660 grains of the mixed
fatty acids were used for preparing some by a method
slightly modified from the above. The acids were dis¬
solved in alcohol and the solution was treated with
ammonia and magnesium acetate. The precipitate, which
will be considered later, was collected on a filter. Lead
acetate was added to the filtrate and after two days
standing the mixture was filtered. The precipitated lead
I salt was washed with cold alcohol, dried and digested in
ether. The insoluble portion was again dried, fused
on the surface of warm water, and decomposed by hydro¬
chloric acid. The liberated fatty acid being removed by
agitation with ether, was freed from the solvent and then
dried over oil of vitriol. It weighed 18 grains, and by
observation of the melting point was found to be still
impure owing to the presence of palmitic acid. This
was removed by fractionation from alcohol and th finael
pure product, a white crystalline mass, weighed when
perfectly dry 10 grains. The melting point was constant
at 385° C.

0T71 gramme burned with chromate of lead gave T84
gramme of water and '446 gramme of carbonic acid,
corresponding to '0204 gramme of hydrogen and T216
gramme of carbon, or in 100 parts.

i

Numbers Obtained. Calculated from C11H22O2.

Carbon . . 71T1. 70'97.

Hydrogen . 11*92. 11*82.

By the side of these numbers I have placed others with
which they closely agree, calculated from the formula
CuH.>202, an acid not usually mentioned in the text-books,
but which I find very fully described under the name of
cocinic acid in a paper by M. Saint Evre — “ Recherches
sur les Acides Gras du Beurre de Coco.”* He says “II
cristallise par le refroidissement de sa dissolution al-
coolique en aiguilles incolores groupies en etoiles autour
d’un centre commun. II fond a la temperature de 3 4 '70
et se dissout aisdment dans lather et 1’alcool a 36 degrds.
II est depourvu de toute espbce d’odeur, et lors qu’il a ete
maintenu en fusion pendant longtemps, puis sounds a
Faction du vide, il se prdsente sous la forme d’un masse
incolore, dure et cassante. II se volatilise, mais seulement
dans un courant de gaz.” This desciiption applies per¬
fectly to the acid separated from chaulmoogra with the
single exception of the melting point. According to
Dumas’ theory a body having carbon atoms in the
series CnH2n0.2 should melt at 36*5° C. Saint Evre’s
observation was as much below this point as that here
recorded is above, and looking to the source whence his
acid was obtained it was quite as likely to contain a
minute trace of oleic acid as the cocinic acid from
chaulmoogra is likely to have still held a trace of palmitic.
Referring more particularly to the volatility of cocinic
acid in a current of gas it will be seen in the section
which describes the examination for alkaloid, that silky
needles possessing all the properties of this acid were
found in the distillate from chaulmoogra and water with
sulphuric acid.

The position of cocinic acid is between rutic or capric
acid and lauric acid in the series CnH2n02.

h. The magnesium acetate precipitate obtained in the
last process was decomposed by hot dilute hydrochloric
acid and the liberated fatty acids were washed till free from
chlorides. Palmitic acid was separated from the mixture
at first by dissolving in warm alcohol and cooling, but
this method was altogether inadequate to its complete
removal and a method of fractional precipitation was
adopted; first, by the cautious addition of a concentrated
aqueous solution of magnesium acetate to the simple
alcoholic solution of the acid, and afterwards by similarly
treating the solution when it had been made neutral by
ammonia.

After the separation of the fractions the alcoholic

* Annales de Chimie et de Physique, troisieine serie,

1847, xx., 91.

strength and solvent power of the solution was reduced
by the addition of water, and on standing a small quan¬
tity of magnesium salt separated out. That the last traces of
palmitic acid were thus removed was shown by the follow¬
ing treatment of the filtrate. This was decomposed by
hydrochloric acid, the fatty acid removed, washed and
dissolved in alcohol. To the solution water was added till
feebly opalescent and then the mixture was exposed to
a temperature of 6° C. for some time without any further
separation. The weak alcoholic solution was gently eva¬
porated and allowed to crystallize. After repeated crys¬
tallizations a body was obtained of a feeble yellow tinge,
which under the microscope shot out as it cooled into
crystalline plates with a more or less deep thalloid fringe,
polarizing at the margins only. The melting point was
29*5° C. Fractionated from alcohol the fractions were
homogeneous, exhibiting precisely the same crystalline
form and melting at exactly the same point.

0*348 of the acid burned with chromate of lead gave
0*3465 gramme of water, and 0*955 gramme of carbonic
acid gas equivalent to 0*0385 gramme of hydrogen, and
0*2604 of carbon; or 11*06 per cent, of the former and
74*84 of the latter element.

In a second combustion 0*381 gramme gave 0*382
gramme of water and 1*048 of carbonic acid gas ; equiva¬
lent to 11*13 per cent, of hydrogen and 75*01 of carbon.

In a third combustion 1 1 *2 per cent, ©f hydrogen was
obtained. The results placed side by side show as
follows : —

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3.

Carbon . . . -74*84 75*01

Hydrogen .. 11*06 11*13 11*2

The numbers correspond to a member of the little
known series CnH2n_402, and the probable formula is
C14H240.2, which by calculation gives —

Carbon, 75; Hydrogen, 10*7.

Though additional data will be required to determine
the formula I think it is certain that this body has not
been previously examined and described, and accordingly,
having reference to its source, I propose to name it
Gynocardic acid, and trust shortly to be able to announce
the correct formula.

This is the acid referred to in e and /, and as already
stated has a pale yellow colour and a well marked crystal¬
line form. Gynocardate of ammonium is soluble in water.
The magnesium salt is insoluble in water, but dissolves
in alcohol (*807) and falls out of solution on diluting.
The lead and barium salts are insoluble in water, ether
and cold alcohol.

§ 3. Dymock' s Test.

Reference has been made in this paper to Dymock’s
test for chaulmoogra oil. Fuller reference will be found
in the paper from which I have already quoted (vide
p. 251), where the opinion was expressed that the reac¬
tion on which it is based was characteristic of the oil,
and taken in connection with physical characters might
be used as an indicator of genuineness. In the course of
investigation I have been compelled to modify this
opinion, and take the present opportunity of qualifying
it. As progress was made in the work of separating the
proximate parts of chaulmoogra, each was subjected to
the test, with the result, at first, that the colour was
invariably obtained. One of the first separated quantities
of palmitic acid, gave the colour in so marked a degree
that certain natural substances known to contain palmitic
acid as well as the pure acid itself were submitted to the
test. It was thus ascertained that pure palmitic acid
does not present the reaction, nor do any of the bodies
experimented with, including Japan wax and butter,
except palm oil. This gives a splendid green colour with
sulphuric acid when applied as Dymock directs, a colour
of the same character as that afforded by chaulmoogra.
The green coloration is therefore not peculiar to the oil,
as was supposed by Dymock, but is a property which
equally belongs to palm oil. As the working processes

254

THE rHARMACETTTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 27, iw.

improved with additional knowledge of the material, the
constituents of chaulmoogra which gave the green colour,
were reduced and narrowed by purification till only the
last, gynocardic acid, remained. It still remains. It has
not been found possible by any means to deprive gyno¬
cardic acid of this colour-giving power. A quantity of it
has been dissolved in alcohol and crystallized from it in
successive small portions — each fraction has given the
colour with equal intensity. It has been digested with
animal charcoal, and after such treatment the colour has
been verdant as before ; it is inherent and a characteristic.
Gynocardic acid also produces the acrid burning taste
which is noticed when chaulmoogra is swallowed, and
altogether appears to be a constituent of such importance
as to deserve further attention, not only from a chemical
point of view, but also in regard to its medicinal
activity.

§ 4. Constituents Separated and Recognized.

Chaulmoogra oil then, so far as it is at present known,
contains : —

Gynocardic Acid . 11*7

Palmitic Acid . 63 ’0

Hypogseic Acid . 4*

Cocinic Acid . 2*3

in combination with glyceryl as fats, and the two former
in the free state as well. No attempt was made to
determine accurately the proportion of each acid present,
as the loss in purifying was necessarily considerable, but
the figures against each represent fairly well the quantity
of acid in 100 parts of oil.

The President said this paper was a very exhaustive
and admirable one, and the members of the Conference
owed their thanks not only to the writer, but to Mr.
Naylor, whose clear and comprehensive condensation of
its contents had placed the subject so lucidly before the
Conference.

Mr. A. H. Mason said as some of the members present
might be unacquainted with this oil, it would be well if
information were given as to its origin and supposed
properties.

Mr. Naylor said the oil was obtained from a plant
known as the Gynocardia odorata, and had been used
very successfully in cutaneous diseases. It was an oil
much used in India, and had been sold in the bazaars
there for a great number of years. It had also been used
with considerable success in this country in cases of
phthisis, but had not been previously studied chemically,
except by Dr. Dymock.

Mr. Willmott quoted a case in which it was found
that the medical properties of chaulmoogra oil were not
so great as those of gurjun oil.

Mr. Baxter spoke of chaulmoogra oil as a cure for
itch and mange in dogs.

Mr. Greenish said that the green coloration produced
by a drop of sulphuric acid brought into contact with the
chaulmoogra oil, being considered by Dymock a test of
the genuine oil, he would like to know from Mr. Naylor
if he had tried it on oil extracted, for instance, by benzine,
to ascertain if the coloration proceeded from the oil or
from some organic matter which may have been pressed
out into the oil.

Mr. Naylor, in reply, said chaulmoogra oil had been
used for a variety of purposes, but it was never intended
to be a panacea, and in some cases it had not been so
successful as others. He had known it to be largely used
in mange in dogs, and he had not heard of a case in which
it had failed. With reference to the green colour pro¬
duced with sulphuric acid, whatever solvent might be used,
providing gynocardic acid was present, the fat from the
solution would give a green colour. That test had been
applied to the oil which had been extracted with benzol
and oil obtained by pressure.

The next paper, which was read by Professor Attfield,
the author not being present, was entitled —

The Capacity op Different Organs to Absorb and
Retain Arsenic in Cases of Chronic Poisoning.

BY N. P. HAMBERG, M.D., H.M.P.S.

This paper called forth some adverse criticism, on the
ground that the subject was foreign to pharmacy ; and,
as it did not contain anything which had not previously
been established, its publication does not appear desirable.

The last paper read was —

Note on the Estimation of Morphine in Turkey

Opium.

BY PROFESSOR FLUCKIGER.

The estimation of morphine is the subject of many
valuable papers which have been published in the various
pharmaceutical periodicals. Numerous and elaborate
as they are, these investigations have not, as far as I can
see, arrived at a thoroughly satisfactory result. Without
further discussing in this place the merits of these
methods, I beg to submit to the Conference another
process, of the utmost simplicity, yet of sufficient accu¬
racy. How far this accuracy is attained by the method
I now recommend remains for the profession at large to
decide. It must be remembered that it is exclusively
intended for the assay of official, i.e ., Turkey, opium.
Valuable as may be the drug produced in other countries
with regard to the industrial extraction of alkaloids, no
modern pharmacopoeia has ever admitted any other kind
of opium than that of Asia Minor. My method will
possibly prove less satisfactory if applied to Indian or
Persian opium, although in my opinion, for a fair
standard opium, it is a good and elegant process. It is
as follows : —

Take of powdered opium 8 grammes ( = 123*5 grains),
cold water 80 grammes ; shake the mixture frequently ;
filter after twelve hours. The filter should have a dia¬
meter of five inches. The operation will afford on an
average 65 to 70 grammes of clear liquid. No washing
is to take place. 42 *5 grammes of the liquid are col¬
lected in a little phial, the weight of which should have
been marked on it. Then add to the solution 12
grammes of alcohol (sp. gr. 0*812-0*815), 10 grammes
of ether and 1*5 gramme ammonia water of 0*960
sp. gr. The mixture after shaking will remain clear
and allow a colourless layer of ether to make its ap¬
pearance. The phial is corked and allowed to stay
without further shaking it. After an hour or two,
crystals of morphine begin to be formed, mostly at
the border of the two layers. By and by they sink
down to the bottom, and after a day or two the
whole amount of whitish or white crystals of the alka¬
loid will be deposited. They are then to be collected
by using two folded filters having a diameter of four
inches. The phial is rinsed out with a mixture of 6
grammes of alcohol and 5 grammes of ether, and lastly with
10 grammes of ether, (these liquids being gradually poured
on to the crystals in order to wash them. The funnel in
the meantime is carefully covered. The crystals are
subsequently cautiously pressed between the folds of the
two filters, which will almost completely absorb the
mother liquor which the crystals of morphine may
still retain. It will now be easy to remove the alkaloid
very neatly from the filter ; it must be weighed in the
very phial in which some crystals may have remained
obstinately attached to the walls. The phial lastly
dried at 100° C. then contains the whole amount of
morphine precipitated, that is to say its hydrate, viz.,
Cl7H19N03 + 0H2.

As to the mother liquor, it is to be observed for a day
more in another corked phial ; it does not usually afford
a further crop of crystals. Yet in an open vessel amor¬
phous matters are soon deposited.

A good Turkey opium being under examination will
thus afford about 0*40 to 0*48 gramme of morphine, which

September 27, 1679 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS.

255

are to be considered as deriving from half the weight of
the sample, i.e., from 4 grammes opium ; the percentage
would then be 10 to 12.

The alkaloid must next be identified by resorting to
the usual tests for morphine. Among them there is the
official nitrate of bismuth, which I have pointed out
some time ago* * as one of the most characteristic tests
for that alkaloid. If morphine is rubbed with con¬
centrated sulphuric acid the liquid turns dark brown or
black as soon as a little nitrate of bismuth is strewn on
it. An excess of nitric acid present in the official nitrate
of bismuth would at first produce rather a red hue.
Lastly, there is also to be ascertained the purity of the
crystals. To this effect take 1 decigramme of the mor¬
phine and dissolve it in 10 grammes of lime-water. If the
lime-water is duly saturated, in the cold, the quantity
mentioned will be a little more than sufficient. The
morphine will then prove to leave a very trifling amount
of colouring matter, quite insufficient to influence appre¬
ciably the percentage of the alkaloid. Should narcotine
be present it would remain undissolved, and might be
weighed if the whole quantity of morphine be treated
with lime-water. But it would, in such a case, be much
more advisable to get rid of the narcotine by repeating
the experiment with another sample of opium. I would
recommend then, as I have already urged in the ‘ Pharma-
cographia,’ page 59, to dry the opium previously and to
deprive it of narcotine by exhausting it with boiling
ether. It must be borne in mind that we have to do
now with perfectly dry opium, whereas in the beginning
we started with air dry opium, the latter containing,
possibly, as much as 7 or 8 per cent, of water.

If to the solution of morphine in lime-water a little
chlorine water is added, a remarkable reaction is dis¬
played : the mixture assumes a permanent bright red
hue, which is highly characteristic ; this is, in fact, an
excellent new test for morphine.

The assay as just described somewhat minutely is of
the utmost practical simplicity; it must be granted that
it claims no special rapidity, but it is by no means longer
than any other process hitherto devised for the same
purpose.

A few explanatory remarks must be still added. As
a solvent for opium, cold water is by far the best, for the
simple reason that it affords immediately a liquid ready
for the precipitation of the alkaloid. It is true that the
drug yields a less coloured solution by using alcohol, but
this would require a distillation.

If opium is to be exhausted by means of water it is
extremely difficult to point out how far the extraction
must be carried on. Cold water on an average dissolves
about 60 per cent, of standard Turkey opium if it is
absolutely exhausted. By treating 8 grammes of opium
with 80 grammes of water we should consequently obtain
very nearly 85 grammes of solution. As it is practically
almost impossible to get really as much as this, it will
be safer to use just half the amount of the calculated
liquid, namely, 42*5 grammes. The analyst who does not
feel satisfied with this average number may ascertain
exactly the amount of soluble constituents which his
sample of the drug is able to yield ; he may then act
accordingly.

I believe the morphine to be present in the opium as a
sulphate, at least for the most part. This is evidenced
by the fact that the alcoholic solution of opium is found
to contain both the alkaloid and sulphuric acid. In the
aqueous solution inorganic sulphates are also present
chiefly sulphate of calcium, but in alcohol of all the sul¬
phates only that of morphine (or other alkaloids) can be
in solution. The sulphuric acid met with in the alcoholic
solution of opium must therefore be due to sulphates of
alkaloids. The solutions of opium display a slightly, yet
undoubtedly acid reaction as the vegetable juices

— - - - - - -

* See my ‘Pharmaceutical Chemistry/ Berlin, 1879,
page 373.

generally do. The acidity of opium becomes more
distinctly manifest if its solutions are cautiously con¬
centrated ; it is no doubt due to meconic acid.

It is important to precipitate the morphine from a
solution containing alcohol and ether. By adding am¬
monia to an aqueous solution, a flocculent matter is
precipitated. This abundant amorphous mass, either an
alkaloid or not, — it is certainly far from being simply
morphine, — remains in solution if the liquid contains a
little alcohol ; one-third alcohol of the volume of the
aqueous filtrate is quite sufficient for the purpose. Yet
of no less importance is the action of the ether. It not
only prevents the narcotine from being thrown down
together with the morphine, but ether greatly promotes
the formation of distinct and pure crystals of morphine.
This alkaloid evidently separates very readily from a
liquid saturated with ether.

No further mention is made in the above considerations
of narcotine. Should its amount also be estimated in
the official drug ? I think not. The action assigned to
narcotine by the physiological experiments appears to be
not considerable at all. Should it, however, become
desirable to estimate it, it would probably be a good plan
to extract the opium first by water and then by acetic
acid. The narcotine is present chiefly in the free state,
as it is not really an alkaloid ; it is therefore not, or not
entirely, removed by water. With acetic acid, as well as
with other acids, narcotine forms not well defined salts ;
the acids are simply solvents, from which it again
separates as soon as the acid is neutralized. This is
accomplished with carbonate of calcium. By shaking an
acetic solution of narcotine and morphine with that car¬
bonate, narcotine is precipitated ; not so the morphine.
I have not, however, more exactly investigated this
method, practical pharmacy, to which the present paper
is devoted, being not strictly interested in the matter.

I believe that the above method for the estimation of
morphine very well answers for pharmaceutical purposes.
I shall be glad if the criticisms which it may meet with
lead to some further progress in the question under
notice.

Mr. Draper passed a warm eulogium on the paper
which he said was characterized by great lucidity.

Mr. Naylor said it was not his experience that mor¬
phia existed in the form of sulphate of morphia, unless
the paper referred to the Turkey opium. If morphia was
dialysed the sulphate of morphia would undergo no
decomposition whatever. If it was carefully examined
by the microscope the sulphate of morphia could be readily
seen, and so also could the crystals of the meconate of
morphia if it was evaporated at a low heat. If meconate
of morphia was heated at a high temperature it would
split up. His objection to the process was that no very
special provision in the process — as part of the process —
was made for separating narcotine. The process to which
they had just listened was identical with the beautiful pro¬
cess of Yvon published in the Journal de Pharmacie et de
Chimie, only if his memory served him correctly the pro¬
portions of spirit and ether were a little different.

Mr. Williams viewed it as a slow process compared
with others.

Professor Attfield admitted that it was a slow pro¬
cess, but easy.

The President said Professor Fliickiger deserved their
thanks for his paper, and the Conference accorded him
that compliment.

Place of Meeting in 1880.

Mr. N. M. Grose (Swansea), introduced by the Presi¬
dent, said he was deputed by the druggists of Swansea to
convey to the British Pharmaceutical Conference a
hearty invitation to visit the town in 1880, and if the
association did them the honour to accept the invitation
they would do all in their power to render their sojourn
in Swansea agreeable.

256

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (September 27, 1879

Professor Attfield moved that the best thanks of the
meeting be accorded to the chemists of Swansea, so ably-
represented by Mr. Grose, and that their invitation be

accepted. . .

Mr. Reynolds seconded the motion and, adverting to

the admirable way in which Sheffield had received the
pharmacists, said Yorkshire felt proud of Sheffield for the
way in which it had entertained the Conference.

The motion was then carried.

Election of Officers.

A ballot for the President and Officers for the ensuing
year was then taken, with the following result : •

President.

W. Southall, F.L.S., Birmingham.

Vice-Presidents.

N. M. Grose, Swansea.

R. Reynolds, F.C.S., Leeds.

G. W. Sandford, Pres. Ph. Soc. of G. B., London.

W. Ward, E.C.S., Sheffield.

Treasurer.

C. Ekin, F.C.S., Bath.

General Secretaries.

Professor Attfield, F.C.S., London.

F. Baden Benger, F.C.S., Manchester.

Local Secretary.

J. Hughes, Swansea.

Other Members of Executive Committee.

M. Carteighe, F.C.S., London.

T. Greenish, F.C.S., London.

H. W. Maleham, Sheffield.

A. H. Mason, F.C.S., Liverpool.

C. Symes, Ph.D., Liverpool.

J. C. Thresh, F.C.S., Buxton.

W. A. Tilden, D.Sc., F.C.S., Clifton.

C. Umney, F.C.S., London.

J. T. Williams, Swansea.

Auditors.

G. Ellinor, Sheffield.

J. Lloyd, Swansea.

Thanks to the Local Committee, etc.

Mr. Williams moved —

“That the cordial thanks of the non-resident mem¬
bers of the British Pharmaceutical Conference
be given to the Local Committee, and the other
Sheffield members, and especially to Mr. Maleham,
Mr. Ward, Mr. Ellinor, Mr. Learoyd and Mr. Cub-
ley for the very successful manner in which they had
conducted the arrangements of the meeting.”

He said Mr. Reynolds had stated that Yorkshire felt
proud of Sheffield for the way in which it had entertained
the Conference, and if Sheffield had satisfied Yorkshire
he felt that the rest of the country must be satisfied.

Mr. Draper seconded the motion and referred to their
cordial reception and the pains the Local Committee had
taken in showing the pharmacists the various manufac¬
tories for which the town was famous.

The motion was carried unanimously.

Mr. Ward, in acknowledging the compliment, said it had
afforded him extreme pleasure to see the Conference in
Sheffield, but he must in justice say that nearly the whole
of the work had devolved upon Mr. Maleham. If the as¬
sociation were gratified the Local Committee were satis¬
fied, and if they were gratified the Local Committee were
satisfied.

Mr. Maleham said he was glad to have an opportunity
of expressing his gratification at the kind manner in which

the services of the Local Committee had been acknow¬
ledged by their guests. He deprecated the idea that he
had done all the work, and said he had been ably sup¬
ported by the Local Committee and Mr. Learoyd, the
assistant secretary.

Mr. Learoyd and Mr. Ellinor also acknowledged the
compliment on behalf of the Local Committee.

Professor Tichborne moved the following resolu¬
tion : —

“That the members of the British Pharmaceutical
Conference, assembled in Sheffield, desire to express
their best thanks to Messrs. John Brown and Co.,
Limited, and Messrs. Brown, Bayley and Dixon, for
having thrown open their most interesting works,
and also to the managers of departments and others
whose courtesy and attention so enhanced the plea¬
sure of the visit.”

Mr. T. E. Abraham seconded the motion, which was
carried.

Mr. Foster moved the following resolution : —

“That the best thanks of the Conference be conveyed
to Messrs. John Round and Son, Messrs Joseph
Rodgers and Son, and Messrs. Walker and Hall, who
have so kindly afforded members the privilege of
visiting their works.”

Mr. Walter Hills seconded the motion, which was
carried.

Thanks to the President.

Mr. Sumner moved —

“ That the best thanks of the Conference be given to
the President for the able manner in wkich he has
conducted the business of the meeting.'”

He said he was delighted at the ability shown by the
young members of the Conference, and that their papers
showed that they were making progress beyond their
predecessors. He did not see why such should not be
the case, for they should live on the experience of the
past, and the practice of the present.

Mr. Radley, as the senior member of the trade in
Sheffield, seconded the resolution, and referred to the
efforts of the President in the promotion of pharmacy.

The motion was carried with acclamation.

The President, in acknowledging the compliment, said
he was afraid his friends sadly overrated his efforts as
President. It must not be forgotten that he followed a
long list of distinguished men, from whose example he
had had large opportunities for learning his duties;
moreover the kind consideration he had received from
every individual who had attended the meeting had
rendered his task so easy that his own share of the
merit of having presided with some success was very
small indeed. He confessed to some feeling of regret at
relinquishing his highly honourable post, but had the
satisfaction of knowing that it would pass into the hands
of a very able man, one whose scientific qualifications
would certainly very much exalt its dignity.

The Resignation of Professor Attfield.

The President said although the positive proceedings
of the Conference had now concluded, there was just one
matter he should like to introduce to their notice. The
opinion had been expressed in the Executive Committee
at its sitting that afternoon, that the members of the
Conference generally would probably wish that some
permanent record of their obligation to Professor Attfield
should be presented to him, now that he found it neces¬
sary to resign the post of Honorary Secretary. The
Committee had accordingly prepared a resolution, which
would now be submitted for the approval of those pre¬
sent.

“ 1. That under the circumstance of Dr. Attfield’s
announced retirement from the post he now occupies,
it is desirable to institute some permanent recogni-

September 27, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

257

tion of the invaluable services to the Conference
rendered by Professor Attfield as its Senior General
Honorary Secretary since its establishment sixteen
years ago.

“ 2. That the gentlemen present form themselves into
a Provisional Committee to give effect to this resolu¬
tion, with power to add to their number.

“ 3. That Mr. Carteighe be appointed Honorary Secre¬
tary pro tern, to the above Committee.”

The Conference then broke up.

Iparliamcntarg and Uaa |3rocmtiitgs.

Prosecution for Sale of Adulterated Cream of

Tartar.

At the Chertsey Petty Sessions on Wednesday, Sep¬
tember 24, before W. C. Scott, Esq., chairman, B. L.
Lewis, Esq., W. F. Harrison, Esq., Baron G. de Worms,
H. Yool, Esq., and T. W. Weeding, Esq., Mr. George
Boyce was summoned for selling to one Frank Walters
a certain drug, to wit, 2 ounces of cream of tartar, to his
prejudice, on the 19 th of August.

Mr. A. Haynes appeared for the defendant.

Police-constable Waters said: On the 19th of August
h»e went to Mr. Boyce’s shop under instructions from
Superintendent Bungard and asked for 2 ounces of cream
of tartar and was served by Mr. Clark, the assistant. He
paid 4 cl. for it. After receiving the cream of tartar he
told the assistant it would be handed over to Super¬
intendent Bungard, who would take it next day to Guy’s
Hospital to be analysed. Witness asked him if he would
like to keep a portion of it. The assistant said that he
did not wish to do so. Witness then sealed it up in his
presence and twenty minutes later handed it over to
Superintendent Bungard.

Cross-examined by Mr. Haynes : He bought some
quinine wine and other articles at the same time that he
purchased the cream of tartar. He asked the assistant
to take a portion of each of the articles that he purchased,
but the assistant declined.

Superintendent Bungard said: On the 19th of August
he received 2 ounces of cream of tartar from last witness
and on the 21st took it to Guy’s Hospital. He produced
Dr. Stevenson’s certificate, which stated the cream of
tartar to contain 11*7 of tartrate of lime and *6 of sul¬
phate of baryta, and that the foreign ingredients were
insoluble and not injurious to health.

Cross-examinined by Mr. Haynes : The other articles
purchased were sent to the analyst and reported to be
genuine. This wras the case for the prosecution.

Mr. Haynes then addressed the Bench. He said that
for the last sixty years Mr. Boyce and his father before
him had been chemists in the town, and always had the
very highest character for selling the best and choicest
articles, and never before had they had the least word of
complaint. The charge that he had to answer that day
was that Mr. Boyce sold an article that was not of the
required quality. He could only have wished that Dr.
Stevenson had been present, because he could then have
asked him questions that would have put a proper com¬
plexion on the case. However, he had practical and
scientific witnesses present who would inform the Bench
as to the manufacture of cream of tartar, and it would
be shown that *no adulteration in the sense of the word
had taken place, and moreover Dr. Stevenson’s certificate
showed that it was not injurious to health, and was,
therefore, not prejudicial to the purchaser. Cream of
tartar was manufactured in France and Spain and other
wine-growing countries, and he could prove that it could
not possibly be made without tartrate of lime, as through
the processes it underwent such was incidental to its
manufacture, and was, in fact, part and parcel of the
drug. Mr. Hodgkinson, of whom the articles were pur¬

chased, would produce some cream of tartar in its crude
state and inform them how it was manufactured. He
would also tell them that Mr. Boyce always bought drugs
of the very best quality and paid the very best price for
them, and, in fact, such evidence would be given as he.
thought would completely exonerate his client. He then
called —

Mr. William Hodgkinson, of the firm of Hodgkinson.
and Co., Aldersgate Sti-eet, who said that defendant and
his father before him had been customers of his firm for
many years. Mr. Boyce was very particular, and was
always supplied with the very best drugs. The cream of
tartar which was the subject of the present case he had
reasons to know came from Messrs. Hodgkinson’s stores.
Cream of tartar was sent to this country from Spain and
France and came in a state that was known as argol,
and was consigned from the brokers to the manufacturers.
The argol was generally taken from the docks by the=
grinders. The cream of tartar in question came into the
market in the usual way and was ground by Messrs,
Stafford, Allen and Sons, who returned it to his firm
and they sent it out as it w*as purchased. Messrs. Allen
and Sons were the only grinders of the drug. The
article sent to Mr. Boyce was the very finest that could
be obtained. Argol, or cream of tartar, was the natural
product of the fermentation of the juice of the grapes.
It was impossible to have cream of tartar without tartrate
of lime, and he was informed from the best authority
that it was generally found in quantities of from 10 to
20 per cent., and the lowest he ever heard of was 7 per
cent. He recognized the sample of cream of tartar
produced from its very fine grinding. It could not be
obtained finer. He could not account for the very small
amount of baryta being with the drug, but had seen it
with cream of tartar before.

Mr Edward llansome Allen, of City Road, London,
said his firm received a delivery order to obtain the
cream of tartar in its crude state. It w*as then ground
and sent to Messrs. Hodgkinson, and nothing was added
to it.

Mr. George Boyce said he purchased the drug of
Messrs. Hodgkinson and sold it as he received it. He
believed it was the best quality that he could possibly
buy.

Dr. Benjamin Horatio Paul, I’h.D., F.C.S., and Editor
of the Pharmaceutical Journal, said the term “ cream of
tartar ” was, according to the British Pharmacopoeia, a.
synonym for acid tartrate of potash. The article referred
to was the medicinal form of acid tartrate of potash and
that met with in commerce. It consisted essentially of
the compound of tartaric acid with potash, together with
some varying proportion of tartrate of lime, which was inci¬
dental to the manufacture of cream of tartar in the usual
way. The presence of tartrate of lime in cream of tartai*
Avas indicated by the British Pharmacopoeia. Sulphate of
baryta was an extraneous impurity, but it was scarcely
conceivable that so small a proportion as that indicated
by the analyst’s certificate could have been intentionally
added as an adulteration. The only other possible expla¬
nation of its presence was accidental admixture; but it
was an inert substance not injurious to health, and the
trifling amount present did not sensibly affect the medi¬
cinal efficacy of the cream of tartar or its intrinsic value.

The Chairman said the Bench were unanimous in
dismissing the case.

Death from Opium Eating.

On Tuesday, September 23, Mr. D. Wightman held an
inquest in Sheffield, on the body of Sydney Barnes, 50
years of age, painter. The evidence was to the effect
that for the last two years the deceased had suffered from
‘‘painter’s cholic,” and in consequence had lost the use of
one of his arms. Some time last week he fell from the
top of a vine house at Sharrow, and broke his ribs. A

258

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 27, 1879.

year or two ago he was in the habit of taking quantities
of opium, but he had not done so latterly as far as his
wife knew. On Saturday night he went to Mr. Ward's
shop, on Sheffield Moor, and bought two separate penny¬
worths of opium, stating that he wanted the drug to
relieve the pains in his side, caused by broken ribs. He
returned home, and shortly after dinner on the following
day he took the opium, except a small quantity, which
his wife destroyed. In the evening he went to bed and
slept soundly until Monday morning, after which time he
remained in a drowsy state up to his death. On Sunday
lie told his wife he intended to go to the Hospital next
day to see what was amiss with his side. It was explained
that the deceased had taken about one scruple and a half
of opium, equal to 720 drops of ordinary laudanum.

Mr. F. A. Willington, surgeon, said he saw the
deceased for the first time shortly before three o’clock on
Monday afternoon. He was then insensible, and evidently
dying. He applied the usual remedies, but death ensued,
caused by an overdose of opium.

The Coroner remarked that the man, in his opinion,
had died from an overdose of opium. It had transpired
that he had been in the habit of taking it regularly on
previous occasions, and all the symptoms explained by the
surgeon indicated poisoning by opium. The deceased
had taken much more opium than a surgeon would have
advised him to take. The quantity was sufficient to have
poisoned all the persons in the room.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from taking an
overdose of opium for the purpose of relieving pain,
brought on by a recent accident.” — Sheffield Daily Times.

Hftemottawta.

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

[339]. I think “Minor” ought to use Acid. Nitric. Dil.

[340]. In answer to “Inquirer’s ” note, I have used at
times a little glycerine to rub down the sulph. iodid. when
making ung. sulph. iodid. ; by this means he will produce
an ointment slightly lighter in appearance, but a much
more satisfactory preparation.

Thomas E. Chadwick.

[341]. Calx Hydrarg. Alba is white precipitate.
Manchester. W. Wilkinson.

[341]. Calx Hydrargyri Alba was the term by which
the present Hydrargyrum Ammoniatum was known in
the old London Pharmacopoeia (1788), and therefore Ung.
Hyd. Ammon., B.P., should have been dispensed.

W. F. Norman.

[341]. Unguentum Calcis Hydrargyri Albse, vel Un-
guentum Hydrargyri Ammonio-Chloridi (Pharmacopoeia
Londiniensis, 1788) : —

Take of —

Ammonio-Chloride of Mercury . . 2 drachms .

Lard . 3 ounces.

Add the ammonio-chloride of mercury to the lard, and
rub them together.

Norwich. W. S. Corder.

[3421 The official Ung. Plumbi Subacet. Co., in¬
variably assumes a streaked orange colour soon after it is
made, but it rapidly becomes rancid and the colour dis¬
appears.

The orange tint is probably due to the separation of an
oxide of lead and the disappearance of the colour to
decomposition of the oxide by the fatty acids present in
the rancid ointment.

Neither coloration nor rancidity appears if vaseline be
substituted for the oil and wax, which alteration will
possibly be made in the formula when we have a new
Pharmacopoeia.

R. II. Parker.

[342]. I should be glad if some reader would reply to
the query of “An Apprentice ” in the Journal of Sep. 6,
with regard to ung. plumbi subacet. co. I made a little
and found it turned the pale orange colour he describes,
and attributed it to the fact that the liq. plumbi was an
imperfect solvent, it having deposited a good deal of
plumbi carb. in the bottle, and the camphor acting upon
it turned the oxyacetate into litharge again, and hence
the colour. Again I made some with a perfectly fresh
solution and, as “ An Apprentice ” says, followed the
instructions implicitly, and I find after four or five days
that has turned the same.

I cannot find any allusion to the cause in any work
that I have referred to. And as it is an ointment not
unfrequently ordered in prescriptions, it is of great
importance that it should be sent out so that the patient
should not be surprised to find an orange coloured oint¬
ment after a few days.

Alchemist.

[343].

R Acet. Scilla . ^iss.

Spt. Chloroformi . q.s.

Sacc. Ust . q.s.

Aqua . ad §ij.

A teaspoonful every two or three hours.

How should the above be dispensed ? Was I right in
putting in 3ss spt. chlorof., and 6 minims sac. ust. ?

[344]. Will a reader of the Journal say how he would
dispense, or of what strength he would make the following
solution? —

Solutio Cheltenham Salts. 1

Tinct. Zingib. . . 3*1 f §xij •

Tinct. Card. Co . 3*1 )

A wineglassful every third morning in half a tumbler¬
ful of warm water.

Dispenser.

gtoks anti Queries.

[624]. COLOUR OF CLOTH.— Pure nitric acid is
used to test the durability of the colour in cloth. The
test depends on the length of time it takes to destroy
the colouring matter.

W. Fowler.

[625]. ANILINE COPYING INK.— Could any reader
oblige me with a formula for making copying ink (aniline)
for the gelatine letter press? By so doing he would
greatly oblige.

Qilero.

[626]. CLEANSING OF OLD COINS.— Will any
reader of the J ournal kindly furnish me with a formula
of a solution for cleansing old coins by simply immersing
them?

Thos. F. Elton.

September 27, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

259

Registration of Chemists’ Assistants as bona
fide Dentists.

Sir, — Having read four letters in reply to mine, I can see
but one, F. W. S., who sees the question as regards the regis¬
tration of assistants in the right light. The legislators of
the Dental Act were perfectly willing to recognize existing
rights, but not to bring to life rights that had never existed
at all, or to induce any person to register himself as a matter
of convenience with the view of taking up dentistry at some
future time and thus save himself the necessary education
and examination. Nothing was said about preventing
chemists or their assistants from extracting teeth (which is
the least important part of a dentist’s business), and it was
not necessary to register in order to continue to do so, and
to say the least it is contrary to the laws of common
morality for a person not a dentist to register as being in
bona fide practice as such. “ Lower Molar” says he wrote
to Mr. Miller asking if it was necessary to register as a
dentist in order to extract teeth, and that he received the
declaration papers in reply, etc., etc. I must call his atten¬
tion to the fact that it is not the duty of the registrar to
answer inquires or to determine who is legally entitled to
register, and that everyone is allowed to fill up the papers
a3 his conscience will allow him, and that on payment of
the fee his name is placed on the register conditionally, i.e.
that his claim will bear investigation. Of course on the
publication of the register the Dental Association will take
up the matter of illegal registrations, or why should section
xxxv. be inserted at all ? If bond fide chemists and dentists,
or even chemists who without assuming the title of dentist
merely performed the operation of extraction, have registered
as being in bond fide practice as dentists, it must surely be
allowed that that does not constitute a right for their
apprentices and assistants to do the same ; the Act was for
the protection of the public, and not to raise up an army of
ignorant impostors who have sprung into life as dental
practitioners during the passing of the Act, to the detri¬
ment of the public and degradation of the legitimate pro¬
fession.

“Manager” must have a very poor idea of dental operations
when he asserts that they can be performed as ably by
dabblers in the art as by any professional dentist who has
devoted all hi3 attention to the sp6cialite. I should like to
to see very much the chemist’s assistant who could put in
really reliable gold and amalgam fillings, fill root canals,
cap exposed pulps, etc. The old proverb that a “ Jack of all
trades is generally master of none” is very applicable to the
above, and a Ph. C., dental surgeon, etc., must have as
many irons in the fire as he can keep warm.

J. J. Musgrave.

Sir,— The writers of the letters relating to the Dental
Practitioners Bill in your last issue appear to have all taken
up arms rather hastily against Mr. Musgrave.

“Lower Molar” certainly may be in the right in con¬
sidering himself a dentist from the mere fact of extracting
teeth, but the question is still an open one as to whether
when the weeding out of the Dental Register takes place
those whose only claim towards registering themselves con¬
sists in the fact of their extracting teeth will be considered
dentists by the Medical Council, should information be
made against them. The declaration may be made, the fee
may be received, but the whole responsibility of such
declaration rests upon the person who makes it. Evidently
clause xxxv. wras inserted from a certain foresight pos¬
sessed by promoters of the Bill. The spirit of the law will
be frustrated perhaps by many ; anyhow, Mr. Musgrave
gives a friendly warning, to the effect that should the
spirit of the Act, which the words bond fide convey, be
carried out, many who are now on the register may
possibly find their names erased in future (even if not in
the present) edition of the Dental Register, Holders of
the certificate must remember that the register alone will
be legal evidence. The spirit of the Act appears to have
been to protect those men who before its passing had been
bond fide engaged as dentists, and had called themselves
such before the public.

My only object in writing is to uphold Mr. Musgrave’s
action in writing his letter, and to suggest that those who
took up arms against him should wait until they see

whether there were any cause for so doing. Mr. Musgrave’s
opponents appear to have spoken with the dictum of both
judge and jury in the matter, so they have hardly a right
to be so harsh on him, who as they say, holds simply a
brief. After all the only thing to be done is to wait and
see. It is said that “the wicked fleeth when no man
pursueth.”

George Ernest Clarke, Surgeon-Dentist.
Woodbridge.

The Health of the Drug Trade.

Sir, — Mr. J. K. Nicol, in the Journal of 'the 6th’ inst.,
calls attention to the circumstance that a large percentage
of chemists die at a very early age, and speculates as to the
cause.

To satisfy myself that the average age was less than it
ought to be, 1 have gone over the Journal obituaries for
three years, 18/5-6, 1876-7, 1877-8, and I find that the
average is fifty. This is certainly not very encouraging for
the rising race of pharmacists.

And now, what are the causes of this early mortality ?'
It seems to me that there are three things to be taken into
consideration in accounting for it. These are : — (1) Con¬
finement, on account of the length of business hours. (2)
The strain upon the mind which is inseparable from the
proper conduct of a chemist’s business. (3) The highly
polluted atmosphere of the shops.

A chemist’s business is, I should say, the most confining
business under the sun. In a small business, where the
proprietor cannot afford to keep an assistant regularly, he
is frequently several weeks at a time without being away
from liis shop. People do not always expect to find a
physician or surgeon at home, but they never for a moment
entertain the idea of not finding a chemist ready at any
time to answer his bell, and supply sixpennyworth of
physic. And take the case of assistants. In England,
where the situations are indoor, an assistant’s life partakes
very much of the nature of that of a domestic servant ;
perhaps two hours twice a week, at night, are allowed for
recreation.

In Scotland the situations are outdoor, and most of the
places close at 8 p.m., and as few of the shops have night
bells — perhaps one in each district of the town — the greater
number of the assistants are free every night after that
hour. This would seem better. In reality it is not so. In
order, I suppose, that the outdoor assistants should have
no advantage over their indoor fellows in their chance of
longevity, it is generally the case that they have to get
their tea after 8 o’clock. In a few humane places arrange¬
ments exist for the assistants either to get out for half an
hour to tea, or to have it on the premises. These places,
however, are very few. It is needless for me to do more
than refer to the injurious effects upon the health of so long
a fast between dinner and tea, and the taking of tea at so
late an hour. In English situations the hours are longer,
but meals are had regularly. In Scotch situations the hours
are shorter, but meals are had irregularly. Which is the
better ? To my mind there is little to choose in either.

The practice of pharmacy requires great care and atten¬
tion. The strain upon the mental faculties of those
engaged in a busy shop is consequently very great, and
when continued during such a length of time must of neces¬
sity be exhausting. There are other businesses in which a
concentration of attention, equal to that in ours, is required;
but I am not aware of any in which it has to be kept up
for the same length of time.

And, finally, there is the polluted atmosphere. Chemists
do not feel the smell of their shops, because they have
become accustomed to it. There are few, however, of their
customers who do not feel what they call the ‘ ‘ physicky ”
smell always present. Hydrochloric acid vapour, free
chlorine, fumes of nitric and sulphurous acids, ammonia,
and carbonic acid gas, not to sjjeak of an occasional wliiff
of bromine, make a nice addition to the already not over
pure air of a town. To be confined for twelve hours a day
in a compound atmosphere of this kind can scarcely be con¬
ducive to good health. People say w*e cannot readily catch
infection, because the germs of contagious diseases find the
atmosphere of our shops fatal to them. This may be true,
but to escape contagion only to share the fate of the germs
is not much for which to be thankful.

It is time that attention should be directed to the un¬
healthy nature of our business, apart from long hours.

260

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [ September 27, 13:9.

Instead of having long hours we ought to have exceptionally
short ones. No doubt the claims of the public must be
attended to. I do not, however, think that the public,
exacting though it be, desires that the members of one
class should sacrifice their lives to save those of the members
of another class.

A free discussion of the subject may initiate a disposition
on the part of employers to favour shorter hours of business,
or, at least, the concession of more time for inhaling fresh
air to their assistants. I am strongly of opinion that a
reduction in the hours of business would be a very effectual
means of raising the standard of the drug trade. The pre¬
sent hours are in their effects very demoralizing.
Edinburgh. Junius.

Sir, — Like your correspondent, Mr. Nicol, the undue
mortality in our trade has been matter for reflection with
me for years. I commenced at one time tabulating the
deaths recorded in your own and other journals, with the
view of instituting a comparison with the average general
mortality, but finding that the ages were frequently omitted,
I gave up the attempt. Speaking from an experience of
twenty years, I do not for one moment think that (special
manufactures apart) there is anything in the atmosphere of
the ordinary chemist’s shop prejudicial to health. The
cause is to be found almost solely in our own individual
habits. In a business full of constant anxieties, we volun¬
tarily keep too long hours — we voluntarily allow ourselves
too little outdoor recreation. If our aim is merely through
this business to obtain a social competency, it is yet highly
necessary, but if passing beyond this, we are also striving
for mental cultivation, it is yet more imperative that Ave
allow nothing to defraud us of our chances of re-oxygenation.
We voluntarily keep too long hours — voluntarily I ad¬
visedly said — we are not bound to keep our shutters down
until the last possible customer has appeared.

If medicine is really wanted there is not much fear of
patients dying for lack of ringing the druggist’s bell, while
with the shop open unnecessarily late, for one application
that is really pressing there may be dozens of the most
trivial character.

From the nature of our calling the public justly expect us
to cheerfully attend to their true wants at whatever hours
they may arise; but for that very reason they should be
considerate of us in not infringing upon our ordinary leisure
times unnecessarily. The public require educating in this
respect. It would be the dawn of a new era with us were
we to arrive at a general understanding to adopt hours akin
to those in other callings, and to levy a mild percentage
upon all business effected after the shop was closed.

Let each pharmacist thus arrange for himself, and for
those in his employ, some respite for breathing time, and
we shall soon hear less of undue mortality in our ranks.

One of the greatest obstacles, often, to improvement in this
direction is, singularly enough, the solitary chemist, — he who
has neither assistant nor apprentice.

His neighbours are all willing to close, but “ Why should
I shut up?” argues he. “I shall have no peace, the bell
will ring, and I may as well be in my shop as in my back
room.”

Such a one should remember that none of us liveth to
himself, that although he may not feel himself at liberty to
leave his premises, he should surely hesitate before in effect
compelling everyone else in the trade in the town also to
remain at home.

Now that there is such a call for educated pharmacists, it
is more than ever necessary that for the production of the
mens sana in corpora sano the requisite leisure should be
afforded.

Cambridge. J. T.

Sir, — The letters of your correspondents on the health of
the drug trade would have been of more value if they had
supplied authentic figures, either from the Registrar-
General’s report, or other sources, from which the longevity
in our trade might have been compared with that in others.
No opinion on such a subject can be worth anything unless
it is based upon deductions drawn from correct statistics.

Such statistics I am unable to supply, but the following
figures, taken from obituaries printed in the Pharmaceutical
Journal during the years 1377, 1878, and 1879, may interest
your readers: —

Two hundred deaths gave an average length of life of

51'8 years. Four lives exceeded eighty, and were eighty,
one, eighty-three, eighty-six, and eighty-seven respectively.
The shortest life recorded was twenty-one years.

A percentage gave the following results : —

18*

99

thirty and forty.

195 „

99

forty and fifty.

19'5 „

99

fifty and sixty.

225 „

99

sixty and seventy.

11*5 „

99

seventy and eighty.

2*

99

eighty and ninety.

My obituaries were all exhausted, or I should have
extended these figures, and so made the statistics reliable.
It should be mentioned that nearly all the deaths were of
chemists in business for themselves.

Denmark Hill. Thos. Henry Powell.

Essence of Ginger.

Sir, — I think that if Mr. Baildon will be at the trouble
of again agitating his essence of ginger with silica (in very
fine powder) and filtering, that it will become clear. I
recently prepared some and found that upon first filtration
it was opalescent, but refiltration has made it perfectly
bright.

With regard to the alleged misprint, there is no mistake,
but perhaps it would have been better to have said ‘ * until
nothing further is precipitated.” Upon first addition of the
lime the tincture becomes very dark coloured; when more is
added a somewhat bulky precipitate speedily falls and the
solution becomes of a “rich yellow colour,” but is much
paler than when the first portion of the lime has been added.
The proportions of the various resins differ so much in
different specimens of ginger, that a little judgment is
required in addition of lime, etc.

John C. Thresh.

Nitrate of Pilocarpine.

Sir, — From the misinterpretation of my remarks on the
solubility of the above (p. 240 last week), Mr. Gerrard can¬
not have read my statement (p. 215, Pharm. Journ. 1879)
carefully.

W. Martindale.

Erratum. — In Mr. Fletcher’s paper on “ Citrate of Iron
and Quinine,” page 228, line 25 from top, for (2 673x0'86)
read (2'673x30'86).

“ Bonus” is recommended to make his wants known by
means of an advertisement.

J. H. Dingier. — Hypericum androscemum.

H. Cocks. — The effect of the addition of sodium hyposul¬
phite is well known, but the resulting product can no longer
be correctly designated a preparation of iodine.

F. A. Barrow. — Syrup of Gentian (Codex). — Gentian
Root, 100 grams ; Roiling Water, 1000 grams ; White
Sugar, q.s. Pour the boiling water on the gentian, infuse
for six hours in a closed vessel, strain and press. Add the
sugar in the proportion of 190 parts to 100 parts of the in¬
fusion, and make a syrup by simple solution in a covered
water-bath.

A. H. Pope. — See the section on crystallography in
Fownes’s ‘ Manual of Chemistry,’ vol. i., or the more ex¬
tended treatise in Watt’s £ Dictionary.’

“ Alterative ” is recommended to communicate the cir¬
cumstances to the Secretary of the local Association.

“Army Compounder.” — The principle which should be
followed in making up mixtures containing resinous
tinctures has been explained on several occasions recently.
See, for instance, vol. ix., pp. 528 and 529.

W. B. Southgate. — The following recipe for “Pick-me-
up” has already been given in the present series of this
Journal : — Cardamons, 5 parts ; Caraways, 2 ; Cochineal,
2 ; Cinnamon, 10 ; Raisins, 80 ; Orange Peel, 56 : Ginger,
14 ; Gentian Root, 3; Woimwood, 2; Quassia, 1; Alcohol,
('838) 750; AVater, 750. Macerate for fourteen days,
filter, and add syrup 200 parts.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Wetzel, Wilkinson, Clarke, Wershoven, Musgrave,
Postans, J. Griffith, Mushens, Turner, Howe, Catechu,
Yerus, Student, Junior, Omnes Moriemur, Chemist, Gaul,
An Emigrant, A Sawney, G. H. L.

ctober 4, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

261

NOTES ON SOME JAPANESE DRUGS.

BY E. M. HOLMES, F.L.S.,

Curator of the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society.
(Concluded from page 203.)

FRUITS AND SEEDS.

Kotree see (18): — Coriandrum sativum, L.

The Japanese coriander seed does not differ in
any respect from that of English commerce.

Mahno dah-rah-gay (19) : — Datura alba, Nees.;
Nees. in Linn. Tran. 17, p. 73; D. Stramonium ,
Thunb., FI. Jap. p. 91.

Syn. Man-to-lo-hwa, Dr. Porter Smith, Mat.
Med. Chin. p. 83 ; Chosenasa-gao, So mokou
Zoussetz, vol. iii. fol. 55 ; Mandara-reuge,
Phonzou Zoufou, vol. xxiii. fol. 20.

These fruits are rather smaller than those of D.
Stramonium, more globular, with shorter spines, the
base of the spines being markedly striated. The
specimens have evidently been gathered and dried
before ripe, the seeds not being mature.

Datura alba differs from Stramonium in its ovate
downy leaves. It is used by the natives of India
for poisoning, and professional poisons are often
called dhatureas, on account of the use made of this
drug. See ‘Pharm. India,’ pp. 175, 460.

Meh-no-me (60) Prunus Armeniaca, L. (Apricot
kernels).

Syn. Kjoo, Kara momu, Ansu, Ksempf. Amoen.

p. 798, Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 200.

These seeds correspond well with specimens of
P. Armeniaca in the Indian collection. The endo-
carps, which are sparingly present, are quite smooth.
The kernels are cordate, ovate, and about half an
inch long and rather less in width, and two lines in
thickness. The taste resembles that of a bitter
almond.

Apricot kernels are known to yield an excellent
oil, nearly, if not quite, equal to almond oil, but to
what medicinal use the Japanese put these kernels,
I have not been able to ascertain.

Oo-bei (35) : — Amygdalus nana, L.

Syn. Prunus Mume, Sieb. et Zucc., FI. Jap. I. p.
29; Bai, Thunberg, FI. Jap. p. 199; Ume and
Umebos, Kiempf. Amoen, p. 799; Mume, Momi,
Fr. et Sav. vol. i. p. 117.

This drug consists of the dried unripe fruits. In
appearance they resemble small prunes, but are
very dry and hard. They have apparently been
dried at a high temperature, since the kernels have
a roasted taste and dark-brown colour internally.
The endocarp or stone is half to three-quarters of
an inch long and about half an inch wide, and one-
third to half an inch thick. It is perforated with
small holes like that of the almond. The taste of the
sarcocarp, or fleshy part, is intensely sour.

The Japanese character, Bei, pronounced in Chi¬
nese Mei, is a generic term for any kind of plum,
and is sometimes applied to other fruits. See Porter
Smith, ( Mat. Med. Chin.’ p. 174.

The fruits, preserved in dregs of Sacki or Japanese
beer, are said by Koempfer to be exported to India
and China.

According to Siebold andZuccarini (l. c., p. 30, 31)
Amygdalus nana is much cultivated in Japan and
was probably introduced from China. The same
authors give a long and interesting account of the
Third Series, No. 484.

uses of this plant. It is a shrub or small tree from
12 to 20 feet feet in height, flowering early in
February, and is one of the plants which the
Japanese cultivate extensively in the form of minia¬
ture trees. The flowering branches are used to de¬
corate the dwellings of the Japanese and the altars
of their idols to indicate the approach of spring.
The acid juice of the unripe fruits is used as a cooling
drink in various fevers, for when ripe the taste is
insipid. The acid juice is also used in the prepara¬
tion of the delicate pink rouge from safflower.

Ren-nikh (51) : — Nelumbium speciosum, Willd.

Syn. Nymplicea Nelumbo, L. ; Thunb. FI. Jap. p,
223; Lien-gau, Porter Smith, Chin. Mat. Med,
p. 139, sub Lotus ; Ren, Hatsis ; Koempf,
Amoen. p. 880; Hasu, Hachisu, So rnokou
Zoussetz, vol. x. fol. 9 ; Phonzou Zoufou, vol.
xxxiv. fol 9.

This drug consists of the dark grey oval carpels,,
about five-eighths of an inch long, and one-third of
an inch in diameter. The shell is moderately thinr
but very hard, and encloses a sweet white starchy
kernel. They are used in Cochin China, according;
to Loureiro (FI. Cochin Chin. p. 341), both in foocL
and medicine, in the latter for diarrhcea, etc. A long
and interesting account of the uses of various parts-
of the plant is given by Dr. Porter Smith, in his
1 Materia Medica of China.’

The Japanese character Ren is identical with the'
Chinese one for Lien, and means a river, the term
nikh, meaning meat or food. The name “river-
meat ” is probably given on account of the kernels
of the seeds being eaten.

iK -

Sai hee (9) : — Citrus bigaradia , var. trifolia, Thunb.
El. Jap. 294.

Syn. Ssi vidgo Karatats Banna Gees, Ksempf.
Amccn. p. 801 with fig. ; Ko kits, Phonzou
Zoufou, vol. lxxxvii. fol. 8.

This drug consists of the thin peel of a small
orange about the size of the mandarin variety, which
has the bitter flavour of the Seville orange. The
peel has been removed entire by making four ver¬
tical slits in the peel nearly to the base of the orange
and then pulling it off in one piece.

The Japanese characters above translated Sai-hee,
are in Chinese pronounced Hiang-pi, Sai meaning
green, and hee, peel or rind. This name is probably
given on account of its being gathered before the
fruit is ripe.

The rind, mixed with'that of other species, is made,
according to Ktempfer, into a celebrated medicine
called Ki-koku, a name also applied to the fruit.

Sang-shih see (36) : — Gardenia fiorida, L.

Syn. Shan-chi-tsze, Porter Smith, Chinese Mat.-
Med. p. 101 ; San che, Hanbury, Science Papers,
p. 241, fig. 7 ; Kutsi jinasi, Fr. et Sav. vol. ir
p. 207 ; Sansisi, Misuktjinasi, Thunb. FI. Jap,-
p. 109; Kutsjinas, Ksempf. Amoen. p. 808.

This fruit appears to belong to more than one
species, but the larger proportion consists of the
kind represented under fig. 7 in Hanbury’s ‘ Science
Papers,’ p. 241. The fruits are about an inch or
more long, three-eighths of an inch in diameter,
bright brown colour, with six longitudinal narrow
wings, and contain numerous seeds rather smaller
and wider than linseed, bound together into a mass
by a dried yellow pulp.

262

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 4 is79.

According to Mayer, the yellow colour of the pulp
is due to a body named crocine, which appears to be
identical with the polychroite of saffron. In China
these fruits are supposed to possess emetic, stimulant
and diuretic properties. A full account of the drug is
given by Hanbury. The Japanese character for Sang-
shih-see is identical with the Chinese one, although
there is a slight difference in the pronunciation.

The Gardenia from which these fruits are probably
obtained is a native of woody places in Japan,
flowering in J une and J uly, but is often used to form
hedges in the gardens of the nobility. The fruits
are also used as a dye.

Sekkee-doo hee (24) : — Punica Granatum. L.

Syn. Shiuli-p‘i, Porter Smith, Chin. Mat. Med.
p. 176; Dsjakurgo or Sakuro, Ksempf. Amoen.
p. 800; Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 199.

This is the rind of the fruit dried. From its small
size it would appear to be obtained from immature
fruits. The pomegranate is stated by Ksempfer to
be rare in Japan and to produce an inferior fruit
with a rather disagreeable taste, but Thunberg
remarks that it is common about Kosedo.

Sho-ee-koh (39) : — Foeniculum vulgare.

Syn. Sen-rio; Kure no Nomo, Thunb. FI. Jap.

p. 120.

This is a small variety of fennel seed with a taste
at first strongly resembling that of anise. The large
vittse, few in number, at once distinguish it from
that fruit.

Shiku-sha (5) : A Ipinia japonica , Miq. Prol. p. 304.

Syn. Giobba japonica , Thunb. FI. Jap. p. 23 ;

Hana-miyo-ga, So rnokou Zouss. vol. i. fig.

10; San Dsjoka, Jamma Mjogo, Ksempf.

Amoen. p. 827 ; Phonzou Zoufou, vol. 10, fig. 5,

Fr. et Sav. vol. ii. pt. 1, p. 20.

These are the seeds of a species of Alpinia, a few
of the small fruits being mixed with it. The fruits,
which are about the size of a large pea, but rather
oval than spherical in outline, have a thin wrinkled
pale-brown papery pericarp containing 3 to 8 trian¬
gular pyramidal seeds. The seeds are pale exter¬
nally with a thin silvery coat, and have a faintly
aromatic taste, but no pungency. These characters
distinguish them from the fruits of A. galanga which
are similar in appearance, but more oblong, and the
seeds are remarkably pungent.

This plant grows in damp shady places near lakes,
etc., and the fruit is ripe in December and January.
It is often cultivated in Japan.

Tau ning (62) : — Amy g dolus Persica.

Syn. Too, Momu, Ksempf. Amoen. p. 798, 'jThunb.

FI. Jap. p. 199, Tau-jin, P. Smith, Chin. Mat.

Med. 169.

These kernels are mixed with a few fragments of
the endocarp, which is undoubtedly that of a small
form of peach, Tau signifying a peach, and ning, ker¬
nels. In Chinese the last word is pronounced “jin.”

Thunberg enumerates several varieties of the
peach as follows: Ke momu, with downy acute fruits ;
Katu isi momu, with red glabrous, round fruits ;
Kito momu, with red double flower ; Sato momu,
with white simple flower.

In Japan the peach blossoms in March and April.

_ In China the kernels are used for coughs, blood
diseases, amenorrlioea and worms.

From the list of Japanese drugs now concluded,
it will be observed that there is a great similarity
between the materia rnedica of China and Japan, an
exchange of drugs evidently taking place between
the two countries. Of the fifty-nine drugs here
described, twenty-seven are apparently peculiar to
Japan, and twenty-two others are common to China
as well, while ten are well known in all civilized
countries. The last include white hellebore root,
zedoary root, mallow root, mallow leaves, elder
flowers, burdock seed, pomegranate peel, orange peel,
fennel seed, and coriander seed. Several in common
use in this country are represented in Japan by
analogous drugs, viz., Colchicum by the roots of
FritiUaria Thunbergii and Pinellia tuberifera ; Tritir
cum repens by the root of Eulalia japonica ; pulsa-
tilla by Anemone cernua root ; valerian by Patrinia
scabioscefolia ; gentian root by Gentiana Buergeri ;
peppermint by Japanese peppermint ; cliirata by
Pleurogyne rotata ; and rue by Eooclia rutcecarpa.
Of Indian drugs Datura alba and Cassia Tora are
used in Japan, while Coptis Tecta and Datura alba
find a substitute in the roots of C. anemoncef olia.
The influence of western civilization appears to have
already had an effect on the materia rnedica of
Japan ; this is noticeable in the absence of any of the
disgusting animal remedies used by the Chinese from
the specimens sent over to this country. Hardly any
of the Japanese drugs are altogether without sensible
properties, either mucilaginous, tonic, astringent,
aromatic or acrid, some of them being equal in
power to analogous European remedies, and a few
others, such as aconite root and valerian root, de¬
cidedly superior to the corresponding European drugs.

SUPPOSED IDENTITY OF COLUMBIN AND
LIMONIN.*

BY E. PATTERNO AND A. OGLIALORO.

Schmidt ( Annalen , 41, 338) considered that limonin
was identical with the columbin extracted from Colombo
root by Wittstock (ibid., 19, 298) ; and as the authors
found much difficulty in preparing limonin in quantity
from the seeds of the lemon and orange, whilst columbin
could be obtained with comparative ease, they determined
to examine into the question of the supposed identity of
the two substances. The yield of limonin is but small,
only 80 grams of the impure substance having been
obtained from 15,000 grams of the seeds. It crystallizes
in beautiful lustrous plates, and has the characters
ascribed to it by Schmidt, except that it melts at 275° and
not at 244° : moreover, it not only dissolves in potash
without alteration, but also in baryta water, forming a
kind of salt, which is not decomposed by carbonic anhy¬
dride. The formula which agrees best with the analytical
results is C26H30O8; this requires C = 66’38 ; H = 6‘38.

When Colombo root is extracted with ether and the
solution is evaporated, a crystalline residue is obtained
which, after beiDg washed with a little cold ether to
remove fatty matters, etc., is treated with boiling alcohol :
on cooling, the solution deposits colourless prismatic
crystals, which melt at 182°, and have all the properties
of Wittstock’s colombin. The results of the elementary
analysis agree with the formula C2xH2907, which requires
C = 65-28; H = 5'69.

When the residue which is left after the separation of
the columbin, and is almost insoluble in alcohol, is crys¬
tallized from boiling glacial acetic acid, it yields a second
substance, having a melting point of 218 — 220°. Both
this compound and Wittstock’s columbin are therefore
quite distinct from limonin.

* From the Gazzetta chimica italiana, 9, 64—67.
Reprinted from the Journal of the Chemical Society.

Oeto-er 4, i8?9.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

263

®he flmmaqutual JamjimL

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , OCTOBER 4 , 1879.

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

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

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

_

THE ADMISSION OF WOMEN AS MEMBERS OF
THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY.

In the history of pharmaceutical affairs the first
of October, 1879, will in future be memorable in
that relation as the occasion when British pharma¬
cists were relieved from the anomalous necessity of
regarding their better halves as inferior to them¬
selves. The persons most interested in this event
have special reason to be thankful to the mover and
seconder of the motion in their behalf for having at
the earliest moment of the present session pressed
forward the decision of the question whether women
should be admitted to membership of the Society;
for if it had been left for the following meeting of
Council this achievement of petticoat emancipation
would have been uncomfortably associated with
the anniversary of another attempt to bring about
social revolution. And considering how nearly
opinions are balanced in regard to the desirability
of admitting women into the Society it is, we think,
at least fortunate for the protegees of Mr. Hampson
I and Mr. Woolley that the advocacy of their case on
the 5th of November has not afforded opponents an
opportunity of instituting comparisons between their
endeavours and those of Guy Fawkes and his col¬
leagues.

For our own part we think that the movers of
the resolution by which the petticoat has ceased to
be a garb of disability for membership of the Phar¬
maceutical Society, and by which the admission of
eligible persons into that body will no longer be
regulated by circumstances over which the can¬
didates have no control, may well be congratulated
for having, by their success, done away with an
obvious inconsistency.

From the time when the word “ person ” was, in
point of law, decided to apply to women as well as
men, the prosecution of the business of pharmacy
under the terms of the Act of Parliament became by
law as freely open to women as it had formerly been
by usage, and although under the older regime, while
submission to tests of qualification was voluntary,
there might have been sound reason for declining to
admit women as members of the Pharmaceutical
Society, it is now very difficult, if not impossible, to say
why women who have satisfied the requirements of
the law in proving their eligibility to practise phar¬

macy should be refused participation in such benefits
as appertain to membership of the Society. From a
purely pharmaceutical point of view therefore, it
may be regarded as matter for regret that any ob¬
jection had ever been raised to the election of women
as members, and we think that the very general
support of Mr. Hamfson’s motion by the members
of Council may be taken as expressing that view of
the subject.

But the decision of the question from this point of
view excluded from consideration most, if not all,
of the arguments by which the election of female
members @f the Pharmaceutical Society was opposed.
In the Council, at least, that opposition was not
based upon narrow-minded feelings of jealousy, or
of disrespect for women, any more than it was upon
an assumption that they were incompetent to per¬
form the duties of the pharmacist ; but it was mainly
out of consideration for what was held to be due to
women in their social relations that the unfitness of
some portions of the pharmacist’s duty was urged as
a reason for not admitting women as members of
the Society. Their election into the body was held
to be an encouragement for women to take up the
business ; it was opposed on the ground that it was
an undesirable encouragement. This has always
been the principle upon which Mr. Sandford has
opposed the election of female members of the Society,
and consistently with these views he has now, as Pre¬
sident of the Society, recorded his vote against Mr.
Hampson’s proposition. There is, however, an absence
of common ground upon which these opposite views
respecting the election of female members can be
considered together in such a manner that the
acceptance of the one would involve the rejection of
the other, and consequently we must infer that the
altered direction of the votes given on the present
occasion is due to the consideration of the question
from a more special point of view than was formerty
the case when Mr. Sandford’s opinions were more
generally supported. The desirability of putting
an end to the agitation of this question also seems
to have weighed with much effect in determining
the votes of some members of the Council.

Incidentally the discussion of this matter suggests
some important considerations as to the propriety of
forcing to the issue of a vote a question upon which
there are such opposite opinions. The fact that on
two occasions the votes at general meetings of the
Society were so evenly divided is scarcely a satis¬
factory ground for insisting upon the question being
disposed of by the Council one way or the other.
If those experiences pointed to anything they
seem to favour the conservative course of keep¬
ing things as they were. Fortunately the admis¬
sion of women as members of the Society is not
calculated to affect very seriously the interests
of other members, and there is consequently
less reason for dissatisfaction with the settlement
of the question by a narrow majority. But

264

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 4, 1879

there are other subjects in regard to which we can
conceive that either section of the equally divided
pharmaceutical body would strenuously object to
the decision of a question by so narrow a majority
as that which has until the present occasion obtained
in voting upon the female question either in tho
Council or at a general meeting.

However, it is far from being our desire to dis¬
parage on these or any other grounds the successful
championship of the ladies by Mr. Hampson and
Mr. Woolley, on the contrary, we congratulate Miss
Clarke and Miss Minshull upon their election as
members of the Society, and we congratulate the
Society itself upon the removal of a restriction that
was regarded as a grievance by those against whom
it operated, with the result of stimulating an agita¬
tion which engaged more time and energy than the
intrinsic merit of the question at issue really
justified.

IRREGULAR SALE OF POISONS.

The intimation furnished by Mr. Flux at the
hearing of the recent case of prosecution for illegal
sale of poison, that any person might be the prose¬
cutor in cases of irregular practice of this kind, has
been very soon acted upon by the Chemists and Drug¬
gists’ Trade Association. As will be seen from the
report of legal proceedings at page 278, three such
cases have been tried at Blackburn, Liverpool, and
Birmingham, in all of which persons were charged,
under the 17th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
with selling poison insufficiently labelled. In all
of the cases the offence was virtually admitted by
the defendants, and they were subjected to the pay¬
ment of fines ranging from ten to twenty shillings
and costs.

These eases will serve to bring before the minds
of magistrates the fact that the provisions of the
Pharmacy Act for the safety of the public are being
systematically disregarded by a great number of
persons throughout the county trading as oil and
colour merchants, grocers, drysalters and patent
medicine dealers. A great number of the poisons
contained in the schedule to the Act are thus supplied
to the public without bearing any of those precau¬
tionary protections against accident or misuse which
the Legislature has indicated to be necessary. This
fact has been emphatically pointed out by the
jury in the late inquest at Newhaven (see p.
279), and the opinion had very properly been
expressed by them that the preparation and sale of
medicines containing dangerous ingredients should
be restricted to duly qualified persons. The mere
word “ poison ” written upon or placed as a printed
label upon packets of such articles is not sufficient
to satisfy the requirements of the Act, and hence
persons selling poisons in this way are liable under
the 17th section to a penalty of £5 and costs. Even
if, in such cases as we have mentioned, the word
poison, as well as the name of the poison, together

with the name and address of the seller, were placed
upon the packet or bottle containing the poison, and
the provisions of the Act were complied with so far
as the 17th section is concerned, persons selling
poison in this way would be further liable to a
penalty for breach of the law under the 15th section
of the Pharmacy Act.

In the Horsington case the defendant pleaded as
a defence that the laudanum he sold bore a patent
medicine stamp, and it is well known that in some
places the use of the stamp in this way is supposed
to be a protection against liability under the Phar¬
macy Act. That it is not of such virtue to the
unregistered vendors of poison is, however, beyond
question, and we are glad to find action is being
taken with the view of making these circumstances
known to magistrates and the police as well as to
the persons engaged in the irregular trade by which
the public safety is imperilled and the business
of the legally qualified chemist and druggist unfairly
interfered with.

DEATH OF DR. MOHR AND M. POGGIALE.

With much regret we have to make known the
death of Dr. Friederich Mohr at the age of 72.
Originally a pharmacist at Coblentz, and since 1864
the Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Bonn,
Dr. Mohr has established a world-wide reputation
for his scientific acquirements and as author of
several valuable works connected with chemistry,
physics and geology. One of these, on practical
pharmacy, is well known in this country in the
form of a translation, edited by Professor Redwood ;
another, on volumetric analysis, has been made
familiar to English chemists by the valuable labour
bestowed upon it by Mr. Sutton, of Norwich. We
hope shortly to be able to furnish our readers with
some further account of the life of this remarkable
man.

The October number of the Journal de Pharmacia
et de Chimie also contains an announcement of the
death of an active member of its editorial staff, M.
Poggiale, and the discourses pronounced at his
funeral by representatives from the various bodies
to which he belonged. M. Antoine-Baudoin
Poggiale was born in 1808, and his first memoir,
published in 1834, was devoted to proving that the
“ parigline ” of Palotta, the “ smilacine ” of Folchi,
the “ salseparine ” of Tubeuf and the “ parillinic
acid ” of Batka, were one and the same immediate
principle. Amongst his subsequent works may be
mentioned his treatise on Volumetric Analysis.
M. Poggiale had filled the office of President of the
Paris Society of Pharmacy and was a member of the
Academy of Medicine.

Among the scientific works announced to be pub¬
lished during the coming season by Messrs. Mac¬
millan and Co. is a “new and thoroughly revised
edition” of Fluckiger and Hanbury’s ‘Pharma-
cographia.

October 4, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

265

Sanctions 0f f jtotfftg*

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, October 1, 1879.

MR. GEORGE WEBB SANDFORD, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Atkins, Bottle, Churchill, Frazer,
Gostling, Greenish, Hampson, Hills, Mackay, Richard¬
son, Rimmington, Robbins, Savage, Shaw, Squire, Symes,
Williams and Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
| confirmed.

Weights and Measures.

The President stated that on the day following the
last Council meeting he had received the following letter
from the Privy Council office : —

“ Board of Trade,

“ (Standards Department),

“ 7, Old Palace Yard, S.W.,

“ 3rd September, 1879.

“Weights and Measures Act, 1878.

“ Sir, — I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknow¬
ledge your letter of 27th ult. on the subject of verifying
and stamping apothecaries’ weights and measures.

“ In reply, I am to point out that the local authorities
named in the above Act are charged with the duty of
inspecting, verifying, and stamping all weights and mea¬
sures used in the trade, and that this Board are not
authorized to interfere therein.

“ I am also to add that, if the Pharmaceutical Society
will depute someone to call on Mr. Chaney at the Stand¬
ards Office, 7, Old Palace Yard, that officer will be glad
to give him any information that may be in his power
with reference to the above Act.

“ I am, sir,

“ Your obedient servant,

“ Henry G. Calcraft.

“ G. W. Sandford, Esq.,

‘ ‘ President of the

“Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,

“ 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.”

In accordance with this communication he had waited
on Mr. Chaney, and the result of the interview had been
that he had received the following information: — No
order had yet been issued] as to the verifying of glass
measures, and it had not yet been decided to issue any
respecting them; if determined on it would probably only
refer to the top line of graduation, and not to the sub¬
divisions. For the present chemists need fear no inter¬
ference from local inspectors, because they were not in
possession of the standards, and would not be for three
months to come. With regard to the idea which some
persons entertained that weights or measures could only
be used in the district in which they had been stamped,
Mr. Chaney said this was altogether a mistake. A weight
or measure stamped in one district was good in every
j district.

Mr. Rimmington said it was very desirable that what
the President had stated should be generally known.

Mr. Richardson had always understood that the
standards in each district were regulated by the standard
in London. With reference to the glass measures, he did
not quite understand whether they were to go on under
the old system or to wait.

The President said that at present they must go on;
they could not get them verified by the local inspectors.

Mr. Richardson said nothing varied more than glass
measures. When could they have them stamped ?

The President said certainly not for two or three
months, because the inspectors would not have any
standards by which to try them.

Mr. Shaw said he understood it was competent for any
one to send his glass measures to the stamping office to be

verified, and that Mr. Greenish had already sent three or
four dozen, which had been verified and a mark placed
upon them.

The President said he could only repeat that at
present no inspector had in his possession the standards
by which he could verify glass measures.

The Vice-President said it was very important that
it should be generally known to chemists that any in¬
spector who required a chemist to have his measuies
verified was for the present exceeding his authority.

The Chemists’ Ball.

It was unanimously resolved that an application from
Mr. Arthur L. Savory, asking permission to use a room
on the Society’s premises, fora meeting to make arrange¬
ments for the Chemists’ Ball, be acceded to.

Local Secretary.

Mr. Sharp was unanimously elected Local Secretary
for Sunderland in place of Mr Nicholson deceased.

Elections.

member.

Pharmaceutical Chemist.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and having tendered his subscription for the current
year, was elected a Member of the Society : —

Grimble, Alfred . Boston.

ASSOCIATES.

The following, having passed the Minor examination
and tendered or paid as Apprentices or Students their
subscriptions for the current year, were elected “Asso¬

ciates” of the Society: —

Goodall, Thomas Torby . Derby.

Wilks, Charles Frederick . York.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, hating passed the Preliminary examina¬
tion and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the

Society : —

Rowntree, Alfred Henry . Manchester.

Timm, Edmund . ..Goole.

It was proposed by Mr. Hampson, and seconded by
Mr. Woolley —

“That the following Pharmaceutical Chemists, having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, be
elected Members of the Society : —

Clarke, Isabella Skinner . London.

Minshull, Rose Coombes . London.

Mr. Hampson, in moving this resolution, said he was
very glad to see that the ladies had again applied for
membership. Two or three years ago, this question
had been, he thought, unwisely relegated to the annual
meeting, but since then there had been two or three
elections of Council, and they were now, he contended,
perfectly entitled to interpret the Act of Parliament
according to the best of their ability. He believed the
two ladies in question, having passed the requisite exami¬
nations and become registered, were without any doubt
eligible according to the Act of Parliament to become
members. They had conformed to everything which the
Act required, and he thought the duty of the Council was
to elect eligible persons irrespective of anything else.
He had been told more than once that it was a matter of
option with the Council, but he could not see it in that
light. The duty of the Council was not to make the law,
but to carry out the law ; and it seemed to him somewhat
impertinent to say, ‘Because you are a woman, although
you have gained admission to the rights of pharmacy under
the Act of Parliament, when you apply under another por¬
tion of the Act of Parliament to become a member of the
Society, you shall be refused.’ This refusal had con¬
tinued to take place for several years, but he took his
stand on this point that the Council could not say that

266

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. October 4, i87».

one portion of the Act of Parliament was a public matter,
and another was a private matter. Some members had
taken this ground, but he altogether refused to accept it,
because the operations of the Society were carried on by
the members of the Society, and the members were for
the most part elected because they were pharmaceutical
chemists or chemists and druggists before the passing of
the Act, and it seemed to him that to put any stumbling
block in the way of carrying out the Act of Parliament
was illegal. If the members of the Council refused to
admit eligible persons to membership of the Society because
of their own private convictions or sentimental views, they
were overriding the Act of Parliament and neglecting
their duty as a Council. But apart from the legal aspect,
he would say that it appeared somewhat ungenerous, he
would almost say unmanly, to continue this persistent
refusal. Surely there could be no harm in admitting as
members those who had satisfied the examiners ; on the
contrary, they would do the Society honour by admit¬
ting to its ranks properly qualified lady members. Besides,
by a refusal these ladies were also denied the privileges
of using the library and museum, the title of member¬
ship, which in some parts of the kingdom was considered
of great value, and the J ournal. He did hope that this
question would now be taken out of the hands of the
annual meeting, where it ought never to have been placed.
It was part of the executive duty of the Council to elect
all eligible persons, irrespective of their sex. It would be
as reasonable to ask what church they attended as to
inquire as to the sex of eligible persons who applied for
admission, and he hoped the matter would now be settled
by carrying out the Act in its entirety.

Mr. Woolley seconded the motion, and endorsed
everything which Mr. Hampson had said. He should be
sorry for the Pharmaceutical Council to be the last to
grant a request, the justice of which was obvious, and
which must, ultimately, inevitably be granted. Body
after body was granting to women what was their un¬
doubted right, and he did trust the Pharmaceutical
Council would not be left in the unenviable position of
being the last to recognize it.

Mr Williams said he intended to support the motion.
He had watched the proceedings of two general meetings
in which this question had been agitated, and he should
be very sorry that such a question should again be dis¬
cussed by the general body. The necessity for such
discussion no longer existed, for on two occasions the
meetings were so evenly divided that it was a mere toss
up which opinion should be followed. Taking it in its
broader sense and seeing that these pharmaceutical che¬
mists had applied for membership, he could see no reason
why the fact of their being ladies should prevent their
being elected. He thought the question had now come
back to the Council for decision, and it was time it was
finally set at rest. He should vote for the motion on
that ground, and also because he agreed with Mr. Hamp¬
son that there was no real reason why they should not
be elected.

Mr. Atkins intended to support the motion, though he
demurred to the remark that the question ought never to
have been referred to the annual meeting. He was
very glad it had been so referred, for he did not
think it would have been well to attempt an organic
change without feeling the pulse of the constituency.
He was, however, quite convinced that it was un¬
desirable to remit it still further. Having tested
the opinion of the members twice, the Council had
done all it was bound to do, and he believed its con¬
stituents would be thankful to have the question taken
out of the arena of unprofitable discussion. It was un¬
necessary to go over again the abstract arguments, and
he hoped the question had now been removed from the
ground of controversy altogether.

Mr. Savage was very glad to have so far a unanimous
expression of opinion as to the desirability of admitting
these ladies to the Society. He had always held that

they had a right to be admitted, and he felt more than
ever the importance of saving any further discussion of
the question. The admission of all who had distinguished
themselves in the examinations was, he thought, desirable,
and he thought it was very much to the credit of these
ladies that they had had the moral courage and per¬
severance to go successfully through the ordeal.

The President said as he still adhered to the view he
had always held, he must correct Mr. Savage as to the
opinion of the Council being unanimous. He had always
voted against the admission of ladies and should continue
to do so. Mr. Hampson said the Council ought to carry
out the laws, but if it were to carry them out without
judgment, they would be utterly useless. Then again,
Mr. Hampson said that the members carried on the
business; but if so, they had the vote of the members
against the admission of ladies.

Mr. Hampson : By a majority of one or two.

The President said never mind what the majority
was, it was a majority, and having sent this question to
the members for decision, he held that the Council was to
a great extent bound by their decision. Mr. Hampson
had said the members of the Council had withheld from
ladies certain privileges, but they were only privileges
which belonged to members of the Society, not privileges
which conferred any rights in respect of trading. He
need not say anything further, because his views were
well known.

Mr. Mackay said that in these days of wars arid
rumours of wars, he felt disposed to be a man of peace.
Although he had his own ideas with regard to the admis¬
sion of ladies to membership, he could not hide from
himself that there had been an immense deal of agitation
about it, and unless it were settled to-day there would
probably be a great deal more ; he was therefore disposed
to settle the matter by voting for the admission of ladies.

Mr. Frazer said he rejoiced at the conversion of some
of the members, and he trusted the matter would now be
settled.

Mr. Richardson heartily supported the motion. He
looked upon pharmacy as a suitable occupation for
women, especially in villages and small towns, and their
reception as members would give an impetus to women
to become pharmacists. He hoped the President would
withdraw his opposition, and that the vote, would be
unanimous.

Mr. Bottle said he should vote for the motion, not
with a view of conceding to ladies what Mr. Hampson
asserted was their right, but as a matter of courtesy,
which he thought they had well earned by passing the
examinations, and also with a view of bringing about a
peaceful termination to a question which had formed a
bone of contention for some years. A prolonged agitation
would be infinitely worse than admitting even a dozen
women into the Society.

Mr. Shaw said he had always supported the admission
of ladies, and he was delighted to find such a large
number of conversions to the proposition now made.
He regretted that the matter had ever been remitted to
the annual meeting, and he would remind gentlemen that
during the discussions on the Pharmacy Act it was
distinctly stated that all persons passing the examination,
or persons who became pharmaceutical chemists, should
be eligible to become members of the Society. That
was held out to everyone, and as ladies were not excepted,
they had certainly a right to be admitted.

Mr. Greenish said he should vote for the motion as
a simple act of justice to those who had qualified them¬
selves by passing the examination and who had been left
out in the cold for a long time.

Mr. Hills said he also intended to record his vote in
favour of the motion.

Mr. Robbins said he had brought forward a motion
last year to endeavour to settle this question by an
appeal to the members, on which he had been outvoted.
The matter had oome before the Council several times

October 4, 187b].

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

267

and he thought the members were all getting tired of it.
To avoid further agitation, and to settle the question, he
thought the Council were now prepared to give an almost
unanimous vote in favour of the admission of ladies.

The motion was then put and carried, the President
being the only dissentient.

Mr. Bottle asked what would be the position of these
ladies in case they changed their names.

The President thought the Married Women’s
Property Act would reserve to the ladies their right of
membership.

Two persons were restored to their former status in the
Society, upon payment of the current year’s subscription
and a fine.

Additions to the Register.

The Secretary reported that —

John Cammack, Benington, near Boston;

William Clarke Edmonds, Rawmarsh, Yorks;
Frederick Ellis, 25, Cleveland Road, Downham
Road, Islington, N.j

Frederick John Sicre, 33, Molyneaux Road, Farn-
worth Street, Everton, Liverpool ; and
William Henry Thomas, 94, Victoria Street,
Dowlais ;

having made statutory declarations that they were in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and their declarations having been duly supported by
medical practitioners, their names have been placed on
the register.

Reports op Committees.

The President said that the Solicitor had been re¬
quested to attend at half past twelve, and he would
therefore ask the Council to take the General Purposes
Committee’s report first, as it was on matters arising out
of that report the Solicitor’s opinion was required. The
Council would of course go into committee to discuss
these matters.

Mr. Symes said, in case a resolution was passed in
regard to reporting the proceedings in committee, he
could fancy it quite possible the Council might be in a
dilemma as to what might be reported. He would
suggest that the best mode of carrying out the resolution
which was carried at his suggestion at the last meeting
but one, would be, that the Council when in committee
should frame a report which should be presented to the
Council on resuming, and published. That was a parlia¬
mentary method of proceeding, and he merely rose to
call general attention to that fact, so that when the
Council went into committee the members should know
what they were going into committee upon and should
be in a position to frame a report of the proceedings to
be presented to the Council on resuming.

Mr. Shaw said he was not present when the resolution
referred to was passed, but he had read the report with
interest. It struck him that the resolution would not
amount to anything, and he found that, in answer to an
inquiry, Mr. Symes explained that what had been optional
in former times would now become compulsory. If he
understood Mr. Symes’ s present proposal aright, it was
this, that when the Council went into committee notes
were to be taken, and when the discussion came to a
close it was to be put to the members, and a decision
come to as to what report should be published. This
would be a most difficult thing to carry out, for imme¬
diately the Committee had closed one discussion it would
have to open another as to what should be reported. Such
a system would entirely destroy freedom of discussion.
It had hitherto been left to the discretion of the profes¬
sional reporter, who was constantly called upon to exer¬
cise his judgment in such matters, and he should recom¬
mend that the same course be followed in future, it being,
of course, understood that the reporter would omit all
personal matters and details of pending legal proceedings.

Mr. Hampson supported Mr. Symes’s view. The reso¬

lution he brought forward some time ago was for the
purpose of having a report of what took place in com¬
mittee which would give satisfaction to the outsiders, and
do no harm to the interests of the Society. It appeared
to him that the best pei'son to take the report would be
the reporter himself ; but it would necessarily be brief,
and he thought it should be handed to the Committee,
who should decide whether it was a faithful report and
suitable for publication.

The President having read the resolution referred to,

Mr. Richardson said he feared that if Mr. Symes’s
proposal were adopted the members of Council would be
there for a week. He thought the matter might safely
be left to the President, the Secretary, and the reporter.
He had been connected with a public body for nearly
nine years, and he thought it would be much better if
every report from a Committee were rendered in a form
in which it could be published in the Journal and dis¬
cussed in open Council.

The President said the Council had a good deal of
business to do, and he must ask Mr. Symes to give notice
of a motion if he had anything definite to propose, other¬
wise they must proceed with the report of the Committee.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

The report of this Committee was then read.

It consisted principally of correspondence with the
Solicitor, with regard to sundry legal matters in which
he had been instructed to take proceedings. There was
also correspondence with the Secretary relating to
alleged infringements of the Pharmacy Act, in regard to
some of which the Committee recommended that pro¬
ceedings should be taken. It also recommended that a
grant of £35 be made to the Manchester Chemists and
Druggists’ Association, to partly defray the expenses of
lectures on Chemistry, Materia Medica and Qualitative
Analysis at the Manchester School of Pharmacy.

The Council then went into committee to consider
the report and to confer with the Solicitor on certain
points therein contained.

In the course of the conversation the Solicitor stated
that he had just received a communication saying that —
Daniel Tudor Williams, of Aberdare,
who had been sued in the county court for a penalty for
infringement of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, had paid the
amount claimed, with costs, into court.*

On resuming, the report and recommendations of the
Committee were unanimously received and adopted.

Mr. Churchill stated that he had just received a
telegram from the Secretary of the Chemists and
Druggists’ Trade Association saying that in one' of the
cases which had been before the Committee, the Trade
Association had prosecuted, and the defendent had been
fined £1 and costs.

Mr. Richardson thought it would lead to confusion if
both bodies undertook the prosecution of offenders.

The President said that anyone could institute pro¬
ceedings under the 17th section ; the Society did not
generally prosecute under that section, which constituted
a police offence.

The Council again went into committee to consider
the opinion just given by the Solicitor with regard to a
certain case which had been submitted to him, but after
some discussion it was ordered to stand over to next
month, the Secretary in the meantime to obtain fuller
information.

The Council then resumed.

FINANCE.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion that sundry accounts be paid. It also stated that
the Committee had considered the question referred to it
by the Council, with regard to the payment of annual
subscriptions to local secretaries, and was of opinion that

* It will be remembered that Mr. Williams’s name was
removed from the Register some time ago.

268

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

October 4, 1879

it would not be wise to alter the existing regulations,
excepting in the form of letter sent to members who had
not paid by March 31st, an amended form being submitted.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

This Committee reported that a prosecution having been
instituted against a member of the Society for the sale of
cream of tartar alleged to be adulterated, the case had
been under its consideration, and that as cream of tartar
of commerce invariably contained a portion of tartrate of
lime, it was deemed desirable that the Solicitor of the
Society should watch the case at the time of the hearing.
That he had been instructed to do so, and the magistrates
had dismissed the summons.*

Mr. Woolley asked if the defendant received his costs.

The President said he could not answer that question.

Mr. Woolley said there was a case near Manchester,
in which the analyst gave an opinion that proved to be
totally erroneous with regard to a certain drug, and there
costs were awarded against him. Honest tradesmen
ought not to be subjected to this kind of persecution and
have to bear the costs into the bargain.

The President said there had been another prosecu¬
tion for the sale of cream of tartar in the same county,
and no doubt by the same analyst, which the magistrates
had dismissed without calling for any defence.

The report was received and adopted.

benevolent fund.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants: —

£15 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
aged 60. Applicant had a grant of £10 in Pebruary,
1877.

£15 to a member, aged 59, suffering from ill-health.
He had a grant of £20 in August, 1878.

£10 to a former member, unable to work from sick¬
ness, who has had three previous grants.

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, formerly in
business, who has had two previous grants.

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

£5 to another registered chemist and druggist, aged 61,
an unsuccessful candidate for an annuity last year, and
who has had two previous grants.

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

One other application was ordered to stand over for
further inquiries.

The Secretary had reported that there are now twenty-
nine annuitants on the Fund, and given particulai-s of
the age and date of election of each.

The Committee having considered the financial position
of the fund, was of opinion that it was expedient to
elect three pensioners, and recommended that the election
be held on Friday, December 19.

Mr. Williams said the Committee only proposed to
elect three annuitants, but there were nine candidates,
and several other worthy, objects could easily have been
added to the list, but the Committee was really aground
for want of funds. In fact it was running some risk in
proposing to elect three, for in all probability the means
would be exhausted by the end of the year. If the sub¬
scriptions were more general from those who now did not
subscribe at all, there would be abundance of funds not
only for three, but for the whole nine. He trusted that
their friends in the country would see this, and recog¬
nizing that it was not a matter of disputed politics, but
of genuine benevolence, would endeavour to give some¬
thing, however small, to assist the fund.

Mr. Rimmington drew attention to the case of one of
the annuitants whose conduct had on a former occasion
been the subject of inquiry, and suggested that it would
be well to remove him and put a better man in his place.

* This case was reported in the Journal of September 27.

Mr. Williams said this could hardly be done offhand
without due notice and consideration.

Mr. Bottle hoped the Council would feel that it was
in a position to elect three annuitants, and he was sorry
it could not be more. But he had felt on the previous
evening when the Committee considered the matter that
he could not go to the extent of proposing four, since the
balance sheet showed that it was doubtful on which side
the balance would be at the end of the year ; but there
would certainly be no surplus for investment. It was
true that in the coming year some deaths might occur,
but, on the other hand, as the annuitants became older
they were entitled to larger pensions, and there were
constantly more claims for casual relief. He therefore
hoped that all who were able to contribute to the fund
would assist in doing the large amount of good which
the Benevolent Fund was calculated and he hoped for
many years wTould continue to do.

The report and recomendations were unanimously
adopted.

Mr. Shaw gave notice that he should next month bring
forward a motion for the purpose of preventing canvas¬
sing cards and circulars being issued by candidates.

The Pharmaceutical Conference at Hanover.

Mr. Greenish stated that, with Dr. Paul and Mr
Passmore he had attended the meeting of the German
Pharmaceutical Association held in Hanover the first week
in September. As on the former occasion in Coblentz,
they were very cordially welcomed, and at the dinner
the toast of the Foreign Guests had been received with
considerable enthusiasm. There had also been placed
at the disposal of each of them a guide to Hanover
and its surroundings, also tickets of admission to
the Pharmaceutical Exhibition and other places of
interest in and about Hanover. Some specimens of
new preparations shown in the exhibition had been
promised for the Society’s Museum. The apparatus,
which formed an important part of the exhibition,
was mainly composed of modifications of that of Beindorff,
so well known in German pharmacies. There was also
exhibited by a firm in Berlin a polarimeter very efficient,
and at a moderate price, and a microscope of a construc¬
tion that possessed some advantages over those in general
use in this country ; both of these there was some proba¬
bility of being able show at one of the Evening Meetings
of this Society. He should be glad to see some of their
colleagues in Germany return the visit on one of our
festive occasions in England. He had much pleasure in
moving —

“That a vote of thanks be presented to the President
of the German Pharmaceutical Association and the
Local Committee at Hanover for their cordial recep¬
tion of English visitors at the meeting of their Asso¬
ciation.”

The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday , October 1, 1879.

The first evening meeting of the session took
place on Wednesday, October 1, the chair being
taken by the President of the Society at halt-past
eight.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.

The President, having expressed his pleasure at
seeing so large a gathering on the opening night of
the session, called on Professor Redwood to present
his —

' Report on the Chemistry and Pharmacy Class*

Professor Redwood said the business of the even¬
ing being of a somewhat varied character, and the
actors who were to take part in the proceedings

October 4, 1879.3 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

269

;

[

!

being numerous, it was necessary, or at least desir¬
able, that those who had merely formal duties to
perform should be as brief as was consistent with
setting forth the merits of those whom they had to
introduce to the notice of the meeting. In reference
to the examinations he might state that in his class
and also in that of his colleague, Professor Bentley,
who he regretted to say was unable to be present
that evening, there had been three separate exami¬
nations. In the first place there were two examina¬
tions for those students who had studied five months,
namely, one at the end of March, and one at the
end of July. On these examinations a bronze medal
was awarded and certificates of merit, the latter
being only given to those students who obtained an
equal number of marks to those who at the ten
months’ examination obtained a certificate of honour.
The certificate of merit therefore in this case was
really of greater value than the certificate of merit
in the ten months’ examination. As the result of
the examination in March he found that there were
five gentlemen in his class who received certain
indications of merit; at the head of these was a
gentlemen who would be found to figure also in
subsequent examinations, one whose name could not
fail to be familiar to them, namely, Mr. Mackay, of
Edinburgh, — not a member of the family of Mack ay’s
which they were most familiar with, but still it
was satisfactory to know that talent was not confined
to that one family. There were four other gentle¬
men, whose names appear below, all of whom ob¬
tained 75 per cent, of the highest number of marks
which could be given, and they were all entitled to
certificates of merit. In the July examination some
of these gentlemen again appeared. Those who had
previously obtained honours as five months’ students
could not compete on that occasion in the five
months’ examination; but there were again five
gentlemen who obtained distinction, the bronze
medal being awarded to Thomas Horton. In July
also there was the examination for those who had
been studying ten months, and those who had not
been studying so long were eligible to compete, and
occasionally did so, but it could not be expected
that they would often succeed in competition with
those who had been studying for double the length
of time. Here again the silver medal was awarded
to Mr. Mackay. As he mentioned the names of the
other successful competitors, Professor Redwood said
he desired to add one remark, namely, that it was a
feature in these examinations of late years that a
larger number of students had competed than was
formerly the case, and further, that a larger propor¬
tion of those who had competed had proved success¬
ful in the competition. This was a highly satisfactory
feature, inasmuch as it seemed to indicate that the
students now obtained a more thorough preliminary
education before they came to that school; they were
better prepared, and were therefore more generally
successful than was the case several years ago.

The following is a list of the students in this class
to whom prizes have been awarded : —

Five Months’ Cookses.

Bronze Medal

Certificates of Merit

FIRST COURSE.

. James B. Lillie Mackay.

Frank Harris Alcock.
Beresford Fred. Harold

. -J Maudson.

Edward Jarrett Eaton.
(.James Henry Allan.

SECOND COURSE.

Bronze Medal

Certificates of Merit

...Thomas Horton.

( Henry William Drew.

1 William Herbert Hyatt.
) George Wale.

( William Inchle Gulliver.

Ten Months’ Session.

Silver Medal . James B. Lillie Mackay»

! Thomas Horton.

Edward Jarrett Eaton.

J ames Henry Allan,
j Frank Harris Alcock.
. \ Henry William Drew.

The following were the questions for the examina¬
tions : —

FIRST COURSE. BRONZE MEDAL.

Certificates of Merit

Hours 10 till 2.

1. Define the meaning of the terms matter, force and
inertia.

2. What is the meaning of the term weight ?

3. What is the weight of a pint of rectified spirit, B. P. ?

4. What marked distinctions are there between gaseous
diffusion and liquid diffusion ?

5. Briefly explain the undulatory or wave theory of
light.

6. Describe the normal composition and characters of
crystallized carbonate of potassium, and also of the car¬
bonate of potash of the Pharmacopoeia.

7. Give the composition of oxide of zinc, and describe
the methods by which it may be produced.

8. In what state is bismuth principally found in
nature ? What is its melting point, and what appearance
does the metal present when a mass of it, after being
melted, and then cooled, is broken ?

9. Give the respective compositions of the lowest and
highest oxides of antimony, and describe the processes by
which they may be obtained.

10. Give the respective compositions of glucose, alcohol,
aldehyde, acetic acid, and acetone, and explain how these
are or may be related to each other.

SECOND COURSE. BRONZE MEDAL.

Hours 10 till 2.

1. Describe the method of taking the specific gravity
of calomel and also that of wax.

2. Explain the meaning of the term “allotropy.”

3. What is the meaning of the terms “ specific heat ”
and “ latent heat ? ”

4. Describe the essential characters of an emulsion.

5. Describe ozone and peroxide of hydrogen, their
properties and the method of producing them.

6. Describe phosphorus, its production from natural
sources, its allotropic conditions, and its properties.

7. What is the natural source of cadmium, how is it
isolated, and what are its properties ?

8. Describe acetic acid, its production in various ways,
and the relation it bears to alcohol.

SESSIONAL COURSE. SILVER MEDAL.

Hours — 10 till 1, and from 2 till 5.

1. What is the weight of a pint of distilled water, and
what is the specific gravity of a liquid, a pint of which
weighs 9625 grains?

2. What are respectively the specific heats of water,
oil, and mercury?

3. What is the velocity with which a body falls to the
earth through a vacuum, at the latitude of London, in

the first, second, and third second of time ?

4. Describe the principle of the action of the siphon.

5. What is the law relating to the rate of diffusion
among gases ?

6. In what way does the density of a gas into which
diffusion takes place affect the result?

7. Describe the production of chloride of magnesium
and also of chloride of aluminium.

270

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 4, is79

8. What is the composition, and the assumed constitu¬
tion of borax, and how is the borax of commerce usually
prepared ?

9. What are the chemical charges that occur in the
conversion of barley into malt?

10. Describe the production of lactic and butyric acid.

11. Describe the production of artificial urea, and
point out the relation it bears to cyanogen.

Report on the Practical Chemistry Class.

Professor Attfield being next called upon, said
he was much pleased to see such a large number of
old students present, and no doubt his colleagues
who lectured in that hall would be very glad il they
could see such a muster every day in the session.
He appeared there in two capacities, as professor and
as examiner. As professor he had given in his
report to the Council in the usual way at the end of
the session, and that report he now held in his hand.
He would not read the whole of it, but might say
formally that the number of students was 75, the
average period of work by each was six months, and
the number of hours occupied in work daily during
that period was three and a half. As compared with
the previous session the number of pupils was the
same, the average number of months’ work was
rather greater, but the number of hours worked
daily was decidedly less, hence neither this nor, indeed,
the previous one compared favourably with former
sessions. Out of the 75 pupils only 5 attended
for purposes other than those connected with phar¬
macy, whilst there were three ladies working at
practical chemistry for the requirements of the
medical profession. He might add with regard to
the lady students that he saw no reason whatever
why ladies should not work at practical chemistry
in the Pharmaceutical Society’s laboratories. With
regard to the general work of the session, he had
only to say that they had had what might be called
a quiet session. They had got on remarkably well
together throughout. The class consisted of gentle¬
men, and without exception they were men who had
come to be prepared not so much for examination as
for the general work of life. He trusted they were
not disappointed. As examiner, he had to report
that at the end of the session he held an examination
for the Council prizes, when the student who ob¬
tained the highest number of marks was Mr. Frank
Harris Alcock. He obtained 81 out of 100 marks,
and hence took the silver medal. The second, Mr.
F. W. Warrick, and third, Mr. R. J. Price, obtained
76 and 75 per cent, of marks respectively, and were
awarded bronze medals, and then came five gentle¬
men whose numbers carried Council certificates.
Nine other competitors obtained less than 60 marks,
so that there were 17 in all, a good proportion of the
whole number of students. This was the result of his
examination, extending over two days, but he had
also been teacher of these men, and had one way or
other examined them for more than two hundred
days during the session. He had thus gained so
good a knowledge of the relative positions of
these seventeen men that he was able to say
that two who did not even obtain the mini¬
mum number of marks qualifying for a certificate
of merit were as good men as those who had
obtained marks qualifying them for medals. The
sound, and he thought safe deduction, was that even
a two days’ examination conducted by a professor in
the subject was an inefficient test of competency, but
he would not be so disloyal to the School or the

Society, to say nothing of himself, as thus to criti¬
cize his own action as an examiner, unless he were
prepared with a remedy. The remedy he suggested
was to let the professors’ periodical examinations
throughout the session count in the adjudication of
position at the end of the session. It would be
scarcely right, having said thus much about the two
gentlemen who did not succeed, if he were not to
add that in one of the two cases he knew why the
competitor did not obtain a higher place, and in the
other case he believed he knew the reason. In the
one case the man was ill, and in the other case he
thought lie had good evidence that instead of
analysing a certain solution which hml been
given to him, the man took up the wrong vessel and
analysed something which had not been given to
him. It was well known that he had great sym¬
pathy with men who failed at all kinds of examina¬
tions, because he knew it was not always their fault.
Whether they failed because of such an accident as
he had described or because they did not happen to
be very well, or because they happened to have been
educated at a school like his own, where the students
were not so much prepared for examination as for
the battle of life, and consequently, he was sorry to
say, sometimes did not do very well at examinations;
whatever the causes were, he had great sympathy with
disappointed candidates, and he hoped this little
suggestion with regard to his own work would have
attention. The method might be carried further and
deeper if the Council thought fit ; if so, he was sure
that a large number of good men would cease to
suffer from failure at examinations.

The following is a list of students in this class to
whom prizes have been awarded : —

Silver Meclal .
Bronze Medals

Certificates of Merit

...Frank Harris Alcock.
j Fredk. W almsley W arriclc
\ Robert John Price,
f Edward J arrett Eaton.

| James B. Lillie Mack ay.
q W illiam Inchle Gulliver.
| Beresf ord F. H . Maudson.
L Thomas Horton.

The following were the questions for the exami¬
nation : —

July 21 st and 22nd, 1879.
Hours 10 to 5 each day.
[Books and Memoranda permitted.)
Standard number of Marks, 100.

FIRST DAY.

1. The “solution” given to you may contain any of
the ordinary metallic salts used in medicine ; analyse it,
and state the result.

2. Is there any common poison in the “ vomit” placed
before you ?

SECOND DAY.

3. Examine the specimens of epsom salt, iodide of
potassium, sulphate of quinia and distilled water supplied
to you, and report on their quality.

4. How much nitrate of silver is present in one fluid
ounce of the “ lotion ” given to you ?

Note. — Manipulation as well as results will be scru¬
tinized.

Report upon the Botany and Materia Medica

Class.

The President then, in the absence of Professor
r Bentley, presented the report which that gentleman
had sent in. He first read a letter which Professor
Bentley had addressed to him, explaining that his

October 4, i«79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

271

1'

!

official duties at King’s College, as Dean of the
Medical Faculty, would prevent his being present
that evening, and saying liow deeply lie re¬
gretted being deprived of the pleasure of meeting
liis old students on that occasion as he had been
accustomed to do for so many years. The Pro¬
fessor’s report stated that in the first course exami¬
nation he liadl9 candidates, the average marks being
exceedingly good, some exceptionally so ; the three
first obtained respectively 90, 80 and 77 tier cent.,
and 2 more 76 and 75. In the second course there
were 6 candidates, 3 being specially worthy of dis¬
tinction, who obtained respectively 92, 82 and 75
marks. At the terminal sessional examination there
were 14 candidates, the majority of whom passed
through it very creditably, and the first three ob¬
tained exceptionally high marks.

The following is a list of the students in this class
to whom prizes have been awarded : —

SECOND COURSE. RRONZE MEDAL.

Hours from 10 till 1.

1. Describe the internal structure of an acrogenous or
acotyledonous stem.

2. Define the following terms as applied to leaves : —
Primordial, connate, decussate, equitant, crenate, serrate,
lanceolate, obcordate, pinnate, and pinnatifid.

3. Describe the parts of a carpel ; and explain the
terms simple and compound pistil, apocarpous and syn-
carpous.

4. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
sumbul ? Describe its general and chemical characters,
and mention its official preparations.

5. What are the common adulterants of scammony,
and how may they be detected ?

6. What do you understand by a balsam ? Describe
the botanical source, collection, preparation and general
and chemical characters of balsam of Peru, and mention
any official preparation into which it enters as a con¬
stituent.

Five Months’ Courses.

Bronze Medal .

Certificates of Merit

FIRST COURSE.

. James B. Lillie Mackay.

I Fred. Wm. Ed. Shrivell.
1 Frank Harris Alcock.

. . I James Edward Williams.

( Edward Jarrett Eaton.

SECOND COURSE.

Bronze Medal .

Certificates of Merit

.Thomas Horton.

Henry William Drew.
William Inchle Gulliver.

Ten Months’ Session.

Silver Medal .

Certificates of Honour

Certificates of Merit

...James B. Lillie Mackay.
1 Thomas Horton.

) Frank Harris Alcock.

I Henry William Drew.

( Edward Jarrett Eaton.

James Edward Williams.
William Inchle Gulliver,
j Fred. Wm. Ed. Shrivell.

] J ames Henry Allan.
Percival C. Powrie.

Isaac Leach. •

The following were the questions for the examina¬
tions : —

FIRST COURSE. BRONZE MEDAL.

Hours from 10 till 1.

1. Describe the structure of a seed; and define the
terms dicotyledonous, monocotyledonous, and acotyle¬
donous.

2. Describe the characters of ( a ) ordinary woody
tissue ; ( b ) disc-bearing woody tissue ; (c) liber tissue ;
and mention the plants and parts of plants where they
are respectively found.

3. Describe the structure of a leaf-bud. Define the
following: — Herb, spine, runner, rhizome, corm, bulb,
tubercule and tuber.

4. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
Alexandrian and East Indian sennas ? Describe their
general and chemical characters and enumerate their
official preparations.

5. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
the official ipecacuanha ? Describe its general and che¬
mical characters, and show how it may be distinguished
from the varieties of ipecacuanha known- as striated and
undulated.

6. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
asafeetida. How may it be distinguished from the other
official gum resins of the Umbellifene, and what are its
official preparations ?

TEN MONTHS’ SESSION. SILVER MEDAL.

Hours from 10 till 1.

Botany.

1. Describe the structure of epidermal tissue.

2. Define the following : — Amentum, capitulum, cyme,
thalamus, receptacle, disk, involucre, cupule, spathe,
monoecious, dioecious, and corona.

3. Describe the several kinds of placentation, and give
illustrations of natural orders in which they may re¬
spectively be found.

4. What is the nature of the fruit ? Explain the com¬
position of the following fruits : — Apple, strawberry,
rose, acorn, fig, and pine-apple.

5. Distinguish the Composite from the Dipsacaceae ;
and the Labiatse from the Scrophulariaceae and Bora-
ginaceas.

6. Give the essential characters of the following natural
orders : — Ranunculacese, Leguminosse, Umbellifene, Or-
chidacese, Iridacese, and Liliacese.

Materia Medica.

Hours from 2 till 5.

1. Describe the general and chemical characters of
Senega root. Mention the. roots which have been found
mixed with it, and the means of distinguishing them.

2. What are the botanical and geographical sources of
Ammoniacum ? Describe its general characters, the mode
in which it is obtained, and its composition ; and

, mention its official preparations.

3. How would you distinguish the official jalap resin
from the resins of Tampico Jalap, Scammony, and
Guaiacum.

4. What are the supposed botanical sources of the
official Rhubarb root ? Describe its general and che¬
mical characters, and show how it may be distinguished
from English Rhubarb root.

5. Describe the characters of the flowers of Anthemis
nobilis ; and state how they may be distinguished from
those of Matricaria Parthenium.

6. Describe the physical and chemical characters of
Croton Seeds. Mention the differences between East
Indian and English Croton oil, and give the dose and
official preparations of Croton oil.

Report on the Botanical Prize.

The President read Professor Bentley’s report on
the Herbarium competition. There were four
collections submitted, the first of which was admir¬
able in every respect and included 800 specimens.
For this he recommended that a silver medal should
« be awarded to Mr. Thos. F. Perkins. The second,
by Mr. Walker, which contained 600 specimens,
was also highly to be commended, and eminently

272

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 4, 1&79

deserved the bronze medal ; and the third by Mr.
Norman deserved a certificate of merit.

The following were the awards : —

Silver Medal . Thos. Frampton Perkins.

Bronze Medal . Charles Walker.

Certificate of Merit . William Francis Norman.

The Council Examination Prizes.

Mr. Southall, being next called upon to report
on the examination for the Pereira medal and other
Council examination prizes, said he appeared in a
position very different from that of the gentlemen who
had already addressed the meeting, inasmuch as he
and his colleague, Mr. Moss, had had no opportunity of
seeing and conversing with the students whose work
they had examined, as the Professors had, but simply
knew them by the mottoes attached to their papers.
The examinations had been gone through in a satis¬
factory manner, showing that the competitors had
paid great attention to their studies.

The following are the names of the persons to
whom the prizes have been awarded : —

Pereira Medal ( silver ) ; and Books value £5, presented by

Mr. T. II. Hills.

Frank Harris Alcock.

Pharmaceutical Society's Medal ( silver ) ; and Books value
£3, presented by Mr. T. H. Hills.

Marshall Leigh.

Pharmaceutical Society's Medal ( bronze ) ; and books value
[£2, presented by Mr. T. H. Hills.

Henry Allen.

The following were the questions for this exami¬
nation : —

Chemistry.

Time 10 to 1.

Five only of the following questions must be at¬
tempted : —

1. Catalysis, Eremacausis, Fermentation, Putrefaction.
Define these terms and give an instance in which each is
correctly applied.

2. How would you perform the analysis of glass ?

3. What is a graphic formula ? Give such formulas of
Phosphoric Anhydride and Acetic Acid.

4. Give reasons for representing Ferric Chloride as
Fe2 Cl6, and not Fe Cl3, and Tartaric Acid as H2 C4 H4
06, and not HC2 H2 03.

5. What is an Alcohol, an Olefine , a Ketone , a Glycol, a
Chlorhydrin, a Nitrile ? Give an example of each with
formula.

6. What is the construction of Nicol’s prism ? De¬
scribe the effect produced upon a ray of light directed
through its length. State also how light transmitted by
one prism is affected by a second according to the re¬
lative positions of the two.

Botany.

Time allowed : Three hours.

In framing answers Candidates should not enlarge
upon the questions, but should confine themselves to
giving, as briefly and clearly as they can, the information
required.

1. Expain the processes of assimilation and metastasis
in the living plant.

2. Describe the organs termed elaters and their func¬
tion, and mention the natural orders in which they
occur.

3. Describe any special provisions you may be ac¬
quainted with for the fertilization of Orchids.

4. What are proliferous flowers, and what organs of
plants are occasionally viviparous, giving examples of
each ?

Materia Medica.

1. Describe Myrrh, its chemical composition, the lo¬
calities whence it is imported, and the history of its use.

2. Give any information you may possess respecting
the cultivation of Cinchona in India, and name the most
valuable species and varieties.

3. What are Hermodactyls ?

4. What is Gurjun Balsam, and what is it remarkable

for ?

The President then presented the various prizes
and certificates to the successful competitors, after
which he called upon Mr. Taylor to state the result
of the examination for

The Jacob Bell Memorial Scholarship.

Mr. Taylor said he had now for four years shared
the duty of conducting this examination and he
must again express, as he did last year, his surprise
and disappointment that these prizes received so
little attention and attracted so few competitors.
Last year Mr. Williams, the then President, drew
forcible attention to the value of these scholarships,
in the hope that more would be induced to compete
for them, but this year the number was one less
than last. When it was considered that these
scholarships were worth nearly all the other prizes
put together, and that there were only eleven com¬
petitors, it could not but occasion a feeling of
surprise as well as regret. Of these eleven, eight were
from London and oneeachfrom Nottingham, Brighton
and Manchester. The successful candidates were
Mr. Wm. Elborne and Mr. John Thomas. These
gentlemen acquitted themselves so well, and their
testimonials from previous employers were so good,
that his colleague and himself had no difficulty in
submitting their names to the Council. He trusted
they would avail themselves of the privileges they
had obtained, and if they made as good use of them
as previous Bell Scholars had done, they would
become accomplished and useful members of society
and reflect credit not only on the Society but on the
name of the distinguished man in whose name these
scholarships were founded. He could not sit down
without saying that the third candidate, who took
the motto Labor omina vincit, did his work so well,
that he hoped, if eligible, he would try again. Bat
no doubt there were dozens of young men now
engaged in pharmacy, who could pass an equally
good, if not better examination than those who had
now succeeded, and considering that the scholar¬
ships were worth £30 each in money, together with
free education and all the privileges the Society
could afford, it was really astonishing that so few
should compete for them.

The President, after presenting the Bell Scholars
with the books given by Mr. Hills, said he hoped
that both the successful and unsuccessful competitors
for the prizes which had just been distributed
would be encouraged to renew their studies with
zeal, and so prepare themselves, as Professor Attfield
had expressed it, for the battle of life. They must
remember that their education did not end here,
and he hoped they would so extend it as to become
ornaments both to society in general and to that
Society in particular. They would be looked to for
the future prosperity and honour of the Society.
Those who had obtained the scholarships he would
earnestly exhort to look at the bright example of
their predecessors, and a very bright example was
now be.fore them in Dr. Tilden, one of the earliest
Bell Scholars; who had already greatly distinguished

October 4, 1879.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

273

himself, and promised to distinguish himself still
more. Let them as far as lay in their power follow in
such footsteps.

The successful candidates for these scholarships
were ; —

William Elborne
and

John Thomas.

The questions set for this examination were as
follows : —

Time allowed : Three hours (12 to 3).

LATIN.

Translate into English : —

1. Turn vero omne mihi visum considere in ignis
Ilium, et ex imo verti Neptunia Troja :

Ac veluti, summis antiquam in montibus ornum
Quum, ferro accisam crebisque bipennibus, instant
Eruere agricolse certatim ; ilia usque minatur,

Et, tremefacta comam concusso vertice, nutat ;
Volneribus donee paullatim evicta supremum
Congemuit, traxitque, jugis avolsa, ruin am.
Descendo, ac, ducente deo, flammam inter et hostis
Expedior : dant tela locum, flammseque recedunt.

2. In Extractis prseparandis, nisi aliter indicatum sit,
humorem balneo aquoso in patina quamprimum consume,
sub finem assidue spathd, movens, donee crassitudo sit ad
pilulas fingendas idonea.

Grammatical questions on the above : —

3. Parse visum, verti, veluti, ornum, accisam, instant,
tremefacta, concusso.

4. Explain the cases of ignis, ferro, agricolce, volneribus.

ENGLISH.

1. Parse fully : —

The real strength and security of governments in these
days lie in public opinion formed and enlightened by free
discussion.

2. Write a short essay on Peace.

ARITHMETIC.

1. Simplify 2^ + 721 + 316^ + 2-875.

2. A person sold '15 of an estate to one person and
then jy of the remainder to another person. What part
of the estate did he still retain ?

3. If 9 men or 15 women, working 10 hours a day
could reap a field in 8 days 6 hours, in how many days
of 10 L hours each could 10 men and 12 women reap a
field one-fourth larger ?

4. Express a gallon in litres, and a kilometre in yards.

FRENCH AND GERMAN.*

Translate into English : —

Plusieurs furent pris, blesses, ou tues, ou entraines loin
du roi par la foule qui se jetait sur eux: il ne restait que
cinq hommes auprbs de Charles : il avait tue plus de
douze ennemis de sa main, sans avoir regu une seule
blessure par ce bonheur inexprimable qui jusqu’alors
l’avait accompagn£ partout, et sur lequel il compta
toujours. Enfin un colonel nomme Dardof se fait jour k
travers des Calmouks avec seulement une compagnie de
son regiment : il arrive a temps pour d^gager le roi.

And : —

Il s’est efforce de connaltre Dieu, que par sa grandeur
est inconnu aux hommes, et de connaltre l’homme, qui
par sa vanity, est inconnu h, lui-mOme.

Or : —

Er starb endlich auf einer italieaischen Reise in der
Stadt Mantua, im drei uml siebeuzigsten Jahre seines
Lebens, und im Vollgenuss seines Iiuhms, nachdem er
hatte besessendas Vertrauen seines Kouigs vierzig Jahre
ununterbrochen.

* The candidate is at liberty to choose either Freuch or
German, and is not required to show a knowledge of both.

And : —

Nach Frankreich zogen zwei Grenadier,

Die waren in Russland gefangen,

Und als sie kamen ins deutsche Quartier,

Sie liessen die Kopfe hangen.

CHEMISTRY, PHARMACY, AND BOTANY.

Time allowed : Two hours (4 to 6).

1. Describe the process for the manufacture of com¬
mercial oil of vitriol. What is Nordkausen sulphuric
acid, and how can it be prepared ?

2. Acidum liydrochloricum, B.P.,has a specific gravity
1’16, and contains 31 ’8 per cent, by weight, of hydro¬
chloric acid gas. How many fluid ounces of the B.P.
acid can theoretically be prepared by the decomposition
of one pound of pure chloride of sodium by means of
sulphuric acid ?

3. Give the official process for making ferri phosphas,
with any remarks you may consider suitable.

4. State what you know concerning rectified spirit and
proof spirit. How can a spirit 60° over prottf be reduced
to proof spirit ? Name a few tinctures made with
rectified spirit, and give reasons for its employment in
those tinctures.

5. Give the Pharmacopoeial process for making injectio
morphise hypodermica, suppositoria morphia}, tinctura
opii and syrupus papaveris.

6. What is thistledown ? Describe the inflorescence of
the oat.

7. Give an account of the germination of an almond,
and describe the tissues of which the bark of an exo¬
genous stem is composed.

The President then called upon Dr. Tilden to
deliver the —

Inaugural Sessional Address.

Ladies and Gentlemen, —

The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain has done me the honour to request
that I would address a few words to the assembled
students on this interesting anniversary. Those
who have preceded me in this position upon corre¬
sponding occasions have been, every one of them,
men older in years than myself, of wider knowledge
and experience, and above all distinguished practi¬
tioners of pharmacy; but, I think the Council did
wisely to engage, once in a way, the services of one
who, whilst retaining distinct and pleasurable re¬
collections of his association with pharmaceutical
students, has in the course of events so far severed
connection with the pharmaceutical body that he
can look upon their proceedings from the standpoint
of an outsider. Notwithstanding misgivings as to
my individual fitness for the post, I did not hesitate
to accept the invitation of the Council, because I was
anxious to testify to all my good friends here my
reciprocatiou of the kind feelings which led to the
proposal. I had no better way of expressing my
thanks than to accede to the request.

We are met together, as every one present is aware,
for the express purpose of doing honour to the
students attending the courses of instruction in this
institution. In the name of the Council, the Pro¬
fessors and Officers of the Society, I have first of all
to express to those students who have just received
their prizes at the hands of the President, most
hearty congratulations upon the success with which
their labours have been crowned, and to wish them
prosperity in the career upon which they are now
about to enter. Gentlemen, you are justly proud of
the honours which are the reward of your industry.
You are justly gratified at the approbation of your
friends. You have listened, I doubt not, with

274

THE r H ARMACEUT1CAI , JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[Obtober 4, 1^7?.

quickened pulse to the praises pronounced by your
professors. You have received the applause of this
great meeting. I am sure that the memory of these
things will abide by you, and when, in future years,
some of you may appear as spectators at a renewal
of this scene to celebrate the successes of those who
will come after you, you will all feel stirred, as we
do to night, with a sympathetic triumph.

There is another class of students, for the moment
less distinguished, but in general equally deserving
of respect. I mean the students who have not re¬
ceived prizes — to whom, I feel also, every one
present will desire that I should say a few words of
encouragement.

Do not despair, my friends, because you have no
trophies to carry away with you. If you have
worked steadily, with an honest desire to learn, you
have gained that which will serve you more use¬
fully in the battle of life than prize-books or
certificates. You carry with you the recollection of
conflicts with self, of struggles against difficulties
apparently insuperable, of encounters with tempta¬
tion in which you have come off victorious, and these
experiences, added to even a moderate amount of
professional knowledge, will make good and useful
citizens of you. But my belief is that we may
anticipate something even better than this. When
I look back through the prize-lists of past years, I
see there many names that have since become dis¬
tinguished in the ranks of pharmacy, and when I
remember that in the competition for prizes there is
often but a small, and sometimes a scarcely dis¬
cernible difference between the merits of the best
man, who gets the prize, and the second best man,
who does not get it, I feel satisfied that of the
majority of the students of this institution we have
not heard the last when they take their leave of the
place.

But I must not forget, gentlemen, to urge upon
you all, whether prize-takers or not, the importance
of seriously and systematically continuing your
studies. I do not mean to say that I would advise
everyone to go on working away at the whole range
of subjects to which your attention has been directed
in your progress through this school. It is now the
time when each of you may follow the bent of his
own inclination. I do not say I hope you will
choose chemistry or botany or therapeutics, or any
other branch of science in particular, but I am
myself deeply impressed with the necessity for a
reasonable interest, call it a “ hobby” if you like, to
every reasonable man. And I ask you to take my
word for it there is no prophylactic so potent, no
remedy so sure, against the inevitable weariness
which sooner or later overtakes the mere idler or
seeker after pleasure.

Some of you probably think you have learnt a
great deal since you came here, ltelatively to your
former state of ignorance that is no doubt true, but
after all what you now know by comparison with
what you have yet learn is a mole-hill to a moun¬
tain. Do not suppose I wish to disparage. This is
merely the condition of everyone in this room, pro¬
fessors (if they will forgive my saying so) and all,
and the wisest man is he who recognizes this some-
what humiliating fact the soonest, and does his best
to add to his little heap.

What is the use of all this ? I will tell you pre¬
sently some of the so-called practical uses, but in the
meantime I want just to remind you that increased

knowledge will give you a treasure which, in one
way at least, is better even than a good balance at
the bank. It will give you self-respect. I do not
mean conceit, that peculiar and special vice of half-
educated people. I mean by self-respect that kind
of self-knowledge which enables a man to estimate
his own powers at their true value, avoiding, on the
one hand, exaggerated distrust on the score of defects
perceived and, on the other hand, undue exaltation
by reason of conscious ability.

But I would impress upon you young pharmacists
the importance of finding your “hobby,” if possible,
in your business. If you make your business the
real occupation of your life it will certainly yield you
a harvest not merely of internal satisfaction, a
reward rich enough in itself, but tangible advantages
such as commend themselves to the commercial mind
are equally certain to accrue. This is true of every
calling in life. It is almost a truism. But in its
special application to pharmacy I want to speak a
few words. The old-fashioned pharmacist, repre¬
sented in my memory by the late Henry Deane, was
a man with a soul, but not above his business. I
know that, happily, some of the race remain. Such
a man knows the contents of every bottle and drawer
in his shop, not merely in regard to cost and retail
price, but the entire history and precise quality of
each particular sample. He buys no concentrated
abominations whilst the roses, long innocent of any
tint but brown, moulder in their dusty corner. His
aromatic waters are distilled and have no acquaintance
with calcined magnesia. He has his own views on the
proper season for the preparation of liquor taraxaci and
makes it with his own hands. He knows what
medicinal plants grow in his own neighbourhood,
and he prefers to make his own extracts of henbane
and conium. I spare you the rest. You know how
much more I might say, but if you have any doubt
whether this kind of thing pays look round at any
such men you can find and judge for yourselves of
their prosperity.

But there is another aspect of the same question.
Some years ago a remarkable paper was read at the
Pharmaceutical Conference by Mr. Joseph Ince.
Everyone present will understand that I refer to
the essay on “ Pharmaceutical Ethics.” In that
paper Mr. Ince did not hesitate to declare unre¬
servedly that “ pharmacy is a trade,” and in a meet¬
ing which included many of the most able, and not
a few of the most influential of living pharmacists,
there was no dissentient from that view of the
matter. So far as I am able to judge, and in spite
of Acts of Parliament since devised to regulate the
practice of pharmacy, the occupation of the phar¬
macist is not materially changed since 1866. But it
appears to my humble judgment that this dictum of
Mr. Ince’s, whilst absolutely and literally true, does
not cover the whole of the facts of the case. The
pharmacist is a tradesman, but interwoven with his
trade is a multifarious system of transactions in¬
volving the employment of knowledge and skill,
gathered through the somewhat prolonged course of
training, which at present culminates in the exami¬
nations of this Society. And it is a question in my
mind whether the ideal pharmacist ought to be purely
a tradesman.

When the time comes, as I believe it will come,
and perhaps very soon, the pharmacist who desires
to do so will be in a position to make his election
, between a kind of business represented by the shop

October 4, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JODRNaL AND TRANSACTIONS.

275

s

I

on the one hand, the mere drug store bringing ac¬
cording to the accounts of the grumblers neither
honour nor profit ; and on the other hand a calling
in which he will have due exercise for what pro¬
fessional skill he may possess and gather his income
somewhat in accordance with the customs prevailing
in other professions. But this will not be done by
railing at the law, the public, or the doctors. A
young man having passed his examination, whether
it is the Minor or the Major, is not entitled on that
account to regard himself as an unrecognized and
unrewarded benefactor of the human race. He has
sulfered all this toil and expense, not I apprehend
for the good of mankind, but because he knows
there is at the end of it a monopoly, such as it is, of
a certain calling reserved for him by the law. I
know the reply which is almost upon the lips of
some of my hearers. Look at the state of trade,
look at the cheap drapers and grocers, who destroy
all one’s profit, and then the co-operative stores !

Let us look at this calmly for a few minutes. So
far and so long as the pharmacist is a trader, he must
take with other traders the chances of competition
and the stores, and he must submit to the neglect
of what is called “ society.” I know not what may
be the end of all this, and I question whether in this
room there is a prophet who is qualified so far to
prophesy. But it is perfectly clear to my mind that
no amount of remonstrance, be it never so reasonable,
no amount of reproach, be it never so vehement,
will prevent the public from supplying themselves
in any way which the fashion of the moment renders
the most acceptable.

It appears to me that the pharmacist will be more
likely to improve his position by stedfastly pro¬
moting the cause of higher education, and by main¬
taining an attitude of dignity in that professional
citadel in which he cannot be assailed, and into
which, sooner or later, I believe he will not only be
obliged to retreat, but will find it his best interest to
do so. In plain English what does all this mean?
I figure to myself a time when the pharmacist will
leave to his neighbour, the grocer, the sale of such
commodities as starch, mustard, pepper, cigars,
British wines, aerated waters, quack medicines, and
all such trumpery ; when he will no longer dispute
with the hairdresser the trade in toothbrushes,
pomade, and shaving soap, and will no longer think
it necessary to deck his pharmacy with glittering
smelling bottles or chest protectors in bright array ;
when the plate glass front shall disappear from
without, and the counter with at least half the
mysterious, and often meaningless, gold labels from
within.

But I know that all this sounds unpractical, if
not impossible. I admit that it is very largely so at
the present moment, but not, I venture to think, in
the immediate future. I am aware that after taking
away from the pharmacist the whole or nearly the
whole of his trade, the residue of pure pharmacy and
dispensing practice remaining over would, in too
many cases, be sadly unproductive of income.
Although these should undoubtedly constitute the
chief avocation of the pharmacist, yet I may be
permitted to remind you that the chemist and
druggist and the pharmaceutical chemist have
contrived to secure to themselves the patent of a
title which Sir Humphry Davy himself, unless
he happened to be on the pharmaceutical register,
would not now be suffered to use unchallenged.

Does not this suggest something? It point?, I
think, unmistakably to a development which the
pharmacist, with due qualifications, has within his
reach. Who so well fitted as he, by his special
training, to become the public adviser upon all
questions connected with sanitary affairs, to inves¬
tigate cases of poisoning or adulteration? What is
there to prevent him from in time supplanting the
half-informed medical officer of health, and the too
often incompetent public analyst ! If he wishes to
get a further stamp put upon his qualifications,
either for his own gratification or for the satis¬
faction of his clients, there is the Institute of
Chemistry realy to examine him. I should be
taxing your patience too severely if I were to
attempt to enter into further detail upon this
topic which, however, appears to me to be worthy
the deliberate and serious consideration of all phar¬
macists, but more especially of you students who
are about to commence your professional career. I
do not say you are driven to anything of the kind
I have endeavoured feebly to picture. If you
prefer it, or find it advantageous in the pursuit of
that indispensable commodity, a sufficient income,
or for other reasons find no escape from the pre¬
valent form of general business, no one can question
your right to do as you think fit ; but I ask you as
reasonable men whether you can be j ustly surprised
that a generally ignorant, always unreasoning ami
careless public, should fail to appreciate at their due
value professional services performed, and profes¬
sional opinions pronounced behind a barricade of
little articles that would find their appropriate place
in an Italian warehouse or a fancy bazaar.

But my task is only half accomplished. I should
be neglecting a most important part of my duty if I
omitted to address myself to those who are- about
to commence or to continue their studies to-morrow.
There is but one golden rule for the student, and
that is, learn all you can and learn it thoroughly.
Some there may be here who feel disposed to
question the utility of all this chemistry and
botany that the pharmaceutical student is now
expected to learn. I can only assure you that if
you will but wait patiently you will discover in
time a practical application for every scrap that you
can gather of this seemingly superfluous knowledge,
and wish you had more. When it was my fortune
to have to do with pharmaceutical students they
were invariably most earnest, painstaking and in¬
dustrious, and I have no doubt that these qualities
still form their most prominent characteristics.
They were, however, liable to one or two little
weaknesses which I dare scarcely hope have since
disappeared. My attention was very frequently
drawn in those days to a disposition to regard every
question from the so-called practical point of view,
a certain degree of restlessness being too often mani¬
fest when anything like general theoretical questions
came to be discussed, unless they happened to bear
in the most direct and unmistakable manner upon
some subject of every day life. I do not mean to
imply that this is a peculiarity of pharmacists or of
pharmaceutical students, but merely that they arc
not free from this which is the characteristic error
of most practical men. I remember a speaker upon
some occasion, I cannot now remember the who,
when or where, took upon himself to declare that
there was no such thing as 'pharni'iceutioai chemistry.
Such an expression sounds a little startling, but the

276

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 4, 1879.

meaning of the speaker was probably this, that the
broad principles of science remain the same no
matter what application yon propose to make of
them, and that without a knowledge of these prin¬
ciples you may know the whole of materia medica
from beginning to end and yet be absolutely igno¬
rant of chemistry ; you may be familiar with the
name and even with the aspect of every ilower of
the field and have no claim to be considered a
botanist. Science does not consist in mere manual
dexterity, neither does it consist in a knowledge of
any number of hard names. One of the most serious
consequences of neglecting all but what lies close at
hand is this, that whilst you may learn to perform
with the most punctilious accuracy all kinds of
individual operations, you remain almost as incapable
as ever of coping with any unexpected difficulty,
and you are quite unable to assist in making the
advances which pharmacy, in common with every
other human art, must continue to make if it is to
survive1

There is just one other topic, in conclusion, to
which I must advert. We have all heard a great
deal in this room and elsewhere about that ugly
word “cram.” Now whilst I sympathize with nearly
all that has been said and written upon the subject,
and whilst I deplore the existence of a system so de¬
structive, I think there has been just sufficient am¬
biguity in the use of the term to make some students
feel the denunciations rather too wholesale and some¬
what indiscriminate. There are two sorts of “ cram.”
The one is both foolish and dishonest. But although,
I suppose, we must admit that it is sometimes practised
by candidates for pharmaceutical examinations, I
have so much confidence in the skill and experience
of our Board of Examiners, that I do not believe the
system meets with greater success here than at other
institutions, or even so great. I need not enter now
into details because the subject has been discussed
over and over again ad nauseam. But I would just
suggest to those young men who propose to devote
that portion of their time which should be spent in
the acquisition of knowledge to the invention of
schemes for cheating the examiners, that it will be
to their own interest to credit the examiners with
just a little common sense as well as knowledge of
their business, or they may find out to their disap¬
pointment that the Board is not made up, as they
fondly suppose, of a pack of idiots like themselves.
The legitimate process,- on the other hand, is that
kind of cramming to which every student must
resort if he wishes to pass a given examination
safely and honourably. This process consists in
nothing less than learning very thoroughly the
subjects in which he is to be examined, and for the
time, no others. It seems to me unreasonable to
complain of a student because he declines to make
the attempt to study the whole of a text-book, of
botany for example, when the board before whom
he is to present himself for examination has pre¬
viously announced that it intends to examine him in
a portion only of that subject. It may fairly be
assumed that the limit has not been fixed without
due deliberation, and if the student honestly sets to
work at the task assigned, that is all that can be
expected of him. One cannot be said to know a
subject well unless he is prepared to answer clearly
and intelligently any reasonable questions that may
be put to him in that subject, and therefore the most
mportant thing to aim at is precision, without

which a great deal of knowledge may become worse
than useless for the purposes of examination, and
let me add of practical life. From all which you
will perceive that I am one of those persons who,
whilst recognizing the possible harm that may befall
that rare phenomenon, the extraordinary genius, by
reason of the existence of the examination system,
yet hold the opinion that in the influence of the
system upon the cause of education the good
decidedly predominates.

To candidates for examination let me add one
hint. Supposing the student to have attained to an
accurate knowledge of the subject, or that part of it
in which he is to be examined, what reasonable
grounds ca there be for that excessive nervousness
displayed by some candidates ? If I were an ex¬
aminer, a candidate in this condition would excite
my suspicions at once. I should either suppose the
nervousness assumed, with the object of deceiving
me, or I should credit him with a knowledge of de¬
fects apparent to his own consciousness, though
hidden from mine.

And now, Gentlemen, I need not detain you any
longer. You are about to enter upon a period in
your career, at once the most interesting and the
most delightful. One word of caution. You all
start off, I know, with a great stock of resolutions
and good intentions. Take care they are not all
wasted at the outset. In commencing an ascent the
experienced mountaineer will start soberly, and pur¬
sue, at a steady pace, the path previously determined
upon. The unskilful only tries short cuts, exhausts
himself by spurts, or loiters, with the notion that it
will be time enough to make up lost ground later in
the day. Be advised in time. You have in your
professors experienced and able guides. Follow
them, act upon their instructions as to your journey,
and do not be lured from the open path by people
who tempt you with vain promises to relieve you of
your labour. We who have climbed the same
heights will watch your progress with unfailing
interest. We know what are the difficulties you are
likely to encounter and how they are to be sur¬
mounted. But we know, also, that the labour must
be your own.

The President proposed a vote of thanks to Dr.
Tilden for the admirable and practical address which
he had just given. While it contained excellent
advice to the younger members of the meeting, he
was quite sure there was no one present, even as old
as himself, who would not be benefited by a careful
consideration of it.

The Vice-President said such a resolution really
required no seconder, but he hoped he might be
excused if he added a word or two, for two reasons.
In the first place, they would wish to express in the
most emphatic way their appreciation of Dr. Tilden ’s
kindness, and therefore, perhaps, it would be appro¬
priate that he, in his official position as Vice-President,
should second the vote of thanks. Secondly, he was
probably better acquainted than many present with
Dr. Tilden’s claims to their gratitude. Dr. Tilden had
for several years occupied a very important scientific
position in the locality with which he was himself con¬
nected, and consequently he knew the work Dr. Tilden
had been doing there, and the high position he had
taken. Under such circumstances it might not un¬
reasonably have happened that Dr. Tilden might
have forsaken pharmacy altogether ; but that was

October i, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

2 77

not so. In his own endeavours to advance scientific
tific pharmacy he had constantly received the
greatest possible assistance from Dr. Tilden, who had
helped forward the work with his large knowledge
and high scientific attainments in a manner which
no other gentleman could possibly have done. There¬
fore, when that gentleman now came forward to de¬
liver his address to the students who were aiming to
sustain pharmacy in its highest role they must not
regard it as a spasmodic effort on his part, but as the
last of a long series of acts all tending in the same
direction.

The motion having been carried by acclamation —

Dr. Tilden said it had given him great pleasure
to appear there on that occasion, and he esteemed it
an honour to receive the invitation of the Council.
They would easily understand that he might have
acquitted himself better if he had been called upon
at a somewhat earlier date, because, coming tenth or
twelfth in a succession of men who had occupied a
similar position, it became increasingly difficult every
year to say anything worthy the acceptance of the
meeting. A.nd when it was remembered that the
best men were always selected first, it would be
seen that those who came later had an additional
difficulty to contend with. There were probably
many parts of his address which might require
further elaboration and explanation than he had been
able to give, in order to make his meaning accept¬
able to members of the Society, and he felt that he
had to some extent taken a liberty in attempting to
express himself on some of the topics on which he
had touched, but he hoped that any imperfections of
that kind would be excused, for his intentions cer¬
tainly were of the best.

The meeting then adjourned to Wednesday,
November 5.

fktrmnqal ©raiusautions.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Meeting of the thirtieth session of this
Association was held in the Royal Institution, September
25, 1879. The president, Mr. T. Fell Abraham, in the
chair. The minutes of the last general meeting were read
and confirmed. The donations to the library were duly
acknowledged. The following annual report of the coun¬
cil and the treasurer’s financial statement, which showed a
balance in hand of £13 15s. 3d., were read.

Annual Report.

“ In presenting the Annual Report of the Thirtieth
Session of the Liverpool Chemists’ Association, your
Council has pleasure in observing the renewed energy and
increased scope of usefulness which characterize the pro¬
ceedings of the session now closing.

“ Twenty-four new members and thirteen associates
were elected during the past session, fourteen members
and four associates have retired from various causes,
leaving the number at present on the list 172 — consisting
of 17 honorary members, 130 members, and 25 associates.

“ There were eleven general meetings held during the
session, the time of each being fully occupied with papers
of chemical, pharmaceutical, or general scientific interest,
whilst many important subjects were discussed under the
head of miscellaneous communications.

“There has been a marked improvement in the attendance
of members and associates at the meetings. This, comibned
with a more general activity, appears to your Council a
very encouraging sign. The Council is glad also to report

that your fourteenth Conversazione proved itself a very
successful and enjoyable entertainment, whilst financially
it yielded a credit balance to the general fund. The Asso¬
ciation is indebted to the several members who rendered
their services, to the exhibitors of the numerous objects of
interest, and in particular to Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S.,
F.I.C., for his exceedingly interesting lecture on ‘ Phos¬
phorescence and Fluorescence.’

“ The Association, as in the previous year, took part
in the holding of the Second Associated Soiree of
the Literary, Scientific, and Art Societies of Liverpool,
and is indebted to Mr. Davies on that occasion also
for the delivery of an entertaining and appreciated
lecture.

“ The School of Pharmacy was provided with courses of
lectures on Chemistry by Mr. Thomas Williams, F.C.S. ;
Botany, by Dr. Shearer; and Materia Medica, by Dr.
Carter. Eight pharmaceutical students attended the
Chemistry Class, and, at the close, an examination was
held, under the superintendence of the President. The
questions were kindly supplied by Professor Attfield, who
also adjudicated the answers, deciding in favour of Mr.
John Albert Jones, who will this evening be awarded the
President’s prize.

“ The syllabus for the forthcoming Chemistry Classes
has been already issued. The lectures on Materia Medica
and Botany will be announced in due course.

“ Several donations of books and pamphlets have been
added to the Library during the session, and some
periodicals and journals have been bound. Various
specimens have also been contributed to the Museum,
including a complete series illustrative of sugar refining,
from Mr. J. T. Armstrong, F.C.S. The re-arrangement
of the contents of the Museum has made some progress.
The issue of books from the Library amounted to 445
volumes, in addition to references.

“ Invitation having been received to send delegates to
the British Pharmaceutical Conference, held at Sheffield,
the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Mr. A. H.
Mason, F.C.S., were appointed and attended.

“ The ballot at the concluding general meeting
for the appointment of President for the thirty-first
session resulted in the election of Mr. Charles Symes,
Ph.D.

“ Mr. Armstrong having resigned his seat on the
Council in consequence of removal from the neighbour¬
hood, Mr. Thomas Garside, F.C.S., was elected in his
place.

“ The following members of Council retire by rotation,
and are eligible for re-election : — Messrs. T. F. Abraham,

E. Davies, T. Garside, and T. Williams.”

It was moved by the president, seconded by Mr. E. F.
Morton, and carried unanimously, that “The reports as read
be adopted and together with the list of members and
abstract of proceedings of the past session be printed and
circulated among the members.”

It was proposed by Mr. J oseph Hallawell seconded by
Mr. A. Watt, F.C.S., F.I.C., and carried unanimously,
that “The best thanks of the meeting be given to the
donors to the Library and Museum, to the authors of
papers and to the exhibitors of apparatus, etc., during the
past session.”

It was proposed by Mr. T. H. Johnson, F.C.S., F.I.C.,
seconded by Mr. Henry Burroughs, and carried unani¬
mously, that “The best thanks of this meeting be given to
the officers and council for their services during the past
session.”

The president’s prize of books offered to the student in
the chemistry class who should pass the best written
examination was produced, having been awarded on Pro¬
fessor Attfield’s adjudication to Mr. John Albert Jones.
The meeting then proceeded to the election of four mem¬
bers of council. Messrs. Edward Davies, F.C.S.,

F. I.C., Thomas Garside, F.C.S., Alexander Watt, F.C.S.,
F.I.C., and Thomas Williams, F.C.S., were declared duly
elceted.

278

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 4, 187P.

favlianifiitarg and Jfaui ^rocmlings.

Prosecutions under the 17th Section of the
Pharmacy Act, 1868.

At the Blackburn Borough Police Court, on Friday,
September 26, 1879, before Messrs. E. Wharton (chair¬
man) and W. Hopwood, Stephen Green, drysalter and
patent medicine vendor, appeared in answer to a sum¬
mons charging him with unlawfully selling poison.

Mr. Henry Glaisyer, solicitor, Birmingham, appeared
in support of the summons, being instructed by the Che¬
mists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great Britain.
He said the summons was issued by Mr. William Frederic
Haydon, the Secretary of the Association, under the pro¬
visions of the 17th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
which said — “It shall be unlawful to sell any poison
either by wholesale or by retail unless the box, bottle,
parcel, wrapper or cover in which such poison is con¬
tained be distinctly labelled with the name of the article
and the word ‘ poison,’ and with the name and address
of the seller of the poison ; and any person selling poison
otherwise than is herein provided shall upon a summary
conviction before two justices of the peace in England be
liable to a penalty not exceeding £5 for the first offence,
and for the purposes of this section the person on whose
behalf any sale is made out, an apprentice or servant,
shall be deemed the seller.” Mr. Haydon came to Black¬
burn on .the 30th of July last, and visited the defendant’s
shop in Bolton Hoad and purchased a pennyworth of
oxalic acid, a pennyworth of white precipitate powder^
or ammoniated mercury, and a packet of rat poison, con¬
taining strychnine, all of them being poisons mentioned
in the schedule to the Act and subject to its provisions.
It was proposed to proceed only in one of these cases,
that of the oxalic acid. The label on the packet con¬
tained only the word “ poison,” and therefore there were
two particulars in which the statute had not been complied
with. The name of the poison was not mentioned, and the
name and addi*ess of the seller of the poison was not stated.
The defendant was not a chemist, and was therefore
unqualified to sell poison at all. A penalty is provided
by the statute for selling poisons by unauthorized per¬
sons. but such penalty was not recoverable before the
magistrates, and the defendant was charged on that
occasion with having infringed the statute by not having
labelled the packet in accordance with the provisions of
the 17th section. Mr. Glaisyer, in continuation, drew
attention to the fact that the business belonged to the
defendant beyond a doubt, for his name appeared on a
board over the door, and he had also paid rates in respect
of the premises. The provisions of this statute were
necessary in order to protect the public and afford a
ready means of tracing where poison was obtained in
cases where it was subsequently improperly used.

The defendant pleaded guilty, and said he was sorry
for doing wrong. He had been in the trade twelve years.

The Chairman: You must have known you were doing
wrong.

Mr. Glaisyer : I may state for the information of the
Bench that in consequence of the sale of poison being
made in this way so frequently, the present proceedings
have been instituted in order to make known the pro¬
visions of the statute.

The Chairman (to the defendant) : This is the first
case of this description that we have had in this court,
and we shall be content if you pay a fine of 20s. and
the costs. You are liable to a fine of £5 and costs.

At the Liverpool Borough Police Court on Saturday,
September 27, 1879, before Messrs. Henry Hugh Hornby
and Edward Browne, justices of the peace, Mr. Bichard
Bowland Minton and others, trading as K. B. Minton
and Co., appeared in answer to a summons charging
them that they did on the 6th day of August last, at the

borough of Liverpool, unlawfully sell to William
Frederic Haydon, at 135, St. James’s Street, certain
poison, to wit, oxalic acid, in a certain packet, the cover
of which packet did not set forth the name of the article
or the name or address of the sellers of the same, con¬
trary to the provisions of the 17th section of the Act,
31 and 32 Viet., cap. 121.

Mr. Henry Glaisyer, solicitor, of Birmingham,
instructed by the Chemists aud Druggists’ Trade As¬
sociation, appeared in support of the summons. The
defendant appeared in person.

Mr. Glaisyer, in opening the case, said that the
defendants were the partners in the firm of Messrs. B. B.
Minton and Co. They carried on an extensive business in
this town, at Cheapside, and other establishments, as oil
and colour merchants. The summons, as in the previous
case, was issued under the provisions of the Pharmacy
Act, 1868, 31 and 32 Viet., cap. 121, sec. 17, which he read .
The facts of the case were shortly these : — Mr. Haydon,
the secretary of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade As¬
sociation, came to Liverpool on the 5th of August, and
visited the defendant’s shop, 135, St. James’s Street, and
there he purchased a pennyworth of oxalic acid, which is
one of the poisons mentioned in the schedule to the
statute. There was no label placed on the packet, but
the word “ poison ” was written on it. There were
therefore two particulars in which the section of the Act
had not been complied with. There was no doubt the
business belonged to Messrs. Minton and Company.
Their name appeared on brass plates attached to the
windows of the shop, and also on many articles in the
shop, and in addition they were rated for the premises and
had paid rates due in respect of them.

Mr. Hornby: You say the word “ poison ” was written
on the packet ?

Mr. Glaisyer : The word “ poison ” was written on the
packet, but not the other particulars.

Mr. Goodwin, who appeared for defendant, said he
did not dispute that defendant sold this article ; but it
was a long time ago.

Mr. Stubbs : What you have to say is in mitigation.

Mr. Goodwin : We only wish to say it is not an article
we generally keep ; we did not know in fact that it was
in the shop. A young man got it to oblige a few cus¬
tomers. It is used by dyers principally, and is sold in
very small quantities. It is quite an omission that the
young man has not put a proper label on the wrapper.

William Frederic Haydon, called, sworn, and examined,
gave evidence bearing out the opening statement by Mr.
Glaisyer.

Mr. Goodwin: As one of the principals I might as
well say we admit we are guilty in this matter. But
really we were not aware the acid was being sold. We
leave ourselves entirely in your hands. We will take
care that in future nothing of the kind shall occur. I
have no doubt we have transgressed the law.

Mr. Hornby : The defendants are fined 10s. and costs.

At the Birmingham Police Court, on Wednesday,
October 1, 1879, before Messrs. Balph Heaton and Henry
Wiggin, Joseph Guest Earp, oil and colour merchant,
22, Cheapside, Birmingham, was summoned by the
Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great
Britain, for a contravention of the 17th section of the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, “by selling certain poison, to wit,
oxalic acid, in a certain packet, the cover of which packet
did not set forth the name of the article, or the name or
address of the seller of the same, contrary to the statute
in such case made and provided.”

Mi\ Glaisyer appeared in this case, instructed by the
Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great
Britain, the information being laid by the secretary,
Mr. W. F. Haydon.

Mr. Glaisyer said the summons was issued under the
provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, 31 and 32 Viet.,
cap. 121, sec. 17 (as in the previous cases). The facts

October 4, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

279

I

of the case were shortly these: — Mr. Haydon visited
the defendant’s shop, 22, Cheapside, Birmingham,
on the 8th of August last, and there he purchased a
pennyw orth of oxalic acid, which is one of the poisons
mentioned in the schedule to the statute. The label
placed on the packet contained the word “ poison ” only.
There were therefore two particulars in which the section
of the Act has not been complied with. There was no
doubt the business belonged to Mr. Earp. His name
appeared over the shop door, and in addition he was rated
for the premises.

The defendant : No doubt about it.

Mr. Glaisyer: I am instructed to press for a heavy
penalty, Mr. Haydon having in June, 1877, two years
since, purchased poisons from the defendant, who was at
that time warned that he was acting illegally. A month
after that purchase, Mr. Haydon was told by an assistant
of the defendant that Mr. Earp only sold poisons to
persons he knew. In August last defendant sold the
poison with which he was now charged.

William Frederic Haydon, called and sworn, deposed
to the above facts.

In reply to a question, Mr. Haydon said that in J une,
1877, he purchased from the defendant oxalic acid and
red oxide of mercury, both poisons scheduled under the
Pharmacy Act, and this being so far as he was aware,
the defendant’s first offence he reported the purchases to
the Secretary and Registrar of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain. He now produced a letter,
dated July 5, 1877, which he received from the Secretary
and Registrar of that Society, stating that he had written
to the defendant giving him notice that if he continued
to infringe the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, legal
proceedings would be taken against him without further
notice. In July of the same year, witness went to the
defendant’s shop and again endeavoured to purchase
oxalic acid, but was told by the assistant that they had
ceased to sell poisons except to persons they knew as
customers.

The defendant : I have never been warned.

The magistrates’ clerk to Mr. Haydon : The letter you
have produced is not admissible as evidence that the
defendant has been previously cautioned.

The defendant : My foreman has omitted to put the
name of the article and my name and address on the
packet. We sell oxalic aoid to boot makers, and for
cleaning brass.

The magistrates’ clerk to Mr. Haydon : Have you
cautioned the defendant yourself ?

Mr. Haydon : I have not.

Mr. Heaton, addressing defendant : You have not
conformed to the Act of Parliament. It requires that
you should put the name of the poison upon the packet,
also your own name and address. Had it been clearly
proved that you had been cautioned previously, we should
have inflicted the full fine. You must, however, pay 20s.
and costs.

The Sale op “ Fever Powders.”

On Tuesday, September 30, the Deputy Coroner for
East Sussex (Mr. J. E. Fullagar) held an adjourned
inquest at the Bridge Hotel, Newhaven, on the body of
Elizabeth Ellen Young, a little girl aged four years and
eleven months, who was supposed to have died under
suspicious circumstances. -

Mr. Edward Henry Moore deposed that he was the
public analyst for the county of Sussex. He received
from P. S. Renville a packet containing twelve powders.
They bore a label, indicating that they were “ Welch’s
Fever Powders,” and professing to be prepared by Henry
Moon, Trafalgar Street, Brighton. They were in six
sets of two powders each, professing to be suitable for
different ages of children, and there was a blank space on
the labels for the age to be filled in. The different sets
were for cases of children from six to eight years of age,

four to six years, three to four years, two to three years,
one to two years, and four to seven months. He had
made an analysis of the powder, and had found that the
composition was entirely sugar and calomel. He had
further assured himself of the absence of those mineral
poisons which, from their appearance, would be likely to
be mistaken for calomel, viz., antimony, arsenic, a
possible impurity of calomel, and bichloride of mercury.
Taking the powders generally, the proportion of calomel
was 1 to 3 grains. The difference in the weight of the
powders, as presumably for the same age, was in eight
cases out of ten exceedingly marked. In the two
powders for children from three to four years of age
there was a difference of weight of three-quarters of a
grain, representing a variation of one-quarter of a grain
of calomel. 1 he variation averaged in the eight powders
from 12 to 25 per cent. In all cases of variation the
proportion of calomel to sugar was fairly sustained. In
the two powders for four to six years there was a varia¬
tion of half a grain, one weighing 4^ grains (Lj grain
calomel), and the other 5 grains (Ingrain calomelf. The
greatest difference was noticeable in the powders for
children of from six to eight years, where there was a
variation of 1 grain in weight. The two powders, one to
two years, and the two from four to seven months were
identical in weight. The first representing 4 grains to
each powder, consequently containing If grain of
calomel, and. the latter containing 27V grains of calomel.
The powders from three to four contained If grain of
calomel. Calomel was a difficult powder to mix with
nice accuracy owing to its extreme weight as compared
with its usual excipient. The difference of the weight of
some of the powders was to such extent as to be sugges¬
tive to measuring rather than weighing. In his opinion
the powders were imperfectly described as “ Fever Pow¬
ders,” and the use of calomel would be prejudicial in a
case like the present.

Police Sergeant Renville stated that he purchased
twelve powders at Mr. Samuel Sargeant’s shop, on
Tuesday evening last. Mr. Sargeant served him himself.
The six sets, for different ages of children, were kept in
six different boxes, which bore a label outside stating the
age of the child for which the powder was intended. The
packets containing the powder were all alike, and there
was a blank space for the age to be filled in. Mr. Sar¬
geant filled in the ages on the twelve packets in witness’s
presence. He sent them to Mr. Moore.

Mr. T. M. Cann stated that he had made a post-mortem
examination of the deceased, and found that death was
due to inflammation of the bowels. A powder containing
one and three quarter grains of calomel would tend to
aggravate the symptoms instead of relieving them. That
amount of calomel would not necessarily be too much
for a child if it was administered by a medical man for
certain diseases, but it was a highly injurious medicine
for general distribution. In cases like the present it
would increase the inflammation, but it would not be
possible to ascertain where the natural inflammation left
off, and the inflammation caused by calomel commenced.
The powders were very improperly described as fever
powders, for although calomel might be useful in certain
special instances, it would be injurious in the great
majority of fevers.

This concluded the evidence, and the Deputy- Coroner
then summed up, remarking that one good result of the
inquest would be that parents would be warned against
buying a powder which they might imagine to be a
cooling or aperient medicine, but which in reality con¬
tained a very dangerous ingredient. In this case it had
not been proved that death was caused through the
taking the powder, especially as evidence had been given
showing that a portion of the medicine was vomited, but
at the same time these so-called fever powders were being
extensively used, and might produce very injurious effects.
Apart from the dangerous nature of the powder itself, he
considered that the packets were sold in a manner which

280

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 1 [October i, 1879.

might very easily lead to a serious blunder. The en¬
velopes containing powder of different strengths were
precisely alike, and it would be a very easy mistake to
sell them out of the wrong box, or to get the packets in
the different boxes confused. If the jury were of opinion
that death could not be traced to anything else but
natural causes, it would rest with them, if they thought
fit to do so, to append a rider expressing their opinion
concerning the indiscriminate sale of dangerous medicines.

After some consideration, the jury returned a verdict
of “Death from natural causes,” and added the following
rider : — “ The evidence discloses that a medicine fit only
for skilled application is being indiscriminately sold and
administered by incompetent persons, and the jury are of
opinion that the sale and preparation of medicines con¬
taining dangerous ingredients should be restricted to
duly qualified persons, and the active ingredient of such
medicines should be stated on the wrapper in which the
medicine is contained.” — Brighton Gazette.

Trading by Government Clerks.

Sir, — I am sorry to see that the retail traders in London
have again been making themselves ridiculous by holding
a meeting in Exeter Hall. They seem to have attempted
to make capital out of the presence of a provincial mayor,
who expressed disappointment at the smallness of the
number of representatives. I know nothing of that gen¬
tleman’s social status at home, but I suspect that he felt
anything but flattered with the society in which he found
himself in Exeter Hall.

From the small number who attended it seemed to be
inferred that retail traders are lukewarm as to the effect
upon their businesses by competition with trading establish¬
ments conducted by the clerks in the service of the govern¬
ment. The fact is they feel the grievance very keenly, but
they have no power at the present to grapple with it. As
a body they are men of sense and judgment and bear their
grievance quietly rather than mix themselves up with such
as gave evidence before the Royal Commission or those who
constituted the conference at Exeter Hall.

I have watched the progress of the stores with some in¬
terest and I have observed with regret the ill-judged action
taken by a certain class of retailers to counteract their
progress. I admit the perfect freedom of every one to pur¬
chase hi3 requirements in any market which may be most
to his fancy and I think no one denies the right of fair and
legitimate competition in business which gives stimulus to
enterprise, and at the same time offers every facility for
enabling the public to spend their money to the best ad¬
vantage.

As regards the establishment of trading concerns con¬
ducted by the clerks in the employ of the government I
maintain without fear of contradiction that the system is
an illegitimate and dishonorable innovation upon the vested
interests of a very large and important section of the tax-
paying community, a system altogether uncalled for by the
requirements of the public and utterly unjustifiable, as it
aims to subvert interests which are national and to set up
no compensating interests in their stead. Government
clerks, ■whether active or pensioned, are in every sense of
the word the servants and dependents of the public; al¬
though they are not under the immediate control of the
public, their salaries and pensions are paid out of the earn¬
ings of the public through those whom the latter entrust
with the custody of their welfare. As such the clerks in
the employ of the government have neither legal nor moral
right to do anything detrimental to the interests of any
portion of the community. What would be thought of an
individual taking service under another and taking advan¬
tage of some hitch in his contract to use the advantages of
his position for his own benefit and to the detriment of his
employer. Yet the government clerks now engaged upon
the stores are in exactly the same position. They may be
under no contract prohibiting them from such proceedings,
but that arises only from the fact of such restrictions not
having been previously required. Circumstances alter

cases and what would be considered actionable at, if not
punishable by law in an individual, seems to be justified
in this case by the social status of those engaged in it.

I cannot but feel surprised at the keen patronage bestowed
upon the stores by many landed proprietors and clergymen
of the Church of England, although I must admit there are
many exceptions. I see landed proprietors and clergymen
whose rents and tithes are realized in the neighbouring
market towns spend as little of their money as possible in
those towns, but supply their establishments from the stores,
although their predecessors and even they themselves at
one time seemed to have no idea of spending their money
except in their own neighbourhood. Of course every one is
perfectly at liberty to spend his money where he thinks-
proper, but I would ask such if that is an equitable appli¬
cation of the principle “ live and let live.” I have also’
been surprised at the favourable attention bestowed upon
the stores by professional men such asjawyers and doctors.
Now these gentlemen as a rule are dependent for their
incomes upon the personal feeling of the community around
them, and yet I know several who are stealthily keeping
their household from the stores. It is not difficult to bring
such gentlemen to their bearings, as tradesmen clients have
only to transfer their patronage to such as spend their
money at home. I have seen the principle applied in two
cases with electrical effect ; one had the chagrin of seeing
a younger rival pocket an account of close upon fifty pounds
which he would have received himself, but for the careful
housekeeping of his good lady, and 1 saw another visibly
cringe under the same process from a like cause ; few can
afford to lose practice any more than traders can afford to
lose business.

In my day the best feeling existed amongst the town
tradesmen towards the county families and the feeling was
reciprocated ; now I am sorry to see that a stand-off feeling
is gaining ground and that owing to nothing which has-
taken place between them, but from the habit of the latter
to take advantage of the illegitimate system of trading in¬
augurated by the clerks in the government offices. Now,
sir, it is admitted that the antagonism of class against class
in the case of capital and labour is a national misfortune.
Is it desirable then that division should be still further
increased by setting the middle and upper classes against
each other, and that at the instigation of a small body who
were unknown and possessed no influence until they com¬
menced their system of trading and gave it influence by
combining with it a state title?

The clerks in the government offices have a perfect right
to co-operate in supplying themselves with the necessaries
of life, but they have no right whatever to extend their
operations beyond their own immediate class as they are
now doing. They are not only supplying their own wants,
but they are increasing their salaries by taking advantage
of facilities which were never intended for such a purpose
and at the expense of a class who are heavily taxed to
support the expenses of the state, part of which, no matter
what proportion, are the salaries and pensions of active
and retired clerks in the employ of the state. Promoters
of stores may say what they like about the small percentage
of the business of the country which they do, but that is
not the point. The question to be decided is, Are the
clerks in the government offices to be allowed to receive
salaries at the expense of the public and at the same time
to be allowed to embark in business to the detriment of
those out of whose earnings their salaries are paid?. I
think that the subject only requires to be brought fairly
before the government and the system can admit of no
defence. To those who are already so engaged I would
give a certain time, say three years, either to withdraw
their connection or to resign the service of the state, al¬
though they have no claim to consideration on account of
vested interests. The remedy is in the hands of the retail
traders'; a general election is close at hand and they have
sufficient influence to demand the support of a measure for
such a purpose. A LOOKER-ON.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Leslie, Moscrop, Rogers, Siebold, Brayshay, Hall,
Need, Shillcock, Tanner, Evans, Burrell, Rusticus, Ele¬
vator, Ph. Chemist and Dentist, Nostrum, Ink, Chemist
and Dentist, Analyst for the County of Surrey, Student,
Eboracum, Potassium, X. Y. Z., A. B., F. W. S. G., J. S.,
R. W., H. P.

October 11, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

281

NOTES ON INDIAN DRUGS.

BY W. DYMOCK.

(Continued from page 123.)

Ophioxylon Serpentinum, Linn., Apocyne.®. — The
root. Vernacular : Chota-chand (Hind.) ; Chan¬
dra (Beng.) ; Harkai (Bomb.) ; Patalagandhi
(Tel.).

History , Uses, etc. — This shrub is mentioned in
Sanskrit works under the name of sarpagandha.
The Hindus use the root as a febrifuge and as an
antidote to the bites of poisonous reptiles ; also in
dysentery and other painful affections of the in¬
testinal canal. By some it is supposed to cause
uterine contraction, and promote the expulsion of
the foetus. Ainslie gives the following account of
it : “ Tsjovanna amelpodi is the name given on the
Malabar coast (‘ Rheede Mai./ vi., 81, t. 47) to a plant
the bitter root of which is supposed to have sovereign
virtues in cases of snake bites and scorpion stings ;
it is ordered in decoction to the extent of a pint in
twenty-four hours, and the powder is applied, ex¬
ternally, to the injured part. The plant is the radix
mustela of Rumphius (‘ Amb.’ vii., 29, t. 16). The
Javanese class it among their anthelmintics, and
give it the name of puli pandak. It may be found
noticed both by Burman, in his ‘ Thesaur. Zeylan.’
(t. 64), and Garcia ab Horto (‘ Hist. Aromat.’) ; the
latter recommends it as stomachic. Rumphius speaks
of it as an antidote to poisons, and Bontius, in his
‘ Hist. Mat. Med. Ind.’ tells us that it cures fever ”
(‘Mat. Ind.’ ii., 441).

In the Pharmacopoeia of India its use in labours
to increase uterine contraction is noticed, upon the
authority of Dr. Pulney Andy, but we have no evi¬
dence of its efficacy in such cases. In Bombay most
of the labourers who come from the Southern Concon
keep a small supply of the root, which they value as
a remedy in dysentery and other painful affections of
the intestines.

* Description. — Root crooked, tapering from half
an inch in diameter downwards. Bark soft, corky,
marked by longitudinal fissures, light brown ; wood
brittle, showing rings and medullary rays, visible to
the naked eye. Taste very bitter ; odour of the fresh
root acrid.

Microscopic structure. — The suber upon transverse
section presents the appearance of a piece of honey¬
comb, viz., alternate rows of long tubular cells and
compressed scales. The inner portion of the bark
consists of a delicate parenchyma, loaded with starch,
and traversed by indistinct medullary rays. The
wood is remarkably starchy.

The root is not an article of commerce.

The Allamanda Aubletii (Cathartica, Linn.),
Apocyne®, is said to have been introduced into India
from Brazil by the Portuguese. It has become quite
naturalized, and in some places has run wild. Though
not used in India, it has a medicinal reputation,
the leaves being considered a valuable cathartic in
moderate doses, especially in the cure of painter’s
colic ; in overdoses it is said to be violently emetic
and purgative. Ainslie has a short notice of the
plant, and mentions its use at Surinam by the Dutch
as a cathartic. It is a beautiful climbing shrub, very
common in Bombay gardens. The leaves are elliptic,
lanceolate, and arranged in fours round the stem on
very short petioles. The flowers are large, yellow,
Third Series, No. 485.

and funnel shaped, and are borne at the ends of the
branches. It has no native name, but the gardeners
call it peula, which simply means yellow.

Carissa corundas, Linn., Apocyne®. The root.

Vernacular : Karonda, Karaunda (Hind ) ;

Karwand Karinda (Bomb) ; Karamcha (Beng.) ;

Kalaka (Tam.).

History, Uses, etc. — This very common shrub,
called in Sanskrit, karamardaka, is remarkable for
its white jasmine-like flowers, which have a powerful
odour, and for its purple-black fruit, which, unripe,
is so much used by Europeans for preserving. The
natives also use the unripe fruit for pickling. It is
described in native works on materia medica as
astringent, and the ripe fruit as cooling, acid, and
useful in bilious conditions.

The root has a reputation as a bitter stomachic, but
I have no experience of its use.

Description.— Roots long, brown and scabrous;
wood very close grained and tough. The greater
part of the bark consists of enormous stony cells,
often more than an inch in length, flat, and closely
packed together, forming a network round the wood,
through the interstices of which the soft parenchyma
comes in contact with the cambium layer.

The odour of the root is disagreeable, and the taste
acrid and slightly bitter.

The fruit in size, shape, colour, and taste is not
unlike a damson.

Strychnos potatorum, Linn.fil., Loganiace®. The

seeds. Vernacular : N irmali (Hind., Beng., Bomb.) ;

Tetran-Kottai (Tam.).

History, Uses, etc. — This seed, in Sanskrit kataka
or ambuprasada, has been in use in India from the
earliest ages for the purpose of clearing muddy
water. It is mentioned by Susruta in his chapter on
water. One of the seeds is usually rubbed hard for
a short time round the inside of the earthen pot,
into which the water is afterwards poured and left
to settle ; the impurities subside and the water re¬
mains clear and tasteless. Medicinally nirmali
rubbed down with honey and camphor is applied to
the eyes to strengthen the sight and prevent lacryma-
tion, it is also Used in ulceration of the cornea and
purulent discharge from the conjunctiva (Confer.
Chakradatta). Mahometan writers tell us that itis
cold and dry and that when applied externally to the
abdomen it relieves colic; they also notice its use to
strengthen the sight, and as a remedy in snake-bite.
The author of the ‘ Taleef-i-shareefee’ recommends it
in irritation of the urinary organs and gonorrhoea.
He directs four of the seeds to be powdered and
mixed with a little curd of milk, to be tied up in a
piece of cloth and steeped in water during the night.
The infusion is to be taken in the morning. Ainslie
says, “The fruit, though when very young it is
made into a preserve and eaten, is reckoned, in ts
mature state, amongst the emetics of the Tamool
doctors in Southern India ; given in powder in the
quantity of about half a teaspoonful.” The clearing
nut has a place in the secondary list of the Pharma¬
copoeia of India, and is there said to be used as a
remedy in diabetes on the authority of Kirkpatrick
A suggestion is also made that the nut would be of use
if supplied to troops marching in the rainy season,
when little but muddy water can be procured.

Dr. Pereira ( Pharmaceutical Journal, 1850, vol. ix..
p. 478) suggests that the property of clearing water

282

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 11, 1879.

possessed by these seeds depends upon the albumen
and casein which they contain. If the seeds be sliced
and digested in water, they yield a thick mucilaginous
liquid, which when boiled, yields a coagulum
(albumen), and by subsequent addition of acetic acid,
it furnishes a further coagulum (casein) (Confer.
‘Phar. of India,’ p. 146).

Description. — The seed is nearly orbicular button¬
shaped, about h an inch in diameter and \ inch thick;
round the border is a slightly prominent ridge,
which makes the junction of the two portions of
albumen constituting the bulk of the seed. At one
point a slight irregularity of the ridge marks the
situation of the radicle; from this runs a faintly pro¬
jecting line to the umbelicus, which is central and
well marked ; a hardly perceptible depression marks
the opposite side of the seed. The integuments are
yellowish grey and covered with fine silky hairs.
The albumen homy but not quite so hard as that of
nux vomica. The embryo consists of a club-shaped
radicle and two delicate heart-shaped cotyledons.
The albumen is tasteless.

Microscopic structure. — The hairs have a similar
structure to those of nux vomica, and show the same
play of colours with polarized light.

Strychnos colubrina, Linn., Loganiacea:. The

root ami ivood. Vernacular : Naga-musadi

(Tel.) ; Modira-coniram (Mai.) ; Kuchila-lata

(Hind., Beng.) ; Goagari-lakri (Bomb.).

History, Uses , etc. — This scandent strychnos is
supposed to be the arbor ligni colubrini of Rum-
phius, who states that it is used in J ava as a febrifuge
and anthelmintic and also externally in certain skin
diseases. Horsfield notices its use in cutaneous
affections and to alleviate the pain and swelling from
confluent smallpox. Ainslie says that it is the
dund-ul-sini of Avicenna ; but this I think must be
incorrect, as dund is the name given in Arabic works
for Croton tiglium.

Virey,inhis£Histoire Naturelledes Medicaments,’ p.
191, informs us thatbois de coulenore in an overdose
occasions tremors and vomiting, but mentions at the
same time, that in smaller doses it may be considered
as a useful vermifuge, and be givtfn also with
advantage in obstinate quartan agues. Guibourt
considers that S. colubrina yields the true lignum
colubrinum, or pao de cobra of the Portuguese, but
he is unable to decide whether the wood usually
found in commerce is produced by this tree or by S.
nux vomica. (Confer. Guibourt, ‘Hist. Nat.’ ed 1869,
vol. ii., p. 527.) Lts claims as an antiperiodic have
been examined by Dr. Berdenis Van Berkelow
(Schmidt’s ‘ Jahrbucher,’ May 24, 1866, and ‘Brit, and
For. Med. Chir. Rev.,’ April ,1867, p. 527.) ; and after
a trial with it in twenty-two cases, quartan and
tertian, he reports favourably of its action, and con¬
siders that from its cheapness it may advantageously
be used as a febrifuge. In Bombay shops, two kinds
of lignum colubrinum (goagurree-lakri) are met
with ; the genuine and least common is the wood of
8. colubrina the other that of S. nux vomica; both
are much used by the Hindus on account of their
tonic properties in dyspepsia and malarious affections.
In the dyspepsia of vegetarians preparations contain¬
ing strychnia are particularly efficacious. I usually
prescribe the extract of nux vomica in half grain
doses and find that it has all the virtues of the
lignum colubrinum.

Description. — The smaller branches with the bark

on, form the goagurree-lakri of the shops. The
general structure of the bark resembles that of nux
vomica, but it is of a rusty colour, and the small
warts upon it instead of being pale are of a bright
rusty brown. The pieces of wood vary in size and
length, and are much more knotty and crooked than
those of nux vomica. The texture of the wood is also
closer, harder, and of a deeper colour ; when touched
with nitric acid it turns of a reddish orange.

Microscopic structure. — The bark is thicker than
that of nux vomica, but resembles it in structure,
with the exception that the zone of stone-cells is
wider and more irregular, and the cells themselves
are bright yellow, and larger. (See microscopic
structure of nux vomica bark).

PlIYLLANTHUS NIRURI, Linn., PHYLLANTHUS URIN¬
ARIA, Linn, EupiiorbiacE/E. The plants. Ver¬
nacular: — (P. niruri), Jaramla (Hinch), Bhui-
amla, (Beng.), Bhui-aunla (Bomb.), Kizhkay-
nelli (Tam.), P. urinaria bears the same names
with the addition of the adjective red.

History, Uses, etc. — These plants are common weeds
which appear in the rainy season. The name
bhumyamlaki, which occurs in Sanskrit works, is
probably applicable to both. Hindu physicians
consider P. niruri to be deobstruent, diuretic and
healing ; they prescribe the dried plant in powder
or decoction in jaundice. The dose of the powder is
about a teaspoonful. Meer Muhammad Husain in
his ‘Makhzan’ tells us that the milky juice of P.
niruri is a good application to offensive sores and
that a poultice of the leaves with salt cures scabby
affections of the skin ; without salt it may be applied
to bruises, etc. From Ainslie we learn that these
two plants are the Herbce niceroris alba and rubra of
Rumphius, and that an infusion of the leaves of P.
niruri with fenugreek seed is considered a valuable
remedy in chronic dysentery; also that the leaves are
a good stomachic bitter. In Bombay P. niruri is
used as a diuretic in gonorrhoea and acidity of the
urine.

Description. — P. niruri, annual, erect-branched ;
branches herbaceous, ascending, floriferous ; branch-
lets filiform ; leaves elliptic, mucronate, entire,
glabrous ; male and female flowers in separate axils,
male on the lower ones ; dehiscence of anthers
transverse, glands in the female bifid and trifid ;
capsule globose, smooth, two seeds in each cell ; seeds
triangular (‘ Bombay Flora ’).

P. urinaria. — Root ; generally annual, though in
some soils bi- and even perennial. Stem erect,
striated, of a pale reddish colour. Branches several,
ascending, striated from the insertions of the stipules.
Leaves scattered, spreading, pinnate, from one to two
inches long, flower bearing. Leaflets alternate,
linear, oblong, entire, smooth, three-fourths of an
inch long, and one-fourth broad. Petioles com¬
pressed, somewhat triangular. Stipules of the
petioles three-fold, acute, membranaceous ; those of
the leaflets two, lateral. Male flowers, exterior
leaflets axillary, two to three, subsessile. Calyx, nec¬
tary and stamens as in P. niruri. Female flowers,
lower leaflet axillary, solitary, sessile. Calyx and
nectary as in the male. Capsule scabrous, three-celled,
six-valved. Seeds two in each cell, transversely
striated on the outside. It is immediately dis¬
tinguished from P. niruri by its sessile flowers and
scabrous capsules (Roxb.).

(To be continued).

October li, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

283

THE DIGESTIVE FERMENT OF CARICA PAPAYA.*

BY A. WURTZ AND E. BOUCHUT.

The analyses of Vauquelin and the observations o^
Cossigny, Bajon, Endlicher, Peclcholt, Roy, and Mon*
corvo, concerning the digestive action of the juice of the
papaya, induced one of the authors to obtain some of this
product from America, and submit it to a number of
experiments which have been carried out during two
years in the H6pital des Enfants Malades. These have
been recently completed from a chemical point of view
in the laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine.

The liquid juice which flows from incisions made in
the tree is neutral and milky. It coagulates immediately
and separates into two parts, a kind of insoluble or slightly
soluble pulp, and a colourless and limpid serum.

Juice which had been sent to the authors had undergone
alteration which was manifested by a putrid odour. In
this the butyric ferment was discovered. In order to
protect the juice from this change some was sent mixed
with sugared water or glycerine and aromatized with
some drops of oil of peppermint. In this state it appeared
as a thick milky liquid, without any odour suggesting
fermentation. Put into contact with raw meat, fibrin,
boiled white of egg or gluten it attacked and softened
them after a few minutes, and eventually dissolved them
after a digestion of some hours at 40° C. Milk is coagu¬
lated at first and the precipitated casein is afterwards
dissolved. The false membranes of croup, removed by
tracheotomy, and worms, such as ascarides and tseniae,
are attacked and digested in a few hours. Without doubt
this juice contains a digestive ferment analogous to that
which is secreted by the carnivorous plants, Nepenthes,
Drosera, and Darlingtonia , to which Messrs. Darwin and
Hooker have called attention. It is known that Messrs.
Gorup-Besanez and Will have separated from this juice
a kind of vegetable pepsin.

The following is a description of the experiments made
to recognize the nature and mode of action of the digestive
ferment which exists in the Carica Papaya, and which
appears to be more active than that secreted by the
above-mentioned plants : —

(1). The milky liquid described above was thrown upon
a filter and the gelatinous precipitate washed several
times with distilled water. The solution, with the wash
waters added to it, was reduced to a small volume in a
vacuum, then mixed with ten times its volume of absolute
alcohol. A white precipitate was formed which was left
in contact with the alcohol during twenty-four hours,
then collected on a filter and dried in a vacuum. There
was thus obtained a white amorphous matter that was
entirely and easily soluble in water. The aqueous solution
was again precipitated with alcohol, and the new precipi¬
tate, washed with absolute alcohol, was dried in a vacuum.
In this state, the product obtained appeared under the
form of a white amorphous powder, completely soluble in
water, a property that indicates the absence of vegetable
albumen, coagulable by alcohol.

According to a preliminary analysis, this body, which
is a ferment, contains 10‘6 per cent, of nitrogen. Its
concentrated aqueous solution possesses a slightly astrin¬
gent taste, becomes slightly turbid upon boiling, gives
with alcohol an abundant precipitate and is precipitated
by nitric acid, an excess of which dissolves the precipitate,
forming a yellow liquid. Acetate of lead and tannin
form with it abundant precipitates.

0 J gram of ferment, precipitated once by alcohol, was
dissolved in 50 c.c. of distilled water, and the neutral
solution digested at 40° C. with 10 grams of moist fibrin.
At the end of ten hours the fibrin was dissolved except a
residue weighing 1*5 gram in the moist state.

0*1 gram of ferment precipitated once by alcohol, was
dissolved in 50 c.c. of water, and the solution, rendered
slightly alkaline by caustic potash, was digested at 40° C.

* Read before the French Academy of {Sciences, Aug. 26,
1879 ( Comptes Rendus , vol, lxxxix., p. 425).

with 10 grams of moist fibrin. At the end of ten hours
the fibrin was dissolved, except a residue of dyspeptone.
The filtered liquid, slightly alkaline, gave a precipitate
with acetic acid; it was also precipitated by nitric acid
and became turbid upon boiling. The conversion into
peptone was not complete.

0T5 gram of ferment, precipitated once by alcohol, was
added to 10 grams of moist fibrin reduced to a thick
jelly with 75 c.c. of water acidulated by of hydro¬
chloric acid. This jelly, heated in a stove to 40° C.,
liquefied in a quarter of an hour. At the end of two
hours the whole was reduced to a turbid liquid. The
finely divided precipitate remained in suspension in the
liquor and presented ’the appearance of dyspeptone of
fibrin. Its weight was T8 gram in the moist state and
0'48 gram when dry. The filtered liquid gave a preci¬
pitate with nitric acid.

0*1 gram of ferment, precipitated twice by alcohol, was
added to 20 grams of moist fibrin and 150 c.c. of water
and the whole heated in a stove to 40° C. during twenty-
four hours. At the end of that time the fibrin was
dissolved, except a residue weighing 2*5 grams in the
moist state. The digestion was not prolonged because
the liquor manifested signs of putrefaction. The filtered
solution was coagulable by heat and precipitable by nitric
acid.

In this experiment, made with a neutral liquid, as in
that which was made with one slightly alkaline, the
fibrin dissolved without swelling. The flocks at first
softened, preserving their form and volume, and were
disintegrated by dissolving ; there remained a I’esidue of
dyspeptone.

It results from the preceding experiments that the
nitrogenous matter precipitable by alcohol from the
aqueous juice of the papaya possesses the property of
dissolving large quantities of fibrin, and is distinguished
from pepsine by the character that it dissolves fibrin, not
only in the presence of a small quantity of acid, but even
in a neutral or slightly alkaline medium. This ferment
the authors designate under the name of “ papaine.”

(2). The carefully washed pulp from which the aqueous
liquid containing the papaine had been separated was
submitted to long washings with distilled water. These
wash waters, having been evaporated in a stove at 40° G.
and reduced to a small volume, gave with alcohol a pre¬
cipitate that dissolved fibrin under the same conditions as
the papaine precipitated directly from the aqueous juice.
This experience gave rise to the thought that the soluble
ferment might have its origin in the action of water upon
the pulp, which itself has very decided digestive pro¬
perties, and which possesses, even after long washing, a
slightly acid reaction. However, this point is reserved, for
the pulp to which it refers is difficult to wash and only
yields to water very slowly the soluble ferment it retains.
It is besides very aqueous : 54 grams of this pulp left
upon evaporation only2-5 grams of a solid residue having
a gummy appearance.

20 grams of this pulp, well washed with water and
containing 0*9 gram of^dry substance, were put to digest,
at 40° C., with 56 grams of moist fibrin and 200 c.c. of
water. The digestion was prolonged during forty-eight
hours, some drops of prussic acid being added to prevent
putrefaction. The fibrin was completely dissolved : the
weight of insoluble residue was inferior to that of the
pulp introduced.

10 grams of well washed pulp (leaving after drying
0‘ 43 gram of solid matter) were digested at 40° C. with 17
grams of moist fibrin and 50 c.c. of water, with the addi¬
tion of one drop of hydrocyanic acid. The whole was
dissolved at the end of twenty hours, save a residue
weighing 3 grams in the moist state, or 0*71 gram after
desiccation. The filtered liquid gave no precipitate with
nitrio acid.

In these last experiments there was not only solution
of the fibrin but transformation into peptone, i.e., com¬
plete digestion. The filtered liquid, having been con-

284

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 11, 1 8; ».

centrated in a stove, gave with alcohol an abundant
precipitate, which collected at the bottom of the vessel in
clots of gummy appearance and presenting all the cha¬
racters of peptone of fibrin. It was entirely dissolved in
water, and the aqueous solution was not coagulated by
heat; it gave no precipitate either with nitric acid or
with ferrocyanide of potassium added to acetic acid.
Heated with an excess of nitric acid, it gave a yellow
liquor (xanthoproteic acid). With acetate of lead it gave
a slight turbidity, with tannin an abundant precipitate.
Diluted with water it gave with picric acid a yellow pre¬
cipitate soluble in an excess of peptone and in a great
excess of water or picric acid. This is, according to M.
Henninger, a very delicate reaction of fibrin peptone.

The alcoholic liquors from which the papa’ine had been
precipitated were distilled in vacuo at a low temperature
and put into contact with fibrin and water. The fibrin
was not dissolved; the ferment had been entirely preci¬
pitated by the alcohol.

It results from these experiments that Carica Papaya
contains an energetic digestive ferment that can be easily
isolated.

THE ACTION OF HEAT IN VACUO ON METALS.*

BY T. A. EDISON.

In the course of my experiments on electric lighting I
have developed some striking phenomena arising from
the heating of metals by flames and by the electric current,
especially wires of platinum, and platinum alloyed with
iridium. These experiments are in progress.

The first fact observed was that platinum lost weight
when heated in a flame of hydrogen, that the metal
coloured the flame green, and that these two results con¬
tinued until the whole of the platinum in contact with
the flame had disappeared. A platinum wire four-
thousandths of a inch in diameter, and weighing 306
mgrms., was bunched together and suspended in a hydro¬
gen flame. It lost weight at the rate of a fraction less
than 1 mgrm. per hour as long as it was suspended in the
flame. When a platinum wire is stretched between two
clamping posts, and arranged to pass through a hydrogen
flame, it is coloured a light green ; but when the tempera¬
ture of the wire is raised above that of the flame, by
passing a current through it, the flame is coloured a deep
green. To ascertain the diminution in the weight of a
platinum wire when heated by the electric current, I
placed between two clamping posts a wire five-thousandths
of an inch in diameter, and weighing 266 mgrms. This
wire, after it was brought to incandescence for twenty
minutes by the current, lost 1 mgrm. The same wire
was then raised to incandescence ; for twenty minutes it
gave a loss of 3 mgrms. Afterwards it was kept incan¬
descent for one hour and ten minutes, at which time it
weighed 258 mgrms. — a total loss of 8 mgrms. Another
wire, weighing 343 mgrms., was kept moderately incan¬
descent for nine consecutive hours, after which it weighed
301 mgrms., showing a total loss of 42 mgrms. A plati¬
num wire twenty-thousandths of an inch in diameter was
wound in the form of a spiral one-eighth of an inch in
diameter and one-half an inch in length. The two ends
of the spiral were secured to clamping posts, and the
whole apparatus was covered with a glass shade 2^ inches
in diameter and 3 inches high. Upon bringing the spiral
to incandescence for twenty minutes that part of the
globe in line with the sides of the spiral became slightly
darkened ; in five hours the deposit became so thick that
the incandescent spiral could not be seen through the
deposit. This film, which was most perfect, consisted of
platinum, and I have no doubt but that large plates of
glass might be coated economically by placing them on
each side of a large sheet of platinum, kept incandescent
by the electric current. This loss in weight, together

# Paper read before the American Association for the
Advancement of Science ; Saratoga Meeting.

with the deposit upon the glass, presented a very serious
obstacle to the use of metallic wires for giving light by
incandescence, but this was easily surmounted after the
cause was ascertained. I coated the wire forming the
spiral with the oxide of magnesium, by dusting upon it
finely powrdered acetate of magnesium : while incan¬
descent the salt was decomposed by the heat, and there
remained a strongly adherent coating of the oxide. This
spiral so coated was covered with a glass shade, and
brought to incandescence for several minutes ; but instead
of a deposit of platinum upon the glass, there was a
deposit of the oxide of magnesia. From this and other
experiments I became convinced that this effect was due
to the washing action of the air upon the spiral ; that
the loss of weight in and the coloration of the hydrogen
flame were also due to the wearing away of the surface
of the platinum by the attrition produced by the impact of
the stream of gases upon the highly incandescent surface,
and not to volatilization, as commonly understood ; and
I venture to say, although I have not tried the experi¬
ment, that metallic sodium cannot be volatilized in high
vacua by the heat derived from incandescent platinum ;
any effect that may be produced will be due to the wash¬
ing action of the residual air. After the experiment last
described I placed the spiral of platinum in the receiver
of a common air-pump, and arranged it in such a manner
that the current could pass through it, while the receiver
was exhausted. At a pressure of 2 millimetres the spiral
was kept at incandescence for two hours before the deposit
was sufficient to become visible. In another experiment,
at a higher exhaustion, it required five hours before a
deposit became visible. In a sealed glass bulb, exhausted
by a Sprengel pump to a point where a quarter of an inch
spark from an induction-coil would not pass between
points 1 millimetre apart, was placed a spiral, the con¬
necting wires passing through the glass. This spiral has
been kept at the most dazzling incandescence for hours
without the slightest deposit becoming visible.

I will now describe other and far more important
phenomena observed in my experiments. If a short
length of platinum wire one-thousandth of a inch in
diameter be held in the flame of a Bunsen burner, at
some part it will fuse, and a piece of the wire will be
bent at an angle by the action of the globule of melted
platinum ; in some cases there are several globules formed
simultaneously, and the wire assumes a zigzag shape.
With a wire four-thousandths of an inch in diameter
this effect does not take place, as the temperature cannot
be raised to equal that of the smaller wire, owing to the
increased radiating surface and mass. After heating, if
the wire be examined under a microscope, that part of
the surface which has been incandescent will be found
covered with innumerable cracks. If the wire be placed
between clamping posts, and heated to incandescence for
twenty minutes, by the passage of an electric current, the
cracks will be so enlarged as to be seen with the naked
eye ; the wire, under the microscope, presents a shrunken
appearance, and is full of deep cracks. If the current is
continued for several hours these effects will so increase
that the wire will fall to peices. This disintegration has
been noticed in platina long subjected to the action of a
flame by Prof. John W. Draper. The failure of the
process of lighting invented by the French chemist, Tessie
du Motay, who raised sheets of platinum to incandescence
by introducing them into a hydrogen flame, was due -to
the rapid disintegration of the metal. I have ascertained
the cause of this phenomenon, and have succeeded in
eliminating that which produces it, and in doing so have
produced a metal in a state hitherto unknown, and which
is absolutely stable at a temperature where nearly all
substances melt or are consumed ; a metal which, although
originally soft and pliable, becomes as homogeneous as
glass and as rigid as steel. When wound in the form of
a spiral it is as springy and elastic when at the most
dazzling incandescence as when cold, and cannot be
annealed by any process now commonly known, for the

October 11, It r9.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

285

cause of this shrinking and cracking of the wire is due
entirely to the expansion of the air in the mechanical
and physical pores of the platinum, and the contraction
upon the escape of the air. Platinum as sold in com¬
merce may be compared to sandstone, in which the
whole is made of a great number of particles with many
air spaces. The sandstone upon melting becomes homo¬
geneous and no air spaces exist.

With platinum or any metal the air spaces may be
eliminated and the metal made homogeneous by a very
simple process. This process I will now describe. I had
made a large number of platinum spirals, all of the same
size and from the same quality of wire ; each spiral
presented to the air a radiating surface of three-sixteenths
of an inch ; five of these were brought by the electric
current up to the melting-point, the light was measured
by a photometer, and the average light was equal to four
standard candles for each spiral just at the melting-point.
One of the same kind of spirals was placed in the receiver
of an air-pump, and the air exhausted to 2 millimetres ;
a weak current was then passed through the wire, to
slightly warm it for the purpose of assisting the passage
of the air from the pores of the metal into the vacuum.
The temperature of the wire was gradually augmented, at
intervals of ten minutes, until it became red. The object
of slowly increasing the temperature was to allow the air
to pass out gradually and not explosively. Afterward
the current was increased at- intervals of fifteen minutes.
Before each increase in the current the wire was allowed
to cool, and the contraction and expansion at these high
temperatures caused the wire to weld together at the
points previously containing air. In one hour and forty
minutes this spiral had reached such a temperature with¬
out melting that it was giving a light of twenty-five
standard candles, whereas it would undoubtedly have
melted before it gave a light of five candles had it not
been put through the above process. Several more spirals
were afterwards tried, with the same result. One spiral,
which had been brought to these high temperatures more
slowly, gave a light equal to thirty standard candles. In
the open air this spiral gave nearly the same light,
although it required more current to keep it at the same
temperature. Upon examination of these spirals, which
had passed through the vacuum process, by the aid of a
microscope, no cracks were visible ; the wire had become
as white as silver, and had a polish which could not be
given it by any other means. The wire had a less dia¬
meter than before treatment, and it was exceedingly
difficult to melt in the oxy-hydrogen flame. As compared
with untreated platinum, it was found that it was as hard
as the steel wire used in pianos, and that it could not be
annealed at any temperature.

My experiments with many metals treated by this pro¬
cess have proved to my satisfaction, and I have no hesita¬
tion in stating that what is known as annealing of metals
to make them soft and pliable is nothing more than the
cracking of the metal. In every case where a hard drawn
wire had been annealed a powerful microscope revealed
myriads of cracks in the metal. Since the experiments
of which I have just spoken I have, by the aid of Sprengel
mercury pumps, produced higher exhaustion, and have,
by consuming five hours in excluding the air from the
wire and intermitting the current a great number of
times, succeeded in obtaining a light of eight standard
candles from a spiral of wire with a total radiating surface
of l-32nd of an inch, or a surface about equal to one
grain of buckwheat. With spirals of this small size
which have not passed through the process, the average
amount of light given out before melting is less that one
standard candle. Thus I am enabled, by the increased
capacity of platinum, to withstand high temperatures, to
employ small radiating surfaces, and thus reduce the
energy required for candle light. I can now obtain eight
separate jets, each giving out an absolutely steady light,
| and each equal to sixteen standard candles, or a total of
128- candles, by the expenditure of 30,000 foot-pounds of

energy, or less than one horse-power. As a matter of
curiosity I have made spirals of other metals, and
excluded the air from them in the manner stated. Com¬
mon iron wire may be made to give a light greater than
platinum not heated. The iron becomes as hard as steel,
and just as elastic. Nickel is far more refractory than
iron. Steel wire used in pianos becomes decarbonized,
but remains hard, and becomes the colour of silver.
Aluminium melts only at a white heat.

In conclusion, it may be interesting to state that the
melting-point of many oxides is dependent on the manner
of applying the heat ; for instance, pure oxide of zirco¬
nium does not fuse in the flame of the oxy-hydrogen
blow-pipe, while it melts like wax and conducts electricity
when on an incandescent platinum spiral which is at a
far lower temperature ; on the other hand oxide of alu¬
minum easily melts in the oxy-hydrogen flame, while it
only vitrifies on the platinum spiral.

PILL COATING.*

BY ROBERT H. DIMOCK.

Pills without coat are, when freshly made, undoubtedly
most active, but if kept for any length of time, grow
hard and more or less insoluble. Mr. H. M. Wilder’s
recommendation to keep them in mass and make them
as required (as in the case of blue mass, and directed by
the British Pharmacopoeia) is a good suggestion, but some
inconveniences are connected with it which interfere
with its general adoption. Inclosing or coating the mass,
when freshly made in the form in which the pills are to
be taken, and thus preventing drying and hardening, is an
improvement ; and when we not only preserve the pills
from deterioration through atmospheric influences, but
also improve the appearance and conceal the taste, it
would seem as though we had reached perfection. Still,
there remains an opportunity for experiment to fill a
want felt at the prescription counter ; we need a coating
which can be applied to the fresh pill as soon as formed,
and which will dry sufficiently in a few minutes to permit
the pill being placed in a box. I hope to supply that
need, in this paper, and think the process will enable
any pharmacist to coat all the pills he dispenses with a
permanent soluble coating.

Sugar, as a coating, is very beautiful in appearance,
and pills so coated are fairly active, when well made ;
but the use of sugar-coated pills compels the druggist
to depend upon the wholesale manufacturer, as with no
means or machines can he coat, on a small scale, pills
'with sugar to compare in appearance with those in the
market. The necessity for drying the pills, to prevent
the discoloration of the sugar and allow perfect adherence
of coating, and the time required to bake on the coating,
removes sugar, when used alone, from those materials
which may be employed at the prescription counter with
economy of time.

It seems hardly necessary to speak of resinous coatings,
as apart from the insolubility of the resin the same dry,
hard pill is needed as in the case of sugar. Dipping in
gum, or sugar solution, and then rolling in either
powdered starch, slippery elm, French chalk, etc., fails
to produce a coating which I would take much pride in;
the pill dries slowly, and when dispensed in an excess of
powder without drying, complaints are raised that the
coating adheres to the fingers or to the patient’s mouth,
and that the pill tastes very bad. When thoroughly dry,
I find these coatings very insoluble, more so than at first
I would have thought possible.

A mass for coating, composed of flaxseed, Irish moss
and sugar (as recommended in the Druggists' Circular )
was tried, but was found to harden slowly and to mould
easily, but to be very soluble. Gelatin has given me

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, September,
1879.

286

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October li, 187#.

the best satisfaction, and more closely approaches, I
think, what we want in a quick yet efficient coating, as
pills can be coated while soft, the coating hardens
quickly, is elegant in appearance and does not require
much skill in applying. Among the disadvantages in its
use should be mentioned insolubility of coating, if the
gelatin has not been carefully selected ; moulding, if the
coating is too thick ; stickiness of coating, from careless¬
ness about concentration of solution ; the time required
and the trouble in handling the pills on needles ; inability
to keep the mass ready for use, owing to decomposition,
and the injury caused by successive heatings.

Moulding of the gelatin, both in solution and on the
pill, will be, to a certain extent, remedied by the addition
of 10 grains salicylic acid in solution with 8 grains borax
to 1 ounce gelatin and ^ ounce water. If the water-
bath is made properly shallow, time will be saved in
melting ; but the injury caused by heating the mass
many times can only be obviated, I think, by using the
solution described below. The time occupied in the
hardening of the coat sufficiently for placing the pills in
a box is not under fifteen minutes in the most favourable
dry and cool weather, while in mine it will average ten
minutes.

Of the different kinds of coatings having gelatins for
their base, Garod's consists of gelatin, 5 oz ; gum arabic,
3 oz. ; sugar, 2 oz. ; water, q. s. ; it does not harden as
quickly as gelatin alone, and has not as bright and fine
an appearance, but is very soluble. It has probably
been suggested by the composition used for capsules.

The coating most satisfactory to me, perhaps because
originating with me, is made as follows : —

Take of —

Gelatin . 3vj

Acid Acetic, No. 8 . f?i 5vj

Spirit of Nitrons Ether . f 3j

Granulated Gum Arabic . 5j

Oil of Gaultheria . tn,y

Dissolve the gelatin and gum in the acetic acid with
the aid of a water-bath, then add the other ingredients,
and mix. If the coating solution is to be used with
needles alone, substitute for the gum two drachms more
of gelatin. Keep securely corked in a wide mouth
bottle. Make the pill mass a very little softer than
ordinarily ; use as little powder as possible in rolling out ;
when the mass is nearly brought to the proper length
for cutting, lay a thread long enough to reach over the
sides of the machine before the pill mass, then roll to the
proper length and form pills by the machine. With
some masses it may be necessary to cut with a sharp
knife a slit in the top of the roll, then lay the thread in
the slit and close by rolling. If the mass is of proper
consistency and the machine handled right, every pill
will be nicely formed and all connected by the thread.
Then take hold of each end of the string of pills, shake
off powder if there is any adhering, dip in the coating
solution and twirl as though it was a toy buzz- wheel,
which will throw off excess of coating ; then hang up by
placing pins through each end of the thread and then
into wood, and expose to as cool a draught of air as
possible. When hard enough to place in the box, cut
the thread close to each pill with a pair of scissors or
sharp knife, thus leaving no hole in the coating ; the
little piece of thread in each pill in length equal to the
diameter of the pill should do no harm.

Pills can be coated in this way, I think, in less time
than by any other method. They compare favourably
in appearance, solubility, etc., with pills coated with any
other substance, or with the same substance in any other
and longer way. With sufficient practice, every pill can
be caught on the thread and neatly rolled without
touching with the fingers ; twenty-four pills, or more,
according to the size of the machine, can thus be coated
as easily as one by the needle, as ordinarily used, and as
a matter of course they dry quicker, as in coating with

the needle the last pill coated will not be hard when the
first is ready for the box. Even if at first only half the
number of pills adhere on the thread, they may be coated
as easily as one, and the remainder can be coated on the
needles until the manipulator improves.

Some of the advantages of this coating are that it is
always ready for use — and thus injury caused by repeated
heating is prevented — it does not mould or decompose, it
drys or hardens quickly, can be applied to pills as soon
as made, and when applied is more soluble than, gelatin
alone.

I would say, in conclusion, that I have been able by
practice to make the thread work successfully on my
machine, but there is, perhaps, enough of trouble in
learning how, to make it doubtful that this method will
be of general use ; still it is an idea which is freely given
for what it may be worth. The coating may not be
entirely new to others, but it is to me, and, as far as has
been possible, I have reviewed the pharmaceutical
literature on this subject. It may be capable of improve¬
ment ; and for such purpose, and for a trial of what I
believe to be its advantages over other coatings, it is now
placed before the profession.

CALCIUM PHOSPHITE.*

BY R. ROTHER.

When sugar is added to saturation to a solution of
calcium hypophosphite, the latter is precipitated. This
fact is not generally known, and hence it is highly
probable that a dense syrup of the mixed hypophosphites.
contains little if any of the calcium salt. Therefore,
only a moderately thin syrup is certain of representing
the requisite amount of calcium as one of the components
of the compound syrup of the hypophosphites. In the
presence of iron a precipitate also forms, but the propor¬
tion of sugar has apparently no share in this change.
The statement is circulated, but it is not clear on what
authority, that ferric hypophosphite, when contained in
such a syrup, easily reverts to the ferrous form by reason
of the reducing action of the hypophosphorous acid. In
view of this supposition, it was proposed to substitute
the very soluble ferrous salt for the uncertain and diffi¬
cultly soluble ferric hypophosphite. This compound
syrup is not, however, much in vogue. The writer once
prepared such a syrup, but found, contrary to expectation,
that the ferrous salt readily oxidized, even in the presence
of sugar forming the dark green and very soluble ferroic
(ferro-ferric) hypophosphite. Now, if the ferric salt
suffered a reduction, it seems that this intermediate
ferric compound would result without yielding a preci¬
pitate, unless the latter were occasioned by the generated
phosphoric acid as calcium phosphate. The fact is, that
ferric hypophosphite occurs in several modifications, of
which the crystalline variety is next to insoluble in
hypophosphorous acid, and hence it is this compound
which deposits from the syrup. Having on hand a quan¬
tity of this sediment, the writer attempted to regenerate
it by reducing it to the ferrous condition by the inter¬
vention of sulphurous acid. This treatment, however,
resulted in an altogether unexpected reaction, wherein
the sulphurous acid was decomposed into sulphuric acid,
sulphur and oxygen ; the latter, reacting upon the hypo¬
phosphorous acid of the sediment, converted it into*
phosphorous acid. The same result was obtained by
mixing sulphurous and hypophosphorous acids together.
In moderate concentration the precipitation of sulphur
was instantaneous, but in dilute solutions this was pre¬
ceded by a transient yellow coloration of the liquid.
When solutions of calcium hypophosphite and sodium
sulphite are mixed calcium sulphite is precipitated. Th*e
addition of chlorhydric acid to this mixture redissolves

* From the Pharmacist for August, 1879.

October 1M879]. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

287

the calcium sulphite ; but no further reaction sets in
until both the hypophosphorous and sulphurous acids are
entirely freed by the addition of enough chlorhydric acid.
The evidence of the resumption of change appears in the
production of the deep yellow solution above mentioned ;
this persists for about five minutes, more or less, accord¬
ing to the degree of concentration, and is then followed
by a copious deposit of sulphur, mixed with calcium
sulphate. The yellow coloration is by no means due to
nascent sulphur in solution. It is caused by the inter¬
mediate formation of hyposulphurous acid, H2S02 (not
the thiosulphuric acid, H2S203, formerly called hypo-
sulphurous). The decomposition of the sulphurous acid
is complete in six or eight hours. The solution, after
filtering off the sulphur, is but mildly acid, and yields,
on the addition of ammonia, a crystalline precipitate of
calcium phosphite. This precipitate, however, contains
less than half of the phosphorous acid generated, owing
to the fact that hypophosphorous acid is monobasic, whilst
phosphorous acid is dibasic, and also that a small loss of
calcium is incurred as sulphate. Therefore, the liquid
filtered from the calcium phosphite, on being treated
with calcium chloride, gives »n additional precipitate of
calcium phosphite. But if the liquid filtered from the
sulphur be treated with calcium carbonate, a much larger
amount of calcium phosphite is thrown down than with
ammonia. If after several hours the mixture is filtered,
and to the neutral filtrate calcium chloride be added, a
further precipitation of calcium phosphite takes place.
The addition of a very little ammonia to the precipitate,
with calcium chloride, always causes this to become more
distinctly crystalline and to subside more rapidly. The
calcium phosphite is most speedily and conveniently
washed by decantation.

Calcium phosphite is a white crystalline powder, which,
when heated in a test tube, evolves spontaneously in¬
flammable hydric phosphide, accompanied by slight de¬
tonations. When raised to a certain temperature it
suddenly becomes incandescent for a moment and then
leaves a residue of calcium phosphate.

When 60 grains of calcium hypophosphite are converted
into phosphite by the addition of 180 grains of sodium
sulphite, 120 grains of chlorhydric acid and 4 fluid ounces
of water, filtration after a lapse of six or eight hours,
exposure of the filtrate to dissipate excess of sulphurous
oxide and final addition of ammonia, the yield is only
4075 grains ; but the amount of phosphorous acid pre¬
sent is sufficient to produce 97 '4 grains of the salt, as
follows : —

CaH4(P02)2 + 02 — CaH4(P03)o, or CaHP03 + H,POo, and
CaH4(F02)2! (170) : CaHP03OH2, (138)::60?48-£

and as the quantity of calcium contained in the hypo-
phosphite, as seen from the above, is only half enough to
neutralize the phosphorous acid, giving theoretically but
487 grains of the phosphite, it is evident that the intro¬
duction of the requisite amount of calcium will afford
double this, or 97’4 grains. The difference between 487
and 4075 grains is loss attributable to calcium sulphate
and solubility of the phosphite. It appears that no
phosphoric acid is generated, as decomposition of the
precipitate with oxalic acid and treatment of the filtrate
with ammonio-magnesian sulphate fails to give the
characteristic precipitate.

SPECIFIC GRAVITIES OF FATS, RESINS, ETC.*

BY DR. H. HAGER.

The author first describes a simple method for deter¬
mining these specific gravities . This consists in melting
the respective fat, dropping it into a flat-bottomed vessel

containing alcohol, in such a manner that the point from
which the drops are allowed to fall is not over three
centimetres distant from the surface of the alcohol, and
that each drop be allowed to fall on a different spot.
The fat globules thus deposited at the bottom are then
removed to a liquid, consisting of either alcohol, water
or glycerin, or mixtures of these, until after careful
stirring and reduction or increase of the density, by the
addition of one or another of the above liquids, the fat
globules are held in equilibrium in any part of the liquid.
The specific gravity of the latter is then determined, and
this is, of course, at the same time the specific gravity of
the fat. The author then gives a list of specific gravities,
which is here reproduced : —

Sp. gr. at 15—16* C.

Butter Eat, clarified by settling , . 0*938 - 0*940

„ „ several months old . . 0*936 - 0*937

Artificial Butter . 0*924 - 0*930

Hog’s Lard, fresh . 0*931 - 0*932

„ „ old . 0*940-0*942

Beef Tallow . 0*925 - 0*929

Sheep’s Tallow . 0*937 — 0*040

Beef and Sheep’s Tallow, mixed 1 :1 . 0*936 — 0*938

Butter of Cacao, fresh . 0*950 - 0*952

„ „ very old .... 0*945-0*946

„ and Beef Tallow, mixed 1:1 . . 0*938— 0*939

Expressed Oil of Nutmegs .... 1*016 — 1*018
„ „ „ extracted

with carbon disulphide . 1*014 — 1*015

Expressed Oil of Nutmegs, adulterated

with fatty acids . 1*010-1*011

Expressed Oil of Nutmegs, crystal¬
line . 0*965-0*966

Stearic Acid, melted and in drops. . 0*964

„ „ crystalline . 0*967 — 0*969

Wax, yellow . 0*959 — 0*962

„ African . . 0*960

„ yellow and resin, mixed 1:1 . . 0*973 — 0*976

,, „ and paraffin, mixed 1:1 . 0*916 — 0*919

„ „ „ yellow ceresin,

mixed 2:1 . 0*942-0*943

Ceresin, yellow . 0*925—0*928

Wax, Japan . 0*977—0*978

„ „ very old . 0*968—0*970

,, white, very old and true . . . 0*963—0*964

„ „ new . 0*916 — 0*925

„ „ „ and stearic acid,

mixed 1:1 . . 0*945

Wax, sp. gr. 0*963 and stearic acid,

sp. gr. 0*963 mixed 1:1 . 0*975

Ceresin, very white, pure . 0*905 - 0*908

„ white . 0*923 — 0*924

Araucaria Wax . 0*990

Resin (fr. pine), yellow transparent . 1*083- 1*084

„ whitish, opaque . 1*044—1*047

„ very dark colophony .... 1*100

Shellac, light coloured . 1*113 — 1*114

„ darker . 1*123

„ bleached . 0*965 — 0*968

Dammar, old. . . 1*075

Copal, East Indian . 1*063 — 1*070

„ West Indian . 1*070—1*800

„ very old . 1*054-1*055

Benzoin, Siam . 1*235

„ Penang . 1*145—1*155

„ Borneo . 1*165-1*170

Guaiac Resin, pure . 1*236 - 1*237

Amber . 1*074—1*094

Sandarac . 1*038 — 1*044

Mastic . 1*056-1*060

Balsam of Tolu, old brittle . . . . 1*231-1*232

(Kamala . 1*115— 1*120)

(Lycopodium . 1*016 — 1*020)

* Pharm. Centrcilh., 1879, 132.
Remedies, September, 1879.

Reprinted from New

Many of these figures may be used as criteria for dis-
, tinguishing the various bodies.

288 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 11, 1879

RADIANT MATTER. *

BT WILLIAM CROOKES, F.R.S.

To throw light on the title of this lecture I must go
back more than sixty years — to 1816. Paraday, then a
mere student and ardent experimentalist, was twenty-
four years old, and at this early period of his career he
delivered a series of lectures on the General Properties of
Matter, and one of them bore the remarkable title, On
Radiant Matter . The great philosopher’s notes of this
lecture are to be found in Dr. Bence J ones’s ‘ Life and
Letters of Faraday,’ and I will here quote a passage in
which he first employs the expression Radiant Matter

“ If we conceive a change as far beyond vaporization as
that is above fluidity, and then take into account also the
proportional increased extent of alteration as the changes
rise, we shall perhaps, if we can form any conception at
all, not fall far short o Radiant Matter ; and as in the
last conversion many qualities were lost, so here also many
more would disappear.”

Faraday was evidently engrossed with this far-reaching
speculation, for three years later — in 1819 — we find him
bringing fresh evidence and argument to strengthen his
startling hypothesis. His notes are now more extended,
and they show that in the intervening three years he had
thought much and deeply on this higher form of matter.
He first points out that matter may be classed into four
states — solid, liquid, gaseous, and radiant — these modifica¬
tions depending upon differences in their several essential
properties. He admits that the existence of Radiant
Matter is as yet unproved, and then proceeds, in a series
of ingenious analogical arguments, to show the probability
of its existence.^

If, in the beginning of this century, we had asked/
What is a Gas ? the answer then would have been that it
is matter, expanded and rarefied to such an extent as to
be impalpable, save when set in violent motion ; invisible,
incapable of assuming or of being reduced into any
definite form like solids, or of forming drops like liquids ;

* A lecture delivered to the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, at Sheffield, Friday, August 22,
1879. ....

I may now notice a curious progression in physical
properties accompanying changes of form, and which is
perhaps sufficient to induce, in the inventive and sanguine
philosopher, a considerable degree of belief in the associa¬
tion of the radiant form with the others in the set of changes
I have mentioned 1

“As we ascend from the solid to the fluid and gaseous
states, physical properties diminish in number and variety,
each state losing some of those which belonged to the
preceding state. When solids are converted into fluids, all
the varieties of hardness and softness are necessarily lost.
Crystalline and other shapes are destroyed. Opacity
and colour frequently give way to a colourless trans¬
parency, and a general mobility of particles is con¬
ferred.

“Passing onward to the gaseous state, still more
of the evident characters of bodies are annihilated.

The immense differences in their weight almost
disappear; the remains of difference in colour that
were left, are lost. Transparency becomes universal,
and they are all elastic. They now form but one
set of substances, and the varieties of density, hard¬
ness, opacity, colour, elasticity and form, which
render the number of solids and fluids almost
infinite, are now supplied by a few slight variations
in weight, and some unimportant shades of colour.

“ To those, therefore, who admit the radiant form
of matter, no difficulty exists in the simplicity of the
properties it possesses, but rather an argument in
their favour. These persons show you a gradual
resignation of properties in the matter we can

appreciate as the matter ascends in the scale -

of forms, and they would be surprised if that effect were to
cease at the gaseous state. They point out the greater exer¬
tions which Nature makes at each step of the change, and
think that, consistently, it ought to be greatest in the
passage from the gaseous to the radiant form.” — ‘ Life and
Letters of Faraday,’ vol. i., p. 308.

always ready to expand where no resistance is offered, and
to contract on being subj ected to pressure. Sixty years ago
such were the chief attributes assigned to gases. Modem
research, however, has greatly enlarged and modified our
views on the constitution of these elastic fluids. Gases
are now considered to be composed of an almost infinite
number of small particles or molecules, which are con¬
stantly moving in every direction with velocities of all
conceivable magnitudes. As these molecules are exceed¬
ingly numerous, it follows that no molecule can move far
in any direction without coming in contact with some
other molecule. But if we exhaust the air or gas con¬
tained in a closed vessel, the number of molecules becomes
diminished, and the distance through which any one of
them can move without coming in contact with another
is increased, the length of the mean free path being
inversely proportional to the number of molecules present.
The further this process is carried the longer becomes the
average distance a molecule can travel before entering
into collision ; or, in other words, the longer its mean
free path, the more the physical properties of the gas or
air are modified. Thus, at a certain point, the phenomena
of the radiometer become possible, and on pushing the
rarefaction still further, i.e., decreasing the number of
molecules in a given space and lengthening their mean
free path, the experimental results are obtainable to which
I am now about to call your attention. So distinct are
these phenomena from anything which occurs in air or
gas at the ordinary tension, that we are led to assume
that we are here brought face to face with Matter in a
Fourth state or condition, a condition as far removed from
the state of gas as a gas is from a liquid.

Mean Free Path. Radiant Matter.

I have long believed that a well-known appearance ob¬
served in vacuum tubes is closely related to the phenomena
of the mean free path of the molecules. When the negative
pole is examined while the discharge from an induction-
coil is passing through an exhausted tube, a dark space is
seen to surround it. This dark space is found to increase
and diminish as the vacuum is varied, in the same way
that the mean free path of the molecules lengthens and
contracts. As the one is perceived by the mind’s eye to
get greater, so the other is seen by the bodily eye to
increase in size ; and if the vacuum is insufficient to
permit much play of the molecules before they enter into
collision, the passage of electricity shows that the “dark
space” has shrunk to small dimensions. We naturally
infer that the dark space is the mean free path of the
molecules of the residual gas, an inference confirmed by
experiment.

I will endeavour to render this “ dark space ” visible to
all present. Here is a tube (Fig. 1), having a pole in the

centre in the form of a metal disk, and other poles at eacft
end. The centre pole is made negative, and the two end
poles connected together are made the positive terminal.
The dark space will be in the centre. When the exhaus¬
tion is not very great the dark space extends only a little

October 11, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

289

on each side of the negative pole in the centre. When the
exhaustion is good, as in the tube before you, and I turn
on the coil, the dark space is seen
to extend for about an inch on each
side of the pole.

Here, then, we see the induction
spark actually illuminating the lines
of molecular pressure caused by the
excitement of the negative pole.

The thickness of this dark space is
the measure of the mean free path
between successive collisions of the
molecules of the residual gas. The
extra velocity with which the nega¬
tively electrified molecules rebound
from the excited pole keeps back the
more slowly moving molecules which
are advancing towards that pole. A
conflict occurs at the boundary of the
dark space, where the luminous
margin bears witness to the energy of the discharge.

Therefore the residual gas — or, as I prefer to call it, the
gaseous residue — within the dark space is in an entirely
different state to that of the r.-sidual gas in vessels at a
lower degree of exhaustion. To quote the words of our
last year’s President, in his Address at Dublin : —

“In the exhausted column we have a vehicle for
electricity not constant like an ordinary conductor, but
itself modified by the passage of the discharge, and per¬
haps subject to laws differing materially from those which
it obeys at atmospheric pressure.”

In the vessels with the lower degree of exhaustion, the
length of the mean free path of the molecules is exceed¬
ingly small as compared with the dimensions of the bulb,
and the properties belonging to the ordinary gaseous state
of matter, depending upon constant collisions, can be
observed. But in the phenomena now about to be
examined, so high is the exhaustion carried that the dark
space around the negative pole has widened out till it
entirely fills the tube. By great rarefaction the mean
free path has become so long that the hits in a given time
in comparison to the misses may be disregarded, and the
average molecule is now allowed to obey its own motions
or laws without interference. The mean free path, in
fact, is comparable to the dimensions of the vessel,
and we have no longer to deal with a continuous
portion of matter, as would be the case were the
tubes less highly exhausted, but we must here con¬
template the molecules individually. In these
highly exhausted vessels the molecules of the gaseous
residue are able to dart across the tube with com¬
paratively few collisions, and radiating from the
pole with enormous velocity, they assume properties
so novel and so characteristic as to entirely justify
the application of the term borrowed from Faraday,
that of Radiant Matter.

Radiant Matter exerts powerful Phosphoro genic
Action where it strikes.

I have mentioned that the Radiant Matter within
the dark space excites luminosity where its velocity
is arrested by residual gas outside the dark space.

But if no residual gas is left, the molecules will have
their velocity arrested by the sides of the glass ;
and here we come to the first and one of the most
noteworthy properties of Radiant Matter discharged
from the negative pole — its power of exciting phos¬
phorescence when it strikes against solid matter.

The number of bodies which respond luminously to
this molecular bombardment is very great, and the re¬
sulting colours are of every variety. G-lass, for instance,
is highly phosphorescent when exposed to a stream of
Radiant Matter. Here (Fig. 2) are three bulbs composed
of different glass ; one is uranium glass (a), which phos¬
phoresces of a dark green colour ; another is English

glass (5), which phosphoresces of a blue colour ; and the
third (c) is soft G-rman elass — of which most of the

Fig. 2.

apparatus before you is made — which phosphoresces of a
bright apple-green.

My earlier experiments were almost entirely carried on
by the aid of the phosphorescence which glass takes up
when it is under the influence of the radiant discharge ;
but many other substances possess this phosphorescent
power in a still higher degree than glass. For instance,
here is some of the luminous sulphide of calcium prepared
according to M. Ed. Becquerel’s description. When the
sulphide is exposed to light — even candlelight — it phos¬
phoresces for hours with a bluish white colour. It is,
however, much more strongly phosphorescent to the
molecular discharge in a good vacuum, as you will see
when I pass the discharge through this tube.

Other substances besides English, German, and uranium
glass, and Becquerel’s luminous sulphides, are also phos¬
phorescent. The rare mineral Phenakite (aluminate of
glucinum) phosphoresces blue ; the mineral Spodumene (a
silicate of aluminium and lithium) phosphoresces a rich
golden yellow ; the emerald gives out a crimson light.
But without exception, the diamond is the most sensitive
substance I have yet met for ready and brilliant phos¬
phorescence. Here is a very curious fluorescent diamond,
green by daylight, colourless by candlelight. It is mounted
in the centre of an exhausted bulb (Fig. 3), and the molecu¬

Fig. 3.

lar discharge will be directed on it from below upwards.
On darkening the room you see the diamond shines with as
much light as a candle, phosphorescing of a bright green.

290

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October n, JS79

Next to the diamond the ruby is one of the most
remarkable stones for phosphorescing. In this tube (Fig. 4)
is a fine collection of ruby pebbles. As soon as the induc¬
tion spark is turned on you will see these rubies shining

I have here a tube (Fig. 5) which will serve to illustrate
the dependence of the phosphorescence of the glass on
the degree of exhaustion. The two poles are at a and b,
and at the end (c) is a small supplementary tube

Fig. 4.

with a brilliant rich red tone, as if they were glowing hot.
It scarcely matters what colour the ruby is, to begin with.
In this tube of natural rubies there are stones of all
colours — the deep red and also the pale pink ruby. There
are some so pale as to be almost colourless, and some of
the highly-prized tint of pigeon’s blood ; but under the
impact of Radiant Matter they all phosphoresce with
about the same colour.

Now the ruby is nothing but crystallized alumina with
a little colouring-matter. In a paper by Ed. Becquerel,*
published twenty years ago, he describes the appearance-
of alumina as glowing with a rich red colour in the phos-
phoroscope. Here is some precipitated alumina prepared
in the most careful manner. It has been heated to
whiteness, and you see it also glows under the molecular
discharge with the same rich red colour.

The spectrum of the red light emitted by these varieties
of alumina is the same as described by Becquerel twenty
years ago. There is one intense red line, a little below
the fixed line B in the spectrum, having a wave-length of
about 6S95. There is a continuous spectrum beginning
at about B, and a few fainter lines beyond it, but they
are so faint in comparison with this red line that they
may be neglected. This line is easily seen by examining
with a small pocket spectroscope the light reflected from
a good ruby.

There is one particular degree of exhaustion more
favourable than any other for the development of the
properties of Radiant Matter which are now under exa¬
mination. Roughly speaking it may be put at the
millionth of an atmosphere.^ At this degree of exhaus¬
tion the phosphorescence is very strong, and after that it
begins to diminish until the spark refuses to pass.*

* Annales de Chimie et de Physique, 3rd series, vol. lvii.,
p. 50, J859.

t TO millionth of an atmosphere = 0'00076 milm.

1315789 millionths of an atmosphere — TO milm.
1,000,000' „ „ „ — 760'0 milms.

„ ,, „ ,, —1 atmosphere.

X Nearly 100 years ago Mr. Wm. Morgan communicated
to the Royal Society a Paper entitled “ Electrical Experi¬
ments made to ascertain the Non-conducting Power of a
Perfect Vacuum, &c.” The following extracts from this
Paper, which was published in the ‘ Phil. Trans.’ for 1785
vol. lxxv., p. 272), will be read with interest : —

“ A mercurial gage about 15 inches long, carefully and
accurately boiled till every particle of air was expelled from
the inside, was coated with tin-foil 5 inches down from its
sealed end, and being inverted into mercury through a per¬
foration in the brass cap which covered the mouth of the
cistern ; the whole was cemented together, and the air was
exhausted from the inside of the cistern through a valve in
the brass cap, which producing a perfect vacuum in the gage
formed an instrument peculiarly well adapted for experi-

Fig. 5.

connected with the other by a narrow aperture, and
containing solid caustic potash. The tube has been
exhausted to a very high point, and the potash heated
so as to drive off moisture and injure the vacuum.
Exhaustion has then been re-commenced, and the alter¬
nate heating and exhaustion repeated until the tube
has been brought to the state in which it now appears
before you. When the induction spark is first turned
on nothing is visible — the vacuum is so high that
the tube is non-conducting. I now warm the potash
slightly and liberate a trace of aqueous vapour. Instantly
conduction commences and the green phosphorescence
flashes out along the length of the tube. I continue the
heat, so as to drive off more gas from the potash. The
green gets fainter, and now a wave of cloudy luminosity
sweeps over the tube, and stratifications appear, which
rapidly get narrower, until the spark passes along the tube
in the form of a narrow purple line. I take the lamp
away, and allow the potash to cool ; as it cools, the
aqueous vapour, which the heat had driven off, is re-ab¬
sorbed. The purple line broadens out, and breaks up into*
fine stratifications ; these get wider and travel towards
the potash tube. Now a wave of green light appears on
the glass at the other end, sweeping on and driving the
last pale stratification into the potash ; and now the tube
glows over its whole length with the green phosphores¬
cence. I might keep it before you, and show the green
growing fainter and the vacuum becoming non-conduct¬
ing ; but I should detain you too long, as time is required
for the absorption of the last traces of vapour by the
potash, and I must pass on to the next subject.

ments of this kind. Things being thus adjusted (a smal
wire having been previously fixed on the inside of the
cistern to form a communication between the brass cap and
the mercury, into which the gage was inverted) the coated
end was applied to the conductor of an electrical machine,
and notwithstanding every effort, neither the smallest ray
of light, nor the slightest charge, could ever be procured in
this exhausted gage.”

•‘If the mercury in the gage be imperfectly boiled, the
experiment will not succeed ; but the colour of the electric
light, which in air rarefied by an exhauster is always violet
or purple, appears in this case of a beautiful green, and,
what is very curious, the degree of the air’s rarefaction may
be nearly determined by this means ; for I have known
instances, during the course of these experiments, where a.
small particle of air having found its way into the tube,
the electric light became visible, and as usual of a green
colour ; but the charge being often repeated, the gage has at
length cracked at its sealed end, and in consequence the
external air, by being admitted into the inside, has gradually
produced a change in the electric light from green to blue,
from blue to indigo, and so on to violet and purple, till the
medium has at length become so dense as no longer to be a>
conductor of electricity. I think there can be little doubt,
from the above experiments, of the non-conducting power
of a perfect vacuum.”

‘ ‘ This seems to prove that there is a limit even in the
rarefaction of air, which sets bounds to its conducting
power ; or, in other words, that the particles of air may be
so far separated from each other as no longer to be able to
transmit the electric fluid ; that if they are brought within
a certain distance of each other, their conducting power
begins, and continually increases till their approach also
arrives at its limit.”

(To be continued.)

October 11, 1879.] THE PHABMaCEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

291

gth« §hai|maqutual Jflupal.

- «. -

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1879.

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

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

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

REGISTRATION UNDER THE DENTAL ACT.

The letter which, appeared in this J ournal some
weeks since from Mr. Musgrave, was not, in our
opinion, either timely or judicious; but, having
regard to the character of affording full opportunity
for the expression of opinion, which we seek to merit
by the insertion of letters in our correspondence
columns, we allowed that influence to overrule the
disposition to treat the letter in question as unsuit¬
able for publication. As might naturally be expected
the appearance of Mr. Musgrave’s letter has induced
a number of correspondents to enter the lists with
him for the purpose of controverting the opinions he
has put forward. The publication of the letters
which appear in the present number of the Journal
has been unavoidably postponed, and since they
were in type we have received many others, but
as they are all very much to the same effect as those
which have been published, it is unnecessary to
occupy more space by inserting them also.

As regards the most prominent topic of Mr. Mus¬
grave’s letter, viz., the claim of chemists’ assistants
to registration as dentists, we confess to having some
considerable difficulty in coming to a decided con¬
clusion whether or not chemists’ assistants should be
included among those who constitute the third class
of persons described in the Act as entitled to regis¬
tration under it. So far as concerns the present
question, the persons who are there mentioned are
such as were at the passing of the Act bond fide
engaged in the practice of dentistry or dental surgery
in conjunction with pharmacy. It may be con¬
tended that the common sense no less than the
strict legal interpretation of those words should
have reference only to those who were thus engaged
in practice on their own account, and that con¬
sequently persons acting merely in the capacity of
assistants to chemists and druggists who were
engaged in the practice of dentistry would not
be included in the terms .of the Act and would not
have the same right to registration as their em¬
ployers. Certainly if this view of the matter were
allowed to govern the admission to the Dental
Register some very grave injustice would be done to
many. It is quite conceivable that a chemist’s
assistant or apprentice may have acquired by appli¬
cation and experience in the dental operations that

are usually performed by chemists, such skill and
competence as to make him fit for registration in
accordance with the spirit of the Act. As possessing
the ability requisite for doing dental work, it would
be a very hard case if such a person were denied
registration upon the ground that his practice had
not been bond fide because it had been carried on
for someone else and not solely on his own account.

The hardship of such a case would be the greater,
since the Dental Act does not contain any definite
provision for admitting persons to registration by
means of a modified examination, such as that pro¬
vided to meet the case of chemists’ assistants at the
passing of the Pharmacy Act. One of our corre¬
spondents, writing from the same point of view as
Mr. Musgrave, lays great stress upon the significance
of the term “ bond fidef as being well understood by
lawyers as one that, far from being lax or ambiguous,
sweeps away all ambiguity. W e fail altogether to ap¬
preciate in this way the import of the words “ bond
fide ” as used in the Act, but on the contrary are dis •
posed to regard these very words as constituting the
difficulty to be encountered in reading the Act. The
man who has by study and experience become skilful
in the performance of dental operations and has
carried them out successfully, as well as to the satis¬
faction of those operated upon, may well be said to
have been “ bond fide ” engaged in the practice of
dentistry. Whether he did this as a chemist in busi¬
ness on his own account, or whether he did it only
as a pupil or assistant, does not much matter so far
as the common sense view of the matter is concerned;
nor do we think it much matters in regard to the
true object and aim of the Dental Act.

We believe from what has been stated by some of
our correspondents that many chemists’ assistants
who have had training and experience in dentistry
in the way above mentioned, have sought and ob¬
tained registration under the Dental Act. Mr.
Musgrave* s own inquiries have resulted in estab¬
lishing the same fact. Of course we cannot under¬
take to say that in all cases the grounds upon which
such registration was obtained were what they
should have been, nor is it our business to attempt
this ; the settlement of any question that may be
raised in regard to that point is in the hands of the
Medical Council, by which body it will doubtless
be conducted with just regard to all the circum¬
stances of the case, rather than with the object of
giving undue support to any attempted establish¬
ment of a monopoly in dental practice.

Meanwhile we would suggest to ardent reformers
like Mr. Musgrave that it is somewhat premature
to talk and write so emphatically about “fraudulent
registrations” and to flourish in such an aggressive
manner the red flag of the 35th or penal clause
of the Dental Act. We fully sympathize with them
in their desire to make the practice of dentistry
respectable by confining it to those who possess the
requisite skill ; it is but the other day such an

292

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October ll, 1879

undertaking was entered upon by our own body, and
it would be ungenerous if we did not accord to dental
reformers the same encouragement which pharmacists
have been glad to receive from medical men. But
these endeavours to effect reform must not be carried
out with a high-handed disregard of antecedent condi¬
tions and their consequences. The first great work
of the dental reformers is not to set Up a graven image
as the ideal standard to which all dentists must con¬
form and to insist upon the immediate sacrifice of all
that do not so. This achievement may be left for
the dentistry of the future and present labour must
be devoted to the making of a register. We cannot
expect nor do we think dental reformers can
hope that this will easily be made a satisfactory
roll of persons entitled, in every sense of the word,
to practise dentistry. It is in other ranks than
those of chemists and druggists that are to be
found the practitioners who have brought discredit
upon the dental branch of the medical profession,
and this is so well known that we are at a loss to
understand the bitterness with which the dental
practice of chemists has been fixed upon as a thing
to denounce, and if possible to suppress.

Until dental practice shall have become, under
the judicious administration of the Dental Act, a'
much better regulated occupation than it has been,
we do not think there is much probability that Mr.
Musgrave’s idea of a dentist will correspond with
more than a very small number of the registered
persons who are legally qualified to practise dentistry
and entitled to recover fees for so doing. We fully
admit that from an ideal point of view the dentist
should have been engaged in every branch of the
dental art, able to undertake any operation and do
any mechanical work that may be required for the
mouth by the public ; but there is no immediate
prospect of the dental register being wholly occupied
by such men. They must long be content to rank
on a legal equality with many inferiors, just as the
more accomplished pharmacist is still constrained to
accept the legal level prescribed by the Pharmacy
Act and trust to individual excellence for gaining
greater recognition than that standard of qualifica¬
tion will afford.

As regards the general public and the existing
order of things Mr. Musgrave’s dentist is to a great
extent, if not entirely, the dentist of the future, and
as regards the dental practice of chemists, there is
not a shadow of reason for accepting his definition
of what a dentist should be in the eye of the law.
He speaks of chemists that have been pointed out
to him who have never done any dental operation
beyond extracting a tooth, and he adds that they
probably never saw the inside of a dental laboratory,
know absolutely nothing of “ dentistry ” in his sense
of the term, and he urges this is inconsistent with the
fact that they are registered as having being in
bond fide practice as dentists. We do not desire to
question the good faith with which Mr. Musgrave

puts forward this argument as an objection to the
legal recognition of the chemist as a dental prac¬
titioner, and would only point out its fallacious
nature by reference to the circumstance that
drawing teeth is pretty well the extent to
which dentistry has been practised by chemists,
or to which they are generally called upon to
practise dentistry. It was upon this ground that
the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society applied
for and obtained the insertion of a clause to enable
chemists to continue as they had done mainly the
extraction of teeth and some other operations of
dentistry. But for that clause a chemist who drew
teeth would have been to that extent practising as a
dentist and by holding himself out as doing so by
means of a notification on his window he would have
been liable to a penalty.

In one and the same breath Mr. Musgrave
expresses his contempt for this limited exercise
of dentistry, and yet grudges the chemist the regis¬
tration by which he is enabled to practise it lawfully.
This seems to us unreasonable. The very limitation
of the chemist’s dental practice which he despises
should be a reason for inducing him not to treat the
tooth-drawing chemist as an opponent or a rival. At
the same time drawing a tooth is a dental operation,
and as the chemist who does it practises dentistry it
seems irrational to leave him outside the operation
of the Act by which it is sought to improve dental
practice generally.

We understand the Dental Register has now been
published and that the public, no less than the
medical and pharmaceutical communities, will be
able to know who is legally qualified to practise
dentistry. That numerous amendments will have to
be made necessitating the early publication of a new
edition may be taken as certain, and if we may ac¬
cept the intimation of some of our correspondents, the
British Dental Association will soon be busy in its
search for defective titles. That this should be done
we admit is right ; but judging from the spirit mani¬
fested in some of the letters we have received, it will
not be at all less right to suggest that this work of
purging the register should be conducted with dis¬
cretion and justice, under the guidance of common
sense rather than of high-flown ideas, and above all
without a feeling of animosity against those members
of the pharmaceutical body who have been brought
into legal confraternity with dental practitioners
more generally and exclusively engaged in the prac¬
tice of dentistry.

The occasion of the retirement of Mr. G. S.
Pedler, of Fleet Street, from the Court of Common
Council of the City of London has furnished an
opportunity to some of his fellow-citizens to show
their appreciation of the services he has rendered to
the ward and city generally during a period of
upwards of forty years. The testimonial, which was
presented on Monday week, took the form of a silver
tea and coffee service and salver and a framed
address, and was accompanied by a handsomely set
gold ring for Mrs. Pedler.

October 11, 1 879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL joctrnal and transactions.

Z9S

$ro»ittj[ial Sfransadtons.

MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION AND SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

On Friday evening, September 26, a large number of
pharmacists, assistants and apprentices, assembled at the
Memorial Hall, Manchester, to hear a lecture on “ Phar¬
maceutical Education,” delivered by Mr. L. Siebold,
F.C.S., under the auspices of the Manchester Chemists
and Druggists’ Association; Mr. G. S. Woolley presided.

Mr. Siebold, addressing himself chiefly to the younger
members of the trade, who were present in large numbers,
strongly urged upon them the necessity of making an
early beginning with their scientific studies. He regarded
their apprenticeship as pre-eminently the period for ac¬
quiring a sound fundamental knowledge of their calling,
which they would then be in the best position to augment
during their subsequent career, to their own immense
advantage, and to the benefit of all they were called upon
to serve. It was a mistake to suppose that their ap¬
prenticeship ought to be devoted solely to the acquisition
of a practical knowledge of the trade, and that their
scientific education should be reserved for a later period.
Their practical training, no doubt was a most essential
element, the importance of which he would be the last to
underrate; but he did not see how it could be efficiently
acquired without its being associated with a sufficient
amount of scientific knowledge te impart life, thought,
and intelligence to their daily work. Their practical and
theoretical studies ought to be carried on together, and
if this was judiciously and conscientiously done during a
period in which learning was easier than ever afterwards,
they would find themselves in a position when old enough
to present themselves for the compulsory examination to
satisfy all demands without any previous resort to cram,
and by further exertions, under the guidance of com¬
petent and conscientious teachers, to obtain that higher
distinction, which, he hoped, it would be the wish of
most of them to attain. It was to him a matter of
surprise that the apprentices in the larger towns, where
courses of lectures were provided for their benefit, were
so slow in availing themselves of the opportunities thus
offered, and offered on terms which were certainly within
the reach of the poorest of them. They would be in a
position to attend such courses of instruction for several
sessions during their apprenticeship, and if they were to
do this, and to supplement the efforts of their teachers
by a moderate amount of home work, they would obtain
in a proper systematic manner an amount of knowledge
which would benefit them for ever afterwards, and which
would make their Minor examination a longed-for instead
of a dreaded event. If it was then their intention to set
apart an entire session for the acquisition of higher
attainments, and for this purpose to enter the Pharma¬
ceutical Society’s school in London, as he most strongly
recommended them to do, they would find their previous
efforts still further rewarded, as the benefit they would
derive from the great opportunities there afforded to them
would be incomparably greater than if they entered un¬
provided with a sound foundation of knowledge. As it
was, the majority of apprentices wasted much of their
valuable time without any serious effort in a scientific
direction, implicitly trusting to some future cramming
process to make up for all. This process, however, de¬
spite all assurances and announcements to the contrary,
failed in very many cases altogether, while where it
succeeded in passing a man through the examination, it
yet left him without the real knowledge required for the
efficient discharge of his duties. He (Mr. Siebold) had
the greatest faith in knowledge slowly and systematically
acquired ; such knowledge was permanent, and could be
employed with advantage in the pursuit of one’s calling.
If, however, the earlier opportunity of the pharmacist
had been neglected, and he had to face the necessity of
gaining rapidly knowledge which would much better

have been acquired by degrees, then it was all the more
important that such a student should seek the aid of able
and conscientious teachers, and avoid the unscrupulous
crammer. There was this great distinction between
learning and cramming, that the former process leads to
a proper understanding of the facts committed to memory,
enabling the student to make use of such facts for deduc¬
ing other facts yet unknown to him, and to augment his
store of knowledge, not merely by further additions from
without, but also by his own reasoning and reflection ;
while the process of cramming (in the objectionable sense
of the term) conveys to the students mere facts without
any intelligible conception of their true meaning and the
uses to which they may be applied. Such a system was
intended not to impart real knowledge, but to get
ignorant men through their examination ; but he (Mr.
Siebold) believed that in most cases it would fail to
accomplish even that. He was quite aware of the fact
that many passed their examinations after such a course
of cramming ; but he felt sure that in the great majority
of such cases the success was due to previous honest
efforts on the part of the candidates, and that the pro¬
cess would utterly fail with actual beginners. To those
who did not wish to learn, but whose sole aim it was to
endeavour by a show of sham knowledge to impose upon
examiners— to those he had not a word to say. He
trusted, however, that there would be an ever increasing
number of young pharmacists anxious to obtain a sound
scientific training, which he regarded as the surest means
of winning for them the respect of professional men, and
of raising them to a higher place in the social scale.

At the conclusion of the lecture,

The Chairman, in moving a vote of thanks to the
lecturer, noticed with great satisfaction amongst the
audience the large proportion of young men. He sug¬
gested to such of the latter as were engaged in study,
that they might derive considerable inexpensive recreation
from the formation of materia medica and botanical
collections and the practice of qualitative analysis during
a portion of their leisure time.

Mr. J. B. Payne seconded the resolution. He had
listened to Mr. Siebold ’s remarks with great interest and
very much pleasure. With reference to one of the re¬
marks made by the lecturer at the commencement of his
paper, in which he said that it was the duty of every
employer to see that the apprentice committed to his care
devoted some portion of his time to study, and which
statement he cordially endorsed, Mr. Siebold did not
tell them how that was to be accomplished in the case
of those youths who showed themselves unwilling. He
had had experience of both classes, those anxious to
receive every assistance they could get, and those who
utterly set it aside, and he must confess his inability to
deal with the latter class. It was often a consideration
with young men how to obtain possession of text-books
and works of reference, and he took this opportunity of
reminding those present that the Manchester Association
had a good library, and that any youth on taking a note
from his employer, who was a member of the Association,
could have books for use at home by applying for them.
He was sure also that the Council would whenever re¬
quisite be glad to make additions to the library, provided
good use were made of the books.

Mr. Bostock, in supporting the motion, paid a tribute
of respect to Mr. Siebold for his earnestness and en¬
thusiasm in instructing his pupils.

The lecturer briefly acknowledged the thanks of the
meeting, and the proceedings terminated.

©bihtarg.

Notice has been received of the death of the following: —
On the 30th of August, 1879, Mr. John Jackson,
Chemist and Druggist, Northampton Street, Leicester.
Aged 73 years.

594

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. LOctober 11, W«

On the 3rd of October, at Shanghai, China, of cholera,
Mr. William Arthur Thirlby, Pharmaceutical Chemist,
formerly of Ashby- de-la-Zouch. Aged 27 years. Mr.
Thirlby had been a Member of the Pharmaceutical
Society since 1874.

On the 7th of October, 1879, Mr. Thomas Croskell
Blaymire, Chemist and Druggist, St. Ann’s Square,
Manchester. Aged 25 years. Mr. Croskell had been
an Associate of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1871.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

Hospital Formulary and Posological Table for the
Use of the Department of Public Charities and Cor¬
rection of the City of New York. New York. 1879.
From Mr. C. Rice.

Elements of Modern Chemistry. By Adolphe
Wurtz. Translated and Edited from the Fourth
French Edition by W. H. Greene, M.D., etc. London
and Philadelphia. J. B. Lippincott and Co. 1879.
From the Publishers.

Sispnising Uftemoipmda.

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

[345]. Ought the following injection to be filtered or
a “shake the bottle” label put on? —

R Zinci Sulphatis . grs. v.

Liq. Plumbi Subacetatis . 3j*

Aquae . 3vj.

Misce. For injection.

Assistant.

[346]. When pigment, iodi. is ordered which should be
sent out, the tincture or liniment of iodine ?

“Juvenis.”

[347] . I have had euonymin from several good wholesale
houses. That which I get in Scotland is always distinctly
green in colour, whereas that from London is as invariably
a distinct brown, with slightly greenish tinge. Will some
competent person kindly say which is as it should be, and
by what tests it may be recognized ?

Glasgow. Euryowie.

[348] . I had the following prescription handed meto-day.
Will some of your correspondents give their opinion as to
how it should be dispensed ? Is the top ingredient meant
for Ferri Am. Cit? —

ft. Ferri Ammoniae Sulph . 3j*

Syrupi Flor. Aurant . 3V*

Aquae Destil . ad gviij.

Cap ^ ter die.

Perhaps I may say I could not see the prescriber.

Mag. Carb.

[349]. The following prescription was presented to me
a few days ago. Would some of your numerous readers
inform me as to the best mode of dispensing it ? —

ft 01. Copaibae . . ntij.

Magnesiae Ust . gr. ij.

Gum. Acaciae . gr.j.

M. Ft. pil. Mitte tales xxxvi.

Sig. Three pills to be taken thrice a day.

Junior.

[350]. How should the following be dispensed, and
what appearance should it present? —

ft Chloral Hydrat . gr. xx.

Pulv. Camphor . gr. v.

Syr. Tolut . 3j-

Aq . adgj.

M. ft. haust. Statim sd.

Tyro.

[351].

ft Sodae Bicarb . gr. x.

Pulv. Calumb . gr. x.

„ Zingib . gr. v.

M. Ft. pulv. j. capt. ter die.

ft Potass Bromid . ^ss.

Acid. Tartaric . ^iv.

Aquae . ad t^vj.

A tablespoonful three times daily with one of the
powders previously dissolved in two-tablespoonfuls of
water, whilst effervescing.

Ought the mixture to be clear? It has been sent out
turbid and bright, and with a heavy deposit (Pot. Bitart.),
and still the patient is not happy.

“ Country.”

[352].

ft Liq. Strychniae . . .

. . . . HI xxiv.

Ferri et Ammon. Cit .

. . . . 3iss.

Potass. Bromidi . . .

.... Zb

Magnes. Sulphatis . .

.... 3ij-

Aquae Flor. Aurantii .

. 3vj-

M. Ft. mist.

The above produced a turbid mixture which was
brought back by the patient the following day, who
assured me that at Lucerne it had been dispensed a
bright red and perfectly clear solution; moreover her
physician had particularly requested to be allowed to see
the first bottle before any was taken and expressed his
surprise to find that it had been so scientifically dispensed.
I made up another bottle in the presence of the lady,
reversing the order in which I had mixed it the previous
day, but with no better result. Afterwards I made
several small quantities varying the modus operandi in
every conceivable way, and testing the neutrality of the
magnes. sulph., but without the success of my confrere
at Lucerne. I would add that this is the second phar¬
macy in Paris in which it has been dispensed with a like
result, and should be glad if some of your readers would
explain the method of mixing, so as to obtain a perfectly
clear and bright red mixture.

Paris. O. Rogers.

[353]. The following prescription was brought to me
the other day and I had to make ten dozen of the pills.
Should be glad to hear the opinion of some your corre¬
spondents on the best method of manipulation, and allow¬
ing for the difference in price of Howard’s Quinine here
(18s. 6d.) what they would consider a fair price to charge

per doz. : —

ft Quinae. Disulph., Hwd’s . 3V*

Acid. Sulph. Dil . ttlxx.

Pulv. Phosphori . gr. iss.

Strychnine Sulph . gr. iss.

M. s. a. Ft. massa et divid. in pilul. LX. (in fob auro
involv.).

After finishing, the pills were of a large size but not
larger than an ordinary six grains pill.

Orange, N. S. W. J. S.

[354]. Should this
ft Potassii Iodidi
Ferri Tart.
Aquae . . .

M.

mixture be clear or turbid ? —

. ^ss.

. 7>ij.

ad £viij.

T. Brayshay.

October 11, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

295

[355]. Can a powder be made with these ingredients? —

ft Pulv. Sodse Phosphat . giij.

Pulv. Zingiberis . 3ij.

Potass. Citratis . Jiv.

M. Ft. pulv. T. Brayshay.

[356].

ft Castile Soap . 3j-

Camphor . 3iij-

Opium . Jiij.

Flowers of Benjamin .

Oil of Aniseed . . 3^j-

Ft. mass.

Can any reader of the Journal inform me the best
mode of forming this into a nice mass ? It was presented
to me the other day. After I got them mixed up (with¬
out the oil of aniseed), they turned to be as soft as treacle.

A Student.

Jtotqs attd (fumes.

[625]. ANILINE COPYING INK.— Dissolve a few
grains of methyl aniline violet in methylated spirit (as
little as possible), then dilute with about five or six times
as much water, and add few drops of mucilage to make it
a proper consistency for writing with.

J. Need.

[626]. TINCT. KINO. — Will some reader kindly
state the best method of filtering tincture of kino ? By
means of filtering paper the process is exceedingly slow.
A better method will greatly oblige

Minor.

[627]. JAPAN. — Can some reader give me a good
receipt for best black japan which shall not turn opales¬
cent with a bluish or greenish tinge on being varnished ?

M. P. S.

[628]. STAINS FROM COCOA.— Would any of the
readers of the Journal state their opinion as to the
best mode of removing stains caused by cocoa on china,
linen, etc.?

Ignoramus.

[629]. ROOKE’S GOLDEN OINTMENT.— Would
any correspondent kindly oblige me with the recipe for
making Dr. Rooke’s Golden Ointment, as given by him
some years ago?

Inquirer.

[630]. FERROUS OXALATE FOR PHOTO¬
GRAPHIC PURPOSES. — Could some one through the
medium of the Journal inform me how ferrous oxalate,
suitable for photographic purposes, is prepared?

Hibernia.

[631]. FRENCH SALVE. — Can any correspondent
kindly inform me what is the formula for “ French Salve,”
and if not, where the preparation can be obtained? It is
used for scurvy. Gaul.

^or^sgoml^nr^

*#* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Dental Registration.

Sir, — Having read with much interest the letters appear¬
ing in your columns about dental registration, I cannot
refrain from adding a few remarks.

I think we shall all agree with Mr. Musgrave in doubting

whether chemists’ assistants or apprentices had any legal right
to register, though if like “Lower Molar ” they wrote to Mr.
Miller asking the question and received the form of declara¬
tion in reply, we can hardly accuse them of a breach of
common morality in thus registering, and that having been
done, it would be rather unwise, despite Mr. Musgrave’s
solemn warning, to withdraw their names until the matter
is legally decided.

Having had the advantage of a three years’ dental training
under an L.D.S., I can understand Mr. Musgrave’s an¬
noyance at seeing hundreds of men now legally entitled to
claim all the advantages of the dentist with so little of the
expense or trouble of a dental education, but the Act being
now passed which renders their position perfectly legal, it
would be better to recognize it with a good grace than show
any perhaps natural jealousy.

All will agree with Mr. Musgrave that the Act was for the
protection of the public ; but how little he thinks of that
when he says he would leave the operation of extraction,
which he calls the least important part of the dentist’s busi¬
ness, to the unregistered (dentally) chemist or his assist¬
ant, while he would reserve for the dentist the less surgical
but more remunerative department of putting in reliable
gold stoppings, etc.

I fear the public if they could speak on the matter would
hardly appreciate Mr. Musgrave’s kind consideration for
them, but would prefer rather to be protected from the man
who by a clumsy extraction fractures the tooth or the
alveolus and causes them weeks of intense pain, than from
him who puts in a gold stopping which proves unreliable.

In poor neighbourhoods, where the chemist and dentist
generally does the most practice, the finer branches of the
dental art (gold stopping, exposed pulp capping, etc.), are
seldom or never required, the patients could not pay for
even if they could understand the advantages of them ; with
them, if the tooth aches they go to the dentist with the firm
determination of having it out, and they would have no
faith in the man who recommexded any other treatment.
Mr. Musgrave may have his own definition of a dentist,
but let me say that with the great majority of the public
the extraction of the tooth is considered the primary and
most important branch of the dental art, and if asked to
describe their dentist they would say “ the man who pulls
out their teeth.”

The chemist and dentist as a rule does not pretend to
practise every branch of dentistry ; if he has the knowledge
he has not the time for it, but generally confines himself
to the surgical part (extracting, stopping, scaling, etc.),
getting the mechanical (artificial teeth, etc.) made for him
by some working dentist, and Mr. Musgrave can hardly be
astonished when he finds men who successfully perform
most of the operations of dental surgery politely spoken of
by the “ professional dentist” as “ dabblers in the art.”

Unfortunately we have not all received Mr. Musgrave’s
kind advice in the spirit in which he says it was intended,
and I am sure we shall all cordially hope that for the future
he will have so much to do warming his irons in bis own
fire as to have no time for thrusting any into ours.

A. P. Penrose, Pli. C. and Dentist.

Amwell Street E.C.

Sir, — Mr. J. J. Musgrave in the Journal for September
27th, writes that the extraction of teeth is the least import¬
ant part of a dentist’s business.

In a lucrative sense it may be so, in a surgical and there¬
fore dangerous sense it certainly is not so, and as regards
skill I venture to think it requires to the full quite as much
as that department of dentistry known as mechanical.

Something of the importance of purely surgical dentistry
may be gathered from the reports of cases treated at the
National Dental Hospital ; thus for August 1st to August
31st, out of 1426 operations 995 are for extractions, 262 for
stoppings, 119 for advice and scaling. I quote from the
British Journal of Dental Science, September 15th.

York. _ Elevator.

Sir, — Neither Mr. Musgrave nor Mr. Clarke appears to be
very certain on the points at issue, as to whether a chemist
performing the simple extraction could claim to be put on
the register; they evidently regard it as very questionable.
Mr. Clarke speaks about the -weeding out of the Dental
Register by order of the Medical Council. I have never
understood the Act gives them authority to demand legal
evidence of fitness, else what is the declaration form for?

296

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 1 1, 1879.

A weak point in that to my idea is the absence of a credible
witness. My opinion is that a chemist actually in business
performing the simple extraction before the passing of the
Dentists’ Act could legally claim to be registered, although
perhaps not compelled to do so. I fail to see how either as*
sistants or apprentices could conscientiously fill up the
declaration form, however highly qualified they might be.
It seems to me that a Dentists’ Defence Association would
be more likely to prosecute a chemist who was not on the
register for extracting a tooth, rather than one who only
performed the simple extraction, and had registered as a
precautionary measure.

Respecting the capabilities of dentists, my experience is
decidedly in favour of the chemist-dentist. I find as a rule
they give more time and attention to their work, and in
consequence the result is more satisfactory to the patient.

Walworth. F. W. S.

Cream of Tartar.

Sir, — In commenting upon a prosecution for the sale of
impure cream of tartar at Chertsey, you state that I totally
ignored the fact that tartrate of lime is a natural ingredient
of cream of tartar.

So far is this from being the case that I have invariably
stated on my certificates given under the Sale of Food and
Drags Act, that a given sample of cream of tartar was a
“good,” “ fair,” or “ inferior” specimen of cream of tartar
(according to its quality), when the article consisted of acid
tartrate of potash and tartrate of lime only. In no such
case has a prosecution been instituted on my certificate. I
must, however, point out that the B.P. in its description of
cream of tartar gives a formula and a quantitative test, which
distinctly contemplate an article which cannot contain more
than a trace of lime salt.

Some months ago, I directed the attention of the sur¬
viving editor of the B.P., to the fact that the B.P. article
was an impossible cream of tartar ; and 1 also brought the
matter under the notice of some of the leading firms in the
drug trade.

Notwithstanding your strictures, I think that when a
sample of cream of tartar contains a baryta salt, it is in¬
cumbent on the wholesale firm supplying the article to give
some explanation of the presence of such impurity, other than
mere accident. From the county of Surrey alone, I have,
during the last three months, received seventeen samples of
cream of tartar. Of these, no less than seven, or 41 per
cent, contained sulphate of baryta in quantities varying
from g to 4g per cent. In other respects, the articles were
of a very varied quality, and they were obtained from
diverse sources — grocers as well as chemists and druggists.
Surely some member of the drug trade can enlighten your
readers as to the cause of this admixture.

The Analyst for the County of Surrey.

Sir, — I have read with much interest the report of the
prosecution for the sale of cream of tartar at Chertsey, and
also your leading article on the same subject. I shall be
glad if you can spare me space for the following remarks.

It appears from the certificate of the analyst that the
sample in question contained 11'7 per cent, of tartrate of lime
and 0’6 per cent, of sulphate of baryta, and the case appears
to have been dismissed chiefly owing to the evidence of Mr.
William Hodgkinson that the above proportion of tartrate
of lime was not abnormal. This witness stated that he
had never heard of a sample of cream of tartar containing
less than 7 per cent, of tartrate of lime, and that the usual
proportion was from 10 to 20 per cent.

Mr. Hodgkinson’s experience in cream of tartar seems to
have been exceedingly unfortunate, and he cannot have
gone very deeply into the matter or he would have found
that the best authorities, Pereira among others, give
amounts of tartrate of lime compared with which the
minimum proportion he has heard of seems excessive.

According to R. Warington, a high authority on this
subject, the proportion of tartaric acid existing as neutral
tartrates in refined tartars varies from to 7 percent.
Taking these amounts as calcium tartrate, we may say that
the proportion, of that salt existing in cream of tartar is
from 2 0 to 8’8 per cent.

In my capacity of public analyst, I have recently received
from inspectors fourteen samples of cream of tartar, which
have been considered genuine (in addition to an adulterated

sample to be referred to subsequently). These were not
all obtained in the same town or at places in the same
neighbourhood, but at various small towns and villages in
Derbyshire and the West Riding of Yorkshire, and their
purchase has extended over some ten months. As one of
the tests of purity I am in the habit of igniting a known
weight of the sample, boiling the residue with water, filter¬
ing and again igniting the residue. This last product, when
moistened with carbonate of ammonium, in the case of a
pure sample, consists essentially of carbonate of calcium.
It dissolves with effervescence in hydrochloric acid, leaving
the faintest trace of residue. Evidently its amount repre¬
sents the calcium in the original sample, and if its weight
be multiplied by the factor 1‘88, we obtain a very fair
estimate of the proportion of calcium tartrate originally
existing in the sample. Now in the fourteen samples
referred to, the higheit percentage of “insoluble ash”
( = carbonate of calcium) found was 6'46 per cent., the next
being 6 '36, and no other above 4 '68. The lowest amount
was 2'60, and the mean of the whole fourteen was exactly
4 per cent. Multiplying these numbers by 1"88 we fiild
that the highest amount of tartrate of lime met with was
12‘14 per cent., the lowest 4'89, and the mean 7*52. Hence
it appears that so far from commercial cream of tartar con¬
taining an average of 10 to 20 per cent, of tartrate of lime,
as stated in evidence by Mr. Hodgkinson, in this part of
the country at any rate the articles sold contain an average
of only 7 or 8 per cent., and hence the cream of tartar
commonly sold by country druggists and shopkeepers is
equal in purity to the best specimen Mr. Hodgkinson ever
heard of and is twice as pure as that commonly sold by his
firm.

It appears to me that if it be admitted that cream of
tartar is a preparation obtained by boiling crude tartar or
argol in water, filtering, and crystallizing the salt from the
clear liquid, the tartrate of calcium ought not to be present
in more than a certain proportion, although it is true that
it is far more soluble in solution of bitartrate of potassium
than in pure water.

But it does not follow that because a high percentage of
tartrate of calcium is present, that it is necessarily a legiti¬
mate constituent of the article. Any proportion beyond
that readily soluble in boiling water cannot be regarded as
proper. Now 20 parts of boiling water are amply sufficient
to effect the solution of bitartrate of potassium, and any
tartrate of calcium not soluble in this amount must be re¬
garded with suspicion. Now, in the case of the two
samples yielding 6'46, and 6'36 per cent, of “insoluble ash,”
I ascertained the amount of matter left on boiling the
original sample with water, and found 3'15 and 3'35 per
cent, respectively. These residues were soluble in hydro¬
chloric acid, and, as far as my notes go, appear to have
consisted of calcium tartrate. Hence if 3'15 be subtracted
from 12T4 per cent., the total amount of calcium tartrate
present, we have a residue of 9 per cent, legitimately
present as a soluble constituent of the cream of tartar.
This shows a close coincidence with Warington’s highest
result.

1 am not prepared to stick at a difference of 1 or 2 per cent
in the proportion of tartrate of lime, but when Mr.
Hodgkinson states that 20 per cent, is a common and
legitimate proportion, I would ask whether such samples
are comnletely soluble in 20 times their weight of boiling
water, and, if not, what right he has to regard them as
genuine creams of tartar? (N.B. — Bitartrate of potassium
i3 soluble in 15 parts of boiling water.)

But it may be asked, how does the excessive proportion
of tartrate of lime get into the samples ? In the case of
crude tartars it is well known to be due to the addition of
plaster to the wine, but this is not an explanation of an
excessive amount in cream of tartar. In all probability
such high amounts as are present in the samples known to
Mr. Hodgkinsop are due to adulteration of the specimens
with compounds of calcium. Sophistication by chloride of
calcium is said to have occurred, and there are authentic
cases of adulteration by chalk and marble. In a cream of
tartar sold near Pontefract, I recently found 20 per cent, of
sulphate of calcium (probably as plaster of paris), and 2'3
per cent, of sulphate of barium. Of course, on treating
such a sample with water a large quantity of calcium tar¬
trate is formed. Hence it is clear that before we regard
unusual proportions of tartrate of lime as normal, we must
be quite sure that it is not a product of the decomposition
of the tartrate of potassium with some adulterant.

October 11, 1879.3 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

297

How the barium sulphate occasionally gets into cream of
tartar, — as in the sample which has called forth this letter
—I am at a loss to imagine. It occurs too frequently for its
presence to be the result of accident, as suggested by one of
the witnesses for the defence. In a case at Huddersfield it
was found in the form of crystalline heavy spar. Can any
of your readers explain the occurrence of this curious im¬
purity?

Sheffield. Alfred H. Allen.

Sir, — With the view of preventing other pharmacists
from occupying the unfortunate and unenviable position
of Mi*. Boyce, at Chertsey, whose case was reported in last
week’s Journal, and with whom I am sure we ought all to
deeply sympathize, I should like to mention a simple and
easy test whereby all may assure themselves of the com¬
parative purity of this article when they receive it into
stock. About 1 grain of the suspected sample should be
shaken. in a test tube with 6 or 8 c.c. of a 5 per cent, so¬
lution)' | potassic hydrate (the liquor potassae of the official
strength, provided it be free from lime, will answer every
purpose) ; if the sample entirely dissolves barium sulphate is
absent. The solution will, however, contain the calcium
tartrate if any be present (and all samples of cream of
tartar contain it to a greater or lesser degree), but on heat¬
ing the solution to boiling, the calcium salt, being insoluble
in hot solution of potash, will be thrown down, and its
amount may be judged of comparatively by the bulk it
occupies.* On cooling the solution the precipitate is again
dissolved, so that for the purpose of comparing a number
of samples I would recommend that after being well boiled
they ba kept hot in a water-bath, when, having been all
allowed an equal time to settle, and using tubes of the same
size, no difficulty will be found in estimating the com¬
parative contamination. I merely put this forward as a
rough test, and one which every pharmacist can quickly
and easily employ. Of course, if it be wished to determine
the actual amount of calcium tartrate present it will be
necessary to take a weighed sample, incinerate and treat
the residue with HC1, filter and add NH40 and (NH4)2C204;
the precipitated CaC.,04 may then be dried at 100° C. and
weighed or ignited and weighed as CaC03 ; in either case
its calculation into tartrate will be an easy matter.

It is unfortunate that the B.P., which should be our
unfailing guide in this matter, is rather vague and am¬
biguous. We are told that cream of tartar, potassae tartras
acida and potassae bitartras are synonymous, and that it is
“ an acid salt obtained from the crude tartar” (this crude
tartar being evidently something quite distinct from cream
of tartar). Among the characters and tests given is one
which it has been stated provides for the presence of
tartrate of lime. This runs as follows : “ Heated in a
crucible it evolves inflammable gas and the odour of burnt
sugar, and leaves a black residue. This effervesces with
diluted hydrochloric acid and forms a solution which ....
when neutralized with ammonia is rendered slightly turbid
by oxalic acid.” It certainly does provide for a trace of
tartrate of lime, but I think it will be admitted by those
who know what a delicate test for lime oxalic acid is that
the presence of only 1 or 2 per cent, would give something
more than a slight turbidity when treated as above. But
admitting for the sake of argument, that the presence of
calcium tartrate is provided for by that test, what is the
meaning of the next one ? “ 188 grains heated to redness

till gas ceases to be evolved leave an alkaline residue which
requires for exact neutralization 1000 grain measures of the
volumetric solution of oxalic acid.” If it means anything
it is that the sample shall contain 100 per cent. KHC4H406
or absolute purity, and herein lies what I consider to be a
contradiction. That cream of tartar does contain tartrate
of lime is the experience of every one who has ever had to
do with the examination of it, but that it should contain it
in anything more than a trace I am by no means ready to
admit. So far as my experience goes I have found samples

* This is substantially the test I recommended when
discussing this subject before the Liverpool Chemists’
Association in November, 1877, and will be found with
other remarks at p. 467, vol. viii., 3rd series, and I then
ventured to predict that some unfortunate pharmacist
would suffer prosecution for this impurity, and at the same
time urged upon chemists the necessity of examining their
stocks.

to contain from 3 to 7 per cent., never so much as stated in
your report last week, viz., 11*7.

If crude tartar is taken and ground and sold as cream of
tartar, one can understand this large percentage, and this
being the case it would be interesting to know how much
tartrate of lime cream of Tartar might contain and yet be
still cream ©f tartar.

It has been a matter of some surprise to me that this
article ha3 not been selected by the zealous public analysts
before now, and should some wholesale house consider it
worth while to supply its customers with an article gua¬
ranteed to within, say, 5 per cent, of impurity, I have no
doubt its efforts would be duly appreciated by pharmacists
generally.

With regard to the presence of barium sulphate in the
small quantity usually found, it cannot be looked upon as an
intentional admixture, and the source of its contamination
may possibly be from the stones in grinding

137a, Aldersgate Street, E.C. Alfred E. Tanner.

The Admission of Women as Members of the
Pharmaceutical Society.

Sir, — I am one of those who consider the Council of the
Pharmaceutical Society to be a representative body, and
hence open to criticism by their electors ; and I therefore
Venture to trespass upon your columns in order to express
an adverse judgment upon the conduct of some of their
number whom I voted for at the l.tst election, trusting that
they will take my remarks in the friendly spirit in which
they are written. I shall not mention any names; but, sir,
some of us who have advocated on principle the undesir¬
ability of the female (pharmaceutical) franchise will share
the evident astonishment of some of our opponents at the
“sudden conversion” of some in whom we had confidence
at the last election as sound upon this question— a confi¬
dence supported by their speeches in and out of Council up
to so late a date as the last Annual Meeting of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society. What, then, has occurred between that
time and the recent meeting of the Council to alter the
opinion of these gentlemen on so important a question?
There may, of course, be reasons not expressed in their
speeches of Wednesday last; but, if so, I think we are en¬
titled to know them, and the reasons there expressed for a
charge they must really excuse my characterizing as shallow
in the extreme.

I admit, sir, that it requires rather more courage to oppose
two individual cases of application for membership than it
does to advocate the broader question of the undesirability
of the female franchise ; and I feel quite to unite in the con¬
gratulations expressed in your leading article for this week,
to these ladies upon the removal of a supposed grievance.
But, sir, will it stop here? And will not the recent action
of the Council weaken their own hands or those of some
future-elected body in refusing admission to further appli¬
cation for membership from others of the fair sex, without
drawing invidious distinctions ? I am one of those who are
sometimes accused of advocating a policy of “peace at any
price,” but not, sir, at the sacrifice of principle, and the
action of some of these veteran Councillors reminds one too
much of the conduct of the unjust judge in the parable
(vide Luke xviii., 4 and 5), with this important difference
that they were right in principle at the outset where he was
wrong. Our venerable President seems to be the only man
among them who holds to the courage of his convictions.

Scarborough. Chas. Fryer.

Sir, — I was very much surprised to see by the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal of Saturday last, that the Council at its
meeting on Wednesday, had granted membership of the
Society to two women, especially after having referred the
question to the Annual Meeting, and that meeting had on
two occasions voted by a small majority against their ad¬
mission. True, the majority was small, still it was a
majority, and I do not think the Council have acted wisely
in thus ignoring the decision of the members.

If the Council did not mean to abide by the decision of
the members they ought not to have sent the question to the
General Meeting.

Probably the fact of the matter is that the Council were
tired of the question, and (knowing it would in all proba¬
bility be brought forward again at the next General Meet¬
ing) admitted the ladies rather than have any more trouble

298

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 11, 1379,

about it, notwithstanding the ladie3 have on two occasions
been rejected by a General Meeting of the Members.
London, W. C. E. P.

The Competition op Co-operative Societies.

Sir, — Will you kindly afford me space in your columns
for a few remarks on our position as druggists with regard
to the competition of the co-operative societies ? The
competition of these societies to which we, in common
with others, are exposed, and by which we are in many
cases injured, makes it necessary that every means should
be tried to lessen the evil. A great variety of suggestions
have been made with this end in view, but the objection
that has been fatal to most of them has been that they were
impracticable. The evil still continues, and though in
course of time I do not doubt that it will be greatly
lessened, at present it rather grows than diminishes.

In combating this injurious competition the druggist
finds himself somewhat handicapped ; he does not stand on
the same vantage ground possessed by those who deal in
articles of food or clothing ; he cannot in the case of the
majority of articles in which he deals, by reducing the
price offer an inducement to increased consumption.
But I think he would by adopting more fully the
leading principle of these societies, viz., cash payments,
find himself in a better position to compete with them.
There are certain practical difficulties in the way, which
will occur to most ; smallness of many of the transactions,
for instance; but these would not, I think, prevent the
general adoption of the system. There are very many
articles in which the druggist deals which it would be easy
to arrange for sale at two prices, viz., a cash and a credit
price, — patent medicines, for instance. The customer would
reap an advantage and the druggist would have the money
in his desk to trade with instead of having it out at his
customer’s without interest; he would also have done
something towards removing the manifest inj ustice under
which the cash customer suffers in being called upon to pay
as much for his purchase as the man does who has it booked
for a twelvemonth or more. A great many of the articles
in which the druggist deals might be listed without diffi¬
culty at cash and credit prices, and the adoption of the
principle of distinguishing between the cash and the credit
customer would, I feel sure, benefit both buyer and seller,
and be the introduction of a sound principle into trade.
The druggist could not supply medicines or dispense pre¬
scriptions at the prices charged at the “ stores,” nor should
he attempt to do so. It is this part of his business that
requires special qualification and is entitled to special
remuneration ; but even here the public would appreciate a
move in the direction I have indicated, and with a difference
between the cash and the credit price would be willing to
pay something for the positive advantages offered by a
personally conducted pharmacy as compared with the
divided responsibility of the drug department of a general
store.

I merely wish in this letter to bring the general question
before your readers. The system may be carried out into
practice by individuals, but I think it would be better if it
became the subject of discussion among druggists generally,
perhaps first through the pages of your Journal. By this
means valuable opinions and much useful information may
be obtained as to its probable working both generally and
in particular localities. It is of no use to indulge in violent
diatribes against co-operative stores, however satisfactory
it may be to one’s feelings to do so. Altered conditions of
society and an overgrown credit system have produced
them, and they can only be effectually checked by a return
to sounder principles of trade.

Iv. K.

The Health oe the Drug Trade.

Sir, — An interesting and important discussion has begun
in your columns on the above subject, which would need
to be handled with great caution. There is nothing so
common as to draw sweeping conclusions from imperfect
data, and I would warn your correspondents against making
too hasty deductions from the meagre collection of facts at
our command.

The statistics gleaned from the obituary of the J ournal
for three or four years will not j ustify any conclusion as to
the healthfulness or unhealthfulness of our business through¬
out the United Kingdom. A satisfactory solution of the

question can be determined only by a careful collection of
facts gathered from a very large area. Speaking from my
own experience and observation, extending over a period of
more than forty years, I would decidedly deny that our
business is more unwholesome than any other shop-keeping
occupation. In my time I have had between fifty and sixty
assistants and apprentices, and I do not remember a single
instance of a breakdown traceable to the nature of our
calling. On the contrary, boys somewhat delicate, have-
come to me who, under the invigorating influence of regular
hours, and the frequent use of a sixteen pound pestle, de¬
veloped into strong, active fellows. It is nonsense to say
our well-known and gratefully-appreciated shop smell is
unwholesome ; as well say the blended odours of a flower
garden will shorten life. Of course a dirty, ill-kept drug¬
gist’s shop, where the inmates inhale nothing but a
“villainous compound” of unsavoury smells, can neither
conduce to comfort nor health ; but that may be said of any
place similarly circumstanced.

If a druggist’s shop be properly ventilated and kept clean,
and he himself be regular in taking out-door walking exer¬
cise, eschewing late hours and the use of tobacco in any
shape, and as he sights forty or fifty years of age, using the
milder stimulants, such as beer or wine moderately, I have
no doubt his life will be of average duration and as enjoy¬
able as that of any occupation. But our young men when
they elect to follow pharmacy must not expect to go through
life in a Pullman’s car ; like the rest of us, they must rough
it in some shape, and as a result they will in due time
exhibit the manly attributes of self-reliance and self-respect,
and I hope men of experience who may have been soured by
circumstances entirely unconnected with the business, will
not darken the prospects of our young men by their gloomy
and illogical deductions.

Montrose. Geo. Burrell.

Sir, — I have read with much interest the correspondence
appearing lately in your columns regarding the causes of
the comparatively high percentage of mortality among
chemists. The remarks made on the subject by “ Sandford,”
in a recent issue, are very much to the point, and de¬
serve careful perusal by every pharmacist who regards his
health as something worth taking care of. A badly venti¬
lated shop, the air in which has become impregnated with a
heterogeneous mixture of foul odours and noxious gases, and
where fresh air only admitted when the door is opened by
customers entering and leaving, is not likely to produce an
atmosphere best suited for respiratory purposes, during the
greater part of the day. Undoubtedly impure air, coupled
with insufficient bodily exercise, is a very important factor
in bringing about the early fatal consummation so devoutly
to be deplored.

Another reason hinted at by Mr. Nicol in drawing
attention to the subject is also deserving of notice. It is
the heavy strain which is daily imposed upon the mental
faculties of the pharmacist by the peculiar nature of his
occupation. The continual dispensing and handing of drugs,
many of them demanding the concentration of all his
faculties, and taxing his utmost ingenuity in their manipu¬
lation, impose a tax upon the brain, which, slowly it may
be, but all too surely nevertheless, reacts unfavourably on
the physical constitution.

The remedy in both instances is obvious. Let every
possible means be employed to keep the air inside the shop
pure and unadulterated, and instead of remaining on the
rack for the space of ten and eleven hours out of the twenty-
four, as is almost universally the case at present, let the
number be reduced to nine at the very utmost. I have for
a good many years been a strong advocate in favour of
shorter hours being adopted by our profession, and have
never yet discovered a single satisfactory reason why they
should not be adopted. The petty jealousies and bad feeling
which exist among ourselves are almost the only obstacles
in the way of progress in this much desiderated direction,
and so long as these obstacles remain, the present long
hours system must remain also, and the high rate of
mortality among chemists obtain as it has obtained in the
past.

Edinburgh. Omnes Moriemur.

Sir, — On reading Mr. Nicol’s remarks on the early death
of chemists, and also the other correspondents on the subject,
. I felt a desire to make a few remarks. No doubt the locality

October ii, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

299

in cities have much to do with our health, but I think our
mode of living has more to do with the longevity of our
lives than situation. As an instance, one chemist in this
town carried on his business in a dense and low locality,
and was never out of his shop from early dawn till very late
at night ; he is now retired, and if living he must be over
-eighty. Myself I am always at my post from soon till late,
and have not been a day out of my shop for nearly twenty
years, have never a day of sickness, and am now sixty-two
years of age. Of course I always have plenty of air, both by
door open, and also fanlight, and in winter very seldom close
the door unless extremely cold. I think by constantly
harping on the short lives of chemists, parties will imagine
the calling is unhealthy for a young man. “ Nothing of the
sort;” essential cleanliness and the requisites for inducing
health are all that are required to prolong our lives to the
“allotted span.”

Verus.

Sir, — I notice a letter in the Journal of Saturday,
September 6, by J. K. Nicol, regarding the health of the
drug trade, in which he states that nearly 80 per cent, of
chemists and druggists die at an early age.

_ Should this statement be correct it calls for serious con¬
sideration.

Impure air and close confinement are?seemingly the two
great evils.

We find a great many assistants with limited means
starting business on their own account, and having recourse
to long hours and assiduous attention to work to eke out a
livelihood, and thereby utterly destroying their own con¬
stitution.

I would therefore suggest as reasonable business hours
from 8 a.m. till 7 p.m., and should these hours be strictly
kept sufficient time would be allowed for recreation, and
doubtless the percentage of premature deaths would gradu¬
ally decrease.

T. S. W.

How to Reduce our Death Rate.

Sir, — Allow me to throw out a few simple remarks on
this subject. That our death rate is high, we can all easily
believe, and we can as easily understand the reasons.
Whether the percentage of those who die in their prime be
quite up to what Mr. Nicol has found it, -we may not be
able exactly to determine ; but certain enough it must be
deplorably high. The reasons for it are plain, and the
chief ones are these three : The comparatively stagnant
nature of our work ; the undoubtedly bad air we breathe,
and, worst of all, the general long hours of the trade. If
we are to reduce our high death rate, the great thing we
.must aim at is shorter hours, or more recreation and rest
in one way or another. The nearer we can get, in fact, to
that golden rule of eight hours to work, eight to play, and
eight to sleep, the happier will our lives be, the lower our
death rate. What each of us seems to be driving at in this
go-ahead age is ever making a good business, — making money.
In our zeal for these we forget health, or we give it but a
third place in our thoughts. This must not be if we are to
live longer lives. The order must be health, first, business,
second, money, third. But the question will be asked,
“ How can chemists act up to this rule of eight hours to
work, or where is the ordinary chemist who can carry it
out?” I confess he is a rara avis, and in my travels of a
dozen years, I have only met with two who had the good
•sense and courage to do it. One was a chemist in a small
provincial town, the other was the chief of a large establish¬
ment in an important manufacturing town. I had noticed
that the former took a great deal of recreation, and one day,
about six years ago, I asked him how he was able to do it.
He replied that he had simply made it a rule, almost from
the first year he went into business, that he should not work
more than eight hours a day on the average. He had stuck
to this rule up to that time, and, I believe, he doe3 so still.
He did not work exactly eight hours each day, but between
frequent holidays and short hours while he was at business,
he made certain that his average was not more than that
for each day of the year. It may be asked, and liow did
his business fare? He had always an assistant who was
left in charge to do the best he could, and when the chemist J

returned from a holiday, the assistant got out to have his
turn. He was always sure of getting more recreation time
than the most of such assistants get.

In this way did this small chemist enjoy life, and keep
himself healthy, while he also gave the health of his assist¬
ant a due amount of consideration, and in this way he also
kept his business going at a fair pace. No doubt, had he
stuck as closely to it as most chemists on his level do, he
might now have had a better business, and a little more
money saved for his old age (that i3 if he had lived to see
it) ; but was it not wiser of him to enjoy life as he went
along, to keep himself healthy, and to be content with a
smaller business ? I have always thought this man one of
the most sensible chemists I ever met, and he certainly was
one of the jolliest and healthiest. This, then, is one good
model for chemists to go by, and it is happily one from the
humble rank. The other I referred to was a noble specimen
in every sense of the word. He had, I believe, made it a
rule during the most of his business life of nearly fifty
years, to work only about eight hours a day, going to
business at 10 a.m., and leaving at 5 or 6 in the evening.
He lived in vigorous health almost to the last week of his
life, and died beyond the three score and ten, leaving a large
business and a large fortune. He also thought of his assist¬
ants, the hours for ten out of twelve of them being from
10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a break of three quarters of an hour
for dinner. This made the day’s work fully nine hours, but
as each assistant got a fortnight’s holiday in the year, that
reduced the average day’s work to little over eight hours,
which was all that could be desired. This man was one of
Nature’s noblemen.

Chemists may be divided into three classes. First, those
who are not able to keep an assistant and who can do little
more than make a liviag ; second, those who keep from one
to four assistants and who make an income of from £300 to
£600 a year ; third, those who are able to employ half a
dozen assistants or more and whose income is beyond £600.
It is, no doubt, the first class who do most to swell up our
high death rate. We have pity for these men in their lives
and we regret their fate if they go to the ground in their
prime on account of the confined life they have led.

I would, I think, prefer the life of Mr. Barnaby ’sniggers,
for in all likelihood they would have the free pure air to
breathe and work in and companions to toil beside, which
would do much to brighten and lengthen life, slave life
though it might be called. I would, however, recommend
the chemists of this class, who must remain in the business
they have chosen, to live as carefully, economically and
contentedly as they can, doing their best to improve their
condition ; and wherever it can be done, let them shorten
the day’s work by an hour or two. Let them take what
little exercise and recreation they can ; a day or two, or a
week or two occasionally in the country, according as their
circumstances will admit, by getting a temporary assistant
to take charge. They should see well to the proper ven¬
tilating of their shops. A current of air should always, if
possible, be allowed to go right through the shop during
the night, especially in winter time, when the air must be
foul with the burning gas and closed doors. Rather let
a fanlight remain open that might allow a burglar to get in,
than entirely shut up that vicious air, to have to go into it
again in the morning ; for the burglar, if he go in, can at
best but steal away a few shillings or pounds, while the
other will assuredly steal a few years of life.

As men of this class have so little exercise, they should,
during winter, wear a good layer of lamb’s wool from neck
to toe, which will help greatly to keep heat in and cold
out, and it will enable them to do with less gas stove or
fire heat. This is an important matter though it may be
lightly thought of ; and those who want proof of it will
find it in Combe’s ‘ Constitution of Man,’ in which work
many other valuable hints may be got for the preservation
of life. Hufeland’s ‘Art of Prolonging Life,’ is another
book from which many good hints may be got. It would
be well for chemists who aspire to long lives to give a little
more attention to such books as these and less to their
chemistries.

The second class of chemists can have almost no excuse if
they do not keep near to this rule of the three eight hours.
Instead of admiring men of this class for their industrious
ways, or, in other words, for making slaves of themselves
to business, we should look upon them with contempt. If
such men die in their prime, we should have little sympathy
for them ; we should rather be thankful they have gone, o

300

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 11, 1379.

that others like them, -working as they done, may take
warning and do otherwise.

Little requires to be said about the chemists of the third
or highest class. If any of them die in their prime, we
know well what we should style them. It is to this class
we look for the example of shorter hours, and it is very
gratifying indeed to notice that some of the principal Lon¬
don houses are closing much earlier than they did a few
years ago. Assistants in these houses, I have also observed
remain much longer, and work more contentedly than they
did when the hours were longer.

One word to assistants: They must not imagine that they
are to do nothing and masters all to bring about this short
hour system, and to reduce this high death rate. They
must make up their minds to take a moderate salary for a
situation in which the hours will be short, and be certain
to ask for the highest where the hours are long.

Shorter hours throughout the trade, and a lower death
rate we certainly will have as we get more enlightened.
Chemists will not always be suchfoois as to sell their lives
at such a rate for the mere glory of business or money ; a
happy and healthy long life they will look to first. There
are signs of better times coming, now that the doors of
some good west end houses begin to close at 7 o’clock ; but
if SO per cent, are still dying in their prime, we may well
raise a cry for the rest to lower their hours as far and as
fast as they can, and let it ring right down to the poorest of
the line.

A Sawney.

Nitrate of Pilocarpine.

Sir, — I acknowledge to have overlooked part of Mr. Mar-
tindale’s remarks at the Sheffield Conference on the purifi¬
cation of nitrate of pilocarpine ; therefore, I will set aside
my letter published in tli9 Journal on September 20, and
start afresh with a desire to be strictly accurate and give
credit to whom it is due.

The process spoken of by Mr. Martindale was first made
public by M. Petit, in the Repertoire de Phcirmacie, for
August 25, 1S77, and no matter how long previously Mr.
Martindale may have used the same process, he must know
he is not justified in claiming it as his own discovery two
years after its publication by another.

The merit of the process is due to M. Petit and to him it
must be given.

University College Hospital. A. W. Gerrard.

Gelatinization of Tincture of Kino.

Sir, — In respect to Mr. Bamford’s remarks, and those of
others, on the difficulty of keeping this fractious tincture from
“jellying,” it is a curious fact that during my forty years’
experience with drugs, etc., I have always found the above
tincture very difficult to keep, but I have now in my posses¬
sion some obtained from Messrs. Evans, Sons, and Co. five
or six years ago, and still it is as good as ever. The bottle
has been several times opened, it is placed behind others,
and is perhaps shifted and dusted every week, and it is as
perfect and liquid as the day it was made. How it is I
cannot pretend to say, but it is the only tincture of kino
that I have seen in my forty years’ experience that has not
“jellied.”

Catechu.

Tincture of the Resin of Podophtllum Peltatum.

Sir, — This tincture is now ordered a good deal, and in
the absence of an official fornmla we would take the liberty
of suggesting that the following strength should be ob¬
served : —

Podophyllin (Resin) gr. j.

Alcohol . -\i.

M.

Fifteen minims will thus represent one-fourth of a grain
of the resin, and this when taken on lump sugar is quite a
nice dose.

Only this morning a medical man was inquiring the
usual strength of the tincture, and although we believe
many houses prepare it of the strength indicated, yet we have

found that others make it widely different, and as the drug
is an active one it is of considerable importance.

35, Baker Street, W. Young and Postans.

Pharmacy in the Transvaal.

Sir, — Can any of your readers kindly favour us with any
information respecting pharmacy in the Transvaal, the num¬
ber of chemists, prices obtained, and mode of doing business ?
Are examinations compulsory, or is there any association
whatever of chemists and druggists? How are assistants
paid, and what are the hours of business ? Any information
respecting our profession either in Natal or New Zealand
will greatly oblige.

An Emigrant.

“ Epsilon ” (who should have sent his name and address).
— There are two alternate whorls, which really answer to
the calyx and corolla, but in consequence of their being
btoh of the same colour are termed the perianth.

“ Epipactis.” — If you send such plants to the Journal
Department, after you have yourself done what you can
towards naming them, we shall be willing to help you.
The works mentioned are of about equal authority.

31. P. S. — We understand that the firm in question has
recently promised to discontinue the use of the title. In-
formation respecting the sale of vermin killer containing
strychnia by unregistered persons should be forwarded to
the Registrar.

F. H. Fairweather. — (1) Hypnum tamariscinum. (2)
Hypnum triquetrum. (3) Hypnum loreum. ( 4 ) Neckera
complanata. (5) Ramalina calicaris. (6). Usnea fiorida.

W. H. — See the paper on “ Pills and Pill Coatings,” by
Dr. Symes, in vol. viii. of the present series of this Journal,
p. 461. Several other papers on the same subject may be
found by reference to the Index. There is also one in the
present number.

“ Acid.” — The addition of borax with and without
glycerine and other salts, to promote the solubility of
salicylic acid has been recommended, but probably in all
these cases new compounds are formed not possessing
properties identical with the original one. See Pharm.
Journal [3], vol. vii., pp. 103 and 429.

A. B. — We do not quite understand your question, as
tincture of iodine is itself of a red-brown colour.

X. Y. Z. is recommended to communicate with the officer
appointed by the local authority under the Explosives Act.

“Orchid.” — Spiranthes autumnalis.

J. H. Dingle. — (1) Scirpus palustris. (2) Senebiera
Coronopus. (3) Silene maritima. (4) Arenaria serpyU
lifolia.

“ Framnus.” — (1) Poa annua. (2) Folium perenne.

“French.” — An advertisement in one of the French
pharmaceutical journals would probably secure what you
require.

“ Lindum ” is referred to the rule respecting anonymous
communications.

“ Medical ” should address his question to the Secretary
of the Royal College of Surgeons.

“ Bill.” — W e are not acquainted with a mineral answer¬
ing to your description.

“ Sarniensis ” should examine the Calendar of the
University of London or apply to the Registrar of that
institution.

“ Fons et Origo.” — “Crabs’-eyes ” are concretions of car¬
bonate and phosphate of lime found in the craw fish when
about to cast its shell. They were formerly used as an ab¬
sorbent and antacid remedy.

31. Leigh. — The Secretary of the Institute of Chemistry,
Mr. C. E. Groves, Somerset House Terrace, W.C.

B. J. Kent. — A copy of the Pharmaceutical Journal con¬
taining all the information yet published on the subject has
been forwarded to you.

Erratum. — On p. 265, col. ii., line 31, in the list of
Associates elected, for “ Goodall, Thomas Torby, Derby,”
read “ Goodall, Thomas Sorby, Derby.”

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Pollard, Swenden, Young, Turner, Edwards, Law-
on, Thresh, Quince Sulph., Theta, Epsilon, C.E.P.

October 18, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

301

ACONITUM HETEROPHYLLUM, WALL.* * * *

BY DR. M. DUNIN Y. WASOWICZ.

Some years ago the attention of European phy¬
sicians resident in India was directed to a nodular
root which was known to the natives under the
names, “ utees,” “ atees ” and “ atis,” and was used
in fevers on account of its antiperiodic effects. Closer
examination showed that although the name utees ”
was also applied to several other drugs, for instance,
the root of Convallaria Polygonatum , Solomon’s seal
root, or a tasteless and inert root considered to belong
to Asparagus sarmentosus, f and in Kunawar to the
root of A conitum Napellus,% which is there eaten on
account of its tonic effects, still this name was
principally to be understood as referring to that
species of aconite which Wallich called Aconitum
heterophyllum. This root is said to have no poisonous
properties, § and to be, in fact, a very valuable remedy
for intermittent and other fevers. It is administered
in ordinary intermittent fever in the form of powder
in doses of 20 grains and as a simple tonic in doses
of 5 to 10 grains three times a day.|| No information
respecting this drug is extant, although, according to
O’Shaughnessy,!' it has long been famous among
Indian drugs on account of its tonic effects.

Professor Yon Schroff, sen.,** * * §§ was the first to com¬
municate some cursory observations upon this drug
in 1866, which were supplemented in 1871 by Schroff,
jun.,tf in regard to its pharmacognosy.

Professor Fluckiger, in ‘ Pharmacograpliia,’ made
known that Broughton had succeeded in obtaining
from the root an alkaloid which he had not closely
examined. Upon the basis of a platinum salt
analysis Broughton assigned to it the empirical
formula C40H74N2O4, and he called it “atisine.” In
the same year Broughton published a note on this
drug in which he stated that the amount of alkaloid
was exceedingly small and that the hydrochlorate
was the easiest preparation to obtain. At the end of
the year, T. B. Groves, in preparing aconitine nitrate
from German Aconitum Napellus, found that after
separating that salt crystals were formed in the
mother liquor differing in form from aconitine
nitrate and not poisonous. On the basis of polari¬
zation experiments and similarity of reactions he
came to the conclusion that these crystals contained
a base identical with the atisine obtained by
Broughton.JJ At the time Hanbury expressed a
doubt as to the identity of the two substances and
shortly afterwards§§ C. R. A. Wright showed that
Groves’ inactive base more probably had the formula
C31H45NO10, or C30H45NO10, than that of Broughton’s
atisine.

Subsequently, Professor Fluckiger succeeded in
obtaining a quantity of this root and he entrusted to
me the examination of it.

Aconitum heterophyllum , Wallich, grows in the
mild districts of the Western Himalayas, in Simla,

* Archiv. der Pharmacie, vol. xi., p. 193.
f Pharm. Journ. (1875), p, 181.

£ Hooker and Thomson, ‘ Flor. Ind.’ (1855), p. 58.

S ‘ Pharmacopoeia of India ’ (1868), p. 434.

II ‘ Pharmacographia,’ p. 15.

If ‘Bengal Dispensatory’ (1842), p. 167.

** ‘ W ochenblatt der k. k. Gesell. d. Aeiize,’ Yienna
(1866), p. 165.

tt ‘ Beitrag zur Kenfcniss d. Aconits v. Dr. C. Y. Schroff
jun. Yienna, 1871, p. 65.

|| Pharm. Journ. [31, vol. v., p. 170.

§§ Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. vi., p. 189.

Third Series, No. 486.

Kashmir and Kumaon, at a height of 8300 to 13,300
feet above the sea level. The finest and largest
samples grow upon the mountains Clioor, Shalma
and Kadarkantar. The plant is from 1 to 3 feet
high, with heart-shaped, acute, indistinctly 5-lobed,

Fig. 1. — Leaf.

or sometimes incised, radiate -veined, leathery leaves?
and racemes of large dirty yellow purple-veined or
entirely blue flowers arranged in a panicle. The
calyx is furnished with a semicircular ascending
pubescent helmet ; the spur is ovate and obtuse ; the
limb long and bent downwards ; the stamens are
arrow-shaped and winged ; the five carpels and the
bracts roundish or rather long.

O

Fig. 2. — A blue flower. Fig. 3. — Two upper petals,

with anthers and follicles.

The roots, which are only to be found in Indian
bazaars, are ovoid, longish or turnip-shaped tubers,
almost always somewhat flattened at the upper
end, but generally conical at the lower extremity and
only seldom sharp-pointed. Some few of the
tubers are stalk-shaped (fig. 7 a to g). They are
closely but irregularly covered with scars of lateral
roots and here and there small remains of leaves are to

302

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October is, 1 879.

be found at the upper end of some roots. Externally
the roots are pale yellowish grey, in some parts

Fig. 5. — Seel.

Fig. 4. — Capsule.

Fig. 6. — Portion of the stalk with tuberous roots.

almost white, with numerous longitudinal wrinkles,
and at the upper end from two to five transverse
wrinkles, though only in some of the roots. In
some cases there is a furrow or channel-shaped de¬
pression extending the whole length of the root.
The roots are from inch to 3 inches long. The
thickest diameter is from \ inch to nearly an inch,
and they weigh from 7 grains upwards, the weight of
most of the tubers varying between 38 and 90 grains.
The fracture is almost even ; within the tubers are
clear white. The taste is mealy, somewhat mucila¬
ginous and bitter, without any biting or acrid after¬
taste. Digested in cold water for some hours the
tubers swell up and after perfect drying become hard
and horny. This is also the case when they are
digested with hot water.

Under the microscope the pure white transverse
section presents an almost uniform tissue, intersected
with from three to seven rather yellowish coloured
irregular bundles of vessels, situated in a scattered
manner and enclosing an apparently large meditul-
lium. Concentrated sulphuric acid colours the sec¬
tional surface reddish ; solution of iodine in iodide of
potassium colours it at first violet and then a dirty
bluish black. Millon’s reagent colours it only slightly
reddish, and perchloride of iron does not alter it at
all. Thin fragments, perfectly freed from starch by
treatment with dilute acids and careful washing, give
with alkaline solution of cupric tartrate, or with

Millon’s reagent, no reaction to indicate the presence
of solid protein substances.

Fig. 7 a to (j.— Roots, natural size.

Under the micro¬
scope the outer rind
of the roots appears
to be formed of four
or five or six rows of
somewhat rounded
tabular cells crowded
together and having
their walls slightly
brown - coloured.
Next to this comes a
rind consisting of five
to twelve rows of elon¬
gated collenchyma-
tous cells of uniform
size and slightly
thickened. This rind
is separated from the rest of the tissue
by a distinctly yellow-coloured zone.
The cells of this zone are thin- walled
and distinguished only by the yellow
colour from those of the central por¬
tion of the root. The latter are rounded
slightly thickened polyhedral cells of
a parenchymatous nature of which the
whole general mass of the tissue is
formed. In this tissue there are gener¬
ally very irregularly distributed vascular bundles, to
the number of three or seven, which seldom consist of
single vessels, but more frequently of three to
nine, arranged in rows or groups. The latter are
mostly scalariform, less frequently spiral, and their
walls are yellowish, but much lighter coloured than
those of the yellow zone. Round these vascular
bundles the cells of the principal tissue are the
smallest. These bundles surround a medilullium,
which is almost always in the centre of the trans¬
verse section, but is not so big as it appears under
the microscope. It consists also of rounded poly¬
hedral cells, having only very small intercellular
spaces and exceeding in size three or four times those
of the principal tissue. The form of this tissue,
consisting of large cells, varies very much; some¬
times it is triangular, sometimes square, sometimes
aacircle or almost an ellipse, according to the number
and situation of the vascular bundles above men¬
tioned. Among the many transverse sections that I
have examined from different parts of the root, by
far the most of them presented the appearance shown
in fig. 8. At the upper part of the root, where it

Octobers, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

303

iiiiiMBtkiMaB

is almost always flattened, tlie transverse section
also presents such an appearance as is especially to
be seen in the large-celled parenchymatous tissue.
A closed cambium-ring was not to he detected either
in the upper parts or at the ends of the roots. To-

Fig. 8. — Transverse section of middle of root.

wards the conicaLsliaped end of the root the trans¬
verse section appears regularly arranged, and in
almost all the sections presented the appearance
shown in fig. 9. In the longitudinal section the

Fig. 9. — Transverse section towards end of root.

vascular bundles, or more correctly the single vessels,
extend from the scars of the staik to the opposite
pointed end of the root; and though bent and curved,
are always separate, and never anastomosing, and
only here and there extending into a lateral root.
Some vessels originate first in the centre of the root,
as shown in fig. 10 a.

The lateral roots, so far as I could judge from their
remains, have a comparatively thicker rind, consisting
of longitudinally extended cells, which are rounded
at [both the narrow ends. The yellow zone appears
distinctly also, as in the principal root, and separates

the rind from the other tissues. This, as well as the
vessels and the parenchymatous tissue, are formed in
the same way as the corresponding parts of the prin¬
cipal root ; but frequently the central tissue is not

Fig. 10. — Longitudinal section : a, vessels originating almost
in the middle of the root.

visible. Its place is then occupied by a bundle of
seven to sixteen vessels. Frequently it is also com¬
paratively very elongated longitudinally, and bounded
by two vascular bundles which consist of several
rows of vessels. Stony cells are altogether wanting
both in the principal and the lateral roots. The
contents of all the parenchymatous cells (with the
exception of the empty collenchymatous rind cells)
consist of single, simple or compound, or merely
aggregated starch granules. The number of the parts
of the granules amounts to from two to seven, more

frequently from two to

W

<9

0

9

'J*

three. The appearance
of the starch granules
resembles sometimes the
starch of Phaseolus and
sometimes that of Col-
chicum (fig. 11). Some
/^S of them closely resemble
Ss- ' the 4-par tite granules of
Starch grains. Crocus starch. They are
comparatively small, about 15 to 18 m.m. at the
most, and always somewhat larger than the granules
of Aconitum Napellus. The starch granules of the
principal are always bigger than those of the lateral
roots.

(To be continued.)

Fig. 11.

PRELIMINARY NOTICE ON TEUCRIUM
FRUTICANS*

BY A. OGLIALORO.

This labiate plant, which is employed as a febrifuge, is
called “olivetta” by the Italian peasants, from the
resemblance of its leaves in colour to those of the wild
olive. The fresh plant collected in June soon after
flowering gave no essential oil when distilled with water ;
it was therefore dried in the sunshine, and treated with
boiling alcohol in a continuous displacement apparatus
for two days. On cooling, the extract deposited a deep
green granular pasty substance. The partly exhausted
plant was then treated for other two days with fresh
spirit, and on cooling, a nearly colourless crystalline sub¬
stance was deposited from the solution. _

* From the Gazsetta chimica itaMana, 8, 440 — 446.
Reprinted from the Journal of the Chemical Society.

304

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 1 3, is;s.

The green deposit from the first extract consists of two
substances mixed with a large quantity of chlorophyll.
When treated with boiling alcohol, a white crystalline
substance is left undissolved, identical with the crystalline
deposit from the second extract. The other compound,
which is readily soluble in hot alcohol and in benzene,
can only be freed from chlorophyll with difficulty. It is
a nearly white somewhat soft substance, insoluble in
water, and melting at about 80 — 85°. As it does not
crystallize, and constant analytical results could not be ob¬
tained, the author is inclined to consider it as a mixture.

Teucrin. — The nearly colourless crystalline substance
obtained from T. fruticans dissolves but very sparingly in
any of the ordinary solvents, with the exceptitSh of glacial
acetic acid, which affords the best means of purifying it.
It crystallizes in slender prisms of a yellowish colour,
which melt at 228 — 230° with decomposition. The
results of the analyses accord best with the formula
C2iH240h, but the author reserves his opinion on this
subject until he has more thoroughly investigated the
nature of the substance. Teucrin is decomposed when
heated with dilute nitric acid, leaving a residue of a red
colour; on cooling, the solution deposits yellow crystals,
which may be purified by recrystallization from boiling
water. The new substance is thus obtained in long silky
prisms (m.p. 180°) of a golden colour. It is of an acid
nature, and yields a silver salt, rather soluble in water,
but which is thrown down in splendid golden-yellow
plates on adding alcohol or ether to a mixture of the
ammonium salt with silver nitrate. The analysis of the
acid itself and that of the silver salt points to the formula
C8Hs03 for the acid, which is that of hydroxytoluic acid ;
its fusion point also is nearly the same as that of Fittica’s
/3-hydroxytoluic acid ( Ber ., 7, 927). The nitric acid mother
liquors, from which this acid crystallizes, contain oxalic
and tartaric acids, indicating that the substance is a
glucoside. Teucrin is decomposed when boiled with dilute
sulphuric acid, leaving a yellow residue of an acid nature,
the quantity of which was too small to establish its identity
with the acid obtained by the action of nitric acid ; the
solution contains a substance of the nature of glucose, so
that there can be no doubt that teucrin is a glucoside.
Three 0'5 gram doses of teucrin administered to a dog
caused a lowering of the temperature of the animal.

STATICE CAROLINIAN A.*

BY EUGENE L. REED, PH.G.

Marsh rosemary is considered by Nutall, Torrey and
other botanists as a mere variety of Statice limonium, of
Europe, while others regard it a distinct species. It is
indigenous to the Atlantic coast of the United States,
and has a perennial root, sending up annually tufts of
leaves, which are obovateor cuneiform, entire, mucronate,
smooth and on long foot stalks. They differ from the
leaves of S. limonium in being flat on the margin, while
the latter are undulated. The flower-stem is round and
smooth, from a few inches to a foot or more in length,
sending off near its summit numerous subdividing
branches, which terminate in spikes, and form altogether
a loose panicle. The flowers are small, bluish-purple,
erect, upon one side only of the common peduncle, with a
mucronate, scaly bract at the base of each, a five-angled,
five-toothed caylx, and spatulate obtuse petals. The
meadows in the vicinity of Atlantic City are made beauti¬
ful by the marsh rosemary when in flower. The delicate
bluish-purple of its blossoms, which appear in August
and September, produce a pleasant relief to the eye from
the varying shades of green of the salt grases. It is the
forerunner of the bright yellow' and crimson tints of the
pickle-weed, which later in the fall gives to the meadows
such richness of colour. The marsh rosemary, or meadow
lavender, is highly prized by those who collect grasses to
ornament their homes in winter, and is placed above
picture frames and in bouquets as one of their most
attractive features. The root collected in October pos-

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, Sept., 1879.

sesses medicinal properties in a higher degree than tha^
collected later in the season. It is large and spindle-
shaped, branched, fleshy, compact, rough and of a purplish-
brown colour. Its length depends upon the nature of
the soil, which varies from dark muddy to light sandy in
numerous localities over the meadows. If found in sandy
soil, the root is short and of a branching character,
while that obtained from muddy soil is long, straight and
less branching. It is bitter and very astringent to the
taste, and in the fresh state is without odour, but a
decoction kept in a warm place for several days ferments
and has a molasses-like odour.

The fresh root is tough and not easily bruised except
after the addition of a little alcohol. The tincture
obtained with a mixture of one part of alcohol and two
parts of water yielded a precipitate with acetate of lead,
the filtrate from which contained sugar, gum and ex¬
tractive matter. The precipitate was dissolved in alcohol,
the solution decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen, and
the filtrate evaporated ; it yielded 17| per cent, of
residue, consisting chiefly of tannin, which gives a greenish-
black colour with solution of chloride of iron. Statice is
powerfully astringent. In domestic practice it is freely
used in some parts of the coast line as a remedy for
diarrhoea and dysenteiy, to restrain morbid discharges
from mucous surfaces, as a gargle in sore throat and
aphthous condition of the mouth and fauces, and as a
styptic in passive hemorrhages. If it were necessary to
pay the cost of importation, statice would probably be
held in as high estimation by the medical profession as
kino and catechu. It can be tinctured and employed for
all the purposes for which these popular remedies are
given ; it may also be given in decoction or infusion. Its
abundance and valuable properties should cause it to be
brought before the medical profession and to be more
generally used.

CHLOROFORM AS AN ANESTHETIC.*

BY J. REGNAULD.

The purity of chloroform for anaesthetical purposes
being very important, the following simple tests are re¬
commended by the author.

If chloroform is dropped on paper and allowed to eva¬
porate, the last portion on being inhaled has a character¬
istic pleasant smell, and leaves the paper perfectly dry
and odourless; impure chloroform however possesses a dis¬
agreeable irritating odour, which it imparts to the paper.

Pure chloroform does not redden blue litmus or give
even a cloudiness with silver nitrate. If it should do
either, it contains hydrochloric acid or the products of
decomposition of some other chlorides.

Pure chloroform remains perfectly colourless when
boiled with potash; the presence of aldehyde causes a
brown coloration.

When shaken with concentrated sulphuric acid and
allowed to stand for half an hour, the two liquids should
separate into two colourless layers. The presence of
alcoholic chlorides produces a brown coloration.

The purity of chloroform may be judged by its constant
boiling point, GO'S0. Impure chloroform may boil above
or below according to the impurities it contains.

The sp. gr. of chloroform can hardly be used as a
criterion of its purity, since its determination has been
attended with conflicting results. Liebig has found the
sp. gr. of pure chloroform to be 1‘48 at 18°. Souberain
shows that this number is too low, the sp. gr. at 12°
being P496. Again, Remys [Arch. Pharm. [3], 5, 31)
points out that the sp. gr. of pure chloroform is 1'5 at
15°, and moreover the presence of -gfe of alcohol lowers
the sp. gr. '002.

The purity of chloroform may to a certain extent be
judged by the complete insolubility of Hofmann’s violet
in it : if it contains a trace of alcohol, the solution is
coloured a beautiful purple.

* From the J. Pharm. [4], 29, 402 — 405. Reprinted
from the Journal of the Chemical Society , September, 1879.

October IS, 1870.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

305

Sfa §kpaquiital Joitijim!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1879.

THE “ SODA WATER ” OF COMMERCE.

The weakness that is indicated by the popular
application to anything of the term. “ milk and
water,’’ seems to be still the prevailing characteristic
of the proceedings of public analysts, and almost in¬
voluntarily they appear to be influenced by some
verbal connection between the articles which first
engaged their attention as a body and those which
they from time to time undertake to inquire into
now. From the milk of the cow they went on to
il milk of sulphur,” and from that have since ad¬
vanced to “cream of tartar,” as though subject to
some kind of fascination. Though to a great extent
the examination of water is outside the duty of a
public analyst, the kind of aerated water known as
“ soda water,” and commonly used as a beverage, has
on several occasions been taken as the material for
investigation and last week the Newport magistrates
were occupied in hearing a case of prosecution under
the Food and Drugs Act arising out of this exercise
of the public analyst’s skill.

The case we refer to is fully reported at page 312
of the present number of the Journal, and it was
based upon the certificate and evidence of the New¬
port public analyst to the effect that a certain article
called “ soda water,” supplied by Mr. Davis, a
chemist, of Newport, was not of the quality and
nature required by the purchaser, inasmuch as it did
not contain bicarbonate of soda. According to that
official, water charged with carbonic acid would not
have the effect of neutralizing acidity in the stomach
in the same manner that the soda water of the
British Pharmacopoeia would do, and apparently
under the belief that soda water was drunk only by
persons afflicted with acidity in the stomach, the
Newport analyst followed the example of many of
his brethren in arriving at the conclusion that the
British Pharmacopoeia furnished a standard for the
composition of soda water, — that if it did not contain
in the half pint 15 grains of carbonate of soda it was
not of the nature and quality of “ soda water.”

In some form or other this mischievous delusion of
regarding the British Pharmacopoeia as a standard
for the nature and quality of articles of ordinary
daily consumption, has misled many public analysts,
and has been a source of considerable unnecessary
vexation to individual traders. We have on various
occasions endeavoured to impress upon the minds of
these official analysts that the British Pharmacopoeia
relates, like the Pharmacopoeia of any other country,
solely to the composition and strength of articles to
be used as medicines, that it is intended simply to
afford to the members of the medical profession and
those engaged in the preparation of medicines, one
uniform standard and guide, whereby the nature and
composition of substances to be used in medicine may

be ascertained and determined. In certain of the cases
of prosecution where the public analyst has sought
to make the British Pharmacopoeia the standard by
which to gauge the nature and quality of articles
that it does not in fact refer to, the soundness of
the principle we have sought to impress on the con¬
sideration of public analysts has been repeatedly
endorsed by the magistrates or judges before whom
the cases have been tried. But still the endeavour
goes on to treat the chemist and druggist as though
he never sold anything but physic, and hence we
have such prosecutions got up as the one just
disposed of at Newport.

Fortunately for Mr. Davis some of the magistrates
before whom the case was brought were in the
habit of drinking “ soda water.” They seem also to
have had such a knowledge of the virtues of bicar¬
bonate of soda and such a wise regard for the
soundness of their internal economy, that they took
care the soda water they drank contained no soda at
all, and would not drink it if they knew it con¬
tained any soda. That is to say they would not
think of drinking as a daily beverage the effervescing
solution of soda of the British Pharmacopoeia, not¬
withstanding the fact that this preparation may be
very beneficial for persons with acidity in the
stomach. In short, they drew a distinction between
medicinal soda water and that ordinarily used as a
beverage. Upon this ground they dismissed the
summons, but as is usual, they refused to allow
costs to the defendant, since the prosecution, how¬
ever mistaken, was undertaken for the public benefit.

For our own part we regret that the defence of
this case was not based upon an outspoken assertion
of the principle by which the magistrates were
spontaneously guided in deciding it, for in our
opinion there is ample reason for the opinion that
“ soda water ” for ordinary drinking purposes is far
better when made, as it generally is, by merely
charging pure water with carbonic acid gas, than it
would be if it contained some bicarbonate of soda.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

On Wednesday next, the 22nd inst, the Chemists’
Assistants’ Association will hold a Conversazione at
St. James’s Hall (Regent Street entrance), at which
all interested in pharmacy are invited to be present.
There will be an exhibition of microscopes, spectro¬
scopes and other scientific apparatus of general
interest, as well as the performance of a musical
programme. Tickets (to admit lady and gentleman)
may be obtained by letter from the Hon. Sec., 32a,
George Street, Hanover Square, W.

THE HOWARD MEDAL.

The subject chosen by the Statistical Society for
the Howard Medal to be awarded in November,
1880, is “ The Oriental Plague in its Social, Econo¬
mical, Political and International Relations ; special
reference being made to the labours of Howard on
the subject.” This prize was instituted in the year
1873, the centenary of the appointment of John
Howard as High Sheriff of the county of Bedford.

It consists of a bronze medal, and is adjudged by the
Council of the Statistical Society for the best essay
on some subject in Social Statistics. On this
occasion a sum of i>20 will be given in addition.
The competing essays must be sent in on or before
the 20th of June, 1880, and should not exceed in
length 150 pages of the Journal of the Statistical
Society.

306

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 18,

|)rooitt([ial ©ransantions.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The first general meeting of the thirty-first session was
held at the Royal Institution on Thursday evening,
October 9. The President, Dr. Charles Symes, in the
chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been
read and confirmed, Mr. J. McCaig was elected a member ;
Messrs. T. Blyton, H. Edwards, J. Hallawell, A. Hughes
and P. C. Williams were elected associates.

The President then delivered his inaugural address.

Inaugural Address.

After an interval of five years you have again done me
the honour of electing me your President. When some
few months since I consented to act in tbis capacity, my
official duties were fewer than they now are, otherwise I
might justly have hesitated in taking this further re¬
sponsibility ; nevertheless, seeing that those who have
most to do, do the most, I am hopeful that with the
support which I can fully rely on from the Council and
from the members generally we shall have a successful
session. This society has now an established position, a
history extending over nearly one-third of a century, a
dignity to maintain, a useful work to perform. It is
a proverb of antiquity that “ no man lives unto himself,”
and what is true of the individual is equally so of the
body corporate. As individual members of this society
we have helped to swell its numbers and have contributed
to its funds ; but we have done more, we have entered a
brotherhood where the common weal should be our first
thought, we have virtually pledged ourselves (one and all)
to contribute to the common fund of information, to
impart as well as to receive, to cull from our every day
experience, from the work or reflections of our leisure,
something, however small, which will help to add interest
and profit to our evening meetings. As a society we
represent the progress and interests of chemistry and
pharmacy in this town and neighbourhood, and have our
relations to the other scientific societies which meet in
this institution and elsewhere. We are one (and I
venture to think not the least important) of the societies
established throughout the country for the fostering and
development of these sciences, so that it requires but a
moment’s reflection to see how great is our joint respon¬
sibility, how necessary for us to maintain in its integrity
the work of the founders and of those who have reared
and brought the society to maturity. Passing from the
society itself to the branches of science which it repre¬
sents, and the relation of these to the numerous other
branches, the mind of the most profound thinker is unable
to grapple with the whole of the facts, deductions and
theories which rise up before it, some real and substantial,
others semi-ideal, some with so much of truth about them
that they cannot be lightly dispensed with, others having
barely a claim to recognition.

A connecting thought here, a missing link there, this
clear exposition, that conflicting evidence, passing from
arguments of solidity through the various grades of
attenuation to the most ideal theories of the imagination.
An interminable network of ramifications embracing all,
from the commonplace things of every day life to the
borders of infinity. But if the gravest philosopher is
incapable of grasping the whole of this and of arriving at
satisfactory generalizations, can it be expected that we,
men of average minds and capabilities, shall be able to
deal with them ? Presumably not, but you will agree
with me that it is well that we should dip sufficiently
deeply into these things to enable us to realize the
earnestness and reality of life and to penetrate beyond
the mere surface of existence.

This probably will be best accomplished by limiting
our sphere of inquiry and regarding more especially the
chemist and pharmacist, and his environment, not in the
broadest possible acceptation of the term ; but con¬

templating more especially his surroundings, the accom¬
plishments of the present and the work of the immediate-
future. Next to what Carlyle calls “the vestural tissue,”
around the chemist are his chemicals, balances, burettes,
beakers, to an almost endless list ; his laboratory.
Around the pharmacist his measures, mortars, medicines,
an ever increasing multitude ; his pharmacy. These are
the surroundings within which he, as a rule, gains ex¬
perience and acquires the means by which he is sustained
and enabled to impart energy to the mind, that mind by
which he is or should be judged as regards his social
position and capabilities for usefulness to mankind.

It is not however the mere possession of, but the prac¬
tical application of knowledge which determines the
environment outside that already mentioned, and che¬
mistry provides abundant scope for this, seeing that it is
at the very foundation of our knowledge of things.

Professor Allman, in his recent’presidential address to
the British Association, pointed to the conclusions of Max
Schultze, which are now generally accepted as being cor¬
rect, viz., “ that the same protoplasm lies at the base of
all the phenomena of life, whether in the animal or veget¬
able kingdom,” and further, that although in all prob¬
ability chemically the same, it differs in some unknown
physical property. Here, then, chemistry is called on to
decide a most important question, a fundamental principle
in biology, and this single illustration will suffice to show
the importance of and necessity for exactness in the results
of its operations. Great as this exactness already is,
workers in this field are constantly aiming at new or im¬
proved methods for the acquirement of greater accuracy,
and while this work is steadily progressive, the facts or
subject matter of chemistry remain constant and immu¬
table to all time. Not so the theories by which these
facts are explained ; within comparatively few years these
have undergone a complete revolution, and the student
who twenty years ago took special pains to ground his
knowledge thoroughly in the principles on which chemical
phenomena were generalized, has, if desirous of keeping
pace with the times, been compelled to unlearn and con¬
sider erroneous much of what he then regarded as incon¬
trovertible fact, and to begin de novo to acquire the modern
system.

The work of the professional chemist is not materially
affected by these theoretical considerations, but inasmuch
as he seldom enters this profession simply on account of
the amount of remuneration it yields, but rather because
his taste lies in this direction ; because he takes pleasure
in his occupation, and delights in unravelling these
mysteries surrounding the primary and complex condi¬
tions of matter, he will be induced at every step to go
beyond the mere requirements of his work. Chemical
occupation has considerably increased in modern times ;
within a comparatively short period a small army of
public analysts has been created, which, with its vassals,
is pledged to guard the public against the baneful influ¬
ences of adulteration, a very desirable object and one in
which undoubted good has already been accomplished.
That some unqualified, over officious and even unprincipled
men should have entered the ranks is not at all surprising,
seeing that the demand sprang suddenly into existence
without the years of necessary preparation for supplying
it efficiently, but the position is becoming elevated and
the evil which has existed in some localities (happily not
in ours) viz., where the public analyst has been a terror
equally to the unjust and the just, will doubtless soon
cease; a consummation greatly to be desired and by
none more so than by the conscientious and efficient mem¬
bers of the body. In addition to the various chemical
works throughout the country there are many manufac¬
tures, the conduct of which involves some chemical
knowledge, and in some instances this is sufficient to
justify the employment of one or more chemists on the
premises. This is a growing occupation for chemists and
one which must necessarily increase in direct proportion
to the enlightenment of the age. I have in my mind at

October 18, 1879], THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

307

the present moment one or two large manufacturing firms
who, to my personal knowledge, by using their laboratories
as guides in their operations, are enabled even in these
trying times to compete successfully with what would
otherwise be overwhelming competition. Belonging to
this department of technical chemistry are certain manu¬
factures in which huge chemical processes are involved.

Those of us who attended the recent meeting of the
British Pharmaceutical Conference at Sheffield had an
opportunity of witnessing one of these in the Bessemer
process of manufacturing steel, the grandeur of which
produced an effect on the minds of many which will not
readily be effaced. The Hollway process of rapid oxida¬
tion and the use of sulphides as fuel is of so recent a date
as to be scarcely perfected, at least as regards working
details, but it is a grand conception, the ultimate effects
of which cannot at present be estimated. Ores so poor
as not to be worth working on account of the cost of the
fuel which would be consumed, are by this process made
to produce their own fuel and can be worked at a profit.
These are two instances of applied chemistry, but many
others might be quoted if time permitted.

Beyond this we have the more attenuated environment
of chemical physics, in which we gradually pass from
experimental demonstration to deductions, theories and
hypotheses ; here rapid strid«s have been made during
the last few years, and still there is room for work.
Quite recently we were startled by the announcement
that oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen had been liquefied ;
but the other day it was more than hinted that chlorine
had been dissociated, and now Mr. Crooks opens up a
new field of inquiry into the chemistry of “radiant
matter.” So far he finds that even in this attenuated
condition the molecules retain their chemical charac¬
teristics ; if, however, the character of the molecules can
be modified by physical influences, or if it is possible for
the atom to exist in a free and uncombined state, it
seems probable that the most favourable condition for
such existence will be found in this direction.

Having thus gone over in outline some of the sur¬
roundings of the chemist as a professional and scientific
man, let us contemplate shortly but more especially the
environment of the pharmacist. I have already men¬
tioned the close proximity of the pharmacy, its medicinal
contents and the instruments and utensils by which the
latter is dispensed ; but seeing that drugs, etc., have t©
undergo selection and certain processes of manufacture
before they are fitted for use in the pharmacy, some
amount of skill is required to enable the operator to
accomplish these things satisfactorily. But compara¬
tively few years since only one school of pharmacy (to
the best of my knowledge) existed in this country, now
there are probably a score or more. Books and other
facilities for education have been multiplied, all of which
are, or should be, healthy signs ; and I think it cannot
be denied that the pharmacist of to-day is a decidedly
more accomplished man in his calling than he was even
twenty years ago. But whether pharmaceutical education
has kept pace with the provisions made for it is somewhat
doubtful ; if young men trust too much to the “ short
outs ” so temptingly provided and neglect systematic
training and home study, the knowledge gained will be
exceedingly evanescent and will be of little real use to
them ; it might perhaps suffice to enable them to pass an
examination or two, but it should be borne in mind that
examinations are not the aim and end of our existence,
they are but the portals through which it is necessary to
pass in order to enter into the real business of life, first
as assistant and then as principal, during which transition
views of things often undergo considerable modification.
The chemistry of the pharmaceutical laboratory is not so
•exhaustive as that previously referred to; many of its
operations are mechanical and can be performed in detail
by less skilled labour, but that both knowledge and
judgment of no mean order are involved in the direction
of these, no one with personal experience in the matter

will doubt. But chemistry does not stand alone; some
knowledge of botany, a sound knowledge of materia
medica and of the various operations and requirements
embraced by the broad and comprehensive term of phar¬
macy are absolutely necessary, and if these are faithfully
acquired it is not at all surprising that those who conduct
a business involving proficiency in such sciences should
lay claim to a professional status. Many, however, find
it impossible or inexpedient to conduct their business on
a purely professional basis ; hence we have the existing
state of things well known amongst us, viz., pharmacy
as a combination of profession and trade. The social
position of the pharmacist has been so recently and so
ably dealt with by the President of the Conference that
very little from me on this point will suffice.

There can be no doubt but the public regard pharmacy
as something above an ordinary trade, and the pharmacist
as a man of superior intelligence; but he is a shopkeeper,
and with the superficial portion of society this militates
considerably against him. Yet if my experience is worth
anything, it indicates that those who have the most
substantial claims to position themselves, readily accord
to us our proper status. Still, an anomaly does exist, and
this social environment of the pharmacist is a problem
not easily solved.

It has occurred to me in this relation, as it probably
has to others, that there is something in a name, and if
we, after continental fashion, were to educate ourselves
and the public to speak of our places of business as Phar¬
macies, and to regard our charges for dispensing — -however
small or large — in the light of fees or payment for pro¬
fessional work — which they really are, and added to this,
if we put forth a general effort to improve the tone of
our business, we shall have done, not all, but something
toward the accomplishment of our aim, which must
necessarily be a work of time. Progress will of course
be less rapid in times of general depression than it would
in those of prosperity, and far as I am from believing
in the perpetuity of “bad times,” if only half one hears
is true, it would be useless denying their existence at
present. But as a picture cannot consist entirely of
background and shadows, but must have its high lights
and half tones, so the evil cannot exist without some
attendant good; the refining process rarely fails to pro¬
duce better metal, and I believe these trying times have
their salutary influences, inasmuch as they are calculated
to stimulate our capabilities, to test the strength of our
mental resources and to develop our best energies. Our
latent powers are doubtless greater than we should ever
be aware of but for the necessity which calls them into
action, and if we add to these fortitude and patience,
there can be no doubt but the end will be worthy the
means. The present time is one in which we should
most thoroughly appreciate an association like this,
which brings us together for friendly intercourse, for
mutual help by the exchange of ideas, tending to render
more perfect the sciences we profess, and to make us
better capable in our respective spheres of serving our
day and generation, so that when called on to give place
to others, we may leave Chemistry and Pharmacy some¬
thing better than we found them. There is much un¬
cultivated ground to work ; much that remains to be
done. Truly, at first sight, it appears as though every
atom of the universe, every molecule of which it is built
up had been twisted and turned by scientists in every
conceivable or possible direction ; but going somewhat
more deeply into our subject we find that so vast is the
prospect which opens up before us that we are overcome
by the contemplation of how little it is possible for one
individual in a lifetime to accomplish. The amount of
partially developed ideas and unfinished work by which
we are surrounded is very considerable ; versatility of
talent and the wide range of operations seem to tempt
workers to pass on to new subjects and new inquiries,
and to leave the old ones with still much to be done for
their completion.

308

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[October 18, 18 79

There are still many vacant places in the tables of
homologous substances. Synthesis of the alkaloids is
merely commenced, inasmuch as with only two or three
has it been accomplished. Not until within a few weeks
since were we furnished with reliable information on the
chemistry of so common a substance as ginger.

Perusal of the blue list published by the British Phar¬
maceutical Conference, and of the list of queries given
by the American Pharmaceutical Association, at once
suggests the incompleteness of our knowledge in many
chemical subjects and pharmaceutical processes, and re¬
minds us that there is more work than there are workers.

Gentlemen, let us, as members of this Association,
resolve that during the present session we will do some¬
thing toward working out the numerous problems which
lie around us for solution, and so contribute something
to the common stock of chemical and pharmaceutical
knowledge.

One word to the students now entering on a new
session, and I have done. Let your work be thorough.
You have examinations to pass and must of necessity
work in a direction to acquire the requisite education ;
but if you work solely for this, with no higher or broader
aim, then, however successful you may be in passing, you
utterly fail to accomplish the object for which examina¬
tions exist. It is not by spasmodic efforts, but by per¬
sistent study — Nulla dies sine lined- -that you can gather
in a rich harvest of knowledge and thereby gain the
approval of your own consciences and are enabled more
thoroughly to serve the interests of your fellow men.

A cordial and unanimous vote of thanks, proposed by
Mr. R. Sumner, seconded by Mr. Davies and supported
by Mr. Mason, having been accorded Dr. Symes for his
able and instructive address, the meeting terminated.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ TRADE ASSO¬
CIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

A meeting of the Law and Parliamentary Committee of
the Association was held at the office of the Association,
23, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, on
October 8, 1879, at 1 p.m., Mr. Thomas Barclay,
President, in the chair. Present — Messrs. Andrews
(London), Churchill (Birmingham), Cross (Shrewsbury),
Hampson (London), Holdsworth (Birmingham), Jones
(Leamington), Symes (Liverpool) and the Solicitor of the
Association. The minutes of the previous meeting of the
Committee were read and confirmed.

The Secretary said that in compliance with the in¬
structions of the Committee he had issued circulars to
influential members of the trade asking for well-
authenticated instances in which fatal results had
followed the sale of scheduled poisons under cover of the
patent medicine stamp, with a view to obtain information
and suggestions that would prove to the satisfaction of
the Legislature that the present system of unregistered
persons vending poisons under cover of the patent medi¬
cine stamp was dangerous to the general public.

A large number of replies to this circular were laid on
the table, and extracts from some read.

The President said the Committee at its last meeting
spent a considerable amount of time in endeavouring to
devise some means of carrying out the wishes of the
Executive in procuring information to aid them in
dealing with that question. As had been seen from the
minutes of that meeting, several suggestions had been
considered, and a resolution passed instructing the
secretary to issue a circular. They had to consider
whether the replies to that circular contained adequate
information or whether it would be advisable to adopt
other means to that end.

Mr. Hampson said they had heard in one of the letters
read by the Secretary a statement to the effect that it
made little difference who sold patent medicines con¬
taining poisons, as they were not supposed to know the
contents of such medicines. Such remarks had from time

to time been applied to poisons sold uncovered by the
stamp, but he was of opinion that it did make a con¬
siderable difference in whose hands the sale of such
poisons was placed. He believed that the fact of the
public being compelled to go to particular shops for the
purchase of poisons was in itself an advantage to the
trade. The public knew that they must go to registered
persons to obtain poisons ; if those poisons were obtainable
at every shop they would be ranked with groceries and
such like goods. It was thought wise — the Legislature
thought it wise — to restrict the sale of certain poisons to
registered persons, and he failed to see any distinction, or
any very important distinction, between the sale of
poisons covered by the patent medicine stamp and the
same poisons sold uncovered by the stamp. He con¬
sidered that the sale of all scheduled poisons covered or
uncovered by the stamp should be restricted to chemists
and druggists, and he thought the efforts of the Associa¬
tion should be directed to that end, and that it was
their duty to aid the Executive in accomplishing that
object.

Mr. Symes said he supported Mr. Hampson’s views; it
was an opinion he had long held. If the sale of patent
medicines containing scheduled poisons were placed in
their hands exclusively, it would, to a certain extent,
increase their responsibilities, but he thought in the
present state of affairs they must be prepared to accept
those increased responsibilities.

The President said it had been already decided by the
Executive to endeavour to restrict the sale of poisons
under cover of the patent medicine stamp to chemists and
druggists.

After further discussion it was unanimously resolved : —
“ That the Secretary be empowered to take such steps as
he deems expedient, by conference or otherwise, to collect
information and suggestions on the sale of patent medi¬
cines, with a view to bring about modifications in the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, to restrict the sale of scheduled
poisons under cover of the patent medicine stamp to
registered chemists and druggists.”

The case of a member of the Association, against whom
proceedings had been taken under the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act, for the sale of soda water, was discussed at
considerable length, and after mature deliberation, it was
unanimously resolved : — “ That the Solicitor be instructed
to defend a member of the Association prosecuted for the
sale of soda water, under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act,
and to employ the services of Professor Attfield and Mr.
Stoddart.”

The Secretary reported that in compliance with a
resolution passed by the Committee at its last meeting,
he had taken out summonses against three illegal traders
for infringements of the 17th section of the Pharmacy
Act, 1868, and that a fine was in each case imposed
by the magistrates. He said they would probably have
observed from a leader in the last number of the Phar¬
maceutical Journal that the Editor attributed that action
on the part of the A ssociation to an intimation furnished
by the Solicitor of the Pharmaceutical Society at the
hearing of a recent case of prosecution under the same
section of the Act, undertaken by order of the Pharma¬
ceutical Council. The Editor had, he presumed, forgotten
that the Association carried to a successful issue three
cases, proceedings in which were taken under that section
so long ago as June, 1877.

The Secretary further reported having forwarded to
the Secretary and Registrar of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety particulars of eight cases of infringements of the
provisions of the 15th section of the Pharmacy Act, in
which he had collected evidence. Communications were
read from the Secretary and Registrar of that Society
acknowledging the receipt of that letter, and detailing the
course he had adopted in dealing with each particular
case.

A letter was read from a member of the Association

stating that there were ten or twelve illegal dealers m

©

October 18, 1379.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

309

poisons carrying on business in and around the town in
which he resided.

It was unanimously resolved : — “ That the Secretary
be instructed to take proceedings from time to time
against illegal traders under the 17th section of the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, in such cases as in his opinion, and
that of the Solicitor, it is expedient.”

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of the second session of the above
Association was held in the rooms of the Pharmaceutical
Society (North British Branch), 119a, George Street, on
Wednesday evening, October 8.

The minutes of the final meeting of last session having
been read and adopted,

The President, Mr. D. McLaren, proceeded to read
the opening address. In thanking the members of the
Association for the honour they had conferred upon him
in electing him as their President, he assured them of
his willingness to do his utmost in furthering the interests
of the Association ; but remarked that it was the exertion
of individuals alone which would constitute the sine qua
non in carrying out that end. In referring to the re¬
lationship existing between the medical profession and
-chemists, he argued that while it was the care of the
physician to ascertain the nature and seat of disease and
to prescribe the appropriate remedies, it was the province
of the chemist to collect, compound and dispense these
remedies. While the exercise of the duties of a physician
demanded a much higher standard of qualification than
was requisite to the discharge of the duties of a chemist,
yet the application of much care and dexterity, as well as
a considerable acquaintance with scientific knowledge, was
demanded of him also. In speaking on the subject of
counter prescribing, he discountenanced the practice of
chemists assuming to themselves on all occasions the
responsibility of properly qualified practitioners, but
maintained that on many occasions, and more especially
where the poorer classes were concerned, it was necessary,
if not incumbent, upon the chemist to give advice in the
treatment of minor ailments. Admitting that there was
thus a tendency on the part of the chemist to encroach
upon the rights of the doctors, yet the keeping of an open
shop by doctors, was, he affirmed, no less an encroachment
on the rights of the chemist. After briefly noticing the
various essays to be delivered during the session, as stated
in the syllabus, he expressed his opinion that members
would derive not only much pleasure, but also valuable
information from their attendance on these meetings.

At the close of the address, a discussion was entered
into as to the best means to be adopted for the shortening
of business hours in those shops which remained open
later than 8 p.m. A Committee, consisting of the Presi¬
dent, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, was finally
appointed with powers to take such steps in the matter
as might be thought desirable.

A very cordial vote of thanks was awarded to the
President for his interesting and instructive address, to
which, having briefly replied, the meeting was brought to
a close.

proceedings of J^cienti/i^ Societies.

AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSO¬
CIATION.*

The twenty-seventh annual meeting of this Association
was called to order in the Supreme Court Room, in the
city of Indianapolis, Ind., on Tuesday, September 9, at
3 p.m., by its President, Mr. George J. Luhn, of Charles¬
ton, S. C.

President Luhn read the annual address which is

* Abstract of the report in the Druggists’ Circular and
Chemical Gazette, October, 1879.

usually expected from the retiring President. The
address was replete with information as to the work,
objects, and success of the Association in the past, as also
the present attainments of pharmacy, made necessary
through the working of the laws relative to pharmacy in
many of the States, and the examinations of the Boards
of Pharmacy under these laws. This advance is being
greatly aided by the formation of State Pharmaceutical
Boards, and of these several have been established during
the past year. Allusion was made to the work of the
officers, as also the several committees authorized by the
Association. Among the other subjects commented upon
were the time at which the meeting was held, the
finances of the Association, and the centennial fund.
The President advised that the meetings should be held
earlier in the year ; when in the Southern States, it
should be as early as April or May, and when in more
northern latitudes, not later than August. Regarding
the finances, he named some plans for the relief of the
debt the Society owed, and said that definite measures
should be adopted at this meeting for that purpose. The
centennial fund, which had now held over for two years,
had made slow progress, as but one-third of the necessary
amount had as yet been collected. At the conclusion of
the address it was, on motion, referred to a committee.

The Committee of Credentials reported that they had
received the credentials of delegates of various associa-
tions.

Invitations to attend the meetings of this body were
extended by the Business Committee, on behalf of the
Association, to the following : — The Governor and State
Officers, Judges of the Supreme Court, Mayor, Medical
College of Indiana, Central College of Physicians and
Surgeons, and the Marion County Society of Micro-
scopists.

The names of fifty-four persons were read, and of these
fifty-two were elected, two names being withdrawn for the
present. At subsequent sessions, other members were
elected, including the two names temporarily withdrawn,
making eighty-five new members elected at this meeting.

Some discussion arose as to qualifications for member¬
ship, as to time of service in the business, and the
following resolution was offered by E. H. Sargent, of
Chicago : — ri That a committee of three be appointed to
report at our next session what changes may be desirable
in our bye-laws to make definite and uniform the ballot¬
ing for members, and also to report on the requisite
qualifications of candidates for membership in this
Association.”

The Chairman of the Executive Committee, Mr. G. W.
Kennedy, read his report. The main facts may be
briefly stated as follows : — Total number of members at
present, 1106. This is a decrease from last year, as the
number of members elected at Atlanta in November
last was exceeded by the number lost by various
causes, of which 8 were by death, 13 by resignation, and
61 from other causes ; total 82. The report was ac¬
cepted and directed to be published.

The delegates present then named one from each dele¬
gation, and to this the President added five others, and
these gentlemen were constituted the Committee to
Nominate Officers for the ensuing year.

The President appointed a Committee on Exhibits ;
and, after this, the Secretary called the roll of members
present.

The Association then adjourned until 9 o’clock Wed¬
nesday morning.

SECOND SESSION.

The meeting was called to order shortly after 9 o’clock,
when the Secretary read the minutes.

T. Roberts Baker, of Richmond, Va., then read the
report of the Nominating Committee ; immediately after
which followed the election of all the gentlemen named
by the Committee. The principal officers were as
follows : — President, George W. Sloan, Indianapolis ;

310

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 18, 1S79.

First Vice-President, T. Roberts Baker, Richmond, Va. ;
Second Vice-President, Joseph L. Lemberger, Lebanon,
Pa. ; Third Vice-President, Philip C. Candidus, Mobile,
Ala. ; Treasurer, C. A. Tufts, Dover, N. H. ; Permanent
Secretary, John M. Maisch, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Reporter
on the Progress of Pharmacy, C. Lewis Diehl, Louis¬
ville, Ky.

The Committees appointed included the Executive
Committee, Committee on Drug Market, Committee on
Papers and Queries, Business Committee, Committee on
Prize Essays and Committee on Legislation.

The retiring President then introduced Mr. G. W.
Sloan, of Indianapolis, the new President, who briefly
acknowledged the honour conferred upon him.

Prof. Maisch then read his report as Permanent
Secretary. The topics discussed were mainly the ex¬
penses incurred in publication of proceedings, and
suggestions as to where in future there might be some
retrenchments as to expenses, as also how it might be
possible to increase the income. Alluding to the delay
in issuing the last volume of proceedings, it was stated
that it was due in part to the delay in obtaining the
wood-cuts to illustrate the work as desired. The total
expenses of issuing the volume were 3,823.42 dollars.
The expenses of various years were compared, showing
that, considering the increased volume of the proceedings,
it has cost the Association much less, proportionately,
than in the past six years. Although the organization is
practically in debt, the Reporter did not favour an
assessment, but rather decreased expenses and an effort
to largely increase the membership. A resolution was
passed some years ago that the subscription to the various
papers and periodicals received for the Reporter on the
1 Progress of Pharmacy” is thought to be an unnecessary
tax on the body, and it was suggested that it be left
discretionary with the Executive Committee and the
Permanent Secretary. It was also suggested that in
localities where more than three or four members reside,
authorized agents of this Association be appointed to
extend its interests.

The report was accepted, and subsequently referred to

committee.

The Treasurer, Charles A. Tufts, M.D., of Dover,
N. H., then read his report. The total receipts for the
year are 4,849.12 dollars; the disbursements were 4,730.45
dollars, and a cash balance on hand of 980.98 dollars.
This balance of cash on hand represents in part dues of
members paid in recently, while there are some heavy
bills still due for the publishing of last year’s volume.
The Association has actually incurred expenses in the
past more rapidly than it has provided ways and means
for their payment.

* The report was received and referred to an Auditing
Committee, named by the chair.

After some considerable discussion relative to the
finances, and the two reports just read, it was, on
motion, referred to a Special Committee appointed by
the chair.

The subject of the Centennial Fund was brought to
the notice of the members, and on motion of Prof. Diehl,
the chair named three members to act with the Chairman
of the Executive Committee to endeavour to secure the
balance of the amount necessary.

The Committee appointed at the previous session to
suggest such revision of the bye-laws as might be thought
desirable relating to membership and election of new
members, made a report recommending alterations in the
bye-laws, adding to the duties of the Executive Com¬
mittee, by requiring that the names of candidates shall be
read at one session and balloted for at the next session,
and that a vote of two-thirds shall elect ; the Executive
Committee to hear and decide upon any objections
that may be offered to any name presented ; and no
names to be balloted for until they have been approved
by the Committee.

The Committee suggested the advisability of so

changing the bye-laws that all matters relating strictly
to business be brought before a Business Council, and
thus devote much more time to the reading and dis¬
cussion of papers than is now possible under the present
rules.

The consideration of the proposed changes was laid
over till the next session, when the resolutions offered by
the Committee were adopted, and the necessary altera¬
tions of the bye-laws will be made in accordance there¬
with.

It was stated by the President that it was now in order
to receive suggestions as to where the next annual
meeting should be held.

Prof. Maisch read an invitation signed by the drug¬
gists of Kansas City, Mo., and Prof. Bedford read an
invitation signed by the druggists resident at Saratoga
Springs, N. Y., as also one signed by the proprietors of
the several mineral springs of Saratoga.

Prof. C. L. Diehl then read the introductory to his
report on the progress of pharmacy.

The Association adjourned shortly after the reading of
the introductory of this report.

THIRD SESSION — WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

Soon after 3 o’clock the meeting was called to order by
the President, the minutes of the previous session read,,
and then, in accordance with a motion previously offered.
Prof. Remington was named as the reader for the Asso¬
ciation.

Prof. Maisch read the report of the Committee on
Legislation. The principal new facts related to the
minor modification of the law of New Jersey, and the
fact that a law has been enacted which relates to the
sale of medicines and poisons in King’s County, N. Y.

The remaining portion of the afternoon was occupied
by the reading of scientific papers, after which the
meeting adjourned until Thursday morning at 9 o’clock.

FOURTH SESSION — THURSDAY MORNING.

The Association was called to order at 9.30 by the
President, Mr. George W. Sloan.

The Committee appointed to examine the reports of
the Secretary and Treasurer, with a view to ascertain
what changes may be recommended for the advantage
of the Association, reported the following recommenda¬
tions : —

1. That local agents be appointed in all places where
more than three members reside.

2. That delegates from the various bodies be in future
required to pay initiation fees.

3. That the volume of proceedings he reduced in size,
as the judgment of the Executive Committee may
determine.

4. That the Secretary be empowered to sell such of
the pamphlets which are used for the Committee on the
Progress of Pharmacy, as in his judgment are of ne
further use.

5. That the Treasurer present annually a tabulated
statement of all receipts and expenditures.

6. That the fiscal year begin with January 1, instead
of September 1.

The report, after a very brief explanation, was adopted,
and Prof. Remington was requested to alter the bye-laws
accordingly.

In the absence of Mr. Charles Rice, the Chairman of
the Committee on the Revision of the U. S. Pharmaco¬
poeia, Prof. Diehl, one of the Committee, read the
introductory report offered by Mr. Rice.

The report was a very voluminous one, and well
represents the untiring industry of the Chairman of the
Committee and his efficient co-labourers. The desire of
the Association, as expressed in the resolution by which
this Committee was reconstructed in 1877, was that at
the present meeting the Committee should have their
report completed and ready to present at the meeting of
the Pharmacopoeial Convention in May next. This

October 18, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

311

seems to be an absolute impossibility ; the most that can
be hoped for is to publish as much as can be prepared by
that time. The various members of the Committee have
taken up departments of the work, and others have
aided liberally in giving valuable time for careful experi¬
ments.

FIFTH SESSION — THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

The Association met at 3 p.m.

The Business Committee then called up an amendment
to the constitution proposed by Mr. J oseph T. Remington
to strike out the words “ the United States,” and insert
in place thereof “ America,” so as to make the sentence
read as follows : — “ Its aim shall be to unite the educated
and reputable Pharmaceutists and Druggists of America
in the following objects.” This was, with a brief ex¬
planation and discussion, adopted.

SIXTH SESSION — FRIDAY MORNING.

The meeting was called to order, and the usual business
disposed of.

The President returned his thanks to the Association
for their consideration, and then put the motion that the
Association do now adjourn, to convene in Saratoga
Springs, N. Y., on the second Tuesday (the 14th) of
September, 1880, at 3 o’clock, which was adopted.

The following papers in replies to queries were read
during the intervals of business : —

Eriodictyon Californicum is receiving attention for its
action in lung diseases and bronchial affections. What
is its therapeutical value, and to what is its activity due ?
Make a chemical examination of it. By Charles Mohr.

The writer made a very full examination of the plant,
and the action of the various solvents in regard to the
amount and quality of extractive matter. The properties
are believed to be due chiefly to the resinous matter,
which is best extracted by alcohol, to which it yields
nearly 11 per cent, of its weight. It yields an ethereal
extract of 15 per cent, and an aqueous of 19 per cent.,
but that which is taken up by alcohol seems more satis¬
factorily medicinal in its character.

Its apparent action is as an astringent and tonic to the
bronchial tubes, but as a remedial agent in consumption
the author thinks it no better than many other panaceas
whose uselessness was long ago proved.

Fluid Extract and Syrup of SeneJca. — Should it not be
prepared with an alkaline menstruum ? By George W.
Kennedy.

The writer stated that for the past seven years he had
used an alkaline menstruum in making both the fluid
extract and syrup of seneka, and has never during that
time noticed a single instance of gelatinization, and in
but very few instances any precipitate whatever. It also
furnishes handsome and brighter looking preparations,
and is apparently more acrid and stronger. For 16 troy
ounces of seneka root 3 fluid drachms of aq. ammonia are
sufficient, and this amount is added to two pints of
dilute alcohol. The finely ground drug is prepared for
percolation, and after the first 12 ounces of percolate have
been obtained, the percolation is continued to exhaustion.
The second percolate is evaporated to 3J ounces, to which
is added £ ounce of alcohol, and this is added to the
reserved percolate of 12 fluid ounces. In making syrup
of seneka, this alkaline liquid is used, but otherwise the
process o? the Pharmacopoeia is followed.

Mr. S. Campbell thought a stronger alcoholic men¬
struum with glycerine answered as well. Mr. Lloyd
spoke of the fact that seneka root yields both salicylic
acid and oil of wintergreen under certain conditions,
though in very small quantity.

Can any of the Decoctions or Infusions of the United
States Pharmacopoeia be satisfactorily prepared from the
Fluid Extracts of the United States Pharmacopoeia, and in

what particulars do they differ from infusions and decoc¬
tions prepared in the prescribed manner ? By William
Saunders.

This paper gave many detailed experiments, and the
results of preparing infusions and decoctions from fluid
extracts. In the author’s opinion when the fluid
extracts are made with a menstruum of dilute alcohol,
they may readily and satisfactorilybe used to prepare both
of the above weaker remedies ; but when the solvent
used is stronger alcohol, and this be diluted with water
to make it the same strength as an infusion or decoction,
the general result is a persistent cloudiness or milky
appearance, rendering it objectionable in dispensing.

The affinity of Glycerin for water is well known : to
what extent will officinal glycerin attract moisture on
being exposed to a damp atmosphere? By George W.
Kennedy.

The author exposed to the atmosphere of a damp
cellar, glycerin of specific gravity l-23 and 1*26 in vessels
of broad shape, also in narrow mouth bottles, weighing
the vessels at frequent intervals. In the first ten days
the vessels of broad, open space had absorbed 4 per cent,
of moisture, and this had continued until, at the end of
ten months, the increase had amounted in the glycerin of
1 '23 sp. gr., to 55^ per cent., and in the denser variety to
57^ per cent.

Revision of the u. s. pharmacopoeia.

Several papers were presented on this subject.

The introductory by Mr. Charles Rice was an admirable
review of the subject, discussing the work already done
and in process, and alluding to the changes in the
character of the work itself. The proposition of the
committee is to arrange the contents in alphabetical
order, without any regard to the present division into
materia medica and preparations ; to do away with any
mention of weights, substituting parts by weight , arrang¬
ing these in the simplest ratios possible.

In preparing medicated waters, precipitated phosphate
of calcium is proposed in place of carbonate of magnesia,
for the purpose of diffusing volatile oils and similar
materials for better solution in water.

Prof. J. P. Remington presented a very full report
upon the tinctures, giving detailed formulas, some in¬
volving modifications, but all arranged upon the plan of
simplifying processes as much as possible. The paper
was accompanied by numerous specimens of tinctures
made as proposed, as also by the residues of the exhausted
drugs.

PHARMACEUTICAL EXHIBITION.

Masonic Hall, situated on the opposite side of the
street from the Supreme Court Room, was the place
selected for the exhibition of articles connected with
pharmaceutical interests.

The large room was literally crowded to repletion
with beautiful products of the art of the chemist,
pharmaceutist, manufacturer, artizan and perfumer ; and
in many cases the crude materials from which they are
prepared.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association was held at George
Street, Hanover Square, on Wednesday evening, October 8.

The inaugural address was read by the President (Mr.
F. W. Branson), who after alluding to the rise and pro¬
gress of the Association and the large increase of new
members, touched upon several topics of general interest,
and concluded by noticing how useful a large and varied
source of knowledge was to the pharmacist, and recom¬
mending as recreative studies a more intimate acquaint¬
ance with the vague separation of the animal and vegetable
kingdoms and geology, which especially recommended
itself by being a healthy as well as a scientific study.

312

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October is 1879

A vote of thanks to Mr. Branson was proposed by Mr.
Snow, and seconded by Mr. Naylor.

Mr. Ernest Cardwell, the late Honorary Secretary, was
then presented with a complete set of Dickens’s Works,
together with an illuminated address, as a slight token
of esteem on his severing his connection with the Associa¬
tion.

Mr. Branson then referred to the approaching Con¬
versazione to be held at St. James’ Hall, on Wednesday
next, October 22, and expressed his opinion that it would
be a great success.

farnaiimitarg and 3faui Ikocecdings.

The Nature and Quality of Soda Water.

IMPORTANT PROSECUTION UNDER THE SALE OF FOOD
AND DRUGS ACT.

At the Newport (Mon.) Borougk Police Court, on
October 10, 1879, before Dr. Woollett (chairman), and
Messrs. Charles Lewis and Henry Phillips, Mr. Eleazer
Davis, chemist and soda wMer manufacturer, of 55, Dock
Street, Newport, was charged under the Sale of Food
and Drugs Act, 1875, for that he did in the said borough
“sell a certain article, called soda water, not of the
quality and nature asked for.”

Mr. Line (Deputy Town Clerk) conducted the prosecu¬
tion, and Mr. Henry Glaisyer, instructed by the Chemists
and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great Britain, ap¬
peared for the defendant.

Mr. Line said this was a somewhat important case, and
the facts were these : — On the day in question, Septem¬
ber 15 last, the public officer went to the defendant’s shop
and asked for six bottles of soda water, which were sup¬
plied to him. The ordinary course was adopted by the
officer as to the division of the samples. Two of these
bottles were sent to the borough analyst, whose certificate
states : “I, the undersigned, public analyst for the borough
of Newport, do hereby certify that I received on September
16, 1879, from Mr. T. H. Jones, a sample of soda water
(bottle marked No. 125) for analysis, and have analysed the
same, and declare the result of my analysis to be as
follows : — I am of opinion that the same is a sample of
water charged with carbonic acid gas, and I am of opinion
that the said sample contained the parts as under, or the
percentage of foreign ingredients as under : — Total solid
residue, 14‘63 grains per gallon ; metallic impurity equiva¬
lent to grain of lead per gallon. Observations : — This
sample is ordinary water charged with carbonic acid gas,
and does not contain added bicarbonate of soda, and is
not ‘soda water.’ The metallic impurity is not consider¬
able, but care should be taken no lead pipes or solder
joints containing lead are used in the apparatus employed
in the manufacture. As witness my hand September 23,
1879. (Signed) J. W. Thomas, F.C.S., Mem. Inst.
Chem.” The question to be considered was whether
water simply charged with carbonic acid gas and contain¬
ing no soda is soda water within the meaning of the Act.
The defence would perhaps endeavour to show that
this article without soda was soda water, but he sub¬
mitted that a person going to a chemist’s shop would ex¬
pect to get a different article from what he would expect
to get if he asked for the same thing at a restaurant.
Soda was a highly important medicine.

Mr. Glaisyer: You are not going into the question of
a drug, I suppose. We are not summoned on that.

Mr. Line : I am not ; it is a question of a food. It is
not the article of food which a person going into a che¬
mist’s shop would expect to receive when he had asked
for soda water.

Mr. Glaisyer : Why into a chemist’s shop ?

The Chairman of the Bench : Is it an article of food ?

Mr. Line : It is an article of food sold by chemists,
and I submit in this case the chemist is selling as soda
water a water not containing soda, and that consequently

the defendant has not supplied the article asked for and
expected. We do not drag this person here as an ordi¬
nary malefactor. If you hold that in getting this par¬
ticular water the inspector has obtained what he may
have reasonably expected to get, then, sir, of course you
will dismiss the summons ; if, however, you hold other¬
wise, I shall be satisfied with a small penalty.

By the Bench: Have you selected Mr. Davis especially
as being a chemist ? You seem to dwell very much on
the fact of his being a chemist.

Mr. Line : Soda water is, of course, a medicated
water .

Chairman of the Bench : Then that takes it out of the
category of its being a food : you would not go to the
chemist’s shop to buy a food ?

Mr. Line : Chemists sell many goods that are not medi¬
cines or drugs ; for instance, pomade, tooth-powders, and
such like things.

By the Bench : We must shut our eyes to the fact
that it is a chemist who is the defendant in this case.

Mr. Glaisyer : I am very glad to hear that remark
from the Bench, as it has anticipated some observations
I was about to make.

Thomas Henry Jones, called, sworn and examined by
Mr. Line, said he was the officer appointed under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Act in the borough. He went
to the defendant, who is a chemist and druggist and soda
water manufacturer, residing in Dock Street, on Sep¬
tember 15 last, and asked for six bottles of soda water.
He told defendant the soda water was to be analysed by
the public analyst, and offered to divide it into three
parts, which offer was accepted. Witness handed two
bottles to the defendant and took two to Mr. Thomas,
the public analyst, at Cardiff, the following day. De¬
fendant said, “ This is soda water, there are about
three grains to each bottle.” When he asked the
defendant for soda water he expected to get water
containing soda. Could not say what proportion of
soda he expected to get in it. Did not expect to get
a medicine of nauseous taste and highly alkaline, but
should expect to get a soapy-tasting article. Knowing
there were two kinds sold, he did not ask especially for
any particular kind.

Mr. Glaisyer: The provisions of that section of the
Act which relate to the division of the sample intend,
that by such division a portion of the purchase shall be
retained by the defendant, another portion shall be sent
to the analyst, and a third shall be retained by the pur¬
chaser, and that all these portions shall be identical in
their constituents. From the division which has been
made in the present case this result is impossible, because
by the process which the defendant adopts in the manu¬
facture of his soda water each bottle necessarily contains
a variable quantity of soda, from this simple fact, which
I am prepared to prove, that the soda is introduced into
each bottle separately; and consequently the only way
in which the purchase in this case could be satisfactorily
divided to meet the intention of the Act of Parliament
would be by an actual division of each bottle of soda
water.

By the Bench : According to your argument it would
be impossible in any case to properly divide the samples.

Mr. Glaisyer : You could divide any article purchased
into three parts.

Chairman of the Bench : Is it a matter of fact that
the soda is put into each bottle separately ?

Mr. Glaisyer : Yes ; and I submit it is a point of law
as to whether this sample has been properly divided or
not.

Mr. Line: I submit the sample has been properly
divided. The section referred to is the 14th section of
the Act, which is as follows : — “ The person purchasing
any article with the intention of submitting the same to
analysis shall, after the purchase shall have been com¬
pleted, forthwith notify to the seller or his agent selling
the article his intention to have the same analysed by the

October 18. 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

313

public analyst, and shall offer to divide the article into
three parts, to be then and there separated, and each
part to be marked and sealed, or fastened up in such
manner as its nature will permit, and shall if required to
do so proceed accordingly, and shall deliver one of the
parts to the seller or his agent. He shall afterwards
retain one of the said parts for future comparison, and
submit the third part, if he deems it right to have the
article analysed, to the analyst.” Well, I say, sir, the
article purchased by us consisted of six bottles. If we
had made six distinct purchases, then each bottle must
have been separately divided, but such was not the case.
I think in this case it will be found that the only active
principle in the soda water was the gas, which would
have vanished had the bottles been opened.

Mr. Fox (Magistrates’ Clerk) : You must assume, then,
that supposing there were three grains in each of these
two bottles, and none in the others, you would then have
had a portion of alkali in each bottle.

Mr. Line : There have been hundreds of cases in which
the samples have been divided as in this case.

Mr. Glaisyer : This particular point has never yet been
raised.

The Bench conferred and decided that the case had
better go on.

Mr. J. W. Thomas, called, sworn and examined by
Mr. Line, said he was public analyst for the boroughs of
Newport, Cardiff, and the county of Monmouthshire. On
September 16 last, he received from inspector Jones two
bottles of soda water, No. 125. They were sealed with
ihe official seal of the borough of Newport. He took par¬
ticular notice that the rubber was not destroyed in any
way ; it was moist, and the wax did not adhere to it in
the slightest. Both bottles were analysed, and his cer¬
tificate referred to both. Soda water containing a rea¬
sonable amount of soda, if taken internally, would have
the effect of neutralizing acidity in the stomach. Water
charged with carbonic gas would not have that effect.
30 grains of soda to the pint was the Pharmacopoeia
standard, and a bottle of half- pint ought to contain 15
grains. In his analyses of soda waters he found they
generally contained soda.

Chairman of the Bench : I must say that the soda
water I generally drink contains no soda at all.

Cross-examined by Mr. Glaisyer: You say Pharma¬
copoeia soda water contains 30 grains to the pint ? — That
is so.

But there is another kind of soda water? — Not to my
knowledge.

Then whenever soda water is asked for the British
Pharmacopoeia preparation should be supplied ? — I didn’t
say that.

Then there is more than one kind of soda water? — No;
I did not admit that.

Will you explain your answer then ? — It depends upon
the quantity of soda added ; I cannot say it differs in kind.

Well, if a half -pint bottle contains 15 grains of soda,
what do you say that is? — Soda water.

Supposing it contains only 3 grains ? — It would still be
soda water.

Supposing it contained half a grain ? — Then it would
probably be an impurity in the water from which the soda
water was made. I may say I think the standard of the
Pharmacopoeia is too high.

Would not Pharmacopoeia soda water be dangerous if
taken too frequently? — I cannot say.

Would it not be injurious if taken in large quantities?
— That is a medical question I cannot answer.

You say you have examined many samples — with what
result? — They contained soda — from 5 grains to 15 grains
per bottle.

You have never had a sample containing less than 5
grains?— No.

Is the British Pharmacopoeia soda water such a pre¬
paration as the public would drink ? — It is not very
palatable.

Is it not very nauseous? — Well, it is not palatable.

Have you had soda water submitted to you for analysis
which contained, as you say this sample contained, no
soda? — I have had samples submitted tome as soda water
which I do not admit it to be soda water.

Your certificate is an analysis of both bottles submitted
to you?— Yes, taken separately, and the analyses agree
in every particular.

There was a trace of soda present? — No, not of added
soda : it had an alkaline residue.

Is the residue of all water alkaline ? — In the majority
of instances it is.

Have you examined Newport Waterworks water? —
Yes; the residue is slightly alkaline.

To what extent? — Only a very moderate trace; about
the same as in this soda water.

Is the alkalinity due to soda? — To a certain extent it
may be.

Do you know whether it is or not? — I am not abso¬
lutely certain.

Do you recollect from j’our analysis of Newport water
what the amount was ? — It is stated on my certificate
that this soda water contained 14’63 grains of solid
residue per gallon, and the town water contains from 13
to 15 grains per gallon, according to the state of the
weather.

Have you frequently had samples to analyse ? — No,
not very frequently.

There may be only 13 grains of residue per gallon? —
Yes, possibly.

And there may be one grain to the gallon of added
matter in this soda water ? — Yes, but not of carbonate of
soda.

How so ? — Because I should have been able to estimate
it in the residue.

How did you estimate the alkalinity ? — By the standard
tests.

Did you test both bottles for alkali ? — I tested both
residues.

You say in your certificate that there was a metallic
impurity amounting to one-twentieth of a grain of lead
to the gallon : now would that amount be injurious to
health ? — No.

Perfectly innocuous ? — No, I do not say that.

How do you test the water for lead ? — By sulphuretted
hydrogen.

How do you account for the presence of lead? — From
the pipes in the manufacture.

Could it not have got in in any other way? — Well, I
don’t think it could.

By the Bench : Do you think it is likely to have come
from the apparatus? — Yes.

Mr. F ox : What is the smallest quantity of bicarbonate
of soda you could have traced in the soda water ? — I could
readily have detected half a grain.

By the Bench : Then if half a grain of soda had been
added to the water of each bottle you would have detected
it ? — Yes, sir.

Mr. Line : That is my case.

Mr. Glaisyer: The case, as far as I am prepared to
carry it, is this — that soda water has been largely manu¬
factured for use as an agreeable beverage, and that as
such it should be as free as possible from medicinal pro¬
perties. It is well known that the article in general use
is a very different article from that prepared according to
the formula of the Pharmacopoeia, and I think I shall
produce evidence to prove to you that the Pharmacopoeia
soda water would be injurious to health if drunk con¬
stantly. The case seems to have shaped itself simply
into the questiou whether the defendant did sell soda
water with or without soda, and I think I may keep the
Pharmacopoeia preparation out of the question.

Chairman of the Bench : Quite so ; what is soda water
of commerce?

Mr. Glaisyer : Then I shall call the defendant and the
boy that assists him in the soda water department of his

314

THE rHAKMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. lOctober is, w».

trade, and they will tell you that the water is charged
with carbonic acid gas, and that the soda is added to each
bottle separately before being filled with aerated water.
I shall call as witnesses Professor Attfield and Mr. Stod-
dart, both eminent analysts, and they will both tell you
that soda was present in the samples they analysed, and,
therefore, you will see the force of mv objection which I
previously urged as to the division of the sample, and I
think in the end you will either be satisfied to dismiss the
case upon the technicality I have raised —and which is
really something more than a technicality in this case —
or to dismiss the case upon the consideration that the
defendant did actually supply the soda water of oom-
merce.

Mr. E. Davis, called, sworn, and examined by Mi\
Glaisyer, said : I am a chemist and druggist and a soda
water manufacturer in the borough, and have been in
business thirteen to fourteen years. I have manufactured
soda water between four and five years.

Do you make the British Pharmacopoeia preparation ?
— I made it once, one bottle for my own use.

Have you ever had it asked for ? — Never.

What is your process of manufacture? — Whiting is
placed in a leaden generator, sulphuric acid is added, and
the carbonic acid gas evolved is conducted by means of
pipiDg into a gasometer ; it is then pumped into a soda
water machine and forced from thence through the bot¬
tling machine into the bottles. Previous to the bottles
being placed in the machine for charging each bottle has
a certain amount of bicarbonate of soda placed in it.

Is that done under your superintendence ? — When it is
not-done by myself it is done under my immediate super¬
intendence.

Describe the manner in which the soda is placed in the
bottles ? — Cases containing the bottles are arranged side
by side along the bottling machine, the bottles are placed
in rows consecutively, then the soda is added to one
bottle after another.

By the Bench : Is that always done? — Yes, invariably.
A little soda is taken on the point of a knife and dropped
into the neck of each bottle.

Mr. Glaisyer: Is it not weighed ? — No.

You use one make of bottles, I believe? — Yes, only
one make — Codd’s patent.

By the Bench: What is the smallest quantity you
would put into each bottle? — Well, about If or 2 grains.

Would it be more than a grain? — Yes ; I did not think
it was necessary to be very distinct or definite as to the
amount, so long as some was put in.

Cross-examined by Mr. Line: Witness said he con¬
sidered it necessary, in order to comply with the provisions
of the Act, to put some soda ih. The generator in which
he made the gas was of lead.

Chairman of the Bench : Then I would advise you to
alter it, as lead is pretty sure to come over with the
gas.

Albert Harvey, examined by Mr. Glaisyer, said : I as¬
sist the defendant in his business by helping him to make
soda water. I put the soda into the bottles by means of
a knife, putting a little into each bottle.

Professor Attfield, called, and examined by Mr. Glaisyer.

What in your opinion is soda water ? — There are two
kinds of soda water in trade now. There used to be
three. First, medicinal soda water, and the present offi¬
cial strength of that is 15 grains of bicarbonate of soda to
the bottle of half a pint, and it was this medicinal soda
water that gave the name to the article. This medicinal
soda water always contained carbonic acid gas, and was
aerated soda water. This aerated soda water created a
demand on the part of the public for “soda water” that
had no “soda” in it ; created a demand for aerated water,
in fact. Created a demand for aerated water which the
public always continued persistently to call soda water.
To meet this demand for a beverage manufacturers used
commonly to make soda water, so called by the public,

without any soda in it, but some manufacturers put a
dash of soda in it to warrant the name. But since pro¬
secutions have been instituted about soda water nearly
all, practically all, manufacturers put at least a dash of
soda in it, just to warrant the name, and I may say to
meet the requirements of officials under the Act.

Can you say anything as to the quantity of soda to
meet this? — That varies very much.

By the Bench : Say how much ? — It varies from a
fraction of a grain to three or four grains per bottle.
This is according to my experience as an analyst, and
the reason of its varying is, in my opinion, because the
boys and the work-people put the soda in, as has been
described in this case, rapidly instead of with care. And
it is important for commercial purposes that it should be
done rapidly, in which case it is impossible for such boys
to be very accurate as to the amount employed, that is to
say, in the cases of those makers who adopt this rough-
and-ready mode of adding the soda.

Mr. Glaisyer : Have you had an official sample ? — I
have. This is the label of the sample which I received
on October 3, and it corresponds with that of the sample
produced.

By the Bench: Then you have analysed one of the

sealed samples ? — Yes.

Mr. Glaisyer : Tell us the result of your analysis. — I
found bicarbonate of soda in that bottle.

And what would you term the liquid you analysed ? —
There being soda there, it was of course soda water.
There was enough soda to warrant the name.

By the Bench : Soda in what quantity ? — It was about
a quarter of a grain per bottle.

By the Bench : Was it added or was it in the water
used ? — I can only say from my knowledge of the waters
in this district, which I believe to be mainly sandstone
waters, that -

By the Bench : Some water here comes from lime¬
stone ; many natural waters would contain soda in the
quantity you have found, I take it ? — Some waters would
contain that quantity, others contain traces only, and
others really none at all ; and as such waters as are
supplied to this district contain, practically, none at all,
therefore, in my opinion, this quarter of a grain of soda
I found was added carbonate of soda.

Mr. Glaisyer : Did you examine the bottle in which the
water was sent to you ? — Yes.

Now how do you account for the small quantity of soda
found in that bottle of water ? — On account of the
rapidity of the manipulation of the work by the boy in
putting the soda into the bottles, I should certainly
expect the quantity to vary from, say, a £ of a grain to 3
or 4 grains. I have seen this work done by boys, and I
am certain the amount of soda must almost necessarily
vary in the bottles.

Is it also possible for a portion of soda to be forced out
after being put into the neck of the bottle ? — That ques¬
tion I have gone into, and have made experiments myself
in bottling soda water from a machine. The soda
dropped into one of these patent bottles falls on the
glass ball — sometimes partly and sometimes mainly ;
and then, when the water charged with gas is driven by
the machine into the bottle, air and gas escape from the
neck of the bottle, and with that air nearly always comes
out some spray, and with that spray might come a certain
amount of the soda.

Did you make a further analysis of anything that came
with the sample? — Yes. When I proceeded to open my
sample I found it extremely difficult to get out the whole
of the wax with which the bottle was sealed. I knew as
a chemist that even if a fiftieth part of a grain of the
colouring matter of the wax got into the bottle it might
contaminate the water ; and, although I took especial
care, I found it impossible to get all the wax out. The
fact of the pressure of the glass ball acting on the centre
of the indiarubber ring in the neck of the bottle caused
the inner edge of that ring to curl up and I found it

October is. is79. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS.

315

utterly impossible to get all the wax from beneath,
although I myself tried with a penknife, but I found I
could not do so. I then pressed down the ball and got
out the liquid, and found lead therein. I immediately
examined the particles of wax for lead, and there found
lead in considerable quantity.

By the Chairman of the Bench : Do you think the
lead would get there from the lead generator? — I have
examined many samples of soda water, the gas for which
was made in a leaden generator. Some contained lead,
others no lead. I have sometimes found that lead does
come from the pipes ; at other times I have been sure it
could not have come from that source. Very minute
traces of lead might come over with the gas, notwith¬
standing one or two washings of the gas. I am of opinion
that it is just possible for lead to be present from that
'■*ause.

Mr. Glaisyer : Could any other substance be used in¬
stead of lead for the generator of the gases ? — Makers of
soda water apparatus are turning their attention to that
subject now, but up to a short time ago lead has been
almost universally used.

Do you consider the lead in this sample innocuous? —
Perfectly ; such a minute quantity must be.

Cross-examined by Mr. Line, witness saidalarge quantity
of the soda water he had examined contained only small
quantities of soda, which would not practically have any
effect at all, but was put in to make it the so-called
“soda water” of commerce; it was the ‘fault of the
public that this term is kept up. There was no question
of cost in the matter. The contentions in these soda
water cases were mere contentions about names. Some
makers had called this beverage “ aerated water,” others
carbonated water,” but the public did not take kindly
to these names ; they seem to prefer their old term,
“ soda water,” and it practically caused no confusion,
except to officials under the Act.

Mr. W. W. Stoddart, called, sworn, and examined by
Mr. Glaisyer, said he was public analyst for the city of
Bristol. He had had a sample of this water sent to him
for analysis bearing the official seal of the borough. He
found 1 and 1-10 grain of bicarbonate of soda in it. He
had examined three samples of Newport water. In one
he found total solids about 8 grains to the gallon, in
another about 13 grains to the gallon, and in the third
about 14 grains to the gallon. There was no soda in
Newport water. If a quarter of a grain were found
there it must have been added. He found a small trace
of lead, which he thought came from the generator in
which the gas was made. One-twentieth part of a grain
of lead would not be serious.

Mr. Line, addressing the Bench : I would call your atten¬
tion to the second section of the Act. “ The term ‘ food ’
shall include every article used for food or drink by man,
other than drugs or water.” Soda water is neither a
drug nor is it water, and therefore it is an article of food.
Mr. Glaisyer : I admit that.

Mr. Line : My point is this, that a person going into a
chemist’s shop -

Mr. Fox : I may say I have all my soda water from
Mr. Young, a chemist, in quantities of six dozen at a
time. I would not drink soda water if I knew it con¬
tained any soda.

Mr. Line : I submit that a large number of persons
going into a chemist’s shop for soda water would expect
to get water containing soda.

Chairman of the Bench : "The defence have proved that
this water did contain soda.

Mr. Glaisyer : I admit that it is a food, which ends
that point.

Mr. Line : I go still further.

Mr. Glaisyer : I must protest against this.

Mr. Line : I am arguing a question of law.

Mr. Glaisyer: What question of law ?

Mr. Fox : It is admitted on all hands this should have
soda in it ; is that so or not ?

Mr. Line : I say, sir, the Legislature never intended
that the Act should be evaded by such a small quantity
as a | grain of soda being added to each bottle on the
point of a knife.

Chairman of the Bench : When this Act was passed
it was intended to apply to stronger drinks than soda
water.

Mr. Line : If £ grain only was in the water it is
nothing substantial, nothing material.

By the Bench: The defence have proved there is
something material in the water.

Chairman of the Bench : I have drunk soda water for
many years, and I must say if I thought there was any
quantity of soda in it I should never have drunk it.

Mr. Line : It is ridiculous to argue that you can make
soda water by putting ^ grain of soda into the water, or
that the water contains it as a natural constituent.

Mr. Fox: It makes no difference whether the soda be
added, or whether it be present as a natural constituent
of the water. In either pase it will be soda water.

Mr. Line : Take the case of a member of the general
public suffering from gout or rheumatism : he asks for
soda water and expects to get some soda in it.

Chairman of the Bench : Then let him ask for medici¬
nal soda water.

The magistrates conferred.

Chairman of the Bench : W e think this soda water
was the ordinary soda water of commerce, and we shall
not inflict any penalty ; in fact we dismiss the summons.

Mr. Glaisyer: Do you award costs?

By the Bench: This action was taken on public
grounds; they are a public body who are prosecuting.
No costs will be awarded.

Chairman of the Bench (addressing Mr. Line) : Do you
propose proceeding with the other two cases ?

Mr. Line : No, sir. This case will govern the others,
as the charge is the same in each instance.

Deaths from Chloroform.

On Monday last an inquest was held at Ashton-under-
Lyne, by Mr. Price, the district coroner, on the body of
a young lady named Mary Handford. The deceased had
been suffering from a tumour upon her breast, and by the
advice of her medical attendants, Dr. Gardiner and Mr.
E. Lund, professor of surgery at Owens College, Man¬
chester, she consented to have it removed. The two
gentlemen named attended at her house on Saturday for
this purpose, and Dr. Gardiner administered the chloro¬
form in the form of vapour by means of an inhaler. She
had inhaled the anaesthetic for only about two minutes,
and had not passed into the second stage of narcosis when
her pulse became feeble and she died. Both medical men
had previously given it as their opinion that she was a
fit subject to receive chloroform, and no blame was at¬
tributed to them by any person. The verdict was one of
death by misadventure.

On Wednesday, also, Dr. Hardwicke held an inquiry
at the University Hotel, Grafton Street, Tottenham
Court Road, as to the death of Harry Knowlton, aged
six years, son of a smith, living at 61, Bemerton Street,
Islington, who died in University College Hospital on
Friday while under the influence of chloroform. The
evidence showed that for two years past he had been
under treatment in different hospitals for contraction of
the sinews of the legs. On the 6th inst. he was taken to
the University College Hospital. On Thursday, Mr.
Marshall, the senior surgeon, performed an operation on
him, and the next day it was decided that splints should
be placed on his legs. Chloroform was given to the child,
and he was about to be operated on when it was noticed
that he had ceased to breathe. Artificial respiration was
resorted to, but without success. The jury returned a
verdict of “Death from misadventure.”

316

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October is. 1879.

Swinging IRmoqamto:.

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

[345]. I think that the injection mentioned ought to
be filtered, as the precipitate (sulphate of lead) could not
have been intended on the part of the prescriber.

Nemo.

[345]. “Assistant” should puf a “Shake the bottle” on
this. J. C.

[352]. I cannot understand how this recipe should pro¬
duce a turbid mixture, and do not see any particularly
scientific dispensing in producing a bright red or rather a
dark reddish-brown and perfectly clear solution. There
is no need for any especial care in mixing, for if the in¬
gredients are all put into the bottle and the aq. aurant.
added the result is just the same as if each is dissolved
separately and afterwards mixed, viz., a clear dark
solution.

Can the difference be in the French and English ferri
am. cit.? W. Wilkinson.

[355]. So far as an assistant’s knowledge and experience
direct me, I find no difficulty in dispensing this prescrip¬
tion, and am at a loss to discover grounds for Mr. Bray-
shay’s doubts. Further than that, the salts are very
deliquescent, it is a very good powder as a diuretic and
aperient, and taken in doses of half to one teaspoonful. We
send it out in W. M. bottles. I think Mr. Brayshay
should have stated his difficulty. W. Lyle.

[345]. This injection should be sent out with a “ Shake
the bottle ” label on. The ingredients must be carefully
rubbed up in a mortar with distilled water.

St. Rule.

[346]. In answer to “ Juvenis,” I beg to state that it is
usual to give the tinct. iodi when pigment is ordered.

Nemo.

[346j. Liniment, iodi should be used.

J. C.

[346]. There are four formulae for pigmentum iodi in
Squire’s ‘Hospital Pharmacopoeias.’ I should be inclined
to use “King’s” 3j- iodin. to ^j. s. v. r.

W. Wilkinson.

[348]. I should use ferri ammon. cit. without troubling
the prescriber, even if I knew him. It is evidently a slip
of the pen.

W. Wilkinson.

[348]. Ferri ammoniee sulph. is iron alum, and I
should think that was meant.

J. C.

[348]. “ Mag. Carb.” will find that it will be as well
to explain his difficulty to the patient and offer to dis¬
pense it with ferri am. cit., which I have no doubt was
intended by the prescriber.

Nemo.

[348]. The top ingredient is ferri ammonite sulph. It
is a double salt, frequently used in photography, very
seldom employed as a therapeutic agent, but as such
it acts as a powerful astringent in uterine cases. It is
sometimes difficult to get from the wholesale dealers.

St. Rule.

[350]. Rub the chloral and camphor together into a
smooth semi-fluid paste ; rub with this 3ss. to ij. mist,
acaciae, then add the syrup, and afterwards the water
gradually. This produces a milky looking emulsion in
which the camphor is suspended ; if the gum is not put
in the camphor separates in the form of a greasy substance
floating on the water.

W. Wilkinson.

[351]. In regard to this mixture my opinion is this,
“ that it should be filtered before sending out.” Supposing
the prescriber’s intention be to order hydrobromic acid,
which this mixture undoubtedly represents, we have the
authority of Dr. Fothergill for removing by filtration the
pot. bicarb, precipitate.

Wm. Lyle.

[357]. The following prescription was handed to me
the other day for dispensing. Will any of your correspon¬
dents inform me as to the best mode of preparing it? I
digested two quantities with different pepsin of well-known
makers, from ten to twelve hours each at 100° Fahr.,
but failed to get a clear mixture as ordered in the
prescription.

Perhaps some one may have had a similar prescription
and was more successful in preparing it, if so will he
kindly give me particulars ?

New Milk . Oj.

Pure Pepsine . gr. 100.

Dilute Hydrochloric Acid .... hi 80.

Mix and digest in a water-bath at a temperature of
100° Fahr. When the mixture has become quite clear,
neutralize the acid with bicarbonate of soda. T. E.

[358] . How should the following prescription be dis¬
pensed? —

ft. Quiniae Sulph . gr. xxiv.

Sp. Ammon. Foetid.,

Tinct. Aurantii . aa 3vj.

Aqua . ad 3xij.

Ft. mist.

Take a twelfth part three times a day.

Quinke Sulph.

[359] . I shall feel obliged if any reader of the J our-
nal will give me the correct mode of dispensing the

following : —

01. Olivae . 3ij*

Ext. Belladonae . 3ij*

Ft. lin.

I endeavoured to mix in a mortar, but finding it, as I
thought, impossible, I used lin. belladonae instead. This
not having the desired effect was sent back.

Apprentice.

[360] .

ft Codeiae . gr. iij.

Acid. Carbolic . . gr. \.

M. Ft. pil. j. Mitte xxxvj.

What is the best method of dispensing the above so as
to make the pills as small as possible ? A. W.

[361] .

Pulv. Calaminae .

. 3ias-

Zinci Oxyd. . . .

. 3Ls.

Glycerine . . .

. Sj.

Liq. Carb. Deterg.

. 3j.

01. Olive ....

. ,')iss.

Aq. Calcis . . .

*7 • •

. 5iJ*

Aq. Rosae . . .

. ad ^vj.

Ft. lotion.

How can I dispense this elegantly ? The way I prc-

October 18, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

317

ceeded to do it was to rub the calamine and zinci oxyd’
together with the glycerine, then adding a little rose¬
water. I then mixed the oil and lime water, and lastly,
the liq. carb. deterg. After standing a few minutes a
thick white scum collects at the top, and is not dispersed
by frequently shaking. It was dispensed in the same
way at Apothecaries’ Hall, but two other West End
houses sent it out with a sediment only at the bottom.
How is it done ?

C. W. Lawton.

[362], Can any one supply information as to how the
following should be dispensed ? It comes from the pen
of Dr. A. A. Biermann, L’Hiver, San Remo, and was
last dispensed in that town : —

ft Acid. Muriat. Cone . 2/0

Tr. Aurantii . 18/0

M.S. 10— 15 mma. 18* 11-78.

Nemo.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

A Treatise on Chemistry. By H. E. Roscoe, F.R.S.,
and C. ScHORl EMMER, F.R.S. Vol. II. Metals —
Part II. London: Macmillan and Co. 1879. From
the Publishers.

Analytical Chemistry, a Series of Laboratory Exer¬
cises, constituting a Preliminary Course of Qualitative
Chemical Analysis. By W. Dittmar. London and
Edinburgh: W. and R. Chambers. 1879. From the
Publishers.

The Dentists’ Register, printed and published under
the Direction of the General Council of Medical
Education and Registration of the United Kingdom.
London : Spottiswoode and Co. 1879. From the
Registrar.

[363]. A prescription of the following formula was
dispensed by me the other day, and after standing forty-
eight hours or so it changed from clear pale to turbid
brick-red : —
ft

Sodse Bic .

• • Dij

P. Acid. Tart .

• • Bb

Potass. Iod .

• •

Potass. Brom .

Tr. Aconiti .

Sp. Camph.,

Ess. Menth. P .

. f a x

Aq .

. ad §vj

Can any one account for the difference in the mixtures ?
I have kept it for weeks, and it has not changed pre¬
viously.

Nemo.

r?

[364].

ft Acid. Phos. Dil .

Glycyrrhini .

Aquae .

Sig. One teaspoonful every two hours.

What is meant by the second article in above prescrip¬
tion?

Pyrethrum.

oh

6b

oB-

|]oh;s and Queries.

[626]. In answer to Mr. Elton’s inquiry, coins can be
quickly cleansed by immersion in nitric acid (fort.), then
speedily washed with water. If very dirty, or corroded
with verdigris, it is best to give them a rubbing with
paste or with the following, which of course entails a
little “ elbow grease ” and a little time : —

ft Pu. Potass. Bichrom . ^ss

Acid. Sulphuric.,

Aq. Fort. . aa. 33

Rub over, wash with water, wipe dry, polish with
rotten stone or chalk.

W. Lyle.

[629]. This I believe to be merely the unguentum
hydrargyri oxidi rubri (B.P ).

St. Rule.

[630]. In answer to “ Hibernia ” the following is from
the ‘English Mechanic,’ and is Captain Abney’s process.
To prepare the ferrous oxalate developer, make a saturated
solution of neutral potassium oxalate, and in this dissolve
as much ferrous oxalate as it will take up ; allow it to
■stand and pour off the clear red solution, and dilute with
•one quarter its bulk of water. It should be kept in air¬
tight bottles with corks luted with paraffin.

J. C.

*»* No notice can he tal'en of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must he authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, hut as a guarantee of good faith.

The Cream of Tartar of the Pharmacofceia.

Sir, — In a letter from Dr. Stevenson, the analyst for the
county of Surrey, and also in some other communications
which appeared at the same time in your Journal, refer¬
ence is made to the description of cream of tartar as given
in the Pharmacopoeia, and in the former of these it is said
that my attention was some months ago directed to the fact
“that the B.P. article was an impossible cream of tartar.”
I have no recollection of such remark, and have been some¬
what puzzled to conceive what it should mean ; but I
presume the difficulty Dr. Stevenson may have experienced
in interpreting the Pharmacopoeia must have arisen from
the way in which chemical names and formulae are used in
that work to represent commercial articles which are rarely
or never in a state of chemical purity. Thus, the name
acid tartrate of potash is given to the article formerly called
bitartrate of potash, but more commonly known as cream
of tartar, and this is followed by a chemical formula which
precisely represents what the composition of the article
would be if it were chemically pure. The definition thus
far is such as would be given in a purely chemical work.
But the subsequent description shows that the salt is not
required or expected to be chemically pure. There is
certainly some appearance of inconsistency in this, and it
has been suggested that chemical formulae might with advan¬
tage be omitted on account of their too great precision. The
same objection, however, might be taken to the use of chemi¬
cal names. But these objections, in my opinion, are greatly
outweighed by advantages which the use of known chemical
names and formulae afford in defining the articles referred
to. Chemical formulae are used in the Pharmacopoeia not
only for explaining chemical names, but also for shortening
and facilitating the description of products, while “ charac¬
ters and tests,” when these are appended, serve further to
define the nature of the substances named, and often to
qualify what the name and formula, if used alone, would
indicate. These must, therefore, be taken altogether, the
context as well as the text. In the case of cream of tartar,
the lime salt, the presence of which is indicated by the
test, being variable in quantity, the specified indication
of it is made to refer to a minimum rather than a
maximum quantity, and it is probable that the average
is greater now, since plastering wines has become so
largely practised, than it was twelve or thirteen years
ago, when the Pharmacopoeia was constructed. Tartrate
of lime has always been recognized as a legitimate,
because necessary, constituent of cream of tartar, from
which it could not be made perfectly free without augment¬
ing the price to an extent that would practically prohibit
its use. Pereira says, “as found in commerce it usually
contains from 2 to 5 per cent, of tartrate of lime,
and sometimes a little sulphate of lime. . . This is of no

material consequence in a medicinal point of view.”

For the preseuce of sulphate of barium, I know of no
legitimate excuse ; but it may possibly arise from the use,
in plastering wine, of mineral matter containing both

318

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 18, 1879.

barium and calcium salts. I am informed by a large
Spanish wine maker that in the district in which he lives
they plaster wine by the use of earth found in the locality
of the vineyards, without reference to its special composi¬
tion. It is not known as gypsum, or by any name
representing sulphate of calcium, but merely as an earth
that answers the wine makers’ purpose.

Some remarks made by Mr. Tanner on this same subject
have surprised me. He thinks the description of cream of
tartar in the B.P. is “ rather vague and ambiguous,” and
as far as I can gather from his remarks, the ambiguity lies
in the statements that cream of tartar is obtained from
‘'something quite distinct from cream of tartar,” namely
the crude tartar which is deposited during the fermentation
of grape juice ; that this cream of tartar when tested gives
evidence of the presence of what he calls a trace of tartrate
of lime, and that the ash resulting from the incineration of
1S8 grains of the salt requires for its neutralization 1000
grain measures of volumetric solution of oxalic acid. He
thinks this last test would prove that the salt was a pure
potash salt! and he observes, “that cream of tartar does
contain tartrate of lime is the experience of every one who
has ever had to do with the examination of it, but that it
should contain it in anything more than a trace, I am by
no means ready to admit.” He then suggests that it should
be guaranteed not to contain more than 5 per cent, of im¬
purity, which may be supposed to be what he represents as
a trace. Surely all this indicates ambiguity somewhere
else than in the B.P.

Again, I am at a loss to understand how anyone could
suppose that crude tartar on being ground would form
cream of tartar, or anything like it, as apparently assumed
by Mr. Tanner. The cream of tartar alluded to by Mr.
Hodgkinson, at the hearing of the case, was represented by
Mr. Allen, the grinder, as having been obtained by a
delivery order for “ cream of tartar, in its crude state,”
which, of course, means the usual roughly crystallized
cream of tartar, a very different thing from crude tartar or
argol.

October 15, 1879. T. Redwood.

Cream of Tartar.

Sir,— Now that the presence of a little calcium in com¬
mercial cream of tartar is being made a rock of offence by
public analysts, it may not be out of place to direct
attention to a point which appears to have escaped notice
in the discussion which has arisen with regard to this
subject.

In every prosecution which has occurred the adulterant
has been reported to be so much “ tartrate of lime.” Is
this statement a matter of fact, or of assumption ? If the
former, it is certainly a striking coincidence ; if the latter,
the cream of tartar has probably been credited with nearly
twice the amount of impurity which it actually contained.
Cream of tartar may, and not unfrequently does contain
a small proportion of sulphate of lime. If, therefore, the
estimation of the calcium is made (as is frequently the
case) by solution of the bitartrate in hydrochloric acid, and
precipitation by alkali, the whole of the calcium will be
thrown down as tartrate, and its amount consequently
largely over estimated

The same error would, of course, follow even if the
calcium is precipitated as oxalate, and thus the presence of
little more than 6 per cent, of calcium sulphate would
figure in the report as 13 per cent, of “ tartrate of lime.”
So seriously indeed does the presence of the former salt
affect the analysis, that, according to Scheurer-Kestner,
“ in the presence of calcium sulphate only an approxima¬
tion can be made of the relative amount of potassium
bitartrate and calcium tartrate, and even this is not possible
when the sample contains other acid substances besides
tartaric acid.”

For the homoeopathic proportion of baryta, it seems to
me that the “yeso,” or the “Spanish earth,” previously
added to the wine may fairly be held responsible. Knop
and others have found barium salts in Nile mud and in the
ashes of plants grown therein. The conjecture, therefore,
that the presence of traces of these substances in cream of
tartar may result from one or more of the elegant processes
adopted by the Spanish vintner is not more wild than is
the supposition that six-tenths of a per cent, of sulphate of

barium is wilfully added as an adulterant by the British
wholesale druggist.

Holloway, N. F. W. Fletcher.

The Right of Registration under the Dental Act.

Sir, — I scarcely know which to despise most, the select
stupidity of all dentists in the way they have conducted
their affairs, or the assurance of over two thousand odd
chemists. Dentists first allow every one and any one to
register, and then when the opportunity is taken, roundly
abuse. But be that as it may, still I am a dentist of over
thirty years’ practice, yet was struck with amazement at
the assertion of chemists that any man is a bond fide
dentist, or was in actual practice at the passing of the
Dentists Act as a dentist, who had extracted a tooth. Pray
let me ask chemists to be just a trifle more consistent.
Would, for instance, any man have been registered as a
chemist, under the Pharmacy Act, simply and solely
because he had made up a prescription ? Certainly
not! But surely, sir, if a man is a dentist simply be¬
cause he has taken out a tooth, then it follows as logically
that any one is a chemist because he has made up a pre¬
scription. Again there is no value in the Dentists Act
or the necessity of registration, if extraction is the sole
qualification of a dentist. The argument is rankly absurd
on the very face of it. What then is a bond fide dentist?
Why a man who can do with his hands whatever in or
appertaining to dentistry he may be called upon or asked
to do, viz., anything from lancing the gums to making an
artificial set of teeth or palate. A dentist who cannot make
a set of artificial teeth, palate, etc., with his own hands,
though he can extract and fill, is not a true dentist, but a
nondescript, or at the best a surgeon of a very limited order
of surgery. Thus it is the ability to construct artificial
teeth, palates, regulation plates with filling that constitutes
a bond fide dentist ; but there is a very wide difference
between all this and extraction. I know four barbers, two
farriers and a butcher’s slaughterman, who are indeed first
class extractors of teeth. But who would call them dentists?
The truth is any simpleton can extract, that is pull, and in
the majority of cases the tooth must come and without
breaking. I should indeed despise my skill as a dentist
if it consisted simply of extraction.

Permit me, sir, to further disprove the assertion of che¬
mists, and show by their own acts and deeds, and also those
of medical men, that they had no right on principle to
oppose the Dentists Act, much less to register. Listen, sir.
In 1814 the Medical Act came in force, but is there a word
in it relative to dentists or dentistry? No ! Later on came
the Pharmaceutical Act, is there a word in it relative to
dentists or dentistry? No! But why not if dentistry
is a branch of medicine and pharmacy, as the opposition of
medical men and chemists implied ? But let us admit that
dentistry is a branch of medicine and pharmacy; still how
comes it that medical men after the Medical Act of 1814,
and chemists after the late Pharmaceutical Act, permitted
unqualified men by the hundreds to practise a branch of
their several callings, if it be a branch. The truth is, not
only were dentists after the passing of the Medical and
Pharmaceutical Acts permitted to practise without any
diplomas or qualifications whatever; but a Dentists Act
was needed, years after the other two named, to legalize
dentists themselves with medical men and chemists and to
legalize dentistry as a profession. But surely no such Act was
needed if dentistry be a branch of medicine and pharmacy.
Also medical men and chemists having Acts of their own
surely did not need another just to confirm a mere branch.
The whole thing is highly absurd on the very face of it and
proves inconfcestibly that dentistry — not the extraction of
teeth, which was the actual right of both medical men
and chemists — is a special and peculiar calling and has
no more to do with medicine and pharmacy, or with
with medical men and chemists, than electricity or photo¬
graphy, though the one is somewhat allied to medicine and
the other to chemistry. In fact the very passing of the
Dentists Act was proof positive that dentistry is not merely
the extraction of teeth, but a profession special and distinet,
or the Dentists Act never could have become law. It is
sheer folly and nonsense to argue otherwise. Now the
reason that it passed in the manner it did was owing to the
gross incapacity, apathy, supineness and imbecility of den¬
tists themselves in general and the late Dental Reform

October 18, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

319

Committee in particular. We dentists, sir, ought decidedly
to take to Dr. Pangloss’s last title, viz., the A.S.S., for we
have really earned it. It is also far too late to scold and
whine now the die is cast, and we must grin and hear it as
best we can. In America there is a matchless dental pro¬
fession, independent of medical men and chemists; in this
United Kingdom it is — well a branch of medicine and
pharmacy, a branch of anything in fact. In conclusion, let
me humbly advise chemists, that advice is — Ne sutor ultra
crepidam. Translate it, my brother chemists-dentists, and
lay it to heart, for they are words of wisdom. Thus far
more in sorrow than in anger that we dentists have so
egregiously sold our dear profession and its independence.
However, fools must pay for their folly.

185, Oxford Street, W, George Ward, S.D.

„ _

Sir, — As one who has lent his aid to the passing of the
Dentists Act, I beg to thank you for your timely and
temperate article on “ Registration under the Dentists
Act ” in your issue of the 11th.

I believe I know the disposition and intentions of the
promoters of this Act, and feel sure that their views are of
the most liberal nature regarding the scope of registration
privileges, and that nothing but the most urgent sense of
duty towards the public — for whose protection the Act was
primarily framed — and the dental profession will ever
induce them to put the penal clause of the Act in force
against anyone.

I feel sure of the support of every promoter of the
Dentists Act when I say that I most heartily endorse the
concluding sentence of your article, and I assure you, sir,
that there is no feeling of animosity existing against “those
members of the pharmaceutical body who have been brought
into legal confraternity” with us. It is well known to all
that many of those gentlemen are much more professional
in their views and conduct than many who have come upon
the register with the undoubted right to call themselves
dentists pure and simple. Moreover, many pharmaceutical
chemists and dentists have used their interest and freely
given of their means to help the passing of the Dentists
Act, and I think that such men, as well as all who can
establish their bona jides, would have reasonable cause of
complaint if the Dentists’ Register becomes a refuge for
those who cannot find a place on your own special register.

I do not think that a youth who has been engaged in
bottle washing and in sweeping a chemist’s shop, and who
might have learned to do a little dispensing, could be con¬
sidered eligible for the Pharmaceutical Register even at the
most liberal period of its existence, and I may be permitted
to doubt how far the Pharmaceutical Society has not had
cause to regret past liberality, though it may have been
more or less due to a want of power to be more strict,

You say truly that it is quite conceivable that a chemist’s
assistant or _ apprentice may have acquired such skill and
competence in dentistry as to make him fit to register under
the Act, and in such a case you recognize a probability of
hardship. I submit that it is hardly possible to frame a
law which in the commencement of its operations may not
inflict hardship of a limited kind. Prom the alteration of
the rules of an examining body up to an Act of Parliament
such always has been and will be the case, and to legislate
for what is conceivable is, I think, beyond the most com¬
prehensive law-making intellect. But I would ask how far
we are right in admitting this speculative ability of acquir¬
ing skill into our calculations. Such exceptional skill must
be rare indeed, and the possessor, if his ambition be in that
direction, will find little difficulty in attaining the position
to which he aspires by means far more satisfactory than by
taking advantage of a side door, supposed to have been left
open by an Act of Parliament. If such skill be common,
then the demands of the Pharmaceutical Society and of the
Dentists Act in reference to apprenticeships are excessive,

I do not speak now of Preliminary examinations, but if a
youth, say a chemist’s apprentice, be able to spare so much of
his time from the period during which he has to learn the
nature of drugs and the business of compounding them, and
all the technicalities which belong to the practice of phar¬
macy, surely both pharmacy and dentistry are much more
easily acquired than some authorities would have us
believe.

From what I can gather, many chemists and druggists

have registered from diverse motives. Some have done so
not so much for the sake of practising dentistry as to avoie
jury seivingand such inconveniences. Others, and thesd
are mostly young men, have registered so that they may
have dentistry to fall back upon should pharmacy fail
them ; and others have come upon the register with a view
to continue the practice of dentistry to the same limited
extent as before the passing of the Act. "With regard to
this last class, it is a common thing to see announcements
in the shop windows of chemists and druggists, to the
effect that teeth are scaled or extracted or stopped as need
be. Now I am perfectly sure that the framers of the Den¬
tists Act never contemplated interfering in anyway with
these most useful men. Hundreds have done so hitherto
without calling themselves dentists, and there is not a word
in the Dentists Act which seeks to interfere with their
doing so still. I know that certain medical journals sent
the chemists and druggists in force against the Dentists
Bill on that ground. These journals knew how they had
been embarrassed in their abortive attempts to prevent
counter practice and they hoped to produce a like embar¬
rassment for the promoters of the Dentists Act, but in doing
so they were only trying to serve their own end and in
no way to benefit the chemists and druggists. I repeat
the Dentists Act only interferes with unqualified persons
using certain titles ; the chemist and druggist may extract
or scale or stop teeth as heretofore, but he may not call
himself a dentist. With regard to the other two classes
named, I think it cruel to encourage young men to think
that having the power to assume a title will ever enable
them to successfully compete with the educated class of
men who will arise along with them, and I can but say,
regarding the third variety, that it is not fair to make the
Dentists’ Register a refuge for those who are unable to
place themselves elsewhere.

Referring to the uncertainty of the meaning of the term
bond fide, your correspondent who says it is designed to
sweep away all ambiguity certainly gives the view of a very
high legal authority. Whether his view be exact or no, is
not for me to say. I can only as a layman repeat the
opinion as laid down by those who are supposed to under¬
stand those matters.

There is yet another point which is worthy of the con¬
sideration of those who may have registered on rather
slender claims, viz., what is the meaning of the term “ in
connection with medicine, surgery or pharmacy ? ” When
a man wants to prove himself a doctor or a surgeon, he must
appeal to the Medical Register, so I presume the same con¬
dition applies to one who wishes to prove himself a phar¬
macist.

In conclusion, sir, I am sure that the spirit in which the
expurgation of the Dental Register will be carried out
will be such as to meet with your approval, and that the
confidence shown in the Dental Reform Committee by a
large number of most excellent men who have practised
dentistry in connection with pharmacy will not have been
misplaced. I trust to your kindness to give this letter a
place in your Journal if you think fit, and apologize for
its great length.

A Member of the Dental Reform Committee.

Friedrichshall Water.

Sir, — We are in receipt of a communication from the
secretary of the Apollinaris Company, the agents of the
Hunyadi Janos Bitter Water, in which he complains that
an advertisement of the Bitter Water of Friedrichshall,
which appeared in the Pharmaceutical Journal of Sep¬
tember 27, contains an erroneous translation of a testimonial
of Professor Virchow. We herewith send you a copy of
the certificate in the German language, with the rendering
which should have appeared, and side by side with it, the
misleading translation, which was inserted in the advertise¬
ment columns of the Pharmaceutical Journal through an
oversight on our part.

German original.

“Auf ihre gefiillige Mittheilung erwidere ich, dass icli
das natiirliche Friedrichshaller Bitterwasser seit Dezennien
kenne und anwende und dass ich die vortreffiichen Eigen-
scliaften desselben nach wie vor schiitze. Es ist nicht meine

320

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 1 8, 1379.

Absicht gewesen, indem icli mich liber ein anderes Bitter-
wasser giinstig aussprach, dadurch das Friedrichshall er
herabsetzen zu wollen, und icli tezeuge daher recht gern,
dass es mir fern gelegen bat, irgend ein anderes ahnliches
Wasser als das unter alien Yerhaltnissen vorzuzieliende und
als das absolut beste zu empfehlen.

“Berlin, 8 Juli 1879.” Rud. Yiechow.

Correct Translation.

“To your polite commu¬
nication, I reply that for
upwards of twenty years
(seit Dezennien) I have
known and employed the
natural Friedrichshall Bit¬
ter Water, and that now, as
heretofore, I appreciate its
excellent qualities. In giv¬
ing a favourable opinion of
another Bitter W ater, I did
not intend thereby to de¬
preciate the Friedrichshall
Water, and I quite willingly
affirm that it was far from
me to recommend any other
similar Water as that which
is to be preferred under ail
circumstances and as the ab¬
solutely best.

“ Signed Rud. YlRCHOW
“Berlin, 8 July, 1879.”

Incorrect Translation.

“ I have known and used
the Friedrichshall Bitter
Water for a long time, and
experience has proved to me
its mauyexcellent properties.
Although I do not wish to
undervalue the merits of
other Bitter Waters, I feel
that in justice to the Bitter
Water cf Friedrichshall, I
must record my opinion that
it is the best and most use¬
ful of the Bitter Waters, and
as such I can confidently and
gladly recommend it.”

We are, sir,

Your obedient servants,

J. and A. Churchill.

Health of the Drug Trade.

Sir, — I was very much struck with the correctness of the
statements made by “ Junius,” and consider that we may
trace with ease the apparently short life of the chemist to
those three causes — confinement, want of recreation, and
the vitiated atmosphere in which he lives.

The greatest evil of the three i3 late closing, and one
which is deserving of immediate attention.

Should we not, at a time when examinations are com¬
pulsory, endeavour to raise ourselves and the business to
which we belong to something better and higher than what
it was before such things were thought or heard of?

If chemists as a body would unanimously agree, we
might without any difficulty close our respective shops at a
reasonable hour, and by so doing I feel certain that it w ould
tend to raise us in the estimation of the public, and be
beneficial to the health of both assistant and master.

At a meeting held recently in our largest town, the
question was very seriously discussed as to whether they
might close at 10 instead of 11 p.m. When we know that
such a miserable state of affairs exists, can we reasonably
wonder that we are not men of strong constitution and
long lives ?

Bootle. Camphora.

A Simple Standard.

Sir, — It may perhaps be new to the majority of your
readers, as it was to myself, when the advantages of this
standard were first pointed out to me by a friend, and on
this ground I have taken the liberty of troubling you with
my few remarks, with the hope that they may prove useful
to those, who, like myself, are in the habit of dispensing
from solutions of various salts.

There can be no doubt whatever that in such cases where
the salt does not undergo any change by being kept in
solution, this practice is not only allowable, but preferable
to weighing the dry salts, especially in such establishments
where much dispensing is done and where time is necessarily
valuable.

I have usually made my solutions 5j ad 5j> and this
strength answered very well in most instances, but for
simplicity it is not to be compared with that which I now
desire to bring before your notice, viz., 1 in 6, the advan¬

tages of which will be quite apparent on a careful examina¬
tion of the following examples : —

Strength 1 in G.

No. of grains No. of drachms,

ordered. of solution.

l

grain

equals

*1

2 grains

9 9

•2

3

99

99

•3

10

99

9 9

1‘0

12

9 9

99

1-2

15

99

99

1-5

20

99

99

2‘0

25

99

99

2‘5

40

9 9

99

4*0

5j

or 60

99

99

60

5b

„ 120

99

99

12 ‘0 or 3iss

„ 240

99

99

2L0,, 3iij

si

„ 480

99

99

43'0 „ 3yj

On glancing at the above title it will be noticed that the-
figures in both columns are the same, with the addition of
the decimal point (•) in the second column ; thus the number
of grains, ordered in a prescription, indicates the number of
drachms of solution necessary to use, 10 grains requiring
10 drachm or 5j, etc. It may be thought by some, that
where an odd number of grains is ordered, the calculation
will be difficult, but this need not be so, if the principle of
the standard be grasped. ‘1 drachm means drachm=
mvj ; '2 must then = mxij; ‘5 = 538, etc. The placing of
the decimal point (‘) it should be noticed is fixed by the-
number of grains ordered, 10 grains requiring 1‘0 drachm

or 5j-

In conclusion, I trust that my endeavour to make known
a simple remedy for a common want may be a sufficient
excuse for me venturing to trespass so much upon your
valuable space.

Sunderland. Robt. H. Mushens.

Tincture of Yellow Jasmin.

Sir, — As the above tincture is frequently prescribed, I
would respectfully ask, through the medium of the Pharma¬
ceutical .Journal, of what strength it ought to be? Every
wholesale house has its “Tinct. Gelsem. Sempervirens ”
(in some instances the word “Special” or the maker’s name
follows), but the strength is seldom if ever given.

When large doses are prescribed it is absolutely necessary
that we should know whether we are on the safe side or not,
in dispensing them, as the drug is comparatively little
known. I think it would be a good plan if every wholesale
house stated the strength of the tincture and the dose, and
abolished the favourite terms which follow the name, and
which frequently have to be paid extra for.

Aberpawe.

H. Waistell. — A recipe for stamping ink will be found on
p. 80 of the present volume.

G. H. Morgan. — We do not think you should assume
that the statement made by your customer is correct, but
should communicate with the chemist and druggist in
question.

B. Hardy should address his question to the editor of a.
medical journal.

R. Grant. — For a description of the way in which
koumiss is made by the Tartars, see vol. v. of the present

series, p. 325.

“ Fraxinus.” — (1) Holcus mollis. (2) Festuca gigantea.
(3) Dactylis glomerata.

F. Gale. — Artemisia vulgaris.

J. H. — The arms are the property of the Society as an
incorporated body, and cannot be used legally by any in¬
dividual,

“ Student .” — (1) The question of the dispensing of
‘ ‘ chloric ether ” has been fully discussed recently in the
“ Dispensing Memoranda.” See vol. viii., pp. 19, 38 and
67. (2) The swelling of the pills is probably due to the

decomposition of the oxide of silver.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Rogers, Wills, Willmott, Deck, J. Squire, Siebold,
Wilkinson, Swinn, Sub Umbra Floresco, Jek, Progress is
Life, Forceps, Apprentice, T. E., R. H. R.

October 25, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS'.

321

“ THE MONTH.”

“ Chill October ” well deserves its name this year,
the cold but delightfully bracing north-east winds
having effected a marvellous change in a few days
and brought autumn so suddenly upon us that
flowers are disappearing from our gardens and hedges
all too quickly. At the Kew Gardens several
families in the Herbaceous Ground still present a
sufficient number of plants in flower to illustrate
their characters. Among those which still linger
thus are the Leguminosce, Composites, Scrophulariaceee,
Malvjccece, Polygonaceee, Boraginaceee, Linacecs, Gera-
niacecc , Onagracece and Loasacece. Of medicinal
plants few remain in blossom. Several varieties of
tobacco, the camomile, alkanet, melilot, and most
beautiful of all, the colehicum, still remain in blos¬
som. Several species of the last mentioned genus
now present quite a bright appearance, while close
by the rare British species, Crocus nudi/lorus, which
also flowers without the leaves, is scarcely to be dis¬
tinguished by external appearance, and it is only
when the inside of the flower is examined that the
six stamens and the different character of the stigma
is perceived. The shining black berries of the
belladonna, the bright red ones of the woody night¬
shade and the prickly fruits of the tliornapple, almost
alone represent the Solanaceae, just a few blossoms
of Solanum nigrum, and some scattered panicles of
the graceful Solanum jasminoides, being all that are
left to represent this family at the present time. A
species of Datura, to which the name of tliornapple
in this case is most inappropriate, for the capsule is
quite smooth, may now be seen in fruit.

Among a few other Rosaceee, the Agrimonia odorata
still remains in blossom. Although by some botanists
it is distinguished as- a species, there are scarcely suffi¬
cient permanent characters by which to separate it
specifically from large specimens of A. Eupatoria,
the distinguishing features being that the stems are
3 or 4 feet high, the furrows on the fruit rudimen¬
tary or even quite un distinguishable, and the calyx
wider at the mouth than in the other species. A.
Eupatoria is occasionally used by herbalists in this
country in affections of the liver, and in fact, it has
had a reputation for complaints of that organ since
the time of Dioscorides, who says it is “a remedy for
them that have bad livers and for such as are bitten
with serpents,” and as Gerarde translates it “ the
leaves being stamped with old swine’s grease and
applied, closeth vp vlcers that be hardly healed.”
This reputation may perhaps explain a discovery
recently made by Dr. Brinsley Nicholson, who, in a
paper in the Medical Times and Gazette, speaks very
highly of the value in scurvy and tapeworm of a
plant called by the Caffres “Uhlinga,” a species of
Agrimonia ( Agrimonia Eupatoria ?), which has
succeeded in his hands in the latter complaint even
where turpentine failed. In eighty-six cases tried
by the author the remedy acted effectually as a
t?enicide or tsenifuge in nearly all.

The violet may almost be called an autumn as
well as a spring flower, for almost every year a few
blossoms may be found during the autumn where the
plant grows freely, especially in sheltered spots in
gardens. One of this genus has recently been ex¬
amined by Dr. J. Konig, who finds as much as 21
per cent, of zinc oxide in the ash of the plant. This
plant, which is by many botanists considered to be
a variety of Viola tricolor, receives its name of Viola
calaminaria , from the fact that it appears to be
Third Series, No. 487.

restricted to soil containing zinc, and thus serves to
indicate the presence of the metal in the soil, where
it might not otherwise have been suspected. Sufficient
attention has perhaps not been paid to the influence
of the chemical constituents of soil in producing
variations in plants, nor to the value of such varieties
in indicating the nature of the soil. Probably many
of our readers have noticed with regard to the
common violet, Viola odorata, how rare it is to find
plants with blue flowers on a limestone soil, the
prevailing colour being white. With regard to
Viola tricolor, of which Viola calaminaria is probably
a variety, Sowerby’s ‘Botany’ makes the following
statement: — “Some years ago a writer in the Medical
Journal called attention to the heartsease as a
valuable remedy for the cutaneous disease called
crusta lactea in children. For this purpose half a
drachm of the leaves or a handful of the fresh herb
boiled in milk was to be given every night and
morning and poultices made of the leaves, to be
applied externally.” When distilled with water it
gives a volatile oil having an odour something like
peach kernels, which may be also observed on chew¬
ing a leaf or portion of the stem. The possibility
of the relation of this oil to the odour of violets,
might be worth investigation.

An account of poisoning by fungi of a boy, three
years of age, is given in the Lancet for October 11.
The child had eaten some small fungi which he had
gathered in Hyde Park, specimens of which were
shown to the medical man by the child’s sister. The
child recovered next day. As the symptoms were
somewhat peculiar and the name of the fungus or
fungi eaten could easily have been ascertained at
the Botanical Department of the British Museum,
or by application to anyone of our numerous fun-
gologists, it is to be regretted that such an oppor¬
tunity of adding to our knowledge of the little-
known properties of the plants of this interesting
class was allowed to pass by. Four other cases
of fungus poisoning during the first few days of
October were admitted into Middlesex Hospital.
In these cases the symptoms were those caused by a
strong intoxicant, and in two cases accompanied by
violent delirium. They all eventually recovered.
In these cases also no mention is made of the species
which produced these results.

Fungi probably possess properties as dissimilar in
different groups, or even in species of the same genus,
as those which are found in different species of
aconite among the flowering plants ; thus a species of
Amanita, A . rubescens, which differs from the delete¬
rious A. muscaria in having a pale drab-coloured cap,
and flesh reddening when bruised, is edible. No
opportunity of ascertaining the pecularities of poison¬
ous species should, therefore, be neglected.

While speaking of fungi it may be mentioned that
Dr. B. Crowther, of Hobart Town, calls attention, in
the Lancet, to the use of hyposulphite of sodium
in zymotic diseases, and states that it is a potent
remedy in certain intractable acute and chronic
ulcers, whose origin and continuance seem due to
some local irritant of a fungoid or bacterioid nature.
He further adds, “ From the vast number and varied
class of diseases over which it exercises a controlling
influence, it is destined to hold the first position as a
specific in our Pharmacopoeia.” It may be dded
that it possesses the advantage over the bisulphite of
having a less disagreeable taste.

A curious illustration of the fact that all know-

322

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 25, 1879.

ledge is useful at some time or other has recently
occurred in the discovery of diatoms in the goose¬
berry preserve of commerce. The study of the
Diatomaceoe has generally been looked upon as
comparatively useless, although the beauty of the
forms of these plants renders it a very delightful
one. M. Ch. Menier, professor of materia medica at
the School of Medicine and Pharmacy at Nantes, in
examining a specimen of gooseberry preserve from
Paris, recognized that its gelatinous consistence was
due to algae, by finding in it a very beautiful diatom,
Arachnoidiscus japonic us, which is known to occur
in “Japanese isinglass.”* Probably the gelose came
from the French colony of Cochin China. The
colouring matter was due in part to cochineal, as
determined by analysis, and in part to the petals of
the Rose Tremiere (a dark-flowered variety of Althaia
rosea), as indicated by the pollen grains charac¬
teristic of the Malvacece, which in consequence
of the union of the petals to the androphore would
be almost sure to be present.

At the recent drug sales several packages of calabar
beans were offered ; these have been rather scarce for
some months, and as this is about the time of year
when they become ripe, an abundance may soon be
expected. Zanzibar aloes, having an opaque appear¬
ance like Natal aloes, but as usual packed in monkey
skins, was observed. There was also a quantity of
fine Jooking yellow bark, which would probably pass
as Calisaya, but contains generally only traces of
cinchonidineand a small percentage of quinine. Rose
geranium oil from Algeria, Dalmatian insect powder,
Siam benzoin in fine tears, Samovey jjook isinglass,
German camomile flowers ( Matricaria ChamomiUa)
and patchouli leaves were among those of less fre¬
quent occurrence.

At a sale, in London, during the early part of
this month, a number of small gourds of curari
were exposed for'’ sale and labelled aloes ! They
were tasted by several people, who fortunately,
owing to its bitterness, probably ejected their saliva
immediately afterwards, for had the mucous mem¬
brane of the mouth been in any case abraded, the
consequences must have been disastrous. It was well
for the public that the gourds were of so small size,
that they would, probably in any case, have been
purchased merely as curiosities. As soon as the true
nature of the drug was known it was immediately
withdrawn.

According to Gehe’s report curari is already going
out of favour owing to its want of uniformity. Some
time since, M. Preyer in the endeavour to obtain an
active principle of definite strength from curari,
prepared a crystallized sulphate of curarin ; this
substance, which was stated by the discoverer to be
twenty times stronger than curari, was afterwards
found by Theodor Sachsf to be composed of phosphate
and carbonate of lime with a little adherent curari,
sufficient only to produce a weak physiological action.

There now appears a possibility of a definite principle
having the properties of curari being procurable at
no distant date. An important discovery has recently
been made by M. Jobert, whose investigation of the
source of curari was noticed in this Journal on a
former occasion, J and will probably call renewed
attention to the drug. He has found that Strychnos
castclnce and Strychnos tori/era are by no means the

* Ser. [3], vol. ix., p. 1056.

f Liebig’s Annalen der Chemie, 101, n. 255.

j Ser. [3], vol. viii., p. 581.

~ - : - . — . - = ^

only species which yield a poison similar to curari ;
but that so far as experiments have gone, the South
American species are distinguished from the Asiatic
by possessing properties resembling those of curari
rather than strychnia. He considers that the most
active of what may be called the curari-yielding
species of strychnos is S. rubiginosa, Piauhy, and the
least toxic, S. triplinervia , Gaertn; indeed in so slight
a degree does the latter possess toxic properties that
it is employed for fevers by the natives. In another
number of the same journal, MM. Couty and De
Lacerda give an account of the extraction of the active
constituents of the latter plant and the physiological
action of the extract. They found that the extract
made from the bark of stems of moderate size was
more active than that of the root, and although much
less powerful than curari. LI. Jobert states that the
Peruvian Indians mix the juice of a menispermaceous
plant which has a poisonous action on the heart with
the curari, and that only the pure extract of the
strychnos should therefore be used in order to obtain
definite physiological results. In Strychnos tripli¬
nervia, we have, according to MM. Couty and De
Lacerda, an agent which can easily be obtained of a
definite strength and offers the advantages that the
valuable physiological effects of curari can be obtained
in a few moments and that the symptoms can be
arrested at different periods as may be required.

Dr. W. Murrell, in an article in the Practitioner
this month, states that he has found picrotoxin
afford great relief in the night-sweating of phthisis,
having had only one case of failure out of twenty,
and even then the remedy did some good at first.
The strength of the solution used in his experiments
was at first 1 part in 180, but as some of the picro¬
toxin crystallized out a solution.of 1 part in 240 of
water was afterwards adopted. Of the former solution,
1 drachm in an eight-ounce bottle of water was pre¬
scribed, the dose ordered being in most cases a
teaspoonful, or in other words, about one ninety-
sixth of a grain.

In the severe diarrhoea which often occurs in
the course of the same disease, Dr. J. B. Yeo has
found that the fluid extract of coto bark in doses
of 5 to 8 minims, arrests or checks it even in its
severest forms, and he remarks that he is quite
sure that coto bark is a valuable remedy which
ought rapidly to come into general use. Dr. Yeo
also calls attention to the very important fact
that when administered in the form of pills or with
the mistura crctte, B.P., it appeared inert, and that
he found a resinous element was precipitated in
tough masses when the fluid extract was carelessly
mixed with water, but that when given in com¬
bination with tincture of cardamoms and mucilage it
was very effectual. He also makes the very pertinent
observation that “this is probably the fate of many
valuable medicines which appear to fail, not from
want of virtue in themselves, but from want of
patience and attention in their mode of adminis¬
tration.”

In the Indian Medical Gazette, Mr. A. L. Deb
recommends the root of Hedysarum gangeticum in
dysentery. The fresh root is given three or four
times a day in the form of pulp, ground down and
mixed with water, to the extent of thirty or forty
grains each time for adults. He considers it to
stand next in value to Jxora coccinea and to be
especially adapted for acute dysentery of moderate
severity.

October 25, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

323

In the United States the bark of Piscidia ery-
thrina, or Jamaica Dogwood, is being tried as an
anodyne and soporific. Some years ago Dr. W.
Hamilton, of Plymouth, called attention in the
Pharmaceutical Journal to this drug. The strength
used is 4 oz. of the bark to 16 oz. of rectified spirit,
and the dose taken to ease pain and procure sleep
is 1 drachm for adults.

Dr. L. Mann, of California, has recently been
experimenting upon the Californian laurel ( Oreo -
daphne Californical ) and finds that the odour of the
leaves causes in some persons a severe frontal head¬
ache when they stand under a tree. Apparently this
suggested a use of the remedy in nervous headache,
in the treatment of which he has found the bruised
leaves, used as an inhalation, very successful. The
taste of the leaves is exceedingly pungent and to
some persons disagreeable, and the plant seems to
be one likely to possess some useful properties.
The odour is said to be disliked by mosquitos and
other insects.

During the last few weeks ITamamelis virginica,
which is well known as the chief ingredient in
Pond’s Extract, has attracted some attention in the
correspondence columns of the Lancet. The writers
appear to be unaware that a formula for the tincture
has already been published, and as uniformity in
unofficial preparations is very desirable it may be
useful to some of our readers to know that a formula
may be found in the last edition of Squire’s
1 Companion to the Pharmacopoeia/ Medical
practitioners would obtain much more satisfactory
and uniform results from the use of unofficial pre¬
parations than is sometimes the case if they would
indicate in their prescriptions the streugtli of tinc¬
ture intended to be' used.

Dr. E. Schrader, in the Chemilcer Zeitung, describes
a new method of making varnish, which consists in
causing ozone to act on linseed oil, by which it is
bleached and brought to the proper consistence,
without the aid of fire.

In the same journal, M. A. Tschirch calls attention
to the fact that in almost all the bottles of magnesium
sulphate and in some of calcium sulphate solutions
in the laboratory of Berlin University, algse belong¬
ing to the Palmellacece and developing chlorophyll
have made their appearance.

Recently there was noticed in these columns an
interesting announcement that Herr Ladenberg had
succeeded in recombining tropic acid and tropin to
form the alkaloid atropine of which they were the
products of decomposition. It is now announced
that a similar feat has been performed with respect
to milk sugar by M. E. Demole ( Gomptes Pend.,
lxxix., 481). Upon treating with boiling anhydrous
acetic acid the mixture of galactose and lactoglucose
into which milk sugar is converted in contact with
dilute acids, an octacetyle ether is formed resembling
that obtained by Schutzenberger with dextroglucose.
An alcoholic solution of this ether poured into baryta
solution and kept for a few minutes at a temperature
of 90° gives off acetic ether, and after exact neutra¬
lization with sulphuric acid, evaporation to dryness,
and re-dissolving in water, is by several recrystalli¬
zations aided by alcohol obtained as a crystalline
body having all the properties of sugar of milk.
“Octacetic saccharose” similarly treated with alkalies
is said to have yielded cane sugar, but the crystalli¬
zation was not successful.

Another investigator in this direction, M. A.

Michael, has effected even more interesting results in
the synthesis of two glucosides and has indicated a
probable method by which a large numbers of others
may be produced and investigated. Of M. Michael’s
two products the more interesting at present to
pharmacists is undoubtedly “helicin,” a glucoside
described ly Piria and produced by the action of
dilute nitric acid upon salicin and reconvertible into
salicin by the action of nascent hydrogen. The
relation between these two glucosides is shown by
the following equation : —

G\;}H1807 + 0 = C13H1607 + HoO

Salicin. lleliciu.

The medium used by M. Michael for the introduc¬
tion of the molecule of glucose is a compound called
a ietochlorliydrose obtained by the reaction of chlo¬
ride of acetyle upon glucose. Equivalent quantities
of acetoclilorhydrose and salicylite of potassium were
dissolved in absolute alcohol, mixed in the cold and
left to stand ; there was evolution of acetic ether and
formation of a precipitate of chloride of potassium,
the reaction being completed in about three days.
After filtration the alcohol was allowed to evaporate
spontaneously, when there was left an oily substance
that solidified after ten days, and which when puri¬
fied gave upon analysis the composition of helicin
and was also identical in its other properties. Heli¬
cin so produced is slightly soluble in cold water, and
very soluble in hot water, from which it is deposited
on cooling in white arborescent crystals. Boiled
with dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acid it splits
up into salicylic aldehyde and glucose, and the same
decomposition is induced by the action of emulsin.
The other glucoside was obtained by the reaction
between acetoclilorhydrose and plienate of potassium ;
it does not correspond with any known natural
substance, and has been named phenol glucoside.
Acetoclilorhydrose appears to be endowed with con¬
siderable powers of substitution. It acts upon levu-
lose with the evolution of gaseous hydrochloric acid
and acetic acid and the formation of a small quantity
of crystalline matter which may prove to be dextro-
levulose (cane sugar). Other compounds have also
been obtained by its use that have yet to be examined
and described.

After a considerable amount of writing suggestive
of the mythical there appears to be at last some
prospect of the properties long attributed to the
papaw tree undergoing scientific investigation. In
the paper published in the Journal for the lltli inst.
(p. 283), Messrs. Wurtz and Bouchut describe a
substance having the properties of an energetic diges¬
tive ferment which they have separated by precipi¬
tating with alcohol an aqueous solution of juice from
the stem of the papaw, and named “papaine.”
Curiously enougli]almost simultaneously Dr . Peckliolt,
of Cantagallo, Brazil, has published in the Zeitschrift
of the Austrian Apotheker-Verein a long and interest¬
ing account of the Carica Papaya , in which he
describes under the name of “ papayotin” a substance
apparently identical with “papaine.” Dr. Peckl.olt’s
researches appear to have been carried out some ten
years since, and only to have been published now
because of the revived interest in the subject. Not¬
withstanding Dr. Peckliolt’ s long delay in publishing,
due probably to his residence in Brazil, and the fact
that he disclaims any intention to claim priority, it
would appear that he really is entitled to do so, since
his paper appeared in the Austrian journal tor the 20th

324

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 25, is:s>.

of August, whilst M. Dumas’ communication was not
read in the Academy of Sciences until five days
afterwards.

Last month there appeared in this Journal a
letter from Messrs. Baildon and Son, stating that
after following out Mr. Thresh’s formula for making
soluble essence of ginger (before, p. 193) they had
failed to obtain a clear preparation. Mr. Thresh
replied recommending a reagitation with silica and
filtration. It may be useful to mention that a
second letter has been received from Messrs. Baildon
stating that upon carrying out the suggestion a
bright preparation was the result. The wide-spread
interest in this subject is illustrated by the fact that
a few days since a letter was received from Jackson¬
ville, Florida, U.S., attesting the practicability of
Mr. Thresh’s process.

It is now officially announced that the day on
which this Journal is published is to be the day
upon which the India Museum will be finally closed.
Whatever may have been the circumstances which
have induced the authorities to take this step —
whether simply in consequence of the expense, or
that in addition to other causes —only regret can be
expressed at such a necessity having arisen. In
distributing this fine collection among other institu¬
tions no doubt care will be taken to select the most
fitting recipients, and it may be hoped that a large
portion of the materia medica, including the essential
oils, will find its most suitable resting place in the
museum of the Pharmaceutical Society.

The annual report of the Director of Kew Gardens,
which has just appeared, contains an unusually
large amount of matter interesting from a pharma¬
ceutical point of view. This includes information
concerning the introduction of Columbian barks
into India, the success of cinchona cultivation in
Jamaica, African dragon’s blood, lignaloes, or eagle
wood, olibanum and myrrh. Extracts from this
report will probably appear in future numbers of
this Journal.

The Dentists’ Register, which has appeared during
the past month, has no doubt, ere this, been scanned
through spectacles variously tinged according to the
wearers’ views of what such a Register ought to
contain. It appears to be carefully compiled, and is
prefaced by a “ table showing the number and
qualifications, with percentage of the total of persons
registered.” From this it appears that the total
number of names on the Dentists’ Register on the
1st of August was 5289. The Licentiates in Dental
Surgery of different medical bodies who have been
registered number 483. Of persons registered on
their own declaration as having been in bond fide
practice before the passing of the Act, 2707 have
claimed to have carried on dentistry separately,
2049 in conjunction with pharmacy, 17 in conjunc¬
tion with medicine, 11 with surgery, 20 with medi¬
cine and surgery, and two with surgery and
pharmacy. There have also been two persons
registered as doctors of dental medicine of the
University of Harvard.

The third part of Dr. Dodel-Port’s valuable ( Atlas
der Botanik ’ will be published in a few days. It
will contain figures of Spirochcete Obermeieri, the
contagium of a certain typhoid disease; also the
whole development of the carbuncle fungus, Bac¬
terium anthracis , as investigated by Professor Nageli
and the author of the atlas ; the development of the
prothallium of the fern genus Aspidium from the

spore to the formation of the embryo ; the fertiliza¬
tion of Polysiphonia subulata by the aid of animal-
culae, and other recent observations of great value.

Pharmacists will be glad to learn that a new and
thoroughly revised edition of ‘ Pharmacographia ’
will be published .during the coming season by
Messrs. Macmillan. The first edition has been out
of print for some time, and much additional matter
has appeared since the date of its publication wh:cli
will doubtless be represented in the clear and cen -
densed manner for which the work is so remarkabl e.

“ A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.’’ The
British Medical Journal of the 18th, in an editorial
paragraph, refers to the paper of Mr. Fahnestock, on
“ The Valuation of Blistering Beetles,” which was
recently (vol. ix., p. 1038) reproduced in this Journal
from the American Journal of Pharmacy. In doing
so it credits the author of that paper with saying
that the fresh powder of the “ potato beetle ” yields
about 1^ per cent, of pure cantharidin, and remarks
that this is a large product, and that “no doubt these
pests will be increasingly used as a source of this
drug.” But it further ventures to prophesy that
mankind will hardly be prevailed upon to desist
from vigorous efforts to exterminate the insect
because it is now shown to be capable of acting
effectually as a physical as well as a moral blister.
Perhaps a taste of this insect’s power in the moral
blister direction will be realize! by the writer if he
turns to the original paper, where he will find that
the author does not speak of the Colorado “ potato
beetle” ( Dorypliora decemlineata), but of the potato
bug ( Cantharis vittata).

The power of ridicule is acknowledged, and there
is no doubt it may be utilized in making impressions
upon the memory. In connection with the New
York College of Pharmacy there is a conversational
class, in which the office of “ quiz ” is a recognized
institution. Banter appears, in fact, to have been so
useful in correcting errors in past sessions that the
Board of Trustees have at the commencement of the
present one formally appointed two gentlemen to
the office of “ quiz masters.”

The meeting of the American Pharmaceutical
Association at Indianapolis, a report of which has
appeared during the past month, seems to have
been a success in point of attendance, but showed a
marked falling off in the number of papers read .
A large amount of time was taken up in considering
the rules of the Association, whilst some reports in
respect to the next edition of the United States
Pharmacopoeia naturally absorbed much of the
attention of the men by whom that book will have
to be used when it appears. One alteration in the
rules, in which the word America is substituted for
United States, throws open the eligibility for mem¬
bership to Canadians, Mexicans, Chilians and
citizens of other South American States. One
little contretemps , whilst amusing, shows how easily
the u best laid plans ” may “ gang oft agee ” on such
occasions. It appears that when assembling for the
“ banquet,” the Secretary, Professor Maisch, four
past Presidents of the Association, and about a score
of old members stood on one side to give precedence
to their juniors. These flocked in in such numbers,
however, that the room was filled and the doors
were closed, leaving still outside the seniors, who
were fain to comfort themselves at a neighbouring
restaurant.

As usual with the American Pharmaceutical Associa-

October 25, 1879.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

325

tion, the reports were a good feature. In one of
them Mr. H. S. Wellcome stated that he had not
been able to find “ any drugs now cultivated here
which were formerly obtained from foreign countries,”
with perhaps the exception of valerian, now cultivated
in Vermont. In another report upon the market of
San Francisco, Mr. Steele gave an account of the
manufactures of his section, one of the most remark¬
able among which was that of 25,000 gallons of castor
oil per annum. A specimen of a new salt, salicylate
of cinchonidia was exhibited by the secretary. It
crystallizes in well defined prisms, is sparingly
soluble in water, and dissolves freely in weak and
in strong alcohol.

The extent to which colour blindness is prevalent
amongst railway servants has been the subject of an
official inquiry in Germany. It is reported that on
the State lines 1 employe in 125 is colour blind,
whilst on the companies’ lines only 1 in 250 is so
affected. Probably this difference in the figures is
due to a difference in the standard adopted, and it is
noteworthy that they approach closely to the numbers
recently published by the English Board of Trade,
of 1 in 230 partially affected and sent back for
further trial and 1 in 150 finally rejected.

According to the Pharmaceutische Zeitung fur
Russland the Russian armies were well supplied
with all manner of drugs during the recent war, as
much as eighty waggonfuls of unused drugs having
been brought back with the army from Bulgaria.
Some of the quantities used by the armies on active
service are given as follows : — cinchona bark, 1083
lbs. ; quinine hydrochlorate, 2358 lbs. ; quinine
sulphate, 5083 lbs. ; chloroform, 3088 lbs. ; opium,
1546 lbs. ; morphia, 52 lbs. ; castor oil, 25,953 lbs. ;
rhubarb, 1138 lbs. ; ipecacuanha, 1820 lbs. ; carbolic
acid, 5597 lbs.; camphor, 6771 lbs. It is further
stated that in the years 1877 and 1878 the medical
department of the Russian war office purchased
altogether 260,350 ounces of quinine sulphate and
194,700 ounces of quinine hydrochlorate at an ex¬
penditure of two and a half millions of roubles.

“Physicians’ prescriptions accurately prepared” is
the dispenser’s motto, but to accomplish this with
neatness and facility certain requirements are almost
essential in a pharmacy. The letter of Mr. Mushens
in last week’s Journal, page 320, on a simple
standard for solutions of salts daily and hourly re¬
quired in dispensing, directs attention to one series ;
others will in due course be referred to. Opinions
may differ as to the relative proportions of the salt
in solution, but there can be but one opinion as
regards the value of the principle, and its application
may be left to the judgment of each dispenser. An
“ endeavour to make known a simple remedy for a
common want” needs no apology, and the readers of
this Journal will be indebted to those whose efforts
are successful.

The first prescription requiring notice is that of
No. 343, where sp. chlorof., without any quantity being
given, forms part of the prescription. Judging from
the size of the mixture and from its dose, that it was
for a child, 3ss. sp. chlorof. would be a fair quantity.
The next article sacc. ust. is only a colouring matter
and must be left to the dispenser’s discretion.

No. 344 contains a solution of Cheltenham salts.
The writer of a prescription sometimes severely tries
a dispenser’s resources. To confine a prescriber to
the Pharmacopoeia would tend to check therapeutic
progress, but there should be some limit to erratic

prescribing. A teaspoon ful or a quarter of an ounce
of Cheltenham salts is the dose recommended for
occasional use; one ounce and a half, therefore, in the
twelve ounce mixture would give that proportion to
each dose. A dispenser is required to keep the pre¬
parations of the B.P. ready for use in his pharmacy,
but the Cheltenham salts have not yet occupied that
position. It may assist “Dispenser” to give him
Beasley’s formula for artificial Cheltenham salts,
which would be supposed to represent the saline
and tonic characters of the Cheltenham waters:—
Sulphate of soda 16 oz., sulphate of magnesia 8 oz.,
muriate of soda 1 oz., sulphate of iron 8 grs. Dis¬
solve in the smallest quantity of hot water, strain
and evaporate to dryness.

It is not usual to filter an injection such as No. 345,
neither should a “shake the bottle” label be put on.
A decomposition takes place, acetate of zinc is formed
and remains dissolved, whilst sulphate of lead is pre¬
cipitated. The writer may wish the deposit to
remain at the bottom of the bottle, as he does not
direct it to be filtered, or he may not desire it to be
used with the fluid, as would be indicated by a “shake
the bottle” label. The deposit is not considered an
essential part of the remedy or one that possesses any
value ; the dispenser therefore has nothing to justify
him in ordering the bottle to be shaken.

Pigment, iodi is prescribed in No. 346, and
“ Juvenis” wishes to know whether tinct. or linim.
iodi should be dispensed. There is no formula for a
preparation of iodine with the name pigment, iodi in
the B.P., but on reference to the formula of the
Throat Hospital, for pigment, iodi, the linim. iodi is
directed to be used. This circumstance will be a
guide to the dispenser, and a sufficient justification for
the use of linim. iodi when pigment, iodi is ordered.

The question No. 347 refers to the varying appear¬
ance of different samples of enonymin. For several
of these remedial agents from the United States, and
recently introduced into this country, there is no
published form, and there being more than one
maker, it is but reasonable to conclude that each has
his own particular method of manufacture. On re¬
ference to some papers which have at different times
appeared in this Journal on the preparation of podo-
phyllin, it will be observed how the appearance of
the product is affected by very slight differences in
the process of deposition from its solution. From
what has been stated the difficulty or rather impos¬
sibility of furnishing a safe test of quality, or a test
by which one of these vegetable products, probably of
a resinoid character, may be recognized must be
apparent.

It is difficult to say what the writer of No. 348
meant when he wrote ferri ammoniae sulph. If he
cannot be referred to, the dispenser will be quite safe
in using ferri ammonias sulph., a salt formerly much
used in photography, but little known in medicine.
The remarks of St. Rule, p. 316, are very much to
the point, but he would have made them more valu¬
able if the source of the information that ferri
ammoniae sulph. acts as a “ powerful astringent in
uterine cases ” had been appended. It will be ob¬
served that many correspondents assume ferri am¬
moniae cit. to have been intended by the writer, but
this is by no means certain. “ J. C.” states that ferri
ammon. sulph. is iron alum ; this is an error, iron
alum is a ferric sulphate with sulphate of ammonia
or potash ; ferri ammon. sulph. is a ferrous sulphate
with sulphate of ammonia.

326

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 25, 1879.

The pills in prescription No. 349, may be made
by the addition of a very small quantity of soap to
the ingredients ordered ; with the assistance of the
soap a satisfactory mass may be obtained, firm, and
capable of being rolled into pills. “Junior” is re¬
ferred to remarks on the combination of similar
ingredients in some of the preceding “ Months/’

The chloral hydrate and camphor in No. 350
may be so combined as to form a milky emulsion
by following the directions of Mr. Wilkinson, p. 316,
on this prescription. Care should be taken to rub the
chloral hydrate and camphor till they become semi¬
fluid, before the addition of the mucilage, or the
emulsion may be imperfect and gritty from the
presence of free camphor.

There will necessarily result, from the mixture of
bromide of potassium and tartaric acid, ordered in No.
351, a deposit of acid tartrate of potash with a super¬
natant clear solution of hydrobromic acid. Of this
decomposition the prescriber may not have been
aware, or he may have been aware of the de¬
composition, but considered that on the addition of
the deposited acid tartrate of potash to each dose of
the sodae bicarb, in the powder, a potassic tartrate of
soda would be formed ; the dispenser should there¬
fore direct the mixture to be shaken so that each
dose of it may contain a definite relative quantity of
the sediment. The dispenser would do well, how¬
ever, to suggest to the prescriber that a more elegant
combination would result by combining the sodae
bicarb, with the potass, bromid., and then putting
the acid. tart, into the powder. Effervescence
would equally take place and there would be little,
if any, formation of acid tartrate of potash ; the
result would be more elegant, and probably just
that which was intended. Of course this would
depend upon whether the prescriber intended to
give his patient bromide of potassium or hydro¬
bromic acid.

The turbidity resulting from the mixture, No. 352,
is due to the presence of the magnesiae sulph. On
that salt being added there is a separation of brown,
flocculent matter; without it, the other ingredients
may be combined so as to form a mixture free from
deposit, and tolerably bright. The alkalinity or
otherwise of different samples of ferri et ammoniae
cit. may have a bearing on the change which with
some samples certainly takes place. It is, of course,
impossible to say how the mixture may have been
prepared to show such different results.

The prescription, No. 353, contains pulv. phos-
phori, and from the dose being the same as that of the
strych. sulph., it may be presumed that the amor¬
phous variety was not intended. The combination is
not suitable for retaining phosphorus in an unoxi¬
dized condition; however, it should be dissolved in a
little bisulphide of carbon before being mixed with
the other ingredients, and then probably the best
excipient will be the glycerine of tragacanth. With
regard to the price, that must be left to individual
judgment, its discussion is not suited for these
columns. A paper on the subject of prices charged
for dispensed medicines, by the late Daniel Hanbury,
will be found among ‘ Science Papers ’ (p. 453), and
may be read with advantage.

The mixture, No. 354, will become turbid soon
after being mixed, and there will be a considerable
amount of deposit on standing.

The powder, No. 355, becomes moist, due to the
water of crystallization of the sodae phosphas. A

better result would ensue if the phosphate of soda be
deprived of a part of the water before being mixed
with the potass, citrat.; but as written it will not
retain its condition as a powder, and is not an
elegant combination.

The ingredients of recipe No. 356, with the ex¬
ception of the oil of aniseed, can be very well com¬
bined as a powder if each be in a dry condition, but
the addition of the oil of aniseed makes the mass
too soft. It is a piece of veterinary practice, and
probably oil of aniseed quan. suff. would be more
suitable to form the other ingredients into a manage¬
able mass.

The prescription, No. 357, becomes difficult from,
the remark of the writer “when the mixture has
become quite clear.” The digestion of the in¬
gredients at the temperature indicated will result in
a curdling of the milk, and subsequent deposit of
the clot, but the supernatant liquid will not be clear
except in comparison with the milk. It is probable
that this is the condition it is intended the mixture
should be in when adapted for neutralization by bi¬
carbonate of soda.

The quinine mixture with ammonia, No. 358, is
in principle similar to others which have been pre¬
viously commented on, so that “ Quiniae Sulph.”
must be referred to those. Mucilage should be used
as there indicated, to retain the quinine in suspension.

The mixture of ol. olivae with ext. of belladonna,
as in No. 359, may be satisfactorily made by rubbing
the ext. bellad. with a little water, on a warm slab,
to a smooth paste, gradually adding the oil. If
care be taken to reduce the extract with a suitable
quantity of water, an elegant ointment may be made
from this prescription, but lin. bellad. should not
have been used.

The carbolic acid, No, 360, should be used in a
crystalline state, and then there will be little or no
difficulty experienced in making the pills. Reference
may be made to carbolic acid in pills commented
on quite recently.

In the lotion, No. 361, aq. calc, and ol. olivae in
equal proportions emulsify very satisfactorily, but if
other water, or even more liquor calcis be added,
there is a separation of some of the partially saponified
oil, though on standing this is absorbed. Mr. Cair-
nie’s process, in this week’s Journal, is probably the
best that can be adopted.

The prescription, No. 362, it is presumed, was
intended to be dispensed just as written : — 2 parts
by weight, acid, muriatic cone, with 18 parts tr.
aurantii, 10-15 minims for a dose: the subsequent
figures most probably bear reference to the date of
the prescription.

It is difficult to account for a change of colour in
the mixture, No. 363 ; there is no reason why there
should be one. Such a mixture may be dispensed
with great uniformity of result. The decomposition
alluded to can only be referred to impure iodide of
potassium or careless dispensing.

The second ingredient in No. 364 is evidently
intended for glycerine ; but there would seem to have
been some little confusion in the mind of the writer
between the Latin of glycerine and that of liquorice.

In reviewing the prescriptions referred to in this
“Month,” it can scarcely be said that the inquiries are
not fair and reasonable, and it will be observed that
most of them owe their origin to errors or incom-
patibles on the part of the writers of the several
prescriptions.

October 25, i<J79:. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

327

THE GLUCOSIDE 0E LIQUORICE.*

BY F. SESTINT.

An aqueous extract of the root, on being evaporated to
dryness after treatment with animal charcoal, yields a
product from which absolute alcohol extracts asparagine.
The residue dissolves in dilute spirit, and when burnt
leaves an ash containing lime, alkalies, and a trace of
sulphuric acid. From these results, it is evident that
glycyrrhizin does not exist in the root in the free state,
but in combination with bases, chiefly lime. An examin¬
ation of the commercial extract, or “liquorice,” shows
that it contains free glycyrrhizin in small quantity, liber¬
ated, apparently, from its combination by the acids
formed during the evaporation of the juice. Roussin
{Jour. Pharm., 1875) imagined that the glycyrrhizin
existed in the root as an ammonium compound containing
0*14 per cent, nitrogen ; but, as the author points out, the
method by which he obtained this compound (precipitat¬
ing the glucoside with sulphuric acid, and treating it first
with alcohol and ether, and then with an alcoholic solu¬
tion of ammonia), affords no evidence that it existed in
the root as such, and moreover it is not very probable
that the substance obtained by Roussin is a definite
•compound, as it would contain 26 or 27 molecules of
glycyrrhizin to one of ammonia.

The glucoside dissolves in dilute potash solution, and is
precipitated again unaltered by acids, but the potassium
compound formed could not be isolated. Better success
attended the attempts to prepare the calcium and barium
compounds. Calcium glycyrrhizate, prepared by adding
calcium chloride to a solution of the glucoside in the
smallest excess of potash, washing the precipitate with
water, and drying at 100°, forms a brown shining mass.
By dissolving glycyrrhizin in milk of lime, filtering,
separating the excess of lime by carbonic acid, and eva¬
porating, a residue is obtained, which when treated with
alcohol of 50 per cent, and evaporated, yields the glycyr¬
rhizate in amorphous yellowish scales. This glycyrrhizate
is hygroscopic, and has a sweet taste : it is almost in¬
soluble in dry alcohol, but dissolves tolerably well in
dilute alcohol.

It is only sparingly soluble in water, but more readily
in presence of calcium hydrate, which points to the
existence of a basic compound.

Dried at 110° and analysed, it gave numbers correspond¬
ing with the formula 3CaO + 5C24H3609, adopting Gorup-
Besanez’ formula, C25H3609, for glycyrrhizin.

Barium glycyrrhizate , 3BaO + 5C24H3609, obtained in a
manner similar to the calcium compound by dissolving
glycyrrhizin in baryta water, passing carbonic anhydride,
and evaporating, forms yellowish scales. All the com¬
pounds of glycyrrhizin with bases have a sweet taste;
glycyrrhizin itself when first placed on the tongue is
insipid, but as it dissolves in the alkaline saliva, it acquires
a sweet taste.

The ordinary method of preparing glycyrrhizin by
■exhausting the root with water and precipitating with
sulphuric acid, gives very unsatisfactory results, as the
product is small and highly coloured, and there is great
difficulty in separating the adherent sulphuric acid. The
author prefers to exhaust the root four or five times suc¬
cessively with boiling water and a little milk of lime, and
to precipitate the concentrated extract with acetic acid.
The brownish gelatinous precipitate, after being washed
with water is dissolved in spirit of 50 per cent., decolorized
by animal charcoal, and evaporated on the water-bath
until the alcohol is expelled. On cooling, it solidifies
to a gelatinous mass, which is dissolved in alcohol, mixed
with twice its volume of ether, filtered and evaporated.
The gelatinous glycyrrhizin is then pressed and dried
over sulphuric acid. The author regards the crystalline

* From the Gazzetta chimica itnliana , 8, 454 — 462.
Reprinted from the Journal of the Chemical Society, Sep¬
tember, 1870.

substance obtained by Habermann ( Pharm . Journ., before,
p. 46) as an alteration product.

In order to determine the amount of glycyrrhizin in the
root, it is extracted eight times successively with boiling
water rendered alkaline by calcium hydrate, and the solu¬
tion concentrated to a syrup is precipitated with 10 per
cent, acetic acid, which has been previously saturated
with glycyrrhizin, as is also the dilute acid (2 per cent.), and
water used for washing. The precipitated glycyrrhizin is
then dissolved in alcohol, and the solution evaporated
after treatment with animal charcoal. In this way the
fresh root containing 48 per cent, water yields 3*27 1 per
cent, glyoyrrhizin, or 6*318 on the dry root.

ESSENCE OF ROSEMARY.*

BY M. BRUYLANTS.

The quantity of the essential oil yielded by the plant
Rosmarinus officinalis depends on the latitude in which it
is grown ; that from the neighbourhood of Paris yielding
only 1*4 to 1*6 grams per kilo., whilst that grown in the
south of France yields 3 grams per kilo. When freshly
prepared, it is a colourless liquid, but on keeping it
darkefis in colour and becomes thick ; it is miscible in all
proportions with alcohol of 85 per cent. It smells
strongly of rosemary, its taste is hot and camphorous ;
sp. gr. at 12° is 0‘885 ; it turns the plane of polarization
to the left. It begins to boil at 150°, and the tempera¬
ture gradually rises to 200°, where it remains stationary
a short time, and finally rises to 260°. By fractional
distillation, it may be separated into three portions, boil¬
ing from 150° to 180°, from 180° to 210°, and from 210°
to 260°.

Fraction boiling between 150° and 180°. — By repeated
distillation and rectification over sodium, a liquid is
obtained boiling at 157 — 160°, which is laevogyrate. Its
vapour-density corresponds with the formula for terpene,
C10H16. This terpene combines with iodine, and on dis¬
tilling the product, it decomposes into hydriodic acid and
cymene, C10H14; by the action of nitric acid, it yields
7-toluic acid.

Fraction boiling between 180° and 210°. — By careful
distillation, a liquid boiling at 200 — 205° is obtained,
which on cooling deposits crystals melting at 176°, and
boiling at 204°. They possess all the properties of laurel
camphor. The mother liquor boils at a lower tempera¬
ture, and on distillation yields a second crop of crystals
and some terebene. Repeated distillation results in the
complete separation of these two bodies.

Fraction boiling between 210° and 260°. — By cooling
this fraction in a freezing mixture, a large quantity of
borneol is separated, which when treated with phosphoric
anhydride, yields a hydrocarbon of boiling point 160°,
and having the vapour density 5-23 (Air = l). This when
treated with iodine, yields cymene and hydriodic acid.
Amongst the products of the action of nitric acid are
borneol, and a crystalline body which melts at the same
temperature as camphor.

When distilled with acetic anhydride, the borneol yields
a product boiling at 230°, which is decomposed by potash,
with formation of a hydrocarbon, C10H16, and potassium
acetate.

Essence of rosemary therefore contains —

A hydrocarbon (lsevogyrate), C10H16 . . 80 per cent.

A borneol camphor, C10H18O .... 4 to 5 „

A camphor, C10H16O 6 to 8 „

When acted on by concentrated sulphuric acid, essence
of rosemary yields a mixture of cymene (b. p. 175°), and
terpene (b. p. 16°), and on oxidation with chromic mixture,
it yields a small quantity of camphor, some formic and
acetic acids, and terephthalic acid.

The author gives no analysis.

* From the J. Pharm. [4], 29, 508 — 511. Reprinted
from the Journal of the Chemical Society, September,
1879.

323

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

October 25, 1879

/

* A lecture delivered to the
British Association for the Ad¬
vancement of Science, at Sheffield,
Friday, August 22, 1879.

ordinary vacuum tubes when the induction spark passes
through them — an appearance of cloudy luminosity and
of stratifications — disappear entirely. No cloud or fog
whatever is seen in the body of the tube, and with such
a vacuum as I am working with in these experiments, the
only light observed is that from the phosphorescent surface
of the glass. I have here two bulbs (Fig. 7), alike in shape
and position of poles, the only difference being that one is
at an exhaustion equal to a few millimetres of mercury —
such a moderate exhaustion as will give the ordinary
luminous phenomena — whilst the other is exhausted to
about the millionth of an atmosphere. I will first con¬
nect the moderately exhausted bulb (A) with the induc¬
tion-coil, and retaining the pole at one side (a) always
negative, I will put the positive wire successively to the
other poles with which the bulb is furnished. You see
that as I change the position of the positive pole, the line
of violet light joining the two poles changes, the electric
current always choosing the shortest path between the two
poles, and moving about the bulb as I alter the position
of the wires.

This, then, is the kind of phenomenon we get in ordi¬
nary exhaustions. I will now try the same experiment
with a bulb (B) that is very highly exhausted, and as before,
will make the side pole ( a ') the negative, the top pole (b)
being positive. Notice how widely different is the appear¬
ance from that shown by the last bulb. The negative pole
is in the form of a shallow cup. The molecular rays from
the cup cross in the centre of the bulb, and thence
diverging fall on the opposite side and produce a circular
patch of green phosphorescent light. As I turn the bulb
round you will all be able to see the green patch on the
glass. Now observe, I remove the positive wire from the
top, and connect it with the side pole (c). The green patch,
from the divergent negative focus is there still. I now
make the lowest pole ( d ) positive, and the green patch
remains where it was at first, unchanged in position or
intensity.

We have here another property of Radiant Matter. In
the low vacuum the position of the positive pole is of
every importance, whilst in a high vacuum the position

Fig. 7.

RADIANT MATTER. *

BY WILLIAM CROOKES, F.R.S.

(Continued from page 290.)

Radiant Matter proceeds in Straight Lines.

The Radiant Matter whose impact on the glass causes
an evolution of light, absolutely refuses to turn a corner.
Here is a V-shaped tube (Fig. 6), a pole being at each

Fig. 6.

extremity. The pole at the right side (a) being negative,
you see that the whole of the right arm is flooded with
green light, but at the bottom it
stops sharply and will not turn
the corner to get into the left
side. When I reverse the current
and make the left pole negative,
the green changes to the left side,
always following the negative
pole and leaving the positive side
with scarcely any luminosity.

In the ordinary phenomena ex¬
hibited by vacuum tubes — phe¬
nomena with which we are all
familiar — it is customary, in order
to bring out the striking contrasts
of colour, to bend the tubes into
very elaborate designs. The lumi¬
nosity caused by the phosphores¬
cence of the residual gas follows
all the convolutions into which
skilful glassblowers can manage
to twist the glass. The negative
pole being at one end and the
positive pole at the other, the
luminous phenomena seem to
depend more on the positive than
on the negative at the ordinary
exhaustion hitherto used to get
the best phenomena of vacuum
tubes. But at a very high exhaus¬
tion the phenomena noticed in

October 25, 1879.3 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

329

of the positive pole scarcely matters at all ; the pheno¬
mena seem to depend entirely on the negative pole. If
the negative pole points in the direction of the positive,
all very well, but if the negative pole is entirely in the
opposite direction it is of little consequence : the Radiant
Matter darts all the same in a straight line from the
negative.

If, instead of a flat disk, a hemi-cylinder is used for the
negative pole, the Matter still radiates normal to its
surface. The tube before you (Fig. b) illustrates this
property. It contains, as a negative pole, a hemi-
cylinder (a) of polished aluminium. This is connected

will project an image of it on the hemispherical end of
the tube which is phosphorescent. I turn on the coil,
and you will all see the black shadow of the cross on the
luminous end of the bulb (c, d). Now, the Radiant Matter
from the negative pole has been passing by the side of the
aluminium cross to produce the shadow ; the glass has
been hammered and bombarded till it is appreciably
warm, and at the same time another effect has been pro¬
duced on the glass — its sensibility has been deadened.
The glass has got tired, if I may use the expression, by
the enforced phosphorescence. A change has been pro¬
duced by this molecular bombardment which will prevent

the glass from re¬
sponding easily to
additional excite¬
ment ; but the
part that the
shadow has fallen
on is not tired —
it has not been
phosphorescing
at all and is
perfectly fresh ;
therefore if I
throw down this
cross — I can
easily do so by
giving the appa¬
ratus a slight
jerk, for it has
been most inge-

Fig. 9.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 10.

with a fine copper wire (6), ending at the platinum
terminal (c). At the upper end of the tube is another
terminal (d). The induction-coil is connected so that
the hemi-cylinder is negative and the upper pole
positive, and when exhausted to a sufficient extent
the projection of the molecular rays to a focus is
very beautifully shown. The rays of Matter being
driven from the hemi-cylinder in a direction normal to
its surface, come to a focus and then diverge, tracing
their path in brilliant green phosphorescence on the
surface of the glass.

Instead of receiving the molecular rays on the glass, I
will show you another tube in which the focus falls on a
phosphorescent screen. See how brilliantly the lines of
discharge shine out, and how intensely the focal point is
illuminated, lighting up the table.

Radiant Matte r when intercepted by Solid Matter casts a

Shadow.

Radiant Matter comes from the pole in straight lines,
and does not merely permeate all parts of the tube and
fill it with light, as would be the case were the exhaustion
less good. Where there is nothing in the way the rays
strike the screen and produce phosphorescence, and where
solid matter intervenes they are obstructed by it, and a
shadow is thrown on the screen. In this pear-shaped
bulb (.Fig. 9) the negative pole (a) is at the pointed end.
In the middle is a cross ( b ) cut out of sheet aluminium, so
that the rays from the negative pole projected along the
tube will be partly intercepted by the aluminium cross, and

niously constructed with a hinge by Mr. Gimingham — and so allow the rays
from the negative pole to fall uninterruptedly on to the end of the bulb, you

will suddenly see
the black cross
(c, d, Fig. 10)
change to a lumi¬
nous one (e, /),
because the back¬
ground is now
only capable of
faintly phospho¬
rescing, whilst the
part which had
the black shadow
on it retains its

full phosphorescent power. The stencilled image of the
luminous cross unfortunately soon dies out. After a period
of rest the glass partly recovers its power of phosphores¬
cing, but it is never so good as it was at first.

Here, therefore, is another important property of Radiant
Matter. It is projected with great velocity from the
negative pole, and not only strikes the glass in such a
way as to cause it to vibrate and become temporarily
luminous while the discharge is going on, but the mole¬
cules hammer away with sufficient energy to produce a
permanent impression upon the glass.

Radiant Matter exerts strong Mechanical Action where it

strikes.

We have seen, from the sharpness of the molecular
shadows, that Radiant Matter is arrested by solid matter
placed in its path. If this solid body is easily moved the
impact of the molecules will reveal itself in strong mechani¬
cal action. Mr. Gimingham has constructed for me an
ingenious piece of apparatus which, when placed in the
electric lantern, will render this mechanical action visible
to all present. It consists of a highly- exhausted glass
tube (Fig. 11), having a little glass railway running along
it from one end to the other. The axle of a small wheel
revolves on the rails, the spokes of the wheel carrying wide
mica paddles. At each end of the tube, and rather above
the centre, is an aluminium pole, so that whichever pole is
made negative the stream of radiant matter darts from it
along the tube, and striking the upper vanes of the little
paddle-wheel causes it to turn round and travel along the

330

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

October 25, JS7&

railway. By reversing the poles I can arrest the wheel
and send it the reverse way, and if I gently incline the

Fig. 11.

tube the force of impact is observed to be sufficient even
to drive the wheel up-hill.

This experiment therefore shows that the molecular
stream from the negative pole is able to move any light
object in front of it.

The molecules being driven violently from the pole there
should be a recoil of the pole from the molecules, and by
arranging an apparatus so as to have the negative pole
movable and the body receiving the impact of the Radiant
Matter fixed, this recoil can be rendered sensible. In
appearance the apparatus (Fig. 12) is not unlike an ordi¬
nary radiometer with aluminium
disks for vanes, each disk coated
on one side with a film of mica.
The fly is supported by a hard
steel instead of glass cup, and
the needle point on which it
works is connected by means of
a wire with a platinum terminal
sealed into the glass. At the
top of the radiometer bulb a
second terminal is sealed in.
The radiometer therefore can be
connected with an induction-coil,
the movable fly being made the
negative pole.

For these mechanical effects
the exhaustion need not be so
high as when phosphorescence is
produced. The best pressure for
this electrical radiometer is a
little beyond that at which the
dark space round the negative
pole extends to the sides of the
glass bulb. When the pressure
is only a few millims. of mercury,
on passing the induction current
a halo of velvety violet light
forms on the metallic side of the
vanes, the mica side remaining
dark. As the pressure diminishes, a dark space is seen to
separate the violet halo from the metal. At a pressure
of half a millim. this dark space extends to the glass, and
rotation commences. On continuing the exhaustion the
dark space further widens out and appears to flatten
itself against the glass, when the rotation becomes very
rapid.

Here is another piece of apparatus (Fig. 13) which
illustrates the mechanical force of the Radiant Matter from
the negative pole. A stem (a) carries a needle-point in
which revolves a light mica fly ( b b). The fly consists of
four square vanes of thin clear mica, supported on light
aluminium arms, and in the centre is a small glass cap
which rests on the needle-point. The vanes are inclined
at an angle of 45° to the horizontal plane. Below the fly
is a ring of fine platinum wire (c c), the ends of which
pass through the glass at d d. An aluminium terminal (e)
is sealed in at the top of the tube, and the whole is ex¬
hausted to a very high point.

Fig. 12.

By means of the electric lantern I project an image of
the vanes on the screen. Wires from the induction-coil

are attached, so
that the platinum
ring is made the
negative pole, the
aluminium wire
(e) being positive.
Instantly, owing
to the projection
of Radiant Mat¬
ter from the pla¬
tinum ring, the
vanes rotate with
extreme velocity.
Thus far the ap¬
paratus hasshown
nothing more
than the previous
experiments have
prepared us to
expect; but ob¬
serve what now
happens. I dis¬
connect the in¬
duction-coil alto¬
gether, and con¬
nect the two ends
of the platinum
wire with a small
galvanic battery ;
this makes the

Fig.

13.

ring red-hot, and under this influence you see that the
vanes spin as fast as they did when the induction-coil
was at work.

Here, then, is another most important fact. Radiant
Matter in these high vacua is not only excited by the
negative pole of an induction -coil, but a hot wire will set
it in motion with force sufficient to drive round the
sloping vanes.

(To be continued.)

EXTRACT OF YLANG YLANG.

True.

Extract of jasmine . 8 ounces.

rose . 16

Tincture of orris root

8

civet . 4

99

99

Oil of ylang ylang . 4 drachms.

Alcohol . 2 pints.

A rtijicial.

Tincture of tonka beans
„ musk . .

Extract of tuberose .

„ cassia . .

Tincture of orris root
Oil of orange (fresh) .

Neroli .

Alcohol, sufficient to make

97

99

. 3 ounces.

. 4 „

. 4

. 4

• 8 »>

. 2 drachms.

. ^ drachm.

. 4 pints.

Can. Ph. Journ.

A BRILLIANT PURPLE FOR SHOW BOTTLES.

Sulphate of copper . 2 drachms.

Water . . . 2 ounces.

French gelatine . 1 drachm.

Boiling water . 2 ounces.

Solution of potassa . 2 pints.

Dissolve the copper salt in the water and the gelatine
in the boiling water. Mix the two solutions and add the
liquor of potassa. Shake the mixture a few times during
ten hours, after which decant and dilute with water.

Can. Ph. Journ .

October 25, i«M THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

331

llrapaqittital Joupal.

- 4. -

SATURDAY , OCTOBER 25, 1879.

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

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

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

THE APPLICATION OF THE FOOD AND DRUGS
ACT IN NEW DIRECTIONS.

We have so often had occasion to complain of the
vexatious manner in which the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act has been had recourse to as a means of
instituting frivolous prosecutions that it is with much
satisfaction we are enabled to speak of some recent
cases with approval, and also to express the opinion
that if the line of action taken in those cases is fol¬
lowed up, some real service may be done in the public
interest as well as in the furtherance of the objects
contemplated by the Pharmacy Act.

Reports of the cases we now refer to will be found
in the present number of the Journal at page 336.
In one of these cases a person described as a druggist,
of 229, Stirling Road, Glasgow, was charged with
having sold to the food inspector of the district a
quantity of powders — purporting to be dispensed
according to the prescription of a medical practitioner
in Glasgow — that were not what was ordered by the
prescriber.

In the first place, we may state that the person
against whom the prosecution was instituted is not
upon the Register ot Chemists and Druggists of
Great Britain, and that he is therefore presumably
as unqualified to dispense the prescriptions of
medical men as he is disentitled to use the designa¬
tion of druggist. That such was the case may be
inferred from the manner in which the powders
wrere prepared on account of which he has been
charged with a breach of the Food and Drugs Act.
The prescription ordered salicylate of soda 5 grains
and pulv. ipecac, co. 6 grains, with the direction
in Latin that eight such powders should be supplied.
The person dispensing the prescription does not
appear to have been acquainted with the usual mode
of writing such directions and consequently to have
divided the quantities of the ingredients ordered
into eight parts, so that each of the powders was
deficient in quantity to the extent of seven eighths.

It is unnecessary to comment upon the nature of
this proceeding from a pharmaceutical point of view,
but having regard to the provisions of the 7th
section of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, that no
person shall sell any compounded drug which is not
tomposed of ingredients in accordance with the
iemand of the purchaser, there seems to be no ques¬

tion that it involved a breach of the law, and that it
rendered the seller of the powders liable to the
penalty of £20 imposed by the 7th section of the
Food and Drugs Act.

It appears that there was no attempt at defence,
and that the defendant at once pleaded guilty, and
thereupon a fine of £5 was imposed by the sheriff,
who remarked that though he was satisfied there was
no fraudulent intention, the powder had evidently
been dispensed by a person ignorant of the medical
formulae used in prescriptions.

The further offence of improperly using the desig¬
nation “ druggist ” is one to be dealt with under the
Pharmacy Act. As this proceeding is under some
pretext or other common in Glasgow this case will
probably receive further notice.

The other two cases were both prosecutions of
grocers in Derbyshire, for the sale of an adulterated
drug as it was technically stated, the article referred
to being u paregoric,” that was not of the quality
demanded, inasmuch as it was found on analysis to
be devoid of opium, the most important ingredient
of that preparation. An attempt was made to defend
both cases on the ground that “paregoric” was a
preparation that had no place in the British Phar¬
macopoeia, and consequently that there was no
standard by which its composition should be judged
of. Hence it was contended that the Court had no
power to deal with the cases under the Food and
Drugs Act for the deficiency, while at the same time
the absence of opium from the preparation sold as
“ paregoric ” protected the seller from liability to a
penalty under the Pharmacy Act, 1868. The un¬
tenable nature of this defence is too apparent to
require argument, and we cannot avoid expressing
our deep regret at finding from the statements made
that such a defence should, as it appears, have been
suggested by members of the pharmaceutical body,
and that such irregular sales of medicinal prepara¬
tions should have been in any way encouraged by
them.

Whether the term “ paregoric ” has a place in the
British Pharmacopoeia or not seems to be, in our
opinion, a matter of very little importance, since it
is so familiarly known as being a popular synonym
for the preparation that is in the Pharmacopoeia, and
just as we should contend that a person asking for
“ milk of sulphur ” should be supplied with the pre¬
paration that name is most frequently understood
to represent, so we should contend that any person
asking for “ paregoric ” ought to be supplied with a
preparation containing opium. It may be that as
there is now no recognition of the term “paregoric”
in the British Pharmacopoeia the preparation of
that article may be carried out according to various
private formulae, but still in its general character it
ought to conform closely to the standard of strength
as a mild opiate that appertains to the Pharma¬
copoeia preparation which it represents.

We think, therefore, the magistrates exercised a

332

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 25, 1879.

very wise discretion in rejecting the defence offered
and holding that persons who sold “paregoric” should
sell what was properly to be understood by that
name, and nothing else which they or the persons
who supply them may imagine to answer the pur¬
poses of trade without incurring the penalties result¬
ing from infringement of the Pharmacy Act. But
we cannot go the length of agreeing with the magis¬
trates’ suggestion that if the Pharmacy Act does not
permit unregistered persons to sell “ paregoric ” with
opium in it, they should sell an article under that
name without opium in it, even under the condition
of putting upon the bottle a label stating that it is
“minus the opium.” Such a proceeding would be,
we think, very objectionable and we should have
laudanum without opium, and perhaps other potent
preparations sold without the ingredient to which
their medicinal as well as poisonous energy is due,
and the confusion thus created between the prepara¬
tions that possessed their proper character and those
that did so only in name might readily lead to the
most disastrous consequences.

There has been lately much dissatisfaction among
members of the drug trade because of the irregular
sales of medicines and drugs by grocers and other
small dealers in country places, and we have reason
to believe that there is too much probability that in
some cases such a trade is promoted by in¬
dividuals without due regard for the general
interests of the body to which they belong.
Whether that trade be carried on so as to con¬
stitute a punishable breach of the Pharmacy
Act, or under the belief that it can be done with
impunity by making use of the patent medicine
stamp, or, worse still, by selling to the public
articles which have no virtue beyond assuming the
names of the preparations they are pretended to be,
it is certainly time that some vigorous and united
action should be taken by those who have the
common welfare of the business at heart with the
object of putting an end to practices so detrimental
to the credit of pharmacy.

We regret to have to record the death, on the 16th
inst., of Dr. Arthur Leared, Senior Physician of
the Great Northern Hospital. It appears that only
a few days previously he returned home unwell
from a holiday tour, having contracted typhoid fever
in Portugal. Dr. Leared on more than one occa¬
sion showed his interest in the Pharmaceutical
Society by taking part in its Evening Meetings, and
he also contributed an interesting collection of
Morocco drugs to the Society’s Museum.

The death is also announced of Mr. Alfred
Henry Garrod, Fullerian Professor of Physiology
at the Royal Institution, at the early age of 30
years. The deceased was a son of Dr. Alfred
Baring Garrod, and had already attained a con¬
siderable prominence in the scientific world.

§OTitsa:j[tion:8 of fire iljitrmaceafel $ wjielg.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

At a meeting of the Board of Examiners for England
and Wales, held in London, on Wednesday, October 22nd,
1879, the report of the College of Preceptors on the ex¬
amination held on October 7th, was received.

Three hundred and eighty-seven candidates had presented
themselves for examination, of whom one hundred and
eighty-three had failed. The following two hundred and
four passed, and the Registrar was authorized to place their
names upon the Register of Apprentices or Students : —
(Arranged alphabetically).

Abbott, Thomas Henry . Bradford.

Akerman, John William . Bath.

Allan, Alexander Fergusson ...Greenock.

Allan, Charles Joseph . Tadcaster.

Andrews, Walter . Winchester.

Aplin, John Dare . Colyton.

Amott, Daniel . Pontypridd.

Baker, Alfred John E . St. Austell.

Bassano, Francis William . Derby.

Bay ley, Alfred Jonathan . Lancaster.

Bearpark, Thomas . Leyburn.

Beck, William Henry . Selby.

Bell, Andrew . Dundee.

Bell, John Henry . Epworth.

Bell, Thomas . London.

Booth, Frank . Mansfield.

Boyd, Alexander . Glasgow.

Bradford, Lionel Meredith . London.

Brown, Fredk. Wm., jun . London.

Brown, James . Ripon.

Carter, Octavius . Bournemouth.

Carter, William . Penzance.

Chabot, Frank . London.

Chadwick, John Booth . Stockport.

Chamberlain, John W. West ...York.

Chamberlin. Charles J ames . . . Barnsley.

Chattaway, William . . Leicester.

Clayton, George . Manchester.

Coleman, Alfred Thomas . Leicester.

Collen, William Creswell . London.

Compton, Richard William ...Leicester.

Cooper, Walter Temple . London.

Dale, John Dickin . Stafford.

Davis, Frederick . Oundle.

Davis, Norman . Sunderland.

Deighton, Frank . Bradford.

Dinsdale, Fred . Liverpool.

Dobie, Robert Douglas . Glasgow.

Doubleday, Frederick Wm . Norwich.

Down, Frank Walter . Sittingbourne.

Downs, Herbert . Edinburgh.

Dowty, William . Evesham.

Dry den, Thomas . .Landore.

Elliott, Horace Herbert . Stowmarket.

Farquhar, Robert Forbes . Aberdeen.

Felce, Albert . Norwich.

Flynn, Robert Francis . Feltbam.

Fodd, John William . Peebles.

Fraser, Alexander Mackie . Girvan.

Freeman, Frederick William. ..St Albans.

Gant, Robert Richard . Norwich.

Gibson, John William . Richmond, Yorks.

Gilding, Matthew . Wainfleet

Gilson, Charles Boulter . London.

Gordon, Robert Henderson . Rosemarkie.

Gray, Philip . Bristol.

Greaves, William . Ironville.

Gregory, George Henry . Lincoln.’

Hamilton, Francis . Glasgow.

Harding, John W. Ainsworth...Macclesfield.

Harries, Charles Albert ........ . Velindre.

Harrison, Jeremiah . Clitheroe.

October 25, 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

333

Harrison, John . Lincoln.

Hepworth, Harry . Skipton.

Hilton, Ivor Ajax Robinson . . . My erscough.

Hogg, Tom . Derby.

Holmes, Fred . Lincoln.

Holroyd, Henry . Hingham.

Holt, Clarence Dalton . Manchester.

Hooper, William Henry . Okehampton.

Hunter, George Ackland . London.

Hutton, James Alfred . Scarborough.

Irving, John Thomas . Skipton.

Jack, James . Arbroath.

Jacka, Vivian Tyacke . Penzance.

Jaffrey, William . Logie Buchan.

Jeans, Alfred . Mansfield.

.Ten kin son, Arthur . London.

Johnson, Arthur George . Sutton- on- Trent.

Johnson, John Robert . Cambridge.

Jones, Benjamin Owen . Llanidloes.

Jones, Edwin Pryce . Aberdare.

Jones, Ellis . Portmadoc.

Jones, John . Llandovery.

Jones, Johnj Wesley . Llanelly.

Jones, Samuel . Llandilo.

Kerr, David . Oakham.

Kerr, Peter Murray . Dumfries.

King, Ebenezer Thomas . Reading.

Kingston, Edwin J. B . Bath.

Knight, William . Chichester.

Lee, Charles Henry . Melton Mowbray.

Lees, James . . Manchester.

Legg, James Alfred . London.

Ling, Frederic George . Southampton.

Livesey, William Forrest . Preston.

Longtoft, William . Bedale.

Lowther, Herbert Reginald . . . Birmingham.

Loxton, William Arthur . Plymouth.

Lyon, Herbert . Sheffield.

McGeorge, David . Castle Douglas.

McGuffie, William A . Stranraer.

McIntosh, John . Edinburgh.

Mack, William Wilson . Nottingham.

Mackenzie, Alexander . Leith.

Marr, Edward Albert . Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Marshall, Arthur Harflete . Redhill.

Martin, James . Carnoustie.

Martin, John . Redruth.

Martin, John Bennet . Falmouth.]

May, Harry Arthur . Reading.

Mays, Frank Webb . Grantham.

Menhinick, Charles H. F . Stonehouse, Devon.

Miller, Frederick . Strood.

Miller, J ohn Priest . . N or wich.

Morgan, William Thomas . Llandovery.

Morrison, Clarence . Inverness.

Moxon, John Lawrence . Wellingborough.

Neale, Charles Swanson . Stoke-on-Trent.

Neve, Annie . . London.

Nichol, Anthony . Carlisle.

Nichol, Henry Walter . Bedford.

Noble, James . Camborne.

Norman, Edwin . Ripley.

Orchard, Arthur Bishop Carey..London.

Owen, Evan . Weston-super-Mare.

Paine, Charles . Belton.

Paine, William . . . Ashton-under-Lyne.

Parish, Alfred James . Kidderminster.

Pearce, William Frederick . Southampton.

Pollock, Arthur . Glasgow.

Puckey, William . Bishops Stortford.

Raff an, Robert . Buckie.

Raine, Ralph William . Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Reece, Richard James . London.

Rees, John . . . Rhydlewis.

Roberts, Lewis . Aberystwith.

Roberts, Rowland . Holyhead.

Robertson, Daniel . Perth.

Robinson, John Colburn . London.

Rose, George Ernest . Stratford-on-Avon.

Rutter, Clement Thomas . Birmingham.

Sanders, Ernest . Manchester.

Scholes, William Isaac . Pendleton.

Senior, Joseph . Castle Northwich.

Shaw, John Bingley . Lincoln.

Shepperley,Fredk.Montgomery.Nottingham.

Shipman, Joseph James . Chesterfield.

Skilling, James . Stonehouse, Devon.

Skirrow, William . Bingley.

Smeeton, Charles William . Leeds.

Smith, George . '. . Worcester.

Smith, John . Manchester.

Smith, Lewis . Grassendale.

Smith, Sam . . . Batley Carr.

Smith, William John . Newcastle-on-Tyne:

Softley, William Henry . Godaiming.

Spark, Albert Edward . Kirkwall.

Stark, Arthur Campbell . Norwich.

Stark, John Edgar . Dumfries.

Stephen, James, jun. . Gamrie.

Stephenson, Thomas . Edinburgh.

Stirling, George . Dunoon.

Sturdy, John Robert . Lincoln.

Sursham, Frederick Thomas ...London.

Sutherland, David Alexander. . .Edinburgh.

Sykes, Ernest John . Bath.

Taggart, Robert . Glasgow.

Terry, Edwin . Tadcaster.

Thomas, David . . . Pontypridd.

Thomas, John Griffith . Neath.

Titmas, John H . Flixton.

Tollitt, William . Liverpool.

Tomlin, John Percy . Tunbridge Wells.

Topham, Thomas . Mirfield.

Trezise, George T. E . Wellingborough.

Tugwell, Ernest Harry . Greenwich.

Turner, George Edward . Brigg.

Ward, Robert Edward . Kettering.

Walker, John Frederick . Hull.

Watchorn, Fredk. William . Leicester.

Watkins, William James . Bath.

Watson, Frederick Percy . Lincoln.

Weeks, Charles Frederick . Devonport.

Weighill, William Lancelot ...West Hartlepool.

Welch, John Latimer . Bristol.

Wharton, James . Preston.

Whitfield, Allison . Sunderland.

Whitton, James . Dingwall.

Wilde, Frank . Andover.

Wilkie, John Proudfoot . Hayfield.

Williams, Arthur Gore . Llandovery.

Williams, David . St. Clears.

Williams, John Fox., . Gloucester.

Wilson, Albert . Garstang.

Winter, George Mitchell . Leicester.

Wisker, Robert Hardy . York.

Withers, William . West Bromwich.

Woltz, Alfred Eugene . London.

Wood, Alfred Lyon . Stonehaven.

Wood, Arthur W. H . Ullesthorpe.

Woodward, Edwin . Macclesfield.

Woolley, Evan Edward . Llanidloes.

Young, John . .-.Newport. Mon.

The questions for examination were as follows: —

Time allowed: Three hours for the three subjects.

I. LATIN.

1. Translate the following passages into English: —

A. Quibus rebus cognitis, cum ad has suspiciones certis-
simse res accederent, quod per fines Sequanorum Helvetios
traduxisset, quod obsides inter eos dandos curasset, quod ea
omnia non modo injussu suo et civitatis, sed etiam inscien-
tibusipsis/ecmetf, quod amagistratu Hseduorum accusare-

334

THE FHARMACEUT1CAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. iCctober 25, w

tur, satis esse causae arbitrabatur , quare in eum aut ipse
animadverteret, aut civitatem animadvertere juberet.

B. Haec cum pluribus verbis flens a Caesare peteret,
Caesar ejus dextram prendit; consolatus rogat finem
orandi faciat ; tanti ejus apud se gratiam esse ostendit,
uti et rei publicae injuriam et suum dolorem ejus voluntati
ac precibus condonet. Dumnorigem ad se vocat, fratrem
adhibet ; quae in eo reprehendat ostendit, quae ipse intel-
ligat, quae civitas guemZMr, proponit ; monet, utin reliquum
tempus omnes suspiciones vitet ; preeterita se Divitiaco
fratri condonare dicit.

2. Give the present, perfect, and infinitive of tlie verbs
in italics.

3. Parse either “ non modo injussu suo et civitatis,” or
“ consolatus rogat finem orandi faciat”

4. Compare certus, and give three adverbs formed from
the superlative degree of adjectives. Decline obsides.

5. Decline, singular and plural, the pronouns ego, tu ,
ille, qui.

II. ARITHMETIC.

[The working of these examples, as well as the answers,
must be written out in full.]

6. Of twenty-one people, thirteen lose £116 7s. Sd.
each, and eight lose £93 05. 9 d. each. What is the
average loss per man.

7. Find the weight of 5 dozen spoons, each weighing
2 oz. 4 dwt.

2 2-

8. Multiply 3t3o by 15^, and divide g3 by an<l

together the sum and difference of these results.

9. What do the digits 5, 7, 3 represent in the decimal

•573 ? Reduce j of £1 + f of a guinea + of 65. 8d. +

of half-a-crown, to the decimal of £100.

10. How long will it take 17 men to earn £50, if 12
men in days can earn 13 guineas?

III. ENGLISH.

11. Decline in full the pronouns I, thou, he’, and give
their corresponding possessive forms.

12. Explain what is meant by weak and strong verbs;
give one example of each. Show, by example, how in¬
transitive verbs may become transitive.

13. Parse fully each word in the following sentence : —

“She never told her love;

But let concealment, like a worm i5 the bud,

Feed on her damask cheek.”

14. Write a short composition upon one of the follow¬
ing subjects: — “Knowledge is Power,” “The Zulu War,”
“Thrift,” “The advantages of Travelling,” “Some modern
invention with which you are acquainted.”

The following is a list of the centres at which the
examination was held, showing the number of candidates
examined at each centre and the result : —

Candidates. t Candidates.

r

TZ

T3

H3

g T3

0

S T3

CO

<v

(S3 0

CO

*3

cs i

m

rz

^ —

P-I

rZ

H

Cu

p=l

Aberdeen .

...26

5

21

Lancaster .

... 8

5

3

Birmingham..

...23

9

14

Leeds .

...23

12

11

Brighton .

... 4

2‘

2

Lincoln .

...15

10

5

Bristol .

...17

7

10

Liverpool .

... 7

4

3

Cambridge . .

... 2

2

0

London .

....54

26

28

Canterbury ..

... 3

1

2

Manchester ..

....26

12

14

Cardiff .

... 6

6

0

Newcastle .

... 8

4

4

Carlisle .

...11

5

6

Northampton

... 5

3

2

Carmarthen ..

...13

9

4

Norwich .

....11

7

4

Carnarvon ..

... 4

2

2

Nottingham ..

....16

9

7

Cheltenham . .

... 3

1

2

Oxford .

.... 1

1

0

Darlington . .

... 6

3

3

Peterborough

... 5

4

1

Dundee .

.. 6

4

2

Sheffield .

.... 5

2

3

Edinburgh . .

...19

8

11

Shrewsbury ..

.... 5

3

2

Exeter .

...10

6

4

Southampton

... 6

4

2

Glasgow .

...11

9

2

Truro .

.... 7

6

1

Hull .

... 6

3

3

Worcester ..

... 3

3

0

Inverness .

... 4

3

1

York .

.... 7

4

3

Jersey .

... 1

0

1

hapareutital fsorietir ofl Jretaml

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL/

Wednesday, October 1, 1879.

Present — Charles R. C. Tichborne, LL.D., Ph.D.,
President ; Dr. A. Smith, Vice-President ; Sir George
Owens, M.D., Dr. T. Collins, Dr. Whitaker (Belfast),
Messrs. Allen, Bennett (Kingstown), Brunker, Doran
(Bray), Goodwin, Hayes, Hodgson, Holmes, Oldham,
Payne (Belfast), Pring (Belfast), Simpson.

The minutes of the meeting held on September 3 were
read and signed.

A letter was read from the Secretary of the Socidtd de
Pharmacie de Constantinople, informing the Council of
the formation of that Society, and requesting the aid of
the Council in carrying out the work which it had under¬
taken. A copy of the first number of the Society’s
Journal accompanied the letter.

The Registrar was instructed to acknowledge with
thanks the receipt of the letter and J ournal, to forward
in return a copy of the Calendar, and to state that this
Society would lend any aid that might be in its power
towards furthering the aims of the new Society.

Read a letter from Mr. Robert Barklie, F.C.S., Che¬
mical Teacher in the Belfast Working Men’s Institute,
renewing the application made by him in March last that
the Council should recognize the instruction in practical
chemistry given in the Institute by him.

Resolved that Mr. Barklie’s letter be considered at
next meeting.

Read a letter from Mr. William Dowling, of Killarney,
praying the Council to recognize the Preliminary exami¬
nation of the Apothecaries’ Hall, which he had passed in
1876.

The Registrar to write, informing him that there is a
notice of motion upon this subject to be considered at
the next meeting.

Read a letter from Mr. William Prott, of Belfast,
asking, as a pharmaceutical chemist and member of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain since 1852, that
he be allowed to go forward to both the Preliminary and
Practical examinations now, or be admitted to such
special examination as the Council may deem necessary.
The writer stated that it was his intention to commence
business as a chemist in Belfast.

The Registrar to send him a copy of the same reply as
he had been instructed to send Mr. Dowling.

Proposed by Mr. Oldham, seconded by Mr. Goodwin,
and resolved —

“ That a Hektograph be purchased for the use of the
Society.”

Proposed by Mr. Hayes, and seconded by Mr. Payne, —

“ That this Council is of opinion that after this year
it is not desirable to retain the College of Science on
the list of Schools from which certificates are re¬
ceived.”

The motion was rejected on a division.

The following candidate for membership, who was pro¬
posed by the President at the September meeting, and
seconded by Mr. Brunker, was now elected a member —
Mr. Thomas Batt, 48, Fontenoy Street, Dublin.

The examination for the licence as pharmaceutical
chemists was held on this day, but had not concluded
when the Council rose.

There were five candidates for the examination.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PHARMACEU¬
TICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND.

Monday, October 6, 1879.

The fourth annual meeting of this Society was held at
the College of Physicians, Dublin, at 4 o’clock p.m., on
the above date. The following members attended: —
Professor Tichborne, President, in the chair; Dr. A.

October 25, 1879 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS

335

Smith, Vice-President. City members — Messrs W. N.
Allen, jun., Atkinson, Batt, E. J. Boilean, Brunker,
Collins, Galwey, Goodwin, Grindley, Hayes, Hodgson,
Holmes, Murphy, Oldham, Park, Simpson, James Wells,
W. F. Wells, jun., H. Whitby. Members from the Pro¬
vinces:— Dr. Hodges (Belfast), Messrs. Beggs (Dalkey),
Bennett (Kingstown), Carter (Naas), Doran (Bray), G.
Hardy (Tandragee), R. L. McAdam (Kingstown), Min-
chin (Athy), Murray (Clones), Sterling (Kilkenny), Vance
(Bray).

Mr. W. N. Allen, jun., moved, in accordance with notice
sent to the Registrar a few days previously, that the vot¬
ing papers of all members who had not paid their sub¬
scription for the preceding year be rejected, in accordance
with rule 8 on page 54 of the Calendar.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Grindley.

The President declined to put the motion — the effect
of which, if carried, would be to reject the votes of the
original members named in the Pharmacy Act ; and he
stated his opinion that those members were entitled to
record their votes, and that the regulations relating to
subscriptions applied to elected members only.

The Vice-President and Dr. Hodges, Belfast, with some
others, also held the same opinion.

The President stated that if Mr. Allen, or any other
member, thought his ruling was wrong, they could appeal
to the Privy Council, and have the question decided for
them.

The voting papers which had been returned, 57 in
number, were laid on the table, and the President ap¬
pointed Messrs. Bennett, Goodwin and Minchin, as
scrutineers, to count the votes.

The Treasurer laid on the table the annual statement
of accounts, audited by Messrs. Allen and Hayes, showing
a balance to credit of the Society of £81 Os. \d. in Bank,
and £307 12s. 8 d. in New 3 per cent, stock.

The annual list of members who had paid their sub¬
scriptions for the year ending September 30, 1879, was
laid on the table.

On the motion of Mr. Doran, seconded by Mr.
Grindley, the statement was received and adopted.

The scrutineers of the voting papers now brought in
their report. Fifty-seven voting papers had been re¬
turned, of which two had been rejected, one being
unsigned, and the other from a member whose subscrip¬
tion was unpaid. The following were the number of
votes obtained by each of the candidates for a seat on
the Council.

Outgoing Members op Council.

Aquilla Smith, M.D., 51 votes.

William Goulding, M.P., 34 votes.

John Thomas Holmes, 49 votes.

Sir George B. Owens, Kt., M.D., 43 votes.

Henry Bennett, 45 votes.

John Chilcott Charles Payne, 44 votes.

Henry Whitaker, M.R.C.S.E., 41 votes.

In addition, Mr. William N. Allen, jun., obtained 25
votes, and Mr. William F. Wells, jun., 2 votes. Mr.
Wells, however, stated that he was not a candidate for
the office.

The President hereupon declared the seven outgoing
members of Council to have been re-elected.

The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers
for the ensuing year.

Charles R. C. Tichborne, LL.D., Ph.D., was re-elected
President, on the motion of Mr. E. M. Hodgson, seconded
by Mr. Hayes.

Dr. Aquilla Smith was re-elected Vice-President on the
motion of Mr. Holmes, seconded by Mr. Goodwin.

Mr. E. M. Hodgson was re-elected Treasurer, on the
motion of Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr. Murray.

Mr. Hugh James Fennell was re-elected Registrar, on
the motion of Mr. Oldham, seconded by Mr. Simpson.

The present Examiners, viz. : —

In Latin, English, and Arithmetic : Edward W. Collins,
A.B., M.D., Dublin, M.R.I.A.;

In Materia Medica and Botany: Walter G. Smith
M.D., Dubl., F.K, and Q.C.P.I. ;

In Pharmaceutical and General Chemistry : Harry
Napier Draper, F.C.S. ; and

In Practical Pharmacy : Robert Montgomery, L.H.A.,
Dubl., M.R.C.S., Engl.,

were re-elected for one year, on the motion of Mr. Ben¬
nett, seconded by Mr. Doran.

The Finance Committee of last year, viz. : — Messrs.
Thomas Collins, John Goodwin, John Thomas Holmes,
and Stanley Oldham were re-elected, on the motion of
Mr. Simpson, seconded by Mr. Hodgson.

The present Auditors, Mr. William Allen and Mr
William Hayes, were re-elected, on the motion of Mr
Grindley, seconded by Mr. W. F. Wells, jun.

The meeting then proceeded to the consideration of —
‘The report of the Committee on the Pharmacy Act,
Ireland, 1875, as amended by the Council,’ (printed in
the Pharmaceutical Journal for June 14, 1879, page 1025,)
a copy of which had been forwarded to each member of
the Society in September, asking their opinions on the
various points touched on. A large number of letters
from country members in response to this request were
laid on the table.

The clauses were now considered seriatim,.

Clause 1 was agreed to.

Clause 2 was struck out.

Proposed by Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr. Hodgson,
and resolved : —

“ That it is desirable that the Pharmaceutical Council
should seek powers which will enable them to compel
all persons who under section 31 have their right to
sell poisons preserved to them, to register their
names.”

On the motion of Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr
Simpson, Clause 3 was amended to read as follows : —

“ To compel all chemists or druggists actually engaged
in the sale of poisons, or poisonous drugs, at the pass¬
ing of the Pharmacy Act, 1875, on making a declara¬
tion to that effect, and giving reasonable proof
thereof, to be registered on payment of a fee not
exceeding three guineas, and that such persons shall
be styled ‘ registered druggists.’ ”

Clause 4 was struck out, on the motion of Mr. Holmes,
seconded by Mr. W. N. Allen, jun.

Proposed by Mr. Murray, seconded by Mr. Beggs, and
resolved : —

“ That clauses 5 to 9 remain as they are, the words
‘ and examination ’ being omitted in Clause 9.”

Clause 10 was adopted on the motion of Mr. Brunker,
seconded by Mr. Hayes.

Clauses 11 and 12 were adopted, on the motion of Mr.
Hayes, seconded by Mr. Sterling.

Additional Clause.

Proposed by Mr. Sterling, seconded by Mr. W. F.
Wells, jun., and resolved : —

“ That the Council be instructed to insert a Clause to
have an examination instituted for assistants to
pharmaceutical chemists.”

|)nn[eedtttg8 of jScttntifiq ^oijictws.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting held at 32a, George Street, on October 15,
1879, a paper was read by Mr. Parkinson, on the “ Pre¬
liminary Examination.”

Mr. Parkinson began by saying that the subject of
education had been discussed so much of late years, that
he felt he owed an apology for bringing it forward
once more. He conceived its importance justified him in
so doing. He should not attempt to grasp the wider
phases of the subject, but would confine himself to educa¬
tion as gauged by the Preliminary examination, which he

336

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 25, 1879.

described “ as the three R’s with a little Latin thrown
in.” He expressed his surprise that so very modest a
standard of accomplishment should have satisfied the
framers of the regulations, especially when he considered
how very varied a range of duties the pharmacist was
called upon to perform. In his opinion no education it
was possible for a boy to receive was too elaborate. He
drew attention to the preliminary examinations of other
bodies, and said the time had come when pharmacists ought
seriously to consider whether a higher standard ought not
now to replace the present one. The defects of the pre¬
sent standard were the very moderate amount of Latin
required and the total absence of Greek and mathematics.
He pointed out some of the advantages in education of
an acquaintance with those subjects, and said it was a
cruel kindness to decoy youths into the trade by so easy
an examination, and contended that justice to them was
a sufficient reason for raising the standard, though many
others might be found. The matriculation examination
of the London University was the one that ought to be
aimed at, and when, as a start, that was obtained, it
might be hoped that pharmacy would assume the higher
aspects, which had been so well described by one of phar¬
macy’s ablest sons in another place.

An animated discussion followed, and though the
majority of the speakers looked upon the matriculation
examination as impracticable at present, a decided pre¬
ponderance of opinion favoured increasing the stringency
of the Preliminary examination.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Parkinson having been pro¬
posed and carried, the meeting terminated.

parliamentary and Ham jproqecditu)!;.

Prosecution under the Sale of Food and Drugs
Act for Improper Dispensing of a Prescripton.

On Thursday, October 16, before Sheriff Spens, Alex¬
ander Beaton Chalmers, druggist, 229, Stirling Road,
Glasgow, pleaded guilty to a charge, at the instance of
the Sanitary Department, of having sold to \\r. T.
Armstrong, food inspector, a quantity of powders pre¬
scribed for a patient by Dr. Neil Carmichael, South
Portland Street, Glasgow, in which the ingredients were
defective in quantity to the extent of seven-eighths in each
powder. His Lordship imposed a penalty of £5, and
remarked that while he was satisfied there was no fraudu¬
lent intention on the part of the defender in dispensing
these powders, it was quite clear they were made up by
a person in his employment, ignorant of the medical for¬
mula, for whom he was responsible. — Glasgow Herald.

[We have been supplied by a correspondent with what
purports to be a copy of the prescription. It is written
in pencil and is as follows : —

“R Sodee Salicylat . gr. v.

Pulv. Ipecac. Co . gr. vj.

M.

Mitte tales viij.

S. One every 3 or 4 h.”.

Ed. Ph. J.]

Prosecutions for Sale of Paregoric devoid of

Opium.

At the Chesterfield County Police Court on Saturday,
October 11, Lieutenant Colonel Shortt, charged Richard
Hollingworth, grocer, of Newbold Moor, with selling
adulterated drugs at Newbold Moor, on September 5, to
wit, 3 ozs. of paregoric, not of the quality demanded.

Colonel Shortt said that on the day in question he
visited the shop of defendant. He demanded 3 ozs. of
paregoric for which he paid Id. The defendant supplied
the drug himself. The inspector then told the man that
he required the sample for analysis, under the Drugs Act,
and divided and labelled it as usual, and forwarded one

sample to the analyst, labelled “ 962.” On October 1 the
analyst sent a certificate of analysis, on which he said,
“ I certify that I received a sample of a fluid called
‘paregoric,’ marked 962, which sample was devoid of
opium — the most important constituent. There should
be 1^ or 2 grains in the fluid ounce.” The inspector
said that the practice of selling the so-called paregoric
■without opium was very dangerous. Persons went and
purchased the article minus the opium, and, as it would
be very ineffective, they would go in all probability to
another shop, where the mixture would contain a pro¬
portionate amount of the opiate.

The Defendant said that he obtained the article from
Mr. Greaves, who had told him that the Bench had no
power to deal with the case as the preparation had no
place in the work known as the Pharmacopoeia, which
contained the components of all standard medicines. As
the mixture (which was an effectual remedy in cases of
slight cough) had no place in that work he contended that
the Bench bad no power to deal with the case.

The case of James Walmesley, of the same place was
heard, which was a very similar offence.

Mr. Walmesley admitted the charge, but said he sold
it as supplied by Mr. Oldfield. This sample contained a
very small amount of opium, considerably under the
quantity laid down by the Pharmacy Act.

Mr. Oldfield, chemist and druggist, of New Square,
Chesterfield, said the mixture was a thing kept in all
chemists’ and a great many small shops. He had sup¬
plied this article, and it had a [sic in report, ? no] place in
the Pharmacopoeia. The Pharmacy Act says that “ no
person other than a chemist and druggist shall deal in,
or have in his shop for sale any article containing opium;”
in consequence, chemists sold the paregoric minus the
opium, and he considered it was as effectual without as
with it for what it was chiefly used for. The bottles
containing “paregoric,” so called, for shopkeepers should,
properly, be labelled “ minus the opium,” and had been
so in the past, but remarkable to say, this was an
oversight by one of his employes in the packing house.
He was very sorry for the omission.

Mr. Barnes : Well, we have decided in these two cases
to fine you the very nominal fines of Is. each and the
costs, and you must clearly understand that, if you sell
anything for “paregoric,” it must be “paregoric” and
nothing else. If the Act does not allow you to sell the
article with the opium in it, then you must label it
“ minus the opium,” or, in fact anything you like, but
you must not sell it as in the past. — Derbyshire Times.

Sensing Iftmoipmcta.

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

[345]. This injection ought to be filtered as “Nemo”
surmises, as the insoluble sulphate of lead irritates the
mucous membrane of the surface to which the preparation
is applied. It is true that some prescribers make the
combination in ignorance of the incompatibility of the
salts, which separately have similar therapeutic effects;
but that circumstance should not excuse the absurd
practice of dispensing it as “ J. C.” and St. Rule
recommend.

J. B. L. Mackay.

Octoosr 23 l <79. ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

337

[345]. The injection of liq. plumbi and zinci sulph.
shou d not be filtered.

F. Stevens.

[346]. Though tincture of iodine is often applied ex¬
ternally in domestic medicine it is not strong enough for
reducing glandular enlargements, hence the introduction
of the liniment into the B.P., whilst the tincture is
intended for internal administration. As neither phy¬
sicians nor dispensers are supposed to be conversant with
the multitudinous formulae of the Hospital Pharmacopoeias,
it is best to supply lin. iodi, B.P., when iodine “ paint ”
or “ pigment ” is ordered.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[346]. When pigment, iodi is ordered it is customary
to send the liniment or a solution stronger than the
tincture.

F. Stevens.

[348]. Ferri et ammoniae sulphas ought to be supplied
as ordered in the prescription. This salt is erroneously
called iron alum (there being no alumina in its compo¬
sition) while the double sulphate of iron and potash bears
the same name.

To dispense ferri et am. cit. would be to exceed the
dispenser’s bounds. If the latter was really meant the
fault rests with the prescriber and no blame would be
attributable to the dispenser who used the former salt.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[348]. Here ferri et ammon. cit. is evidently intended.

F. Stevens.

[34S]. I should use ferri ammon. sulph. as it is ordered.
I cannot see why ferri ammon. cit. should be used.

T. J. R.

[349]. This makes a good mass, rubbed together with
a little thick mucilage.

F. Stevens.

[Sol]. This is indeed a difficult case and likely to
puzzle many. The prescriber ought to be seen, for
possibly it was his intention that bromide of potassium
should be exhibited in the form of an effervescing tonic
mixture, but then the proportions for neutralization are
not correct. There is no evidence that hydrobromic acid
was intended.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[351]. In this mixture I think the deposit should be
allowed to remain and the bottle shaken.

F. Stevens.

[352]. I see no reason why this mixture should present
a turbid appearance. My experience is that it does not, |
even after standing several days. Why Mr. Rogers has
failed I cannot say.

F. Stevens.

[355]. It is impossible to produce a dry powder with
these ingredients as the potassium citrate is so deliques¬
cent. Not long since I had to dispense a prescription
containing lithium and potassium citrates with sugar.
With the permission of the patient I made a solution of it.

F. Stevens.

[357]. This mixture would not become quite clear, the
opacity of milk being due to the suspension of minute
globules of fat on which pepsine has no action whatever.
Two hours was ample time for the change to take
place, in other words, for the artificial digestion of the
caseine contained in the milk.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[358]. Rub the quinine to a fine powder, shake up with
the tincture and add the fetid spirit of ammonia last.
Had the proportions been different, it would be dissolved

in the tincture with the aid of heat and the ammonia
finally mixed therewith.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[358]. “Quinise Sulph.” should rub his quinine to powder
with a portion of the water, add tinct. aurant. and spt.
ammon. feet, and remainder of the water. A “shake
the bottle ” label should be put on.

C. F. W.

[358]. I think “ Quinse Sulph.” should prepare the pre¬
scription as follows : — Dissolve the quinine in the tr.
aurantii by the aid of heat, then add the water, and
lastly the spt. am. foetid.

Ferri Cit.

[358]. Dissolve the “quinine” in the “sp. ammon.
foetid ” and “ tr. aurant.,” afterwards adding it to the
water.

T. J. R.

[359]. Rub the extract with a drop or two of glycerine
and water and gradually incorporate with the oil without
heat. A slab should be used. It was not permissible at
all to employ lin. belladonnse instead.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[359]. Carefully dry the ext. belladonnse at a gentle
heat, reduce to powder, sift through muslin, and then rub
together with the oil.

The alcoholic extract is tolerably miscible with oil, but
as there seems to be some doubt as to its relative strength
its employment may be objectionable.

D. D. Cairnie.

[359]. Rub the extract in a mortar with a few drops of
water to soften it, then add the oil. It may be sent out
in a pot or wide-mouthed bottle.

F. Stevens.

[359]. “ Apprentice ” might rub in a mortar the ext.
belladonnse with a few drops of boiling water, then
gradually add the olive oil and send out in a small W. M.
bottle.

J. M.

[359]. I should say the prescriber must mean ^ij of
olive oil. Heat the oil to the boiling point and rub the
extract belladonna in it until dissolved.

Ferri Cit.

[359] . Rub the ext. of belladonna down into a smooth
paste with a little water, and then add the oil. It will
require a “ shake the bottle ” in sending it out.

T. J. R.

[360] . Codeia and carbolic acid can be made into pills

with bread crumb and mucilage. F. Stevens.

[361]. If Mr. Lawton had added the detergent along
with the glycerine, then the saponified oil, and lastly the
rose water in successive portions he would have succeeded
better. J. B. L. Mackay.

[361]. If this lotion has been sent out with “ a sediment
only at the bottom,” the oil must have been omitted.

F. Stevens.

[361]. If Mr. Lawton will triturate the oil in a mortar
with just sufficient lime water necessary for saponification,
then add the powders, then the remainder of the lime
water and the rose water, and lastly the glycerine and
liquor carbonis detergens, the result will be an elegant
flesh-coloured lotion without any supernatant indispersible
“ scum.”

D. D. Cairnie.

[362].

R Acidi Hydroclilorici 2*0 = drachmam \

dimidiam . • • • • • • • * ( By weight.

Tmctune Aurantii 18*0 = drachmas f

quatuor et dimidiam . J

Misce, signa : 10—15 minima = guttas (sumenda sunt).

338

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 25, 1879.

November 18, 1S78.

Dr. Biermann resides during the slimmer season at
Baden-Baden, during the winter season at St. Remo.

W. H. Langbeck.

A similar reply is sent by T. J. R.

[363]. The turbidity and coloration are due to the
separation of iodine probably caused by impure iodide of
potassium. The presence of iodate would account for
the change. Tartaric acid would not liberate free iodine
from either the iodide or iodate alone, but when both are
present iodine is set free.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[363]. Nemo should test his iodide of potassium. It
evidently contains iodate, which is decomposed by the
excess of tartaric acid used, iodine being set free.

C. F. W.

[363]. The prescription contains more tartaric acid
than required to neutralize the bicarbonate of soda. The
remaining acid acts upon the bromide and iodide of
potassium, liberating slowly parts of the bromine and
iodine, therefore the change of colour.

IT. W. Langbeck.

[364]. The second article “ glycyrrhini ” is glycerine.

F. Stevens.

[364], The word is simply mis-spelt and one need have
no hesitation in dispensing glycerine.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[364]. I would have no doubt about dispensing glycerine
in “ Pyre thrum’s ” case.

J. M.

[364]. The prescriber appears to have made a mistake
in spelling. I should read it glycerini.

C. F. W.

[364]. Glycyrrhini should be glycerini, for if glycyrrhi-
zini were intended a much smaller quantity would have
been ordered, as the dose of the latter is 1 — 2 grains.

II. W. Langbeck.

[365]. Would any reader of the Journal inform me
whether it is possible to prepare the following so as to
produce a white ointment? —

R Ung. Hycl. Ammon.,

Ung. Pot. Iodidi . a a §j.

Misce. Fiat unguentum.

The above was dispensed with ointments prepared
strictly according to B. P., but did not answer the ex¬
pectation of the prescriber, whereupon he took it to a
chemist known to him, and he produced a creamy oint¬
ment.

I should be glad to hear the opinions of those who can
explain what result they would expect from the above.

Unguentum.

[366].

R Acid. Carbolic . ,qij.

Ext. Opii . 7)ij.

01. Olivse . Oss.

Misce bene. To be used as directed.

How should the above be dispensed ?

Apprentice.

[367]. Could any reader mention a convenient mode of
forming pills, each to contain 5 grains of black pitch?

Sub Ltmbra Floeesco.

fotiis and . Queries.

[629]. ROOKE’S GOLDEN OINTMENT.— The R
given by Dr. Rooke in his ‘ Anti Lancet ’ several years
ago, was ung. hyd. nit., and the reason he afterwards
assigned why he began to prepare it himself was the

number of complaints he received of a total want of
uniformity in the article sold by the trade ( vide fol. 113).

Rusticus.

[632]. CHLORAL HYDRATE.— Will some of your
readers give me their experience of the above in solution
in distilled water. Some draughts 25 grains to 5iss
appear to have undergone some change from keeping.
What is the change that occurs chemically?

Delta.

d[oi;re.q)ondi[nf(;.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the wi'iter; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Cream of Tartar of the Pharmacopeia.

Sir, — In reply to Professor Redwood’s remarks on a
portion of my letter contained in your issue of October 11,
and to which he appears to take exception, I think it must
be evident to most of your readers that ‘‘vagueness and
ambiguity” lie in the direction I there indicated and not
“somewhere else,” the Professor’s remarks to the contrary
notwithstanding ; and I think, further, that he has slightly
misunderstood what I intended to convey by the first
portion of my remarks. When I stated (parenthetically)
that “this crude tartar” was evidently something quite
distinct from cream of tartar, it was intended to refer not
to'any ambiguity on the part of the Pharmacopoeia description,
but to the evidence of Mr. Hodgkinson, reported in the
Journal of September 27, p. 257, viz., that “cream of tartar
was sent to this country from Spain and France, and came

in a state that wa3 known as argol . The argol was

generally taken from the docks by the grinders .

Argol, or cream of tartar, was the natural product of the
fermentation of the juice of grapes.”

If, therefore, Professor Redwood is “at a loss to under¬
stand how anyone could suppose that crude tartar on being
ground would form cream of tartar or anything like it,”
probably the evidence quoted above will convince him that
such a supposition is entertained by some; but at the same
time I wish it to be distinctly understood that I never
assumed or affirmed anything of the sort, knowing perfectly
well that ground argol, whether red or white, is quite a
distinct thing from cream of tartar.

With reference to the tests given in the Pharmacopoeia
for ascertaining the purity of cream of tartar (and it is
here that the “ambiguity” I mention lies), the first one
provides one for the presence of a trace of calcium salt, the
next points to the absolute purity of the article ; if it does
not, may I ask Professor Redwood why 188 grains are
taken and why the residue obtained on heating this to
redness till gas ceases to be evolved requires for exact
neutralization (exact neutralization being not always re¬
quired in the application of the Pharmacopoeia tests) 1000
grain measures of volumetric solution of oxalic acid. If
this is not intended as a quantitative test for the amount
of potash salt, of what use, may I ask, is the test at all ? I
am quite aware that the calcium carbonate in the residue
would consume the oxalic acid equally with the potassium
salt, but I scarcely think anyone would apply the test
without first washing out the soluble potassium salt on a
filter.

My suggestion that some wholesale house should send
out an article guaranteed to within 5 per cent, of impurity
had no reference whatever to the Pharmacopoeia descrip¬
tion, neither did I give, so far as I am aware, any reason
for the supposition on Professor Redwood’s part that the
above quantity was what I meant by a “trace ” of impurity ;
this suggestion was made solely with the idea that it would
represent a product commercially attainable, and not an
impossible one, such as the Pharmacopoeia indicates.

137a, Aldersgate Street. Alfred E. Tanner.

P.S. — In my letter of October 11, line 8, “ 1 grain ” is a
misprint for “ 1 gramme.”

October 25, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

339

Sir, — Professor Redwood’s letter iu your last issue asserts
that “in the case of cream of tartar, the lime salt, the presence
of which is indicated by the test, being variable in quantity,
the specified indication of it is made to refer to a minimum
rather than a maximum quantity.”

I do not know whether Professor Redwood makes this as¬
sertion onhis own authority alone, but I certainly cannot think
that the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, composed of
gentlemen practically acquainted with the drug trade, would
endorse such an erroneous statement.

According to this statement of Professor Redwood’s, the
presence of any proportion of lime salts, even 90 per cent,
would not constitute a violation of the “characters and
tests ” of the Pharmacopoeia, while acid tartrate of potash
eliemically pure would be in direct violation of such “ cha¬
racters and tests.”

Professor Redwood’s connection with the Pharmacopoeia
can certainly give him no right, after it has been published, to
pretend to read between the lines and say that the tests for
impurities refer to minimum, rather than to maximum
quantities, and therefore, until his statement is adopted by
others, it would rank simply as the expression of an indi¬
vidual opinion; but if it is so endorsed, the value of the
Pharmacopoeia, as a standard, is at an end, since every
analyst will have a perfect right to put any possible or im¬
possible interpretation that he may think fit upon all the
“ characters and tests.” If it is permissible to make one
alteration, it is obviously impossible to draw the line there,
aud further alterations must be permitted.

By all means let every error which exists in the Pharma¬
copoeia be set right, but this must be done in a proper way,
and after full discussion, and not by tampering with the
plain and common-sense meaning of the words used.

The particular subject of cream of tartar is of small im¬
portance compared with an attempt like this to destroy the
only existing standard, aud therefore as far as that sub¬
stance is concerned, I content myself with saying that
though tartrate of lime may be, and doubtless is, a necessary
ingredient of commercial cream of tartar, and the admixture
of small proportions of it would therefore be wisely over¬
looked by the public analyst, yet until the Pharmacopoeia is
amended it is not a “ legitimate ” constituent of the drug,
except in “ traces only.”

70, Great Tower Street , E.O. G. W. Wigner.

_

Dispensing Memoranda.

Sir, — The astonishingly divergent opinions finding ex¬
pression under the above heading in your issue of the 18th
inst., give four most important indications : —

1st. The very varied manner in which a prescription is
handled at different pharmacies.

2nd. The limited character of the libraries of some phar¬
macists, or else the inability of the latter to make proper
use of standard works of reference.

3rd. That questions, which to some minds appear palp¬
ably absurd, should not be excluded from the “ Dispensing
Memoranda.”

4th. The absolute necessity that every pharmacist should
utilize some means of intercourse with other members of
the trade in order to promote unanimity of opinion.

In the issue referred to, Mr. Wilkinson gives the correct
answer to No. 346 (pigmentum iodi). In such cases the
name of the prescriber should be ascertained, from the
signature, and that of the hospital where he studied. The
intended preparation will probably be found in the Phar¬
macopoeia of that hospital.

After reading his reply to No. 346, I was surprised to
notice his answer to No. 348 (ferri amnion, sulph.) ; since
by using ferri am. cit. he takes a most unwarrantable
liberty, unless he is furnished with data not supplied in
the prescription (such as a personal knowledge of the
idiosyncrasies of the proscriber). The modus operandi
indicated by “Nemo” is even more objectionable. It is
impossible, in this case, to state definitely what the pre¬
scriber intended, for there are two double sulphates of iron
and ammonia containing iron in the ferrous and ferric states
respectively, viz., the ordinary photographic salt, Fe^SOj,
Am-jSOi, 611,0, mentioned by “ St. Rule,” and iron alum,
Fe"'23S04, Am, SOi, 24H20, referred to by J. C. But the
ambiguity does not extend beyond these two salts, and if
the prescriber cannot be consulted, either might be used,
aud a note made on the prescription to indicate which was

dispensed for the guidance of subsequent dispensers. Since
“iron alum” is more frequently used in medicine and the
ferrous double salt finds its chief application in photography,
it is, perhaps, more than likely that the former was meant.
It would certainly bo a doubtful compliment to a pharma¬
cist’s education for him to plead ignorance to his customer,
as “Nemo” recommends. He ought to know either that
ho does not keep in stock the ingredient ordered, or that the
prescriber has omitted indispensable data.

In reviewing these varied opinions, it is important that
we should trace out the cause of the discrepancies, and
endeavour to indicate the remedy. The primary cause is
the carelessness of the prescriber in using ambiguous nomen¬
clature. The ever-expanding fields of information recorded
in every branch of science render it a necessary consequence
that a man wishing to become eminent must confine him¬
self to a branch of study, to the exclusion of other sections
of science. For this reason scientific men are rarely good
scholars, and, on the other hand, good scholars have, as a
rule, but a partial familiarity with science ; so also eminent
medical men are rarely good chemists or pharmacists, there¬
fore chemistry aud pharmacy should find their devotees
amongst pharmacists. Prescribers, then, would render a
great service to pharmacists, saving them from much un¬
deserved mistrust and ignominy, if they were to avoid
dabbling in doubtful synonyms, and for substances, etc.,
contained in the British Pharmacopoeia, to use the precise
nomenclature there employed. For galenical preparations
not included in the B.P., the initials of the Pharmacopoeia,
or other standard works, where the formula may be found,
should be appended. For non-official chemical preparations,
they should inquire of a pharmaceutical chemist (one who
has studied the science, and not one who has been simply
crammed for his examination) whether there is any doubt
about the name he uses.

Having pointed out one cause and its remedy from the
prcscriber’s point of view, I proceed to append remedies
from the dispenser’s standpoint.

Firstly, careful perusal of the “ Dispensing Memoranda,”
inserting notes of incompatible mixtures, etc., and expres¬
sing opinions on the questions raised. An adverse opinion
was recently expressed on the ground that it would excite
want of confidence among medical men and others reading
the divergent opinions; but I consider that the removal of
the cause of mistrust far outweighs an objection of that sort,
and I am suro that a medical men of any perception would
see the cause, and appreciate the cure. In fact, the medical
profession has found a similar need, and applied a parallel
remedy in the column of the British Medical Journal headed
“ Our Confessional.”

Secondly, I would urge upon all chemists, assistants and
apprentices, the value of forming associations at the meet¬
ings of which all such difficulties could be discussed.

Thirdly, that chemistry proper should be more stringent
at the “ Minor,” and that an acquaintance with other phar¬
macopoeias than the British should be required.

In conclusion, I would express my opinion that the
“ Dispensing Memoranda” is doing a great and good work,
but I trust that it will not be trifled with by correspondents
sending in absurd questions “ as a joke,” or without having
previously made endeavours to solve them.

R. II. Parker.

Sir, — May I suggest that in the case of answers to the
questions on dispensing, the name of the writer should
appear, and not a “nom do plume,” which in many cases
hides a lamentable ignorance. This would give your
readers some idea of the value of the opinions, and would, I
venture to think, save your space for moro trustworthy
information.

C. Parkinson,

Registration under the Dental Act.

Sir, — Tiie large amount of (in many cases) intemperate
correspondence respecting the right of a chemist extracting
teeth and performing the minor operations in dental surgery
to use the title of “ dentist ” is truly absurd.

Turning to the dictionary, we find the definition of a
“ dentist ” as “ an operator on the teeth.” (N.B. — It does
not say “ a maker of artificial teeth.”)

If extracting a tooth is not an operation in dental
surgery, what is it ?

340

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [October 25, 1379.

If the bond fide dentist is to be only the man who can do
both the mechanical and surgical work, it is quite evident
that many old respected practitioners must give up.

How many of the great guns could make a piece decently
if they tried ?

Most dentists put out their work to mechanical men. It
is not considered the province of the medical profession to
make crutches or wooden legs, and I believe there are many
bond fide dentists who can extract, scale, stop, take im¬
pressions and fit, who never made a set in their lives.

To what end did the Pharmaceutical Society obtain the
terms of “ dentistry in conjunction with pharmacy” if it
was not to cover the existing rights of those chemists who
extracted teeth, etc., to use the title of dentist and to
continue their operations ? And if, as some affirm, it is not
necessary to register to perform dental operations if you do
not call yourself a dentist, perhaps some one can explain
why there are separate clauses, “ in conjunction with
medicine or surgery,” “in conjunction with pharmacy”?
Let the chemists hold their own.

Defence, not Defiance.

Hours of Trading.

Sir, — The unnecessary late closing of some chemists’ shops
is a scandal. I say unnecessary, because I feel convinced
that a great deal of the trade done after 8 p.m., or whatever
times the shttters are put up, might be got through before
that time, if chemists in their respective towns would
agree amongst themselves to discourage the late shopping of
some of their customers. I wish I had the power to
persuade my brethren in the trade to cultivate a little
friendly co-operation amongst themselves to this desirable
end. I agree, therefore, with the remarks by “ Camphora ”
in to-day’s Journal.

Referring to the letter of “Verus” in the Journal of
Oct. 11, I cannot see that the fact of his not having been a
day out of his shop for “ nearly twenty years,” is worthy
of boasting about. There must be a serious risk of the man
becoming very narrow minded who confines himself for so
long a period to the limits of a chemist’s shop. Or I may
be wrong. The “ contented mind ” may be the “ continual
f*6diSt ^

16 and 17, Cliffe , Lewes. W. T. Martin.

The Drug Trade in South Africa.

Sir, — Enclose please find extracts from letters I have
received from a friend in the drug trade iu South Africa,
Orange River Free State. I have no doubt they will be
read with interest by others as well as emigrants ; they
give a fair idea of what this man had to contend with. He
had a good notion of insinuating himself into the good
graces of those with whom he came in contact. He went
out on “ spec,” taking with him a lot of meerschaum pipes,
which he sold well. How a person would do there now is
a problem. The results of the late war are to be felt.

October, 1877.

“ Teacher, barman, farmer, brickmaker, and now back to
tie old trade again. Get £6 a month and all found. Just
moved into a very fine shop to-day ; have soda water
machine, and do a roaring trade, sell large quantities of
Dutch drops to the Boers. The bases are valerian, ether,
turps, camphor, assafoetida, etc. The governor has done
well up here, visits, performs surgery, midwifery, etc., and
charge slap up. The Boers think him a demigod. Patents,
are 13^ci., 2s. 6d., [2s. 9 d., 5s. 6d., and so on. Mixtures
4s., 7s., and often more.

“I had rough times at first, and have slept on the grass
many times, with clothes wet, and no blanket, under
waggons and in barns, walked all day, and lain down at
night, and have met better men worse oft’.

“I cannot recommend emigration indiscriminately. You
see many a man rubs along at home, with his own family
connections, etc., and passes for a good sort, who if placed
in a strange country, with no social influence to check him,
would go to the very lowest. That is my idea, I give it for
what it is worth. I think it is a side of the question which
is not often put forward, but it should be.”

Extract March 20, 18“9.

“ The dullness of a small colonial town is intolerable, so
I gave up my berth. When the terrible news came of the

loss at Isanhlawana I could stand it no longer, so I joined
the Transvaal Volunteers. Our pay is 12s. a day, out of
which we pay our expenses, expected to be 3s. or 4s.”

Letter dated May 16, 1879.

“ Unless a person comes to a situation he must make up
his mind to rough it, or at least to turn schoolmaster, which
is the only thing open for strangers who are not mechanics,
and have not coin enough to start farming on their own
account. ... A situation is easily obtained from
adveitisements in the Chemist and Druggist and Pharma¬
ceutical Journal.”

J. S.

Sir, — Of pharmacy in the Transvaal I know nothing, not
having been there, but I know that many of the Dutch
Boers, during their annual visit to Maritzburg to dispose of
their produce, buy their medicines there, and seem to keep
a stock. The prices obtaiued are generally large, but trade
is chiefly done by barter, the merchants buy their produce,
and supply them with goods, and any they do not keep they
either get for them, or if they recommend any customer,
the chemist has to allow a commission, which I consider a
very rotten state of trading. A knowledge of Dutch is
absolutely necessary in Transvaal. There is a nominal
examination to pass by a Medical Board before anyone can
commence business in Natal. I think they accept the phar¬
maceutical certificates in lieu of examination.

There were about nine or ten chemists in Durban and
Maritzburg when I was there, the hours of business being
generally from 7 in the morning till 5 p.m., the days vary¬
ing only about two hours in the year. Salaries vary from
£70 in the house to £100, and about £150 out-door. There
are some in business who have done very well ; but I should
say that Natal now (just after the war) will be very dull
for some time, as merchants have bought largely during the
war, and they are now forcing their goods on to the market
at any price.

The trade there is similar to here, except that all the
medical men send their prescriptions to the chemist. There
is a large trade done in cooling drinks. I know one chemist
in Maritzburg (who does a large business with the military
officers) who must have coined money during the war.

A Returned Emigrant.

“ Kenbaan.” — The question of “official” v “officinal”
has been frequently discussed in this country and the United
States, and probably it will not be lost sight of when the
time comes for the revision of the British Pharmacopoeia.

“ Ferri Cit .” — Recipes for Glycerine Jelly will be found
in the Journal for November 30 last (vol. ix., p. 462).

“ Theta.” — The second word is the Spanish word for
“ English,” but we do not recognize the first. It might be
equivalent to “ kino.”

T. J. R. — The double salt is more stable.

T. W. G. — See a paper on the colour of podophyllum
resin, by Messrs. Senier and Lowe, in vol. viii., p. 441.

“Surrey.” — We should require to see a specimen before
accepting the statement.

“ Inconvenience.” — We believe the Catalogue is now
being compiled.

“ Triplex .” — The Dental Act was printed in vol. ix., p.
52. The Registrar under the Act is Mr. W. J. C. Miller,
Medical Council Office, 315, Oxford Street, W.

“ Carey.” — The subject of the strength of Orange Flower
Water was discussed during the meeting of the Pharma¬
ceutical Conference in Dublin last year. See Pharm. Journ.
[3], vol. ix., p. 249.

“ Givendoline.” — No. 6 is probably Festuca gigantea.
The other five are correctly named.

Erratum. — On p. 320, col. ii., line 19, for “ On glancing
at the above title,” read “ On glancing at the above table.”

“ Juror.” — The 12t'n section of the Juries Act, 1870, pro¬
vides that “No person whose name shall be in the Jury
Book as a juror shall be entitled to be excused on the ground
of any disqualification or exemption, other than illness, not
claimed by him at or before the revision of the list by the
justices of the peace.”

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Mayhew, Hughes, Simcock, Kent. Long, Warne-
ford, Leigh, Rainer, Postans, Student, Isograph, Nigel,
Cumberland, Sub Umbra Floresco, Delta, Olibanum,
Tinctura.

November l, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

341

TARTRATE OF LIME IN CREAM OF

TARTAR.

BY B. H. PAUL, ril.D.

Having regard to tlie recent discussion as to the
amount of lime existing in the state of tartrate in
cream of tartar, it may be of interest to make known
the following results of some experiments carried
out with the object of determining the extent to
which cream of tartar prepared in the usual way
might contain lime combined with tartaric acid.

Tartrate of lime was in the first instance prepared
from tartaric acid and carbonate of lime, using such
proportions as would furnish a salt having the com¬
position represented by the formula C8H10CaO12.
The boiling solution deposited on cooling, crystals,
which by analysis were proved to contain 21 per
cent. CaO, instead of 16 *6 per cent., which would be
the amount in a true acid tartrate having the for¬
mula above mentioned. This salt was not therefore
a bitartrate, though the conditions were suitable for
the formation of that compound. Neither was it a
neutral tartrate, C4H4Ca06, for in the anhydrous
condition this salt contains 297 per cent, of lime.

However, on adding the crystallized tartrate of
lime to a boiling solution of bitartrate of potash,
prepared by neutralizing 5 grams of tartaric acid
with carbonate of potash, and then adding another
5 grams of tartaric acid, the tartrate of lime was
dissolved, and after some few minutes the liquid
was filtered while near the boiling point. On cool¬
ing, crystals were deposited having all the external
character of bitartrate of potash; but on analysis
this salt was found to contain a considerable amount
of lime, though forming a perfectly clear solution.

It is therefore evident that the ordinary method
of preparing cream of tartar is not capable of effect¬
ing the entire separation of the potash salt from the
lime salt, which is so frequently a constituent of
“ argol,” both as of normal origin from the grape
juice itself, and also in part produced by the reaction
of gypsum added to the must in the process ot wine
making.

As a necessary consequence tartrate of lime must
be looked upon as necessarily forming some part of
the “ cream of tartar” met with in commerce, as an
extraneous matter with which the drug is unavoid¬
ably mixed in the process of preparation, not as an
impurity or adulterant according to the terms of the
Food and Drugs Act. The extent to which this
substance extraneous to bitartrate of potash may be
present in “ cream of tartar ” will appear to be
somewhat different, according to the nature of the
compound that a certain determined percentage of
lime is assumed to represent. Taking the salt re¬
ferred to above, for example, if the amount of
neutral anhydrous tartrate of lime would be 7 -6 per
cent, the amount of the same salt in a hydrated
condition would be 10*5 per cent, and the amount
of bitartrate of lime would be 13*6 per cent.

The amount of water in neutral tartrate of lime is
here taken as being four molecules ; but there are
diverse statements on this point, and therefore it
would perhaps be best to state the amount of ex¬
traneous material in terms of anhydrous tartrate of
lime. If sulphate of lime also be present, as it some¬
times is in small amount, allowance must be made for
this in calculating the quantity of tartrate of lime
from the lime found by analysis.

As regards the presence of sulphate of lime in
Third Series, No. 488.

“ cream of tartar,” it would appear that this can only
be the case when adulteration has been practised,
unless the amount of sulphate of lime be very small,
for it is improbable that such a quantity as 20 per
cent, of sulphate of lime can be introduced into
“ cream of tartar ” during the ordinary preparation
of that article and remain as such in it. More likely
there would be decomposition of the sulphate to¬
gether with the production of tartrate of lime and sul¬
phate of potash, and in this way the greater part of
such an amount of sulphate of lime would be got rid
of. But if the sulphate of lime be added in the
state of powder to the “ cream of tartar,” it is to be
understood that its presence would be indicated by
analysis.

ACONITUM HETEROPHYLLUM, WALL.*

BY DR. M. DUNIN Y. WASOWICZ.

(Continued from page 303.)

In the chemical examination of the roots I first
prepared an infusion, and then a clear decoction
with 50 grams to 250 grams of liquid, and applied
to these the following tests : —

(A.) The watery infusion filtered slowly but clear.
It was yellow coloured, had a bitter taste, reddened
blue litmus paper, frothed considerably, became
covered after a time with a thin pearly film, and
after two or three days became turbid. Percliloride
of iron produced neither in the cold nor after
heating any precipitate or turbidity. Tannic acid
solution produced at once a dirty white turbidity
that disappeared completely by gentle warming and
reappeared on cooling. Nitrate of silver produced
a slight white turbidity, and after a time a flocculent
yellow precipitate. Acetate of lead produced a
dirty white precipitate that did not disappear on
boiling. With basic acetate of lead the precipitate
was more voluminous and dark yellow coloured.
Tartrate of antimony and sulphate of copper did
not produce either precipitate or alteration of
colour. Gelatine solution did not produce either
alone or by addition of hydrochloric acid, any pre¬
cipitate, even after the liquid was allowed to stand
or by boiling. Solution of iodine in iodide of
potassium produced a deep yellow coloration that
soon became blackish blue, and after some time a
dirty brownish black precipitate. Potassio-iodide
of mercury and potassio-bromide of mercury pro¬
duced a white turbidity.

(B.) The decoction was darker coloured, filtered
very slowly, soon became turbid, and behaved
generally like the infusion, except that the reactions
were more distinct. A quantity of both liquids
was precipitated with basic acetate of lead, and —

(1) The precipitate was decomposed by sulphuretted
hydrogen. In the filtrate, which had a distinctly
acid reaction and tasted but slightly bitter, gelatine
solution produced no precipitate ; percliloride of
iron coloured it blackish (not green) ; mercurous
nitrate produced a white precipitate.

(2) The liquid separated from the precipitate and
from excess of lead was acid, very bitter, and gave
at once considerable precipitates with tannic acid
solution and potassio-iodide of mercury. Portions
of the extracts were boiled with lime water and
became at first reddish and after longer boiling dirty
ereen coloured, from which I inferred that decom-

* Archiv. der Pharmacie, vol. xi., p. 11)

342

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 1, 1879.

position must have taken place. This observation
induced me to avoid the use of alkalies and alkaline
earths and to adopt the following mode of treatment.

The coarsely cut roots were extracted with alcohol
of 85 per cent, with gentle heat and the filtered extract
distilled to remove the alcohol. The residue, having
the consistency of thin syrup, deposited after twelve
hours standing in the cold an apparently crystalline
mass, having a fatty feel. This was separated by
filtration from the liquid portion, which was diluted
with a large quantity of water and evaporated on a
water-bath until all the alcohol was got rid of.
After cooling, a further small quantity of the above
mentioned brown fatty mass separated upon the
surface and was removed from the liquid, which when
filtered had a dark brown colour, an acid reaction, and
a very bitter taste. It was mixed with basic acetate
of lead until nothing more was precipitated. The
dirty yellow precipitate was washed with water
until sulphuric acid gave no further reaction with
the washings. In this process there were obtained
for further examination : —

(a.) A brown apparently crystalline fatty mass.

(b.) The precipitate produced by basic acetate of
lead, probably containing the acids separated.

(c.) The liquid filtered from the lead precipitate,
in which bitter substances and alkaloids were to be
sought.

(a.) The brown, apparently crystallizable , sub¬
stance did not dissolve in water or alcohol, and was
only partially soluble in boiling water or ether, but
dissolved completely in amylic alcohol to a clear
dark brown liquid. The ethereal solution was of a
brownish colour, and was without any action upon
red or blue litmus paper. The solution in amylic
alcohol had a slight acid reaction.

After evaporating the ether there remained a
slight brownish apparently crystalline residue, which
was completely volatilized when heated on platinum
foil, giving off an odour like burnt fat. Being con¬
vinced that I had to do with a vegetable fat, the
entire quantity of the brown substance was several
times treated with ether, and the solution thus ob¬
tained was shaken with water acidulated with sul¬
phuric acid until it no longer became coloured.
After distilling off the excess of ether 1 again obtained
a brown coloured substance that was again dissolved
in ether, and shaken with acidulated water. As this
no longer became coloured the residue left after
evaporating off the ether was mixed with animal
charcoal, and after some time again extracted with
ether. The solution thus obtained was considerably
paler. A portion of it was rapidly concentrated and
saponified with soda solution — sp. gr. I ll — the
yellow-coloured soap, separated with salt, dissolved
in boiling water, digested with animal charcoal, the
boiling solution filtered, and then decomposed with
dilute sulphuric acid. The fat acids thus separated
were converted into soda and then into lead salts ;
the latter treated with ether appeared to consist
chiefly of oleate. I did not succeed in detecting
glycerine in the mother liquor.

Another portion of the ethereal solution was
allowed to evaporate slowly in the cold. After two
days there remained a soft yellowish- white mass that
asted at first mild and afterwards somewhat acrid.
This was partly soluble in absolute alcohol. It
melted at 32° C., and did not again solidify to a
uniform mass, but remained partially liquid. The
liquid portion had a distinctly acid reaction, and did

not solidify until cooled below zero. The purified
fat burnt with a slightly smoky flame, giving off a
distinct odour of burning wax. Its specific gravity
at 15° C. "was ‘895.

When exposed for some time in an open vessel to
the action of the air the fatty mass separated into
two layers. The upper oily rancid-smelling dark
coloured layer had a distinctly acid reaction, and
dissolved readily and completely in 95 per cent,
alcohol. The lower layer, after washing with alcohol,
appeared as a white apparently crystalline mass that
dissolved readily in boiling alcohol and in ether.
It crystallized out from the ether in small needles
that melted at 62° C., and accordingly was palmitic
acid.

It then remained to ascertain whether the fat
contained stearic acid. For that purpose I prepared
from the liquid portion of the fut soluble in cold
spirit a lead salt, under the impression that the
oleic acid might fee mixed with stearic acid, since
stearic acid is soluble in cold alcohol. The lead salt
thus obtained did not dissolve completely in ether,
so that I conjectured that stearic acid was also pre¬
sent, although in very small amount.

More minute chemical examination was scarcely
possible, since the whole quantity of material did
not exceed three grams.

The circumstance that I was not able to detect
glycerine in the mother liquor was not to be regarded
as a proof that the fat was only a mixture of the
three acids, and not a glyceride, as it is well known
that glycerine is difficult to detect in such small
quantities, and if the fat were not a glyceride the
original ethereal solution should have had an acid
reaction.

(b.) The lead precipitate was thoroughly washed,
suspended in water while still moist and decomposed
with sulphuretted hydrogen. The filtrate from the
sulphide of lead was evaporated, after separating the
sulphur to the consistence of an extract. The resi¬
due was readily soluble in water and the solution
was more or less dark coloured according to strength.
It had a very slight bitter taste, reddened blue
litmus paper, did not give a precipitate with gelatine,
acquired a blackish colour with perchloride of iron,
did not become turbid with tannic acid solution, but
gave with the double iodide of potassium and mer¬
cury a slight curdy precipitate, and deposited after
long standing warty crystals in very small quantity.
This solution was again precipitated with basic
acetate of lead and the precipitate treated as above
described. In the solution of the extract thus obtained
double iodide of mercury and potassium no longer
gave a precipitate.

The extract thus purified was thoroughly extracted
with ether. The yellowish solution had a sourish
taste and left after evaporating off the ether, a yel¬
lowish indistinctly crystalline mass, completely
soluble in ether, alcohol and water. The aqueous
solution of it, digested with animal charcoal, deposited
after some days an almost colourless warty crystal¬
line mass. This had a sour taste, was free from
odour, melted at 165° C., and charred when more
strongly heated, but did not volatilize.

The conjecture that this substance was aconitic
acid was readily confirmed. The aqueous solution
gave with mercurous nitrate a white flocculent preci¬
pitate; nitrate of silver gave no precipitate. The
neutral soda salt gave with nitrate of silver a white
precipitate that soon became black, and perchloride

November l, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

343

of iron gave a reddish-brown precipitate. The rest
of the acid was crystallized again from ether and
burnt. I thus obtained from 0T823 gram of dried
substance : —

0*2756 C02 = *07515 0 = 41*223 per cent. C.

0-061 Ha0 = -0066 H= 3-620 „ H.

For CgHgOg Calculated. Found.

C. . . 41-379 41-223

H. . . 3-447 3-620

a. . . 55*173

The portion of extract insoluble in ether, and con¬
stituting the greater part of it had still an acid re¬
action. Its taste was at first mild and afterwards
disagreeably astringent. It was dissolved in a little
water, mixed with animal charcoal, evaporated to
dryness, and extracted with dilute alcohol. The
solution had a brownish-yellow colour, slight acid
reaction and was coloured black by perchloride of
iron. When boiled with ferrous sulphate no change
took place, but after adding acetate of soda in solution
the liquid immediately become black. The solution
did not reduce Fehling’s liquor, but when a large
quantity of the alcoholic solution was evaporated to a
syrupy consistence, and then boiled with a solution
of oxalic acid, cuprous oxide was at once separated.

Basic acetate of lead therefore precipitates from
the watery extract of the root aconitic acid, a peculiar
form of tannic acid, grape sugar and mucilage.

(To be continued).

FUCUS VESICULOSUS.*

The subject of obesity and its treatment has of late
years received much attention both from doctors and
their patients. The interest excited by the appearance
of Mr. Banting’s ‘ Letter on Corpulence ’ will not be
readily forgotten. The medicinal agents most commonly
employed in the treatment of this condition are acids, —
chiefly in the form of lemon-juice and vinegar, — strong
alkalies, and iodide of potassium. Of late, however, a
preparation known as “anti-fat” has been extensively
advertised, both in this country and in America, possess¬
ing, if we may accept the statements of the proprietors,
very remarkable powers in removing that superabundance
of fat which is so frequently a source of anxiety and
discomfort to those who indulge too freely in the plea¬
sures of the table. Anti-fat is said to be a fluid extract
of Fucus vesiculosus, a common sea-weed, known in this
country as sea-wrack or bladder- wrack, and in France as
Ch§ne marin or Laitue marine. It is largely employed
on the coasts of Scotland and France in the preparation
of kelp ; whilst in Ireland, curiously enough, it is found
to be invaluable for fattening pigs. It contains, as
might be expected, large quantities of iodine, chiefly,
according to Gaultier de Claubry, in the form of iodide
of potassium, f

Fucus vesiculosus was at one time officinal in the
Dublin Pharmacopoeia, and is by no means a new remedy.
Pliny describes it under the name of Quercus marina,
and says it is useful for pains in the joints and limbs.
In the eighteenth century it was largely employed by
Gaubius, Aunel, Baster, and others, in the treatment of
scrofula, bronchocele, and enlarged glands, and even for
scirrhous tumours. Its charcoal, known as ^Ethiops
vegetabilis, was used in the same class of cases. The
fucus has also been found useful in skin diseases and
asthma. On the discovery of iodine, in 1811, by Courtois,
the saltpetre manufacturer of Paris, it for a time fell into
disrepute. In the year 1862 its use was revived by
Professor Duchesne-Duparc, of Par is, who whilst using it

* From the Lancet, October, 25, 1879.

f Fucus vesiculosus is one of those seaweeds which yield
an ash containing the smallest amount of iodides. See
Pharm, Journ., ix., p. 303.— Ed. Ph. Journ.

experimentally in the treatment of psoriasis, found that
it possessed the singular property of causing the absorp¬
tion of fat.

The fucus can be taken either as an infusion, made by
steeping half an ounce or a small handful in a pint of
boiling water, or in the form of pill or liquid extract.
The dose of the infusion is about a cupful, but it is so
abominably nasty that few people can be induced to take
it. The pills contain each three grains of the alcoholic
extract ; and, to begin with, one is taken in the morning,
an hour at least before breakfast, and another in the
evening, about three hours after dinner. The dose is
increased by a pill a day, until the patient is taking ten
every morning and evening. It is directed that the ten
pills should be taken dans la meme stance, and that a
greater interval should not be allowed to elapse between
each pill than is necessary for the process of deglutition.
The fluid extract may be given in drachm doses, and it is
said that the best results are obtained when both the
solid and liquid extracts are taken. In favourable cases
the sufferer may expect a reduction in weight of from two
to five pounds in the week. Unfortunately, however,
the fucus appeal’s to be somewhat tardy in its action, and
the patient should lay in a good stock of the drug before
commencing treatment. In successful cases one. of the
earliest effects is an excessive diuresis, and the urine is
said to become covered with a film of a beautiful nacreous
aspect. In one carefully recorded case the patient did not
observe this, but noticed that his water was very high-
coloured, and that its odour was extremely offensive.
The next action of the drug is usually on the bowels, and
the patient has many calls to relieve himself, without,
however, being able to pass anything more than a little
mucus. Sometimes the feet and body exhale a peculiar
fusty smell, so that the patient is a nuisance both to him¬
self and friends. After this, as a rule, the reduction in
weight takes place. Occasionally, however, the opposite
effect is produced, and the patient gets stouter than ever ;
in fact, fucus has been recommended as an “anti-lean.”

By some authorities it is stated that the fucus should
be gathered at the period of fructification, about the end
of June, and that it ought to be rapidly dried in the sun ;
whilst other and equally eminent authorities insist that
it should be gathered only in September, and that it
should be allowed to dry slowly in the shade, a high
temperature, according to them, destroying its active
properties. It is generally agreed, however, that the
roots and stalks should be rejected, and that the fucus
gathered on the west coast is superior to that of the east.
We understand that as a matter of fact most of our
fucus comes from Billingsgate market, it being extensively
employed for packing fish.

It must be confessed that we know little or nothing of
the mode of action of this remarkable drug. We are
told that it “stimulates the absorbents,” but that is
throwing very little light on the subject. What we want
is a real sound systematic study of its uses and properties,
both in the physiological laboratory and at the bedside.
When it has been thoroughly and carefully worked out,
as so many drugs have been of late years — pilocarpine and
gelsemin, for example, — we shall be able to form an opinion
as to its value, but at present we are quite in the dark.

CARICA PAPAYA AND PAPAYOTIN *

BY DE. THEODOR PECKOLT.

The papaw tree belongs to the family of the Papayaceae,
which in this country (Brazil) is represented by only two
species. It is called by the Pupi Indians “ambapaya” and
by the Brazilians “mamao.” The trees are dioecious and
hermaphrodite, the hermaphrodite tree being distin¬
guished by the people as the “mamao macho” (male
mamao), and the fruit-bearing tree as the “mamao femea”
* From the Zeitschrift d. allg. osterreichischen Apothe-
ker-Vereines , vol.|xvii., pp.361 and 373 (Aug. 20 and Sept.
1, 1879).

344

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November i, 1879.

(female mamao); further a cultivated variety of the latter
is known as the “mamao melao” (papaw bearing mamao).

In the hermaphrodite tree the young plants have the
leaves alternate, but these fall off after a short time,
leaving only the leaves of the crown ; the petioles are
divergent, 27 to 32 inches long ; the leaf which is disposed
like a shield is rounded, about 14 inches broad, divided
into seven lobes , and these lobes again into seven sub-divi¬
sions. Inflorescence male and female, disposed in racemes;
flowers pale yellow, or white, with a pleasant odour,
faintly resembling jasmine, differing in appearance from
those of “mamao femea ” and “mamao melao” in the
flower stalk being 8 inches long. The first flowers of a
nine months old hermaphrodite tree are always male only.
Six months subsequently the development of numerous
carpels may be seen, and these gradually continue to be
formed. The fruit-bearing flowers which always commence
from below, bloom and then bear fruit uninterruptedly
throughout the whole year until the death of the tree,
which usually takes place after four or five years.

The stems are elegant, and notwithstanding it is
stated in some works that the Carica Papaya is with¬
out branches, this is not the case in Brazil with the
hermaphrodite tree ; for in the second and third years it
throws out abundant branches which bear at first only
male flowers.

The fruit of the hermaphrodite tree is considerably
smaller than that of the “ mamao femea.” It is as large
as a fist, pear shaped, light yellow when ripe, irregularly
furrowed into seven perceptible divisions, and has an
average weight of ten ounces. The seeds, when planted,
yield both kinds of trees. f

The fruit-bearing papaw (“mamao femea”) has larger
leaves and large perfect separate flowers which are
situated immediately above in the crown between the
leaf stalks and the stem itself. The flowers are yellowish,
2 inches long, § inch wide, recurved and re volute, delicate
as a wax flower and have a more powerful odour than the
preceding. The fruit attains almost the size of a walnut
before the flower falls off ; in the ripe condition it is as
large as a small gourd, but rounder, not so pear-shaped,
and provided with a wart ; it is of a yellow colour
and often weighs a kilogram or more.

The kind improved by cultivation, the “mamao melao,”
has the same habit, but yields fruit larger than a human
head, orange yellow in the ripe condition and weighing
from 4 to 6J pounds. The fruit of the Carica Papaya
contains over a hundred small polished wrinkled brown
seeds, about twice the size of linseed.

The stem of a full grown tree is about 13 to 17 feet
high and frequently 12 to 20 inches in diameter; the herm¬
aphrodite tree is often branched above, the dioecious tree
always branchless. Stem cylindrical ; bark smooth, grey
at the lower part of the stem, and greenish above, woody,
fibrous, and easy to cut ; beneath is a layer the thickness
of a finger, of a herbaceous substance like a cabbage stalk ;
all the remainder is hollow, but has internal parti¬
tions at the rings, like the bamboo, which are very porous
and easily penetrated.

This herbaceous tree is in Brazil a constant companion
of the banana, and is never wanting near the huts of the
natives. And rightly do the Indians honour this useful
and most grateful tree, specially selected by Providence
for a people averse to any cultivation, for without the
slightest care or labour after a few months’ growth it yields
harvests the whole year through.

Notwithstanding that in respect to nutritive value the
fruit cannot compete with the banana, its use makes a
refreshing change, and as will be seen subsequently by
the analyses it is not so very poor as a food stuff.

The Carica Papaya is in the present day hardly absent
from any tropical country in Asia and Africa, and it
appears to have been shown that like the maize the papaw
tree has spread from west to east, or rather from America
to Africa and then to Asia. Marcgraf states that he
found it growing wild in the primitive forests of Brazil ;

other authors think it had its origin within the tropical
portion of the American continent ; certain it is that it
was found domesticated near the dwellings of the Indians
when Brazil was discovered.

Dr. Heinrich Barth states that in Central Africa the
fruit bears the name of “ g<5nda-n-masr,” equal to the
Egyptian “gonda,” which appears to indicate that it has
been introduced within historic times through Egypt.
But I believe that this tree of a four or five years’ life, which
like maize, can only be continuously cultivated by means
of seed, requires no “ historic time ” in order, even more
rapidly than maize, to become naturalized in all the
tropical countries of the world, and the more so because
the seeds, unlike those of maize, are not destroyed by
insects or beasts, but are in fact more rapidly spread by
them. In the northern districts of the Soudan Dr. Barth
found the papaw but seldom ; on the other hand in the
districts between KYitsena and Nyffi, as well as in the
southern parts of Kano, Pangdnda and Gudjeba, south¬
ward to Benue, scarcely anything else than the papaw
tree was usually found. By the Eulde it is called
“ dukudje ” and by the Kanori “ bambus masarbe.”
Both Dr. Barth and Dr. Rohlf speak of the refreshing
taste of the fruit, which would also be noticeable in Brazil,
if it were not for the possession of a large number of other
delicious tropical fruits.

In Brazil the tree is scarcely cultivated, or with bub
little care, its continued planting, like that of the banana,
being self-effected, but with this difference that instead
of shoots from the roots it is done by the seeds of the
fruit rotting on the ground. The tree is simply left to
stand where the seed has been planted either by the use
of the fruit as manure or by the agency of birds ; the
tender young plants brave all weathers and are very
tenacious {of life, are not eaten by animals, and after
becoming ten inches high are not prevented by injury
to leaf or bark from growing luxuriantly and almost
perceptibly to the eye, even more rapidly than the
banana.

On the 20th of Eebruary, 1867, I set a young plant,
3 inches ^high, from a seed of the “ mamao femea,” in
the pathway from the house to the garden, a place where
it was exposed to injury from continual passers-by and
poultry, and very unfavourable to the development of a
fruit tree. On the 20th of November — nine months
subsequently — the first inflorescence appeared ; the tree
was then nearly 5 feet high ; at the lower end the stem
was 1 ^ inches in diameter, and branchless ; the crown had
twelve leaves, and in the angles of nine leaves were the
long stalked racemes of flowers of the hermaphrodite tree.
The lowest raceme, with nine flowers, opened first,
always from below upward ; the topmost raceme had
only seven flowers. The whole of the flowers were male;
the first perfectly developed dioecious flowers were de¬
veloped at the end of fourteen months, and always below
first.

A “ mamao femea ” which bore fertile flowers from the
commencement, flowered first when fourteen months old,
also beginning from below. The stem at this time had a
height of 17 feet 4 inches.

The improved “ mamao melao,” which yields fruit as
large as a pumpkin, is treated with somewhat more care,
and its management may even be called cultivation.
The seeds are planted, together with the flesh of the fruit,
in a light soil, not too moist and containing abundance of
organic matter ; if they be planted without the flesh of
the fruit only trees that yield the original fruit of the
uncultivated kind are obtained. I had doubts respecting
this, but have satisfied myself of its correctness by
numerous experiments.

When the plants are about 3 to 4 inches high they are
transplanted, and for this a lighter soil is selected, which
is not too shady, and too much watering must be avoided ;
this is usually left to the weather. After fourteen to
eighteen months the tree-like plants bear fruit through
the entire year without cessation. After four or five

November l, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

345

years of this fruit-bearing existence the top commences
to decay and it dies from above downwards, the stem
being eventually completely destroyed by the wind if not
previously removed by man.

The fruit, like the banana, is collected in the full grown,
but still green condition, so as to ripen in the house. If
perfectly ripe when taken from the tree the flesh, especi¬
ally .in the neighbourhood of the skin, is bitter; moreover,
the ripe fruit is difficult to secure against destruction by
birds.

During my seventeen years’ residence in the interior of
the province, from 1851 to 1868, I examined almost the
whole of the Brazilian fruit and food plants; this work
is published in here by Messrs. C. and H. Laemmert,
under the title ‘AsPlantas nutritivas e do gozo do Brazil,’
but has not yet reached the letter M. In my manu¬
script of 1868 occurs the examination of the fruit, seeds and
milk of the Carica Papaya and the discovery in the milk
of a white amorphous substance, which in my notice I
described as “papayotin.” This same substance I found
also in the leaves, and although I knew that the leaves
had been used from time immemorial by the Indians for
rendering meat tender, it did not occur to me that my
“papayotin” might be a pepsin-like substance, until I saw
in the Austrian Society’s Journal, a short time since,
notices of the work of Herr Wittmack and Dr. C. G. Roy,
which induced to me to look up my notes and make some
experiments with papayotin, when I found the solubility
of meat in a solution of papayotin confirmed, and there¬
fore publish my investigation. I do not thereby make
the smallest claim to priority and do not even desire that
the name should be adopted, but only to invite a further
and more perfect investigation of this interesting sub¬
stance, and by the making known of my own imperfect ex¬
periments to become useful as a guide and to save several
useless experiments.

Analysis of the Fruit.

In 100 grams of fresh fruit, freed from rind, taken
from the three kinds of “ mamao,” I found the following
substances : —

2. 3.

Mamao Mamao

melao, macho.

— 0-046

0-020 —

0-500 0753

3-580 4-333

0-480 2-332

92-500 89-445

2-920 3-091

100 grams of fresh fruit flesh of the “ mamao femea ”
gave 1*239 grams of ash, and 100 grams of it dried gave
8"457 grams.

In a kilogram of pure ash from the flesh of the fruit I

found —

Carbonic Acid . 140 945

Chlorine . 5 6 "01 3

Sulphuric Acid . 52-401

Phosphoric Acid . 71*573

Soluble Silicic Acid’ . 165*340

Insoluble Silicic Acid . 5"423

Ferric Oxide . 19*504

Maganous Oxide . 0’277

Alumina . 38 "576

Lime . 23*438

Magnesia . 47*878

Potash . 63*248

Soda . 315*332

Loss . 0*007

].

Mamao

femea.

Caoutchouc-like Substances —
Soft Yellow Resin . . . 0*165

Reddish-yellow Fat ... —

Albumenoid Substances . 1*070

Sugar . 3*238

Pectinous Matter . . . . 1*315 1

Tartaric Acid ) combined ( 0-075
Citric Acid . I with < 0*020
Malic Acid . ) Bases. ( 0 083
Dextrin, Extractive Matter,

etc. . 5*503

Water . 85*351

Cellulose . 3*180

The milky juice, which is contained in the unripe fruit
in considerable quantity, disappears upon the ripening of
the “ mamao macho ” fruit almost entirely, and then
there is found in the flesh of such fruit traces of a
caoutchouc- like substance, which doubtless originates
from the small quantity of milk. On the other hand,
the milk disappears from the fruit of “ mamao femea ”
and “ mamao malao ” entirely on ripening, but the
caoutcliouc-like substance is in the “ mamao femea ”
replaced by a yellow soft resin, and in the cultivated
“ mamao melao ” by a dark reddish-yellow fatty oil.
Both the latter sorts have a more delicate taste, and the
“ mamao melao ” has actually a melon flavour. How¬
ever, it is not to be denied that the taste is insipid and
not particularly refreshing, as the prized free acids are
entirely wanting in the fruit and only a trace of an
aroma is present. The milk in the ripe juice is rich in
free acid, but this disappears in the ripening.

I am at present engaged during my little spare time in
the examination of the unripe fruit in different stages,
and will return to the subject subsequently.

The seeds are frequently used as a vermifuge, and
information as to the manner of administering them will
be given at the close of this paper.

The examination of the seeds was unfortunately not
completed ; they deserve a perfect analysis, for which I
can supply sufficient materials.

In my notes I have the following entries :

I. 500 grams of dried powdered seeds were repeatedly
extracted with 90 per cent, alcohol, distilled, and the
residue treated with hot distilled water as long as the
water was coloured. Residue insoluble in water (a).

The watery solution, evaporated to the consistence of a
thin syrup, and allowed to stand some time, yielded 0*803
gram of crystals, which proved to be a compound of lime
with an organic acid. The mother liquor, upon evapor¬
ation gave 3"250 of extractive, having an unpleasant taste,
and coloured dark brown by perchloride of iron.

The residue insoluble in water (a) consisted of an oil
containing resin. It was carefully separated from the
resin and weighed 73*333 grams ; it wa3 of a dark brown
colour, and of the consistence of castor oil, odourless, and
having a disagreeable flavour with long persistent acrid
after-taste. In ether it was only partially soluble, and
was preserved for further investigation as papaya oil.
The resin weighed 3*833 grams and formed a tasteless
and odourless dark brown powder.

II. 500 grams of finely pounded seeds were digested
in a still at reduced pressure with caustic potash and 80
per cent, alcohol, strained and pressed ; and the residue
again treated in a similar way with alcohol. The
united liquor was filtered and distilled, then evaporated
to about 800 grams, when the separation of crystals
was noticed and in consequence it was set aside for
a time. It was then separated from the crystals,
further evaporated, and allowed to stand for a longer
time in a cool place. No crystallization or other
separation was noticed, and it was now warmed and
saturated with acetic acid in small excess. After a long
time a brown oil separated ; removed from this and care¬
fully further evaporated a dark brown resin separated,
which will be described further on. The liquid was sepa¬
rated from the resin and repeatedly shaken with ether.
The ethereal solution evaporated gave 2*315 grams of an
oil-like substance, having a peculiarly disagreeable taste
and smell, which was easily soluble in ether and alcohol.
Heated upon platinum it burnt with a smoke irritating to
the oyes, and clear flame, and left no residue. This was
preserved for examination as caricin. The liquid sepa¬
rated from the ether was evaporated and gave 14"722
grams of a nauseous tasting extract.

The crystals ,etc., weighing 3'704 grams of a dazzling
white fat acid, similar to palmitic acid, were preserved as
carica fat acid.

The oil /3, weighing 38*426 grams, behaved similarly to
the papaya oil obtained in the first experiment.

346

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 1, urn.

III. 500 grams of finely pounded seeds were treated
with caustic lime and distilled water as in the prepara¬
tion of santonin. The impure precipitate thrown down
by acid, was dissolved in alcohol and evaporated, then
treated with boiling water, and separated by filtration
from resinous substances. The watery solution, evapor¬
ated to a syrupy consistence and stood in a cool place,
yielded after a long time granular crystals, which when
dried weighed 8-722 grams. Heated upon platinum the
substance melted to a clear liquid, and volatilized leaving
only a trace of a black residue. In cold water it appeared
insoluble, in boiling water and in cold alcohol soluble.
The solution scarcely reddened litmus paper, and it had
a cool bitter taste. It was preserved as papayic acid( ? ).

The resin acid was purified by repeated solution in
alcohol and formed after evaporation a brownish substance
that could be rubbed to a light brown powder. This had
a bitter taste, with a pepper-like biting after-taste. On
platinum it burnt with a smoke irritating to the mucous
membrane to a small carbonaceous residue. It was in¬
soluble in water and ether, and readily soluble in alcohol
and alkalies. From a solution of carbonate of soda it
was precipitated by acids in yellow flocks. The alcoholic
solution of the resin slightly gelatinized with ammonia ; it
gave with acetate of copper a dark green precipitate and
with acetate of lead and tincture of galls no reaction.
Preserved for further experiments as papaya acid resin.

IV. 100 grams of dried seed powder were extracted
with ether, alcohol, water, acids, and alkalies, and besides
the above mentioned products there was obtained 0*220
gram of soft resin, very similar to the soft resin found in
the flesh of the fruit of “mamao femea.” The fatty oil
was yellow coloured, and by ether only 5 per cent, of oil
was obtained from the seeds.

The oil, the so called “caricin,” and the resin acid were
used against intestinal worms; all three products were
active, but the most favourable results were obtained with
the resin acid in doses of from 0*02 to 0*04 gram.

(To be continued.)

THE VALUE OF ALTH2EA AS A PILL
EXCIPIENT.*

BY W. WALLACE BEITENMAN, PH.G.

The use of althaea as an excipient was suggested from
the fact that it contains a large amount of mucilage, and
in endeavouring to determine its value as such, I found it
to answer admirably in every respect but one, which I
shall shortly state.

The proportion of mucilage contained in good althaea is
from 25 to 35 per cent. This it readily yields to boiling
water, together with about the same amount of starch,
some pectin, sugar, etc., which are also present. Treated
with cold water, the mucilage, without the starch, is ex¬
tracted, the infusion becoming ropy.

In experimenting with the althaea, it was used, how¬
ever, only in the form of a fine powder. With some few
substances, by using simply the powder with a little water
or simple syrup, a pilular mass was readily obtained ; but
with most substances the amount of powder required was
such as to render the pills too large. To remedy this, com¬
bination with other substances was resorted to. Traga-
canth, acacia, syrup, solution and syrup of acacia, glycerin,
etc., were tried, using them in different proportions and
with various results. The best combination was produced
by mixing six parts of althaea with one part of powdered
tragacanth, and simple syrup sufficient to give the required
consistence. By using a smaller proportion of tragacanth
the adhesiveness was decreased ; while on the addition of
a larger proportion it was not materially changed. The
use of either solution or syrup of acacia instead of simple
syrup did not improve the mixture ; while with glycerin
the adhesiveness was much lessened. But by mixing

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy , October,
1879.

about three parts of tragacanth with six of althsea, and
then with glycerin, a mixture was obtained nearly as good
as the first. In this the adhesiveness, without doubt,
was due more to the tragacanth than to the althsea.
Acacia used instead of tragacanth, either in the same or
in larger proportions, was found far inferior to the latter.
In short, in no way could I improve on the combination
first mentioned. Giving that in definite quantities, we
have the following formula : —

H Powd. Althaea . £i.

„ Tragacanth . grs. x.

Simple syrup . f

Mix well.

This is easily and quickly prepared, is ropy, plastic, and
of such adhesiveness- that with heavy, inert substances,
such as reduced and dried sulphate of iron, a small quan¬
tity will give a mass capable of being easily and thinly
rolled out.

With quinia and other cinchona alkaloids it answers
well, forming with them, either with or without the use
of acid, masses of good consistence and plasticity ; and,
as but a small amount of excipient is required, the white
colour of the alkaloids, which for elegance the pills ought
also to have, is not perceptibly changed. In speaking of
the colour, I may here state that in mixing the ingredients
of the excipients it becomes of a pale somewhat dirty
yellow colour. In comparing it with several excipients
that have met with considerable favour, it was found
that for adhesiveness and plasticity it was fully equal if
not superior to the best.

Thus, then, for reasons already mentioned, and for its
general adaptability, it would undoubtedly prove a valu¬
able addition to the prescription counter were it not for
one great objection, viz., that pills prepared with it soon
become hard and insoluble.* This seems due mostly to
the althaea itself ; for with pills prepared with an ex¬
cipient in which other substanoes were substituted for the
tragacanth and syrup, and especially where althaea and
water were used to make a mass, the effect was just
about the same. Failing to remedy this tendency to
harden, its value practically is naught.

In France althaea is said to be much employed in the
preparation of pills and electuaries. On inquiring as to
the manner in which it is there used, I was informed that
in the preparation of pills it is never used as an excipient
or ingredient, but simply to dust or place among them for
the same purposes that we. use lycopodium, powdered
liquorice and rice flour, and .when , used in. the prepara¬
tion of electuaries, etc., only to give them bulk and con¬
sistence.

Here some prefer althaea to powdered liquorice in the
preparation of blue pill. In this I fail to see the advant¬
age, as it produces no change other than making the mass
somewhat harder in consistence. In conclusion, to show
the adhesiveness of the mixture of althsea, tragacanth
and syrup, I subjoin a list of. some substances made into
pills, stating opposite each the amount of excipient re¬
quired to form a mass : —

Excip., No. of

Pyrophosphate of iron .

grs.

. . 45

grs.

5

pills.

15

Dried sulphate „
Quevenne’s iron . , .

. . 30

3

15

. . 30

4

15

Sulphate ©f quinia . .

. . 20

2

20

„ cinchonidia

. . 20

2

10

Calomel .

3

10

Subnitrate of bismuth .

. . 50

3

10

Capsicum .

. . 45

5

15

Powd. digitalis . . .

. . 15

3

15

„ asafoetida . . .

. . 30

2

10

# Pills made with powdered marshmallow root soon become
dry and hard in consequence of the absorbent power of this
powder for liquids ; but we do not believe that they become
insoluble, because marshmallow is capable of absorbing a
large amount of liquid, and pills made with it are readily
disintegrated. — Editor Amer. Jour, Pharm,

November i, 1879]. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS."

347

RADIANT MATTER.*

BY WILLIAM CKOOKES, F.R.S.

{Concluded from page 330).

Radiant Matter is deilected by a Magnet.

I now pass to another property of Radiant Matter.
This long glass tube (Fig. 14) is very highly exhausted ;
it has a negative pole at one end (a) and a long phospho¬
rescent screen (b, c) down the centre of the tube. In
front of the negative pole is a plate of mica (6, d) with
a hole (c) in it, and the result is, when I turn on the

Fig. 14.

current, a line of phosphorescent light (e, f)
is projected along the whole length of the
tube. I now place beneath the tube a power¬
ful horseshoe magnet : observe how the line
of light (e, g) becomes curved under the mag¬
netic influence waving about like a flexible
wand as I move the magnet to and fro.

This action of the magnet is very curious,
and if carefully followed up will elucidate
other properties of Radiant Matter. Here
(Fig. 15) is an exactly similar ^ tube, but

to the ground sooner. I cannot well increase before you
the velocity of my stream of radiant molecules by putting
more powder in my battery, but I will try and make them
suffer greater resistance in their flight from one end of
the tube to the other. I heat the caustic potash with a
spirit-lamp and so throw in a trace more gas. Instantly
the stream of Radiant Matter responds. Its velocity is
impeded, the magnetism has longer time on which to act
on the individual molecules, the trajectory gets more and
more curved, until, instead of shooting nearly to the end
of the tube, my molecular bullets fall to the bottom be¬
fore they have got more than half-way.

It is of great interest to ascertain
whether the law governing the mag¬
netic deflection of the trajectory of
Radiant Matter is the same as has
been found to hold good at a lower
vacuum . The experiments I have just
shown you were with a very high
vacuum. Here is a tube with a low
vacuum (Fig. 16). When I turn on
the induction spark, it passes as a

Fig. 15.

having at one end a small potash tube, which
if heated will slightly injure the vacuum.

I turn on the induction current, and you see
the ray of Radiant Matter tracing its trajec¬
tory in a curved line along the screen, under
the influence of the horse-shoe magnet be¬
neath. Observe the shape of the curve. The
molecules shot from the negative pole may be
likened to a discharge of iron bullets from a
mitrailleuse, and the magnet beneath will
represent the earth curving the trajectory of
the shot by gravitation. Here on this lumin¬
ous screen you see the curved trajectory of the
shot accurately traced. Now suppose the
deflecting force to remain constant, the curve
traced by the projectile varies with the
velocity. If I put more powder in the gun
the velocity will be greater and the trajectory
flatter, and if I interpose a denser resisting
medium between the gun and the target,

I diminish the velocity of the shot, and
thereby cause it to move in a greater curve and come

* A lecture delivered to the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, at Sheffield, Friday, Aug. 22, 1879.

Fig. 16.

narrow line of violet light joining
the two poles. Underneath I have a
powerful electro-magnet. I make con¬
tact with the magnet, and the line of
light dips in the centre towards the
magnet. I reverse the poles, and the
line is driven up to the top of the tube.
Notice the difference between the two
phenomena. Here the action is tem¬
porary. The dip takes place under
the magnetic influence ; the line of
discharge then rises and pursues its
path to the positive pole. In the high
exhaustion, however, after the stream
of Radiant Matter had dipped to the
magnet it did not recover itself, but
continued its path in the altered direc¬
tion.

Fig. 17.

By means of this little wheel, skilfully constructed by
Mr. Gimingham, I am able to show the magnetic deflec¬
tion in the electric lantern. The apparatus is shown in
this diagram (Fig. 17). The negative pole [a, b) is in the

348

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 1, 1879.

form of a very shallow cup. In front of the cup is a
mica screen ( c , d), wide enough to intercept the Radiant
Matter coming from the negative pole. Behind this screen
is a mica wheel ( e , f) with a series of vanes, making
a sort of paddle-wheel. So arranged, the molecular
rays from the pole (a, b) will be cut off from the wheel,
and will not produce any movement. I now put a
magnet (g), over the tube, so as to deflect the stream
over or under the obstacle (c, d), and the result will be
rapid motion in one or the other direction, according to
the way the magnet is turned. I throw the image of the
apparatus on the screen. The spiral lines painted on the
wheel show which way it turns. I arrange the magnet
to draw the molecular stream so as to beat against the
upper vanes, and the wheel revolves rapidly as if it were
an over- shot water-wheel. I turn the magnet so as to
drive the Radiant Matter underneath ; the wheel slackens
speed, stops, and then begins to rotate the other way, like
an under-shot water-wheel. This can be repeated as
often as I reverse the position of the magnetT.

I have mentioned that the molecules of the Radiaut
Matter discharged from the negative pole are negatively
electrified. It is probable that their velocity is owing to
the mutual repulsion between the similarly electrified
pole and the molecules. In less high vacua, such as you
saw a few minutes ago (Fig. 16), the discharge passes
from one pole to another, carrying an electric current, as
if it were a flexible wire. Now it is of great interest to
ascertain if the stream of Radiant Matter from the nega¬
tive pole also carries a current. Here (Fig. 18) is an
apparatus which will decide the question at once. The

shaped negative pole. This cup projects the rays to a
focus in the middle of the tube. At the side of the tube
is a small electro-magnet, which I can set in action by
touching a key, and the focus is then drawn to the side

To show the first action
of the heat I have coated

of the glass tube (Fig. 19, b)

b

V

l^t\

V

'r

Fig. 19.

melts.

Fig. 18.

tube contains two negative terminals (a, b) close together
at one end, and one positive terminal (r), at the other.
This enables me to send two si reams of Radiant Matter
side by side along the phosphorescent screen — or by dis¬
connecting one negative pole, only one stream.

If the streams of Radiant Matter carry an electric
current they will act like two parallel conducting wires
and attract one another ; but if they are simply built
up of negatively electrified molecules they will repel each
other.

I will first connect the upper negative pole (a) with the
coil, and you see the ray shooting along the line (d /). I
now bring the lower negative pole (b) into play, and
another line ( e , h) darts along the screen. But notice the
way the first line behaves ; it jumps up from its first
position d, f, to d, g, showing that it is repelled, and if
time permitted I could show you that the lower ray is
also deflected from its normal direction : therefore the
two parallel streams of Radiant Matter exert mutual
repulsion, acting not like current carriers, but merely as
similarly electrified bodies.

Radiant Matter prodaces Heat when its Motion is arrested.

During these experiments another property of Radiant
Matter has made itself evident, although I have not yet
drawn attention to it. The glass gets very warm where
the green phosphorescence is strongest. The molecular
focus on the tube, which we saw earlier in the evening
(Fig. 8) is intensely hot, and I have prepared an apparatus
by which this heat at the focus can be rendered apparent
to all present.

I have here a small tube (Fig. 19, a) with a cup¬

the tube with wax. I
will put the apparatus
in front of the electric
lantern (Fig. 20, d : vide
next page), and throw a
magnified image of the
tube on the screen. The
ooil is now at work, and
the focus of molecular
rays is projected along
the tube. I turn the
magnetism on, and draw
the focus to the side of
the glass. The first thing
you see is a small cir¬
cular patch melted in
the coating of wax. The
glass soon begins to dis¬
integrate, and cracks are
shooting starwise from
the centre of heat. The
glass is softening. Now
the atmospheric pressure
forces it in, and now it
A hole (e) is perforated in the middle, the £,ir
rushes in, and the experiment is at an
end.

I can render this focal heat more evident
if I allow it to play on a piece of metal.
This bulb (Fig. 21) is furnished with a
negative pole in the form of a cup (a).
The rays will therefore be projected to a
focus on a piece of iridio-platinum (6j sup¬
ported in the centre of the bulb.

I first turn on the induction-coil slightly,
so as not to bring out its full power. The
focus is now playing on the metal, raising it
to a white-heat. I bring a small magnet near,
and you see I can deflect the focus of heat

just as I did the lu¬
minous focus in the
other tube. By shift¬
ing the magnet I can
drive the focus up and
down, or draw it com¬
pletely away from the
metal, and leave it
non-luminous. I
withdraw the mag¬
net, and let the mole¬
cules have full play
again ; the metal is
now white-hot. I in¬
crease the intensity
of the spark. The
iridio-platinum glows
with almost insup¬
portable brilliancy,
and at last melts.

The Chemistry of
Radiant Matter.

As might be expec¬
ted, the chemical dis¬
tinctions between one
kind of radiant mat¬
ter and another at
these high exhaustions
are difficult to recog¬
nize. The physical

Fig. 21.

November i, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

349

properties I have been elucidating seem to be common to
all matter at this low density. Whether the gas originally
under experiment be hydrogen, carbonic acid, or atmo¬
spheric air, the phenomena of phosphorescence, shadows,
magnetic deflection, etc., are identical, only they commence
at different pressures. Other facts, however, show that
at this low density the molecules retain their chemical
characteristics. Thus, by introducing into the tubes
appropriate absorbents of residual gas, I can see that
chemical attraction goes on long after the attenuation has
reached the best stage for showing the phenomena now

under illustration, and I am able by this means to carry
the exhaustion to much higher degrees than I can get
by mere pumping. Working with aqueous vapour I
can use phosphoric anhydride as an absorbent ; with
carbonic acid, potash ; with hydrogen, palladium ; and
with oxygen, carbon, and then potash. The highest
vacuum I have yet succeeded in obtaining has been the
1-20, 000, 000th of an atmosphere, a degree which may
be better understood if I say that it corresponds to about
the hundredth of an inch in a barometric column three
miles high.

o

Fig.

It may be objected that it is hardly consistent to
attach pi’imary importance to the presence of Matter,
when I have taken extraordinary pains to remove as
much Matter as possible from these bulbs and these
tubes, and have succeeded so far as to leave only about
the one-millionth of an atmosphere in them. At its
ordinary pressure the atmosphere is not very dense, and
its recognition as a constituent of the world of Matter is
quite a modem notion. It would seem that when divided
by a million, so little Matter will necessarily be left that
we may justifiably neglect the trifling residue and apply
the term vacuum to space from which the air has been so
nearly removed. To do so, however, would be a great
error, attributable to our limited faculties being unable
to grasp high numbers. It is generally taken for granted
that when a number is divided by a million the quotient
must necessarily be small, whereas it may happen that
the original number is so large that its division by a
million seems to make little impression on it. According
to the best authorities, a bulb of the size of the one before
you (13‘5 centimetres in diameter) contains more than
1,000000,000000,000000,000000 (a quadrillion) molecules.
Now, when exhausted to a millionth of an atmosphere we
shall still have a trillion molecules left in the bulb — a

20.

number quite sufficient to justify me in speaking of the
residue as Matter.

To suggest some idea of this vast number I take the
exhausted bulb, and perforate it by a spark from the
induction coil. The spark produces a hole of microscopical
fineness, yet sufficient to allow molecules to penetrate and
to destroy the vacuum. The inrush of air impinges against
the vanes and sets them rotating after the manner of a
windmill. Let us suppose the molecules to be of such a
size that at every second of time a hundred millions could
enter, How long, think you, would it take for this small
vessel to get full of air ? An hour ? A day ? A year ?
A century ? Nay, almost an eternity ! A time so
enormous that imagination itself cannot grasp the reality.
Supposing this exhausted glass bulb, indued with inde¬
structibility, had been pierced at the birth of the solar
system ; supposing it to have been present when the earth
was without form and void ; supposing it to have borne
witness to all the stupendous changes evolved during the
full cycles of geologic time, to have seen the first living
creature appear, and the last man disappear ; supposing
it to survive until the fulfilment of the mathematical
prediction that the Sun, the source of energy, four million
centuries from its formation will ultimately become a

350

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November l, 1 879

burnt-out cinder ;* supposing all this — at the rate of filling
I have just described, 100 million molecules a second —
this little bulb even then would scarcely have admitted
its full quadrillion of molecules. +

But what will you say if I tell you that all these mole¬
cules, this quadrillion of molecules, will enter through the
microscopic hole before you leave this room ? The hole
being unaltered in size, the number of molecules undi¬
minished, this apparent paradox can only be explained by
again supposing the size of the molecules to be diminished
almost infinitely — so that instead of entering at the rate
of 100 millions every second, they troop in at a rate of
something like 300 trillions a second. I have done the
sum, but figures when they mount so high cease to have
any meaning, and such calculations are as futile as trying
to count the drops in the ocean.

In studying this Fourth state of Matter we seem at
length to have within our grasp and obedient to our con¬
trol the little indivisible particles which with good warrant
are supposed to constitute the physical basis of the
universe. We have seen that in some of its properties
Radiant Matter is as material as this table, whilst in
other properties it almost assumes the character of
Radiant Energy. We have actually touched the border
land where Matter and Force seem to merge into one
another, the shadowy realm between Known and Un¬
known which for me has always had peculiar temptations.
I venture to think that the greatest scientific problems of
the future will find their solution in this Border Land, and
even beyond ; here, it seems to me, lie Ultimate Realities,
subtle, far-reaching, wonderful.

“ Yet all these were, when no Man did them know,

Yet have from wisest Ages hidden beene ;

And later Times tliinges more unknowne shall show.
Why then should witlesse Man so much misweene,
That nothing is, but that which he hath seene

NEW CEMENTS FOR DENTAL AND OTHER
PURF0SES.+

Charles Sylvester Rostaingdi Rostagni, of Philadelphia,
has procured patents for preparing cements for dental and
other purposes, which are compounds of pyrophosphates.

A mixture of acid or neutral calcium phosphate is fused
in a crucible together with zinc phosphate, or 1 part of
calcium phosphate is fused with 10 to 30 parts of oxide of
zinc, and enough ammonium phosphate to saturate the
zinc oxide. The solidified, glassy mass is dissolved in
dilute phosphoric acid ; to the solution may be added a
little magnesia or oxide of cadmium. . The solution is
evaporated, and when wanted for use the mass is dissolved
in a little distilled water.

The inventor also prepares mixtures of phosphate of
zinc, or magnesium, or cadmium with the above mass.

Another cement is prepared from 3000 parts oxide of

* The possible duration of the Sun from formation to
extinction has been variously estimated by different autho¬
rities, at from 18 million years to 400 million years. For
the purpose of this illustration I have taken the highest
estimate.

t According to Mr. Johnstone Stoney (Phil. Mag., vol. 36.
p. 141), 1 c.c. of air contains about 1000,000000, 000000,000000
molecules. Therefore a bulb 13 5 centims. diameter
contains 13 '53 + 0'5236 + 1000,000000,000000.000000 or
1,288252,350000,000000,000000 molecules of air at the ordi¬
nary pressure. Therefore the bulb when exhausted to the
millionth of an atmosphere contains 1,288252,350000,000000
molecules, leaving 1,288251,061747,650000,000000 mole¬
cule < to enter through the perforation. At the rate of
1C 0,000000 molecules a second, the time required for them
all t) enter will be

12882,510617,476500 seconds or
214,708510,291275 minutes, or
3,578475,171521 hours, or
149103,132147 days, or
408,501731 years.

X From New Remedies , October, 1879.

zinc, to which are added 5 to 50 parts of boracic acid dis¬
solved in alcohol or water. The oxide of zinc may partly
be replaced by lime, magnesia or baryta. The mixture
is heated for several hours to a white heat, and if desired
coloured, a sufficient quantity of an aqueous solution of the
characteristic metallic salts used for producing coloured
beads may be previously added.

Zinc silicate, prepared by double decomposition of
sodium or potassium silicate with a soluble zinc salt, may
also be employed.

THE HANBURY MEMORIAL FUND.

A meeting of the Committee of Organization of the
Hanbury Memorial Fund was held at 17, Bloomsbury
Square, on Thursday, October 23.

The Secretaries reported that in accordance with the
instructions of the General Committee at its final
meeting on February 19, 1879, as reported in the
Pharmaceutical Journal of March 8, 1879, the Pharma¬
ceutical Society had been requested to act, by its Council,
as trustees of the fund, biennially requesting adjudicators
to award the medal, and afterwards presenting the medal
so awarded. The Council had accepted the duties. £400
stock in consols had been purchased in the name of
the Society. The adjudicators were to be “the respective
Presidents for the time being of the Linnsean, Chemical
and Pharmaceutical Societies, and of the British Pharma¬
ceutical Conference, together with one pharmaceutical
chemist, who shall, prior to each award, be nominated by
the last named two Presidents.”

Specimens in wax of the dies of the medal were laid
before the Committee together with the following
letter : —

“ Plough Court, Lombard Street,
“August 12, 1879.

“Dear Professor Attfield, — Accept my thanks for a
sight of the impression from the die for the memorial
medal of my late cousin, Daniel. As now finished, it
appears to be admirable, and the likeness excellent. It is
remarkable that it should have been rendered so well.

“ Yours very truly,

“ Cornelius Hanbury.”

Mr. H. B. Brady proposed, and Mr. T. H. Hills
seconded a resolution to the effect that the dies be
accepted, and be handed over to the custody of the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, and that the costs
be paid. Carried unanimously:

The draft deed of declaration of trust, as kindly drawn
up by Mr. Flux, and as revised by the members of the
Sub-Committee, was read and considered, and a resolution
was proposed by Mr. M. Carteighe, seconded by Mr. G.
F. Schacht, and carried, — “ That the deed as drafted be
accepted, that it be engrossed, and that the costs of en¬
grossing and stamping be paid.”

Instructions were given to the Secretaries to prepare
a cash account and balance sheet for publication so soon
as all costs were paid.

On the motion of Mr. W. Southall, the thanks of the
Committee were voted to Professor Attfield for his
labours in connection with the collection and organization
of the Fund.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

The first meeting of the Chemical Society for the new
session will be held on Thursday, November 6, when the
following papers will be read: — On Alizarin Blue, by
G. Auerbach. The Transformation Products of Starch,
by C. O’Sullivan. Note on the Formulae of the Carbo¬
hydrates, by H. E. Armstrong. A New Method of De¬
termining Sulphur in Coal, by T. Nakamura. The
Bromine Derivatives of ft Naphthol, by A. G. Smith.
Notes on the Dissociation of Ammonia Iron Alum, by
J. S. Thomson.

November l, i«79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

351

Sfa |l!mi;macttttliral Jompral.

- « -

SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 1, 1879.

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

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

Advertisements, and payments for Copies of the Journal,
Messrs. Churchill, Ntxo Burlington Street, London , W.

Envelopes indorsed “ Pharm. Journ .”

— " - ■“ 1 - - " ■— - - - - ~

KEW GARDENS REPORT.

Some of the most interesting material in the
annual report of the Director of the Royal Gardens
at Kew is the collection of reports from various parts
of the world where attempts are being made to in¬
troduce the cultivation of plants that are useful as
yielding drugs or other substances capable of being
employed for technical purposes.

This year, a number of medicinal plants are men¬
tioned, among which cinchona may be allowed to
hold the first place. In British India, we learn that
the introduction of Columbian species of cinchona
into India is contemplated, and that Mr. Cross has
collected in New Grenada a number ot plants of
those species that yield the varieties of bark known
as “ Soft Columbian” and “Hard Cartliagena,” which
are so largely used for the manufacture of quinine.
Samples of bark corresponding to the different kinds
were brought home by Mr. Cross and examined by
Mr. J. E. Howard, who reported that the soft Co¬
lumbian variety known as Calisaya of Santa F e was
of the very best description, such as indicates the
probability of a much larger production of alkaloid in
the bark of more mature trees, and he is of opinion
that if the young plants can be safely conveyed to

India and established there, the bark obtained from

> '

them in the future may prove second to none.
Among the plants of the “ Hard Carthagena ” kind
one considered by Mr. Howard to be especially
worthy of attention is from Coralis Inza, in the
Magdalena Valley, yielding 4-75 per cent, of alka¬
loids, of which 1*88 was quinine and T18 cinchoni-
dine. If it proves to be, as he thinks likely, a free
grower, this plant might be well worth naturalizing
in India.

These plants have been placed at Kew, under the
care of Mr. Cross, and he has reported to the Under¬
secretary of State for India that though the number
of Calisaya Santa Fe plants is somewhat reduced,
fifteen of them are growing and rooting, and he is
convinced they will soon become good established
plants. Of the Magdalena Valley plants ten are
now growing, but some of them are good, and he
considers the fate of both sorts as being quite safe.

In Ceylon, cinchona cultivation has had to contend
with very unfavourable weather; many old trees have
died, and great numbers of cuttings have been de¬
stroyed, so that it will be necessary to establish fresh

nurseries for rearing young plants. The bark of the
trees cut down when they showed signs of bad
health has sold well in the London market, and
most of the stumps are again sending up fresh
shoots.

According to recent accounts the cultivation of
cinchonas in Ceylon has quite recovered from the
discouragement produced during last year, and as it
is stated that returns can be obtained from a cinchon
plantation almost as soon as from one of coffee or tea
it is probable that the enterprise will be carried out
so as to add largely to the wealth and prosperity of
the island. It may here be mentioned that one de¬
ficiency is the want of a supply of moss for covering
up the trees during the growth of renewed bark, and
there is an opportunity for introducing some other
material as a substitute.

From Jamaica also there is news of success in the
cultivation of cinchona. Mr. Thompson, late super¬
intendent of the Botanic Gardens, and in charge of
the cinchona plantations, reports that the trees,
though growing at the low elevation of 2000 feet,
are very healthy and well developed.

In some instances the trees of Cinchona succirubra
in Jamaica have been found to be affected with a
disease, apparently caused by the mycelium of a
fungus permeating the cambium layer and the bark ;
but the number of trees thus attacked is small, and
it is believed that the disease will be best met by at
once felling the trees which appear unhealthy, se¬
curing the bark and carefully burning all the debris.
The base of the stem will generally “coppice,” or
throw out fresh shoots.

Some of the bark sent to England from Jamaica
last year realized a good price as compared with
similar bark from India and Ceylon, and there are
some thousands of acres of land in the parish of
Manchester, having an elevation of about 3000 feet,
that is said be especially well adapted for the cul¬
tivation of cinchona. At Gordon Town the results
obtained show that cinchona cultivation would be
very profitable in Jamaica, and the Government has
therefore authorized the extension of the plantation
by a hundred acres.

The use of the mixed alkaloids prepared from East
Indian red bark appears now to be more success¬
ful. Dr. King- reports that increased experience
has served to establish confidence in it, and there
are now but few complaints of the nauseating effect
which was at first objected to. Possibly the product
sent into the market, or supplied for use in the
hospitals, has been improved and made less objection¬
able. Considering also the high price that quinine
has for some time past commanded, there will prob¬
ably always be a field for the advantageous use ot
this mixed alkaloid if it continues to be manufactured
in a sufficient state of purity.

Among the numerous interesting contributions to
the Kew Gardens by persons living abroad, a fine
plant of the Dracaena that yields the dragon’s blood of

352

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 1, 1879.

Socotra lias been sent by Mr. W. Wykeham Perry,
of H.M.S. “Undaunted,” which was stationed at
Aden during the past year. By the aid of Captain
Hunter, Assistant Resident at Aden, it has been
ascertained that the tree grows only at an elevation
of about 1500 feet, that it is dioecious and that the
plants of both sexes yield gum. To obtain the
dragon’s blood the bark is scraped and after some
days the exudation is collected.

Among other plants sent to Kew by Mr. Wykeham
Perry are several living specimens of the trees
yielding the gum resin olibanum, and from the in-
i or in at ion furnished respecting the sources of oliba¬
num it seems evident that much remains to be done
before our knowledge of this subject is placed upon
a thoroughly satisfactory footing. Unfortunately,
the zealous collectors of Her Majesty’s Customs
made the collection of authentic specimens of frank¬
incense brought home by Captain Hunter quite
useless tor study by hopelessly mixing the contents
of the several boxes. Surely it might be possible in
a case ot this kind to allow such packages to pass
through unopened, or at least, to have them examined
in the presence of an officer of the institution such
specimens are intended for.

Myrrh is another drug to the defective natural
history of which Mr. Perry and Captain Hunter
have made important contributions by sending to
Kew Gardens a set ot plants yielding the several
kinds of myrrh known in Eastern commerce.

THE UNIVERSAL PHARMACOPOEIA.

Amongst the reports presented to the Interna¬
tional Medical Congress, recently held in Amster¬
dam, was oue by Professor Gille, of Brussels, from
the International Commission nominated two years
before at Geneva to deal with the subjects of
uniformity in medicine and the construction of an
universal pharmacopoeia. This report is interesting
in several respects, and especially because it discloses
something like an abandonment of the idea of an
international pharmacopoeia in some pharmaceutical
quarters.

It will be remembered* that the principles agreed
to at the previous International Medical Congress, '
held in Geneva in 1877, as suitable for the basis
upon which to construct such a work, were closely
in accord with those adopted at the last International
Pharmaceutical Congress, held in St. Petersburg in
18/4. This fact was accordingly communicated to
the St. Petersburg Pharmaceutical Society, to which
body the carrying out of the decisions of the Phar¬
maceutical Congress appear to have been entrusted,
through its President. This, however, led to no
response. On the other hand, the St. Petersburg
Society is said to have decided in March last to take
no part in the next international pharmaceutical
congress, which was to have been held this year in
London, and, in J uly, to have sent back to M. Mehu,

* See Pharmaceutical Journal [3], vol. viii., p. 261.

without a word of explanation, the scheme for an
universal pharmacopoeia elaborated by the Paris
Society of Pharmacy, which had been referred to a
committee of pharmacists to report upon.

Under these circumstances the present reporters
think that it devolves upon the medical profession
to take up the question of the universal pharma¬
copoeia, and to apply the stimulus necessary to
arouse the flagging interest of pharmacists. The
report proposes that the commission should be au¬
thorized to select a Government to which application
should be made to open negociations with other
Governments, with a view to the nomination of an
international commission to deal with the subject,
utilizing as far as possible the work already done.
This commission it is proposed should commence its
labours immediately after its nomination, and the
members of it to report progress to their respective
Governments every two years, the subjects upon
which they are not in accord being reserved for
further investigation.

The report and its recommendations were agreed
to by the Medical Congress, and it was decided that
the scheme of the Paris Society should be printed in
the official proceedings of the meeting at Amster¬
dam. It was also decided to add to the members of
the Geneva Commission, Messrs. Sayre, of New
York ; Dechambre, of Paris ; Ernest Hart, of
London ; Warlomont, of Brussels ; Goye, of Am¬
sterdam ; and Palasciano, of Naples.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

The opening meeting of the above Association
for the present session will be held at 17, Blooms¬
bury Square, W.C., on Thursday, November 13, at
8.30 p in., when the President, Professor Attfield,
will occupy the chair, and the election of officers
will take place.

We learn from a colonial newspaper that Mr.
C. R. Blackett, the President of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society of Victoria, has been elected a member
of the Legislative Assembly for Fitzroy. Mr.
Blackett has for some years occupied a prominent
place among the pharmacists of Victoria, and in his
former office of Honorary Secretary of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society took an active part in the obtaining
of the existing Act to regulate the practice of
pharmacy in that colony. It appears that Mr.
Blackejtt’s popularity was sufficient to secure his
election, notwithstanding that the influence of the
Government was brought to bear on behalf of
another candidate.

We have been requested by Mr. R. Hampson, of
St. John Street Road, and Mr. W. M. Covell, of
Hackney, to warn our readers against the repre¬
sentations of a man who is going about London
soliciting charity with a petition purporting to bear
their signatures which have been added without
their authority.

November 1. 1879.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL and transactions.

353

atasmttions of t|e flrarmiutcutal ^aqittg.

EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.

October 22, 1879.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was also present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Seven candidates were examined. Four failed. The
following three parsed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Arnfield, John Cash . Ashton-under-Lyne.

Bevan, William . Ipswich.

Cook, William Richard . Bath.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Fifteen candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following ten passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Austin, Alfred . . Birmingham.

Ballard, William . Hammersmith.

Blower, J oseph . . .Shrewsbury.

Bond, Peter Gillard . Kingsbridge.

Brown, John . Pontefract.

Cann, James . Dorking.

Cheal, Harry Alexander . London.

Chipp, James . Newport, I. W.

Clarke, Henry . Whitehaven.

Constance, Sidney William . London.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

Four candidates were examined. Two failed. The
following two passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Carter, James . London.

Jones, Thomas . .......London.

October 23, 1879.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Eight candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Gascoigne, Charles . Hurworth.

Gibbons, Walter . Manchester.

Howse, Charles Turk . Cheltenham.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Eighteen candidates were examined. Nine failed.
The following nine passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Cole, Edwin Henry . Dorking.

Field, William . Shoreham.

Fowler, William . Sunderland.

Fryer, Charles Harry . Leeds.

Godfrey, Henry . Godaiming.

Gordon, John . Bradford.

Gould, Henry Thomas . Newport, I, W.

Greenwood, George ...-. . Grantham.

Haden, Walter Edward . Lichfield.

October 24, 1879.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-four candidates were examined. Twelve failed.
The following twelve passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Hearnshaw, John William . Spalding.

Hessell, James . Rye.

Hewlett, James . Northwich.

Hoad, Frank . Rye.

Hopkins, William . Warwick.

Hornby, Charles Haycock . Stockport.

Hutchin, William Francis W... Maidstone.

Jones, Henry . New Milford.

Jones, Llewellyn .. . London.

Jones, Nathaniel Stevens . Fulham.

Kilner, Frederick James . Bristol.

Mason, Frederic Silvester . Leicester.

October 29, 1879 .

Present— Mr. Sandford, President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

Dr. Greenhow was present on behalf of the Privy
Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Eight candidates were examined. Five failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Laxon, Matthew . Wisbeaeh.

Leach, Isaac . London.

Mason, William Brandwood ...Bolton.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Sixteen candidates were examined. Eleven failed. The
following Jive passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Moody, Lewis . Lincoln.

Morgan, Alfred William . Rochester.

Morris, Humphrey . Dolgelly.

Parker, Charles . Lancaster.

Powrie, Percival Chamberlain... Mossel Bay.

October 30, 1879.

Present — Mr. Sandford, President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Plowman, Southall and Taylor.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-three candidates were examined. Twelve failed.
The following eleven passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Reid, William . Aberdeen.

Richardson, Arthur . Epworth.

Sedgwick, John . Blackpool.

Tanner, Herbert . Wendlebury.

Thompson, John Tatham . Scarborough.

Thompson, Thomas Clay . Bedworth.

Watlcinson, James . Farnworth.

Watson, Robert John . Market Rasen.

Wilding, George James . Preston.

Williamson, Bamford . South Shields.

Willson, Robert . Boston.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

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

Certificates of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Beesley, William . Banbury,

Buxton, Alfred . Stafford.

Certificate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of

Glasgow.

Burrows, Richard . London.

Certificate of the Society of Apothecaries.
Sharman, J. Schultz Wm. E. ...Norwood.
Certificates of the University of Cambridge.

Eastes, Ernest John . Deal.

Hall, Robert Edward . Camborne.

Readman, Edward James . Newport Pagnell.

Youngman, William Edward ...Bury St. Edmunds.

354

THE rHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November l, 1879

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Atkinson, Robert B . Pontefract.

Barritt, Ernest Henry . Colchester.

Brown, Ernest Ansell . Margate.

Lugton, Peter . Manchester.

Thew, Thomas William . Sunderland.

flrorimiiat ©raitsadioitj.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The second general meeting of the thirty-first session
was held at the Royal Institution, on Thursday evening,
October 23, the President, Charles Symes, Ph.D., in the
chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The following donations were announced : — The current
number of the Pharmaceutical Journal , the ‘ Proceedings
of the Liverpool Geological Society’ for two sessions
1877-8 and 1878-9, and the Canadian Pharmaceutical
Journal.

Messrs. J. Barker Galloway and Albert Kehlstadt
were elected members.

The President called attention to some remarks of
Professor E. Pollaci, published in the Italian Chemical
Gazette , relative to the process technically known as
“Plastering Wines.” It was there stated that if gypsum
were added to wine during fermentation the proportion
of alkaline sulphates dissolved might reach 5 or 6 grams
per litre ; in fact, the sulphates and tartrates wrere present
to such an extent as to render the wine a saturated
solution of them. The public are now demanding a
greater state of purity in articles of food, drugs, etc.,
and he thought it well that cmnoisseurs should be made
aware of the fact that under the name of wine they might
possibly be drinking a “ saturated solution of plaster of
paris.” This had also a special interest for pharmacists
seeing that it might account for some of the impurities in
cream of tartar.

Mr. Symes then gave a short discourse on “ Radiant
Matter.” He thought it would be of special interest to the
members, now that Mr. Crookes’s Sheffield lecture was
being published in the Pharmaceutical Journal, to have
the subject illustrated by experiments. He briefly
summarized the characters of the three conditions of
matter commonly known, viz., the solid, liquid and
gaseous, and then passed on to compare the latter with
the ultra-gaseous condition. The mean free path of the
molecule, lines of molecular pressure, were experimentally
illustrated by means of a series of beautifully illuminated
tubes.

Mr. Thomas Johnson, F.I.C., F.C.S., made a commu¬
nication, which he illustrated with diagrams and experi¬
ments, on —

Some Recent Improvements in Burettes, Siphons,

Reagent Bottles, and Apparatus for taking Spe¬
cific Gravity.

The first was A Neto Apparatus for taking Specific
Gravities of Solids by means of the volume of water
displaced. The apparatus consists of a cylindrical vessel
containing water. The top of the cylinder is covered with
a brass lid, through the centre of which a needle can be
screwed till the point touches the surface of the water
contained in the jar. When the substance is dropped into
the water the needle is screwed up till the point again
rests on the surface of the water, and the displacement is
shown on a scale, or the water is drawn off to its original
level in an accurately graduated tube.

An Apparatus for Estimating Nitrates by Pelouze's
Method. — A flask is fitted with a hollow stopper ; a conical
glass rod fits into the bottom of the stopper ; the funnel-
shaped stopper is filled with alkaline solution. On boiling
the contents of flask, the steam lifts up the little rod and

escapes without allowing the alkaline solution to enter
the flask; when the boiling is finished the conical rod is
sucked tightly against the opening of the stopper, so no
air can enter the flask and vitiate the results.

The glass bead key, a piece of glass in the form of an
egg, is introduced into an indiarubber tube, connected with
some vessel containing liquid. On gently pressing over the
bead with thumb and fore finger, the liquid will flow as
required through the tube.

Apparatus for Decanting Liquids. — A bottle without a
bottom is inverted and the liquid poured in, a cork fits
the neck of the bottle through which passes a glass tube
connected by an indiarubber tube to an inner tube which
slides up and down. To decant the liquid the inner tube is
drawn downwards till the orifice is just above the surface
of the sediment.

A New Reagent Bottle. — This bottle is fitted with a
hollow glass stopper, filled with cotton wool to exclude
dust; a bent glass tube fits in a hole drilled in the shoulder
of the bottle, as in an ordinary wash bottle. On placing
the forefinger on the opening of the hollow stopper and
inclining the bottle no liquid will flow, but on removing
the finger the liquid flows instantly, continuously or in
drops as required.

Bottles containing standard solutions can be fitted as
above, and if it is desirable to exclude atmospheric air
from them they can be kept in an atmosphere of carbonic
acid. The apparatus for this consists of two bottles
which swing on a pivot. When the bottle generating the
gas is raised, the acid liquid flows into the other bottle
below and the gas ceases to be produced; on raising the
other bottle again the acid flows into the generator con¬
taining the carbonate of lime and more gas is produced.

A Neio Burette Float. — This is made square instead of
round, so as to diminish the friction against the sides of
the burette.

The next communication was on —

A Factitious Sample of Powdered Scammony.

BY M. CONROY, F.C.S.

Writing on scammony, Pereira said “It is adulterated to
such a large extent by the peasants who extract, and the
Jew dealers who export it, that it is hopeless to seek fora
pure specimen except in pharmaceutical museums.” This
remark is as true to-day as when it was first penned
twenty-five years ago, for the difficulty of obtaining gum
that will yield even the minimum percentage of resin is
exceedingly great, and it is consequently with the greatest
difficulty that wholesale houses are able to guarantee their
virgin scammony to contain 80 per cent, of resin. Although
adulterated samples are, unfortunately, so plentiful,
they rarely get into use without their real value having
been ascertained, for as a rule, all wholesale houses
analyse samples before buying, and buy and sell according
to the amount of resin which the sample contains. The
most common adulterant is wheaten flour, but occa¬
sionally wood ashes, lampblack, gum, etc., are met with.

It is not, however, an adulterated sample that I
intend bringing before you this evening, but an entirely
factitious one, made up of wheaten flour and resin of
scammony. It was purchased from a wholesale house as
fine Aleppo powdered gum, but the purchaser doubting its
genuineness, sent it to be analysed, and for that purpose
it came into my hands. Fine Aleppo scammony is, as
you are well aware, commercially known as a kind in¬
ferior to the “ virgin,” and, so far as my experience goes,
contains usually from 50 to 70 per cent, of resin. Its
odour is, like that of the virgin quality, pleasant and
cheesey, but it is considerably tougher, breaks with a
rougher fracture, and its powder is generally much darker,
in colour.

This sample, you will notice, is of a pale buff colour, is
entirely devoid of even a trace of the cheesey odour
of the gum, but possesses in a marked degree the
strong peculiar odour ^of the resin prepared from the
• root.

November l, 18T9 1 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

355

Having satisfied myself by a careful ocular and nasal
examination that it was an entirely factitious sample, I
exhausted it with ether and obtained 15 per cent, of resin,
the remaining matter insoluble in ether consisted almost
exclusively of wheaten flour.

The gummy matter found in genuine scammony was
entirely absent, as were likewise the usual impurities,
such as particles of the root, sand, etc.

From these facts the only conclusion that can be drawn
is that the sample is an entirely artificial one, and the
sublime simplicity of a wholesale firm attempting to pass
off such an article as this for fine Aleppo scammony is
certainly very amusiDg. I am informed that the addition
of resin of scammony is frequently resorted to, as a means
of bringing up inferior powder to the official standard, but

1 must say that I have never myself met with any such
samples. Such an addition, however, can be readily dis¬
covered by the nose, for the odour of resin of scammony
is so characteristic and powerful that anyone possessed of
a keen sense of smell could discover the presence of even

2 or 3 per cent.

While on this subject, it would, perhaps, be interesting
to some of our younger members and associates were I
to give a modus operandi for the assay of this gum. The
Pharmacopoeia simply states that ether should remove
from 80 to 90 per cent, of resin ; but as there are so many
ways by which this could be done, some giving more
accurate results than others, I will just explain the one
by which I work myself, and which I can safely say gives
thoroughly accurate results.

50 grains of moderately fine powdered gum, mixed with
about double its bulk of powdered glass, is placed in a
small percolator : the one which I have here answers ad¬
mirably ; it is the tube of a 2 oz. glass male syringe having
a plug of glass wool so placed as to prevent any particles
from getting into, or passing through the neck. On the
glass wool is placed powdered glass, to the depth of about
a quarter of an inch, and on to this the mixture of pow¬
dered glass and scammony is placed. Ether is then
passed through, until the whole of the resin is extracted,
which is seen by the ether passing through colourless.
The ethereal tincture is collected in an accurately tared
beaker, of about 2 fluid ounces capacity, and placed in
the drying oven, which has been previously heated, and
the gas extinguished to avoid the ether vapour firing.
The heat of the oven will be sufficient to drive off the
ether in about ten or fifteen minutes, when the gas may
be relit, and the drying completed at 212° Fahr.
Towards the end of the process, if the resin be not
stirred, it will rise in the beaker in the form of a light,
spongy mass, in which condition it rapidly dries. The
net weight is then taken, and this multiplied by 2 gives
the percentage of resin.

Interesting discussions followed each communication, in
which the President, Messrs. Conroy, Davies, Johnson,
Hallawell and Watt took part.

LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual social meeting of the members, associates
and friends was held on Wednesday, October 22, 1879,
at the Green Dragon Hotel, Guilford Street, where
dinner was provided at eight o’clock p.m.

The President, Mr. Councillor Stead, occupied the
chair, and the Vice-President, Mr. S. Taylor, acted as
croupier.

After dinner, the usual loyal toasts of “ The Queen,”
“ The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Royal
Family,” were proposed by the Chairman, and drunk
with honours.

Mr. S. Taylor proposed “The Town and Trade of
Leeds,” referring to the steadiness which characterized
the trade of the town, due no doubt to the great variety
of manufactures carried on in it.

Mr, P. J efferson briefly replied.

Mr. T. Fairley, F.R.S.E., proposed “ The Leeds Che¬
mists’ Association,” an institution which had done much
good, and was calculated to be of service hereafter, especi¬
ally if the unpleasantness caused by the reduction in some
cases of the usual retail prices was overcome.

In responding, Mr. E. Yendall pointed out the advan¬
tages which the Society offered, and expressed an opinion
that the impression which many of the apprentices of the
present day had that it was impossible to study and
attend to the duties of the shop was a fallacy, and that
instead of leaving over the preparation for their examina¬
tion until they could place themselves under some London
crammer, by systematic study any youth might easily
prepare himself without any fear of the consequences.

The Chairman said that as the population of towns
increased the necessity would arise for greater facilities
by which the youths of successive generations should be
educated, and he was glad to refer to the manner in
which these demands had been met, the last addition
being the Yorkshire College. He had therefore great
pleasure in proposing “The Scientific and Educational
Institutes of the Town,” coupling with the toast the names
of Mr. R. Reynolds, F.C.S., and Mr. George Ward,
F.C.S.

Mr. Reynolds acknowledged the toast on behalf of the
Philosophical Society and the Yorkshire College, ac¬
crediting the Chairman with the happy thought which
had resulted in this dinner. He rejoiced to be able to
say that several members of the Society were attending
the day classes of the College, and that there was every
promise of success attending the scheme. Last year the
expenditure of the College consequent upon the number
of professors and assistants, was over £4000, and towards
this sum £1500 had been received in fees, a result which
he thought was very encouraging in such a young institu¬
tion.

Mr. George Ward, Lecturer upon Chemistry at the
Mechanics’ Institute, urged a better attendance at the
meetings of the Society. There was nothing chilled
the ardour of a lecturer more than a meagre attendance,
and upon some occasions there had been a very small
number.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman
brought an agreeable evening to an end.

MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION AND SCHOOL OF PHARMACY.

The eleventh annual meeting of this Association was
held on Tuesday, October 28. Mr. W. Wilkinson, Vice-
President, in the chair.

The following annual report of the council was pre¬
sented : —

“ The past year has been uneventful in the history of
our Association. The ordinary winter meetings were held
at the Memorial Hall, tea being provided. At some of
these meetings scientific subjects were brought before the
members, whilst others afforded opportunity for the dis¬
cussion of important trade questions now occupying the
serious attention of chemists and druggists.

« Your committee regret that the usefulness of these
meetings is not more generally recognized by members,
and that so few realize the importance of their individual
interest in the aims of the Association.

“ The attendance at the classes held in connection with
the Association was smaller than usual ; this being attri¬
buted by the lecturer mainly to the fact that the fees
demanded were somewhat high, whilst the ability to pay
on the part of students has been adversely influenced
by the depression of trade prevalent in the district.

“In order to meet this condition of things, your com¬
mittee have this year made a considerable reduction in
the fees, and have applied to the Council of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society for a grant of money to supplement the
1 fees as remuneration to the lecturer.

356

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (November l, 1879.

“Your committee have much pleasure in informing
you that the sum of £35 has been granted by the Phar¬
maceutical Society in answer to this application.

“ In order that the classes may be made as widely
useful as possible, a resolution will be proposed for
acceptance by the present meeting abolishing the asso¬
ciates’ subscription to the Association, and throwing the
classes open to all connected with the trade as assistants
or apprentices.

“Your committee trust that this endeavour to restore
the Manchester School of Pharmacy to its former scale of
usefulness may be cordially seconded by parents and
employers, without whose co-operation very limited
success can be hoped for.

“ In conclusion, your committee again ask the support
of all engaged in the practice of pharmacy in this district,
and venture to urge those members who have hitherto
only contributed to the funds of the Association, to add
the encouragement of their presence to the forthcoming
winter meetings.”

The Treasurer, Mr. G. S. Woolley, having presented
his statement of accounts, the report and balance sheet
were adopted by the meeting.

A resolution moved by Mr. J. B. Payne, and seconded
by Mr. Jas. Botham: — ■“ That the associates’ fee be no
longer charged,” was carried unanimously.

The concluding business of the meeting was the elec¬
tion of officers for the session 1879-80. The following
gentlemen were appointed : —

President, Mr. W. S. Brown; Vice-Presidents, Mr.
J. T. Slugg, F.R.A.S., and Mr. W. Wilkinson ; Trea¬
surer, Mr. G. S. Woolley ; Hon. Secretaries, Mr. I'.
Baden Benger, P.C.S., and Mr. H. Woolley ; Council,
Messrs. Blain (Bolton), Boor, Botham, Bowden (Patri-
croft), Hargraves (Oldham), S. Kay (Stockport), B.
Robinson, Ralph Robinson (Rochdale), Slack, West-
macott.

HULL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the above Association was held
at the Cross Keys Hotel on Thursday evening, the 23rd
inst., the President, Mr. J ames Oldham, in the chair.

The report and balance-sheet, having been read and
discussed, were unanimously adopted. Votes of thanks
were accorded to the officers for the valuable services
they had rendered to the trade during the past year. A
ballot was then taken for officers, with the following
result : — President, Councillor Myers ; Vice-President,
Mr. J. Grindell; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr.
C. B. Bell ; Committee — Messrs. Hammond, Oldham,
Stoakes and Hayles. Regret was expressed that Mr.
Stoalces had decided not to accept the office of hon. secre¬
tary, as during the three years he had held that position
he had been most efficient, and had given universal satis¬
faction.

fimiffdinjgis af Jkicntifiit focietias.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS' ASSOCIATION.

rl he annual conversazione of this Association was held
at St. James’s Hall, on October 22. A numerous com¬
pany assembled, amongst whom were noticed several
well-known pharmacists.

The programme, consisting of vocal and instrumental
performances interspersed with recitations, seemed highly
appreciated by the audience and was carried out in a
very creditable manner.

Scientific apparatus and objects of interest were kindly
lent by various firms. Amongst others we may mention
those by Messrs. Maw, Son and Thompson, Messrs.
Jackson and Co., and Mr. Rimmel. A splendid assort¬
ment of microscopes was exhibited by Messrs. Ladd,

Pillischer and Swift, and some rare and new chemicals
by [Messrs. Hopkin and Williams.

A large amount of attention was given to the collection
of Dr. Muter, which consisted of very fine vacuum tubes,
microspectroscope, saccharimeter, telephones and micro¬
phones, spectroscopes, etc. ; and the value of this exhibit
was greatly enhanced by the able manner in which the
various pieces of apparatus were demonstrated by Dr.
Muter and his assistants.

farltanmitarg amt jproqedtnp.

Prosecution for Sale of Paregoric devoid of Opium.

John Boar, of Ashover, was charged with selling as
paregoric a preparation which was entirely destitute of
opium.

Colonel Shortt, inspector of weights and measures, said
on September 2 he went to defendant’s shop for three
ounces of paregoric. Defendant served him and he paid
8 d. for the three ounces. He then told defendant he had
purchased it for the purpose of having it analysed. He
divided it into three parts in the presence of defendant
and sealed each part. He gave defendant one, kept one
himself, and sent one to Mr. Allen, the public analyst of
Sheffield. Mr. Allen had reported that the preparation
was entirely wanting in opium, of which there should be
two grains to the ounce.

Defendant said he purchased it of Greaves and Sons, of
Chesterfield, and that they informed him he was right in
selling it as a mixture free from opium.

Colonel Shortt said he had consulted Mr. Allen
on this point, and had received the following reply: —
“ ‘Paregoric Elixir’ always was, and always is, under¬
stood to contain opium. No one objects to shopkeepers
selling a common domestic medicine (free from poison),
if they will do it under such a name as not to cause
mistakes. Dangerous and even fatal results are con¬
tinually happening owing to the preparation, destitute
of opium, being sold under the name of ‘Paregoric.’ Its
failure to produce the intended effects leads to an increase
in the dose, and then when the genuine article is obtained,
as it will be if a druggist is asked for it, poisonous effects
are produced. ... I am strongly of opinion that the
sale of paregoric destitute of opium ought to be put a
stop to. It is an abuse similar to the selling of children’s
gunpowder, warranted not to go off. P.S. — You are at
liberty to make any use you like of this letter. I may
say that my attention was first called to the importance
of the question by medical men and druggists. (Signed),
Alfred H.( Allen, Sheffield.”

Mr. J. S. Robinson, pharmaceutical chemist, of Alfreton,
was then sent for by the magistrates, and having consented
to give what information he could about any drug, was
put on oath and said that paregoric according to the
standard should contain two grains of opium to the ounce.
A nominal fine of Is. was inflicted, with costs 11s. 6d. —
Derbyshire Courier.

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

[345]. This injection appears to have given rise to a
difference of opinion, as to whether the mixture should
be filtered or sent out (with a “ Shake the bottle ” labe

November 1,1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

35 7

on) containing the insoluble sulphate of lead. I write
from practical experience, not from theory. I have dis¬
pensed and seen others dispense, both here and in London,
dozens of injections similar to the one mentioned, but
have never known one yet to be filtered. Mr. J. B. L.
Mackay says that “ Some prescribes make the combina¬
tion in ignorance of its incompatibility.” I have only to
add that the formula of Dr. Ricord (without doubt the
most celebrated physician in the world for sexual maladies)
contains the same precipitate, as also does the well-known
“ Injection brou.” The fact is that sulphate or acetate
of zinc prescribed alone is more apt to produce stricture,
which is avoided by the soothing properties of the insoluble
sulphate of lead.

Injection Astringente (Ricord) —

Sulfate de Zinc,

Acetate de Plomb . aa 1*0

Eau de Roses . 200 *0

II y a production d’un pr6cipit6 de sulfate de plomb,
qu'on laisse dans la preparation. — L’Officine ( Dorvault ).

William Fox.

14, Rue de la Paix, Pans.

bore the stamps of two other chemists), the doctor having
stated that he could mix it perfectly.

We thereupon loosened the reins of our conscience
with a much more satisfactory result ; but I would ask
those gentlemen who insist upon strictly “ faithful dis¬
ensing,” how they would proceed in the present case ?
would also call attention to the large dose of camphor,
5 grains “ every half hour.”

F. R. Bessant.

[370]. Would any dispenser inform me how to dispense
the following, and if it ought to be filtered or not ? —

R Liq. Strychniae . 3j-

Sp. Myristicae . (^ss.

Tinct. Ferri Perch . £ij.

Aq. Destill . ad 3viij.

M. Ft. mist.

Cumberland.

fjtotys and Queries.

[365]. The two ointments should be freshly prepared,
the ung. potas. iodid. to contain double at least the quan¬
tity of potas. bicarb, ordered in the B.P. By this method
a white creamy ointment will be produced ; but on keep¬
ing a short time, mercuric iodide will form and change
the colour of the ointment, showing what affinity the one
element has for the other.

Lavandula.

[366]. Dissolve the carbolic acid in the olive oil, then
rub the ext. opii with a little distilled water, to a smooth
paste, then gradually add the oil and affix “ Shake the
bottle ” label.

Lavandula.

[367]. Pitch can be made into very good pills by simply
soaking in warm water until sufficiently soft, and rolling
out quickly on a slightly warmed machine.

J. F. Thursfield.

[368]. Would some of your readers kindly give me
their opinion on the following: —

R Sp. Ammon. Arom . 3ij*

Tinct. Zingib . 3i8S-

Sp. zEther Nit . 3ij*

Pot. Bicarb . 3iss*

Aq . ad ,^viij.

M. ft. mist.

I dispensed it with tr. zingib., B. P., it was returned
with the remark that it was not so strong and very much
more milky than it was when dispensed in Scarboro’.
I afterwards used the soluble essence with satisfac¬
tory results. Which was right ?

Leo.

[369]. May I call the attention of skilled dispensers to
the following prescription recently handed to me with
the caution that I would dispense it carefully, as the
doctor had warned the patient that it could not otherwise
be made takeable ? —

R Camphor . . . . grs. 50.

Ammon. Carb . grs. 50.

Spt. iEther. Nit . in, 50.

Liq. Ammon. Acet. * . ni 100.

Glycerini,

Aquae Rosae, part, aequal. . . ad 5X.

Take 3j every half hour.

After proceeding to the best of our ability, conscien¬
tiously abstaining from making any alteration or addition
whatever, we obtained but an unsightly mixture, the
camphor separating to the top.

This was returned with a request that we would try
nd mix it better, as others had done (the prescription

[629]. ROOKE’S GOLDEN OINTMENT.— In a
private letter to a friend a few years ago, Dr. Rooke
gave the following formula for his ointment : —

R Hydrarg. Perchlor . gr. ij.

Acid Hydrochlor. pur . irtx.

Hydrarg. Nitr. Ox. (levigated) . . . §j.

Adipis . tviij.

M.S.A.

C. Parkinson,

[633]. LIN. SAPONIS. — Delta in making the lin.
saponis, P.B., has, he supposes, exceeded the temperature,
viz., 70°, and the soap has gelatinized. Can any of your
readers recommend him what to do with it, as in its present
state it is quite useless ?

[634]. COLOURING FOR WAX.— Can any reade
of the Journal inform me of a deep red colouring to use
for bees’- wax melted in oil of turpentine?

“Epsilon.’

©bituarjr.

Notice has been received of the death of the follow¬
ing:—

On the 18th of September, 1879, Mr. Thomas Henry
Morris, Chemist and Druggist, St. Asaph. Aged 32
years.

On the 20th of September, 1879, Mr. Morley Thomp¬
son, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Princes Street, Rotherhithe.
Aged 66 years. Mr. Thompson had been a Member of
the Pharmaceutical Society since 1864.

On the 25th of September, 1879, Mr. George John
Haddock, Chemist and Druggist, North Street, Brighton.
Aged 36 years.

On the 5th of October, 1879, Mr. William Bentley,
Chemist and Druggist, New Basford. Aged 47 years.

On the 14th of October, 1879, Mr. John Sneed,
Chemist and Druggist, High Street, Keighley. Aged
51 years.

On the 15th of October, 1879, Mr. James Keith,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Union Place, Aberdeen. Aged
69 years. Mr. Keith had been a Member of the Phar¬
maceutical Society since 1853.

On the 20th of October, 1879, Mr. William Swarbrick
Blackhurst, Chemist and Druggist, Poulton Street, Kirk-
ham. Aged 42 years. Mr. Blackhurst had been a
Member of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1874.

On the 23rd of October, 1879, Mr. John Morris,
Chemist and Druggist, Brecon Aged 64 years.

On the 27th of October, 1*879, Mr. William Field,

358

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November l, 1879.

Pharmaceutical Chemist, Regent Street, W. Aged 51
years.

On the 27th of October, 1879, Mr. William Frederick
Wright, Chemist and Druggist, Regent Street, Leaming¬
ton. Aged 36 years. Mr. Wright had been a Member
of the Society since 1872.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.
Annals of Chemical Medicine, including the Appli¬
cation of Chemistry to Physiology, Pathology, Thera¬
peutics, Pharmacy, Toxicology, and Hygiene. Vol. I.
By J. L. W. Thudichum, M.D. London : Longmans,
Green and Co. 1879.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the w'iter; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Cream of Tartar of the Pharmacopceia.

Sir, — Ab Mr. Tanner wishes me to state the purpose for
which the neutralizing test for cream of tartar is given in
the Pharmacopoeia, if it be not to prove the absolute purity
of the article as a potash salt, I may inform him, although
I am sure he does not need the information, that while it
admits and credits in the estimation the tartrate of lime
which the previous test has recognized, it excludes other
impurities, such as sulphate of barium or sulphate of
calcium. If he still sees ambiguity in this, I can only gay
I am sorry for it. To me it seems sufficiently clear and
consistent.

I find from his explanation that I misunderstood what he
meant by first saying he was not prepared to admit that
there should be more than a trace of tartrate of lime in
cream of tartar, and then suggesting that guaranteed
samples may contain 5 per cent. 1 presume it might be
otherwise put, that ten or twelve years ago the Pharma¬
copoeia description was applicable to the best commercial
samples, but that it has ceased to be so, owing to the in¬
creased quantity of lime salt now generally present. If
this be his meaning I think he may be right. But as far
as we know, the proportion of tartrate of lime has always
been variable, and as the Pharmacopceia test was obviously
made to apply to what was the minimum proportion
formerly, reasonable men may be supposed to apply it in
the same sense now, without necessarily condemning as
adulterated samples that contain a larger proportion, such
as the maximum in good commercial samples, seeing that
this variation results from the mode of producing the
article, over which the manufacturer of cream of tartar has
no control. Mr. Wigner has thought proper to put a con¬
struction upon what I have previously said on this point,
which, as it involves an absurdity, could hardly be supposed
to be, and certainly is not, what was intended to be con¬
veyed ; but at this demonstration I am not surprised.
October 28, 1879. T. Redwood.

“Paregoric minus the Opium.”

Sir, — Permit me to thank you for your outspoken remarks
upon the above case, which appeared in your last week’s
issue.

^The specious defeuce made by the two chemists concerned
is, as you say, too plain to need any argument. But there is
another view of the matter to which I think you did not
allude, namely, that when such a defence is set up by a
member of the pharmaceutical body — a defence, technically
right perhaps, but certainly morally wrong — it cuts the
ground from the feet of the unfortunate chemists who
happen to be subjected to a really vexatious prosecution
under the Adulteration Acts, in which they are morally
right but technically wrong. If once magistrates and the
general public were to get the impression that we chemists
had loose notions in these' matters, we should find the
principle of nullum iniquum in jure prcesumendum est
more honoured in the breach than in the observance. It is
deplorable that any chemist should for paltry pecuniary

motives show such an absence of esprit de corps as was here
exhibited, and I can only suggest to the local secretary for
the district to have his wits about him ; a wholesale
chemist who will supply a petty shopkeeper with
“paregoric minus the opium” (we shall have simple
syrup minus the sugar next ! ) would not require much
temptation to supply it with the opium, to the detriment
of his brother chemists and the safety of the public.

Criticus.

Men’s Worst Foes are those of their own
Households.

Sir, — In your article on “The Application of the Food
and Drugs Act in New Directions,” reference is made to
some of the druggists promoting the sale of drugs and medi¬
cines amongst grocers and country shopkeepers “ without
due regard for the general interests of the body to which
they belong.”

We beg to enclose a label taken off a bottle brought into
our shop casually for some laudanum. Size of the bottle,
3 oz. The government stamp had been upon it, its con¬
tents had been tinct. opii, and we have no doubt the firm
puts it up in that form specially for country shopkeepers.
That we should have such black sheep amongst us is, we
think, simply disgraceful. Imagine a respectable firm
sending out laudanum with a government stamp upon it,
and on the label, in adddition to the name of the firm, the
dose, with the additional words, “ N.B. This preparation
has the same properties as laudanum, and may be used for
outward application.” Save us from our friends !

36, Watergate, Grantham. Jno. Cox and Son.

Registration under the Dental Act.

Sir, — The question as to whether a man may legally call
himself a dentist unless he is able to undertake all the
branches of the profession has been raised, and is now being
freely discussed in this Journal, and I have thought that
perhaps the following extracts from “The History of
Dental and Oral Science in America,” quoted by T. Stack,
Esq., M.D., Dublin, in an article entitled, “The New
Dental Act in its Relations to the Licensing Bodies and
the Profession,” which appeared in the Medical Press and
Circular, may throw some light upon the disputed point.
In alluding to the present position of dentistry in America,
it says, among much other interesting matter, “Besides I
have never known, with a single exception, any one indi¬
vidual to excel greatly in both these departments of our
arts ( i.e ., surgical and mechanical).

“It is here, as in Europe, the practice of most of our
best educated dental surgeons to employ mechanics to do
their artificial work, who never see the patient. . . .

Therefore while, on the one hand, I would persuade our
well educated men to confine their practice chiefly to opera¬
tions on the living teeth. I would as earnestly dissuade the
mechanical dentist from all attempts at operations in the
surgical department. ... In all large cities, or places,
having the requisite facilities, the question is virtually
settled by the employment of specialists for most of what
is known as ‘ artificial work.’ ”

Dr. Stack, furthe on in the article, fully confirms this
view, and says that a man should be a surgeon first, and
dentist after, and that a man maybe entrusted to know
whether he is fitted by his mechanical taste to undertake
the speciality of dentistry.

By these it will be seen that both here and in America
many of our bes men differ from some of your corre¬
spondents.

George Jas. Gostling.

Sir, — In the [Journal of the 18th inst., Mr. G. Ward
states that “ In America, there is a matchless dental pro¬
fession independent of medical men and chemists.” I
enclose a cutting which illustrates that statement, from
Lloyd’s of the 26th inst. Perhaps it also may operate as a
caution to those who use arsenic as a nerve cautery.

“ The New York Times states that Mr. G. A. Gardiner,
nephew by marriage of Prescott, the historian, died in
Brooklyn, on the 27th of September, in great agony, after
two weeks of indescribable suffering. It is said by his
attending physician that his death was caused by arsenical
poison placed by a dentist in one of his teeth for the purpose
of killing an aching nerve.”

202, Caledonian Road. E. W.

November l, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

359

Bell Scholarships for the Ladies.

Sir, — My friend, Mr. G. S. Taylor, in liis usual happy
manner, has done good service by drawing attention again
to the smallness of the number of candidates who annually
compete for the Jacob Bell Memorial Scholarships, and I
think he would have placed the Society under still greater
obligation to him had he thought well to invite the lady
aspirants to pharmacy to compete for these eligible positions,
inasmuch as the Council have decided that the term
“person” shall henceforth mean men and women, and I
doubt not in the future examinations gentlemen candidates
will find the ladies pressing hard on their heels for these
most serviceable, as well as valuable and much to be
coveted, relics of one of the greatest men pharmacy has
known.

35, Baker Street, W. A. W. Postans.

Trading by Government Clerks.

Sir, — In the Journal for October 4, a letter appeared from
“ A Looker-on, ” upon trading by government clerks. I
have felt somewhat surprised that that letter has elicited
no response, as I must say, without exception, I have seen
no statement which has so fairly and temperately laid the
case before retail traders, and I hope its being passed over
in silence is not due to the fact that retailers have settled
down into a state of helpless apathy, vainly trusting that
the fates will do for them what they ought to do for them¬
selves.

I took occasion to submit the letter to a legal friend, who
pronounced it very well written, but contended that it did
not meet the case; he based his objection upon the hack¬
neyed argument that if a servant fulfils his contract he can
employ his spare time as he thinks proper. “ But,” said I,
“ suppose your head clerk daring his spare time takes a
little practice on his own account, which in all probability
would come to you?” “ Why,” he replied, “ I’d kick him
out of the place of course.” He at once admitted the jus¬
tice of the argument. “ But,” said he, “ how would such
restrictions apply to the Army and Navy Stores?” I re¬
plied that they would not be interfered with provided that
they confiued their transactions to the members of the
service ; but they would certainly have to be prohibited
from supplying Her Majesty’s ships or any institution of a
public character. He replied, then retailers have justice
aud equity on their side and it is their own fault if they
don’t secure an Act to make trading by crown servants
illegal.

For my own part, laying aside all personal or trading
interests and looking at it as a question of principle, I con¬
sider this system of public trading by the government
clerks one of the most flagrant and dishonourable evasions
of social obligation which has taken place in modern times,
and that by a class who are supposed to be gentlemen, and
whom the public have always looked upon as such ; beside
their conduct is setting up a spirit of discord and retalia¬
tion between different classes of the community which have
always been on the best of terms with each other ; if it
goes on it is calculated to produce very bad results socially,
and if not checked at once the system will be established
as a precedent.

Now, sir, by way of putting a stop to such a system, I
have to propose that a central committee be formed in
London, consisting of the chairmen or presidents of the
different trading associations (chemists and druggists to be
represented by the President of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety), that they have the letter by “A Looker-on,” with
the following letter or any modification of them which may
be thought desirable, printed in every trade journal and
issued to every retailer in the kingdom. This will educate
retailers upon the question and will give them to under¬
stand what to request and their reason for so doing when
brought face to face with the candidates for future parlia¬
mentary honours. Education upon the subject is essential,
as I hear retailers complaining in all directions and I have
never met with one who understood the case beyond the
effect which it produced upon his business. Further, I
would suggest that the same letters be printed in the form
of a circular and sent at once to each member of Parlia¬
ment or candidate for future membership. Members are
now amongst their constituents and they would have oppor¬
tunity for calmly discussing the subject. If chemists do
not feel themselves sufficiently aggrieved to take the matter

up, I hope that it will be brought before other branches of
trade, and as soon as I see action commence, I will send
10s. towards a fund for defraying expenses.

Justice.

“To - , M.P.

‘‘Sir, — We, the representatives of the retail traders of the
United Kingdom, beg respectfully to call your attention to
the conduct of the clerks in the government offices and
others in the service of the state, in forming themselves
into trading companies under the disguise of Mutual Bene¬
fit Societies, with the avowed object of dealing with the
public outside their own immediate class. Now, sir, this
is felt by retail traders to be an illegitimate and dis¬
honourable innovation upon their vested interests, inasmuch,
as they are taxed to pay the salaries of such officials and
public servants, and further, that length of service is
acknowledged in declining years by pensions paid out of
the earnings of the public. Under such circumstances the
salaried and pensioned servants of the state, although not
under the immediate control of the public, are in every
respect the servants of the public; in fact they occupy
precisely the same position towards each other as indi¬
viduals do in the case of employer and employed, and in
such capacity they are morally, if not legally, bound to do
nothing which shall in any way inj ure the interests of any
class of the community. In the case of individuals, such
conduct would be considered dishonourable and breach of
faith and would not be tolerated, and retail traders feel that
they are asking nothing unreasonable nor assailing any
legitimately vested interests in asking that such conduct
shall be prohibited on the part of those employed in the
public service.

“ Retail traders have no wish to interfere with legitimate
competition in business, nor do they in any way wish to
interfere with the liberties of those in the service of the
state by placing upon them any restriction to prevent them
supplying themselves with the necessaries of life at the
least possible cost ; all they ask is that those whose salaries
and pensions are paid out of the earnings of the public
shall be prohibited either individually or collectively from
entering into business or taking service in any form of such
a nature as to be detrimental to the interests of any class
of the community.

“ Having explained exactly the nature of our grievance
and also exposed the injustice of such action on the part of
the servants of the state, we beg respectfully to inform you
that at the coming election the retail traders in your con¬
stituency will ask your promise of support to a measure to
be introduced into the new Parliament, which shall pro¬
hibit and make illegal after a certain date, any action on
the part of the pensioned or salaried servants of the state,
either individually or collectively, which has for its object
trading with the public outside their own immediate class.

“ Trusting that you will admit the Teasonableness of the
request and that you will give the subject your favourable
consideration and promise of support, we beg to remain on
behalf of the retail traders of the United Kingdom,

‘ ‘ Yours very respectfully,

“ The Central Committee, — — - -

“ London.”

The Health of the Drug Trade.

Sir, — I am very glad to see that this matter is being
ventilated in our Journal, that increasing interest is taken
in it, and that the salvation army is gradually growing.

I intended to have written directly I saw Mr. Nicol's
sensible letter, and beg you to kindly insert this, as my
name has become identified with the subject.

The health of the mass is, of course, that of the individual
at mis, and with us, as with every other occupation, the
weakly will be weeded out, although that occupation may
or may not have a direct influence on its followers ; and
also naturally strong persons will be able to combat in¬
fluences that must kill the delicate.

It must be candidly admitted that hours used to be
longer than happily they are generally now, but probably
the conditions were more favourable. Fifty years ago,
although light was dawning on the horizon, still there was
not such a strain then, as at present, on our brains. It was
becoming evident that we must have a better qualification
for our duties if we wished to maintain our place in the
ranks continually marching on, unless we were content to
fall back to the rear ; still the stock of the druggist was a

360

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November l, 1*79.

perfect elysium of simplicity compared with what it is now,
the duties were le3S onerous and enervating, the prescrip¬
tion was composed of articles contained in the Pharmaco¬
peia, and neither contained so many deadly ingredients
(which must always be a source of danger and anxiety to
the dispenser) , nor did they require so much acumen to
prepare; also, I believe that we were held in higher estima¬
tion by the public, and that there was more business done
of a more profitable nature and giving less anxiety. Now
that is all altered. People as a rule take less physic than
they formerly did, and are less willing to support the
druggist, and what with increased expenses of salaries,
wages, rent, rates (taxes I think are lighter), living and
education for our children, to most of us comes the greater
difficulty to make a living.

In my opinion it is even now the excessive hours we
voluntarily (not necessarily) keep, that is the source of
mischief. In many towns our brethren are united, close
early (7 p.m.), and even have a half-holiday as well in
London. Early closing is not a reality, because, although
many shops, large especially, and small also, are closed
earlier now, still business goes on much as usual and the
public defer their orders till the whim takes them, knowing
“ they can always get anything at any time.” Even in
those shops where, to use the vulgar expression very
prevalent, “more than one is kept,” this is very incon¬
venient, because often times owing to selfish neglect there is
a large amount of business thrown on the diminished staff,
of whatever strength it may be, that was only intended to
be left to attend to sudden illness and cases of unavoidable
necessity, and this vile servitude deadens the moral faculties
of those who have to submit to it. I am sorry that the
original purpose of the Pharmaceutical Society was ever
departed from, — the three examinations, the Preliminary
for the apprentices, the Minor for the assistant, and the
Major for the chemist. I am sure that which costs little is
little appreciated, and that the Modified examination has
produced a modified effect very injurious to the welfare of
the trade. Mr. Burrell speaks of darkening prospects, but
I think it should be addressed to the young men themselves.
The late Mr. Deane was in favour of a good fee on appren¬
ticeship, as unless a man was able to command a sufficient
capital to pay it, he would not have sufficient afterwards to
advantageously enter the business, and this is most true, for
many young men without position or capital go into busi¬
ness and think their only chance of success is keeping open
later than and underselling the old established chemists (as
was pointed out by Mr. Corder last year), and Dr. Tildenthis
year has given us® good advice. “Lighten the ship, cast
overboard much of the superfluous and derogatory cargo.”
We must sell to get our living, but ours is something more
than a mere trade ; let us continue our educational efforts,
elevate ourselves, protect our own interests against all
comers, shorten the hours of labour and cease to be public
slaves, then we shall live long and happily.

I close and have done for sixteen years at 8 p.m., and all
day Sunday.

Henry Long.

43, High Street , Hotting Hill , London, IF.

Sir, — The discussion on the “ Health of the Drug Trade,”
is very interesting, but I should like to ask your corre¬
spondents whether they have not jumped rather rashly to
the conclusion that the majority of us pine away in the
flower of our youth.

The average duration of life in the psalmist’s time might
be three score years'and ten, but is it now ?

C. Parkinson.

Liquid Extract of Coto Bark.

Sir, — In the “Month,” page 322, it is stated that Dr.
J. B. Yeo has found this preparation useful in the diarrhoea
met with in phthisis, and suggests that it should be given
in combination with tincture of cardamoms and mucilage.

Will you allow me to ask whether the simple or com¬
pound tincture is referred to ?

It would be interesting, also, to know whether tincture
of catechu given in a similar combination would not answer
equally well.

Observer.

[*%* The compound tincture of the B.P. is intended. —
Ed. Ph. J.1

Perri Ammon. Sulph.

Sir, — Having read Mr. Parker’s letter in last week’s
Journal with great interest, I think he has pointed out
four very important indications. Speaking from my own
experience I think the “Dispensing Memoranda ” is a most
valuable portion of the Journal, where opinions may be ex¬
pressed, difficulties cleared, and the trade benefited.

Respecting ferri ammon. sulph., it was a fit subject to
make inquiries into, as I was handed a similar prescription
a few days ago. Being able to communicate with the pre-
scriber, he. said he meant ferri ammon. sulph., and thought
it was a preparation generally kept, and that he had pre¬
scribed it before. Where I don’t know, probably in some
of the hospitals, where I am disposed to believe that it is.
used sometimes. I should be glad to know whether there
is anything objectionable in ferri ammon. sulph. being used
for medicinal purposes, and what is the dose of it ?

Cochlea Terrestris,

Credulity in Modern Times.

Sir, — There has lately arrived amongst us at Birkenhead
a strange phenomenon for this country — a lady doctor, who
professes to be an Italian — Madame Enault. She has a
magnificent turn out, a chariot all mirrors and gold, with
three splendid horses, said to be worth a hundred guineas
each ; seated on the top of this imposing vehicle are six
musicians, dressed in fancy costume, cavalier hats, boots
and feathers. The lady herself is attired in a picturesque
Italian costume, ornamented with dragons, stars, and other
hieroglyphics. She' also wears a gilded tiara and head¬
dress of beads, with flowing black hair. Just imagine the
sensation she causes as she drives through the town with
her band playing in the loudest strains, to the place where
she is located, a piece of ground in Conway Street. This lady
appears to cure every imaginable disease that human flesh
is heir to— paralysis, extracting teeth, takes out encysted
tumours, and all before the public almost instantaneously ;
but whether she does so in reality or not public opinion is
divided. She is surrounded daily by a dense mass of two
or three thousand people, including all classes of society,
magistrates, merchants, shopkeepers and working men, all
anxious and struggling to procure a bottle of a preparation
that she calls “ malachite,” which she sells at 2s. per bottle.
This she recommends almost for every complaint, for head¬
ache, toothache, neuralgia, etc., and to show what effect
faith has in many cases of imaginary disease, I may mention
that I have examined it, and believe it to be a mixture
containing tincture of cannabis indica, together with glyce¬
rine and essential oils.

I send this short sketch thinking it may interest some of
your readers and many pharmacists in Lancashire, who must
have heard of Madame Enault, and to show the height
credulity will reach in the nineteenth century.

54, Stanhope Street, Liverpool. J. Thompson.

“ Omihron .” — The question is unsuited for insertion in
this Journal.

M. D. Morris. — We have no qualification for giving a
“legal view.”

C. F. — The colouring of the syrup has been referred to
the formation of caramel, and at present we know of no
way of remedying it. See a paper on the subject in vol. vi.
of the present series, p. 811.

“ Tinctura .” — Such a result should hardly follow if the
tincture is prepared strictly according to the B.P.

“ Stuck .” — (1) See a paper by the late Dr. Crace-Calvert
on “Dyes and Dye Stuffs,” Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. ii.,
p. 435. (2) See the discussion on the composition of cliloro-
dyne in vol. xi. of the second series of this Journal.

“ Ranunculus .” — The preparation is one frequently ad¬
vertised in another part of the Journal.

J. S. Simcock. — Your letter has been forwarded to our
correspondent.

“ Olibanum.” — A recipe for incense will be found in vol.
viii. of the present series, p. 519.

“ Delta,> (Ipswich). — See the article on “ Fats,” in Ure’s
* Dictionary,’ vol. ii.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Horsley, Ward, Barnaby, Ferguson, Leigh, Howe,
Fowke, Bou tell, Morris, E. W., T. W., J. W. A., Ranun¬
culus, One of them, Criticus.

November 8, 1 879. ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

361

TARAXACUM.*

BY CHARLES SYMES, PH.D.

When a short time since a trivial circumstance
caused me to reflect on my experience with regard
to the pharmacy of taraxacum, I was fully aware
that the subject had received considerable attention
from very able men in the earlier days of the Phar¬
maceutical Society, and that for some years past
little had been written or said concerning it. This
I implied that the conclusions then arrived at were
uniform, that the results were altogether satisfactory,
and that it would be a fruitless task again to open
up the subject. Reference, however, to the early
volumes of the Journal seemed rather to indicate
that the subject had been abandoned because high
authorities differed, and not because perfect results
had been arrived at.

I have therefore ventured to bring the matter
forward anew so that it might receive further con¬
sideration, and trust that on the present occasion it
will receive full discussion, so that with the experi¬
ence of the days already mentioned, and the cumu¬
lative results of observation since that time, we may,
when a new edition of the British Pharmacopoeia
goes to press, feel that as regards taraxacum we are
walking in the light of to-day.

In the present edition of the Pharmacopoeia,
“ taraxaci radix ” is described as the “ fresh and
dried root of Taraxacum Bens Leonis gathered
between September and February.”

Now it is this time of gathering which presents
the first difficulty, and is really the point at issue.
Mr. Joseph Houlton, writing in the Medical and
Surgical Journal of August, 1828, t after quoting
several authorities says: “My own observations
perfectly coincide with those of Bergius. In the
month of March, the j uice obtained from the bruised
root by pressure is a thin, watery and brownish fluid,
weak in flavour ; whilst that procured by the same
process towards the end of the summer is thick,
opaque and cream-coloured, and in a few minutes
after being expressed it sets to a much more solid
consistence, becoming as thick as common paste ; it
is very bitter and saponaceous. This is the season
in which I have chosen it for medical purposes, and
from many years of observation upon this plant of
disputed virtues, I have been led to a conviction
that it has medicinal powers varying essentially
according to the time of year in which it is gathered,
and the mode in which it is prepared.’* Extending
the period somewhat later in the year, viz., to the
latter part of the autumn, these views were subse¬
quently confirmed by Squire, Bell, Hills, Cracknell
and others. Bentley, on the other hand, furnished
some very convincing arguments in favour of the
use of roots collected in the spring, and in support
of his views related his personal experience not only
as to the superiority of the preparations then obtain¬
able from a pharmaceutical point of view, but also as
to their greater medicinal efficiency.

Christison and, I believe, others entertained the
same views. Giles considered the time which
elapsed between collecting and using the roots was
of the first importance, and the season at which they

* Read at an Evening Meeting of the Phannaceutical
Society of Great Britain, November 5, 1879.

t Reproduced in Pharm. Journ ., vol. i., p. 421, 1st
series.

Third Series, No. 489.

were collected quite secondary. The United States
Pharmacopoeia directs the roots to be collected in the
autumn.

I am not aware that anything more definite than
these varied opinions has been arrived at, and yet
as a medicine taraxacum and its preparations are
extensively used. If, however, this short, and I fear,
imperfect paper, should elicit facts which will enable
us to arrive at satisfactory conclusions on this and
other points, or should start anew the investigation
of the subject, it will have served some useful
purpose.

My own experience, which has been’ derived from
operating some years ago on several tons of the root
aud recently on smaller quantities, at various seasons
of the year, points to November as the month in
which taraxacum roots should be gathered for medi¬
cinal use, the period being extended to the beginning
of December if the winter lias not commenced early;
or in other words, the later they are gathered, so long
as they have not been subjected to the influence of
frost, the better they will be. At this period it is true
they contain a large quantity of inulin, but the
active principle, or taraxacine is more fully developed
(if bitterness is any criterion) than at any other
season, and the inulin can be separated from the
expressed juice far more readily than the saccharine
matter which abounds in the spring. I have ex¬
amined samples of the fresh juice late in the autumn
which had comparatively little action on Feliling*s
solution, whilst at other seasons it is very marked
and energetic. No sooner does the frosty weather
set in than the roots become sweet, the starchy mat¬
ter becoming converted into saccharine ; a necessary
condition of things before it can serve the useful
purpose in the economy of the plant for which it
appears designed, viz., for the nourishment of the root
during the cold weather. This is probably brought
about under the influence of a ferment which operates
specially at low temperatures ; but that starch, even
in the absence of a ferment, and in the cold, may be
gradually converted into dextrine has recently been
shown by Riban (Bull. Soc. Glum., xxxi., 10), and
as regards the change in dandelion roots, no one
who will take the trouble to examine them before
and after a few sharp frosts will have the least doubt
as to the increased sweetness. My first impression
was that the bitter principle remained intact and
was merely masked by the presence of the saccharine
matter, but experiment led me to the conclusion that
it became more or less altered in character and that
its destruction probably went on pari passu with
that of the inulin; and this conclusion became
strengthened on the perusal of a paper by Morson,
in the 1st vol. of the Pharmaceutical Journal , page
52, on “Vegetable Extracts,” in which he writes as
follows: — “The bulk of most extracts consists of
sugar, starch, enuline, gum, and other inert sub¬
stances, which although inoperative in themselves
exert in combination with water a very destructive
influence on the really active proximate principle of
the plant.*’ These remarks were doubtless founded
on experiment and careful observation, and although
here the conditions differ somewhat, inasmuch as
the vital influence is absent, still the results appear
to be the same.

As to the preparations of taraxacum, the solid
extract is not regarded by medical men as an agent
of much activity, except in large doses ; the succus
on the other hand is much prescribed, not uufre-

362

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 8, 1879.

quently in too small closes, but when well prepared
and moderately fresh is a good representative of the
medicinal properties of the drug. When, however,
it is kept for any length of time, and more especially
in warm weather, it often becomes turbid, deposits,
and sometimes ferments, losing most of its bitter¬
ness, and this will, as a matter of course, occur much
more readily in the presence of a large quantity of
saccharine matter than in its comparative absence.
Reasons which it will be unnecessary to detail
render it undesirable to increase the quantity of
alcohol in any medicinal preparation of the kind,
beyond the amount necessary for its complete and
perfect preservation, but especially in that under
consideration where the quantity administered is or
should be comparatively large. But in the formula
given a minimum of spirit is used at a risk of the
stability of the preparation, and I would suggest an in¬
crease of say 5 per cent, of spirit as desirable, and the
dose as regards bulk might be diminished by con¬
centrating the filtered juice as soon as possible after
expression from the roots.

There is a preparation of taraxacum officinal in
the United States Pharmacopoeia, but not in the
British, viz., the fluid extract prepared from the dry
root, with which many pharmacists are, I presume,
acquainted. It is a concentrated, efficient, elegant and
stable preparation. The sample No. 1, which pos¬
sesses much of the bitterness and the peculiar odour
of taraxacum, is in a perfect state of preservation, and
is at least three years old. Sample No. 2 has been
recently prepared from roots a year old, and No. 3
from roots collected and dried about ten days since ;
both these are very decidedly bitter.

Like most of the American fluid extracts the one
under consideration is of such a strength that one
fluid drachm represents 60 grains of the dry pow¬
dered drug ; and as the best autumnal roots lose 75
per cent, of moisture in drying (spring roots about
80 per cent.), each fluid drachm represents at least
four times the quantity of fresh root. The formula
will be well known; the finished product contains
one half its bulk of rectified spirit, one-fourth
glycerine, the remaining fourth consisting of dis¬
solved extractive and water. Liquid extract of
taraxacum is not unfrequently prescribed in this
.country (the dispenser often being uncertain as to
what is really intended), and I think this prepara¬
tion would fill a want ; and that it, or some modifi¬
cation of it, should find a place in the next British
Pharmacopoeia.

[The discussion on this paper is printed at p. 374.]

THE PREPARATION OF CASTOR OIL.*

BY ERNEST P. RAAB, PH.G.

From an Inaugural Essay.

Castor oil is obtained in the United States by the
following method, as witnessed at the “Belleville Oil
Works,” owned by Messrs. Brosius and Son. The seeds
having been thoroughly cleansed from the dust and
particles of the pod, with which they are more or less
contaminated, are placed in an iron reservoir and slightly
heated. Great care is taken to prevent them from being
scorched, the object being only to make the oil more fluid

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy. October,
1879.

- ■ - . . ■ a

for expression. The pressing is now proceeded with by
means of hydraulic presses, which are preferred on account
of the great force exerted by them. Each piece has a
series of movable plates and cylinders, of which each
cylinder is filled, the plate pushed in, and then the power
applied. The first quality oil is thus expressed, and runs
into a large tank below. The pressed seeds are now
heaped into a pile and allowed to remain for a day. Next
day they are again heated in another iron reservoir, put
into a series of cylinders, power is applied, and the second
quality, or lubricating oil, is obtained. Messrs. Brosius
and Son use a portion of their oil-cake for fuel, and send
the remainder to the East, where it is utilized in combin¬
ation with other matter to produce artificial guano. A
Philadelphia firm, Messrs. Baeder, Adamson and Co.,
have resorted to bisulphide of carbon as a solvent for
the press-cake, thereby obtaining a dark thick liquid.
The process is similar to that carried on in France with
alcohol, the product, however, being a very common lubri¬
cating oil, but without smell of bisulphide of carbon. The
firm does not now manufacture any more.

The oil made by the process in use at the “Belleville
Oil Works” is called cold-pressed, to distinguish it from
any of the other methods in which more heat is employed.
The coldpressed oil without doubt deserves the preference,
and is now extensively used. The yield per bushel after
two expressions is sixteen pounds, or two gallons; the
first expression yielding twelve pounds, the second four
pounds. Sometimes a third expression is resorted to, but
this oil is much coloured and the yield so very small that
it hardly pays for the labour and expense incurred ; the
yield is from one to three pounds.

The process of purifying and clarifying the oil is accom¬
plished in various ways, and is the specialty of every
factory. The great point in purification as well as clari¬
fication to be noticed is the fact not to expose the oil too
long to the air, as it is then liable to become rancid. The
first expressed oil is clear white, or rather colourless, like
water ; the colour of the second expression is yellowish,
like syrup of squills. Castor oil is remarkable for its
power of mixing, in all proportions, with glacial
acetic acid and with absolute alcohol without the aid of
any other agent. It is soluble in four parts of alcohol,
•835 or ’850, at 15° C., and mixes without turbidity with
an equal weight of the same solvent at 25° C. Its specific
gravity is ’97 to *98 ; it congeals at — 12° to — 13° C., and
becomes solid at — 40° C.

The oil of the first expression is used for medicinal pur¬
poses ; that of the second for oiling leather, lubricating
machinery, burning and various other purposes.

The oil-cake is either, by the addition of animal mat¬
ter and other ingredients, made into manure, artificial
guano, or is used for fuel. The latter is the customary
practice in large oil mills, where a saving of from 40 to 50
dollars a week is effected thereby.

SOPHISTICATIONS OF OLIVE OIL.

The adulteration of this oil has become so prevalent
that the French Minister of Agriculture and Commerce
had requested the Academy of Sciences to ascertain the
most trustworthy method for the detection of such frauds
Among the procedures at present under examination by
a special committee is the use of a diagometer, an instru¬
ment devised by Professor Luigi Palmieri, founded on
the difference of the electric conductivity of oils. Seed
oils are as a class better conductors than olive oil. At the
same time every oil conducts the better the greater are its
impurities. Linseed and cotton seed oil are among the best
conductors, whilst the oils of pine seeds and of hazelnuts are
almost as feebly conductive as the purest olive oil, known in
commerce as virgin oil. Fortunately these two oils are
too rare and costly to be used in the adulteration of olive
oil. The use of the diagometer requires considerable
manipulative skill. — Chemical Neivs.

November 8, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

363

§kr(maqittual Jcruipl.

♦ —

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1879.

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

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

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

SOLICITATION OF VOTES BY CANDIDATES FOR
THE BENEVOLENT FUND.

The idea that, in the administration of relief
from the Benevolent Fund, the most worthy candi¬
dates should have the advantage simply "because they
are most deserving is one that we cordially sympa¬
thize with, and to that extent we share with the
mover and the seconder of the motion respecting can¬
vassing cards and solicitation of votes in their desire
to prevent, as far as possible, any advantage being
gained by or for individual candidates through other
means than that of having a preferential claim to
relief from the Fund by reason of their actual cir¬
cumstances and antecedents.

But having admitted thus much we cannot avoid
adding that it is our conviction the object sought for
cannot be attained by means of such regulations as
it is proposed to establish, and we need not go far
beyond the remarks made by those who supported
Mr. Shaw’s motion for evidence in support of this
view. The Benevolent Fund of the Pharmaceutical
Society is a feature of that Society which every
member has reason to be proud of, not only by
reason of the good it has done, but also on account
of the good it is yet able to do. However, the good
character of this Fund, like that of all other charit¬
able funds, is not wholly unqualified. Even in its
accumulation, and still more in its application, it
affords opportunities for the exhibition of various
tendencies of human nature not altogether admirable
perhaps, or even pleasant, but still natural tendencies
which it would be quixotic to quarrel with, or to
attempt to put down arbitrarily.

It is upon the basis of these tendencies that the
system of soliciting votes, of sending out circulars
and cards, is carried on by candidates with the view
of promoting their election, and it is from a sort of
instinctive perception that voters are likely to be
influenced more or less by such tendencies that this
system is had recourse to. Looking at the practice
impartially it may not be possible to avoid the ad¬
mission that it is a great evil ; one which, as Mr.
Hampson said, is becoming more and more recog¬
nized by men who have thoroughly entered into the
question. But when that admission is made, does it
follow, as a logical consequence, that it is an evil to
be done away with by such measures as those pro¬
posed in regard to solicitation of votes, etc. ? Is it
not rather one of those evils that have to be endured ?

We admit it is to be deprecated that poor persons
applying for relief and variously incapacitated from
active exertion should come into competition with
others, who in place of those conditions possess an
habitual disinclination to take back seats anywhere.
It is, we admit, wholly undesirable that the can¬
didates for election should ever enter upon the can¬
didature as a sort of race who should get in. Even
in the absence of any inequality in power to com¬
pete in this way, such contest would be inappropriate
and when such differences as those above referred to
obtain it is next door to an injustice that the weak¬
est must necessarily go the wall. This, however,
is only the natural injustice which prevails in all
worldly affairs, and we cannot see that it calls for
special regulation in the administration of a charity
more than in the regulation of the circumstances by
which some people become prosperous, while others
become unfortunate.

But there seems to be a further objection to the
motion brought forward by Mr. Shaw and Mr.
Hampson, and that is its being only a half measure
at best. Mr. Shaw would not interfere with per¬
sonal or written solicitations, but only with such
proceedings as caused expense to the candidates, so
that he would leave altogether unprovided against
such an evil and such an undue advantage as might
be gained by a person attacking the Benevolent Fund
as a matter of business, able and willing to go about
and solicit votes -with plausibility and without com¬
punction, so as to court success rather by such means
than on the ground of any real merit. It is no libel
to say that there are such persons, and that charit¬
able institutions are sometimes successfully cultivated
by them.

And in addition to these possible sources of in¬
justice in the allotment of the gifts of charity there
are the influences hinted at by the Daily News.
For some of the supporters of charities there can be
little reason to doubt that the part they play is one
of business. They subscribe partly to satisfy their
vanity by seeing their names in print, partly, also, to
become conspicuous and for the sake of enjoying the
sense of importance arising to some persons from the
fact of being solicited to give their votes and from
having the power to exercise patronage.

So long as such influences prevail with voters as
well as with candidates for election to annuities we
cannot entertain the hope that they will not have
their effect irrespective of questions as to which of
the candidates are the most deserving. As regards
the point of relieving candidates from expense, the
prohibition of printed cards would not relieve those
who are weak or disabled from the greater disadvan¬
tage of active solicitation in this way by others
better able to carry it out, for now that the
reproduction of letters can be carried out rapidly
and copiously, it would be easy for any able-bodied
persons to prepare a large number of such oopies and
distribute them themselves.

364

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 8, 187».

A further objection to the prohibition of cards
and canvassing for votes arises from the dislike some
persons would have to be thus shut out from taking
an active part in the election of annuitants, and it is
quite possible that this feeling might have the effect
of preventing some persons from subscribing. More¬
over it would deprive some candidates from enjoying
the advantage resulting from the assistance of friends
who might be disposed to canvass for them, or even
to defray the cost of printing and circulating cards.
It is difficult to perceive that the handicapping of
candidates in regard to such assistance by their friends
would be less an evil than that which is assumed
to result in some cases from canvassing.

Still it seems there are charities which are ad¬
ministered under conditions that are supposed to do
away with the evil of canvassing. Mr. Shaw men¬
tioned the Royal Albert Orphan Asylum as having
been carried on without canvassing and the Medical
Benevolent Fund as one in the administration of
which canvassing was to be done away with in future,
so that there is evidently a considerable amount of
opinion in favour of the discontinuance of the
practice.

Perhaps it may not be altogether useless to suggest
a plan by which much of the difficulty arising from
the difference of opinion upon canvassing could be
got over. If those who disapprove of solicitation
for votes were to have added to their names in the
list of subscribers to the Benevolent Fund in the
Society’s Calendar the letters N.C., as indicating that
they did not approve of canvassing, this plan would
serve the purpose of notifying to candidates that
those persons objected to be asked for their votes,
and it may be assumed the candidates would abstain
at least from applying or sending cards to them. In
this way subscribers to the Fund would be able at
once to exercise their influence towards preventing
the practice of canvassing, and in time it would
appear how far this desire prevailed among the sub¬
scribers. If this course were adopted by the majority
there would then be a very strong argument upon
which to base a motion in future similar to that
brought forward by Mr. Shaw.

In any case some such individual action directed
to the prevention or removal of the evil attending
the system of canvassing appears to be most suitable
for initiating the reform that is considered to be
necessary, and we are of opinion that by attacking
the subject in such a way there would be the
greatest likelihood of securing a satisfactory result.

PHARMACOPHOBIA.

The pharmacophobia, of which Dr. DuPRfi has
on previous occasions presented such distressing
symptoms, has again taken possession of that
amiable member of the Society of Public Analysts,
and has impelled him, with the aid of his colleagues
the editors of the Analyst , to deliver himself of a
letter denouncing in one breath the Council of the

Pharmaceutical Society, the Pharmaceutical
Journal, Professor Redwood, Professor Attfield,
Professor Tilden, and pharmaceutical chemists in
general, for certain indications of heretical views
on their part respecting a favourite dogma of Dr.
Dupre’s, that the British Pharmacopoeia, as read by
himself, is the sole and only standard of what drugs
and medicinal preparations or articles of materia
medica, etc., ought to be.

The editors of the Analyst characterize this letter
as being “ sufficiently outspoken in itself to require
no comment ” on their part, and certainly the arro¬
gant assumption of infallibility it manifests would
not require their help to establish an analogy with a
Papal bull or an edict of excommunication.

But amid all the vehemence of Dr. Dupres
expression of displeasure, there is a faint sign of
misgiving in his mind, that owing to his belonging
to Carlyle’s majority, he fails “to understand,
either the chemistry, the sense, or the morality ” of
the matters which have so profoundly moved him,
and Dr. Dupre, speaking with this sense of having
“ lime in his sack,” really shows such symptoms of
amendment, that though we might otherwise have
been disposed to characterize this letter of his as
another illustration of “parturiunt monies ,” we will,
for the present, at least, entertain a hope that it gives
some sign of his being possibly cured of “ pharmaco¬
phobia ” at a future time.

THE DIGNITY OF PHARMACY.

A correspondent sends us under this heading
two cuttings from newspapers, stating in one instance
that a person has bequeathed a legacy to the poor by
sending to every chemist and patent medicine vendor
a bottle of his nostrum for free distribution, and in
the other that advice gratis on all diseases is given
by the advertiser. For the special satisfaction of
our correspondent, however, we can state that the
names of neither of these advertisers are on the
Register of Chemists and Druggists of Great Britain,
and for his further consolation we refer him to the
excellent letter in which Mr. John H. Wilson
expresses liis opinion of the harm that is done to
pharmacy and to the real interests of the trade by
promoting the sale of patent medicines.

In regard to this feature of the trade, we may
mention that the detrimental influence it exercises
upon the status of the pharmacist is being seriously
felt even in Germany and in France, where the
pharmacist occupies a more professional position
than is generally the case here, and the German
Pharmaceutical Journal speaking of Mr. Schacht’s
remarks on that subject in his address to the Con¬
ference at Sheffield, says they are of interest to
German pharmaceutists, since they show that the
status of the pharmacist will be inevitably reduced
to the level of geneial trade and industry and will
be regarded in that light by the public wherever
the business of pharmacy does not advance scienti¬
fically in the same degree as other occupations.

Apropos of this subject we also refer our readers
.to the inquest recently held at Doncaster, as illus¬
trating the mischievous consequences of the irregular
sale of medicinal preparations by persons unquali¬
fied to deal in them and as furnishing further
evidence in justification of the steps taken from
time to time for enforcing the provisions of the
Pharmacy Act.

Novembers, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

365

ftmmftm jofl tfee ||arma^tttical jfoitUtg,

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday , November 5, 1879.

ME. GEOKGE WEBB SANDFORD, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Atkins, Churchill, Frazer, Gostling,
Greenish, Hampson, Hills, Richardson, Riinmington,
Robbins, Shaw, Symes, Williams and Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

Before commencing the business of the day,

The President said he must trespass on the Council
for one moment on his own account. When the Council
did him the honour in June last to elect him President,
he expressed a fear that he should be unable to carry out
the duties, and he did feel that those duties were too
much for him. It was not altogether a question of time,
but of wear and tear, which he found he could not stand,
and therefore without saying more, he must beg that at
the next meeting the Council would appoint his suc¬
cessor.

After a brief pause,

Mr. Hills said he trusted that Mr. Sandford would
continue to hold office for the present. He could quite
enter into what was now stated, but at the same time
this came upon the Council very suddenly. He was not
anticipating anything of this kind, and he trusted Mr.
Sandford would withhold his resignation for the present.

Mr. Atkins said although a young member of the
Council he could not help rising to second Mr. Hills’
appeal to Mr. Sandford to reconsider his decision. He
ventured seriously to think that however much some of
the members of Council might differ on some points with
Mr. Sandford, they all united in the most intense respect
for him, and in a thorough admiration of his English
pluck, and if it came to a discussion on questions of phar¬
macy few would venture to cross swords with him. He
therefore hoped Mr. Sandford would not consider his
decision as a Medo-Persian one, but give effect to their
cordial regard for him, and their desire that he should
retain office. The Council was confessedly passing through
a period of considerable difficulty ; it required men of long
practical experience at the head of affairs, and could not
afford to spare him.

The Vice-President hoped Mr. Sandford would not
feel himself called upon to relinquish the post they were
all so glad to see him occupy. If Mr. Sandford needed
more rest he could only say that he would most gladly do
everything in his power to lighten his load. He was
sure that in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred he
should be at one with him in his views, and he should
be very pleased if he could bring himself still more into
accord with him than he had sometimes been. He wrould
only say that he placed himself entirely at his disposal
if he could assist him in any part of his duties.

Mr. Williams said he understood Mr. Sandford had
taken this step, not from any feeling of disagreement
which had occurred on the Council, for all that had
occurred had been in the most open and friendly manner.
The members of Council had only disagreed in the way
in which men must always disagree, and he understood
that it was the strain upon Mr. Sandford’ s physical
powers, involved in the Presidency, which he found to
tell upon him. He could quite sympathize with him in
that feeling, but he must say that anything like the
resignation at which Mr. Sandford had hinted would be
a most serious thing for the Society, and he trusted that
he would if possible struggle against this feeling and
continue to carry out those duties, which no one on the
Council could fulfil so well.

Mr. Frazer, as the only Scotch member present, —
which he regretted, for he was sure Mr. Mackay would feel
inexpressible^ regret at such an announcement, — trusted

that some arrangement of the work could be made which
would relieve the strain that Mr. Sandford felt too
heavy for him, and that the Council would not be de¬
prived of his services as President until the close of the
current year of office.

Mr. Robbins hoped Mr. Sandford would withdraw his
notice, because he was quite sure it would be considered
as a loss to the Society almost irreparable. At the
present time, especially, when there was a Pharmacy
Bill under discusssion, there was no man on the Council
who would be able to give so much assistance as Mr.
Sandford. He knew the duties were very onerous, but
some of them might surely be thrown on the shoulders of
younger members.

Mr. Greenish expressed his earnest hope that if it
were compatible with Mr. Sandford’s health he would
not lay down the reins of office at present. It was a
critical period ; the Council had important business before
it, and there was no man so capable of filling the chair as
Mr. Sandford, and he was sure there was no one who
would not be glad to save him any trouble or anything
which might bring an extra strain upon him.

The President said he should not have risen again
except to thank his colleagues for the kind expressions of
feeling they had given. He must entirely disclaim any
feeling of antagonism to any of his colleagues in retiring.
All the members of Council honestly expressed and acted
on their own opinions, as it was right they should, and
he had always received the greatest kindness and courtesy
from those whom he had most strongly opposed, not only
during his present term of office but years and years
ago. He knew they were all desirous of helping him,
and they all had helped him, but the truth was, he had
been so long mixed up with this Society that it had
become almost a part of himself, and the anxiety was
too much for him. He thought of it day and night, and
he really felt that it was more than he could stand.
However, there need be nothing further said on the
subject at the present meeting.

Letters of thanks were read from the Manchester
Chemists’ Association for the grant of £35, made last
month, and from the Chemists’ Assistants’ Association
for the loan of specimens from the museum to illustrate a
lecture.

The Weights and Measures Act.

The President laid before the Council an Order in
Council on the subject of the standards about to be
issued to inspectors.

Diplomas to Pharmaceutical Chemists.

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

Arnfield, John Cash.

Bevan, William.

Cook, William Richard.

Gascoigne, Charles.

Gibbons, Walter.

Howse, Charles Turk.

Laxon, Matthew.

Leach, Isaac.

Mason, William Brand wood.

Presslie, Robert Dowell.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemist.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and paid his subscription for the current year, was
elected a “ Member ” of the Society : —

Mason, William Brandwood ...Bolton.

Chemist and Druggist.

The following, who was in business on his own
account before August 1, 1868, having tendered his

366

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 8. 1879

subscription for the current year, was elected a Member
of the Society : —

Cooke, Thomas . Holt, Norfolk.

ASSOCIATES.

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

Chambers, Herbert . Haddenham.

Chipp, James . Newport, I. W.

Constance, Sidney William . London.

Field, William . Shoreham.

Fowler, William . Sunderland.

Fryer, Charles Harry . Leeds.

Godfrey, Henry . Godaiming.

Hearnshaw, John William . Spalding.

Hessell, James . Rye.

Hoad, Frank . Rye.

Hornby, Charles Haycock . Stockport.

Hutchin, William Francis W... Maidstone.

Jones Nathaniel Stevens . Fulham.

Kilner, Frederick James . Bristol.

Mason, Frederic Silvester . Leicester.

Moody, Lewis . Lincoln.

Morgan, Alfred William . Rochester.

Morris, Humphrey . Dolgelly.

Parker, Charles . Lancaster.

Powrie,Percival Chamberlain. . .MosselBay, S. Africa.

Watkinson, James . Farnworth.

Watson, Robert John . Market Rasen.

Williamson, Bamford . South Shields.

Willson, Robert . Boston.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

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

Chabot, Frank . London.

Chadwick, Thomas Edward ...Bradford.

Harrison, Jeremiah . Clitheroe.

Nelson, Harry . York.

Nettle, William Robert P . Plymouth.

Orchard, Arthur Bishop C. ...London.

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

The names of the following persons, who have severally
made the required declarations and paid a fine of one
guinea, were restored to the Register of Chemists and
Druggists : —

George Arthur Cannell, 81, High Street, Queenborough,
Kent.

William Shipley, 2, Haugh Lane, Lower Broughton,
M anchester

Alfred Wall, 37, Church Street, Woolwich, Kent.

Addition to Register.

The Registrar reported that —

Robert Charlton Turner, Victoria Street, Douglas,
Isle of Man,

having made a statutory declaration that he was in
business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,
and his declaration having been duly supported by a
medical practitioner, his name had been placed on the
register.

Mr. Rimmington and Mr. Robbins expressed the
opinion that very few persons could be left who were
really qualified for this registration and that stringent
i nquiry should be made in each case.

The Secretary explained that this was done.

Appeal from the Registrar s Decision.

A memorial was read from Mr. J ohn Hardcastle, 23,
Waterloo Road, Hunslet, Leeds, by way of appeal from
the refusal of the Registrar to place his name on the
register as having been in business prior to 1868. The
memorial set out at length the applicant’s case, which,
was that he had an interest in a business prior to 1868,
though his name did not appear in it.

The Secretary stated that on writing to the medical
practitioner who had signed the certificate, that gentle¬
man had stated that he had no personal knowledge of
the facts, and had only relied on the applicant’s state¬
ment, believing him to be a respectable man. He
therefore considered the certificate withdrawn and had
declined to register the applicant.

Mr. Richardson thought that many men were being
put on the register without due care to scrutinize their
claims. Those who lived in the country constantly
heard complaints of this kind, and it was felt to be a hard¬
ship on respectable chemists and druggists that men not
duly qualified should be put on the register.

Mr. Woolley said the respectable portion of the drug
trade must do what was right and just. The question in
this case seemed to turn on what constituted a partner¬
ship.

After some further conversation,

The Vice-President pointed out that in this case the
medical practitioner having withdrawn his certificate, the
necessary preliminary to registration had not been com¬
plied with. The applicant must provide a certificate
from some one who was able to support his statements
from personal knowledge before his application could be
entertained.

The Secretary was directed to write to the applicant
to this effect.

Reports of Committees,
finance.

The report of this Committee was received and adopted,
and sundry accounts were ordered to be paid.

HOUSE.

This Committee’s report referred to sundry matters
connected with repairs to the house ; but no recommenda¬
tions were made.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included a statement by
the Secretary to the following effect : —

338 persons who subscribed in 1878 have not subscribed
this year, leaving a deficiency in subscriptions of about
£150.

The following grants were recommended : —

£15 to a member, formerly in business, but now in
greatly reduced circumstances.

£10 to the wife of an associate who is now in a lunatic
asylum.

30 guineas to aid in securing the election of the
youngest son of a late pharmaceutical chemist and
member of the Society to the London Orphan Asylum.

£10 to a former member, aged 63, who has received
five previous grants.

£10 to a pharmaceutical member from 1853 to 1877.

£5 to a registered chemist and druggist conditional on
further inquiries by a member of the Council resident in
his neighbourhood being satisfactorily answered.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist
who has had four previous grants.

£10 to a pharmaceutical member from 1868 to 1871.
Applicant has had one previous grant.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist
who has had three previous grants.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist
who had a previous grant of like amount in July 1878.

One case the Committee had declined to recommend
for relief and two others were deferred for further in-

367

November F, 1879]. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

quiries. One of these referred to the election of an orphan
to an asylum.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

Mr. Williams trusted that attention would be called
through the Journal to the desirability of friends who had
votes for either the London Orphan Asylum, or British
Orphan Asylum, reserving them for the two candidates
whom the Council wish to see elected.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

The report of this Committee included the usual report
from the Librarian, to the following effect : —

Total

Attendance.

during Highest. Lowest. Average.

Month.

July . j

Day. .

. 441

23

7

16

Evening

. 193

14

3

8

August...

Day only

. 182

13

4

7

September )
(15 to 30) \

Day only

. 125

12

6

9 nearly.

Circulation of books.

No. of entries.

Carriage

paid.

Town. Country.

Total.

S. d.

July . . .

. . .152

59

211

17 0

August . .

• • •

48

30

78

19 9

September (15 to 30)

59

43

102

15 11

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

Aguiar (Dr. J. M. de), Memoria sobre a Araroba,
1879. From Dr. C. Symes.

Attfield (Professor J.), Chemistry, General, Medical
and Pharmaceutical, 8 (TJ.S.) ed., 1879.

From the Author.

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution,
Catalogue of the Library ; with Catalogue of
Books belonging to the Bath and West of England
Society for the Encouragement of Agriculture,
etc., 1879. From the Institution.

Chemical Society of London, List of Officers and
Fellows, 1879. From the Society.

Cooley (A. J.), Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts,
6 ed., 1879, pt. 14. From Messrs. Churchill.

Guy’s Hospital, Reports, 1879, ser. 3, v. 24.

From the Hospital.

Guy's Hospital, Formulae, 1868 and 1879.

From Mr. Henry Collier.

Imperial College of Agriculture, Tokio, Japan,
Catalogue of Agricultural Products exhibited in
the Sydney International Exhibition, 1879.

From Professor E. Kinch, compiler.

Institution of Civil Engineers, Charter, Bye-laws and
Regulations, and List of Members, 1879.

From the Institution.

National Dental Hospital and College, Report,
Prospectus, etc., 1879-80. From the Hospital.

New York City, Department of Public Charities and
Correction, Hospital Formulary and Posological
Table, 1879. From Mr. Charles Rice, compiler

of the posological table.

Royal College of Physicians of London, British
Dispensatory, a translation of the London Phar¬
macopoeia, 1747. From Mr. John Saffery.

St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Statistical Tables of
Patients during 1878. From the Hospital.

Smithsonian Institution, Annual Report of the Board
of Regents for 1877. From the Institution.

Tommasi (Dr. Donato):

Sur la Non-existence de l’Hydrogbne naissant, 1
partie, Reduction du Chlorate de Potasse, 1879.
Sulla Non-esistenza dell’Idrogeno nascente, parte
5, Riduzione, del Perclorato Potassico, 1879.

From the Author.

University College, London :

Catalogue of Books in the General Library and in
the South Library, 1879, v. 1-2.

Calendar, 1879. From the College.

University of Durham College of Medicine, New¬
castle, Prospectus for 1879-80. From the College.
University of Edinburgh, Calendar 1879.

From the University.
University of Glasgow, Calendar 1879.

From the University.
Waring (Dr. E. J.), Bibliotheca Therapeutica, 1878-9,
2 v. From the Author.

White (Dr. J. Walls), Salicylate of Iron, 1879.

From the Author.

Yorkshire College, Leeds :

Fifth Annual Report, 1879.

Calendar, and Prospectus of the Leeds School of
Medicine, 1879. From the College.

Pharmacopee universelle et Uniformity en Medecine ;
Rapport de la Commission internationale, 1879.

From Professor Norbert Gille, reporter.
Dragendorff (Prof. G.) :

Analysen zweier Apfel, 1878.

Beitrage zur Chemie der Paonien, 1879.

Ober Mannit als Nebenproduct der Milchsaure-
darstellung aus Rohrzucker, 1879.

Haberkorn (T.), Das Yerhalten von Harnbacterien
gegen einige Antiseptica, 1879.

Keussler (E. v.), Untersuchung der chrysophan-
saureartigen Substanz der Sennesblatter und der
Frangulinsaure nebst Yergleiehung derselben mit
der Chrysophansaure der Rhabarbers, 1879.
Sitzungsberichte d. Dorpater Naturforscher-Gesell-
schaft, 1 no., 1879. From Professor Dragendorff.
The Committee had recommended the purchase of the
following books for the library : —

Cockayne (T. 0.), Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and
Starcraft of Early England, 1864-6, 3 v.
Edinburgh New Dispensatory, ed. by A. Duncan,
jun., 1803.

Gray ( A.sa), Botanical Text-book, 6 ed., pt. 1 : Struc¬
tural Botany, 1879.

Repertoire de Pharmacie et Journal de Chimie medi-
cale reunis.

Tyndall (J.), Fragments of Science, 6 ed., 1879, 2 v.
Wanklyn (J. A.) and E. T. Chapman, Water
Analysis, 5 ed., 1879.

Wurtz (Ad.), Elements of Modern Chemistry, trans¬
lated by W. H. Greene, 1879.

The Librarian had reported that in the annual revision
which he had just completed the following 13 books were
found to be missing : —

Attfield (J.), Chemistry, 7 (U.S.) ed., 1876.

Bevan (G. P.), Industrial Classes, 1876, vol. 2.
British Pharmacopoeia, with Additions, 1877.
Burbidge (F. W.), Horticulture, 1877.

Bloxam (C. L.), Metals, 2 ed., 1871.

Canning (W.), Select Practical Notes and Formulae,
1877.

Church (A. H.), Food, 1876.

Clendon (J. C .), Observations on Extraction of Teeth,
1843. (Lost by borrower.)

Cooke (M. C.), Manual of Structural Botany, 2 ed.,
1865.

Cooley (A. J.), Pharmaceutical Latin Grammar, 1868.
De Crespigny (E. C.), New London Flora, 1877.
Fliickiger and Hanbury, Pharmacographia, 1874.
Squire (P.), Companion to British Pharmacopoeia,
10 ed., 1874.

The Committee had ordered that the list be published in
the Journal, and recommended that a reward be offered for
the detection and conviction of persons stealing books
from the Society’s library.

The Librarian had also presented a report of the meeting
of the Library Association at Manchester on September
23, 24, and 25, which he had been directed to attend.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 8, 1&79.

363

The Curator had reported that in August the average
daily attendance in the museum had been 4 5 in September
the average had been 17.

During the vacation the museum had been visited by
Dr. Berge of Zurich ; Professor Baudrimont of Paris, and
Herr wlarogorski, Apothecary, Warsaw.

He had also reported that he had received the following
Donations to the museum, and the Committee recom¬
mended that the usual letter of thanks be sent to the
respective donors : —

Specimens of “Matico A romatica' ’ leaves. F rom Messrs.
Allen and Hanbury.

Specimen of “ China Cuprea ” Bark, with analysis.
From Dr. B. H. Paul.

Fine specimens of Sassafras Root. From Mr. W. H.
Ferguson.

A number of specimens from Dr. Dymock of Bombay,
including : —

“ pvlIsa Oil” distilled under his own superintendence,
and herbarium specimens of the grass from which
it was obtained.

Herbarium specimens of Garcinia pictoria in flower
and fruit.

Seeds of Lobelia nicotiancefolia.

Fruit of the Zanzibar Copal Tree.

Very fine specimens of Sarcocoll, with seeds of the
plant from which it was obtained.

Specimen of the finest Yarkand Churrus.

Extract of Myrica sapida.

Judwar root ( Aconitum species).

Resin of Boswellia serrata, gathered from the tree by
Mr. J. E. Gibbs.

Root of Gloriosa superba.

Asgund root (not Withania somnifera).

Fruit of Melia dubia.

Fruit of Martynia diandra.

Bark of Croton oblong folium.

Original package of Canton Oil of Peppermint.

Cake of Jaferabad Aloes.

A large number of small specimens from Mr. J . Dittrich,
Apotheker, Prague.

Specimens of Crude Japanese Camphor, Pachyma
Cocos, Demerara Copal and Peach tree bark, from China.
From Mons. Chantre.

Specimens of "V anillon and of the fruit of Lujja AEgyp-
tiaca. From Mr. H. W. Langbeck.

Specimens of the root of Gentiana punctata , gathered
in Switzerland by Mr. O. Corder. From Mr. Corder.

Herbarium specimens of A ardostachys jatamansi, Dec.
From Mr. T. Ware, of Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham.

Specimens of Barks, etc., from British Guiana, used by
the natives in medicine. From Mr. F. S. Mason, Student
of the Society.

Specimen of Mai don Salt obtained at Maldon. From
Mr. C. J. Mead.

Seeds of Cucurbita maxima, grown at Porto Mauritzio
for medicinal purposes. From Mr. F. R. Squire, San
Remo, Italy (received through Mr. C. J. Mead).

Fine specimen of Pituri. From Dr. Bancroft, Brisbane
(received through Mr. T. Christy).

The Curator had suggested the desirability of closing the
museum for revision during the first fortnight in Septem¬
ber in each year.

The Curator had also reported that room for about 500
specimens was required, the cases being already filled . The
specimens in the cases in the materia medica museum
were so crowded that it was impossible to clean the bottles,
or remove them frequently for reference without great
risk of breakage, and the specimens more frequently
sought after by students could not on that account be
displayed to advantage or in such a manner as to illustrate
efficiently the materia medica of this country. He con¬
sidered that the advantage of museum instruction, which
to a certain extent is received through the eye, was
necessarily lost, the great number of specimens tending
rather to confuse the mind than to convey information.

He also considered it would be advantageous to remove
such specimens as are not official in the British, United
States, or Indian Pharmacopoeias to other cases, and
to place in cases from which light is excluded, essen¬
tial oils, and such other specimens as are injured and lose
their characteristic appearance by exposure to light. It
was suggested that this might be done by providing closed
cupboards above those at present in use. The doors of
such cupboards might be used for exhibiting the drawings
of Bentley and Trimen’s * Medicinal Plants,’ which had
been presented by the artist.

The Secretary had presented estimates for printing
the Journal Index and the ‘History of the Progress of
Pharmacy,’ and the Committee had recommended with
regard to the Index that Butler and Tanner’s estimate be
accepted and 5000 copies be printed.

An adjourned meeting of the Committee had been held
on Wednesday October 28, when Professor Redwood had
attended and reported that he had more students attend¬
ing his class than in former sessions. He also suggested
to the Committee that the ‘Progress of Pharmacy,’ so far
as it was ready, should be put into type at once, and
stated that if that were done, he thought the book might
be ready for publication by the time of the next Annual
Meeting.

The Committee recommended that this be done, that
Messrs. Butler and Tanner’s estimate be accepted, and
that 5000 copies be printed.

The Committee also recommended that the sug¬
gestion of the Curator for closing the museum during
the first fortnight of September in each year be adopted.
A loan of certain specimens to illustrate a lecture given on
the 29th October before the Chemists’ Assistants’ Associa¬
tion by Mr. Parker had been authorized.

A discussion arose with regard to the recommendation
of the Committee to print 5000 copies of the Index to
the Journal for the last ten years, and on the question
whether copies should be sent to all members or only to
those who applied for them, or whether they should be
sold, great differences of opinion were expressed. It was;
ultimately resolved that 2000 copies should be printed,
and distributed to those who applied for them.

A similar discussion arose with regard to the recom¬
mendation to put the Progress of Pharmacy in hand at
once, and print 5000.

Mr. Gostling moved that the work be not put in hand
until it was completed, but this motion was lost.

Mr. Atkins proposed that only 2000 copies of the work
be printed, but this proposition meeting with little or
no support, he did not press it.

The report and recommendations of the Committee,
were then received and adopted with the alteration above
noted as to the number of copies of the Journal Index
to be printed.

The Hanbury Memorial Trust Fund.

Mr. W illiams said it would be in the recollection of
all that the Council had undertaken to be custodian of
this fund, and Mr. Flux had kindly drawn up a deed of
trust, which was now ready to be signed and sealed. The
amount invested was £400. He had now to resign his
post as Treasurer of the Fund.

It was then resolved, on the motion of the Presi¬
dent, that the deed of settlement of the Daniel Hanbury
Memorial Fund of £100 Consols be stamped with the
seal of the Society.

General Purposes.

The report of this Committee included the usual report
from the Solicitor with regard to cases Avhich had been
placed in his hands. The only details admitting of
publication are the following : —

The appeal in the case of London and Provincial
Supply Association stood No. 46 in the list, and might
come on during the present sittings.

John Mayo, 62, Bingfield Street, Caledonian Road,
charged with illegally using the title of chemist and

November 8, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

369

druggist, had confessed judgment without going to trial.
In this case the Committee recommended that the penalty
be not enforced on the costs being paid.

Eliza Hancock, Castle Road, Roath, Cardiff,
a widow carrying on business, had also consented to
judgment against her.

The Committee had considered various cases of alleged
infringement of the Pharmacy Act, and in several recom¬
mended that the Solicitor be instructed to commence
proceedings.

The Committee also recommended that the Special
Committee to consider the Amendment of the Pharmacy
Acts should hold a meeting during the present month
and report to the Council in December ; and that in the
meantime the draft should be printed for the use of that
Committee.

The Council went into Committee to consider the
report.

On resuming, the report and recommendations of the
Committee were received and adopted.

An application from Mr. Daniel Tudor Williams, of
Aberdare, asking to be allowed to enter for the Modified
examination, was refused, he not being duly qualified.

Elections of Annuitants.

Mr. Shaw moved, in accordance with notice —

“ That the Council, desiring to protect the interests
individually and collectively, and also to prevent
unnecessary expenditure of money by the candidates
for an annuity from the Benevolent Fund, order
that no printed cards or circulars, asking or canvas¬
sing for votes, be permitted to be sent to any
member, associate or subscriber to the said Fund.”

‘‘The Council will, as heretofore, and prior to the
election, publish in the Pharmaceutical Journal, and
also by the special circular, or voting paper to all
voters, the full particulars of the merits of each
case.”

Mr. Shaw said this motion was one which was dis¬
cussed some eighteen months or two years ago, and
last October a discussion also took place upon the same
question, when he had stated the desirability of prohibit¬
ing canvassing, but at the same time as he had not given
notice of his intention of bringing the subject forward it
was thought better to give notice so that it should be
thoroughly discussed at some future meeting. The elec¬
tion would take place next month, and he should have
been glad to have brought it forward last month, but it
did not occur to him it was necessary to do so before any
canvassing cards were issued. For some years he had
been thoroughly convinced of the desirability of relieving
if possible the poor candidates for annuities from the
necessity of canvassing for votes, and he still retained
the same conviction, and would briefly state his reasons.
On the previous occasion he had received very important
support from several members of the Council. Mr. Hills,
Mr. Hanbury, and others had taken great interest in
this subject, and desired that this canvassing should be
prohibited. What drew his attention to it in the first
instance was the fact that a poor widow, who had can¬
vassed right and left for her children, made application to
the Council asking to be refunded the money she had
spent, and which she could ill afford. It struck him at
that time that money spent in that way was quite un¬
necessary, and he had never since given up the idea of
doing away with the practice. With regard to the
administration of the Benevolent Fund it was, however,
free from some evils which attached to other benevolent
institutions ; for instance, it was free from the trafficking
in votes, from public polling days, where persons bid one
against another, and where the rich, of course, succeeded
in carrying the day. The Council also exercised a large
amount of discretion in preparing the list of candidates.
In many institutions everyone who chose to send in a
claim was put on the list, and thus there might be forty

or sixty candidates, not more than one-tenth of whom
could be elected, so that they all had to spend a great
deal of money, and perhaps in the end might be dis¬
appointed. This year there were only nine candidates for
the annuities, and three to be elected, and he thought one-
third was but a fair proportion in order to give the
subscribers an opportunity of judging of the merit of each
case. As to whether canvassing was an evil or otherwise,
the discussion which took place in October last was
almost conclusive. Mr. Williams then expressed himself
that it would be very well to do everything possible to
discourage the system, and that showed there must be
some evil about it, because they never wished to dis¬
courage that which was good and right. The ex-Vice-
President also agreed that there was great evil in the
present system. If then there was a great evil in it by
all means let the system be removed. With reference to
other opinions outside of the Council he could not do
better than read one or two from prominent members of
society. The first was a distinguished member of the
House of Commons, who a few months ago stated that
canvassing was an unmitigated nuisance, and a system
by which an immense deal of money was thrown into the
gutter. And another prominent legislator, a member of
the House of Lords, said, at a recent meeting, that there
were a good many abuses in connection with charities,
which it was desirable to sweep away, most of all the
trafficking in votes and the public polling days. Another
gentleman who had spoken very recently on the subject,
Mr. Ernest Hart, said on this question nearly the whole
of the profession was against the Council of the Royal
Medical Benevolent Fund, which was opposing the aboli¬
tion of canvassing, and he added that that was not the
testimony of men of hasty judgment, but of such men as Sir
William G-ull, Sir William Rutherford, Sir Henry Thomp¬
son, Dr. Sievking, and almost every eminent man in the
profession, most of whom had spoken strongly on the sub¬
ject. All this testimony certainly should have some weight.
Efforts had been made on different occasions to relieve
persons to some extent of the annoyance to which they
had been subjected by canvassing cards, and in the case,
he believed, of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, and
also of the British Orphan Asylum at Slough, those who
objected to receive the canvassing cards might have their
names put in a separate list. The reason for prohibiting
this system was that the feelings of poor people thrown
destitute on the world ought to be respected. Many of
them had scarcely the courage in the first place to apply
to the Council for assistance, but directly they had got
over that difficulty they asked about the necessity
for canvassing, and were apparently under the im¬
pression that if they did not resort to it they must
be left out in the cold, at least for two or three years,
because those who did canvass necessarily stole a march
upon them. A case of that kind came before the
Committee on the previous evening, when a gentleman
interested in one case asked if anything could be done in
the way of canvassing and applying for votes for the
election. Some time ago, he had had a communication
from a widow who informed him that the cost thrown
upon her with regard to one of these elections came to
£5 13s., and he contended that that sum was perfectly
lost. She said she would be very glad if some other plan
could be suggested, because she found the expense very
heavy. In another case, in connection with the Royal
Benevolent Fund, he was informed that a person had
spent £20 on one election and £15 on another. Now, if
each of the nine candidates spent only £5, that was £45
in the whole, which was totally thrown away. Again,
the most destitute and most deserving often failed in
consequence of the unequal struggle, and he referred to
the elections for the few previous years to show that
those who canvassed really obtained the most votes,
though it did not follow that they were the most deserving
candidates. He had often asked himself, but had asked
in vain, what was the difficulty in putting a stop to this

370

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 8, 1879

system. With regard to personal or written solicitations
he would not interfere with them ; all he wanted was to
relieve the candidates from the expense. It had been
said that the subscribers naturally desired to be asked for
the votes they were entitled to give, but he should hardly
think they would stand on a ceremony of that kind. If
papers were sent round with full particulars, as they
always were, he could not see what additional reason
there could be for any gentleman expecting or requiring
to receive six or nine canvassing cards as well. The
editor of the Daily News had said that it was whispered
that there were persons who enjoyed the sense of im¬
portance of being canvassed, but he should hope that that
was not one of the requirements which their subscribers
insisted on. The impracticable arguments which had
been made use of over and over again, he could not see
the force of. Twelve months ago, he had alluded to the
Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, and at the Annual Meet¬
ing in May last, he was glad to see that out of about
5000 subscribers, a resolution was passed by about 3000
voting for the abolition of canvassing which the Council
had previously declined to carry out, so that in future it
was to be swept away. He could not learn from the
Secretary that any increase in subscriptions was ever
noticed in connection with the sending out of cards, and
his motion would not interefere with any subscribers ob¬
tained by personal solicitation or writing. There were
about twenty institutions already in existence in which
canvassing was prohibited on pain of disqualification.
For instance, at the Royal Albert Orphan Asylum there
were 220 orphans now being fed, clothed and educated,
and that institution was entirely dependent on voluntary
contributions and had been ever since the commencement
conducted on the non- canvassing principle. If such an
institution could carry on operations so successfully there
could be no danger about the matter. He would not
detain the Council longer, but would simply ask for a
vote in favour of the proposition he had brought forward.

Mr. Hampson, in seconding the motion, said he had
supported it before and felt it right to do so again. The
first time the subject was brought before the Council he
waited for arguments on the other side and having failed
to find them he felt more thoroughly convinced that Mr.
Shaw had adopted the right view on this matter. Mr.
Shaw had very clearly and convincingly introduced his
motion and had brought ample evidence to show that
the abolition of canvassing cards and circulars was
possible, because it was carried out in other institu¬
tions. The system of canvassing was a great evil and that
evil was becoming more and more recognized by men
who had thoroughly entered into the question, and
it was in every sense a thing to be deprecated. But
that which convinced him was simply this. In these
elections they had a certain number of poor persons
applying, some of whom were ill in bed, some were
scarcely able to move about, and the majority were with¬
out friends and without funds. It was a sort of race for
who should get in ; and who was the most likely to get
in ? The person who had the most money and who was
probably the least eligible, because he was most able to
canvass and bring influence to bear on behalf of his own
case. The weakest must necessarily go to the wall. He
thought no other argument was required to show that
canvassing was objectionable ; it handicapped the weakest
person, and in many cases votes which would have been
given to the weakest and least able were given to those who
less deserved them, or who might well have waited for
another year. It was on behalf of those who required the aid
of the Fund most that he supported Mr. Shaw’s motion.

Mr. Robbins thought the motion would hardly accom¬
plish the object Mr. Shaw had in view, because there was
one great and unaccountable omission in it of any penal
clause, and without that it would do a deal of mischief.
It simply said the Council ordered that the candidates
should not canvass ; but supposing some of the candidates
obeyed the order, which no doubt they would, others might

disregard it, and their friends might disregard it, and they
would thus steal a march on those who conformed to the
order of the Council. Unless there were a penal clause
such as that the election of any candidate who should be
proved to the satisfaction of the Council to have resorted to
canvassing should be declared null and void, it could not be
stopped, and if one did it not only with impunity, but
with advantage to himself, next year it would be copied by
others. On the other hand if such a penal clause were
introduced it might occasion a difficulty, because the can¬
didate himself might keep in the background, but his
friends might come forward. In fact now the expense
was often incurred not by the candidate but by his
friends.

Mr. Atkins said his first objection to the motion was
that it was thoroughly impracticable. He should say
that by all means the Council should do what it could to
discourage the practice, but it should not talk about pro¬
hibition, at least unless it introduced the penal clause, and
if that were to be done it would require very careful con¬
sideration. Mr. Hampson talked of the poorest and
weakest suffering, but he though that argument was
capable of a two-fold application. They were just the
persons who often by kindness of friends had their claims
brought forward. Mr. Shaw would admit the writing of
a private letter, but how could he draw a legal distinc¬
tion between a private letter and a printed card ? If in¬
stead of writing a letter to a dozen friends he used one of
the many systems of manifold copying, would that be
considered a breach of the regulation ? He was frequently
influenced in giving his votes by the private letters he
received, and he feared if the Council were to prohibit
this principle of recommendation it would interfere with
those private letters. If the prohibition were carried he
should feel great doubt whether he ought to write a letter
in favour of A. or B. lest he might prejudice somebody
else who was more deserving. If the Council did all it
could to deprecate excessive advertising on the part of
poor persons, which no doubt would be the result of that
debate as it had been of previous ones, he believed it
might do good, but he could not support the motion as it
stood.

Mr. Williams thought the motion was most incon¬
sistent and arbitrary. What right had the members of
the Council to order such a thing, which affected not
themselves only, but all the subscribers to the Fund ?
With regard to the expense, he had already received
several private letters, written no doubt under the idea
that it was improper to canvass with cards, but this was
a far more expensive form of canvassing than that of
having a few cards printed. He did not like cards, and
he often said he should discourage their use as much as
possible, and he thought what had been done on previous
occasions would tend to discourage them. He had thought
if the Council were to turn round and say that a person
who did, either by himself or by friends, issue a circular
or card or canvass for votes, that that person should be
disqualified, it would be most absurd and would do a
great deal of injury to the Fund. He supposed Mr.
Shaw intended to follow up his present motion by
another, of a penal character, because if the Council
made an order it must take some step to secure the order
being carried out. But he thought that anything of that
kind was so absurd that the least reflection would con¬
vince the members that it would be most improper to do
such a thing.

Mr. Greenish said he sympathized with Mr. Shaw very
much in this matter. He thought it very desirable that
the money spent in canvassing cards should be saved to
these poor people if possible, but he must confess he did
not see his way out of the difficulty, nor did he think Mr.
Shaw had made it very clear. Instances had come under
his notice where, quite irrespective of the applicants, the
case had been taken up by ladies, who had undertaken
the printing and the distribution of the cards, and had
taken the whole of the trouble and expense upon them-

November s, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND *lk,aNS ACTIONS

371

selves ; in fact he was not sure that the applicant was
even aware of it at the time. Mr. Shaw and Mr. Hamp-
son had said that under those circumstances the weakest
went to the wall, but they had no proof to that effect,
and he did think that rather than pass this motion things
had better remain as they were.

Mr. Churchill was very sorry to see the benevolent
gentlemen on each side of him opposing Mr. Shaw’s
motion, especially as the matter was not new to them.
He could understand gentlemen of conservative ten¬
dencies being at first opposed to such a motion, but he
could not see the difficulties in the way that they saw.
It had been argued that it would be very arbitrary on
the part of the Council to issue such a regulation, but he
saw no more difficulty in issuing such a regulation than
there had been in issuing those which were already in
force with regard to the disposal of the Benevolent Fund
and the election of annuitants. Such a provision as the
following added to the regulations would, as he thought,
be a simple and practical way of working the measure : —

“ That the election of any annuitant shall be void who
shall have canvassed for votes by means of cards,
circulars or advertisements, or on whose behalf any
person shall have canvassed by means of cards,
circulars or advertisements.”

The President asked if Mr. Churchill moved that as
an amendment ?

Mr. Shaw said he should be most happy to add it to
his motion.

Mr. Churchill said all the members of Council knew
the very little effect on their judgment which those cir¬
culars sent out broadcast produced, and he believed that
almost all members who took any trouble to consider the
election at all voted for those whom they knew and for
those whom they believed to be the most afflicted, and
the necessities of each could be perfectly well set forth
in a few lines in a circular prepared by the Council. He
could see no difficulty at all, if their hearts were in the
matter and they really wished to discourage canvassing,
in passing such a motion as that.

Mr. Frazer asked if he understood Mr. Shaw to
accept Mr. Churchill’s suggestion.

Mr. Shaw said, yes, he did.

Mr. Frazer said if so he pitied the Benevolent Fund.
Assuming that to be accepted the Council might order
the candidates, but it could not order their friends over
whom it had no control, and the friends might issue
cards, and yet it was proposed to disable these worthy
objects, it might be the very best people in the whole of
the applicants, because of this ar bitary law, and they would
just be excluded through the injudicious action of their
friends. Besides, if this were stopped private canvassing
could not be. This already went on to a large extent
through the representatives of large London houses and it
would be canied on with redoubled force if such a motion
were passed.

Mr. Hills suggested that Mr. Shaw should withdraw
his motion altogether as it could not be used now for the
next election! There would then be more time to think
of it and devise a more perfect means of conducting
elections. He did not think the machinery for carry¬
ing it out was altogether settled, and therefore he
thought it would be well to withdraw the motion for the
present, especially as next May there would be an elec¬
tion of the Medical Benevolent Institution under the new
plan, from which valuable experience might be gained.

The President said he could not vote on this question
without expressing the opinion he had often expressed
before on the same subject. Mr. Shaw had put the
Council in possession of certain facts, as he described
them, and said in some institutions all applicants were
admitted, which was very different to the case of this
Fund, because here a selected list was prepared by the
Council. He must remember that in orphan asylums all
applicants were not admitted, but only those who were
eligible, and he must also remember that those societies he

referred to gave no relief except in one way ; whereas in
this case not only were the deserving candidates selected
for annuities, but casual relief was also given. If the
Council could pick out some deserving candidates and
put them first on the list and give them some sanction,
saying they were the ones who should be admitted, there
might be some reason in Mr. Shaw’s proposition, but it
would be a very difficult thing without that. Mr. Shaw
had quoted observations made by other members of the
Council some time ago, but had not quoted them in full,
or it would have been seen that they were not in favour
of his proposition. Again, he spoke of a certain Medical
Benevolent Society in which the Council resisted the
desire of the members to abolish the present system. He
should submit to Mr. Shaw that the Council was in the
best position to judge — far better than the members out¬
side who only received the cards. No doubt to many
persons it was almost a nuisance to receive these cards,
because they had so constantly to say “ no,” and to meet
this difficulty Mr. Shaw said in another institution the
names of those who did not wish to be canvassed were
placed on a separate list ; the same could be done here.
If this motion were passed the candidates might write,
or their friends might write, and the mere writing of
the friends might invalidate the election of the candidates.

Mr. Shaw said it was the printing, not the writing, he
objected to.

The President said if writing were excused it would
give those who had friends, — and they were probably
those who were least in want, — an advantage ove rothers.
There was also this great difficulty, that he did not know
how the electors were to become acquainted with the
different cases unless brought before them in some way
by the candidates or their friends. He should attach
rather more importance to Mr. Shaw’s views if he had
not heard him that day vote for a grant of thirty
guineas to be applied for the election of a candidate to
an orphan asylum, in January next, for he could not see
how he could reconcile the one thing with the other.
The Secretary had just put a letter into his hands dated

20th October, saying that Mr. - would be obliged by

receiving particulars of the subscriptions to the Pharma¬
ceutical Society with a view of assisting a candidate at
the ensuing election to which he wished to subscribe.
That was exactly what the Council was doing with regard
to the orphan asylum he had mentioned. Besides he did
not think there wTas anything in the motion which would
really prevent canvassing.

Mr. Shaw said he had accepted Mr. Churchill’s addi¬
tion, which would render the resolution operative.

Mr. Williams asked what there was to prevent an
enemy issuing cards. For instance, if A. B. and C. were
candidates, A. might issue cards for B. and C. in order to
prevent them getting elected.

The Vice-President said it had been contended by
Mr. Shaw that these cards were an unmitigated evil, but
in his opinion it was not so. If he were only a subscriber
to the Fund, and not a member of the Council, he should
be much obliged for any information which anyone in¬
terested in the candidates chose to give, and he therefore
deprecated altogether this condemnation of the system of
cards. He could see there was something to be said for
a system which put the entire election into the hands of
the Council, and that plan was adopted by some charitable
institutions; but there was, he thought, more to be said
for the opposite system, which allowed the elections to be
an occasion for stimulating subscriptions and keeping up
interest and enthusiasm amongst the subscribers. It was
possible a little miscarriage of justice occurred, but it
could only be one of degree, because the Council took
care only to nominate fit candidates. In his opinion it
would be a great danger to the Fund if the Council cut
away from the large body of subscribers the interest they
naturally felt in the exercise of their privileges. To
limit the canvassing to one particular form was most un-
philosophical, and he thought Mr. Hampson could scarcely

372

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Novembers is:o

have realized what it meant when .he spoke so strongly
in favour of the proposition of nullifying the success of the
candidate because some one had canvassed in his behalf.

Mr. Shaw said he would not take up any time by a
reply ; and the motion was then put to the vote with the
ollowing result : —

For _ Messrs. Churchill, Hampson and Shaw.

A gainst — Messrs. Frazer, Greenish, Rimmington, Rob¬
bins, Sandford, Schacht and Williams.

The motion was therefore lost.

Mr. Hills was present at the division, but did not vote.

Mr. Symes said he would withdraw one motion of
which he had given notice, seeing that it would throw
further duties upon the President. He was convinced
from what he had said to-day that he had already a great
deal of work to undertake, and he would be the last to
add to it, if the business could be got through, in a
satisfactory manner. With regard to a second motion of
which he had given notice, he was afraid it was now too
late to bring it on that day, as many gentlemen who had
promised to support it had left, and if it could be under¬
stood that it would come on earlier at the next meeting
it would be better to defer it. It was not the first time
he had found matters of importance left to the end of the
meeting, and voted on by quite a minority on account of
gentlemen having to leave, and it had been suggested
that notices of motion might come earlier in the agenda.
He thought this would be an improvement, where such
matters were of importance, and he would leave his
motion for the next meeting.

Mr. Frazer said he had no wish to interfere with Mr.
Symes’s decision as to postponing this important ques- -
tion, but it was only fair to remind him that as long as
the present rule affected matters coming at the close of
the regular business they must come on at the end of the
day, and he might be in the same position next month.

Mr. Williams said the question was whether it would
be right to postpone the regular business of the Society
for notices of motion. If this were done there might be
a long argument taking up much time, at the end of
which there would hardly be a quorum left to transact
the regular and necessary business.

Report of Examinations.

October , 1879.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

Absent.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, 22nd .

0

7

3

4

„ 23rd

0

8

3

5

,, 29th

0

8

3

5

—0

—23

— 9

—14

Minor, 22nd .

0

15

10

5

„ 23rd .

0

18

9

9

., 24th

1

24

12

12

„ 29th

2

16

5

11

„ 30th

1

23

11

12

—4

—96

—47

—49

Modified, 22nd

0

4

2

2

4

123

58

65

—

—

—

—

Scotland.

Candidates.

Absent.

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, 28th

. 0

1

1

0

Minor, 28th

. 3

10

6

4

„ 29th.

. 0

13

5

8

„ 30th

. 0

8

7

1

—3

— 31

—18

—13

Modified, 30th

0

1

1

0

3

33

20

13

Preliminary Examination.

Candidates.

Absent. Examined. Passed. Failed.

7 387 204 183

Certificates received in lieu of the Society’s Examina¬
tion : —

5 College of Preceptors.

1 Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

2 Royal College of Surgeons of England.

1 Society of Apothecaries.

4 University of Cambridge.

1 University of Edinburgh.

Appointment of Board of Examiners.

The President reminded members that next month
the Board of Examiners would have £o be appointed, and
therefore gentlemen should be prepared with names,
if they had any to suggest.

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday, November 7, 1879.

MR. THOMAS GREENISH, TREASURER, IN THE CHAIR.

An evening meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society was
held on Wednesday last. The chair was taken at half¬
past eight o’clock.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read
and confirmed —

The Chairman called attention to the large number of
specimens, presented to the museum, which were dis¬
played on the table, and invited the Curator to give some
particulars with respect to them.

The Curator first drew attention to a valuable
collection of essential oils. These specimens had been
used to illustrate a paper on essential oils read before
the School of Pharmacy Students’ Association, by
Mr. Bush, who afterwards presented them to the
museum of the Society. Some of them were rare and
costly, and they were of further interest on account of
the rotatory power of several of them having been referred
to in a paper read at the meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Conference at Sheffield by Dr. Symes. See ante, page 211.
A very fine collection of North American drugs, presented
by the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and comprising
over one hundred specimens, was on the table. Among
these might be noticed several which were of recent in¬
troduction. The specimens were remarkably characteristic
and formed a valuable acquisition to the museum of the
Society. This was more especially the case since there
existed some difficulty in procuring many of the North
American drugs, except in the compressed and com¬
minuted form in which they were prepared by the
Shakers of New Lebanon and in which state it was im¬
possible to study the character of the bark. Another in¬
teresting specimen was that of a portion of the stem of the
Arabian myrrh, and an account of which had already been
published in the Journal, vol. ix. p. 893. Next there was a
specimen of Mozambique opium, the cultivation of which
had only recently been successfully commenced. It con¬
tained 4 per cent- of morphia and 4*3 of narcotine, with
a large percentage of water. Another interesting speci¬
men was an ostrich stomach, from South America, where
it was used in the same way as pepsine. The ostrich
of South America was the Rhea Americana, not the
common ostrich ( Struthio Camelus), from which it dif¬
fered in having three toes instead of two. Whether
the digestive power of the two birds was different he
could not say, but with regard to the dried stomach of
the South American ostrich, he had been told by a
gentleman who had endeavoured to prepare pepsine from
it, that it had hardly any digestive power. The Curator
next drew attention to a number of specimens presented
by Dr. Dymock, of Bombay, who had been for some
time past a very liberal contributor to the museum.

November 8, 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

373

One was a specimen of Jaferabad aloes, which was sold
in the bazaars in India in the form of flat cakes. Dr.
Dymock informed him that what had been recently sold
in Bombay was fictitious, which accounted for his former
statement that it had the same reaction as Barbadoes
aloes. The specimen now sent would not turn red by
nitric acid, whereas all the Aden aloes would. Another
specimen w*as the gum called sarcocoll, which derived its
name from the fact that it was formerly used for healing
and cleansing wounds. Taken internally it was a some¬
what dangerous purgative. There was also an original
package of Chinese oil of peppermint from Canton.
Menthol had lately attracted attention as an antiseptic,
and Professor Eluckiger had pointed out that the oil of
Chinese peppermint differed from the English in its
chemical reaction ; the odour, also, was slightly different.
Another of Dr. Dymock’s specimens was someoil of ginger-
grass, or’rusa oil, prepared under his own superintendence,
and also specimens of the grass from which it had been
prepared. This grass, he had found on inquiry at the
Kew Herbarium, was not the true ginger-grass (Andro-
pogon Schcenanthus , L.). He had noticed that the oil had
a slightly different odour to that of ginger-grass, almost
as if oil of caraway had been mixed with it ; and it was
interesting to find from Dr. Symes’s experiments that
whereas the true oil had a very low rotatory power
( + 1°‘72) the rusa oil of Dr. Dymock’s was much
greater (+39° ’65)* There therefore "would appear to
be more than one grass yielding ginger-grass oil.
Another specimen of some interest at the present time
was the fruit of Lu$a cegyptiaca, which was coming into
extensive use as a flesh glove, for which it answered re¬
markably well, and was very lasting. Mr. Harold Senier
had kindly lent a specimen of the perfect fruit, which had
been grown at Clapham by Mr. R. Heath, from which it
might be observed that the “ Loofan ” gloves were merely
thefruit with theouter skinand seeds removed and'thefruit
slit open. Erom a botanical point of view the fruit was
interesting on account of presenting an instance in which
the parietal placentation characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae
could be readily seen. He next called attention to several
specimens of spurious matico, which he had selected from
some offered at the London drug sales in September, and
had mounted for the herbarium. One of these specimens
was Artanthe cidunca, and another was a singular variety
of the true matico (8. cordulatum, D.C.), which differed
from the typical plant in having leaves which although
hairy were nearly smooth, and had not the wrinkled ap¬
pearance of the true drug. Whether it differed in medici¬
nal or surgical properties from official matico he could not
say. A third was a species of pepper, which had been
imported under the name of “Matico aromatica ,” but which
had appeared at the drug sales under the name of matico.
It had a strong aromatic odour, somewhat resembling
anise, and could not possibly be confounded with matico
on account of the leaves being perfectly smooth and of a
more ovate outline. Another interesting specimen was
the Nardostachys Jatamansi, supposed to be the spikenard
of Scripture, and was, he believed, the first which had
blossomed in this country, and which had been grown
at Mr. T. Ware’s nursery at Tottenham. There was also
a specimen in flower of a cinchona (C. pubescens), pre¬
sented by Mr. J. E. Howard. Dr. Dymock had also sent
a specimen of the Garcinia indica, or cocum butter-tree,
specimens of which, he believed, were rare in herbaria in
this country. Next came some white quebracho bark,
which had recently been found to afford relief in dyspnoea.
There were two kinds of quebracho, the white and the red,
the latter being used extensively in America for tanning,
and had lately been imported into France for the same
purpose in considerable quantities. He would also draw
attention to a valuable collection of minerals presented
by Mr. Tailing, of Liskeard, and to some absorbent cotton

* In the list on page 211, rusa oil appears under the name
of ginger-grass and oil of ginger-grass as Turkish oil of
geranium.

wool, prepared by an American firm, which would be
found to sink in water immediately, whereas ordinary
cotton wool would not.

A vote of thanks having been passed to the donors,

Dr. Symes, alluding to the ostrich stomach, said he had
found next to no digestive power in it, and he had lately
heard that a Paris chemist had made a similar report.
It was, however, constantly prescribed and used in
Buenos Ayres, which showed the power of imaginative
remedies. Those who got their living there by killing
oxen had but one meal a day, when they were in the
habit of eating seven or eight pounds of roast beef, and
naturally they wanted a digestive, and they often took a
dose of this after a meal. With regard to the ginger
grass oil, he mentioned at Sheffield that he had examined
it, and found it did not agree with the statement in the
‘ Pharmacographia,’ that it had no rotatory power, for he
found this had a rotatory power of about 39°. Relying
on the high authority of Dr. Dymock, he then said that
the ‘Pharmacographia* might be wrong, but it now ap¬
peared pretty plain that Dr. Dymock had been misled by
a spurious grass.

Mr. Martindale said the Chinese oil of peppermint was
mentioned by Christison as well as Pereira, under the
name of po-ho-yo. It was sold on the Continent in little
bottles under the name of Japanese drops and was sup¬
plied to the Japanese market by the Chinese. As for¬
merly sold it generally contained a quantity of stearoptene,
floating in the liquid, but specimens he had seen lately
were clear. However, he noticed that the sample then
shown had some sublimed on the cork. Chang, the
secretary to the Chinese Legation, had told him that it
was nothing but Chinese oil of peppermint or some
species of mint, and was used for facial neuralgia.

Mr. Davies called attention to a series of specimens
showing the results obtained in dispensing a prescription
containing tincture of sumbul, carbonate of ammonia, sal
volatile and camphor water, with tincture of sumbul,
obtained from various sources. In some cases there had
been a green coloration, due possibly to the presence of
umbelliferon, and in others not, and there were other differ¬
ences. The question he wished answered was whether
true tincture of sumbul gave a green coloration with
alkalies. He also showed specimens of the roots from
which the tinctures had been made.

Professor Bentley said he had not seen the specimens
of root, and should not be able therefore to give any
opinion as to their nature. But it was well known that
a good deal of false sumbul had been in the market,
attention having been first called to it by Dr. Dymock,
who particularly mentioned ammoniacum root as a
common article of commerce in India. This at once led
to the discovery that the Indian sumbul root of Pereira
was really ammoniacum root coloured and scented. The
question of the change of colour should be thoroughly
investigated by a practical pharmacist, especially as
sumbul was coming largely into use and there was a
difficulty in getting it.

Mr. Holmes was glad that attention had been called to
this subject and hoped Mr. Davies would continue his
investigations. He had specimens of both the genuine
and spurious root and could spare him enough to experi¬
ment upon. Mr. J. B. Allen had called his attention to
the false sumbul root, some time before Dr. Dymock’s
paper appeared in the J ournal, and it was also due to
Mr. F. J. Hanbury to say that he first called atten¬
tion to the fact that tincture prepared from this root had
a strong taste and odour of ammoniacum. At that time
he compared the false sumbul with the ammoniacum root
in the museum, which had been previously presented by
Dr. Dymock, and found that they were identical, so that
there could be no doubt that the false sumbul was nothing
but ammoniacum flavoured with musk. It differed in
appearance by having a slight yellowish-red colour,
whereas sumbul was always white. With regard to the
specimens of the root which Mr. Davies had placed on the

374

THE FHARMACEUTICAIj JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Novembers, i»t»

table, they had to him the appearance of having been
heated, and as he believed that heat developed umbelli-
feron in roots which, like sumbul, contained it, that
might account for the green colour of the mixture in some
specimens ; the tincture from false sumbul (ammoniacum)
had a much darker appearance than that from true sumbul

Professor Bentley said he had now examined the*
root, and had no hesitation in saying that the principal
part of it was true sumbul.

Mr. Allen said that more than twelve months ago,
when dispensing a prescription similar to that mentioned
by Mr. Davies, and using the tincture he had in stock,
he found the colour of the mixture was not what it
should be. On getting a fresh supply of the tincture
he found the colour was much darker and the smell more
distinct, and after consulting Mr. Holmes, he was of
opinion that it was not genuine. With some difficulty,
he obtained from the wholesale house a sample of the
root from which the tincture had been made, and on sub¬
mitting that to Mr. Holmes he thought it was spurious.
On again writing to the manufacturers, they owned that
probably the tincture had not been made from the
genuine root, but said that at the time it was made true
sumbul could hardly be obtained.

Mr. Cleaver thought the questions brought forward
by Mr. Davies were of great importance. The tincture
of sumbul varied from a very light colour to very dark ;
and he had himself tried in vain to get a tincture which
had the same appearance as tincture of sumbul used to
have years ago. The root used to show a distinctly
resinous appearance on the surface on being broken, but
he never saw that now, and the odour was quite different
from what it used to be . He believed genuine sumbul
was hardly to be obtained. As to the green colour he
hardly liked to venture an opinion, but from experiments
made on a genuine sample some years ago, he believed
it ought not to appear.

The Chairman suggested that Mr. Davies, in following
out these experiments, with the help of Mr. Holmes,
should obtain an unquestionable sumbul, make the tincture
himself, and then experiment on it with the same mixture,
and at some future time report the result to the Society.

Mr. Davies said he had made several tinctures from
the roots now shown. For some time the colour did not
appear, and even after being macerated for some seven
or eight days the tincture came out nearly, clear. Nearly
al'l the tinctures were of different colour, and he should
like to know whether they were generally made by mace¬
ration, as Mr. Squire recommended, or by the B.P. process,
because possibly the difference in colour might be due to
the method employed.

The Chairman said perhaps the amount of interest
shown in the subject would induce Mr. Davies to make
further experiments and bring the result before them in
the form of a paper.

A paper was then read on —

Taraxacum.

BY CHARLES SYMES, PH.D.

This paper is printed on page 361 and gave rise to the
following discussion : —

Mr. Naylor said, in "working on large quantities of
taraxacum his experience coincided with that of Dr.
Symes with reference to the time of the year at which
the root should be gathered. He thought the prepara¬
tions kept best if the root were gathered towards the
end of November or even later. With reference to the
addition of more spirit to the succus taraxaci, he did not
quite agree with Dr. Symes or see any particular ad¬
vantage to be gained by so doing, for he had always
found the quantity prescribed ample, provided the roots
had been gathered at the proper time, and that care was
observed in the preparation. No doubt the liquid ex¬
tract would be of great service, but he questioned whether
it would retain its medicinal properties to the same
extent as the succus.

Mr. Postans said it seemed curious that there should
be so much difference of opinion with regard to the
best time for gathering these roots. He had had some
experience in the preparation, and was rather disposed to
think that in the summer, or towards the autumn, was
the more proper time. It was a generally accepted
opinion that the milky juice became thicker and the bitter
principle more bitter during the the heat of summer, and
therefore if thej^ were to take taraxacine as the active
principle, from July to September would be the best time.
He quite agreed that the quantity of juice obtained at this
period might not be equal to that expressed later on, but
he considered that it would contain in proportion more
taraxacine. The Belgian and the old Edinburgh Pharma¬
copoeias got over the difficulty by ordering that the whole
plant should be used ; but it seemed to him that in the
absence of physiological experiments these differences of
opinion might well exist, and he hoped Dr. Symes would
continue his experiments in several forms. It would be
useful if he could obtain some juice from roots gathered
at different periods, and then enlist the co-operation of a
medical man who would test them therapeutically. They
had been told that the extract was a useless preparation,
and that it was used chiefly as as excipient for pill masses.
Why was that ? It occurred to him that perhaps the
heat used in the evaporation of the extract had a great
deal to do with it. The Pharmacopoeia ordered that the
juice should be expressed, then heated to 212°, and sub¬
sequently evaporated to an extract at 160°, and it
occurred to him that perhaps that temperature destroyed
the taraxacine. Possibly they would get a better extract
if the succus containing the spirit were itself evaporated
at a low temperature. He did not agree with Dr. Symes
that they should have a liquor. He thought the succus
an excellent preparation ; it answered every purpose, and
it was undesirable to multiply liquors in such a way that
it would be difficult for dispensers to know when the
liquor was desired by a physician and when the succus.
As they had at present only one official preparation he
should imagine the succus was in all cases intended.

Mr. Holmes said he had sometimes found that instead
of the extract dissolving entirely in hot water, it left a
large proportion, as much as 25 per cent., undissolved,
which he believed to be inulin. Dr. Symes spoke of the
root being sweet after a frost and said it was caused by
the alteration of the starchy matter. He did not know
whether starch was present in the root or only inulin. If
there were only the latter he should be glad to know
whether the sweet root still showed the presence of
inulin, whether it had disappeared and given place to
sugar, or whether the sugar was produced from altered
gum. With regard to fresh and dried root, the milk
contained a certain amount of caoutchouc which would
be insoluble on drying, and he would be glad to know
whether the dried root on that account might not present
some advantages over the fresh.

Mr. Umney said those who had had practical experi¬
ence in pressing large quantities of taraxacum root
could have hardly failed to notice that at any rate with
regard to the density of the juice the root collected in
the month of November was far superior to any other.
They had it on record by Professor Bentley that the juice
prepared from roots collected in the earlier spring had a
more delicate flavour, and perhaps contained an equal
amount of taraxacine. That he was not prepared to
contest, but he could not follow Mr. Postans in thinking
that the root should be collected between July and Sep¬
tember. He could not conceive that the proper time to
gather a root was whilst it was in the greatest state of
activity. However, his own observations convinced
him that juice expressed in the autumn was superior,
and that it then has a much greater specific gravity
than that pressed at any other time; at that time the
hydrometer would indicate P065 up to P075 specific
gravity, whereas in spring it would be as low as 1 '030.
Dr. Symes had referred to the imperfect keeping

Novembcr8, I8 79 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNaL ANL TRANSACTIONS.

375

power of the succus of the Pharmacopoeia ansi
every one must have been annoyed at times by its
turbidity in spite of all precautions. Perhaps the
chief cause of that was to be found in the consti¬
tuents of the root itself ; but there was one thing which
should not be lost sight of. When a magma, and
this crude juice and spirit was nothing less, was thrown
upon a filter the difficulty of filtration was immense, and
he had for years adopted the method of filtering the
juice out of contact with air as much as possible ; in
this way acetification was prevented and evaporation
of spirit reduced to a minimum, and the juice was ob¬
tained in the most elegant condition. For this purpose
he always discarded the ordinary filtering paper and re¬
sorted to a canvas bag five or six feet long having a tin
cylinder round it to keep away the air. When the
juice was thus filtered there was very little difficulty
in keeping it. In this country, for almost half a
century, there had been a fluid extract of taraxacum
quite different from the Pharmacopoeia. One or two
houses had certainly made it for twenty- five years by
taking the dried root, macerating it with cold water,
taking the aqueous liquid and raising it to boiling point
to coagulate the albumen, evaporating down to a certain
point and adding spirit of wine so that one fluid ounce of
the resulting product was equal to one ounce of the root.
Such a preparation was frequently sent out, although the
quantity was small as compared with the succus. It was
very dense, but from a medicinal point of view, an in¬
elegant preparation, for he should say it consisted almost
wholly of glucose. Some five or six years since, soon
after the publication of the United States Pharmacopoeia,
when everything seemed to be embodied in glycerine, he
exhibited twelve or fourteen fluid extracts, one of which
was fluid extract of taraxacum prepared by that process,
and they might remember some of the senior pharmacists
considered it one of the most inelegant preparations they
had ever seen. He must stand up for the old succus
taraxaci of the Pharmacopoeia,. When properly prepared
and one-third its volume of spirit added to it, it was
an elegant preparation, but it required precautions in
making. For instance, after the roots were crushed
they must not, as was sometimes the case, stand five or
six hours before pressing, but should be put into the
press at once, the juice taken out and spirit added ; other¬
wise the juice might be expected to turn sour, and when
acetification had once commenced it was difficult to know
where it would end.

Mr. Martindale said the preparations of taraxacum
had always been troublesome to pharmacists. In the
London Pharmacopoeia there were three : the decoction,
the compound decoction of broom and the extract.
The fresh root was ordered for the decoctions, and he
remembered as an apprentice being sent out to gather
it when required ; sometimes he had seen roots not at
all genuine brought in, — species of hawkweed, etc.
In the present Pharmacopoeia they were ordered to
make the decoction from the dry root, which had not
the disadvantages of the fresh root, but unfortunately
it was liable to be maggot-eaten. Then they had
the succus, which Dr. Symes thought might be im¬
proved by concentration, but he questioned whether
therapeutically taraxacum was really worth taking so
much trouble with. Dr. Rutherford, who had conducted
a series of experiments with it upon dogs, came to the
conclusion that it was a very feeble biliary stimu¬
lant. Dr. Gar rod also considered that its efficacy
was very doubtful. He thought, therefore, it would fast
fall into the category of obsolete drugs, and he had
himself lately found very little demand for it. With
regard to the concentrated preparation of the American
Pharmacopoeia, he thought there was rather too much
concentration. One part in two fluid parts might be of
service in some drugs, but in many of them one in one
was not possible. It did not fairly represent the drag,
especially if it were of an active character.

Mr. Postans said it would be useful to know whether
Dr. Rutherford’s experiments were continued with the
isolated taraxacine, and if the results were the same.

The Chairman said it was sufficient for them that ta¬
raxacum held a place in the Pharmacopoeia. They had
better leave the question of therapeutics to medical men.

Professor Bentley said it was now nearly a quarter of
a century since he brought before the Society his views
on the collection of taraxacum. He then stated his
reasons for thinking that spring was the best season, but
he thought Dr. Symes must have misunderstood in one
particular what he then said. He did not mean to sav that
the preparation made in the spring was superior from a
pharmaceutical point of view, but that judging from the
bitterness of the juice, and its greater activity, of which
he had personal proof, he wished pharmacists to consider
whether it would not be better to make the extract in
the spring than the autumn. What he had also spe¬
cially referred to was the period mentioned in the Phar¬
macopoeia, for it seemed to him unquestionable that it
could not be right to allow so long a period as from
September to February. He had always said that
however opinions might differ as to the period of
collection, it could not be proper to gather it after a
frost, because at that time the root became sweet instead of
bitter. He was glad to find that on this point he had
been confirmed by Dr. Symes. Mr. Holmes had called
attention to the question whether the root contained
starch or inulin, but he imagined Dr. Symes meant to
convey that inulin had been converted into sugar. Over-
beek had found as much as 2 ounces of inulin m a pound
of the dry root in the autumn, but very little in spring,
when it had doubtless been converted into saccharine mat¬
ter. No one could doubt that the preparation had a more
elegant appearance when made in the autumn, but he did
not think it was yet settled whether that made from the
spring root had not greater medicinal activity. It was
not a question for them whether taraxacum was a good
therapeutical preparation ; it was largely used, and phar¬
macists were simply called upon to present it in the best
form, and to advise physicians as to the best mode of ad¬
ministering it.

Professor Redwood congratulated the Society on having
had so throughly pharmaceutical a paper, and on a subject
on which he thought discussion might well be renewed.
Although the matter had apparently fallen into abeyance
after the discussions which took place many years ago,
yet that had not been strictly the case. Hardly any
preparation had received more attention from the Com¬
mittee of that Society (of which he had the honour to be
Secretary), which was appointed first on the recommenda¬
tion of the College of Physicians, and subsequently of
the Medical Council, to furnish the results of their
practical experience on matters in the Pharmacopoeia,
than taraxacum. Whatever responsibility attached to
the instructions given in the Pharmacopoeia relating to
either the time of collection or the preparation of the
extract, rested mainly on that Committee. With regard
to what had fallen from Professor Bentley, he must say
the Committee took great pains to inform themselves on
various points besides those which had been referred to.
The most suitable time of collection was considered, and
it was also deemed desirable to fix upon a period when
the root was found to yield the juice in what was con¬
sidered the greatest state of activity. But the further
question was also considered of the practicability of
getting the root at the times most suited for using it.
It was well known that taraxacum was not cultivated
specially; but that which came into the London markets
was collected from ground otherwise occupied, so that it
was necessary to fix upon a period when the roots could
be taken up without disturbing the more important crops
occupying the same ground. It was therefore considered
that even if November were the best month for collecting
the roots, it might not be practicable to get the supply
required in that particular month, and that in the sub-

376

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 8, 1879.

sequent months of December and J anuary equally good
roots might be collected. It was therefore deemed ad¬
visable to give rather a wider range of time, because it
was obvious that something depended on season and
climate, and the period which might be most suitable in
one part of the country might not be most suitable in
another. The point he wished specially to mention was
that the whole matter had been carefully considered by a
Committee appointed by that Society.

Mr. Cleaver said he could scarcely agree with Dr.
Symes’s statement that juice from roots collected in the
autumn was very thick and almost immediately solidified,
though it was certainly denser than that collected in the
spring. He did not think it was so bitter, however. The
latter was perfectly opalescent after a short time, and the
bitterness was far more marked. With regard to pre¬
parations he feared that of late they had been drifting
too much in the direction of elegance without due regard
to efficiency. He had found that if taraxacum root were
exhausted by water, by weak alcohol, and by strong
rectified spirit, three entirely different preparations were
obtained, which would keep for different lengths of time.
That exhausted by water quickly changed into a sweet
preparation ; that with proof spirit had the odour of
taraxacum, and kept for a considerable length of time ;
but with rectified spirit there was obtained a light
coloured preparation, having little of the characteristic
odour of fresh taraxacum, but which had a decided
bitterness. If that were evaporated, a liquid was
obtained which would, after a little time, deposit a sub¬
stance which had been called caoutchouc, but the nature
of which he did not know ; the residue was bitter, and
with the addition of a little spirit would keep bitter
for almost any length of time ; at any rate he had
kept it for eight years without any alteration. With
regard to the extract as at present ordered, when first
made it had a very bitter taste ; if treated with alcohol the
result was a bitter preparation, and a sweet one was
left behind. What it was would be for future pharma¬
cists to determine. The succus if properly made was an
elegant preparation, and one which kept for any length
of time. In many places he believed it was made by
merely expressing the juice without heating and adding
alcohol, and though it might sometimes keep, at others it
would acidify rapidly. The addition of alcohol caused a
large coagulation of some matter which on exposure to
air on the filter acidified and rapidly altered.

The Chairman thought the pharmacy of these pre¬
parations was very empirical until they knew the consti¬
tuents of the substance on which they were operating.
They had in taraxacum a bitter, and a peculiar substance,
inulin, which did not turn blue with iodine, though it
was related to starch and was found in the compositas.
It did not appear in grains like starch, it was soluble,
and was found in this plant in spring, but much more
largely in autumn. One of the most interesting papers
on this subject was one which appeared in 1848 or 1849,
by Dr. Wilson, of Edinburgh, founded on various experi¬
ments performed by Messrs. Smith, who obtained from
the juice expressed a large quantity of mannite. Being
desirous of ascertaining whether this existed in the
dandelion root or was produced by fermentation, they
sent out a man to dig some roots, and within six hours
they were pressed, the juice reduced and spirit added
In that juice mannite was not found ; but if itw ere left,
for even twelve hours, more or less mannite was found.
Two German chemists had previously found mannite
in the juice, but they were uncertain whether it existed
in the root or was produced by fermentation. He thought
there was a great deal of truth in Mr. Giles’s opinion
that the time which elapsed between the collection and
use of the roots was of the first importance, and the
season of collection rather secondary. There could be no
question, however, that the root should be collected in
November, as it then contained more of the bitter principle
with a large amount of inulin, while in spring there was

very little of the latter principle. He would rather qualify
Mr. Giles’s view, however, by saying that it was the
time between the pressing and reducing winch was of
prime importance. The conversion of the inulin through
fermentation into a saccharine substance was the real
cause of the difficulty they had to meet.

Dr. Symes, in reply, said his suggestion as to the
addition of a little extra spirit was readily explained by
Mr. Umney’s remark, that by filtering in a closed vessel
protected from the action of the air he saved loss of
spirit. It was quite possible that the loss by evaporation
in the ordinary way was the reason why he found an
addition advantageous. He quite agreed that it was not
the province of pharmacists to discuss the physiological
action of taraxacum ; but its great importance was shown
by the fact of which he had been informed since his paper
was in print, that one wholesale house, last year, between
September 25 and November 28, pressed 129 cwt. of root,
giving 641 gallons of strained juice. His informant, who
was chemist to the house in question, also told him that
he found November was the best season. He should not
have quoted Professor Bentley’s remarks of twenty-five
years ago, but for his high authority, as anyone might
change his opinions in that time, and Mr. Cleaver still
held the same opinion that the spring was the best time,
and he found the same thing stated in a very useful book,
the Museum Catalogue. Again, they had the Pharma¬
copoeia, giving a period from September to February,
passing through those very months when there were
severe frosts, which all agreed, was the least proper
season. In using the term “starchy matter,” he, of
course, referred to inulin. Some years ago, he had tried
to obtain taraxacine in the crystalline form, but had never
succeeded, though he got it in a colourless solution very
much concentrated. He found, as matter of experience,
operating with large quantities, that the juice pressed in
the autumn was very dense and abounded in inulin, which
was capable of being filtered out and separated. On
examining similar roots a month later he found they
yielded much less inulin, there was more sugar and less
bitterness, and further on in the winter and early
spring he found that inulin had largely disappeared.
Some of the inulin he had isolated as a buff-coloured
powder. With regard to the fluid extract, he knew that
extractum taraxaci fluidum was frequently prescribed and
then the difficulty arose that they had no fluid extract ;
but probably the American preparation was meant. The
succus could not be used certainly as a fluid extract.
The chairman had remarked that they had not a very
definite substance to deal with, and Professor Attfield
had suggested to him that possibly some gentleman con¬
nected with the Conference might investigate the matter
chemically, and he hoped that might be done, because
those who were daily occupied in business had not time
to follow" out investigations requiring so much time.

A vote of thanks having been passed to Dr. Symes,
the meeting was adjourned to December 3.

EXAMINATIONS IN EDINBURGH.

October 28, 29, and 30, 1879.

Present on each day — Messrs. Ainslie, Borland, Gil-
mour, Kemp, Kinninmont, Stephenson and Young.

Professor Maclagan was present on the 28th on behalf
of the Privy Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

October 28 .

One candidate was examined, and was declared quali¬
fied to be registered as a Pharmaceutical Chemist : —
Presslie, Robert Dowell . Aberdeen.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

October 28.

Ten candidates were examined. Four failed. The
following six passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

November 8. 1379.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

3 77

Chalmers, Thomas . Lanark.

Chambers, Herbert . Haddenham.

Cowie, George . Glasgow.

Dow, William . Kinross.

Easton, John . . Moffat.

Goddard, James Godfrey . Great Yarmouth.

October 29.

Thirteen candidates were examined. Eight failed.
The following five passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Gould, William E . Birmingham.

Hardie, James Miller . Dundee.

Heslop, Henry Hills . London.

Hogg, Robert William . Gateshead.

Mauohlen, Robert . Glasgow.

October 30.

Eight candidates wei’e examined. One failed. The
following seven passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Pringle, George . Pathhead.

Tatam, Sami. Blackmore Clias..Ottery St. Mary.

Taylor, Robert Allan . Kingston, Glasgow.

Walker, Alexander . Cullen.

Wallace, Andrew . Edinburgh.

Waters, George . . Alnwick.

Welford, Richard . Blackburn.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

October 30.

One candidate was examined, and was declared quali¬
fied to be registered as a Chemist and Druggist : —

Campbell, William . Manchester.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned was received in lieu of the Society’s
examination : —

Certificate of the University of Edinburgh.
MacGregor, William . Edinburgh.

$t;ouhu|ial ©ransactions.

BIRKENHEAD CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this newly formed association took place
on the 29th of October at the Ranelagh Hotel, where the
members dined together at nine o’clock p.m. Considering
the recent formation of the Society and the somewhat
unfavourable circumstances under which this meeting
took place, the attendance was good. The principal
chemists of the town and district were mostly in atten¬
dance or sent in apologies for absence, the others
perhaps only waiting for the consolidation of the Society,
or further information, before joining. The objects sought
are chiefly more unity of action in all matters affecting
the interests of the trade, mutual improvement and the
strength of combination against the many assaults now
made upon the legitimate business of chemists. The
meeting, as well as the preceding ones, was perfectly
unanimous and a very pleasant evening was spent, all
the members feeling the better for social intercourse and
separating with much higher opinions of each other than
ever can be attained whilst unworthy selfishness and sus¬
picion are allowed to prevail, a state of things which does
not exist to the same extent in any other calling whatever,
and which is inflicting the deepest injuries upon the best
interests of chemists in general. The association is only
in its infancy, but it has begun with every prospect of
success, and the members look forward for the assistance
of all the chemists in the town and district. In former
years the chemists of Birkenhead were very closely united
and very frequently met together for mutual benefit and
social discussion ; but the rapid extension of the town
and sudden influx of many chemists from other districts
had, unfortunately, an unfavourable influence upon the
strong bond of unity, and serious loss to all has resulted.

Iparliamentarg and Haiti fro^ciliiiijs.

Prosecutions under the 17th Section of
the Pharmacy Act, 1808.

At the Hull Borough Police Court, on October 30,
1879, before Mr. E. C. Twiss (Deputy Stipendiary),
William and Thomas Cussons and others, trading as the
Hull and East Riding Supply Association at Lansdown
Terrace, Beverley Road, Hull, were charged “that they
did, on the 22nd day of October, 1879, unlawfully sell to
William Frederic Haydon, secretary of the Chemists and
Druggists’ Trade Association of Great Britain, 23, Bur¬
lington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, certain
poisons, to wit, chloral hydrate and morphia, contained
in certain pills enclosed in a bottle wrapped in certain
papers, neither the bottle nor the wrappers of which poisons
were labelled with the word ‘poison,’ nor with the names
or addresses of the sellers of the same, contrary to the
statute in such case made and provided.”

Mr. Henry Glaisyer, solicitor, Birmingham, appeared
on behalf of the Chemists and Druggists’ Association for
the prosecution, and Mr. Thomas Priestman, solicitor,
Hull, for the defendants.

Mr. Glaisyer said this was a summons issued under the
provisionsof thePharmacy Act, 1868. The 15th section of
the Act prohibited all persons other than those registered
under the Act from retailing, dispensing or compounding-
poisons, and from using or exhibiting certain titles, and
the 17 th section enacted “that it shall be unlawful to sell
any poison either by wholesale or by retail unless the box,
bottle, vessel, wrapper, or cover in which such poison is
contained be distinctly labelled with the name of the
article and the word ‘poison,’ and with filename and address
of the seller of the poison, and that any person selling
poison otherwise than is herein provided shall upon a
summary conviction before two justices of the peace be
liable to a penalty not exceeding £5 for the first offence,
and to a penalty not exceeding £10 for the second or any
subsequent offence, and for the purposes of this section
the person on whose behalf any sale is made by any ap¬
prentice or servant shall be deemed to be the seller.”
On the 22nd of the previous month, Mr. Haydon
visited Hull, and went to the defendants’ establishment,
situated in the Beverley Road, where he purchased a
bottle of compound chloral pills. The pills were supplied
to him in a bottle, upon which was not placed the word
“ poison,” or the name or address of the sellers of the
poison. Having made the purchase, he analysed the
fills and found they contained chloral hydrate and
morphia in considerable quantity, both being within the
meaning of this Act.

Mr. Thomas Priestman, for the defendants, said they
had no defence except ignorance of the law which, of
course, was no valid defence. His clients had no inten¬
tion of doing wrong, and they were quite prepared to
withdraw from their stores everything they had no legal
right to deal in, and they were sorry that they had
offended against the law. He hoped only a mitigated
penalty would be imposed, provided his clients at once
give up selling such articles.

Mr. Twiss : What do these pills contain ?

Mr. Glaisyer : They contain chloral hydrate and mor¬
phia.

Mr. Twiss : And these are poisons within the meaning
of the Act?

Mr. Glaisyer: Yes, sir.

Mr. Twiss : I suppose that as a matter of fact there is
poison in almost in all patent pills ?

Mr. Glaisyer: The article sold in this case is not a
patent medicine .

Mr. Twiss : You say, Mr. Priestman, that your clients
have been selling these pills without a knowledge of the
statute ?

Mr. Priestman : Yes, sir ; and they did not know the
articles contained in the pills were poisonous.

378

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 8, 1879,

Mr. Twiss : But if your clients deal in such things they
must take the responsibility attached to their sale. Of
course this case is taken up in the interests of the public,
and I think under the circumstances 1 must fine the de¬
fendants 405. and costs.

A penalty of 40$. and costs was inflicted.

Sale of Vermin Killer by Unregistered Persons.

At Walton-le-Dale (Lancashire) Police Court, on
October 31, 1879, before Messrs. Whittaker (Chairman)
and Thomas Whittaker, John Hayhurst, general dealer,
Bamber Bridge, was charged “ that he did on the 21st
day of October, at Bamber Bridge, unlawfully sell to
William Frederic Haydon, secretary of the Chemists and
Druggists’ Trade Association of Great Britain, certain
poison, to wit, rat poison, a preparation of strychnine, in
a certain packet, the cover of which packet did not set
forth the name or address of the seller of the same, and that
the said sale was effected, the purchaser being unknown
to the seller and not introduced to the seller, and that
the date of the sale, the name and address of the pur¬
chaser, and the name and quantity of the article sold, not
being entered by the seller in a book kept by him for that
purpose, in contravention of the statute in such case
made and provided.”

Mr. Glaisyer, solicitor, Birmingham, appeared for the
prosecution, and the defendant appeared in person.

Defendant pleaded guilty, but said he had not bad his
attention called to the fact that he must not sell such
poisons. He purchased them in the ordinary way of
business, and did not know he could not legally sell them,
He kept the poisons as a convenience both to himself and
his neighbours.

Chairman of the Bench : It is pretty well known that
poisons in a pure state may be sold only by chemists.

Magistrates’ Clerk : You are not in the habit of keeping
a book, I suppose, for the purpose of registering the sale
of such poison ?

Defendant : No, sir ; I was not aware it was necessary
for me to do so.

Chairman of the Bench : This kind of poison is pretty
generally sold, I suppose ?

Defendant: Yes, sir ; such articles may be purchased
in almost all the small shops in country districts.

Chairman of the Bench : You know as well as I do
that there have been suicides from the taking of such
preparation ?

Defendant : I have heard of such things.

Chairman of the Bench : We shall fine you in the
mitigated penalty of 10s. and costs. You must be more
careful for the future.

Poisoning by Syrup of Poppies sold by an
Unregistered Person.

On Wednesday, October 17, an inquest was held at the
Guildhall, Doncaster, before Mr. Arthur J. Shirley, the
borough coroner, on view of the body of a child, three
months old, named Beatrice Cliffe. Emma Cliffe, mother
of the deceased, identified the body. Deceased was a
healthy child ; it began to be unwell on Friday afternoon
and was troubled with a cough. It was also sick. She
gave it a little of Mr. King’s cough mixture. She gave
it a quarter of a teaspoonful with a little warm water and
sugar, and repeated the dose two or three times. On
Sunday, when she gave the child two doses of the medi¬
cine it became worse, and in the evening a neighbour
named Mrs. Mawson told them she had a recipe which
she thought would cure it. Next morning witness went
for the recipe, wnich Mrs. Mawson had obtained from a
neighbour, and she copied it in pencil. She gave the
paper to her daughter and told her to go to Mr. Spight’s
for some medicine. When her daughter returned she
sent to Mrs. Mawson’s to inquire how the medicine was
to be taken, as Mr. Spight had not put a label on the

bottle. Mrs. Mawson came herself and told witness the
dose was not quite a teaspoonful, which was to be re¬
peated three times a day. Witness gave the child a dose:
and for about an hour the child seemed quite lively, but
after that time she fell asleep and slept for two hours.
Witness then took the child up, and after giving her thf*
breast, gave her another dose of the medicine. After
that witness put her on the sofa, and she fell asleep.
About eight o’clock witness undressed her. While doing
that, the child’s aims dropped on one side and her face
looked very pale. Getting alarmed witness sent for Dr,
Wilson, who applied a mustard plaster to the child’s chest.
It seemed to revive a little, but did not thoroughly wake
up, and died on Tuesday morning. The child had fre¬
quently slept a long time, but it had never had any
medicine before. Her husband took a little of Mr.
Spight’s medicine on Monday night, and said it made
him feel queer.

Dr. Wilson deposed that on Monday evening Mr.
Cliffe’s daughter came te his house and told him the baby
was very ill, and they wanted him to see it. He got
there soon after eight o’clock, and found the child lying on
Mrs. Cliffe’s knee, looking very pale and ill. Its cheeks
were cold, and on examining its eyes he found the pupils
were very much contracted. He asked what had been
given to it, as there was every symptom of opium poison¬
ing. He was shown a paper, containing the following
prescription : — 1 ounce cold drawn linseed oil, f ounce
syrup of squills, and § ounce syrup of poppies. He asked
what the dose was and was told a teaspoonful. The
bottle was shown to him and he said there was no label
on it, stating what it contained or how it was to be used.
He said it was a very unsafe thing, as syrup of poppies
varied considerably in strength. In the meanwhile various
means had beenadopted to rouse the child from the sta' e of
stupor in which it was, and for a while those means seemed
to be successful to a certain extent. The child began to>
move about a little and open its eyes and looked a good
deal better. He stayed about an hour, and as the child
seemed to be improving, he left. He applied a large
mustard plaster, and had the child’s feet placed near the
fire. The child was in a profound stupor, and but for the
breathing, which was very faint, he would have thought
it was dead. Before the child died, his opinion was that
it had been poisoned by opium. On Tuesday morning,
Mr. Cliffe came to his house and told him the child was
convulsed, and when witness arrived at the house a little
before ten o’clock, he found that it was dead. Speaking
of the medicine, he said each dose would contain 15
drops of syrup of poppies. Syrup of poppies was such an
uncertain preparation that he would never under any
circumstances administer it to children ; it was essentially
opium and very often adulterated. It was a dangerous
preparation and if used at all should be used with very
great caution. On Wednesday morning, he, in company
with Mr. Walker, house surgeon, at the Infirmary, made
a 'post mortem examination of the body. There was a
small , quantity of mucus in the bronchial tubes showing
a slight attack of bronchitis, and some portion of the
lungs were slightly congested. The brain was also
slightly congested. There was no disease discovered
sufficient to account for death, the bronchitis being very
slight indeed. If he had known nothing of the circum¬
stances he would not have been able to say from the
examination he made that the child had been poisoned.

In reply to a juryman witness said the medicine should
have been labelled “poison.”

Mr. Walker, surgeon at the Infirmary, confirmed the
evidence of Dr. Wilson as to examination of the body
after death.

The inquiry was adjourned until Tuesday afternoon for
the purpose of having the remaining portion of the medi¬
cine analysed.

The adjourned inquest was held before the borough
coronur, Mr. A. J. Shirley, on the 21st ult.

November 8, 18T9.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

379

Mr. Hall watched the case for Mr. Spight, druggist.*

The evidence given by the witnesses at the last hearing
was read over.

After the evidence of the little girl who fetched the
medicine had been read, Mr. Hall said what he wished
to put was this. Take it for granted that Mr. Spight
made up the mixture (which he denied), that would be
no offence. According to the ruling in the case of the
Queen v. Pocock, there must not only be neglect, but
the death must be an immediate result. It would not be
sufficient for Mr. Spight to have made up the medicine,
for the child’s evidence was that she did not tell Mr.
.Spight for whom or for what the mixture was required.

The Coroner said Mr. Spight was not charged with
anything at the present time, and he thought it would be
best for the inquiry to proceed.

Replying to Mr. Hall, the girl said it was a week on
Monday when she fetched the medicine from Mr. Spight
— whom she pointed out in the court. There was a girl
in the shop at the time she got the mixture. She only
gave Mr. Spight the paper. She did not say anything as
-to what it was for.

Dr. Wilson, answering Mr. Hall, said that no druggist
would be justified in making the mixture up, as there
were no directions on the paper as to how it should be
used. There was nothing as to this, however, in the
books he had read. Supposing a child had bronchitis, the
syrup of poppies would have more effect ; would tighten
instead of loosen the expectoration. Witness was not
aware what the mixture (King’s) was that was given to
the child the day before, but it might, or might not, make
the child more susceptible to the opium.

By the Coroner : There ought to have been a label on
the bottle. The chemist would have been justified in
making up the prescription if it had been initialed by a
medical man.

The first witness examined to-day was George Cliffe,
the father of the deceased. In addition to corroborating
the main portion of the evidence of his wife, he said the
reason they discontinued giving the child King’s mixture
was that it was rather hot, and the child did not take it
well.

Sarah Ann Mawson, deposed to recommending the last
witness to give his child the mixture contained in the
prescription, as it had done her children good. On her
bottle there was a direction on the label to give the
mixture twice or three times a day. She got her medicine
from Mr. Spight, and it produced no ill effects on her child.

Martha Snow deposed to recommending the prescrip¬
tion to Mrs. Mawson. She had given it to her children,
and the one in court — a baby — had only a spoonful the
last week. She had always got the mixture, till the last
lot, from ‘Mr. Spight, but the last time Mr. Spight
told her child that he had not one of the things in
stock.

By the jury : She had had the prescription made up
by Mr. Spight several times.

Sergeant Thompson deposed to receiving the prescrip¬
tion and a bottle of cough mixture, with Mr. King’s
label on, from Mrs. Cliffe. This bottle of mixture, and
the one containing the mixture said to have been got
from Mr. Spight, witness took to Mr. Walker, analyst,
of Sheffield.

Edmund Spight said he was a grocer and dealer in
medicines. [The Coroner here said that witness was not
obliged to answer any question unless he liked.] His
shop was in Cemetery Road. He knew the little gir],
Alice Ann Cliffe, from seeing her several times at his
place. She had been for several little things. He
believed he would be at home about nine o’clock on
Monday night week. Mrs. Spight would be at home,
too. He did not remember that morning the girl Cliffe
coming to the shop, nor any little girl coming to the shop

* Mr. Spight is thus described in the x*eport in the local
newspaper, but there is no such name in the Register of
Chemists and Druggists. — Ed. Ph. J.

and giving him a paper. He did not keep at his shop
syrup of poppies.

The Coroner : Do you keep any poisons at all ?

Mr. Hall : You need not answer that question.

Witness, continuing, said he had never kept syrup of
poppies. He did not know that he had seen the pre¬
scription produced, but similar ones had been brought to
him to make up, and he substituted certain things —
burnt sugar and simple syrup — for the syrup of poppies.
He never sold syrup of poppies at all. Syrup of poppies
was made by boiling poppy heads with sugar. He kept
the linseed oil and syrup of squills, but not the syrup of
poppies. He was quite certain the girl Cliffe never went
to the shop on Monday week ; nor did he to his know¬
ledge see the prescription produced that week. It was
not usual for people to sell burnt sugar and simple syrup
for syrup of poppies. They did not do this where he was
last employed.

By the jury : The label on the bottle produced (by
Mrs. Mawson) was his, and he always labelled the
bottles in which he supplied cough mixture. He had
now at his place a bottle containing burnt sugar and
simple syrup. He might have told Mrs. Snow that he
had not one of the ingredients she wanted, but if he did
it was because of its being the race week, and he would
be busy. He would then have the same thing as he had
now. He did not remember the girl coming at all, but
if he had sold the mixture he usually sold, he should, as
was his habit, put a label on the bottle. To his know¬
ledge he had never had any syrup of poppies in his shop
— at least, not for the last three years. On the day the
child died he told the officer (Serjeant Thompson) that
he had had the prescription brought to him.

Henry Herbert Walker, of Sheffield, and the analyst
for the borough, said the two samples of medicine he
received from Sergeant Thompson he had analysed. In
King’s mixture he found a small trace of opium, but not
sufficient to be weighed. The other constituents were
quite harmless — such as anise. The mixture said to have
been obtained at Spight’s he analysed, with the object of
detecting opium, and he found two grains in the whole
bottle — about 16 teaspoonfuls. There would be about
a tenth of a grain in each teaspoonful, the teaspoonful
to hold a drachm, or about 60 drops. In analysing he
found both morphia and meconic acid — two of the con¬
stituents of opium.

By the jury : He did not analyse to estimate the other
contents of the bottle, though he found traces of both the
oil and simple squills. He should think that two grains
of opium was a large quantity to find in three quarter
ounces of syrup of poppies.

By Mr. Hall : He was told to examine the mixtures
for deleterious substances. The officer might have told
him to analyse for opium. He did not know whether
one-tenth of a grain of opium would, or would not, kill a
child. He made both analyses at the same time, but in
separate vessels. It was by testing the substance that
he found it was opium, but in testing it the quantity was
so small, that he lost it.

Dr. Wilson, recalled, said that a tenth of a grain of
opium in a teaspoonful of mixture given to a child, and
repeated, would produce the symptoms from which this
child suffered. His opinion was that the child died from
opium poisoning.

By the jury : One-tenth of a grain of opium had been
known to poison a child, though it was often given with¬
out producing ill effects.

By Mr. Hall: Although the child, was a healthy
one, one-tenth of a grain given at ten o’clock, and
another at three o’clock, would produce the symptoms he
found. In his opinion, no prescription of this character
ought to be given except by a medical man. Dr. Wilson
explained that if there had been three-quarters of an
ounce of syrup of poppies, it would contain three-quarters
of a grain of opium, whereas the portion of mixture re¬
maining was found to contain two grains.

3S0

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 8, 13:9.

This was all the evidence, and the coroner told the
jury that the case resolved itself into two points. The
first was the death of the child. Did it die a natural
death, or from the administration of opium? If death
was caused by the latter, then the question was where
did the opium come fx-om, and who was responsible for
its being given to the child. After reading over the
main parts of the depositions, he stated that the evidence
of the mother, Dr. Wilson, and the analyst, all pointed
to the fact that the child had not died a natui'al death.
Then came the second point. Was there any person
responsible for the death ; that was if it had been caused
by poison? The evidence of Mrs. Mawson and Mrs.
Snow was that Mr. Spight had frequently made up this
prescription, though their children had never suffered
from it. The little girl had given her evidence remark¬
ably well, though it was singular that her evidence
should so much differ from Mr. Spight’s. The girl
remembered nearly everything, while on the other hand,
Mr. Spight said she was not at his shop. Mr. Spight
was on his oath, and they ought to give due weight to
his evidence. First, then did the child die a natural
death, or was its death caused by the administration of
opium? If the latter was obtained at Spight’s shop, and
if so, was Spight justified in selling it as he did ? If
they found that the medicine was obtained from Spight’s,
and that the child’s death was caused from the gross
negligence, carelessness, or ignorance of Spight, they
must say so. On the other hand, if they found that
the death arose from the administration of opium, but
there was no pi*oof as to where it was obtained, then they
must bring in a verdict of death from misadventure.

The jury retired, and after being absent about half an
hour, they brought in a verdict that the deceased died of
opium poisoning. The jury believed that the girl went
to Mr. Spight’s for the mixture, and obtained from him
a mixture containing opium. The jury, however, found
that Mr. Spight was not guilty of gross or criminal
negligence, but that more care should be taken in supply¬
ing mixture. — Doncaster Chronicle.

^orLi;jspondqu^.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authentic
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

A Question of Policy.

Sir, — Some years ago when “ Allen’s Hair Restorer” was
introduced to the public, and boldly and skilfully advertised,
chemists, tempted by the large profit offered to the retailer,
“ pushed ” it with their utmost ability, and since careful
people generally consult their chemist as to the innocuosness
of such preparations, it may, with all due deference to the
skilful methods of advertisement, be safely inferred that but
for the recommendation of chemists, it would not have
realized such an immense consumption.

The growth of stores and cutting houses has, however,
taken the sale in a great measure out of the hands of the
chemists ; the chemist has sown that others may reap ; for,
ence he has assured his lady clients that it is perfectly harm¬
less and effectual, aud they have become habituated to its
use, at no time can he effectually retract that opinion, and
he has therefore the pleasure of seeing the very customer
who “ sucked his brains” on the scientific and medical view
of the preparation, obtain her supply at the store, and
point at his exorbitant charges from that identical article.
“ Once bit, twice shy ” used to be held a good proverb, but
it seems of small value now, for I have just had placed in
my hands an almanack for 1880, skilfully and ingeniously
compiled by a gentleman, “ who as a stranger in the land ”
commenced business a little more than a year ago in a
cellar, or as he more euphoniously puts it “a sub-base¬
ment.” Business energy, a believing public and the chemists
as missionaries, have created for his article a sale almost
unprecedented.

Remember, I make no complaint against this gentleman or
his article, but simply take it as an example.

The almanack is graced with woodcuts, prominent among
which is a portrait of a venerable dame, who if she be not
as mythical as Mrs. Harris, would put to shame all the
medical profession, botanists, and scientific discoverers iix
the world.

Out of the tliiity testimonials from agents, I find some
three from pharmaceutical chemists, thirteen from chemists
and druggists, in company with eleven from persons not on
the register, many of whom are herbalists, storekeepers and
general lmcketers.

Fancy a chemist being proud of the scores of bottles be
has sold, while the very next testimonial tells of the sales
of a “ medical botanist,” whatever that may mean.

By the time these energetic chemists and their select
companions have helped to build up an immense sale for
this article, the public will buy it at a discount at the
stores.

Now, do the chemists of England hope to sell medicines
like Dutch cheeses ? and if they do not, let me ask them
Avhy they persist in helping to push a principle of quackery
which will eventually kick its benefactors— why they put a
rod in pickle for their own backs ?

Surely chemists should stay their cry against their
murderers when they themselves are following such a
suicidal policy.

John H. Wilson.

P.S. It would be an interesting statistic of business
cuteness to know how many chemists have sent up a list
of the names and addresses of their corpulent customers to
an enterprising American now located in London.

Paregoric minus Opium.

Sir, — The exposi of the Chesterfield firms is only one of
the very many which ought to take place. We have
amongst us a great number of men who do not care w hat
their customers are (grocers or what not), or what their
requirements may be; we have wholesale “pharmaceutical
chemists ” supplying grocers and shopkeepers with all
manner of drugs, including scheduled poisons, also supply¬
ing the stores, thereby injuring the chemists who, I venture
to say, are their oldest and most legitimate customers.
Surely, sir, it is time the Pharmacy Act was more strin¬
gently enforced. I think any grocer selling scheduled poisons
should be prosecuted at once without a warning letter, and
that the party supplying him ought also to receive a certain
amount of punishment, for grocers, etc., would soon obey
the Act if they could not find parties willing and solicitous
to supply them. A. P. S.

E. 0. Jones. — We cannot recommend any book as speci¬
ally fitted for the study of the subject of a particular exami¬
nation. There should be however no difficulty in obtaining
a good and cheap manual of chemistry.

“Inquirer.” — The preparation is a proprietary one, and
we are not aware that the formula used in making it has
been published.

“ Bella.” — It is beyond our power to assist you in respect
to a l’ecipe for the production of whiskers and moustache.

“ A Friend of Mr. Brawn” is recommended to address
his question to the Registrar.

“ Borax.” — The recipe for Boracic Acid Ointment
(Lister) has already appeared several times in this Journal.
It will be found in vol. viii. of the present series, p. 743,
and some remarks on the manipulation on pp. 782 and 822
of the same volume.

C. T. Brooks. — The answer to your question would depend
upon the nature of the salt you desire to obtain. In any
case the information you require may be obtained by re¬
ference to any manual of chemistry.

B. D. Gibbs. — The Secretary of the Institute of Chemistry
is Mr. C. E. Groves, and the address, Somerset House Ter¬
race, W.C.

H. Layng. — For the removal of chrysophanic acid stains
see vol. viii. p. 1018.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from

Messrs. Pearson, Dingle, Baldock, Richards, Ward, Fur¬
ness, Heath, Landerer, Hart, Allen, Toomey, Young, Brad¬
shaw, Brookes, Stevens, Bell, Sec. Chemists’ Assistants’
Association, P. T. W., M. P. S., M. B., H. L., H. W.,
Excelsior, Jacques, Quidnunc, Juvenis, Lavandula.

November 15, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

381

NOTES ON INDIAN DRUGS.

BY W. DYMOCK.

{Continued from page 282.)

Zara w and- i-gird (Pers. and Bomb.), Aristolo-

CHIACEAS.

This is the imported root of Aristolochia rotunda,
Linn., a small plant with slender stems and almost
sessile, obtusely cordiform leaves. The flowers are
solitary in the axils of the leaves, tubular, yellow
without, and orange brown within. The whole plant
is acrid, aromatic and bitter. The root is tuberous,
placentiform, hard and heavy when dry, more or
less mammellated ; on the under surface of a reddish-
brown colour ; on the upper surface are the remains
of several stems or small pits showing where they
were attached ; on the under surface one central
scar marking the attachment of the rootlets. The
substance is very hard and horny and has a bitterish
somewhat aromatic taste, and camphoraceous odour.
Zarawand-i-gird, or mudahraj is considered by Per¬
sian writers on materia medica to be the female of
Aristolochia longa. Meer Muhammad Husain tells
us that at Ispahan it is called Nukhud-i-alwandi.
Mahometan physicians describe it as resolvent, stimu¬
lating, pectoral, stomachic, cephalic ; they prescribe
it in jaundice and gout.

Zarawand-i-tawil (Pers. and Bomb.), Aristolo-

CHlACEiE.

This is the imported root of the A ristolochia longa,
Linn., a plant much resembling A. rotunda, and
having a smilar habitat. It differs from the latter
plant in having petioled leaves, yellow flowers
striped with brown, and a cylindrical root which has
much the same taste and odour as that of A. rotunda.
Mahometan physicians describe it as resolvent, de¬
obstruent, diuretic, emmenagogue, alexipharmic and
vermifuge.

Croton oblongifolium, Eoxb., Euphorbiace,®.
The root hark. Vernacular. — Baragach (Beng.),
Ganasur (Bomb.), Gonsurong (Goa).

History, Uses, etc. — The medicinal properties of
the root of this tree appear to be little known. I
have been unable to find any notice of the drug in
works on Indian Materia Medica. Roxburgh, though
he describes the tree as common in forests near
Calcutta, is silent upon the subject. Dalzell and
Gibson in the ‘Bombay Flora’ (p. 231), remark that
“ the plant is used medicinally by the natives to
reduce swellings.” When on a visit to Goa in 1876,
my attention was drawn by the native doctors to the
root bark of a small tree a3 being one of the most
valuable medicines they possessed ; this plant, un¬
known to me at the time, proved on subsequent
investigation to be C. oblongifolium. The Goanese
and the inhabitants of the Southern Concon ad¬
minister the bark in chronic enlargements of the
liver and in remittent fever. In the former disease
it is both taken internally and applied externally.
As an application to sprains, bruises, rheumatic
swellings, etc ., it is in great request. In large doses
it is said to be purgative. Fliickiger and Hanbury
(‘Pharmacographia,’ p. 5-10) state that the seeds are
said to be sometimes substituted for those of C.
tiglium. The tree is rare in the Bombay Presidency,
and has only been found in the Southern Concon.
In Goa it is common.

Description. — Trunk straight ; bark ash-coloured
Third Series, No. 490.

and pretty smooth ; leaves petioled, alternate, and
thickly set about the ends of the branchlets, spread¬
ing or drooping, oblong, serrate, obtuse-pointed, very
smooth on both sides, from 6 to 12 inches long;
petioles round and smooth, with a lateral gland on
each side of their apices ; stipules small, caducous ;
racemes terminal, generally solitary, erect, shorter
than the leaves ; flowers solitary, a few female ones
mixed with many male ones, small, of a pale yel¬
lowish green ; bracts three fold, one flowered, on the
inside of each of the small lateral bracts is a round
permanent gland, as in Sesamum Indicum ; male
calyx deeply 5 cleft ; petals six, smaller than the
calyx, very woolly ; filaments twelve, distinct, nine
in the circumference and three in the centre, woolly
towards the base ; female calyx and cord as in the
male ; stamens none ; germ globular ; styles three,
each divided into two very long, variously bent
segments ; capsules globular, fleshy, six-furrowed
tricoccous (Roxb.). The root is twisted, often some¬
what flattened, bark thickish, externally light brown
and scaly, internally yellowish, mottled with brown,
substance compact and resinous ; odour terebin-
thinate and highly aromatic ; taste peppery and
camphoraceous ; wood white, compact and hard.

Microscopic Stnicture. — Sections of the bark show
that the epidermis consists of about five rows of
elongated cells placed horizontally, their walls are
much thickened by a dark brown deposit which pro¬
duces a patchwork appearance. The parenchyma
is loaded with large globular or oval highly refractive
bodies of a yellowish colour ; there are also numerous
dark purplish brown particles which are sometimes
single, but usually arranged in irregular concentric
rows. They appear to be due to a deposit in the vas¬
cular system of a resinous nature.

Euphorbia neriifolia, Linn., Euphorbiace^e. The

juice and root. Vernacular . — Sehund, Thohar

(Hind.), Mansasij (Beng.), Newerang, Mingut

(Bomb.), Ilaik-kalli (Tam.).

History, Uses, etc. — This plant, called Snuhi in
Sanskrit, is sacred to Mansd, the goddess of serpents.
In some parts of India in July and August, on Tues¬
days and Thursdays, the natives approach this tree
with offerings of rice, milk and sugar, praying to be
delivered from snake-bites. They also employ the
root mixed with black pepper as a medicine for the
cure of snake-bites internally and externally. Dutt
informs us that in Bengal, on the fifth day after the
full moon of the month Srawan, it is planted in the
courtyard of Hindu houses and worshipped. The
plant abounds in an acrid milky juice which is a
popular application to warts and other cutaneous
affections. The native doctors purify arsenious acid
by packing it in a hole made in a piece of the stem,
closing the hole and exposing the stem to the action
of fire until it is charred. The milky juice of D.
neriifolia is described by Sanskrit writers .as purga¬
tive and irritant ; it is usually administered internally
by soaking other purgatives and aromatics in it, so
that by absorption of the juice their purgative pro¬
perties become increased.

A similar method is adopted when the juice is
applied externally, a tent or issue pea being prepared
with some finely powdered drug and steeped in it.
Ainslie tells us that the native practitioners prescribe
the juice as a purge and deobstruent in those visceral
obstructions and dropsical affections which are con¬
sequent of long continued intermittent fever, the

382

THE PHARMACE'JTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 15, 1879.

quantity given for a dose being about one-fourth of a
pagoda weight (20 grs.). Externally, mixed with
margosa oil, it is applied to limbs which have become
contracted from rheumatism (Confer. ‘ Mat. Ind.,’ vol.
ii. p. 97). In Bombay the root is mixed with
country liquor to make it more intoxicating, and the
juice is used to kill maggots in wounds. There is
also a curious custom here in connection with this
plant. At the time of the Diwali the Hindus cut a
portion of the stem, hollow it out, and fill it with oil
in which they place a wick. The little lamp thus
formed is lighted and carried from house to house
with the object of depositing it unextinguished in
the house of some friend or acquaintance, saying at
the same time, “a son-in-law for you.” That is
wishing them good fortune (Nevadunga). The people
of the house pretend not to want it and try to extin¬
guish the light by throwing water at it. These
lamps are also placed upon little heaps of cow-dung
and worshipped. The author of the ‘ Makhzan-ul-
adwiya,’ under the name of Zakoom (Euphorbia),
describes four Indian species, which are probably
E. antiquorum, Linn., A’, neriifolia , Linn., E. nivulia,
Bucli., and E. tirucalli , Linn. The milky juice of
the first, he says, is mixed with the flour of Cicer
arietinum , roasted and administered in pills as a
remedy for gonorrhoea. It has a strong purgative
action. The juice of the second and third species is
heated and dropped into the ear for the cure of ear-ache;
heated with salt it is given as a remedy in whooping
cough, asthma, dropsy, leprosy, enlarged spleen, dys¬
pepsia, jaundice, flatulence, colic, calculus, tumours,
etc. The fourth species yields a milky juice having
similar properties.

Description. — Shrubby, often arboreous ; branches
sharply five-angled, stipulary thorns ; twin leaves,
subsessile, oblong, about 3 inches long, appear in the
rainy season ; flowers greenish-yellow, February —
March. The root is thick, soft and woody, often of
considerable size and much contorted. Bark thick,
of a light brown colour, warty and fissured, rootlets
numerous, j uice milky. The milk dries into a greyish
waxy mass if collected, and the bark shrivels up and
becomes papery like that of some other milky shrubs.

Chemical Composition. — The milky juice of the
euphorbias mentioned in this article does not appear
to have been chemically examined, but it probably
differs little from that of Euphorbia resinifera, which
yields the euphorbium of commerce, an article which
is always obtainable in the Bombay shops under the
name of Farfizun, and the chemical composition of
which is described in Watts’s ‘ Diet, of Chemistry.’

Phyllanthus emblica, Linn., Egphorbiace.e. The

fruit. Vernacular. — Anvula (Hind.), Amlaki

(Beng.), Avalkati, Awla (Bomb.), Toppi (Tam).

History, Uses, etc. — The emblic myrobalan (in
Sanskrit Amalaki and Dhatri) is an important article
of the Hindu materia medica. It is used both fresh
and dried ; in the former condition it is considered to
be refrigerant, diuretic and laxative, in the latter
astringent. A sherbet of the fruit, sweetened with
sugar or honey, is a favourite cooling drink for sick
people ; it is said to be diuretic. Emblic myrobalans
are an ingredient in many compound preparations
described in Sanskrit works. A selection of these
prescriptions will be found in Dutt’s ‘Hindu Materia
Medica*; the following translated from Chakraclatta
may be taken as an example: —

Dhatri laulia. — Take of powdered emblic myro¬

balans 64 tolas, prepared iron 32 tolas, liquorice
powder 16 tolas. Mix them together and soak in the
juice of Tinospora cordifolia seven times successively.
This preparation is given in jaundice, anfemia and
dyspepsia, in doses of from 20 to 40 grains.

Mahometan physicians esteem this myrobalan
equally with the Hindus ; they describe it as astrin¬
gent, refrigerant, cardiacal, and a purifier of the
humours of the body. It is much prescribed by them
in fluxes, and is also applied externally on account of
its cooling and astringent properties. The Arabic
name is Amlaj and the Persian Amala. Ainslie tells
us that the flowers, which have an odour resembling
that of lemon peel, are supposed by the Yytians to
have virtues of a cooling and aperient nature, and
are presci ibed in conj unction with other articles in
the form of an electuary (‘ Mat. Indica,’ ii., p. 244).
In the Pharmacopoeia of India it is stated, upon the
authority of Dr. JE. Ross, that the root by decoction
and evaporation yields an astringent extract equal to
catechu, both for medicinal purposes and in the arts ;
the chips of the wood or small branches thrown into
impure or muddy water, according to the same
authority, clear it effectually.

Description. — Fresh emblic myrobalans are globu¬
lar, fleshy, smooth, six-striated, of a yellowish green
colour, and sometimes as large as a walnut; they
contain an obovate, obtusely triangular, three-celled
nut, each oell of which contains two triangular seeds.
The taste of the pulp is acid, astringent and somewhat
acrid. The dried fruit is the size of a hazel nut,
sub-hexagonal, wrinkled, of a grey black colour if it
has been collected when immature, but yellowish
brown if mature ; the latter upon pressure breaks up
into six parts, each of which consists of a section of
the pulp and nut and contains one triangular brown
seed. Two kiuds of Aunla are found in commerce,
one entire and the other cut up and the nut removed.

Commerce. — The fruit is collected in many parts
of India. Value Rs 32 per kandy of 7 cwt.

Hippion orientale, Gentiane^e. Syn., Stevoglia
orientalis, Grisebach ; Cicendia hyssopifolia,
W. and A. Vernacular. — Chota Kirayata
(Hind.), Mameejwa (Bomb).

This is common in moist situations in many parts
of the country. In Western India it abounds in
Guzerat, but is rare in the Concon. Where
abundant it appears to be generally accepted as a
useful bitter. According to Cleghorn it is much
used by the natives of Madras as a stomachic, as, in
addition to its tonic properties, it is also somewhat
laxative (‘Indian Annals of Med. Sci.,’ vol. iii. ,
p. 272). H. orientate is brought to Bombay from
Guzerat along with other simples. The plant is
collected when in flower and tied up in small
bundles which contain a pound or more.

Description. — Six to eight inches high, stem
ascending, simple, four-sided, leafy from the base ;
leaves opposite, subsessile, linear-lanceolate, or
oblong, three-nerved ; calyx with bracts ; the lobes
obtuse, longer than the capsule ; flowers small, white,
sessile in the opposite axils, do not fall when the
plant is dried. Taste strongly bitter.

Gul-i-ghafith, Gentiane,®.

This is the name under which the flowering top
of a small gentian are sold in the Bombay market

November 15, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

383

The clrng is imported from Persia. Under the name
of ghafith, Arabian and Persian writers describe a
plant which they say is called in Latin Eupatoree; it is
thorny and has long, broad, fleshy leaves. The stem
is said to be hollow and rough and to rise from the
centre of the leaves ; it bears violet or purple flowers.
The whole plant is extremely bitter ; it grows in the
hilly districts near Shiraz. As a medicine it is said
to be attenuant and deobstruent, especially useful in
hepatic and splenic obstructions. It is also a
valuable tonic and febrifuge and is said to have
anthelmintic and emmenagogue properties. Applied
externally it promotes the healing of wounds and
sores. The ghdfith or ghafis of Bombay consists af
quadrangular flower stalks two to four inches in length,
terminating when perfect in five flowers ; one of these
is terminal, the remaining four are in opposite pairs
and on longish peduncles, with bracts as long as the
peduncles. The corolla is funnel shaped, about an
inch in length, erect, five-partite ; calyx five-
partite ; stamens five, alternate with the corolline
segments ; style single ; stigmas, two ; fruit three-
fourths of an inch long, one-celled, containing
numerous small seeds ; calyx and coiolla persistent.
The lower portion of the plant is sometimes to be
found ; it has the leaves of a gentian. The entire
plant must be from six to eight inches high ; it is
very bitter. It would appear that this drug has
been adopted as a substitute for the original ghafith
of the early Arabian writers, which is by some con¬
sidered to have been the Eupatorium cannabinum, or
hemp agrimony, a tall plant with unbranched stems,
downy leaves, and terminal crowded corymbs of dull
pale purplish flowers. The description given above
agrees pretty well with that of hemp agrimony, if
we take thorny to mean hispid, as it sometimes un¬
doubtedly does in Persian descriptions of plants.
Value annas 3 per lb.

Kanturiyun, Gentiane^e (?).

Under this name small woody stems, from the
tops of which spring numerous round, slender,
jointed branches, are sold in Bombay. They come
from Persia and are supposed by the Hakeems to
represent the lesser centaury of the Greeks ( Ery -
thrcca centaurea).

The stems in question are certainly not those of
E. centaurea. They are round with tumid j oints, which
are furnished with bracts and resemble the stems
of a grass. Towards the upper part the stem be¬
comes obscurely angular, and terminates in a single
flower or capsule about one inch in length and very
much like that of Ophelia multi flora. The leaves
are linear, like those of a grass. The whole plant is
intensely bitter. Value annas 3 per lb.

JlNTlYANA, GENTIANEA2.

Under this name gentian root imported from
Europe is sold in Bombay and is generally accepted
by the Hakeems as representing the gentiana of
Pliny and Dioscorides. Mahometan writers describe
jintiyana as having purplish flowers, and give
pakhdnbed as the Hindi synonym. The pakhanbed
of Bombay is apparently the root ol an iris, and is
quite distinct from gentian. European gentian root
is obtainable in the Bombay market for about | Re.
per lb.

{To be continued).

CARICA PAPAYA AND PAPAYOTIN.*

BY DR. THEODOR PECKOLT.

{Concluded from page 34G.)

The Milky Juice.

This occurs in all parts of the plant, but in large
quantity only in the unripe fruit, from which it dis¬
appears on ripening. But it is extremely troublesome to
collect from the root, still more difficult from the stem,
and the leaf stalks yield only traces. It is also very
scanty in the colder months, and can only be obtained in
somewhat remunerative quantities in the months from
August to April.

The fruit whilst on the tree is scratched to the point
longitudinally and sufficiently deep to, pierce the skin;
the juice then oozes through in drops and as soon a3 the
drops become scanty another place must be wounded. If
the fruit be removed from the tree in order to collect *the
milk only a few drops at the most will be obtained and
even these frequently coagulate on the surface of the
wound.

The fruit from which the milk has thus been taken
ripens much more quickly than the un wounded fruit, and
tastes as sweet, but is almost without juice and the ripe
seeds do not germinate. From a medium sized fruit the
juice was carefully collected, and as on the following day
it yielded no more, the product was weighed in the pre¬
viously tared glass and found to be 33 grams. The fruit
then taken from the tree weighed 785 grams ; it yielded
therefore about 4 per cent, of milk, and considerable
trouble was required in order to obtain from 30 fruit of
similar size about a kilogram of milk. The cost of the
fruit was of little consequence, as in Brazil a ripe fruit
can be purchased for about three pence ; but each fruit
requires uninterrupted attention, as the drops of milk
soon coagulate in the incision and require to be assisted
through by means of fresh scratchings ; add to this the
inconvenience arising from the height of the tree, and the
collection will be seen to be a troublesome and thankless
work.

The milk of the green fruit at the time of its exuda¬
tion resembles sheeps’ milk ; it has a strongly acid
reaction and with three times its volume of water
gelatinizes. It is odourless, tastes astringent and
slightly bitter and has a specific gravity of T023 at
26° O.

Analysis I. — 33 grams of fresh fruit milk were re¬
peatedly shaken with ether, until a portion evaporated
without residue. The ethereal solution when evaporated
left behind a white wax-like fatty substance — Mamao
wax. The residue insoluble in ether wTas exhausted with
absolute alcohol and then with 80 per cent, alcohol ; the
alcoholic liquid distilled and evaporated left a soft resin, a
light brown resin and extractive matter. The portion
insoluble in ether and alcohol formed when dried a snow
white powder. A little dissolved in water rendered it
turbid, through floating flocks. The entire residue was
dissolved in a little water and filtered ; on the filter was
left a caoutchouc like substance, soluble only in carbon
bisulphide, and traces of an albumenoid substance.

To the watery solution absolute alcohol wTas now again
added as long as turbidity was produced, the precipitate
collected on a filter, well washed with alcohol and dried
over chloride of calcium. This product, as well as the
similar one obtained in the following analyses, I have
preserved in my collection as Papayotin. I would only
now remark that this substance can effect the solution of
albumen and flesh, which property I did not light upon
in the reactions that I carried out at that time, and I did
not guess that the substance could have such thera¬
peutic importance. I will refer to the reactions subse¬
quently. _ _

* From the Zeitschrift d. ally. osterreichischen Apothe-
Icer-Vereines, vol. xvii., pp. 361 and 373 (Aug. 20 and bept.
1, 1879).

384

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November is, mj.

Tlie dried papayotin weighed 2T>90 grams and formed
a brilliant white light amorphous powder, similar to mag¬
nesia carbonica.

The alcoholic liquor filtered from the papayotin gave
still a very small quantity of extractive matter containing
sugar.

Analysis II. — A quantity of milk was perfectly dried
and the loss of moisture estimated. The viscous resin¬
like residue was completely exhausted with ether, and
then with absolute alcohol and rectified spirit, and the
solutions examined and weighed. The residue insoluble
in these formed when dried a light brown powder, having
an unpleasant faintly turpentine- like smell and weighing
5*388 grams. Dissolved in water and mixed with absolute
alcohol it also gave a precipitate which when separated and
dried formed a light brown powder, but it had lost the
unpleasant turpentine odour. The papayotin had in this
case, through the influence of heat, formed a substance
that I have preserved in my collection as Parapapayotin,
the reactions of which will be described subsequently.

Analysis III. — 82 grams of fresh fruit milk were
treated with four times as much cold distilled water,
filtered from the insoluble portion (a), and the aqueous
solution mixed with absolute alcohol as long as any
turbidity was produced. The precipitate separated by
filtration, washed with absolute alcohol, and dried over
chloride of calcium, formed 3 ‘085 grams of snow-white
papayotin, not quite so light as in No. I.

The residue (a) was now exhausted first with spirit of
wine, and the portion insoluble therein treated with cold
and then with boiling absolute alcohol, and finally the
portion still insoluble treated with ether and with carbon
bisulphide. Results were obtained similar to those in
Analyses I. and II. The alcoholic liquid from which the
papayotin had been filtered was treated with a spirituous
solution of acetate of lead and examined.

Analysis IV. — 50 grams of milk were several times
extracted with warm water, the filtered watery solution
evaporated by a gentle heat to a syrupy consistence, and
after cooling and again filtering precipitated with absolute
alcohol and the precipitate dried over chloride of calcium.
The papayotin weighed 2T52 grams, but was slightly
greyish-white.

Analysis V. — Some milk was completely exhausted with
cold and wrarm distilled water, the solution precipitated
with tribasic acetate of lead, and the filtered liquid
examined. The white lead precipitate was suspended in
water and freed from lead by sulphuretted hydrogen ; it
was then divided into two portions, one of which was
precipitated at once with alcohol, the other evaporated to
the consistence of a syrup and then precipitated. The
results were similar, except that the papayotin precipi¬
tated without evaporation was somewhat whiter than the
other. The yield was 3*530 per cent.

In 100 grams of fresh fruit milk I found the following
substances : —

Caoutchouc-like Substance . .

Wax-like Fatty Substance . .

Soft Resin .

Light Brown Resin .

Albumenoid Substance ....

Papayotin (average) .

Extractive Matter (with disagree¬
able taste) .

Extractive Matter (containing

sugar) .

Organic Acid (Malic) . . . .

Pectic Substance and Inorganic

Salts .

Moisture .

4 525 grams.
2-424 „

0T10 gram.

2 '776 grams.
0-006 gram.

5 "303 grams.

1"283 gram.

1-059

0-443

99

7*100 grams.
74-971 „

Analysis VI. — Milk from the Stem. — The stem yields
extremely little milky juice at any time, but this milk
has more consistence than that from the fruit and re¬
sembles cream. With much trouble I obtained 13 grams
of milk, which was shaken with distilled water and fil¬

tered ; the dried resinous residue, containing caoutchouc,
weighed 1-430 gram.

The aqueous solution treated with absolute alcohol in
the manner already described and the precipitate dried
over chloride of calcium, gave 0'515 gram of shining
white papayotin, or equal to 3"961 grams. The al¬
coholic liquid yielded 0‘580 gram of extractive matter,
etc.

These are the results which up to that time (1868) I
had obtained with the Carica Papaya. But as I now
hoped to obtain the papayotin in larger quantities, in
order to use it therapeutically, before closing this paper I
made some experiments with fresh leaves and green fruit,
in order to prepare this product in an easier way than
from the milk which is so troublesome to collect.

Analysis VII. — Green Leaves. — 1400 grams of fresh
leaves bruised to a paste in a marble mortar, and pressed
in a small hydraulic press, yielded 460 grams of dark-
green juice, or equal to 33 per cent. The juice was
treated with absolute alcohol until no more turbidity was
produced, allowed to settle and filtered. The precipitate,
containing chlorophyll, was well washed with alcohol and
allowed to drain completely, then again exhausted with
cold distilled water. A sample of the filtered liquid gave
immediately upon precipitation with alcohol a mass of
dirty impure papayotin. The aqueous solution was there¬
fore treated with tribasic acetate of lead as long as a
precipitate was produced, the precipitate separated, well
washed with water on a filter, suspended in water and
freed from lead by sulphuretted hydrogen, filtered and the
colourless liquid evaporated at a temperature of about
50° to about one-half, filtered and precipitated with
absolute alcohol. The precipitate separated and dried
over chloride of calcium gave 0'550 gram of snow-white
papayotin : equal to 0T17 per cent.

Analysis VIII. — Unripe Fruit. — Three green fruits,
freed from seeds, weighed 1550 grams. When rubbed to
a paste upon a fine iron grater and pressed they gave
730 grams of juice, which was filtered and precipitated
-with absolute alcohol; the precipitate was redissolved in a
little water and again precipitated. The precipitate
collected upon a filter and dried over chloride of calcium
gave 1-820 grams of white papayotin, or 0T17 per cent.

In the preparation of papayotin the use of strong
heating is to be avoided, in order to obtain a good looking
and active product. It should not be dried by means of
heat ; even in the air it often forms upon the filter a mass,
and this happens especially when heat has been used
in the preparation. Drying over chloride of calcium is
therefore recommended.

Neutral acetate of lead does not completely precipitate
papayotin, and the tribasic acetate of lead is preferable.
The precipitate ought not to remain too long in the
alcoholic liquid, or the papayotin will partially form a

smeary mass.

From the different modes of preparation the following
quantities of papayotin were obtained from 100 grams of
material : —

I. Milky juice* of fruit, with cold ether 7*848 grams of

papayotin.

II. Milky juice of fruit, with warm ether 5*338 grams, of

parapayotin.

III. Milky juice of fruit, with cold water, 3-762 grams

of papayotin.

IV. Milky juice of fruit, with warm water, 4*304 grams
of papayotin.

V. Milky juice of fruit, with warm water and lead,

3-540 grams of papayotin.

VI. Milky juice of stem, with cold water, 3' 961 grams
of papayotin.

VII. Fresh leaves, with cold water, 0-039 gram of
papayotin.

Juice of leaves, with cold water, 0*119 gram of papa¬
yotin.

VIII. Green fruit, with cold water, 0*117 gram of
papayotin.

November is, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

385

Juice of green fruit, with cold water, 0‘249 gram
of papayotin.

The finest papayotin I obtained according to Nos. I.
and JII., and from the milk from the stem. The papa¬
yotin prepared from the leaves almost equalled these, as
did that from the fruit juice. Notwithstanding the small
yield, the preparation from the leaves is the most advan¬
tageous, because the alcohol can be recovered and used
for other purposes, whilst the leaves are to be obtained
without cost in large quantities. Subsequent experiments
have also made probable the utility of the extract from
the alcoholic liquid.

I have now taken up the subject afresh, in order to
examine more completely the fruit, leaves (fresh and dry),
and stem bark, and shall possibly make some more thera¬
peutic experiments.

Papayotin forms an amorphous snow-white non -hygro¬
scopic powder, without smell, sweetish, faintly saline,
astringent, but almost tasteless. Upon platinum foil it
burns to ash with a peculiar smell. It is insoluble in
ether, alcohol, chloroform, petroleum spirit, as well as in
volatile and fatty oils. In glycerine and in water it
dissolves readily. The aqueous solution lathers wrhen
shaken similarly to a saponin solution, has an acid reac¬
tion, and becomes turbid after twenty-four hours.

An aqueous solution gave the following reactions : —
With alcohol, acetate of lead, mercuric chloride, tannic
acid and solution of carbonate of soda, a white precipi¬
tate. With silver nitrate a white turbidity, immediately
becoming yellow; after twelve hours the precipitate is
deep yellow, and the liquid brown. Chloride of sodium
gives no reaction, but with alcohol a precipitate. Per-
chloride of iron after standing some time gave traces of a
yellow precipitate. Solution of iodine a light brown
precipitate. Phosphoric acid, only after standing twenty-
four hours, a white precipitate. Commercial potash and
soda also gave a precipitate, only after a long time ; less
time was required by ammonia. With acetic acid, lactic
acid, cupric sulphate and iodide of potassium no reaction.
Trommer’s sugar test coloured it a beautiful violet-blue,
which after boiling became red-violet; there was, how¬
ever, no reduction of cuprous oxide. With starch it
gave no reaction, and ' no sugar reaction when boiled
with starch. With fat oils it gave no reaction, even after
continued boiling together.

The dried papayotin behaves towards reagents as
follows : — It does not dissolve in acetic acid either cold
or when heated, or even when diluted with an equal
volume of water, and it behaves similarly towards lactic
acid. In ammonia it is insoluble, and becomes coloured
yellowish after some time; in potash and soda ley it is
also insoluble, becoming brown. In nitric, as well as in
li3Tdrochloric acid, it gives a clear solution in which
water produces no change and alcohol no precipitation.
In sulphuric acid it does not dissolve, but is coloured
yellowish. In phosphoric acid it is insoluble, but is dis¬
solved upon the addition of water.

0-28 gram of papayotin, No. III., dissolved in water
and mixed with 0‘2 gram of roasted meat in a test-
glass, disintegrated the meat in two minutes to a
pulp, and at the end of ten minutes had perfectly dis¬
solved it without the use of heat.

Papayotin, No. VI., from the milky juice of the stem,
and No VIII., from the juice of the fruit, behaved with
equal activity. Papayotin, No. 1, behaved similarly, but
required in the cold fifteen minutes for solution, as did
also No. VII. from the leaves.

1*3 gram of papayotin, No. IV., was dissolved in water
and mixed with 0’8 gram of roasted flesh. Only after
twenty minutes the flesh formed a pulp, and after three-
quarters of an hour a partial solution ; with the aid of a
gentle warmth it still required ten minutes for a perfect
solution. Papayotin, No. V., behaved similarly.

0‘7 grams of the sub-dance I have named “ parapapa-
yotin ” (No. 3) were added to 0*4 grams of cooked flesh.
Although after about twenty-five minutes the flesh had

become disintegrated to a pulp, no solution was effected
even when heat was applied.

Papayotin prepared by direct precipitation from the
watery solution by alcohol is the most active and dissolves
an equal weight of flesh and albumen. On the other
hand, papayotin in the preparation of which the smallest
amount of heat has been used is much weaker.

The most powerful preparation I have yet obtained
was one in which the milk was allowed to drop from the
fruit into glycerine. The glycerine appears to retard
the decomposition of the milk and to diminish the trouble¬
some gelatinization ; the papayotin is also precipitated
whiter and there is a larger yield. The glycerine solution
keeps very well, and I have frequently used it thera¬
peutically, as the amount of papayotin in the milk can
always be calculated more or less approximately. I have
used it many times in ailments of the stomach where
pepsine was indicated with good results. When I did
not use the glycerine solution I gave the dried papayotin
in doses of 0'2 to 0'25 gram at each meal-time.

Coagulation of Milk. — Messrs. Gehe and Co., having
obtained from me some Carica Papaya milk, noticed
especially the property it has of curdiing animal milk
immediately, which induced me to make the following
experiments : —

Some drops of milky juice falling direct from the fruit
into a glass of unboiled cow’s milk coagulated the milk
only after a quarter of an hour.

The aqueous concentrated and filtered solution of the
fruit milk dropped into cow’s milk caused immediate
coagulation.

Concentrated solution of papayotin added to milk
coagulated only after an hour.

Boiled cow’s milk behaved similarly.

For the sake of comparison experiments were made
with the milky juices of other Brazilian plants which I
had at my disposal in my garden ; for instance : Euphor¬
bia antiquorum, L., E. cereiformis, L., E. hypericifolia, L.,
E. brasiliensis, L., E. pulchcrrima , Willd., Ficus repens ,
Curcas multi fida, Endl., Artocarpus incisa, L. fil., and
A. integrifolia, L.

Generally, the milky juices having an acid reaction
coagulated cow’s milk similarly to that of Carica Papaya
the milky juices having a neutral reaction effecting coagu¬
lation only after a longer time. An exception was the
clear water-like juice of Curcas multifida, which reddens
litmus paper strongly, but does not truly coagulate milk,
the milk forming after mixing a thick cream -like fluid,
as if the casein were in concentrated solution. Even
after twelve hours there was no separation of serum ; a
small quantity of clear watery liquid passed through fine
filter paper, and the residue formed on the filter a white
butter-like substance, which in the air dried to an odour¬
less white pulverizable mass.

Uses of Carica Papaya. — The ripe fruit is eaten raw
and with sugar, similarly to melon, or made into a con¬
fection with sugar and lemon juice and boiled for jam.
The unripe fruit is peeled, freed from seeds, well washed,
finely grated and boiled with sugar to a pulp. It is also
cut into pieces and preserved with hot vinegar like
gherkins.

In the province of S. Paulo a syrup is made by boiling
the juice expressed from ripe fruit with sugar, which has
a reputation as a sedative and expectorant. Dose, a table¬
spoonful every two hours. The milky juice taken inter¬
nally is said to cause intestinal inflammation; but it is
given in small doses against worms, especially ascarides,
where an aqueous solution is to be preferred, and I have
used it with extraordinary results.

Used externally for spots and as a wash for freckles it
is said to make the skin smooth and delicate.

The pungent cress-lilce tasting seeds are also used as a
vermifuge.

The fresh leaves have been used by the Indians since
unknown times to wrap flesh in, in order to make it
savory and tender. Further they are used as a washing

38G

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 15, 187*.

material in the purification of linen, and a paste as a
poultice for unclean wounds. The leaf-stalks are used as
pipe stems and the bast for cord.

The root has a nauseous stale radish-like taste. I have
not yet examined this certainly interesting part of the
plant.

DRUG SMOKING.

BY REGINALD E. THOMPSON, M.D.

The following remarks and formulae are extracted from
a paper on “The Therapeutical Value of Drug Smoking,”
especially in reference to asthma, which appeared in the
Practitioner for August : —

The chief difficulty in treating an individual case of
asthma arises from individual peculiarities, which makes
the choice of the appropriate neurotic a matter rather of
hap hazard selection, numerous experiments being some¬
times necessary before an indication is obtained as to the
special drug required; one drug will have a so-called
magical effect in one case which may prove inert when
used in another, and hence in endeavouring to meet the
exigencies of a number of individuals it becomes necessary
to combine a number of remedies, and such a combination
of drugs becomes more universal in its application in
proportion to its complexity, the chance of its proving
effectual in any individual case being greatly enhanced by
such a composition.

It is a matter of some difficulty to analyse with any
certainty those mixtures of vegetable and other substances
which are sold as remedies for asthma, but an examination
of them shows conclusively that they are composite,
different leaves being found on submitting any sample
to microscopucal analysis ; some of them contain opium,
others do not ; most of them contain lobelia, and it may
be stated with some certainty that all of them have
stramonium for their basis.

If such remedies are tried in a number of cases it is
surprising how one remedy at one time appears to be of
the greatest service, another at another time ; much
depends, doubtless, upon the method of preparation and
preservation, and upon the care with which the drugs
are selected, and the best secret remedy I know (Himrod’s)
is evidently well prepared and preserved, the leaves of
which it is composed being fresh and green.

Remedies for asthma are supplied in three forms : a
powder which is burnt and the fumes of which are in¬
haled, cigarettes composed of tobacco combined with
various drugs, or of paper dipped in a solution of the
drugs.

The best method of preparing drugs for the powder
form of remedy appears to me to be this: the leaves of
the vegetables used should be procured in good condition
and perfectly fresh ; they should then be soaked in a
solution of nitre (25 per cent.), and the leaves then dried
by gentle heat and powdered. I have made use of the
various neurotics in this manner in asthma, first sepa¬
rately, in order to ascertain the individual value of the
remedy, and then in combination, and the experiments
have now been carried on for many months, and I am
disposed to place them in the following order of merit : —

Opium.

Stramonium.

Cannabis Ir.dica.

Oonium.

Lobelia.

The three first on the list appear to be the most potent
by fumigation, but when administered in the wet method
(if I may use the term) cannabis indica is so uncertain
and so apt to produce delirium, especially in women, that
I pre'er conium, a drug from which I have obtained
extremely good results when administered by the
mouth.

With belladonna I could not satisfy myself that any
good results were to be obtained by fumigation, and I
consider it far inferior to those given above in whatever
way it is administered.

The powder may be used by those patients who are
not accustomed or object to smoking cigarettes, or it may
be added to the tobacco of those who prefer the use of
the pipe.

As regards the composition of the powder, I have had
good results from gr. ix. of stramonium and gr. i. of
cannabis indica, this being a quantity, which will cover a
shilling, sufficient for one fumigation.

But if the patient does not object to smoking, I much
prefer to administer the remedies in the form described in
my previous paper, namely, paper cigarettes impregnated
with tinctures so that the dose may be accurately appor¬
tioned.

It will be understood that in suggesting remedies which
serve to alleviate the spasmodic dyspnoea of asthma I do
not consider that they constitute a mode of treatment
calculated to improve the general condition of the
patient, or that they are more than palliatives of an
urgent symptom: constitutional treatment by ferru¬
ginous tonics and cod- liver oil, or it may be by iodide of
potassium or arsenic, must be resorted to, if it be intended
to give the asthmatic patient permanent relief from dis¬
tressing disease. With acute conditions of the disease,
with bronchial complications of such a nature as to
contra-indicate the use of iron, there is probably no
treatment better for a majority of cases than the use of
iodide of potassium with stramonium; in many cases
of like character I have derived very good results from
the administration of hemlock in combination with the
liypophospliite of soda, but for the prevention of the
disease I know no treatment to compare with iron and
cod-liver oil.

But for soothing and diminishing the dyspnoea, neui’O-
tics may be used with great effect, and the following
combination is that which, up to this time, has given me
the best results.

The same form of cigarette is used as described in
my former contribution on this subject, and the paper is
soaked in the following drugs according to the recipe here

given : —

Extract of opium .

. gr.

1

6 4

Extract of stramonium . . .

. gr.

l

75

Tincture of Indian hemp . .

. m

i-

Tincture of hemlock ....

. til

15.

Tincture of lobelia ....

. HI

1y-

Tincture of tobacco ....

. ill

9.

Oil of anise .

. ttl

1

8 •

Nitre .

i.

Or for a sheet of Swedish paper sufficient to make sixty-
four cigarettes the formula may be given thus

Tincturse tabaci . .

. . . 7> x.

Tincturss conii . . .

. . . 3ij.

Tincturse lobelise . .

. . . 3 ij.

Tincturse cannabis Ind

. . . itl xxxij

Extract, opii . .

Extract, stramonii

. .. . gr. ij.

Olei anisi .

. . . itl viij.

Potassse nitratis

. . . gr. xvi.

Spir. v. r .

This formula, which is a complex one, has only been
obtained from repeated experiments, leading step by step
to the addition of some effective remedy, and to the
elimination of less effectual drugs.

As it is sometimes desirable not to give opium or
Indian hemp, 1 have had cigarettes made with stramonium
and lobelia only ; so that altogether I have three different
kinds for use : opium cigarettes containing a small quan¬
tity of opium and stramonium; a compound opiated
cigarette containing the drugs given in the formula above,
and a stramonium cigarette without opium.

November 15, 1879]. THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

387

CALOMEL AND CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE.*

Much has been said and -written about the decom¬
position of calomel in such compounds as pills, powders
and mixtures. We have been told that bichloride of
mercury can be formed if calomel is mixed in the dry
state with sugar, bicarbonate of sodium, sugar of milk,
when such compounds are kept for months, or in less
time in aqueous mixtures containing magnesia or bicar¬
bonate of sodium. Others, again, have told us that
experiments and researches had shown that in such com¬
pounds no bichloride was formed even after a long time.

What in most cases has been overlooked by the latter
writers is the effect of the atmosphere.

The atmosphere in drug stores contains very often
vapour of ammonia, etc., and may in one corner of the
store be more moist or contain more fumes of ammonia,
etc., than at other corners or sections of the room, and such
vapours and gases may, under certain circumstances and
when least suspected, affect compounds containing calomel.

Suppose a glass-stoppered bottle, containing a prepara¬
tion of calomel, is opened for the purpose of dispensing
Boine of its contents, air will be admitted into the bottle,
and if such air is contaminated with ammonia, nitrous
acid, ozone, etc., these gases will be brought into contact
with the calomel.

Dr. II. Hager gives his opinion and the rules for
keeping preparations containing calomel in the following;

“ Calomel should be kept in well closed glass or porce¬
lain vessels, protected against the light. Neutral or
acidulous aqueous mixtures containing calomel should
not be kept longer than one week. The presence of
bichloride of mercury in powders of sugar and calomel
has been proved after such powders had been kept for a
longer time. Most vegetable substances show a more or
less acidulous reaction, and therefore offer so much the
greater a chance for the formation of corrosive sublimate.

“ In trying to prove by experiments that no corrosive
sublimate had been formed in such cases as above referred
to, all the circumstances and the effect of the atmosphere
have not been taken into consideration.

“ It is unquestionable that prudence requires calomel
in composition with organic substances to be kept no
longer than one week, or such compounds kept longer
than one week not to be dispensed.

“ The transformation of calomel into corrosive sub¬
limate will in dry compounds be restrained by the
presence of carbonate of lime or carbonate of magnesia.”

These rules should be observed and adhered to, but
above all, attention should be paid to the preparing of pow¬
ders and pills containing calomel or corrosive sublimate.

In making these pills a prolonged contact of the mass
with iron vessels or spatulas should as much as possible
be avoided. Too often such masses are left too long in
an iron mortar, or in so-called porcelain-lined dishes,
which are so defective that the porcelain lining is worse
than none, if the lining ever was porcelain. Dishes and
iron kettles are found too often to be lined with lead
compositions instead of porcelain.

If the mass is beaten in a porcelain mortar, attention
should be"1 given to the spatula and the pill -cutting
machine.

If calomel pills are divided with cutting plates of brass,
just brightly polished, the calomel on the outside of the
pill will always be decomposed, as every one can see on
pills made of a white mass of calomel ; black oxide of
mercury and an amalgam of mercury with the metals of
the brass being formed. The formation of black oxide
of mercury on the outside of pills can be avoided to a
great extent if no brightly polished brass cutting plates
are used. The brass cutting plates should not be polished
with any polishing powder ; a good washing with water,
or, if resinous substances are adhering to the brass, a
washing with alcohol and a rubbing with a piece of cloth
only, should be given.

* From thO'Drugg ists’ Circular and Chemical Gazette ,

October, 1879.

It is evident that in pills which have not been dried
out well the decomposition of calomel will proceed more
rapidly than in such as have been perfectly dried. A
carefully prepared pill, containing calomel, if perfectly
free from moisture and properly protected by an outside
coating against light and the action of the atmosphere
and then enclosed in well corked bottles, may be as good
after months as when first made.

If calomel powders are mixed in a porcelain mortar
care should be taken not to use a spatula of iron or of
steel which has not been properly tempered, for if the
steel is too soft black stripes can be seen in the mortar
where the soft iron or steel passed along, forming black
oxide of mercury and metallic mercury in the calomel.

If pills of corrosive sublimate have to be made, too
much care cannot be exercised in the selection of the
utensils used for their preparing. A porcelain mortar
and a horn spatula should be employed, and such pills
should be divided on cutting plates made of wood or
horn, and not used for any other but corrosive sublimate
pills. It is a common thing to see a pill mass of corro¬
sive sublimate scraped together with a steel spatula and
cut on a brass cutting machine, or cut into pills on a
porcelain or glass pill tile with a steel spatula. In all
these cases black oxide of mercury aud the metal itself
can be seen on the steel and brass. Separate horn
spatulas are the best for making calomel powders and
pills, as well as pills of corrosive sublimate.

The decomposition of calomel has been deemed of such
an importance that the eminent Dr. FI. Hager has re¬
peatedly written about it. We have quoted above from
an article written by him in reference to calomel, and
concluding these remarks we invite the earnest attention
of all pharmaceutists to the matter.

Jolly has shown that corrosive sublimate was formed
in a dry compound of calomel with sugar containing
traces of lime. Vulpius found corrosive sublimate in a
dry compound of calomel with carbonate of sodium and
sugar of milk, and especially in compounds of cane sugar
and bicarbonate of sodium, also in aqueous mixtures of
the same. These researches prove that the atmosphere
of a drug store, contaminated with ammonia and other
gases, will not be indifferent to compounds of calomel,
and the daily experience of the dispensing pharmaceutists
shows that iron and brass should not be brought into
contact with masses and compounds of corrosive sub¬
limate or calomel.

FOLIA CAROBIE.*

The Pharmaceutical Zeitung, Bunzlan, Berlin, publishe
the following communication by Dr. Ottokar Alt, Ham¬
burg : —

My attention was first called to this drug by Mr.
Camillo Weber, licensed apothecary of Leipzig, Rio de
Janeiro and Montevideo, who is now engaged in business
in Hamburg. During liis sixteen years’ residence in
Brazil and South America he has seen the carobae em¬
ployed by the resident physicians in the various forms of
syphilis with the happiest results, and he induced J. von
der Heide, apothecary of this city, to introduce it here
(Hamburg). In my large practice I had ample oppor¬
tunity to employ it, and I am so extremely well satisfied
with the results that I take the liberty of calling the
attention of my colleagues to this comparatively new
drug. The results of the employment of the drug were
favourable in all the forms of syphilis, but they were
really surprising in old syphilitic eruptions, and with
patients who had taken large quantities of mercury.

In cases which were accompanied by pains in the
limbs the carobse was borne well with an addition of
iodide of potassium. In Brazil the carobte is considered
one of the best alteratives, diuretics and sudor ifics, with
most extraordinary tonic properties.

I will add a few words about the leaves. The drug

* New Preparations , reprinted from the Pharmacist for
October, 1879.

388

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. November 15, 187

which is known as corabae comes from Brazil, and con¬
sists of long, ovate leaves, dark green above and light
green beneath, and strongly veined.

The leaves are derived from a tree, which, according
to Sprengel, is the Jacaranda procera, and belongs to
the family of Biynoniacece. It attains a height of thirty
to forty feet ; its root is externally of a dark red, in¬
ternally of a whitish-yellow colour ; its stem is consider¬
ably branched ; the flowers are red and white in beautiful
terminal cymes and have an agreeable lioney-like flavour;
the fruit is a woody bivalved capsule, containing several
winged seeds. The aborigines of Brazil, and more
particularly their medicine men (called Curanderos),
have long known the beneficial effects of this tree, and
finally the attention of Brazilian physicians was called
to it. Joan Alves de Canerio, an eminent physician,
submitted it to the Academy of Medicine at Paris, upon
which it was taken up in the Materia Medica. The
various and elaborate experiments made by Drs. Oarron
de Villard, Bompani, Santo, Barros Pimental, and by
Messrs. Level, Spicks and Martins (the latter of whom
has given the tree the name of Cybistas AntisyphUitica),
have been crowned with the most complete success. It
was also found that the carobse produces appetite : it was
first given in the form of a decoction, 8 grams of leaves
to 360 grams decoction pro die. Syphilitic ulcers were
sprinkled with the powder of the leaves or painted with
a concentrated extract. Diseases of the skin were treated
by lotions or baths with simultaneous internal applica¬
tions. I owe these communications to the above named
Mr. C. Weber, who was called upon by Drs. Santo,
Barros Pimental and Bompani to make a preparation,
that would keep and obviate the tedious manipulation of
making an infusion. He thereupon made an aqueous
alcoholic extract which was free from all inert matter
likely to ferment ; the preparation, which keeps well,
contains in fifteen grams one half gram soluble extract
matter. The small addition of alcohol gives it a pleasant,
wine-like taste.

This extract is everywhere well received, and is also
prepared here (in Hamburg). The dose is a tablespoonful
three times a day in water.

NICOTINE AND NICOTINIC ACID.*

BY R. LAIBLIN.

The following modification of Schloesing’s process for
preparing nicotine is recommended : — Coarsely-cut tobacco
is digested for a day with cold water, and the mixture
subsequently boiled by injection of superheated steam,
filtered, and the residue pressed. The same series of
operations is repeated, and the mixed filtrates are
evaporated to one-third of their volume. A quantity of
lime, one-tenth of the weight of the tobacco used, is now
added, and the mixture distilled by a current of steam as
long as nicotine (recognized by its odour) comes over. The
distillate is exactly neutralized by oxalic acid, the amount
used being noted, and evaporated to a thin syrup. The
exact amount of potash necessary to neutralize the oxalic
acid is now added, and the crude nicotine which separates
is collected. The remaining liquid is exhausted with
ether, and the nicotine thus extracted added to that first
obtained. That portion of the crude base which distils
over below 250° is converted into oxalate by adding
powdered oxalic acid to its ethereal solution ; and the
purified oxalate, which separates as a syrup, after being
washed with ether, is disolved in water and again decom¬
posed with potash as above. The product is finally heated
to 110° for six hours by a paraffin-bath, and a slow stream
of dry hydrogen passed through it to remove ammonia,
ether, and water. The temperature is then gradually
raised to 210° to complete the removal of the water, and
on fractionally distilling the residue, pure nicotine comes
over between 240 — 242°. It must be preserved in sealed

* Liebig's Annalen, 129 — 182. Keprinted from tde

Journal of the Chemical Society, October, 1879.

tubes. One centner of tobacco thus treated yielded 600
grams of pure nicotine ( = 1£ per cent.), besides impure
base.

Nicotine is not decomposed into well-defined simpler
bodies by heating with hydrochloric acid at 280 — 300°.
No addition product is formed by the action of nascent
hydrogen on the brominated hydrobromide, C10H13N2Br5.

Nicotine is readily oxidized by potassium permanganate
in the cold, but only when the salt is added to its solution
as long as it is decolorized is it possible to obtain crystal¬
line oxidation-products. By employing a suitable process,
which is fully described, potassium carbonate and nicotin-
ate are the sole products found. The nicotinate is dis¬
solved out by absolute alcohol, and converted into silver
salt by precipitation. Nicotinic acid may be obtained
from this by decomposing it with hydrogen sulphide.

Nicotinic acid was first obtained by Huber, by oxidizing
nicotine with chromic mixture, and was subsequently
recognized by him as carbopyridenic acid, C5H4N.COOH
(. Ber ., 3, 849). Weidel also ( Annalen , 165, 328), by
acting on nicotine with nitric acid, obtained an acid which
he identified with Huber’s and which the author, by a
crystallographic comparison of salts, proves to be identical
with his own ; he, however, assigned to it the formula
C10H8N2O3. By analyses of the acid and a variety of its
salts (silver, calcium, potassium) and other compounds
with hydrochloric acid and auric and platinic chlorides,
the author decides in favour of Huber’s formula. He
also shows that when nicotinic acid is distilled with soda-
lime, it yields a quantity of pyridene nearly equal to that
which might be expected from a carbopyridenic acid.
Moreover, nicotine yields carbopyridenic acid in almost
molecular proportion.

Nicotinic acid forms crystalline compounds with hydro¬
chloric and hydrobromic acids, of the formula,
C6H5N02.HC1 and C6H5N02HBr.

Ethyl cblorocarbonate acts violently on pyridene, but
does not form ethyl nicotinate ; the only products are
ethyl chloride, ethyl carbonate, and pyridene hydro¬
chloride. Neither is ethyl nicotinate formed by acting
with ethyl iodide on silver nicotinate. When the com¬
pound of nicotinic chloride with hydrochloric acid (see
below) is treated with absolute alcohol, a violent action
occurs, and the product evaporated in a desiccator deposits
crystals of nicotinic acid hydrochloride. The mother
liquor from these crystals gives with caustic soda an oily
liquid, probably containing the ether, which no doubt
existed in combination with hydrochloric acid.

If nicotinic acid, or better, potassium nicotinate, is
treated with phosphorus pentachloride, energetic action
ensues, and a volatile crystalline compound sublimes, the
analysis of which corresponds approximately with the
formula C5H4N.C0C1.HC1. This chloride is insoluble in
ether, chloroform, benzene, and petroleum-ether. When
heated with water it is reconverted into nicotinic acid ;
but no amide could be formed from it by the action of
ammonia.

When the double chloride of zinc and nicotine,

C10HuN2.2HCl + ZnCl2 + 4H2O,
is distilled with soda-lime, a large quantity of gas is given
off, containing ammonia, methylamine, free hydrogen,
and traces of hydrocarbons. The liquid distillate consists
principally of nicotine, but contains also a considerable
quantity of pyrrol, which was separated by fractional
distillation, and analysed as the cadmium double salt. By
carefully adding water to the fraction 245 — 270°, con¬
taining much nicotine, an oily liquid was separated,
which, when dissolved in hydrochloric acid and fractionally
precipitated by platinic chloride gave a carmine-red easily
decomposable double salt, (C10HnN.HCl)2.PtCl4. The
free base is a yellowish liquid of extremely penetrating
and repulsive odour, boiling between 250 — 270°. The
smallest quantity of it, dissolved in hydrochloric acid,
gives an intensely red solution when boiled with platinic
chloride. It is probably formed from nicotine by the direct
separation of ammonia, C10H14N2-NH3=O10HuN.

November 15, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

389

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1879.

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

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

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

COUNSEL’S OPINION ON THE INTERPRETATION
OF THE DENTAL ACT.

The evident signs of party feeling manifested in
the letters relating to the subject of “ Registration
under the Dental Act ” render the encouragement
of any further discussion of this subject as undesir¬
able as it is, we think, unnecessary for the purpose
of proving that the registration of chemists and
druggists who had been in the habit of extracting
teeth was but a wise precautionary measure for pre¬
venting their being interfered with for so doing after
the Act came into force. Some addition, however,
has lately been made to the opinions expressed on
the provisions of the Act which it will be desirable
to place before our readers for their information.

The British Dental Association hase submitted to
an eminent legal authority certain questions re¬
specting some sections of the Act, and by the
courtesy of Mr. James Smith Turner, the Honorary
Secretary of that Association, we have been fur¬
nished with a copy of the answers to these questions.
Perhaps the opinion which is of most import for
consideration is the one to the effect that “the
occasional performance of one class of dental opera¬
tions, such as the extraction of teeth, does not
constitute bona fide practice of dentistry.” In regard
to this opinion we would remark that it distinctly
avoids the point of most importance in its bearing
upon the claim of chemists and druggists to be
registered under the Act, and this, we think, is shown
by the use of the word we have italicized. The
claim of chemists and druggists to registration was
urged not upon the ground that they “ occasionally ”
extracted teeth, but because they had habitually
carried on that practice as part of their business.
In doing so, they acted as “ dentists,” and having
regard to the unquestionable object of the Dental
Bill to restrict the practice of dentistry, there was
good reason to apprehend the practice of extracting
teeth by chemists and druggists might have been
interfered with, if they did not become registered.

It is a mistake to suppose that the chemists and
druggists so engaged ever offered any opposition to
the Dental Bill : the fact is they merely claimed a
recognition of their rights as having been engaged
in the bond fide practice of dentistry long before the
Bill was introduced into Parliament, and it was to

provide such a recognition that the amendment
relating to the practice of dentistry in conjunction
with pharmacy was introduced into the Bill.

Chemists and druggists do not as a rule seek to
compete with those dentists who claim to be perfect
because they carry out all the mechanical and con¬
structive operations connected with the art which in
their opinion alone makes it worthy to be termed
“ dentistry.” Some chemists and druggists may do
even this much, however, with credit to themselves
as well as satisfaction to others, but the great ma¬
jority have little to do with the art of supplementing
dental deficiencies, and they are essentially dentists
only in the popular sense of extracting or stopping
the teeth which have been acquired in the ordinary
course of nature.

Another of the legal opinions given in reply to
the questions of the British Dental Association is
to the effect that a person, who — being at the passing
of the Act engaged in the practice of dentistry, and
also in some business not mentioned in the Act —
declared himself to have been engaged in the prac¬
tice of dentistry separately, is liable to have his
name erased from the Register. That is to say he
would, accoiding to this opinion, be held to have
obtained registration improperly. If, therefore, the
amendment relating to the practice of dentistry in
conjunction with pharmacy had not been made part
of the Act, a person engaged in the business of a
chemist and druggist could not have obtained regis¬
tration and with that the right to call himself
“ dentist,” however much his practice of dentisty
had conformed to the standard of perfection which
some now seek to maintain is alone worthy of recog¬
nition.

It seems therefore evident that chemists and
druggists who at the time of the passing of the
Dental Act were engaged either in the extraction
of natural teeth or the provision of artificial ones
were right in their apprehension that this part of
their business might be interfered with by the pro¬
visions of the Act, if they did not obtain the registra¬
tion that would admit of their continuing to call
themselves dentists as they had previously done.
The action taken with that object was merely a
reasonable protection of rights that had been obtained
by usage, and that were on that account entitled to
respect, notwithstanding any reasons there might be
for regarding the organization of the dental art as
desirable so far as the future was concerned. Nor
can we, apart from these considerations, conceive it
possible to have any more thorough justification of
the course taken in this matter by the Council of
the Pharmaceutical Society on behalf of chemists
and druggists than the above-mentioned opinion of
counsel on the interpretation of the Act. In saying
this much we do not at all desire it to be inferred
that we sympathize with persons who may have ob¬
tained registration as dentists by improperly repre¬
senting their connection with pharmacy in a manner

390

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 16, 1SV9

that will not bear the test of Iona fides ; but it is the
business of the Registrar under the Act to deal with
such cases according to their merits.

INSPECTION OF APOTHECARIES’ WEIGHTS AND

MEASURES.

Our readers will probably have noticed that at
the last meeting of the Council the President drew
attention to a Government paper describing the de¬
nomination, shape and material of local standards
of apothecaries’ weights and measures. The fact that

PETROLEUM TESTING.

We have received some inquiries respecting the
new form of test and apparatus for testing the in¬
flammability of petroleum, in accordance with the
new Act that is to come into force on January 1,
1880, but are not yet able to give any information
on the subject inasmuch as we find that the state¬
ment made in a note ajrpended to the Act, that “a
model apparatus is deposited at the Weights and
Measures Department of the Board of Trade,”* does
not yet represent the fact indicated, but w*e have

tliis paper has been issued will suffice to indicate

that progress is being made towards carrying out | been promised information that will enable us very
the provisions of the new Act in regard to the in¬
spection of apothecaries’ weights and measures used
in pharmacy, and that before long it may be ex¬
pected the local inspectors will be at work subjecting
chemists and druggists’ weights and measures to
examination. It is therefore advisable that attention
should be at once given to this matter in order to
avoid liability under the 25th section of the Act,
which provides that every person who has in his
possession for use for trade any weight, measure,
scale, balance, steelyard or weighing machine which

soon to satisfy the requirements of our correspon¬
dents. _

PROVISION FOR ORPHANS.

At the last meeting of the Council it was decided,
on the recommendation of the Benevolent Fund
Committee, to render assistance in securing the
election of Hugh Peter Victor Wiggin for ad¬
mission to the London Orphan Asylum, Watford, in
January next. This child is one of five left unpro¬
vided for through the death of Mr. John Wiggin,

Pharmaceutical Chemist, of Ipswich, who was more
is false or unjust shall be liable to a fine of £5, and I than thirty years a member of the Pharmaceutical

in the case of a second offence to a fine of ,£10.

Society. Another case is that of Edward William

In the paper now issued by the Government, di- Hall, who seeks admission to the British Orphan
rections are given by which local authorities will be Asylum, Slough. This child is one of four left
enabled at once to obtain the standards requisite for unprovided for by Mr. Frederick George. Hall,

' I L a a a. ▼ v-v vi I rv v w l“v ri. v% A. y-v I ' l~v n w. V i- n w yj

testing and verifying weights and measures, and in
our next issue we purpose giving a statement of the
chief points of these directions, with wood cuts illus¬
trating the several standards, and any other informa¬
tion that can be obtained on the subject. It is also
intended that at the next Evening Meeting of the
Society in December a set of standard weights and
measures shall be placed upon the table to show the
mode in which the verifications of weights and
measures is to be carried out in practice.

We have reason to believe that in some instances
the weights and graduated measures sold for pharma
ceutical purposes are far from being so correct as
they should be, even when new, and consequently it
may readily happen that serious inconvenience and
annoyance might arise if such weights and measures

who was formerly in business as a Chemist and
Druggist at Brompton. Subscribers and others
willing to assist the Council in securing the election
of these children are requested to send proxies to
the Secretary, Mr. Elias Bremridge, 17, Blooms¬
bury Square, W.C.

MUNICIPAL HONOURS.

Among the gentlemen who have been elected to
the honourable office of Mayor for the municipal
year just commenced, we notice the names of Mr.
W illiam Ballard, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Abing¬
don, Mr. Charles W. Jones, Pharmaceutical Che¬
mist, Carmarthen, and Mr. Herbert J. Orchard,
Local Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society,
Newport, Isle of Wight.

THE MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The opening meeting of the session will be held

came^uiider the examination of the inspectors’ under I on Wednesday next, November 19, when an address

J- I Tin I I ha r ahiraT»arl hir t ha I 'hm vm o a at r h a I ’ann ai

the Act. We cannot therefore too strongly urge
uoon chemists and druggists the necessity of pro¬
tecting themselves in this respect by giving im¬
mediate attention to the verification of their weights
and measures. The duty of providing means for
such verification belongs to the local authorities of
every county and borough, by whom also times and
places are to be appointed when the inspectors are to
attend for the purpose of verifying and stamping
weights and measures sent to them for the purpose.
In regard to this function of the local authorities, it
is provided by section 29 of the Act that any person
who uses, or has in his possession for use in trade,
any measure or weight not stamped as required shall
be liable to a fine of £5.

will be delivered by the Chairman of the Council,
Lord Alfred S. Churchill. At the ensuing meet¬
ing, the unsavory, but important subject of London
sewage will be dealt with by Major-General Scott.
On December 3, “ Scientific and Unscientific Ap¬
prenticeship ” will be the subject of a paper by Mr.
Thompson, Professor of Applied Physics at Uni¬
versity College, Bristol. Among the subjects likely
to be of interest to our readers that will be brought
forward at the meetings after Christmas, we may
mention “ Domestic Poisons,” “ Gas Furnaces and
Pottery Kilns,” “Utilization of Slag” and “Explosive
Agents.” The first course of Cantor lectures is to
be given by Dr. C. Graham, on the “ Chemistry of
Bread and Bread Making ; ” the second course by
Mr. Bolas, on the “ Manufacture of India Rubber
and Gutta Percha.”

* See Pharm. Journ ante, p. 199.

November 15, 1879.J the PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND T KaN S ACTIONS.

391

f

I

§i;ouim[ial ©ransantions.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The third general meeting of the thirty-first session was
held at the Royal Institution on November 6. The Presi¬
dent, Mr. Charles Symes, Ph.D., in the chair. The
minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
The following donations were announced : — The current
number of the Pharmaceutical Journal, from the Society,
the A nalyst, from the editor, and the ‘Registers of Phar¬
maceutical Chemists and Chemists and Druggists ’ from
the Pharmaceutical Society. The President announced
the purchase of the following books for the library : —
Roscoe and Schorlemmer’s ‘ Inorganic Chemistry,’ in 3
vols., Schorlemmer’s ‘ Organic Chemistry,’ in 1 vol. Mr.
J. M. Carter was elected an Associate.

The President announced that arrangements were in
progress for holding the associated soirke of the literary,
scientific and art societies of Liverpool, in St. George’s
Hall, on Wednesday, December 10, next, and requested
members to assist as much as possible in the collection of
objects of interest for exhibition on the occasion.

The Vice-President, Mr. A. II. Mason, F.C.S., ex¬
hibited a specimen of vincetoxicum root (Asclepias
vincetoxicum), which had been taken from a bale of
senega root, and was used on the continent as an
adulterant of senega, hellebore and valerian roots. He
said that good western senega root as imported from
America was not adulterated, but some roots which were
shipped to London from Brussels last year were found to
be adulterated with this substance. A most interesting
paper had been written by Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S.,
entitled, “An Adulteration of Senega,” published in the
Pharmaceutical Journal, November 9, 1878.

Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S., F.I.C., made a most
interesting communication on “ A Proposed Popular
Milk Test,” to which attention had been called by Mr. J.
Hallawell, at the previous meeting. The communication
gave rise to a somewhat prolonged discussion, in which
the President, Messrs. Abraham, Hallawell and Mason
took part.

1 The President then called upon Mr. A. H. Mason,
F.C.S., to read the paper for the evening, on —

Thymol and Menthol.

BY ALFRED HENRY MASON, F.C.S.

My interest in the subject of this paper has arisen from
the following circumstance : — Menthol was required, and
an order sent to two of the leading manufacturers of
pharmaceutical chemicals in London for some ; one
supplied a liquid, the other a crystalline substance.
Which was correct ? To an abrupt question, What is
menthol? I received the following reply: Menthol is
the crystalline principle of oil of peppermint as thymol is
of oil of thyme. And such is a natural reply, though not
correct. Thymol is of interest to the members of this
Association from the fact that a sample was first
exhibited in this country at the meeting of the Pharma¬
ceutical Conference in Liverpool, 1870, by one of our
honorary members, Mr. H. Sugden Evans; and secondly,
from the fact that the source of the thymol of commerce,
which is the fruit of Ptychotis Ajowan, comes to our
market.

A full description of this fruit is given in Fliickiger
and Hanbury’s * Pharmacographia ; (page 269), but the
following information supplied by the exporter to the
broker here may be of present interest : —

“ Ajowan seed comes principally from the Ahmebabad,
but also from above the ghauts Khaudish, etc. The
ordinary crop amounts to about 2000 candies, that is,
6000 cwts., but last year’s crop was deficient, amounting
in all to not more than 2400 cwts. The seed arrives in
the Bombay market in February and March; it possesses
an aromatic smell, and rather a warm, pungent taste, and

Burjorjee informs us that it is an excellent remedy for
flatulent colic.”

In confirmation of this statement, I refer you to a
paragraph in the Pharmaceutical Journal, February 22,
1879, page 694.

“Some reports appear to have gained currency in
Germany that the rdle of thymol is nearly played out.
But these are met by Messrs. Metzner and Otto in their
‘ Berickt, ’ by the statements that during the months of
September and October, 1878, their house alone sent out
more than a ton of it, that the works are occupied day
and night in its preparation, and that the demand for
thymol and thymol wadding is greater than ever. This
firm appears to use the seeds of Ptychotis Ajowan as the
source of thymol, but they state that they have advices
that not only has the price of these seeds advanced
through a bad harvest, but also by the increased con¬
sumption of them in India by the natives during the very
sickly season of last year.”

According to Watts: — Thymol (C10H14O), thymylic
hydrate, thymylic alcohol, thymylic acid, camphor or
stearoptene of thyme oil, is the oxygenated constituent of
thyme oil, isomeric with cymylic alcohol, and homologous
with phenol. It was first obtained from thyme oil by
Doveri, and afterwards examined more particularly by
Lallemand ; it appears to be identical with the stearop¬
tene of the volatile oil of horse mint ( Monarda punctata),
which was examined by Arppe, and with that of the oil
of Ptychotis Ajowan, an East Indian umbelliferous plant,
examined by Stenhouse, also by Haines. Thymol is
obtained from these sources by fractional distillation and
recrystallization from alcohol.

From Oil of Thyme. — Thymol crystallizes in rliom-
boidal plates with angles 97° 30', striated parallel to the
lateral faces and often aggregated into irregular six-sided
tables. From oil of Ptychotis Ajowan it crystallizes (ac¬
cording to Miller) in rhombohedral crystals, from alcoholic
solution in thin plates, which appear monoclinic in
consequence of the great development of rhomboidal
faces.

Thymol has a mild odour, which (according to Lalle¬
mand), is quite distinct from that of thyme oil, and an
aromatic peppery taste. In the solid state it is some¬
what heavier than water ; specific gravity, 1 ’0285 ; in
the liquid state rather lighter. It does not act on
polarized light. Its melting point is variously stated.
According to Lallemand it melts at 44° to a colourless
liquid, and remains fluid for a long time after cooling,
but if pare it solidifies immediately when touched by a
solid body. According to Arppe it melts at 48°, and
does not solidify till cooled to 27°. Thymol from ajowan
melts according to Haines at 53° ; according to Stenhouse
at 44°. Thymol from thyme boils at 230° (Doveri and
Lallemand), from ajowan at 222° (Stenhouse). Thymol
dissolves in about 300 parts of water, easily in alcohol,
ether and strong acetic acid, and is not precipitated from
the alcoholic solution by water. It is not altered by
aqueous ammonia, but takes up a large . quantity of
gaseous ammonia, becoming liquid, but resolidifying after
the ammonia has escaped. It dissolves in aqueous
potash and soda, forming compounds which are soluble in
water and in alcohol, but are very unstable, being de¬
composed by acids, even by carbonic acid of the air, with
separation of thymol.

In the Journal of the Chemical Society, vol. xvii., there
is published an elaborate paper by Dr. Gladstone, in
which he reports his examination of the physical and
chemical properties of different essential oils. Of thyme,
he says, “ This oil from Thymus SerpyUum is deep red in
colour. The specimen examined was principally com¬
posed of a hydrocarbon, like that of turpentine. It
contained little, if any, of the thymol, G2<)H140, which
has been described by Doveri and Lallemand as occurring
in this essential oil. The hydrocarbon has been named
thymene.”

Of mint, he says, “Mentha viridis yields this oil, which

392

.THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 15, 1879.

was found to contain a hydrocarbon almost identical with
oil of turpentine in odour and other physical properties,
mixed with an oxidized oil, to which is due the peculiar
smell of the plant. It boils at 225? ; sp. gravity 9 575,
[? 0*95753 ; and it was found to be isomeric with carvol ; it
should therefore by analogy be called menthol.” He
makes the following note : — “ Dr. Oppenheim has sug¬
gested this as one of the new names of camphor of
peppermint, but the other name, mentholic alcohol, is
more consonant with his theory.” In concluding this
paper, Dr. Gladstone says, “ that his observations on the
oxidized oils are reserved for a future occasion.” This
communication was made eight years afterwards and is
published in the Journal of the Chemical Society , vol. xxv.
He states that he is indebted to Mr. Hanbury for some
criticisms on his former paper, which relate to the plants
from which the oils are derived ; amongst others he
states that the wild thyme of our heaths, Thymus Ser-
pillum, gives an essential oil, but the oil of thyme of
commerce is from Thymus vulgaris. Under the heading
“ Carvol and its Isomerides,” he states, “in my previous
paper it was stated that the oils of spearmint and nutmeg
contain oxidized liquids which appear to isomerides of
carvol, the principle which gives its peculiar flavour to
the oil of caraway. They were named respectively
menthol and myristicol. These had been submitted to a
fuller investigation, and it was found that oil of dill also
yields a substance isomeric, or perhaps identical with
ordinary carvol.”

There are two ways in which these oxidized oils may
be separated ; either by fractional distillation, which
must always be an imperfect method, or by taking ad¬
vantage of the fact that they form crystalline bodies
with hydrosulphuric acid, which can be easily purified,
and which yield the original oil when decomposed by an
alkali. The oil from nutmeg, however, was found not to
form such a compound.

The following are the physical properties of the sub¬
stances above mentioned. Menthol 1 was prepared by
fractional distillation. Menthol 2 was prepared from the
hydrosulphuric compound.

Substance.

i

Boil¬

ing

point.

Sped

fic

gravity
at 20°C.

Befrac-

tive

index A
at 26° C.

Disper¬

sion.

Sensi¬

tive¬

ness.

Re-

frac¬

tion

equiv¬

alent-

Arcu-

lar

polari¬

zation

Carvol

221 0

0'9530

1-4886

0-0H45

46

51-26

+ 145°

Dill Carvol

—

0-9562

l-4t>91

0-0333

45

51-15

+ 10S°

Menthol 1

225°

0-9515

1-4039

0-0326

44

50-86

— 103°

Menthol 2

252°

0-9394

1J79I

0 0311

42

51-00

-114°

Myristicol

224°

0 9466

1-4 <48

0-0312

46

15-20

+31°

Menthol. — This compound has the very characteristic
odour of spearmint, totally different from that of carvol,
and it retains the same odour when it has been repro¬
duced from the hydrosulphate.

A combustion was made, agreeing with the formula
Ci0Hi4O, vapour density, 5‘29. As the composition of
the hydrosulphates seemed to be identical, yet yielding a
different oil on treatment with alkali, their relative
solubility in ether was examined.

At 23° one part of the hydrosulphate from the three
sources required the following amount of ether to dis¬
solve it —

From Caraway . . . . 226 parts.

„ Dill . 279 „

,, Spearmint . . . 216 ,,

From the foregoing it will be evident that the physical
properties are almost identical, and there can be little
doubt they are isomeric.

It will be noted that the menthol referred to was
obtained from spearmint and is a liquid ; it is therefore
assumed from a chemical point of view, that if a scientific
chemist requires menthol, the liquid C^H^O should' be
supplied.

Peppermint Camphor. — Gmelin does not mention the
word menthol, he calls it stearoptene of peppermint oil —
solid peppermint oil. Oil of peppermint obtained by
distilling Mentha piperita with water deposits on standing,
or when cooled to — 20°, crystals of peppermint camphor.
American peppermint oil solidifies at 0° (Dumas) ; when
it is subjected to fractional distillation, the last third of the
distillate, if collected apart, deposits crystals on standing.
Properties — Transparent, colourless, shining prisms, melts
at 36"5 Dumas ; 27° Blamchet and Sell ; 34° Walter.
Volatilizes without decomposition ; solidifies at 24° ;
boiling point, 208°, Blanchett and Sell ; 213° Walter ;
vapour density equals 5"62 Walter ; formula C10H20O2.

Respecting menthol from peppermint, Hanbury writes,

‘ Pharmacographia ’ (page 270): — “When oil of pepper¬
mint is cooled to 4° C. it sometimes deposits colourless
hexagonal crystals of peppermint camphor, C10H18 + H2O
called also menthol. This camphor (the deposit of which
in the oil we have not observed) boils at 210° C. and
possesses the odour of crude oil ; it deviates the ray of
polarized light to the left. The proportion of oils of
different origin is very variable. Pure crystallized
menthol is sometimes found in commerce under the name
of Chinese oil of peppermint. It is distilled at Canton
from a plant which appears to be Mentha arvensis.” (Mr.
Holmes, Pharmaceutical Journal, September 13, 1879,
p. 201, disputes this statement.) “ The oil was exported
from Canton in 1872, to the extent of 800 pounds; it was
valued at 80s. per pound.” (A specimen of this was pre¬
sented to our museum at that time by Messrs. Cyriax
and Farries, of London.) With this substance was sent
over a bottle of liquid oil, and a most exhaustive report
was made upon these by Mr. John Moss, F.C.S. ( Phar¬
maceutical Journal, 3rd series, vol v. p. 366 ; see also
‘Year-Book of Pharmacy,’ 1875, p. 198).

In 1862 Oppenheim made a communication to the
Chemical Society on this substance, and specimens which
came over from Japan about that time were found to be
adulterated with 10 to 20 per cent, of sulphate of mag¬
nesia. I am indebted to Messrs. Morson and Son for the
specimen exhibited, they having retained a portion of
the original importation referred to.

Peppermint camphor is but slightly soluble in water,
but imparts to that liquid a strong smell and taste. It is
very soluble in alcohol, ether, sulphide of carbon and
oils, both fixed and volatile, insoluble in aqueous alkalies.

Peppermint camphor is an alcohol containing the
radicle C10HJ9 (menthy) ; it is homologenous with allylic
alcohol C3H6U, and isologous with campholic alcohol, or
camphol C10H18O ( i.e ., differs from the latter body by
2 at H) ; hence the names menthy lie or mentholic alcohol
and menthol applied to it.

Bearing in mind the reply I received to the question
“ What is menthol ?” my conclusions from the foregoing
are as follows : —

Menthol (C10H14O) is the oxidized oil of mint obtained
from different varieties of the plant, each having a distinct
flavour. Menthol camphor (C10H20O) is a crystalline
principle obtained from Japanese and Chinese oil of
peppermint, variety undetermined. Thymol (C10H14O)
is a crystalline body obtained from the oil of Ptychotis
Ajowan. I have tried to obtain a sample of thymol
guaranteed to be obtained from oil of thyme, but without
success. The fact is that true oil of thyme yields so
little to potash that it does not pay to make it from that
source commercially.

In naming the stearoptene of Japanese peppermint a
camphor there is an obvious objection, because it forms
compound ethers with acids, and must obviously be an
alcohol or body more analogous to phenol than camphor.

As the notice of medical practitioners has been called
to this substance from a paragraph published in the
Lancet, June 7, 1879, page 822, its repetition will be of
some interest, as follows : — “ Menthol a new antiseptic.
Menthol, or peppermint camphcr, is * crystalline b >dy
deposited from Chinese oil of pep]- ermint on exposure to

.November 15, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

393

oold. It is met with in the form of small colourless
fragrant prismatic crystals, not unlike sulphate of mag¬
nesia. In fact, when first imported from Japan some
twenty years ago, it was for some time suspected to be
nothing but epsom salts flavoured with peppermint. It
is now known to have a definite chemical composition,
and to be the camphor or stearoptene of peppermint oil.”
j After describing the physical properties I have previously
stated, the writer proceeds : — “ From a series of expei’i-
J ments recently undertaken by Mr. Archibald Duncan, a
student in the University of Edinburgh, it would appear
that it is possessed of antiseptic properties similar to
those of its homologue, thymol. At present it can hardly
be regarded as a commercial article; but it could be
readily imported from Japan, and there is no reason to
suppose that its price would be prohibited. {Note. — There
are at the present time four cases for sale in the London
market; probable price 10s. or 12s. per pound.) An im¬
pure sample sent over from Canton in 1872 was valued
at 30s. per pound. {Note. — This is an obvious error, since
Mr. Moss and all who reported upon this consignment
testify to its purity.) We are not aware that it has been
used in therapeutics ; but strong oil of peppermint painted
over the part has long been a favourite mode of treatment
in China for gout and neuralgia, and it might prove useful
in these complaints. The Japanese po-ho-yo, or neuralgic
remedy, probably contains menthol.”

A few years ago my brother-in-law brought with him
from China some bottles of this po-ho-yo, which he said
was used out there as a specific for headaches, and as he
happened to call when I was prostrate with a severe
nervous headache he insisted upon anointing my forehead
with this magic liquid. I immediately experienced an
agreeable burning sensation and perceived a powerful
odour of peppermint, fell asleep and awoke minus the
headache. When I smelt this liquid menthol I fancied
I recognized my old restorative, and I should not hesi¬
tate to apply it (of course diluted) should occasion
require. •

I exhibit a bottle of liquid commonly sold in Paris
aud Vienna as Gouttes Japonaises, or po-ho ; it is put up
in these little bottles especially for the Japanese market,
Chinese oil being preferred by the Japanese to their own.
The circulars, in character, which accompany each bottle,
set forth its virtues. It is mentioned by Christison as
j po-ho-yo.

Whatever source they are from, Chinese and Japanese
have a more decided effect than either the English or
American oils ; the latter do not relieve neuralgia to the
same extent.

Menthol camphor has for some time been used by
dentists for dental cases (see Practitioner for November,
1877, page 383). Mr. Macdonald recommends it for
sciatica and neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia particularly
(see Lancet , vol. ii., 1879, page 448). He used a solution
1 in 60, adding a little oil of cloves. This solution is
being prescribed in London, and also of varying strength
up to 1 in 10 spirit of wine, according to the require¬
ments of the case.

A little menthol camphor was put into a carious tooth,
from which the patient was suffering great pain ; this it
relieved at once, but for some time afterwards the patient
was so elated that she appeared as though she had had a
little of something else.

It appears to be a powerful diffusible stimulant.

Records of its internal administration are not published,
but experiments have been made to test its efficacy in
conjunction with thymol.

Thymol is acknowledged to be an antiseptic of value
to the practitioner, and is employed in the form of oint¬
ment combined with vaseline, and also combined with
rectified spirit and glycerine for nasal douches and
gargles, it is intensely caustic, and unless freely diluted,
say 1 part to 4000, it is irritating when administered
internally.

The introduction of these substances into medical
practice at the present time naturally gives the study of

the composition of essential oils an additional interest.
Whilst it is admitted that phenol is an invaluable anti¬
septic, its poisonous and irritating properties are such
that the practitioner naturally looks for something more
agreeable as a substitute, and since the recent investi¬
gations of scientific chemists have shown that nature’s
hygiene provides such substitutes, we may naturally look
to some of these substances which are isomeric.

I desire to acknowlege my obligations to Mr. Mar-
tindale, of London (who has given considerable attention
to the study of menthol), for his valuable information in
connection with this substance, and to Mr. Williams and
Mr. Taubman for assistance (without prejudice) in work¬
ing out the conclusions I have arrived at in this paper.

An animated discussion followed, which proved the
existence of different opinions concerning the nature and
physical properties of menthol.

A hearty vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. Conroy and
seconded by Mr. Davies, was accorded Mr. Mason for
his valuable paper, and the meeting closed.

. EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The second meeting of the session was held in the
Pharmaceutical Society’s rooms, 119a, George Street, on
the evening of Wednesday, November 5, Mr. Robertson,
Vice-President, in the chair. There were about forty
members present.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and
adopted, the chairman called upon Mr. Maben to read a
paper on ‘‘French Pharmacy.”

Mr. Maben first sketched the regulations existing in
France as to the sale of drugs and poisons, dispensing of
prescriptions, registration of pharmaciens, inspection of
pharmacies, etc., and compared these with the laws of
our country, the advantage not always being on the side
of the latter. He gave a short account of the curriculum
of study, and of the examinations required, before a
candidate can receive a diploma. Referring to the
metric system of weights and measures, the essayist
thought that the government had made a mistake in
again legalizing the apothecaries’ weights, arguing that
the time had come when the decimal weights and
measures should be adopted. Mr. Maben then passed
rapidly under review the French Codex, noticing briefly
some of its more distinctive characteristics. Worthy of
admiration as the Codex was, it would be much more
appreciated, he thought, if it contained a half fewer
formulae, and if all the more ridiculously complex pre¬
parations, examples of which he cited, were omitted.

The paper was criticized by Messrs. Aitken, Henry
and Fisher, and on the motion of the chairman a hearty
vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Maben.

The report of the “ Shorter Hours ” Committee was
then read, and after an animated discussion thereon it
was resolved to continue the Committee, with power to
add to their number.

On the motion of Mr. Robertson, seconded by Mr.
Fisher, it was resolved to offer to the apprentice members
of the Association a prize, value 10s. 6c7., for the best
essay on a given subject ; the subject to be fixed by
the Committee, and intimated at next meeting.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The opening meeting of the session was held in
Anderson’s College, on Wednesday, November 5, Mr. A.
Kinninmont,:F.C.S., presiding.

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been

394

THE rHARMACEUTlCAIi JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. tNovember 1%

read and adopted, tlie President gave a short address
on —

Some Points of Pharmaceutical Ethics.

He said that he did not intend to discuss the whole
question ' of pharmaceutical ethics, as that had been so
well done by Mr. Ince in the J ournal many years ago,
but he would say a few words on the relation that some¬
times exists between the physician and chemist and
druggist. He was of the opinion that there was nothing
morally wrong in a physician sending his prescriptions to
a particular dispenser if there was no monetary value
passed between both, but the public and the trade some¬
times thought that the physician reaped a golden harvest
from every prescription sent to his favourite dispenser,
apart from his professional fee, or he would not be so
very eager to impress upon the patient the necessity to
send the prescription to his particular shop. With
reference to private formulae to be had only at certain
shops, he said the chemist was not entitled to give the
formula when asked for unless he thought proper to do
so, but he had always found the chemist willing to give to
his brother in trade the made up material at wholesale
rate, so that it allowed the dispenser of it his profit just
the same as if he had made it up with the ingredients
himself. The speaker then touched upon the retention of
the prescription by the patient, and said that he always
considered the prescription was by right’the patient’s and
not the dispenser’s, although the American druggists
thought different, for they took possession of the pre¬
scription and pasted it into a book, and if the patient
wished a copy of it they would give it to him. As to
repeats of prescriptions he thought if any patient wished
his prescription renewed again and again, the pharmacist
had no right to refuse it, although it might prevent some
fees from going to the physician. Mr. Kinninmont
closed his remarks by saying that some of the points
touched upon caused in Glasgow some time ago some
amount of acrimonious feeling to exist among a great
number of dispensing chemists in the city, but from the
remarks of the various members he was glad to hear that
a good amount of it had disappeared.

After his address, Messrs. Brodie, Clarke, Simpson,
Hunter and others, discussed some of the remarks, but
they agreed pretty well with the President’s ideas
respecting the subjects touched upon by him.

Mr, Maltman was then elected Treasurer in room of
Mr. Hick, who was leaving Glasgow.

On the table were placed the new books that had
been bought since last session, along with three volumes
of New Remedies, presented by the President; and after
the election of members, the usual vote of thanks to
the President brought the meeting to a close.

Crowding!! of $ oqietUs.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
November 6, Mr. Warren De La Rue, F.R.S., President,
in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting was read and con¬
firmed.

A list of presents to the library were read, and the
thanks of the Society voted to the respective donors.

The following certificates were read for the first time : —
G. S. Albright, W. J. E. Churchouse, M. Cochrane, W.
R. Dunstan, J. J. Hummel, E. Hughes, T. S. Humpidge,
E. Hatton, A. Leibius, R. Jones, II E. Morley, H. New¬
ton, J. Parette, G. Stallard, J. M. Wilson.

The President announced that the Council had ex¬
pended about £300 in purchasing books for reference
and circulation; he invited Eellows to offer suggestions
as to the purchase of new books and the general improve¬
ment of the circulating library.

The Secretary then read a paper by C. O’Sullivan —
On the Transformation Products of Starch. — This paper
was originally presented to the President of the Socidttj
Chimique de Paris, on June 18; extracts therefrom were
read on July 4 ; but as the bye-laws of the Council ex¬
clude papers longer than eight printed pages, the author
thought it desirable to bring the communication before
the Society, especially as it appeared from papers pub¬
lished by MM. Musculus and Gruber that these chemists
were, to a great extent, unacquainted with the previous
work of the author. The author commences by re-assert¬
ing that the molecule of starch under the influence of
malt extract splits up in one of four ways : —

(C). C72H120O60 + H2O

Maltose.

a — Dextrin.

Ci2H220i1 + Cfi0H100O50.

ft Dextrin 1.

(B). C72H130O60 + 2H20 = 2C12H22On + L^HggOjQ.

ft Dextiin II.

(B'). C72H120O60 + 3 rl20 zr 3C12H22On + U}6II60O.j0.

(A). C72H120O

60

+ 4H„0 = 4C

12

U-22^11 d-

ft Dextrin HI.

^24^40^20*

Other proportions of maltose and dextrin have been ob¬
served, but these are due to either the splitting up of the
starch, partially according to one equation and partially
according to one or more others, or to the further action
of the active agents of malt extract on the dextrin first
produced. The proportions of maltose and dextrin repre¬
sented by the equation of MM. Musculus and Gruber
belong to the latter class. These chemists confirm the
author’s work as far as it relates to maltose, but have
made a serious error (about 2 per cent.) in calculating the
specific rotatory power, as they have taken 220 mm. of a
1 per cent, solution of maltose to give a deviation of 13*5
divisions on the scale of the Soleil-Duboscq instrument ;
this number should be 13‘75. MM. Musculus and
Gruber point out at least three dextrins with different
optical activities and cupric oxide reducing powers. The
author declares the existence of four distinct dextrins to
be highly probable ; but states that all, when pure, have
the same optical activity, but that none are reducing
bodies. Soluble starch has the same optical activity as
the dextrins, but like them does not reduce when pure.
The author then gives details of the preparations and
properties of soluble starch and the various dextrins,
criticizing the statements and methods of MM. Musculus
and Gruber, as well as the various products obtained by
them. In the second part the author investigates the
action of malt extract on the transformed products. At
first sight it would seem probable that the starch molecule
breaks down first into maltose and a dextrin. The latter
is then converted into maltose and ft dextrin I., which in
its turn forms maltose and ft dextrin II., etc. The author
has made many experiments to elucidate this question,
and finds that the above theory, viz., the breaking down
of the starch molecule into dextrin molecules, which be¬
come smaller at each step, is not supported by all the
facts. Continual work with these bodies has forced the
author to the conclusion that they are not a series of
polymers, but rather a series of bodies of the same
molecular weight, in which the difference in their be¬
haviour must be accounted for by a difference of relation
in the arrangement of the molecules to one another, pro¬
bably in solution alone. We may take it, continues the
author, that the molecule of soluble starch, or the dextrin,
giving a purple with iodine, is simply O12H20O10, but
that these molecules in solution are arranged in groups
of six sixes, all the groups being in an intimate state of
tension one with another, so that the motion affecting
one under certain conditions affects all under the same
condition. In conclusion, the author states that the
theory of splitting up and breaking down of the starch
molecule as represented by the equations, does not hold
all the facts eliminated, and is not in accord with some of
them. The theory, on the other hand, of the arrange-

November 15, i*T9.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS.

395

ment of the molecules in groups all dependent one on the
other, and capable therefore of undergoing a simultaneous
movement, and the re-arrangement of these groups at¬
tendant upon the hydration of a definite proportion of
the molecules in each of them, holds all the facts at
present known, and is in perfect accord with all of them.
The author is still engaged on the chemistry of the sub¬
ject, but points out that the physics ought now to be
studied, and the heat absorbed or eliminated during the
different transformations determined ; thus some idea of
the character of the apparent work done will be gained.
Dr. Armstrong then read a note on —

The Formulce of the Carbohydrates. — The simplest car¬
bohydrates — dextroglucose and its isomerides — are closely
related to mannite and dulcite, as shown by their con¬
version into one or other of these alcohols by the action
of nascent hydrogen, and therefore they are derivatives
of the paraffin, normal hexane. Of the three possible
formulae which may be assigned to a body formed from
mannite or dulcite by the abstraction of two atoms of
hydrogen, that which represents glucose as being both
an aldehyde and a penthydric alcohol,

CH2(OH),CH(OH)CH(OH)CH(OH)CH(OH)COH,
appears to be the most probable, as it is the only one
which accounts for the formation of saccharic or mucic
acids from it on oxidation. The carbohydrates of the
cane sugar group are probably related to the glucoses in
the same way that ordinary ether is related to ethyl
alcohol ; moreover, it appears most probable that the
simplest carbohydrate of the empirical formula C6H10O5,
i.e., dextrin, and if several exist, the lowest of them,
bears a similar relation to the carbohydrates of the cane
sugar group, and therefore has the formula C24H40O20.
Suppposing starch to be a body of highly complex
formula, the author is inclined to prefer this hypothesis
to that advanced by O’Sullivan. There is very little
doubt that it bears an altogether different relation to the
lower carbohydrates ; most probably the relation is of
the character of that which obtains between aldehyde
and its polymerides; i.e., the groups composing the starch
molecule are partly held together by the COH groups,
these groups being rendered capable of thus acting by
their conversion into HC — O — groups. On this hypo¬
thesis a number of C6H10O5 polymerides, of varying
molecular weight, may be conceived to be capable of
existing, and bodies such as inulin, glycogen, etc., are
not improbable by intermediate terms in such a series.
The fact that the dextrins obtained by the decomposition
of starch under various conditions are very similar in
their properties is not so difficult to reconcile with this
hypothesis, if it be assumed, as appears probable, that
the polymerization and formation of higher terms in the
series are attended with the expenditure of only a small
amount of energy: in this case the polymerides would
not, probably, differ greatly from each other in properties.
It may be argued that as cane sugar and the dextrins
are not cupric oxide-reducing bodies, it cannot be assumed
that they contain the group COH in their formulae ;
probably, however, the power of reducing cupric salts
is in no way connected with the presence of COH groups.
In conclusion, the author considers that there is little
doubt that our present theory of isomerism is insufficient
and incapable of explaining the isomerism of mannite
with dulcite and of the glucoses with one another. The
Le Bel hypothesis appears at first sight to be applicable,
but there is much evidence tending to show that this
hypothesis does not furnish the entire solution of the
problem.

The next paper was read by the Secretary — -
On a New Method of Determining Sulphur in Coal.
By Teikichi Nakamura, of the Engineering College,
Tdkid. — The author criticizes the methods generally
used : the nitric acid and potassium chlorate method, the
potassium hydrate method, and the method of fusion
with alkaline carbonates and nitre, and he finds them all
more or less inaccurate or inconvenient. He recommends

the following procedure : 3 or 4 parts of the mixed alkali
carbonates or of sodium carbonate are intimately mixed
with 1 part of coal in very fine powder in a large
platinum dish. The mixture is heated at first very
gently, a spirit lamp being used, to prevent possible
absorption of sulphur, instead of a Bunsen ; the heat is
then raised slowly without attaining that of visible
redness until the surface becomes only faintly grey. No
smoke or odorous gases should escape during the whole
of the oxidation. The temperature is now raised to a
faintly red heat for sixty minutes, at the end of which
time the mass is perfectly white, or reddish if iron be
present. The mass is not to be stirred during the
ignition. The residue is treated with water, filtered and
the sulphates determined in the ordinary way. The
author quotes some results obtained by his process. To
the paper is appended a note by Dr. Divers, stating
that the above process was worked out some time
before the Chemical News of January 17 was received,
which contains a somewhat similar process by Mr.
Pattinson, who estimates the sulphur by heating a mix¬
ture of coal and calcium hydrate in a muffle.

At the conclusion of this paper Dr. Gilbert took the
chair.

The next paper was read by the Secretary on—

The Bromine Derivatives of /3 Naphthol. By A. J.
Smith. — The author prepared /3 monobromnaphthol by
adding to a tolerably concentrated solution of /3 napthol
in glacial acetic acid the theoretical amount of bromine
mixed with an equal volume of glacial acetic acid ; the
bromine is added drop by drop and the mixture kept
cool. On standing, colourless needles with an adamantine
lustre crystallize out. These were purified and analysed.
(3 monobromnaphthol is soluble in alcohol, ether, and
benzene, melts at 84° C.; begins to decompose at 130°;
when oxidized by alkaline permanganate it yields or-
thophthallic acid. The author prepared (3 tetrabrom-
naphthol in a similar way; on oxidation it yielded
monobromophthallic acid. In conclusion the author dis¬
cusses the bearing of his results on the constitution of
these bodies.

The next paper was read by the Secretary —

Notes on the Dissociation of Ammonia Iron A lum. By
J. S. Thomson. — When a dilute neutral solution of a
ferric salt is heated it dissociates, and a basic salt is pre¬
cipitated. This basic salt is readily soluble in dilute
sulphuric acid ; if an acid of known strength be em¬
ployed and the quantity necessary to bring about the
desired solution be known, an insight into the nature of
the decomposition can be arrived at. The author refers
to the previous work of Krecke, Wiedemann, Tichborne,
Naumann and others. Several series of experiments
were made. Taking the mean of these, the quantity of
sulphuric acid required to prevent dissociation, for each
addition of 10 c.c. of water after 50 c.c., when ammonium
iron alum equal to 01 grm. EeQ03 is used was found to
be 0'0186 grm.; if 0T5 grm. Fe203 be used, the quan¬
tity of H2S04 was 0’02479 grm.; the addition of sulphate
of ammonia equal to 0‘05 ammonia necessitates an addi¬
tional quantity of sulphuric acid equal to 0‘05005 grm.
Ammonia salts exert this influence when present as
double salts, ammonia alumina alum and the double
sulphates of ammonia and magnesia and of ammonia and
zinc were used. Potash salts exert a still more powerful
influence in promoting dissociation. A solution of
ammonia iron alum containing more than 1 grm. in
14‘37 c.c. does not dissociate on boiling ; the dissociation
begins in more dilute solutions and increases regularly,
as the above results prove, with each addition of water

The next paper was read by the Secretary on —

a Methyl Oxysuccinic Acid, the product of the action of
Anhydrous Hydrocyanic Acid upon Aceto-acetic Ether.
By G. H. Morris — Demargay ( Compt . Rend., 82, 337)
has described an acid, obtained as above, under the name
of oxypyro tartaric acid, as an unstable uncry stallizable
syrup, whose barium salt is decomposed by boiling with

396

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 15, 1879.

excess of water. The author at the suggestion of Wisli-
cenus has prepared the body according to the directions
of Demargay. The thick brown syrup thus obtained was
purified by solution in water, precipitated with lead acetate,
the lead salt treated with sulphuretted hydrogen, the solu¬
tion filtered, evaporated, and treated with ether, until
finally, theethcreal solution after standing a fewdays in the
air-pump vacuum deposited the pure acid in star-like
groups of needles, deliquescent and melting at 108°. The
following salts were prepared and analysed: — the barium
salt, which when pure did not decompose on boiling with
water ; the calcium, potassium, silver, lead and copper
salts, most of which are deliquescent. The author has
investigated the action of fuming hydriodic acid, and the
products of the dry distillation of the acid. In conclu¬
sion, he discusses the constitution of some of the isomers
of a methyloxysuccinic acid and assigns the following
formulae : —

and

Citramalic acid

Itamalic acid

( ch3

) CHCOOH
) CHOH
( COOH

( ch2oh

) CHCOOH
) CHo
( COOH

a

Methyloxysuccinic acid

ch3

COHCOOH

CH,,

COOH

The next paper was read by the Secretary on —

The Action of Phosgene on Ammonia. By H. J. H.
Fenton. — When these gases are mixed a white neutral
amorphous substance is produced, which has been shown
by Regnault and others to consist of ammonium chloride,
a substance identical or isomorphous with urea, and
in addition small quantities of guanidine, cyanuric acid,
etc. (Bouchardat). The author prepared some quantity
of this white substance and obtained a small quantity of
guanidine, which he identified by its crystalline form,
and some urea which was identical with ordinary urea in
its behaviour with hypochlorites and hypobromites
( Journ . Chem. Soc., July, 1878), and in other respects.
The author concludes that either carbamide and urea are
identical, or that symmetrical carbamide has not been
obtained by this method.

The next paper was read by the Secretary on —

The Rehydration of Dehydrated Metallic Oxides. By
C. E. Cross. — The author has obtained various anhydrous
basic metallic oxides by igniting the precipitated hydrates.
These oxides he exposed at the ordinary temperature to
an atmosphere saturated with aqueous vapour ; rehy¬
dration occurs up to a definite limit of a molecular
character, attended in most cases with a change of volume,
He has investigated thus the oxides of aluminium, chro¬
mium, cobalt, iron and copper.

The following paper was taken as read —

On Alizarin Blue. By G-. Auerbach. — About eighteen
months since, a blue colouring matter was brought into
the market as a substitute for indigo ; it is now disused
on account of its high price and its unstable nature when
exposed to sunlight. The researches contained in this
paper were finished in May, 1878. The author gives a
resume of previous work on the subject, and recommends
the following method of preparation-: — 1 part of dry
mononitroalizarin, 5 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid
and 1^ parts of glycerin (specific gravity 1‘262), are
mixed and heated gently. Reaction commences at 107°
C., becomes violent, the temperature rising to 200° C. ;
much frothing takes place, with evolution of sulphurous
acid and acrolein. The whole mass, when frothing has
subsided, is poured into water, boiled up and filtered, the
residue being boiled out three or four times with dilute
sulphuric acid. The mixed filtrates are allowed to cool,
and the blue separates in brown crystals. These are

purified by mixing with water and adding borax till the
solution becomes brownish violet, the blue with the boric
acid forming an insoluble compound. This residue is
washed, decomposed with an acid, and the pure blue
obtained as a violet silky paste. If required perfectly
pure, it must be crystallized successively from its various
solvents, high boiling naphtha, amylic alcohol and glacial
acetic acid. When pure, it forms brown shining needles,
meltingat2G8°-270°; it hasthe formula C17H11N04. Salts
were prepared and analysed, but the results were not
satisfactory, as it was difficult to obtain them quite pure.
Bromine derivatives were also prepared and examined.
The action of chlorine, zinc dust, acetic anhydride, etc.,
have also been studied. The author discusses the con¬
stitution of the blue and thinks it must be closely related
to the aldehydines discovered by Ladenberg, which are
formed when aromatic orthodiamides act upon alde¬
hydes.

The Society then adjourned to November 20, when the
following papers will be read : — A Chemical Study of
Vegetable Albinism, Part II. : Respiration and Trans¬
piration of Albino Foliage, by A. H. Church ; Estimation
of Manganic Oxide and Potassium Bichromate, by S.
Pickering ; Contributions to the History of Putrefaction,
by C. T. Kingzett ; Notes on Manganese Dioxide, by
C. R. A. Wright and A. E. Menke.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association was held on Wed¬
nesday evening, October 29, Mr. Branson in the chair,
at which there was a large attendance. A paper was
read by Mr. R. H. Parker on ‘‘The Products of the
ConiferEe.”

The author commenced by giving a brief sketch of the
botanical and geographical positions of the natural order
Coniferse, its diagnostic characters and the numerical
relation of its species among the Gymnospermia. The
substances derived from this order were described indi¬
vidually, according to the genera yielding them, namely,
those of Pinus and Abies, Juniperus, Callitris and Dam-
mara ; the relation of the various products to one another
being demonstrated very clearly by a chart containing
the whole of them systematically tabulated. The numer¬
ous crude turpentines (oleoresins) and their volatile oils
were described physically and chemically. Especial
mention was made of ol. pini sylvestris and ol. pini pumi-
lionis, used for the inhalations of the Throat Hospital
Pharmacopoeia, and the necessity of care being taken to
use those obtained from the leaves, since in the case of
ol. pini sylvestris that produced from the oleoresin was
occasionally supplied. Terebene and camphene received
a passing notice, the former being obtained by converting
oil of turpentine into two optically inactive hydrocarbons,
viz terebene, C10H16 boiling at 160°C., and colophene
C20H32, boiling at a much higher temperature, separated
by fractional distillation. While dealing with the coni¬
ferous oleoresins, the author mentioned the curiously
close relation, both chemically and physically, which
exists between them and Chian turpentine, the botanical
source of which is so remote from the pines. The various
pine timbers were enumerated, together with the trees
yielding them, and the study of this genus concluded with
a reference to the importance of pine forests upon the
sanitary condition of the atmosphere ; the essential oil
from the leaves is volatilized by solar heat and in the
presence of oxygen and moisture produces pei'oxide of
hydrogen and several camphoraceous substances, all
having great antiseptic properties.

A study of the genus Juniperus was next submitted;
the distinguishing specific characters of juniperus and savin
branchlets were mentioned, and the chemical and other
properties of the drugs obtained from these species.
Huile de cade was mentioned, but no definite information
could be given as to whether the article appearing in
commerce at the present day is obtained from J. oxy -

November 15, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

397

cedrus. Juniperus bermudiana and J. virgin tana were
noticed as the sources of the wood known as “ Cedar,”
largely used for pencils, etc., the essential oil distilled from

the wood being the
perfumes.

:oil of cedar” of commerce, used for

Sandarach or “gum juniper,” from Callitris
quadrivalvis, was described, also the means of distinguish¬
ing it from mastich. The sources of the fossil kaurie

resin ( Dammara australis) and of gum “dammar” (I).
onentalis) were stated, together with their commercial
applications. In conclusion, the various ornamental coni¬
fers of our gardens were refered to, viz.: — Auraucaria im-
bricata (Monkey puzzle), Cedrus Libani, Thuja orientalis
and T. occidentalis.

The paper was illustrated by specimens of nearly all the
substances referred to, lent from the Museum of the
Pharmaceutical Society, by the permission of the Coun¬
cil ; by a collection of cones of different species of Pinus
and Abies lent by Mr. E. M. Holmes; by microscopic
specimens of sections of coniferous woods, the pollen of
Pinus pinaster, crystallized derivatives of turpentine, etc.;
and by the complete series of coloured plates of the
Conifene from Bentley and Trimen’s ‘ Medicinal Plants.’
A discussion followed in which Messrs. Branson, Colltn-
son, Hardwick, Piper, Sangster, Miller and Wallis
took part ; and at the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks
was awarded to Mr. Parker, proposed by Mr. J ames, and
seconded by Mr. Robinson.

jparUamentarjj and JJan jlrocwdings-

Prosecution under the 17th Section of the
Pharmacy Act.

At Aberdare Police Court, on Tuesday, November 11,
Daniel Tudor Williams, whose name was in March last
erased from the Register of Chemists and Druggists, hJ
order of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, was
fined 2s. 6d. and costs for an infringement of the 17th
section of the Pharmacy Act. Last month a penalty
was recovered from the same defendant for an offence
against the 15th section, on the prosecution of the Council
of the Pharmaceutical Society (see before, p. 267). The
present summons was taken out by the Secretary of the
Chemists and Druggists ’ Trade Association.

On the bottle was the label “ Liq. chloral hydrate. 1
minim equal to \ grain chloral hydrate.” This was an
exceptionally strong preparation of the drug and not
commonly used. It was a dangerous strength to use —
three times more than the usual. There was a measure
glass on the table which they found had also been re¬
cently used. With a preparation of the drug of the
strength stated a person might very easily take an overdose
inadvertently. On the previous afternoon, in company
with Dr. Sullivan, witness made an internal examination
of the body, and found no appearances of disease sufficient
to cause death. The appearances were quite consistent
with the opinion that death had been due to an overdose
of such a narcotic as chloral, and of no other poison that
he and Dr. Sullivan were acquainted with.

Dr. Sullivan corroborated at some length the evidence
of Dr. Barnes. He explained that on the label on the
bottle produced and spoken to by Dr. Barnes, the figure \
was written with ink and the word “one” which was
printed was scored out. He and Dr. Barnes were
particularly struck with the small size of the heart. Dr.
Hay was a large man, and the heart was not at all in
keeping with the size of the body. This explained what
he heard the housekeeper say that in going upstairs Dr.
Play used to exhibit signs of shortness of breath. The
muscular part of the heart was flabby, and the organ
would not be able to undergo much exercise.

T'he jury returned an unanimous verdict to the effect
that Dr. Hay came by his death from inadvertently taking
an overdose of chloral. The foreman added that he
believed it was quite possible that the deceased had
taken a similar dose before, but the heart being perhaps
weaker was not able to stand it. — Carlisle Paper.

Poisoning by Chloral.

On Thursday, November 6, Dr. Elliott, the Carlisle
city coroner, held an inquest concerning the death of Dr.
W. Hay, who had been found dead in his bed on the
previous afternoon.

Mary Jane Donaldson, six years servant with Dr. Hay,
said Dr. Hay’s rest was very much broken. She had
frequently heard him say he had taken opium pills.
She waited upon him at dinner at one o’clock on Wed¬
nesday, when he partook of it as he used to do at any
other time. She heard him say that heha l taken poison
without mentioning what it was. When he used to say
he had taken opium he did not mention the word poison.
She took a bottle of potass water up into his room at
half-past three o’clock, as he had signified a desire for it
previously to the housekeeper. He was asleep and
snoring, but she thought that she would not disturb him.
She went about four o’clock, and saw that his face was of
a bluish-black colour. She spoke to him twice and got
no answer. She found that he did not stir, and put her
hand to his forehead and found it covered with a cold
perspiration. She then went for medical assistance.

Dr. Barnes said, when he saw Dr. Hay, he had
evidently been dead only a short time. Dr. Sullivan
and then Mr. Page came in. They went down into Dr.
Hay’s surgery and had some talk as to the cause of
death, coming to the conclusion that it wa3 the result of
an overdose of some poison. On the surgery table they
found a bottle, produced. It could contain six ounces
but it had now only an ounce in it. The stopper was wet,
and led them to believe that it had been recently used

A Boy Poisoned by Eating Yew Berries.

An inquest was held on Monday, October 4, at
Chalfont House, Kingston Road, Oxford, before the city
coroner (Mr. E. L. Hussey), touching the death of a boy,
nine years old, named Charles Wood. Thomas Wood,
stated that deceased was his son, and had generally good
health. Witness had heard that he and his sisters and
a cousin went on Sunday afternoon to Holywell Cemetery,
to see their aunt’s grave. In the evening about six
as deceased was at tea two of the children
(deceased and one of his sisters) said they had eaten a
good many yew berries which they got off the trees in
the cemetery. The girls had not been ill since. They
all had dinner on Sunday at two o’clock, and went to the
cemetery afterwards. Deceased went to bed about a
quarter to nine and slept in the same room with witness.
About three o’clock he heard deceased groaning, and got
out of bed, and tried to wake him. Witness put on a
mustard poultice to deceased’s chest, and also gave him
some mustard and water. He vomited very little. The boy
afterwards had convulsions, and died about a quarter to
four. Witness went to Mr. Symonds, but he did not
arrive till deceased was dead. He (witness) had often
eaten the pulp of the berries himself, bufc he never
swallowed the stones.

Eliza S. Wood said that deceased was her brother, and
he went with her and one of her sisters, and one of her
cousins to the Holywell Cemetery on Sunday afternoon.
All of them picked some of the red berries off the yew
trees and ate them, and deceased put some into his pocket
and ate them as they were walking home. Witness spat
out the stones, and her sister and cousin also did so. As
they were walking home deceased put a haudful of berries
into his mouth, and crunched them up and swallowed
stones and all. She did not know how many berries
deceased ate, but she thought more than a hundred. They
o-ot to the cemetery about half-past three.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from
the effects of swallowing poisonous yew berry stones,

administered

poison.

by himself not

knowing

that they were

398

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (November 15, tm.

Sispqiisinjg Pemoputa.

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

[348]. It is not often I feel called upon to differ from
the writer of the “Month” in his very able and welcome
rhumb, but I think, with respect to “ ferri ammon.
sulph.” that he has fallen into an error. I think there can
be do doubt that the ferric and not the ferrous salt is
intended ; both the ammonio-ferric and the potassio-ferric
alums have long been used in chronic dysentery, leucor-
rhoea and diarrhoea. A notice of them will be found in the
Pharmaceutical Journal for January, 1854. They have
been found to be more astringent than common alum,
whilst they are free from the stimulating effects of other
salts of iron. “Ferri et ammonii sulphas” is officinal
in the United States Pharmacopoeia. For the benefit of
your readers, I beg to be allowed to transcribe the process
ordered for its preparation : “Take of solution of ter-
sulphate of iron, 2 pints ; sulphate of ammonium,
troyounces. Heat the solution to the boiling point, add
the ammonium, stirring until it is dissolved, and set aside
to crystallize. Wash the crystals quickly with very cold
water, wrap them in bibulous paper and dry in the open
air.”

It is of course to be borne in mind that the IT. S. pint
is the old wine pint of 16 fluid ounces.

J. Hart.

The formula has also been received from Mr. F. Stevens.

[365]. Lavandula is in error when he says that double
the quantity of potass bicarb, ordered in the B.P. should
be used.

The ung. potass, iodid. is prepared with pot. carbon.
If the ointments are made strictly according to the B.P.,
and mixed, decomposition ensues at once, ammonia is
evolved, and mercuric iodide is formed, therefore a creamy
white ointment cannot be produced. Pot. Carbon.

[368]. There ought to be no question as to who was
right in this instance. The B.P. tinct. zingib. should be
dispensed, otherwise there would be a deviation from the
prescription. It should have a milky appearance, owing to
the volatile oil in the ginger and sp. ammon. aromat.

Lavandula.

[370]. Place about 3 V of distilled water in a bottle and
add the sp. myristicse and liq. strychnke, then dilute the
tinct. ferri perchlor. with the remainder of the distilled
water, and add it to the other ingredients already in the
bottle. The mixture will have a milky appearance owing
to the volatile oil of nutmegs, and it should not be filtered.

Lavandula.

[370]. Would any of your readers kindly say the best
way to dispense the following prescription so as to make
a smooth ointment ? g

R Ext. Bellad . gr3. vj.

Ext. Opii . 3ij-

Adipis Prcep . ad gj.

Ft. unguent.

J. Y.

[371]. I should be glad if any reader can suggest an
excipient for the following pills, so that they may be

prepared expeditiously and without making them exces¬

sively large : —

Ik Acidi Carbolici . gr j.

Ferri Arseniatis . gr vV

Pil. Assafoetid© Co. . . . . . . gr. ij.

Pulv. Guaiaci Res . gr j.

M. Ft. pil. Mitte xvi.

To be silvered.

P. T. W.

[372]. I shall be glad to have some opinion how the
following prescription should be dispensed : —

R Phosphorus . gr.

Ferri Redacti . gr. iij.

Quin© Sulph . gr. ss.

Fiat pil. Mitte xxx.

Staff.

[373]. Will some one oblige me with the strength of
the solution of daturin for hypodermic injection, with the
quantity usually injected ?

[374]. Would some of your readers kindly inform me
how to dispense the following so as not to separate? —

R Liq. Potassse . 3iss-

01. Jecoris Aselli . ,^ij.

Aquae . ad ^viij.

M. Ft. mist.

Sumat cochl. i. amp. bis in die.

T. B. L.

P.S. — I have tried several ways in mixing, but after
standing the oil floats.

dJjopBjiijndsntq.

\* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Question of Policy.

Sir, — I read Mr. Wilson’s letter in your last week’s issue
with the greatest satisfaction, and I feel sure that the ques¬
tion of policy which he has raised is one which should be
seriously thought over by every chemist in England.

Surely there cau never again be a time so pregnant as
the present with questions of the deepest interest to us as
a body, whilst, perhaps, of them all, the patent medicine
so-called, has taken up the greatest amount of consideration.
Many, from amidst our ranks, are, alas ! already lost in the
whirl of “reduced prices and still further reductions!!”
whilst others stand hesitating upon the brink, knowing too
well the slippery paths they will, perforce, have to tread
when once they have plunged therein. A third section,
and I will not believe it is an inconsiderable one, is pre¬
pared to look the matter full in the face, and to ask many
curious questions concerning it ; these will not so much
relate to price or profit, but if I mistake not, are rather
more likely to be resonant with ominous words, in which
quackery, fiction, ignorance, gullibility and social degrada¬
tion will take no meaningless part.

To speak more plainly, are we, the pharmacists of the
future, individually or collectively prepared to give support
or otherwise to a trade which cannot stand in the glare of
this latter half of the nineteenth century ? — a trade founded
upon the credulity of the illiterate ; at war with almost
every intellectual instinct, and in many phases of it, to say
the most, of only questionable morality. Long since has
this traffic, the offspring of the dark middle ages, and the
foster child of the misdirected knowledge of to-day, been
checked in other countries. How much longer shall it pros¬
per unchallenged in our own ? Must not this be a question
of the very first importance to the Parliamentary Com¬
mittee of the Pharmaceutical Society ?

Kilbw'n, N.W. Charles B. Allen.

November 15, 18T9.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

399

The Evening Meetings: A Growl from the
Gallery.

Sir, — Numerous correspondents hare lately addressed you
upon the subject of the unhealthiness of the drug trade, and
various have been the theories put forth to account for the
early decease of its members.

Will you permit me to swell the list of these hypotheses,
by suggesting that a fruitful source of mortality amongst
metropolitan pharmacists is to be found in the Evening
Meeting*.

To be entombed, sir, for a couple of hours on those
occasions, in the subterranean cavern known at Bloomsbury
as the “ lecture theatre/’ is to drive twenty nails into one’s
coffin at a blow. Whether it pertains to the duties of
either one of the multitudinous Committees of Council to
occupy itself with so insignificant a matter as that of
ventilation, I cannot tell. If it be so, the Committee in
question has apparently quailed before the task of cleansing
the air of the Augean chamber downstairs. Be this as it
may, I am sure that I only express the opinion of every
frequenter of our Evening Meetings, when I say that the
suffocating atmosphere of the room in which we are asked
to assemble is a disgrace to the Sooiety.

Conceive the odoriferous remains of three chemical
lectures, combined with the mingled emanations from as
many hundred students, sedulously confined within four
walls; add to this the products of combustion from a few
thousand feet of gas, and the exhalations arising from the
lungs of a dozen orators in the arena below, and a faint
idea is presented of the atmospheric surroundings of an
unfortunate pharmacist located in the gallery of the
“ lecture theatre” at Bloomsbury Square, at about 10 p.m.
on a Wednesday evening.

When it comes to pass that twelve fellow-citizens are
summoned to sit upon the asphyxiated remains of some
eminent professor or distinguished member of Council,
perhaps more attention will be given to the matter than
will probably be awarded to this solitary howl from

One of the “Gods.”

. . . —

The Health of the Drug Trade.

would allow many to attend them who are now debarred
from doing so by long hours.

It is most desirable that those occupying influential
positions in the community of pharmacists should lend the
weight of their influence in the furtherance of so good a
cause.

Surely by a mutual understanding and rising superior to
petty jealousy something can be done to remove this
terrible incubus, which acts as a perpetual embargo to our
launching out into the wide, and to too many of us unknown,
fields of pharmaceutical knowledge.

Edinburgh. Excelsior.

The Promotion of Amateur Dispensino.

Sir, — It is bad enough when those in the trade do their
personal friends a “good turn” (?) by translating into
English the Latin prescriptions of their physician in order
that a few pence may be economized thereby, but what are
we to say when medical men themselves stoop to such
paltry tricks ? A lady presented me with the following
prescription this morning, and asked what the price would
be for dispensing it. On my informing her, she coolly took
from a pocket book the appended English copy of it, telling
me “ she could make it up cheaper herself,” and that full
instructions had been given her by the surgeon who wrote
the translation. Upon my explaining to her that extra
care and precaution were necessary in the compounding of
medicines containing strychnine, she replied that she knew
all about that and that her friend (the surgeon) told her
any druggist would measure that quantity of strychnine
for her and mix it with the water.

ft Mrs. - ‘ -

Acid. Phos. Dil .

. 3i5.i-

Liq. Strychniae, B.P. . . .

. 50.

Ferri Sulph .

. gr. 3"-.

Magnes. Sulph .

. 5v'j-

Spir. Chloroform .

. 5nj*

Syr. Simpl .

• 5VJ-

Aq. M. Pip .

ad Svj.

Take one teaspoonful 3 times

a day

(etc., etc.).

Sir, — Of all the reasons which have been adduced in
explanation of the early mortality of chemists none seems
to have obtained greater prominence than that of long
hours. In fact all the others have gradually disappeared
and the subject of “ Hours of Business ” has insensibly
taken the place of “ Health of the Drug Trade ” in your
correspondence columns. Having regard to the high educa¬
tional status and scientific knowledge which are now re¬
quired for the satisfactory discharge of our professional
duties, this anxiety to have our business hours shortened
cannot be wondered at. It has been well said by one of
your correspondents that instead of our hours being long
they ought to be exceptionally short.

One strong reason for a shortening of hours is the oon-

|

tinuous and intense mental application required in the
practice of dispensing. This mental application extending
over a period of ten or twelve hours is most exhausting and
enervating, and is unquestionably prejudicial to both
mental and physical health, and in other professions it is
never kept up for more than a few hours at a time.

The strongest reason of all, however, is the high educa¬
tional status and scientific knowledge to which I have
referred. To pass from ten or twelve hours’ application to
the duties of a pharmacist to a period of even more intense
application to the subjects of materia medica, theoretical
botany and practical and theoretical chemistry, coupled
with early rising for the pursuit of practical botany, is
enough to shake the strongest constitution, and what shall
we say of the very ordinary constitutions of the great
majority of chemists ? Can we wonder that many of them
give way under the strain ?

This subject of shorter hours is at present occupying the
attention of the Chemists’ Assistants’ Association of this
city, and it is most earnestly to be hoped that their efforts
will be crowned with success. Their object is to have all the
shops closed by 8 p.m. at latest. This would throw open
to assistants and apprentices the splendid educational
advantages of the School of Arts, the classes in connection
with which are held at 8.30 p.m. The evening meetings of
the North British Branch are also held at 8.30 p.m., and it

The Surgeon’s copy of the above.

An ounce of Dilute Phosphoric Acid. — Three drams to be
measured off to make the mixture.

Sulphate of Iron. — One pennyworth.

Epsom Salts. — Three parts of an ounce in each bottle.
Spirit of Chloroform. — An ounce, three drachms to each

bottle.

Sugar as you like.

Peppermint Water. — Half a pint.

Comments on my part are unnecessary, you readers will
readily form their own conclusions and join with myself in
the strongest eondemnation of this new phase of medical
antagonism to the chemist.

Leominster. M. J. Ellwood.

Taraxacum.

Sir, — The importance and usefulness of such a paper as
that read by Dr. Symes at the last Evening Meeting and
reported in your Journal of November 8, as evidenced by
the full and lengthly discussion which followed, must I
think be apparent to all ; that the subject of taraxacum,
albeit an old one, is not yet exhausted, may be seen in the
diversity of opinion expressed in said discussion. Although
for some long time past, little has been said or written
pharmaceutically on the subject, medical men have con¬
tinued to prescribe and pharmacists to prepare it for use,
and apparently its popularity as a remedy is as great as
ever. Of course there will be differences of opinion as to
its therapeutic virtues, but with this matter, I take it, the
pharmacist has little conoern. Whether either rabbits or
taraxacum have a raison de'tre in the scheme of things
pharmaceutical, I do not pretend to say, but so long as the
medical profession demand a certain remedy, it is the duty
of the pharmacist, and likewise to his interest, to supply a
preparation which shall most ably represent the drug from
which it is prepared and which shall be most eligible for
use. Now it has always struck me that the succus taraxaci,
even when carefully and honestly prepared, is a most weak

400

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 15, 1379.

and inefficient preparation, prone to change and deteriora¬
tion, and possessing little to recommend it, from a pharma¬
ceutical point of view ; this opinion has been strengthened
by the varying amounts of extract obtainable, by careful
evaporation, from the succus taraxaci of my own and other
makers ; and I fully agree with Dr. Symes that the fluid
extract of the U. S. Pharmaoopoeia is a concentrated, effi¬
cient, elegant and stable preparation, and representative of
the root in a high degree. Some seven years ago, on the
appearance of the last revision of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia,
I prepared a quantity of this fluid extract, by the formula
there indicated and I found that both in flavour, colour and
density it stood in very favourable contrast with ti e succus
of the B.P. and was to all appearances a perfect representa¬
tive of the root from which it was prepared. I remember
being very favourably impressed with its eligibility and
usefulness. A. friend who is in possession of a portion of
this identical sample, now over seven years old, informs me
that it has kept perfectly and that in flavour and appearance
it is to all intents and purposes as good as when it was
made. I am not prepared to endorse the advantages of the
menstruum ordered in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia for the pre¬
paration of this fluid extract. Glycerine is a very useful
solvent in its way, but I think we may have too much of a
good thing. The menstruum I would suggest as best adapted
for taraxacum is one composed of equal parts of rectified
spirit and water, with a small proportion of glycerine ; a
fluid extract made with this menstruum from roots dug up
in November, and carefully dried and powdered, will, so far
as being representative of the drug, give every satisfaction ;
and will be one which every pharmacist can prepare for
himself, with satisfaction and profit. We have the authority
of Mr. XJmney that the fluid extract of the U. S. Pharma¬
copoeia is at least ten times the strength (in the weight of
dry root that it represents) of the succus of the B. P,, and
has therefore a more bitter flavour, and as to the elegance
of fluid extracts as a class, that gentleman was personally
of opinion that they far surpassed those of British pharmacy.
In the face of this opinion I was rather surprised that in
the discussion which followed the reading of Dr. Symes’ s
paper he (Mr. Umney) should feel it necessary to forget his
former love, and stand up in defence of the succus of the
B.P.

1 trust that we shall see in the next edition of our Phar¬
macopoeia a class of preparations more worthy the name of
liquid extracts than those it at present contains, and that
taraxacum will be one of them.

137<x, Aldersgate Street , E.C. Alfred E. Tanner.

Sir, — In some remarks which I made on Dr. Symes's
paper, I find that my words convey a wrong impression,
i.e., I said that the Belgian and old Edinburgh Pharma¬
copoeias got over the difficulty connected with the best time
for gathering the roots by using the whole plant. What I
meant to say was that the before mentioned authorities
ordered the whole plant to be used.

The question of the time best suited for collecting the
roots still remains.

35, Baker Street, W. A. W. Postans.

Soda Water.

Sir, — -In view of the recent vexatious prosecutions anent
this article, it may be of use to point out an authority in
the matter, and one which has apparently been overlooked,
as I have not seen any reference to it in the published defence
of any of the cases instituted up to the present.

On page 153 of the latest edition of Royle’s ‘Materia
Medica,’ under “Liq. SodaeEfferves ” theeditor states — “The
soda water of commerce, it must be remembered, is merely
carbonic acid water, and the preparation of the Pharma¬
copoeia may be extemporized by dissolving 15grs. of bicarb,
of soda in § ounce of water, and then adding a half-pint
bottle of common soda water.”

Such a statement in a standard work is surely entitled to
some consideration even by such punctilious pioneers of
utopian purity and such sticklers for pharmacopoeial
standards as our public analysts.

Edward Hall, Ph.C.

Arsenical Paste.

Sir, — I cordially endorse the caution mentioned by E. W.
in a recent issue, as regards the use of arsenical paste
as a nerve cautery. In two cases it played me ugly
tricks, so much so that I resolved never to use it again,
and nothing would induce me to do so. Not only that but
as often as not it will set up a severe inflammation of the
lining periosteum. In fact, I have no hesitation in
writing, it is bad.

Now as to the paragraph to which E. W. draws attention.
All I can say is I also saw it in Lloyd’s Nexvspaper as
copied from the New York Times. Still the sad event
therein mentioned no more militates against the skill and
aggregate talent of the matchless dental profession of
America, than the failure in a chloroform case the other
day militates against the talent of our medical faculty.
The best of us may any hour be subject to a sad failure,
the wonder is we do not fail more often. Now, sir, I much
fear E. W. has not seen American skill, or instruments.
The best part of filling and other instruments and tools
used by the majority of British dentists are American.
More American teeth are used in this country than native
make. Only let E. W. just glance at the American dental
engine, a matchless marvel of human ingenuity, and then
confess that “in America there is a matchless dental pro¬
fession independent of medical men and chemists.” They
educate not men there to be surgeons first, and then leave
such to pick up mechanical dentistry as best they can. No !
but educate them in every sense of the word to be surgeon
dentists. Sever mechanical dentistry from the surgical, and
it at once ceases to be the dental profession, as the man
who cannot execute the first named ceases to be a surgeon
dentist and becomes a surgeon of an extremely limited
form of surgery. I am, sir, no Yankee but out-and-out
British, yet love to give credit and honour where both are
due and deserved.

185, Oxford Street. George Ward, L.D.

“ Subscriber and Student ,” who should have complied
with the rule respecting anonymous contributions, will find
recipes for depilatories by referring to the indexes of back
volumes.

“ Antiseptic .” — Dr. Symes has pointed out (vol. ix., 598)
that a strong solution of thymol can be prepared with
milk.

W. 0. — In such a case a declaration sworn before a.
magistrate would be received.

T. Robinson. — A recipe for incense will be found in voL
viii., p. 519.

J. T. Greenwood. — See the paper on Fucus vesiculosus
in the Journal of the 1st inst., p. 343.

“ Student.” — The principal products of combustion would
be the same in both cases, and the relative innocuousness
would depend rather upon the amount of impurity present
in the original material.

“ Juvenis.” — There can be no doubt that the use of the
title “Surgeon-Dentist” by a person not registered under
the Dental Act is illegal.

M. B. — We have been unable to find a reference to any
preparation bearing the name.

H. Boutell. — If you refer again to Mr. Langbeck’s trans¬
lation you will see that you have misread it.

H. J. Pearson. — A list of the subscribers to the Benevo¬
lent Fund, arranged under the heading of the towns in
which they reside, is published in the Calendar of the
Society.

M.P.S. — The opaque turbid appearance sometimes pre¬
sented by distilled water when it has been kept is probably
due to the growth of confervse.

“A Pharmaceutical Chemist .” — Before publishing your
letter we should be glad to have particulars of the case you
refer to, for our private information.

Mr. Modlen, Mr. Pollard and Mr. Evans are thanked for
their communications.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Hall, Brown, Turner, Reynolds, Gordon, Robin¬
son, Wershoven, Coleby, Miller, Masson, Stevens, Rogers,
G. Faitpierre, X., A. P. S., T. H., J. L. B., The Encloser,
Alex, Nu.

November 22, 187?.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

401

NOTES ON INDIAN DRUGS.

BY W. DYMOCK.

{Continued from page 383.)

Ipomce.v Tcjrpethum, R. Br. Convolvulace^e.

The stem and root. Vernacular. — Nisot, Nak-

patar, Pitohri (Hind.), Nishotar (Bombay),

Shivadai (Tam.), Teori (Beng.).

History , Uses, etc. — Sanskrit writers mention two
varieties of trivrit or triputa, viz., sveta, white; and
; krishna, black. The white kind only should be used,
the black is said to be poisonous ; it is not very clear
what the black kind is. Nisot is one of the most
common native cathartics, and has probably been in
use all over India from a very early date. The usual
method of administration is to rub down about a
drachm of the root or stem with water and add to it
some rock salt and ginger, or sugar and black pepper.

Under the name of turbud Mahometan writers also
mention two kinds, white and black, and direct the
black to be avoided on account of its poisonous proper¬
ties, which are said to resemble those of hellebore.
As regards the properties of the white kind, they say
that it is a drastic purgative of phlegmatic humours
and bile ; its action is promoted by combination with
ginger ; it is particularly beneficial in rheumatic and
paralytic affections. Combined with Chebulic myro-
balans it is useful in melancholy and dropsies.
Ainslie tells us that the Convolvulus Indicus alatus
marimus had long a place in the British materia
medica, but of late years has fallen into disuse. He
says, “ 1 find it mentioned by Avicenna under the
name of turbud ; but the first among the Arabs who
prescribed it was Mesue (see ‘ Rei Herbariae/ Spring.,
vol. i., p. 249), also Bhazes (c. 173). Alston in his
‘ Materia Medica ’ speaks of turbith as a strong and
resinous cathartic, and recommended in his days in
gout, dropsy, and leprosy. The plant is known to
the modern Greeks by the name of TovptreO. It is a
native of the Society and Friendly Isles, as well as
of India, of the New Hebrides and of New Holland.
Yirey, in his ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Medicamens ’
(p. 184), speaks of the root of the Convolvulus tur-
pethum as more drastic than the common jalap,
which, however, does not seem to be found in India”
(‘Mat. Ind./ ii., p. 384).

Wallich, Gordon, and Glass considered this drug
to be of considerable value as a cathartic. Sir W.
O’Shaughnessy (‘Beng. Disp./ p. 504) found it so un¬
certain in its operation that he pronounced it unworthy
of a place in the Pharmacopoeia, but he does not give
any particulars as to the method of administration he
employed. Further experiments with the drug are
required, as there seeni3 to be no doubt of its efficacy
in native hands.

Description. — The turbith of commerce consists of
the root and stem of the plant cut in short lengths,
usually from £ to 2 inches in diameter ; the central
woody portion is often removed by splitting the bark
on one side. The exterior surface has a twisted rope¬
like or columnar appearance and is of dull grey
colour. A transverse section shows a porous surface of
a dirty white colour and loaded with pale yellowish
white resin; through this substance pass numerous
bundles composed of large vessels and woody fibre,
f The drug is free from smell, but has a nauseous taste
which is only perceptible after it has been some time
in the mouth. In some specimens all or a portion
of the central wood remains. It resembles a piece of
Third Series, No. 491.

rotten cane. Black nisot presents a similar appear¬
ance, but is of smaller size and of a darker colour.

Microscopic structure. — The epidermis consists of
tubular brown cells. The parenchyma is starchy; in
it are thickly scattered very large resin cells and
numerous rosette-like raphides. The many large
vascular bundles are composed of large dotted vessels
surrounded by wood-fibres ; each of the prominent
external ridges of the bark contains one of these
bundles. The central cane-like woody column of the
root or stem, when present, is seen to be divided into
four parts by four bands of parenchyma (medullary-
rays) ; it consists of large dotted vessels connected
together by narrow portions of woody fibre.

The black nisot has exactly the same structure as
the white.

Chemical composition. — Turbith resin consists of a
small quantity of soft resin soluble in ether, and of a
substance insoluble in ether, benzine, sulphide of
carbon and essential oils. This substance has been
named turpethine and is present in the root to the
extent of 4 per cent. It has been examined by
Spirgatis, who describes it as a grey powder having a
powerfully irritant action upon the mucous mem¬
branes of the mouth and nose, and being analogous
in its reactions with jalapine and convolvuline.
Under the action of alkaline bases it is transformed
intoturpethic acid and in the presence of hydrochloric
acid it becomes converted into glucose and turpeth-
olic acid ( Zeitschr . der Chemie und Pharmaeie, 1865).

Batatas paniculata, Chois. CoNVOLVtiLACEiE. The
root. Vernacular. — Bibai-kand (Hind.), Bhui-
kumra (Beng.), Bhui-kohala (Bomb.), Matta-
pal-tiga (Tel.), Phal-modecca (Mai.).

History , Uses, etc. — This plant is mentioned by the
early Sanskrit writers on materia medica under the
names of Yidari and Bhumiku shmanda.

The large tuberous root is considered tonic, altera¬
tive, aphrodisiac, demulcent and lactagogue. In the
emaciation of children, with debility and want of
digestive power, the following diet is recommended.
Take of vidari, wheat flower and barley, equal parts,
and make into a confection with milk, clarified but¬
ter, sugar and honey. Susruta gives several prescrip¬
tions for its use as an aphrodisiac. The simplest
is as follows: Macerate the powder of the root
in its own juice and administer with honey and
clarified butter. Yidari enters into the compo¬
sition of several diuretic and demulcent mixtures
(Confer. Dutt ‘Hindu Mat. Med/ p. 205). Rheede
(‘Hort. Malab’, ii., pp. 101-102, t. 49) notices the use
of the root dried in the sun, powdered and boiled
with sugar and butter t© promote obesity and
moderate the menstrual discharge. In Bombay it is
used medicinally for the above-mentioned purposes,
and can always be obtained in the druggists’ shops.
The plant is commonly cultivated in gardens, on
account of its handsome rose-coloured flowers, which
appear in the rains.

Description. — The root is a forked tuber, sometimes
as much as 10 to 12 lbs. in weight ; externally it is of a
grey colour and somewhat warty and scabrous. When
a transverse section is made the cut surface is of a
dirty white colour and marked by concentric rings
which are formed by the vascular and laticiferous
vessels ; from the latter a viscid milky fluid exudes.
The taste is astringent and somewhat acrid, not unlike
raw potato.

Microscopic structure. — The bulk of the tuber con-

402

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 22, 1879.

sists of a starchy parenchyme. The vascular system
is scalariform. * The lacticiferous vessels are most
numerous towards the cortical part; raphides abound.

Commerce. — The tubers are sold by the herbalists
and are very extensively used in Bombay. The
largest fetch about two annas.

Cordia myxa, Linn. C. latifolia, Roxb. Boragin-

aceaj. The fruit. Vernacular. — Lasora (Hind.),

Bahubara (Beng.), Bhokar, Sapistan (Bomb.),

Naru villi (Tam.)

History, Uses, etc. — The dried fruits of these trees
are the Selu of Sanskrit writers, the Sapistan of the
Mahometans, and the Sebestens of old European
works on materia medica. Both trees are common
in many parts of India. On the western coast C.
latifolia is abundant in Guzerat, where it is called
Burgoond, and C. myxa in the neighbourhood of
Bombay. The natives pickle the fruit of both trees.
Medicinally the dried fruit is valued on account of
its mucilaginous nature and demulcent properties ;
it is much used in coughs and chest affections, also
in irritation of the urinary passages ; in larger quan¬
tities it is given in bilious affections as a laxative.
Mahometan writers describe two kinds of Sapistan :
the greater (C. cor difolia), the pulp of which is separ¬
able from the.stone, and the lesser ((7. myxa), the pulp
of which is adherent. The word “ Sapistan” is an abre-
viation of Sag-pist&n which means in Persian “Dog’s
dugs.” In Arabic they are called Dibk and Mukhi-
tah. Both trees are minutely described by Roxburgh.
According to Hors field the bark of O. myxa is used
by the Javanese as a tonic.

Description. — C. latifolia. — Drupe oblate, sphe¬
roidal, about an inch or inch and a quarter in
diameter, smooth ; when ripe, yellow. Pulp in large
quantity, soft, clear and very clammy; one-celled.
Nut nearly circular, laterally compressed, rugose on
the outside, with a cavity at each end, the lower one
deeper than the other ; exceedingly hard, four- celled,
though rarely all fertile. Seed solitary, ovate-
oblong.

C. myxa. — Drupe globular, smooth, the size of a
cherry, sitting in the enlarged calyx ; when ripe,
yellow; the pulp almost transparent, very tough,
and viseid. Nut cordate, at both ends bidentate
and perforated, rugose, somewhat four-sided, four-
celled ; but it rarely happens that all prove fertile.
Seeds solitary (Roxb. ). Both kinds of fruit when
dry are shrivelled and of the colour of a dry prune.
The pulp of C. cordifolia can be separated from the
nut, that of C. myxa cannot. On sawing through
the nut a heavy disagreeable smell is observable.

Herpestis Monniera, H. B. et K. Scrophulari-
acea:. The Herb. Vernacular. — Brahmi (Hind. ,
Beng.), Nir-brami (Tam.).

History , Uses, etc. — Dutt informs us that this
plant is the Brahmi of the native physicians of
Calcutta, where it is considered to be a nervine
tonic, useful in insanity, epilepsy, etc. Whether he
is correct in taking it to be the Brahmi of Sanskrit
writers is, I think, doubtful. In Bombay Ilydro-
cotyle Asiatica is known by this name. Ainslie
says that in Southern India ihelGratiola Monnieria
is considered diuretic and aperient, and useful in
that sort of stoppage of urine which is accompanied
with obstinate costiveness. Roxburgh mentions the
use of the juice mixed with petroleum as an external

- """ . ■■■■■ ■

remedy in rheumatism. These accounts hardly
agree with the properties ascribed to Brahmi by
Sanskrit writers. II. Monniera is a very common
plant in moist places, such as the borders of tanks,
etc., in the neighbourhood of Bombay, but I have
not seen it made use of medicinally.

Description. — Stems several, annual, creeping,
round, jointed, smooth, succulent; leaves opposite,
sessile, obovate, wedge-shaped or oblong, smooth
entire, obtuse, fleshy, dotted with minute spots;
peduncles axillary, alternate, solitary, round, smooth,
shorter than the leaves, one-flowered ; flowers blue ;
bracts two-awled, pressing on the calyx laterally;
calyx five-leaved, the exterior three leaflets large,
oblong, the two interior small, linear, all are concave,
smooth, pointed and permanent ; corolla campanulate,
border five-parted, nearly equal; anthers two-cleft
at the base, blue ; stigma large, somewhat two-lobed ;
capsule ovate, two-celled, two-valved; seeds very
numerous (Roxburgh ‘Flora Ind.,’ i., p. 141).

Barleria trionitis, Linn. Acanthaceas K a run-

taka (Sans.), Katsareya (Hind.), Kantajuti

(Beng.), Kalsunda (Bomb.), ShemmuLli. Vara-

Mulli (Tam.)

This is a very common plant near the sea shore in
Bombay and the neighbourhood. The natives apply
the juice of the leaves to their feet in the rainy season
to harden them, and thus prevent the maceration
and cracking of the sole which would otherwise
occur. Ainslie says that the juice of the leaves,
which is slightly bitter and acid, is a favourite
medicine of the Hindus of Lower India, in those
catarrhal affections of children which are accompanied
with fever and much phlegm. It is generally ad¬
ministered in a little honey or sugar and water, in
the quantity of two tablespoonfuls twice daily
(‘Materia Ind.,’ ii., p. 376). B. prionitis is the
Coletta-veetla of Rheede (‘Hort. Mat.,’ ix., p. 77,
t. 41), and the Hystrix frutex of Rumphius (‘ Amb.,’
vii., t. 13).

Description. — Stem short, erect ; branches numer¬
ous, opposite, erect, round, smooth ; the whole plant
two to three feet high; thorns axillary, generally
about four, straight, slender, sharp ; leaves opposite,
decussate, short petioled, oblong, waved, a little
mucronate, smooth ; flowers axillary, generally
solitary, sessile, large, yellow ; bracts uncertain,
when there are no thorns on the same axil there
are two, opposite, linear daggered, besides an un¬
determined number of very small ones; stamens,
the long pair projecting, their filaments compressed;
stigma entire, cylindric, open, pitted; capsule conical,
two- seeded, one seed in each cell (Roxb.).

J ustigta ecbolium, Linn. Acanthacea:.

U dwj ati (Hind.), Rdn-oboli (Bomb.), is a small shrub
very common in the Concon. The roots are pre¬
scribed in jaundice and menorrhagia.

Description. — Roots tuberous, spindle-shaped, as
thick as a quill, several inches in length and covered
by a dark brown bark; stems several, straight-jointed
and swelled above the joints, woody and round
below, quadrangular and tender above ; leaves
elliptic oblong, attenuated at both ends, pubescent
or glabrous; spikes terminal, tetragonal; bracts
oval, quite entire, ciliated, mucronate, as long as the
capsule ; flowers azure-coloured, turning red as they
fade ; capsule half an inch long, two-seeded.

November 22, 1ST9.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

403

Acaxthodium spicatum, Dd He ( ? ) . Acan thacej:.

The seeds. Vernacular. — Utangan (Hind.),

Utinjan (Bomb.).

History , Uses, etc. — Under the local name of
utinjan, ami the Persian name anjurah, an acantha-
ceons seed is sold in the Bombay shops. From an
examination of the capsules which are sometimes
found mixed with the seeds there would appear to
be little doubt that they are those of the plant
placed at the head of this article. Utinjan is a i
standard native remedy, and is universally kept in
the druggists’ shops. The author of the ‘Makhzan-
ul-adwiya’ (article Anjurah) gives us the following
account of it, from which it would appear that the
true anjurah is the Urtica prima of Latin writers
(17. pilidifera , Lin.), and that the seeds now in
use in India have somehow come to take the place
of the genuine article: — Anjurah is a Persian word ;
it is the Kuriz of the Arabs, the Kumah of Shiraz,
the Kajeet of the Turks, the Utangan of the Indians,
the Urtik-parim of Latin writers and the Hartikah
of Gilan. The plant has numerous serrate leaves
which are armed with prickles ; the stem is still
more prickly ; when it comes in contact with the
body it causes redness, burning and itching. The
flowers are yellow. The seed smooth and shining,
flattened, of a brownish eolour, larger than those of
sesamum and altogether not unlike linseed. They j
are the officinal part and if good should be heavy j
and of a brown colour.” Medicinally they are eon- i
sidered to be attenuant, resolvent, diuretic, aphro- j
disiae, expectorant and deobstruent.

Description. — The utinjan of the Bombay shops
consists of the seeds mixed with a large proportion of
broken pieces of the capsule and a few entire fruits.
The latter is mitre-shaped, about three-tenths of an
inch long, and two-tenths broad, laterally com¬
pressed ; sides furrowed ; surface polished, of a j
chestnut colour ; capsule two-celled, two-seeded ;
seeds heart-shaped, flat, covered with long coarse \
hairs ; when soaked in water the hairs disintegrate j
and produce a large quantity of viscid mucilage.

Microscopic Structure. — Each hair is made up of
several columnar cells, each of which contains a spiral
fibre, which upon the solution of the cell wall uncoils j
and imparts an unusual stringiness to the mucilage. '

Commerce. — U rinj an is imported into Bombay by ,
way of the Red Sea. Yalue Re. 1^ per pound.

LEONOTIS XEPE1-VFOLIA, Br. Labiate Hejtr- ,
chei (Beng.), Mattjer, Matisul (Bomb.).

This is a large and conspicuous annual, common
in the neighbourhood ol villages. It is easily
recognized by its globular, spLtous heads of orange-
coloured flowers. Roxburgh g^ es the following
description of the plant : — “4 Stem annual, straight,
four- sided, simple, from 4 — 6 feet high. Leaves
f opposite, spreading, petioled, cordate, serrate, punted,
downy, from 4—8 inches long and 2 — 3 broad. Floral
leaves Lanceolate, depending. Petioles channelled,,
winged with the decurrent leaf ; vertieels globular

2 — 3 or 4, towards the apex of the plant about 5
inches asunder. Involucres many, subulate. Flowers
numerous, of a deep rich orange colour. Calyx 10-
striated, 8-toothed; corolla under lip very short,

3- toothed, at all times of a dirty withered colour.

The ashes of the flower heads mixed with curds

are applied in Bombay to ringworm and other itchy
diseases of the skin.

(To be continued.)

ALEURONE.

Aleurone has recently become the object of a
certain amount of interest, and was not long since
the subject of a question at one of the University
examinations. Nothing, however, has yet been
published respecting it in thi3 Journal, and very
little in this country. The following notes, com¬
piled from various works, have been supplied by Mr.
Marshall Leigh: —

Aleurone grains were discovered by Hartig in
1855 ; their importance, however, was not generally
acknowledged until Dr. Pfeifer published his re¬
searches in 1872 (Jahrb.f. xciss. Bot. 1872). These
researches are still the standard work in Germany,
and contain a larger amount of reliable information
than any other.

The reservoirs of ripe seeds, the endosperm and
cotvledons, alwavs contain aleurone together with
starch and oily matter. If the seeds contain much
starch, as in the chestnut, the aleurone grains occupy
the interstices and consist of minute granules ; in
oily seeds, however, the granules are found in the
place of starch.

Their formation commences when the seeds have
attained their last condition of ripeness and the
funiculus become sapless; the seed loses water by
evaporation, the mucilaginous mass in its interior
gradually becoming firmer, and the grains of aleurone
separate from the turbid matrix.

The origin of the grains is therefore simply a dis¬
sociation which arises from loss of water; on ger¬
mination, the cells absorb moisture and the aleurone
grain again unites with the matrix.

The matrix surrounding the grain may be con¬
sidered as the protoplasmic mass of the cell, in which
water is replaced, on drying, by oil or starch.

The use of aleurone is to act as a reservoir of pro¬
tein, in the same way as starch and oil globules are
reservoirs of hydrocarbons, the protein being the
source from which the protoplasm of the young plant
is formed upon germination.

Occasionally the grains are seen to have a crystal¬
line appearance due to their enclosing crystals of
oxalate of calcium, more frequently however they
contain non- crystalline and clustered granules of a
double phosphate of calcium and magnesium mecha¬
nically enveloped during the contraction of the
proteine.

Aleurone grains are absolutely insoluble in alcohol,
ether, benzol or chloroform ; they are mostly soluble
in water and can by that means be separated from
the enclosed crystals or globoids.

Their chemical composition has recently been
made the subject of observation by several chemists.
In 1872,'*' Ritthausen exhausted the seeds by alkaline
solutions and demonstrated the presence of vegetable
caseins, such a? legumin and conglutin.

In 1877.^^ eyl published some observations which
tended to show that the proteids existed as globulins
and that the caseins extracted by Ritthausen were the
products of alteration caused by his alkaline
solutions.

Mr. Sidney YinesJ has lately contributed an article
to the Royal Society which in many respects confirms
Weyl’s observations.

An extract of the seeds of blue lupin Lupinus

* ‘Die Ei weiss Korper der G^treidearten , * 1872.
f ‘ Zeitachr. fur Physiol. Chemie,’ 1877.

X ‘ Proc. Roy. Society,’ December 19, 1373.

404

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 22, 18t».

varius) in common salt was found to contain two
proteids belonging to the group of globulins and
hitherto known to occur only in animals : myosin,
a constituent of dead muscle, and vitellin, a consti¬
tuent of the yolk of egg ; these two substances, vege¬
table myosin and vegetable vitellin, were found to
have exactly similar reactions to the animal sub¬
stances of the same name.

An aqueous extract of the seeds contained another
proteid having all the properties of peptone and
agreeing very nearly with the a peptone of Meissner,
or hemialbumose of Kuhne,* an easily decomposable
peptone formed by the action of gastric juice on
proteids.

ALKALOIDS OF THE BERBERIDACEJE.+

BY ALBERT B. PRESCOTT, M.D.,

Professor of Organic and Applied Chemistry and
Pharmacy, University of Michigan.

The discovery of an alkaloid in any plant is undoubtedly
a fact of the first importance, both as concerning the
strictly chemical interest of the plant and as bearing
upon its medical application. But, of course, the fact
that a plant contains or does not contain one or more
alkaloids, is not in itself a decisive fact in materia
medica. Over a hundred alkaloids have been definitely
distinguished in the vegetable kingdom, and it is probable
that a greater number remain undiscovered. Possessing
a class of substances in class character chemically distinct,
and comprising articles of such intense power and diver¬
sified influence upon the human organism as strychnia,
quinia, atropia, aconitina, morphia, etc., the medical
world must look with the liveliest interest upon the
finding of new alkaloids in well known medicinal plants.
But the medical world would not, and should not, venture
to trust upon the lines of analogy beyond the support of
facts. Alkaloids, like all other agents, must be put
directly to the proof, as to their physiological power and
therapeutic value. Testimonies of trial — a fair trial in a
fair field — are wanted. Certain alkaloids have but a
third-rate medicinal consequence, as the narcotina of
opium, the brucia of nux vomica and the ergotina of
ergot. Alkaloids are not the only substances known to
stand distinctly as the active principles of plants. The
resins of podophyllum, for instance, are stable, easily
separated, and represent almost the entire medicinal
power of the crude drug in a very concentrated form.
It has stood in the books since 1863, though now dis¬
proved, that the podophyllum root contained an alkaloid,
berberina, but the question of the use of this alkaloid has
been wholly overshadowed by the greater potency of the
resins. Finally, it must not be forgotten that a larger
number of medicinal plants contain a group of thera¬
peutic agents, presented by nature in most useful pro¬
portions, so that if these several bodies could be separated
and safely preserved by chemical skill we could do no
better than to put them together again in the original
proportions for administration. The greater number of
vegetable drugs are best kept intact, with only such
rejection of inert matters and concentration of medicinal
virtues as the fluid extract, when skilfully and faithfully
made, best provides. Nevertheless, an alkaloid of any
decided mechanical power, capable of production in
purity, is always an article of importance.

At this time four at least of the medicinal plants of the
barberry family have been found to contain alkaloids, as
follows

Berberis vulgaris. Common barberry ; root, bark.
Berberina (Buchner, 1835) ; oxycanthia (Polex, 1836).

* ‘Verhandl. d. Nat. Med. Vereins zu Heidelberg,’ 1876.
t From New Preparations for September, 1879.

Berberis aquifolium. Pacific coast. Root. Berberina
(Neppach, 1878) ; mahonia* (Jungk, Detroit, 1879).

Berberis aristata; B. asiatica: B. lyceum. Indian
barberry bark. Berberina (Solly, 1843 ; Stewart, 1866).

Jefer sonia diphylla. Twinleaf. Rhizome. Berberina
and a white alkaloid (Mayer, 1865).

Berberina, the alkaloid named from the berberideae, is
probably more widely distributed than any other alkaloid
known. It is found in five botanical families, or as
Husemann classifies, in seven families, as follows : —

Of the Berber idacece, in Berberis vulgaris, B. aquifolium,
the Indian species of Berberis, and Jeffer sonia diphylla.
Also, according to Husemann, in CaulophyUum thalic-
troid-es, or blue cohosh.

Of the Ranunculacece, in Hydrastis Canadensis, with
two other alkaloids ; in Coptis trifoliata, goldthread, with
another alkaloid ; in Coptis teeta, India, 84 per cent,
berberina ; and in Xanthorriza apifolia, or yellow root.

Of the Menisperinacece , in Calumba root, Cocculus pal-
matus, along with columbin and columbic acid ; in
Menispermum Canadense, Canadian moonseed ; and in
Coscinium fenestratum, or Ceylon calumba wood.

Of the Anonaceev, in Ccelocline polycarpa.

Of tlve Rutacece, in Xanthoxylum clava-Herculis, the
Hercules club, of West Indies.

Also, according to Perrins, in the St. John’s root, of
Rio Grande, and the pachinello tree, of New Grenada.

In many instances berberina is accompanied by a
colourless alkaloid in the same plant. In calumba root
the alkaloid is believed to be formed, along with the
calumbic acid, from colombin, a neutral body.

The English chemist, Perrins, in 1862, after a full
report upon the chemistry of berberina, a report which
was the first and is still the fullest given in Europe, thus
remarks upon the value of this alkaloid ( Journ . Chem.
Soc., xv., 456) : “ Though it has long been used as a fine
yellow dye, more especially for animal tissues, its chief
claims to usefulness do not reside in its application to
the economic arts. . . . The polished Greeks the
semi- barbarous nations of Hindostan and China, the
North American Indians and the natives of tropical
Africa have been all impressed with the medicinal value
of berberina.”t

THE MIGRATION OF PLANTS FROM EUROPE TO

AMERICA, WITH AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN

CERTAIN PHENOMENA CONNECTED THERE-
WITH.+

BY PROF. E. W. CLAYPOLE, B.A., B.SC. (LOXDON), OF
ANTIOCH COLLEGE, OHIO.

Underneath the great wave of human emigration from
the so-called Old to the so-called New World, underneath
the noisy busy surface tide that has swept westward from
the shores of Europe to these of America during the last
two hundred years, there has existed another and a less
conspicuous wave, another and a less prominent tide of

* Dr. Jungk and Neiv Preparations are to be con¬
gratulated upon the identification of this alkaloid, with
ultimate analysis, determination of formula and analytical
reaction f, as given in the August number of that Journal.
Further report promised, with investigation of physiological
effect, etc.

f It is unfortunate that the hydrochlorate of berberina,
a beautiful bright yellow salt, should have so often gone
under the name of hydrastia, the cognomen of the more
abundant of the two colourless alkaloids inhydrastis. In an
examination of “hydrastin,” of commerce, Mr. Beach, in
1875, working under the observation of the writer, found in
six samples, respectively, 1*7, 17‘4, 67, 51, 6*8, and 0*0 per
cent, of hydrastia alkaloid ; and found, respectively, 35'1,
21*9, 69, 28 0, 36’0, and 100 percent, of berberina hydro -
chlorate.

X Paper read before the Montreal Horticultural Society,
1877.

Novamter 22, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

405

emigration. Westward in its direction, like the former,
it has silently accomplished results that seldom strike the
superficial eye, but yet are scarcely less in magnitude
than those which have followed the advent of the white
man to the shores of America.

I allude to that slow and noiseless immigration of
European plants which has been going on for many years,
and which probably commenced when the first European
vessel touched our shores. Side by side with the displace¬
ment of the red man by the white man has gone on the
displacement of the red man’s vegetable companions by
plants which accompanied the white man from his trans-
Atlantic home. Not more completely have the children
of the Pilgrim Fathers made themselves at home on the
banks of the Charles and the Neponset, not more com¬
pletely have the successors of Champlain and Jacques
Cartier established themselves along the St. Lawrence,
not more completely have the descendants of the aristo¬
cratic colonists of Maryland and Virginia appropriated
the shores of the Chesapeake, than have the homely
weeds of England and France made themselves at home
in the New World ; established themselves on its soil,
appropriated its fields, its gardens and its waysides. Nor
have the older States alone been seized by these European
invaders. The stream has flowed beyond them, and as no
village or hamlet in the West is without its population of
European descent, so too it is never without its plant
population of European weeds. To the American, born
and reared among them, these things have none of the
significance which they possess to him who comes across
the Atlantic, conversant with the flora of Europe, and
anticipating a complete change of plant life as well as ofi
place and scene after voyaging 3000 miles. And yet I
scarcely know which strikes the thoughtful stranger most,
the resemblance or the difference between the Old which
he has left or the New to which he has come. Differences
of course, there are, many and great, but in the face of
the fact that the new country with its millions of inhabi¬
tants is using the same language and laws and customs as
the old country he has so lately left, they are less striking.
The same is true of the American flora. The writer will
never forget the impression made on his own mind when
soon after landing in America he set to work upon the
botany of his new home. The summer, with its floral
treasures, had gone by and the brilliant New England
foliage told that winter was rapidly approaching. In the
woods and shrubberies the falling leaves revealed new
types of tree-life mingled with old forms well known in
England. But on the ground, in the fields, along the
waysides and fences were many well-known plants. Old
acquaintances, friends and foes both, which he had years
before learned to know — sometimes to cherish and often
to uproot — when a boy in the old country. So far was
the flora from being totally new that sometimes he was
puzzled to know whether, on a given space, there were
more strange or familiar forms around him. This result
was quite unexpected and opened before him a new and
very interesting field of observation and investigation,
which has continued ever since to occupy at intervals his
attention. The fact here mentioned — this migration of
European plants into America — became all the more
striking when, after a longer residence in this country, and
a further study of its flora, he looked back to his earlier
botanical studies in Europe and observed that this
vegetable migration is almost entirely in one direction.
In the midst of this rich flora, aliens by origin, but
naturalized by the letters patent of time, he looked back
to his old home and tried, but almost in vain, to recall
American forms of plant life naturalized there. Scarcely
a solitary specimen could be found to which the Old
World, always chary of conferring its citizenship upon
foreigners, could be said to have given the rights to home.
Whence comes this striking difference? Why is the
Western World so hospitable and the Eastern so inhos¬
pitable to vegetable strangers? Is it that these Western
strangers do not claim naturalization? Do they feel

their inability to make way against the crowded life of
the East, and therefore fail in the intenser struggle for
existence which marks newer and more highly developed
Europe ? The full answer to this question is at present
impossible, and the writer desires this paper to be con¬
sidered merely suggestive. Facts must be gathered
before conclusions can be drawn. The field is so vast
and the need of patient and continuous observation so
great that many years may pass ere a solution of the
problem can be reached. “ The harvest is plenteous but
the labourers are few.”

A few illustrations will show the kind of facts to which
this paper is intended to call attention, and the writer’s
purpose will be fully served if its perusal should incite
any who are familiar with European botany to note the
occurrence of European species iu different localities, and
especially if it should lead any to inquire as to the cause
which prevents the naturalization of others that can only
be raised here under cultivation.

The careful observer will notice foreign plants in all
stages of naturalization. Some are at present only
cultivated in fields or gardens, others have escaped from
the domain of the plough and the spade, and are main¬
taining a precarious existence among conditions not
altogether congenial, and are liable to extermination at
any time, by an unfavourable season. Others have a
stronger hold and occupy the fence corner or the wayside,
while a number, bolder and hardier, have emerged from
these sheltering nooks, and have begun an independent
career among the indigenous vegetation, hoping, often in
vain, to hold their own against the aborigines of the
, land. Not a few, more hardy still, or more adaptable in
their nature, have altogether cut themselves loose from
the cultivated field and the domain of man, have
ventured out into open conflict with the denizens of the
soil, and emerged victorious from the struggle. By
crowding upon them, by stifling them, by appropriating
their food, they have succeeded in ousting their anta¬
gonists, the rightful heirs, as by similar practices the
white man has ousted the red man from his ancestral
land, and both now occupy the country often to the ex¬
clusion of all save the hardiest of the native tribes.

For example, the Scarlet Poppy (Pap aver dubium), a*
weed so common in England that many a wheat field
appears one sheet of glowing red when it is in full flower,
must have come over to America many times in seed
wheat, and is occasionally met with here in the fields,,
especially in Wisconsin and other North-Western States..
Yet outside of these, it has never to our knowledge
succeeded in propagating itself. It is quite scarce in
America. The Giant Elecampane ( Inula helenium), the
Horseheal and Scabwort of the leech, so renowned
among the old herbalists as a remedy in complaints of
the chest, is but scantily diffused. The writer has met
with it in the East near Boston and in the Island of
Montreal, and it is abundant in the West in some parts
of Ohio and Indiana.

The English Groundsel ( Senecio vulgaris), a favourite
with the keepers of canary birds, but by no means in
equal liking of the English gardener, has failed to establish
itself in America. A few specimens may occasionally be
met with near gardens, but it shows here none of that
reproductive power that makes it in England one of the
earliest weeds in the spring, and the latest in the fall.

The Salsify, or Vegetable Oyster ( Tragopogon porri-
folius), a native of the Mediterranean region, but
established in a few places in the south of England,
whence it was probably imported, is most likely of late
introduction, and still on trial, not having found a place
in Professor Gray’s ‘ Manual of the American Flora.’
The writer has only found it once near St. Catharine ’§, in
Ontario, in considerable quantities, flowering and ap¬
parently bringing its seed to perfection.

The Henbane, a dangerous narcotic ( Hyoscyamus niger),
is sparingly diffused in some places. It may be found in
tolerable abundance on Fletcher’s Field, near Montreal

406

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 22, 18?»

showing the same predilection as in England for dunghills
and heaps of old bricks and mortar.

The Thorn Apple ( Datura stramonium ), a native of
Asia and Europe, where it extends as far north as
Sweden, is scantily met with in England, having escaped
from gardens, where it prefers similar spots to those
chosen by the Henbane. But it has been introduced into
this country where, under a new name, “ J amestown
(Jimson) Weed,” it is only too well known. The
American name seems to indicate that it was introduced
or first noticed as a nuisance in the neighbourhood of
Jamestown, Virginia.

The Common Hemp ( Cannabis sativa), so valuable for
its fibre, a native of the Caucasus and of the mountain's of
Northern India, only known in Western Europe in cul¬
tivation, and doubtless early brought here for economic
purposes, has run completely wild, and may now be found
in waste land near human dwellings, from the streets of
Montreal and Boston to the west of Ohio, and probably
farther still.

The G-rape Hyacinth ( Muscari botryoides), and the Star
•of Bethlehem (Ornitkogalum umbellatum), both common
English garden flowers, may be occasionally found in the
vicinity of Montreal, as if longing, yet fearing, to strike
for freedom from the control of man in their new
country.

The Corn Cockle ( Lychnis gitliago ), so mischievous in
English wheat fields, is tolerably common here in similar
places, but has not succeeded in establishing itself outside
of the protection of man. The same may, in the northern
districts, be said of the common Red Clover ( Trifolium
pratense). In spite of its deep tap root and rank growth,
it is unable to bear the cold, and an occasional severe^
■winter will exterminate it if unprotected even in culti¬
vated fields. Its near relative, however, the White
Clover ( Trifolium repens ) was introduced in early days,
and called by the Indians, “White Man’s Foot.” Long¬
fellow sings in the story of Hiawatha : —

“ Wheresoe’er they tread, beneath them
Springs a flower unknown among us —

Springs the White Man’s Foot in blossom.”

This is much more hardy and seldom yields except to the
severest frosts. It overruns field and wayside, fence-
corner and common, holding its own against even the
aborigines, and strangling them out by its tangled
perennial roots. Early in the spring it secures such
headway that larger and coarser plants are compelled to
give way. Its flowers afford the honey bee so rich a
harvest that its seeds are surely fertilized, and this double
method of reproduction by root and by seed gives it such
an advantage in the struggle for existence that it has
spread rapidly over the country, and many an American
common is as white with its flowers as is an English lawn
with daisies. It is worthy of notice that similar results
have attended the introduction of this plant into New
Zealand. There also it has run wild, and is said to be push¬
ing out some of the native species, among others the hard
and stiff New Zealand flax ( Phormium tenax), which is
said to be unable to hold its ground against the strangling
roots of the White Clover.

The English Buttercup ( Ranunculus acris), beloved of
English children and poets, especially of the school of
Wordsworth, has overrun the north-east, and the writer
has met with it even in the Canadian backwoods, where
only a trail through the bush existed, carried doubtless
in the hay taken thither to feed the horses and oxen
of the lumbermen when driving logs in a Canadian
winter. '

The Barberry ( Berberis vulgaris ), with its graceful
drooping stems and pendant racemes of bright yellow
flowers and scarlet fruit, followed the pilgrims to Ply¬
mouth Rock, and like them has struck its roots deep in
the bleak hills of New England, until now it is far more
common in the neighbourhood of Boston than in any
part of England with which the writer is acquainted.

Every one who has owned or worked a garden in

America has made the acquaintance of the ubiquitous
Purslane ( Portulaca oleracea), so fondly mentioned by the
author of ‘ My Summer in a Garden ’ as “pusley,” one of
his pets which stuck to him so closely that he coukl not
get rid of it. This, the only valuable (start not, American
gardener, it is even so) plant of its order, is cultivated as
a salad and pot-herb ; but, transplanted into our soil and
under our skies, it has squatted on the land until nothing
save constant watchfulness and hoe can prevent its com¬
plete monopoly of the garden. It occupies here the place
of the sow-thistle in England. Both break off at the
surface of the ground as soon as an attempt is made to
pull them up, and when the gardener’s back is turned both
send out a new crop of leaves, flowers and seed, to punish
him for his assault. The writer would like to suggest to
the Horticultural Society of Montreal the desirability of
offering a prize for the best illustrated essay on the means
of turning this European immigrant to account in the
Canadian and American kitchens. Possibly the surest
way of getting rid of it would be to make it useful.
Useful plants are seldom so abundant as to be a nuisance.

The Common Water Cress ( Nasturtium vulgare) —
when, how, and by whom introduced we know not — is
now so abundant in some places that one is almost
tempted to look upon it as a native. Many of the
streams of New York and of South-Western Ohio are as
thickly set with it as are any of the water- courses in old
England.

The Common Parsnip ( Pastinaca sativa) has run wild
in America in fence-corners and along railway banks near
Montreal and other places.

The Hemlock ( Conium maculatum), of Socratic infamy,
has taken possession of certain spots, as it does in
Europe. The writer has seen acres of it along the banks
of the White River at Richmond, in Indiana.

The Ox-Eye Daisy, or White Weed of New York
( Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), has crossed the Atlantic
with hay-seed and so completely monopolized many of
the meadows in the Eastern States that they more re¬
semble snowfields than hayfields when the plant is in
blossom. It is slowly spreading west and south, and last
summer the writer found it in Ohio close to the State
line of Indiana, appearing in full vigour and of large
size.

The Tansy ( Tanacetum vulgare), valued by herbalists as
a tonic, is not uncommon. The crimped variety (crispum)
grows near Montreal.

The Chicory ( C ichor ium intybus), with its stiff stem
and lovely but evanescent azure blue flowers, wild in
England and well known to manufacturers of coffee (the
genuine article ! ) is now one of the wild flowers of the
Island of Montreal.

The Great Mullein, or Elannel plant ( Verbascum
tl Lapsus), common in waste ground in Europe and Asia,
is more common here than in England in similar situa¬
tions, but never so far as the writer is aware on ground
that is truly wild.

The Yellow Toadflax, or “butter and eggs ” ( Linaria
vulgaris), has been introduced with crops, and now shows
its two-tinted blossoms in gardens and on waysides, and
once in is with difficulty eradicated.

The Catmint or Catnip (Nepeta cataria), a native of
England and southern Europe, is now as common in
America. The Burdock ( Arctium lappa) is another im¬
portation from the Old World, “ who left his country for
his country’s good,” and has proved like many others who
did the same no blessing to his adopted land. Moreover,
he has left so many of his kith and kin behind him that
his absence is not noticed. Every boy knows the hooked
burs or seed vessels of this plant, which cling so closely
to the clothes of men, the fleeces of sheep, and the manes
of horses that its rapid extension is inevitable.

The Great Celandine ( Chelidonium majus), with its
bright yellow flowers and orange juice, may be found on
the eastern seaboard and near dwellings in the inland
States.

November 22, 1879], THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

407

The Shepherd’s Purse ( Capsella bursa- pastor is), a
common weed in England, is common in Canada and the
States.

The Bladder Campion ( Silene injlata) spreads its
white petals by the roadside, while its little congener,
the Mouse Ear (Cerastium vulgatum), grows ensconced,
as in Europe, in gardens and in fields.

Our list is long enough, but a few remain too common
to be completely omitted. Every street and road in many
parts of the country is covered with a soft summer-green
carpet of the little insignificant Knot-grass ( Polygonum
aviculare). It forms a substitute for grass where grass
cannot find a foothold and keeps its ground in defiance of
dust and traffic and heat.

Not a few of the European grasses, too, imported for
meadows, have escaped from cultivation and succeeded in
establishing themselves more or less firmly as occupants
of the soil. The little Annual Meadow Grass ( Poa
annua), the Timothy ( Phleurn pratense ), the Fox-tail
(Alopecurus pratensis), the Redtop ( Agrostis vulgaris ), the
White Bent (Agrostis alba) have become perfectly wild in
different places. The Cocksfoot ( Dactylis glomerata), the
Couch or Quick grass (Triticum repens) have been less
successful. The former apparently dislikes the hot sun
of America, though it does well in the shade. The so-
called Blue Grass, more properly the J une Grass ( Poa
pratensis), of the famous Kentucky pastures, has almost
monopolized the ground in many places, and the Chess or
Cheat ( Bromus secalinus) constantly cheats the American
farmer into a more than Darwinian belief in the trans¬
formation of species, not, by the way, upward, but down¬
ward. The Purple Finger Grass ( Panicum sanguineum),
an immigrant from Southern Europe, found but not
native in England, may be gathered by the wayside in
the Eastern and Midland States. Finally, in some parts
of the country the hay betrays to the European by its
scent the presence of the Sweet Spring Grass (Anthox-
anthuvi odoratum), so well known as giving much of the
finest of the fragrance to an English hayfield.

In thus noting instances of vegetable immigration from
Europe to America, another side of the question must not
be overlooked. Many common English plants have
totally failed to secure a foothold here. The seed of the
English Daisy must have come over in almost every case
of grass-seed that has been imported ; yet it has not
become naturalized in America. The only instance with
which the writer is acquainted of its lasting for several
years in a lawn, as in England, occurred in the immediate
vicinity of Montreal, and was communicated to him by a
friend in that city. It would therefore appear that the
heat of summer rather than the cold of winter is the
barrier to the establishment in the New World of the
“ wee modest crimson-tipped flower,” so familiar to every
British eye. Equally “ conspicuous by their absence ”
are the Primrose and the Cowslip, the flowers of child¬
hood in the old country. Many other instances of this
kind might be adduced, but the converse side of the
problem now claims attention.

(To be continual.)

FRAXINUS CULTIVATION AND MANNA
PRODUCTION.*

BY J. JANSSEN, FLORENCE.

The planting of Fraxinus trees in Italy yields pecu¬
niarily a good return without any great trouble or cost
being incurred. The best trees for planting are Fraxinus
Ornus, L., and F. excelsior, L. The former species has
been artificially introduced into Sicily and Calabria,
though both species occur there growing wild.

When the tree has attained an age of eight to ten
years it is used in the production of manna. For this
purpose a horizontal incision is made in the bark with a

* Pharmaceutische Zeitung , Oct. 15. From the ‘ Agri-
coltina meridionale.’

sharp garden knife, equal to about one-fifth of the entire
breadth. In doing this the following points are ob¬
served. In the first year the incisions are made upon the
side of the tree towards which it inclines (the Fraxinus
scarcely ever grows straight) and they always progress from
below upwards. The first incision is made at the base of
the tree, and then one incision over another at intervals of
one centimetre until the ramification of the branches is
reached. The incisions are then made on the opposite
side, commencing at the base of the tree as before.
From the beginning of July to the end of September an.
incision is made daily in each tree.

The manna is collected during nine years, when the
tree becomes exhausted and incapable of production.
For this reason during the ninth year incisions are made
simultaneously on both sides of the tree in order to use
it up completely. The tree is now cut down, leaving
only a single shoot, which at the end of four or five years
is capable of production.

The juice which flows only from the incisions is at first
brownish and has a bitterish taste ; but after some hours
in contact with air it becomes solid, whitish and sweet,
forming long pipes or small stalactites. But frequently
the juice is very fluid and it then runs down, forming a
kind of long plaster that adheres to the bark, whilst a
portion drops to the ground where it is collected upon
leaves of Ficus Indica.

The manna is collected once in the week and only in
fine weather ; if rain falls the gathering is hastened.
Rain and dew interfere with the profits. A man provided
with two vessels goes round to the trees, collects the pipes
and scrapes off the smooth mass lying on the surface,
putting each sort into a different vessel, as in commerce
they have a very different value. The first sort is the
“manna canellata,” the second “manna in sorta.”
After the collection both sorts are spread out in the sun
to diy a little and then sent into commerce.

The gross returns from a hectare of land is on the
average 830-35 Italian francs, viz., manna canellata 6 kilos
at 22,10 = 132,60 ; manna in sorta, 94 kilos at 7'50 = 705;
wood cut down, 12’75. Total 850-35 francs.

PREPARATION OF PERFECTLY PURE
HYPOPHOSPHITE OF SODA*

BY M. BOYMOND.

It has long been known that the preparation of hypo-
phosphite of soda by the action of phosphorus on a
solution of soda is not a practical process. This finds a
ready explanation in the property possessed by the
hypophosphites of oxidizing rapidly in alkaline solutions
in proportion as the base is energetic and the solutions
concentrated. It consequently happens that in heating
phosphorus in a strong solution of potash or soda, much
phosphite is formed, and in boiling hypophosphites in
such solutions they are converted, with disengagement
of hydrogen, into phosphites and phosphates. Besides
the formation of considerable a quantity of phosphite, this
process presents the inconvenience that the phosphite
and phosphate formed, as well as the alkali in excess, are
dissolved, and are very difficult to eliminate.

As to the preparation of the hypophosphites by means
of a milk of lime, although that base presents important
advantages over soda, — as the quantities of phosphite
and phosphate formed are less considerable and the
elimination of these salts and the lime in excess is more
easy, — this process does not yield a perfectly pure product,
the proportion of phosphite and phosphate present amount
sometimes to as much as 5 per cent. Hypophosphite of
soda prepared with such a salt of lime could not be pure.
Besides, even when the hypo phosphite of lime is perfectly
pure, the evaporation in a water- bath of an alcoholic
solution of pure sodic hypophosphite is sufficient to give
rise to an appreciable quantity of phosphite.

* Repertoire de Pharmacie, vol. vii., p. 328, from the
Schweizerische Wochenschrift f. Pharmacie, vol. xvii.,p.92.

408

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. November 22, 1879.

The author has obtained this salt . entirely pure by
employing, in the place of hypophosphite of lime, a clear
solution of hypophosphite of baryta, in the following-
manner : — ■

25 grams of commercial hypophosphite of soda, con¬
taining phosphite, and 1 gram of hypophosphite of
baryta (sufficient to precipitate all the phosphorous and
phosphoric acid contaminating the product) were mixed
and water added so that the volume of the whole solution
did not exceed 50 c.c. Some time afterwards, without
-filtration, nearly 200 c.c. of absolute alcohol were added,
the mixture was allowed to stand, and then filtered. In
this way all the phosphoric acid was precipitated, as well
as nearly all the excess of baryta in the state of hypo¬
phosphite. To the clear filtered liquid was added, in
small quantities, sufficient solution of sulphate of soda to
precipitate the baryta still dissolved ; then about 100 c.c.
of absolute alcohol was added and the liquid allowed to
stand. The clear liquid obtained by filtration and
decantation was afterwards mixed in a larger vessel with
about 500 c.c. of absolute alcohol, and as much absolute
ether as was required to agitate the mixture strongly,
when all the hypophosphite separated. The salt was
collected and deprived of the last traces of alcohol and
ether by passing over it a current of dry air.

The ethereo-alcoholic liquid, after the separation of
the salt, was completely neutral. The hypophosphite,
crystallized in small needles, dissolved perfectly in water
and in alcohol, and the solution was not rendered turbid
by the addition of baryta or sulphate of soda. Once only
it contained a trace of sulphuric acid, consequent upon
the employment of a slight excess of sulphate of soda.

ERYTHROXYLON COCA.*

BY D. F. SHULL, PH.G.

The leaves of this plant, which grows wild in South
America, and belongs to the natural order Erythroxy-
laceee, possess peculiar stimulating properties, which
properties have been of late the subject of considerable
investigation.

Specimens of the leaves which I obtained were of an
oval-oblong pointed shape, resembling the leaves of tea,
about one inch in breadth and from one and a half to two
inches in length ; with an entire margin, short, delicate
footstalks, with a small vein in each side of the mid-rib,
running from the base to the apex. The leaves when of
good quality are of a light green colour, with an aromatic
■odour similar to tea.

The leaves when chewed have a slightly astringent
and aromatic taste, producing smarting and a feeling of
numbness to the tongue. The smarting and feeling of
numbness produced are due to the alkaloid cocaina. The
alkaloid, when taken in small doses, produces the same
effect, except in a more marked degree. I also found
that those specimens of the leaves which did not possess
this property were entirely devoid of any medicinal effect,
which goes to prove that the alkaloid must be the active
principle.

There is much variance in the quality of the leaves.
Some specimens obtained, which were of a light brown
colour, I found to be entirely worthless. A good quality
of leaves can be readily recognized by their taste and
colour.

The alkaloid cocaina I obtained by exhausting the
leaves with alcohol, precipitating the colouring matter
with lime, filtering, evaporating to a small bulk, adding
Avater and evaporating until all the alcohol was driven
off, adding carbonate of potassa, filtering, saturating
Avith carbonate of potassa, and dissolving out the
alkaloid with ether, then decolorizing with charcoal, and
allowing the menstruum to evaporate and the alkaloid to
crystallize. Cocaina forms small, colourless prismatic
crystals, inodorous, with bitter taste, producing smarting

* From the Druggists’ Circular and Chemical Gazette,
October, 1879.

and a sensation of numbness to the tongue. In small
doses it has strong stimulating properties ; it produces a
feeling of intoxication. I also obtained the alkaloid
from a decoction by treating with lime, evaporating to
small bulk, saturating Avith carbonate of potassa and
dissolving out with ether.

Cocaina is soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform and
Avater. I found the active principle not to be a glucoside
by boiling it with dilute sulphuric acid and applying
Trommer’s test for glucose.

I obtained, associated with cocaina, an uncrystallizable
principle of a light broAvn colour, strong odour, sharp
burning taste, with an alkaline reaction, soluble in
alcohol, ether, chloroform and water.

The other constituents Avhich I found were gum, tannin,
wax and resin.

I prepared an extract by exhausting the powdered
leaves with alcohol and evaporating at a temperature of
160° E. to the proper consistency. The preparation was
of a green colour and of a resinous appearance, with the
characteristic odour and taste of the leaves. When
exposed to the air it does not harden, but absorbs
moisture and becomes quite liquid. This makes it in¬
convenient for forming into pills, as they become quite
soft in a few days. From one hundred parts of the
leaves I obtained fourteen of extract.

A fluid extract was prepared by exhausting two ounces
of the poAvdered leaves Avith alcohol, reserving the first
ounce and a half and evaporating the remainder to half
an ounce, and mixing this with the first. This pre¬
paration was of a light green colour, with the odour and
taste of the leaves, and seems to be permanent.

An infusion was made by macerating tA\ro ounces of
the powdered leaves in a pint of boiling water for four
hours and straining with pressure. This preparation was
of a light brown colour, Avith an aromatic and astringent
taste similar to green tea.

Experiments were made with these three preparations
by taking doses of a known quantity of leaves and doses
of the preparations representing the same amount of the
drug and noting the effect of each on the pulse. I found
that all three produced the full stimulating effect of
the leaves on the heart’s action. Of these three pre¬
parations I think the fluid extract would be preferable,
as it is not so liable to be affected by age as the others.

In a feAv experiments made as to the therapeutic effects
of coca, I found that in doses of from 30 to 60 grains it
produces a gently excitant effect, with an indisposition to
sleep, in this respect resembling tea and coffee, but
having a more decided action on the heart, increasing its
contractions and giving elasticity to its action. It also
possesses a peculiar stimulating power over the digestive
organs, giving almost immediate relief to that feeling of
depression after eating caused by indigestion. Taken in
larger doses of from two to three drachms it excites the
whole system, causing the face to flush and imparting
increased vigour to the muscles as well as to the intellect,
with an indescribable feeling of satisfaction.

I took note of the stimulating power on the heart’s
action of a good quality of coca in doses of thirty grains
each, on four young men at the same time, by noting the
pulse of each before taking and again twenty minutes
after taking, with the result of an increase of the pulse
in the first from 90 to 110, in the second from 76 to 86,
in the third from 66 to 82, and in the fourth from 92 to
125, making the average increase of the pulse 19J.

Many contradictory statements have been made by
those who have studied coca as to its stimulating pro¬
perties. I think this is largely due to the difference in
the quality of the leaves used. Some extraordinary
stories are told by travellers in South America of the
endurance of hard labour, famine and loss of sleep,
afforded to the natives by the use of coca. They are
probably in most cases exaggerated, although there can
be no doubt that the fresh leaves used by them are more
active than those we obtain.

November 22, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

409

SChe §hai:iramttica! Journal.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 22, 1879.

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

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

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

ADULTERATION OF CREAM OF TARTAR.

The adulteration of “ cream of tartar ” still con¬
tinues to be a source of vexation, and from inquiries
we have made, there seems to be good reason for
apprehending that many persons who use this
article for various purposes, as well as those who
supply them with it, may find themselves unex¬
pectedly involved in difficulty, arising from the
presence of sulphate of baryta in the “cream of tartar”
they are using or selling. For this reason, we
think it will not be out of place to again warn mem¬
bers of the trade against the danger attending the sale
of “ cream of tartar,” unless they satisfy themselves
that the article is free from adulteration or impurity.

Some two years ago, the presence of sulphate of
baryta in “ cream of tartar ” was noticed by Mr.
Kinninmont and other of our correspondents, and
the examination of a number of samples all purport¬
ing to be obtained from the same source showed that
those samples all contained sulphate of baryta. But
notwithstanding the circumstance that the samples
represented the same original bulk of ground
“ cream of tartar,” the percentage amount of sulphate
of baryta was, strange to say, very different in the
several samples; in some it exceeded 3 per cent., and
in others, it did not exceed ^ per cent.

This strange variation in the amount of impurity
seemed at first sight unaccountable, and it was only
by the examination of the crystals from which the
powder had been obtained that a clue was found to
the explanation of the fact. When a quantity of
these crystals were placed in a large bottle and
shaken about, so as to detach any dust adhering to
the lumps of crystals, and then this dust was sepa¬
rated from the crystals by sifting, the analysis of the
dust showed that the percentage of sulphate of
baryta in it was six times as great as in the powder
obtained by grinding the original crystals.

Moreover, upon microscopic examination of that
portion of the separated dust which could not be
dissolved by boiling water, it turned out that it
consisted of small particles of “heavy spar,” the
form in which sulphate of baryta occurs naturally as
a mineral. Hence it became evident that the pre¬
sence of baryta in the “ cream of tartar ” was not
due to any introduction of impurity in the course of
its manufacture. The sulphate of baryta was not, in

fact, an ingredient of the “ cream of tartar ” crystals,
but was merely mixed mechanically with them.

From a chemical point of view it seems highly
improbable that sulphate of baryta should be intro¬
duced into “cream of tartar” as a consequence of
the presence of some baryta compound in the material
called yeso, or Spanish earth, which is used for
plastering wine, for the insoluble nature of the
sulphate of baryta is alone sufficient to justify the
opposite conclusion. We do not therefore, on these
grounds, share the opinion expressed by Professor
Redwood and Mr. Fletcher, and in the case we
have above referred to there was no inducement to
regard the presence of sulphate of baryta as being
thus explicable, for in addition to the fact that the
substance was only an admixture, it was in the state
of coarsely ground “ heavy spar.”

Further examination of other samples of “cream
of tartar” within the last few weeks has shown
that sulphate of baryta is frequently present in
this article and invariably in the state of “heavy
spar,” and it has been possible to account 'for the'
circumstance that in the ground “cream of tartar”
the percentage amount is so variable even when the
powder represents the same parcel of crystals. Bearing
in mind that in a cask of “cream of tartar” the crystals
of bitartrate of potash are mixed with the particles
of “heavy spar,” and having regard also to the great
difference in density of these two substances, it is
obviously natural that the heavy particles should
shake down towards the bottom of the cask and thus
become unevenly distributed. A sample of the
crystals taken from such a cask with every intention
of fairness might give results on analysis indicating
the entire absence of baryta, and yet analysis of the
powdered “ cream of tartar ” obtained by grinding
the contents of the cask would show that sulphate
of baryta was present in it, and the question, How
did it get there ? would arise, possibly to the incon¬
venience of the grinder or of the retailer, as in the
late case of Mr. Boyce.

Moreover, the amount of sulphate of baryta in the
powder obtained from different parts of the contents
of a cask of “cream of tartar” crystals may vary in
consequence of the unequal distribution of the
“ heavy spar,” so much that in one part it may be
so small as to appear inconsistent with the pro¬
bability of adulteration having been practised, and
in this way further difficulties may be created, lead¬
ing to the conclusion that sulphate of baryta, even
in the form of “ heavy spar,” may be derived from
the stones used in grinding, as suggested by Mr.
Tanner some weeks ago. Very little consideration
of the matter, however, will suffice to show that
there is no real foundation for the idea that this can
be the source of the contamination. The weight of
“ cream of tartar,” ground by one pair of stones will
sometimes amount to fifteen or twenty tons in a
month, and if only 1 per cent, of sulphate of baryta
was introduced into the powder by the abrasion cd

410

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 22, is79.

the stones, they would very soon cease to exist as
stones, since they do not weigh more than five or six
hundredweight each. On the contrary, the fact is
that these stones wear down very little and last a
very long time.

But there is another point of evidence, especially
conclusive in regard to the origin of the sulphate of
baryta in “ cream of tartar ’’ and explanatory of the
varying proportion, and this is the fact that by
shaking a cask of “ cream of tartar ” crystals in such
.a manner as to make all the dust settle down to the
bottom, almost all the sulphate of baryta will be
found in this dust — in one instance that lately came
within our knowledge the amount was no less than
45 per cent.

There is, therefore, reason to believe that the
adulteration of “ cream of tartar 57 with “ heavy
spar ” is systematically practised and that it is prob¬
ably carried out by throwing a handful of the coarse
powder here and there into the casks while they are
being packed. By the base ingenuity thus exercised
it becomes possible for the seller at some stage of
the commercial history of the article, either to sell
below the market rate, and thus to put honest
dealers at a disadvantage, or to obtain an extra
profit when selling at the market rate. In the
manufacture of tartaric acid the presence of such an
adulterating material as “ heavy spar ” may well
escape detection, and in the use of “cream of tartar”
for various other purposes it may happen that the
presence of 2 to 6 per cent, of sulphate of baryta
may pass unnoticed until some one of the commo¬
dities into which “ cream of tartar ” enters falls into
the hands of a public analyst, and either the seller
or the manufacturer comes to grief on a change of
adulterating his wares.

Considering the possible damage that may arise
from this vicious practice, as well as the actual fraud
that is perpetrated, we have thought it desirable to
place the facts of the case before our readers and by
thus making them known we trust that an end may
be put to this instance of adulteration.

THE PROPERTY IN A PRESCRIPTION.

Referring to the remarks made recently upon
this subject by Mr. Kinninmont, President of the
Glasgow Chemists’ Association (see before, p. 394),
the Medical Press ancl Circidar has this week some
outspoken words not quite in accord with opinions
that have been uttered by some medical men. Ad¬
mitting that occasionally the repetition of prescrip¬
tions works disadvantageously, and that in some
cases a high-class pharmacist might very properly
refuse to continue an endless repetition of doses, the
editor declines to “encourage for a moment the
“ theory that the right to that repetition is possessed
“ by anyone but the patient.” The writer concludes
by saying, “We fail to understand upon what prin-
u ciple a patient who has paid his fee for advice and

“ a recipe for medicine should be obliged to seek
“leave from either doctor or dispenser to make
“unlimited use of the recipe which he has thus
“purchased, and however justifiable it might be for
“ the dispenser to retain the original prescription for
“ his own safety, we certainly think he is bound in
“ equity to send to his patient, with the medicine, a
“ true copy, so that the patient may please himself
“ as to when and where he will have a repetition of
“ it compounded.”

THE OOTACAMUND QUINOLOGIST.

In a recent number of the Madras Mail it is
stated that Mr. Broughton, who formerly held the
post of quinologist in connection with the Govern¬
ment plantations of cinchona in the Neilgherries, is
at the present time in Colombo. It may be in the
recollection of some of our readers that about four
years since Mr. Broughton left his place of resi¬
dence in India somewhat unexpectedly, and that,
with the exception of some mysterious rumours,
nothing was known as to where he had gone. A
correspondent of the Daily News , referring to the
statement in the Madras Mail , remarks that “ it is
“ little to the credit of the Madras Government that
“ the fate of an officer high in their service should
“ be involved in such mystery ”

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION GRANTS.

We understand that the sum of £ 282 5s. has been
voted by the British Medical Association in the shape
of grants in aid of scientific investigation connected
with physiology and other subjects bearing upon the
practice of medicine. Amongst these subjects we
may mention “Anaesthetics” as having been entrusted
to Dr. McKendrick, of Glasgow University, the
“Relation between Bacteria and Surgical Diseases” to
be investigated by Dr. OcSTON,and the “Physiological
Action of Alcohol with Especial Reference to the
Mode of its Elimination,” which is to be continued
by Dr. Crocker.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION-

A meeting of the above Association will be held
on Thursday next, the 27th inst., at 17, Bloomsbury
Square, when Mr. E. M. Holmes, E.L.S., will read
a paper on “ Study.”

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

On Wednesday next, November 26, at the rooms
of the above Association, 32a, George Street, Hanover
Square, a paper will be read by Mr. A. P. Luff,
F.C.S., on “ Water Analysis.” Chair to be taken at
9 p.m.

In addition to the pharmacists mentioned last
week as having received municipal honours, Mr.
John Babtie, Pharmaceutical Chemist, has been
elected Provost of Dumbarton.

November 22, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

411

Sfrartssqtions of tjje f Ijarma^utical

NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The opening meeting of the twenty-sixth session took
place on Tuesday, November 11, Mr. J. B. Stephenson,
President of the Branch, in the chair.

The minutes of former meeting were read and con¬
firmed.

The Honorary Secretary announced the following
donations : —

To the Library : — ‘Manual of Materia Medica,’ Craig,
4th ed., from Dr. Wm, Craig ; Canadian Pharmaceutical
Journal, 5 numbers, from the Ontario College of Phar¬
macy ; The Pharmacist and Chemist, 5 numbers, from the
Chicago College of Pharmacy ; Journal of the Chemical
Society, 6 numbers, Redwood on Electricity as a Source of
Light ; Programme of the City and G-uilds of London
Institute; Technological Examinations for 1880, from
Mr. Mackay.

To the Museum: — Collection of dried specimens of in¬
digenous Medical Plants, from the Society in London,
per Mr. Holmes.

The President’s Address.

Gentlemen, — On several occasions during my protracted
tenure of office, I have been led to offer a few remarks
on some considerations arising from a view of the complex
character of our business as being at once a profession
and a trade, and I have thought the subject one of such
interest to us all, and so suitable for an address on the
opening of our scientific session, that I have ventured to
reproduce it this evening. My previous remarks were of
a fragmentary nature, and had reference to varying occa¬
sions, and I have therefore endeavoured now to treat the
subject more as a whole, and to enlarge somewhat both its
scope and comprehensiveness. Still, I fear, I shall be
open to the charge of reiteration, and I must just ask the
indulgence of those brethren who have already listened
to the expression of the same ideas, and probably even
the same words.

I shall assume that our business may be legitimately
classed as a profession — that at least to some extent, and
in some of its details, it partakes, of that character. I
think the day is gone past when we are to be regarded
as mere hewers of wood and drawers of water, and that
now, pharmacy constitutes one of the recognized provinces
of the medical field, which not only can be cultivated
better, but cannot be efficiently cultivated at all, except by
those whose exclusive business it is. We have, indeed,
occasionally complaints, and quite recently in high
quarters, of the non-recognition of the true position
and character of pharmacy and the pharmacist by the
medical profession and the public. T am bound to say
that as far as my experience goes these complaints are
groundless. I have almost invariably found a ready
recognition of our claims by both the one and the other,
or at least a readiness to admit them when the state of
the case was explained. But my object this evening is
not at all affected by the recognition or non-recognition
of our professional claims by any outside our own body.
It has to do exclusively with the realizing and carrying
out the idea by ourselves, which it is much to be desired
were done more consistently and thoroughly ; but of this
more by-and-by. Well, but on the other hand, there
can be no doubt ours is a trade as well as a profession, —
subject to commercial conditions like any other trade.
We have indeed high authorities remarking on this as an
anomalous state of things, and recording their aspirations
for the time when pharmacy shall be freed from com¬
mercial associations entirely, and assume its proper
position as a pure profession. I have no such views to
advocate to-night. Whether such a state of matters
is attainable or probable, it is not for me to say. As
matters stand at present, I cannot see that such
a consummation is either practicable or desirable,

and my own inclination is to accept the present
situation loyally. I wish to magnify our profession
as much as I can, but am by no means disposed
to minimize the trade. It is as honourable in itself
as my other trade, and in sooth, I think very few
of us could afford to let it go. And there is, to my mind,
nothing to hinder the prosecution of it honestly and effi¬
ciently, while maintaining the professional idea in its
integrity. But then if the higher character is realized
and the principle of it cherished, it ought to have an
effect on all our business actings, and it is the gist of my
address this evening to try to show how legitimately and
inevitably such an effect will follow — for it has long been
my firm persuasion that the surest means of advancing
true pharmacy is to cultivate this higher view of our
business.

The pharmacist must be a man possessed of a good
general, as well as of a special technical knowledge, both
of which are tested by examinations of fair compre¬
hensiveness and stringency. He is a man on terms
of confidence with his clients, of the same kind, and
only less in degree, with the medical practitioner, and
in the details of his calling he is constantly invested
with a responsibility, which although often ignored, it is
not easy to over-estimate. These and like considerations,
duly pondered, are fitted to evoke, in every properly con¬
stituted mind, a legitimate pride in belonging to his guild
- — an “ esprit de corps,” in fact — which will not remain
inoperative, but will prompt the possessor to a careful
and jealous guarding against anything compromising
either it or himself. And, as in other cases, a high sense
of honour and the aspirations after a lofty ideal will
dignify any course of action, however humble, so here a
sense of what our profession requires of us will lighten
the drudgeries and ennoble the commonplaces of our
business. Nor is the effect of this professional idea
which I am commending, restricted by any mean,
to the region of sentiment. On the contrary, as
I have hinted, it is capable of being applied con¬
stantly in the active duties of our calling, and I
believe, it will be found a most practical and operative
principle. It will suggest the solution of many a difficulty
— it will adjust our relations to one another and to the
public generally, and it will keep us right with regard to
many practices, where there is considerable temptation to
ero wrong-. Let me endeavour to illustrate this in a few
instances .

Consider first, for a few moments, the pecuniary re¬
muneration of our business, and the first thing that occurs
is this — if our transactions are of a professional character
the payment of them ought to be on the basis of a
professional fee. No doubt this is recognized in our
tariff of charges for prescriptions ; but is the idea
properly realized ? Is there a distinct estimation
made of the knowledge, skill and responsibility which
come into play with reference to the purity and the
potency of every drug we handle? or are these not all
thrown in as a mere makeweight to the cost of the in¬
gredients, just exactly reversing what ought to be done ?
At any rate, I do not believe that dispensing is a paying
business. I do not doubt that this statement will meet
with an incredulous reception; but I would suggest a
ready method of putting it to the proof. Our dispensing
operations are so mixed up with other business, such as
patents, perfumery, aerated waters, etc., that the returns
of the former are overlaid and lost sight of ; but let them be
carefully eliminated, and see how matters stand ; or, let
anyone arrange for himself, say half a day’s work of
pure dispensing — let there be a fair assortment — mixtures,
pills, powders, ointments, suppositories to make, a plaster
to spread, an infusion to prepare, and let him have to
prepare, copy prescription, finish off, and send out, and
then see how much he gets for his half-day’s work by the
tariff of our own price list, and estimate from that if he
could make his living as a simple dispenser. I am con¬
fident the conclusion will be that he could not. Well

412

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 22, ist8..

only think of a member of another profession — say a
doctor or a lawyer— who had as many clients as occupied
all his time, and yet could not make a living out of it.
It is not my object in what I am saying to advocate
raising prices. I think my brethren on the Price Com¬
mittee will bear me out when I say that my action has
been (somewhat illogically) in the other direction ; but I
venture to predict that if my proposition be true, viz.,
that dispensing per se is not remunerative, then, in the
event of the public insisting on depriving us of our
profits on such articles as they can get at stores, etc.,
this will inevitably happen — they will have to pay for
their medicine at a very different rate from what they
have been accustomed to. We must all have met with
cases of complaint by parties who have become accident¬
ally aware of the inexpensive composition of some pre¬
paration they have had, and for which they have been
chai'ged, as they call it, an exorbitant, or extortionate,
price, and I have known medical men, who surely should
have known better, indulge in the same tone. And there
is another class of cases where parties want, say one dozen
powders in bulk, for themselves to divide, or the solid
ingredients of a mixture that they may add the water
themselves. These are very unpleasant cases, and I am
afraid I cannot suggest any consideration that will suffice
to get the better of such knowing ones; but the only
course open to us in such circumstances, is the firm main¬
tenance and the respectful assertion of our professional
standing, both as a rule of action to ourselves and a vin¬
dication of it to others.

Again, there is the old question, but one of the last
importance, our relation to the medical profession, with the
grievance of medical dispensing on the one side, and counter
prescribing on the other. As to the former, we in Edin¬
burgh have no experience of it, but we know how in many
places in Scotland, and still more in England, it is still
maintained with the greatest tenacity, and it presents to
the mind one of the dreariest prospects of pharmacy. One
peculiarly objectionable form of it is the case where open
shop is kept with the doctor’s name over the door.
Surely our Pharmacy Bill might be adapted to meet such
a case as this. But it is the other grievance that falls
within the scope of my subject. Now, there is a certain
counter prescribing which I hold to be indispensable in
the carrying on of our business, and which I would rather
describe as recommending our goods , and to be able to do so
implies a knowledge of their nature and uses, and is of the
essence of a pharmacist’s qualifications. So that, if this
were the extent of the grievance, I should feel it unneces¬
sary to say anything on the subject. But I am bound to
admit that I believe prescribing of a most objectionable
character prevails to a great extent, and it is therefore
necessary to apply the professional standard to it. Now,
as a general rule, the higher view a man takes of his
own profession the less likely will he be to encroach on
that of another. The pharmacist feels that he has his
own field, worthy of, and demanding all his exertions,
and that he has neither the right nor the qualification to
occupy the field of the practitioner. His professional
instincts will impel him to take up this position at once.
He would rather be a good pharmacist than an unqualified
medical man — a quack in fact— and various considera¬
tions will confirm him in the conclusion. Itespect for his
clients will influence him, and respect for the medical
practitioner will come into play, as well as respect for
his own profession and himself, and the result will be
that in maintaining his self-respect, he will acquire that
of the others. I do not say that medical dispensing will
cease all at once on this happening ; but surely there is
more likelihood of it ceasing when the doctor comes to
look on the pharmacist not as an antagonist, but as a
co-opex-ator, and to be entirely freed from all suspicion
of him as a rival— and j ust as surely will this result never
be attained by the assertion of rights and qualifications
on our part, which do not belong to us, and which can
only embitter and exasperate the whole question.

There is another department of our business upon
which I should much like to see the influence of this
professional spirit, which I am commending, brought to
bear. I allude to patent and proprietary medicines, and
with them I include specialities and novelties of various
kinds — preparations sometimes of articles of the Pharma¬
copoeia, but purporting to have an excellence peculiar to
themselves — a daily increasing tribe, and I bracket them
all together “ Quackery.” I shall be sorry to give offence
or to do injustice to any article of real merit — and some
such do unquestionably exist in this class ; but my
apology is just that I find them in bad company, and I
cannot draw any distinction. These productions are all
charactei'ized by their wonderful properties in curing
disease — diseases of the most formidable character, and
generally indeed of the most widely differing character —
in proof of which we have the ipse dixit of the authors,
given for the most part in such high-flown and bombas-
tical language that the wonder is it does not defeat the
object in view, accompanied by testimonials of the most
wonderful kind, from all classes, but chiefly clergymen ;
and both mixed up with a jargon of a quasi-scientific or
offensively pious — I should rather say profane — descrip¬
tion. And all this is poured forth on the world by means
of advertisements in newspapers and magazines, bills,
pamphlets, almanacs, etc., etc., constituting in fact a
literature sui generis. The other characteristic of the
whole tribe is the secret of their composition or mode of
preparation— which is known only to the author — a fact,
the importance of which the public is carefully instrueted
in and warned as to the fatal consequences of neglecting.
Surely, gentlemen, it might be thought that a different
standard from the professional might suffice for passing
condemnation on this whole system, and that all these
pretensions and secrecies are not more incompatible with
true science than with the simplest dictates of morality
or even decency. And indeed before saying anything of
the professional, I have one or two remarks on some
other aspects of the case. And first I would require the
authors of every one of these articles to declare on oath
the composition of it. This appears a simple provision,
but I would anticipate much good fi*om the working of
it. From what I have seen in the case of several much
vaunted preparations, I am sure that the wonderful
secret would turn out to be of such a common-place
character as to necessitate the calling in some other
agency to account for the effects. We would be shut xip
to find this in Faith, and the inference would at once
follow if Faith can work such wonders with such rubbishy
materials, what will it not perform if allied with a
rational treatment. This consideration applies to the public
intei’est, but there is another strictly related to our own.
It appears to me that this class of business is so much
on the increase as to threaten to effect a change in the
character of our business, so that from being compounders
of medicines we shall become in great measure merely
the salesmen of the preparations of others. This may
appear from a simple commercial point of view no great
evil, because — as we all know — the public — strangely
enough — will give without grudging shillings for these
articles, when they grudge pence for our own preparations,
or for medical prescriptions. I am not at all sure,
however, that our pecuniary interests will not suffer, and
that disastrously, in the long run ; but apart from that,
I must protest for myself and for my brethren upon whose
qualifications as compounders of medicine our Boards of
Examiners have set their imprimatur against the degra¬
dation which is inflicted on us, and the slur cast upon us
in the eyes of the world, by any body of persons and for
any reasons whatever. Let we take a leaf out of these
gentlemen’s books. Well do they know the prestige of
our profession in the estimation of the public, and how
necessary our agency is for the introduction of their
productions, although, when once established, general
merchants or stores may safely be trusted to sell them ;
let us utilize this prestige in the opposite direction, for

.November 22, 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL J6URNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

413

the purpose of discouraging and discrediting the whole
system. Then lastly, on this head — I feel it almost un¬
necessary to make any .remark on the professional
attitude we ought to assume towards this question. Only
one word. We see the credulity of the public — even of
the educated part of it — on this matter, and we recognize
a l-eason for it in their ignorance on the special subject,
and often perhaps in the unsettledness of mind that
goes along with illness, and we even see medical men
often lend their sanction to this system, and especially to
that section of it which I have alluded to as specialities.
But then, doctors are not pharmacists. We claim that part
of the field as ours, and to us therefore falls the duty of
forming an opinion on the subject, and if we find the
. system opposed to the whole scope and genius of true phar¬
macy, which I think there can be no intelligent doubt that
we shall, then is there not a call upon us as the accredited
exponents of pharmacy to denounce this as a counterfeit
system, and, in as far as we can, to stand between the
public and the medical practitioners on the one hand, and
these helots of our own profession on the other ?

In conclusion, you ask me whether these are not fancy
pictures I have been drawing, and whether this pro¬
fessional spirit, or at least the practical carrying of it into
business, is not entirely a myth ; whether in fact the end
of our business is not after all to make money. I admit
in sober sadness that there is not much evidence around
us of the prevalence of the professional element, while
there is abundance of that of the money making. Herein
indeed, lie the occasion and the apology for my enlarging
on the subject. Mammon, gentlemen, is an exacting
master. According to the sacred dictum, no man can
serve two masters when Mammon is one of them, so that
if a man allows it to master him, there can be no scope
for the higher and nobler allegiance. Yet there may be
much more of the professional spirit in full and active
operation than what meets the eye, for like other noble
principles it often leads a hidden life, and it never courts
publicity. I said maybe," but I confidently cherish,
and we must all cherish, the hope and belief that there
really is, for on it depends the future of pharmacy.
Without this it were but the body without the soul ; and
who of us can be so distrustful and so disloyal as to doubt
that there is a bright and a glorious future for our as yet
infant organization ? And, gentlemen, if I have awakened
or strengthened in any of you the conviction or the faith
that this principle may and ought thoroughly to pervade
our profession, my object has been abundantly accom¬
plished, for I shall feel assured that thereby I have done
something towards helping on this better state of things
which is yet in store for us.

Mr. Wm. Gilmour then read communications on (1)
Gregory’s Powder, (2) Proof Spirit, and (3) Physic Balls

and Mass.

Note on Gregory’s Powder.

BY W. GILMOUR.

Some time ago my attention was called to the fact
that complaints were frequent regardingGregory’sPowder,
these complaints generally being to the effect that it was
next to impossible to get it to mix xvith water. Shortly
before this there had been some change, I was aware, in
the density of the magnesia used in making the Gregory
(Pattison’s), and the blame was therefore at once con¬
nected with this. Further investigation, however, proved
this not to be the case, but directly attached the cause of
complaint with the use of one of Baker’s sieves, which
had about this time been introduced to the trade.
Baker’s sieve, as probably everyone knows, is constructed
with a metal agitator working backwards and forwards
above but in close contact with a concave sieve. Sieve
No. 5, recommended for Gregory and similar powders,
has 2500 holes to the square inch, and this is as near as
possible of a fineness with the muslin sieve which we had
been in the habit of passing the powder through. It

was, therefore, I was convinced, nothing connected with
the fineness or coarseness of sieve used which accounted
for the peculiar change which had taken place in the
powder. I should state here that the plan pursued in
making the Gregory was the same in both cases. Operating
on a pound of material the ingredients were first mixed
in a large mortar, then transferred to the sieves, in the
one case a Baker and in the other a fine muslin through
which the powder was pressed by means of a brush, and
afterwards again transferred to the mortar and lightly
mixed and finally bottled. Prepared in this way, the
powder in the one case mixed readily with water, in the
other it was, as already stated, next to impossible to mix
it. Even when it was placed in a bottle and thoroughly
shaken with water the mass of the powder floated to" the
surface in the froth, and only by repeated shaking and
after the lapse of considerable time did it assume the
dark brown, homogeneous appearance produced in the
other powder by a single shake under the same condi¬
tions. The peculiar way in which the powder floated in
little balls on the surface of the water and resisted its
penetrating action, together with its general behaviour,
forced the impression on my mind at an early stage of
the investigation that some electric action had been set
up in the powder in passing through the sieve. I soon,
however, set aside this idea, principally because I
felt persuaded that any electric action which
might have been set up in the powder had
ample time to exhaust itself in the exposure of the
sec md mixing which the powder received in the mortar
after having passed through the sieve. To make quite
certain, however, I attached a delicate electroscope both
to the sieve and the powder whilst in operation, but as I
quite expected with entirely negative results, and I there¬
fore had to cast about for another and more probable
explanation of the phenomenon. In thinking the matter
over two theories presented themselves for consideration.
First, that the powders were not sufficiently mixed with
the Baker sieve, and in consequence the rhubarb float¬
ing about in little masses, prevented the powder being-
taken up by the water. To favour this theory there was
the well-known fact that rhubarb, especially when in
little granulated masses, is much more difficult to mix
with water than magnesia, and the further fact that on
mixing the powder with water the little of the powder
that was taken up did not colour to the dark brown
which rhubarb always assumes when acted upon by
water. The other theory was that the powder passing-
through the Baker sieve was less acted upon by the
atmosphere, there being a much smaller surface of the
powder exposed to its action and the process also being-
more quickly finished. We all know how quickly Gre¬
gory is acted upon by the air, and the natural inference
was that the density of a powder thus acted upon would
be greater, and that consequently it would be much more
easily mixed with water. In support of this theory of
the miscibility of the one and not of the other, there was
the fact that the powder passing through the Baker sieve
was undoubtedly the lighter in colour of the two, show¬
ing apparently that it had been less acted upon than the
other by the atmosphere. I may state at once that both
of these theories were most thoroughly knocked upon
the head when upon further experiment I discovered that
the powder which had passed through a Baker sieve did not
afterwards regain its property of miscibility by passing it
through the muslin sieve also. It could not, therefore, be
from want of exposure to the atmosphere or from want
of the powders being thoroughly mixed that it exhibited
this peculiar property, for here we had the Gregory, so
to speak, doubly exposed and doubly sifted, and still it
had not regained the power of mixing with water to any
extent.

Examined with an ordinary pocket lens no difference
could be detected between the powders, and even with a
low power the microscope revealed little to account for
the change. It was only under a higher power and after

414

THE rHAEMACETTTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 22, 18*9.

sundry experiments I concluded I had arrived at a
probable solution of the problem. Baker’s sieve, it will
be kept in mind, consists of a brass sieve and a metal
mixer. Both of these present hard, unyielding surfaces
to the powder passing through. The mixer, it will
further be noticed, is simply an arrangement of wires
(four or five), separated from each other by intervals, and
passing closely over the face of the sieve. These wires
are, comparatively speaking, small, and therefore they
pass through the powders without, to any extent, mixing
them. At the same time, they pass so close to the
surface of the sieve as to force through whatever they
come into contact with, and there is in consequence
more a process of granulation than of mixing set up
and continually going on, which, to a great extent, might
account for the phenomenon in Gregory’s Powder under
consideration. Along with this, however, and to my
mind a more important element in its production, is the
heat generated by friction from the mixer passing so
closely and quickly over the surface of the sieve. I
am not prepared to say how far this heat consolidates
the little granulated masses, but that it has some very
decided effect may be proved by a very simple experi¬
ment. If a small quantity of the powder, for example, be
exposed to a gentle heat, its repellant action to water is en-
creased, but if on the other hand, it be exposed for a short
time to the action of the atmosphere it loses it entirely.
Either the heat dries the powder, or it consolidates the
particles, the result in either case being the same.

Since writing the foregoing, the subject has grown
somewhat on my hands. I did not expect to find, as I
now do, that the phenomenon described had been for the
last two years the subject of such general observation and
complaint, far less was I prepared to find such a diversity
of opinion as to its cause. It appears that this non¬
miscibility of Gregory with water may exist, although no
Baker’s sieve has been used in its preparation ; and, on
the other hand, it has been known not to exist where the
Baker’s sieve has alone been used. Having investigated
the subject entirely in connection with the Baker’s sieve,
to the use of which this peculiar property of Gregory
was in my own case undoubtedly traced, and on
abandoning the use of which it as undoubtedly
ceased to exist, I might well be content to
leave it there without endeavouring also to reconcile
conflicting opinions. It seems to me, however, that
the subject is of sufficient importance to justify
better treatment than this would indicate, and more¬
over I cannot but think that many of the opinions
expressed are perfectly reconcilable, not only with the
solution of [the question given in the preceding paper,
but reconcilable also to a great extent with each other.
Some, for example, blame the magnesia and change the
kind which they have been using, and find the evil com¬
plained of ceases. Others again blame the rhubarb and
change if for another, and likewise some also blame the
ginger, and so on. I am thoroughly convinced the true
explanation of the phenomenon is to be found in the mag¬
nesia being more or less hydrated. If the magnesia as
well as the other powders be (comparatively speaking) in
a dry condition, circumstances will then be favourable to
produce a Gregory non-miscible. On the other hand
should the same magnesia be used with a rhubarb or a
ginger (compax-atively speaking) in a moist condition, the
magnesia would absorb the moisture, and the Gregory
would be converted into a miscible. In proof of this, if
the magnesia from which a non-miscible Gregory has
been made be exposed for a time to the atmosphere, it
will be found to have changed into a miscible on being
made into Gregory. In the same 'way if a non-miscible
Gregory be exposed for a time to the atmosphere it changes
into a miscible, and on the other hand one perfectly mis¬
cible may to a certain extent be changed to a non-miscible
by exposure for a time to a gentle heat, but in this case
its non-miscibility will neither be so aggravated nor so

aggravating as a powder which has passed through a
Baker sieve.

The note on Gregory’s Powder gave rise to considerable
discussion, in which Messrs. Heron, Noble, Young, Sym¬
ington, Napier and the President took part. Several of
them had experienced the same difficulty as Mr. Gilmour,
and had overcome it by different means. In connection
with this preparation a very interesting document was sub¬
mitted to the meeting, by Mr. Mackay, containing some
prescriptions in the handwriting of the late Dr. Gregory,
and among these was the recipe for Gregory’s Powder, in
the same proportions as it now stands in the British
Pharmacopoeia. The date on the prescription is December
22, 1816, and it is signed J. G.

Note on Physio Balls and Mass.

BY W. GILMOUK.

I do not know if my experience a3 an apprentice was
a common one, but I can well recall after the lapse of all
these years (not a few now) the feeling of aversion which
I soon entertained to all veterinary medicines and to
horse balls in particular. One of my earliest experiences
was gained from an endeavour to make a good mass
with olive oil. I was directed to melt the aloes in a
large iron crucible over the fire, next to add a certain
quantity of oil, and then stir till cold. If any of my
young friends have a forenoon to spare, and want a little
diversion, and do not mind wasting a little aloes, they
may try this formula. The plan generally followed,
however, was powdered aloes and soft soap a sufficiency.
This at least made a mass, and what did it matter,
although, to use the expression of an ancient farrier who
patronized the establishment, they became through course
of time “ as hard as chucky stones .” They were made to
sell, and sell they did. Times have changed, and doubt¬
less we change with them, and what suited the taste and
fancy and wants of twenty of thirty years ago will not
suit those, I need scarcely say, of the present day.
Thoughts such as these were called up recently, when on
turning over the pages of an old number of the Pharma¬
ceutical Journal (December 22, 1877), I came upon an
article on “ Physic Balls and Mass.” The paper was
certainly in the direction of elegant veterinary pharmacy,
but, unfortunately, what was new in the paper was not
of much use to the general reader, and what might have
been of use was not new. The somewhat elaborate, not
to say expensive, paraphernalia therein referred to, placed
it, I think, entirely beyond the scope of the great majority
of its readers, whose aim, I take it, is not so much to
supply so many gross on the shortest possible notice, as
to meet the limited, but daily, wants of their own im¬
mediate sphere. Eor more than ten years I have used
nothing but glycerine in the making of physic mass, and
while in my earlier experiments I endeavoured to formu¬
late the amount of glycerine necessary to make a proper
mass, I soon gave up the hope of doing so, being per¬
suaded that it was next to impossible. A change in the
quantity of aloes operated upon, even although a corre¬
sponding proportion of glycerine was employed, a change
in the temperature, a more or less lengthened exposure of
the mass to heat in preparation, and probably many
other causes also, modified the results obtained.

The plan I now adopt is to break up the aloes into
small pieces, pour over it a little glycerine (about an
ounce to each pound of aloes) to make it work freely, and
when the aloes is melted, pour it on to a slab well
smeared with glycerine, with which the aloes is worked
up into a proper consistence. A good mass may in this
way be obtained at any time, under any circumstances,
with the use of a minimum of glycerine. The pan which
I use for melting the aloes is one of my own devising,
made of ordinary tin ware, and fitted up on the glue-pot
principle — one pan fitting into another. When the balls
are weighed they are first wrapped into waxed paper and

■November 22, l*,7r.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL> TRANSACTIONS.

415

then into ordinary counter paper, after which they are
placed in their proper divisions end up. In this way I
have a ball, I think, as near perfection as possible, and I
never have any trouble from their falling or getting soft.

Mr. Gilmour afterward brought before the meeting the
following —

Memorandum with Reference to the Weights and
Measures Act, 1878 (41 & 42 Viet., c. 49).

It will be remembered that by a recent Order in Coun¬
cil the various weights, such for example as the 4 grain,
the | drachm, the 2 scruple, etc., which were excluded in
the original Act, have been legalized, together with the
symbols 7) j, 3j> and the only point now necessary to be
observed is that these weights, together with every other,
must be properly stamped.

I am not aware, however, of ever having seen a proper
explanation of the order relating to apothecaries’ mea¬
sures, and therefore the following short account may
not be uninteresting. It need only be further premised
that the various points noted are now law, although it is
not at all probable that the inspector will enforce it for
some time to come. The first point to be noted is that
every measure must be graduated into its own denomina¬
tion — that is to say a measure glass graduated into ounces
must not contain drachms, or one graduated into drachms
must not contain minims and vice versa. Each glass must
■either be all ounces, or drachms, or minims.

The second point is that each graduation must be
distinctly marked on each measure glass. In the case of
ounces each graduation must be distinctly marked with
the number of ounces, but an intermediate half-ounce is
also allowed to be graduated, although not marked half¬
ounce; the same applies to the drachms, but in the case
of the minim measure each tenth minim only requires to
be marked, and the law apparently admits of any num¬
ber of intermediate graduations unmarked.

The next point is that no symbols are allowed, and all
measure glasses must therefore be marked fl. oz., fl.
dram., min., and each glass must also have marked upon
it, t = 62° Eah.

The largest measure glass provided for is 40 ozs., but
any smaller number may be legal, such for example as a
20 ozs., 10 ozs., 5 ozs., 4 ozs., down to J oz. In the same
way the drachms and minims, I presume, may be legal up
to or down to any reasonable number, but the exact
limits I for the moment forget.

The last point to be observed is that the same rule ap¬
plies as with the weights, viz., that wherever a measure
glass is stamped or engraved it is legal in every other
place if the stamp be the Government stamp of a crown,
and V.R. The Order in Council provides for no distinc¬
tive mark in the case of the measure glass, and therefore
the presumption is that it will be the same with the weights,
but it expressly provides for or allows the engraving of
the mark. It will be kept in mind that it is as much
illegal to have a measure glass not engraved or stamped,
as it is to have one incorrect in measure, or not conform¬
ing to the other requirements of the Act.

Some discussion ensued with regard to the glass mea¬
sures and considerable difference of opinion was expressed
•as to the precise scope of the different provisions.

Mr. Mackay mentioned that last month when he was in
London, this subject had been fully discussed and it had
not then been definitely arranged, although a specimen of
the proposed marked measure had been submitted, but not
officially. From the remark made by the President of the
Society in Bloomsbury Square, at the last meeting, it was
evident that the Government was now about to take
action in the matter, and he thought it probable, that,
without much further delay, specific instructions would
be issued and ample time given to chemists to get a
series of the new measures for general use. In the meantime
Mr. Mackay suggested that further inquiry might be

made of the inspector of the Edinburgh district, and the
meeting thereafter appointed the President, Messrs. Gil¬
mour and Mackay for that purpose.

f tiaprateuticat ^oriefir of Jr eta nd.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday , November 5, 1879.

Present — Charles R. C. Tichborne, LL.D., Ph.D.,
President ; Dr. A. Smith, Vice-President ; Sir George
Owens, M.D., Messrs. Brunker, Goodwin, Hayes, Hodg¬
son, Oldham, Payne (Belfast), Bring (Belfast), Simpson.

The minutes of the meeting held on October 1 were
read and signed.

The letter from Mr. Robert Barklie, F.C.S., read at
last meeting, was now considered.

Proposed by Mr. Payne, seconded by Mr. Pring, and
resolved —

“ That the School of Chemistry in connection with the
Working Men’s Institute, Belfast, be one of the
schools from which this Society will accept certifi¬
cates of Practical Chemistry, provided Mr. Barklie
conforms to the regulations of this Council.”

Read letter from Messrs. T. Devlin, Sons and Co., Bel¬
fast, respecting the loss, by fire, of Mr. Frederick Devlin’s
certificate as pharmaceutical chemist.

Proposed by Mr. Hodgson, seconded by Mr. Pring,
and resolved —

“ To acknowledge the letter from Messrs. T. Devlin,
Sons and Co., and to state that Mr. Frederick Devlin
has passed his examination as a pharmaceutical
chemist, and that a certificate was issued to that
effect on 4th April, 1877.”

_ Read a letter from Mr. James Acheson, Pharmaceu¬
tical Chemist, of Ballymena, making inquiries relative
to the certificate for compounding presented by one of
the candidates at the last pharmaceutical examination.

The Registrar to inform him that the Council are of
opinion that Mr. Fennell is not authorized to answer
private inquiries.

The letters from Mr. William Dowling, of Killarney,
and Mr. William Protc, of Belfast, which were read at
last meeting, were now considered in connection with the
the notice of motion given by Mr. Holmes.

Mr. Holmes being absent, his motion by his request
was proposed by Mr. Payne as follows

“ That the Preliminary, Entrance, or Matriculation ex¬
aminations of the following bodies be accepted by
the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, in lieu of
the Preliminary examination as at present required,
viz. : Trinity College, the Queen’s Colleges, the
College of Surgeons, and the Apothecaries’ Hall of
Ireland. Candidate to pay entrance fee as hereto¬
fore.”

The motion was not seconded, and was, by permission
withdrawn.

Proposed by Mr. Brunker, and seconded by Dr. A.
Smith —

“ That the Preliminary or Matriculation examination
of the College of Surgeons, or such other examina¬
tion as is accepted by the General Medical Council
as equivalent to it, and the Preliminary examination
of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, be
accepted instead of the Preliminary examination of
this Society ; such examination to be passed at least
two years before the candidate presents himself for
the licence of this Society. The usual fee of two
guineas to be paid.”

The following amendment was proposed by Mr. Payne,
and seconded by Mr. Pring : —

“ That the Preliminary examination of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Great Britain be omitted, until
the Council of that Society be asked if they will

416

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (November 22, W9

accept the certificates of candidates who have passed
the Preliminary examination of the Irish Pharma¬
ceutical Society, in lieu of their own Preliminary.”

This amendment was lost, on a division, and the
original motion (Mr. Brunker’s) was then put and
carried.

Mr. Dowling and Mr. Prott to be informed that the
Preliminary examination passed by them shall be accepted
in accordance with the foregoing resolution.

The Reports of the Examinations held in October were
laid on the table.

At the Pharmaceutical examination held on October 1st,
five candidates presented themselves, of whom the follow¬
ing three passed : —

David Baxter . Ballymoncy.

Patrick John Joseph English . . .Mullingar.

Andrew Mcllwaine ...33, High Street, Belfast.

At the Preliminary examinations held on October 6th
and 7th, twenty candidates presented themselves, of
whom eighteen passed.

Proposed by Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr. Hayes,
and resolved —

“ That Regulation III. Finance (page 61 of Calendar),
relating to members, read as follows : — * The annual
subscription of elected members of the Society shall
be one guinea, payable in advance on 1st October
in each year, or a life composition often guineas.’ ”

Proposed by Mr. Brunker, seconded by Mr. Payne,
and resolved —

“ That the Chief Secretary for Ireland be requested
to receive a deputation, who shall be empowered to
explain the views of the Council with reference to
the proposed amendments in the Pharmacy Act,
and the working of the Poisons Act generally in
Ireland.”

The following to form the deputation, viz., the Presi¬
dent, the Vice-President, Mr. Payne, Mr. W. Hayes,
Mr. Brunker, Dr. Collins and Mr. Oldham.

Proposed by Mr. Oldham, and seconded by Mr.
Hayes —

“That a circular be addressed to all licentiates who
are not members, inviting them to join the Society.”

Mr. Oldham read the draft of a circular prepared by
him, setting forth the advantages to licentiates of becom¬
ing members of the Society. Some slight alterations
were made in it, and it was then resolved —

“ That the circular as thus amended be adopted and
printed, and that a copy be sent to each licentiate
of the Society.”

Some bills were ordered for payment, and the Council
then rose.

rouinqial ®rans;action$.

LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. _

The second meeting of the session was held in the
library, Church Institute, on Wednesday, November 12,
the President, Mr. Councillor Stead, in the chair.

The minutes of the former meeting having been read
and confirmed, Mr. J. Slater was elected a member and
Messrs. G-. F. Bacon, F. Cooper, F. A. Graham, William
Wallace and Henry Thorpe were elected associates.

Mr. James Abbott gave a lecture on Ergot, in which
he illustrated upon the black board the various stages of
the development of this fungus, and explained its action
upon the involuntary muscles of the capillaries whereby
haemorrhage was checked. He was of opinion that the
oil present in the ergotized grain was inert and that a
fresh aqueous infusion answered all the purposes required.
In order to keep the ergot free from parasites, it was
best to powder it as soon as received, add a little water
and then dry at a temperature not exceeding 212° F.,
constantly stirring so as to granulate the powder, in which
condition it would keepwell for two or three years though
it was advisable to replenish the stock with new annually.

Mr. S. Taylor proposed a vote of thanks to Mr.
Abbott for the very interesting and instructive lecture,
regretting that there wras not a better attendance of
associates, for whose especial interest these monthly
meetings were held.

Mr. E. Yewdall seconded the motion and thought it
was very necessary there should be experiments instituted
with various solvents in order to obtain a preparation
which would give uniform results; although the subject
had received a fair share of attention there was yet a
difference of opinion, shown by the various preparations
in the market, in some of which the oil was retained,
giving a very unsightly preparation, whilst others prepared
with water gave unsatisfactory results.

The President supported the motion and stated that a
freshly prepared decoction in which the smallest possible
quantity of water was used had been found to give the
best results in a large obstetrical practice extending over
a period of more than twenty-five years.

The motion was carried.

GRIMSBY CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this newly-formed Association was held
on November 12, at Druig’s Hotel. There was a very
fair attendance of chemists belonging to Grimsby and
district. The business transacted was mostly of a pre¬
liminary or introductory character. The chief objects of
the institution are to establish a uniform scale of prices
in retail business as well as charges for prescriptions, etc.,
and to protect trade interests generally. An inaugural
dinner was spoken of, to come off about the middle of
January next, so as to supplement Christmas festivities.
This proposition was heartily supported by all present,
and the meeting then broke up. Good wholesome kindly
feelings was manifest throughout.

jpiwdiitp of

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of this Association was held on
Thursday, November 13, 1879, when the President,
Professor Attfield, occupied the chair.

The Secretary reported that during the last session the
number of members had been ninety-one, and that the
number of meetings had been seventeen.

A list of seventeen papers read at these meetings was
read.

A Committee had been appointed to report on recent
advances in pharmacy and allied branches to the Associa¬
tion, and reports had been presented on subjects in
Chemical Physics, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Che¬
mistry, Analytical Chemistry, Botany, Materia Medica
and Pharmacy.

The subjects of these papers and reports have already
appeared in this Journal.

The Secretary then read the report of the Committee
appointed at the Annual Meeting, for the obtaining of
pharmaceutical papers of a practical character, which svas
adopted unanimously.

The election of officers was then proceeded with,
Messrs. Drew and Jackson having been appointed as a
Committee to examine the voting papers. For Vice-
Presidents, Mr. H. Allen, Mr. R. H. Parker ; for Com¬
mittee, Mr. W. Elborne, Mr. A. F. Dimmock, Mr. J.
Thomas, Mr. J. B. Taylor ; for Secretary and Treasurer,
Mr. W. R. Dunstan, 17, Bloomsbury Square, \V.C.

The President then delivered his annual address as
follows : —

The President’s Address.

After addressing some words of welcome to fold
members, new members and prospective members, Pro-

November 22, 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

417

!

i

i

■

i

fessor Attfield reminded those who had recently joined
the Association, that their aim should be threefold,
namely, to get knowledge because they desired to pass
the examinations ; to get knowledge irrespective of that
desire; and to become useful, active members of the
Students’ Association. To the extent to which they
attained those objects would they afterwards become
successful pharmacists and possibly leaders in pharmacy.
Pharmaceutical education was technical and general.
That which related to dispensing and the preparation of
galenicals was technical ; that which related to chemistry,
physics and botany, was, for them, general. Materia
medica was partly general, partly technical. The man
who wished to become solely a chemist, or botanist, or
physicist, must not only acquaint himself with the funda¬
mental truths and principles, and analogies of chemistry,
botany or physics, but must have a technical knowledge
of the respective subjects. The pharmaceutical student,
however, studying those sciences because they formed
the basis of the practice of pharmacy, only went so far
into them as to learn the general working of their laws,
went far enough to enable him to take a broader view of
his calling than he would otherwise possess, went far
enough to enable him to anticipate as well as supply the
demands of the public, wjent far enough to enable him
to extend as well as occupy the area of his avocation.
When properly taught and properly learned, they en¬
larged and improved the powers of the student’s
mind, not only as a man, but very specially as
a pharmacist. The Pharmaceutical Society had for
nearly forty years been directly and indirectly main¬
taining and encouraging courses of general education
in these subjects at Bloomsbury and in connection with
the provincial pharmaceutical associations, and had insti¬
tuted examinations with the same objects. In the legal
profession the subjects which occupied a similar position
in general legal education as distinguished from technical
legal education were, he was assured, Roman law, juris¬
prudence, and international law. In the medical profession
the subjects of general medical education were much the
same as their own. The efforts of the Pharmaceutical
Society in promoting general pharmaceutical education
were thwarted to the extent that students through too
rapidly learning these subjects very rapidly forget them,
possessing them indeed only long enough to enable them
to pass an examination. There was, he feared, in phar¬
macy just now a tendency to depend too much on rapid
teaching and too little on deliberate learning. He implored
students to get knowledge not only on account of, but
irrespective of their desire to pass the examinations. Their
technical pharmaceutical knowledge would be kept bright
by daily use in business, it was their general pharma¬
ceutical knowledge which was liable to rust, and which
therefore needed their utmost care as to its being of the
right kind and of a lasting kind. He trusted too that
those whom he addressed would also have the honourable
ambition to some day become leaders in pharmacy and
leaders in local efforts to promote the good of those around
them. To that end he commended to their notice the
machinery of the Students’ Association and of similar
associations. There was no better way of fitting them¬
selves for such public, pharmaceutical, or other work than
by compiling papers on chemical, physical, botanical,
mechanical, or more specially pharmaceutical or galenical
subjects, and reading them before their assembled fellow-
students of the current or past sessions.

Mr. Branson proposed, and Mr. Gutheridge seconded’
a vote of thanks to the President for his able address
and for the interest which he takes in the welfare of the
Association, which was carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks was then proposed by Mr. Taylor to
the retiring officers, which was carried nem. con.

Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Dunstan having responded to
this vote, the meeting adjourned.

Parltamentarg and Ian fro^tdiitp.

Is Nitrate of Potash a Poison?

At the Liskeard County Court, on Monday, before the
judge (Mr. Montague Bere, Q.C.), an action was brought
by Richard Young, chemist and druggist, of Liskeard,
against Daniel Bray, farmer, of Alternun, to recover the
sum of £2 2s., the cost of an analysis supplied defendant.
Mr. Borlase Childs appeared for plaintiff, and Mr.
Collings, of Bodmin, defended. According to Mr. Childs’
statement, the defendant went to his client in September,
last year, and complained that certain of his cattle had
died, and he was unable to account for their death.
Defendant said that he had been giving the cattle some
“ drenches,” and the plaintiff said that they must have
contained poisonous matter. Mr. Young told the
defendant to send him one of the drenches, and he
would have it analysed. This defendant did, and he ex¬
pressed his intention of bringing an action against the
person who supplied the drenches if they were found to
contain poison. The plaintiff forwarded a sample to
Messrs. Allen and Hanburys, Lombard Street, London,
and on September 27, he received the following from
them : — “ The sample consists of nitrate of potash with a
small admixture of some species of starch. It is entirely
free from the poisonous matter, and from prussic acid,
and carbolic acid. The poisons, if any are present, must
therefore be sought by a complete poison analysis. The
starch could only be identified by an expensive, and per¬
haps useless, search.” Mr. Young then informed the
defendant that the drenches contained nitrate of potash,
and that if he wanted the analysis he would have to pay
£2 2s. He agreed to take it upon the terms named, and
defendant was entered as a debtor to plaintiff, but for
some reason or other defendant thought fit not to pay
the sum. The action was accordingly brought to recover
the sum paid for the analysis.

Plaintiff was called, and said he was led to believe
that there was poison in the drenches from the descrip¬
tion of the death of the animals given by defendant.
Witness told him that if the analysis did not prove there
was poison he would pay for the analysis himself. He
had paid the fees for the analysis, which stated that
there was nitrate of potash in the drenches.

His Honour : What did you pay for the analysis ?

Witness : The charge was £2 2s., but I got a discount
of 20 per cent, allowed.

His Honour : So you paid £1 14s. for it?

Witness : Yes.

His Honour : The analysis produced is no analysis at
all. It does not state the quantity of poisonous matter
in it, and to say that a certain mixture contained two
items without mentioning the quantities was not a
complete analysis, and if you paid £2 2s. for that you are
a verv unwise man.

Witness : But it proves that there was poison in the
sample.

His Honour: But nitrate of potash used in certain
quantities is not poison, and you told the defendant that
you would take the risk of the analysis as to its containing
poisonous matter.

Witness: There was a large quantity of nitrate of
potash contained in the drenches. I understood this to
be the case from the analyst.

His Honour: Well, he does not state in the document
what the amount was.

Witness : I understood that it contained more than 80
per cent, of poison.

Mr. Collings contended that the analysis spoke for
itself. They did not require to go any further into the
case.

His Honour reminded Mr. Young that the analysis did
not even state that nitrate of potash was a poison.

Mr. Childs : But it is a fact that it is a poison.

418

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 22, ms.

His Honour: The document does not show that the
poisonous matter was there in such a quantity as to cause
death.

Mr. Childs reminded his honour that the only question
was whether his client was entitled to the sum he paid
for the analysis.

His Honour gave a verdict for defendant. — Western
Daily Mercury.

Action foe Pkotection of Trade Mark.

In the Supreme Court of Judicature, before Lords
Justices James, Baggallay and Thesiger, on Monday,
November 17, an appeal from the decision of Vice-
Chancellor Malins in the case of Dence v. Mason, was
heard.

The action was brought by Thomas Dence and John
James Mason, carrying on business as provision dealers
in Little Stanhope Street, Mayfair, under the title of
Brand and Co., to restrain the defendant, Frank Mason,
from selling any essence of beef, concentrated beef-tea,
meat lozenges, or other meat essences in tins, or otherwise
having thereon labels or wrappers in imitation of the
labels or wrappers used by the plaintiffs, and from using
the name of Brand, either alone or in combination with
Mason or any other name, in the manufacture of these
articles in such manner as to represent or lead to the belief
that the articles made by the defendant had been manufac¬
tured by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs’ firm was established
about forty-five years ago, when the business was con¬
ducted by Mr. Henderson William Brand, and was, about
the year 1835, acquired by Mr. Withall, who, on Sep¬
tember 29, 1875, sold the same to the plaintiff, Thomas
Dence, for the sum of £5000. The business had always
been carried on under the name of Brand and Co. The
plaintiff, J ohn Mason, was for fifteen years employed as
the manager of the business ; and the defendant, who is
his brother, was for about fourteen years prior to March,
1874, when he left the plaintiffs’ service, employed as an
assistant in the business. After leaving the firm he
entered into partnership with a grocer in Sloane Street,
named Brand, and commenced the sale of essence of beef
and other articles of a similar nature under the style of
Brand and Mason. This he was constrained by a consent
order from doing, and he then called the firm Mason and
Brand till the partnership was dissolved at the end of
1874. After that he continued the use of the word Brand
in one form or another upon his labels, and this action
was commenced in December, 1876. In February, 1878,
the Vice-Chancellor granted a perpetual injunction
against the defendant, with costs. Afterwards the de¬
fendant became a bankrupt. He appealed from the
judgment, but the trustee in his bankruptcy was not
made a party.

Mr. Solomon was for the appellant ; Mr. Glasse, Q.C.,
Mr. Bristowe, Q.C., and Mr. Freeman were for the
plaintiff.

Their Lordships had at first some doubt whether the
defendant was entitled to appeal, but they ultimately
decided that he could appeal from the injunction, which
was a personal order against him, notwithstanding the
bankruptcy, though he had no interest in the order as to
costs, his estate being now vested in the trustee. But on
the merits their Lordships agreed with the Vice-Chan¬
cellor and affirmed his order with this exception, that
they thought it went too far in restraining the defendant
from using the names of Mason and Brand, and that it
ought to be qualified by inserting a proviso that the in¬
junction was not to restrain the defendant from using the
names of Mason and Brand bond fide , if and when there
should be a real partnership properly designated by that
name. But this alteration was not to affect the costs of
the appeal, which must be paid by the defendant. —
Times.

(©bituarir.

Notice has been received of the death of the follow¬
ing : —

On the 26th of October, 1879, Mr. James Barnes,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Fishergate, Preston. Mr.
Barnes was a Local Secretary of the Pharmaceutical
Society, of which he was also one of the Founders, having
joined it in 1841.

On the 1st of November, 1879, Mr. James Pasmore,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, King’s Hoad, Chelsea, Aged
65 years. Mr. Pasmore had been a Member of the-
Pharmaceutical Society since 1842.

lisp([nsttr0 ,Pemoi[atul;t.

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

[345]. In reply to Mr. Fox, with regard to the
proper mode of dispensing this injection, I may say that
the presence or absence of a precipitate in certain patent
medicines of comparable composition does not justify us
in assuming that it is right to imitate the plan there
adopted. I very much question whether “Injectio Brou”
and similar remedial preparations have their efficacy in¬
creased by the insoluble lead salt; but if Mr. Fox can
point out any book on therapeutics that recommends
sulphate of lead for its “soothing properties,” or, indeed,
for any medicinal purpose, I shall be glad to see it. He
will consult the standard works of Pereira, Christison,
Neligan, Boyle, Waring, or Adolphe Wahltuch, without
avail. It is not even included in the ‘Pharmacop&i
Universelle.’

I may repeat that I have known preacribers ordering
such a lotion who were quite unaware of the chemical
incompatibility, and others who meant the precipitate to
be filtered out. Such a mixture is often used as a colly -
rium, and a muddy sediment diffused through the liquid
would not be very nice for such a delicate and sensitive
organ as the eye.

The writer of “ The Month,” while allowing that it is
unusual to filter, directs that a “ Shake the bottle ” label
should not be put on, and further adds “ the deposit is
not considered an essential part of the remedy or one
that possesses any value. The dispenser, therefore, has
nothing to justify him in ordering the bottle to be
shaken.” The last quotation is sound sense, but coupled
with the first allusion seems to indicate a degree of un¬
certainty if not an evasive reply. If lead sulphate be
useless, why retain it, especially when many patients have
acquired the habit of shaking up the sedimentary de¬
posits in their- medicaments before administration ? Thus
all the precautions of the dispenser would be rendered
useless.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[365]. It was no doubt a slip of Lavandula's to
mention “ Potass. Bicarb.” as a constituent of this
ointment — but his suggestion to use double quantity of
the potash salt is not a good one.

I differ from Pot. Carbon, in the opinion that a
creamy ointment cannot be produced with fresh official
ingredients. Doubtless, however, much depends on
manipulation and the amount of exposure to air.
Omitting the water in the iodide of potassium ointment.

November 22, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

419

and using lard free from moisture, would retard the
decomposition, but sooner or later the chemical change
is inevitable — hence the prescriber should be informed of
the results and questioned as to his intentions.

J. B. L. Mackay.

*** Lavandula writes to say that “Potass. Bicarb.”
was a mistake for “Potass. Carb.”

R 01. Origani .' . 5 drops.

01. Apii . ^ ounce.

01. Carui . .5 drops.

Com. Ex. Yaleriat . 30 drops.

Com. Ex. Sesquianha Rad. . . j dram.

Sp. Rect. to make an ounce.

Robert Rogers.

[370]. Rub the two extracts with a few drops of boiling
water to a smooth paste, then mix them thoroughly with
the lard and a smooth ointment will be the result. This is
•similar to No. 359.

Lavandula.

[370]. J. Y. should rub the extracts in a mortar with a
little hot water, warming the mortar at the same time
will diminish the labour. When smooth and soft add
the adeps and thus a good ointment may be turned out.

J. M.

[370b]. Rub down both the extracts to a smooth paste
with a little hot water, then mix thoroughly with the pre¬
pared lard.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[371]. P. T. W. will find by using the proper acid,
carbolic, crystal., that no excipient is necessary, as a good
enough mass can be had from the ingredients in the pre¬
scription, mixing first the powders, adding the acid last.

J. M.

[371]. In reply to P. T. W., I beg to state that if
P. T. W. will try spts. rect. as an excipient for his pill
mass, he[will (I think) find it answer admirably. By virtue
of its solvent power, it will to an extent operate on the
guaiacum resin, so that a large quantity of ferri arsen. or
other dry powder may be added at leisure.

H. R. L.

[372]. This might be dispensed in the following
manner. Weigh the proper quantity of phosphorus, say
gr. j. Melt with, say gr. x. each, bals. tolu. and cera
flav. under water, using a small dish half full of warm
water, mix well under water. When cold take f part for
30 pills and mix with the quinine and iron, making it
into a mass with s. v. r. These pills should also be
coated.

J. M.

[374]. Dilute the liq. potassse with a fluid ounce of
water, pour into the right sized bottle and add all at once
the cod-liver oil, shake vigorously, and gradually add the
remainder of the water, shaking well on each addition.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[374.] The quantity of liq. potassse ordered in this pre¬
scription is insufficient to saponify the oil, therefore a
little more must be used, and the water to be added
gradually, shaking after each addition.

Lavandula.

[375]. I had the enclosed sent me to dispense to-day, it
was neatly printed on pink paper. Can any correspondent
inform me how to do it ? —

Dermaline.

R Acidi Malachiti . 1Tlv.

Acidi Acetici. . nix.

Tinct. Amyrru.,

Balsam. Nervini . aa ifixx.

According to the direction's it is intended for removing
corns, etc.

Is the third intended for tr. myrrh ae, and is not nervine
balsam a solid ointment ?

L. J. Latham.

[376]. I enclose copy of recipe that came into my
hands yesterday, can any of your readers kindly tell me
what should be given ? —

Dot([8 amt Queries.

[634]. COLOURING FOR WAX. — Epsilon will find
that colouring the turpentine with ancliusa is a very good
plan, viz: —

R Rad. Anchusse ........ ^ij.

Spt. Terebinth . 5xvj*

Macerate two or three days with occasional agitation
and filter through tow.

Then melt your wax in the coloured turpentine.

C. H. Bradshaw.

[634]. Digest in a warm place a small quantity of
alkanet root, with the turpentine and wax, until suffi¬
ciently coloured. I have no doubt but that this will
answer Epsilon’s purpose.

Lavandula.

[634]. Immersion of fragments of alkanet root (enclosed
in a muslin bag) into the melted wax will impart beauti¬
ful red more or less deep according to requirements.

J. B. L. Mackay.

[635]. SALICYLIC MOUTH WASH.— Would any
reader oblige with a good formula for “ Salicylic tooth and
mouth wash” ? Jacque.

[636]. DR. STARTIN’S POMADE.— Will one of your
readers oblige me with the formula of “Dr. Startin’*
Pomade ? ” It is used for scurf, etc.

W. Richards.

[637]. CROTON CHLORAL.— Will some corre¬
spondent kindly oblige by giving a method of determining
the purity or otherwise of croton chloral.

Quidnunc.

[638]. CLEANING OF PAINTINGS.— Will any of
your readers kindly furnish me with the method of
cleaning oil paintings with peroxide of hydrogen, its
application, and the manner in which it acts ?

[639]. PRINCE’S BALSAM.— Can any of your read¬
ers inform me, if there is any authority for a preparation
called “ Prince’s Balsam? ”

H. A. Howe..

%* No notice can le taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the ivriter; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

was

Sale of Drugs in Doctors’ Shops in Glasgow.

Sir —Being in Glasgow for a few days lately, I
surprised at the comparatively small number of qualified
chemists carrying on business in that greatest of Scotland s
commercial cities. I was told by an authority that there
were nearly one hundred “doctors’ shops on the south
side of the river. Curious to know how they conducted
business in those shops I called at one in Crown Street and
demanded 15 grains of Dover’s powder. I was served by a
girl apparently about sixteen years of age, and who appeared
to have charge of the dispensing department. She did not
appear very familiar with the apothecaries weights, but at

420

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 22, 13:9.

last succeeded in getting 13 grains into the scale pan. The
powder appeared dark in colour and not like the genuine
article, hut as the girl did not appear to possess much
pharmaceutical knowledge, I paid the moderate charge of
1 \d. and departed. On arriving at my lodgings and
examining the powder, I found that it had little taste and
no smell, and although I did not get it analysed, I am sure
that it did not contain the proper proportion of either
opium or potass, sulph. On going back to the shop, and
asking the doctor if the article was the pulv. ipecac, co.,

B.P., he very coolly told me that no druggist could sell me
Dover’s powder without a prescription, at the same time
refusing to give me back what I had purchased of the girl.
I observed that some of his other medicines appeared to be
much of the same character as the pulv. Doveri, but of
course unless analysed according to Act 38 and 39 Viet.,
cap. 63, no penalty could be imposed. What, with your
kind permission, I want to ask your correspondents, is—

1. Is it lawful for a doctor to keep a girl not qualified,
for the purpose of dispensing medicines?

2. Is it lawful for a doctor, such as the above, to keep an
open shop for the purpose of retailing and dispensing medi¬
cines ?

3. As I see a great many grocers selling citrate of mag¬
nesia ; and ironmongers and others selling poisonous sheep
dips. Is this lawful ?

If some of your numerous correspondents will kindly
supply the information required, they will greatly oblige.

Geo. Cormack.

Druggists’ Sunday Work.

Sir, — I was very pleased to see in a recent Journal the
letter of Mr. Long on the above subject, and I, as an
advocate for early closing, fully endorse his remarks, and
I really do think that the late hours and constant confine¬
ment of many of our brethren are most undoubtedly the
sole cause of them “departing this life ” much earlier than
they otherwise would if they would only give themselves
more liberty for recreation, etc. It is indeed very painful
to see in the obituary of our Journal the comparatively
young ages at which chemists succumb. I have now closed
(in conjunction with my neighbour) at 8 p.m. for over three
years, and I find that it does not interfere with business in
the least, it works very well, and may, I think, be extended
to other chemists in the neighbourhood if they would only
unite. I am sorry to say that my brethren within ten or
fifteen minutes’ walk of me keep their shops wide open
every night until 10.30 or 11 p.m. and I feel certain that the
amount of business they do as a rule after 8 or 9 o’clock
cannot pay for gas. Besides they are daily injuring their
bodily health and I should not be surprised to find their
names down in the obituary at any time. They are not
even content with the late hours on week days, but must
open on Sundays from 5 or 6 in the evening till 10.30 or 11,
which to my mind is very bad taste, and it takes the
respectability of the establishment off at once. I do not
deny for one mmute but that it is necessary to be on the
premises at certain hours to supply the “needful,” but to
invite a Sunday trade by the lighting of the lamp and
opening the shop is altogether quite uncalled for. I never
show a light in the evening of Sunday (or any Bank-
holiday), excepting I should be engaged in dispensing, but
the gas is turned out directly.

Frederick D. Heath.

30, Highbury Park , N.

Sir,— Now that Mr. Nicol’s health question has been duly
discussed in the Journal, would you kindly allow me to ask
what a chemist’s shop is open on Sunday for? Whether is
it for the sale of medicines and medicines only, or perfumes,
confectioneries, soda water, tobacco, cigars, etc.? I always
had an impression it was for the former, but have met with
several, who say, that you cannot well refuse to supply
anything that may be asked for, while the shop is open. Is
this right? Perhaps some of your readers will oblige with
their opinion of druggists’ Sunday duties.

Jek.

Extract of Malt.

Sir, — As an illustration of adage “There is nothing new
under the sun,” I send the formula copied from an old
book, viz., ‘ Pharmacopoeia Bateana,’ date 1693. At the
present time when ext. of malt, either alone or in combina¬
tion, seems so popular, it is interesting to find that it was
prescribed for the same class of diseases at that remote
period as it is now.

Extm. Maltce Compositum.

$jc Leaves of Coltsfoot,

Spotted Lungwort . : ^vj.

Liquorice . . . Sviij.

Raisins, stoned . Ibij.

Strongest Ale, not hopt, of a due age . Gall. vj.

Boyl to the consumption of gall, iv., then express
strongly and evaporate to the consistency of honey. Do36r
5ij twice or thrice a day, against the phthisick or consump¬
tion of the lungs, etc.

C. S. Miller.

R. H. L. — Recipes for materials for stopping teeth will be
found in vol. vii., p. 706.

O. D. R. — The Chemical News is published weekly, and
the office is in Boy Court, Ludgate Hill. The Analyst is a
monthly journal, and is published by Bailliere, Tindall and
Cox, King William Street, W.C. Application as to terms
of subscription should be made at the respective publishing
offices.

R. Modlen. — The botanical origin of Damiana was first
determined by Mr. E. M. Holmes, and published in this
Journal, vol. vi. (1876), p. 581. See also other notices of
the drug in the same volume, pp. 24 and 423 (figure).

“ Surrey .” — (1) The pod has been received and will
receive attention. (2) The fee, which is for registration,
must be paid, if a certificate of another examining body be
accepted, and the person, after registration, stands in
exactly the same position as to the Bell Scholarship, and
in every other respect, as if he had passed the Society’s
examination.

“ Pil. Rhei Co.” — It would be against the rules of this
Journal to invite an expression of opinion upon the merits
of a particular apparatus. The recipe you require would
probably be supplied by the manufacturer.

Hampton. — A good transparent cement may be made by
warming best transparent gelatine, cut small, with a little
acetic acid until liquefied. Other recipes have been given
in back numbers of this Journal.

H. Eeles. — We can only refer you to the numerous ad¬
vertisements in another part of this Journal.

“ Pickering.” — The definition is to be found in most
modern works on English grammar.

K. K. — (1) See the note on “ Green Extract Sup¬
positories,” vol. ix., p. 949. (2) See the remarks on ext.

taraxaci liq., Dispensing Memorandum No. 10, vol. viii.,
145.

“ Inquirer .” — See remarks on Dispensing Memorandum
No. 259, vol. ix., p. 797.

C. Swinn and Chemist and Dentist. — We are obliged for
your letters, and think that the use of the alternative terms
in the Act was intended to indicate, as the words of the
section purport, that the exemption provided by the sixth
section had reference to all persons who were at the passing
of the Act bond fide engaged in the practice of performing
operations upon the teeth. We think the most ordinary
common-sense view of the case, as well as the terms of the
Act itself, are alike sufficient to justify this view should the
position of pharmaceutical dentists ever be disputed.

A. Billing ton. —Your inquiry should be addressed to a
rabbit fancier, or to the editor of the Field or of Land and
Water.

D, K. Whitlock. — The communication of which you
speak as having been forwarded has not been received.

Scrutator. — The precipitate is probably hydrobromate.
A paper upon an analogous case is to be found in the Pharm.
Journal for July 30, 1870, p. 96.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Stocks, Haydon, Toomey, Sumner, Harrington,
Stott, Thompson, Liebig and Co., Inquirer, One who would
try to be even with them, Noris, H. R. L., A. P. S.

November 29, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

421

“ THE MONTH.”

The sudden accession of severe weather has stripped
the gardens and hedges of the last lingering traces
of flowers. Mulberry trees that on the 13th instant
were covered with leaves, at 10 o’clock the next
morning had shed every leaf, and from the fine
bracing weather of autumn we are suddenly landed,
as it were, in the middle of December or January.
The Gardens at Kew, except in the hothouse, hardly
show a flower anywhere. A solitary hellebore in
blossom and a single Boraginaceous plant were the
only ones that were noticed in the Herbaceous
Ground on a recent visit.

In the Economic House at Kew there are at pre¬
sent in blossom the Assam tea plant, the staminate
plant of the papaw tree, the ground nut (. Arackis
hypogcea), Petiveria alliacea , and the sour varieties of
the tobacco plant. The boldo tree is in bud, and
will probably be in flower in another week.

At Mr. Bull’s nursery at Chelsea, during the early
j part of this month, Gentiana Kurroo, an Indian
medicinal plant, was in blossom. The root of this
plant appears to have been frequently confounded
with that of Picrorrhiza Kurroa, a Scropliulariaceous
plant, which is also intensely bitter.

In Flora , Dr. Otto Kuntze has a long paper on
“The Relationship of Seaweeds and Flowering
Plants.” He would trace the derivation of the Angio-
sperms from the Carposporous algse, and the Gym-
nosperms from the Oosporece.

At a recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural
Society, Professor Henslow exhibited a curious speci¬
men of Begonia , in which the connectives of the
anther were developed as stigmas. Dr. Berggren has
stated his opinion that the further plants are found
from the centre where they are most abundant and
luxuriant, the greater is their tendency to produce
male plants, or male inflorescence, while, in their
native home, the tendency is rather to produce the
female plant. It would be interesting to know whether
an improvement in the circumstances of the plant led
to this curious phenomenon noticed in the Begonia.

At a recent meeting of the Liunean Society, Pro¬
fessor Henslow read a paper on the origin of the
scorpioid cyme, which he considers to belong to the
indefinite or centripetal system. He points out that
the flower sometimes found in the fork of the two
branches of the inflorescence in Myosotis is not the
terminal bud of the primary axis, but belongs to
one or other branch of the inflorescence, and owes
its position to the adhesion between the terminal
and the highest axillary raceme. ' He considers that
this form of inflorescence owes its origin to a new
principle of phyllotaxis, by which opposite decussate
leaves are resolved into alternate, the ordinary
spiral line oscillating through three -fourths of a
circle, so that if a line be drawn from flower to bract
it will represent the scorpioid cyme (or rather raceme)
of the Boraginaceoe.

The well-known fungologist, the Rev. M. J.
Berkeley, has recently met with a specimen of Poly-
porus varius , bearing asci, containing spores, on the
pores beneath the pileus. A similar occurrence on
the hymenium of Agaricus mellens was described
by De Barry some years ago. If this be not a para¬
sitical growth, but a natural, though rarely seen
development in the hymenomycetous fungi, it will
open a new field of observation, and probably modify
to a certain extent Ethe views held concerning the
reproductive organs of this group of fungi. A draw-
Third Series, No. 492.

ing of asci and spores may be seen in the Gardeners'
Chronicle for Nov. 15.

A writer in the same journal makes some curious
remarks with regard to cowbane, Cicuta virosa,
which are worthy of attention. He states that it
is certainly eaten by cattle wherever they can get
at it. He has frequently examined the sides of
those pits where it grows abundantly and where
it is regularly cropped as far as a cow can reach,
and he can find no sign of its being dropped after
it is bitten. He has never been able on inquiry to
hear of any suspicious death or illness of cattle in
the neighbourhood where it grows. He has also seen
GAnantke crocata quite cropped down, while (Enan-
the Phellandrium is never touched by the cows.
Unfortunately the address of the writer is not
given, but even supposing it to be in the North of
England or Scotland, it is interesting to know that
Cicuta virosa and (Enanthe crocata do not prove
poisonous to cattle in some localities, since the
latter is known to be remarkably fatal to human
beings. The effect of eating the plants upon the
milk of the cow is one that needs inquiry.

Those who have visited the hothouse containing
succulent plants at Kew must have noticed a peculiar
feature in the spines of many of the cacti, viz. that
the tips are frequently dark coloured. In that very
valuable work, ‘Notes of a Naturalist on the “Chal¬
lenger,” ’ the use of this discoloration is pointed out
in a very interesting manner. The author believes it
to be intended to protect the plants from being de¬
voured by animals, for he has observed that on at¬
tempting to touch the end of one of the spines it is
almost impossible to do so without getting, pricked,
owing to the illusion produced by the dark tips of the
spines causing a miscalculation of distance. Animals
in this way probably get severely pricked and learn
to avoid the plant. The black tips being almost in¬
visible as viewed at many angles, the spines look as
if they terminated where the white portions of the
spines end and consequently the hand is advanced
as if the prickles began there and is pricked suddenly
by the unseen black tips. This feature, however, is
not present in several species of Opuntia.

Some time ago attention was called in these
columns to the discovery of the largest aroid known,
Conophallus titanwn, by Dr. Beccari, and now there
is announced the discovery of the smallest in the
world. It is called Microcasia pygmcea and inhabits
moist rocks, etc., in Borneo, dhe whole plant is not
more than one inch high and has fleshy lanceolate
obovate leaves, with rose coloured spathes just ap¬
pearing above them. The spathe is deciduous, sepaia-
ting above the base, and has a cup-like appearance.

Most of those who use the microscope are familiar
with the beautiful little object called Volvox globator,
one of the fresh water algse, and know how difficult
it is to keep in a healthy state. Mr. N. E. Brown,
of Kew, has found that if it be kept out of doors in
a bottk or vessel exposed to the drip from a roof, it
keeps in good health and multiplies freely, hli.
Bolton of Birmingham, has recently sent out
specimens of this beautiful little plant in a very
rare state, namely with antheridia, which are
readily distinguished by their orange colour. ,

Several changes have recently been made in
colonial botanical gardens. Dr. Tnmen, senior
assistant in the Botanical Department of the British
Museum, and well known, not only for Ins disin¬
terested labours as one of the editors of the Journal

422

THE PHARMACE*JTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. LNovember 29, 1879.

of Botany , but also in connection with Professor
Bentley as one of the editors of the very valuable
and well known work on ‘Medicinal Plants,’ has
been appointed director of the Botanical Gardens of
Ceylon. Fortunately he has been able to complete
‘ Medicinal Plants ’ before leaving. It would nave
been a matter of regret had it been necessary to leave
this work unfinished, as it will undoubtedly be the
standard work on the subject for many years to come.
The Government may be congratulated on their
choice of one who is not only an able botanist but
who is peculiarly fitted by his special knowledge of
and interest in medicinal plants for the duties which
will be incumbent on him in an island where cin¬
chona, cinnamon and other plantations of great value
and extent form important branches of industry.
The invariable kindness and courtesy experienced
at his hands by all inquirers, and the readiness with
which he at all times frequently spends both con¬
siderable trouble and time in helping amateur bo¬
tanists to determine knotty botanical points, indicate
that his Directorate will be a highly gratifying one
to all who are concerned in it.

Mr. H. Marshall Ward, scholar of Christ’s College,
Cambridge, who read a valuable paper on the develop¬
ment of the Embryo in Phanerogams at the Linnean
Society last week, goes out with Dr. Trimen as
cryptogamist, for two years, to investigate the coffee
leaf disease in Ceylon.

Mr. D. Morris, B.A., former assistant director of
the Botanical Garden at Ceylon, is appointed to be
director of the Botanical Department, Jamaica, and
other changes in the superintendence of the botanical
gardens at Jamaica, Demerara and Trinidad have
also taken place.

The Gardeners' Chronicle states that the fruit of
the Ptelea trifoliata , or wafer ash (so-called from the
resemblance of its fruits to a wafer in shape and
thinness), has been tried in France as a substitute for
hops in beer. The quality and flavour are reported
equal to the best Strassburg beer. The tree is called the
hop tree in the U nited States, on account of the fruit
having the odour of the hop. The bark of the tree
is used in medicine in the United States in cases
where a soothing tonic is required to relieve debility
after fevers or gastro-intestinal irritation, and can be
taken where other tonics are rejected. As the fruits
probably contain the same alkaloid, berberine, which
is found in the bark, beer made from the Ptelea
fruits may be expected to prove quite a semi-medi¬
cinal drink, and will possibly be free from the
slightly narcotic influence of the hop. Without
going to America, there is an extremely common
plant in this country having not merely the odour of
the hop in a powerful degree, but also its bitterness,
viz., Teucrium Scorodonia, which would prove an
excellent substitute for hops when such is required.
It also possesses the advantage of having been
proved to be very useful in the relief of pyrosis, or
water-brash, and as a stomachic tonic.

According to a paragraph quoted in the Pharm.
Zeitung f. Russland (Oct. 1, p. 591) the juice of a
couth American species of Ocimum — 0. basilicum —
known in Brazil under the name of ‘ ‘ albahaca,” is a
valuable anthelmintic. It is said to rapidly cause
the removal of the worm in any stage of its deve¬
lopment, whilst if no worm be present it simply
exercises an aperient and antiseptic action. Fifty
grams of the juice are administered, followed about
two hours afterwards by a dose of castor oil.

-

In a St. Petersburg weekly medical journal
(quoted Pharm. Zeit. f. Itussl., Oct. 15, p. 623),
P. Filatow reports that in the provincial hospital of
Ssaransk, during the last three years, an infusion of
sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) has been used in
numerous cases of intermittent fever and in most of
them with results as certain and satisfactory as those
following the use of quinine. The “infusion” used
was prepared by digesting sunflower stalks, cut into
small pieces, during three or four days in eight parts
of ordinary brandy ; it is described as being then of
the colour of sherry and tasting of sunflower. The
dose for adults was a tablespoonful three times a
day, and the action is said to have been equally
favourable whether administered before or during
the paroxysm of fever. In fresh cases of fever the
cure was completed in from one to three days, but
in more confirmed ones the use of the infusion
required to be continued during a week or
longer.

In the Deutsch. med. Woch ., No. 34, Dr. Auerbach,
of Berlin, recommends the use of balsam of Peru for
pruritus as well as for itch, having found its use
attended with the greatest success.

Dr. E. U. Kerr, in the British Medical Journal of
November 1, reports a new and important use for
nitrite of amyl. He has found its inhalation in
doses of 5 minims to cause even severe post partnm
haemorrhage to cease.

A specimen of “ saffron ” is described M . Boutet in
the Repertoire de Pharmacie (vii., 469), which requires
almost a stretch of courtesy to accord to it the term
adulterated. It was found to contain only 25 per
cent, of true saffron, the other 75 per cent, being
made up of sulphate of lime (25 per cent.), glucose
(20 per cent.), colouring matter, water, and the stalks
and radicles of a dicotyledonous plant. Another
commercial specimen of saffron, which recently came
into the hands of Herr Martenson, of Dorpat, for
examination, was found by him (Pharm. Zeit. f.
Russl., Oct. 15), to contain 39 per cent, of calcium
carbonate (the total ash in a genuine specimen being
about 6 per cent. ), some foreign colouring matter, and
saccharine matter, probably honey. Although similar
adulteration of saffron has been long ago 'recognized
and pointed out, the practice appears still to possess
considerable vitality.

The same Russian journal also mentions (Pharm.
Zeit. f. Russl., Oct. 1) a spurious “ essential oil of
bitter almonds ” which has occurred in the market
for some years, but the origin of which is not known,
it not being the volatile oil of cherry-laurel, peach
kernels or apricot kernels. It differs from the true
essential oil of almonds in its specific gravity being
only 1*029 to 1*030 ; that of the true oil, according to
‘Pharmacographia,’ varying between 1 '061 and 1*065,
or when purified, according to Umney, 1*049. The
spurious oil has also a less agreeable and more acrid
smell. Boy veau indicates as a means of distinguish¬
ing between these oils their behaviour towards con¬
centrated sulphuric acid. With an equal volume of
the true oil the mixture acquires a beautiful red
colour that becomes gradually darker, but the liquid
remains thin and clear. The essential oils Irom
peach and apricot kernels also turn red at first, but
become dark red more rapidly ; the mixtures also
become thick, but remain clear. Cherry-laurel oil
behaves similarly, but becomes immediately very
dark red. The mixture of the spurious oil with sul¬
phuric acid also becomes red, but afterwards brown,

November 29, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

423

and then thick and turbid, and after one day forms
a stiff brownish mass.

At the drug sales in London this month, an
unusually large quantity of Siam benzoin in the
tear was offered, also a small quantity of Sumatra
benzoin in the tear, a form in which it rarely occurs.
In this state it differs from the Siam in having a
paler colour and more dusty surface, and has not the
peculiar vanilla odour of the Siam benzoin. Balsam
of tolu also appeared in quantity. Among those of
less common occurrence were noticed kamala, con-
durango bark, myrtle wax, German chamomile, Para
tonquin beans, Ceylon cardamoms and araroba.
Among spurious drugs offered were jaborandi, con¬
sisting of leaves of a species of pepper, false buchu
( Empkurum serrulatnm) and horse-cassia pods
( Cassia grcindis).

In Messrs. Gehe’s 1 September Report,’ it is stated
that owing to the Zulu war the supply of Cape aloes
had stopped during the preceeding six months.

Calabar beans are stated also to have been scarce.
Several packages of these beans have, however, been
offered for sale during the last few drug sales in
London, and some of them of good quality.

In South Italy the olive trees have suffered much
from drought and not even a moderate supply of oil
is reported, so that an advance in the price of olive
oil also may be expected.

Owing to the great demand for artificial benzoic
acid its value has increased 10 per cent, in spite of
the establishment of new factories. It is now pre¬
pared both in France and Germany, not only, as
formerly, from the urine of herbivorous animals, but
also from the toluol of coal tar. This has a much
less penetrating peculiar odour than that made
from urine, but does not yield such fine crystals.

Messrs. Gehe’s agent in Shanghai reports concern¬
ing rhubarb that the Shansi root is scarce, since from
its low price the natives of the Shansi mountains
have found it unprofitable to collect it. This is
probably due to some extent to the fact that it is
mostly of inferior quality and dried with less care,
apparently in ovens, in which case it soon rots in
the centre or is attacked by insects.

The district of Tanyue in the province of Sze-cliuen
yields a good and cheap rhubarb. “ This variety is
in much demand in London where it is called high
dried Shanghai rhubarb.” It is easily distinguished
from the more woody and fibrous Emow-Wo brand,
which is collected in the Kwanyue district of Sze-
chuen, by the wartlike points on the upper surface,
and by its hard bony exterior. The stock of the
Shansi rhubarb in Shanghai is said to be about two
hundred chests, and that of Sze-chuen rhubarb from
six hundred to seven hundred chests.

According to Dr. Septimus Piesse, in a letter to
the Times, the produce of the lavender and pepper¬
mint farms at Mitcham, Merton and Carshalton, in
Surrey, and at Hitchin, in Hertfordshire, li;.s fallen
this year 40 per cent, below a seven years’ average, and
since August, 1876, the crops have suffered from want
of sunlight and temperature. A rise in the price of
the oils of these plants may therefore be expected.

It is interesting to notice that after a general ac¬
ceptance during several years of Mantegazzi’s theory
as to the beneficial influence of odoriferous plants
upon the atmosphere, because of the formation of
ozone induced by the oxidation of their essential
oils, a continental chemist has just been publishing
his reasons for believing that the hitherto belauded

ozone may exercise an injurious and even poisonous
effect when breathed. Whilst doctors are thus dis¬
agreeing, Mr. Rimmel steps forward with Christmas
novelties in the shape of “ozonized” lavender water,
eau de cologne and florida water, the special merits
of which, it is claimed, lie in their power to evolve
ozone. How the ozonization is accomplished does
not appear, but his “aromatic ozonizer,” another
device by which the same effect is produced, was
shown in the Paris exhibition, and was understood
to be a fine sawdust saturated with oil of eucalyptus.

Attention is being called by our contemporary,
Iron , to the value of the gum euphorbium for
coating iron exposed to the action of sea water. It
not only, by its poisonous properties, prevents the
adhesion of marine animals, but it also keeps the
iron from rusting.

The possibility of utilizing the banana fruit in the
production of alcohol has been under the considera¬
tion of the Academy of Sciences more than once
recently. M. Buignet has found that during the
whole growth of this fruit the saccharine matter is
constituted entirely of cane sugar, but the proportion
varies considerably. From some results of analysis
published by M. Correnwinder it appears that a
sound ripe banana fruit contains as much as 22 per
cent, of its weight of sugar, 16 per cent, being crys¬
tallizable and the remainder uncry stallizable. In the
mature sugar cane the proportion of cane sugar present
is, according to Payen, 18 per cent. After the banana
has become quite ripe there is a rapid diminu¬
tion in the proportion of crystallizable sugar and an
increase in the proportion of inverted sugar, but not
to the same extent. An over ripe fruit, the flesh of
which had become very mellow, contained only
2' 84 per cent, of crystallizable and 11 '84 percent,
of uncrystallizable sugar, being a total of 14 '68 per
cent, or two thirds of the original quantity.

In a communication to the Berlin Chemical
Society ( Berichte , Nov. 10, p. 2059), G. Bruylants
describes a method of preparing hydrioclic and
hydrobromic acids, based upon the property pos¬
sessed by the halogens of combining at ordinary
temperatures with certain organic substances, and
under the influence of heat separating again in the
form of hydriodic or hydrobromic acid. The organic
body preferred by Bruylants belongs to the class of
terpenes, it being the essential oil obtained by the
distillation of balsam of copaiba and dried over
chloride of calcium. This is said to be capable of
converting three times its weight of iodine or bro¬
mine into the corresponding hydrogen acid. About
60 crams of oil are put into a tubulated retort of
500& c.c. capacity, combined with an inverted con¬
denser, which on the opposite side is connected by
a bent tube with a gas drying tower, having a loose
plug of asbestos in its lower part and a delivery
tube above. The oil is slightly warmed and 20
grams of iodine are gradually dissolved in it ; the
temperature is then allowed to rise. An abundant
and regular evolution of gas soon takes place, and
when this ceases the retort is allowed to cool a little
and then more iodine is added, the operation being
repeated with increasing quantities of iodine until
about 150 grams have been used. The acid obtained
about equals in weight the iodine used. In pre¬
paring hydrobromic acid by this method the quan¬
tities of bromine added are about the same, but the
bromine is allowed to fall upon the oil slowly, diop
by drop, and the gas is passed through two or three

424

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 29, im.

drying towers. The greater part of the oil becomes
solid during the operation, and a smaller portion is
-converted into cymol and perhaps dicymol.

The solubility of morphia in chloroform has been
variously stated by different authors. Professor v. d.
Burg ( Pharm . Zeitung, Nov. 8, p. 696) has tried to
settle the doubt by operating with freshly pre¬
cipitated morphia and chloroform washed four times
with its own volume of water and then distilled
over calcium chloride. The morphia was finely
powdered, submitted for several hours to an increas¬
ing temperature and then repeatedly shaken up
with the chloroform, the liquid being afterwards
rapidly filtered and 10 c.c. of it evaporated in a
porcelain capsule. In pure chloroform morphia
was found to be nearly insoluble, only one milli¬
gram of residue being left from the 10 c.c. But the
solubility rapidly increases with the presence of
alcohol ; chloroform containing 1 per cent, of al¬
cohol leaving a residue of 5 milligrams from 10 c.c. ;
with 5 per cent, of alcohol, 45 milligrams ; and with
10 per cent., 90 milligrams. Morphia containing
narcotine, which is soluble in chloroform, would
give a larger residue when pure chloroform is used,
and its presence might be detected in this way.ii;

The intrusion of sensationalism into that part of
the domain of scientific investigation which has re¬
ference specially to the nature of the elements appears
to be very persistent. Dr. Endemann, wishing to
bring before the American Chemical Society the
subject of the alleged dissociation of the elements at
high temperatures, applied to Professor Victor Meyer
as to the nature of some results recently alleged to
have been obtained by him, the report of which has
raised considerable expectation in the scientific world.
In his reply the professor declares that the commu¬
nications in the English j ournals concerning his in¬
vestigations which report the separation of oxygen
from chlorine have been published without his
knowledge and against his wishes, and that they
are entirely incorrect in essential particulars. It
will not be unreasonable to expect that by the time
the next “ Month ” is due there will be some explana¬
tion to report.

The onerous task undertaken by the New York
College of Pharmacy in order to ward off from the
pharmacists of the State of New York the incon¬
veniences of an Act for the compulsory verification
of weights and measures (see before, p. 168) has
hardly yet received the recognition it deserves.
Eight weeks after the sending out of the circular
recently quoted in this Journal only eight pharma¬
cists had (according to New Remedies ) sent in their
weights for verification, and only forty-nine new sets
of correct weights had been sold to twenty-seven
buyers, three of whom resided outside the State.
Yet it appears to be acknowledged that such an Act
would have had some raison d’etre in the “ bad
character of the weights used in some establish¬
ments.” A gentle fillip has been administered to
the sluggards by the Medical Society of New York,
which has passed a resolution advising its members
to patronize, so far as may be consistent, only those
apothecaries who use weights certified by the College
of Pharmacy to be correct.

November is the month in which even the most
laggard societies show signs of getting to work, and as
a result of the meetings which are now getting into
full swing there will no doubt be soon an abundance
of more or less scientific papers on topics ui every

department of science. Next Monday the annual
distribution of medals by the*' Royal Society takes
place. The Copley medal goe° rkto Professor
Clausius, of Bonn, for his researches' bon Heat ; the
Davy medal to M. Boisbaudran, for his discovery of
Gallium ; a Royal medal to Mr. W. H. Perkin, for
his researches in organic chemistry ; and another
Royal medal to Professor A. C. Ramsay, for his work
in geology and physicial geography At the Royal
Institution the Christmas lecture0 to juvenile
audiences are this year to be delivered Dy Professor
Tyndall, the subject being Air and Water.

Pharmacopoeia literature > is just now assuming
considerable prominence in' various parts of world.

In the United States many eminent pharmacists
are working hard to secure all possible perfec¬
tion in the next edition of their text-book. In
Germany, a committee appointed by the Deutsche
Apotheker-Verein, and presided over by Dr. C.
Brunnengraber, of Rostock, has just issued a long
and elaborate report upon the form it is advisable
that the next pharmacopoeia of that country should
take. In Norway a new edition of the Pharma¬
copoeia has just been published, and in Russia a new
edition is to be put into the hands of the printer
this month and is expected to come into force in
March or April of next year.

In the presence of a difficulty with regard to a
prescription, whether that difficulty arises from an
“ unusual dose,” incompatibility of ingredients, or
any one of many other causes, the dispenser would
often gladly avail himself of a communication with
the writer, and in justice to the persons involved,
the writer, the dispenser, and the patient, such an
opportunity should be afforded him.

In every dispensing establishment, instances of
this kind must occasionally occur, and it will have
been observed how frequently in these columns the
remark has been made, that the “ the writer of the
prescription should be referred to.” This whole¬
some advice is very easily given, but in practice,
having in view the present method of writing pre¬
scriptions, very difficult for the dispenser to follow ;
the prescription is usually written on a sheet of note
paper which may have been picked up at the house
of the patient, and it may or may not have even the
patient’s address on it ; sometimes an old envelope
does this duty. But the sole clue to the prescriber
are the initials, generally illegibly written at the
bottom of the prescription, and from long continued
use this signature may have assumed the form of a
hieroglyphic, the mystical characters of which it is
composed having no relation to the combined letters
of their prototype.

As a result of this, the dispenser, unless he is
familiar with the writing, tries in vain to decipher
the writer, and the only alternatives which present
themselves to him are, to use his own judgment, or
to apply to the patient for the writer’s address.
The former of these, in the case of an unusual dose,
throws on the dispenser a grave responsibility ; the >
latter involves a modified explanation, which very ;
rarely satisfies the patient.

The remedy for this state of things is very simple;
it is for those who write prescriptions to make a
practice of writing them on paper bearing their
address, not only when being consulted at home,
but also when visiting their patients. It is true
that this would involve the carrying of a small case
of their own paper to the houses of their patients,

November 29, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

425

but simply one adapted to a side pocket, and such
as are now commonly made use of for letters.

It may be said that this course would not be con¬
sidered professional, that it would savour of adver¬
tisement ; but the necessity for some such course is
apparent, and it is only necessary that the subject
should receive the attention of those in the profession
above suspicion, to be followed by others and to
become a general and accepted practice. A directory
could then be referred to, and the writer, if neces¬
sary, communicated with. This common sense
course of procedure, if generally adopted by the
medical profession, would prove a boon to dispensers,
and relieve them of responsibilities which form no
part of their legitimate business, and to which, with
their consequences, they should not be subjected.

The ointment, No. 365, directly on being mixed
evolves ammonia with the formation of mercuric
iodide ; this gives it a reddish-yellow colour. The
decomposition has been fully explained by “Pot.
Carb.,” p. 398. “Unguentum” does not state whether
the “creamy” applies to colour or consistence, or both.

No. 366. The acid, carbolic, should be dissolved
in the ol. olivse, and the extract of opium made
smooth by the addition of a little water and with
the aid of heat ; sufficient water should be added, so
that when the bottle is shaken the ext. opii may
be diffused through the oil, but not more than is neces¬
sary for that purpose. The remarks of “Lavandula ”
on this prescription, p. 377, may be referred to.

Mr. Thursfield has already replied to “Sub Umbra
Floresco,’, No. 367, with regard to the pitch pill.
The pitch selected should be firm enough, so that
the pills made of it retain their shape ; then the
manipulation referred to by Mr. Thursfield may be
adopted with advantage.

The prescription No. 368 should be dispensed
with tr. zingib, B.P. ; its strength does not usually
vary materially in any two establishments. The
result must necessarily be a milky mixture, and
the milkiness would to some extent depend on the
strength of the sp. am. arom. and sp. aetli. nit. used,
but more so on the variety of ginger employed in
making the tincture. The Pharmacopoeia directs
the tincture to be made from the “ dried rhizome of
Zingiber officinalis, from plants cultivated in the
West Indies, India and other countries.” So long
as ginger is the product of Zingiber officinalis , there
is considerable latitude allowed as to the country
from which it is obtained. From a paper by Mr.
Thresh, read at the British Pharmaceutical Con¬
ference in Sheffield, and the discussion to which it
gave rise, it will be seen that the African ginger,
with more resin and less starch, must yield a tinc¬
ture differing in its milky character when mixed
with water from that yielded by Jamaica ginger. As
a commentary on this, “ Leo ” is referred to some
remarks on tinct. sumbul. obtained from various
sources, and the discussion which followed the
reading of the paper, showing the different results
obtained when such a tincture was combined with
the other ingredients of which the mixture was
composed ( Pharm . Journ ., Nov. 8, p. 373).

In No. 369, Mr. Bessant has met with a mixture
containing a larger amount of camphor than is
usually prescribed, but, nevertheless, quite within the
B.P. indicated dose — 1 to 10 grs. In accordance
with “faithful dispensing” this difficulty may be
easily and satisfactorily overcome, and the “ reins of
conscience” by no means relaxed. The camphor

should be put into a mortar with the spirit of nitre,
and a small addition of rectified spirit, but only
sufficient to dissolve the camphor, and then £ss
mucilage gradually added, and with trituration till
smooth. The camphor, on the gradual addition of
the other ingredients, remains suspended, so that
each measured dose of j|j shall contain 5 grs. camphor.
Mr. Bessant’s attention is directed to remarks in
“The Month,” January 28, 1879, p. 1058, No. 308,
and previously, on the method of suspending camphor
when prescribed in mixtures.

In mixtures like that of No. 370, each ingredient
should be mixed with separate proportions of the
vehicle. The remarks of “ Lavandula,” p. 378,
convey all that need be said on the subject, and his
observation that the mixture should not be filtered
may be emphasized.

The manipulation of ointments containing extracts,
as No. 370, has been on several occasions explained.
J. Y. is therefore referred to the remarks in the last
“ Month,” p. 326, No. 359. Several correspondents
also have in last week’s Journal replied to this
question, suggesting the same manipulation.

The pills, No. 371, do not require an excipient;
they should be made with the carbolic acid in crys¬
tals. If the mass become too soft for pills, more
especially as these pills are to be silvered, ^ grain of
pulv. tragacanth. added to each pill will give them
the requisite firmness, and if allowed to stand a
short time they may be satisfactorily silvered.

The phosphorus pills, No. 372, may be made in
the following manner : — The ferri redact, amd quinse
sulpli. should be combined with glycerine and traga¬
canth into a firm and suitable pill mass. The
phosphorus then should be dissolved in a few drops
of bisulphide of carbon, to which a drop or two of
chloroform should be added, the vapour of the
chloroform preventing the oxidation of the phosphorus
during the manipulation. As soon as the phosphorus
is dissolved, the pill mass of ferri redact, and quinae,
previously prepared, should be added, the whole
combined and divided into thirty pills.

The manipulation of phosphorus in a pill mass
has on several occasions previously been referred to,
and bisulphide of carbon recommended as a solvent.

M. P. S., in No. 373, requires the strength and
also the quantity usually injected, of solution of
daturin. Daturin is generally considered as being
chemically identical with atropin, and may be ad¬
ministered hypodermically in the same dose. The
strength of a solution of sulphate of atropia for
hypodermic injection is 1 to 2 per cent., and the
dose from two to five minims, equivalent to from
one-fiftieth to one-twentieth grain.

The emulsion, No. 374, should be made by adding
the liq. potassse to the water previously to the ad¬
dition of the cod liver oil. Little need be added to
the method given by J. B. L. Mackay, p. 41 9. It may,
however, be stated that a successful result must neces¬
sarily in great measure depend upon the liq. potass,
being of full strength ; a deficiency in this respect may
account for the separation mentioned by T. B. L. a,s
having occurred in every sample that he had experi¬
mented on. The B.P. says that the fluid ounce of liq.
potassse should contain 27 grs. of hydrate ol potash.

The prescriptions Nos. 375 and 376 resemble those
obscure combinations which can be prepared satis¬
factorily only under the directions of the writers ;
they seem typical of those valuable recipes tent in
return for a certain amount in postage stamp's.

426

THE PH ARM ACEH TIC AL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 9, 1878

GLYCERITUM FERRI SUBSULPHATIS.*

BY I. E. SAYRE, PH.G.

A liquid preparation of Monsel’s salt, free from acid or
irritating properties, bearing a definite and easily recol¬
lected ratio of strength to the salt in question, with a
basis of glycerin or some other liquid as capable of per¬
meating tissue, is one of the pharmaceutical wants of the
present time. These combinations have grown greatly
in favour of late years in the treatment of various
kinds of mucous discharges and chronic ulcerated surfaces
where a powerful as tringent effect is required ; they are
highly commended by some in the treatment of diphtheria.
In vaginal, rectal and local hemorrhages they are believed
to have advantages over the officii a 1 solution in forming
less hard and irritating clots when applied to such deli¬
cate parts. Such preparations cannot be compounded
extemporaneously from the subsulphate of iron, in a form
which is desirable for the physician or creditable to the
pharmacist. The argument then is greatly in favour of
the adoption of a standard preparation which would do
with justice.

The commercial persulphate (so called) is found in the
shops in a yellow pulverulent mass, or in powder. It is
very slowly and imperfectly soluble in water or glycerin
— it probably contains oxy sulphate. Several samples of
the salt have been tried, and they all proved incompletely
soluble in water or glycerin, either cold or boiling. The
perfectly soluble and deliquescent Monsel’s salt can be
produced by evaporating the officinal solution at a
moderate temperature upon porcelain or glass plates ; but
this is an unstable salt and very inconvenient to handlq,
its proneness to change suggests the idea of making it at
once into a glycerite of definite strength, so that it may
be at once ready for use, or can be made so by simple
dilution.

A glycerite containing fifty per cent., by weight, of the
salt furnishes perhaps th most convenient form, and,
furthermore, one which po sesses qualities which render
such a standard of strength most desirable.

The process adopted for its manufacture consists in
first preparing a solution of the subsulphate, following the
directions of theU. S. Pharmacopoeia for the solution; this
is evaporated in a tared capsule at a moderate temperature
until a thick viscid liquid is obtained ; this is then
diluted with a sufficient quantity of glycerin to produce
a solution of the above percentage. In order to use this
process the quantity of dry subsulphate of iron in the
officinal solution must be known. By careful experiment
it has been found to contain 47 per cent. The use of
weight instead of measure, in the formula, is suggested
by the writer as being easier and apt to secure more
accurate manipulation.

The following process is recommended, the finished
glycerite measuring about twelve fluidounces, the quan¬
tity directed by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia for the solu¬
tion : —

Take of liquor ferri subsulphatis 6T27 grains, evaporate
to 3 ’963 grains, continue the heat and add glycerin
suffi dent to make the weight 5'760 grains.

T/iis furnishes the easily recollected percentage of dry
salt, half its weight being Monsel’s salt, each fluid
drachm representing about 50 grains of subsulphate of
iron— in exact figures 51 '08 grains.

It can readily be diluted to any extent without destroy¬
ing its transparency, either by water or glycerin, and in
this respect furnishes a much superior article for com¬
pounding than the dry salt of commerce. Its viscidity
renders it of tha plastic character so very advantageous
where the application is intended to remain upon the
surface o the affected part and in addition to the
styptic e ' et of the iron salt, the glycerin exercises
its ern dbent. properties in many ways and parti¬

* Proa the American Journal of Pharmacy, November,
1879.

cularly in preventing the formation of the irritating
clots and crusts peculiar to the salt itself J or its
solution.

ELIXIR GLYCYRRHIZiE COMPOSITTJM.*

The following formula has been calculated on the basis
of various formulae heretofore proposed, substituting parts
by weights for definite weight and measure. A conveni¬
ent quantity of the elixir, on a small scale, will be ob¬
tained by substituting for part the quantity “10 grains.”
The resulting product will then measure about 1 pint.’4

Take of

Licorice root, cut and bruised, ninety parts 90

Sugar, two hundred parts . 200

Water, a sufficient quantity . q.s.

igest the licorice root with

Water, six hundred parts . 600

for an hour on a water-bath, then heat to boiling, boil for
about fifteen minutes, and then strain with strong expres¬
sion. Pass through the strainer enough water to make
the decoction weigh seven hundred parts . . 700

Then take of

Star-anise, in No. 40 powder, six parts . . 6

Cinnamon, in No. 40 powder, five parts . . 5

Coriander, in No. 40 powder, four parts . . 4

Caraway, in No. 40 powder, two parts . . 2

Nutmeg, in No. 40 powder, one part . . . 1

Alcohol, 93 per cent., a sufficient quantity q.s.

Water, a sufficient quantity . q.s.

Mix the powders, pack them firmly in a conical perco¬
lator, then pour upon them about one-half of a mixture of

Alcohol, seventy parts . 70

Water, forty parts . 40

When the percolate begins to drop, close the orifice with
a cork, and set the percolator aside in a warm place for
four days. Then allow the percolation to proceed, pour¬
ing gradually more of the menstiuum on top, until the
percolate weighs one hundred parts . ... 100

Add this percolate to the strained decoction of the
licorice, let the mixture stand twenty-four hours, filter and
add the sugar. Dissolve the latter by agitation, then filter
again, and wash the filter with enough of a mixture of
alcohol, seven parts, and water, four parts, until the
whole filtrate weighs one thousand parts . .. 1000

SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF PHYTOLACCA

DECANDRA.f

BY A. C. EHRHARD.

Powdered poke-root was percolated with three suc¬
cessive portions of ether, and the percolate evaporated
spontaneously to dryness. The greater portion of this
ethereal extract was dissolved in alcohol and had an acid
reaction. From a part of this, by means of alcoholic and
aqueous reagents, the following results were obtained.
With ale )holic solution of potassa, a precipitate soluble
in excess ; with solution of lime, a precipitate insoluble
in excess ; with aqueous solution of platinic chloride, a
whitish crystalline precipitate. No precipitates were

* From New Remedies, October, 1879.
f From New Remedies, September, 1879. Abstract of a
thesis presented to the College of Pharmacy of the City of
New York, in 1875.

Poke-root was partially analysed in 1843 by E. Donelly
( Amer . Journ. Pharm ., Oct., 1843, p. 165). Nothing of
special interest, besides the usual constituents of plants,
was found in it. No chemical examination has since been
published on any part of the plant, unless we may reckon
here Reiehel’s (1836) analysis of another species of Phy¬
tolacca, which established the presence in the root of Pli.
drastica, Poppig, of about 6’6 per cent, of calcium malate.
Baillon {Corrupt. Rend., 80 (1875), p. 426) has published
some interesting observations on the behaviour of the colour¬
ing matter. — Ed. N. R.

November 29, 1879]. THE PIIARM ACEUTIC^lL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

427

obtained with silver nitrates, potassium iodide, or other
reagents. A portion of the alcoholic solution was then
treated with acetate of lead, a precipitate obtained and
filtered. The excess of lead in the filtrate was removed
in the usual manner by hydrosulphuric acid, and on
evaporating the final filtrate, the residue was dissolved
with the aid of a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid.
Platinic chloride produced with this a precipitate, which
turned out to contain potassa. The lead precipitate was
freed from lead by hydrosulphuric acid, and the final
filtrate was found to contain calcium and sulphuric acid.

The remainder of the alcoholic solution was evaporated
to dryness on the water-bath, the residue dissolved in
ether and shaken with a mixture of acetic acid and water
(1:10), which produced a flocculent precipitate, which
dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid with an olive-
green colour changing to purple on applying heat. The
acid aqueous, separated from the ethereal solution, was
evaporated to dryness to expel the acetic acid, and the
residue examined for alkaloids, with a negative result.
Although iodine with potassium iodide produced a light-
coloured precipitate, and ammonia a flocculent preci¬
pitate, solution of nutgalls only caused a slight turbidity,
and platinic chloride gave no precipitate.

The ethereal solution, after a partial precipitation by
acidulated water, was evaporated spontaneously to dry¬
ness, yielding a light-brown fat or wax, .part of which
was saponified with potassa, leaving a slight residue
soluble in dilute nitric acid, but too small for further
examination. The soap solution was a clear light-brown
liquid.

After treating the original ethereal extract with
alcohol, the greater portion of the residue left after the
evaporation of the latter was redissolved in ether, when
a white crystalline substance was left, which was ap¬
parently very difficultly soluble in this menstruum. This
was dissolved in boiling alcohol and found to be a crys -
tallizable acid resin, insoluble in water, and soluble in
ammonia ; on evaporating the ammoniacal solution,
ammonia was lost, and the acid resin separated. Sul¬
phuric acid dissolves this with an olive-green colour,
changing to purple on heating, aud to red on adding
nitric acid. Reducing agents turn the sulphuric acid
solution a dirty purplish colour.

The same lot of poke -root, which had thus been ex¬
hausted with ether, was then percolated with alcohol,
the percolate concentrated (a) and set aside. A crop of
crystals was thus produced, which were dissolved in
water, decolorized with bone-black, and the solution
evaporated, when colourless crystals were obtained.
They dissolved slowly in strong sulphuric acid, yielding
a colourless solution. The aqueous solution of the crystals
was found to yield no precipitate with potassium iodo-
hydrargyrate, potassium iodo-iodide, picric acid, barium
chloride, ammonium carbonate, lime-water, and acetate
of lead. Heated in a dry test-tube, they frothed, emit¬
ting a peculiar odour, then charred, and by increase of
heat became colourless. The crystals were found to be
potassa combined with a peculiar organic acid. By fur¬
ther concentration (b) of the alcoholic percolate, another
crop of crystals was obtained, different from the pre¬
ceding, and neutral. Some of these were dissolved in
water, decolorized by animal charcoal, and the solution
concentrated. An uncrystallizable substance of a sweet
taste remained behind, which gave, with Fehling’s test,
a brick-red precipitate. The pure crystals, when boiled
about ten minutes with a little dilute sulphuric acid, gave
the same reaction. The remaining crystals were dissolved
in water, the impurities precipitated by acetate of lead,
and the solution, after removal of the lead, concentrated,
when almost pure cane sugar was obtained. The whole
remaining alcoholic percolate was then concentrated (c)
qn the sand-bath, until all the alcohol was expelled, water
added, and the mixture filtered to separate the resin.
Part of the filtrate was tested with the following reagents
with the results stated : phosphomolybdic acid, a light

gelatinous precipitate ; tannic acid, light flocculent pre¬
cipitate ; potassium iodo-iodide, light-coloured precipitate ;
potassium iodo-hydrargyrate, a very light-coloured pre¬
cipitate ; sodium tungstate and mercuric chloride, a white
precipitate. The remainder of the filtrate was preci¬
pitated by acetate of lead, and after removal of the excess
of lead by hydrosulphuric acid and evaporating, the re¬
sidue was dissolved in water. This aqueous solution gave
no precipitate with ammonia, but gave light-coloured
precipitates with picric acid, potassium iodo-iodide, tannic
acid, sodium tungstate and phosphomolybdic acid. The
larger bulk of the solution was precipitated with potas¬
sium iodo-hydrargyrate, producing a flocculent precipitate,
which on the addition of an excess changed to a tough
resinous mass. This was dissolved by moderately dilute
hydrochloric acid, water added, and decomposed by sul¬
phuretted hydrogen. The solution was freed from the
excess of hydrochloric and sulphydric acids by evapora¬
tion to dryness, and the residue again dissolved in water.
Potassium iodo-hydrargyrate produced in the solution a
precipitate, which dissolved on the application of heat
and separated again on cooling.*

THE CONSTITUTION AND PROPERTIES OF
DIALYSED IR0N.+

BY M. PERSONNE.

The ferruginous liquor designated under the name of
dialysed iron is not a true aqueous solution of sesquioxide
of iron ; it is nothing but a pseudo solution of modified
sesquioxide of iron, which differs from the ordinary
oxide in being insoluble in acids and its specific heat
being less.

This particular state of sesquioxide of iron has been
long known ; it was discovered in the chemical laboratory
of Pelouze more than twenty-five year since by Pean de
Saint-Grilles, who obtained it by the action of heat upon
the acetate of sesquioxide of iron. M. B^champ obtained
it afterwards by the action of heat upon nitrate of iron.
From that time all the physical and chemical properties
of modified sesquioxide of iron have been perfectly known,
and in consequence of its weak taste it has been recom¬
mended as a ferruginous medicine.

Subsequently, Graham demonstrated in his work upon
dialysis that the modified sesquioxide of iron was a colloid
body, that is to say could not form a true solution, its
apparent or pseudo solution not possessing the property
of traversing an organic membrane. The preparation of
this oxide of iron was then effected by submitting to dia¬
lysis a solution of perchloride of iron in which a great
excess of sesquioxide of iron had been dissolved. The
hydrochloric acid and the salts of the solution diffuse through
the membrane of the dialyser and there remains upon this
membrane or septum a more or less concentrated liquor,
which is nothing but the pseudo solution of sesquioxide of
iron containing some perchloride of iron which constitutes
the dialysed iron of commerce.

This very process of preparation proves that dialysed
iron cannot pass through the membranes in the same man¬
ner as crystalloids. It contains perchloride of iron and
even sulphate of sesquioxide in variable quantities. If,
for example, the commercial product announced as the
purest be taken, analysis indicates that it contains

Perchloride of Iron . 6-75

Persulphate of Iron . °‘76

7-51

Or 7\ per cent, of foreign bodies. It is therefore very far

fronTbeing of the purity announced. _

AFq1 he author’s manuscript omits to state what conclusion
lie arrives at from the facts stated. The behaviour of the
substance contained in the watery solution obtained by
addins water to the concentrated alcoholic percolate appears
to point to the existence of an alkaloid soluble in water.

E + Communicated to the French Academy of Medicine

(Journal de Phannacie et de Chimie for October, p. dd2).

428

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 29. i87<>

As to the properties of this dialysed iron, they are the
following : it is precipitated by the more powerful acids,
whether employed concentrated or diluted with water.
Saline solutions, such as marine salt, for instance, also
precipitate it. Its insolubility in the gastric juice is com¬
plete ; this I have verified with gastric juice obtained by
Dr. Bochefontaine. Some was injected into the stomach
of a dog in full digestion ; the stomach having been opened
two hours afterwards the oxide of iron was found ad¬
hering in flocculent condition to portions of undigested food
and it was impossible to detect a trace in solution in the
acid liquids of the stomach or upon the whole surface of
the digestive canal.

These experiments are completely in accord with the
chemical properties of this modified oxide and go to con¬
firm its insolubility. Being insoluble it cannot be absorbed,
in virtue of the old and universally true principle corpora
non agunt nisi sol at a. Insolubility therefore implies in¬
activity.

This inactivity has long been recognized. In fact at
time of the discovery of the modified oxide of iron it was
recommended as a therapeutic agent, the more convenient
from its being devoid of the inky taste of salt of iron.
But notwithstanding this it was quickly abandoned. Why
did it not succeed at that time and succeed now, the com¬
pound being the same ? Misleading advertisement every¬
where and under every form can alone explain it.

DENOMINATION, SHAPE, AND MATERIAL OF LOCAL
STANDARDS OF APOTHECARIES’ WEIGHTS AND
MEASURES.*

apothecaries’ weights.

1. Denomination.

1. Local standards of apothecaries’ weights should
have their denominations, or abbreviations thereof, en¬
graved or stamped on them as follows : —

Ab-

Denomination.

Abbrevia¬

tion.

Denomination.

bre-

via-

tion.

10 ounces, apothe-

2 scruples, apothe¬
caries’ weight.

caries’ weight. .
8 ounces, apothe-

10 oz. tr.

Bij

( 14 scruples, apothe-
) caries’ weight. .

caries’ weight. .

8 „

3ss

6 ounces, apothe¬
caries’ weight. .
4 ounces, apothe-

6 „

j orhalfadrachm,apo-
( thecaries’ weight.
1 scruple, apothe¬
caries’ weight.

3ss

caries’ weight. .
2 ounces, apothe-

4 „

t>j

4 scruple, apothe¬
caries’ weight.

caries’ weight. .

2 „

9ss

1 ounce, apothe-

caries’ weight. .

1 „

6 grains, apothe¬
caries’ weight.

5 grains, apothe¬
caries’ weight.

6 gr.

4 drachms, apothe-
[ caries weight. .

Wv

£oz. tr.

5 „

4 grains, apothe¬
caries’ weight.

3 grains, apothe -
caries’ weight.

or half an ounce,
apothecaries’
' weight. . . .

4 „

3 „

2 drachms, apothe-

2 grains, apothe¬
caries’ weight.

caries’ weight. .

3ij

2 „

1 drachm, apothe-

1 .grain, apothe-

caries’ weight. .

3j

caries’ weight.

2 grain, apothe¬
caries’ weight.

1 „

,4 ”

weight should be marked inside the box in which the
weights are placed.

2. The actual weights in grains (of which the imperial
pound contains 7000 grains) of apothecaries’ weights are
as follows : — the apothecaries’ ounce and the troy ounoe
being of the same weight.

Denomination.

Weight in
Grains.

Denomination.

Weight in
Grains.

Ounces : —

Scruples : —

40 gr.

10 oz. tr. . .

4800 gr.

2 . . . .

8 „ . .

3840 „

14 or 3ss .

30 „

6 „ . .

2880 „

1 . . . .

20 .,

4 „ . .

1920 „

4 • • • •

10 „

2 „ . .

960 „

1 „ • •

480 „

Grains : —

6 . . . .

6 „

5. . . .

5 „

Drachms : —

4. . . .

4 „

3iv . . )

or \ oz. tr. )

240 „

3 . . . .

2. . . .

3 ,,

2 „

3u • • • •

120 „

1 . . . .

1 „

3j • . . .

60 „

4. . . .

0'5 gr

3. It has been suggested that the amounts of errors to
be allowed on local standards of apothecaries’ weight
should be as follows : —

Amount off

Amount of

error to he

error to be

tolerated in

toleratedin

Denomination.

excess. No

Denomination.

excels. No

error in defi-

error in

ciency

deficiency

*

allowed.

allowed.

Ounces : —

Scruples : —

10 . . « \

2 . . )

S : : :

0T grain.

14 • •(

1 . . (

0’03 gr.

4 • • . /

4 • • )

2 . . .

6 grs. ..

Drachms : —

5 „ .)

1 ... 1

A 1

3” '

0*02 „

4 i • * f

2 . . . (

0-05 „

2 „ .

1 . . . )

1 gr. . J

4 j>

o-oi „

4. The form of these local standard weights from 3
ounces to 1 ounce should be cylindrical with a small knob
as in fig. 16. From 4 drachms to 4 scruple either cylin¬
drical (fig. 16) or flat shape (fig. 17). From 6 grains to
4 grain either wire shape (fig. 18) or flat shape (fig 17).

Fig 16. 8 oz. , 1 oz. tr. Fig. 17. 4 dr. . 4 sc.

4 dr. . 4 sc.

As it may not be practicable to engrave or stamp the
denomination on small weights below the scruple, the
abbreviation of the legal denomination of each small

* Reprint of copy of Instructions issued from th3 Star -
ards Odice ol the Board of Trade.

Fig. 18. 6 gr. . . 4 gr.

November 29, 1S79.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

429

5. These local standards weights are to be made of
bronze, gun metal, or hard brass. Below | scruple they
should be made of platinum or aluminium.

apothecaries’ measures, or measures to be used in

THE SALE OF DRUGS.

6. The denomination of every measure, or an abbre¬
viation thereof, should be engraved on the measure.

Denomination.

Abbreviation.

40 fluid ounces to half a fluid

ounce .

40 fl. oz. to | fl. oz.

16 fluid drachms to half a fluid

drachm .

16 fl. dr. to | fl. dr.

60 minims to 1 minim . . .

'

60 min. to 1 min.

Each measure is also to have engraved on it “£ = 62° Faht.’

7. At the temperature of 62° F. (the barometer being
at 30 inches) the weights of the contents in distilled
water of the several apothecaries’ measures are as fol¬
lows.

8. It has been suggested to allow on local standards
the several amounts of error or remedy defined in the
third column of the table.

Denominations.

Weight of water con-J Amount of error to
fained in the Measure, be tolerated in ex-
t=6 2° F. 6=30 in. | cess or in deficiency

Fluid

ounces

40 fl. oz.

39

38

37

36

>>

35

34

yy

33

yy

32

yy

31

yy

30

yy

29

yy

28

yy

27

yy

26

yy

25

yy

24

yy

23

yy

22

yy

21

yy

20

yy

19

yy

18

yy

17

yy

16

yy

15

yy

14

yy

13

yy

12

yy

11

yy

10

yy

9

yy

8

yy

7

yy

6

yy

5

yy

4

yy

3

y»

Grains.
17500-0 gr.
17062-5
16625-0
16187-5
15750-0
15312-5
14875-0
14437-5
14000-0
13562-5
13125-0
12687-5
12250-0
11812-5
11375-0
10937-5
10500-0
10062-5
9625-0
9187-5
8750-0
8312-5
7875-0
7437-5
7000-0
6562-5
6125-0
5687-5
5250-0
4812-5
4375-0
3937-5
3500-0
3062-5
2625-0
2187-5
1750-0
1312-5

Grains Weight
of Water.

8 gr.

6 gr.

4 gr.

Denominations.

Weight of water con¬
tained in the Measure.
t = 02° F. 6 = 30 in.

V mount of error to
be tolerated in ex¬
cess orindeficiency.

Grains Weight

Fluid

ounces : —

Grains.

of Water.

2 fl. oz.

• •

•

875-0 gr.

1

yy

• •

•

437-5

i

yy

• •

•

218-75

1 gr.

Fluid drachms : —

16 fl. dr.

875-00 gr.

4 gr

15

yy

820-31

14

yy

765-63

13

yy

710-91

12

yy

656-25

11

yy

601-56

10

yy

546-88

9

yy

492-19

8

yy

437-50

1

7

yy

382-81

6

yy

328T3

5

yy

273-44

4

yy

218-75

2 gr.

3

yy

164-06

2

yy

109-38

1

>•

54-6875

1

2

yy

27-34

Minims : —

60 min. .

54*69 gr.

59

yy •

53-78

58

yy •

52-86

57

yy

51-95 i

56

yy

51-04

55

yy •

50T3 i

54

yy

49-22

53

yy •

48-31

52

yy

47-40

|

51

yy

46-48

50

yy

45-57

49

yy •

44-66

48

yy

43-75

47

yy •

42-84

46

yy •

41-93

45

yy •

41-02

44

yy •

40-10

43

yy •

39T9

42

yy •

38-28

41

yy •

37-37

40

yy •

36-46

39

yy •

35-55

38

yy •

34-64

37

yy *

33-72

36

yy •

32-81

35

yy •

31-90

34

yy •

30-99

33

yy •

30-08

32

yy •

29-17

31

28-26

30

yy •

27-34

No appreciable

29

26-43

error allowed

28

25-52

below 30

27

24-61

minims.

26

yy •

23-70

25

yy •

22-79

24

yy •

21-88

23

yy •

20-97

22

yy •

20-05

21

19-14

20

18-23

19

17-32

18

16-41

•

17

15-49

16

» •

•

14-58

430

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 29, 1879.

Denomination.

Weight of water con¬
tained in the Measure.
t = 02° F. b = 30 in.

Amount of error to
be tolerated in ex¬
cess or in deficiency.

Minims — cont.

15 min .

Grains.

13-67 r.

14 „ . . . .

12-76

13 „ . . . .

11-85

12 „ . . . .

10-94

11 „ . . . .

10-03

10 „ . . . .

9-11

9 „ . . . .

8-20

8 „ . . . .

7-29

7 „ .

6-38,

6 „ ... .

5-47

6 „ ... .

4-56’

4 „ . . . .

3-65

3 „ . . . .

2-73

2 „ . . . .

1-82

1 „ . . . .

0-9114*58

9. The following are the Board of Trade standards : —
Thirteen standards made of gun metal, cylindrical
shape (see Fig. 20), each containing one quantity or mea¬
sure as follows : —

40 fluid ounces (or a quart).

20

10

5

4

3

2

1

x

(or a pint).

(or half-a-pint).
(or a gill).

4 fluid drachms.

1 fluid drachm or 60 minims.

Five standards made of glass, pipette form graduated
(see Figs. 21, 22) each standard containing several mea¬
sures, as follows : —

1 pipette, 40 to 10 fluid ounces. Each ounce being
numbered.

1 pipette, 10 to 1 fluid ounce. Each ounce being
numbered.

1 pipette, 16 to 8 drachms. Each drachm being
numbered.

1 pipette, 8 drachms to ^ drachm. Each drachm being
numbered.

1 pipette, 60 minims to 1 minim. Each tenth minim
being numbered.

10. Apothecaries’ measures, as already explained, may be
made of gun-metal or of glass. If made of gun-metal
they are to be of the usual cylindrical shapes of measures
of capacity. See paragraph 9.

If made of glass local standards are either to be pipette,
flask or beaker shape, marked as explained in paragraph
9. See Figs. 20, 21, and 22.

Fig. 21.

[In the original drawing of Fig. 21 each graduation is numbered,
but in the above reduced engraving the alternate figures have been
omitted.]

With these pipettes the inspectors may find it neces¬
sary to use a filling apparatus similar to that used at the
Standards Office. When this apparatus is used the brass
fittings shown at a, Figs. 21 and 22 are required.

1 1 . Apothecaries’ weights or measures should be placed

in a mahogany box having a lock and key. On the out¬
side of the box there should be a brass plate bearing the
following inscription : — Apothecaries’ Weights. Local
Standards. Of [ Insert name of County

or Town].

12. It is for the local authorities to decide whether
they require any standards of apothecaries’ weights and

measures.

Many inspectors of weights and measures are already
provided with some of the principal apothecaries’ measures;
as 40 fluid ounces (or a quart), 20 fluid ounces (or a pint),
10 fluid ounces (or half a pint), 5 fluid ounces (or a gill).
Local standards of the several apothecaries’ measures, or
measures to be used in the sale of drugs, as set forth in
the second schedule of the Weights and Measures Act,
1878, have also been already verified for local authorities,
viz. : —

Fluid ounces . 4, 3, 2, 1.

Fluid drachms . 4, 3, 2, 1.

Minims . . . 30, 20, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

On ivory stand.

Fig. 19. Gun-metal measures.

Board of Trade, Standards Office,
October, 1879.

November 29, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

431

fUtarmaqutkal Jmttjttal

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 29, 1879.

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

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

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

APOTHECARIES’ WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

On the previous pages will he found the text of
the memorandum relating to the standards of apo¬
thecaries’ weights and measures mentioned by the
President at the last meeting of Council.* It enu¬
merates the several denominations of standards
authorized by the Board of Trade for the purpose
ot being used by inspectors of weights and measures
under the new Act as local standards for the verifi¬
cation or inspection of the apothecaries’ weights and
measures used in trade. It further indicates the
• corresponding abbreviations which are to be stamped
or engraved on the respective standards, as well as
the actual weight in grains of each weight and the
number of grains of water at 62° F. contained in
each of the measures. The shape of the local
standards and the materials of which they are to be
made are specified, and the amounts of error to be
allowed in the several local standards of apothe¬
caries’ weights and measures are also stated.

I From the concluding paragraph of this document
it will be seen that in some instances there is no¬
thing to prevent the work of inspection being
commenced at once, or as soon as the local authorities
may direct, and as this is a point of some importance
to bear in mind, we think it desirable again to urge
our readers to take every means of learning what is
being done in regard to inspection of apothecaries’
weights and measures by the local authorities in
their respective districts. In speaking upon this
subject at the evening meeting of the North British
Branch of the Society, Mr. Gilmour suggested that
it was improbable the inspectors would proceed to
carry the new law into force “ for some time to
come but we are disposed to think that in taking
this view he was misled, and should rather advise
chemists and druggists throughout the country to
communicate at once with the local authorities
of their district, with the object of obtaining
information as to the steps to be taken in the in¬
spection of apothecaries’ weights and measures and
the facilities to be afforded for their verification
when the Act conies into operation on the 1st of
January next. This could be done either through
the medium. of the local secretaries of the Society or
by the secretaries of provincial associations, and it

* See also Pharm. Journ., ante, p. 390.

would, at least, remove any ground for commencing
the work of inspection in such a way as to cause in¬
convenience.

In some other particulars Mr. Gilmour’s state¬
ments as to the provisions of the] new Act respect¬
ing apothecaries’ weights and measures were not
altogether correct and their inaccuracy appears to
have arisen from the want of due distinction
between the provisions as to local standards and
those applying to the actual weights and measures
used in trade. Thus for instance, the point that
every measure must be graduated into its own de¬
nomination — that each glass must be either all
ounces, drachms or minims— does not apply to
trade measures, but only to the local standards by
which such measures are to be verified. It would
indeed, be a most arbitrary requirement to compel
dispensers to use a special drachm measure for
measuring 3 or 6 drachms when an ounce measure
graduated into drachms would answer the purpose
perfectly well.

We are quite at a loss to imagine on what authority
it is stated by Mr. Gilmour that no symbols are to
be used on graduated glass measures and that each
glass measure is to have marked upon it u t = 62° F.
These again are provisions that relate only to the local
standards and not at all to the measures actually in
use. As to the stamping or engraving of weights
and measures with the Government stamp of a
crown and the letters Y.R., which Mr. Gilmour
describes as being requisite, we equally fail to dis¬
cover any authority for this statement, either in the
memorandum lately issued by the Standards Office,
or in the Act itself. On the contrary, section 43 of
the Act distinctly states that the stamp ol verifica¬
tion with which lawful weights and measures are
to be stamped by the inspector ol a particular
district is to be “some name, number, or mark’ that
will distinguish that district. It is for the local
authorities to decide also what they will stamp and
what they will not stamp, and they will have to
exercise their discretion as to where the impractica¬
bility of stamping with the abbreviated denomina¬
tion, or the mark of verification, obtains on account
of the small size of the weight or measure. In fact,
all the proceedings to be taken under the new Act
for the local verification and inspection of weights
and measures are to be taken by the local authorities
of counties and boroughs, independently of the
Government, and it is only in regard to verification
and custody of standards that the Act confers any
powers or duties upon the Board of Trade.

Again, therefore, we would remind our readers
that it will be unwise to wait until the time when
it maybe supposed the Government will take action
in the matter and issue specific instructions that
will enable chemists and druggists to provide them¬
selves with proper weights and measures. So far as
the trade is concerned, the action of the Govern¬
ment was at an end when the Order in Council

432

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. November 29, 1879.

authorizing the apothecaries’ standards was issued,
and it now remains for the local authorities to act.
It is, therefore, in this direction that application
should he made to know how the provisions of the
Act are to be carried out in different localities.

Before leaving this subject we venture to suggest
an alteration in the mode of using the pipette¬
shaped vessel, fig. 21, as a standard, which would, in
our opinion, be an improvement upon the arrange¬
ment which that figure represents. For convenience
of manipulation there is perhaps no form of instru¬
ment better than the delivery pipette, especially
when fitted with a filling apparatus and air taps. In
regard to accuracy, also, this form of apparatus leaves
little to be desired when the surface of the liquid at
the point of reading otf the volume is not too ex¬
tended. Certainly in gauging a number of measures
a pipette would be much more convenient to use
than a vessel having the form of those represented by
fig. 19, or even a flask like fig. 20 ; but in the way that
the graduation of the large pipette, fig. 21, is applied
there would be considerable liability to error, owing
to the large surface of the liquid at any one of the
points of graduation. Considering that the capacity of
the graduated portion of the pipette is 40 fluid ounces,
the diameter of the vessel must be too great for
accurate reading, and the arrangement indicated
appears, therefore, unsuited for the purpose in view
when such large volumes have to be read off. In
the smaller pipette, fig. 22, the objection would not
apply with equal force, but in either case we should
be disposed to give the preference to a pipette made
of such a size as, when filled to a point in the narrow
neck, a , to hold the particular measure it is intended
for. The adoption of this plan would, however,
entail the use of a separate pipette for each measure,
but much greater accuracy of measurement would
thus be ensured and also the possibility of more
rapid manipulation.

PAREGORIC WITHOUT OPIUM.

In reference to the case reported in this Journal
some weeks ago, and to the comments we felt
compelled to make upon the impropriety of the
practice disclosed before the Chesterfield police
magistrates, we have received a letter from Mr.
Greaves in which he seeks to justify the sale of
the preparation then called in question. We should
have been glad if there had been any possibility of
recognizing the sufficiency of the arguments he
brings forward for this purpose, but unfortunately
we cannot do this. The signification of the term
“ paregoric ” and its application to a compound
containing opium is too familiar to admit of the name
being applied to a preparation that does not contain
opium.

The statement that such a preparation has been
for a long time sold as a specialty does not to our
apprehension constitute any justification of the use
of the term “ paregoric ” to describe it, nor can we

admit that regard for trade interests involves the
adoption of such a palpable misnomer.

Another argument put forward by Mr. Greaves
is based upon the large area of country round
Chesterfield in which there is no registered chemist
and druggist and no immediate local provision for
the supply of medicine or drugs, but we are equally
unable to regard that circumstance as a reason for
supplying the population of that district with articles
under names that do not belong to them.

As regards the fitness of the repressive action
which the Pharmacy Act and the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act are intended to exercise, the Legislature
has deemed it good for the public welfare that
poisons should not be indiscriminately sold by
persons unqualified by education and experience to
deal in such articles, and we believe it is for the
good of pharmacy that this restriction should be
enforced. Public feeling is also decidedly opposed
to the sale of articles which are not of the nature,
substance and quality they purport to be, and
though we believe that the state of public opinion
as to the extent of such practices is exaggerated we
do not think there would be any good done to
legitimate trade interests by seeking to excuse any
instances in which they have been shown to exist.

Of course we do not intend to suggest that the
preparation which Mr. Greaves has sold under the
name of “ paregoric,” may not be, as he states, better
adapted for certain purposes than the preparation
with opium to which that name properly belongs.
All we object to is the misuse of this term, and we
would suggest that the popularity of Mr. Greaves’s
special preparation would be in no way damaged by
giving it an appropriate name instead of one which
represents a preparation that he contends is not so
good.

POISONING OF HORSES.

We learn from the Lincolnshire Gazette that a
meeting has been held in the Com Exchange of
Lincoln for the purpose of forming an association
for preventing the administration of poisonous drugs
to horses. It appears that a farmer in the district
has recently suffered very serious loss in this way,
and several of the speakers at the meeting mentioned
cases in which horses had been killed by the ad¬
ministration of arsenic by grooms and waggoners.
One of the number expressed the opinion that many
chemists and druggists sold poisons recklessly, and
thought there should be some more stringent law
with regard to them, but in most instances it was
considered that the mischief was done by hawkers
going into the stables and selling poisonous drugs to
the persons who had charge of horses. It would
appear that the most fitting remedy for this would
be to make known to these persons the penalty im¬
posed by the Drugging of Animals Act, 1876, and to
warn them against the consequences of their ignorant
use of drugs of which they do not know the effects.

We regret to learn that on Tuesday last a fire
broke out on the premises of Messrs. Smeeton and
Pick, wholesale druggists, Bond Street, Leeds, which,
before it could be extinguished, consumed property
to the value of several thousands of pounds. The
basement was saved by flooding it with water, but
the upper stories, partly occupied as a woollen ware¬
house and by the Globe Parcels Company, were
completely destroyed.

November 29, t879. , THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

433

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The fourth general meeting of the thirty-first session
was held at the Royal Institution on Thursday evening,
November 20, the President, Dr. Charles Symes, in the

chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and

confirmed.

The following donations were announced : — The two
last numbers of the Pharmaceutical Journal, from the
Society; and the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal, from

the Editor.

The President called attention to the progress which
is being made in the preparation of the new United
States Pharmacopoeia. He said that at a recent meeting
of the American Pharmaceutical Association the. Phar¬
macopoeia Revision Committee brought up their report,
and it was agreed that one thousand copies of the pro¬
posed new work should be printed in pamphlet form and
distributed amongst the eminent pharmacists of America,
thus enabling them to test the merits of the proposed
formulae, processes, etc., and to judge of the merits of
each before they became law. This he considered was a
broad and liberal spirit, which contrasted favourably with
that displayed under similar circumstances in this country.

The President also called attention to some remarks by
Heintz, published in the Pharm. Zeitung , respecting the in¬
fluence of tannin in preventing the colour reaction between
iodine and starch, and experimentally showed that a few
drops of a moderately strong solution of tannin, added to
a weak solution of starch, entirely prevented the forma¬
tion of the usual blue colour on the addition of a solution
of iodine.

Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S., said that this was not a new
discovery, for it was mentioned in ‘ Gmelin’s Chemistry.’

The President then exhibited a new form of micro¬
phone transmitter which is coming into general use, for
the transmission of articulate sounds, possessing the
advantage over the telephone, when used in the same
capacity, that the speaker might be some feet distant
from it and need not raise his voice above an ordinary
tone to be distinctly heard. This was practically shown
by means of a wire laid between the lecture hall and the
library. The instrument was also taken to pieces and its
construction explained.

The Honorary Secretary, Mr. M. Conroy, called atten¬
tion to the immense sensation caused in Birkenhead and
elsewhere by that great queen of quackery, Madame
Enault ; and to show the immense sale which she had for
her “ Indian Malachite ” he read an extract from the
British Medical Journal, which stated that the manu¬
facturers of the bottles in which it was put up had
supplied her with upwards of fifty thousand during the
past few weeks. The “Malachite” was a green coloured,
aromatic liquid, put up in bottles of 1^ or 2 fluid ounce
capacity, and sold at 2s. each. He found, however, that
it was not at all uniform in composition, three samples
which were lately examined by him giving the following
respective specific gravities : 1*047, 0*972 and 1*000.
The samples also varied in colour and smell. He had
made a proximate analysis of one sample, as far as it was
possible to do so with such a complex organic mixture,
and found it to consist as under. A sample made by
this formula was exhibited at the meeting, and the
general opinion was that it represented the original in
every way : —

“ Indian Malachite .”

Glycerine . .

Rectified Spirit
Oil of Cajuput .

„ Cloves .

„ Cassia .

„ Peppermint
Aniline Green . ,

12£ fluid ounces.
12* „ „

4 fluid drachms.
1 >» »

1 JJ

20 minims.

1 grain.

Aniline greens frequently possess a blue tint, but this
could be rectified by the addition of a very small amount
of aniline yellow.

A brief discussion followed this communication, in
which several of those present joined.

The President then called upon the Hon. Secrttary
to read the paper for the evening, on—

Eucus Vesiculosus.

BY MICHAEL CONROY, F.C.S.

Fucus vesiculosus, commonly known as bladder- wrack,
sea-ware, sea-wrack, black-tang and kelp-ware, belongs
to the great natural order of marine plants known as
Algce, and, as indicated by its name, to the genus Fucus.
Greville applies to it the following special botanical
characters : — Frond plane, linear, dichotomous, entire at
the margin. Air vessels roundish-oval ; in pairs. Recep¬
tacles mostly elliptical, terminating the branches.”

The species is very variable ; but the varieties pass so
insensibly into each other that it is very difficult to
strictly define them. Harvey says* : “ The first and
most obvious distinction is in size ; some fully developed
specimens in fruit being found under an inch in length,
while others reach several feet. Other varieties possess
elongated air-vessels, or are entirely destitute of any ;
while others vary in the shape of the fructification, the
receptacles being sometimes globose, sometimes ellipsoidal,
and occasionally spindle-shaped. Lastly, the frond is
frequently spirally twisted.

It is a perennial plant and a native of the British
shores, bearing the fructification in the spring. The
root is an expanded, black, woody, callous disk. The
frond is smooth and glossy, and in colour is a dark
olivaceous green, furnished through its whole length with
a darker coloured midrib, as thick as a goose-quill at the
root, but gradually growing pale and thin. The vesicles,
varying in size from a pea to a hazel nut, of thin sub¬
stance, and their cavities filled with air, are found
imbedded in the membranous part of the frond, near the
midrib. The fructification consists of compressed, turgid,
solitary or twin receptacles, perforated and filled with a
pellucid mucus.

Fucus vesiculosus is the commonest and one of the
most widely diffused species of the genus. It abounds on
the coasts of our own islands, and along the shores of the
Northern Atlantic, extending to the tropics, and is said
to have been found in the southern part of the ocean.

The uses made of this weed are manifold. In Northern
Europe it is used as thatch and fuel, and when vegetation
is scarce, or the land is covered with snow, it furnishes
an abundant fodder for cattle, which regularly visit the
shore, at the retreat of the tide, in search of it.. rlhe
Norwegian and Lapland peasants collect and boil it, and
when mixed with a coarse meal, feed their pigs, horses
and cattle with it. In Ireland and Scotland it is largely
used for similar purposes, and it is said to be both grate¬
ful and nourishing to the animals, which become very
partial to it. Formerly it was largely used in the manu¬
facture of kelp, which is now used for the manufacture
of iodine.

Some of its medical properties have been known from
early times; the burnt plant, under the name of vegetable
ethiops, having long enjoyed considerable celebrity in the
treatment of bronchocele and scrofulous diseases, the
dose being from 10 grs. to 2 drachms. Dr. Russel found
the mucus of the vesicles an excellent resolvent, when
externally applied to glandular enlargements and other
scrofulous tumours. He also gave the expressed juice
of the vesicles in glandular affections.

Since the discovery of iodine it has fallen into disuse
for the treatment of these diseases, its place having been
more effectually supplied by that agent and its salts.

According to Pereira, its organic constituents are
cellulose, mucilage or carrageen, mannite, odorous oil,
with colouring and bitter matters. The mineral constitu-
# ‘ Phycologia Britannica.’

434

THE FHARMACEUT1CAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 29, 1*7*.

ents, which amount to 16*6 per cent, of the dry fucus,
are according to the mean of the analyses by Godechens,
James, Schweitzer and Eorchhammer, as under: —

Potash . 11 ‘96

Soda . 12’25

Lime . . . . 10'92

Magnesia . 9 ‘53

Sodium Chloride . 19‘82

Sodium Iodide . 0-25

Iron and Lime Phosphates . . . 5 ‘64

Iron Peroxide . 0’95

Sulphuric Acid . 24'62

Silica . 4’06

100-00

According to Gualtier de Glaubry, the iodine exists as
potassium iodide, but I am unable to see how he has
determined this point.

' It will be seen from the above table that this plant
contains little iodine, 0'21 per cent., but even this per¬
centage is greater than what has been found by other
chemists. M. Eugene Marchaud states that it is one of
the poorest species in this respect, and he mentions that
Fucus digitatus contains seven times as much.

Recently we have heard a great deal respecting the
use of Fucus vesiculosus in the treatment of morbid
obesity, and if it possesses a tithe of the virtues ascribed
to it, it is truly a marvellous remedy, and one well worth
the attention of both the medical and pharmaceutical
professions. Its fat-reducing properties seem to have
been first observed by M. Duchesne Duparc, who, while
using it in a case of inveterate psoriasis, in which it had
considerable reputation as a remedy, noticed its unex¬
pected effect of reducing corpulency, without in any way
causing injury to health. He was thus induced to try it
as a remedy in this disease, and prescribed it in the form
of powder, decoction and extract (hydroalcoholic). Better
results, he states, were obtained from the extract than
the powder, but the best results were observed by the
combined use of the extract, in pilular form, and the
decoction. He recommends the remedy to be taken in the
morning, fasting ; and observes that no change is needed
in the habitual diet. No special action of the remedy is
noticed for two or three weeks and the earliest effect
observed is generally the more abundant flow of urine,
which on standing, becomes covered with a dark coloured
film. M. Duchesne states that from this moment the
reducing action of the remedy begins, and he ascribes its
action to the property it possesses of stimulating the
absorbents, concentrating its action principally on the
fatty cells. ( Journ . de Pharm. et de Chimie, Juillet, 1862.)
Following the above article in the same journal there
is a communication by Dr. Godefroy, wherein he gives
an account of the effects of the remedy upon himself.
He gives full particulars respecting his age, height and
weight, and goes on to say that he commenced the treat¬
ment on March 6, by taking, at regular intervals, three
pills daily, each pill containing 30 centigrams of the hy¬
droalcoholic extract. One pill was taken before each
meal and no alteration whatever was made in his manner
of living. He observed that his urine became more abun¬
dant, darker in colour, and of a more offensive odour.
The treatment was continued until April 10, during
which time he took ninety pills and lost in weight 1£ kilos.
From the 10th to the 20th April he took two pills a day,
and from the latter date until May 18 he returned to the
three pills a day, and by this time he had taken ninety
more pills, and found that he had lost another kilo in
weight, so that from March 6 till May 11 he lost 2^ kilos.
The weighings, he states, were carefully taken under the
same conditions.

I may here call your attention to Dr. Fairbank’s letter,
which appeared in the British Medical Journal of June 7
last, in answer to a query contained in the previous week’s
journal respecting the nature of the much advertised
nostrum, “ anti-fat.” He writes : —

“ I beg to state that ‘ anti-fat ’ is most probably an
extract of the Fucus vesiculosus , or “ popping seaweed.”
More than fifteen years ago, I gave some of this extract
in pill (four grains three times a-day) to a very corpulent
lady, who in three months lost three stones in weight
without any change of diet. Since then I have frequently
given it for reducing weight, depending on the accumula¬
tion of adipose tissue, and have never found it fail. The
solid extract can be easily made into four-grain pills,
which must, however, be kept in a stoppered bottle, as
they readily absorb moisture from the air. I may state
that a patient who has been lately taking it as an anti-fat,
and who always suffered very much from rheumatic pains
about the body, has been entirely free from such trouble
while she has been taking the extract, a fact which she
quite independently noted.”

Since the appearance of this above letter there has been
a somewhat brisk demand for both the liquid and solid
extracts, and no doubt some of you, as well as myself,
have been at a loss to find suitable working formulae for
their manufacture. The following formula, by M.
Dannecy, is published in the Journal de Pharmacie,
November, 1862 : — In the first place, he insists upon the
plant being gathered during the period of fructification,
and rapidly dried in the sun until it becomes sufficiently
crisp to powder. It is then reduced to coarse powder, and
macerated for three days in four times its weight of 86°
alcohol. It is then expressed, and the marc again treated
in a similar manner with 54° alcohol. The tinctures are
then mixed and filtered, the spirit recovered by distilla¬
tion, and the extract evaporated to a suitable consistence.
Of this hydroalcoholic extract, which is one-fifteenth the
weight of the dry plant, he makes pills according to the
following formula : —

Ext. Fuci Vesic . 30 grams.

Pulv. Fuci Yesic . 5 „

Mix and divide into pills of 25 centigrams each (3*75
grains). Three of these pills, he says, may be taken
daily in the beginning, and gradually increased to
twenty-four pills daily, a quantity which has often been
attained without the slightest derangement of the
stomach.

I have lately had some experience in the manufacture
of both the liquid and solid extracts, and not being aware
at the time of the existence of the above formula, I tried
a few experiments with the object of finding a suitable
menstruum. Without going into details, I may say that
I have not tried any spirit stronger than proof, simply
because I saw no necessity for so doing, judging by the
composition of the fucus, as above given. I found even
a weaker spirit to give good results ; water is unsuitable,
as it dissolves the carrageen, thus producing a gelatinous
liquid, which is not only difficult to work, but which
produces a bulky and almost inert extract, owing to the
very large amount of this mucilage which it extracts,
and it is on this account that a spirituous menstruum is
rendered necessary.

M. Dannecy, in the article above mentioned, lays
great stress upon the necessity of rapidly drying the
fucus in the sun, until it becomes crisp ; and other
authorities state that the mode of drying employed
greatly influences the therapeutic value of the remedy.
Judging by parcels which I have met with, there seems
to be good ground for this caution, for it is a common
thing to find the plant half rotten by careless drying.
As, however, there is no benefit to be derived by drying,
I have thought it advisable to work on the fresh plant,
and thus avoid any risk on that score. Several experi¬
ments made with the object of arriving at the relative
values of the fresh and dried plant, gave me the following
average results : —

100 parts of fresh fucus dried under ordinary atmo¬
spheric influences, in summer weather, yielded 33 parts,
nearly equal to one -third.

100 parts dried at 212° F., until it ceased to lose
weight, produced 26 parts, or a little over one - four th ;

November 29, 1879.1 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS

therefore, for all practical purposes, we may say that 1
part of air-driecl fucus is equivalent to 3 parts of the
fresh plant and that 1 part thoroughly dried at 212° F.,
is equivalent to 4 parts of the fresh plant. Using freshly
gathered fucus, the following formula will produce a
very fine fluid extract : —

Fresh Fucus Vesiculosus . . . lbs.

Proof Spirit . 1 gallon .

Thoroughly cut and crush the fucus, and macerate it for
a couple of days in half a gallon of the spirit, then press,
and repeat the process with the remainder of the spirit.
Reserve 35 fluid ounces of the first liquor, distil the spirit
from the remainder of both liquors and evaporate to a
soft extract. Dissolve this in the reserved 35 fluid ounces,
make the measurement up to 40 fluid ounces with proof
spirit and filter after a few hours ; 1 fluid ounce of this
extract is equal to 1 ounce of the air-dried plant or to 3
ounces of the fresh.

For the solid extract use the same menstruum and
exhaust as above, but evaporate the whole of the liquors
to a suitable pilular extract. 1 part of this hydro¬
alcoholic extract is equal to 7'33 parts of the air-dried
plant, or to 22 parts of the fresh.

To make these extracts from the air-dried fucus it
would be necessary to use a menstruum consisting of 2
parts of proof spirit and 1 part of water, which would be
equivalent to using proof spirit on the fresh plant, for it
will be seen from the above formula that 1 gallon of
proof spirit is used for 7^ pounds of the fresh plant, and,
as this weight only represents 2g pounds, or one-third of
the dry plant, it is evident that the 5 pounds lost by
drying should be added to the gallon of proof spirit, if it
be thought desirable to keep to the above mentioned
alcoholic strength, which, in my opinion, is well suited, as
it thorough ly Je xhau s ts the fucus without taking up the
troublesome and inert carrageen.

Since writing this paper, which was intended to have
been read a couple of weeks ago, an article "has appeared
in the Lancet, respecting this remedy, and it is evident
that the writer of that article and myself have been
fishing in the same waters. There are, however, a couple
of points to which I must take exception, namely, that
Fucus vesiculosus contains “large quantities of iodine,”
i and that in Ireland it is found “ invaluable for fattening
pigs.” Now, it is well known that this fucus contains
very little iodine, some varieties containing only
the merest trace, in fact, as stated before, it is the
poorest species of the genus in this respect. Regarding
its invaluable fattening properties, I think the writer
must have been drawing upon his imagination, for
although it is used as pig food by the poor peasantry,
when nothing better is obtainable, it is certainly not a
fattening food, and anyone who has travelled in the west
of Ireland, where it is largely used for this purpose, will
have formed a very high opinion of its non-fattening
properties by the appearance and the agility of the pigs
themselves. The remark in the Lancet that most of our
fucus comes from Billingsgate market, where it had been
used for packing fish, will account for the horrid fishy
taste and smell noticed in some samples of the fluid
extract made in London.

In conclusion, I wish to remind you of a remark that
we often hear respecting this plant, namely, that any
active medicinal properties which it may possess must be
due to the iodine, which it contains. That the beneficial
effects obtained by the use of this and other species of
fuci in scrofulous diseases depend upon this agent, there
can be no doubt whatever, since the same results are
obtained by the use of this element or its salts; but it has
not yet been found that either iodine or any of its salts
will produce such results, in the treatment of morbid
obesity, as those ascribed to the galenical preparations
of this plant. Moreover, it is not an easily ascertained
point, as to what particular principle the therapeutic
value of a remedy of this complex nature is due ; and, as

an example, I will take the somewhat analogous case of
lime-fruit juice, the antiscorbutic properties of which
have been attributed to the contained citric acid, still we
find that this acid has titterly failed either as a remedy
or a preventive of scurvy. It is also very improbable
that if iodine or the iodides possessed the fat-reducing
properties credited to Fucus vesiculosus, that it could have
escaped the attention of the medical profession for so
long.

The paper, which was illustrated with specimens of
Fucus vesiculosus, and other species of Fuel, together with
samples of the fluid and solid extracts, powder and pearl
coated pills, gave rise to the following discussion : —

The President said he had listened with pleasure to
Mr. Conroy’s paper; he had no idea there was so much
to be said on the subject, without introducing much that
was of medical rather than of pharmaceutical interest.
The author had, however, kept the question of the medi¬
cinal properties of the fucus within very reasonable
limits, and had given a considerable amount of informa¬
tion, and some good working formulae for the excellent
pharmaceutical preparations with which he had illustrated
his paper. It was a recognized fact, that this particular
fucus contained, on an average, much less iodine than
Fucus digitatus; but the amount of iodine in seaweeds
was known to be influenced by the Gulf Stream. He con¬
sidered there was no right to assume that the medicinal
properties (such as they were) were due alone to iodine.
It was a matter of common experience that the so-called
active principle of a drug did not always possess the
whole of its medicinal properties.

Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S., considered that, even
granting that this fucus constituted a fattening food for
pigs, it did not follow that it would have the same effect
on man, for it was a known fact that the physiological
effects of many drugs on man and the lower animals were
very different.

Mr. A. H. Mason, F.C.S., said it afforded him much
pleasure, in the name of those present, to express their
obligations to the gentlemen who had contributed to the
success of the meeting. Firstly, to the President, for his
able exposition of the principle and demonstration of the
action of Hughes’s microphone ti’ansmitter ; such com¬
munications, which kept the members conversant with
some of the recent advances in physical science, were of
immense value and caused wholesome variety in the pro¬
ceedings. They are also indebted to Mr. Conroy, their
Honorary Secretary, for contributing such a valuable
rSsumS of the history and properties of Fucus vesiculosus.
He congratulated Mr. Conroy upon his having avoided
the sensationalism which surrounded this substance in the
present time and strongly deprecated the use of “Anti¬
fat” as empirical and simply a destroyer of vitality, and
thought it too bad that foreign adventurers with large
capitals should be able to so successfully hoodwink the
British people. Without wishing to detract from the
value of Mr. Conroy’s communication on “Malachite,”
he considered it would have been much more valuable if
it had been contributed a few weeks earlier, when its
publication might have put a stop to some of the nefarious
practices which had been carried on in Birkenhead. At
the time he felt that the excitement produced had re¬
ceived far more attention from the press and the public
than it was worthy of. Mr. Mason concluded by moving
a vote of thanks to the President and Mr. Conroy for
their communications.

Mr. R. M. Sumner, in seconding the vote of thanks,
said he fully endorsed all that Mr. Mason had said, but
he would like to add, what appeared to him an omission,
namely, to congratulate Mr. Conroy upon the great
excellence of the preparations of Fucus vesiculosus which
he had exhibited, which were most perfect.

The President and Mr. Conroy returned thanks, after
which the meeting closed.

436

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (November 29, 1879.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of the sessioryff this Association was
held at Britannia Chambers on Tuesday evening, the 4th
inst., the chair being occupied by the President Mr. R. Fitz-
hugh, F.C.S. After the transaction of some preliminary
business, the President, with a few appropriate remarks,
presented the prizes to the successful associates in last
session’s classes, the recipients being Messrs. W. W. Tal¬
bot, W. Gill, G. E. Hare and H. Granger. He then
delivered his inaugural address, in which, after alluding
to the apathy shown by many of the members, he reviewed
briefly the work of last session, and announced the
arrangements already made for the coming one. He
then went on to speak of the advantage of study to the
chemist and druggist and the relationship existing
between masters and apprentices, both of which subjects
were treated in an eminently practical manner.

The address was listened to with much attention, and
at the close Mr. R. Jackson proposed a hearty vote of
thanks to the President, which was seconded by
Mr. Warriner and carried unanimously and suitably
responded to.

|ro([f«diitgs of j$qieittijiq ^oqietirs.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on November 20,
1879, Dr. Gilbert, Vice-President, in the chair.

The minutes of the preceding meeting were read ana
confirmed.

The Chairman announced that a ballot for the election
of Fellows would take place at the next meeting of the
Society (December 4).

The following certificates were read for the first
time : — J. Howard, J. Knowles, J. Snodgrass, A. Scott,
E. J. Day, J. Steiner.

The Chairman then called on Mr. Church to read a
paper —

On a Chemical Study of Vegetable Albinism. Part II.
Respiration ayid Transpiration of Albino Foliage. — The
author has proved that white foliage does not possess the
power even in sunshine of decomposing the carbon
dioxide of the air, but adds largely to the normal amount
of that gas in the air, thus resembling the petals of
flowers and the action of green leaves during darkness.
The best results were obtained with the maple ( Acer
negundo), the holly, the ivy and the Alocasia macrorhiza.
Every care was taken to choose white and green foliage
comparable in every respect, age, etc. The leaf stalks
were placed in boiled distilled water and covered by a
bell-jar inverted over mercury ; to the mouth of this bell-
jar is fitted a cork through which pass two tubes, one
long and the other short. Air is sucked from the long
tube through a Pettenkofer tube containing baryta
water. At the end of the experiment the Pettenkofer
tube is washed out without exposure to the atmosphere,
and the carbonate determined after the method of
Dupr£ and Hake ( Chem . Soc. Jour., March, 1879). The
C02 in the atmosphere was found to be 3*21 parts in
10,000. The author embodies his results in a table ;
1000 sq. centims of the white foliage of'the maple evolved
in two hours 16*69 parts of C02 per 10,000 of air; 1000
sq. centims of green foliage evolved 0*44 parts CU2; simi¬
larly 1000 sq. centims of white holly leaves evolved 18*82
parts C02 per 10,000 ; of green 4*49 ; 1000 sq. centims of
white alocasia leaves in two experiments evolved 15*06
and 38*96 parts of C02 per 10,000; of green 1*14 parts.
The author has also studied the comparative loss and gain
of albino and green foliage. White holly sprays placed in
water gained in two hours 0*29 per cent., green holly under
similar conditions gained 1*55 per cent.; when no water
was supplied the white holly lost 0*54 per cent., the green

10*26 per cent. The author promises further work on
this interesting subject. He exhibited some dried speci¬
mens of albino and ordinary leaves, the albino leaves
being thinner and altogether much less substantial in
their structure.

Dr. Gilbert said that the results obtained by the author
seemed to be of considerable importance. In a former
paper the composition of the green and white leaves had
been investigated, the white leaves containing less lime,
but more non-albumenoid nitrogen than the green, in¬
dicating a capability for development without actual
growth. In the present paper the author shows that these
white leaves do not perform leaf functions.

Mr. Warington remarked that in the white leaves
respiration seemed to take place in an exalted state. He
would like to know whether much starch had been found
in the white leaves.

Mr. Groves asked if there was any difference in the
number of stomata in the white and green leaves.

Dr. Yoelcker inquired where the large amount of car¬
bonic acid given off by the white leaves came from ; the
researches seemed to indicate that the white leaves
seemed to be partially if not quite dead, or at least
gradually decomposing ; this would account for the evo¬
lution of C02.

Mr. Church in reply said there was more starch in the
green than in the white leaves, and that the leaves used in
the experiments were all in active growth and not in the
least decaying. In his opinion the C02 given off by the
white leaves came from substances elaborated by the
green leaves ; in the same way the flowers of the white
lily and green leaves in the dark evolved C02, without
any actual decay. The green leaves gave off C02 as well
as the white, but in sunshine they decomposed more
than they excreted. As far as he knew, white and green
leaves had the same number of stomata.

Mr. Kingzett then read a paper entitled —

Contributions to the History of Putrefaction. Part I. —
The author discusses to a certain extent the process of
putrefaction, and concludes that it would naturally be
expected that a substance allowed to undergo putrid
fermentation without oxidation would more readily
undergo chemical oxidation than the original integral
mass, and therefore that the oxygen-absorbing capacity of
a substance would progress increasingly with such putre¬
factive decomposition. He therefore endeavoured to
determine the oxygen-absorbing capacities of organic
solutions from time to time as they passed into putre¬
faction, and lo compare these numbers with the oxygen
capacities of similar solutions protected during the same
periods by so-called antiseptics. Various difficulties were
met with, and the author does not offer all the results
obtained. Some of the experiments, however, have an
important bearing on Tidy’s oxygen process, which, in
the words of its author, “ undoubtedly furnishes us with
exact information as to the relative quantities of putre¬
scent and easily oxidizable matter and of non-putrescent
or less easily oxidizable matters present in the water.”
The author of the present paper thinks that the oxygen
process is liable to mislead chemists in interpreting their
results if the most pernicious organic matters are those
which are in a putrescent state, for from the results
obtained by Kingzett, it appears that the oxygen absorbed
by a water containing organic matter in a non-putrescent
condition is more than that required by the same organic
matter in a putrescent state. Thus 5 c.c. of a dilute
solution of albumen, which began to stink after 150
hours, requires, when fresh, permanganate equal to
0*008004 grm. oxygen; after keeping 24 hours, 0*008671 ;
after 120 hours, 0*0076038; after 1104 hours, 0*00667;
after 1176 hours, 0*0062031; after 1440 hours, 0*0058696;
after 1534, 0*0054694; showing after a slight rise (8 per
cent.) a decrease of over 30 per cent, in the oxygen
absorbed. Similar results were obtained with extracts of
beef, fish, etc. Thus the author concludes that the oxygen
process might pass a water containing pernicious products,

November 29, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

437

since it is possible to obtain an organic solution in an of dry pure air at 210°. The volumetric processes of
active state of putrefaction which requires less perman- lvessler and Pattinson have been examined ; they give
ganate than the same solution in a fresh state. good results. The authors suggest a convenient modifica-

Professor Tidy said that, the results obtained by Mr. tion of Pattinson’s method. The diluted solution slightly
Kingzett required thinking about. No doubt different acid is heated to nearly 100°, a considerable excess of
materials had different oxvgen-absorbing powers. As bromine water added and then freshly precipitated zinc
a practical man he was satisfied with the third place of carbonate, all free bromine being expelled by boiling,
decimals. He was pleased to see Mr. Kingzett found it Ferric chloride usually forms permanganate, and thus
necessary to go to the seventh. complicates the manipulation. A more convenient and

Mr. Otto Hehner thought that the results rather quite as accurate a method as any of those requiring
proved than disproved the accuracy of the oxygen pro- bromine, etc., was found to be the addition of the diluted
cess, because the oxygen-absorbing power did at first and not too acid solution of manganese in the cold, to a
increase. Afterwards, of course, substances nitrified, and small excess of dilute permanganate solution containing zinc
in other ways the organic matter disappeared. This rise sulphate; the precipitate is collected on a glass wool funnel,
and subsequent decrease he had himself pointed out, dissolved in excess of acid ferrous sulphate, and titrated as
using the albumenoid ammonia process. usual. Three-fifths of the manganese in the precipitate

Mr. Church suggested that some inaccuracy might represent the manganese in the original solution. The
arise from the deposit which fell as the solution putrified, authors have verified the statement of Gorgeu that actual
the successive quantities of 5 c.c. containing less and less Mn02 is obtained by heating manganese nitrate to 160®.
organic matter as the deposit increased. The statements of Guyard as to the effect of heat on the

After some remarks by Dr. Voelcker, and a brief reply precipitate formed by adding manganese salts to per-
by Mr. Kingzett to the various points raised in the dis- manganate are also corroborated. The recent statements
cussion, of Pickering as to the deficiency of oxygen in the sub-

The next paper was read by Dr. Wright; it was en- stances thrown down by acting with water on the super-
titled — chlorides of manganese are also substantially correct.

Notes on Manganese Dioxide. By C. R. A. Wright The accuracy of the results of Volhard, as to obtaining
and A. E. Menke. — The authors have repeated many of pure Mn02 free from potash by precipitating manganese
the experiments of former observers, with, in some cases, sulphate with permanganate in the presence of nitric
very different results. They have made many careful acid, etc., is questioned by the authors. The experiments
gravimetric analyses of the substances precipitated under of Morawski and Stingl have not been confirmed as far
various conditions, the experiments being more particu- as they have been repeated, viz., hydrated manganese
larly directed to the examination of substances formed in dioxide containing potash does not (as stated by these
presence of potassium compounds, so as to determine how chemists) lose all its water by ignition, the substance
far potash is carried down in combination with the thrown down by the action of manganese sulphate on
manganese. Substances were prepared by the action of potassium permanganate is not 3Mn022H20, but an
nitric acid or sulphuric acid on potassium permanganate, indefinite hydrate containing much potash; on boiling
By solution in hydrochloric acid, and re-precipitation by with caustic potash it does not form (after washing and
water in presence, or absence, of potassium salts ; by act- drying at 100°) Mn4KH3O10 or 8Mn02K20,3H20 as
ing on potassium permanganate with sulphurous acid, stated, but a substance much richer in potasli 5 Mn02K20 ;
alcohol and glycerin; by precipitating manganese salts Mn4KH3O10 does not uniformly result by the action of
with potassium permanganate under various conditions ; alcohol, glycerin, etc., on potassium permanganate, but
by acting with air and caustic potash on manganese salts instead, substances of very variable composition. The
(Weldonizing) ; by precipitating from solution by bromine, authors also notice incidentally that manganese chloride is
etc., under various conditions, and by heating manganese sensibly volatile at a red heat in a current of HC1, and
nitrate to 160° alone and in the presence of potassium that perceptible errors in alkali determinations may be
nitrate. In every case, except the last, potassium was | introduced if solutions containing ammonium sulphide
present in the ultimate product in considerable quantity, are evaporated down in glass or porcelain. Identical
even though the precipitate was formed in presence of results were obtained when titrating the available oxygen
very large quantities of free hydrochloric, sulphuric, | in a substance, whether the material was dissolved in
nitric or acetic acids. Other metals if present are often I acid ferrous sulphate checked by dichromate, or was
carried down in preference to potassium, e.g., calcium; unless distilled with HC1 into KI and the liberated iodine
the circumstances of the experiments are such as to allow estimated by adding excess of thiosulphate, and titrating
of the precipitation of a large percentage of potassium back with iodine solution.

or other equivalent metal the precipitate never contains The next paper was read by the Secretary, on —

as much oxygen as corresponds to Mn02, the deficiency The Reaction between Sodium Thiosulphate and Iodine- -

being greater or less as the quantity of potash present is Estimation of Manganese Oxides and Potassium Bichro-
less or more. The only exception to this rule occurs mate. By S. Pickering.— In a former paper the author
when hot solutions of manganese salt and excess of per- suggested a modification of Bunsen’s volumetric method,
manganate act on one another ; with cold solutions the viz., transferring the sample to be analysed to a beaker
precipitate is deficient in oxygen unless zinc sulphate be containing a large excess of potassium, iodide, adding a
added. Manganese dioxide containing potash can be small quantity of acid and determining the iodine
completely converted into MnO, retaining but traces of liberated by running in sodium thiosulphate solution,
potash, by long continued ignition in a current of This method gives results slightly higher than the ori-
hydrogen ; the free oxide thus formed does not spon- ginal method of Bunsen, viz., boiling the oxides, with
taneously oxidize in the air. When freshly thrown down hydrochloric acid and collecting the evolved chlorine in
and just dry to the sight . and touch, the dioxide is a a solution of potassium iodide. . The author has in the
hydrate 4Mn02 + H20; on standing over sulphuric acid present paper exhaustively examined the effects produced
this hydrate loses water indefinitely and continuously. ' by varying the several conditions of the reaction. When
Mn02HoO is the lowest hydrate stable in dry air. Up to iodine and sodium thiosulphate react in warm solution, a
108° no appreciable loss of oxygen accompanies the ex- decomposition, 4I2-f-Na2S203 + 5H20 = 21SaHS04 + onl,
pulsion of water; at 210° all the precipitated oxides, etc., attended with the formation of sulphate, occurs, as well as
dried, lose oxygen slowly and regularly; the nearly the ordinary reaction I2 + 2 Na2S203 = Na2S4()g + 2i ai,
anhydrous Mn02, prepared by heating manganese nitrate Thus at 52° 3 9 per cent, of iodine reacted to form su -
to 160®, does not evolve oxygen at 210°. In all cases phate, at 0° 1*84 to 2 per cent, reacted in a similar
perceptible amounts of water from a few tenths to 2 per manner. Dilution increases very slightly the amount of
cent, are retained after many hours’ drying in a current | sulphate formed. An excess of potassium iodide is with-

438

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 29, i»79.

out effect. Dilute solutions of iodine do not vary in four
days as regards the amount of iodine they contain, whether
kept in the dark or in diffused daylight. Within certain
limits the amount of iodine liberated at once is propor¬
tional to the amount of hydrochloric acid added, but the
acidhas no influence on the relative proportions in which the
two above-mentioned reactions take place. No difference
occurs whether the reaction is made by adding iodine solu¬
tion to an excess of thiosulphate or thiosulphate to the
iodine ; if, however, hydrochloric acid be present the amount
of sulphate is increased. The author discusses the various
forms of apparatus for estimating the oxides of man¬
ganese by Bunsen’s plan. He prefers boiling the oxide in
a small flask fitted with a thistle funnel, the chlorine
being absorbed in three other flasks containing potassium
iodide. Traces of chlorine were retained by the acid
liquid, even after prolonged boiling. If undiluted acid
be used the Bunsen method gives results almost identical
with those obtained by using the plan suggested by the
author ; if the acid be diluted, the amount of chlorine
evolved is diminished in the Bunsen method. If
potassium bichromate be estimated by the Bunsen
method, a notable deficiency of chlorine is observed, even
if the acid be undiluted. If chlorine water be diluted
and boiled, considerable loss of chlorine takes place, from
the formation of hydrochloric acid ; this loss begins at
lower temperatures. This probably is sufficient to
explain the low results obtained with the Bunsen
method. The author’s modification is, of course, not
applicable to manganese ores, owing to the presence of
ferric oxide. Bunsen’s method must, therefore, be used
with the precautions above indicated. ,

The Society then adjourned to December 4, when a
ballot for the election of Fellows will take place, and the
following papers be read : — On the Theory of Frac¬
tional Distillation, Part II., by F. D. Brown ; On the
Influences exerted upon Certain Chemical Changes by
Variations in the Amount of Water of Dilution, by M.
M. P. Muir and C. Slater ; On a and /3 Phenanthrene
Carbonic Acid, by F. R. Japp ; On Some Derivations of
Phenylacetic Acid, by P. Phillips Bedson.

flarlianuntarg and ^an proceedings.

Adulteration of Baking Powder,

At the Cambridge Borough Police Court, on Thursday,
November 20, before the Mayor, the Master of Christ’s,
Professor G. D. Livering, Dr. Fawcett, J. Deighton and
S. Peed, Esqrs., Messrs. Warren, of Cambridge, whole¬
sale grocers, were charged with selling baking powder
containing ingredients injurious to health, viz., 15 per
cent, of alum. These were the nominal defendants, the
case being really defended in the interests of the manu¬
facturers, Messrs. J. B. Smith and Sons, of Norwich,
wholesale druggists, and manufacturers of the “ Norfolk
Baking Powder.” Mr. Cockerell, instructed by the Town
Clerk, prosecuted ; Mr. Blofeld, instructed by Mr. G. B.
Kennett, appeared for the defence. The case lasted
upwards of four hours. For the defence it was contended
that the powder was not an article of food, and further,
that the alum in the powder was neutralized in its effect
by the addition of bicarbonate of soda. In the result,
the Bench inflicted a penalty of 40s. and costs. — Notice
of appeal was given. — East Anglian Daily Times.

BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, ETC., RECEIVED.

The Rise and Development of Organic Chemistry.
By C. Schorlemmer, F.R.S. Manchester: J. E. Cornish.
London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. 1879. From the
Publishers.

The Medical Profession : being the Essay to which
was awarded the First Carmichael Prize of £200, by

the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland.
By Walter Rivtngton, B.A., M.B., etc. Dublin:
Fannin and Co. 1879. From the College.

The Medical Profession in the Three Kingdoms in
1879. The Essay to which was awarded the Carmichael
Prize of £100. By Thomas Laffan. Dublin: Fannin
and Co. 1879. From the College.

The Society of Arts Artisan Reports on the Paris
Universal Exhibition of 1878. London: Sampson
Low and Co. 1879.

Dispensing Jjflftnopmla.

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

[345]. Mr. Mackay having failed finding any authority
upon this, I beg to refer him to Parrish’s ‘ Pharmacy,’
page 856, where he will find a formula for an injection
containing zinc sulphate and lead acetate, combined with
other ingredients, also the following: — “This is an in¬
stance in which chemical incompatibles are mixed advisably
so as to produce a very fine precipitate, which, being
diffused in the liquid and deposited on the mucous
membrane favours the therapeutic effect intended.” The
value of such an authority needs no comment of mine.

Felix Stevens.

[345]. A few days ago I dispensed an old prescription
of Henry Lee’s, containing lead and zinc for an injection,
and notwithstanding the opinion of J. B. L. Mackay,
with his long list of standard works, I did not filter, but
directed the bottle to be shaken.

I have frequently made a similar injection from the
late W. Acton’s prescriptions, and I venture to think
these two eminent surgeons knew as much about injections
as all Mr. Mackay’s authorities put together.

Some years ago, when living at Cheltenham, a doctor
wrote a similar prescription in the shop, and when I
pointed out to him the decomposition that would take
place he told me he was quite aware of it, that he always
prescribed it and it always had the desired effect.

For once, I do not agree with the editor of “The
Month;” I would sooner filter it out than leave the pre¬
cipitate for the last syringeful.

Wm. Geo. Strongitharm.

[347]. The Colour of Euonymin. — It is doubtless
correct that to some extent this varies with the manipu¬
lation (see page 325), but to a much greater extent the
variation is due to the age of the bark when used. The
recent extended demand for euonymin has led to the
utilization of whatever bark could be obtained, with
perhaps but little reference to its age or the time of
collection. The green euonymin is prepared from young
green bark, and the brown kind without any shade of
green (which is not so acceptable or so powerful) is pre¬
pared from bark which is so old that chlorophyll has
disappeared from it ; the intermediate tints are procured
by working bark of which the age varies between these
extremes. It may be useful to state here that liquorice
powder should not be dispensed with euonymin or other
resinoids ; in several cases it has been found to have the
effect of rendering them all but inert. For instance,
when in New York, a few weeks ago, I was informed by
a manufacturer that a sufficiently active pill composed of
euonymin, grain, podophyllin, l grain, and leptandrin,

November 29, 18T9.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

439

| grain, had hardly any purgative power when made up
with liquorice powder. J ohn Moss.

[377]. Would any reader of the Journal kindly inform
me the best mode of dispensing the following ?

Ik Sodae Salicylic., . Jij.

Ammonii Bromid. . ^iss.

Sp. Chloroform . 54*

Ext. Cinchon. Liq . 3iij.

Aq. Destil . ad §viij.

M. Take one tablespoonful every four hours.

Novis.

[378]. Would any reader kindly inform me how to
j proceed with the following prescription? I have been
told by the prescriber that it has been dispensed in
London to his entire satisfaction.

R Zinci Oxidi . 3kj*

Calaminse Pulv . . . . . 3j.

Vaseline . gss.

Aq. Calcis . . . ad ^iv.

M. Adolescens.

- - - -r»— « . ■ ■ i - — --- - - ~ - :

Jtotys and Querns.

[636]. DR. STARTING POMADE.— In answer to
W. Richards’s query, I believe that the following is
the formula for “ Dr. Startin’s pomade —

R Hydrarg. Oxid. Rub.,

Hydrarg. Ammoniat . aa T)ss.

01. Amygdal. Dulc.,

Adipis . aa %].

M. Ft. pomade. T. Roberts.

[640] . SANTONIN WORM CAKES. - Will any cor¬

respondent oblige me with a form for “Worm Cakes”
containing santonine ; also the dose ? Nu.

[641] . GINGER ALE. — Can any of your readers give

a good formula for making ginger ale ? J. S. C.

- - " -■■■,- — ■■ - - - - • - - • - - —

djoifljsuondpq.

_______

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Botanical Origin op Damiana.

Sir, — In your last issue I observe in the “ Answers to
Correspondents,” on p. 420, that you have attributed to me
the determination of the botanical origin of Damiana.
This is not strictly correct, for although I identified the
true Damiana as a species of Turnera, probably hitherto
undescribed, but near to T. microphylla, D.C., my iden¬
tification was made from a few isolated flowers found mixed
with the Damiana leaves of commerce. Some months after
the publication of my paper I accidentally came across a
statement that the plant had been identified and described in
the United States, and after considerable difficulty traced
the article alluded to and obtained a copy of the journal
containing it, when I found that it had been published
earlier than my paper. It is to be found in the Virginia
Medical Monthly, vol. iii., No. 1, April, 1876, p. 47. As
the description of the plant has not yet been published, so far
as I am aware, in this couutry, I send it herewith : —

“ Turnera aphrodisaica, L. Ward. — Calyx tubular, funnel-
shaped, the lobes shorter than the tube ; styles three,
distinct ; stigma flabellate ; stems woody, the branches
reddish, densely canesceut or lanulose, as well as the
( petioles and lower portion of the midrib ; leaves, obovate
to oblanceolate, 6 to 9 lines long, 2 to 3 lines wide, on short
petioles, strongly crenate-dentate, the teeth with revolute
margins, prominently veined beneath, nearly glabrous
above, glandular below, bearing fascicles of smaller leaves
in their axils, together with the flowers ; flowers shortly

pedicelled or nearly sessile, axillary or petiolary, i.e., de¬
veloped either from the centre of axillary fascicles of
minute leaves or from between them and the base of the
petioles, or in some cases from the petiole itself above the
base, bibracteolate, the bracts ovate, long, acuminate,
ciliate ; anthers somewhat sagittate, introrse, the cells
thin, ovaries dehiscent from the apex to near the base;
seeds, large, long, kidney-shaped or curved, grooved length¬
wise and pitted, only a few maturing, the rest abortive and
persistent.”

The above is the description given in January, 1876, by
Mr. Lester F. Ward, a comparison of which with my
description in Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. vi., p. 531, will
show that the two determinations were made indepen¬
dently, since points omitted in the one are mentioned in the
other and vice versa.

The Editor of the Virginia Medical Monthly remarks
concerning the plant that it differs from T. car pinif alia in
the shape and serration of the leaves, and that the latter
plant, which he thinks is the one most likely to be con¬
founded with Damiana, is a native of damp river bottoms
in South America, while the former is found only on dry
rocky places in Western Mexico. E. M. Holmes.

The Evening Meetings.

Sir, — The voice from the gallery is, 1 am sure, no less
discordant to most of your readers (who know the true state
of things) than to me, and the “growler” is but turning
into ridicule a subject of vital importance by such a
communication.

I fully intended writing upon the death rate among phar -
maciens myself, but have not had time to give the matter
the amount of consideration it deserves. Yet this ridiculous
and delusive letter from “ One of the Gods” calls for aome
reply.

He need not liken the house of the Society, so remarkable
for its orderliness to the Augean chamber of Grecian
mythology.

Comparisons are very odious in this case !

There are not 300 students attending the lectures of the
school, but about one-tenth part of that number; while,
from personal experience, I can state that the students do
not suffer from a tendency to asphyxia during class hours,
but rather feel the draughts very much in winter. If,
therefore, currents of air are freely established, how can we
be suffocated by the emanations from students or exhalations
from the lungs of the orators he speaks of? Or how could
the products of burning “a few thousand feet of gas ” (as
if the writer in question daily regulated the metre regis¬
tration), or the odoriferous remains of three lectures,
accumulate against the Wednesday meetings ? To carry
out the hyperbole why not say six-and-twenty lectures,
since the evening meetings are only held once a month ?

There are good ventilators in the theatre, for the products
of gas combustion are carried off directly into the open
air— a thing which seldom obtains in our churches ox-
dwellings or theatres of a lower order.

It should be remembered that it is quite possible to
suffocate a crowd of people with the open canopy of heaven
overhead, if only confined by four walls, but here more
provision is made than simple diffusion of gases.

Again, there are no less than six walls to the lecture
theatre at “ the Square,” and as to the gallery— though such
exists — it is not open to the public (save a few ladies of a
reserved nature on the occasion of the inaugural meeting),
because, unfortunately, the evening meetings are not
sufficiently patronized ordinarily to demand the extra
accommodation.

But even were the “atmospheric surroundings” so
dreadful as he makes out, your correspondent couid not
sustain much injury if he only inhales the noxious air for
the few minutes after ten o’clock once a month.

What must your readers think of our head-quarters from
this description of a “ subterranean cavern ? ”

Such a singular collection of inaccuracies one does not
often meet with— but the whole story of the perpetrator of
the “solitary howl” seems as much a myth as the very
fable of A ugeas itself. * , , ...

Evidently he has only visited the buildipg once in his
life, and as to his recollections thereof, we might safely say,
as Elijah said of Baal to the false prophets, “ Peradventure
he dreameth,” especially when he acknowledges himself to
be “ One of the Gods.” J. B. L. Mackat.

440

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [November 29, 13:9,

The Question of Policy.

Sir, — I was very much pleased in reading the remarks of
Mr. C. B. Allen, in a recent issue, and to me as an old
established pharmacist, it seems to be the best suggestion
that has been put forth to counteract the sale of patent and
other preparations by unqualified shopkeepers.

I think we as pharmacists should take the initiative to
protect ourselves, and have a clause in the proposed new
amended Pharmacy Act whereby all preparations, so called
patents or any other secret preparations, containing poisons,
should not be sold except by registered chemists.

Lodge Lane, Liverpool. J. Thompson.

The Promotion of Amateur Dispensing.

Sir, — If I were Mr. Ellwood I should not think of
measuring the strychnine and mixing it with the water
unless 1 were called upon to dispense the whole of the
prescription, and I would take care that if the customer
purchased the ingredients separately from me, with a view
to dispense them herself, that the cost of them should be
quite equal to that of my dispensing the prescription.

The method of Anglicizing prescriptions is most
objectionable, and I wonder that any surgeon should
condescend to lower himself to it. No doubt he took as full
a fee as he thought he could get, and then grudged the
chemist a fair charge for dispensing his prescription. If he
take my advice, next time, instead of Anglicizing the pre¬
scription he had better prepare it free of charge, and then
it will not involve the patient in any cost whatever, and
it will also save her all trouble, which of course would be a
great consideration with such a man.

“One who would try to be even with them.”

Sunday Trading.

Sir, — In answer to your correspondent “ Jek,” who
wishes for the opinion of others regarding Sunday duty,
I would say let us all abide by the rules of that Book of
Books given for the guidance of all men ; rules for every
day, and Sunday too, are copiously given.

“ Jek ” has heard some say they “ cannot refuse to sell
other things besides medicine whilst the shop is open.”

Would it not be nearer the truth to say “will not”
instead of “cannot?” If they are Christians, let them
show the light before all men, not hide it on an emergency,
or when they think it keeps a 6d. or Is. out of their till.

Thinking of “ Jek ” on Sunday evening, T made a note
of my customers’ wants, about thirty in number, from 7 to
10 p.m. All but two were medicine, in the truest sense of
the word; the two refused were Pears’ soap and sachet
powder.

I have drawn the line between necessary and unnecessary
articles for six years and find it works well, and I believe a
good impression is produced by a kind refusal of what can
be as well bought on Monday. It is true every rule has its
exception. Sometimes, a bottle of eau de Cologne or per¬
fume is required for the “ sick room,” I then sell it readily.
If the customer tells an untruth in order to obtain it, it
rests with him ; I sell it in ignorance thereof, and on good
intent.

I think I am asked prices of hair brushes and combs more
on Sundays than any other day, my reply is “I sell
nothing but medicines.”

Once ouly, did I break through this rule. A poor woman
came one Sunday morning, begging me to let her have a 6d.
comb; hers had got lost, she wanted to get her little ones
ready for church ; this was, I thought, a case of necessity.

Let us all strive to elevate our position; by doing what we
can to benefit our fellows and drop a good word in season,
when opportunity offers itself. Yolo.

The Health of the Drug Trade.

Sir, — It will be a cause for regret if the correspondence
upon this important subject is allowed to drop without pro¬
ducing any practical effect.

In reply to my challenge I received a large bundle of
letters inquiring how a chemist may be as healthy and live
as long as his next door tradesmen do.

These letters showed that the writers were in grievous
want of the knowledge of self-preservation ; 1 spent a fort -
night in answering each in the fullest possible way. I do
not pretend to have done any good, for I fear that only a

few will make the attempt to do what is required of them ,
and that the majority will go down to their graves as negli¬
gent suicides.

Now, with respect to our vital statistics, taking the thing
in the abstract, the early death of a simpleton is not a thing
to be deplored ; for should he live, there is a danger that,,
owing to a great compensatory law of nature he will breed
a good many more simpletons ; should he have already some
children, we find that the children of simpletons generally
fare better as orphans than otherwise, because they often
fall under the care of the wise and the prudent, wrhereas the
children of simpletons under the care of simpletons make a
pitiful picture indeed. In this way we may console our¬
selves while we see the survival of the fittest.

But the point which strikes me is that while this
wretched process is going on, that the poor “ drugerist ” is
half dead so long before he dies. If I take a walk round a
large town and ask a question of the grocers, I get a smart
answer from most of them, but if I venture to call upon
the druggists, the result will be just the reverse.

The poor white faced man does not recollect if “he has
had any voting papers sent him, he is not sure, he has a
great many papers sent him, he does not know where they
are now, there is no one that he wishes to vote for, he does
not know anything about it, he could not give him an
answer to-morrow, no, he would consider the matter.” If
that will get me out of his shop, this done, he relapses into
helplessness and the daily newspaper, wonders when busi¬
ness will improve, thinks that the Council ought to do some¬
thing !

This is a picture drawn from' life, and one which proven
that our politics and our health are not disconnected.

Moses of old found that a race of slaves could not be made
into a nation, and I find that a race of men like this cannot
be raised above their degradation.

The letters which have .appeared indicate a consciousness
that more outdoor exercise should be taken W ell for once
we are agreed.

Nowr, let each reader of the above, who feels that he is a.
better man than is here described, determine at once to
call upon a fellow-sufferer and see if the hours of business
can be curtailed. Not that the shutters should be put up
and a victim kept to listen to the bell ; this is rank hypo¬
crisy. When a companion is found, let them both go round
the town and neighbourhood and urge the importance of
health versus money. Do not be discouraged by refusals ;
call again and again, and be sure to hunt in couples. The
moral effect of two to one is very great. Much more can
be done, but begin with this.

Rochester. H. Barnaby.

Ichthyoc . — See an article on the Solidification of Balsam
of Copaiba, by M. Thiery, in the first series of the Pharm.
Journ., vol. i., p. 655, and another by Roussin in the second
series, vol. vii., p. 326.

Apprentice. — Recipes for lavender water may be found in
any work on perfumery.

J. W. H. — Full information will be found in the
“ Students’ Number” of any of the medical journals, pub¬
lished in September.

“ Galangal.” — Recipes for glycerine jelly were given in
the Journal Nov. 30, 1878, p. 463.

“ Lapides’’ does not say what kind of “stones” he
wishes to dissolve. We know of no book treating specially
of the subject.

E. Hall. — You are advised to apply for information to
the local authority. The law applies to all measures used
for the purposes of trade.

Statim. — The recipe has not been published and we
must leave to our correspondent the opportunity of making
an application to the maker for it. Probably it resembles
closely in composition other well known preparations.

R. E. — A simple test is the evaporation of a quantity of
the water and noticing whether the residue becomes browned
when moderately heated. Positive indications in this case
may be relied upon, though a negative result would be less
trustworthy.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Warneford, Stevens, Gostling, Brown, Billing, Roberts,
Jackson, Osbourn, Young, Culverwell, Beta, Sub Umbra
Floresco, Syrupus, Nemo, G. A. F., J. B. 0., A. C.,
A. P. S., J. W. H.,J.A.

Diccmfer 6, 1879.) THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

441

A METHOD FOR THE VOLUMETRIC ESTI¬
MATION OF ARSENIC ACID.*

BY W. A. H. NAYLOR, F.C.S.

i

I

!

I

I

!

While conducting some experiments upon the
action of certain reducing agents upon arsenic com¬
pounds, my attention was directed to a peculiar
reaction which takes place between arseniate of
sodium and the iodine halogen acid. It was found
that upon adding a solution of hydriodic acid to an
alkaline arseniate, iodine Avas slowly and continu¬
ously set free. As this observation was new to me,
the literature on arsenicum was diligently searched
with the general result that no mention of this de¬
composition could be found in any of the well known
text-books, or even in Watts’s * Dictionary English
and French journals were likewise consulted, but
with no better result. From a desire to understand
more thoroughly the nature of this reaction, and not
knowing from whence to obtain the necessary infor¬
mation, recourse was had to experiment. As these
experiments progressed they grew in interest and
widened in their range, inducing me at last to make
a careful and systematic study of the action of the
halogen acids upon arsenic compounds. The results
embodied in this paper have reference mainly to the
reaction above cited, and are intended first to explain
the nature of that reaction and then to show how it
may be advantageously applied to the volumetric
estimation of arsenic acid.

My earliest inquiries led to the establishment of
the following, that when iodine acts upon a boiling
aqueous solution of arsenious acid no iodo-arsenic acid
is produced, but that the acid is partially oxidized
with the simultaneous formation of hydriodic acid,
and that when this solution becomes concentrated a
portion of the arsenic acid suffers reduction, while
a proportionate quantity of iodine is set free. It was
not until a few days ago that I had the gratification
of discovering that these facts formed a substantial
epitome of a paper published by M. Wegnert on
the action of iodine on arsenious acid. Confirmation
in this instance has a certain value quite apart from
its independent character, inasmuch as Zinno had
previously concluded from his experiments that iodo-
arsenic acid was produced under these conditions.

Passing from this preliminary work, it next became
a matter of interest to ascertain whether an alkaline
arseniate would be completely reduced to the con¬
dition of arsenite, and if so, would the amount of
iodine set free be constant in its quantitative expres¬
sion of the reduction. On the supposition that this
reduction would be complete it Avas thought that one
of the two following equations would represent the
final decomposition.

Na2HAs04 + 2HI = Na2HAs03 + 12 + H20

or

Na.>HAs04 + 3HI =NaH2As03 + Nal + 12 + H30.

It will be seen that in each case one molecule of
the anhydrous salt would be equivalent to two atoms
of iodine. Inasmuch, however, as one equation
represents a combination of iodine Avith sodium, it
was not difficult to decide Avliich of the two is the
more correct. This was done in the folloAving Avay.
To a 20 per cent, solution of hydriodic acid a little
arseniate of sodium was added and allowed to stand
for three hours. It was then intimately mixed Avith

* Read at an Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain, December 3, 1879.
f Annal. Chem., clxxiv., 129 — 133.

Third Series, No. 493.

recently precipitated well washed mercurous oxide,
and evaporated to dryness in presence of metallic
mercury. The residue was digested in warm Avater,
filtered, and the filtrate tested for iodine. There A\Tas
no indication of an iodide. The second equation
cannot therefore represent this decomposition. In
order to determine the completeness or otherAArise
of the reduction, the following methods were em¬
ployed. The hydriodic acid, prepared by the action
of sulphuric acid upon iodide of barium and subse¬
quent distillation, was alloAved to act for stated and
different periods upon the arseniate in an atmosphere
of carbonic acid gas. At the end of the allotted
time — varying from three to six hours — the free
iodine was removed by hyposulphite of sodium,
ammonia added in excess, followed by a little
ammonium chloride and magnesium mixture. Of a
number of experiments made in this way there was
not one which showed the reduction to have been
complete, although in many cases the solution after
standing twenty-four hours gave only a small pre¬
cipitate.

A second method was to remove the free iodine
and hydriodic acid by moist mercurous oxide and
metallic mercury; here also a distinct precipitate
was obserATable after long standing. A third method
was to add to the neutral solution from which iodine
and hydriodic acid had been removed a solution of
nitrate of silver drop by drop. No reddish or
chocolate-coloured precipitate fell, the deposit was
uniformly yellow.

The extent of the most complete reduction hitherto
obtained was next determined by titrating, with
decinormal solution of hyposulphite of sodium the
iodine liberated by a known weight of anhydrous
arseniate of sodium. A 20 per cent, solution of
hydriodic acid was used and allowed to remain in
contact with the arseniate for four hours. The
result of this determination shoAved a deficiency of
3 per cent, of the salt taken. It noAV became impor¬
tant to ascertain whether the extent of reduction was
dependent upon the strength of the hydriodic acid ;
also, Avhether by repeated removals of the iodine by
mercurous oxide and successive digestions with
hydriodic acid solution complete reduction would be
effected. To the first query, there was no difficulty
in furnishing a reply. A feAV experiments conclu¬
sively proved that the greatest reduction was obtain¬
able by solutions containing not less than 20 per
cent, of hydriodic acid, while Avith 10 per cent,
solutions the reduction was relatively small. With
reference to the second query the reply must
be negative. Complete reduction was not effected
by remoAnng the iodine at comparatively long inter¬
vals and adding more hydriodic acid. The facts
of this experiment taken in conjunction with subse¬
quent ones appear to be capable of explanation only
on the ground that reduction proceeds until it arrives
at its point of completion and then the free iodine
begins a gradual work of oxidation. To decide this
point it was necessary to devise some means of re¬
moving the iodine as it Avas liberated from a known
weight of anhydrous arseniate of sodium and at the
same time determine its quantity. This was done
by inclosing the hydriodic acid and a known weight
of arseniate of sodium in a tube the air of Avhich Avas
replaced by carbonic acid gas. As the iodine Avas
set free a standard solution of hyposulphite ol. sodium
Avas run in from a burette in such quantities as to
leave a trace of free iodine. When no more iodine

442

THE PHARMACE'JTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 6, i87».

was liberated the decomposition was considered
complete. This method was found to give accurate
results when calculated on the assumption that
every 186 parts of anhydrous arseniate of sodium
gave 254 parts of iodine. The length of time, how¬
ever, consumed in working the process, together with
the precautions to be observed in the preparation of
the hydriodic acid, proved a fatal objection to its
employment. After further experiment, it was found
possible to overcome these difficulties, partly by the
addition of a little hydrochloric acid to the solution
of the alkaline arseniate, thereby substituting free
arsenic acid for the alkaline salt, and partly by re¬
sorting to the use of iodide of potassium as the
source of the hydriodic acid. The operation may be
briefly described thus: — Weigh out a quantity of
the substance to be examined equivalent to from
*05 to "03 gram of arsenic acid, and, having dissolved
it in just sufficient water or dilute hydrochloric
acid, pour in 5 c.c. of a 20 per cent, solution of
hydriodic acid. The iodine, as it is liberated, is
titrated with a decinormal solution of hyposul-

Ehite of sodium. This part of the operation must
e conducted in an atmosphere of carbonic acid gas
to guard against any decomposition of the hydri¬
odic acid by the surrounding atmosphere. Towards
the end of the process the iodine will appear at in¬
creased intervals, so that if it is desired to attain the
degree of accuracy of which the test is capable,
fifteen minutes should be allowed after the decolor¬
ation of the solution before taking the final reading
on the burette.

The hydriodic acid solution may be conveniently
prepared by dissolving 25 grains of iodide of potas¬
sium in 80 minims of water, and adding thereto
20 minims of hydrochloric acid 1T6.

Operating in this way upon arseniate of sodium
of known purity, the following results were ob¬
tained : —

Na2HAs04 taken. Na2HAs04 founl.

No. 1

•

•

•0615

gram.

•0610

gram.

„ 2

•

•

•0625

yy

•0622

yy

„ 3

•

•

•1300

«•

•1298

yy

„ 4

•

•

•0560

yy

•0556

yy

„ 5

•

•

•0500

yy

•0510

yy

„ 6

•

•

•0500

yy

•0510

yy

„ 7

•

•

•0500

yy

•0500

yy

„ 8

•

•

•0500

yy

•0500

yy

These figures show a maximum error of 2 per
cent., while the minimum is less than *25 per cent,
of the salt taken. They further indicate an almost
complete reduction of the arsenic acid. Additional
confirmation of this fact was obtained by neutralizing
the free acid of the solution with soda, then adding
a little ammonia and magnesium mixture ; after
twenty-four hours a white crystalline film was found
coating the side of the tube. By carefully noting
the time required to produce turbidity, and imitating
the conditions under which it was formed, the
amount of arseniate present could be approximately
ascertained from experiments made upon solutions
containing known weights of the acid. This method
usually represented a deficiency in the reduction of
*75 per cent.

There is still one other point which demands
attention. Upon a closer examination of the general
process it will be seen that the conditions favour¬
able for the formation of iodide of arsenicum are
in part fulfilled, since the reduced arsenic acid is in
contact with excess of hydriodic acid. The mode of
search for iodide of arsenicum was extremely simple.

After allowing the mixed solutions of arsenic and
hydriodic acids to stand for half an hour the free
iodine was removed by ether ; the aqueous portion
was then carefully neutralized, or rendered feebly
alkaline by soda, and evaporated rapidly to dryness ;
the residue was digested in bisulphide of carbon,
which by spontaneous vaporization would deposit
any iodide of arsenicum the solution originally con¬
tained.

This process was many times repeated, but always
with negative results, except when small quantities
of the salt were added ; its detection then affording
corroborative evidence. It now became a matter of
interest to ascertain whether after having deoxidized
the arseniate concordant results would be obtained

by reconverting it into arsenic acid on the addition
of iodine to its alkaline solution. For this purpose
a definite quantity of arseniate of sodium was treated
in the usual manner with hydriodic acid, and the
iodine removed by decinormal solution of hyposul¬
phite of sodium ; the solution was then rendered
alkaline by bicarbonate of sodium, and a decinormal
solution of iodine run in until its colour no longer
disappeared. The following are some of the results
obtained : —

NagHAsC^.

taken.

No.

1 .

•095

gram.

yy

2 .

•047

yy

yy

3 .

•066

yy

yy

5 .

•075

yy

yy

4 .

•070

yy

yy

6 .

•073

yy

Here the maximum

Na2HA804 found
by" de- oxidation.

•0945 gram.

•0470

•0660

•0760

•0710

•0740

tt

tt

ft

tt

)>

Na2HA804 found
by re-oxidation.
•0948 gram.
*0480 „

•0665 „

•0760 „

*0706 „

*0740 „

error is 2T2 per cent, of the

salt taken.

It will be observed that these results corroborate

those other experiments which represent the reduc¬
tion as being practically complete.

The facts now acquired present us with a simple
explanation of the manner in which arsenic acid and
hydriodic acid react upon each other under certain
conditions, and may be expressed thus : —

H3ASO4 -f- 2HI = HjjAsOg 4* HgO + Ig.

142 . "254

The difficulty of estimating arsenic acid when mixed
with relatively large quantities of alkaline arsenites
and phosphates suggested the following experiments.
Results obtained with . arseniate of sodium in pre¬
sence of alkaline arsenites : —

NagHAs04 taken. -f-NagHAsOg? Na2HAs04 found.

No. 1 .

•053 gram.

TOO gram.

•0531

gram.

„ 2 .

•067 „

•300

yy

•0671

»

„ 3 .

•063 „

•400

yy

•0628

»

„ 4 .

•082 „

•800

yy

•0817

tt

„ 5 .

•062 „

•500

yy

•0630

tt

„ 6 .

•052 „

1-000

yy

•051

ft

These numbers show a maximum error of 2 per
cent, with a minimum error of T4 per cent.

From these results it is evident that much arseni-

ous acid does not exert so material an influence as to

render the determinations untrustworthy. It must,
however, be admitted that some little inconvenience
attends this operation ; this is caused by the com¬
parative insolubility and consequent separation of
arsenious acid. It is important that the iodine be
removed as rapidly as it is liberated, otherwise it is
apt to form a mechanical admixture with the
arsenious acid, a condition in which it cannot readily
be attacked.

The following results were obtained when arseni¬
ate of sodium was mixed with phosphate of
sodium : —

December 6, 1S7 P. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

443

Na2HAs04 taken.

+ Na2nro4.

Na2HAs04 found

No. 1

. ’050 gram.

•500 gram.

*0493 gram.

„ 2

. *050

99

•800 „

•0500 „

„ 3

. -050

99

1-000 „

•0500 „

„ 4

. -044

99

1-200 „

•0441 „

„ 5

. *082

99

1-500 „

•0822 „

„ 6

. *034

99

2-000 „

•0340 „

In connection with these results one remark need
only be made, that is, phosphates appear to retard
somewhat the rapid progress of the reduction ; in
such cases all that is necessary is the addition of a
little hydrochloric acid.

This method of estimating arsenic acid has been
extended to the compounds of metals other than
sodium, with this general result: that it is advisable
to obtain the acid in the form of an alkaline arseni-
ate before attempting to determine its quantity. In
this way those sources of error are obviated which
would arise from the action of certain metallic salts
upon hydriodic acid. As the one most generally met
with may be mentioned perchloride of iron. The
two following equations represent its action upon
hydriodic acid and hyposulphite of sodium re¬
spectively . —

(а) . F e.,Cl6 + 6HI — 2FeI2 + 6HC1 + 12 .

(б) . Fe2Cl6 + 2Na2S303 = 2FeCl2 + 2NaCl + Na2S406.

These last observations are in nowise intended to

convey the impression that the method now described
for the volumetric estimation of arsenic acid will

?rove the most serviceable under all circumstances.

'hat it is accurate is clearly shown by the results
obtained, and like all other volumetric processes, it
requires to be used with intelligence and discretion.

In respect of its capabilities as a qualitative test
it may be affirmed that it will detect with ease the
one-tenth milligram of arsenic acid when mixed
with one gram of arsenious acid.

Remarks upon its comparative merits as a quanti¬
tative method form no part of the object of this
paper, and are therefore omitted. In conclusion, it
may be stated that experiments on the reversal of
this method are now in progress, but are not yet
sufficiently advanced to warrant its applicability for
the estimation ol iodine compounds. There only
remains for me the pleasurable duty of acknowledging
the kind services of Messrs. Corbyn, Stacey and Co.,
for having placed at my disposal the resources of
their laboratory.

TOOTH-WASH.

Take of

Quillaya Saponaria(soapbark) in coarse

powder . 16 grams

add

Alcohol . . 100 c.c.

Aqua Destillata ....... 150 c.c.

macerate for ten days and filter. Then add

Cochineal . . 0’5 grams

dissolved in

Aqua Menthae Piperitse . . . . 125 c.c.

also :

01. Gaultherise . 2 c.c.

rubbed up with

Glycerin . 50 cc.

finally sufficient distilled water to make the whole mea¬
sure | litre.

A few drops on a tooth-brush previously dipped in
water will, when rubbed on the teeth, produce a rich
lather ; it cleanses thoroughly and is also an excellent
remedy for soft gums, which it hardens in a short time.
It is fragrant and agreeable to use. — W. Myers, M.D.,
in New Remedies.

SMw $hmjnutqittital J erupt!.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1879.

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

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

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

POISON VENDING.

Under the above heading the Medical Press and
Circular has in its last issue a leading article referring
to the popular misuse of poisonous drugs and
medicinal agents, and insisting upon the urgent
necessity for “demanding a speedy and sweeping
“reform in the system by which the chemist and
“ druggist is empowered, to a great extent, to deal
“ wholesale destruction in the vicinity of his shop.”

One of the reasons assigned for making this
demand is the sacrifice of life that has been caused
by the improper or ignorant use of chloral, and
coupled with the reference to this it is alleged that
“in almost every case of death by overdoses of
“ chloral, the hypnotic has been obtained directly
“ through the agency of an incompetent adviser,
“ usually a chemist.” It is further stated that there
is “constantly accumulating proof that the entire
“ list of poisonous drugs must be carefully considered
“ in its relation to the mortality of any given district
“and more particularly the larger towns and vil-
“ lages.”

The writer of the article referred to considers
that, in the face of the evidence furnished by police
courts and coroners’ inquests, indicating the immense
evil of indiscriminate sales of poisons, it is impera¬
tive to raise a protest against the continuance ol a
system that permits such facilities as are now
enjoyed by the incautious and the rash. We are-
further informed that this is not a singular opinion
but one that is “ assured of the support of an
influential body,” on which ground the writer does
not hesitate to insist that the right to “ sell poisons
“ irresponsibly be withdrawn from counter prescribers
“ and every other unqualified dispenser or vendor of
“ medicines and drugs.”

In support of this demand it is further stated
that the evil wrought by chemists in the present is
not calculable from the evident results, large though
they are ; but that the chses of severe and even
fatal injury brought about by the chemist are much
more numerous than those made public.

In reading these very startling remarks oui first
impression was that the editorial columns of our
contemporary had been by some mischance placed
at the disposal of a person who from some cause
or other was not himself at all, but on reading them

444

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 6, 1879.

— - — - — . . . . — ■ — - i

®OT$ai[tioitis flf t|e f ijanraiit'tttical $ untittg.

over again the phraseology called to mind the
diatribes which used to appear in the same journal
directed against chemists and druggists from the
point of view of the Medical Defence Association-
It is true that the writer disclaims any intention
to impugn the capacity or the integrity of chemists
and druggists as a body ; as useful and essential as¬
sistants to the medical profession he says the greatest
respect is to be entertained for them. But it is con¬
tended that the chemist, being only a salesman, can
exert only so much control over the use of poisonous
materials as the Sale of Poisons Act empowers him
to exercise. Besides this, it is held that the Act is
framed in a manner so inefficient as to leave great
room for improvement ; that its provisions are in¬
adequate to prevent the determined suicide from
fulfilling his intention ; and that even those provi¬
sions are not rigorously or invariably enforced.

Hence it is thought that the corporation to which
chemists and druggists are subject will be the first to
recognize the importance and the justice of the
measure advocated by our contemporary, and
with this belief, apparently, the Pharmaceutical
Society is recommended to perform, in a dignified
manner, the happy dispatch, and hand over its
powers and privileges respecting the sale of poisons
to “ one of the three great corporations whose duty
“ it naturally seems to be, viz., the College of
“ Physicians or Surgeons, or the General Medical
“ Council. ”

Though these suggestions and remarks appear to
be put forward seriously, we will not attempt to
waste argument upon them, and even in bringing
them under the notice of our readers, as having
appeared in the editorial columns of a medical
journal, we must express the opinion that they are
so far eminently suggestive of the “silly season.”
But there is a further characteristic of this article
which cannot be regarded so lightly, and that is the
insinuation that since chemists and druggists are
sellers of poison, the body representing them cannot
be trusted to regulate with propriety the trade in such
articles, without adanger that the claims of society and
of humanity will be “subordinated to the sordid desire
of gain entertained by the vendor.” On this we refrain
to comment and wTe leave it to the consideration of
our readers whether it is a suggestion that is in any
way justified by facts or at all worthy a place in the
columns of a journal that professes to represent
an honourable profession with which chemists and
druggists have intimate relations.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association will be held
on Thursday next, 11th inst., at 8.30 p.m., when a
paper will be read on “ The Manufacture of Sodium
Carbonate,” by Dr. J. Elliott.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The next meeting of the above Association will
be held on Wednesday, December 10, when Mr.
C. B. Miller will read a paper on “ Sugar.”

MEETING OE THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, December 3, 1879.

ME. GEORGE WEBB SANDFORD, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Atkins, Bottle, Frazer, Gos fling,
Greenish, Hampson, Hills, Mackay, Richardson, Rim-
mington, Robbins, Savage, Shaw, Symes, Williams and
Woolley.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The President said it would be remembered that at
the last meeting he requested his colleagues to provide
for a successor to the presidential chair at this meeting.
At that time he felt completely overdone by the very
heavy and prolonged work of the day before, and he felt
he must resign ; but his announcement was received with
so many kind remonstrances at that table, which had
since been supported by similar expressions from other
members of the Society not connected with the Council,
that under the circumstances he felt if he were to
retire it would be attributed to failing health, from
which he was glad to be able to say he did not suffer,
or to failing interest in the welfare of the Society;
this was certainly not the case ; or it might be supposed
that his proverbial firmness was drifting into obstinacy.
He would, therefore, with the permission of the Council,
withdraw his resignation.

Appeal from the Registrar’s Decision.

The Secretary placed before the Council a further
memorial from Mr. Hardcastle, of Hunslet, accompanied
by a certificate from a medical practitioner, who, in reply
to a letter from the Secretary, said he fully understood
the nature of the declaration, and from inquiries he had
made was fully satisfied of the truth of Mr. Hardcastle’s
representations.

The President thought under these circumstances the
Council was bound to instruct the Registrar to put Mr.
Hardcastle’s name on the register.

Mr. Rimmington said he looked with great suspicion
on these applications, and thought they ought to be
thoroughly tested. The medical gentleman only said he
“ believed ” Mr. Hardcastle was in business.

Mr. Greenish said he had noticed the word “believed;”
it seemed only a matter of opinion.

After some further discussion, Mr. Williams moved,
Mr. Woolley seconded, and it was carried by a con¬
siderable majority, that Mr. Hardcastle’s name be placed
on the register.

The Council then went into Committee to consider the
circumstances of another case in which an application had
been made for registration. In this case the Registrar
was advised not to put the name on the register.

Additions to Register.

The Secretary reported that the following persons
having satisfied him by proper evidence that they were
duly qualified, by being in business before July 31, 1868,
he had placed their names on the Register of Chemists
and Druggists : —

John Charles Young, Bishop’s Waltham.

Charles Stevens Budgett, Pevensey Road, Eastbourne.

Appointment of Examiners for 1880.

England and Wales.

No alteration having been suggested in the constitu¬
tion of the Boards of Examiners, it was resolved on the
motion of Mr. Hills, seconded by Mr. Mackay, that the
following pharmaceutical chemists should constitute the
Board of Examiners for England and Wales for the
ensuing year, subject to the approval of the Privy Coun¬
cil : — Messrs. Allchin, Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe,

December 6, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

445

Corder, Gale, Greenish, Linford, Martindale, Moss, Plow¬
man, Southall and Taylor.

Scotland.

Mr. Shaw moved and Mr. Atkins seconded and it was
carried unanimously that the Examiners for Scotland be
also re-appointed, subject to the approval of the Privy
Council. The names are as follows : — Messrs. Ainslie, Bor¬
land, Gilmour, Kemp, Kinninmont, Noble, Stephenson
and Young.

The months for holding the examinations were directed
to be the same as during the present year.

Elections.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions, and tendered (or paid as Apprentices or Students)
their subscriptions for the current year, were elected
“Associates” of the Society: —

Cole, Edwin Henry . Dorking.

Hewlett, James . . . Northwich.

Reports of Committees,
finance.

The report of this Committee was received and adopted,
and sundry accounts were ordered to be paid. It was
also resolved to purchase £2000 New three per cents.

HOUSE.

The report of this Committee recommended that
certain repairs to the staircase, skylights, etc., be carried
out as per estimate obtained. Also, that the house
porter be allowed an addition to his salary to provide
sleeping accommodation out of the house, his present
bedroom in the basement being considered unhealthy.
The Secretary had also been instructed to draw up a
memorial to the District Board of Works, asking that
wood pavement should be placed in front of the Society’s
premises in Great Russell Street.

The Council went into committee to consider the
report.

On resuming, the report and recommendations were
received and adopted.

The Hanbury Memorial Fund.

A letter was read from the Solicitor enclosing the deed
of trust of the Hanbury Memorial Fund, duly executed,
for deposit in the hands of the Society, and a resolution
was unanimously.passed thanking Mr. Flux for preparing
the said deed free of expense.

Reports of Council Meetings.

Mr. Symes moved according to notice —

“ That reporters, other than the one officially employed
by the Society, be admitted to the Council room
during the ordinary business of the monthly Council
meetings.”

He said this subject was by no means a new one, and it
would probably have been better if it had been in the
hands of an old member of Council, but perhaps he had
one advantage in bringing it forward, for being a
junior member he was able to refer to it from the
point of view which he had taken when he had
not the honour of being on the Council, and could there¬
fore better represent the views of outside members. He
did not wish any of his remarks to be of a vituperative
nature, or to blame those who voted against this
motion before, because his experience was that all
members of the Council were desirous of serving the
interests of the trade and- of pharmacy to the best of
their ability. It was simply a question of what means
would be best for that purpose. These opinions had
been strengthened the more he had become acquainted
with members of Council, and therefore, if there was
anything which made him anxious to carry this motion,
it was, that others who were outside the Council should
participate in a more close acquaintance with their doings
and with the feeling he had gained by his membership
there. He thought that if the feeling, wishes and views

of the Council were better known to the trade generally,
there would be much less complaint, because the trade
would be better acquainted with the Council, and he
believed the Council would be better acquainted with
the trade. If this motion were passed to-day, there
would not probably be ten members out of the 4000
constituting the Society, or even out of the 10,000
constituting the trade, who would blame the Council for
so doing ; and, as it legislated for the whole trade, he
considered the whole trade had a right to have the
fullest information on matters with which it dealt. When
this motion was proposed two or three years ago, a large
majority felt the proper time had not arrived for carrying
it ; but opinion had now matured and last year it was
only lost by the casting vote of the President. This
showed the time was arriving when the Council, in
common with all other public bodies, should be fairly
and fully reported. In saying this he was not in any
way wishing to blame the woi’k of the present reporter.
The members of Council could all bear testimony that
he did his work well, and if his were a verbatim report,
which would perhaps be undesirable, half-a-dozen reporters,
if present, could not differently report the proceedings if
their accounts were faithful ; but as it was necessarily an
epitome, several reporters might report the speakers each
in a different way, and thus the trade would have a more
fair and full representation of what took place. They
spoke of the reporter as the “ official reporter,” which
implied to the trade outside that he was acting for the
Council, and he could not see why the trade or the body
outside should not also be represented. He would not
trespass on the time of the Council longer, because the
arguments had been very largely thrashed out. He must
say, as a member of the Society, he was much disap¬
pointed, and he had met with many leading members of
the trade who were also much disappointed, in fact there
was a general disappointment amongst all who took an
interest in the trade throughout the country, when this
motion was negatived on the former occasion. It was
known that a large number of the trade took, practically,
no interest in the Society, but it should be, and was, he
believed, the object of the Council to create that interest.
The Council desired that the Society should be as com¬
prehensive and broad as possible, and would be only too
pleased if every member of the trade could be registered
as a member of the Society. One step in that direction
would be the passing of this motion, because it would
show that the Council was holding out the hand of
fellowship to them, that it desired them all to corne in
and give their numerical strength and assistance to the
Society, by doing which they would also elevate the
trade. When this subject was first introduced, a con¬
siderable anxiety was felt by some as to whether the
Council would not be committing itself to something very
serious ; but the custom of reporting was extending, the
reports had grown and become more extensive, and he
would ask any gentleman if he would willingly return to
the old state of things or if any of the evils had been
seen which it was supposed would ensue. His acquain¬
tance with reporters was not extensive, but he had always
been treated with the utmost courtesy by them, and he
did not anticipate that anyone but gentlemen would be
sent there. He had learned to respect the profession
and to regard its members as gentlemen, and he was
quite sure that if reporters were introduced they might
be treated with every confidence, and the reporters being
free would give confidence to the whole body. He hoped
there 'would not be a division to-day, but that the Council
would be unanimous in deciding that the time had arrived
when it would have other reporters than the one employed

by itself. .

Mr. Hampson had much pleasure in seconding the
motion. He said it would be difficult for him to add
anything to the remarks made by Mr. Symes. It
appeared to him that the time had arrived when the
Council probably might vote unanimously in favour of

446

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS* [December 6, i87f.

this motion. It was easy to understand that people are
disposed to remain on the old lines which they had been
accustomed to, but the Council could not ignore the
social force outside on such a question as that. The
Society surely ought to be above suspicion, and whilst
the Council reported itself that could not be the case.
The fact of having an independent reporter, who had no
interest to serve except to give a faithful report to some
journal or journals, would remove all feelings of that
kind, and he was quite sure it would also benefit the
whole body of the Council in the mode in which the
work was done, and it would probably get through the
work in a more convenient form. There would probably
be less desultory conversation, and members would come
prepared with their views on the questions to be discussed.

Mr. Frazer doubted if Mr. Symes and Mr. Hampson’s
anticipations could be realized with the motion in its
present form, and he would suggest that an intermediate
course be taken, and that one additional reporter, namely,
one representing the Chemist and Druggist, should be
invited to co-operate with the present reporter. The
reason he named that paper was simply that it un¬
doubtedly represented the trade and the trade interests,
and in doing so, it represented the interests of the
members of Council, for they were all traders, although
the Chemist and Druggist had occasionally criticized
their proceedings in a manner they did not approve.
But there was no question that this had been done
entirely in good faith, and he did not expect that even if
the Chemist and Druggist reporter was to appear there,
that the reports would in any sense, differ materially
from what they now were ; but it would remove any
ground of suspicion that the reports did not fully repre¬
sent the Council. He thought the reports hitherto given
were eminently satisfactory, and that an additional one
given by another journal would not modify that
materially. He did not think it was absolutely neces¬
sary as a question of principle that this motion should be
carried, but as a matter of the highest expediency he
thought the proceedings of the Council should be
thoroughly open, and that would be sufficiently insured
by having one additional reporter.

The President asked if this was an amendment.

Mr. Symes said he could not accept Mr. Frazer’s sug¬
gestion. He had well considered that matter.

Mr. Frazer said in that case he would move as an
amendment —

“ That in addition to our present reporter, a reporter
from the Chemist and Druggist be invited to attend
the Council Meetings.”

Mr. Robbins asked if Mr. Symes meant that any
reporter who chose to come in, or that any reporter
coming in would have to ask permission ?

Mr. Symes said the reporters would have to send in
their application. His motion would cover the whole
ground, and the Council having passed this resolution
would not be able frivolously or lightly to refuse admis¬
sion, but only on some special grounds. Still, it would
have power on special grounds to refuse admission to
anyone.

Mr. Williams thought taking the words of the motion
there was no such power. It simply said that reporters
other than the one officially employed be admitted.

Mr. Hampson asked if tire members of Council thought
they were likely to have an avalanche.

Mr. Hills said he would second the amendment.

The Vice-President said it would be easy to limit the
resolution if it were passed. He was not quite so san¬
guine about it being so unanimously voted, for there
might be in the minds of some an opinion that no other
reporters should be introduced, and it would be almost
better that that point should be decided first. He did
not see, therefore, that Mr. Frazer’s amendment was
quite in order.

The President thought it would be more regular to
ut Mr. Frazer’s amendment in the ordinary way.

Mr. Gostling said he had another suggestion to make,
which perhaps would meet the case. He was in favour
of the meetings being fully reported. He quite felt, as
Mr. Symes had said, that the reports had been most
excellent, most faithful, and most true ; but it was very
disagreeable to hear the remarks which were sometimes
heard in the country,' — persons calling attention to infringe¬
ments of the Pharmacy Act, and expressing surprise that
the Council was so indifferent to the interests of the
trade upon this matter. It was also disagreeable to see
in print the ungenerous and unjust remarks which were
sometimes seen, and it appeared to him that if the public
were in possession of the facts with regard to the atten¬
tion given by the members of the Council to the work
devolving upon the Committees, and also round that table,
and the care and anxiety which were given to the proper
fulfillment of their duties, they would hear less of those
complaints. He therefore, would propose that the Council
should resolve that it was prepared favourably to consider
any application for the admission of independent re¬
porters.

The President said the Council must take one amend¬
ment at a time.

Mr. Savage said his object in rising was to support in
a large measure, as he had hitherto, that there should be
a reporter or reporters ; but he was going to suggest that
the present motion should only extend to one year, so
that there should be no difficulty in the event of its being
found inconvenient, or anything arising to justify the
Council in changing its opinion at the expiration of a
year, in returning to the old system, as it would be then
known that the period for which the extra reporters had
been elected had then terminated, and there would be no
offence committed by not re-electing them. At the same
time he had no fear of its being permanent when once
adopted ; still some gentlemen did object to it, and feared
something serious would occur. There was also a feeling
outside the Council that the reports of its proceedings
were garbled by reason of having only its own reporter.
The members of Council knew that such was not the
case, and if there were half-a-dozen reporters they could
scarcely report better than was already done, except
perhaps a little more fully, but it would remove a sus¬
picion which at present existed in the minds of those who
did not know the facts. If there were any matter of
importance to be brought forward any gentleman who
came there, seeing the notice of Committee stuck up,
would respect it in the same way as now, and any pro¬
ceedings which it was not desirable to be brought forward
in public might be discussed in Committee, and the
Council would not have, as it did frequently, to go over
the ground again which had been already gone over by
the Committee.

Mr. Mackay did not agree with Mr. Symes that the
time had arrived when other reporters should be admitted,
nor even that the amendment should be carried. He
certainly, of the two, looked upon the motion of Mr.
Symes as being by far the more objectionable, because
to put it as he had done, as he said, after full consideration,
that reporters of any kind or description and in any
number should be admitted would be a thing he thought
the Council could scarcely agree to. On the other hand
the proposal of Mr. Frazer was not so objectionable, be¬
cause the members of Council knew the Chemist and
Druggist found its way into the hands of an immense
number of the trade. At the same time, he failed to see
the necessity of even a reporter from that journal coming
in, and for this reason — the Council meetings took place
early in the month, and what to his mind was a fair re¬
port of the proceedings was given, although as he
bad always argued not quite so full a report as might be
given, in the Society’s own Journal. The Chemist and
Druggist was published about the middle of the month,
and he could not see that it was placed at any great dis¬
advantage, inasmuch, as it had in its hands, ten days or
so before hand, the proceedings of the Council. But he

December 6, 1879], THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS/

447

rose more to argue that the Council had been hitherto a
little remiss in not giving effect to what he had more
than once suggested, and which he held more strongly
than ever, that it should admit the Editor of the Journal.
He should be very much pleased to see some such plan
as that tried, that the Editor of the J ournal be admitted
to the Council room during the ordinary business of the
Council meetings. He knew that outside many remarks
had been made regarding the reporting of the proceed¬
ings ; sometimes brevity had been named as a fault, and
sometimes it had been stated that they had not been as
correctly reported as they might have been. When the
Editor had been applied to, his reply had been that he
had nothing to do with what went on in the Council
room, that he only printed the report furnished to him.
Now if he were present in the room the report might be
more extended, or he would be in a position to answer
some of these complaints. He did not know what effect
these two motions might have, but he was exceedingly
anxious that the Council should admit the Editor to a
seat at the reporter’s table.

Mr. Richardson had great pleasure, as a young mem¬
ber of the Council, in supporting Mr. Symes’s motion.
He might say in the first place how astonished he was at
his friend Mr. Mackay, coming from liberal Scotland, not
supporting it also.

Mr. Symes here said that he was desirous of adding a
rider to his motion, namely —

“ That the Council retain power to consider each appli¬
cation for admission on its merits.”

Mr. Richardson said he entirely concurred in that
condition. The members of Council ought in justice to
themselves to have some discretionary power as to the
i expulsion of reporters if they in any way exceeded their
legitimate duty, for they were not now an exclusive body
as they were before the passing of the Pharmacy Act,
but were legislators for the whole trade. As had been
said, the Journal only circulated to 4000 members and
associates of the Society; but there were 10,000 chemists
and druggists, 6000 of whom, therefore, were not sup¬
posed to have a proper knowledge of the actions of the
Council, and they ought to be considered. The only way
to do that was by the introduction of independent
reporters. Having watched the proceedings at the
Council, he was much disposed to think that it would
| facilitate the progress of business if independent reporters
were admitted. He might be thought, perhaps, imper¬
tinent in saying so, but he did seriously think that a
great deal of time was wasted in the Council by work
which was really Committee work, and which there was
no necessity for dealing with there at all. He main¬
tained that if there were some method of independent
reporting those desultory conversations would not occur,
and the Council would have a much more progressive
mode of conducting business. There was a very great
deal of complaint, and those who, like himself, lived in
the country, were constantly hearing it. He did not
wish to say one word against the Council’s reporter, for
he had sufficient knowledge of him to see that his saga¬
city was irreproachable, but if there were a method of
open reporting it would take the sting out of a great deal
which was now said about the Council, not only by the
Chemist and Druggist, which was a very excellent journal,
but also by those constituents whom the Council was
supposed to represent. The Chemist and Druggist had
been mentioned, but he should not confine himself to that
journal. If the Times wislied to send a reporter there
the Council had no right to refuse him admission. It
must be remembered that the Council was legislating for
the public as well as in the interests of chemists and
druggists. It was not an executive body, which was
supposed to be legislating for the benefit of chemists and
druggists solely, but it also represented the public, and
he should be the first to send in his resignation if he
thought he did not fulfil his duty to the public as well as
to chemists and druggists. He should therefore support

Mr. Symes’s motion rather than the amendment. He
remembered a letter written by Mr. Joseph Ince, who
some years ago prognosticated that if the Chemist and
Druggist did not follow a certain line it would become a
matter of history and would be used for lining boxes ;
but he had watched the progress of that paper, and it had
become a very great power in the pharmacy of the
country. It had a large circulation and was read very
extensively. Mr. Mackay complained that it was only-
published monthly.

Mr. Mackay said he did not complain at all ; he only
stated it as a fact.

Mr. Richardson said a very few years ago the Phar¬
maceutical Journal was only published monthly, and
possibly when the Chemist and Druggist was admitted to
report the meetings of the Council it also would become a
weekly publication. One other reason why he wished
independent reporters to be admitted was that the
members of Council might be able to answer the continu¬
ous complaints addressed to them by private letters.
Since he made a little speech at the last meeting, com¬
plaining that the Registrar did not exercise sufficient
vigilance in testing applicants to be placed on the
register, he had had no less than twenty letters making
similar complaints. If the meetings of Council were open
the sting might at once be taken out of all these com¬
plaints. It was impossible for him to answer twenty
letters to twenty gentlemen every month, but if the
reporting were thrown open to any papers representing
the pharmaceutical body, and to the public prints if they
liked to come, it would give very great satisfaction to the
trade and especially to those whom he represented.

Mr. Mackay asked if Mr. Richardson meant to convey
that if the Chemist and Druggist reporter were admitted
that publication would change from a monthly to a weekly
one ?

Mr. Richardson replied that he did not say that at
all. He said that perhaps it might be the case.

The Secretary asked Mr. Richardson if he would give
him the letters of the gentlemen who had complained,
and he would guarantee to satisfy both the Council and
those gentlemen that there had been no want of vigilance
on his part.

Mr. Williams said if there were twenty reporters pre¬
sent, he did not see how it would affect such a question
as this.

Mr. Richardson said he did not come there to be
catechized by the Secretary. In no other deliberative
assembly did he ever hear of one of the staff being per¬
mitted to speak, unless he were asked a question. Those
letters were written to him in confidence, and he should
certainly not give them up to the Secretary.

Mr. Woolley had much pleasui-e in supporting the
motion with the addition which had been made to it.
He had not intended to say anyth ing,_ thinking it
would probably be carried more unanimously than
now seemed likely, but for one or two expressions
which had fallen from Mr. Gostling and Mr. Mackay.
Mr. Gostling had said that the reports were most faithful,
most true and most correct, and Mr. M ackay said they
were generally very fair. Now he knew one instance
whereAe thought he had very good grounds for complaint
and he gave this as an instance to show why it would be
better to have other reporters present. He was not com¬
plaining of the reporter, who he believed did his work
most properly ; but at the August meeting, if he recollected
rightly, the Council agreed to raise the salary of the
Editor and Sub-Editor, the Editor’s by £100 and the
Sub-Editor’s by £50. That piece of business was not
reported, and in September he drew attention to it and
was most careful in giving the figures, which he had
given again now in the hope that they might get into the
Journal. He had very good reason to believe that the
reporter took due note of those figures both in August
and September, but by some mysterious process which he
did not understand, and he did not know who was to

448

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 6, 1879

blame for it, notwithstanding! his efforts to get the
figures^published in the Journal they were left out. He
thought ordinary constitutional procedure ought to have
dictated to whoever had these reports before him the pro¬
priety of making such an expenditure of money as that
public to the body which found these funds. That
was an illustration of the advantage which would accrue
from having an independent reporter present.

Mr. Hills had only one word to say on the subject.
Mr. Symes said that other institutions had reporters ;
but he (Mr. Hills) believed that neither the College of
Physicians, nor the College of Surgeons, nor the Society
of Apothecaries, ever published reports. All these were
qualified gentlemen, and chemists and druggists also
were qualified, their qualifications being decided by
examination. It was not as if theirs was an open trade.
At any trade meeting of the members of these institu¬
tions, or at a vestry, reporters might be desirable With
regard to the Chemist and Druggist, it was a well known
paper, which represented chemists and druggists, and
therefore stood on a different footing, but he was not
prepared to say that this should be the only exception.
He should be quite ready to admit any other reporter
when he made good his claim.

Mr. Shaw said that on several former occasions when
this matter had been before the Council he had voted for
additional reporters, and he might remind Mr. Symes
that the matter was first brought forward about ten
years ago, when it was said to be utterly impracticable.
If his memory served him correctly, at the second meet¬
ing he had the honour of attending as a member of
Council, the subject was brought forward by Mr.
Reynolds, his motion being to the effect that other
reporters be admitted, and remain at the continued
pleasure of the Council. So far it coincided with Mr.
Symes’s motion as now amended. Last year, the matter
was brought forward by Mr. Hampson, when he moved
that an invitation be given to the editor of the Chemist
and Druggist to send a reporter, and it struck him that it
would be very desirable that this should be done. This
was what Mr. Frazer’s amendment amounted to. There
were only two journals which represented pharmaceutical
interests, the Society’s own Journal, and the Chemist and
Druggist, and therefore he should like to see an invitation
given to the latter to send a reporter. He was quite
certain the editor of that paper would not use the
information he gained there to the disadvantage of the
trade, or members of the Council, for whatever was
detrimental to them would certainly be detrimental to
that paper. There could be no objection to the present
reporter being supplemented by another. For his own
part he was thoroughly satisfied with the manner in
which the reports were given ; in fact, he was astonished
at the marvellous accuracy with which they were ren¬
dered. At the same time, mistakes occasionally would
occur, and he remembered on one occasion, Mr. Woolley
making restitution of some speech attributed to him,
which had been delivered by someone else. He thought
it would be a relief to the present reporter to have
another one present, and it would do away with a large
amount of feeling throughout the country.

Mr. Atkins said last year he had the pleasure of
seconding the motion of Mr. Hampson that a reporter
from the Chemist and Druggist be permitted to attend
the meetings, and he would not detain the Council with
the reasons he then gave, but he believed it would be
better to pass the wider resolution, because of necessity
the greater included the lesser, but the converse did not
hold good. There was no doubt that in all these debates
what the members of Council had present in their minds
was the fact of the reporter of the Chemist and Druggist
being admitted ; they did not anticipate there would be
any applications from any other sources whatever,
although he should not be at all alarmed at an application
from the Times if there were any matter coming forward
of public interest. He had no complaints to make with

respect to the reports in the Journal. He would not
stop to repeat the well-earned compliments that had
passed round the table on this matter, but, he believed,
as a matter of expediency it was very desirable that this
motion should be carried. It was deeply to be regretted
that there was a considerable amount of estrangement,
most undeserved, on the part of some of their constitu¬
ents towards the Council, and, he believed, the wider the
representation was made, and the more broadly the
debates were printed and circulated, the healthier it
would be, and the more united they would be as a body.
With regard to the Chemist and Druggist he could speak
most impartially, and he believed if the tone of that
journal were altered, as he thought it might be and hoped
it would be, towards the deliberations of the Council it
would very largely affect their constituents outside. A
large section of them read that paper, and did not read
their own Journal, and if the tone of the Chemist and
Druggist towards the deliberations of the Council were a
little more considerate and impartial it would have a very
good effect, not so much on that paper itself as on their
constituents at large, and it would be a splendid day for
them as a body when they had not, as they now had, a
divided camp. He longed for the day when there should
be a more thorough appreciation of the work done at the
Council Board, and he knew no better means of accom¬
plishing this than that the organ which confessedly took
a somewhat antagonistic position towards the members of
Council should be brought more thoroughly into accord
with them. He would remind Mr. Hills that the nearest
analogy he knew of to that Council was the town
councils, which were representative bodies, and also to a
certain extent executive bodies, and in many respects
were parallel in their action to that Council. In their
case it was the right of every newspaper to send a repre¬
sentative. Of course they had the power in the case of
any private matter coming forward to ask them either
not to notice it, or to leave the room, and at present he
was not conscious of any reason why the same could not
be done in that room.

Mr. Frazer asked if he might be allowed to dissent
from the statement made by Mr. Atkins that the Chemist
and Druggist was antagonistic to that Council? Had he
thought so he certainly would not have proposed the
amendment. He believed it was thoroughly in accord
with the Council, although it sometimes criticized it.

Mr. Atkins said that Mr. Frazer had somewhat mis¬
conceived him. He simply referred to the general tone
of the Chemist and Druggist, a paper which he regularly
read himself, and he would ask them, was its general
tone one of cordial appreciation or not ? He believed
it might be brought thoroughly into accord with the
Council.

Mr. Greenish did not wish to give a silent vote on
this occasion, though he had nothing to add to that which
he stated two years ago. He then thought the time had
arrived when the Council might admit reporters other
than its own to that room. He could not help stating,
however, that the present reports were marvellously
accurate. In fact, very frequently when the proof was
sent to him he had not to make the slightest verbal
alteration in anything he had said. If this motion passed,
however, he hoped that it would not merely be passed
for the editor or reporter of the Chemist and Druggist to
be admitted, but on the broad principle that, on appli¬
cation being made, any reporter would be admitted. Mr.
Richardson had stated that he believed a great deal of time
was wasted at the Council. It was possible he had been
somewhat unfortunate in the meetings other than those of
this Council which he had attended and taken part in, but
it seemed to him that time was always more or less wasted,
and he did hope that at that Council the time was far dis¬
tant when members would cease to take an interest in and
criticize the reports of the various committees which were
brought before them. It would be a most unfortunate
thing if when a few gentlemen, forming a committee out of

December 6, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

449

twenty-one, presented a report, the others should simply
receive it without any criticism whatever. He was not
at all an advocate for the reports of committees being
pulled to pieces systematically, but he did hope that
members would not cease to take an interest in these
matters which were brought before them.

Mr. Bottle said he proposed to give his vote differently
to the way he did last year. He then voted in great
measure on personal grounds, and that question had again
been mooted as to whether the Chemist and Druggist
commented fairly on the proceedings of the Council. At
any rate, he had noted during the past year that there
was a manifest improvement in the tone of that paper
towards the Council and the Society, and, as showing his
appreciation of that, he intended to vote in favour of
admitting the reporter of the Chemist and Druggist. On
the other hand, he should oppose the wider scheme of
Mr. Symes’s motion, more especially so as it would open
the way for what Mr. Richardson said he should like to
see, the reporter of the Times being there.

Mr. Richardson said he did not say that. He said
that if that reporter applied they had no right to refuse
him admission.

Mr. Bottle said that to pass such a general resolution
was a serious matter, especially considering the limited
space at command. If the reporter of the Times had a
right to admission the Council could not refuse the re¬
porter of any other morning papers or of even the Figaro
or Funny Folks. The accommodation was not sufficient to
allow of asking all, and it could not admit one and refuse
another ; but the Chemist and Druggist was a publication
Avhich was known to be increasing in circulation among
the members and the trade generally, and he would ask
the Council, certainly as a first step, to restrict admission
to one other reporter, rather than to open the door wide
and have to admit any gentleman who might make appli¬
cation. ' >

Mr. Williams said he had hitherto felt it his duty to
oppose this motion, and he was sorry to say that notwith¬
standing all he had heard, he must still hold that opinion.
It was not that he in any way wished to restrict report¬
ing; on the contrary he should be very glad to see, if
possible, the meetings more fully reported than they were
now. But he thought that should be done by an arrange¬
ment quite different to that of having extra reporters.
He did not see how extra reporters could give the result
they were all desiring, viz., increased reports ; on the
contrary there was no doubt when other reporters were
present the Council would have to arrange that a great
deal of business should be done not in the presence of
reporters at all, and it would be going in the opposite
direction to that which was desired. He believed great
practical inconvenience would result. As he had said
before, he should like to see the reporting done on the
principle of taking down all that took place in committee
or otherwise, and that then the report should, before pub¬
lication, be submitted to a committee or some one who
should have the power of striking out only portions which
would be obviously improper for publication. In that
way there would be obtained a full and nearly perfect
report of the proceedings of the Council. He need not
say that the introduction of a second or non-official re¬
porter to the Council room would stand in the way of
any such process as that, and also that it would be very
difficult indeed at any future time for the Council to go
back from the step it was now proposed to take. If it
once passed this resolution it would entail a great deal of
odium to attempt to go back from it. He really thought
if the Council looked at the question from the proper
point of view it would be seen that to accomplish the end
the members all desired, namely, fuller and more con¬
sistent reports of their own proceedings, so that members
in the country and elsewhere might really have a know¬
ledge of all that was doing, as far as practicable, there
might be devised a better mode of arriving at it than by
having an independent reporter who would be merely

present when a debate like the present was going forward,
but who would not be able to give the constituents any
account of the more private or more important business
which might often be of the greatest interest, and might
be published without detriment. Under these circum¬
stances he should vote against both the amendment and
the motion.

_ The Vice-President wished to point out a very essen¬
tial difference in the wording of the motion as it stood,
and in the style of language adopted by the mover of the
amendment. In the one case something like a broad
principle was asserted, in support of which broad
principles could be urged ; in the other case the attend¬
ance of a reporter of a particular journal was invited.
He scarcely thought the amendment could be carried,
inasmuch as by a strange coincidence, due to the introduc¬
tion of such an amendment on such a motion, both those
who opposed Mr. Symes’s motion and many who approved
of it would vote against this amendment. On the other
hand, if the Council adopted the amendment it would
do away with the motion, whilst at the same time it
would alter the present arrangements with regard to
reporting. He did not see, therefore, any chance of the
amendment being carried. With regard to the original
motion he should like to say that, for his own part, he
thought it should be carried upon the broad principle that
the members of the Council were the administrators of an
Act of Parliament, in which the whole public were in¬
terested equally with themselves, and that all such
proceedings ought to be conducted in such a way that the
outside public could, if it liked, approach and see what
they were doing. If it were carried the chances were
there would be no other applications than from the one
journal named in Mr. Frazer’s amendment, so that
practically, in all probability, the result of carrying the
resolution would be merely to admit the reporter of the
Chemist and Druggist, if the editor chose to apply. But
the principle should be either that the proceedings should
be private or that they should be public and open to any
inspection from the outside public which the public chose
to require, and this was the view he took, seeing that
they were administrators of an Act of Parliament. One
more argument he should like to use was, that the
Council would better consult its own dignity in adopting
this abstract motion than by sending an invitation to the
editor of any particular paper. He was not quite certain
of the relation in which the members of the Council stood
to their present reporter, but he believed they had no
asked the Editor of the Pharmaceutical Journal to send a
reporter, and if so it would be a strange thing to invite
the editor of the Chemist and Druggist to do so. Be
that as it may, he thought the Council would be best
consulting its own dignity, and at the same time better
consulting the public interests committed to its charge if
it left the matter perfectly open, reserving only the right
of imposing such limitations on the action of the reporters
as it was supposed to do at present. There were certain
simple regulations which they would be required to
adhere to, and if forty were present, supposing there were
room for them, he did not think any harm would be done,
while at the same time the Council would be disabusing
the public mind of any notion that it was acting unfairly.

Mr. Symes said he would not reply at any length to the
observations which had been made, several of which had
been ably answered by Mr. Schacht. The editor of the
Chemist and Druggist was exactly in this position at the
present moment. His journal was very largely read by a
number of persons who never read the Pharmaceutical
Journal, and whether it were published at the beginning
of the month, or in the middle, was of little importance.
It was read by a large number of persons, and the editor
was in this invidious position that he had either to copy the
report of the Pharmaceutical Journal, or to make an ej\i-
tome of it. He might say that he thought some of the
remarks made were rather unjust to that editor, inasmuch
Ts he was placed in this very awkward position. The

450 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

Council did not allow him to know anything of the pro¬
ceedings, except what he gained from the official report.
It was not likely that an editor placed in that position
would simply copy the report ; he made certain inferences
and deductions of his own which seemed to some of them
ridiculous and perverted, but which were really the
natural deductions of any person outside the Council.
Anyone else drawing deductions would probably draw
deductions quite as full of error as any in the Chemist and
Druggist. He did not wish to say a word against their
own J ournal or the Chemist and Druggist, but some gentle¬
men had complained that other reporters being there
would merely furnish the editor of the Chemist and,
Druggist with further means of enlarging his reports, but
the fact was if his reporter were present the Council
could pin him to his own report, and there would be no
necessity for deductions. In answer to Mr. Hills, he would
say that the Medical Council admitted reporters, and that
was the body which practically corresponded to the Phar¬
maceutical Council, as representing the medical profession.
The Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons were private
bodies, but the legislative body was the Medical Council.
Mr. Bottle had some anxiety as to the room, and he
could quite understand his anxiety that the room should
not be over-crowded, but the Council could refuse admis¬
sion to any reporter on any plausible ground, and if ever
so eligible a man applied for admission and there was not
room, he could be told so, and there was nothing in the
motion to prevent that. As had been said, the broader
motion was far more dignified, and as the greater included
the less, it would be perfectly eligible to anyone to
oppose any other reporter being present except the one
from the Chemist and Druggist, but the question of broad
principle was most important. Mr. Williams, he thought,
had been a little inconsistent, because he proposed that a
committee should be formed which should have the
power, not of adding anything, but only of striking out
anything which it might think objectionable. Yet the
first thing Mr. Williams did that morning was to ask
to have something added to the minutes, whereas such
a committee as he proposed would be utterly powerless
to put in anything that was omitted or to set anything
right. He was quite convinced that no ill result would
follow from the adoption of his motion, and that if he
had the hommr of being on the Council three or four
years hence when it had been tried he should be able to
stand forward and ask if the adoption had not served
both the interests of the Council and those of the outside
public, in whom it was interested.

The amendment was then put with the following
result :~

For — Messrs. Bottle, Frazer, Hills and Shaw.

Against — Messrs. Atkins, G-ostling, Greenish, Hampson,
Richardson, Rimmington, Robbins, Savage, Schacht,
Symes, Williams and Woolley.

The amendment was therefore lost.

The President and Mr. Mackay did not vote.

The motion with the words subsequently added by Mr.
Symes was then put with the following result : —

For — Messrs. Atkins, Frazer, Gostling, Greenish,
Hampson, Richardson, Rimmington, Robbins, Savage,
Schacht, Shaw, Symes and Woolley.

Against — Mr. Williams.

The motion was therefore carried.

The President, Messrs. Bottle, Hills and Mackay did
not vote.

Reports of Committees.

BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants : —

£10 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 68, who
had a similar grant in January last.

£15 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 73,
formerly in business, who has had three previous grants.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
who has had one former grant.

[December 6, 1879.

£5 to a registered chemist and druggist, aged 70, who
had a grant of £ 1 0 in May last.

One or two other cases were deferred for further in¬
quiries, and one application was refused.

The report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

Mr. Shaw asked if there would be any objection to
publishing the balance sheet of the Benevolent Fund in
the calendar.

The Secretary explained why he did not think it
advisable to do so, his explanation being given in com¬
mittee.

Personal Explanation.

Mr. Richardson said he understood that some remarks
he had made earlier in the day were understood to cast
some reflection on the Secretary and Registrar and he
wished in the most complete manner to withdraw any¬
thing he might have said which was offensive to his friend
Mr. Bremridge, or in any way personal to him. He knew
that the Secretary exercised the greatest caution with
regard to any applications made to him, and what he
wished to convey was that if the reports were more open
it would remove misapprehensions which existed and
tend to lessen the labour of the Registrar.

LIBRARY, MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.

This report included the Librarian’s usual report as to
attendance in the Library during October as follows: —
Total: day, 489; evening 298; average per day, 18; even¬
ing 13. Circulation of books town, 213; country 79;
carriage paid £1 6s. 8 d.

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

Dentists Register, 1879.

From the General Medical Council.

Dragendorff (G.), Ober die Beziehungen zwischen
cbemischen Bestandtheilen und botanischen Eigen-
thumlichkeiten der Pflanzen, 1879.

Kuhn (P.), Ein Beitrag zur Biologie der Bacterien,
1879. From Professor Dragendorff.

Royal College of Surgeons of England, Calendar,
1879. From the College.

Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London,
Catalogue of the Library, 1879, 3 v.

From the Society.

St. Thomas’s Hospital, Reports, 1879, n.s., v. 9.

From the Hospital.

Thibaut (P.), Art of Chymistry, 1668.

From Mr. W. Herbert Hyatt.

Tommasi (Dr. Donato).

Sur la Non-existence de l’Hydrogbne naissant, 5e
partie, Reduction du Perchlorate de Potasse,
1879.

Ricerche sulle Formole di Costituzione dei Com-
posti Ferrici, parte 1, Idrati Ferrici, 1879.

From the Author.

Valentin (VV. G.), Twenty Lessons in Inorganic
Chemistry, 1879.

From Messrs. W. Collins, Sons and Co.

The Committee had recommended the purchase of the
following books for the Library : —

Foster (M.), Text-book of Physiology, 8th ed., 1879.

Godman (F. D.) and O. Salvin, Biologia Centrali-
Americana : Botanical portion by W. B. Hemsley ;
about 20 parts, with 120 pi.

Guy (W. A.) and D. Ferrier,' Forensic Medicine,
4th ed., 1875.

Lunan (J. ), Hortus Jamaicensis, 1814.

Masters (M. T.), Vegetable Teratology, 1861.

Noad (H. M.), Student’s Text-book of Electricity,
new ed. by W. H. Preece, 1879.

Pharmaceutisches Repertorium, half-yearly.

Practitioner, monthly.

6, is7 9. | THE pharmaceutical journal and transactions.

451

Physicians of Myddvai, translated by J. Pughe and
j. Williams ab Ithel, 1861, (Welsh Mss. Society).

Quain (-J), Anatomy, by W. Sharpey, A. Thomson
and E. A. Schafer, 8th ed., 1878.

Spon (E.), Workshop Receipts.

The Committee had ordered that a reward of £5 be
offered for information leading to the conviction of any
person stealing books from the Library, several being
missing.

The Curator had reported that the attendance in the
Museum had been: — Morning: average, 15. Evening:
average, 3.

The Curator had reported that the following donations
to the Museum had been received : —

Specimens of fresh Indian Bael, preserved by sugar.

From Messrs. Young and Postans.

Specimens of Quebracho Bark and astringent gum
from the same tree.

Specimens of the leaves, flowers, and two sections
(one of the stem and the other of the branch of
the tree) from which Goa Powder is obtained
(Andira Araroba, A g.). From Mr. T. Christy.

The third and final series of plates of Bentley and
Trimen’s Medical Plants.’

From the artist, Mr. D.Blair.

Fourteen specimens of rare and valuable minerals
including : —

Two specimens of Vivianite, one in foliated
bands, and the other a very transparent crystal.

Ludlamite.

Two specimens of Cronstedtite, one having the
new green variety upon it.

Liskeardite.

Tetrahedite.

Tallingite.

Childrenite.

Anabergite.

Limonite.

Blende containing Gallium, Brown Mica, and
Lithia Mica.

All the minerals were obtained from Cornish
Mines except the Gallium Blende, which came
from Cologne.

From Mr. Richard Tallgin of Lostwithiel.

The Committee recommended certain arrangements to
be made in the Museum cases to prevent the injury of
specimens by dust.

The Professors had attended the Committee and re¬
ported on their respective classes.

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

The Council then went into committee to consider
some estimates for paper for the Journal which had been
submitted to the Committee, and a resolution thereon
was agreed to.

GENERAL PURPOSES.

This report included the usual report from the Solicitor
with regard to various matters of business in progress.

The Solicitor had reported that — -

E. Speight, Doncaster,

had paid £5, as penalty for breach of the Pharmacy Act,
without going to trial.

Daniel Tudor Williams, Aberdare,
had also remitted £5 as penalty.

The Committee also recommended that — •

Mr. Greaves, Chesterfield,

be requested to resign his appointment as local secretary,
a letter from him with reference to the supply of pare¬
goric without opium for sale by unregistered persons,
being, in the opinion of the Committee, entirely at
variance with the provisions of the Pharmacy Act.

Several cases of alleged infringement of the Pharmacy

Act had been considered, and in some it was recom¬
mended that proceedings be commenced. *

It had been arranged that the appeal in the case of the
Society v. London and Provincial Supply Association,
should not come on for hearing until Hilary Term, in
order that the services of the Attorney-General might
be secured.

The Council, as usual, went into committee to consider
the various cases referred to. After a long discussion,
the report and recommendations were received and
adopted.

Local Secretary at Preston.

Owing to the decease of Mr. Barnes, the late local
secretary at Preston, the Council proceeded to appoint as
his successor, Mr. J. L. Barnes.

Reporting the Council Proceedings.

Mr. Atkins then moved the following resolution of
which he had given notice : —

“ That the fact of the Council having resolved itself
into committee be reported in the record of the
proceedings of Council, and that it be left to the
discretion of the President and the Secretary in
what manner the announcement be made as to the
subject matter discussed in Committee.”

He thought very little need be said in support of this
motion, as the principle had been already ventilated and
generally accepted, the only question being as to the
form in which the announcement should be made in the
publication of the proceedings. At the previous meeting,
Mr. Symes proposed a motion, which was afterwards
withdrawn, with the spirit of which he was in entire
accord though not in the detail, because, as he understood
it, Mr. Symes wished the President at the time to for¬
mulate the express manner in which the report should be
made, which he thought would be throwing a degree of
responsibility on the President, which the Council had
scarcely a right to do. He believed Mr. Symes would
agree with him in what he now proposed, which was, to
simply go on as at present. It might be asked why
should he move in the matter, but he thought it would be
wise to put on the record of the proceedings a law of this
kind for the guidance of officials.

Mr. Symes seconded the motion. A slight alteration,
which Mr. Atkins had made in it since he had first given
notice, had been brought about by the altered position in
consequence of the resolution passed that morning.

Mr. Mackay asked if it was understood that the new
reporters were to remain and hear what passed when
any matter was under consideration in committee, or
were they to leave the room.

Mr. Greenish said he should be prepared to move
that the reporters leave the room while the Council was
in committee.

Mr. Mackay asked if that were so, was this proposed
summary to be made out by the President and Secretary,
and a copy handed to each reporter.

Mr. Symes said it was to be handed to the reporters.

Mr. Mackay said he understood that reporters, other
than their own, should leave the room ; that their own
report should be noted by their own reporter and handed
to the President and Secretary, who should make a con¬
densed report of it, and hand it to the reporters of other

arnals.

Mr. Atkins said that was not in his motion at all. If
were asked his opinion with regard to reporters he
ould differ from Mr. Greenish. He thought it would
impracticable to ask gentlemen to leave the room
lenever the Council went into committee, or else they
nild be trotting in and out all the time.

-« r rir.. ^ C .1 Vn-v oLz-wilrl rlnnlinA fl TYlilttcrS

of serious importance before strangers.

Mr Atkins did not see how the Council could draw
any invidious distinctions between its own reporter and
others. This was a very important question, but it wa?

452

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 6, 1879.

not part of the motion at all. It would no doubt require
serious consideration how reporting should be dealt with
in future, but it was no part of his motion.

Mr. Mackay did not see how the Council could pass this
motion until it had cleared the ground by settling the
point he had raised. This was one of the most important
things that had to be dealt with, and if, as Mr. Atkins
suggested, the new reporters were to be allowed to sit
and listen to all that took place in committee the tongues
of many members would be tied. He looked upon it as
an unsafe thing to let other parties listen to a discussion
connected with names and other matters which occasion¬
ally cropped up. It was quite true that if the Council
found an improper use was made of what passed in
committee it could pass a vote of censure afterwards,
but that would involve great unpleasantness.

Mr. Richardson approved of what Mr. Mackay said,
and thought before the Council accepted a motion like
this a committee should be appointed to go into the
whole matter, and present a report to the Council. He
thought a great deal of time might be saved, and a good
deal of information given by the Committees’ reports
being presented in such a form that they could be printed
in the Journal, and that that report should be presented
by the Chairman of the Committee and explained. If
the system were followed it would never be required to
go into committee of the whole Council, all the private
work might be done in committee, and the Council would
be able openly to discuss all that came before it.

Mr. Savage moved that the further consideration of
this matter be postponed, because the very essence of the
thing was the mode in which it was to be used.

Mr. Shaw seconded the amendment. He thought it
would give rise to very great difficulty if reporters were
to leave the room whenever the Council went into com¬
mittee, but if that were not done there would be a great
difficulty in carrying out the arrangements.

Mr. Atkins said it was not the custom in council
rooms for reporters to be called upon to withdraw. He
could give an instance in which a gentlemen who recently
served the office of mayor made a statement affecting the
character of another person which he asked the reporters
not to take notice of. A question was afterwards referred
to counsel whether any action could be taken upon it, and
his opinion was it could not. He fully agreed that this
was an important matter, and if it was felt that the whole
question of reporting deserved consideration, he had no
objection to letting it go back to the proper Committee,
and he would therefore withdraw his motion.

The British Pharmacopceia.

Mr. Hampson then moved the following motion, of
which he had given notice : —

“ That the General Medical Council be asked to re¬
ceive a deputation to respectfully urge upon them
the desirability of the Pharmaceutical Council being
legally empowered to nominate pharmacists to co¬
operate with the General Medical Council in framing
and amending future editions of the British Phar¬
macopoeia ; and also to endeavour to obtain their
concurrence and friendly interest in this object.”

He said that in July, 1874, the Council passed a reso¬
lution to the effect that it respectfully urged upon the
General Medical Council the desirability of associating
more practical pharmacists with any committee which
might be appointed for the purpose of preparing any
future editions of the British Pharmacopoeia. A copy of
that resolution was sent to the Medical Council at the
time, and no doubt it was received, but he believed there
had been no acknowledgment of it. Pharmacopoeias were
originally framed by the Colleges of Physicians of England
and of Scotland and Ireland, the first English Pharma¬
copceia being in 1618 and the last in 1851, there being
ten in all. Afterwards the responsibility of framing the
Pharmacopoeia was conferred upon the General Medical
Council in 1858 and re-affirmed in 1862, and there were

two editions of the British Pharmacopoeia, in 1864 and
1867, and the appendix of 1874. He should like here to
bear testimony to the great services rendered to the Society
by Professor Bedwood. The Pharmacopoeia of 1874 was
no doubt a great improvement on all preceding ones, and
it was a great boon that there was only one, the British.
But he would call attention to the great authority which
this Pharmacopoeia proceeding from the Medical Council
possessed. The first edition contained a warning to all
apothecaries and chemists that on its publication it was
necessary to destroy all preparations not made according
to its provisions, which of course was a very proper
warning ; but it was a serious thing that the Medical
Council had this unlimited power entirely in its hands.
It might alter or expunge a formula, and pharmacists
generally had no voice at all in the matter. No doubt
the Medical Council had called to its aid Professor Redwood
and another practical pharmacist, for it was impossible for
its members to give the special attention to that important
work which it required. But the position of Professor Red¬
wood and the other gentleman was simply that of assistants
to some sub-committee. They had no recognized status.
This acknowledged necessity of getting extraneous aid
showed that it was really the function of pharma¬
cists to frame the national Pharmacopoeia. The book
thus framed was accepted as a standard in courts of law
and by public analysts, and there was sufficient experi¬
ence to show that pharmacists were absolutely at the
mercy of those standards and were compelled to conform
to them, notwithstanding they were not consulted as to
their accuracy or suitability, and by their own Act of
Parliament also they were subject to penalties if they did
not conform to it. Therefore, however impossible the
formulae might be, or imperfect the standards, they were
liable to a penalty if they did not conform thereto
He did not object to fair restrictions, but he did
object to the Pharmaceutical Society being so utterly
ignored in the fixing of these standards. There was an
old axiom in politics that taxation without representation
was tyranny, and he should say that being subject to
penalties without representation was injustice. The Phar¬
maceutical Society was entitled to an equal legal status
in framing the national Pharmacopoeia with the Medical
Council; it had fairly earned that position and recogni¬
tion on the part of their medical friends. As a voluntary
society, it had done much for the furtherance of phar¬
macy ; it had educated many good men who had shone
in their ranks of pharmacy and in higher ranks still. It
possessed a school and library which was more like
the fountain head of pharmacy than any other centre
could be, and it had the privilege of examining men who
wished to enter the trade. In the culinary art, professed
cooks were supposed to be the best authority in preparing
a cookery book, and in like manner it was not unnatural
to claim the professional services of those whose edu¬
cation and daily occupation fitted them to frame, con¬
jointly with the physician, such an important national
work as the national Pharmacopceia. In no other
civilized country did pharmacists occupy such an un¬
enviable and undignified position. They were, as it were,
ignored, not in an offensive way, but simply because their
position was unrecognized. Years ago the Apothe¬
caries’ Society and the College of Physicians had the
professional knowledge to frame the national Pharma¬
copoeia; but circumstances had now altered, and the
Pharmaceutical Society was really now the faculty
of pharmacy. It was necessary, he thought, to assert its
equitable claim in such a manner as not to give offence
to the medical profession in order to receive that fair
recognition which was its due. There was no desire to
trench in any way on medical grounds. Pharmacists did
not want to interfere with doses or therapeutics, but
simply to have an equal share in framing that portion of
the Pharmacopceia which referred to chemistry, materia
medica and pharmacy proper ; to be able to do that par¬
ticular class of work which fell legitimately to their hands.

December 6, 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

453

And he hoped when the Medical Council received the
intimation of their desire to confer with them in a friendly-
manner upon this important subject it would meet them
in the same spirit.

The Vice-President had much pleasure in seconding
the motion. He was glad Mr. Hampson had framed his
arguments mainly on the idea that pharmacy constituted
an essential portion of the medical art, because it enabled
him with complete cordiality to endorse the views that
had been expressed. He had so fully expressed himself
upon that subject lately that it was not necessary to
trouble the Council with any further remarks upon it, for
he thought it was the great argument with which this
representative body, the Medical Council, should be ap¬
proached. He felt sure that all those who in the least
degree felt, as he did, that an injustice was done them by
the general body of medical practitioners in the non-re-
cognition of the great advance which they had made in
the cultivation of their own body and also in the further¬
ance of the great cause of scientific pharmacy, would
hesitate to find a way out of the difficulty, unless
it were by some such process as this, which would gain
a recognition of themselves at the hands of the
Medical Council. If this were once done it would be
a recognition of their work in connection with the medical
art so clear and plain that all the rest would follow easily
enough. Every argument Mr. Hampson had used on the
score of justice to pharmacists, who had to obey certain
instructions given to them, without the power to say a
word as to what was right or wrong in the matter, was
unassailable, and he should further like to say that he
thought the terms in which he had worded the motion
were singularly fortunate. They approached the Medical
Council with great respect, and asked to have a hearing,
and until he knew the result of such an application he
should not like to say a word as to any ulterior course of
action. But it would be well for the Council to keep in
mind that what it was asking for was a right thing, and
if this corporation did not feel inclined to regard the
application with full consideration there was a Sovereign
on the throne who had the power of appointing a large
portion of the Medical Council, to whom an appeal might
most properly and fairly be made.

Mr. Williams sympathized entirely with the position
taken up by Mr. Hampson with regard to the necessity
and policy of pharmacists generally being permitted to
take a part in the formation of the new Pharmacopoeia ;
but he would suggest that he should alter the wording of
the motion, and leave out the last clause. Before arguing
the question the members of Council should bear in mind
their true position. Mr. Hampson had already spoken of
the services rendered by Professor Redwood to the
Society, but that idea was just what they should guard
themselves against. His services were not rendered to
the Society, but to the Medical Council. The Act of
Parliament under which the Pharmacopoeia was framed
entrusted to the Medical Council the office and responsi¬
bility of framing it, and it had done so, employing certain
gentlemen of eminence to assist. What was really wanted
was to ask the Medical Council to permit a committee or
deputation of pharmacists to be engaged, and employed
in assisting it in producing this work. Mr. Hampson might
have strengthened his case by pointing out some discrepan¬
cies and inconsistencies in the Pharmacopoeia as it at pre¬
sent stood. He was in error in supposing that they were
responsible for any mistakes . that appear in it. At the
same time it was a matter of some delicacy to approach
the Medical Council, because when the Council did so
on a former occasion its request to be permitted to
take a part in this matter did not even receive an
answer. He feared it must be considered that the
medical authorities who had the ordering of this
matter did not look with great favour on the legitimate
wish of pharmacists to be taken into consultation. It
was a pity it should be -so, and if by deputation that
feeling could be removed it would be most desirable ;

but it must be still remembered that in approaching the
medical body pharmacists must not do so with loss of
dignity to themselves, and it would require great care in
moving in the matter.

Mr. Mackay thought there was but one feeling amongst
true pharmacists, namely, that they should take a part in
framing any future Pharmacopoeia. But, having that
feeling strongly himself, he felt he could not vote for the
motion now brought forward. Going back to the publi¬
cation in 1864, when the different pharmacopoeias were
all united in one, there were two pharmacists appointed
in Edinburgh to confer with the Committee appointed
there, and it must have been a source of satisfaction to
them all to know that Professor Redwood did such
eminent service with regard to the various formulae which
appear in the present Pharmacopoeia. As Mr. Williams
said it was a matter of great delicacy to approach the
General Medical Council with any such request. The
motion suggested the desirability of the Phannaceutical
Council being legally empowered to nominate pharmacists
to co-operate ; but he did not know how that legal em¬
powerment could be obtained. Did it point to a special
Act of Parliament? His great fear was that if the
Council went forward with any such request it would be
pooh-poohed. It was quite true it might take ulterior
measures, but he would suggest a pause for a time. It
might be that a new Pharmacopoeia would be proposed in
a year or two, and then it might be possible to approach
the Medical Council, or at all events to take some such
steps as would be the means of attaining their object in
a much better way than the one pointed out in this
motion.

Mr. Greenish said he should very cordially vote for
the motion. It seemed a remarkable thing that in 1879
the pharmacists of Great Britain should be asking to be
allowed to take part in the formation of a national
Pharmacopoeia. When he was on the Continent, attend¬
ing the International Congress, and mentioned that
pharmacists in Great Britain had no voice whatever in
the preparation of the Pharmacopoeia, his statement was
received -with the greatest astonishment, that men who
were considered by their brethren abroad, to occupy so
high a position had really no voice in such a matter. It
seemed only right when medical men attended to thera¬
peutics that pharmacists should have a voice in pharmacy.
It was only reason and common sense. He had spoken
to some members of the Medical Council on the subject,
who said the request was quite reasonable and they
should be prepared to support it, but there were
others who were opposed to it. He, therefore, thought
the Council should press the matter on. In Holland,
Belgium, Germany, Austria and Russia pharmacists took
part in the preparation of the Pharmacopoeia, and he
hoped the Council would not hesitate to . take the
necessary and proper steps to advance their claims in this
matter

Mr. Hills thought it premature to move in the matter
at the present time. He had not heard that there was
to be a new edition of the Pharmacopoeia or another
appendix, and he would much rather wait until something
had been decided, and then respectfully write and place
their services at the disposal of the Medical Council.

The Vice-President, referring to the Act of Parliament
under which the Medical Council was constituted, pointed
out that it consisted of one person chosen from time to
^ time from various medical bodies and universities, and six
persons nominated by Her Majesty with the advice of
the Privy Council. They were not all necessarily there¬
fore medical men. ,

Mr. Symes said in October last he had brought forward
the subject of a new Pharmacopoeia, and made it pretty
clear that if there was not to be a [new one soon
there ought to be. According to his idea the Pharma¬
copoeia was a work on pharmacy, but it included thera¬
peutics ; in other words the ideas to be carried out were
those of medical men, but the men to carry them out

454

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 6,

were essentially pharmacists. If any evidence was wanted
as to who were capable of preparing the Pharmacopoeia, he
had only to refer to the two which had appeared since it
had been in the hands of the Medical Council. They all
knew the Pharmacopoeia of 1864 was a perfect failure.
There were no doubt extenuating circumstances, owing to
three having io be brought together into one, but the
chief cause of failure was that it was almost entirely a
medical production. That of 1867 was probably one of
the best which had ever appeared, and the improvement
could be attributed no doubt to the fact that an eminent
pharmacist was engaged. He, however, had no authority
of his own, but was simply the servant of the Medical
Council. When the Pharmacopoeia appeared it was bind¬
ing upon pharmacists, and they were obliged to make
things in a certain way, although when made they would
not sometimes answer to the tests there given. Under
such circumstances he could not understand any pharma¬
cist doing anything but most strongly supporting the idea
that the Pharmaceutical Council, so far as the law would
allow, should be represented fully in the framing of a new
Pharmacopoeia, and, if necessary, l.e should have much
pleasure in aiding the deputation in endeavouring to im¬
press upon the Medical Council the desirability of a new
Pharmacopoeia very soon appearing.

Mr. Mack ay said there was but one feeling as to the
desirability of pharmacists aiding in a new Pharma¬
copoeia, but the question before them was whether this
form of motion and the present time were the most
suitable.

The Presipent said there was but one feeling as
to the abstract view being right, but it was a question of
policy. He must correct Mr. Symes in one particular.
The Pharmacopoeia Committee of 1864 was more fully
supplied with men who were supposed to have a know¬
ledge of pharmacy than that of 1867. That Council was
requested to send a deputation to the Committee, and it
nominated certain persons to act upon it, and those
persons set all their hands to work to prepare the edition
of 1864. So much fault was found with that work that
in 1867 the Committee was very much reduced, and it
simply consisted of Professor Redwood and M r. Waring-
ton, of Apothecaries’ Hall, under the direction of a Com¬
mittee of the Medical Council, consisting of Dr. Burrows,
Dr. Upjohn, Dr. Sharpy and Dr. Quain. Therefore,
pharmacy was very fully represented on that occasion,
it was a very difficult thing to go to the Medical Council,
to whom was given by Act of Parliament the power and
duty of issuing the Pharmacopoeia, and say, “ Take us
in.” Of course pharmacists could offer their services
with a good grace, but if they went in the way proposed
by Mr. Hampson they would probably get a rebuff. He
could also remember the time when the College of Phy¬
sicians were about to issue a Pharmacopoeia, though it
never came to maturity. That body asked this Council
to appoint a committee to work with it and to send the
result of its labours. It therefore acknowledged, and he
had no doubt the Medical Council acknowleged also, that
pharmacists were in possession of much experience and
information which would be extremely useful. But
although the medical bodies would be glad to take it in
the ordinary course, they would not like to have it forced
on them by legal measures, and he did think it would be
extremely unwise to convert the General Medical Council
and the members of it into antagonists of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society, because he happened to know that some
of the best friends of the Pharmaceutical Society sat on
that Council, and in all things considered and deferred to
the interests of that Society. In fact they had done as
much to advance the interests of the Pharmaceutical
Society as anybody, not being a member of it, could do.
He therefore hoped the motion would not be passed, but
that the Council would trust rather to assisting the
Medical Council by offering it what assistance it re¬
quired.

Mr. Frazer said he should use the same arguments he

used when this matter was before the Council five years
ago against insisting on pharmacists having a legal posi¬
tion in the matter. There was one reason why pharma¬
cists should not have it. It was medical men who were
responsible for the medicines prescribed, and he did not
think pharmacists had any right to arrogate themselves ’
that position. They did not prescribe and it was those
who prescribed who had the full responsibility of making
the various formulae. Besides that, although not legally
on the Council, they were practically aiding it, as had
already been shown. He himself was consulted on many
points and he believed the same thing was done in many
other instances.

Mr. Williams suggested the word “legal” should be
omitted from the motion.

Mr. Hampson said he could not do so. He regretted
to find that he lacked the support of several respected
members of the Council, as he had five years ago. He
expected a hearty support and almost unanimous on that
occasion, for he felt that in five years the subject had so
ripened, and the position of the Society had been so
acknowledged, that the claim he made of a conference with
their medical friends would be most readily received. Mr.
Mackay seemed to think it was all sufficient that Professor
Redwood had been called in to assist, but they could not
always have the services of Professor Redwood. He alto¬
gether demurred to the position taken by those who opposed
him. It was not for them simply to assist in the narrow sense,
but to do the work along with the Medical Council ; to take
the proper position, not as members of the Medical Council,
of course. That body had had to go to Parliament to get
fresh powers, and certainly in its bill, or in an amended
Pharmacy Bill, pharmacists’ proper claim should be recog¬
nized. He did not attempt to describe the method of this
recognition. He simply said it was their natural position
as pharmacists to have a fair legal share in the preparation
of the Pharmacopoeia, so that they might occupy the same
status as pharmacists in all other countries. It seemed
to him a mistake to wait until a new Pharmacopoeia was
about to be published. The Committee should sit a con¬
siderable time before that, for it was a scientific work
which would take two or three years to be put into shape,
and all kinds of experiments would be required to be
made. He was sorry to find that Mr. Sandford and Mr.
Mackay held the opinion they did regarding the feeling of >
the Medical Council, namely, that this course would put
this Council in opposition to it. He had a higher opinion of
those gentlemen than to think they would pooh-pooh this
proposition. They would surely respect pharmacists more
for knowing that they did not undervalue their qualifi¬
cation as pharmacists.

Mr. Williams asked Mr. Hampson to define the word

“ legal.”

Mr. Hampson said this word seemed somewhat mis¬
understood. At the present time pharmacists could not
step into the room with the Medical Council and take any
part in its deliberations; but he believed it to be ab¬
solutely essential that when the Medical Council, if it
agreed with the proposal, went to Parliament for a new
medical bill, it should ask for such provisions, that the Phar¬
macopoeia should be framed by a Committee, consisting
of so many medical men and so many pharmacists, the
latter being nominated by the Pharmaceutical Council.

Mr. Mackay said any remarks he had made with re¬
gard to the Medical Council pooh-poohing this proposal
simply had reference to the word “ legally ” in the
resolution.

Mr. Williams moved an amendment that the word
“ legally ” be omitted and also the last sentence.

Mr. Robbins seconded the amendment.

The Vice-President opposed the amendment. He
thought it would be better to do nothing at all if they
did not claim a legal status.

The amendment being put was lost by 8 votes to 3.

The metion was then put with the following result : —

For — Messrs. Greenish, Hampson, Schachtand Symes

December 6, is 7?.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS

455

Against — Messrs. Bottle, Fraser, Hills, Mackay, Rim-
mington ancl Robbins.

The motion was therefore lost.

The President and Mr. Williams did not vote.

Reports of Council Meetings.

Mr. Symes moved and Mr. Greenish seconded,

“ That a Committee consisting *’of Messrs. Hampson,
Atkins, Mackay, Bottle, Symes and Greenish, be
appointed to make proper arrangements for the
admission of reporters to the meetings of this Council
and consider if any, and if any, what regulations are
necessary to be made in reference to their presence
in the room. The Committee to report to this
Council at its next meeting.”

The motion was carried unanimously.

Loan of Specimens from the Museum.

A letter was read from Mr. Davidson, asking for the
loan of some mineral specimens from the Museum, to
illustrate a paper on Coal, which he was about to read
before the Chemists’ Assistants’ Association.

The request was granted.

PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING.

Wednesday, December 3, 1879.

MR. GEORGE WEBB SANDFORD, PRESIDENT, IN THE

CHAIR.

An Evening Meeting of the Society was held on
Wednesday the 3rd inst. The chair was taken at half-
past eight o’clock.

The minutes of the last previous meeting having been
read and approved,

The Curator called attention to the specimens which
were on the table. He said that one was of rather
unusual interest, namely, the stem of the araroba tree,
presented by Mr. T. Christy, which was the first
specimen that had been seen in this country. There
was also a specimen of the leaf and a few of the
flowers. The leaflets had been put together as nearly
as possible to represent the habit of the plant, but
the flowers were so broken up that he could not
represent them as he should like to have done. In the
specimen of the stem they would see that the araroba or
Goa powder occurred in the porous vessels of the plant,
and the porous vessels seemed to be corroded and run
together, so that the small masses of the substance which
was now known in commerce as araroba could be seen
under a lens. There was also a specimen of bark of the
white quebracho tree ( Aspidosyerma Quebracho), which
had been sent over by Dr. Lorentz, from Cordoba. This
plant was interesting for one or two reasons. Mr.
Fielding, who had been staying for some time in the
Argentine Republic, told him that it formed a common
feature of the landscape, and had somewhat the appear*
ance of that form of English ash tree which was sometimes
seen with slightly drooping branches. The bark was re¬
markably smooth; but became exceedingly corky when
once the thin covering became cracked, in which respect
it very much resembled the bark of the birch tree.
He imagined that the thinner bark of the quebracho was
by far the most active portion of the plant, and as it
would probably come into use in this country, as it had
already done on the Continent, it was well to know that
the corky bark was less valuable. It derived its name of
“ aspidosperma” partly from the very curious circular mem¬
branous seed which was attached to the fruit by a very
slender thread, so that it resembled somewhat a shield.
The name “ quebracho,” was Spanish, and meant “ break
axe,” because the wood was so exceedingly hard, and could
not be cut by ordinary tools without injury to them.
There was also one specimen of yellow pareira brava,
brought over by Mr. Moss, from New York, it having
been presented by Professor Bedford. It had recently

come into American commerce, and he believed Mr. Moss
was engaged in examining it.

Mr. Greenish asked whether the araroba was a de¬
position or decomposition, and, if so, in what tissue the
araroba was found.

Mr. Holmes said that the araroba could be seen in
small patches in the porous vessels of the specimen now
exhibited. Whether it was a decomposition or a deposi¬
tion he had no means of ascertaining.

Mr. Symes said that quebracho wood was being
used in large quantities on the Continent. He should like
to know whether the bark contained special medicinal
activity. The wood was astringent, and used for tanning,
and was said to contain double as much tannin as ordi¬
nary crushed oak bark. Large quantities were imported
into this country, but chiefly on the Continent. He had
sent samples of the wood to one large firm of chemists,
and they appeared to be satisfied that that was the article
they wanted.

Mr. Holmes said that it was the bark of the white
quebracho which was used in medicine. The quebracho
wood was obtained from a different tree, known as the
red quebracho, belonging to a different natural order.
He was not aware that that wood was used medicinally.
The specimen on the table was white quebracho.

Mr. Greenish thought that it was unusual to find
tannin in wood. It had been usually found in the bark.

Mr. Holmes said that tannin was often found in the
wood. With regard to the white quebracho, it was
curious that the leaves contained more tannin than the
bark, namely 27‘5 per cent.

Dr. Paul said that the tannin principle of the red
quebracho tree was contained in the wood, and that this
wood was now being imported largely into France for the
purpose of tanning leather. Some months ago some
samples had been sent to him for the purpose of ascer¬
taining its value, and he found that the active principle
was contained in the wood brought over for the purpose
of being used in tanning.

Apothecaries’ Weights and Measures.

The President said that there was on the table a set
of the new local standards of apothecaries’ weights and
measures which are to come into use under the new Act.
They had been lent for exhibition by the head of the
Standards Department, and were placed on the table for
inspection. He would call on Dr. Paul to make some
remarks in respect to them.

Dr. Paul said that the task which he proposed to
undertake that evening was one justified mainly by the
special practical importance of the subject. It was not
necessary to address pharmaceutical chemists in a de¬
scriptive manner on the nature of the weights and
measures that they were accustomed to use daily; but
hitherto the weights and measures used in pharmacy had
been things outside the law, not altogether unlawful to
use, but used without any legislative sanction or recogni¬
tion. In the introduction of new legislation on the subject
of weights and measures it had been thought desirable, as
in other respects, to bring pharmacy within the protection
and control of legislative enactment, and to make the
weights and measures used in British pharmacy no excep¬
tion to weights and measures used for other purposes of
trade in the country. The result of this had been that in
future the weights and measures used, in dispensing
would be subject to inspection and verification in the
same way as all other weights and measures used in the
country ; and, as a further result, they saw there some of
the standards that had been constructed for the pur¬
pose of controlling the accuracy of the weights and mea¬
sures used by chemists and druggists throughout the
country. In the first place he would refer to the weight
standards, of which there was a case on the table, lhese
weights were made after the manner of the weights used
in chemical analysis and for general chemical work
round blocks of metal with a knob at the top that

456

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (December 6, i8?»

could be easily grasped. They ranged from 10 ounces
down to 10 grains, and then there was a further set
of small weights, running from 6 grains to Ar of a
grain. The set was exactly a counterpart of the set of
standards that would be used by the inspectors in con¬
trolling and verifying the weights that were used in
pharmacy. With regard to the measures there were,
first of all, a set of bronze vessels of certain capacities
one made to contain 4 fluid ounces, and others ranging
down to one containing a fluid drachm. These vessels were
constructed to hold, when filled exactly to the brim,
the quantity to which they corresponded. They
were struck with a glass disk, used in the same way as
striking a measure of corn, so as to remove any superfluous
liquid, and leave the exact volume of water weighing, at
the specified temperature, the corresponding weight.
This was a form of measure which he imagined would be
exceedingly difficult to use for the purpose of verification
or for any practical purpose which required a number of
measurements to be made rapidly and within a short
space of time. Another of the measures indicated as
competent to be used was the ordinary flask, like a litre
flask, with a line in the neck, indicating the level to
which it was to be filled for holding a certain volume and
weight of water at 62° C. It was a convenient form
of vessel, and there was a set ranging down to half an
ounce. In vessels of that arrangement there was no pro¬
vision for anything below the half ounce. In another
set there was a pipette which was graduated into minims
and containing in all 80 minims. Another form of measure
that had been proposed for use for the verification of the
ordinary graduated measures in use was made after the
manner of an ordinary discharge pipette. By opening the
air tap the water was allowed to run in until just above a
certain level, when it was shut off and the air tap closed.
The liquid then remained suspended. This was exactly
the same sort of apparatus that was used in very many
forms of volumetric analysis for measuring definite
volumes. The one then in position was gauged to con¬
tain exactly a pound of water, or 7000 grains. The
standard measures were graduated in a different way, not
upon the neck, but upon the body of the bulb. The
2 ounce measure was graduated from 8 drachms to 16.
There was another one which was graduated to hold 40
ounces, which was the largest volume, and another to hold
10 ounces which was the smallest. The connection of
these vessels with the filling apparatus and system of air
cocks was made by means of screws. One pipette could
be taken off and another put on. It occurred to him,
and it had been mentioned in the Journal, that the use
of a measure of this kind for the purpose of verification
was most objectionable, on account of the very large
diameter of the surface of the liquid. The accuracy of
such a measure depended upon having the surface of the
liquid where the reading was taken reduced to the smallest
possible diameter. When in comparison with the bulk
of the liquid the diameter was very small, the amount
of error made in reading off the level of the liquid was
very much less than it would be in reading off from the
other level, where the surface of the liquid was large. In
point of convenience for use nothing could be preferred to
that form of apparatus, and if these vessels were used
it would be best, he thought, to have one pipette for
each capacity of measure to be tested, and have a fresh
one attached on every occasion. This would involve a
larger number of vessels, but for facility and accuracy of
work the advantage would be very considerable. With
regard to the use of these it would be superfluous to say
more than had already been stated in the Journal. In
future, chemists and druggists throughout the country would
be subject to inspection of their dispensing weights and
measures, and if those weights and measures were in¬
correct in any respect, either in excess or deficiency, the
owners of them would be liable to a penalty for each one
which was so incorrect. Moreover, if they were correct, and
were not also stamped with the stamp of verification they

would also be liable to a penalty, and therefore it became
the business of all who were engaged in pharmaceutical
matters to take precautions to ascertain how their weights
and measures were to be verified and stamped, so as to
leave them safe under the operation of the Act. The pro¬
vision to be made for carrying out the work of inspection
and verification of weights and measures was to be made
by the local authorities, that is to say the corporations,
town councils, and bodies of that kind in different parts of
the country, and it would be extremely desirable, for the
sake of preventing inconvenience to individuals, if
the local secretaries of the Society or the secretaries
of local associations were to inquire of the corpora¬
tions of their district, or the magistrates at quarter
sessions, as to what arrangements were to be made
for inspecting weights and measures, and what
facilities were to be given for enabling them to be veri¬
fied. Such a step would remove any possibility of harsh
action at a future time and probably do away with a good
deal of inconvenience. The Society was indebted to Mr.
Chaney, of the Standards Department of the Board of
Trade, who at the request of the President had placed
these measures at the disposal of the Society for the pur¬
pose of this explanation. Dr. Paul said he had omitted
to mention the cathetometer, which was the sort of appa¬
ratus used in the measurement of gases for reading off the
exact level of mercury, and there was a very finely
adjusted telescope by which one was enabled to read ex¬
actly where the level of the liquid cut the line of gradua¬
tion. For gas analysis, and in dealing with gases, such
an apparatus was exceedingly appropriate and did very
good service ; but when they had to read a level in the
instruments shown such an apparatus as this seemed to
be too delicate, and though altogether admirable in its
way, quite inappropriate for the purpose specified.

Mr. Mackay said that the meeting was very much in¬
debted to Dr. Paul for the trouble he had taken in this
matter, and also for his lucid explanation. There appeared
to have been a great deal of work about a very little
matter ; but, be that as it might, the whole country, and
especially the people in the north, had been in very
considerable alarm about the subject of weights and
measures. He specially wished that, now they had the
standards before them, the minds of pharmacists might
be set at rest on one point, namely, that although the
smaller weights were far better than those in ordinary
use, both as to form and material, yet so long as those
now in use corresponded with the new standards, the
owners would come under no penalty. As to the more
intricate set of glass measures he could not understand
the wisdom of producing these wonderful gun metal or
metallic looking things with ivory bases and very correctly
fitted glass tops, w.ith a view to measure from 1 ounce up
to 4 or 5 ounces. Perhaps Dr. Paul could explain why
they were produced in that particular form. These glass
measures, as standards, seemed to be very beautifully made.
He did not doubt their correctness, but he should think
that the huge 40 ounce pipette was a thing which, in the
hands of the inspector, would not be easily managed, and
would be likely to lead to error, notwithstanding the aid
of that wonderfully constructed telescope. Where the
pipette was surmounted, as in this case, with the short
tube, and where the indication was made by a small line,
any man of ordinary eyesight would be able to verify
correctly without the aid of such a curious looking instru¬
ment as that which they had before them. He was
rather pleased than otherwise to find that there was a
complete regiment of pipettes, ranging from 2 pints to £
an oz. The smaller pipettes for drachms were quite
proper. Curious ideas had been taken up by some
inspectors. It would be invidious to name the inspector
of a particular district, seeing that the business of verifi¬
cation was yet in its infancy ; but in Edinburgh they
had an inspector who, no doubt, would like to be the
prince of all inspectors and to do his work with great
skill and accuracy. He seemed to be possessed with

December 6, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

457

the idea that dispensing chemists were to follow the
particular form of these verifying measures. In confirma¬
tion of this, he might mention that Mr. Gilmour, who
had taken a great deal of interest in the subject, and who
had been misled once or twice on the subject, had
written to him (Mr. Mackay), a note in which he
said, “ The point principally to be noticed is that there
seems to be some important divergence of opinion regard¬
ing the interpretation of the Act.” “The inspector for this
district is prepared to accept and enforce the provisions of
the Act in the lines put forward by me at our meeting
here.” The writer was referring to the last scientific meet¬
ing of their Society in Edinburgh in connection with this
subject. As he (Mr. Mackay) remarked at that meeting,
the inspector was undoubtedly wrong, though Mr.
Gilmour thought that he was right. This inspector
might be the type of others. It had been promulgated
that, even if they departed from the pipette form of
measure, still they must have a measure which would
represent only ounces, drachms or minims, as the case
might be. He apprehended that, in addition to all these
new appliances for verification, a compound measure,
could still be allowed, so that, if A. B. should take to an
inspector a measure graduated from 5 minims up to an
ounce, the inspector would verify that measure even
though it contained marks for minims, drachms and ounces.
Without such compound measures, the difficulty in
dispensing would be beyond expression. If they had a
measure larger than one ounce, the mode of graduation
would be left to the option of the party wishing to have
the measure verified. It would give great satisfaction
if they could assure their friends in the country that
when such a graduated measure came into the hands of
the inspector there would be no difficulty in getting it
verified. Then there were many wholesale houses
which had a great many measures in stock. It seemed
a peculiarly hard case that, in the event' of these existing
measures being found to be a few drops above the
standard, there would be no remedy but throwing them
into the cullet cask to be used as broken glass. But he
supposed that that was a hardship to which they must
submit. There was a certain scale of charges for verifica¬
tion, fixed by the Act. Could Dr. Paul tell them whether
the charges fixed in the fifth schedule of the Act could
be set aside altogether by the local authorities, and
higher fees charged in their place? He believed that
the fifth schedule apportioned 2c i. to a local inspector for
verifying a set of weights from 1 pound downwards, and
one halfpenny for verifying a single measure. Three or
four times these charges had been made for verifying
solid weights and measures.

Mr. Bottle, referring to the liquid measures, said it
would probably become his duty, in the borough of Dover,
to instruct the ordinary inspector of weights and measures
in the use of the new standards. He confessed that he
felt a great deal of apprehension in instructing a non¬
professional man to use such apparatus. Dr. Paul had
told them that it would be much more advantageous
to have a series of pipettes graduated on the neck. To a
certain extent that would be an advantage. Then one
had to set against that the disadvantage of the liability
to knock off the extremely fine nipple, and then when
they had made sure of fastening the screw connection of
the pipette apparatus, he very much doubted whether a
series of pipettes ranging from a quart to half an ounce or
half a drachm would, in the hands of a non-professional
man, be of very much advantage. The old-fashioned flask
would be, in the hands of non-professional men, a much
more efficient way of getting at a standard, whether
quarts or ounces, than the pretty piece of pipette apparatus
on the table.

Mr. Greenish said that the inspector of weights and
measures had called on him about his measures, and he
(Mr. Greenish) had sent down to him four dozen and ten
measures, and only two out of that number had been
found to be incorrect. On the others the inspector had

engraved or scratched a crown, a “V.R.,” and the number
21, and for each he had charged one halfpenny.
Usually Government officers received a great deal of pay
for a very little work; but in this case there was an
immense amount of work for very little pay.

Mr. Postans said that he knew there had been
considerable activity amongst inspectors in connection
with avoirdupois weights, and that, of course, bore on
the matter of apothecaries’ weights. In future it would
become the duty of inspectors to see that chemists
properly fulfilled the standard requirements by their
weights. But great discretion should be exercised in the
summoning and fining of chemists. The fine was in itself
small, but there would be a great reflection cast upon
its recipient, especially in country places where each
person was well known. In most instances, chemists in
the country did very little dispensing, and consequently
the apothecaries’ weights were liable to get into very
bad order ; and whereas previously a man might get only
a few prescriptions per week, he would, after being fined,
probably get none at all. They knew how the public
took up such matters. He felt sure that the Board of
Trade, in suggesting to local authorities their duty in the
matter, would be most anxious that great discretion
should be exercised as to inflicting fines.

Mr. Williams said that he would like to remind
the meeting that the apparatus before them consisted of
standard pieces of apparatus, not patterns. It did not
follow that these forms of measures would be sent down
to the inspectors for use. These, he imagined, would be
kept to be used by scientific and expert men in London,
for verifying those measures which would be sent down
for use in the country by inspectors and others ; and it
was not intended that chemists were to use these exact
patterns for practical purposes in dispensing. They were
simply the standards by which other measures would be
made for the guidance of those who had to measure and
verify throughout the country. Therefore it was neces¬
sary that such apparatus should be very accurate, and
they would no doubt be found to be so, or the Govern¬
ment would not have adopted them.

Mr. Robinson asked whether the Act applied not only
to the measures used in dispensing, but also to those glass
measures which they sold in the course of business.

The President asked if Mr. Robinson meant the
glasses graduated for spoonfuls ; those would not be
interfered with by the Act, but the possession of incorrect
ounce or drachm measures which might be used for
selling as well as dispensing would he thought be liable.

Mr. Frazer said that his experience differed from that
of Mr. Mackay. The inspector, in Glasgow, had told
them to be quite easy in their minds as he had got the
standards and was able to verify the larger weights at
once, and this he had done. There had been no difficulty
with him, and the charge was not unreasonable. He
(Mr. Frazer) thought it would be well, if pharmacists at
once invited the inspectors to come and inspect their
weights, or send them to him to be verified.

The President said, that having had several opportuni¬
ties of attending at the head offices respecting these weights
and measures, he could say there was not the slightest
inclination at the central office to interfere in any way,
hardly or unfairly, with chemists and druggists. Very
much would depend on local inspectors, who were very
different from each other in their nature and character.
Some would be particularly officious, rather more so than
they would have occasion to be. Mr. Greenish had told
them that he had had his glass measures stamped by a
local inspector. When was that done ?

Mr. Greenish said that they were stamped about two

months ago. ,

The President said that in the month of August fie
was at the head office and was then told that the inspec¬
tors could not take any steps with regard to the measures
for three months to come as the standards were not in
their possession. Therefore, he very much doubted

458

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (December 6, 1879.

whether Mr. Greenish’s four dozen measures had been
properly verified. He (the President) received his infor¬
mation from the head office, as far back, he believed, as
July. As to the weights, he had repeatedly called in at
Young’s, the scale maker's, in Bear Street, to ask whether
they had any weights marked under the new Act, and the
scale maker said that he was in constant communication
with the local inspector at Westminster, but that officer
was not yet in a position to mark his weights, as he had
not got the standards. On the day previous to the meet¬
ing, he (the President) called at De Grave's, whose house
was, perhaps, as high an authority as any in London, and
he was told that they had no means of getting the weights
stamped, and that the inspector had no authority to stamp
them. They were preparing glass measures for standards,
but they were not yet in a position to supply any. That
seemed to settle the matter for the present ; but he had
been advised by the head of the Standards Office that it
would be well for chemists living in the great centres to
make application to the inspectors to have their weights
verified the moment that the standards were in their
possession. If chemists did that, it would show that they
were not trying to evade the Act, but were ready to sub¬
mit their measures to the inspector. He also advised that
chemists should be on their guard, according to the recom¬
mendation in the paper last week. He thought that Dr.
Paul had been led into a little error with respect to the
weights used in dispensing. Those weights would, it was
true, be under supervision, inasmuch as they were the
weights by which drugs might be sold; but they were
told by the Board of Trade, when the Act was coming
forward, that the provisions of the Act would have
nothing to do with dispensing, and would apply simply to
buying and selling; that if they were dispensing a mixture
their weights and measures would not be interfered with
in so doing. As to the question of the shape and material
of the weights, they must remember that the weights now
exhibited were simply the standards for the inspectors,
and it was not to be supposed that chemists were to have
weights of the same shape and material, if the weights
were exactly of the same value. They might be the flat
grain weights such as they had now, marked as to
their denomination, so that there would be no difference
in that respect. With regard to the bronze measures
of capacity which Mr. Mackay had thought would be
very useless, they were simply to be used as standards.
He (the President) thought that they were part of the
series carried down from the much larger measures which
were necessarily in bronze, so as to make a complete set.
These others would be used, no doubt, in verifying
measures. Then, as to the inspectors, they would have
very great power, because it would be for them to say
what measure they would stamp as verified, and what
they would not. They would put the mark of a certain
district on a measure ; but it was yet a question whether
they would verify from 20 ounces down to the bottom.
Chemists had been told that, if the inspectors verified in the
latter fashion, the charge would be about 2 d. for verifying
the 20 ounce measure, and about Id for the rest, but not
Id. each. They could only act according to the provisions of
the Weights and Measures Act, and their charges could
only be according to that statute. Some time ago an in¬
spector led chemists to suppose that they could only use
the weights bearing the stamp of the particular district
in which they lived. That was altogether a mistake. A
weight which was stamped in one district was good in all
districts; but on the other hand, a person living in a
particular district and wishing to have his weights verified,
must take them to the inspector of the district in which
he resided. Mr. Mackay said that the Edinburgh inspec¬
tor led people to suppose that measures of the same shape
as the standards must be used; but that was altogether an
error. The pipettes were simply standards for the inspec¬
tors. He must correct Mr. Williams in the matter of the
pipettes. That gentleman had expressed his belief that
the district inspectors throughout the country would not

have standards similar to these ; but he (the President)
had been told that they would, and on being told so, he
had remarked, “Well, you will find that very few inspec¬
tors will be able to use them.” These were not abso¬
lutely the set of standards which had been used in the
Standards Office, but they were copies. He took it that
the standards would be verified and prepared before
being sent out. Then as to the measures of different
denominations, he had been confirmed at the Standards
Office in the idea that an 8 ounce measure might be
graduated in ounces and half ounces and drachms. And,
more than that, he might say that when the Act
was framed, a resolution had been carried in the Council,
which was published in the Journal, recommending that a
6 ounce measure should have graduations from £ drachm
up to the full measure. This had been laid before the
Standards Department of the Board of Trade, and it
was fully provided for in the Act, so they were perfectly
safe on that point. Mr. Mackay had asked whether
the incorrect measures which many possessed should
be put into the cullet cask. He (the President) was
afraid that if they were incorrect they must go some¬
where. If they belonged to him he should be glad to get
rid of them. With regard to Mr. Robinson’s question,
any incorrect measure found in their possession would
render them liable to a penalty. He did not mean the
measured spoons but any ounce measures must be correct.

Mr. Robinson : I misunderstood you then, sir. I
thought that the Act did not apply to compounding, but
only to selling.

The President said that it was not a question of sell¬
ing at all ; it was a matter of possession. He could assure
them that there was every possible desire on the part of
the superior officials of the Standards Department to deal
fairly with chemists.

Mr. Cleaver said that he had seen a set of weights
that were sold to a chemist, which bore the stamp of veri¬
fication. He did not know where they were sold, but he
had seen them in a chemist’s in Chelsea a week ago. He
believed that they were procured at one of the wholesale
houses in the City. The stamp was a crown.

Mr. Atkins said that he had recently had some grain
weights ready stamped from Maw’s, but he could not
remember what the stamp was.

The President said that they might perhaps remember
that grain weights were stamped some years ago with
the Westminster mark. Certain chemists were brought
up before the magistrate for not having their weights so
marked. He did not know whether they were fined or
dismissed, but it was then proved that chemists in West¬
minster must have their weights stamped with the West¬
minster portcullis.

Mr. Greenish said that this was not the case at the
present time.

The President said that he believed not, but no doubt
many such weights were still extant.

Mr. Schacht said that there were inspectors still in
existence who required people to send their weights and
measures down to their office to be rectified and stamped
every year. This was so in his own neighbourhood of
Clifton, where pharmacists had to send their own weights
and measures every year for rectification, so that the fact
of the stamp did not involve verification according to the
new special standards. The statements of Mr. Greenish
and Mr. Atkins were not inconsistent with the Presi¬
dent’s statement that the authorities who had recently
regulated all these fresh standards had not yet issued
those standards to the inspectors. There was the old
standard and the new standard. He did not know that
glass measures had to be stamped, but he saw no reason
why the same rule should not be applied to glass as to
metal.

Mr. Mackay said that the inspector in his district had
for months been stamping, under the new Act, weights
up to a pound, but he had declined to mark any kind of
glass measure. The chairman had misapprehended his

December 6, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

459

i

point as to the incorrect measures. He thought that the
rule was a severe one that there should be only a margin
of so many drops allowed for possible error. Within the
the last ten days, he had written to one of the largest
glass measure makers, who had confessed their entire
fgnorance of any law by which they were bound to have
any measure verified which they manufactured. .

The President remarked that the grain weights were
already subject to verification as avoirdupois weights,
and could be verified without waiting for the new Act.

Mr. Greenish said that he had been called upon by
the local inspector three or four times, and urged to send
his weights and measures down to the Court House for
verification. The weights and measures had been sent and
each measure verified and stamped. Each glass measure
had a “ V.R.” and a crown, with a special number, 21, for
Marylebone, and a definite charge was made of one half¬
penny for each measure. Two measures had been rejected
as being incorrect, and therefore they had been verified
in some way, although he did not know by what means.

Professor Redwood wished to remind the meeting that
there were three authorities who took cognizance of the
subject of weights and measures. In the first place there
was the central authority at the Board of Trade, who
had all the necessary appliances for submitting weights
and measures to strict and severe test. Then below that
authority there were the district authorities to whom
weights and measures might be sent from time to time to
be tested and stamped if found to be correct, and in
those cases any weights or measures found to be
incorrect would simply be returned to those who
sent them, with an indication of their incorrectness, and
it would be optional to the owners of those weights and
measures to get them corrected. This was frequently
done in regard to weights. The weight might become
incorrect from wear, and it was then optional to the
owner of the weight to have it made correct. And so if
a measure was found to have been incorrectly graduated,
some correction, if practicable, might be made in it.
The third authority was the inspectors, who were dis¬
tributed over the country. The meeting had before it
the standards which were used by the authorities at the
Board of Trade. He apprehended that such standards
would probably never come into possession of the second
and lower authority. These were simply measures which,
in accordance with the statute, were constructed upon the
same principle as the bushel and the gallon, and so forth.
This was simply an extension downwards without any
intention of their being used in any other way than that
they might possibly be required to be used by the higher
authority at the Board of Trade. More practicable
means of testing would be supplied to the subor¬
dinate authority — probably a set of flasks such as
they had been in the habit of using, and which
were now pointed out in the Pharmacopoeia as affording
the most accurate method of determining volumes where
it was required to determine them with any great degree
of accuracy. He had reason to believe that the Board of
Trade had not yet fully decided as to what would be the
form of verifying measures. Then there was a third
authority upon whom the duty devolved of going round
from shop to shop and making a personal examination of
the weights and measures, and he (Professor Redwood)
was constantly brought into communication with those
inspectors, who had other duties to perform besides those
of examining the weights and measures, and they were
men who, if these pipettes were put into their hands,
would be utterly at fault as to using them. Moreover,
how could all those apparatus be carried round from shop
to shop? There would be provided verifying measures of
different kinds. There would be measures of the descrip¬
tion now in use, but accurate measures, that had been
subjected to examination by the second authority which
he had indicated, and measures of that description, once
known to be correct, wrould be used by the inspectors in
the same way as at present. He agreed in the main with

what Mr. Williams had stated, that there was no proba¬
bility that the complicated apparatus, which had been
put before them that evening, would be used by the
ordinary inspectors.

Dr. Paul, in replying to the discussion said that several
points had been raised to which he should not have
ventured otherwise to refer ; but as they were of some
importance he would, in replying, ask their attention to
them for a few moments. In regard to the inspectors,
who were the persons with whom chemists and druggists
would come into contact, it was to be apprehended that
some considerable difficulty would arise in many cases.
Mr. Mackay had referred to one of those inspectors — the
one which they were blest with in Edinburgh, and they
had heard of performances of that particular inspector on
a former occasion, when he took upon himself to interpret
the Act as amounting either to the actual prohibition of
the use of apothecaries’ weights and measures altogether,
or else to establish the other alternative, that the Act
itself was null and void. That was early in the present
year, and he took that ground with considerable tenacity
and excited no little alarm amongst chemists and
druggists in Edinburgh and in other parts of the country.
It had been necessary to point out to him, somewhat
plainly in order to reach his powers of apprehension, that
he was totally wrong, and they had heard nothing more
of this extraordinary interpretation of the law by the
Edinburgh inspector. He (Dr. Paul) inferred that the
inspiration of Mr. Gilmour's information given on a
recent occasion was derived from the same source, and he
had no hesitation in saying that it was equally untrust¬
worthy. It seemed, in fact, that so far as this particular
inspector illustrated the state of the case in the north,
they might expect a considerable amount of difficulty
arising from the blind attempting to lead the blind, and
they would have to provide a very considerable ditch to
accommodate those who were misled.

Mr. Frazer : North-east, not north-west, if you please.

Dr. Paul said that he was referring particularly to
Edinburgh. He was glad that Mr. Frazer was more
happy in his possession of a sensible inspector. The
measure makers appeared to know nothing at all, and
to take very little interest as to the provisions of the
Act, and as to any necessity for providing accurate
measures. He might mention that, as he undei stood,
the owners of apothecaries’ graduated measures and
weights were to be liable only for the accuracy of the
weights and measures which were in use. But however
that might be, it surely would not be looked upon by
pharmacists as a hardship that they should be . expected
to have correct weights and measures for use in dispensing.
The President had thrown out a suggestion that dispens¬
ing was excluded from the operation of the Act, but he
(Dr. Paul) could not agree with, that view. Probably
a medical man in dispensing medicine would not be sub¬
ject to the visit of the inspector, nor would a private
individual be subject to the visit of the inspector to test
the accuracy of his graduated ounce measure, or
the accuracy of his drachm weights, but a chemist and
druggist engaged in trade and dispensing medicines for
the purpose of selling them, was undoubtedly using those
weights and measures for the purpose of trade, and in
doing so he would come within the provisions of the Act.
Therefore, he was bound to take care that the weights
should be verified and stamped in accordance with those
provisions. With regard to the matter of charges, he
might mention that the provisions of the Act were very
specific. It was stated in section 47, “ an inspector under
this Act may take in respect to the verification and
stamping of weights and measures, such fees, not exceed-
ingTS specified in the fifth schedule to the Act, as the
authority appointing him may from time to tune fix
That was to say, the fees he was to charge for \enfyin0
weights and measures were to be those stated in the
schedule or something less but they were not to be any¬
thing in excess of that. Those fees were stated m the fifth

460

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Deceiubei 6, 1379,

schedule as follows : — “ Each weight under 1 pound, \d.,
each set of weights of 1 pound and under, 2 d.” and
so on. Then there was another provision to which Pro¬
fessor Redwood had called his attention, which was that
an alteration in those fees could be made on the recom¬
mendation of the local authority, but it was only to be
done provided it was sanctioned by the Board of Trade,
and provided that the representations of the local
authority were such as to demand the recognition of
the Board of Trade. Therefore there was no shadow
of a ground for arbitrary charges, such as were referred
to by Mr. Mackay, being made by any inspector. More¬
over, with regard to charges for stamping the apothecaries’
weights and measures all together, it would be an illegal
proceeding on the part of any inspector to receive or to
insist upon receiving any charge until this Act came
fully into operation. It might be that certain measures
used by chemists and druggists, and corresponding with
the old apothecaries’ weights and measures, might be
stamped as provided under the old system, and those might
be charged for as hitherto. Those, he apprehended, were
the weights and measures referred to in the paper that
was published in the Journal of the 29th of November,
the last paragraph of which stated that many inspectors
of weights and measures were already provided with
some of the principal apothecaries’ measures. Mr. Bottle
had referred to the competence of the inspectors to deal
with apparatus of the kind now before the meeting, and
he (Dr. Paul) was quite at one with him in thinking that
it was very likely indeed that the existing inspectors of
weights and measures would be found very unequal to
the work which they would have to carry out, and no
doubt this would be a fact which would soon call for the
attention of the municipal authorities, among whom
many gentlemen connected with the Society had a place,
to advise measures for supplying more competent persons
to carry out the duties that would have to be performed
under their control, for it was those local authorities, and
they alone, who had any power to take any action in the
matter. The inspector had no power at all, except that
which was delegated to him and conferred upon him by
the local authority which appointed him. With regard
to that point, he (Dr. Paul) must differ from what was
said by Professor Redwood as to the relative duties of the
several authorities. The central authority had no power
at all to deal with anything beyond the verification of
the standards that were to be used by the local autho¬
rities. It might be said that practically it was their sole
duty to verify from time to time the standards which were
used in, say Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and other
towns, and to see that those standards were kept up to
the mark and in a proper state to be used. Beyond
that they had no power to interfere at all, either as to
stamping, or as to the imposition of fees, or anything of
the kind. Then, again, with regard to the use of
the apparatus then before the meeting which had been
referred to by Professor Redwood and other speakers,
he must repeat that these several forms of apparatus
were not those to be used by the central authority,
but were the precise duplicates of the instruments to be
sent down to be used by the inspectors as the standards
of apothecaries’ weights and measures in provincial locali¬
ties. The Act specifically stated that the inspector was
the person who was to use the standards, and to test
weights and measures bycomparison with the standards. The
local authority had no power but to appoint and instruct the
local inspector in the nature of the duties that he had to
carry out. That was specifically set forth in the sections of
the Act which dealt with the verification and local inspec¬
tion of weights and measures, and was beyond the shadow
of a doubt. How the inspectors would carry out their
duties of testing druggists’ weights and measures by these
instruments was a matter which he did not pretend to be
acquainted with. That was not disclosed. It might be
that chemists and druggists would best anticipate and pre¬
vent any vexatious interference of inspectors by sending,

as he suggested, their weights and measures to be verified,
and then the result would be this — the inspector would
come to the shop, and if the weights bore the stamp of veri¬
fication of the district there would be an end of the matter,
but if they did not they would have to go and be tested.

After some further discussion,

Professor Redwood said that he quite conceded the
point to Dr. Paul.

Dr. Paul said with regard to the stamp that had been
spoken of, one of the points mentioned by Mr. Gilmour.,
under the inspiration, no doubt, of the Edinburgh
inspector, was that the stamp was to be a crown with a
“ V.R.” underneath. Now in the Act it was stated that
some “ name, number or mark ” should be used, and the
only stipulation was that there should be a mark dis¬
tinctive of the district. Some difficulty had arisen in
reference to the use of those marks. It appeared that
there were no less than 1355 separate districts, and these
had all their own particular stamp or mark, so that there
was great difficulty in telling whether any mark on a set
of weights and measures was a mark of verification or
some spurious mark, and in order to prevent the use
of fraudulent stamps, and other misleading “ practices of
itinerant and unauthorized adjusters of weights and
measures,” a circular had been issued by the Standards
Department suggesting the propriety of adopting a
uniform mark of verification. It was not competent for-
the Board of Trade to compel the use of a uniform mark,
and it was not necessary that there should be a uniform
mark on weights and measures, as stated by Mr.
Gilmour, but it was merely suggested that the stamp
of verification might well be of the following design
— an oval band containing a crown, and underneath
that a “ V.R.” in a sort of cipher, together with a number
distinctive of the particular district. With regard to
pipettes and measures, there certainly might still be some
little question remaining as to which particular form should
be adopted for the standards, whether pipettes of the kind
Which he had recommended, guaged on tbe neck and deliver¬
ing a certain volume, or the ordinary narrow necked flasks.

The Pbesident said that they were all much obliged
to Dr. Paul for the lucid manner in which he had brought
the question before them. It was a matter of great in¬
terest to pharmacists. He would still advise them to be
on their guard. He (the President) happened to know
that there still existed a very bad arrangement in some
districts between the local authorities and the inspectors.
Certain inducements were offered to the inspectors to
bring forward cases of false weights and measures, and in
some cases the authorities went so far as to give the in¬
spectors half the penalties. This was considered a very
objectionable arrangement. He hoped that the country
magistrates would bear this in mind.

Mr. Bottle said that there was no such practice pre¬
vailing in Dover.

The President said that he was not at liberty to state
the district in which it was done.

In consequences of the lateness of the hour when this
discussion closed, it was agreed that a paper by Mr.
Naylor, on “A Method for the Volumetric Estimation
of Arsenic Acid,” should be taken as read and published
in the Transactions, and it wall be found on p. 441, and
that a paper by Mr. Colly er, on “ Tincture of Senega as an
Emulsifying Agent,” should be read at the next meeting.

The President announced that the next meeting
would take place on February 4.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from

Messrs. Reynolds, Dewson, Casseebeer, Burt, Woodward,
Carr, Maggs, Parker, Golding, Robert, Hum, Sumner, Wil-
ford, Swenden, Modlen, Ward, Southall, J. A., M.P.S.,
J. A. H., A. C., G. W., W. R. H., Over twenty years in
the trade, London Dispenser, Delta, Quaero, Galangal, Nos,
Hoc Age, Labor omnia vincit, Theta, One of the Gods, NH4.

The length of the reports of the meetings of the Pliar-
meeeutical Society this week necessitates the postponement
of several communications.

December 13. ms.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

4GI

- -

NOTES ON INDIAN DRUGS.

BY W. DYM0CK.

{Continued from page 403.)

Vitbx Sp. (?) YerbenaceaE, Hab-ul-fakad (Arab.),
Tukm-i-panjangusht (Pers.), Sambhaloo-ka-bij
(Hind, and Bomb.).

This small fruit is considered by native physicians
to be astringent, resolvent and deobstruent, and
useful for removing obstructions of the brain and
liver. It is also given in enlargement of the spleen
| and dropsy.

Description , — A small dull-grey ovoid fruit the
size of a duck-shot, half enclosed in the calyx, to
which a portion of the peduncle remains attach edi
Upon section it is found to be extremely hard, and
if perfect to consist of four cells, each containing
a small flat seed. Generally one or more of the
cells are abortive. The drug is imported from
Persia. Value Re. ^ per pound.

■ ■ ■■ ■■

Plumbago Zeylanica, Linn. Plumbaginea:. The
root. Vernacular : Chitrak (Hind.), Chita
(Beng.), Chitra (Bomb.), Chittira (Tam.).

History , Uses, etc. — Dutt gives us the following
summary extracted from Sanskrit works of the uses
to which Chitraka is put. The root is said to increase
the digestive power, to promote the appetite and to be
useful in dyspepsia, piles, anasarca, diarrhoea and skin
diseases. It is much used as a stimulant adj un ct to other
preparations; in the form of a combination called
“ trimada,” consisting of plumbago root, baberang
(fruit of Embelia ribes), and the tubers of Cyperus
rotundas, it enters into the composition of numerous
medicines for dyspepsia. The following is an illus¬
tration Take of plumbago root, rock salt, chebulic
myrobalans and long pepper, equal parts; powder
and mix. Dose about 40 grains (Chakradatta). A
favourite medicine for flatulence is an old prescrip¬
tion of Susruta’s called “ shaddharanayoga.” It is a
powder composed of equal parts of the following
substances : plumbago root, seeds of Holarrhena
antidy sente rica, roots of Stephania hernandifolia, of
Picrorrhiza Kwroa and Aconitum heterophyllum, and
chebulic myrobalans. Dose about 1 drachm. The
root of P. zeylanica is said to exercise a beneficial
effect on piles, in which disease it is given in various
combinations. One mode of administering it is as
follows : An earthen jar or pot is lined in its interior
with a paste of the root and curdled milk (dadhi),
or kanjika (rice vinegar), is prepared in this pot.
Plumbago root reduced to a paste is applied to
abscesses with the object of opening them. It enters
also into the composition of several preparations used
as caustics (‘ Hindu Materia Med.,’ p. 185). Maho¬
metan writers treat of the drug under the name of
“sheetaraj,” a corruptionof the Hindustani “chitrak ;”
they describe it as caustic and vesicant, an expellant
of phlegmatic humours ; useful in rheumatism and
spleen, digestive. It also causes abortion. For ad¬
ministration it is made into a paste with milk, vine¬
gar or salt and water. Such a paste may be applied
externally in leprosy and other skin diseases of an
obstinate character, and be allowed to remain until a
blister has formed. In rheumatism it should be
removed after fifteen to twenty minutes. When
administered internally the dose is one drachm.
Meer Muhammad Husain speaks of several kinds of
“sheetaraj,” and says one of them is the “leebadiyun”
Third Series, No. 494.

or “leefadiyun” of the Greeks. Rhazes describes two
kinds, Indian and Syrian.

The Sheetaraj of Mahometan writers must, there¬
fore, be considered to refer to the genus plumbago,
and not to any particular species. P. zeylanica is
mentioned by several European writers upon Indian
drugs, but has not attracted the same amount of
attention as P. rosea, which is said to be more active.
However this maybe, the former is the “chitrak^ of
the native physicians and very possibly may have
been used by some under the supposition that it was
the root of P. rosea. In the ‘ Phar. of India ’ Dr.
Oswald is said to have employed P. zeylanica in the
treatment of intermittents with good effect. It acts
as a powerful odorific. In the neighbourhood of
Bombay this root is one of the most important drugs
of the itinerant herbalist ; it is also sold in the shops.
Cases frequently occur in which it has been used to
procure abortion, a piece being inserted in the
os uteri.

Description. — The roots are from £ — | an inch in
diameter, seldom branched. When dry the external
surface of the bark is of a dark reddish-brown colour,
longitudinally striated and marked here and there
by small warty projections; internally it is also brown
and striated ; the fracture short, the taste acrid and
biting. Wood hard, reddish, close grained.

Microscopic Structure. — A moist section of the
bark is of a greenish-yellow colour. The cells of the
parenchyma are large and filled with starch. There
are numerous large bundles of bright yellow stony
cells forming an irregular zone towards the inner
part of the middle layer of the bark.

Chemical Composition. — The activity of the drug
is stated in the ‘ Phar. of India ’ to depend upon the
presence of plumbagin. This acrid principle has
been separated from the root of Plumbago Europrea.
It is obtained by repeatedly boiling the ethereal
extract of the root with water, whence it is deposited
on cooling and may be purified by crystallization
from alcohol or ether-alcohol. It crystallizes in
delicate needles or prisms often grouped in tufts;
has a styptic saccharine taste, with acrid biting after¬
taste ; melts very easily, and partly volatilizes; unal¬
tered when heated. It is neutral, nearly insoluble
in cold, more soluble in boiling 'water, very soluble
in alcohol and ether. It dissolves with yellow
colour in strong sulphuric and in fuming nitric acid,
and is precipitated by water in yellow flocks. Alka¬
lies change the colour of the solution to a fine clierry-
red ; acids restore the yellow colour. Basic acetate
of lead also colours it red, and forms a crimson pre¬
cipitate (Dulong in Watts' ‘Diet, of Chem.,’ vol. iv.
p. 685).

Commerce. — The shops are supplied by the herba¬
lists, who collect the roots in this neighbourhood,
where it is very common.

Datura alba, Humph., D. fastuosa, Linn.

SoLANACEAL The root, leaves and seeds. Verna -

cnlar: Safed-dhatura (Hind., Bomb., Beng.),

Urnattai (Tam.). .

History , Uses, etc.— These two species of datura,
as well as several varieties which have resulted from
cultivation, are all included under the Sanskrit names
“ dhustura ” and “ unmatta.” Sanskrit writers describe
the plant as beneficial in mental derangements, fe^ er
with catarrhal and cerebral complications, diarrhoea,
skin diseases depending upon the presence of animal
parasites, painful tumours, inflammation of the

462

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 13, 1S79.

breast, etc. A pill made of the pounded seeds is
placed in decayed teeth to relieve toothache, and the
leaves are smoked along with tobacco in asthma.
According to Dntt no mention of the latter nse of
the plant is to be found in old Hindu books. Maho¬
metan writers also are silent upon this point. Ainslie
found upon inquiry that the physicians of Southern
India were unacquainted with the value of datura
in spasmodic asthma, but he tells us that his friend
Dr. Sherwood, of Chittore, noticed the smoking of
D. fastuosa as a remedy in that disease. The several
species of datura are described by Mahometan writers
under the Arabic name of “jouz-ul-mathil.” The
Persian name is “ tatulah. ” The author of the ‘Makh-
zan 1 recommends preference to be given to the purple
kind, he says that all parts of the plant are power¬
fully intoxicating and narcotic ; as a local application
they relieve the pain of tumours, piles, etc. The
roasted leaves applied to the eyes give relief in
ophthalmia ; similarly they are useful in headache,
enlarged testicles, boils, etc. The following descrip¬
tion of datura intoxication is by the same author.
il Everything he (the patient) looks at appears dark;
he fancies that he really sees all the absurd impres¬
sions of his brain, his senses are deranged, he talks
in a wild disconnected manner, tries to walk but is
unable, cannot sit straight, insects and reptiles float
before his eyes, he tries to seize them and laughs
inordinately at his failure. His eyes are bloodshot,
he sees with difficulty and catches at his clothes and
the furniture and walls of the room. In short, he
has the appearance of a madman ” (‘ Makhzan,’ article
“ J ouz-ul-m&thil”). On account of their intoxicating
and stupefying effects, dhatura seeds are frequently
used in India for criminal purposes. An interesting
account of Dhatureeas, or professional dhatura poi¬
soners, will be found in Chever’s ‘ Jurisprudence.5
In Bombay country liquor is made more intoxicating
by placing some of the seeds upon red hot charcoal
and inverting an earthern vessel over them, when
this is full of the smoke it is removed, filled with
liquor and tied down. The leaves and seeds of D.
alba have been made official in the 1 Pharmacopoeia of
India;’ of these a tincture, extract, plaster andpoultice
are directed to be made. The tincture of the seeds is
highly recommended by the editor of that work as a
substitute for opium. An extract of the leaves has
been used successfully at the General Hospital,
Madras, as a substitute for extract of belladonna, and
it appears to me that the alkaloid might well be
used instead of atropia in ophthalmic practice. The
value of the leaves as an application to painful nodes,
tumours, etc., is well known to many European
physicians in India.

Description. — The fruit is about the size of a
walnut, and nearly globular, covered with sharp
tubercles or short spines, the capsule does not
dehisce but splits in an irregular manner into
numerous fragments. The seeds are ear-shaped, of
a light yellowish-brown colour. The testa is rugose
and spongy. The ends of the cotyledons in the
embryo are turned outwards, which enables it to
be distinguished from that of other solanaceous
seeds. The tincture of the seeds is not fluorescent.
The leaves are from 6 — 10 inches in length, ovate,
acuminate, unequal at the base, very coarsely
dentate ; they have a foetid odour.

Microscopic Structure. — The outer envelope of the
seed is formed of a layer of thick-walled, sinuous
cells with numerous secondary deposits ; the second

of tangentially extended cells. The albumen con¬
sists of polyhedral cells containing granular
matter and fatty oil. The structure of the embryo
is similar, but the cells are much smaller.

Chemical Composition. — The Indian daturas do not
appear to have been examined, but there can be
little doubt that the plant contains the alkaloid
daturine, which has been separated from D. stra¬
monium.

Commerce. — No part of the plant can be called
an article of commerce, but the seeds are collected
and sold by herbalists. Value nominal.

Solanum jacquinii, Linn., Solanaceal The plant.

Vernacular : Bhatkatya, Katai, Ringni

(Hind.), Bhu-ringni (Bomb.), Kandan-kattiri

(Tam.), Kantakari (Beng.).

History , Uses, etc. -—This plant is an article of
considerable importance in the Hindu materia
medica, as it is one of the dasamula, or ten plants,
so much used in preparing a compound decoction by
the Hindus. It is considered to have expectorant
and diuretic properties and is prescribed in asthma,
cough, certain urinary affections, catarrhal fever,
costiveness, etc. In Hindu practice the drug is
generally combined with other expectorants, demul¬
cents and aromatics. The following prescription
from the ‘ Bhavaprakasha ’ is extracted from Dutt’s
Hindu ‘Materia Medica.’ “ Kantakaryavaleha, or
electuary of S. jacquinii. Take of kantakari 12^
seers, water 64 seers, boil till reduced to one-fourth
and strain. Boil the strained decoction till reduced
to the consistence of a fluid extract and add to it
the following substances in fine powder, namely,
Tinospora cordifolia, Piper chaba, Plumbago zeylanica ,
Cyperus rotundus, Rhus succedanea, long pepper, black
pepper, ginger, Alhagi maurorum, Clerodendron
Siphonanthes, Vanda Roxburghii, and zedoary root,
each 8 tolas, sugar seers, sesamum oil and
clarified butter each one seer. Boil together until
reduced to the proper consistence. Lastly, add
honey one seer, bamboo manna and long pepper
in fine powder each half a seer.” Mahometan
writers, under the Arabic name of “hadak,” or the
Persian “badinjan-i-barree” (wild egg plant), mention
three kinds of solanum having somewhat similar
properties. Their small kind, or “ hejazee,” appears
to be the Solanum jacquinii, which they recom¬
mend in asthma, cough, dysuria, catarrhal fever,
leprosy, costiveness and stone in the bladder.
Under the Tamil name of “ cundunghatrievayr,,,
Ainslie notices the use of this drug in Southern
India as an expectorant. The stems, flowers and
fruit, according to Dr. Wilson ( Calcutta Med. Phys.
Trans., vol. ii., p. 406), are bitter and carminative,
and are prescribed in those forms of ignipeditis
which are attended with a vesicular, watery
eruption. Fumigations with the vapour of the
burning seeds of this plant are in high repute in
the cure of toothache. The mode of application
followed by the natives is given in detail by
Morehead (ibid., vol. vii., p. ii., p. 489). It acts as a
powerful sialogogue and thus affords relief (Confer.
‘ Phar. of India,’ p. 181).

Description. — Root at least biennial. Stem none,
but several flexuose, ranrous branches, spreading
close on the ground, for an extent of some feet,
often striking root at the insertion of the leaves ;
angular, nearly void of pubescence. Leaves fre¬
quently in pairs, oblong, pinnatifid or laciniate,

December 13, 1379. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

463

smooth, but armed on both sides with long, strong,
straight spines. Racemes between the leaves, and
almost as long, bearing 4 — 6 alternate, pedicelled,
large, bright blue flowers. Calyx armed with
straight spines. Berries spherical, size of a large
gooseberry, very smooth, drooping, while immature
variegated with green and white, when ripe with
different shades of yellow only (Roxb.). No
chemical examination of the plant appears to have
been made.

Commerce. — The dried plant is kept in every
druggist’s shop in India. It is not an article of
commerce, but is supplied by the herbalists as re¬
quired.

Solanbm Indicum, Linn. Solan ace/E. Birhatta
(Hind.), Motiringni (Bomb.), Mulli (Tam.),
Byakura (Beng.).

This owes its importance to being one of the
plants used for the preparation of the Dasamala
Kvatha . It is called “ vrihati ” and “ bhantaki ” in
Sanskrit and does not appear to be used except in
combination with more important drugs. According
to the author of the ‘Makhzan,’ it is cardiacal, aphro-
disiacal, astringent and resolvent ; useful in asthma,
cough, chronic febrile affections, colic, flatulence,
worms, etc. (Confer. ‘Makhzan,’ article “Birhatta.’’)

Description. — Trunk trifling, but the branches are
numerous, ligneous and perennial, forming a large,
very ramous shrub of several feet in height, armed
with numerous, very acute, somewhat recurved
spines ; the young parts are downy. . Leaves solitary,
or in pairs, petioled, ovate, lobate, downy and armed
with a few straight spines on both sides from 2 — 4
inches long. Racemes between or opposite to the
leaves, supporting several long pedicelled, middle
sized, pale blue flowers. Calyx deeply 5-cleft, armed.
Berries erect, round, smooth, size of a marrowfat
pea ; while immature variegated with deeper and
lighter green, when ripe with deep orange yellow
(Roxb.).

( To be continued.)

AOONITUM HETEROPHYLLUM, WALL.*

BY DR. M. DUNIN V. WASOWICZ.

( Concluded from page 343.)

(c). The filtrate from the lead precipitate. —After
removing the excess of lead the purified liquid
always appeared to be coloured darker by ferric
chloride, and it also reduced Feliling’s solution after
long boiling and especially when a small quantity of
oxalic acid had been added. It was again treated
with acetate of lead and then again purified as before.
After this treatment it was pale yellow or brownish -
red according to the degree of concentration, had a
strong persistent bitter taste, an acid reaction, and in
reflected light had a strong green fluorescence; it was
no longer coloured by ferric chloride, and did not
reduce Fehling’s solution in the cold, but only after
addition of dilute acid and warming. Mixed with
tannic acid solution it gave a very voluminous
brownish precipitate, and with double iodide of
mercury and potassium a copious white precipitate.

In order to remove the saccharine substance
indicated to be present by the reduction of an
alkaline solution of cupric oxide, a portion of the
liquid was evaporated to the thickness of syrup,

* Archiv. der Pharmacie , vol. xi., p. It).

and mixed with alcohol and with some water and
ether, until there was a perfect separation of the
liquid into two layers. In the lower watery layer
there would be the principal part of the sugar and
the extractive ; in the upper alcoholic and ethereal
layer the bitter substance or alkaloid was to be
sought for.

(1) . The watery liquid was still somewhat bitter,
readily reduced Fehling’s solution, and still gave a
precipitate with double iodide of potassium and
mercury. It was mixed with animal charcoal and
evaporated, with repeated addition of water, and
ultimately the extract remaining was dissolved out
with warm water, the animal charcoal being after¬
wards several times digested with small portions of
alcohol. The watery extract was no longer bitter
but had a dark brown colour. It was evaporated to
a small bulk, but after several days it had not de¬
posited any crystals. It was then boiled with
albumen, again treated with animal charcoal, boiled
with a little dilute acid and left to crystallize. A
small quantity of a warty crystalline mass was thus
obtained, which was only partially to be freed from
adhering extractive by means of absolute alcohol,
since the alcohol dissolved a portion of the extractive,
but in this way sufficient quantity of the crystalline
substance was obtained to establish the fact that it
was grape sugar. The extractive substance presented
no characteristic reaction except that of reducing
Fehling’s solution. The alcoholic extract, obtained
by digesting the animal charcoal was but little
coloured, became turbid upon the addition of the
double iodide of potassium and mercury and reduced
Fehling’s solution. On evaporating it left a very
small quantity of extract, which proved to consist of
the several substances existing^in the original liquid,
and accordingly was further treated.

(2) . The upper alcoholic and ethereal liquid was
first digested for some days with animal charcoal to
remove the colour, but this was only partially
effected. After distilling off the alcohol there re¬
mained a yellow resinous mass with a neutral
reaction, readily soluble in absolute alcohol and
ether, but only partially soluble in water and dilute
spirit. It was then treated with a large quantity of
water and some ether added, so as to effect almost
complete solution, and the separation of the liquid
into two layers. The watery liquid left on evapora¬
tion a brown resinous substance, of a bitter taste,
only partially soluble in water and not altered by
alkalies. In the watery solution tannic acid gave no
precipitate ; double iodide of potassium and mercury
an inconsiderable white^ precipitate. The portion
insoluble in water dissolved readily in absolute
alcohol and gave a considerable precipitate with
tannic acid. The ethereal liquid deposited on
evaporation a tough yellow mass, readily soluble
in alcohol and ether and having a strong persistent
bitter taste. The solutions gave both with tannic
acid and double iodide of potassium and mercury
considerable precipitates. This substance was found
to contain nitrogen and consequently it consisted of
impure atisine. The mass was digested for some
time with animal charcoal, extracted with ether, and
left to crystallize. After the evaporation of the
ether no crystals were left, but a yellowish-wliite
mass that could be readily powdered. The powder,
when exposed for some time to light and air-
aggregated to a tough doughy mass ol a dark brown
colour, and in experiments with benzol, chloroform

464

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 13, 187*.

bisulphide of carbon, dilute and absolute alcohol as
solvents no crystals could be obtained. By repeated
solution and treatment with animal charcoal this
mass was ultimately obtained quite white, and in that
state a combustion was made. O' 3231 of the dry
substance (constant under the air-pump) gave —

0'91 C02 = 0'248 C = 76-756 per cent. C.

0*3101 H2O = 0-03415 H = 10"622 per cent. H.

These figures approximate closely to those calcu¬
lated from the formula assigned to atisine bv
Broughton ; C46H74N204 which requires —

Found.

C . 76-88 76-756

H . 10-306 10-662

N . 3-899

O . 8-903

The alkaloid thus purified was white and un-
crystallizable, and when dried under the air pump
could be readily powdered. By exposure to the air
the powder readily became yellowish or yellowish
brown and resinous. Heated in a water-bath it also
ran into a yellowish brown mass. It was very little
soluble in water, rather more soluble in dilute
alcohol, but readily and completely soluble in ether,
absolute alcohol, benzol, etc. The solutions had a
strong clean bitter taste, without any acrid or burn¬
ing after-taste. The alcoholic solution, strongly
diluted with water, was distinctly opalescent and
frothed very much when shaken, like saponin ; but
atisine is distinguished from this latter substance by
the slight solubility in water, as on diluting the alco¬
holic solution the greater part of the alkaloid is
separated in white flocks. Alkalies do not produce
any colour ; concentrated sulphuric acid produces at
first a faint violet, which becomes reddish, then
dark red, and after about an hour, dirty brown.
Sulphuric acid and bichromate of potash produce a
green colour, with a distinct reddish violet zone.
Nitric acid produces a brown colour. The nitrate,
sulphate and acetate of the alkaloid do not admit of
being crystallized. As obtained by evaporating the
solutions, these salts are readily soluble in water,
have a yellowish colour and taste very bitter.

Ammonia precipitates the alkaloid from solutions
in white flocks. Tannic acid gives a yellowish
brown precipitate, and the iodide of potassium and
mercury a white precipitate that is perfectly
soluble in alcohol. On evaporating the alcohol a
distinctly crystalline mass remains. I did not
succeed in obtaining a well crystallized platinum
salt.

Only the hydrochlorate, hydrobromate and hydri-
odate of the alkaloid are cry stall izable and sparingly
soluble salts, among which the hydriodate is most
manageable. This circumstance, and the tedious
nature of the previously described method of obtain¬
ing the pure alkaloid, induced me to operate upon
the second part of the liquid* in a different way,
and I added to it iodide of potassium and mercury
until no farther precipitate was produced. After
complete deposition the precipitate was collected
upon a suitable filter, carefully washed with distilled
water, and while still moist suspended in water and
treated with sulphuretted hydrogen. Together with
the mercuric sulphide there was formed a quantity
of shining pearly scales, which could be dissolved in
a sufficiency of boiling water, and separated again
on partial cooling. They were separated from the
* See previous page.

mercuric sulphide by repeatedly boiling with water
and filtering the hot solution. The yellowish
filtrate upon cooling separated an abundant quantity
of the above-mentioned pearly crystals, which proved
to be hydriodate of the alkaloid .

The mother-liquor was concentrated as long as
crystals were deposited upon cooling. At a certain
point, when crystals were no longer formed aud the
presence of iodine could no longer be detected, there
was still alkaloid in solution, since considerable
turbidity was produced by iodide of potassium and
mercury and by phosphotungstic acid. On the addi¬
tion of hydriodic acid to this liquid, however, no
further crystals could be obtained. This would
apparently lead to the conclusion that the roots
examined contained a second alkaloid, the hydrio¬
date of which is not crystallizable, and this is
further supported by the circumstance that the
precipitate produced by iodide of potassium and
mercury, when dissolved in alcohol, gives on evapora¬
tion a residue that is not crystalline. This question,
however, must for the present remain undecided, as
the material at my disposal is too small for the
purpose.

The substance considered to be hydriodate of
atisine was re-crystallized from water several times
and dried under the air pump. It was in the form
of scaly crystals having a pearly lustre, soluble in
318 parts of water at 20° C., 420 parts of 96 per cent,
alcohol, and very slightly soluble in alcohol.
Analyses led to the formula C46H74N204 IH-fH20.

The h}?drobromate and hydrochlorate have a
similar constitution. The hydrochlorate is a white
crystalline powder, more soluble in water than the
hydriodate, and having a strong bitter taste, but not
the disagreeable after-taste that the hydriodate has.

The general results of this investigation are that
I have found the root of Aconitmn heterophiyllum to
contain (1) a fat of soft consistence, probably a
mixture of oleic, palmitic, and stearic glycerides ;
(2) aconitic acid ; (3) an acid related to ordinary
tannic acid ; (4) cane sugar ; (5) vegetable

mucilage ; (6) pectous substances ; (7) atisine, the
alkaloid already observed by Broughton, and
probably another uncry stallizable alkaloid ; (8)

starch. The root contained 2 ‘331 per cent, of ash
that dissolved partly in water and partially in
dilute hydrochloric acid.

It may be remarked that the experiments I have
made in administering the alkaloid to rabbits show
that it is not poisonous. It was, however, impos¬
sible to ascertain whether the alkaloid could be used
as a febrifuge, as the quantity in the root was
exceedingly small and the entire amount at my dis¬
posal was not quite 3 grams.

THE MIGRATION OF PLANTS FROM EUROPE TO
AMERICA, WITH AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN
CERTAIN PHENOMENA CONNECTED THERE¬
WITH*

BY PROF. E. W. CLAYPOLE, B.A., B.SC. (LONDON), OF
ANTIOCH COLLEGE, OHIO.

( Concluded from page 407.)

It is singular that while so many European species
have forced their way into possession of the American
soil, the cases of counter-migration are exceedingly few — -
s> few that they may be counted on the fingers. It

* Paper read before the Montreal Horticultural Society,
1877.

December 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 465

appears as if some invisible barrier existed preventing
passage eastward, though allowing it westward. One or
two species may be named which, as exceptions, bring
the general truth of this statement into stronger light.
The Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron Canadensis), a native
of North America, “ is now established in nearly all
temperate and hot countries, and occasionally appears so
in England.”* The Annual Fleabane ( Erigeron annuus ),
though not in England, has become wild in some parts of
Europe. Add to these two the so-called “Water Thyme”
(Elodea Canadensis), and we have all the conspicuous
examples with which the writer is acquainted of the
eastward migration of American plants to Europe and
their naturalization there. The last named plant was
first observed about 1847 in the northern and midland
counties of England and the south of Scotland, in York¬
shire, Leicestershire and near Berwick and Edinburgh. +
How it was introduced is not known. Thence it spread
until in about ten years many of the slower streams were
almost clogged with it, and the writer well recollects that
it was then difficult to row on the upper and middle
Thames in consequence of the accumulation of this weed.
Fears were even entertained that it would form a serious
impediment to inland navigation. But in a short time
the evil diminished, and after a few years, though still
present, the quantity in the rivers became insignificant,
and no inconvenience is now caused by its presence.

Such facts naturally suggest the question: Why are
these things so ? What invisible door bars the passage of
the American flora to Europe, but admits the free
passage of the European flora to America? One reply
will naturally occur. Seed is mainly brought from
Europe to America, and thereby a favourable chance is
afforded for introducing the seeds of European weeds.
This is so ; and to this cause, doubtless, is due the im¬
mense number of introduced plants. But, if European
seed is largely brought to America, American crops go
much more largely to Europe ; and it would be absurd to
suppose that any crop gathered from the half cleared and
weedy fields of this country could be sent thither without,
at the same time, sending in abundance the seeds of our
native weeds. All the ill weeds that grow in Canada or
the States must, ere now, have been many times exported
to the mother country. Yet they do not appear. It may
be replied that the greater part of the corn crops are
destined for the mill and not for the land, and that in
this way their chances of propagation are largely di¬
minished. Making all due allowance for this, should we
not look for a rank crop of American weeds springing up
around the mills from the cleanings and the waste? Yet
such is not the case. With all the millions of bushels,
moreover, that go to England for feeding purposes, and
are never ground, there is the same result. The weeds no
more take root and run wild than do the wheat and maize
among which they cross the Atlantic. And when, in
addition to this, we consider that there has been for two
centuries an organized and regular introduction of
American wild plants into European botanic and flower
gardens, might we not reasonably expect to see at least a
few of them, or of others which must have accidentally
accompanied them, spreading outside of the limits of these
gardens, and becoming naturalized in Europe ? Yet
nothing of the kind has occurred. Neither the rank and
abundant Ragweed (Ambrosia), nor the widely diffused
Golden Rods ( Solidago ), nor the Protean Asters (Aster),
nor the wayside Pepper Grasses ( Lepidium ), nor the
prolific Sumachs (Rhus), nor the clinging Burr-marigolds
( Bidens ), nor the ubiquitous and striking Milkweeds
(Asclepias), have succeeded in naturalizing themselves in
England. Even where a genus contains species on both
sides of the Atlantic, as is the case with the Hounds-
tongue (Cynoglossum), we find that the English species —
the common Houndstongue (C. vulgare) — has migrated

# Bentham’s ‘ Handbook of the Bi'itish Flora.’
t Ibid.

westward, and become so common near Montreal and
almost everywhere in the eastern and midland States
that Professor Gray can term it “ a familiar and trouble¬
some weed;” while at the same time, the common
American species, or Beggar-lice Houndstongue (C.
Morisoni), which the same writer brands as “ a common
and vile weed,” is completely unknown in England.

Some may be inclined to urge that the comparatively
cool English summer may not afford sufficient heat to
perfect and ripen the seed, which the fiercer sun and
continental climate of Eastern America can easily mature.
This may account for the inability of some American
species to sustain themselves in England, but it is evidently
far from sufficient to solve the whole problem. Many of
these plants can perpetuate themselves in the short, cool
summer of New England and Lower Canada, and we
might therefore reasonably expect, even if want of summer
heat excluded them from England, that they would find
a congenial climate somewhere in the warmer countries
of Southern Europe. But not in England only, but
throughout Europe, the absence of American species is
remai'kable. Difference of climate seems insufficient as
the only or the chief factor in the solution of the problem,
and we are compelled to look farther.

Nor, can it be urged as an objection that European
weeds alone have come in. Without at present defining
a weed, the reply is obvious that American weeds have
not gained a foothold in Europe. It is not to be antici¬
pated that large, conspicuous and slow- growing plants,
such as forest trees, or highly developed and cultivated
forms, such as garden-flowers, will often run wild. The
former require too long a time to glow and propagate
themselves, and are subject to too many dangers, while
the latter are only maintained at their high standing by
constant and careful cultivation. It is only, therefore,
among the smaller and more insignificant plants that the
facts here detailed can be looked for, and accordingly of
such our list altogether consists. It may be that the forest
trees of Europe, or some of them, will one day grow wild
here. But the life of a tree is so long, and its growth so
slow, that the experiment cannot be said to have been
yet made. So far from planting and propagating Euro¬
pean trees, men are bent in most parts of the country
upon destroying their own. The present generation has
not outgrown that insane hatred of trees which possessed
the past, and was perhaps an almost unavoidable result
of the severity of their struggle with the primeval forest.
Timber is still contemptuously termed “lumber.” No
respect is felt for it, and consequently no European tree,
if trying to run wild, would stand much chance of life
during the attempt. A high authority on forest trees in
this country has informed the writer that in his experience
some European species have grown better than the
American species of the same genus — that the English
beech and larch, for example, surpassed the native
beech and the tamarack. Time alone can prove this
point.

The comparison, therefore, must be made, and can only
be made justly, between the weeds of the two continents,
or plants which come very near them and may be called
almost weeds. By the term “ weed ” we mean those
plants to which the surroundings are so suitable that they
increase and multiply, year after year, more rapidly than
others by which they are surrounded. Entering into
details, the soil affords them the nourishment they need ;
the spring frosts do not kill them, or they bud and grow
only when this danger has passed ; they ripen their seed
in quantity sufficient before the winter sets in ; the heat
of summer does not scorch them, nor the cold of winter
destroy their roots or seeds ; they are not so much
injured by insects as to preclude their coming to
maturity ; while their flowers are sufficiently visited by
insects to ensure the fertilization of their seeds, or else they
spread so rapidly by underground stems as to render seed
unnecessary. Granted all these conditions, and we have
weeds of the first order, while the failure of any one of

46C

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 13, i87».

more of them may reduce such a weed to the position of
a very harmless and comparatively rare plant. In fact,
the great abundance of a weed or wild flower in one year
and its scarcity in another, is often due to its lacking one
or more of these requisites. Weeds are the homely plants
of a country, using the word in its true and original
s ense. A plant that is perfectly comfortable in its sur¬
roundings, if possessing considerable power of reproduc¬
tion, becomes master of the situation, and is a weed.

The weeds of different countries must therefore differ
because their conditions differ. Tor the same reason the
weeds of different ages must also differ. Climate changes
as geological time passes by, and all plants are not able to
adapt themselves to these changes. It is frequently the
case that a man placed in new circumstances is quite
unable to adjust himself to them. His nature is not
sufficiently plastic. So with plants. A wide range in
time or space, with changing conditions can only be en¬
joyed by a plant whose nature is plastic or capable of
change. Place a weed of stiff or unyielding nature in less
favourable conditions and it cannot adapt itself to them.
It becomes unhealthy and lingers on, as it were, by
sufferance among stronger neighbours — no longer a weed
— or it speedily dies out. But a weed possessing a plastic
nature — one capable of being moulded by and to its new
surroundings ere long adapts itself, if the change is not
too great or sudden, to its new situation, takes out a
new lease of life, and continues in the strictest sense a
weed.

Is it not possible that some such cause as this may lie
underneath the facts we detailed in the earlier part of
this paper? The true and full explanation of the transfer
of European species to America should at the same time
explain the absence of American species from Europe.
But the partial causes already alluded to fail to do this.
There is a residual effect for which they do not account.
May it not be true that the plants of the European flora
possess more of this plasticity, are less unyielding in their
constitution, can adapt themselves more readily to their
surroundings, and thus secure their continuance in the New
World? And may it not be the lack of this plasticity in
the American flora which incapacitates it for securing afoot-
hold and obtaining a living in the different conditions of
the Old World? Under the care of the gardener they
grow and embellish the gardens and conservatories of
Europe, but without this care they speedily fail and die.

To point out the physiological basis of this property of
plasticity is at present and will probably long remain im¬
possible. But that such a property exists in both the
animal and vegetable kingdoms is beyond a question. It
is the secret of that variation which so strongly marks
some species, while its absence is the cause of that fixed¬
ness which characterizes others. It is the secret of that
quick response which some plants make to a change of
conditions, and whereby they gain fresh vitality at the
cost, it may be, of some slight modification of structure.
Its absence, on the contrary, causes that indifference or
resistance which characterizes others, and which is almost
always followed sooner or later by the extinction of the
resisting species.

Though, however, the indication of the exact physio¬
logical basis of this plasticity of constitution is as yet
beyond our reach, it seems possible to point out one fact
which not improbably has had some share in reducing the
plasticity of the American flora. To approach a single
short step nearer to the object of our quest, when that
object is at present unattainable, is so much ground
gained. We are all familiar with the effects of habit
upon ourselves. We all know how easy habitual actions
become ; how strong is the tendency to perform them
when the conditions recur under which they are usually
performed, and how unwillingly we deviate from our
daily course after following it for yeais. To this one
fact — the povTer of habit — is due the uncomfortable, un¬
settled state of most men who make some great change
in their outward surroundings late in life. Few who

emigrate in old age ever become quite reconciled to their
new home. The habits of many years have so moulded
them in body and mind, and set them so firmly in their
mould, that the plasticity they may have once possessed is
gone, as bricks dried and burnt have lost the pliancy they
possessed when in the form of clay. Of the physiological
cause of this fact we know nothing, but the fact no one
can doubt. Experience shows us that habit is no less
powerful in plants than in animals. What • a plant has
been in the habit of doing that it will incline to do again.
The physical organization of the plant, acted upon by the
conditions that surround it, produces its habit. The
longer these remain unchanged the longer do its habits
continue, and the longer its habits continue the more
firmly, we must infer, do they become engrained in its
physiological structure. Thus do habit and organization
act and react on each other. Each may be changed, but
all such changes are slow, and we may easily, in view of
these facts, believe that after many years or ages of un¬
changed conditions a plant may become (as many an old
man becomes) so firmly set in its habits, so rigid in its
nature, as to resist modifying influences with all the
energy it possesses, and rather die than change. This is
what we mean by losing its plasticity. A plant accus¬
tomed in the climate of England to occupy two months
in perfecting its seed may, if suddenly removed to another
country, continue its former practice or it may not. In
the former case if the new climate does not afford the
time required, the seed is not ripened and the species
fails. If, however, the plant can adapt itself to the
shorter season, and ripen its seed earlier, it may survive.
But for this result a high degree of plasticity is needed.
On the other hand if the change of climate be made more
slowly, the habits and organization of the plant may keep
pace with it, and with even less plasticity than in the
former case, the species may survive.

We may advance at least one step farther. If these
views on the relation of habit and organization to time
be correct, have we not a possible, though at present a
rude, gauge for both? If the strength of habit increases
with time, may we not roughly measure that strength by
the length of time during which the habit has prevailed?
And further, if the plasticity of plant nature diminishes
and its rigidity increases with the duration of a habit,
may not this duration in like manner be employed to
some extent as a gauge of rigidity ; that is of want of
plasticity? We stand here on new and difficult ground,
and any deduction must be tested severely before reliance
can be placed upon it. The confines of geology and
botany, the place where the two sciences march together,
is almost unknown territory over which science is just
beginning to extend its conquests. The tracing of earth’s
existing flowers into her past, the genealogy of plants, is
a subject closely connected with that other subject — the
descent of species — which now so sorely divides the
leaders in natural science. Nevertheless, we propose in
the concluding portion of this paper to grope out into this
unknown land where the light is so dim, and try to feel
our way along the clue indicated above, in the hope of
finding some link that may connect the apparently incon¬
sistent facts we are attempting to reconcile — the abun¬
dant westward migration of plants from Europe, and
their scanty eastward migration from America.

Have we then, at the outset, any reason to believe
that the North American flora possesses less plasticity
than the European ? Let us apply the gauge just men¬
tioned and see the result — the gauge of time. We are in
the habit of calling America “ The New World.”
Botanically and also, we may add, zoologically speaking,
America is the older and Europe the younger. Europe
passed ages ago through the stages of plant life which
America exhibits to-day. The trees and plants of
America, like most of her native animals, belong to old-
fashioned, antiquated types — types that have passed away
from European life, and now lie entombed beneath its
surface in the records of geology. If we turn for a

December 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.'

467

I

moment and consult these buried registers of births and
deaths, we find that in ages past the existing families of
America were living in Europe. Name after name may¬
be turned up, long unknown and long forgotten where
once it lived in the Eastern World, but faithfully re¬
corded in these volumes and yet surviving through
American relatives in the West. The woods of Europe,
once contained trees identical with those now growing in
the forests of North America. The miocene formations
of Switzerland have yielded to the labour of Professor
Heer, of Zurich, a rich harvest of fossil plants amounting
to at least nine hundred species. The descriptions and
illustrations of these may be found in his great work on
the ‘Tertiary Flora of Switzerland’ (1855-59). These
tertiary beds lie in the great valley between the Jura
Mountains and the Alps, and bear the name of the
Molasse. From other parts of Europe also, and from
high northern regions, similar fossil remains have been
brought to light, and our knowledge of the European
tertiary flora, though still very fragmentary, is in a
condition to admit of fair comparison with the existing
floras of the world.

Space will not allow a minute enumeration of examples.
Nor is it necessary for the purpose of establishing the
assertion made above concerning the relationship of the
living plants of America to the fossil tertiary plants of
Europe. A few illustrations of the better known forms
will suffice. Among the relics obtained from the beds at
Oeningen are the leaves of a maple tree with flowers and
seed. Europe possesses several maples, but these fossils
resemble none of them, while they can scarcely be dis¬
tinguished from the common Red Maple ( Acer rubrum)
of North America. Europe also possesses her Plane-tree
(Plaktnus orientalis), but the fossil plane of Oeningen is
not identical with this. It much more closely resembles
the Western Plane or Button- wood ( P . occidentalis) of
America. The Miocene Vine of Oeningen is of an
American type, and very closely allied to the Muscadine
or Southern Fox Grape of Maryland and Kentucky. A
Fan Palm ( Sabal major) has been found in the Swiss
Miocene. It belongs to a genus now known only in
America, and found in the Southern States. The genus
Taxodium, to which belongs the beautiful Bald Cypress
(T. clistichum) of the Southern cedar swamps, was once
represented in Europe by a species so like the American
that its remains can be with difficulty distinguished.
The Tulip Tree ( Liriodendron tulipiferum) is the queen of
the forest in the Middle States. In Europe it has passed
away, but its remains are entombed in the Swiss Miocene.
Another of these tertiary fossils — an elm-like tree —
was at first only distinguished from the American Planer
Tree (Planera aquatica) by Professor Heer on account of
the size of its fruit ; but on seeing the specimens at Kew
he admitted that no distinction could be drawn between
them. The Giant Redwood ( Sequoia gigantea ) lingers in
California, dependent upon the protection of man to save
it from extinction. Though now replanted and flourishing
in European shrubberies, it passed away from that con¬
tinent, ages before the woodman’s axe or the more
murderous forest fire had begun to destroy. Of some¬
what more recent date, but yet fossil, is the European
Sweet Gum Tree ( Liquidambar Europccum), a species
closely allied to the Sweet Gum of the Eastern and
Middle States of America (L. styracijluum), but the genus
is now totally unknown in Europe. Again, the Black
Walnut of America ( Juglcins nigra ) lies buried in the
Miocene beds at Oeningen, and Europe has imported the
far superior walnut from Persia to supply its place. The
writer has been informed that the late Professor Agassiz,
on his arrival in this country, applied to a gentleman
well known for his study of the American forest trees,
and asked for a introduction to the Hickory family of
America, remarking that all the members with which he
was acquainted in Europe were fossil in the tertiary beds
of his native land. Lastly, no fewer than eight species
of Smilax, a genus scarcely known in Europe, but abun¬

dant in America, have been found in the Miocene of
Switzerland.

We may here remark in passing that anyone desiring
to see for himself the close resemblance between the
European fossils and their living American representatives
can do so by paying a visit to the Agassiz Museum at
Cambridge where, in one of the upper galleries, may be
seen a collection which has no equal or second on this
side of the Atlantic,

It is just necessary here, in order to avoid leaving a
flaw in the argument, to state that many of these species
have been discovered in beds of equal or greater age in
this country. It is therefore impossible to urge that they
may have passed from Europe to America so lately that
changes have not yet had time to develop themselves.
On the contrary, some geologists are inclined to maintain
that they existed in America before they appeared in
Europe. At all events, we are warranted in asserting
that during the Miocene age trees of the kinds named grew
in Europe and America, as well as in Greenland and
Spitzbergen and other points in the far north.

We do not propose here to investigate the causes of
these changes. It is sufficient for our purpose to main¬
tain the fact that during tertiary geological time the
European flora has changed, and largely changed, while
the American flora has remained stationary or nearly
so. Plants which have changed in this interval thereby
show an ability to change — a plasticity — which may be
shown again should occasion arise. Plants which have
not changed during the same interval show no proof of
possessing the same plasticity. Moreover, if the principle
is true that long existence without change strengthens
the habits or increases the rigidity of the species, it is a
necessary inference that the American flora, or so much
of it as has existed during this long interval unchanged,
must be less plastic than the present European flora
which has during the same interval been so largely modi¬
fied. So many ages of persistence in type cannot well be
without effect. Little as we yet know of geological time,
we cannot estimate the age of the Swiss fossil plants at
less than 500,000 years, and it may well be twice as
much. This would place the European flora just as far
later or newer in age and in development than the
American — would give it the advantage of so many years
of slow change — and may be supposed in some degree to
have maintained or developed that plasticity, to the pos¬
session of which we incline to attribute its ascendency
over the native American flora. On the other hand,
the native American flora, living unchanged through all
these 500,000 years, may well have lost some ol the
plasticity it perhaps once possessed, and have become
comparatively rigid, so that it is to that extent unable to
adapt itself suddenly to the changed condition of Europe
at present. It cannot therefore compete with the more
plastic and more highly developed forms which it meets
in the Eastern World ; nor can it, in all cases, even hold
its own against them on a soil and in a climate where it
has dwelt for so many ages unmolested. The younger
plant life of Europe, like the white man, is more than a
match for the old fashioned life of this so-called New
World of America, and the weaker fails in the struggle.
Our country swarms with the weeds of Europe, while our
own weeds shrink from the conflict both in Europe and at
home.

Summing up the argument, in conclusion, we have
pointed out : — -

1. That many of the weeds of Europe have migrated to
America.

2. That many of these have become so thoroughly
naturalized here that they prevail over some of the plants
native to the soil.

3. That only two or three American weeds hav
crossed the Atlantic and become naturalized in England.

4. That the difference of climate and the conditions of
mutual commerce do not fully account for this marked
difference in the migrative power of the two floras.

468

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. December 13, i87».

5. That in the Miocene era the European and American
floras were very much alike.

6. That since that era the European flora has been
vastly altered, while the American flora still retains a
Miocene aspect, and is therefore the older of the two.

7. That this long persistence of type in the American
flora may have induced, by habit, a rigidity or indis¬
position to change in the American flora.

8. That the changes in the European flora since the
Miocene age betray a plasticity of nature or power of
adapting itself to circumstances of which the American
flora gives no sign.

9. That in this view the European flora is better able
to adapt itself to the strange climate and conditions —
that is, to emigrate — than the American flora.

10. That being thus more plastic or adaptable it
succeeds in the New World, while the less adaptable
Amex-ican flora fails in the Old World.

3.

1000 grs. when dry weighed 233 grs.
1000 grs. when dry weighed 245 grs.
1000 grs. when dry weighed 340 grs.
1000 grs. when dry weighed 317 grs.

Loss,

Lo:s,

Loss

Loss,

The writer wishes to add that in the above paper he
has brought forward chiefly the instances of migration
from England to America and vice versa. A few other
American plants might be found naturalized in other
parts of Europe on closer examination, but the list, at
best, would be exceedingly scanty.

PODOPHYLLUM/

BY C. J. BIDDLE, PH.G.

Collections of the root were made in the months
named below ; it was washed, weighed and carefully
dried.

March 3. 1000 grs. when dry weighed 220 grs. Loss,

780 grs.

April

767 grs.

May 7.

755 gi-s.

July 16.

660 grs.

Oct. 12.

683 grs.

It will be noticed by the above table that the weight
of the dried root increases as the season advances until
July is reached, when it is highest ; it then begins to
decrease, and in October it is much lighter.

A short description of the appearance of the plant at
times of the different collections may not be out of place
here. In March, when I made the first collection, it had
not made its appearance above ground, but the bud was
waiting for the heat of the spring sun. In April the
plant was just coming above ground ; in May it was in
bloom ; in July the fruit was mature, with the next
year’s portion of the rhizome near its full growth, and in
October the stem of the plant had died away and the
next year’s rhizome, fully developed, including the rootlets
and the bud, was seemingly waiting for spring to come.

The following table will show the yield of resin, etc.
The root was treated as directed in U.S. Pharmacopoeia
for resina podophylli.

It will be noticed that the washings for March and
April showed different and more marked results with
reagents than those of the three months that follow. All
were treated in the same manner and subjected to the
same influences. I was unable to get a precipitate with
Mayer’s test with the mixed washings when they were
dilute, so each washing was concentrated to about 6 fluid
ounces, when a slight precipitate would show in the
liquid near the top ; in that of the three later months it

Yield of
resin, in
grs., from
1000 grs.
of dried
rh’zome.

Colour of wash¬
ings of lesin.

Per
cent,
solu-
b'e in
ether

|

Washings react with

Mayer’s test.

Phosphomo-
lybdic acid.

Ferric

chloride.

Ferrous

sulphate.

Chlorine

water.

Argen¬

tic

nitrate.

Alkalies

Lead

acetate.

March

49-30

Reddish

89

Precip.

Precip.

Dark green

No change

Slight co-

Heavy

Dark

Yellow

Irown.

loration.

white

brown.

precip.

precip.

April .

52-40

99

84

99

>5

99

99

>»

>>

99

May .

37-90

Light straw

87

V ery slight

No precip.

99

99

Scarcely

99

99

Scarcely

colour.

precip.

percep-

any pre-

tible.

cip.

July .

28-30

99

90

99

9 9

99

99

99

»

»

Oct. .

1

32-40

9 9

78

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

99

The resins obtained show scax-cely any difference in j
colour, all being light coloured with the exception of that
from the April root, which is a little darker than the
others, probably due to the chlorophyll of the young buds.

In evaporating the alcoholic tincture of the rhizome,
when it had been reduced sufficient to pour in the acidu¬
lated water, every lot had small globules of oil floating on
the surface.

The washings of March and April were dark coloured,
and on evaporating deposited a precipitate ; those of
May, J uly and October were very light straw coloured,
and also deposited a precipitate. This precipitate is pro¬
bably a portion of the resin dissolved when it is washed,
as I believe, with Professor Maisch, that a portion of the
resin is soluble in water, and that which is dissolved is |
purgative. I

I know of a case where a lady purchased five cents’ |
worth of the lhizome, made a tea of it, and di’ank a por-
tion (the exact amount is not known), and it had a

* From a paper read at the Pharmaceutical Meeting of
the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, October 21.

decided cathartic effect, so much so that she returned to
the store to ask if she had not been given the wrong
article.

One thousand grains of the dried rhizome were boiled
with three portions of water and expressed, and the
resulting decoction was evaporated to the consistence of
an extract, which weighed 540 grains, over 60 per cent,
soluble in water. The portion remaining after making
the decoctions was exhausted with alcohol and treated for
resin ; but the yield was scarcely perceptible, not more
than two or three grains.

PHOSPHORIC ACID.*

BY W. F. HORN.

The acknowledged value of the compounds of phos*
phorus as remedial and nutritive agents has of late
years rendered them particularly interesting to physicians

* From the ‘ Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Pharma¬
ceutical Associati m, 1878 — 9.’

December 13, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

469

and pharmacists. The numerous papers that have been
written, and the discussions which have occurred, abun¬
dantly testify to the fact.

Among these compounds, phosphoric acid has received
no small share of attention — the modes of manufacture
in particular — and the subject has not yet lost its interest.

The object of this paper is to bring to your notice a
new process, which in the experience of the writer has
proved especially satisfactory, and to propound a theory
which, in his judgment, best explains the facts. The
process is as follows : — Pour 3 fluid ounces of water into
a pint or larger flask, beaker glass, or evaporating dish.
Put into it 6 drachms of phosphorus (deprived of its
coating), observing that it lies in such a position as to be
covered by the water. Drop into it 2 grains of iodine,
and move the flask gently so that the iodine and phos¬
phorus may come into contact, and lastly, add all at
once, 4 troy ounces of nitric acid, U.S.P.

The action begins at once, and the vessel is set aside,
the mouth being left open ; and no further attention is
required until the oxidation is completed, which requires
from twenty-four to thirty-six hours.

Under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure,
the rapidity of the oxidation depends upon the amount of
iodine used, and should the necessity arise, the process
can be proportionately shortened by taking four, six, or
more grains, but in that case the vessel must be set in
water at the temperature at which it runs from the
hydrant. On the other hand, if there is no urgency, one
grain, or a fraction of a grain, will accomplish the same
purpose in a longer time. After the oxidation is com¬
pleted, the product is evaporated and finished, as the
Pharmacopoeia directs.

The advantages of this process are economy of time,
attention and material, and absolute safety from explo¬
sions. The process may be continued indefinitely, and
indefinitely large quantities of phosphorus may be oxi¬
dized to phosphoric acid by the addition of new portions
of phospho us and nitric acid as fast as they are con¬
sumed, no further addition of iodine being necessary. A
much less quantity of nitric acid will accomplish the
work, under favourable conditions, owing to the peculiar
property which nitric oxide possesses of absorbing oxygen
spontaneously from the air, thereby being converted into
hyponitric acid, in which condition it is ready to act
again on the phosphorus, somewhat similarly to its action
in the leaden chamber process for sulphuric acid.

So much for the facts ; now for the theory. Brodie, in
1852 ( Chem . Soc. Journ., p. 289), discovered that “ a small
quantity of iodine can convert an almost indefinitely
large quantity of phosphorus into the amorphous modi¬
fication.” He supposes the reactions to proceed as
follows : — The first stage “ is the formation of an iodide
of phosphorus, probably the di-iodide, in which the
phosphorus exists in the amorphous modification.”
“ This compound is then decomposed with the separation
of amorphous phosphorus and formation of a more
volatile iodine product, which reacts upon the second
portion of phosphorus, reproducing the first decompos¬
able iodide, and so on continually.” Again, amorphous
phosphorus is acted on directly and rapidly at a com¬
paratively low temperature by nitric acid.

The writer’s theory then is, that as the iodine combines
successively with the different portions of the phosphorus
and liberates them in the amorphous condition at a high
temperature, the nitric acid acts rapidly on this phos¬
phorus in the nascent state and oxidizes it to phosphoric
acid.

The writer has not failed to consider the experiments
of Pettenkoffer, but the cases are dissimilar. Petten-
koffer produced hydriodic acid, by the action of iodine on
phosphorus, and then by the double chemical decompo¬
sition of the phosphoric iodide with water. The products
of the reaction were hydriodic acid, phosphoric acid and
phosphorous acid. The first was distilled off, and the
latter completely oxidized by the use of nitric acid, so

that hydriodic acid and phosphoric acid were the ultimate
products. But he used the iodine in saturating quantity,
combining the whole of the phosphorus at once, and
again the mutual decompositions and recompositions were
effected in the absence of nitric acid. It is improbable
that the phosphorus, in the presence of a powerful oxi¬
dizing agent like nitric acid, would draw on the water
for its oxygen : more so, in view of the fact that hydri¬
odic acid is so very unstable, especially in contact with
nitric acid. It matters very little, however, on what
1 theory the facts may be explained, in view of the
practical results obtained.

ROSE-FARMING AS A COLONIAL INDUSTRY*

Rose-growing for perfumery is a branch of industry
which appears to deserve the attention of some of our
colonial friends in localities where the agricultural con¬
ditions are favourable and labour cheap. The pursuit
would be an attractive one, and tried on a suitable scale,
large enough to pay, but not so large as to disturb the
market, it might, we consider, be made a very remunera -
tive affair. The pure “attar” or “otto” of roses — never
very abundant at the best of times — has risen enormously
in price since the despoliation of the Turkish and Bulgarian
rose-farms during the war of 1877-78; indeed, we are
informed, it is now rarely to be found in the European
market, and for this article, even more than the rose-water,
a ready sale could doubtless be commanded.

A short account of the methods of growing and manu¬
facturing attar and rose-water followed in Bulgaria and in
India may supply some useful hints and suggestions to
those disposed to give the subject consideration.

Colonel Baker — not Valentine Baker, by the way
— in his recent work on Turkey, gives the following
account of the method pursued at Kezanlik, a small
district south of the Balkans and about 1500 feet
above the sea level, which is or was the centre of the
industry : —

“ The flowers have the appearance of our common dog-
rose, and are of the varieties R. damascene i, R. semper -
virens, and R. moschata. The last affords the chief in¬
gredient of the attar. The natives know very little of
varieties, and are concerned only with the profits they
can make out of the oil. The rose is grown by the
farmers iu every village in the district, and requires a
sandy soil on sloping ground exposed to the rays of the
sun. The greatest care is bestowed on the cultivation
and on the harvesting of the crop. A rose-garden may
be laid down in spring or autumn, in ground that has been
well cleared and ploughed. The young rose-shoots are
torn off larger plants, so as to carry with them a portion
of the roots, and these are laid, almost horizontally, in
trenches about 1 foot deep and 5 feet apart, so as to form
a future hedge ; they are then covered with earth and
manure and carefully trodden down. Under favourable
circumstances the shoots will appear at the end of six
months, when they should be earthed up, and the plants will
be over a foot high by the end of the year. In the second
year they yield a few flowers ; but they are not a source
of profit till the third year. They are in full bearing in
five years, at a height of about 6 feet, and last for about
fifteen years, when the trees cease to flower. They require
earthing-up four times a year, and should be manured
every second year ; but, although the manure increases the
quantity, it interferes with the quality of the attar. No
pruning is required except cutting off dead branches. Very
severe cold kills the trees, and those of the whole district
were thus destroyed in 1870. Hoar-frost and foggy misty
weather are also injurious to the crop, and hot weather
during distillation interferes with the yield of oil. Ihe
harvest begins in May, and lasts about twenty days. The
farmer counts the buds upon his trees, which he makes a

* From The Colonies and India , November 15, 1879-

470

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 13, 1 8 TS>

divisor for the whole, and so counts the number of buds
which will blossom daily, and the number of days his
harvest will last. The flowers must be gathered before
the morning dew is off them, and be distilled at once.
Herein lies the difficulty, because it is impossible to judge,
even approximately, of the rapidity with which the buds
will open; consequently, unless a very large staff is kept,
so as to pick off all the blossoms of a heavy crop in the
short space available, and unless a number of alembics are
ready to distil them, a great part of the crop may be
wasted in the case of rapid blowing. When the temperature
during harvest is cold and damp, the blowing is gradual ;
when hot and sunny it is rapid.

“ The yield of attar varies, but, on an average, it takes
4000 rose-blossoms to make 1 lb. of oil. Best quality
attar varies in price from 17 to 18 Turkish piastres
the miscal, or 15s. id. to 16s. 10c?. the ounce; inferior
qualities, 14 to 15 piastres the miscal. The mode adopted
for testing the purity of different qualities of oil is to put
the essence into flasks, which are immersed in water of
63 to 68 degrees Fahr., when, if good, it congeals. This
is considered the purest oil. A stony, sandy ground,
impregnated with iron, produces the best oil, while a hard,
badly cultivated land will only yield an inferior quality,
which will not congeal at temperatures above 52 degrees

Fahr . An English acre produces 4000 lbs.

to 6,000 lbs. of blossom in fair years, and 34J lbs. of
blossom produce 1J drachms of oil, which may be said
to be worth in this market 4s.”

The roses, it may be added, are put in the stills without
detaching the calices, the charge being 25 lbs. to 50 lbs.
of roses per still. The above description was written.,
previous to the war, it should be said. The last really
good year in Bulgaria, 1873, produced a rose-crop valued
at 70,000?.

At the recent Agricultural Exhibition at Kilburn,
Messrs. Piesse and Lubin exhibited a vase of attar distilled
by MM. Pappazouglou Brothers, of Constantinople, from
roses grown in the Kezanlik district, the price of which
was marked 35s. per oz.

Turning next to India, we find roses grown for attar
and rose-water at Lahore, (Jmritzur, and elsewhere, but
the chief site of the industry is Ghazepore, on the Ganges,
where about 150 English acres in the suburbs are grown
with Rosea damascena for that purpose.

According to information quoted by Dr. W. W. Hunter,
in his ‘ Statistics of Bengal,’ the ground is divided into
small fields carefully protected on all sides by high mud
walls and prickly pear fences to keep out the cattle.
These fields, which belong to the zemindar, are planted
with rose-trees and let by the year, at so much per
biggah for the ground, and so much extra for the trees on
it. The rent is generally 5 rupees per biggali for the
ground, and 25 rupees extra for the rose-trees, of which
there are 1000 on each biggah. If the season be good,
these 1000 trees should yield 1 lac of roses, the value of
which will vary with the year from 40 to 70 rupees, i.e.,
il. to 71. The purchases are always made at so much per
lac. The rose-trees come into flower in March and
continue so throughout April. The flowers are plucked
in the early morning by men, women and children, and
are conveyed in bags to the contracting parties for dis¬
tillation into rose-water. The growers themselves rarely
distill. The stills are of the most primitive make. There
is a great variety of rose-water manufactured in the
bazaar, and much that bears the name is nothing more
than a mixture of sandal-oil. The best rose-water pro¬
curable may be computed as requiring 1000 roses to a
seer of water, which yields 1^ seer of rose-water. The
boiler of the still holds from 8000 to 12,000 or 16,000
rose-blooms. On each 8000 roses 10 to 11 seers of
water are placed, and 8 seers of rose-water distilled.
This is placed in a glass carboy, and exposed to the sun
for a few days to become pucka, or ripe ; it is then stopped
with cotton and luted with wet clay to prevent the scent
escaping. The 8 seers of rose-water will fetch 12 to 16

rupees. The value of the roses sold at Ghazepore is
estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 rupees per annum, and the
profit thereon, at the prices asked and given, 40,000 rupees
(£4000).

To procure the attar or otto the roses are put into the
still and the water passed over gradually, as in the rose¬
water process ; after the whole has come over, the rose¬
water is placed in a large metal basin, which is covered
with wetted muslin to prevent insects or dust getting in.
The basin is then let into the ground about two feet, the
ground having previously been watered, and allowed to
remain quiet all night. This is always done at the
beginning of the season, when the nights are cool ; in the
morning the little film of attar or oil which has collected
on the surface during the night is removed with a
feather and placed in a small phial, and day by day,
after the collection has been made, it is placed for a
shoi’t period in the sun, and after a sufficient quantity
has been procured, is poured off clear into fresh
phials.

From one lac of roses it is estimated that 180 grains
or one tolah of attar can be obtained, or more if the roses
are full-sized and the nights at the same time cool enough
to admit of perfect congelation. The attar sells in India
at 50 to 90 rupees the tolah. None has hitherto been
exported .

In both cases it will be seen the processes of culture
and manufacture are of the most primitive kind. In
skilled hands they might, no doubt, be materially im¬
proved at comparatively small cost, and the profits,
already considerable, increased proportionately.

LIQUID EXTRACT OF ERGOT FOR SUBCUTANEOUS

INJECTION.*

BY P. YVON.

Subcutaneous injections of ergotine are very difficult
to make with the aqueous extract of ergot generally
known as ergotine. In fact this extract when dissolved
is muddy, thick and requires to be filtered ; the solution
then gives only feeble results, as the best part of the extract
remains upon the filter. I therefore prefer the following
formula : —

The ergot is coarsely powdered and deprived of its
fixed oil by treatment with carbon bisulphide ; after wards
it is dried in the open air, sheltered from light, until
the odour of the solvent has totally disappeared. The
powder is then introduced into a displacement apparatus
and exhausted in the cold with distilled water containing
four parts in a thousand of tartaric acid. This liquid is
heated so as to coagulate albuminoid matters and then
reduced in a water-bath to about one-third of its volume,
allowed to cool and filtered. It is then treated with a
slight excess of freshly prepared carbonate of lime, so as
to saturate the excess of tartaric acid, filtered, evaporated
to a syrupy consistence and precipitated with 90° alcohol.
After another filtration it is decolourized with washed
animal charcoal, again filtered and evaporated so as to
drive off all the alcohol. It is then taken up a second
time with distilled water and to this solution is added
0'15 gram of salicylic acid for each 100 grams of ergot,
and it is completed with water or cherry-laurel water
so as to make a liquid equal in weight to that of the
ergot employed. The extract is allowed to deposit some
days in a cool quiet place and then divided into small
bottles.

The liquid thus obtained is of a fine amber colour
and keeps perfectly. It gives an abundant precipi¬
tate with all the reagents for alkaloids and represents
the active principle of an equal weight of ergot.
As an injection one gram of the liquid gives excellent
results.

* Revue Medicate for November 15.

December 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TkaNS ACTIONS.

471

®he phaumar^utlcat Joaiiual.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , DECEMBER 13, 1879.

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

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

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

PATENT MEDICINES.

The great and growing increase in the demand for
secret nostrums is a circumstance that must almost
necessarily be highly prejudicial to the legitimate
practice of medicine, no less than to that of phar¬
macy. Though there seems to be little prospect of
preventing the public from being influenced by
stories of wonderful cures and thus led to seek relief
by the use of some of the secret preparations that are
now so persistently recommended to them by adver¬
tisement rather than have recourse to the advice of
a legally qualified medical practitioner, it does
seem feasible that the trade in secret preparations or
patent medicines might be subjected to some kind
of regulation. We cannot pretend to have any
opinion as to the merits of these preparations,
since the secrecy thrown over their nature and com¬
position renders that impossible except by the aid
of analysis, which would at best only give uncertain
results. We cannot, therefore, say that in some
cases these preparations may not be possessed of all
the virtues that are claimed for them, and it would
not be a matter of much importance if we could do
so, since it is to faith or credulity, and not to reason
or common sense, that the recommendation of these
secret preparations is addressed.

But without raising any question as to the intrinsic
merits of secret preparations, or as to the propriety
of recommending them for the relief of disease, the
way in which the trade in these articles has lately
been developed is a matter that it is impossible for
the recognized vendors of medicine to disregard.
The effect of the trade in these preparations is no
longer merely one which limits the practice of
pharmacy as well as medicine, but it is of such a
nature as to tend towards entirely superseding the
pharmacist, as well as the physician. There is no
longer the fatal attraction of a good trade profit to
induce the chemist and druggist to engage in the
sale of patent medicines, and to contribute as far as
he can to the promotion of a system that would
eventually make him a superfluity, for under the
conditions that now prevail the trade in patent
medicines is carried on so as to do away with the
possibility of the former profit to the chemist and
druggist and put him out of the field altogether.

Under these circumstances it is natural to find

correspondents in this Journal inveighing against
the competition set up amongst them by the sale of
patent medicines and similar articles at rates
consistent only with such business as is carried on by
the grocer or oilman. No pharmaceutical skill is
required in selling a patent medicine ; no expe¬
rienced knowledge of the materia medica is neces-
sary , nor any acquaintance with the characters and
doses of potent drugs ; a grocer’s apprentice can
hand over the package and take the price of it as
well as the most scientifically trained pharmacist.
Consequently, it is not at all unfrequent that che¬
mists and druggists find themselves suddenly cut off
from what was formerly no inconsiderable portion
ol their business and see this transferred to estab¬
lishments with which they are wholly unable to
compete.

How this state of things is to be remedied in the
interest of chemists and druggists is a question to
which many of our correspondents have addressed
themselves, but notwithstanding the various sugges¬
tions that have been offered we appear to be as far
as ever from combating the evil. Some have advised
the entire abandonment of the patent medicine
trade, others have recommended carrying on the
trade so as to compete with the co-operative stores
and other dealers who sell them at reduced rates ;
but we do not think that either course would be
productive of much benefit to the chemist and
druggist regarded simply as a trader. The former
plan would have the advantage of being sound in
principle from a pharmaceutical point of view; but
there is reason to question its expediency, since
patent medicines have so much popularity with the
public, and they are so much in demand, that a
refusal to sell them might be productive of damage
to the pharmacist’s more legitimate business. This
has actually been found the case in some parts of
Germany where there are numerous English resi¬
dents, and although it is in that country generally
considered to be unpharmaceutical to deal in secret
remedies, the necessity of meeting the demand for
them on the part of customers has been found im¬
perative, or as an alternative result, business has
been lost.

The plan of meeting the competition in patent
medicines by selling them at what are termed “store”
rates is one that may be said at first sight to he
compatible only with a low class of business, and it
would not in any case be a remedy conducive to the
general interests of pharmacy. A recent corre¬
spondent has suggested the adoption of this course in
a somewhat heroic fashion which, he thinks, would
be quite effectual. He proposes that the chemists
and druggists of a particular locality should unite and
form a Patent Medicine Defence Association, each
member subscribing a small sum annually, so that
whenever patent medicines are sold by anyone
in the neighbourhood for less than the adver¬
tized prices a shop should be opened by the

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 13, 1879.

4 72

association where patent medicines should he given
away or sold at a mere nominal price until the
competition was suppressed. Our correspondent
is of the opinion that in a brief period this pro¬
cedure would suffice to bring the short-sighted
under-sellers to their senses, and impress upon them
that business cannot be carried on without a fair
remuneration. We confess that we 'do not share
this opinion, and are far from being so sanguine as
our correspondent as to the probable consequences
of the plan he suggests.

Another correspondent suggests that the best way
of stopping or, at any rate, curtailing the sale of patent
medicines by others than registered chemists and
druggists would be to increase the payment for the
licence to deal in patent medicines to as much as
twenty or thirty pounds a-year. Doubtless, such a
step would put a stop to the sale of patent medicines
by many small shopkeepers, and if it could be
carried out, some good might be done in the interest
of chemists and druggists. We have always thought
that the reduction of the charge for the selling
licence was a great mistake in this respect. Now
that the licence can be obtained for the trifling sum
of 5s., it is within the power of a large number of
small dealers to qualify legally for the sale of patent
medicines, and thus to take away from chemists and
druggists a considerable share of the trade that ought
to be restricted to them.

But if an attempt were made to increase the
charge for licences there is reason to expect obj ection
would be offered by the proprietors of patent medi¬
cines and the wholesale dealers in them. From their
point of view the small shopkeepers and the “ stores ”
serve as well, for the retail sale of their articles, as
the educated pharmacist, and it might be difficult to
convince them that they would not be prejudiced
to some extent by transferring the trade from a large
number of grocers, drapers, booksellers and general
stores to the hands of a much less numerous class
of tradesmen.

As regards those preparations which contain
poisons or drugs of dangerous potency, another
consideration, viz. , that of public safely, is involved.
In regard to patent medicines of this class at least
there is a more reasonable prospect of restricting the
trade to registered chemists and druggists by means
of the provisions of the Pharmacy Act.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

As it may be useful to some members of the trade
to know what is being done in regard to the in¬
spection and verification of apothecaries’ weights
and measures, we take this opportunity of stating
that we have received a letter from Mr. T. Fell
Abraham, of Liverpool, in which he informs us
that, as Local Secretary for that town, he has called
upon the inspector of weights and measures, as
suggested in the Journal of 29th ult. Mr. Abraham

finds that this inspector has been supplied with local
standards for 1, 2, and 4 fluid ounces, and for 1, 2,
and 4 fluid drachms, also with a 30 minim graduated
tube of the kind represented at page 430. None of
the other appliances there described have, as yet,
been received by the Liverpool inspector, nor has he
received any instructions from the corporation to
put the provisions of the new Act into force. We
shall be glad to learn from the Local Secretaries in
other places what progress is being made.

PROPRIETARY ARTICLES AND THE PATENT
MEDICINE STAMP ACT.

It appears from the letters of some correspondents
that in Sheffield a somewhat unexpected activity
has been manifested by the Excise authorities in
regard to certain articles sold by chemists and
druggists with labels that are held to render the
use of patent medicine stamps necessary. Upwards
of forty chemists, we are informed, have been fined
in sums varying from five shillings to five pounds.
In one or two instances the Excise officers have
bought a gross of “ penny pills ” and the
sellers have received notice from the Somerset
House authorities that they are liable to a penalty of
ten pounds for each box sold. The action thus
taken is most probably due to the use of labels in
which the pills or other preparations are described
as being prepared solely by the seller, and as being
useful as remedies for certain forms of bodily ail¬
ment. We are informed that many of the con¬
demned labels had been in use for a number of
years and were considered to be quite safe.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to obtain
any particulars of these cases, and cannot, therefore,
do more than speak of them in general terms, but
this reference to the subject will suffice to point out
the desirability of inquiring whether the labels used
for such articles may not be of a nature to involve
the stamp or liability to a penalty for infringement
of the Act. In some instances it is difficult to
decide this question, and it is always best to send
the labels to Somerset House, and ask whether they
require a stamp or not.

HONOURS TO PHARMACISTS.

Another addition to the number of pharmacists
who hold the position of magistrates has lately been
made by the appointment of Captain J. G. F.
RicnARDSON, of Leicester, now a Member of the
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, as one of the
magistrates of that borough.

The election of Mr. C. J. Blelock, Chemist and
Druggist, as Mayor of Chester, also, has been the occa¬
sion of a very graceful compliment from his confreres
in the city, an address congratulating him upon his
attainment to the dignity, signed by twenty-five
members of the trade, having been presented to him
by Mr. T. Shepheard, on behalf of the chemists
and druggists of Chester.

December 13, 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

473

§i;ouim|iat transactions.

LEICESTER CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

On Tuesday evening, Nov. 18th, a lecture was delivered
by Mr. J. Young, on “The Ethylic Alcohols of the B.P.”
Mr. Thirlby in the chair.

The lecturer commenced by referring to the ety¬
mology of the word alcohol, and proceeded to define an
alcohol as “ a compound of a hydrocarbon radical with
hydroxyl.” Some time was spent in discussing the
chemistry of the alcohols in general, and coming more
particularly to the consideration of ethylic alcohol, the
lecturer treated of its derivation, the process employed in
its manufacture and rectification. The researches of
Fownes, by which he obtained an absolute alcohol of the
specific gravity 0'79380 and their bearing on the absolute
alcohol of the B.P. specific gravity 0’795, were noticed,
and also the loose way in which, until lately, alcohol
was defined to be proof, or over, or under proof. The
lecturer showed by experiment that alcohol consider¬
ably stronger than proof spirit does not ignite gun¬
powder when inflamed. Proof spirit was defined to be
“ an alcohol containing 49’24 per cent, of absolute
alcohol.” Some interesting experiments on the con¬
traction of mixtures of alcohol and water, were also
performed.

A vote of thanks to the lecturer was proposed by Mr.
Thirlby, seconded by Mr. Edwards, and carried unani¬
mously.

DOVER CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the above Association was held
on Friday, November 7.

Mr. Cotterell and Mr. Wilford were re-appointed to the
respective offices of President and Secretary for the
ensuing year.

After the transaction of business, the members ad¬
journed to the supper table and a pleasant evening was
passed.

In replying to the toast “Success to the Dover Chemists’
Association,” the President expressed his gratification at
the continued success and usefulness of the Association,
which had now entered upon its fourth year, and hoped
that in the future these would be increased.

MIDLAND COUNTIES CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting was held in the Great Western
Hotel, on Tuesday, the President, Mr. W. Southall,
F.L.S., in the chair. In spite of the unfavourable weather
there was a very fair attendance.

The annual report, which was read, spoke with satis¬
faction of the financial condition of the Association, there
being a balance of £57 6s. 5 cl. remaining in the Trea¬
surer’s hands after payment of all expenses. After
referring to the settlement of the action of the Apothe¬
caries’ Company v. Shepperley, and the death of Mr.
Alfred Bird, for many years a valued member and sup¬
porter of the Association, the report stated that during
the past winter a series of highly interesting and instruct¬
ing lectures had been delivered, at which the attendance
had been very encouraging. The annual soiree also,
which had been held in the Town Hall, had proved
very successful. With regard to the grant which was
voted at the last annual meeting to the Chemists
and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great Britain,
the committee said that the hope then expressed had
been fully realized, and that many other local Asso¬
ciations had followed the example of the Midland
Counties Chemists’ Association in voting a grant of
money to the above society. The librarian had reported
an increased circulation of books, especially among

assistants and students, and it is hoped that the new
catalogue which is about to be issued will cause a further
increase of circulation. Some time ago, on the applica¬
tion of the secretary, the Pharmaceutical Society pre¬
sented to the Association a parcel of materia medica and
dried botanical specimens, and the committee expressed
a hope that this example may be followed by pharmacists,
and the nucleus of a valuable museum of materia medica
may be thus formed. The educational work has pro¬
ceeded satisfactorily during the past year, but no student
has claimed the grant of money in part payment of
lecture fees. Finally it was reported that the prices at
which patent medicines are sold have had the serious con¬
sideration of the committee, but notwithstanding much
deliberation it was not yet prepared to recommend any
distinct course of action.

The Chairman, in a speech of some length, commented
on the report and eventually moved the adoption of it.
This was carried.

The Treasurer, Mr. Lucas, proposed that £5 be voted
for the purpose of affording temporary relief to any well
authenticated case of distress among chemists, and this
was agreed to, the treasurer to administer the fund.
A sum of money was next voted for the purchase of a
bookcase for the library, and £5 was voted for the pur¬
chase of new books, the secretary being instructed to
draw up a new catalogue of the library and send a copy
to each member and asssociate.

On the motion of the Chairman, Mr. J. Green was
elected President ; Messrs. Holdsworth and Wilcox Vice-
Presidents; Messrs. Gibson and Morris Auditors, and
Mr. Lucas Treasurer. The following gentlemen form
the committee for the year: — Messrs. Arblaster, Bel¬
lamy, Barclay, R. Brown, A. Bird, Gibson, Stirling,
Grieves, Haydon, Jones, Morris, Partridge, W. Southall,
A. Southall, Wilcox, jun.

The committee appointed the following sub-committee
to carry out the soiree arrangements : — Messrs. Price,
Careless, Howes, Bellamy, Arblaster, Thouger, Walker,
Haydon, Mantell, Bate, Morris, Grieves, Gould, A. Bird,
Barclay, Brown, McCredie, Partridge, Gibson, W.
Southall, A. Southall.

A lengthened discussion took place upon the subject
of the prices of patent medicines, but no resolution was
proposed. There was no other business of importance.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The second meeting of the session was held in Ander¬
son’s College, 204, George Street, on Wednesday, Decem¬
ber 3, at 9 p.m. Mr. Alexander Kinninmont, F.C.S.,
President, in the chair.

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been
read and adopted, the President called upon Dr. J. S.
Whittaker to give a lecture on the “Chemistry of
Digestion.”

Dr. Whittaker commenced his lecture by a general
survey of the various parts of the alimentary canal
directly employed in the process of digestion, and with the
aid of a large diagram he showed the way in which food
introduced into the mouth, after being torn by the teeth
and mixed with the saliva, was carried into the stomach
to be acted upon by the gastric juice, etc. As the food of
mankind consists of various elements, starch, albuminoids
and fats, the various juices of the alimentary canal act
differently on them ; thus the saliva converts starch into
glucose but does not act on albuminoids ; pepsin of the
oastric juice acts on albuminoids but not on starch or fat.
Dr. Whittaker, after describing the digestion of food in
the stomach, as carried on by the pepsin of the gastric
juice in presence of hydrochloric acid, passed on to
notice the functions of the liver and pancreas. Although
it is known that the bile from the liver aids digestion in
the large intestines, yet its real function .is not known,
and it cannot be said with certainty what is the tiue pait

474

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (December 13, 1879.

played by the bilious secretion in the human body.
After stating the large amount of bile secreted, Dr.
Whittaker directed attention to the pancreas, an organ
that has occupied the attention of physiologists some¬
what largely of late as to its true function in the
economy of digestion. From late observations it has
been shown that the secretion of the pancreas acts on
the various classes of food, viz., starch, albuminoids, and
fats; it acts like the saliva and gastric juice together. One
of the active principles of the pancreas is called tripsine;
it acts on albuminoids. The action of the pancreatic
juice in the duodenum was then described by Dr. Whit¬
taker, and its power in changing starch into glucose,
dissolving albuminoids, and emulsifying fats and causing
them to be absorbed into the system. All the foregoing
results could be obtained artificially by using the various
medicinal preparations, e.g., pepsine for albuminoids, malt
extract for starch, and pancreatic juice either for starch,
albuminoids or fats. But the lecturer remarked that
the medicinal value of these articles depended greatly on
careful preparation, for that from overheating in prepara¬
tion the majority of commercial specimens of malt
extract are inert ; in preparing therefore the fluid from
the pancreas artificially great care must be taken not to
destroy its activity by too much heat. In continuation
the lecturer said that the aqueous extract of the pancreas
of the cow or hog contained tripsine, etc., it was therefore
useful in some cases of deranged digestion. The extract
is best given, if to aid intestinal digestion and the absorp¬
tion of fats, about two hours after food along with 15 grains
of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in water, the soda being to
prevent its action being impaired by the gastric juice. in
passing through the stomach. Dr. Whittaker concluded
his lecture by stating that food, artificially digested by
the aid of ferments, diastase, pepsine and pancreatine,
develops a nauseous disagreeable taste; hence in order to
digest milk, wheaten gruel, etc., artificially by the aid of
aqueous pancreatic extract and keep it palatable, the
process must be arrested before it is completed by rais¬
ing the temperature to the boiling point.

The Secretary, Mr. John C. Hunter, showed a specimen
of the aqueous extract of the pancreas made by Dr.
Whittaker’s directions, also a specimen of pancreatized
cod liver oil prepared with pancreatic liquor made accord¬
ing to Mattison’s process, vide ‘ Year-Book of Pharmacy,
1874.’ He found that the cod liver oil emulsified very
well with the fluid, and it required no gum tragacanth.

After a few remarks from the President, Dr. Whittaker
was awarded a very hearty vote of thanks for his instruc¬
tive and interesting lecture. The meeting then separated.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The third meeting of the second session of the above
Association was held in the rooms of the Pharmaceutical
Society (North British Branch), 10A, George Street, on
Thursday, December 4. The President, Mr. D. McLaren,
occupied the chair.

The minutes of the preceding meeting having been
read and confirmed, the Secretary, Mr. J. H. Fisher, read
a paper on “Superstition.”

In introducing the subject, he remarked that to a large
extent superstition had been, and still was, mixed up with
the trade of a pharmacist, and pointed out that its agency
was very often the cause of remarkable cures. The very
fact that the public gazed with awe and wonder on the
mysterious operations, quaint symbols and unintelligible
writings of the dealer in drugs, was largely taken
advantage of, and innumerable preparations bearing the
name of medicine — some of them utterly worthless and
often pernicious — were palmed off upon the unsuspecting
and credulous. Passing from pharmacy proper, the
essayist gave a short sketch of witchcraft, and the means
employed by its devotees to obtain their desired ends, and
showed that their success rested wholly on the supersti¬

tion of the common herd. The struggles of the alchemists
to obtain the “elixir vitae” and the “philosopher's
stone” were noted, as well as the complex calculations
of the astrologers in order that they might open up a
future closed to all mortal eyes save their own. Mr.
Fisher then referred to the mythologies of several
countries, and noticed in conclusion the spiritualism of
the present day, remarking that superstition could not be
said to have disappeared, so long as Dr. Slade and his no
less popular transatlantic compatriots could so easily
batten on the purses of our gullible countrymen.

The paper was criticized at some length by Mr. Mahen,
who concluded by moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr
Fisher, which was seconded by the President, and carried
by acclamation.

The President intimated that the committee had
fixed upon “Rhubarb” as the subject of the essay for
apprentices’ prize, and having read over the regulations
to be observed by intending competitors, he invited all
apprentices who were members of the Association to
become competitors.

The President then gave a detailed account of the steps
he had taken in the subject of shorter hours, and
intimated that for the present the committee had no
hope of attaining the object in view. After considerable
discussion, it was resolved to discontinue the committee,
and defer all further consideration of the subject until
the annual meeting in April.

The next meeting would take place early in J anuary,
when there will be a debate on the admission of women
as members of the Pharmaceutical Society.

of Jfyieittiftit Societies.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on December 4,
Mr. Warren De La Rue, President, in the chair.

The following certificates were read for the first time : —
J. C. Evans, W. H. Glazier, K. W. Hedges, R. Howell,
J. Hogarth, J. McCarthy, A. K. Miller, W. O. Prosser.
An election of Fellows was to have been held, but as less
than forty Fellows were present, the ballot could not be
taken. The President expressed a hope that all members
would endeavour to be present at the next meeting
(December 18), when, if possible, the ballot would take
pUce.

The following papers were read : —

The Comparative Value of different Methods of Frac¬
tional Distillation. By F. D. Brown. — When fractional
distillation is carried out on a large scale, either or both
of two well defined processes can be used. In the first,
“ washing,” the mixed vapours are passed through several
layers of liquid obtained by their own partial condensa¬
tion ; in the second, “ cooling,” the mixed vapours are
partially condensed by allowing radiation to take place
or by passing them through a coil kept at a given tem¬
perature. In both processes the liquids of highest boiling
point are kept back and a better distillate is accordingly
obtained. A possible explanation of the success of the
first process is that by obstructing the passage of the
vapour, the successive layers of liquid give it more time
to cool ; from this point of view the two processes are
identical. In the present paper the author has endeavoured
to determine whether there is any essential difference
between “ washing ” and “ cooling ” or not. The mixture
employed throughout the experiments was the one used
by the author in his previous research and consisted of
carbon disulphide and benzene. The dephlegmator advo¬
cated by Linnemann, Bel and Henninger, etc., was first
compared with a glass tube, 600 mm. long, inclining
gently upwards, exposed freely to the cooling influence of
the atmosphere, etc. As a result of several experiments
it was found that the distillation with the long cooling
tube yielded slightly better results than that in which

December 13, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL- TRANSACTIONS,

4 75

the vapour was washed by passing through the dephleg-
mator, and that both the deplilegmator and the cooling-
tube produced better distillates than the retort or the
flask with T piece usually employed. These results were
to some extent, however, vitiated by the fact that the
distillations were not carried out in equal times, and in
order to render the results more strictly comparable, the
author constructed a long glass tube and fitted it up with
a movable series of disks of wire gauze (each disk con¬
taining a short brass tube, trapped at the bottom to
prevent the vapour passing up the tube instead of through
the layer of liquid condensed on the wire gauze), so that
this tube could be used either as a simple cooling tube or
by inserting the disks could be converted into a dephleg-
mator. Great care was taken to make the times of the
distillation as equal as possible. As a result of these ex¬
periments the author concludes that “ washing ” and
“cooling” are not identical processes and that the
dephlegmator has a special value and gives better results,
other things being equal, than the simple cooling tube.
The author then contrived a more exact and delicate
process of cooling by means of which the still-head could
be kept at the lowest possible temperature compatible
with the passage of vapour into the condenser. This was
effected by passing the worm of the still through a strong
copper box which is partly filled with a liquid boiling
about the temperature desired; the vapour from this
boiling liquid is condensed in a worm which returns the
liquid to the box, the box, worm, etc., being air-tight and
constructed of stout copper. The final adjustment of
temperature was obtained by connecting this air-tight
system with a pump, so that the pressure under which the
liquid boiled in the box could be varied at will ; by this
means the vapour round the still-head could be kept at a
constant temperature for an indefinite period, or could
be varied without much trouble by alteration of the
pressure. By using this apparatus and charging the box
with carbon disulphide and the still with a mixture
containing 42‘69 per cent, of CS2, a distillate was obtained
containing in two experiments 97 to 99 per cent, of CS2.
The author also tested the apparatus by distilling com¬
mercial benzene and separating almost pure benzene. Thus,
1100 c.c. of a very impure sample gave (the still-head
being kept at 81°) at 80°‘4, 155 c.c.; at 80o,8, 176 c.c ;
81°, 180 c.c.; 82°, 191 c.c.; after 500 c.c. had distilled
over the experiment was stopped, a sample of the residue
distilled as follows: — At 95°, 80 c.c.; at 100°, 130 c.c.;
at 105°, 158 c.c.; at 110°, 186 c.c. The paper contains
tables of the details of the experiments, curves showing
the compositions of the distillates and drawings of the
apparatus.

Dr. Armstrong said that as far as he knew no one had
previously compared the values of these two processes of
washing and cooling from a scientific point of view. He
could confirm Mr. Brown’s statements as to the importance
of the rate of distillation and the extent of cooling surface ;
he did not think that fractional distillations of homologous
bodies, the vapours of which seemed, so to speak, to hang
together, were of much value, unless large quantities
were employed.

Mr. Neison thought that a separation could be effected
by fractionally distilling small quantities. He had used a
very simple apparatus with good results ; it consisted of
a flask, the neck being closed with a cork, through which
passed a tube ending inside the flask in a bulb with a
drawn out and turned up beak.

The Chairman remarked that he had worked on the
same principle as that carried out so completely by the
author; but instead of surrounding the still-head with a
vapour of constant temperature a thermometer was
inserted in the still-head and the temperature carefully
watched.

Mr. Brown did not think that any hanging together of
vapours took place; in his opinion small quantities could
be successfully manipulated by using an apparatus of
small size.

The next paper was read by Mr. Muir —

On the InHuence Exerted upon the Course of Certain
Chemical Changes by Variations in the Amount of Water
of Dilution. By M. M. P. Muir and C. Slater. — The
authors have studied the influence of the addition of
water on the reactions which ensue when solutions of (1)
calcium chloride and sodium carbonate, (2) strontium
chloride and sulphuric acid, (3) barium chloride and
potassium oxalate are respectively mixed at various tem¬
peratures and for various times. The two solutions under
experiment were mixed, allowed to stand for the required
time and the precipitate formed estimated by filtering off
or pipetting some of the clear supernatant liquid. In the
first reaction, the amount of chemical change decreases re¬
gularly as the dilution increases ; in the second and third
various irregularities occur which the authors have in¬
vestigated in detail. The paper is lengthy, and contains
numerous and elaborate tables and curves, without which
the results cannot be given intelligibly. The authors
continue : — Every chemical system appears to tend towards
that condition of equilibrium which is marked by the
greatest loss of energy. This tendency may be arrested in
various ways, e.g ., by impressing upon the system what may
perhaps be described as an artificial state of equilibrium.
Thus, the condition of most stable equilibrium for a
system originally consisting of barium chloride and
potassium oxalate would be that in which barium oxalate
and potassium chloride are produced ; but by adding
much wafer a portion of the reacting molecules is,
according to the hypothesis of the authors, loaded with
water of hydration. In this loading energy is lost, but
the loss is less than that which would occur were molecules
of barium oxalate and potassium chloride formed ; the
system is therefore unstable, but a certain degree of
stability is impressed upon it by the presence of a large
mass of one of the products of the dissociation of the
complex and unstable hydrated molecules. Thus a system
in a state of strain is produced ; a small force may be
sufficient to relieve the strain and the relief may be
attended with a rapid rearrangement of the parts of the
system. Accordingly the authors found that small
physical differences, such as the roughness or smoothness
of a beaker, filtering instead of pipetting, etc., had a
large influence in dilute solutions. The authors conclude
with the hypothesis that the amount of chemical change
which occurs when barium chloride and potassium oxalate
are mixed in the proportion of 1 : 1 molecules is irregularly
affected by the mass of water of dilution present, because
the entire system is brought into a state of strain due to
the stress between its parts, and that the principal forces
of which this stress is compounded are the force tending
to produce cryohydrates and other hydrated molecules, the
force tending to split up these molecules and the force
tending to separate, and so to impart greater mobility to
the chemically active molecules of the system.

Mr. Muir then read a paper —

On the InHuence of Temperature upon the Decomposition
of Barium Chloride by Potassium Oxalate in Aqueous
Solutions. — In concentrated solutions temperature has
but little influence ; with more dilute solutions, the first
increase of about 20° causes a marked increase of action,
after this the influence of temperature is more regular.
With still more dilute solutions increase of temperature
causes at first a slight increase, then a rapid increase of
action until a point is reached, after which further increase
of temperature but slightly affects the amount of chemical
change ; with very dilute solutions the influence of tem¬
perature again becomes nearly regular.

Mr. Neison showed by the aid of some mathematical
formulae that for the lower temperatures a larger period
of time should be given, otherwise the results obtained
would not be comparable with those obtained at the
higher temperatures.

The next paper was read by Dr. F. R. Japp —

On a and IS Phenanthrene Carbonic Acids - -The author
has already described with Dr. Schultz {II Chem. Qesell.

476

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 13, 1879

x., 1661) the alpha acid, he has since prepared it in a
purer state and finds its melting point to be 266° instead
of 260°. This acid was prepared from crystallized calcic
phenanthrene sulphonate by converting the latter into the
sodium salt, distributing the dry sodium salt with potassic
ferrocyanide and saponifying the nitrite thus obtained.
In the preparation of the calcic phenanthrene sulphonate
much dark-coloured syrupy mother liquor was left. This
mother liquor was subjected to the same processes which
had yielded a phenanthrene carbonic acid from the
crystallized salt, in the hope that the corresponding
phenanthrene carbonic acid might be more easily purified
than the syrupy sulphonate. 80 grams of crude acid were
thus obtained from 2 kilos of commercial phenanthrene ;
after considerable difficulty the acid was purified by
recrystallizing it as a sodium salt. By distillation with
soda lime phenanthrene was obtained, being identified by
its melting point, picric acid double compound, and the
quinone obtained by oxidation. By oxidation with
chromic anhydride in acetic acid phenanthrene quinone
was formed. The author has tabulated a comparison of
the salts of the a and j3 acids. The a acid crystallizes
from hot glacial acetic acid in colourless curved blades,
melting at 266° ; the /3 acid crystallizes in stellate groups
melting at 250° — 252°. The a sodium salt crystallizes
with 4 mols. of water in colourless pointed blades ; the
/3 salt with 5 mols. of water in rhomboidal laminae. The
a barium salt crystallizes with 7 mols. of water in long
flexible needles, the @ barium salt with 6 mols. of water
in long brittle rectangular laminae. In conclusion the
author enters at some length into a theoretical considera¬
tion as to the constitutional formula of phenanthrene,
which in his opinion consists of three benzene nuclei, one
of which shares four adjacent carbon atoms with the two
others, one ortho pair with each. Phenanthrene may
thus be derived from naphthalene by a repetition of the
process by which the latter hydrocarbon is derived from
benzene.

After some remarks by Dr. Armstrong, to which Dr.
Japp briefly replied, the Secretary read a paper —

On some Derivatives of Phenylacetic Acid. By P.
Philipps Bedson. — This paper contains an account of
the separation of para and ortho nitrophenylacetic acids,
both of which are crystalline substances ; the former
melts at 150°— 151°, the latter at 137°— 138°. . Also of
para and ortho bromo derivatives which crystallize from
water in white needles; the former melts at 114° — 115°,
the latter at 103° — 104Q. A dibromophenylacetic acid
has also been prepared by the long-continued action of
bromine on monobromophenylacetic acid in sunlight; it
crystallizes in white needles, melting at 114° — 115°. A
more detailed account is given of the bromonitrophenyl-
acetic acids and the corresponding bromamido acids, short
notices of which have appeared in the Ber. Dent. Chem.
Gesell.y x., 530 and 1065. A third isomeride has been
obtained with these substances by nitrating crude bromo-
phenylacetic acid. This /3 bromonitrophenylacetic acid
crystallizes from glacial acetic acid in small transparent
prismatic needles, melting at 162°, yielding by reduction
p bromamidophenylacetic acid, melting at 186°.

The Society then adjourned to December 18, when the
following papers will be read: — On the Specific Volume
and Density of Water of Crystallization. By T. E.
Thorpe. On the Analysis of Organic Bodies containing
Nitrogen. By W. H. Perkin. A ballot for the election
of Fellows will also be held.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association was held on Thurs¬
day evening, November 27, when the President, Professor
Attfield occupied the chair. A paper on “ Study ” was
read by Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S. Mr. Holmes rlivided
pharmaceutical students into two classes— those who wish
to acquire just sufficient knowledge to enable them to
pass the examinations and no more, and those who from

love of knowlege desire to acquire all the information
that they possibly can on matters scientific or otherwise
connected with their business. The object that a student
ought to have in view when studying at the School of
Pharmacy is to obtain such information as cannot under
ordinary circumstances be acquired in retail business, but
which nevertheless is necessary for the safety of the public
and for the proper carrying on of business. Business
habits and a sound knowledge of the physical characters of
the various galenical and other preparations should have
been learnt during apprenticeship, but as long as appren¬
tices are taken merely with a view to get work done
cheaply and but little trouble is taken to impart informa¬
tion to them, or to inculcate business habits, so long will
the evil recoil upon the masters in the form of incom¬
petent assistants and ignorant members of the trade. If
these facts were rightly understood the complaint which
is sometimes querulously but most unreasonably made
that men who have passed the examinations of the Society
are less useful in business than those who have not, and
that they are conceited with the knowledge which they
have obtained, would never occur. The best reply to such
a complaint is the undeniable fact that the most successful
students are almost invariably employed in the leading
houses of business in London, and that a large number of
the best businesses in the country are in the possession
of men who formerly took prizes in the School of Phar¬
macy. Mr. Holmes then gave his advice as to the best
time for study, which he considered was the morning, and
showed the important influences of rest, diet, and pure
air upon the student. The different methods of memori¬
zing by sight, place, sound etc., were then noticed, and
the importance of close observation, and the taking of
mental notes, as well as the maintenance of a concise and
clearly-written note-book, in which the matter can be
referred to with ease, were impressed upon the student.
In reading books the student was warned against skipping
difficult passages or delaying the comprehension of them
until a future time, and was advised to thoroughly master
the meaning of every sentence at the time of reading.
The advantages of recreation by means of physical
exercise was noticed and recommended to the student.
Mr. Holmes urged all to strive to obtain prizes, arguing
that although it was possible only for a few ta get them
yet the competition served as a stimulus for strenuous
study. He considered that those who endeavour to
shorten their course of study at the expense of efficiency,
are guilty of an attempt not merely to deceive the
examiners, but to falsely represent to the public the
amount of knowledge they possess. The passing of an
examination ought to be an honest guarantee to the
public that the examinee possesses the knowledge which
the government of the country stipulates he shall have
acquired.

After the reading of this paper a lengthy discussion
took place, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to
Mr. Holmes.

The Secretary then announced that at a meeting of the
Executive Committee, held on November 21, the follow¬
ing gentlemen were appointed reporters on science for
the ensuing session : —

Pharmacy . H. R. Arnold.

Botany . F. W. Branson.

Materia Medica . R. H. Parker.

Physical Chemistry . A. Senier, M.D., F.I.C., F.C.S

Inorganic Chemistry . C. H. Hutchinson, F.C.S.

Organic Chemistry . W. R. Dunstan.

Analytical Chemistry.... A.. F. Dimmock.

The meeting then adjourned.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting was held at 32a George Street, Hanover
Square, on Wednesday evening, November 26, Mr. F. W.
Branson in the chair, when a paper was read by Mr.
A. P. Luff on “Water Analysis.” The paper commenced

Dec u-ber 13, 1879. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

477

with a description of the substances liable to be present
in potable water, the sources of those substances, and the
influence that their presence or absence would exercise in
deciding as to the quality of a “ water.” A risumi and
criticism of the various processes employed in water
analysis then followed, the subject being illustrated by
several experiments and an exhibition of some of the
apparatus used.

A discussion followed in which Messrs. Branson,
Nayson, Parker and Wallis took part.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Wallis, seconded
by Mr. Parker, and carried unanimously, by a very
large meeting, who evidently fully appreciated Mr
Luff’s interesting paper.

§arliamentarg and Jfcuu |roi;ccdiit0s.

Poisoning by Arsenic. — Omission to obtain Signa¬
ture in Poison Book.

An inquest on Mary Elizabeth Perry has been held by
Dr. Thompson, borough coroner, at the Dispensary,
Bideford.

Annie Greenoff, a fellow-servant of the deceased, stated
deceased asked witness to go on an errand for her, which
she consented to do, and she gave her a small bottle, and
asked her to go to Mr. Cadd, chemist, and obtain the
smallest quantity of arsenic. She went, and Mr. Cadd said
three pennyworth was the smallest quantity he could sell,
and that if she would leave the bottle he would supply it
on the morrow. She left the bottle, and on the follow¬
ing evening she went accordingly, and Mr. Codd gave
her the bottle, and told her not to poison herself. The
bottle was wrapped up, and deceased seemed pleased
on her giving it to her. When going up to bed deceased
took the bottle up with her, and placed it on a box. It
was labelled “ poison,” and the contents were of a white
colour. Her fellow- servant caught up the bottle, and
the deceased ran after her to secure it, saying, “ Don’t,
don’t be foolish. Let me have it. It is used for killing
blackbeetles.” The bottle was given up, and deceased put
it in a drawer. On Wednesday deceased got the break¬
fast as usual, and sat down and partook of it, and then
shortly after she became sick, and Mrs. Gottwaltz, her
mistress, sent in some brandy and water, and deceased
was put to bed. She had heard deceased say something
about taking arsenic for spots in the face. Deceased was
generally of a quiet disposition. About three weeks ago
she remarked, inconsequence of her not getting the dinner
properly, that she had a “good mind to destroy herself;”
but on Tuesday last she said that “life was sweet.”

Mr. E. Rouse, medical practitioner, said he was called
to see the deceased shortly after ten o’clock on Wednesday
morning, and found her quiet and not suffering any pain.
On asking her what she had taken deceased replied,
“ Arsenic,” that she had taken more than a teaspoonful,
and that she had thrown the bottle with the remainder
in the fire. He applied the usuai remedies, but without
avail, and she died the same evening. When he first
saw her she was not suffering from any aberration of
mind. He made a post mortem examination of the body,
and the contents of the stomach indicated strong symp¬
toms of arsenical poisoning. Deceased was not pregnant.

Mr. William Cadd, chemist and druggist, said that he
supplied half an ounce of grey arsenic to Annie Greenoff
on Tuesday last. It was -not much coloured, but the
bottle was properly labelled “poison.” He made an
entry in the book of the sale, but he did not get the young
woman to sign it according to the Act ; but he knew the
young woman very well as he had supplied similar poison
to her father for killing rats. He thought it was for a
similar purpose. The book was put in.

Mrs. Gottwaltz deposed that the deceased was generally
of a quiet and even disposition, and, so far as she was
concerned, there had been no unpleasant less with the

deceased. On Wednesday morning, when she was taken
so ill, the deceased said that she had taken more than a
teaspoonful of arsenic. Witness said, “ You have taken
poison, and the deceased did not reply ; but afterwards
said that she had taken the poison for the spots in her
face, and added, “ I have been very silly.” Witness
replied, « You have been more than silly.” This same
statement she repeated to her mother in the afternoon,
o le was perfectly responsible for her acts, and seemed to
know perfectly well what she was doing.

jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict
“ That deceased died by an overdose of arsenic.” The
coroner remarked that it did not lay with the jury to
take any action against Mr. Cadd, the chemist, who
supplied the poison, and who admitted having sold the
arsenic without getting the girl to sign the book, and
without colouring the poison. The matter of colouring
was not important in this case, but had the girl taken
the white powder in mistake for starch, or anything
uninjurious, it would have been very serious. The jury
could scarcely, he thought, let the matter pass without
some cognizance. — The jury, however, declined to express
an opinion on the subject. — Western Morning News.

(©bituarg.

Notice has been received of the death of the follow¬
ing:—

On the 13th of November, 1879, Mr. Robert Griffith,
Chemist and Druggist, Llanbedr. Aged 66 years.

On the 18th of November, 1879, Mr. hdward Preston
Hornby, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Lower Hillgate, Stock-
port. Aged 53 years. Mr. Hornby had been a Member
of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1853.

On the 22nd of November, 1879, Mr. Charles Samuel
Dale Steward, Great Yarmouth. Aged 78 years. Mr.
Steward was one of the earliest Members of the Phar¬
maceutical Society, but had retired from business several
years previous to his death. Mr. Steward was univer¬
sally respected by all classes and held the office of chui'cli-
warden of the parish for thirty years. After the funeral
a meeting of the mayor and principal inhabitants of the
town was held and £50 were subscribed towards a me¬
morial window to be put into the parish church in respect
to his memory.

On the 23rd of November, 1879, Mr. William Smith
Lingard, Chemist and Druggist, Stockport. Aged 63
years.

On the 23rd of November, 1879, Mr. William Judson,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, High Wycombe. Aged 46
years. Mr. Judson had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1869.

On the 25th of November, 1879, at Manchester, Mr.
Thomas Sirncook, for forty years in business in Man¬
chester and Liverpool. Aged 79 years.

On the 29th of November, 1879, Mr. Ebenezer
Vaughan Williams, Chemist and Druggist, St. Thomas
Street, Weymouth. Aged 46 years.

On the 3rd of December, 1879, Mr. John Sidney
Bowes, Chemist and Druggist, Camp Road, Leeds. Aged
32 years.

On the 6th of December, 1879, Mr. Edward Snape,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Great Hampton Street, Bir¬
mingham. Aged 71 years. Mr. Snape had been a
Member of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1842.

Jtaks and (faeries.

[632]. CHLORAL HYDRATE. — Delta will find that
if he keeps his solution of chloral hydrate more concen¬
trated, one minim to represent a grain, no change of
importance will take place.

Lavandula.

478

THE rHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 13, ihtp.

[636]. DR. STARTIN’S POMADE.— I have used the
following formula : —

ft Hydrarg. Subchlor.,

Pulv. Hyd. Ox. Rub. . . . . . aa

Ung. Simplicis . §j

M. bene.

A. T. Osbourne.

[642]. PRESERVATION OF JELLIES.- Can any
reader inform me of the process adopted in preserving
jellies in a large way? A safe way is to immerse the
bottles in water up to 140°, cork and then boil. The jelly
thus prepared will keep ; but it never sets firmly while
in the bottle and therefore is of no use in preparing for
the trade. Alex.

[643]. CURING- BACON. — Can any reader kindly
inform me how the Irish cure bacon in so short a time ?

T. H.

[644]. EXTRACT OF SALT. — Does any reader of
the Pharmaceutical Journal know what it is that con¬
fectioners designate by the above ? The person who
applied for it stated that it was a white crystalline powder
used by bakers with carb. soda and hop liquor for
making a kind of yeast.

A. P. S.

A NEW MARKING INK.— The use of chloride of
lime in washing being now so general, the old nitrate
of silver ink is of very little use. I send the recipe of
one I have tried and which cannot be removed by any
chemical means and does not require heating.

One ounce of phosphate of manganese to 2 ounces of
hydrochloric acid ; then add \ ounce of anthracene in £
ounce of water with a ^ ounce of potassic chromate ; add
gum and well shake. Write with any pen.

R. Robert.

GREGORY’S POWDER.— As a note to Mr Gilmour’s
excellent paper on Gregory’s Powder, I may say with
others that I have had the same complaint about its non¬
miscibility •with water.

This I believe I have overcome by first wetting the
sieve all round, an inch or so from the sides, and drying
it to a certain degree of dryness before a quick fire, then
sifting the magnesia through in this condition of damp
Avarmth ; lastly, making the Gregory and sifting the Avhole.
The resulting powder should be the colour of chamois
leather and should be kept air-tight in a cold dry place.

C. Billing.

THYMIC ACID (THYMOL) AND THYMATE
OF SODIUM. — Dr. Alvin gives the following formula
for using thymol in place of carbolic acid in caustic,
alterative, or astringent applications to the mucous mem¬
brane of the throat. He has found these preparations
much better tolerated, more agreeable, and quite as active
as those of carbolic acid
Caustic.

ft

Thymol Cryst .

Glycerines Puree .

. pts. 2-4.

ft

Thymol Cryst .

. pt. 1.

Iodinii .

. pt. 1.

Potassii Iodidi .

. pt. 1.

Glycerinse Purse .

. pts. 5-15.

Alterative.

ft

Thymol Cryst .

. pt. 1.

Glycerinse Purse .

. pts. 50.

ft

Thymol Cryst .

. pt. 1.

Iodinii .

Potassii Iodidi .

. pts. 1 -2

Glycerinse Purse .

. pts. 12*0.

ft

Thymol Cryst .

. pt. 1.

Tannin .

Glycerinse Purse .

. pts. 100.

Astringent.

ft Thymol Cryst . pt. 1.

Glycerinse Purse . . pts. 500.

Pastils.

(Useful in superficial stomatitis, irritation of the upper
air passages, and erosion of the mucous membrane in
smokers, and they are very useful in quieting spasmodic
cough. They should be made trial of in whooping-
cough.)

ft Thymate of Sodium ... 1 milligr. (gr. J5).

Chlorate of Potassium . .10 centigr. (gr 1^).

In severer forms of stomatitis, amygdalitis, pharyngo-
laryngitis : —

ft Thymate of Sodium . . 1 milligr. (gr. ^).

Borax . . .10 centigr. (gr. 1£).

These pastils may be taken to the number of six to ten
daily.

THYMOL-VASELINE OINTMENT is made by
dissolving twenty grains of thymol in an ounce of vaseline.
It is useful in eczema and as a parasiticide.

GLYCEROLE OF THYMOL.— The formula is:
thymol, 20 grains ; glycerin, rectified spirit, of each, an>
ounce; distilled water to 16 ounces. Useful in pityriasis,
and, when diluted, as an effective antiseptic mouth-Avash

It is said that thymol has the property of immediately
removing the smell of tobacco. — New Remedies.

INDELIBLE INK WITHOUT SILVER SALTS.
— Triturate 1 *75 gram of aniline black with 60 drops of
strong hydrochloric acid and 42-43 grams of strong
alcohol. The mixture is diluted with a hot solution of
2*5 grams gum arabic in 170 grams of water.

This ink does not attack steel-pens, and is neither
destroyed by mineral acids nor by caustic alkalies. —
Pharm. Centralh.

gisjjqniiinu 3Hemoi[;tiub.

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

Replies.

[345]. To the opinions already expressed on this pre¬
scription allow me to add mine.

I am of opinion with Mr. Mackay that chemists are
certainly not justified in retaining a precipitate in a
preparation, because a certain physician so orders his, or
because a similar proprietary preparation contains one,
but at the same time I hold that a dispenser is not
entitled to filter or otherwise tamper Avith a prescription
unless he has distinct injunctions to do so.

C. Billing.

[377]. Novis will probably find the source of his
difficulty (which should have been stated) in an impure
specimen of sodse salicylas. The pure salt, such as is
obtained from the natural acid existing as methyl sali¬
cylate in oil of wintergreen, should always be used in
dispensing, for reasons recorded in Pharm. Journ. [3],
viii., p. 785.

If the ext. cinch, liq. be added to the other ingredients
in solution, a copious precipitate is produced, readily
diffusible by agitation, and not at all inelegant. If,
hoAvever, the sodse salicylas used has been obtained by
the action of carbonic anhydride on sodium carbolate,
the precipitate will assume a more or less flocculent and

December 13, l«79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

479

-disagreeable appearance according to the amount and
•character of the impurity present.

R. H. Parker.

[378]. Adolescens will find the following method of
dispensing the prescription satisfactory : —

Place 3 ozs. of the lime water in a 4 oz. bottle and pour
in the vaseline, previously melted, shaking vigorously
immediately, when a nice creamy emulsion will result,
now rub down in a mortar the oxide of zinc and calamine,
with the emulsion added gradually making up the bulk
to 4 oz. with aq. calcis.

The London Dispenser.

Query.

[379]. I had the following prescription to dispense,
would you kindly publish it in the J ournal, so that I may
learn which would be the correct way to dispense it ? —

R. Pepsina Porci . gr. 4

01. Absinth . q. s. ft.

Pil. i. Mitte xii.

Theta.

(fotlWoitdW.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Election of Three Annuitants.

Sir, — I think that I may venture to assume that in
recording our votes, we shall all wish to act on the principle
of “ Detur digniori ; ” but, speaking for myself, I find it
impossible to persuade myself that we have sufficient data
given us in the voting papers, from which to form a satis¬
factory judgment, and thus confer our votes on “the most
worthy.” To a very great extent, I submit, that for present
purposes (though cceteris paribus or pcene paribus, I do not
forget other considerations) need is worth, the most needy
the most worthy. But how to divine which of the nine are
most needy, I find not.

B has about £23 per annum ; H (with a child dependent
on her) has £32. These are the only two who make at all
a definite statement of their resources, for I cannot under¬
stand in what sense, D, who has £12 from her son, says,
that she “ with the assistance of her daughter is keeping a
school, the proceeds of which do not cover the expenses.”
It surely cannot mean that her daughter is helping her to
do something which makes her poorer than if it were left
undone ; to continue in such a course as this were absurd,
and suicidal indeed. But I think one may, on consideration,
reasonably infer that she does not mean this, and that this
school keeping is of some advantage to her, although we are
quite in the dark as to its amount, and so can form no
definite estimate of D’s income. C’s children cannot afford
“much” pecuniary assistance; F depends on “two
daughters in situations;” G, on “two sons, clerks.”
Now, really, considering 0, F and G, we must perforce
indulge in such flights of imagination in trying to fix that
very elastic quantity “not much,” and the multiform
capabilities of ‘ ‘ daughters in situations ” and of “ clerks,” that
I am afraid there would be no reasonable probability of our
returning in time to give our votes on the 19th. A “has no
means, no children, no friends:” D, “no relations;” T
(with a wife subject to epileptic fits), “no relatives, no
friends in a position to assist him.” Now, are we really
intended to suppose from this, that A, D and T, have been,
and are, and will be till the' time of the election (and, if
unelected, after), living on nothing? If we are to take A’s
account au pied de la lettre, we have no alternative, that
I can see, about him. About D we might fancy that though
he has no relations, he may have means or friends ; and
that T, though he has no relations and no friends able to
assist, may have means.

You see, Mr. Editor, in groping about in a vain endeavour
to do my duty, how bewildered I have become for want of
more light; shed some of your beneficent rays on my
darkness (I will not dare for a moment to hint that it is

not as clear as noonday to every other voter), and then 1
shall see that greit desideratum — how to live on nothing !
But not like the horse, please, who did without eating, and
died as soon as he had learned! Seriously, sir, I do think
that we ought to have the exact income of each candidate
given to us, and not to be left to the tender mercies of our
own unguided imaginations ; we are men of business, and
should act as such. If we are not in a position to do this,
would it not be better to give up the responsibility and the
farce of voting, and leave, once for all, the matter to be
settled by the Council ? But, if this may not be, if we must
retain our responsibility, at least, raise your powerful
voice, sir, and do your best to make our voting a reality,
and the Benevolent Fund the greatest benefit to “the most
worthy.”

Hoc Age.

41, Church Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead.

The Evening Meetings.

Sir, — I infinitely regret that my modest “growl from the
gallery” should have constrained your correspondent Mr.
J. B. L. Mackay to dance forth in war-paint and feathers
as the champion of “ our head quarters.”

I am sure my “ ridiculous and delusive letter ” did not
merit such exertions on his part. Nevertheless, your
readers, in common with myself, will owe a lasting debt of
gratitude to Mr. Mackay for his affecting description of the
beautiful arrangements which have made the house of the
Society so remarkable.

What more convincing proof is needed of the perfect
ventilation of the “lecture theatre ” than is to be found in
your correspondent’s assurance that during class hours
the students sit and shiver from the draughts? Besides,
who would venture to complain of being nearly choked
with foul air, when it is possible, as Mr. Mackay says, to be
“suffocated with the open canopy of heaven?”

I would fain hope that Mr. Mackay will not long delay
his promised contributions touching the “death-rate among
pharmaciens ; ” and if in the meantime he has to submit
himself to the surgical operation, of which tradition tell U3
most of his countrymen stand in need, he may find comfort
in the reflection that he will be thereby enabled to more
fully appreciate the value of what Horace once said about
ridentem dicere verum.

Your correspondent has concluded his letter by compar¬
ing me to Baal. I must gently disavow any connection
with so exalted a personage. Bather than Baal, I would
liken myself to the humbler Baalam, inasmuch as I have
met with rebuke from an unexpected quarter.

Notwithstanding this, as long as I survive the effects of
the Evening Meetings, I shall take my place in the
gallery as

One of the “Gods.

[*#* There is much in this letter, as well as. that to
which it is put forward as an answer, which is quite beside
the subject of the ventilation of the Society’s lecture
theatre. If the discussion is to continue we must request
our correspondents to avoid personalities and confine their
remarks to that question. — Ed. Ph. J.]

Health and Late Hours.

Sir,— Another side of this question as . affected by late
Losing is the moral health of chemists’ assistants.

Whether justly or unjustly, they are sometimes blamed
rith being faster than assistants in other lines of business.
Lfter all, they are subject to human wants, as much as more
ivoured mortals. They require the relaxation of company
fter a long day’s work, and into what society can they
nter after 9 or 10 o’clock at night ? It is too late to visit
-iendly circles, and there seems only one chance for them,
lither they must sink into the creature described by your
orrespondent in a recent issue, or take the company
bat is found easiest at such hours. If it is not always of
be best class, their employers are largely to blame, and
lust stand the consequences of not endeavouring to create
steady and trustworthy race of assistants.

True it is possible to withstand temptation, and it is to
beir credit that numbers prefer no company to the other
lternative, but they belong to two classes. They either
well the ranks of these “ poor, white faced men, who,
ickin^ all energy, are not competent assistants ; or, they
efuse°to accept a situation with such unreasonable hours,
nd failing to find “anything suitable,” they leave the

430

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [D.-cembsr rU3“9.

business. This may perhaps cast a contradictory light
over Mr. Barnaby’s source of consolation, “ the survival of

the fittest.” . , , ,

When an assistant, some years ago, in Edinburgh, where
chemists close much earlier than in London, I called upon
all those north of George Street, aud obtained the signature
or assent of all but one to close at 8 o’clock. To this one
hung another, and to these more, and the attempt fell
through. But there is little reason to think that chemists
would suffer from the opposition of an extra hour at night.
Did they determine to act reasonably, and in this matter,
independently, they might surpass, by additional energy
diffused into eleven hours, the business dragged out over
thirteen or fourteen.

Menton. G. W.

Sunday Trading.

Sir, — I read with great interest the weekly correspond¬
ence on the above subject. I quite agree with the remarks
of “Yolo” on the unnecessary articles applied for on
Sundays. A few Suudays ago I too took notice of a few
things applied for at our shop ; amongst a host of others
were soft soap, turpentine, baking powder, lemon kali,
hair oil and vinegar. On inquiring what the vinegar was
required for, the customer told me that she had some fish J
for supper, and wanted some vinegar to it. Could she not
iust as well have bought her vinegar on Saturday ? When
the public know that a chemist’s shop is open on Sundays
(especially if it is a shop where the trade is mixed) they
make a “ convenience ” of it, and think we are compelled
to be open as a matter of course. Even the poorest working
man has his day of rest on Sunday. Why then should a
chemist’s assistant have to stand behind a counter for two
or three hours on Sunday evenings. Again, if medicines
are required they can be supplied at the side-door equally
as well as through the shop. Why should the door be
thrown open and the place lit up like a public house ?

Is a halfpennyworth of laudanum or paregoric to be
called medicine specially on Sundays ? for such is the nature
of a few of the “ medicines ” applied for at our shop. 1
think that if some association were formed it might tend
to mitigate the evil.

With respect to late closing, which is extremely bad in
this town, — indeed 1 should think it is the worst in England
for that, — is not twelve hours long enough for anyone to
stand behind a counter? Is it likely that an assistant after
working for thirteen or fourteen hours will commence to
study at ten o’clock at night ? No. If he means to keep
iu good health he must get a little fresh air then, if he can¬
not get it at any other time, or else go to bed and prepare
for another day’s drudgery : for so it is in some shops. I
have seen a chemist’s shop open here at 11 ‘15 p.m. on an
ordinary night (not Saturday) in order that the proprietor
might scrape together a few more pence than his brethren
who closed earlier. H. Woodward.

44, Great Alfred Street, Central, Nottingham.

Wood Sage as a Substitute tor Hops.

Sir, — Perhaps it will not be amiss to point out to those of
your readers who may be tempted to try the substitution of
wood sage for hops in the operations of “home-brewed,”
that it will not do for pale ales ; for upon the authority of
Gray it will darken the product.

I had hoped that your suggestion in the “ Month,” for
September 27, as to a new edition of Gray, would have
been responded to. Is it too much to ask for one more
favour at the hands of Professor Redwood ?

Worthing. J. Burt.

Is Nitrate of Potash a Poison ?

Sir, — In the report headed “Is Nitrate of Potash a
Poison ?” (before, p. 417) it should have been stated that the
cattle drench weighed over 8 ozs. Your readers will prob¬
ably differ in opinion from the County Court Judge as to
whether containing only a “ small admixture ” of other
substance it was a poison or not.

How can a New Name be Protected ?

Sir, — I should be obliged if some of your readers could
inform me how to proceed in order to secure the sole right
of using a newly coined word to be applied to a newly
devised preparation.

I understand that entry at Stationers’ Hall gives no sole
right to any word that may be used on a label, and that
registration under the “Trade Marks Act” requires some¬
thing more than a mere name or word in the shape of a
“ device,’ but that the same name or word may be used by
any other person in connection with any other device. Am
I correct in this ?

Styjua.

R. Modlen. — As such weights and measures could hardly
be said to be used for purposes of trade it is at least doubt¬
ful whether their verification wovfld be compulsory under
the new Act. But there can be no doubt as to the advis¬
ability of having them verified.

W. R. H. — For a recipe for liquid dentifrice, see before,
p. 79.

J. Sumner. — The fact that you imply that the prepara¬
tion is an occult one, prepared only by yourself, would
most probably be held to constitute it a patent medicine.
But you are recommended to send a copy of the label to
the Inland Revenue authorities, as they alone can answer
your question with authority.

A. C. — ‘ Historical Sketch of the Progress of Pharmacy,’
by Jacob Bell, a copy of which is in the Society’s library.

“ GalangalN — Back numbers of this Journal may be
obtained from the publishers, Messrs. Churchill, 11, New
Burlington Street.

J. F. Golding. — We cannot say. You are recommended
to make an analysis of it.

Delta. — For a recipe for cherry tooth paste, see before,
p. 79.

K. — Pulvis glycyrrhizse co. of the Prussian Pharma¬
copoeia is the same as the pulvis liquiritiie co. of the
German Pharmacopoeia, the formula of which has been
already given in this Journal on several occasions: —

Foliorum Sennae ......... 2

Radicis Liquiritise, singulorum pulvera-

torum partes duas . 2

Fructum Foeniculi pulveratorum ... 1

Sulfuris depurati, singulorum partem

unam . 1

Sacchari optimi pulveiati partes sex . . 6

Misceantur.

J. L. Wilkes. — Numerous recipes for ink have been
already given in the present series Among others see vol.
v., p. 704, for coloured inks, and, for black, vol. vi., p. 1004;
vol. vii., p. 95; vol. viii., p. 702, and vol. ix., p. 718.

W. Ruthven. — See before, p. 340.

J. H. McIntyre. — (1) Apply to the local authority for
the district in which you reside. (2) It must be a matter
of arrangement between the buyer and seller, but probably
some of the wholesale houses will undertake the work
when proper arrangements are made for carrying out the
Act.

A. Greaves (Chesterfield). — We regret the discrepancy
between your opinion and our own, and can furnish no
further explanation of our reasons for not publishing your
letter in defence of the sale of paregoric without opium
than we have already given in this Journal on pp. 331
and 432.

NM4. — The formation of a deposit in the B.P. spiiit.
arnmon. aromat. in seasons when the temperature is very
low is not of uncommon occurrence. It consists, probably,
nearly entirely of bicarbonate of ammonia and is much
more likely to occur when the distillate does not contain
the full percentage of alcohol. If you take the specific
gravity of the preparations in question at 60° F., you will
probably have an indication of 0‘ 875 to 0‘880, instead of
0870.

J. D. M. — You are recommended to submit your label to
the Inland Revenue authorities, who alone can decide
whether it will necessitate the use of a stamp. _ _ _

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. McNaughten, Reynolds, Cranwell, Mitchell, Goss,
Southall, Fair Remuneration, Devon, St. Rule, J. D. M.,
T. W. L.

Richard Young.

December 20, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

481

NOTE ON ERVUM ERVILIA, THE BITTER

VETCH.

BY WILLTAM SOUTHALL, F.L.S.

In the Journal for April, 1873, was given the
result of a trial at the Birmingham County Court, as
follows : —

“An action has recently been brought to recover
damages alleged to have been sustained by the death of
fifteen pigs, caused by eating adulterated meal, supplied
by the defendant. Evidence was given that the stomachs
of the dead pigs presented symptoms of irritant poisoning.
Dr. Hill, the borough analyst, said that he had analysed
a portion of the meal, and had been unable to detect any
trace of poison ; but that there was some sand present,
to which, perhaps, the inflammation was due. For the
defence chemical evidence was given by experts that the
meal contained no poison. The judge decided in favour
of the defendant, expressing an opinion that the deaths
resulted from the improper manner in which the food was
given. ” — Birmingham Gazette.

This trial occupied two days, and twenty-four
witnesses were called. My firm was employed by
one of the several parties interested to analyse the
meal hut, the result being negative as regarded the
ordinary poisons, was not called upon to give evidence.
The hypothesis relating to the proper cooking of the
meal was raised by my ingenious friend, the late
Alfred Bird, who suggested that the meal being
mixed with cold water lumps of starchy coagulate
were formed which were totally indigestible and so
caused death, whereas had the meal been properly
cooked with hot water it would have been soluble,
and no harm would have resulted. In this view he
was followed by a professor of materia medica and
by a professional chemist. The manifest effect of
the food was severe vomiting, followed by speedy
death. The judge delivered an elaborate judg¬
ment, in which he said he laid no claim to practical
knowledge in feeding pigs, but he adopted the view,
and gave a verdict for the defendant. It will pre¬
sently be seen that this view was in the direction
of the truth, but was quite erroneous.

Being interested in the subject, and desirous of
solving the obscurity in which it was left by the
trial, I procured some of the seeds of which the so-
called pea meal was made and found that they had
been called Egyptian peas, but that they were really
very much smaller than peas, and that the correct
name was Rovi seed, a cargo of which had been
imported from Turkey. These I sowed in my
garden ; they sprang up, flowered and bore fruit, and
proved to be the Ervum Emilia , or bitter vetch. I
sent a specimen to Professor Oliver, at Kew, who
confirmed the name. The mystery was now made
clear, as these seeds are known to be poisonous.

Since that period I have heard of several cases of
pigs being poisoned, but could not obtain the seeds
of which the meal they were fed upon was made.
During the last summer, however, a number of pigs
were poisoned at Stratford-on-Avon, and on examin¬
ing the seed, I found it to be about half Rovi seed,
and the remainder a black tare, or vetch, a much
larger seed. It therefore seemed to me desirable
that a statement of these facts should be published,
for the sake of the pigs and possibly for that of
men.

The seed of Ervum Emilia is about the same size
and almost exactly the same rufous-brown colour as
that of the Egyptian lentils {Ervum Lens), and when
the testa is removed they are both of an orange-
Third Series, No. 495.

pinkish colour, but the former is not so bright as the
latter. The seeds of E. Emilia are not, however,
lenticular, but are obtusely triangular, and this serves
to distinguish them from lentils, for which popular
food they might be an unpleasant substitute.

Modern writers do not take much notice of E.
Emilia ; it is by several simply mentioned as poison¬
ous. Lindley, in his ‘Vegetable Kingdom,’* says that
the seeds mixed with flour produce weakness of the
extremities and render horses almost paralytic.
J. C. Loudont attributes these same qualities to
Lathyrus sativus, but his figure of L. sativus is that
of L. Aphaca, so there may be some confusion with
both writers. Sir John Hill, whose ‘Herbal’ is
dated 1756, dismisses it as a plant having no pro¬
perties worthy of notice ; but if we gob ack another
hundred years we find it to be an article of the
materia medica, and that it had the credit of curing
the Emperor Augustus, “ whose griefe it is probable
was a touglie flegine condensate in the lungs, and
hard to be avoyded and spit forth.”

In those well-known books, Gerarde’s ‘Herball’i and
Parkinson’s ‘ Theater of Plantes, ’§ the bitter vetch
and it3 virtues are fully described, and the same
engraving does service in both. The name given is
“ Orobus receptus herbariorum and it is curious to
observe how the properties attributed to it by Galen
and the older writers are quoted in every book of
this and of anterior date, except Celsus, that I have
consulted. After the old fashion it is said to be hot
in the first degree and dry in the second. Gerarde
says that “ men do altogether abstain from the bitter
vetch, for it hath a very unpleasant taste and naughty
juice ; but kine in Asia and in most other countries
do eat thereof, being made sweet by steeping in
water.” It is directed to be given as a medicine
with honey as an electuary.

In the Commentaries of Matthiolus upon Dios-
corides,|| a book of about the same date, we find that
there was then considerable, controversy as to the
true identity of Orobus, Ervum, and Ervilia, and
which of the plants known to the ancients were
meant by those names. He quotes Galen, “ Boves
apud nos ut apud alios plerasque gentes Ervo in
aqua edulcato pascuntur; hominitm cibis prorsm .
hoc semen damnatur, est enim insuavissimum, et pravi
sued.” In Bauhinus’ great work, ‘ Historia Plan-
tarum/IT the difficulty is still fuither worked out,
one suggestion being that Ervilia must be the same
as Phaseolus, the kidney bean, because that is the
only legume of which men eat the pods and seeds
together. It is even suggested that it may be Doli-
chos. He says that Brasevolus believes Ervilia to
be the legitimate Ervum, but the more general
testimony appears to be that it was a different plant,
known to the Greeks as Ochros. One species of
Orobus is spoken of as Orobus semine obtuso triangido,
and this answers well to our bitter vetch . .

An interesting clue to the name Ervum is given.
“ Quod verb Erbum Avicennas {Orobon Grceci appellant,
nos Ervum).” I may say that it appears to me that
the name Rovi is also clearly derived and descended
from Orobus, it being probably grown on some

* Lindley’s ‘Vegetable Kingdom,’ 1853, p. 548.

+ Loudon’s ‘ Encyclopedia of Plants, 1836, p. 620.

X ‘ The Herball,’ J. Gerarde, 1636, p. 1225
S ‘Theatrum Botanicmn, J. Parkinson, 1640, p. 10yy.

\\ P. A. Matthioli ‘Opera,’ 1674, p. 343%

Beuhini, etc., ‘ Historia Plantarum, l6ol, tom. u.y

296.

482 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (December 20, 1879

■ ■ - ' ' "

shores of the Greek Archipelago. "W hilst this note
has been passing through the press my attention
has been called to the Gardeners7 Chronicle of Decem¬
ber 13, where it is mentioned that Dr. Whittmack
recently exhibited some carbonized leguminous
seeds disinterred in the ruins of Troy by Dr. Schlie-
mann, which on careful examination proved to be
the seeds of Ervum Ervilia.

A hundred years further back than Bauhinus,
we meet with a mention of Ervum in the works of
our first English botanist of repute,* * * § William Turner,
1551, printed in black letter, with beautiful plates.
He says, “ Bitter fiche burdeneth the hede mych, the
same eaten troubleth the belly. It draweth out
bloude by the water. This pulse well sodden
maketh oxen fatt. Ervum helpeth a ma to pis well.
The same maketh a man haue a good colour.” He
is exercised as to the identity of the plant ; scolds
Fuchsius for misleading him, and gives for his
engraving a species of Lathy rus, which he calls
Orobus Sylvestre.

We now get back to the ancients. I have not
Galen to refer to. Celsusf mentions both Lenticula
and Ervum, and his editor, Dr. Milligan, notes the
first to be, “ Ervi Lentis , L., varietas major,77 the
second, “ Ervum Lens, L. but if the Latin “ Ervum 77
be the same as the Greek u Orobus,” this would be
incorrect. Pliny ,% writing soon after, mentions the
twenty virtues ascribed to it, including its curing the
bite of serpents — and of men — and also adds that if
sown in March, it is injurious to oxen, if in autumn,
it produces headache, but if sown in early spring, it
produces no bad results ; but Pliny does not dis¬
criminate his facts. Dr. Bostock, his editor (Bohn’s
edition), says in a note that the blade is said to be
poisonous to pigs, and that the farina of E. Ervilia ,
is much advertized as a food — but Revalenta is now
supposed to be the farina of Ervum Lens.

Having now traced the history of the Rovi seed of
the Archipelago up to the Orobus of the ancient
Greeks, let me return to its poisonous properties.
The ancients and those accustomed to use it knew
that these could be •eliminated or destroyed, by
soaking in water, as is the case with other vegetable
products which are poisonous in their natural con¬
dition, but which are made wholesome by water, by
heat, or by both combined. This property may
reside in the testa, which is the most bitter part, so
that when decorticated, the seeds would be whole¬
some, but I am not aware if this be the case or not.

It has been stated that sheep may feed on the
Rovi seed. On the other hand, pigs, notwithstanding
they are such gross feeders, have delicate stomachs ;
it is said they cannot eat even haricot beans with
impunity. They are probably modified by the
artificial life they lead. Darwin§ says that white
sheep and pigs are injured by certain plants, whilst
dark coloured individuals escape. In Florida, the
squatter selects the black members of a litter, as they
only have a good chance of living — as the pigs eat
the paint root ( Lachnanthes ), which colours their
bones pink, and causes the hoofs of all but the black
varieties to drop off.

At the trial it was stated that one of the witnesses

* ‘ A New Herball,’ W. Turner, 1551, sheet p. iii.

t ‘A. Com. Celsi Medicinae, etc.,’ 1831, p. 197.

£ ‘Natural History of Pliny,’ Eohn, 1856, vol. iv.,
pp. 51 — 451.

§ Darwin’s ‘ Origin of Species,’ 1869, p. 13.

offered the meal to some pigs who declined to par¬
take of it ; he kept them without food all day, and
offered it again, but they still declined. Whether
these pigs were black or not was not stated, but it
would appear that their original aptitude for dis¬
cernment in the selection of proper food had not
been destroyed by their artificial mode of living —
whatever their original physical capacity might have
been. Light coloured pigs certainly have a much
more objectionable appearance than black ; their skin
is too much the colour of the noble biped to look
correct. One witness stated that she had given the
meal to her pigs without harm, but then she had
only given a small proportion with other food and
had first well steeped it in accordance with the
ancient custom.

I fear this subject has been treated too much at
length, but it is certainly one of importance to the
porcine world, and if an occasional cargo of Rovi
seed is imported we do not know where it may find
its way.

THE BOTANY OF THE KURAM AND HARIAB
DISTRICTS.

The following report, dated 22nd June, 1879, from
Surgeon-Major J. E. T. Aitchison, botanist, Ivuram Field
Force, upon the Kuram and Hariab Districts has been
communicated to the Indian Daily News by the Press
Commissioner, and will be read with considerable in¬
terest : —

I have the honour to forward, for the information of
Major-General F. S. Roberts, C.B., Y.C., commanding
the Kuram Field Force, the accompanying report upon
our present knowledge of the Kuram and Hariab dis¬
tricts. I have only touched upon the more salient points,
and those with which I have been able to make myself
familiar during the short period I have been investigating
the flora. I consider it a matter of great importance to
science if Government would consider the subject, and
permit me to remain employed for some time at these
investigations, and hope the Major-General will take the
matter under his favourable consideration.

Thull. — Thull is a village on the Kuram river, at an
altitude of 2500 feet, surrounded closely by low hills, the
highest peak in its vicinity being that of Kadimuk, 4900
feet. In the small basin of Thull the flora is peculiarly
that of the salt range of the Punjab, consisting of a few
stunted shrubs, with occasional trees near water. The
hills are, with the exception of grass, nearly barren of
anything like vegetation, and when it does exist it is in
hollows where shade and moisture can be obtained.
Kadimuk would, from its altitude, if it were in the
Punjab salt range, be much better clothed. Here,
already the crushing-out effects of a winter cold enough
to deposit snow, and want of moisture in the atmosphere,
point out why, between this and the base of the Safed
Koh range, there exists little or no natural vegetation.
In summer, for several months the climate is that of the
Punjab — a dry tropical heat. There are few plants that
can withstand these extremes of temperature. The re¬
sult is that, as we proceed towards the town of Kuram
(4800 feet), we find, except such parts of the country as
are cultivated by irrigation, that it is treeless and almost
a barren waste. In the basin of Thull, where the Punjab
forms are nearly all present, the first characteristic one to
be absent is Capparis aphylla. The olive is rare ; from
this to the village of Shaluzan I have only seen it near
houses and holy places, as ziarats, its place being taken
taken by Reptonia buxifolia, which bears a remarkable
resemblance to the olive. A little distance out of Thull,
in the more open country, Daphne mxicronata, Reyle,
Sophora mollis, Wall., and Cotoneaster nummularia, Fisch,
are the plants that make up most of the scrub jungles,

December 20, 1379.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

483

apd range from this right through the Kuram Valley up
to the Hariab, all reaching to nearly 10,000 feet, and
from that little scrub there occasionally is amongst the
pines at this high altitude. In gradually ascending the
Kuram Valley, we soon lose our chief Punjab forms.
At Ahmad-de-Shama, eight miles from Thull, Acacia
moclesta and Dalbergia sissoo are last seen. Periploca
aphylla, however, accompanies us to nearly opposite
Kuram, and in some quantity, being largely cut and
collected as fodder for camels. The only occasional tree,
except in the immediate vicinity of water, is Pistada
integerrima and a small Rhus. Wherever water is em¬
ployed for irrigation there the crops are good, and trees
of various sorts rapidly spring up. At Hazir Pir Ziarat
fine trees of Platanus orientalis and Salix are to be seen.
These increase in number and size as we reach Kuram.
Up to this Chamcerops Ritchieana has been more or less
frequent, but from this it gradually disappears, along the
left bank, at least, of the Kuram Valley, but is found
forming a thick, dense, aloe -like scrub on the plateaux
that lead west up to the Darwaza Gai Pass. When this
palm is not injured or cut, it forms a branching tree of
from 15 to 25 feet in height, as may be seen at many of
the shrines between Kohat and this, or even within the
walls of Peshawur, near one of the gateways. It extends
largely into the Khost country. In the Kuram Valley
the fibre of the leaves is the usual, and ordinarily the
only, source of rope, all imported as leaves from Khost.

Kuram. — Kuram is a large village and fortress situated
on the left bank of the river of that name, at an altitude
of nearly 4800 feet, in an open valley. The nearest hills
to the north being over nine miles off, to the south some
low hills descend close into the river ; but, speaking
generally, it is situated in an extensive open plain, the
broad bed of the river lying to its south. At a distance
of about fifteen miles running from east to west (slightly
south) is the Safed Koh range of hills. The two highest
points are at the extreme ends. The one at the east
called Karaira is about 15,200 feet, the one at the west
called Sika Ram (but by the local natives Spin Ghar) is
15,400. Prom Kuram, 4800 feet to the base of the hills
to its south, up to 6000 feet except for irrigation, which
has been most laboriously carried out, the plain country
would be an arid, shrubless tract, perfectly treeless ;
grasses and a few small herbs alone give the little green
that occasionally meets the eye. When irrigation is
employed then the crops are in profusion and rich, the
soil yielding two crops in the year — the first, barley,
wheat, and clover ; the second, maize, rice, millets, tobacco,
peas, cucurbitacese, a little opium, and some cotton in the
more southern parts of the district, with numerous orchards
of large trees. The greatest extent and finest cultivation
occurs at the exit of the various streams from the moun¬
tains on to the plains, under the protection of the hills ;
as, for instance, at Shaluzan, where the trees grow to as
great a size of their kind as any in Cashmere, and much
more healthy, owing to the dryness of the climate pre¬
venting the numerous lichens and fungi affecting the
trees. There are Chunars Platanus orientalis with a
girth of 14, 16, 18, 25, and one 33 feet. The walnuts are
finer than I have ever seen. Many trees of 9, 11, 12, 13,
and one of 17 feet. With rare exceptions, are the trunks
ever hollow or unsound. They have neither lichens nor
mistletoes infesting them as in Kashmir. The amlok,
Diospyrus Lotus , is very numerous and a good tree ; its fruit (
is considered next in value to that of the walnut. Apricots,
plums, apples, pears, grapes, Eleeagnus, a few peaches,
quinces, pomegranates, and almonds, form the mass of
the orchards. There are no cherries.* Mulberries are
grown for feeding silkworms with, and, as trees, are not
extremely numerous, but are fine trees. In actual garden¬
ing the natives do little. Onions, and a large white
radish, with numerous cucurbitacese, are all they go in for.
Cultivated flowers in gardens, and near holy places, are

the red Damascene rose, a white one, and the double
yellow Persian rose, an iris, a mallow, Melia Azeclurach,
as also an Eleeagnus cultivated both for its scented flowers
as well as its fruit.

The other cultivated trees are Populus alba, Salix
babylonica, and Celtis australis, L., besides another poplar,
new to me. There is one cypress in the valley of great
age : it is on the side of a hill close to Shaluzan, and
noticeable at a great distance. On the plains between
the Kuram river and Shaluzan, the little scrub that is there
consists of Daphne, Sophora Cotoneaster, some barberries,
a Buddleia, numerous Astragali, Labiatce, Composite, of
which species of Artemisia are very numerous ; but any
or all of them are chiefly found in the more sheltered
hollows rather than on the open plain. Convolvulus
lanuginosus is profuse in small hummocks from the Salt
Range to Kuram and Ali Khel. Many species of the
numerous Astragali found here will prove to be Tibetan
in their type. These plains consist of debris of all shapes
and sizes with mould poured down from the adjacent
hills by the force of snow and water deposited in great
fan-shaped masses, with a stream belonging to each fan,
cutting its way down through its centre and making its
way towards the river, usually reaching it with a much
diminished supply of water, whether taken from it for
irrigation purposes, or absorbed in passing over the lower
beds or shingle. In some instances the whole of the
water of a stream, especially in summer, is expended long-
before it has any opportunity of getting to its proper
outlet — the River Kuram.

The general outline of the country, and the above
peculiar fan-shaped debris deposits are best noticed at
some distance from the south, as in crossing over the
Darwaza Gai Pass towards Kuram, from which the view
very much resembles that seen of the Ladakh valley on
looking southwards from Leh, as long as one can imagine
the distant forests to be mere shading of the hills. In
looking over the Kuram "Valley and the hills beyond from
the Darwaza Gai Pass, we see lying before us (usually)
the great mass of the snow-clad peaks of the Safed Koh
range, extending from north-east to south-west. The
lower hills, or rather high peaks of the spurs of the main
range, seem to form two or thi-ee lower ranges ; these are
all covered with forest from the top down to 7000 feet,
after which they are seen to be bare as they gradually
lose themselves in the plain that extends from nine to
fifteen miles before it reaches the river. The first vegeta¬
tion to be traced on these hills on their southern exposure
is Quercus Ilex commencing at about 7000 feet, as a good
large dense bush ; this as it ascends gets more tree-like
and begins to be mixed with Deodar, Pinus excelsa, Abies
Smithiana, gradually forming a dense forest when Abies
Webbiana appears in it, chiefly near the ridges, and
continues up to 11,000 feet, when the forests thin off, and
gradually cease. At 9000 feet, commonly Quercus semi-
carpifolia appears and takes the place of Quercus^ Ilex , if
it has come up as far, or often drives out the pines and
forms a forest of its own. East of Shaluzan with a south
exposure there is no Juniperus excelsa or Pinus Gerardiana ,
and as far as I can hear, and of what I myself have seen,
thex-e is no Pinus longifolia from Thull to this. Pinus
excelsa abounds in this district taking to itself the
Pashtu term “ Nakhtar.” Except the bushes being
lai-ger of the already specified Daphne, Sophora, Cotone¬
aster. barberx-ies with an occasional Viburnum and honey¬
suckle, there is no undei-growth or bush vegetation. In
this locality these forests of Deodar are very fine, and the
timber supei'b. It forms fully three-fourths of the forests
usually. Except of Quercus semicarpifolia in certain
localities, the timber of the other trees is in too small a
quantity to be alluded to when so much deodar is forth¬
coming. „ . ... . j.

It is curious to note how the foi-est of pines is directly
got at through the Quercus Ilex scrub, there being no
intervening forest as in the Himalayan ranges. As already
stated these forests reach up to 11,000 feet; here they

* This statement is, I think, incorrect. — H. C.

484

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTION'S. [De=emb«r 20, lj;>.

become less dense, and a few shrubs of Rhododendron
Antkopopon, the gooseberry and currant with bush juniper
{not excelsa) and some willows and loniceras fill up the
vacant spaces in the ending forest, until the bush juniper
along with Betula Lhojpattra (in one locality) remain
to be superseded by rhubarb, Eremw-i, Fritillaria, some
grasses, Carexes and Cruciferse. Vegetation here is not
stopped by perpetual snow, as on the southern exposure
of this range there was no snow during the winter of
1878-79. But it is kept down, I should say in its altitude,
by want of moisture in the soil as well as air. If snow
existed all the year round vegetation would naturally
ascend, I believe, higher than it now does. From Thull
to Shaluzan and up the southern face of these hills I have
seen but one fern, Adiantum Capillus Veneris. Heretofore
I have gone over the vegetation as presented to us upon
the southern aspect of these hills. Let us go along a
water-course, or stream-bed, and examine any other ex¬
posures of these hills than the south. We find in the first
place the pines descending to form a natural forest much
lower down, a Deodar and Pinus excelsa may be seen at
6500 feet. The forests thin with a great deal of shrub
and underwood, and shrubs gradually being removed by
other trees than pines. At first it is enlarged bushes of
the original Daphne, Sophora, Cotoneaster , barberries, then
Pothergilla involucrata (a Kashmir type), Cotoneaster
bacillaris, several roses, BudcUeia in profusion, several
large astragaloid Leguminosce, another large barberry,
two jasmines, several loniceras, pomegranate (wild), all
mixing with Quei'cus Ilex as a dense bush, sometimes a
tree, and a profusion of grasses. In the “ShudTor”
ravine, with entirely precipitous sides and narrow, we
come upon the walnut as a forest tree quite wild, proved
by the fruit, and perfectly natural, two species of Euony-
mus, Viburnum Carpinus, Prunus Padus, Sterculia, various
Lonicera, Rhamnus , and in the moisture of this valley
Taxus baccata, this being its western limit ! it occurs in all
the valleys to the east in similar positions. At from 8000
to 9000 feet a Rhododendron , near lepidotum of Wallich,
with green flowers. Besides a Lycopodium, eleven species
of ferns, Podophyllum, and quantities of Hedei'a Helix.
Neither J uniperus excelsa nor Pinus Gerardiana exist here.

The Peiwar Kotal range is a spur from Sika Ram (Spin
Ghar) extending south-west until it gradually loses itself
in numerous small spurs at the Kuram river, round which
the Kuram river bends from a southerly to a south-east
direction. ' The range of hills at the Peiwar Kotal has an
altitude of from 8400 to over 9000 feet, with a precipitous
descent of nearly 1000 feet to the east.

At the base of the Kotal, in the valley leading up to it
by the village of Turai, except when cultivated, the ground
is covered with a more or less dense jungle of Quercus
Ilex (covered with two species of mistletoe), but mixed
here as we notice for the first time as a shrub soon becom¬
ing a tree, J unipa'us excelsa, and our old friends the
Daphne, Cotoneaster and Sophora, besides more numerously
the small yellow rose, and Budclleia. As the ascent up
the precipitous face of the Kotal takes place, Deodar
becomes numerous with the oak as a tree, and Abies
Smithiana and Pinus excelsa now forming a tolerable
forest. Here an ash, Fraxinus M oorcroftiana, Wall., is
not uncommon, and J uniperus excelsa as a tree numerous.

But not until we get fairly on and into the woods of
the Kotal do we come upon Abies Webbiana.

Except the two oaks, Quercus Ilex and Semicarpifolia,
there is no undergrowth whatsoever.

Taxus baccata does not exist in the forest, nor do we
come upon Gerard’s pine until we pass through the forests
of Kotal and come upon their north exposure, where, on
the lower edge of the forest, it is common.

The Deodar forest from the Spin Ghar Kotal to the
Peiwar Kotal, and for miles to the south upon this spur
of hills is simply superb, and almost unlimited in extent,
and capable of being easily worked.

Ihe other pines are proportionately few, but help to
f orm a very dense forest.

The Hariab district is the basin of the Hariab river,
that is formed by the south-western base of Sika Ram
(Spin Ghar), and its two spurs, the Peiwar Kotal range
running southwards, and the range that ends in Mount
Matunge running nearly west. The Hariab falls into
the Hazar Darakht river at Ali Khel.

The Hazar Darakht river forms the base of the triangle,
with the two ranges of hills already spoken of, and thus
completes the boundaries of the Hariab district.

The Hariab river takes its rise from the several streams
that rise from the south-west face of Mount Sika Ram
(Spin Ghar) ; it is supplied by tributaries from the hills
to its north and south until it reaches Ali Khel, where
only the streams from the south and east of Mount
Matunge fall into it as it itself joins the Hazar Darakht,
a much larger stream. This united stream subsequently
flows into the Kuram.

At Zabr-Dast ICilla the river may be called Hariab, as
here at about 8200 feet the river is joined by several
streams of one size.

On its southern or left bank until the river reaches
Ali Khel, there is little or no cultivation, as the hills
come down to the banks of the river. On the right bank
there is a great deal of cultivation, as there is a large
amount of good land on this side in plateaux, all of which
is fairly cultivated from the base of Sika Ram to Ali
Khel.

The land produces but one crop during the year-
wheat, barley, maize, rice, millets, pulses, and clover.

Tobacco is occasionally grown and several of the
cucurbitaceae ; no vegetables, opium, or oil-seeds.

The climate is much colder and drier than that of
Kuram, with a more rigorous winter.

The plane tree, Diospyros , and vine do not grow here.
The walnut, as a good sized tree bearing fruit, is rare ;
small trees are not uncommon. In the stream bed, Salix
babylonica is a large tree, which, with a naturally wild
Salix, are both cultivated to protect embankments for
irrigation purposes.

Hippophae is cultivated as a hedge, and along with it
an Elceaejnus is common. The chief sources of fruit are
apricots, plums, and apples, and a few pears.

The jungle scrub of the hills is chiefly Juniperus
excelsa, with a very characteristic small stiff spinous grey
Prunus, very handsome when in full bloom, with its
peach-like blossom. Daphne Sophora, two species of
Cotoneaster, honeysuckle, Viburnum, the single yellow
rose, and another, with Crataegus. In addition to these,
as we get somewhat into the forest, currants, gooseberry,
a species of Colutea, and a Very handsome labumum-like
Astragalus, called “ jirrel the bark of this, cut off in
rings, is employed in lieu of brass rings to the sheaths of
Afghan knives, and not the bark of Betula Bhojpattra,
the paper birch ; also a most superb, great scandent honey¬
suckle, rose -red colour, very fine, and I think, a new
plant. These forests would grow down to the stream,
but they have been driven back by cultivation and search
for firewood.

On the southern exposure of the Peiwar Kotal range,
from two miles to the east of Zabr-Dast Killa, and in all
forests lying to the west of Sergul, is Pinus Gerardiana.
The Deodar and Juniperus excelsa form the forest from
this to Ali Khel.

Pinus excelsa, Abies Smithiana, aud Webbiana, are
driven out into the higher forests and ridges.

Abies Smithiana and Pinus excelsa one can always
detect, by their cones in the streams, as occurring some¬
where above. A bits Webbiana has to be gone and looked
for.

No Taxus baccata, Rhododendron, or Betula Bhojpattra,
exist to the west of Sika Ram, at least in the Hariab
district.

The fern that is occasionally to be met with is Asple¬
nium Ruta muraria,-m but I have found five others : Adi¬
antum Capillus Veneris and Ceterach officinarum — both
only near Ali Khel ; Asplenium trichomanes, Asplenium sep -

Dece. iiber 20, i87P.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

485

tentrionale, and another Asjplenium— only in one locality
each.

The forests here extend np to 11,000 feet, but higher on
the northern side : the hills are not so precipitous and
there is more moisture.

In a practical point of view, the great value to be
attached to a botanical examination of the Kuram and
Hariab valleys is its vegetable products, and the value
they may possess for any export trade.

The first of these is timber. The Deodar, our finest
Indian Himalayan timber tree, forms dense forests, many
of which it will be found can be easily worked. There is
at present no limit to the amount and quality of this
timber that can be obtained : means of exportation and
forest conservancy are the subjects that now require to be
studied.

Deodar timber used to be exported from near the
Kuram river in Mongul territory by floating down the
Kuram vid Thull to near Banu, but this has for some
years been given up.

In grain these valleys have heretofore had no export
trade, producing no more grain than was absolutely
required for local consumption. I may say the same of
their fruits, except perhaps walnuts and amlok ( Dios -
pyros).

The cause of this is simply oppression. There is land
enough to double or treble the produce.

With a very little more than ordinary care of the
water as it is expended, one-third more ground could be
brought into cultivation ; by appliances of a cheap nature,
as wooden troughs, one-third more ; and more expensive
plant would enable it to be doubled.

The very first effects of our rule in this valley will
show itself even this season in there being grain enough
for our troops locally produced, and next year ex¬
portation will begin to take place towards the Punjab
for exchange for cotton goods, which are at present
expensive.

I cannot come to any opinion as to whether the nuts of
Gerard’s pine were exported as a real trade article from
the Hariab. I know that it is so from Khost.

The natives use no oil, splinters of the roots of Gerard’s
pine, or of the stems of Pinus excelsa , being used in place
of lights.

A crude tar is made from the roots of the above pines
for local use. This is their nearest approach to oi).
It is employed for local application to wounds and
sores.

A little silk is produced at Shaluzan and some other
villages ; but in this there is no trade .

Probably the substance in which most trade is done,
both on a large scale and barter, is honey. This is exten¬
sively exported by through- carriers to Kabul and the
Khost country. Nearly every house in a village has its
bees from Kuram to Ali Khel.

In a scientific point of view, the great value of a
thorough and careful research in the vegetation of this
altogether new to science district is the material assist¬
ance it will give to the better knowledge of the geographi¬
cal distribution of plants, and the meeting of the several
floras of Europe, Persia, Afghanistan, Tibetan, Himala¬
yan, and Punjab tropical, which I already see radiate
round the Safed Koh range as a focus, besides enabling
one to obtain a more detailed and extensive knowledge of
the peculiarities in the distribution of plants dependent
on climatic zones, more or less influenced by a moist or
dry atmosphere.

From the 600 species I have already collected, I can
see already the immense value likely to accrue to scientific
botanists by the collections I am now making, and con¬
sider that the Government should permit of the subject
being thoroughly worked out.

Submitted and recommended.

Fred. Roberts, Major-General,

Commanding Kuram Field Force.
Camp Peiwar Kotal, the 5th July, 1879.

PREPAR 1TI0NS OE WHITE QUEBRACHO BARK.

( Aspidosperma Quebracho.)

BY DR. BURGOS.

The following extract from a thesis by the author
appears in the Revista Farmaceutica (Buenos Ayres), for
November : —

Powder of Quebracho Blancho. — Possesses all the phy¬
sical and organoleptic properties of cinchona powder ; in
colour it is intermediate between the red and yellow
barks. It is prepared in the same manner and can b«
used for the same purposes pharmaceutically, as an anti¬
septic alone or mixed with wood charcoal, or as an ingre¬
dient in dentifrice powders, electuaries, etc.

Infusion. — The infusion is similar to sherry in colour,
clear and transparent. It has a bitter taste, analogous in
every respect to that of an infusion of cinchona, but more
pronounced. It is prepared with the same proportions as
the decoction.

Decoction. — Quebracho Bark, bruised, 1 part ; Water, •
20 parts. Dr. Mantegazza prepares it in the proportions
of 1 to 12 or 18. The decoction is more intense in colour
than the infusion, and if it be concentrated so as t >
reduce it to one-third it, acquires a colour as deep as tha"
of port wine. It remains clear whilst kept at an elevated
temperature, but as it cools it deposits an abundant pre¬
cipitate. A few drops of sulphuric acid restore partially
its transparency by dissolving the alkaloid it contains.
If added to a solution of sulphate of iron a very large
quantity of greenish grey precipitate is produced. With
ammonia it undergoes no alteration.

The decoction is used as a tonic and febrifuge and it i <
the form in which quebracho is administered in the
provinces where paludal fevers prevail.

Digestion. — Made with sulphuric or acetic acid in the
proportions indicated for the preparation of the alkaloid
according to Fraude’s method. At the end of four to six
days it is as intense in colour as the concentrated decoction
and has a much more bitter taste, as it contains much
alkaloid in solution.

It can also be prepared for internal use with a smaller
quantity of sulphuric acid.

Tincture. — Quebracho Bark, bruised, 1 part ; Alcohol,
56°, 5 parts. Macerate during eight days and filter. (This
formula corresponds to the tincture of cinchona of the
Codex.)

Compound Tincture. — Quebracho Bark, bruised, 2
parts ; Orange Peel, 1 part ; Alcohol, 56°, 15 parts.

Wine. — Quebracho Bark, bruised, 1 part ; Alcohol, 56°,

2 parts ; White Wine, San Juan or Mendoza, 16 parts. —
Leave the alcohol in contact with the bark during twenty -
four hours, then add the wine, macerate for eight days
and filter. The use of one or other of these wines is
recommended because they contain little tannin and
possess a special aroma that communicates an agreeable
flavour to the preparation.

An Elixir, very pleasant to the palate, is made by add¬
ing sugar to this preparation.

Extracts. — Both the aqueous and alcoholic extracts
may be prepared by the ordinary processes.

Syrup. — Quebracho Bark, 3 parts ; Water, 32 parts ;
Sugar, 16 parts. — Boil the bark with the water, filter and
evaporate down to the fourth part, add the sugar and
make the syrup secundum artem.

Preparations with the Alkaloid. — Aspidospermine or
quebrachine is insoluble in glycerine. It dissolves readily
in fats and fixed oils, and may be incorporated with cod
liver oil in larger proportion than quinine. The follow¬
ing is a suitable formula : —

Cod Liver Oil, 1 00 parts ; Aspidospermine 6 to 8 parts:
Dissolve with the aid of heat. It is easy to conceive
the usefulness of such a preparation as this, in which
the special properties of the oil are joined with those
of the alkaloid, and which in small doses acts as an
eupeptic .

486

THE FHARMACEUT1CAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 20, 1879.

THE HECTOGRAPH.*

Some time ago, a new method for rapidly producing
copies of letters, or any kind of written matter was made
the basis of a patent in Austria.. The. simplicity and
facility of working the apparatus immediately attracted
universal attention, but the high price of the first appa¬
ratus was not at all in proportion to the cheap materials,
even allowing for a very respectable profit. It was soon
ascertained that the process, or rather the composition of
the printing material, was not capable of being patented,
being nothing else than gelatin (or glue) and glycerin.
Since then, in Europe as well as in the U. S., a number
of such apparatus, under various names, have made their
appearance, some of which may be seen at present at the
Exhibition of the American Institute in New York. The
price of any of these copying apparatuses is not at all un¬
reasonable, and many will prefer to buy them ready made
with all the necessary appliances. But for those who
wish to make an apparatus for themselves, we append

several methods : — t

1. Ten parts of gelatin are softened in water, and then
dissolved in 100 parts of concentrated glycerin, on the
water-bath. When melted, the mass is slowly and care¬
fully poured into a tin tray, about 1—2 cm. (|— | inch)
deep, and of any desired size. . Any rising air-bubbles
must be removed, and the mass is then allowed to become
cold, when it will form an elastic mass, a little firmer
than printers’ rollers. Such is the process, as it has been
published in some foreign journals. We have, however,
ascertained that various other ingredients enter into its
composition, among which sulphate of barium, sugar,
glucose, and chrome preparations are mentioned. The
latter, in the form of bichromate of potassium or . am¬
monium, or of chrome-alum, would render the gelatin inso¬
luble in water, after being exposed to light. As soon as we
have further information on this subject, we shall take
occasion to communicate it to our readers.

This mass has the property of absorbing to the depth
of perhaps inch writing or tracings made with certain
kinds of ink, particularly aniline inks. Any aqueous ink
would answer, but it is necessary to use one which is
made of very persistent colour. The writing desired to
be multiplied is written upon a sheet of paper with the
special ink below to be described ; after the ink is com¬
pletely dry, the sheet is laid on the moistened gelatin-
surface (writing down), and gently rubbed over with the
hand. After a short time (about 1 — 2 minutes), the
paper is removed, and laid aside. Fresh paper being
ready, a sheet is laid upon the writing, and the hand
gently rubbed over the back, when a clear and complete
copy of the writing will be found on the paper. This
may be repeated from sixty to a hundred times, according
to the quality of the ink, and the experience of the
operator. When no more copies are wanted, or when the
ink is exhausted, the surface is washed off with a sponge
and cold water. Any traces of the ink left in the mass,
after thoroughly washing, will not interfere with the next
eopy. When necessary, the mass in the tray may be
remelted.

The ink may be prepared as follows : —

Violet : methyl-violet, 2 ; dilute acetic acid, 2 ; water,
4 parts.

Or, red: fuchsine, 2; alcohol, 1; water, 8 parts.

Or : Mix 5 parts of any desirable aniline colour, 5 of
alcohol, 5 of mucilage, and 35 of water in a flask, heat
until dissolved, and after twenty-four hours strain through
flannel or wool. The selection of aniline colours is
difficult, as many of them are largely composed of dextrin,
which dries up or makes the solution thick. The best
aniline colour, according to E. Stormer, is the Violet de
Paris de Poirrier.

* Other names of this copying apparatus are : Copygrapb,
Copygram, Lithogram, Cheirograph, Autograph, etc. Re¬
printed from Neiv Remedies, November, 1879.

IODATED AND CYANATED CAMPHOR.*

Although the iodine and cyanogen substitution pro¬
ducts of camphor have not as yet found employment in
medicine, like the corresponding bromine compound, yet
it seems quite probable that they will be experimented
with. Both bodies have been obtained by Haller. His
primary object was the preparation of cyanated camphor.
For this purpose he dissolved a mixture of iodide of
camphor (improperly so called; being equal parts of
iodine and camphor) and of sodium-borneol (or natrium-
borneol)t injbenzine, and treated this, under the applica¬
tion of heat/with a solution of iodide of cyanogen in ben¬
zine. He obtained crystals having the composition
C10H15IO. When pure, they are white, insoluble in
water, soluble in alcohol, ether, benzine, etc., melt at

430 _ 440 0., but do not again solidify until cooled to

28° _ 29° C. Heated to 100° C. it volatilizes without

decomposition, but at 150° C. decomposition takes place.
This body is mono-iodated camphor.

Cyanated camphor was prepared by very gradually add¬
ing to a solution of 100 grams of camphor in 100 grams
boiling benzol (temperature between 100° and 110° C.)
8 grams of sodium, and then passing a stream of well-
dried gaseous cyanogen through the liquid, until the latter
commenced to assume a red colour. The liquid is then
transferred to a separating funnel, where it is washed
with water, which removes sodium cyanide; the remaining
hydrocarbon compound is then treated with caustic soda
and allowed to remain at rest, so as to separate the latter.
This is several times repeated, the alkaline solutions
united, acetic acid is added to faint acid reaction, the
resulting white precipitate dried and then dissolved in
ether. On evaporating this solution, cyanated camphor,
C10H15CNO, is obtained in white prismatic crystals,
soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, glacial acetic acid,
and fixed alkalies. It melts at 127 — 128° C. and boils at
25°° C.

Cyanobromated comphor is obtained by treating, at a
gentle heat, a solution of cyanated camphor in carbon
disulphide with bromine :

C10H15.CN.O + Br2 = C10Hu.Br.CN.O + H Br.

As soon as no more hydrobromic acid escapes, the carbon
disulphide is distilled off, the residue is dissolved in
alcohol and crystallized. It forms handsome crystals,
soluble in the same solvents as the cyanated camphor,
but with greater facility.

INK FOR WRITING ON SHEET-TIN.

1. Sulphate of copper (1 gram) is dissolved in 20 grams
of water, 2 drops of hydrochloric acid are added, and
sufficient solution of gum-arabic to make the ink
adhesive. This ink writes intensely black, and is very
durable. It must be written with copper pens. The
addition of a little pyrogallic acid is advantageous,
because the writing appears at once, which is not
the case with the simple copper -solution. — C. Bernbeck,
in Pharm. Zeit.

2. A jet-black, lustreless ink, or rather varnish, for
writing on sheet-tin, which is absolutely insoluble in
water, and dries instantly, may be prepared by dissolving
shellac in alcohol (2 oz. in 1 pint), filtering with the aid
of chalk, and mixing with finest lamp-black.

Incidentally, it may be remarked that a turpentine
solution of shellac with lamp-black produces, on drying,
a {/lossy black. On the other hand, an alcoholic solution
produces a perfect dead black, without a trace of lustre.
— Ed. New Remedies.

* Journ. de Ph. et Chini., and Arch. Ph., August, 1879.
Reprinted from New Remedies, November, 1879.

According to Baubigny, sodium (or natrium) borneol
is obtained by carefully adding to a saturated solution of
camphor in a pure hydrocarbon, f. i. toluol, heated to
80° C., small pieces of sodium. On cooling the compound,
CjoHioNaO crystallizes out.

December 20, 1879.] TIIE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

487

©he §hapaqulical Journal.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1879.

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

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

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

ACCIDENTAL POISONING BY MEDICINE.

Three weeks ago in mentioning an article in
the Medical Press and Circular propounding opinions
which, to say the least, seemed to us as eccentric as
they were uncalled for, we suggested that the writer
of the article might have been under the influence
which in the dead season of the year brings back to
our notice fresh accounts of prodigious gooseberries,
of interviews with the sea serpent, and of other
occult phenomena which seem conveniently to pre¬
sent themselves at that period. At any rate we gave
him the benefit of the doubt, and, abstaining from any
serious comment on the statements and suggestions
made, we thought, a free quotation of the writer’s
own words would amply suffice to demonstrate their
absurdity.

We have reason for saying that this has been the
result in some cases, if not generally, and therefore
the unfounded statements and insinuations contained
in the article referred to might well have been con¬
signed to oblivion, without further notice, if it had
not been that in the following number of the journal
in question we were charged in an editorial note
with having “been unwise enough to make a
virulent attack” upon that journal “ for bringing to
light the great evils that are the natural conse¬
quence of the existing law relating to sales of
poison.”

This editorial endorsement of the views against
which we had entered a mild protest, together with
some other circumstances to be mentioned presently,
induce us to refer again to the subject, and in the
first place we take exception to the assertion that
the Medical Press and Circular has “ brought to
light great evils that are the natural consequence of
the existing law relating to sales of poison.” That
journal denounced chemists and druggists as being
irresponsible purveyors of poison and has brought
against them the charge of carrying on their busi¬
ness so that the claims of society and of humanity are
subordinated to the sordid desire of gain ; but it has
done so without furnishing any evidence to justify the
charge. It claims, however, to have so forcibly ex¬
posed the evil Avhich it assumes the existence of, that
it is asserted the quotations we took from its article on
“Poison Vending” must be destructive to ourselves.
But we fail to recognize in those quotations anything

of such a nature. On the contrary, as regards both
the statements and the imputations conveyed by
them, we consider that so far from their exposing
any evil for which chemists and druggists are to
blame, they are in reality either silly or malignant,
besides being at variance with well-known facts and
with the opinion of the medical profession as a body.

Our contemporary affects to be glad we did not
attempt to justify the retention by the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of the authority it possesses, and
with patronizing presumption cautions us against
weakening the cause we “ must defend,” by what it
pleases to call “silly ebullitions of splenetic virulence.”

When the power held by the Pharmaceutical
Society is objected to upon grounds more valid than
the lucubrations of the Medical Press and Circular
upon “poison vending,” it will be time enough to
attempt its defence, and whenever our obligations
constrain us to take up the defence of chemists and
druggists it shall not be with such “ men in buckram ”
as our contemporary has led out against them with
true Falstaffian rant.

But is there really, as the Medical Press and
Circular assumes, any question to discuss ? and if
so, what is the question ? We take it for granted
that so long as poisonous medicinal agents are used
as remedies they will continue to be misapplied by
the general public, and that consequently accidental
poisoning will occur. We also assume that it is
imposssible to restrict the use of such poisonous
medicines so exclusively that they can only be
obtained on the order of a medical man. It would
be as reasonable to expect the use of razors to be
restricted to the order of barbers. The business of
selling poisonous medicinal agents as carried on by
the chemist and druggist is by law subject to
restrictions that are directed towards limiting the
facilities of obtaining dangerous articles. There
can be no doubt the provisions of the Pharmacy
Act do operate in that way and not, as the Me¬
dical Press and Circular alleges, by empowering the
chemist and druggist to deal wholesale destruction
in the vicinity of his shop.

Who then is responsible for that misuse of
poisonous drugs and medicinal agents which impels
our contemporary to insist upon the urgent neces¬
sity of reform ? Taking, for example, the case of
chloral. Is it not to the laudation of this article by
medical men when it was a novelty, that we must
ascribe much of its popularity ? Is it not to the
direct recommendation of it by the physician that
we must ascribe much of the improper or ignorant
use of this dangerous article ? Have not those who
used it to alleviate the consequences of intemperance
helped to subject many of the public to the danger
of accidental poisoning, and thus while endeavouring
to drive out one devil opened the door to others
worse than the first ?

But while stating this which we believe to be the
true view of the case it must not be inferred that we

488

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [De ember 20. 1879

charge medical men individually or as a body with
having acted regardless of the claims of society and
of humanity, however much the consequences of their
action may have proved pernicious. It is only be¬
cause we are driven by false accusations of chemists
and druggists to show where the source of accidental
poisoning is really t@ be found, that we comply with
this necessity of the obligation to defend them. We
will for the present leave out of consideration the
wholesome interference by which the chemist and
druggist often prevents accidental poisoning, and still
more often seeks to deter persons from the misuse
of dangerous medicines. The service thus rendered
is sufficiently well known to medical practitioners not
to need more particular mention here. But as our
correspondent, “ A Village Chemist,” shows in his
letter at page 500, the tender of this service is not
unfrequently productive of disadvantage to the
chemist and druggist. If he is not told that his
business is simply to supply the demands of his
customers, he is left to find out from the withdrawal of
their custom that this was the idea they entertained.

It so happens that a case just reported in the
Medical Times and Gazette throws a strikingly illus¬
trative light upon the subject of accidental poisoning
and upon the question who is responsible for such
occurrences. An American lady, resident in Lon¬
don, consulted a well-known West-End physician,
who gave her two prescriptions — one for six pills
containing one grain of opium each, the other for a
mixture containing six moderate doses of chloral.
By the aid of these prescriptions she appears to have
obtained large quantities of these potent and dan¬
gerous medicines, and one day last October she was
found in a dying condition, after h aving apparently
swallowed in the night the whole six doses of mix¬
ture and a dozen of the pills. Perhaps the Medical
Press and Circular would regard this case as illus¬
trating the way in which it alleges the chemist and
druggist deals wholesale destruction in the vicinity
of his shop ; but the Medical Times and Gazette puts
another construction upon it and in these plain
words : u Once, apparently, procure a prescription
“ for any noxious or poisonous drug, for whatever
“purpose, and ever after this same drug is at the
“ command of anyone who may be able to lay
“ hands on the prescription ! ” If this means any¬
thing, it means that it is the physician’s prescrip¬
tion, and not the facility of purchase offered by the
chemist and druggist, which is the master key by
which the public obtains possession of poison and
of dangerous medicines ; that document is the
passe-partout which enables the holder to override
the provisions of the law and to defy the caution of
the pharmacist.

But, says our contemporary, the Medical Times and
Gazette , in reference to the possible consequences of
such power being placed in the hands of incautious
or rash persons, “ it is grossly unfair to hold a phy¬
sician answerable for what may happen.” And why

is this held to be so surely the case 1 Why, because
prescriptions that have been found serviceable are
circulated from one to another and among the mem¬
bers of a family, or friends in the neighbourhood,
and because being once out of the physician’s hands
they are at the will of the world. True these are
the facts, and it appears to us that while they
constitute an effectual stultification of the poison
regulations of the Pharmacy Act, the logic which
offers them as the exculpation of the prescriber is
very remarkable. Might not the giving of prescrip¬
tions ordering poisonous drugs be more justly held
to excuse the chemist and druggist for supplying
these articles and simply complying with the
demands of his customers ? That is in fact his
business and, as the successor of the apothecary he
is, by tradition, if not by law, under obligation to
supply what the physician orders.

There is a candour in the acknowledgment of the
Medical Times and Gazette of the real source of the
evil to which much accidental poisoning is due, and
having recognized this we should have expected
some suggestion of a remedy; but there is none
offered, and, beyond the remark that if certain con¬
ditions existed which do not exist such things
could not occur, the subject is left in statu quo ante
with merely an expression of opinion that “ the
“ mischief arises solely from the hiatus which now
“ exists between physicians and chemists, whose in-
“ terests, taking this case for example, do not seem
“ to be identical. The physician would prefer to
“ give a fresh prescription, and receive a fresh fee ;
“ the chemist undertakes so save the physician’s
“ guinea to the patient by constantly dispensing the
“ same prescription.”

This is, to say the least, disingenuous : inasmuch
as it represents the chemist as voluntarily frustrating
the desire and aim of the physician it is not true,
and if the physician, knowing the way prescriptions
are dealt with, knowing also their power to override
the provisions of the Pharmacy Act as to the sale of
poison, considers it desirable to prevent his prescrip¬
tion from becoming a facility for accidental poisoning,
it is, we think, with him that the onus lies of
adopting precautionary measures, either by giving
his prescription conditionally and simply as an in¬
struction to the dispenser for use on one occasion
only, or in some other way. There may be difficulties
in the adoption of such a plan ; but it is not the busi¬
ness of the pharmacist to deal with or remove them,
nor is he to be blamed for accidents which occur
under the existing system. As to the hiatus sup¬
posed to exist between physicians and chemists, we
are disbelievers ; and if we are in this respect wrong,
we would ask why should there be a hiatus between
two classes so closely related in their avocations, and
why should their interests if not identical be discor¬
dant or opposed when they are constantly called
upon to act in concert and in reciprocal capacities
as servants of the public ?

December 20, 1879.3 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

489

Starnss^turas oj % flams^atol

EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.

December 10, 1879.

Present — Mr. Sandford, President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman and Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Seven candidates were examined. Two failed. The
following five passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Bown, John Quinton . Nottingham.

Carter, Francis . London.

Crook, Herbert . Gravesend.

Eaton, Edward Jarrett . Diss.

Greig, James . Glasgow.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Seventeen candidates were examined. Twelve failed. The
following five passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Allison, William Bellyard . Retford.

Bancroft, James . Halifax.

Banks, James . York.

Bell, Robert . Lancaster.

Browne, Frank Sty ant . Norwich.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

Four candidates were examined. Two failed. The
following two passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Althorp, George . Henley-on-Thames.

Rich, George B. 0 . Islington.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificate was received in lieu of
the Society’s examination : —

Certificate of the College of Preceptors.

Gelsthorpe, J ames . . London.

December 11, 1879.

Present — Mr. Sandford, President ; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman and Taylor.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates were examined. Three failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists: —

Gulliver, William Inchle . London.

Harbum, Alfred . London.

Williams, Thomas Henry . Plymouth.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty- one candidates were examined. Six failed.
The following fifteen passed, and were declared qualified
to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Chadwick, John . Accrington.

Cock, James . South Molton.

Cox, Frederick John . Newark.

Crowther, William Fearne . Beverley.

Davies, John . Haverfordwest.

Garrett, John Henry .’. . Notting Hill.

Gelsthorpe, James . London.

George, John Irving . Tunstall.

Grover, Frank . Folkestone.

Henson, William John . Maldon.

Hobbs, John Kingdom . London.

Holdcroft, Francis Joseph . Coventry.

Hooper, David . Sotithwark.

Jaokson, John Edward . Maidstone.

Jones, Jonah . Aberdare.

December 17, 1879.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman and Taylor.

Professor Greenhow was also present on behalf of the
Privy Council.

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

Six candidates were examined. Two failed. The follow-
four passed, and were declared qualified to be regis¬
tered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —

Hugill, Arthur Major . Leeds.

Kirk, William Peele . Retford.

Powell, William . Swansea.

Richardson, William Henry ...Boston Spa.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty-one candidates were examined. Thirteen failed.
The following eight passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Jacks, David Russell . London.

Jones, Charles . Ashton-under-Lyne.

Littlefield, James Clarence . Ventnor.

Lonnon, Frederick . Plymouth.

Milne, Andrew . London.

Newman, Alfred Pointon . Crewe.

Parkes, Harry Charles . Fareham.

Playford, Frederick William ...Holt.

December 18, 1879.

Present — Mr. Schacht, Vice-President; Messrs. Allchin,
Barnes, Benger, Brady, Carteighe, Corder, Gale, Greenish,
Linford, Martindale, Moss, Plowman and Taylor.

Professor Greenhow was also present on behalf of the
Privy Council.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

Twenty five candidates were examined. Fifteen failed.
The following ten passed, and were declared qualified to
be registered as Chemists and Druggists: —

Jones, William Harris . Abergavenny.

Protheroe, John Godwin . Christchurch.

Rees, Harding . South Norwood.

Richards, Thomas . St. Clears.

Richardson, William Clarke ...Nottingham.

Smith, John Ord . Scarborough.

Tod, John . Coventry.

Wale, George . New Malden.

Wilkins, Robert Elliott . Surbiton.

Winfrey, Richard . Long Sutton.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

The undermentioned certificate was received in lieu
of the Society’s Examination: —

Certificate of the University of Cambridge.
Beringer, Heinrich Roland . Redruth.

MEETING OF THE NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The second meeting of the session was held in the
Society’s Rooms, 119a, George Street, on Thursday
evening, December 11, 1879. Mr. J. B. Stephenson,
President of the Branch, in the chair.

The minutes of former meeting having been read and
confirmed, the following paper was read : —

Thoughts ok Botany ( continued ).

BY H. B. BAILDON, B.A. CANTAB.

When I had the honour of addressing this Society last
session the concluding portion of the paper which I then
read was occupied with the consideration of the wonder¬
ful and interesting phenomena exhibited by climbing
plants : and the reason that the subject was treated of at
that time was that, according to the order of progress I
have er*leavoured to observe, we had come to speak of
the ascending axis or stem of the plant. No doubt a

490

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 20, 187P.

ureat deal more might be said on this plant-spine, which
appears in so great a variety of forms, Irom the crown of
the daisy to the column of the pine. One thing may be
remarked, as being an obvious generalization, viz., the
symmetric manner in which plants of all kinds tend to
grow about this axis. It is by no means hard to discern
ample natural cause for this symmetric tendency, but still
the immense effect of this simple fact on the appearance
of the world, must not be ignored, and cannot, indeed,
be overrated. At the same time, every plant might have
been symmetrical, and yet not exhibited a tithe of the
grace and charm which we behold in nature. The mar¬
vellous subtlety, complexity and (what one can only call)
air of unconcern with which natural forms are wrought
into subjection or rather coincidence with this law of
symmetry, give rise to that aesthetic power whose opera¬
tion we “so often feel. Take any way-side plant and
make an accurate drawing of it in its natural^ posture,
and, if the drawing only be accurate, you will find in it
a charm which is best defined by saying that there is a
certain symmetry in the distribution of the mass, in the
modelling of the form into response and counterpoise of
curve and angle, which is, at the same time, secret and
subtle in the mode of its execution. Or look in winter at
a line of leafless trees, as seen inlaid on the horizon, and
you will perceive that, although no two are alike, they have
all a certain poise, an air of being delicately balanced,
which forms no small part of the aesthetic pleasure they
produce. (There are, of course, cases in which they are
maimed or warped by injuries beyond complete repair or
elemental forces too potent to be successfully resisted.)
Plants have been well symbolized— I think by Mr. Ruslcin
— as vegetative fountains. They do, indeed, rise from the
earth with a certain impulse like a spring of water ; some
like a little bubbling well, some with the aerial grace of a
Roman fountain, some as with the strong rush of a geyser.
And, as a matter of fact, branch-division, apparently so
hap-hazard a proceeding, is governed by the same simple
law as rules the division of a water- jet or pipe ; viz., that
the two branches at a fork have the sum of their trans¬
verse sections equal to that of the branch below the fork.
But their symmetric development is not the only element
in plant-form which goes to feed the spring of that beauty
with which so many are endowed. While this symmetry
with its air of unconsciousness produces an intense satis¬
faction in our beauty-perceiving faculties, there is also a
pleasure even more subtile and moving created by that
aspect of dumb volition and dim but delicate consciousness
which so many of the higher plants possess. This is a
more recondite charm than the other, and there may be
many who hardly notice or realize it, but it is, none the
less, actually exist ent, even as those rays of light., to which
our faculty of sight gives no response, and which are only
made perceptible by passing through a certain medium,
are as really existent as those which the least sharp-
sighted can perceive and distinguish. Every plant, over
and above that structure which science describes with
such laboured detail, has an individuality, a certain mien
and air of purpose about it, which is a more prompt and
intuitive and yet no less reliable test than the items of a
botanical description. And when this individuality is
perceived by a man of poetic faculty and power of literary
expression, he can hit off in a line that which seems ever
eluding the most painstaking scientist. Burns’s “Wee,
modest, crimson-tippkl flower” is a more clear and
readily recognized description, one as sharply individual
and incapable of confusion as the most elaborate statement
and catalogic definition of Babington or Hooker. It is a
description, too, not only general but special, for the three
adjectives would not apply to the daisy of the meadow
and the wayside, which is rather frank and fearless than
“ modest,” but yet exactly depict the “mountain daisy,”
found only where it has had some “ scanty bield,” and
therefore with a look of shyness and reserve, such as its
congener of the fields never affects. And of this descrip¬
tion the immense power arises from the poet’s being able,

unlike the scientist, to leave the plane of mere physical
fact and travel into the moral and emotional ; the reason
that this is a power being, that there is in the plant just
that individualism which we associate with character, and
therefore with moral qualities. Nor is such the mere fancy
of poetic and imaginative minds, because while such
characterization can only be made originally by an
imaginative mind, it is, when made, recognizable to many
if not to all. No one, of course, believes that a plant is
consciously “ modest ” in the sense that a human being
is, but it is none the less a true symbol of that quality — an
unbreathed word formed on the silent, beautiful lips of
Nature. And without these symbols how poor and bare
language and literature would be ! The loss of lialf-a
dozen plants and their symbolism would, in Yankee
parlance, “ bankrupt ” every ancient poet and many
moderns. Deprive, for instance, Hebrew poetry of but
four — the rose, the lily, the cedar, and the vine — and what
is left ? Literature so bereft would be like some glorious
illuminated missal deprived of its gold, and azure, and
scarlet.

Evolution, as I have here accepted it, is a doctrine of
progress and of hope, and it would almost seem as though
the intellectual current, — which is to the world of life
what the electric is to the electro-magnet — grew stronger
as the ages ripen. The phenomena, for example, of
twining stems, which we lately considered, are more
fraught, it would seem, with accurate calculation and
foresight than any we have before encountered. But this
class of plants must have been of late development, seeing
their powers would only be required among a highly
developed vegetation. And we shall see further on that
a tribe of plants, the orchids — obviously also late-comers
— show the most delicate system of adaptation that nature
presents. It would thus seem a3 though external nature,
as we know of it in this planet, were becoming more
highly charged intellectually as we approach the period
of man. Nor can there be any reasonable doubt that
whatever were the strange splendours of primaeval jungles
and forests, the world of to-day is richer and more re¬
fined in its beauty. So that, although we have to abandon
the conceited conviction, so long prevalent, that the earth,
if not the world, was created solely for the delectation or
edification of mankind, we may console ourselves with the
knowledge that we dwell in so ripe an age of the planet,
and are so beset with beauty and instruction.

But we must cease marking time at our very starting
point, and make an advance, which advance brings us to
what is perhaps most significant of all plant organs, the
leaf. One cannot congratulate the botanist on the felicity
of his definition of a leaf as “ an expansion of the bark,”
a phrase conveying just as little information on the sub¬
ject of the nature of a leaf as is well possible without its
being an absolute contradiction of fact. It is, indeed, in¬
correct — as incorrect as to say that the hand is an expan¬
sion of the skin. A leaf is rather a sub-division and
expansion of the stem, over which the bark is stretched —
even as the skin over the human hand or over the webbed
foot of a bird. The midrib, veins, and nerves of a leaf
correspond to the bone, cartilage, and muscle of an
animal’s limb. This alteration renders the definition
much more consistent with the other doctrine of modern
botany, that a plant consists of an axis, stem, and leaves
— its primary divisions. For, as soon as we get beyond
the very simplest organisms, where the organs are un¬
differentiated, and the functions — afterwards performed
by the various plant-organs — only exercised by the general
surface of the vegetable mass, we come to the differentia¬
tion of leaf and stem, the one the central, the other the
radial, the one representing generally the vertical impulse,
the other the centrifugal. Structurally considered, then,
the leaf might quite well be defined as an expansion of
the stem — an expansion existing long before any bark,
even in its broadest sense, is discoverable — but, function¬
ally, it is better described as an aerial rootlet; for the
stem itself, like the rootstock, the more distinctly it be-

December 20, i«79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

491

comes a stem, the more completely discontinues any direct
nutritive action, while the leaves always remain operative
in that respect, although their function again becomes
clearly differentiated from that of the rootlets. And,
even in this reference, our analogy of a leaf to the hand
is singularly appropriate. What are leaves but so many
searching, suppliant palms, held out for the alms of the
physical heaven, whereon its largess of rain, and dew, and
sunshine is outpoured ? But more instructively and
accurately may we take the hand and arm as analogous
to the leaf and its petiole — it is a vegetable limb in
which we have all varieties of proportions between hand
and arm — some all hand and no arm, some all arm and no
hand.

There is certainly no theme in connection with our
subject more embarrassing, by reason of its extreme fer¬
tility, than this of the leaf. Whether we regard it in
view of its function in plant economy, in respect of its
utility to the plant itself, or consider its variety and
beauty as a source of refined and ennobling pleasure to
man, the theme is alike capable of indefinite expansion.
Though, with regard to the former, it may justly be said
that any signal failure in utility in a plant-organ would
mean the certain and speedy extinction of the plant ; for,
while nature often exhibits the dignity of repose, she has
'obviously no faith in the nobility of idleness, and adopts
•certain methods of exterminating the idler. Even when
we find that portion of a plant, which we would botanic-
ally designate the leaf, failing to fulfil its usual offices, we
will still find it told off to a specific duty, while its func¬
tion is assumed by some other organ ; for nature’s inevit¬
able condition of ultimate continuance is utility — is the
discharge of some essential office. No doubt, in the
■course of evolutionary progress, certain organs may be¬
come unnecessary and rudimentary without being oblite¬
rated, but they bear in themselves the sentence of death,
and must eventually disappear unless they can make
themselves useful and necessary in some new manner.
Nothing can be more thoroughly just than such a law —
one pervading creation, not excepting the moral and
spiritual nature of mankind. Activity tends to strength
and development, inaction to weakness and loss. The
principle is so universal, and apparently self-demon¬
strative and automatic, that we give nature no credit for
this exact equity of hers, although the supposition that a
world might have existed, in which a different law was
operative, is by no means so wild a conception as is often
seriously entertained by scientific men. But it is the
fashion now to discount the virtues of nature, as though
they were something inevitable, while it is considered
quite allowable to stigmatize her as cruel, merciless, and
so on, because the earth will not get out of the way of a
falling body, which happens to be human, or water de¬
clines to support an organism heavier than itself, because
that organism has a wife and family to mourn his loss.
Nature is sublimely impartial, and therefore intensely
just. Any confusion between moral and physical condi¬
tion, any deviation from the rectitude of law in the
direction of that spurious form of justice which we call
poetical, and which is merely sentimental, would involve
an unreason, a chaos, and a complete loss of those charac¬
teristics which convince us of the sanity and stability
of the cosmos. We can, in this case at least, claim for
nature a justice which, if often temble, is always
majestic.

What most compels our astonishment and admiration,
in regard to the utile aspect of leaves, is the infinite
variety of form, and even method, they exhibit, along
with a perfect equality in point of fitne.ss. It would be,
I think, impossible to make corrections on nature, and
say in any case that, from the plant’s own point of view,
its present form of leaf could be advantageously replaced
by any other. This is doubtless accounted for by such
a doctrine as the survival of the fittest, but it is certainly
fortunate for us that the fittest should have included so
great, so useful, and so delightful a variety. But the

question is, how came the fitness ? Whence this accom¬
modating power of organisms ? A hap-hazard variation
it can hardly be, for the advantages of many forms can
only have come into play when the change has been
carried out to a pitch approaching perfection. Take such
a case as the floating apparatus of the Urticularia.

“ Small ascidia or sacs are connected with the leaves,
which, about the time of flowering, are filled with air,
and buoy the plant to the surface. The opening of each
sac is surrounded by forked hairs composed of four cells,
and is closed by a transverse cellular membrane, like the
valve of a pump, capable of opening from without in¬
wards, and which resists when it is pressed from within
outwards. The physiological action of these ascidia is
full of interest. At first they are filled with a somewhat
gelatinous liquid, which by its weight assists in retaining
the plant at the bottom of the water. Very soon the
branching hairs already described, which project into the
interior, secrete a gas, which accumulates as the gelatinous
substance diminishes. By and by, when the vessels are
full, the plant gets light and buoyant, and, disengaging
its roots from the soil, rises to the surface of the water
and flowers. The flowering over and the fruit mature,
the air disappears from the ascidia, the valve allows the
water to enter, and again the plant sinks to the bottom,
to remain there until spring stimulates its ascidia again
into activity.” (Brown’s ‘ Manual of Botany,’ page 158.)

Unnecessary and almost irreverent does it seem to offer
any comment or commendation of a system of contrivances
so ingenious and so adequate. Had such a system been
suspected to be of human origin, we could not praise too
highly the inventive genius and scientific acquirements
therein displayed. But being only a piece of nature’s
handicraft, we are now taught that there can be no
ingenuity or wisdom or foresight involved in its construc¬
tion, but that it has somehow been blindly sculptured into
its present form, through the influence of its varying
environment. That this interaction of organism and
environment is and has been a most important creative
factor, operative and potent to an extent which at one
time would not have appeared credible, it is not my wish
to deny. None the less distinctly do I maintain, that, so
far as my imagination and reason can carry me, I quite
fail to see how this agent could, apart from some pervasive
intelligence in nature, give rise to an organism whose
structure, seems to involve, not only an accurate know¬
ledge of hydrostatic and mechanical science, but the
inventive and executive powers to bring that knowledge
to practical effect. If or this is what I fail to see, how a
slight accidental variation in the direction of this system
could be of the least use to the plant. Anything short of
a perfect adjustment of the apparatus would be useless
or worse. Of what use, for example, would the ascidia
be, if the ga3 were not evolved in the necessary amount
to buoy up the plant? — they would be mere ballast to keep
it down. Or if, on the other hand, the ascidia began as
mere air-bags, the plant must be continuously at the sur¬
face and could not in this way acquire its extraordinary
habit for leaving go with its roots. The only explanation,
then, that we pretend to give of such an elaborate
phenomenon is, that it is apparently the work of intelli¬
gence of a very high order, and that apart from such
intelligence we fail to understand its origin. In employ¬
ing this argument, we certainly rely somewhat on the
analogy between the works of man and those of nature.
We know that the construction of a machine and the
creation of a work of art involve certain pre-existent
powers and qualities in the man who produces them. So
in like manner we argue that we can infer the existence
of an intelligent Power from the existence of intelligence¬
involving structures in nature. There is only one method
of escaping this conclusion, and this method is adopted
by Professor Clifford and others antitheistic writers, and
is to deny point-blank the validity of the analogue, and
to maintain that although there may appear to be the
same or greater amount of thought involved in the

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 20, 1879.

construction of some natural objects as there is in some
human work, still the former is not necessarily the work
of intelligence although the latter is. But there is no
attempt, so far as I know, to disprove the validity of the
analogue; it is simply and brusquely denied. Yet it
appears to me, being one at once so obvious and so con¬
clusive to the majority of human minds, that it cannot
be thus peremptorily dismissed, without some reason
given. For to deny it, is entirely to block the way of
any progress in the philosophy of nature, unless we are
to dignify a purely materialist science, quite devoid of
any intellectual, moral or spiritual significance, with that
name. It is to land us in a complete ignorance of nature,
except from the strictly physical side ; it is to abolish at
once the religion, the philosophy and the poetry of nature.
That such denial hamstrings at once the argument in
favour of the action of intelligence or any moral quality
in nature is no more proof, however, that there is truth
in the denial, than the fact that it is open to any one to
deny the postulates on which the whole of a science, such
as Euclid’s geometry, depends, disproves the truth of the
postulate and the ’ dependent science. One necessary
geometric postulate is that two straight lines cannot en¬
close a space. Anyone who choses to deny this at once
deprives you of the power of convincing him of the truth
of the first book of Euclid. Or to take a still simpler
instance, a man might say he did not see. why two and
two alwavs make four; and he would put it out of your
power to prove to him the simplest proposition in
arithmetic. Similarly to assert that the nice adapta¬
tion and ingenious contrivance observable in nature, is no
sign of intellectual design', renders it impossible to prove
to the assertor anything whatever as to any moral or
intellectual qualities otherwise deducible from the facts
of the cosmos.

In the decoration of this our beauty-abounding planet,
the leaf is certainly nature’s most effective instrument.
Whether it be the pleasant verdure of field and lane, the
soft reposeful masses of blending woods, or the solemn
majesty of pathless forest that we regard, we cannot but
attribute much of their beauty to the foliage in which
they are clad. And if natural landscape owe so much to
the leaf yet much more does each individual plant.

The green colour prevailing in leavage is an oft-acknow¬
ledged and a real source of satisfaction to the eye, and
that although this same colour is the most difficult for a
painter to reproduce successfully — that is to say, in such
a manner as to cause a repetition of the same satisfaction.
The older masters, whose colour is the wonder and despair
of modern artists, banished it from their landscape-
distances, and the daring Turner constantly evaded its
use. Nature seems to possess some still undiscovered art,
some secret principle which enables her to use that colour
with an effect the ablest artist has not yet acquired. No
one ever saw a complexion spoiled by the proximity of a
green leaf, however many have fallen victims to a green
ribbon.

Then in texture how various, ooarse and homely in the
dock and nettle, harsh though handsome in the elm, silken
in the beech, lacquered in the oak, and burnished in the
laurel ; like leather, like paper, like velvet, like wax, like
metal, like cloth, and unlike all these things : and in form
still more diverse, and nearly all beautiful either by reason
of individual design, or by virtue of combined effect, and
through the union of these. In beauty of individual form
we must, as before, accord the first place to some of the more
elaborate and lovely fern fronds, but of charm of combined
effect almost any branch or plant will afford us illustra¬
tion. No matter how simple the original form, nature
can elicit from it shapes of grandeur and of grace, as the
pine and the larch may witness. Many a wayside weed,
too, as we call them, displays when we study its form an
elegance, a daintiness of outline, produced from leaves of
humble and simple form. The sources of this charm are
obedience — firstly, to the well-known law of phyllotaxis
or leaf- order ; and, secondly, to the less known of leaf-

proportion ; the former governing the position of leaves
on the stem, the latter the variation in size and shape
that they exhibit in their upward course. As to the former,
not only is the general mode of growth spiral but. each
plant, and frequently whole orders, adopt one particular
pattern of leaf-order. If we liken a plant to an ascend¬
ing jet of water, giving off drops from the central column,
must, to complete the resemblance, suppose this

we - , -- - x

column to have had a rotatory motion about its axis, so
that the drops, instead of being, given off in rings, would
be given off in a continuous spiral. In a pine-cone the
scales come off in close succession, just as drops would
from a revolving fountain, but in other plants a rhythmic
pause is observed, so that the leaves stand at distinct and
definite intervals along the stem. Some are like rhymed
couplets, two and two at measured intervals, some as the
notes in a chime of bells or the endings in a stanza respond
after a longer space and in a more complex order. And
through this suggested simile we can understand how a
plant-form may give an ever fresh pleasure to the eyes,
even as a familiar verse or well-remembered cadence may
give unpalling pleasure to the ear

& What I have called the law of leaf -proportion is more
clearly exemplified in the subtle, gradual diminution in
size, accompanied often by even more subtly managed
modification in shape, which leaves show in their ascent of
the stem ; that delicate fining off of the foliage preparatory
for the final transition into flower. It is not difficult to
understand that this is perfectly natural, that is in perfect
accord with other mechanical forces and phenomena, in
nature, but this only argues toward the praise and. admira¬
tion of natural law, not toward a contempt for its fruit.
The mechanical laws of nature are never contravened, the
apparent contravention being always obtained by a real
obedience. Man, for instance, can produce the apparent
contradiction of making water pump itself to a height
greater than its original source, and that on. the simple
fact that two pounds of water falling one foot will raise one
pound two feet. So can nature make the lower mechanic
force available in support of the higher vital action with¬
out any violation of the laws of the former. And the
wonder is not how, being constructed as they are, plants
ascend into the air and take such a course, but where did
they learn the art of so accommodating themselves to
surrounding forces — forces which gave no promise or
prophecy of such a development of nature ?.

There must, doubtless, have been a time in the history
of the planet, when foliage was even a more prevailing
element in nature’s adornment than it is now ; for we shall
see, when we come to treat of the flower, that the more
conspicuous and brightly- coloured blossoms have been
evolved through the instrumentality of insect fertilization.
Time was ere nature seems to have dreamed of the violet
or the primrose, still less of the rose, the lily or the orchid,
when vast green-waving savannahs rolled for leagues with¬
out a star of blosscun, and sombre, pathless forests stretched
their stately aisles and solemn verdant vistas unlit by the
sweet face of any floret — ere snowdrop, on her pensive
bells, rang in the spring-tide, or rose blushed in the
summer, or the faint autumn crocus lent its timid beauty
to the fading autumn fields. Fair enough, then, doubt¬
less — too fair for the rude sense of the behemoth and his
huge companions, but not yet fair enough for that strange
prodigy of the ages, man — nature had yet to deck herself
as with bridal raiment for the coming of her first mate
and conqueror and monarch.

“ The flower,” say the men of science, “ is a modifica¬
tion of the leaves and this truth, though it be partial,
is instructive. If it be held merely to mean that the
original elements of the two are similar — that, in point of
fact, in the earliest stages of their formation they are
identical and indistinguishable, so that the embryos, as we
may call them, have a possibility of becoming either the
one or the other, it is true. But if it means, as it seems
sometimes to be put, that the flower is made up of unsuc¬
cessful leaves, of leaves that have 'failed to become leaves,

December 20, 18J9.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

493

it is a misleading doctrine. Morphologically considered,
as' throwing light on the structure of the flower, it is
valuable and illuminative, even as the anatomical doctrine
that the skull is a mere folding-in and modification of the
spinal cord, is a convenient and instructive hypothesis for
the anatomist. But looked at from a more central and
philosophic stand -point it is far more correct to say that
the flower is the culmination of the plant, the apotheosis
of the leaf, and the brain the culmination, the crown and
capital of the animal organism. That the flower is not
simply the result of the failing of the growth-current, as
the foam is the produce of the breaking wave, is proved
by the fact of flowering frequently preceding foliation,
and is corroborated by the certain knowledge we have
that flowering is a more exhaustive process — a process
requiring greater energy than leafing. The assertion,
then, that petals are degraded leaves is absolutely false —
as false as to say a man is a degraded boy. The petal is
rather a refined and sublimated leaf than one that is fallen
from a higher estate. One might as well oall a perfect
lady a degraded peasant ; what is persistently left out of
sight being that what is lost in vigour and force is gained
in delicacy and refinement. Even if we accept as flowers
all that are scientifically so called from their functions, it
may safely be asserted that they display a yet finer and
more finished workmanship — a material more dainty, and
pure, and rare than that of the foliage. Though it must
be admitted that the decorative importance of the flower
varies, so far as we estimate it by ordinary powers of
vision, from a position of complete supremacy to one of
comparative insignificance — from the splendid atonement
of the bizarre cactus to the unobtrusive florets of the
majestic oak. Yet many quite inconspicuous flowers con¬
tribute greatly, if not permanently, to the beauty of
plant-form. The airy and tremulous catkins of the birch,
that seem to shake with the same conscious charm as the
trembling pendants in the ear of a beauty at her bath ;
the green rosettes of the elm, that render rich the broidery
of its branches against the soft cloud or tender twilight
of May; or the carmine tufts that gem the greening
branches of the larch, may be brief in the cycle of their
beauty, yet make no small part of nature’s spring-tide
witchery.

Of the means through which flowers have been evolved
from the less conspicuous and attractive forms to those of
the highest beauty and splendour, a flood of light has of
late years been thrown by the original and interesting
researches of Darwin, Wallace, and others. These have
laid bare to us, at least in many places, what we may call
the industrial system of nature. We see, for the first
time as it were, the very movement of those shuttles and
spindles that are continuously weaving the web on nature’s
unresting, unhastening loom. There is displayed to us
that complex and efficient machinery, that blessed con¬
spiracy of minute and obscure causes, that elaborate and
delicately-adjusted correlation of divers agencies, through
which all that is delightsome or wondrous, strong, strange,
or potent in nature has been evolved, is sustained,
cherished, and perfected.

The aim of nature is progress, and her method compe¬
tition — every organism is on its mettle to sustain itself
and its successors against foes and rivals. But it is a
competition, not blind and mechanical, but organized,
complex, and intelligent. The function of every organism
is dual — to sustain, improve, and increase itself, and to
provide for its successor. In the first it is purely self-
seeking, in the second it is rather self-sacrificing ; and it
is instructive to note that it is to this latter and renun¬
ciative act that the energy, effort, and contrivance of
plants are the most intensely directed. No doubt many
plants survive the act of reproduction, though by no
means all ; at the same time, the flowering and fruiting
of a plant is the most exhaustive and perilous of its
actions. To many the act is necessarily and invariably
fatal. Through these two forms of activity, the produc¬
tive and the reproductive, the energy of the organism is

directed towards the development of its species. The
power of advance in each individual is very limited, but the
power of a long successive series is indefinitely great.
Each organism has a certain latitude of change — a certain
range of variation, through which it is at liberty to move ;
its successor has a latitude no greater, but measured
from a new point, and that this new point may not tend
to coincide with the old, and so the organism relapses
again to its old condition, the edict of inter -marriage or
cross-fertilization has been pronounced, and in the execu¬
tion of this law no pains and no means are spared, from
those comparatively primitive and simple to those most
elaborate and exact.

At first sight the proximity in which the organs of sex
are usually found to each other seems to point to self-
fertilization as the object of this arrangement ; but a
closer and more intelligent examination has led to the
establishment of the dogma that nature abhors self-
fertilization, or, if that be too strong a manner of express¬
ing the fact, that nature aims at and prefers cross-fertili¬
zation. It has further been established, through the un¬
wearying and sagacious investigations of Dr. Charles
Darwin, that cross-fertilization contributes, not only to
introduce variety, but also tends to the invigoration and
what we may call improvement of the species by which
it is practised. As a rule self-fertilization is but a last
resort in the event of the stigma failing to receive or come
in contact with pollen from another plant.

To enumerate and describe even the most striking
instances of the means which nature takes of carrying
this her edict of intermarriage into execution would itself
be work enough for one evening, so that I must be content
with a few illustrations. There are, as most of you
know, three agencies through which this process is accom¬
plished, viz. the wind, insects and birds. A very large
class of plants, such as the grasses and many forest-trees,
depend on the wind for the distribution of their pollen,
and it might seem that with so comparatively rude an
agent it would be difficult to secure crossing with any
certitude. By several very simple expedients the desired
end is aimed at and accomplished. In a'l the grasses, for
example, the stamens when ripe dangle outside the floret,
so that, when their light dry pollen is carried away by
the breeze, little or none can reach its own stigma which
is sheltered by the glumes ; and in many cases a yet more
certain provision is made in the ripening of the stigma
before the stamens, so that by the time its own pollen
is mature the stigma is already pre-occupied and fertilized
by other pollen or is effete and no longer capable of being
affected by its own. Again in many plants, notably in
the willow and other trees, crossing is rendered imperative
by the individual plant producing flowers of one sex.
But this method of wind- distribution is rude and clumsy
compared with the subtler and more refined methods that
occur in nature. In the first place it is extravagant,
involving the production of an immense amount of pollen,
the majority of which necessarily misses its mark ; and
secondly, while it obviously tends to produce and en¬
courage that elegance and refinement of form which
gives their charm to so many of the grasses, and the grace
and shapeliness of catkin and cone, it does not tend to
elicit and foster those so delightsome qualities which we
all associate with the popular idea of what a flower is,
viz. colour and odour. There may have been, and prob¬
ably ,has been, a period of the earth’s history in which the
wind was the only go-between in the vegetable world, and
if we can conceive of a human intelligence existing at
that epoch and entering into the spirit of the creative
method, and at the same time having discovered that the
means of developing colour and odour lay latent in the
plant-world, we can believe that such an intelligence with
such data could have prognosticated that nature would
develop some new method by which these latent qualities
would be elicited. What such method and agency was
to be it might have been beyond his power to predict, but
this much might have been foretold, that the new agency

404

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 2*, 187*

must be of a more discriminative character than the old.
To fulfil this office, or at least with the capacity for
fulfilling this office, a great number of the insect world
have come into existence.

Now, while it is easy to understand the action ot this
system ’of insect -crossing and to note its necessary effects
on the colour, odour and shape of flowers, now that it is in
full working order, it is by no means easy to understand
or imagine how it took its rise. How did the first dawn¬
ing of colour-sense in the insect operate to produce the
faint beginnings of coloration in the flower ? They seem
to have grown up side by side. Whence came the initial
impulse that started them on their mutually involved
orbits of progress? That same onward and upward
tendency which characterizes nature, and without which
its progress is not to be accounted for. But, before w e
grapple with such a problem, let us see the working of
the system in some few instances.

It is surmised, not without strong probability of truth,
that the first method adopted by plants to encourage the
visits of insects was merely the production of an abund¬
ant supply of pollen upon which many insects— especially
the Diptera — feed ; but this comparatively rude, and
extravagant plan has been superseded in the more highly
developed flowers by that of honey-secretion. That
honey was ever a “waste product” of the. vegetable
world, I am certainly inclined to doubt, as being a fact
inconsistent with the economic reasonableness of nature.
Certain it is that in nearly, if not in all instances, in
which this delicious product is found, it clearly performs
a service to the plant that secrets it j and in most cases
the nectaries and honey-hollows are so accurately and
wisely placed that they seem absolutely to ensure the
execution of that service for which it is meant, to attract
and to reward its insect visitors. But that a plant should
offer a douceur to its visitants is not enough,, it must also
make its presence notable to them at some distance ;. and
this is effected by two means, colour and odour. Bright¬
ness and purity of hue are, no doubt, the most advantageous
qualities for a flower to possess ; but diversity is also
necessary that insects may recognize those.plants to which
they are specially adapted. That some insects, at least,
have a decided sense of colour has been proved by Sir
John Lubbock. This being so, there is no difficulty in
seeing that the development of bright and pure colour
is encouraged by this relation, and that certain flowers
would have an advantage through being distinctive,. in
which reference it is worthy of remark that the orchids
and other highly specialized flowers have a tendency to
extreme individuality of form and marking. Even those
delicate pencillings of colour such as we find so markedly
in the pelargoniums are not without their utility, and
are believed to act as honey-guides in pointing the way
to the nectaries ; and perhaps nowhere is the union of
utility and beauty more wonderfully instanced than here.
But nature is too industrious to strike work with, failing
light, when colours are no longer easily perceived or
distinguished, and in order to utilize the dusk and even
the dark, she has gifted flowers with the power of manu¬
facturing perfumes by which to communicate with and
attract night-flying moths, which are absolutely necessary
to the fertilization of some flowers. The following descrip¬
tion by Sir John Lubbock of the behaviour of Silene
nutans , is an excellent example of the manner in which
a flower utilizes the visits of moths: —

“ The upper part of its flowering stem is viscid, from
which it has derived its local name, the Nottingham
Catchfly. This prevents the access of ants and other
s nail creeping insects. Each flower lasts three days or
rather three nights. The stamens are ten in number,
arranged in two sets, the one set standing in front of the
sepals, the other in front of the petals. Like other night
flowers, it is white and open towards evening, when it
also becomes extremely fragrant. The first evening,
towards dusk, the stamens in front of the sepals growr
very rapidly for about two hours, so that they emerge

from the flower; the pollen ripens and is exposed by the
bursting of the anthers, so the flower remains through
the night, very attractive to and much visited by moths.
Towards three in the morning the scent ceases, the
anthers begin to shrivel up and drop off, the filaments turn
themselves outwards so as to be out of the way, while the
petals, on the contrary, begin to roll themselves up, so
that by daylight they close the aperture of the flower,
and present only their brownish green outsides to. view,
which, moreover, are thrown into numerous wrinkles.
Thus, by the morning’s light the flower has all the appear¬
ance of being faded. It has no smell, and the honey is
covered over by the petals. So it remains all day..
Towards evening, however, everything is changed. The
petals unfold themselves, by eight o’clock the flower is as
fragrant as before, the second set of stamens have rapidly
growm, their anthers are open and the pollen again
exposed. By morning the plant is again asleep, the
anthers are shrivelled, the scent has ceased and the petals
roll up as before. The third evening again the same
process, but this time it is the pistil which grows, and the
long spiral stigma on the third evening takes the position
which on the previous two has been occupied by the
anthers, and can hardly fail to be dusted by the moths
with pollen brought from another flower.”

This one instance exemplifies, in addition to its beautiful
correlation of plant and insect life exhibited in the
arrangements for moth-fertilization, the defensive contri¬
vances of nature and the rationale of plant-sleep. While
there are certain insects which it is beneficial for the
plant to attract, there are others whose visits would, if
not injurious, be at least unprofitable, and against these;
plants are protected in a variety of ways by hairs, hooks,,
prickles, viscidity, and other defences. This fact is very
significant and extremely difficult to account for without
assuming consciousness in the plant or an intelligent
power directing its development. There is something,
too, touching and poetic, while eminently reasonable and
in harmony with cosmic custom, that the plant, like the
animal, should take its diurnal or nocturnal period of
repose ; nor is there any doubt that the plant opens at
the time most advantageous for itself, and closes when it
would be unnecessary or injurious to remain open. Then
the whole arrangement is so complex, as well as complete,
that any series of tentative variations, however numerous
and extended over how-long-soever a period, does not
seem capable of accounting for the perfect adjustment of
the action and structure of the plant to an agency, so
diverse and independent. But I must be allowed to give
an instance, if possible more startling in its ingenuity of
contrivance. It refers to the fertilization of a tropical
orchid, one of the Coryanthes, as observed by Dr. Criiger.
He found that the labellum of this orchid is hollowed
into a great bucket, in which drops of almost pure water
continually fall from two secreting horns which stand
above it, and when the bucket is half full the water over¬
flows by a spout on one side. The bare part of the
labellum stands in the bucket, and is itself hollowed out
into a sort of chamber with two lateral entrances ; within
this chamber are curious fleshy ridges. The most ingeni¬
ous man, if he had not witnessed what takes place, could
never have imagined what purpose all these parts serve.
Biit Criiger saw crowds of large humble bees visiting the
gigantic flowers of this orchid, not in order to suck nectar*
but to gnaw off the ridges within the chamber above the
bucket. In doing this they frequently pushed each other
into the bucket, and, their wings being thus wetted, they
could not fly away, but were compelled to crawl through
the passage formed by the spout or overflow. Dr. Criiger
saw a “ continual procession ” of bees thus crawling out
of their involuntary bath. The passage is narrow, . and. is
roofed in by the column ; so that a bee, in forcing its
way out, first rubs its back against the viscid stigma, then
against the viscid glands of the pollen masses. The pollen
masses are thus glued to the back of the bee3 which first
happen to crawl out through the passage of a lately-

December 20, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOCRNaL ANL> TRANSACTIONS.

495

expanded flower, and are thus carried away. When the
bee, thus provided, flies to another flower, or to the same
flower a second time, and is pushed by his comrades into
the bucket and then crawls out by the passage, the pollen-
masses necessarily come first in contact with the viscid
stigma and adhere to it, and so the flower is fertilized.
Had any human being invented such an arrangement we
could not fail to credit him, not only with an exquisite
inventive faculty and power of precise adaptation of means
to an end, but also that form of practical imagination
that could foresee the “ crush at the door,” and the con¬
sequence of the ducking on the conduct of the bee.
Almost a sense of humour seems to be involved in the
structure, since the whole proceeding is just an excellent
and innocent practical joke at the expense, without the
injury, of the insects, who seem in no wise deterred or
offended, but ever ready to renew the fun. Now, the
case of this orchid, if very striking, is by no means excep¬
tional ; it is rather the general rule, in such genera as
the orchids, to possess some equally ingenious contrivance.
But one more illustration on this topic, and I must desist.
In Mr. Belt’s ‘ Naturalist in Nicaragua ’ he gives this
account of the manner in which small birds, such as hum¬
ming-birds, are employed in fertilization. “ A climbing-
plant ( Marcgravia nepenthoides ) expands its flowers in a
circle, and these hang dowrn like an inverted candelabrum.
From the centre of the floral circle and underneath the
flowers there is suspended a number of pitchers, which
are full of nectar when the flowers are ripe. The honey
attracts insects and the latter attract birds, especially
humming-birds. Before the latter can get at the honey¬
bearing pitchers, their backs must brush the open flowers
out of which the pollen is ready to be shed, and in this
manner they convey it from plant to plant and cross the
flowers.” Such a proceeding on the part of an animal
would cause us to assign to it a rational mind, with the
power of correct inference ; for the secretion of honey is
not for the prior purpose of attracting insects, in them¬
selves not useful, but for the ulterior purpose of securing
the visits of the birds which are necessary to the crossing
of the flowers.

!If such things can be produced by the mere incessant
jostling of atoms as in a lucky-bag, if the work of con¬
sciousness can be more perfectly accomplished by that
which is unconscious, and the part of intelligence better
played by the unintelligent, then must we admit that
consciousness is but a cloud, and intelligence a thick veil,
and thought a diseased and mistaken evolute of divine
imperturbable matter ! Not that I mean in any way to
gainsay the fact that the creative process is not historically
graduated, or, as it is named, evolutionary. That, I think,
no enlightened and well-informed person can seriously
doubt. What I do deny is, that this process is to be
accounted for on any hypothesis which undertakes to dis¬
pense with the necessity for previsive and controlling
intellect. To deny the existence of such intellect is like
denying the fact of atmospheric pressure, because we do
not feel it ; for the reason that the working of creative
intellect does not obtrude itself upon us, is just the same
as that which makes us unconscious of the miles of atmo¬
sphere piled on us, viz., that it acts equally in all directions
and at every point successfully combats itself. Thus in
nature ingenuity of attack is met by ingenuity of defence,
elaborate needs are responded to by equally elaborate
machinery and contrivance. The impartial thoughtful¬
ness of nature puzzles us. We are offended to find the
existence of a noxious weed, insect and parasite cared for
as tenderly as man’s. But everything in nature, man not
excepted, is to be put on its mettle, the great meaning
and moral of nature is activity and progress, and one of
her greatest functions is to stimulate man even by what
seem hardships and cruelties to yet intenser and more
divine activity. Where nature is lavish and indulgent,
man becomes indolent and often degraded. Nature pro¬
nounces thus for industry, but not for industry alone. She
endorses, yea, rather anticipates the dictum of Mr.

Ruskin, “ Life without industry is crime ; industry with¬
out art is brutality.” While no organism can survive
without the full exertion of its powers, and even the effort
after advancement, neither is there any that does not tend
to some' beauty, that does not obey, in measure, however
humble, the laws of grace as well as that of gain. The
coarse and vagrant Colt’s-foot that bastes together
with straggling rootlets the loose soil of the embankment
or the fallow, the slovenly and trampish Dock and its
shrewish consort the Nettle, have their aspects and
moments of fitness, and seem often, like Wordsworth’s
gypsy, “Weeds of glorious feature.” Yet these are the
mere idlers and runagates of the plant-world, outlawed
from the civility of the park and lawn, where the Butter¬
cup, and Daisy, and Cowslip are as invited guests.

But time presses, and however unfinished be my theme,
it must now be left as it stands, and I must rather leave
you to expand the line of thought for yourselves, and to
draw from the significant facts I have mentioned their
inevitable deductions. The researches and results of
modern science, instead of in any wise detracting, to my
mind, from the wonder and beauty of the cosmos, and the
reverence we feel for its imposing and still, in a great
measure, mysterious order, rather increase the wonder,
emphasize and illuminate the beauty, and deepen into awe
that reverence. So let science go on unafraid to the
darkest and furthest recesses of nature, strong in the
assurance, fearless in the faith, that nowhere can she miss
the footprints of a supreme pervasive intelligence, nowhere
find herself in a region alien and unresponsive to reason,
nowhere fail, though she alight on the furthest star, brood
over the strife of primaeval atoms, or read the riddle of
life’s beginning, to perceive and devoutly acknowledge,
“ Thou art there also !”

Apothecaries’ Weights and Measures.

Mr. Mackay then made a statement regarding the
new weights and measures. After referring to the dis¬
cussion which had recently occupied an entire evening
in Bloomsbury Square, he proceeded to describe the
standards, which by the kindness of Mr. Chaney had
been sent along for the purpose of being exhibited and
explained by Dr. Paul. He specially referred to the
mistaken idea which many seemed to have regarding the
standards, and explained very fully that the standards as
devised and prepared at the Standards Office were meant
to be really, as the name implied, standards proper, and
not standards to be carried round by the various
inspectors when they made their visitations with a view
to examine and verify glass measures. He also stated
that he had seen the inspector of weights and measures
for the city of Edinburgh, who up to the present had not
received the standards from London. The authorities
had, however, adopted the mark proposed, and instead ef
the* “City Arms” being now used in Edinburgh as the
verifying mark, the local authority had given instruc¬
tions to have prepared what the Standards Office had
already suggested for general use — namely, the outline of
a crown with V.R. underneath surrounded by an oval line
and with a number immediately below. The number
allotted to, and adopted by, Edinburgh was 3, _ each
ficmre having a direct reference to the district using it.
The verifying mark may probably, therefore, in future be
alike in all places, the difference being in the numbers only.
The fees in this locality will be exactly as prescribed in the
schedule of the Act, the inspector having no interest
whatever either in the fines for erroneous measures, or
the charges made for comparing and verifying. This he
thought a much better plan than to allow officials to
supplement their salaries in what appeared to him (Mr.
Mackay) a most objectionable manner. It would appear
that while local authorities are the parties to work out
details under the Act, and appoint their own inspectors,
they have no power to alter the specified charges unless
by a distinct resolution brought under the notice of the

496

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AN D TRANSACTIONS. (December 20, lOT.

Board of Trade and agreed to by it. Mr. Mackay further
mentipned that since the meeting in London he had
ascertained that even in Guildhall there were no standards
yet ready for use, and saw a considerable number of
graduated measures sent there to be marked returned
with a message that they were not yet prepared to verify
dispensing measures. He also had seen an extensive
maker and dealer in glass measures who had just come
from the Standards Office with the information that it
would be some time before the inspectors would be in a
position to verify, and probably a year or two before
every district would be able to do what was required.
Prom the same source he received undoubted informa¬
tion that while a compound measure, that is a 16
drachm graduated glass, verified as such, and marked on
the opposite side with ounces and half-ounces, might not
necessarily be considered in the terms of the Act a legal
measure, it would certainly in all cases be allowed where-
ever the graduation was found to be correct and marked
as such by the inspector of the district. He further
intimated that he had received a promise from the
inspector of the City of Edinburgh, that whenever he
had received his standards from London, and was in a
position to verify the weights and measures under the
new Act, he would communicate with him as Local Secre¬
tary of the Society, and on receiving such information
Mr. Mackay promised that he would, without delay, make
the same known to the chemists and druggists in the city.

Mr. Gilmour rose for the purpose of complimenting
Mr. Mackay on his lucid and exhaustive exposition, and
took occasion to vindicate the inspector in Edinburgh
and himself from the remarks made in the leader of the
Journal, November 29, and also at the Evening Meet¬
ing in Bloomsbury Square. He still thought there might
be an uncertainty about the legalizing of the different
denominations on one measure, but still as Mr. Mackay
put it he hoped that the present style of measure would
be at least allowed. He felt assured that in a short
time the question would assume a definite form, but
meantime every view of the subject should be tolerated
and examined, considering how much uncertainty still
prevailed as to the exact scope and requirements of the
enactment in its relation to the business.

Some discussion then took place, in which Mr. Stephen¬
son and Mr. Young took part, at the close of which
the meeting seemed satisfied that nothing could be done
for the present, and that existing apothecaries’ weights
and measures, might be safely used until the arrival of
the standards.

|h;otmu[ial ®iansactions.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The fifth general meeting of the thirty-first session was
held at St. George’s Hall, on Wednesday evening, Decem¬
ber 10, together with the Literary, Scientific and Art
Societies of Liverpool, as an associated soiree, under the
presidency of Mr. A. B. Forward, who occupied the
chair, in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor. This
was the third annual soirie of the learned societies of
Liverpool, and nothing could have exceeded the brilliancy
of the scene when the handsome and spacious suite of
halls was thronged with between three and four thousand
people. The proceedings were somewhat similar in
character to those of the two preceding soirees; consisting
of concerts, lectures on scientific and other subjects, and
the exhibition of microscopical objects, antiquities, curio¬
sities and works of art.

On behalf of the Liverpool Chemists’ Association, the
President, Dr. Symes, delivered a popular lecture in the
Sheriff’s Court, entitled “The Philosophy of a Tea-kettle
and the Vice-President, Mr. A. H. Mason, F.C.S., deli¬
vered one in the Crown Court, entitled “The Chemistry of
a Candle.” The lectures were liberally illustrated with

experiments and diagrams, and were highly appreciated
by the respective audiences.

The Association exhibited a fine collection of alkaloids
and rare inorganic salts, from its own museum, and the.
following firms kindly lent collections for the occasion,,
which were also exhibited : —

Mr. Thomas Whiff en, London : A very fine collection
of the various cinchona barks ; and a series of alkaloids,
and salts, representing the chemical principles of the bark..

Messrs. Hopkin and Williams, London : A selection
of rare chemicals, etc.

Messrs. Coghill and Son, Liverpool : Specimens of
boracic acid and gigantic borax crystals.

Messrs. Howard and Son, Stratford : A large album*
containing a drawing of Count Lardarel’s famous boracic
acid springs and works, in Tuscany.

Messrs. Symes and Co., Liverpool : Pure metallic
bismuth in fine crystals, and a variety of bismuth com¬
pounds ; chemical and physical apparatus ; the latest
kinds of blast furnaces, blow-pipes, etc.

Messrs. Hallawell and Co., Liverpool : A variety of
coal tar colours, arranged so as to illustrate the marked
difference between the dry colours and their solutions.

Messrs. May and Baker, London : A series of mercu¬
rial products, illustrating the chemical combinations of
mercury.

Messrs. Johnson, Matthey and Co., London : A very
valuable selection of rare metals ; platinum vessels ; and
extra fine metallic wires O'OOl inch diameter, showing
weight of each per mile.

Messrs. P. Harris and Co., Birmingham : Hughes’s,
audiometer ; electric induction balance ; cycloscope ; and
fine models of crystals in glass.

Messrs. J. C. and J. Field, London : Specimens of the
various crude materials used in the manufacture of candles.

The gathering broke up at about 11 o’clock, evidently
well pleased with the evening’s entertainment.

LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The second lecture of the session was given on Wednes¬
day night to the members and associates of the Leeds
Chemists’ Association (the President, Mr. Councillor
Stead, in the chair) by Mr. T. Fairley, F.R.S.E., on
“Glass: Its Manufacture and Mode of Working.”

The lecturer gave a short history of the manufacture of
glass, showing that it was well known in ancient times.
He explained its formation by the action of sand or any:
kind of silica on bases, such as soda, lime, potash, etc., afc
high temperatures, forming silicates, but that at least two
bases of different kinds are required to form a true glass.
Thus silicate of soda is soluble in water and in common
with other simple silicates is easily decomposed. He
stated that there were four well-known varieties of glass,
viz. : — Bohemian glass — a silicate of potash and lime,
crown or plate glass — a silicate of soda and lime*
crystal glass — a silicate of potash and oxide of lead,
made only from pure materials; and one other, ordinary
bottle glass, resembling crown glass but made from the
commonest materials. He referred to the sources of the
materials, and the influence of the development of
modern chemical manufactures on that of glass. The
lecturer then passed to the relations between the com¬
position of glass and the properties possessed by it*
especially as regards fusibility, brilliancy, and the dura¬
bility of the glass obtained, and showed how the latter is
also affected by various substances and reagents, and
illustrated his remarks with specimens showing the
action of wrater, of alkaline solutions, and of hydrofluoric
acid (as in the process of etching) on glass. The irrides-
cence shown on certain glass was due to a surface
decomposition either by long continued action of moisture,
as in glass buried in the earth, or of moisture and
ammonia, as in some old windows ; or irridescent glaBS-
might be made artificially, as was now done, by the action
of a hot atmosphere of hydrochloric acid gas. The lecturer

December 20, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

497

also described the changes produced in glass by heat at
various temperatures and the application of these in the
manufacture and working of glass. He explained the
tendency shown by glass to become in some degree crystal¬
line when kept long at the softening point. The same
change took place very slowly at ordinary temperatures,
so that old glass could not be worked with the same
facility as that recently manufactured. He also described
the process of annealing, and showed that it was required
to remove the state of strain due to unequal contraction
and was therefore more necessary in proportion to the
thickness of the glass and the complexity of the form into
which it was made. He described and illustrated the manu¬
facture of De la Bastie’s toughened glass by heating glass
to redness and suddenly plunging it into a mixture of hot
oil and wax. Mr. Fairley explained the structure of this
toughened glass, and said its remarkable strength resided
only in the outer layers, which by quick cooling contract
and compress the whole mass. He showed specimens
of toughened glass from which the outer layer had been
removed by hydrofluoric acid, and which then behaved
like ordinary glass. He also stated that a bath of
mercury or fusible metal could be used in the process,
though with less perfect results than the oleaginous
mixture. In conclusion the lecturer explained and
demonstrated the details to be observed in the working of
glass for laboratory purposes.

A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Fairley
on the motion of Mr. R. Reynolds.

ABERDEEN SOCIETY OF CHEMISTS AND
DRUGGISTS.

The inaugural address in connection with the Aberdeen
School of Pharmacy was delivered on the 9th inst. in the
hall, St. Nicholas Street, by Mr. John Gordon (Messrs.
J. and J. Urquhart), teacher of the chemistry class.

Mr. R. D. Presslie presided, and there was a large
attendance. The subject of the lecture was “ Chemical
Force.” The lecturer discussed the forms of matter of
which the universe is composed, and proceeded to show,
by a series of beautiful and instructive experiments, the
manner in which all matter is affected by the natural
forces which surround it, dwelling particularly on chemical
force.

The experiments were eminently successful and the
lecturer closed with an eloquent appeal to the students to
devote their energy and industry to the work of the
coming session. The usual votes of thanks were accorded
at the close. The school now enters upon its second
session, having hitherto been conducted successfully and
gratuitously by Messrs. Gordon and Strachan.

The class for instruction in materia medica will be
resumed on Thursday, 11th inst., and will be conducted by
Mr. Strachan.

A class for the study of botany will be formed early in
the ensuing summer under the charge of Mr. Presslie.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

Assistants’ Section.

A meeting of this society was held in Anderson’s
College, on Wednesday evening, 10th inst., at which the
office bearers were elected and general arrangements
made for the session.

The gentlemen chosen to take office were: — Mr. Lees,
President; Mr. William Simpson, Vice-President; Mr.
John Adams, Secretary; Mr. James Finlay, Librarian;
and four others as members of Committee.

The coming session promises to be a very successful one,
papers being promised for all the evenings. The next
meeting will be held about the beginning of January, 1880,
when a paper will be read by Mr. Lees, President.
Members will receive due notice of the exact date of
meeting.

jproqjjdinjs of ^oqktics.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting was held at 32a, George Street, Hanover
Square, on Wednesday evening, December 10, Mr. F.
W. Branson in the chair, when a paper on “ Sugar ” was
read by Mr. C. B. Miller, who gave a short account of
the history, culture and manufacture of both cane and
beet, together with their chemistry, including also that
of dextrose, levulose and lactose. The paper was illus¬
trated by specimens (kindly lent by Mr. Wigner), con¬
sisting of raw sugars from different parts of the world, as
well as some samples of crystallized refined, made by
various manufacturers.

In the discussion which followed, Mr. Robinson took
the opportunity of asking the opinion of the meeting with
regard to the manner in which mel boracis should be
made and dispensed. Unanimous approval, however,
was given to the method yielding a clear and bright
result.

A vote of thanks having been proposed by Mr. Bull,
seconded by Mr. Hardwick, and carried, the meeting
terminated.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
December 11, Mr. R. H. Parker, Vice-President, in the
chair, when a paper on “ The Manufacture of Sodium
Carbonate,” was read by Dr. J. F. Elliott. The author,
who had had considerable practical experience of the
working of Leblanc’s process, gave a detailed account of
it, including the different kinds of plants used both in
this country and in Germany. In describing the second
part of the process where the salt cake is treated with
coal and limestone, the author stated the evidence in
favour of the assumption that carbonic anhydride is
produced and not carbonic oxide ; that is, that it takes
place according to the following equations: —

(1) Na.,S04 + 2C = Na,S + 2C02

(2) Na“S + CaC03 = CaS + Na.2C03

The principal evidence being that the blue flame
characteristic of carbonic oxide is not observed until
the decomposition is complete; in fact the workmen know
when the reaction has completely taken place by the
occurrence of the blue flame, due to a further decomposi¬
tion of the limestone. The different kinds of plant used
in the lixiviation of the black ash and in the evaporation
of the solution of sodium carbonate were then described.

After the reading of this paper a discussion took place,
and a hearty vote of thanks was passed by the meeting
to Dr. Elliott.

After the transaction of some miscellaneous business
the meeting adjourned.

jparliamdiitarg and ^aiu jproqefdings.

Poisoning by a Liniment.

An inquest was held at the White Horse Inn, Leiston,
on Monday last, before Mr. A. F. Vulliamy, county
coroner, on the body of William Moore, aged 59, lately
a goods porter, in the employment of the Great Eastern
Railway Company, who met with his death on Saturday
under singular circumstances. He had been suffering
from sciatica, and was attended by Mr. M. E. Ling,
surgeon, of Saxmundham, as professional attendant of the
Railway Provident Society, of which body the deceased
was a member. On Friday last his wife administered to
him a dose of medicine, which she supposed was a
draught, but which turned out to be a liniment. Every-

498

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 20, m?-

thing- was done to assist his recovery, but he died early
on Saturday morning. The first witness called was—

Naomi Moore, widow of the deceased, who said that
her husband had been unwell since last Friday week.
He suffered from sciatica, and was attended by Mr.
Morris Ling, of Saxmundham, who sent him some medi¬
cine, which he took. The same bottle was filled twice
with a draught which was to be taken the first thing in
the morning. He took the first dose on Tuesday morning
last. Witness gave it to him. There was printed on
the bottle, “ This aperient draught to be taken first thing
in the morning.” Witness sent the bottle back to Mr.
Ling, and he returned it filled and with the same label
on on Thursday night. The bottle was sent to Mr. Ling
by the train, and was carried to the Leiston station by
witness’s daughter Elizabeth. When it was returned it
was brought from the station to witness’s house by Burrell,
a railway clerk. Her daughter Elizabeth took it from him.
There was another bottle with it. It was a large one, which
had on it a label with the words, ‘ ‘ Two tablespoonfuls
to be taken every four hours to one of water.” She gave
her husband on the Friday morning the contents of the
smaller bottle and none from the larger one. After he
had taken the contents of the smaller bottle he said he
thought it was poison, for it burnt his throat. She gave
him some hot water, and then she sent her daughter with
the bottle to Mr. Gooch’s, the chemist. Her daughter
came home and was followed in about half an hour by
Mr. Cullen. When she came home witness gave her
husband salt and water. It made him a little sick, but
not enough to do him good. She got some mustard and
water, but he could not swallow it. When Mr. Cullen
came he ordered a mustard plaster to be put on the back
of deceased’s neck, and witness telegraphed for Mr. Ling
to go over. Mr. Morris Ling reached there about 11
o’clock, her husband having taken the dose about £.30.
Mr. Cullen and Mr. Ling remained with him all day until
six or seven at night, when the latter left. Deceased died
about 4 o’clock on Saturday morning.

By the Foreman: He said as soon as he took it that
he thought it was poison. He did not speak after the
daughter came back, which was about 9 o’clock.

By a Juror: He did not speak until after Mr. Ling
came and used the stomach pump.

By the Coroner : He never spoke to her.

By a J uror : Mr. Ling sent two bottles of medicine on
the first occasion, and they were the same bottles as came
the second time.

In answer to questions by Mr. Pollard, the witness
said that her husband had suffered from sciatica before,
but his general health was good, and he was a temperate
man. On Saturday week her husband commenced to
suffer from sciatica, and she sent for Mr. Ling, who
attended on Monday morning, and in the afternoon sent
her some medicine. When the medicine bottles were
returned on Thursday she did not notice what the colour
of the physic was. She did not notice the smell, but it
seemed darker. Mr. Ling had said he would send some
embrocation for her Imsband to be rubbed with, but she
could not recollect if he said he would send some em¬
brocation, and the mixture “as before.” She expected
some embrocation to be sent, and returned the bottles
for that purpose. The bottles came to her on Thursday
night by train, and were delivered at the house, when
her daughter took them in. She thought it was the
embrocation in the small bottle until she read the label,
and when she smelt it she remarked that she thought it
had hartshorn in it. She expected that the small bottle
might have contained the embrocation, but it did not
occur to her when she saw the label that it was the em¬
brocation. She did not send for Mr. Morris Ling the
first thing after she found she had given the embrocation
to her husband, because she thought it would take too
long for him to get there. He did all that he could for
her husband after he came.

Elizabeth Moore, daughter of the deceased, stated

that she remembered some medicine coming for her
father last Tuesday afternoon. There were two bottles.
She took the bottles to the station on Thursday
morning, and gave them to William Bixrrell, the clerk,
for him to send to Saxmundham . She took them in on
Thursday night, from William Burrell, who brought
them up from the station. She did not open the basket,
but saw the bottles taken out. There were two, which
were left standing downstairs on the table in the sitting-
room. On the Friday morning, December 12, about 8.30
a.m., her mother brought the smaller bottle to her and
asked her to read the label, which had on it “The
aperient draught, to be taken in the morning.” The
bottle was full, and her mother took it away. About
half an hour or so afterwards her mother sent her to Mr.
Gooch’s, and she took with her the bottle with a little
of the medicine remaining in it. In consequence of
what Mr. Gooch said to her she went for Mr. Cullen,,
who arrived at her father’s soon after. She went up to
her father when she got back, and he looked at her and
said “I am poisoned.” She saw him again in the
evening, when he seemed better.

By Mr. Pollard: She did not know what the first
medicine was like. She did not notice that the little
bottle had differently coloured medicine in it to what it
had at first. When her mother went to her in her
bedroom on Friday morning, asking her to read the
label on the bottle, she (Mrs. Moore) said it smelt very
funny. Witness saw deceased after Mr. Ling left, and
he then seemed like a madman. That was some time,
after, but she saw him just before Mr. Ling left, and he.
seemed much better.

Peter William Cullen, surgeon, Leiston, said that on
Friday morning, about 9.20, he was summoned to visit
the deceased. Witness was dressing at the time, and a
bottle was sent up to him to look at. It smelt to him of
camphorated liniment. He went to the deceased, who
was half sitting up in bed, with a red and swollen face
and widely dilated pupils. His extremities were cold,
and the pulse scarcely perceptible, with a tumultous
action of the heart. He ordered mustard and water, and
deceased swallowed a little of it, and then sank back in
bed in a sort of comatose condition, and commenced to
breathe very heavily. In consequence of what Mrs.
Thorne told him he advised that Mr. Ling should be
telegraphed for. He administered nothing to deceased
besides the mustard and water in the meantime. When
Mr. Morris Ling came they applied the stomach pump,
but scarcely anything was obtained from it. After that
they galvanized deceased, and he appeared to revive for
a time, but he sank back again. Witness remained with
him until 4 o’clock, and saw him again at 9 the same
evening, when he was delirious. Witness did nothing
for him, but said he should be watched. From the
symptoms it appeared to witness that he was suffering
from belladonnic poisoning. Witness asked Mr. Ling
what there was in the liniment, and he told him that it
was belladonna and aconite.

By the Coroner : To make a liniment of the kind sup¬
plied there would be a couple of drachms of each in¬
gredient. A quarter to half a drachm of belladonna
would be sufficient to kill a man.

By Mr. Pollard : Witness thought that anyone smelling
at the bottle would know that it was for outward appli¬
cation. Directly Mr. Ling got to deceased’s house, he
asked witness to help him apply the stomach pump. They
then used the battery, and gave him ammonia, and he
appeared to revive. Every time subsequently that the
battery was used he got better, and his pulse increased.
In the evening deceased took some brandy and water and
egg and brandy, and then aromatic ammonia, which
appeared to further revive him. Witness left at 4, and
at that time thought there might be a little hope. About
5 o’clock witness saw Mr. Ling again, and he said he
thought deceased was much better. At 9 o’clock witness,
went again, and was surprised to see deceased in the state

December 20, 18T9.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

499

he was. He had a full pulse, and was in the state of a
man with delirium tremens, which he attributed to the
belladonna. He agreed to the advice of Mr. Ling as to
the subsequent treatment. He had, at 9 o’clock, some
hope of his recovery. Belladonna got into the system
immediately it was taken into the stomach, but it did
not always act for some hours afterwards. That de¬
pended on the constitution of the patient and the state of
the stomach at the time. If the stomach pump had
been applied immediately after the liniment was taken it
would not have made any difference to the man’s state.
Even if the belladonna had got immediately into the
system he should say that the deceased would have sur¬
vived as long as he did. Witness could not have applied
the stomach pump first thing in the morning, because
stertorous breathing and coma came on, and when witness
saw deceased again with Mr. Ling, those symptoms had
gone off. He could not say if galvanism would have
been of use if immediately applied.

Edward West, engineer, of Leiston, said he was sent for
just before 10 o’clock on Friday morning, and telegraphed
for Mr. Ling at once. He then went to the house of the
deceased and remained with him till he died. Deceased
began to be delirious between 5 or 6 o’clock, and it
continued till about 3 next morning, when he had a
little sleep. Witness went downstairs, but had not been
gone ten minutes when he was called back and told that
deceased was dying. Directly after witness got upstairs
deceased died.

By Mr. Pollard: Witness was the first to see Mr.
Morris Ling, and told him that “They had given him
poison.” Mr. Ling replied, “Why did they not apply the
stomach pump?” When the pump was applied by Mr.
Ling it brought up a large quantity of matter of a
brownish colour, and deceased revived very much towards
4 o’clock. Witness asked Mr. Ling several times if
there was any hope, and he replied, “ While there’s life
In his body I have hope.” When Mr. Ling left he in¬
structed witness what food to give him, and said that
when he came round he would be like a drunken man.
Witness was of opinion that Mr. Ling did all he could for
the deceased.

William Burrell, booking clerk at the station, gave evi¬
dence as to the delivery of the basket containing the
medicine at Mr. Moore’s house.

Several more witnesses remained to be examined, and
the Coroner adjourned the inquiry until Monday next.
He gave instructions to Mr. E. D. Wallis, surgeon, of
Leiston, to make a poist mortem examination of the body
in the meantime. — East Anglian Daily Times.

Prosecution for the Sale of “Unfermented Wine.”

At the Salford Borough Police Court, on Friday,
December 12, before Mr. Makinson (stipendiary), William
Pilling, chemist, New Bailey Street, Salford, appeared in
answer to a summons taken out against him under the
Food and Drugs Act, 1875, for selling to Mr. C. H. Thomp-
stone, inspector appointed under the Act, two bottles of
what purported to be “ unfermented port and sherry
wine, manufactured from the juice of the grape, and
used for family and sacramental purposes,” which wine,
on being submitted to the borough analyst, was found
to be not of the substance, nature, and quality demanded
by the purchaser. Mr. Walker (assistant town clerk)
appeared in support of the summons, and Mr. W. S.
Sebright Green appeared on behalf of the manufacturers
of the wine, Messrs. Bell and Co., Upper Milk Street,
Liverpool.

In opening, Mr. Walker said the case was one of con¬
siderably importance to the public. On the 22nd ult.,
Mr. Thompstone went to the defendant’s shop and pur¬
chased two bottles of wine — one of port and one of
sherry — which was said to be “unfermented, and manu¬
factured from the juice of the grape.” He divided the
samples in the usual way, and submitted half of the

quantities purchased to the public analyst, Mr. Carter Bell.
The result of the analysis was that Mr. Bell found absent
all the constituent parts which constituted the pure juice
of the grape, and the liquid contained in the bottles
was practically nothing more than coloured water. The
so-called “unfermented wine” was sold in considerable
quantities among total abstainers, and was said to be used
largely for sacramental purposes. What the defence would
be he could not conceive, unless the defendant confined
himself to contending that he sold the liquid as he
purchased it from the manufacturer. He reminded the
bench, however, that the 25th section of the Food and
Drugs Act provided that a person selling any adulterated
article was liable to be fined unless he produced a 'written
guarantee to prove that it had not been tampered with
since the purchase took place. If the stipendiary, after
hearing the evidence, should think it desirable he
(Mr. Walker) would submit the samples obtained for
analysis at Somerset House, and ask for the case to be
adjourned, but if he were satisfied with the evidence of
the borough analyst such a penalty would be asked for as
would be commensurate with the importance of the case
as it affected the public.

Charles E. Thompstone, inspector under the Food and
Drugs Act, was the first witness. He deposed to pur¬
chasing a bottle of port and a bottle of sherry from
the defendant’s shop on November 22. The label on
each bottle set forth that they were “ unfermented wine,
manufactured from the juice of the grape.” The price
was 2 s. Gd. per bottle, and having paid for them witness
submitted half the quantities to the borough analyst and
left the remainder with the defendant in sealed bottles.

Cross-examined: witness said he did not actually ask the
defendant to supply him with “the juice of the grape,”
but he expected when he made the purchase to get
what was stated on the bottle, namely, “unfermented
wine, manufactured from the juice of the grape.”

Mr. Carter Bell, public analyst for the borough of
Salford, said he received the two samples referred to by
the last witness on the 22nd November. He analysed
them, and found that they were not composed of the pure
juice of the grape. He would not swear that there was
not an infinitesimal quantity of the juice of the grape, but
the proportion was certainly not equal to 10 per cent.

In cross-examination, witness admitted that several of
the constituents which went to form the liquid purchased
might have been contained in the juice of the grape.

Mr. Green submitted, in defence, that the liquid pur¬
chased by the inspector was really what it purported to
be, namely, “ unfermented wine,” manufactured from the
juice of the grape. It was not sold, or intended to be
sold as pure juice of the vine, and therefore, the prosecu¬
tion, he held, must fall to the ground.

Mr. G. B. Bell, one of the firm of manufacturers iu
Liverpool, said the wine was manufactured principally
from grapes, and had a very large sale, there being no
fewer than 3284 wholesale customers for it. Fifteen
Nonconformist churches in Bradford were supplied with
the wine, and there was one chapel where a dozen bottles
were drunk every Sunday.

Mr. Hewson, manager of Messrs. Bell’s works, said he
manufactured the wane and it contained one-sixth part of
pure grape juice, and five parts of sugar and water, with
a small quantity of burnt sugar for colouring purposes.

Mr. L. Siebold, analytical chemist, deposed to analys¬
ing specimens of the wine purchased by the inspector.
He found that the predominant constituents of the wine
were such as were contained in the juice of the grape.

The Stipendiary, after hearing the evidence, said he
was of opinion that the summons must be dismissed, inas¬
much as it was not proved that the wine did not contain
some portion of pure grape juioe, and no standard was
fixed by the law by which lie could decide whether the
proportion was sufficiently large or not to justify the

sale. _ The defendant was allowed costs. — Manchester

Courier.

500

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (December 20, 1379..

'

(fotutessjjottttynq.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Patent Medicines.

Sir, — To those of your readers who have for a long time
past been giving considerable attention to the various
phases of the patent medicine question, the editorial, which
appears in your last issue, affords another opportunity
for further discussion. It is obvious that the intention
implied therein is merely to give a summary of various
communications which have appeared in your columns from
time to time, without in any way attempting to suggest a
course for further and more decided action.

That a certain amount of ambiguity should be very
plainly perceptible in this article is therefore not to be
wondered at, nor are you to be held responsible for it,
seeing that many of the proposed schemes are of a widely
opposite nature, and most of them relate entirely to what
may be termed the trade aspect alone.

Whether, in the fulness of time, the chemist is to be
either the proprietor or retailer of patent medicines, in
conjunction with surgeons, drapers, storekeepers, grocers,
stationers, working cobblers, or oilmen, or whether he is to
get lOcL, lO.^d., Is. or that acme of commercial joy and
prospective fortune known as full price, for his thirteen
pence halfpennyworth of stock, I am not prepared to say,
as it is altogether outside my argument, but whether he is
to sell them — even under the latter happy condition —
without protest, and a strong determination to give chal¬
lenge to the existing state of affairs is quite another thing./

To suppose that it will ever be possible to purge our
pharmacies of these nostrums would be folly indeed ; to
refuse to sell them — absolute mania; but, at the same time,
I should hope that it is no symptom of incipient insanity
to suppose that the nostrums themselves can be purged to
such an extent as to render their sale, by a man with an
ordinary amount of intelligence, a matter of satisfaction,
rather than humiliation, whether he be pharmacist or
grocer.

Why this scandal in modern medical science has not long
ago been an object for the combative instinct of higher bodies
than ours, it is impossible to imagine, but, for the sake of
our honour, as a society, let us no longer tarry.

If we have not yet arrived at that socially scientific degree
of importance which will admit of our being legally
represented in the compilation of our national pharma¬
copoeia, let us, at least, show that we have no desire to
patch up a system of charlatanism which aims at nothing
less than its entire annihilation ; it will scarcely be denied
that we have qualifications sufficient for this.

I have neither experience nor ability enough to sketch
out a way of doing it, but my mind is full of an earnest
aspiration to see it done, and to give a helping hand in the
struggle. Surely there must be many more who are just
as eagerly awaiting the heralding of the campaign, and the
time cannot be far distant when the literature of quackery,
the wonderful panacea for the miraculous cure of every ill
that flesh is heir to, will be made to feel the march of
progressive civilization, and the patent violation of our
poison schedule be in itself so dangerous an absurdity as to
seal its own death warrant.

Kilburn, N.W. Charles B. Allen.

Poison Vending.

Sir, — The remarks under the above heading quoted by you
from the Medical Press and Circular are most surprising.
I should have thought the evidence would nearly all tend
the other way, viz., that it is through the medical profession
that the public generally become acquainted with the
property of hypnotics, etc. I believe the habitual use of
opiates has its origin more often than not in the doctor’s
prescription. I know many cases in which it has done so.
Only lately I made up a prescription for a draught
containing chloral. It was several times repeated, then
two at a time were had, afterwards four, then six ; at last I
was asked to make up a large bottle instead of separate
draughts. There having a short time since been a case

of fatal poisoning in this neighbourhood by chloral supplied
in a 6 oz. bottle by a surgeon to a patient suffering from
delirium tremens, I demurred and advised the draughts not
to be continued without further consulting the doctor who
prescribed them. Whether the advice was acted on, or
whether it gave offence, I do not know, but I have not since
been favoured with a prescription from the family, who
were previously frequent customers in that way. While not
agreeing with those who go so far as to think that a
prescription should never be repeated unless with the
authority of the prescriber, I do think it cannot be right
to entrust patients with prescriptions for medicines of
a dangerous character without any limitation as to the
time the medicine is to be continued.

A Village Chemist.

Sunday Trading and Earlier Closing.

Sir, — The above two subjects have been discussed for a few
weeks in the Journal and as I have much more leisure than
I like, through ill health, perhaps if I state my personal
experience od both of these matters some of our members
may be helped to a right decision, or at any rate to an
improvement in the state of things a3 described by Mr.
Woodward in last week’s Journal. It is nearly fifty years
since I was apprenticed in Norwich, and at that time, 1831,
most chemists’ shops in that good old city were open on
Sunday till 10.30 a. in., this being the only part of the day
of rest encroached upon, and before I left in 1837 to come
to London I believe nearly all were entirely closed on
Sunday, with verv little if any inconvenience to the public
and with great advantage and much comfort both to prin¬
cipals and employees. On coming to this great metropolis
I found there was much more Sunday trading of all kinds
than I had been accustomed to.

Public houses were open till 11 a.m., and as I occupied a
situation not far from a large gin palace, and had to attend
in an open shop all day, I saw enough to make me rejoice
with many others when a regulation was introduced pre¬
venting their opening till after 1 p.m. On commencing
business on my own account in 1841, I closed on Sundays
from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. and on week days was at business
till 11 p.m. and on Saturday till 12, and at that time I was
not singular in doing so. Some few years since there was
much agitation both about late hours and Sunday opening
and by slow degrees the present plan has been reached by
me, of entirely closing on Sunday, and on other days,
except Saturday, closing at 9 p.m. I sincerely believe that
this has been accomplished without any loss of business,
and my experience has convinced me that if the sales are
confined to medicines the returns are very small indeed on
Sundays. If I could persuade any doubting one to take the
leap, I feel sure his loss will be scarcely perceptible, and the
extra comfort and rest would fully compensate him, helping
him to improve health and enabling him to rejoice in the
feeling that the Sabbath was made for man and being a
free man he intends to make a good use of it.

James Slipper.

W.

Hickman. — There is, perhaps, nothing in the Act to

prevent a grocer whose name is not on the Register of
Chemists and Druggists from charging for the making up
of a prescription, but any such person selling or keeping
an open shop for the dispensing or compounding of poisons,
or exhibiting the name or title of chemist and druggist,
or chemist or druggist, would be liable to a penalty under
the 15th section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868.

T. Robinson. — A recipe for incense will be 10 and in vol.
viii., p. 519.

IF. Murray should consult a work on veterinary medi¬
cine.

“ Devon.” — (l) The preparation is, we believe, a pro¬
prietary one, of which the formula has not been published;
but a few experiments would probably furnish you with
what you want. (2) Dr. Dobell’s formula for tincture of
podophyllin will be found in the Pharmaceutical Journal
for June 28 last, p. 1056. (3) No authoritative formula has
been published ; you would therefore be justified in using
such a preparation as is usually kept in pharmacies.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Robinson, Reynolds, Key, Storey, Gostling,
C. E. W., Spes, Wiltshire.

December 27, i S79.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

501

“ THE MONTH.”

Ordinarily, December is not a very promising
month for a botanical gossip, and more especially is
this the case in this unusually severe close to a most
inclement year. Except in a few favoured localities
there are but few flowers to be seen, the Christmas
rose ( Ilelleborus niger) being almost the only medi¬
cinal plant in blossom. Petasites fro grans and
Matricaria inodor a may be found here and there on
liedgebanks in the south in blossom to illustrate the
Composite. In hothouses the pretty poinsettia, with
its brilliant scarlet bracts and insignificant flowers,
represents the Euphorbiacem, while the lily of the
valley and the hyacinth worthily represent the
Liliaceie. There are spots, however, in England
where flowers still survive, even after Paris has been
rendered impassable by snow, and, still further south,
Algeria has been covered in several places with a
carpet of white six inches thick. For, according to
a letter in the IVestern Morning News , of the 16th
inst., there were then in full bloom in the gardens
of Ilfracombe, geraniums, heliotropes, mignonette,
convolvulus minor, roses (various), fuchsias, red
salvias, carnations, calceolarias, stocks, myrtles, mag¬
nolias, and many others.

During the last few days the metropolis has been
visited by one of those fogs for which it is famous,
and if there be any relief in a scientific explanation
of a disagreeable infliction, it may be found in one
by Professor Frankland. Noting that the per¬
sistent and irritating fogs which affect large towns
frequently occur in comparatively dry air, he ex¬
plains this persistency in a dry medium as due to
the formation of a coating of coal oil, derived from
coal smoke, upon the surface of the minute particles of
water which compose fog, and which coating effectu¬
ally prevents the evaporation of water. The remedy
would therefore appear to lie in the use of a smoke¬
less coal or of gas for heating purposes.

The season of mistletoe and holly is now ap¬
proaching with rapid strides, and it is so familiar
to see the mistletoe bough hung up, that the idea
of having mistletoe “all a-growing” takes one
rather by surprise. Nevertheless, Mr. R. Smith, of
Worcester, has hit upon the novel plan of selling
apple trees with mistletoe upon them. Such trees,
although possibly admirable for ornamental purposes,
even if dwarfed as the Japanese dwarf their trees,
would scarcely do for the usual purpose to which
mistletoe is applied at this festive season of the year.
The mistletoe grows remarkably well, however, on
a much more ornamental tree— the mountain ash.
It is merely necessary to rub the berries on the
bark of a young tree, and the germinating seed soon
attaches itself.

Just now, when there is scarcely a green leaf
to be seen, it seems somewhat anomalous to con¬
sider the subject of chlorophyll. This substance
has, however, attracted considerable attention
recently. M. Gautier, in Comptes Bendas , p. 862,
describes the preparation of the crystalline form
of chlorophyll, which is obtained by pounding
spinach, or other leaves, in a mortar, neutralizing
the pulp with carbonate of soda, expressing strongly,
diluting the marc with 55° alcohol, and. again
expressing. The matter thus exhausted in the
cold is treated with 83° alcohol. The liquor is
filtered, and allowed to digest for four or five days
with animal charcoal, wliicn absorbs the chlorophyll,
leaving a yellowish-green or brownish solution
Third Series, No. 496.

that contaius the impurities, wax, fat, colouring
matters, etc. The animal charcoal, separated by
cotton wool in a funnel, is washed with 65°
alcohol, which removes a yellow crystallizable
substance, that generally accompanies the chloro¬
phyll, and seems to bear a close relation to it
in composition. The charcoal is then treated with
ether or light petroleum oil, which does not dissolve
the yellow matter, but only the chlorophyll, and
this crystallizes out in flattened needles when the
petroleum solution is allowed to evaporate.

M. Gautier, who made the discovery of the crys¬
talline state of chlorophyll first in 1877, was appar¬
ently anticipated by M. Trecul, who observed,
in 1865, natural crystals in the cortical portion
of Lactuca altissima ; but his discovery was at
that date received with incredulity. M. Gautier, in
his remarks in Comptes Rendus, p. 863, states that he
considers chlorophyll to be nearly allied to bilirubine
in its reactions and elementary composition. It
dissolves in the same solvents, like it plays the part
of a feeble acid, gives unstable soluble salts with
alkalies, and insoluble salts with all other bases, and
agrees with it in the alkaline solutions being very
easily altered and oxidized under the stimulus of
light. Like bilirubine it can pass successively from
green to yellow, red, or brown, by the subtraction
or addition of oxygen. The preliminary analysis
indicates the formula C19H22N203 ; that of bilirubine
being C1GH18N203. The paper is too long to give here
further details ; but sufficient has been said to show
that M. Gautier is on a most interesting and impor¬
tant track. It may be hoped that he will continue
his valuable researches and that they may lead to the
solution of the mystery as to the means by which the
change from the green colouring matter of leaves to
the bright colours of petals is effected in nature, a
discovery which would be of exceeding value to the
horticulturist. The study of this subject is further
of interest on account of the relation of chlorophyll
to bilirubine, and consequently with the hcematine
derived from blood.

According to a notice in the Journal of Botany ,
Pringsheim has also recently published the results
of his researches on the function of chlorophyll
( Monatsber . der Konig. Akad. dev Wiss. zu Berlin ,
July, 1879). He considers that chlorophyll, so long
as it exists in the cell, protects the protoplasm,
from the injurious effects of sunlight, and suggests
that it may serve as a regulator of respiration by
reason of its strong absorption of light, especially of
the chemical rays.

The author has also discovered in the ground sub¬
stance of all chlorophyll grains, and of all amorphous
chlorophyll, a new body very sensitive to light and
easily destroyed by it. This substance he calls hypo-
chlorin or hypochromyl. It may be obtained by
placing any green tissue in weak hydrochloric acid
for from twelve to twenty-four hours. This body he
considers to be the true primary product of assimila¬
tion of green plants, from which are derived by
oxidation under the influence of light the starchy
and oily contents of chlorophyll grains. Accumula¬
tion and growth of the starchy contents of the
chlorophyll grains proceed in proportion with a
decrease of the hypochlorin in it. In darkness starch
is less stable than hypochlorin, showing that the
conversion of the latter into more highly organized
bodies in the cell is favoured by the increased
respiration occurring in light.

502

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 1879

Some interesting experiments by Professor Hoff¬
mann, of Giessen, have been reported in the Berlin
Monatsschrift on the influence of thick sowing on
the sex of dioecious plants. In his view sex does not
reside in the seed, but is the result of the conditions
of germination. In spinach he found that one hun¬
dred seeds crowded in a pot yielded two males to
every female plant, but an equal number of each
sex when seeds from the same sample were planted
in the open ground. Unripe seeds also in the case
of Lychnis vespertina gave more males than females,
and the seed of Mercurialis annua , artificially im¬
pregnated in early summer, gave a larger proportion
of males than seed ripened at the usual time.
Similar results are said by Professor Prantl, of
Aschaffenburg, to obtain in the prothallia ot ferns,
when crowded, and Professor Pfeffer, of Tubingen,
has observed the same hold good with equisetum,
in which more antheridia than archegonia are pro¬
duced. In the case of hemp, the nutmeg tree and
some other plants, this fact, if generally applicable,
is of considerable importance.

Another interesting botanical fact has been dis¬
covered by M. Lemoine, of Nancy, who finds that
the stigmas of double flowers are capable of fertili¬
zation by the pollen of single flowers, with the result
of yielding seeds of which the majority produce
double flowers.

Another important chapter in the history of nitri¬
fication has been contributed by Messrs. Schloesing
and Muntz ( Comptes Rendus , vol. lxxxix., p. 891).
These experimenters claim to have identified the
organized ferment by which nitrification is effected
as consisting of small rounded or slightly elongated
corpuscles, already noticed by Pasteur under the
name of “ corpuscles brillants ,” and looked upon by
him as germs of bacteria. This organism, which
has many analogies with the acetic ferment, multi¬
plies by gemmation, but very slowly, which ac¬
counts for the progressive rate at which nitrification
goes on. A temperature of 100° C. is fatal to it,
and its activity is arrested by one of 90c ; neither can
it resist prolonged deprivation of oxygen, at least in
liquids. Desiccation, even at ordinary temperatures,
is also unfavourable. The ferment is widely diffused,
the most favourable place for its development being
earth containing vegetable debris; but drainage
waters and waters containing organic matters are
also rich in this organism. In the soil its greatest
enemy is rnucor, the development of which arrests
the formation of saltpetre ; but after the death of the
mould it generally resumes its activity. The nitri¬
fication ferment does not appear to occur suspended
in the atmosphere, possibly from its inability to
resist desiccation.

In the Gardeners’ Chronicle it is authoritatively
stated that during the ensuing summer a students’
garden will be thrown open in the Royal Gardens,
Kew, where students will be permitted under certain
regulations, which will be drawn up hereafter, to
procure botanical specimens for scientific study and
observation. This will be good news for botanical
students and will, it may be hoped, lead to the
greater development of a practical instead of a
theoretical knowledge of botany, which it is to be
feared is too often the result of a course of “ botani¬
cal study.”

In Science Gossip, for this month, under the title
of “Friends in Council,” is published a list of names
of gentlemen willing to assist gratuitously amateurs

in botany and other branches of natural history, in
various localities. The list is to be further extended
and it is hoped may prove very useful to those who
in country districts are often somewhat hindered in
their botanical studies for want of a little practical
information.

M. Ed. Morren’s ‘Correspondance Botanique’ or
‘ Botanical Directory,’ giving a lists of botanists and
botanical societies, etc., all over the world, has just
reached a seventh edition, which contains numerous
additions and improvements. This list is understood
to be kept in stock by Mr. Quarritch, of Piccadilly.

Some confusion still seems to exist as to the kind
of quebracho used medicinally. In the Berichte d.
Deutsch. Chem. Ges., 1879, p. 1560, G. Fraude states
that his aspidospermine -was obtained from Aspido-
spermci Quebracho bianco , Schl., according to Pedro
Ardata’s report in the ‘Anales de la Sociedad Cien-
tifica Argentina,” and that explains why it has a
different composition and properties from the “aspi¬
dospermine isolated from Quebracho Colorado .” Any
alkaloid obtained from Quebracho Colorado ( Loxo -
pterygium Lorentzii ) should no longer be called
aspidospermine, but loxopterygine, since it would be
obtained from a totally different tree belonging to a
different natural order. For a similar reason the
name quebrachine, which is used in the ‘ Revista
F armaceutica ’ as an equivalent for aspidospermine,
should not be used, lest it lead to a similar confusion.
It is the bark of the white quebracho ( Aspido -
sperma Quebracho ) which has been used in medicine,
and the alkaloid obtained from this bark should
alone be called aspidospermine.

In New Remedies for this month an account
of the barks of Alstonia constricta and A. scholar is
is given, but by a curious oversight, while the cha¬
racters of the flowers, etc., are described, there is no
mention of the characters by which the barks may
be distinguished. Woodcuts of sections of the two
barks are, however, given, but that of Alstonia
constricta can scarcely be looked upon as typical,
being figured from a piece oi old bark. Much of
that which arrives in this country is only half or
one-third the thickness represented, and is of course
more powerful than the older and corky bark.

In the Journal de Pharmacie for November,
Professor Plan chon describes a bark, called “ palo-
mabi,” which has been found mixed with pale cin¬
chona supplied to the hospitals. It came into com¬
merce apparently under the name of “ ecorce de Porto
Rico,” and is said to be used in the Antilles in the
manufacture of beer. He refers it to Colubrina
reclinata, Rich., a rhamnaceous plant. It contains
no alkaloid, but resin, a free acid of undetermined
composition, tannin, extractive matter and salts of
lime.

The Medical Times and Gazette for December 6,
calls attention to the researches of Nikitin on the
physiological action of sclerotic acid, and remarks
that sclerotic acid “ seems likely before long to
partially replace ergot as a drug.” Nikitin stales
as the results of his experiments that both sclerotic
acid and its sodium salt possess the physiological and
therapeutical properties of ergot itself, but the salt
is a weaker drug than the acid. The acid remains
indefinitely without loss of strength if kept in a dry
place and undissolved. He considers, however, the
sodium salt to be the best preparation for internal
use. Whether from the mode of preparation, or
from whatever cause, sclerotic acid does not seem to

December 27, 1S79.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

503

have been received with much favour in this country
as yet, its use having, it is believed, decreased rather
than increased of late.

In Le Moniteur Therap. for October, M. H. Ber¬
geron is stated to have obtained very favourable
results in diphtheria from the inhalation of an
atmosphere containing a definite small proportion of
hydrofluoric acid gas. This is somewhat interesting,
since the action of hydrofluoric acid or fluorides is
believed to have an influence in producing another
disease (goitre) in the same part of the body.

The American Journal of Pharmacy for December
gives an account of experiments on the action of
artificial vanilla by Mr. L. Wolff, who has found that
in one grain doses taken for three weeks it produces
no bad results whatever. The vanillin experimented
with was Dr. J. M. Haarmann’s. He therefore con¬
cludes that it is not to artificial vanillin that the
reported poisonous effects of vanilla ice cream must
be attributed, but rather to the other ingredients.
He recommends vanillin for disguising the taste of
chlorate of potash in lozenges and recommends it to
be used in the following proportions : — Pot. chlor. ,
lb. iv. ; powdered sugar, lb. xvi ; vanillin, gr. xv. ;
mucilage of gum acacia, q.s. ; made into lozenges
weighing twenty-five grains each.

In the Berliner Klinische Woch. for November 3,
Dr. Koehler, of Ivosten, recommends a salt prepared
by dissolving boracite (borate of magnesium) in
citric acid, as a remedy in cases of gravel, or probable
uric acid calculus. The boracite used is that from
Stassfurt, known as stassfurtite. The salt, which is
known as boro-citrate of magnesium, is in the form
of a white powder of a sour taste, and is given
mixed with sugar in the proportion of one to two.
The dose is a large teaspoonful in half a tumbler of
water three times a day.

At this season of the year colds are of such com¬
mon occurrence that any mode of preventing or
curing them will doubtless be welcomed. The
Lancet , Nov. 29, p. 808, makes the following
remarks : — “ The truth would seem to be that what
we call cold-taking is the result of a sufficient im¬
pression of cold to reduce the vital energy of nerve
centres presiding over the functions in special
organs.” After alluding to sneezing and shivering
as efforts of nature “ to rouse the dormant centres
and enable them at once to resume work and avoid
evil consequences,” it goes on to say — “ It follows
from what we have said that the natural indication
to ward off the effects of a chill is to restore the vital
energy of the nerve centres, and there is no more
potent influence by which to attain this object than
a strong and sustained effort of the will. The man
who resolves not to take cold seldom does.” After
this excellent advice, it is to be hoped that readers
will all resolve not to take cold and will succeed.

Dr. Woodward, in the British Medical Journal
(Nov. 29, p. 882), calls attention to the value of a
cold water pillow in cases where headache, heat of
head, and similar symptoms have prevailed. He
sa)rs that anyone who ' has experienced the vain
attempt to find any permanently cool place in a
feather pillow will appreciate its value.

A note in Reimann’s Farber Zeitung (No. 43)
states that the cochineal harvest in the Canary
Islands has suffered greatly from unseasonable rains.
In Mogador the almond crop, notwithstanding the
droughts, has been up to the average; but the
almond crop is said to have been devoured by the

starving population before it reached maturity owing
to the severity of the famine.

In the neighbourhood of Naples the cultivation of
madder, which for some time past had been de¬
creasing, has at last been completely abandoned,
owing to the extended use of the aniline dyes in
Europe. It is estimated that 3000 bales, of 8 cwt.
each, are still to be had, the growth of former crops.

. The distress which is always more or less asso¬
ciated with the present season of the year, even in
the most prosperous times, has during the month
again given rise to many suggestions as to the
provision of cheap and nutritious food, and among
others have been brought forward once more the
claims of lentils, which the British poor so per¬
sistently ignore. But the overcoming of prejudices
with respect to new articles of diet is not of more
importance than the diffusion of correct infor¬
mation respecting the articles of food already in
common use. In this direction such lectures as
those on the u Chemistry of Bread and Bread
Making,” delivered during the present month as a
Cantor course befoie the Society of Arts, by Dr.
Charles Graham, cannot fail to have a beneficial in¬
fluence. The teaching of such subjects in schools,
too, as now practised, is a great gain, and for this
and similar purposes a series of collections of speci¬
mens illustrating the composition of articles of food
and drink, which have been prepared for the use
of lecturers and schoolmasters by Messrs. Southall
Brothers and Barclay, of Birmingham, promise
to be of utility. These illustrate the chemical com¬
position of the various classes of food by means of
typical specimens. In the collection illustrating the
alcoholic drinks the various amounts of water,
alcohol, flesh-forming and heat-giving matters are
shown.

A short paragraph in The Month for October
(before, p. 324) relative to the appointment of “ quiz¬
masters ” in connection with the New York College
of Pharmacy has provoked results strangely dispro¬
portionate to its superficial appearance. In the first
place, it has excited the wonder of the editor of New
Remedies’, and next, it has drawn from Mr. Cassebeer,
the Secretary of the college, a letter of sorrowful
explanation as to the nature of this office which he
describes as a “ peculiar institution connected with
most colleges in this country.” Mr. Cassebeer says :
“ Experience has shown that students do not profit
so much from didactic lectures alone, but that a
more practical method is required to make them
fully understand the subjects taught in the former.
This may be done either by practical instruction,
for instance, in a pharmaceutical or chemical labora¬
tory (in chemical schools), or by clinical lectures at
the bedside (in medical schools), or by oral recitations
in form of questions and answers. This latter
system is known in this country as ‘ quiz.’ In some
medical colleges the professors conduct this quizzing
class themselves, in other colleges special instructors
are appointed to conduct them.” Such a practice, it
may be remarked, is not unknown in this country,
but so far as the name under which it is known in
the United States is concerned Mr. Cassebeer speaks
with authority from his official position, and is en¬
titled to the thanks of the English readers of this
Journal for his courtesy in affording this information,
which will probably be new to most of them. It is
evident that a mistake has been made, though why
the suggestion that quiz is associated with banter

504

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTION'S. [December 27, 18:».

should raise so much ire is not quite evident, since
“ ridentem dicer e verum” has the respectability ot anti¬
quity at least. But when he proceeds to rebuke
the levity of the paragraph, and to state that “ we
are charitable enough to believe that the author
of the remark was unaware of the true meaning of
the term,” which is further defined by him as an
Americanism, the tribunal becomes changed and
others are as competent as himself to express an
opinion upon this part of the subject. In fact, the
“ levity ” that disturbs Mr. Cassebeer and his col¬
leagues consists, in the eves of the editor of New
Remedies, of “ grave remarks; further, the writer
was not unaware of the true meaning of the term
“ quiz,” and it is not an Americanism. Fewr words
have a belter-known history, and in its definition
lexicographers are all in accord. It would perhaps
be looked upon as begging the question to quote an
Englishman’s definition, but that of Webster will
suffice, namely : “Quiz, v.t. To puzzle ; to run on ; to
make a fool of. A popular, but not an elegant
word.” Neither is any other meaning suggested
under the other forms of the word. It would
appear, therefore, that the mistake which has so
excited our New York contemporary and the staff of
the New* York College was due primarily to the
peculiar misapplication of a well-known term to a not
very peculiar institution. Similar mistakes con¬
tinually occur on both sides of the Atlantic, originat¬
ing in mutual ignorance of local customs, air
ignorance which it is hoped may gradually be
dispelled by the very work that is marred by such
errors.

The opinion expressed last month that some
explanation would be forthcoming as to Professor
Meyer’s disclaimer to Dr. Endemann with respect
to the notices of his researches on chlorine that have
appeared in the English journals, has been justified
by a letter to Mr. Watson Smith published in the
Chemical News (Nov. 28, p. 263). In this letter,
Professor Meyer states that he was not referring to
the communication of Mr. Watson Smith to the
Chemical News (quoted before p. 164), which has his
entire approval, but to an article in the Chemical
News , August 15, on “The Decomposition of Chlo¬
rine,” and the paper of Sir B. 0. Brodie in the
Journal of the Chemical Society for September.

In a paper recently read before the Royal Society
{Nature, Nov. 27, p. 82), Messrs. Hannay and
Hogarth record some interesting results obtained
while pursuing an investigation into the conditions
of liquid matter up to the “ critical ” point with a
view to determine under what conditions liquids
are dynamically comparable. It was thought that
some clue might be obtained by dissolving in a
liquid some solid substance the fusing point of
which was much above the critical point of
the liquid, and noticing whether, on the latter
assuming the gaseous condition, the solid was
precipitated or remained in solution. It wTas found
that the solid wTas not deposited, but remained in
solution, or rather in diffusion, in the atmosphere of
vapour, even wdien the temperature was raised 130°
above the critical point, and the gas was considerably
expanded. But when a local disturbance in tem¬
perature was caused, as by bringing a red hot iron
near a tube containing a strong gaseous solution of a
solid, the side of the tube nearest the source of heat
became coated with a crj'stalline deposit, which
slowly disappeared on the disturbing influence

being removed. When the pressure of the gas was
suddenly reduced, also, the solid Was deposited in a
crystalline form, but was easily redissolved by the
gas on increasing the pressure. The experiments
were made with such solvents as methyl and ethyl
alcohols, ether, carbon bisulphide and tetrachloride,
paraffins and olefines, and such solids as sulphur,
the chlorides, bromides and iodides of the metals,
chlorophyll and the aniline dyes.

Once more the news comes from the United States
that Mr. Edison has solved the problem of a cheap
burner for the electric light, and this time, although
only in the form of a telegram to the Daily News
(December 22), some slight information is given as
to the ground for the assertion. This burner is said
to consist of a coil, or horseshoe, of charred paper,
enclosed in an exhausted glass globe, where it can
be rendered incandescent without being consumed.
It is claimed that carbonized paper is not open to
the objections which have rendered former experi¬
ments with other substances in vacuo unsatisfactory.
The new burner is to be tested on a large scale
in Mr. Edison’s village of Menlo Park on New
Year’s Eve. It is also stated that Mr. Edison has
invented a means of measuring the electricity
delivered to consumers.

In the closing days of the year France has lost
another of her most eminent pharmaciens in Jean
Baptiste Alphonse Chevallier, who died on the
first instant, in his eighty-seventh year. Born in
Lorraine he commenced business as a pharmacien
in Paris, where he soon attracted attention by his
ability. In 1825, when the Journal de Chimie
Medicate wras started, M. Chevallier was appointed
principal editor, and contributed to the first num¬
ber an article on the detection of the adulteration of
iodine by means of alcohol, and in this work he was
supported by such well-known men as Guibourt,
Fee, Orfila, Payen, Vauquelin, Thenard, Peligot,
Pelouze and Serullas. He was the author and
joint author of a large number of treatises on subjects
more or less closely associated with pharmacy and
hygiene, whilst of his larger works may be men¬
tioned as one of the most important his ‘Dictionnaire
des Alterations et Falsifications des Substances ali-
mentaires, medicamenteuses et commercialese first
published in 1850, and a new edition of which
— we believe the fourth — has not long been issued.
In 1823 he w’as elected to the Academie de Mede-
cine, of which he lived to be the oldest member, and
a few years afterwards he relinquished his business
as a pharmacien, upon his appointment by the
Government to the chair of chemistry in the Paris
School of Pharmacy, an appointment he still retained
at the time of his death.

On a previous occasion the necessity of fully and
clearly labelling the bottles in which medicines are
dispensed was fully commented on, and the use of
the coloured and fluted bottles strongly recommended
for all external applications ; the labels also for these
should be different in colour and distinct in
character, so that the eye of the public may, in due
course, be educated to recognize at once an external
application before even the specific directions on the
label are read.

A circumstance recorded in the last issue of this
Journal should bring this subject before dispensers
with greater force, and tend to impress on them a
due sense of their responsibilities as dispensers of
medicine for the public, some of whom are extremely

December 27, is79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

505

careless in the administration of the same in the
sick room.

The mixture, No. 377, may be dispensed by
dissolving the salicylate of soda and the bromide of
ammonium in 4 ounces of the water, to which the
sp. chlorof. should be added ; then having diluted
the ext. cinch, liq. with the remaining water, mix
them together. A copious flocculent separation takes
place, which will gradually subside. The mixture
is not inelegant, the precipitate bqing readily diffusible
on agitation. Of course the patient should be directed
to shakes the bottle before each dose.

No. 378 contains vaseline in a lotion, for which
vaseline is not adapted. Probably the writer may not
be aware of this, and the sooner he is made aware of
it the better for the dispenser. It has been stated
in these columns before that the pharmacy of
vaseline is little understood, and many members of
the medical profession seem to consider that in its
properties it resembles glycerine, and that like
glycerine it is miscible with either spirit or water or
a mixture of the two. It is otherwise difficult to
understand why a substitute for, and a representative
of lard, without its tendency to oxidation, should
form an ingredient in a lotion, and take the place
which has hitherto been occupied by glycerine.
Vaseline is not adapted for use in lotions, it is not
miscible with any aqueous vehicle, and is only
suited as a substitute for lard. A “ London Dispenser’’
has given a theoretical method of making an emul¬
sion by melting the vaseline and pouring it into 3
ounces of lime water. “ Adolescens” would, there is
no doubt, be very glad to see a specimen of the
“emulsion thus made ; it would solve a difficulty and
advance a step the pharmacy of the subject. If it has
been dispensed to the “ entire satisfaction ” of the
prescriber, “Adolescens” is recommended to procure
a sample of the emulsion, neutralize the lime water
with a little dilute acid, and thus ascertain how
much vaseline the mixture contains. In a paper
read at an Evening Meeting by Mr. J. Moss
( Pharm . Journ. [.3], vol. vi., p. 624), it is stated, as
the result of experiment, that “vaseline does not
saponify with alkalies.”

The pills, No. 379, contain ol. absinth, q. s. An
essential oil is not a suitable excipient to make a
pill mass of pepsine. Mucilage is well adapted for
the purpose, and a few drops of ol. absinth, may be
added to the mass ; or the glycerine of tragacanth
may be used, and would probably be better adapted
for the admixture of ol. absinth, or any other
essential oil.

REMACERATI01L*

BY E. BOTHER.

Since the process of percolation has become so gene¬
ralized, even to the extent of its authorized application
where there is a positive disadvantage in its use, it
sounds rather surprising, if not altogether doubtful, to
speak of the superiority of the nearly antiquated method
of extracting drugs by maceration. There is in all things
a tendency to extremes, but the observation had not escaped
even the remote past that a middle course is best in
everything. The process of percolation, when practically
viewed, has an entirely different aspect than when looked
at from its theoretical side. In theory, percolation con¬
sists in the displacement of one layer of liquid by another,
on the assumption that there is no intermingling, but on
the principle that the successive layers displace one

* From the Pharmacist for October, 1879.

another like so many solid disks. In practice, however,
this result is by no means realized ; in fact, the theory
of its operation in practice is founded on quite a different
principle. Percolation signifies that an interposed solid
is being permeated by a liquid. The definition her.,
alone already bars the principle of displacement as above
stated. A layer of liquid whilst penetrating a mass of
solid particles, as any ordinary powdered drug not of a
compact, resinous or gummy nature, is at the very outset
of its descent broken up into numerous distinct and inde¬
pendent currents of different velocities, varied according
to the width of the interstices passed through. This
action, therefore, results in a retardation of portions of
the layer, and thus, in the very incipiency of the process,
vitiating the principle of displacement. But, superaddecl
to this, now comes the effect of capillarity, a force of
remarkable power, whose obstructive action, varied ac¬
cording to the nature of the drug and the menstruum
employed, causes a further disarrangement of the liquid,
by its absorption within the solid as well as by adhesion
to the surfaces of the particles. Whilst thus a large
proportion of the liquid is greatly retarded by capillary
action, the freer portions escape more rapidly. To this
effect is now added the result of diffusion, which is even
of a retrogressive character, although closely allied to
capillarity. Finally, the chemical nature of the drug, in
conjunction with the power of the solvent, exerts the
most momentous influence over the ultimate result of the
operation. In substances containing a large proportion
of soluble material, especially of a viscid kind, the
greatest amount of retardation, and consequent inter¬
ference, occurs in many cases, so much so that a perfect
bar is set to all further progress in that direction. Such
an obstruction naturally throws the course of the currents
towards those places offering the least resistance. The
higher the column to be permeated is, the more defective
becomes the process, in many cases even to the extent of
entirely vitiating the final result. From this it will be
seen that the process of percolation can in no sense be
harmonized with the theory of displacement. In practice
it is a maze of intermingling currents of the greatest
complexity in volume, direction, velocity, etc., dependent
upon the struggling forces of gravity, capillarity, diffusion,
solution, chemism, etc. Therefore, the theoretical pro¬
cess of displacement compares with percolation in prac¬
tice as the regular descent of the ideal solid disk
compares with its shattered fragments projected down
pell-mell.

There are numerous substances which, although readily
permeated by certain menstrua, still contain their active
matters in such a condition and possessed of such other
properties that the extraction is but slowly and difficultly
effected. Such drugs, whilst having the disturbing features
but moderately intensified, yet, for the reason just stated,
require a relatively large volume of menstruum for their
complete exhaustion. There is, however, a very small
class of substances in which the deranging tendency is at
a minimum and the extractability of the active parts at a
maximum. Of these, ginger and capsicum are the best
known. Ginger, with a properly low column and the use
of alcohol, will yield, by the exercise of moderate care,
its total activity from 16 troy ounces, in the ordinary
powdered form, to 16 fluid ounces of the menstruum.
Common powdered capsicum, somewhat more carefully
treated and in low column, with a properly regulated
flow, can be satisfactorily extracted with strong alcohol,
so that 16 fluid ounces of percolate represent 16 troy
ounces. Opposed to these are others, again, that permit
but a small measure of success by percolation. These
are cantharides, Calabar bean, calumba, seneka, squill,
taraxacum, vanilla, and a host of others. If, in the
treatment of these, moderately alcoholic or . prepon¬
derating^ aqueous menstrua are used obstructions and
erratic currents will certainly form, which then require
comparatively large volumes of liquid to wash down the
impeded portions. But if a pretty strongly alcoholic

THE FH ARMACEU TIC AL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 187?,

mixture is employed, then the extraction is . defective,
from lack of solvent power upon the enveloping tissues
of the active matters. Then, finally, there is another
class that cannot be treated by percolation at all. These
are the resins, gum resins and gums. _

In the method of extraction of these various drugs the
United States Pharmacopoeia makes no distinction, how¬
ever, but submits them all to percolation. Some slight
discrimination is made in the use of menstrua, and con¬
siderable regard given to the degree of comminution,
both of which latter are considerations of great im¬
portance bearing upon the success of the operation. But
no manner of preliminaries will render the process avail¬
able in the exceptions above cited. In the manner of
preparing fluid extracts the Pharmacopoeia has made a
new departure, by partially abandoning the idea of dis¬
placement and adopting coarser powders in connection
with a modified method of maceration combined with
percolation. The results of this process are believed to
be very satisfactory in affording a higher degree of con¬
centration in the percolate, and thus requiring less liquid
to be subsequently evaporated. With the exception of
the large, and iu most cases superfluous, use of glycerin,
the process is evidently an improvement.

The method of repercolation, owing to its very plausible
appearance, seemed to recommend itself especially for the
preparation of fluid extracts. But this method also has
of late undergone considerable revolution, or rather evo¬
lution, in borrowing the improved features of the officinal
method, namely, the coarser powders in connection with
maceration. Repercolation, however, i3 too intricate to
become generally popular, and particularly in its original
form, in conjunction with fine powders, it was altogether
too precarious and tedious for general use. With the
latest improvements, as above noted, and by reducing
the repetitions to two percolations, and then applying it
only to adaptable cases, it will certainly find more fre¬
quent use. However, no amount of skill in manipulation
or ingenious accessories will ever make percolation an
art. The inherent uncertainties are beyond the control
of mechanical means.

Among the strong points of percolation, its great con¬
venience is often cited, when compared with the method
of extracting drugs by maceration and expression. It is
true, for the multifarious small operations in the phar-
macal laboratory the press is a decidedly objectionable
apparatus, for more reasons than one. But when all the
necessary preparatory operations attaching to percolation
are considered, there remains but little choice. Now, the
method of remaceration which the writer here proposes
for the preparation of certain tinctures, syrups, etc., but
not fluid extracts, dispenses with the press as a necessary
adjunct, although its application in connection with it is
not by any means precluded.

When a root, bark, wood or other pervious drug in
small fragments is immersed in the menstruum by which
it is to be extracted, a certain volume of the latter is
absorbed, the amount depending upon the affinity of the
solid for the liquid employed. This pretty definite quan¬
tity peculiar to each drug, and a corresponding menstruum,
the writer will designate as the normal of absorption of
that particular drug. For instance, if one troy ounce of
a certain root, bark, etc., should saturate itself with one,
two, two and a half, or any number of fluid ounces of
menstruum, then its noxmal of absorption would be indi¬
cated by the respective number. Now, if in any formula,
for a certain tincture for example, a definite number of
ounces of the drug are to yield a specified measure of the
finished preparation, the given volume must be increased
by the amount of liquid that is finally retained in the drug
after decantation. The portion of menstruum lost in the
marc will of course contain a relative proportion of the
original drug, and with but one maceration this loss
would be altogether too great unless partly recovered by
the press. Now, in order to avoid the use of the press,
the writer divides the menstruum into three parts and

macerates the material in these separate portions succes¬
sively. The prescribed measure of the final product
is assumed to be divided into three equal parts, since a
division into equal parts extracts in greater ratio than
when in any other proportion. The whole menstruum
used is, therefore, made up of the three equal parts as
just stated, plus the matter absorbed by the material,
which latter is the product of the normal of absorption
into the quantity of drug employed. The first portion
of the menstruum to be applied consequently represents
one-third of the final measure, plus the absorbed volume.
For instance, if 6 troy ounces of a drug is to be extracted
with a specified menstruum whose final volume after
three macerations shall be 48 fluid ounces, the normal of
absorption being ’75, then the absorbed volume will be
4 ’5 fluid ounces and the measure of the first macerate
consequently will be 16 + 4-5 = 20-5 fluid ounces. Now,
after due maceration and decantation of 16 fluid ounces,
the residual menstruum must retain 4 ’5 parts of the
20 -5 into which the activity of the drug is assumed to be
divided. This ratio, when reduced to a vulgar fraction
whose numerator is 1 and denominator 4’55 + , shows-
that in the first maceration one part out of every A'55 +
of the whole material is lost. The denominator of this
fraction the writer terms the subnormal of absorption.
But in the second maceration 16 fluid ounces of fresh
menstruum is poured upon the first residue, thereby
restoring the original measure of 20'5 A second de¬
cantation now again leaves 4' 5 parts of the first loss
unextracted, and the third or final maceration sustains
again a permanent loss of 4'5 parts of the second. The
ratio of the total loss in the whole operation will there¬
fore be represented by the product of the fraction whose
denominator is termed the subnormal of absorption
multiplied into itself three times. The denominator
94'5 of this new fraction, which, as will be seen, is the
cube of the subnormal of absorption, the writer styles
the subnormal of loss. Hence it becomes evident that if
the normal of absorption is small the subnormal of ab¬
sorption must be correspondingly great, and the cube of
this, or the subnormal of loss, must be great in propor¬
tion, and so inversely small will be the actual loss. This
calculation shows that in this formula 1 part out of every
94'5 of the drug remains unextracted, and hence, in
order to prepare an extraction representing a given
quantity of any substance, this must be used in such
increased proportion as to cover the anticipated waste.
To ascertain this required addition the above calculation
becomes necessary ; but in such cases where the normal
of absorption is large the extra addition of absorptive
matter decreases the subnormals to such an extent that
several trial estimates will have to be made in order to
adjust the formula to these conditions. Now, if we
assume a case in which the subnormal of loss is 8, for
instance, that is, one-eighth of the drug as above ex¬
plained, then it is not sufficient to add simply one-eightli
as much more as a correction for loss, because, as will be
easily seen, one eighth of this addition will also be lost ;
and if, again, one-eighth of this is added, still there
remains a deficiency of one-eighth of each amount added.
This process is naturally endless in extent, and the finding
of the true correction involves the summation of an
infinite decreasing geometrical series in which both the
first term and the ratio is one-eighth. The result is
found by dividing the first term by the difference between
unity and ratio, and is therefore in this instance one-
seventh. The writer designates the denominator of this
fraction the subnormal of correction, and which is in
every instance one less than the subnormal of loss. If
the latter is eight, the former becomes seven. Hence
the true correction is eight divided by seven, or one and
one-seventh, that is, the subnormal of loss divided by the
subnormal of correction. Yet, in cases where the normal
is large and the subnormals small, the addition of the
true correction augments the solid material to such an
extent that the consequent decrease of the subnormal of

December 27, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANU TRAXSACTIOUS

507

absorption becomes very perceptible and necessitates the
increase of the correction beyond the indication of the
calculated subnormals. Several trial estimates, as above
already noted, will readily point out the proper amount
of the required increase. Since, however, remaceration
is not intended for universal application, the case can
always be selected to meet the process. In several in¬
stances, where it is desirable to employ this method, but
where the material is inexpensive, a large proportionate
direct loss of crude drug is not to be considered when
indirect disadvantages are incurred by the employment
of other methods. Such is the case in calumba and
squill, whose normals of absorption are very high. A
modification of the method which the writer designates
as double remaceration can also be advantageously applied
in similar cases, as, for instance, in the preparation of
syrup of rhubarb, as will be seen farther on. It is not,
however, necessary to sustain any great amount of loss
in any formula by remaceration, as by means of the press
or a further maceration the most part may be saved for
the next batch.

In the following formulae the expressions £, §, f,

etc., alcohol, mean mixtures of strong alcohol and water
containing the strong alcohol in the proportion thus
indicated. This renders the preparations one-eighth
more alcoholic than officinally directed. The antiquated
term “ alcohol,*' as employed by the Pharmacopoeia, is
long since obsolete and decidedly cumbersome, in fact,
almost entirely disregarded by the great majority of
pharmacists, who, having become accustomed to modern
usage, make no discrimination, but use only the one
article which the market affords. Hence, in this instance,
the officinal authority is properly ignored in favour of
that which long established custom has sanctioned.

Oantharides. — Cantharides often contains its activity
in a form not easily extracted by ordinary menstrua.
Alkalies, however, by generating very soluble canthari-
flates, become excellent means for this purpose, especially
since they also recover that portion that is usually re¬
tained in combination with a pectdiar fixed oil. In using
an alkaline menstruum, percolation of the powder is
nearly impossible ; but for the purpose of remaceration,
even in conjunction with a weaker alcohol than the
officinal, the whole flies are most effectively treated.
The normal of absorption for cantharides is rather high,
but since the proportion in the tincture is but small, the
subnormals are correspondingly great, being 5* and 125*
respectively, so that the loss in 3 troy ounces is only
about 12 grains. Six pints of the tincture is prepared by
macerating with occasional agitation 3 troy ounces and
15 grains of whole cantharides, and 90 grains of potas¬
sium hydrate, in 40 fluid ounces of ^ alcohol, for four
days, decanting 32 fluid ounces and pouring on the
residue 32 fluid ounces more of the menstruum ; mace¬
rating again as before for three days, decanting 32 fluid
ounces a second time ; and again macerating the residue
with 32 fluid ounces of menstruum for three days, then
decanting 32 fluid ounces as before, mixing the three
decantates thus obtained and filtering. Should the
filtration not proceed with sufficient rapidity the addi¬
tion of a little powdered chalk will greatly hasten it.

Capsicum . — For similar reasons as those obtaining in
the case of cantharides, capsicum cannot be exhausted
with the officinal menstruum ; but since alkalies form
very soluble capsicates, and also free the capsicin from its
combination with fixed oil," they are excellent adjuvants
to the process. The normal of absorption of capsicum in
the pod is 1*25; its subnormals, 9*53 + and 865*5 + .
This shows that, as the loss is so small, even one mace¬
ration with equal subnormals of 26’5 would suffice for its
extraction, since to prepare one gallon of the tincture in
that manner requires but an extra addition of 1*22
drachms to compensate the loss. With so large a volume
as one gallon it is, however, more convenient to perform
two macerations in which the subnormals are 13 '8 and
150*44. Hence the formula. Take of capsicum in pod

4 troy ounces and 15 grains ; potassium hydrate, 2
drachms ; ^ alcohol, 133 fluid ounces. Upon the capsi¬
cum pods and potassium hydrate pour 69 fluid ounces of
the menstruum, and after four days’ maceration, the
mixture being occasionally stirred or shaken, decant 64
fluid ounces ; upon the residue pour the remaining 64
fluid ounces of menstruum, and after three days of mace¬
ration, as before, decant 64 fluid ounces. Mix the two
decantates and filter. The tincture filters very rapidly
and remains permanently bright. It is much deeper
tinted than the officinal tincture, and can be mixed with
water in all proportions, remaining perfectly clear.

Catechu. — Catechu is one of that class of substances
that cannot be extracted by percolation. Remaceration,
however, effects its total exhaustion without loss. Tinc¬
ture of catechu, however, contains cinnamon, whose
normal of absorption is 1. Four pints of the tincture is
prepared as follows : — Take of catechu, dry and coarsely
powdered, 6 troy ounces and 1 drachm ; cinnamon,
coarsely bruised, 4 troy ounces and 1 drachm ; \ alcohol,
71 fluid ounces. Upon the mixed solids pour 29 fluid
ounces of the menstruum. After macerating the mixture
with frequent agitation for three days, decant 22 fluid
ounces ; on the residue pour 21 fluid ounces of men¬
struum, and after two or three days decant 21 fluid
ounces. Finally, macerate the residue once more for two
or three days with 21 fluid ounces of menstruum, decant
21 fluid ounces, mix the several decantates and filter.
The tincture can, however, be more conveniently made
by two macerations, using 6| troy ounces of catechu and
troy ounces of cinnamon, macerating these with 39
fluid ounces of menstruum, decanting 32 fluid ounces,
macerating the residue again with 32 fluid ounces of
menstruum, decanting, mixing and filtering.

Cinchona. — The normal ( n ) of cinchona is ’75, and its
subnormal of absorption ( s a) in the simple tincture 3*37,
and the subnormal of loss (s l) 38’28. One gallon of the
tincture is prepared by macerating 24£ troy ounces of
cinchona, coarsely bruised and freed from dust by sifting,
in 62 fluid ounces of f alcohol for four or five days, de¬
canting 43 fluid ounces, pouring on the residue 42 fluid
ounces of the alcohol, decanting after three days, mace¬
rating the residue again with 42 fluid ounces of the
menstruum, decanting after three days, mixing and
filtering.

The compound tincture of cinchona contains, in addi¬
tion to the bark, orange peel and serpentaria. The n of
orange peel is 1*2, which of course increases the n of the
mixed drugs. Ten pints of this tincture is prepared as
follows : — 16f troy ounces of red cinchona, coarsely
bruised, 13 troy ounces of orange peel, coarsely bruised
or cut in slices, 3 troy ounces of serpentaria, in coarse
powder, are mixed and macerated for four or five days in
84 fluid ounces of § alcohol; 54 fluid ounces of the liquid
is then decanted. On the residue 53 fluid ounces of the
alcohol is now poured, and after three days the same
measure is again decanted. Lastly, 53 fluid ounces more
of the menstruum is poured on the residue, and after
three days again decanted. The three decantates are
then mixed and filtered.

Cinnamon. — One gallon of tincture of cinnamon is
prepared by macerating, for three days, 12 troy ounces
and 1 drachm of cinnamon, coarsely bruised, with 55
fluid ounces of f alcohol, then decanting 43 fluid ounces,
ao-ain macerating the residue, as before, with 43 fluid
ounces of menstruum, decanting 43 fluid ounces, mace¬
rating the residue once more with 42 fluid ounces of the
alcohol, decanting, mixing and filtering.

Calumba. — This root cannot be properly treated by
percolation. Remaceration, however, extracts it admir¬
ably. To prepare four pints of the tincture 8£ troy ounces
of the root, in small fragments free from dust, is mace¬
rated for three or four days with 35 fluid ounces of £
alcohol : 22 fluid ounces are then decanted, and on the
residue 21 fluid ounces more of the alcohol is poured ;
after three days 21 fluid ounces are decanted, and the

508

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 1879.

residue once more macerated for three days with 21 fluid
ounces of the alcohol ; this is then decanted, the decan-
tates mixed, set away to clear by deposition, and the
cincture decanted from the dregs.

Gentian. — The n of gentian in 1 / 5 ; but since the
compound tincture of gentian contains also orange peel
and cardamom these additions reduce it for the mixture
to 1-43. The s a then becomes 3, and the si 27. One
gallon of the tincture is prepared by macerating for three
days a mixture of 8 troy ounces and 3 drachms of gentian,
cut in small fragments, 4 troy ounces and 1^ drachms of
orange peel, cut in thin slices, 2 troy ounces and f drachm
of cardamom, in coarse powder, in 64 fluid ounces of ^
alcohol; then decanting 43 fluid ounces, pouring on the
residue 43 fluid ounces of the menstruum, macerating for
three days, again decanting 43 fluid ounces ; macerating
the residue once more for three days with 42 fluid ounces
of the menstruum, decanting, mixing the decantates,
setting the mixture aside for repose and pouring the
clear tincture from the dregs.

Ipecac. — The officinal syrup of ipecac is prepared from
the fluid extract and becomes cloudy from deposition of
resinous matter. In an earlier volume of the Pharmacist
the writer proposed a process for preparing a clear
syrup, by first diluting the fluid extract with water,
after repose filtering, and then converting the clear
filtrate into syrup by adding the required amount of
sugar. Remaceration is, however, a much more satis¬
factory method for obtaining a clear and permanent
syrup. The writer had on previous occasions recom¬
mended the addition of alcohol to fermentable syrups, to
insure their permanency. The new formula contains one
fluid ounce of this in the pint of syrup. The n of ipecac
with -i- alcohol is 1T25, the s a 3*32, and the s l 36'6.
One gallon of syrup of ipecac is made by taking troy
ounces of ipecac, coarsely bruised, acetic acid, \ fluid
ounce, and £ alcohol, 20^ fluid ounces, mixing these and
macerating with occasional stirring for three or four days,
then decanting 21 fluid ounces ; macerating the residue
again with 21 fluid ounces of -g- alcohol, decanting after
three days ; pouring 20^ fluid ounces more of the men¬
struum upon the residue, decanting after three days,
mixing the several decantates and filtering, through
starch if necessary. Upon 98 troy ounces of granulated
sugar then pour 56 fluid ounces of the filtrate, shake the
mixture frequently during three or four hours and decant
the syrup from the undissolved sugar. On the residue
pour the remainder of the filtrate, shake until all tbe
sugar has dissolved, mix the solution with the first de-
cantate and strain through muslin.

Rhubarb. — Rhubarb cannot always be practically
treated by percolation. By remaceration, however, it is
most easily extracted. The normal of rhubarb in £
alcohol is very high, being 2'083, its s a is 2‘7 and s l
19‘68. One gallon of the tincture is prepared by mace¬
rating 12f troy ounces of rhubarb, in small fragments,
free from dust, and 2 troy ounces and 1 drachm of
cardamom, in coarse powder, in 70 fluid ounces of £
alcohol for three or four days, decanting 43 fluid ounces ;
macerating the residue again with 43 fluid ounces of the
menstruum for three days, decanting 43 fluid ounces ;
pouring 42 fluid ounces more of menstruum on the resi¬
due, decanting 42 fluid ounces after three days, mixing
and filtering. The accuracy of this method of extraction
was verified in the case of rhubarb, more than twenty
experiments having shown that the yield of extract on
evaporation accords closely with the calculation.

Owing to the high n of rhubarb with -i alcohol, this
being 2’57, it is impossible to obtain a sufficient con¬
centration in the decantates by the ordinary method to
answer for the preparation of the simple syrup of
rhubarb. But by a modification which the writer terms
double remaceration it is very convenient, by a slight
augmentation of loss, to obtain an extraction of the
requisite strength.

The following is the formula for two gallons of syrup

of rhubarb made without heat: — On 14 troy ounces of
rhubarb, in small pieces free from dust, pour 91 fluid
ounces of alcohol and macerate for four days, then
decant 55 fluid ounces, and on the residue pour 55 fluid
ounces more of the mixture ; after three days again
decant 55 fluid ounces, and on the residue pour 54 fluid
ounces of the menstruum, decanting this after three
days. Then on 13 troy ounces more of rhubarb pour 77
fluid ounces of the first two decantates and macerate for
four days ; then decant 44 fluid ounces, and on the
1 residue pour 43 fluid ounces of the second and third
decantates ; after three days’ maceration decant 43 fluid
ounces, and on the residue pour the remaining 43 fluid
ounces of the third decantate, decanting this after three
days. Mix all the last decantates, amounting to 130
fluid ounces, and set the mixture aside for repose, and
then decant the clear liquid from the dregs and filter the
remainder. On 192 troy ounces of granulated sugar
pour 114 fluid ounces of the liquid, and shake the mix¬
ture frequently during five or six hours, then pour the
syrup from the undissolved sugar and dissolve this in the
remaining liquid ; mix the two solutions, strain through
muslin, add half a fluid ounce of ammonia water and
mix.

Aromatic syrup of rhubarb is prepared as follows : —
Take of rhubarb in small pieces 2f troy ounces, cloves
in coarse powder, ^ troy ounce, cinnamon in coarse
powder, ^ troy ounce, nutmeg in coarse powder, 2
drachms, ^ alcohol, 38 fluid ounces. Macerate the solids
in the alcohol for three days and then decant 30 fluid
ounces. On the residue pour 30 fluid ounces more of the
alcohol, and after three days decant it again. Mix the
two decantates, and after a sufficient repose pour 3 pints
of the cleared liquid upon 78 troy ounces of granulated
sugar ; decant after five or six hours and on the sugar
residue pour the remainder of the liquid. When all the
sugar has been dissolved, mix the solutions, strain through
muslin and add 1 fluid drachm of ammonia water.

This syrup may also be prepared by making an extrac¬
tion of the unexhausted marc remaining after the pre¬
paration of the simple syrup. By using the press more
than a sufficiency of liquid may be obtained for the
purpose. But it is far more convenient to pour 61 fluid
ounces of 1 alcohol upon the first residue, and decanting
after three days, then pouring 31 fluid ounces of this
decantate upon the second residue, decanting after three
days, continuing the maceration with the remaining 30
fluid ounces, decanting again after three days, mixing,
macerating the aromatics in this for several days, decant¬
ing and completing as above.

Squill. — Squill is another of those substances that
cannot be properly treated by percolation. Ordinary
maceration, in conjunction with the press, is also com¬
paratively inefficient and very inconvenient. The n of
squill is exceedingly high, being 2’53, and the subnormals
low in proportion ; but since squill is a very cheap drug,
a larger proportionate waste is of no consequence, if the
ratio of exhaustion can be accurately determined. One
gallon of vinegar of squill is prepared as follows : — On 19
troy ounces of squill pour 19 fluid ounces of acetic acid
and 7 2 fluid ounces of water ; after a maceration of four
or five days decant 43 fluid ounces, and on the residue
pour 43 fluid ounces of water ; after three days decant
43 fluid ounces, and on the residue pour 42 fluid ounces
of water ; decant this, mix the several decantates and
filter.

In making the syrup from a fresh vinegar of squill a,
voluminous, unsightly precipitate of pectous matter is
always thrown out by the sugar. This precipitate does
not occur when using a vinegar less recent, owing t o
action of the acetic acid in transforming the pectin.
rl his syrup is readily prepared by using granulated sugar
without heat, as described in the processes for the syrups
of rhubarb, noted above.

The method of remaceration will probably also apply
to the preparation of compound syrup of squill, by using

December 27, 1879 J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

509

the menstruum in such increased volume as to admit of a
concentration requiring the least amount of evaporation
consistent with the smallest possible waste of drug.

Vanilla. — Vanilla cannot be properly extracted by
percolation. Remaceration, however, effects this most
admirably and conveniently. With h alcohol the n of
vanilla is about ’75, and in a tincture containing 1 troy
ounce in 8 fluid ounces the s a is 4’55 and s l 94-5. To
prepare one half gallon of this tincture 8 troy ounces and
40 grains of vanilla cut very obliquely into thin slices is
macerated with 28 fluid ounces of | alcohol for four days.
Twenty-two fluid ounces is then decanted and 21 fluid
ounces of the alcohol is again poured on the residue ;
after three days this is decanted and 21 fluid ounces of
the menstruum is once more poured on the residue ;
after three days' this is decanted. The three decantates
are then mixed and filtered after a sufficient repose.

There are numerous other cases in which the method
of remaceration can be very advantageously employed,
but it is thought that the above enumerated are among
the most important.

ANALYSIS OF ERIODICTYON CALIFORNICUM.*

BY CHARLES MOHR.

Eriodictyon Californicum is receiving attention for its
action in lung diseases and bronchial affections. What
is its therapeutical value, and to what is its activity due ?
Make a chemical examination of it.

In reply to this query it was found necessary to sub¬
ject the plant to the regular course of analysis followed
in the separation of the organic constituents of plants.

Ten grams of the air-dried herb, of good quality, suc¬
cessively exhausted by pure ether, alcohol of 95 per cent.,
and distilled water, yielded the following results : —

1. The ethereal percolate, evaporated spontaneously
and finally by application of gentle heat, was mixed with
water. A copious precipitate of resinous matter occurred;
the supernatant aqueous liquid, after having been freed
from suspended resin, was of a very pale straw colour,
slight taste and faint acid reaction.

A Examination of Resinous Precipitate. — By treating
with boiling alcohol of 70 per cent, for an hour, and sub¬
sequent maceration at a low temperature for twenty-four
hours, filtering and washing the undissolved portion with
alcohol of 70 per cent., and digesting the concentrated
filtrates with animal charcoal, evaporating and exsiccating
over sulphuric acid, a brittle resin was separated having a
yellow-greenish colour, slight acid reaction, aromatic,
acrid slightly bitter taste, faint odour, and fusing at
about the temperature of boiling water. The portion
left undissolved by alcohol of 70 per cent, was treated
with hot alcohol of 95 per cent., as long as this dissolved
any of the material.

A greyish soft and tenacious substance was left, not
volatile, on stronger heating fusing and burning with a
smoky flame, destitute of taste and odour, insoluble in
alcohol, partially soluble in petroleum naphtha, ether and
benzole, readily soluble in chloroform and in a mixture of
carbon disulphide and absolute alcohol, which facts prove
its identity with caoutchouc. From the hot alcoholic solu¬
tion, on cooling, a soft waxy substance separated, forming
a pellicle ; this substance, freed from adhering resin by
continued washing with cold alcohol, possesses a greenish-
white colour proven to be a vegetable wax. The quantity
obtained was too small to permit a closer study of its
properties. The remaining alcoholic liquid was of a dark
green colour, possessing no peculiar taste or odour, and
was completely decolorized by animal charcoal, and could
not be regarded as a resin proper but as inert colouring
matter.

B. Examination of the Aqueous Liquid. — No crystal-

* Read at the twenty-seventh annual meeting of the
American Pharmaceutical Association.

lizable substance was obtained, and on application of the
proper tests no indication of an alkaloid or nitrogenous
compound was obtained. The acid found present in
8 mall quantity proved to be a tannic acid precipitated by
ferric chloride, almost black in colour.

2. The alcoholic percolate was evaporated to a small
bulk and mixed with water.

. The insoluble resinous portion obtained consisted
entirely of colouring matter, its alcoholic solution being
without taste or odour, was entirely decolorized by ani¬
mal charcoal.

A portion of the aqueous liquid, after being entirely
freed from resinous colouring matter, was concentrated
by slow evaporation and left on ice for several days. It
yielded no crystals, and the application of alkaloid tests
led to no results. To be firmly convinced on this point a
portion of the liquid was digested with oxide of lead to
remove tannic acid, the filtrate evaporated to dryness
and extracted with hot alcohol of 95 per cent. ; the solu¬
tion on spontaneous evaporation left no residue. Another
part of the same liquid was examined for organic acids ;
a tannic acid was found, which precipitated ferric salts
green.

To separate the organic acids lead acetate in solution
was added until further addition produced no precipitate;
filtered ; the filtrate was treated with ammonium hydrate
to a still feeble acid reaction, and on addition of acetate
of lead no turbidity was produced, thus showing all
organic acids present were obtained in the lead precipitate,
which is absolutely insoluble in boiling water.

The lead precipitate was dissolved in acetic acid, repre¬
cipitated by ammonia, carefully washed and, whilst still
moist, mixed with absolute alcohol and decomposed by
means of sulphuretted hydrogen, filtered, and the filtrate
evaporated to dryness, at a low temperature ; the tannic
acid was obtained as an amorphons brittle substance,
of a clear yellowish-brown colour, having an astringent
acidulous taste. It was perfectly soluble in alcohol, yield¬
ing a turbid solution in water, which on addition of solu¬
tion of the alkalies turned to deep reddish-brown colour,
and became perfectly clear.

Ferric chloride gives a green precipitate, turning to a
dirty grey on standing ; it is dissolved by ammonia,
yielding a solution of a dingy purple colour, and is
decolorized by oxalic acid.

Sulphate of cinch onia gives a copious white precipitate.

Plumbic acetate yields a golden yellow prec;pitate, not
dissolved by potassic hydrate.

Plumbic subacetate yields a dingy-yellow precipitate,
soluble in potassic hydrate.

Tartar emetic, no precipitate.

Glue, no precipitate.

Hydric sulphate dissolves it with a deep crimson,
somewhat purplish colour.

Argentic nitrate — on heating the metal is partly
reduced in the specular form.

Diluted hydric sulphate, when added to either alcoholic
or aqueous solutions, shows a peculiar behaviour by ren¬
dering the solution at first milky white, and on short
standing, a viscous brownish mass separates. Fehling’s
solution then added, copper is reduced.

This decomposition, effected by diluted sulphuric acid,
takes place very rapidly at ordinary temperature, and
this fact and the general behaviour to other reagents
proves it to be a glucoside of the tannic acid series, of
decided peculiarities, closely allied if not identical with
that found by the writer existing in Pycnanthemum
linifolium and perhaps to exist in Ballota vulgaris and
Leonurus cardiaca (Rochleder).

To obtain the acid in sufficient quantity, so as to be
able to study its properties more closely, and particularly
to satisfy myself that it is not associated with any other
solid organic or volatile acids, such as benzoic or cinnamic
acid, a fresh quantity of dried herb was extracted by
alcohol of 75 per cent. The alcoholic extract, freed from
resin by addition of water, was treated with plumbic

510

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 1879.

acetate, the precipitate dissolved in acetic acid, repre¬
cipitated by ammonia, decomposed by sulphuretted hydro¬
gen under absolute alcohol. The acid as obtained, tightly
enclosed between two well-fitting watch-glasses, was
exposed to a temperature of 220* to 240° C. for some
time. As no sublimation took place, the absence of all
solid volatile acids of the aromatic series was proven.

3. Treatment of the Herb with Water. — The aqueous
percolate of the herb previously exhausted by ether and
alcohol successively was of a brown colour, showed acid
reaction, and possessed an astringent bitterish taste.
The examination was conducted the same as in the case
with the liquid under No. 2 ; the same tannic acid was
alone found. A portion of the percolate concentrated
bv evaporation gave on addition of absolute alcohol, a
copious precipitate readily soluble in water, and proved
to be gum associated with a brown inert matter ; sugar
in small quantities was detected. No alkaloids or nitro¬
genous body could be detected.

Ten pounds of the leaves subjected to distillation with
water yielded a distillate containing very small quantities
of a volatile oil, adhering to the sides of the receiver and
forming a very thin layer upon its surface, too minute to
allow of a separation and subsequent nearer investigation.
It imparts to the distilled water an aromatic odour and
taste but slightly resembling that of the dried plant.
Tested immediately after distillation, it was found entirely
neutral towards test papers, and not the slightest reaction
was obtained with any of the alkaloid tests, so that it
may be safely asserted that the plant does not contain
any volatile alkaloid.

By these results it was ascertained that Eriodictyon,
californicum contains —

Volatile oil in small quantities, not fur¬
ther examined.

Moisture . 12*50

Matter extracted by ether . 14*98

(Consisting of a bitter, acrid, brittle resin,

8 per cent. ; inert green colouring matter,
caoutchouc, wax in small quantity, tannic
acid in small quantity.)

Matter extracted by alcohol .... 10*79
(Consisting of inert resinous matter de¬
colorized by animal charcoal, a peculiar gluco-
side of the tannic acid series predominating
in the mass.)

Matter extracted by water . 18*42

(Consisting of same tannic acid above men¬
tioned, gum, brown extractive inert substance,
trace of sugar.)

Wood fibre and ash . 43*31

100*00

From the above analytical results it is evident that
the therapeutical value of the plant rests solely upon its
stimulating and astringent effects upon the mucous
membrane of the respiratory apparatus, especially the
bronchial tubes, due to the action of the brittle acrid
resin exciting secretion and promoting expectoration, the
astringent tannic acid imparting tone and solidity to the
membranes in a state of relaxation. How far in this
respect the drug will prove to be equal or superior to the
numerous remedies of like therapeutic effect, and how far
its reputation amongst the people of the country where yerba
santa is found indigenous is sustained when employed by
the profession, must be decided by the practitioner.

In this locality the fluid extract of the herb has been
used by some physicians quite extensively. A medical
friend who has used it on the strength of its repute, and
given it what he considers a fair and searching trial in
lung and bronchial affections, did not find his expectations
realized, and has since dropped the use of it, as possessing
no advantages over the remedies to which he heretofore
had recourse.

The results of my experience show that a menstruum
of alcohol of 70 to 75 per cent, yields the best preparation.

LIP-SALVE.*

Spermaceti . 40 parts

Lard, perfectly pure and fresh ... 80 „

White Wax . 20 ,,

Oil of Sweet Almonds . . . . 5 t|o 10 „

according to the season of the year, are melted to¬
gether, the mixture coloured with a sufficient quantity
of alkanet, by digesting the root with the melted mass,
and the latter then suitably perfumed, for instance, with

Oil Bergamot . 2 parts

Oil Orange . 3 „

The mass is then poured out into moulds. It is custom¬
ary to pour it into tin- tubes, from which it is removed
when cold, and then covered with tin foil.

Cold Cream (Creme celeste).

1. Spermaceti . 30 parts

White Wax . 24 „

Oil of Sweet Almonds . 168 „

are melted together at a gentle heat, the melted mass
poured into a warmed porcelain or wedgewood mortar,
stirred until it begins to solidify, and then intimately
mixed with

Rosewater . . . , . . . . . 70 parts.

After stirring until cold, there may be added, for every
10 ounces of the mixture,

Oil of Rose . 2 drops

Oil of Bitter Almonds . 3-4 „

This cream is white. The following formula yields a
cheaper, slightly yellow, but still very good product :

White Wax

166 parts

Olive Oil, finest .

500 „

Rosewater .

100 „

Oil of Bergamot .

15 „

Oil of Bitter Almonds .

q.s.

To be prepared as the preceding.

Glycerin-Cream (Creme de Glycerine).

Spermaceti .

60 parts

White Wax .

30 „

Oil of Sweet Almonds .

250 „

Rosewater . . 10 ,,

Glycerin . 20 „

To be prepared like cold cream, and to be perfumed
with oil of rose and oil of bitter almonds.

Almond Cream (Creme d’Amandes).

Lard, perfectly pure and fresh . . 220 parts

Solution of Potassa, containing 26

per cent, of caustic potash . . . 120 „

Alcohol, 60 per cent . 10 „

Oil of Bitter Almonds . q.s.

Triturate, in a porcelain or wedgewood mortar, the lard
and potassa solution, and let it stand a few hours. Then
add the alcohol and sufficient oil of bitter almonds to give
it the proper flavour. Finally triturate until the mass is
uniform, and resembles mother-of-pearl.

This cream has a handsome look, but is not so bland
as the first-mentioned varieties.

CEMENT WHICH RESISTS ACIDS.*

Melt together carefully 1 part of caoutchouc (India-
rubber) with 2 parts of linseed oil, and gradually in¬
corporate with it 3 parts of white bole, so as to form a
plastic mass.

This cement is not at all attacked by hydrochloric, and
but very little by nitric acid. When heated it softens
but very little. It does not easily dry upon the surface.
If this cement is mixed with of its weight of litharge,
or minium, it dries up in the course of time, and be¬
comes hard. This is known as “ Benicke’s Cement.”

* From New Remedise.

December , i»79.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

511

SCk §hannuiqtttkHl Jouimnl.
- ♦ -

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1879.

ANOTHER “ CREAM OF TARTAR ” PROSECUTION.

A case was heard before the magistrates at
Fareham last Tuesday which may not improbably
be of service in moderating the officious zeal of
public analysts in instigating prosecutions under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Act upon frivolous or
insufficient grounds, and by illustrating the vexatious
hardship to which tradesmen can be subjected by
such ill-advised and unwarrantable proceedings as we
have already too often had occasion to comment upon-
It appears that the question what is “ cream of
tartar ” had presented itself to the mind of one of
the officers of the Hants Constabulary as being one
that was of importance as regards the interests of the
public, and thereupon he instructed one of his
subordinates to go to the shop of Mr. W. 0. Smith,
of Titchfield, and purchase a quarter of a pound of
this article. After the purchase was completed Mr.
Smith was informed that the sample was intended
for analysis, and the usual offer was made to give
him a portion of it under seal to be retained in his
possession. Mr. Smith very wisely accepted this
offer, and the sample was thereupon divided into
three portions, each being sealed in his presence.
One of these samples was forwarded to the county
analyst for examination, and the results, as stated on
his certificate, showed that it contained 9-26 of tar¬
trate of lime and 0-29 of sulphate of baryta.

This statement of the results of analysis appears to
have inspired the officer of the Hants Constabulary
with dismay, as indicating that the article sold by
Mr. Smith as “ cream of tartar ” was not really com¬
mercial bitartrate of potash, but a preparation of
lime that was not of the nature, substance and
quality of the article ashed for. Thereupon Mr.
Smith received an undeniable invitation to appear
before the county magistrates and answer for the
offence he was supposed to have committed. He,
unconscious of being guilty of any infringement of
the Food and Drugs Act, at once communicated with
the wholesale house from which he purchased his
“ cream of tartar,” stating what had happened and
asking what he was to do for his defence.

In order to determine first what was the com¬
position of the “cream of tartar” he had sold, the
sealed sample was submitted to analysis, the result
showing that it contained upwards of 92 per cent, of
bitartrate of potash, 6-95 per cent, of dry tartrate of
lime, and 0*30 per cent, of insoluble material con¬
sisting of sulphate of baryta. These results sufficiently
established the good character of the article sold and
showed that it was a good sample of “ cream of
tartar.” The amount of tartrate of lime in it was
far from being the maximum amount of that in¬
gredient there may be and necessarily always is

present in “cream of tartar/” as incidental to its
preparation, and the amount of insoluble impurity
present in the form of sulphate of baryta was so
small that the idea of its having been put into the
“ cream of tartar ” to that extent for fraudulent pur¬
poses could not be entertained. This view was
consistent with the well-established reputation of
the wholesale firm from which Mr. Smith purchased
the “cream of tartar,” and it was consistent with his
own declared practice of always purchasing the best
drugs obtainable in the market.

Upon the basis of these facts the President of the
Pharmaceutical Society instructed Mr. Flux to
attend at the hearing of the case, as the Solicitor of
the Society, in order to take such steps as might be
desirable for protecting the interests of the trade in
a general way. The evidence given for the defence
consisted mainly of a statement of the facts above
indicated, together with an explanation that tartrate
of lime being a constituent of grape juice, it natur¬
ally formed part of the material known as “argol” or
“tartar” deposited during fermentation in making wine,
and that this tartrate of lime being to some extent
soluble in a solution of bitartrate of potash it in¬
evitably became also a constituent of the “ cream of
tartar” prepared in the usual way from argol or
tartar ; showing, in short, that no offence had been
committed by the sale of the article in question.

Upon this evidence the magistrates unanimously
decided to dismiss the case, and the counsel acting
for Mr. Smith then applied to be allowed costs, inas¬
much as the prosecution had been instituted on
frivolous and insufficient grounds, and because the
damage thus done to the reputation of a dealer in drugs
by such proceedings was calculated to be of serious
injury to him. This application was supported in
the same spirit by Mr. Flux, on behalf of the Phar¬
maceutical Society, and it was acceded to by the
magistrates. By this recognition of the wrongful
nature of the prosecution an important point has
been gained, and it seems desirable that further
action should now' be taken v7ith a view to rendering
public analysts’ certificates subject to some competent
scrutiny, before they can be made use of as grounds
for prosecutions and causing needless personal
vexation, as wrell as interference with legitimate
trade. W e purpose next week giving a full report
of the case.

PHARMACOPEIA REVISION IN GERMANY.

The revision of so important a work as the
Pliarmacopuea Germanica, which has to be appealed
to by the pharmacists of one of the most important
of European nations, and not unfrequently by many
British pharmacists, would necessarily always present
some points of interest to the readers of this Journal ;
but more peculiarly is this the case when the
revision of the British Pharmacopoeia and the
position of the British pharmacist in regard to it has
so recently formed a prominent topic of discussion

512

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 1879.

in the Council of Pharmaceutical Society. We
shall, therefore, take the opportunity of culling a
few details from a report just published by the
Pharmacopoeia Committee of the German Association
of Pharmacists.

The first Pharmacopoeia of the German empire
was issued in 1872, so that it had been in use six
years when the German Association, during its
meeting in Coblentz last year, appointed a Com¬
mittee to consider propositions made for its improve¬
ment. The nomination was left to the executive of
the Society, and after some difficulties had been
overcome, a strong committee was formed, the
professorial element being represented by Dr.
Fluckiger, the commercial and manufacturing by
Messrs. Schering and Trommsdorff, whilst eleven
apothecaries represented pharmacy. Of this com¬
mittee Dr. Brunnengraber was chosen President
and Dr. Wilms Vice-President.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Chancellary had invited
the different governments to obtain, from those in¬
terested, information as to the deficiencies which
during use might have become manifest in the
Pharmacopcea Germanica, and as to any enrichment
of the materia medica that experience showed to be
desirable. Several members of the Pharmacopoeia
Committee were already engaged in the solving of
this problem, while as yet no invitation to report had
been sent by the Government to the German Assor
ciation of Pharmacists. It appeared desirable, there¬
fore, to the Committee to ascertain whether a partici¬
pation by it in the work of revising the Pharmacopoeia
could be obtained, and if this question were answered
in the affirmative, to settle in what way and manner
the Committee could help in solving the problem
raised.

For the consideration of both these points a meet¬
ing of the Committee was arranged to be held in
Berlin last April, and at the commencement of the
meeting the President was able to announce to his
colleagues that a report of their work when com¬
pleted would be welcomed by the Imperial Sanitary
Department. The Committee was therefore in a
position to proceed at once to the consideration of
the second question. As a result it was arranged
that Herr Biltz should send some work already pub¬
lished by him, as a report to the Sanitary Depart¬
ment. Herr Hirsch had also been requested to
prepare a report, and had so far advanced with the
work that it was ready to put into the printers’
hands. It was decided, therefore, to print this as well,
and when the other members of the Committee were
in possession of copies they should be invited each
to draw up a report, taking the work of Messrs.
Biltz and Hirsch as a basis. In this way it was
hoped that the useless repetition of the same work
might be avoided and a better result obtained. In
order to secure uniformity in the different articles
a series of general principles upon which it was agreed
that the German Pharmacopoeia should be constructed
were formulated. At the General Meeting of the
German Association in Hanover, in September last,
these general principles were brought forward and
agreed to, but unfortunately the meeting was unable
to occupy itself with the consideration of the second
portion of the work, which has now been issued in
the printed form. It is proposed to refer to some of
the recommendations contained in this Report in a
future article.

8fema$on» of tjje f jrarmaptal

GENERAL MEETING-BENEVOLENT

FUND.

ELECTION OF ANNUITANTS.

A General Meeting of the Members, Associates in
Business, and Associates of the Pharmaceutical
Society, and of the Subscribers and Donors to the
Benevolent Fund, was held at the house of the
Society, 17, Bloomsbury Square, on Friday, Decem¬
ber 19, at 12 o’clock, for the Election of Three
Annuitants.

Mr. G. W. Sandford, President, in the chair.

The notice convening the meeting was read.

Scrutineers were appointed, who examined the
voting papers and brought up the following re¬
port : —

Scrutineers’ Report.

We, the undersigned Scrutineers, appointed at the
Fifteenth Election of Annuitants on the Benevolent
Fund of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,
do hereby certify that we have examined the voting
papers committed to us, and report the following

result : —

Barker, John . 2057

Bowen, Margaret Sophia .... 664

Dutton, Sarah Ann . 1137

Gason, Elizabeth Jane . 3335

Hollinworth, Charles Foster . . . 2738

Kennett, Louisa . 1581

Watkins, Louisa . 1492

Woods, Elizabeth . 2672

Yates, Wiliam Lee . 2964

3397 voting papers were received, of which num¬
ber 56 were informal (44 unsigned) and were dis¬
allowed.

J. Robbins, Chairman.

Matthew Pound.

Edward L. Cleaver.

T. Edward Greenish.

Charles J. Mead.

Charles E. Turner.

E. N. Butt.

Walter Hills.

December 19, 1879.

The Chairman declared the following three duly
elected Annuitants : —

Gason, Elizabeth Jane.

Hollinworth, Charles Foster.

Yates, William Lee.

A vote of thanks was given to the Scrutineers fo
their long and arduous duties.

A vote of thanks was also given to the Chairman.

EXAMINATIONS IN EDINBURGH.

December 17 and 18, 1879.

Present — Messrs. Ainslie, Borland, Gilmour, Kemp,
Kinninmont, Stephenson and Young.

Professor Maclagan was present on the 18th on behalf
of the Privy Council.

December 27, 1879.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

513

MAJOR EXAMINATION.

17th. — One candidate was examined, but failed to pass.

MINOR EXAMINATION.

17th. — Nine candidates were examined. One failed. The
following eight passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Bremner, James . Aberdeen.

Carruthers, Robert . Dumfries.

Couper, Frederick Thomas . Edinburgh.

Ellis, John William . Abergele.

Fidler, Thomas William . Workington.

Hogg, Andrew . Liverpool.

Laing, James . Brechin.

Lubbock, John William . London.

18tfA. — Six candidates were examined. Three failed. The
following three passed, and were declared qualified to be
registered as Chemists and Druggists : —

Moon, George William . Malton.

Raff an, John . Portsoy.

Wright, George . Nairn.

MODIFIED EXAMINATION.

18<A. — Two candidates were examined, but failed to
pass.

jPmtimpal transactions.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly meeting of this Association was
held at Britannia Chambers on December 16, when there
was a good attendance of members and associates. The
chair was occupied by the Vice-President, Mr. Frank
White, who, after the election of new members and
transaction of some other preliminary business, called on
Mr. Major, B.A., B.Sc., F.R.G.S. to give his promised
lecture on “Earthquakes and Volcanoes.”

The lecturer commenced by referring to the destruction
of Herculaneum and Pompeii, just 1800 years ago, by an
eruption of Vesuvius. He then went on to speak of Ice¬
land and its volcanoes, saying that the entire island, which
is as large as Ireland, was caused by volcanic eruptions.
He afterwards referred to the belt of volcanoes which
nearly surround the Pacific Ocean, pionting out that
volcanoes are always situated near the sea. He then
went on to speak of earthquakes, saying they really were
unsuccessful volcanoes. When the hidden forces in the
earth can find a vent they cause volcanoes, and when they
are suppressed and cannot get out they cause earthquakes.
He particularly referred to the great earthquake of Lisbon,
when 60,000 persons perished, and concluded a mo«t
interesting lecture by pointing out the traces of volcanic
eruptions which existed in all the mountains of the world.

The lecture was listened to with great attention and
loudly applauded at the close.

After a few questions had been answered by the
lecturer, the Chairman proposed a hearty vote of thanks
to him, which was seconded by Mr. R. Jackson, and
carried unanimously.

Mr. Major suitably responded, and the meeting was
concluded.

of Societies.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on December 18,
Mr. Warren De La Rue, President, in the chair.

A ballot for the election of Fellows was held. Dr.
Messell and Mr. Neison being appointed scrutators. The
following gentlemen were declared duly elected : — G. S.

Allbright, J. R. Ashwell, T. Blackhouse, E. Buckney,
J. Bemrose, W. J. F. Churchouse, M. Cochrane, E. J.
Day, W. R. Dunstan, E. Francis, F. Hatton, J. Howard,
J. J. Hummel, R. E. Holloway, W. R. Eaton-Hodgkin-
son, T. S. Humpidge, E. Hughes, R. Jones, J. Knowles,
A. Leibius, H. F. Morley, E. F. Mondy, H. Newton,
J. Parette, J. W. Smith, J. Steiner, J. Snodgrass, A.
Scott, G. Stallard, J. M. Wilson. The following certi¬
ficates were read for the first time : — W. Macnab, W. B.
Roberts, G. Salet, T. Terrell.

The Secretary then read a paper —

On the Specific Volume of Water of Crystallization. By
T. E. Thorpe and J. J. Watts. — Some years ago Play¬
fair and Joule pointed out that the volumes of certain
highly hydrated salts, as for example, sodium carbonate
with 10 molecules of water, also the alkaline arsenates
and phosphates with 12 molecules, are equal to that of
the water considered as ice which they respectively
contain. Thus the molecules of the salt seem to exist in
the interstitial spaces of the ice. This law does not hold
good for salts less highly hydrated; thus in borax, so¬
dium pyrophosphate, and the normal aluminium sulphate
the volume seems to be made up of the water considered
as ice, together with that of the base as existing in the
free state. Schiff has shown that members of certain
classes of hydrated salts have the same specific volume.
Thus all the alums have a specific volume of 277; double
sulphates, M2M"(S04)2, 207, and the vitriols M,/S047H20,
146. The authors have determined the precise relation
between the specific volumes of various sulphates of
copper, magnesium, zinc, nickel, cobalt, iron and man¬
ganese, and their respective degrees of hydration. They
have incorporated in the present paper some results
placed at their disposal by Dr. Playfair. Details of the
preparation and analysis of the various hydrates employed
are given. The specific gravity was determined by
weighing in benzene at 15° C. The results are contained
in the following table. —

Hydrates 0 1 2

CuS04 44-4 54-3 67’0

MgS04 44-8 55-6 6 7'0

ZnS04 45-6 547 66-6

NiS04 44-6 56-5 —

CoS04 447 55-2 70-9

MnS04 45-0 557 73-6

FeSCb 44-5 56-2 677

3 4 5 6 7

80-0 — 1097 — —

— — 112-4 130-8 146-8

— — 113-7 130-2 146-8

— — — 129-0 144-6

— 97-4 114-6 130-1 146-0

86-6 98'2 114-4 — —

_ 100-5 — — 146-7

Means 44‘8 55‘5 68-8 83*3 987 112-9 130-0 146*2

From these results it appears that in the case, at least, of
the so-called magnesian sulphates, the volume occupied
by the several molecules of water varies with the degree
of hydration. The first molecule, the “ constitutional
water” of Graham, occupies less bulk than any other ;
its mean relative value is 10*7 ; the value of the second
is 13-3 ; of the third, 14*5 ; of the fourth, 154 ; of the
fifth (taking the mean of the most concordant numbers,
ZnS04, CoS04, and MnS04) 15 6; of the sixth, 15*7 ; of
the seventh, 16 -2. These results accord with the fact
that the different molecules of water in a hydrated salt
are held with various degrees of tenacity, as shown by
the different intensities of heat needed to expel them,
the amount of energy required standing in some relation
to the degree of condensation in the combined molecule.
The authors point out the importance of estimating the
amounts of heat resulting from the combination of suc¬
cessive molecules of water with the different sulphates.
Graham has already shown that more heat was evolved
in the combination of the first molecule than in that of
any of the remaining molecules, in other words, that the
amount of heat developed is related to the degree of con¬
densation of the combined molecules. As the foregoing
numbers express the volumes in cubic centimetres of the
equivalent of the salts in grammes, it appears that
equivalent quantities of these different sulphates occupy
respectively the same volume in space, or in other words

514

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 1879

the unit volume contains the same number of molecules
of the different salts.

Professor McLeod then read —

A Note on the Formation of Ozone during the Slow
Oxidation of Phosphorus. — The active substance formed
during the slow oxidation of phosphorus is probably
either ozone or peroxide of hydrogen; the latter substance
is readily destroyed by alkalies, a solution of chromic
acid, or a solution of alkaline permanganate, whilst ozone
is unaffected either by a solution of sodic carbonate, or
by chromic acid, and appears to be only slightly attacked
by alkaline permanganate. Air in which phosphorus
was slowly oxidizing was drawn through a U tube,
91, inches long (filled with fragments of glass containing
in succession sodic carbonate, saturated with carbonic
anhydride, a mixture of potassic dichromate and sulphuric
acid, and potassic permanganate, previously saturated
with carbonic anhydride), and then into a flask contain¬
ing a solution of potassic iodide and starch ; in all cases
the latter solution became blue, both when the U tube
was cold and when heated to 100°. Similar results were
obtained when a U tube 12^ inches long was used, packed
with small pieces of pumice, saturated with solution of
sodic carbonate. The effect of heat on the gas was tried.
The gas was aspirated through a narrow U tube, which
was heated to 150° and 200°, beyond this U tube were
placed first a weighed U tube, packed with pumice and
sulphuric acid, and secondly, a flask with solution of
potassic iodide and starch, acidified with sulphuric acid.
The U tube was weighed before and after each experi¬
ment, and the blue solution titrated with decinormal
sodic thiosulphate. The gas was aspirated at the rate
of 1 litre per hour, the following results were obtained.

Gas aspirated. T. of U tube.

4600 cc.
2760 cc.
4600 cc.
2760 cc.

cold

100°

150°

200°

Thiosulphate

used.

2 '55 cc.
1-9 cc.
3’2 cc.
P8 cc.

on

Increase of
sulphuric acid
tube.

0‘0026 grm.

0‘0008 grm.

0'0026 grm.

0.0006 grm.

cc. of thiosulphate = 0‘017 grm. of hydroxyl, which
decomposition forms 0'009 grm of water, and as at
least one half of the hydroxyl might be assumed to
be decomposed, an increase of the sulphuric acid tube in
the last experiment should be 0'016 grm. instead of only
0'0006. Hydroxyl combines with acids, the gas from
phosphorus was exposed to the action of strong sulphuric
acid for four days without loosing its activity. It is
extremely improbable that ozone and hydroxyl are both
formed, as these substances destroy each other. The
author therefore concludes that the gas obtained during
the slow oxidation of phosphorus possesses the properties
of ozone and not those of hydroxyl, the only known
peroxide of hydrogen.

Mr. Kingzett had listened to the paper with great
interest. Up to the present time no evidence had been
put on record to prove that this gas from phosphorus
contained ozone, and as he had shown that certain hydro¬
carbons which had been supposed to produce ozone really
formed . hydroxyl, he had assumed, in the absence of
any evidence, that hydroxyl was formed in this case.
After referring to the researches of Cornu, Mr. Kingzett
said that he could confirm the observation of Professor
McLeod that peroxide of hydrogen and ozone in the
presence of an acid did not decompose each other.

After some remarks from the President,

Professor McLeod briefly replied.

Mr. W. H. Perkin then read a paper —

On the Analysis of Organic Bodies containing Nitrogen.
— Some years since he wished to determine the halogens
as well as the carbon and hydrogen in bodies containing
nitrogen. The substance was burnt in oxygen, and the
products of combustion passed over a weighed quantity of
pure metallic silver. The difficulty arose as to how to
get rid of the nitrous fumes. Plumbic peroxide was
first tried between the water absorbing apparatus and

potash bulbs. This succeeded as far as the carbon was
concerned ; but as nitrous fumes were absorbed by the
sulphuric acid the hydrogen determinations were too
high. Plumbic peroxide was then placed in the com¬
bustion tube ; but great difficulty was experienced in
heating it to just the proper temperature. Potassic
chromate was then tried, and was found to succeed
admirably. It absorbed the nitrous fumes completely,
had no action on carbonic anhydride, and could be heated
without fear. The author therefore recommends the
use of about four to seven inches of potassic chromate in
the combustion of all substances containing nitrogen,
instead of freshly reduced copper, which is very hygro¬
scopic, and occludes hydrogen, or of silver, which requires
an inconveniently high temperature. The potassic
chromate should be free from an excess of alkali ; a
trace of bichromate is not harmful, though bichromate
does not work so well as chromate. The chromate
should be roughly powdered or granulated by evaporating
its solution to dryness with constant stirring, or still
better, coarsely powdered pumice, saturated with solution
of chromate, may be used. The chromate should be
kept at a scarcely dull red heat. The author does not
state how many times the chromate can be used. Chro¬
mate also absorbs sulphurous acid. It does not retain
iodine vapour, but would be probably useful with sub¬
stances containing chlorine or bromine.

After a few remarks from Mr. Warington, the Society
adjourned to January 15.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The last meeting of the Association for the year took
place on Wednesday evening, December 17, at 32a,
George Street, Hanover Square, when Mr. Davidson read
an interesting paper on “Coal.” The author began by
stating that his remarks would be classified under the
heads of origin, formation, varieties, products of distilla¬
tion, distribution and statistics. He then enlarged upon
the geology of coal, calling attention to the great lapse
of time since and prior to its formation, and stated that
the conditions for the construction of coal were not now
present. He then noticed the vegetable origin and
differences between peat, lignite, cannel coal, and anthra¬
cite, illustrating his remarks by specimens kindly lent
by the Pharmaceutical Society.

In the discussion which followed (Messrs. Branson,
Jones, Miller, Parkinson, Picard, Piper, Wallis and
Wren taking part) it was pointed out that the air was
probably more loaded with C02 than it is at present and
that the plants during the carboniferous period were of
very quick growth.

After a vote of thanks had been proposed by Mr.
Piper, seconded by Mr. Snow and carried, the meeting
terminated.

The next will take place on January 1, 1880.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

Buffon.*

BY PROFESSOR ST. GEORGE MIVART, F.R.S., SEC.L.S., V.P.Z.S*
In responding to the honour which the authorities of
the British Association have conferred in nominating me
to fill this chair, I have deemed it best not to occupy
your very valuable time with any matter of detail at
which I may happen to have worked, but rather to offer to
you a few remarks on questions which seem to me to have
a general biological interest.

Last year my esteemed friend, Professor Flower, called
your attention to the great name of Linnaeus. I propose
this year to refer to Linnaeus’s illustrious contemporary,
Buffon — not, however, in the character of a rival of
Linnaeus. Each was a man of genius, each did good

* Presidential Address to the Biological Section of the

British Association, Sheffield, August, 1879.

December 27, 1879.] THE P HARMACEUTTCAL JO(JRNaij j4.NL TRANSACTIONS

515

work in his own way — work still bringing forth fruit.
It must be admitted, however, that they were men of a
very different stamp, and if it is necessary to express a
relative judgment with respect to them, I should myself
feel inclined to say that Buffon’s mind had the greater
aptitude for sagacious speculation, with an inferior power
of acquiring and arranging a knowledge of facts of
structure. •

Various circumstances have concurred to favour our
recollection of the merits of the great Swede, and to
obscure those of the French naturalist. The well-earned
fame of Linnaeus is kept ever fresh in our memories by
the necessarily frequent references to him in matters of
nomenclature. On the other hand, not only are Buffon’s
claims on our esteem in no similar way brought before
us, but those very speculative opinions of his, which are
a merit in our eyes, have gained him disfavour with our
immediate predecessors, whose opinions and sentiments
we more or less inherit.

No one, however, can dispute Buffon’s title to our
great respect on account of the very powerful effect his
writings had in stimulating men’s love of nature, an effect
which I think is not sufficiently appreciated.

It is fitting that I should call attention to his (once
generally recognized) claims in this respect ; since my
own love of natural history is probably due to the circum¬
stance that his great work was always accessible to me
in my childhood, and was one of the earliest books with
the pictures of which I was familiar.

Buffon was indeed Linnaeus’s contemporary, for the
same year (1707) saw the births of both. In 1733, he
was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences, and
six years later was appointed superintendent of the Jardin
du Roi ,* * * § which was the occasion of that work to which
he is indebted for his fame, and to perfect -which he
displayed so much zeal in collecting specimens and in
obtaining information respecting the various kinds of
animals with which he became acquainted. His Histoire
Naturelle generate et particuliere began to appear in 1749,
and in 1767 was published the fifteenth volume, which
closed his history of mammals. Herein are contained
those numerous anatomical illustrations (due, with their
accompanying descriptions, to Daubenton) which have
been again and again copied down to the present time.
Next came nine volumes on birds, then his history of
minerals, and finally, seven supplementary volumes, the
last of which appeared in 1789, the year after his death.
His life was thus prolonged ten years beyond that of his
illustrious contemporary, Linnaeus.

Buffon can claim no merit as a classifier. With the
exception of the Apes of the old and new worlds (which
respectively fill the fourteenth and fifteenth volumes of
his work), the beasts treated of are hardly arranged on
any system, beyond that of beginning with the best
known and most familiar — a system necessarily appli¬
cable to but a few forms.

But Buffon deliberately rejected the Linnaean classifi¬
cation — a grave error, certainly, yet one not altogether
■without excuse. Indeed, some of the objections he
brought against that classification have considerable force.
Such were his objections to the association of the hippo¬
potamus, the shrew-mouse, and the horse in one order,
and of the monkey and the manis in another.^ What
indeed could be more preposterous than the separation of
the bat, Noctilio leporinus, from the other bats, and its
association with the rodents, on the ground of its having

* The Jardin du Roi was first instituted by Louis XIII.
in 1628, and definitively established in 1635. It cannot be
affirmed that Buffon enriched the incipient museum — the
Cabinet du Roi — so much as might have been expected ;
although the skeletons which served for Daubenton’ s de¬
scriptions were, at least in many instances, preserved. It
is to Geoffroy St. -Hilaire that the magnificent museum of
the Jardin des Plantes, which now exists, is most in¬
debted.

t ‘ Hist. Nat.,’ tome i., p. 39.

(as supposed) only two incisor teeth above and two be¬
low ? — an anomaly of arrangement of which you were
reminded last year. It scarcely seems possible for the
pedantry of classification to go further than this. Yet,
perhap.s, the association in one group of the walrus, the
elephant, the ant-eater, the sloth, and the manatee, was
hardly less unphilosophical. Moreover, zoologists should
not forget, in blaming Buffon for his want of appreciation
of the classification of Linnaeus, that one great portion
of that classification — the classification of plants — has
been superseded by us. Had he lived to witness the
publication of Jussieu’s Genera Plantarum* it might
have given him a truer insight into biological classifi¬
cation, and have led him to endeavour to improve on
Linnaeus’ system instead of only criticizing it.

But it is Buffon’s speculative views which have most
interest for us. Those views exercised a very wide-spread
influence in their day, though the time was not ripe for
them. Indeed, it is far from improbable that writers
whose speculations have been made public at a more
propitious season, owe much to their comparatively for¬
gotten predecessor.

Amongst Buffon’s various speculations we might glance
at his Theorie de la terre (put forth in the very first
volume of his work), and at his Epoques de la Nature,
which fills the fifth volume of his supplement. We might
consider his speculations concerning the formation of
mountain and valley by water, and the evidence that
there was present to the ear of his imagination : —

“ The sound of streams, which, swift or slow,

Tear down iEolian hills and sow
The dust of continents to be.”

That he saw, in thought, the projection of the planets
from the sun’s mass ; the primitive fluidity of the earth,
and the secular refrigeration of the sun. Such considera¬
tions, however, are foreign to this Section. I will therefore
select two which are of biological interest.

In the first place I may refer to Buffon's speculations
concerning animal variation. In this matter Isidore
Geoffroy St.-Hilaire has affirmed that Buffon stands to
the doctrine of animal variability in a position analogous
to that in which Linmeus stands to the doctrine of the
fixity of species.

Buffon, in his chapter on the animals of the Old and
New World, remarks, “It is not impossible that the
whole* of the New World’s aiymals are derived from the
same source as those of the old, whence they have de¬
scended . Nature is in a state of perpetual

flux.” In his chapter on the Degeneration of Animals, §
he sums up saying, “ After comparing all the animals,
and arranging them each in their own group, we shall
find that the two hundred kinds described here may be
reduced to a small number of original forms, whence it
may be all the rest have issued.”

As to the modes and causes of the origin of new forms,
he entertained four connected opinions : —

(1) . He attributed much modifying efficacy to migra¬
tions ;

(2) . Also to the direct action of external conditions;

(3) . He believed largely in the origin of new forms by
degradation ; and

(4) . He regarded each animal as the manifestation of
an individuating force, lying, as it were, at the root of
the changes manifested by it.

The view that migration (with isolation) is a neces¬
sary antecedent to the origin of new species is one which
has been advocated by a modern naturalist, Moritz

* This appeared in 1789.

f Op. cit ., vol. ix., p. 127.

X He thought that the American jaguars, ocelots, etc.,
and even the peccary, were positive degradations of Old
World forms. He thought that the llama, the American
apes, agoutis, and ant-eaters might be examples of such
forms; but the opossum, sloths and ^tapirs he look to be
original species. (See vol. xiv., pp. 272, _2/ 3.)

§ Yol. xiv., p. 358.

516

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 1879

Wanner," who does not hesitate to affirm!” that the for¬
mation of a really new species “ will only succeed when
a few individuals, having crossed the barriers of their
station, are able to separate themselves for a long time
from the old stock.”

In support of his view the author brings forward a
multitude of interesting facts, one of the most significant
of which appears to me to be the following. It concerns
beetles of Tropical America of the genus Tetracha. . In
Venezuela, and in the western part of Central America,
he tells us, rivers flow partly through savannahs, where
they have undermined the light tufaceous soil, forming
deep beds with high precipitous banks. According to
Professor Wagner, individual beetles from the highlands
have thus been isolated, and in no longer time than has
been required by the rivers to undermine the loose soil
of the savannah, have given rise to a distinct species
markedly different in form and colour. It is to similar
causes — migration and complete isolation — that he traces
the formation of distinct races of men : a formation he
deems no longer possible, while the wide diffusion of
mankind renders more and more difficult the evolution
of new species of animals of any kind.

Instances which appear to support this view will readily
suggest themselves to the naturalist — instances, that is,
of forms which are both peculiar in structure and remote
and isolated as to their habitat.J Thus, for example,
even in the group which structurally most resembles us,
we have the orang confined to very limited tracts in
Borneo and Sumatra, and the gorilla to a small portion
of Western Africa. The proboscis monkey is found
nowhere but in Borneo, while the singular ape named
“Roxellana” (from its wonderfully “tip-tilted” nose) is
confined to the lofty and isolated mountains of Monpin
in Thibet. The very peculiar black ape ( Cynopithecus )
is limited to Celebes and Batchian, while the baboon,
which has the baboon character of muzzle most developed,
was found at the extreme south of the African continent.

Again, if we take the group of lemur-lilce animals
(Lemuroidea) as having had their home and starting-point
in or near their present head-quarters— Madagascar —
then some of the most aberrant forms are those which
must have migrated farthest. The character which is
perhaps the most peculiar of any which the group pre¬
sents, is the elongation of two of the ankle bones, as we
find it in the Madagascar crenus, Cheirogcileus. But this
character is more exaggerated in migrants to Africa — the
Galagos — and most so of all in the more isolated emi¬
grant, the tarsier, now found in Celebes and Borneo.

The sub-family of slow-lemurs ( Nycticebince ) would, on
this view, seem to have migrated in opposite directions,
as we find the slender slow-lemur (Loris) in Madras,
Malabar, and Ceylon ; the typical slow-lemur ( Nycticebus )
in South China, Borneo and Java ; the potto ( Pero -
dicticus) in Sierra Leone, and the angwantibo (Arctocebus)
in Old Calabar. Of these, it is the African forms which
have the index-finger most atrophied — a tendency to its
atrophy existing in the whole sub-family.

It would, of course, be very easy to multiply instances
of the kind ; but it would be also easy to cite a number
of cases which appear to conflict with the view in ques¬
tion. Thus familiar to us as it is, few animals are more
peculiar in structure than the common mole, which gives

* In a paper read before the Royal Academy of Sciences
at Munich, on March 2, 1868. This has been translated by
Mr. Junes L. Laird, and published by Edward Stanford
in 1873.

f Op. cit., p. 29.

X Isolation, it ought to be remembered, may take place
as the result not only of changes in inorganic nature (such
as the formation of islands, and the excavation of river
beds), but also by the presence of enemies in intermediate
tracts, by the circumstance that the food of the species is
found only in certain restricted localities, and by whatever
other causes determine the extinction of a species in a
given place.

no present evidence of isolated origin ; and the most
aberrant of all bats, the vampire ( Desmodus ), is rather
widely distributed in South America. Again, with regard
to the lemur group, the most absolutely exceptional is
the aye-aye ( Cheiromys ), which, on the hypothesis sup¬
posed, has remained persistently at the head-quarters of
the group, i.e., in Madagascar.

Even, however, if no exception existed to. the co¬
existence now of singularity of form and isolation and
remoteness of situation, we could not safely draw any
decided conclusion from such facts, because fossil remains
show us that forms which have now a very limited distri¬
bution were either widely spread in earlier times, or
existed in regions very remote from those they now in¬
habit. Thus, in Eocene times there existed in Europe
true opossums (now confined to America), tapirs, and a
form like the African potto before mentioned. In
Miocene times we had in Europe long-armed apes (crea¬
tures now found only in Eastern Asia), with the now
exclusively African Secretary bird and cape ant-eater
( Orycteropus ). In the same period the orang — or a
nearly allied form — seems to have ranged over India.
What are more emphatically old-world forms than the
camel, horse and elephant, with the typical porcupine ?
Yet all these existed in America in Pliocene times. Did
we know the tapir in only one of the two widely-
separated stations in which it dwells to-day, we might
well deem its evolution to be due to migration and isola¬
tion. But we know from palaeontology that it existed in
Europe from the Eocene to the Pliocene period.

Such facts as these do not, of course, disprove the
doctrine that migration and isolation are necessary ante¬
cedent conditions to specific genesis, but they show how
much caution must be used in drawing the conclusion
that they are necessary, from the distribution of animals
much less likely to be found fossil than mammals are.

But an argument in favour of the views of Buffon and
of Wagner may be obtained from our own species, which
exhibits some singular coincidences between peculiarity
of form and isolation. Among such instances may be
mentioned the Tasmanians, the Andaman Islanders, and
the Amos or Aborigines of Japan. One of the most
striking examples is that of the Eskimo — a people repre¬
senting many peculiarities, some of which exaggerate the
characters of the highest races of mankind. Thus, the
pelvis differs from the European pelvis in an opposite
direction to that by which the Negro pelvis differs from
the European, and the same is the case with the propor¬
tions of the limbs, while the skulls of the Eskimo have
the largest and narrowest nasal aperture of all races,
being in this respect the very opposite to the Australians.
The Eskimo have migrated eastwards, not reaching the
south of Greenland till the fourteenth century, and the
race characters are most marked in the most easterly
tribes. These facts were brought forward by Professor
Flower in his Hunterian lectures for the present year,*
when he said that the characters of this peculiar race
“must be attributed to those gradual modifications pro¬
duced by causes at present little understood, by which
most of the striking variations met with in the human
species have been brought about — modifications more
strongly expressed the more completely isolated the race
has become, and the farther removed from its original
centre of distribution.” I think, then, that though we
have not data for conclusively answering the question as
to how far migration (together with isolation) may be
necessary for specific genesis, it is certain that it is of
very great efficacy and importance, and that credit is

* The lecturer also said: “ The large size of the brain of
all the hyperborean races, Lapps as well as Eskimo, seems
not necessarily to be connected with intellectual develop¬
ment, but may have some other explanation not at present
apparent.” I would suggest that in this case — as in the
large brains of Cetaceans — it may be due to the need in
their climate of generating much heat to sustain the neces¬
sary temperature of the body.

December 27, 1879. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

517

justly due to Buffon for his early appreciation of its
importance.

The next question to which I would advert is that
concerning the direct action upon organisms, of the
external conditions which surround them.

Buffon’s belief was* that changes of specific form were
brought about by change of temperature and climatic
change generally, as well as by change of food.

The curious effects of stimulating food on colour — as
of cayenne pepper with canaries, and hemp-seed with
parrots — is notorious. The direct action of the environ¬
ment on organisms has, I think, been of late somewhat
undervalued. Amongst evidences in favour of its import¬
ance, I would refer to some of Mr. Alfred Wallace’s
observation s.+ He tells us that in the small island of
Ainboina, the butterflies (twelve species, of nine different
•genera) are larger than those of any of the more consider¬
able islands about it, and that this is an effect plainly due
to some local influence. In Celebes, a whole series of
butterflies are not only of a larger size, but have the same
peculiar form of wing. The Duke of York’s island seems,
he tells us, to have a tendency to make birds and insects
white, or at least pale, and the Philippines to develop
metallic colours, while the Moluccas and New Guinea
seem to favour blackness and redness in parrots and
pigeons. Species of butterflies which in India are pro¬
vided with a tail to the wing, begin to lose that append¬
age in the islands, and retain no trace of it on the
borders of the Pacific. The JEneas group of Papilios
never have tails in the equatorial region of the Amazon
Valley, but gradually acquire tails, in many cases, as they
range towards the northern and southern tropics. Mr.
Gould says that birds are more highly coloured under a
clear atmosphere than in islands or on coasts — a condition
which also seems to affect insects, while it is notorious
that many shore plants have fleshy leaves. I need but
refer to the English oysters mentioned by Costa, which,
when transported to the Mediterranean, grew rapidily
like the true Mediterranean oyster, and to the twenty
different kinds of American trees, said by Meehan to
differ in the same manner from their nearest European
allies, as well as to the dogs, cats, and rabbits which have
been proved to undergo modifications directly induced by
climatic change.

It appears then that much may be said in favour of that
direct effect of surrounding circumstances on Organisms
in which Buffon believed.

Lastly, I would refer to Buffon’s belief that new species
have arisen by degradation. This again is an opinion
which, after a period of disfavour, or at least of neglect,
has been of late revived, and has acquired considerable
influence. I may here refer to Anton Dohrn, who has
recently advocated the very widely spread and effective
action of degradation as a cause of specific change. It
i will, I think, be generally admitted that such exceptional
Copepod crustaceans as Tracheliastes and Lerneocera are
due to degradation, and the probability seems to me very
strong that the Rhizocephala, at least many cirripeds,
and the certoid worms, are also degraded organisms.
Very interesting would it be to know whether existing
Ascidians are also examples of degradation, as not a few
zoologists now suppose ; but most interesting of all is that
parasite of cuttle fishes, Dicyema, the structure of which
has been recently investigated by Professor Edward Van
Beneden, and made the type of a new primary division
of animals. Should this small worm-like organism here¬
after turn out to be a degraded form, it will show what
an extreme degree of retrograde metamorphosis may oc¬
casionally be brought about. I think then that we have
considerable ground for suspecting that degradation has
acted much and widely in the field of Biology, and if so,
Buffon is fairly entitled to a certain amount of esteem on
account of the views he entertained with regard to it in
so early a day and in so undeveloped a condition of zoologi-

# Q'p. cit., vol. xiv., p. 317.

+ See ‘ Tropical Nature/ pp. 254-259.

cal science. For it must not be forgotten that migration*
the influence of external conditions, and degradation, are
connected points : parts of one view. Degradation is
most conspicuous under violent changes of condition (such
as parasitism), while migration only acts by bringing
organisms under new conditions.

These reflections lead me to urge upon such of my
hearers as may have any unusual facilities for experimental
investigation, a course of inquiry which seems to be very
desirable.

What is needed in order to solve as far as possible the
question of specific genesis, is a knowledge of the laws of
variation, which must, I think, be deemed the true cause
and origin of species.

We may, I think, accept as true two propositions:

(1) . Animals may change in various ways, and amongst
them, by degradation.

(2) . Changes in the environment with isolation induce
and favour changes in form.

I would urge then that inquiries should be pursued in
two directions simultaneously.

(A) . There might be undertaken one set of inquiries to
investigate the effects on different species of the same
variations of environment.

(B) . Other inquiries might be undertaken with a view
to ascertaining the effects of different changes of environ¬
ment on one and the same species. By series of experi¬
ments contrived with these ends in view, and carried on
with various selected animals and plants which reproduce
with rapidity, we may possibly be able to determine what
to attribute to external influences (shown by such influ¬
ences having the same effects on all), and what to the
peculiar nature and innate powers and tendencies of
different organisms — shown by the diverging reactions of
the latter under the same changes in their environment.

(To be continued.)

Parltantcniarg and Hatu froijefdin.gs.

An Inquest at Devonport.

The Coroner for Devonport, Mr. J. Vaughan, held an
inquest at the Rose and Crown Inn, public house, Pem¬
broke Street, on Thursday afternoon, to investigate the
circumstances under which a child, 2h years old, named
Llewellen Frederick George Warren, had come to his
death.

The Coroner, at the opening of the inquiry, explained
that it had been rendered necessary in consequence of the
medical man, who was not called in until the child was
dying, refusing to give the requisite legal certificate of
death.

The mother of the deceased child was then called,
and she stated that the deceased wras taken ill on the
previous Monday week. M r. Lamble gave her a bottle of
medicine for the child, and told her to put its feet in warm
water and salt and mustard, as, if it was a case of measles,
that wculd bring them out. He also told her that if the
deceased got worse she had better send for a medical
man. She did as she was directed, but on the following
Friday the child got worse, not having taken anything
nourishing from the time she went to the chemist, except
a little brandy and milk, and the next day (Saturday) it
became so seriously ill that she then sent for Mr. Horton,
surgeon. This was in the evening, but Mr. Horton was
not°home. She sent again at half-past seven, and he was
still absent, but the person she sent was told he would
return in ten minutes. When he again went to Mr.
Horton’s house, however, ten minutes afterwards, he was
told that Mr. Horton was in bed. The person who came
to the door said Mr. Horton was in bed, and that if he
came “he would want his fee,” and her husband said
“his fee was there.” Mr. Horton did not come that
nio-ht, and she sent again for him between nine and ten

I

518 THE FHARMACEUT1CAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 11.79.

o’clock on Sunday morning, and between twelve and one
o’clock, in the dinner time, he visited her child, whom he
pronounced very ill. It had had the measles very badly.
They came out two days after she went to the chemist,
and Mr. Horton now said that the child had inflammation
of the lungs after measles. He sent it a bottle of medi¬
cine and ordered a mustard poultice to its chest. Mr.
Horton called again the next day, at three o’clock in the
afternoon, but the child was then dead.

The Coroner said the witness ought certainly to have
called in a medical man before she did.

Mr. Horton said the witness was entirely wrong as to
the time at which she sent for him, because he was in
his surgery on the Saturday evening until half -past eight
o’clock.

Edward Stacey (asked by the Coroner what time he went
for the surgeon on Saturday) : Said that from nine o’clock
until eleven o’clock he went three times. First a few
minutes past nine o’clock, and saw a man who said the
doctor was not in, and who put his message down on a
slate. He went again just after ten, and was again told
that Mr. Horton was not in. At five minutes to eleven
he went again, and was then told that Mr. Horton
was in but was in bed. He told them the child was
dying, and that the surgeon was wanted to come at once.

A Juror : What answer did you get to that ?

Witness : The lady who came to the door said that if
the doctor did come now he would charge double fee. 1
said “ This is no place to ask about that here — for double
fees,” and the lady never said anything, but went away.

Mr. Horton : Did you say anything about going for
another surgeon ?

Witness : Yes.

Mr. Horton was afterwards sworn, and stated that at a
few minutes past eight o’clock on Saturday evening he
went from home to attend two cases of confinement. He
returned about eleven o’clock, and inasmuch as he was
suffering from bronchitis and sore throat himself and was
particularly tired, having been on his feet all day, he
determined to go to bed at once. As he was going up¬
stairs his servant told him that Warren had sent twice,
and that he was expecting the messenger there again in
about twenty minutes, and he (Mr. Horton) told the
servant to tell the person who called that he was gone to
bed, and that they must get somebody else. He then
went straight to bed, and shortly afterwards Mrs. Horton
came to him and told him that Warren had sent again.
He accordingly sent down to say that he was very unwell,
and that he did not wish to go out again before the
morning, but would come then if that would do, but if
he did come his fee would be half-a-guinea, to be paid
that night. He made those conditions intentionally — he
put the charge as a prohibitory fee, because he had been
so often called out when there was no danger, and
because he did not wish, being ill himself, to go out
again.

The Coroner : You did not do it for the sake of the
money ?

Mr. Horton : Certainly not ; I didn’t want to go, and
I put a prohibitory fee on the case thinking they would
decline my services and go elsewhere. Mrs. Horton
afterwards brought me rip a message that the friend of
the father said they would go elsewhere, and I was very
glad of it, and went to sleep. Just as I was finishing-
breakfast, however, the next morning, I had another
message from the Warrens to come and see the child, and
I sent back word that I would come as soon as I could.
Immediately afterwards, however, I had a peremptory
message to attend a pressing case of confinement. I went
to this case first, and finding that I was not wanted
immediately, came straight back to Warren’s house. I
found the child very ill with congestion of the lungs after
measles, and I told the mother that it could not live, and
that I could do nothing for it. The next day, not having
heard from the mother in the meantime, I called again on
going my rounds, and then found the child dead.

The Coroner : You have heard it said that when the
child was first taken ill the mother took it to Mr. Lamble,
chemist, who prescribed for it, and told the mother that
f it grew worse she had better have a medical gentleman
at once ; do you find any fault with that ?

Mr. Horton : I don’t find any fault at all. I didn’t 1]
see what medicine it had. I should like to have seen it
in order to have satisfied my own mind.

The Coroner : Mr. Lamble said it was for measles.

Mr. Horton: I don’t recognize his right to say so-
Measles are a most difficult thing to carry through, even
if in a mild sort of way.

The Coroner : But Mr. Lamble said if it grew worse
the mother had better have a medical man.

Mr. Horton : Then he was so far right, but he was not
right in giving medicine.

The Coroner : He did no more than any respectable-
chemist would have done, I suppose ?

Mr. Horton : That is it ; they do it, and they waste
time.

The Coroner : Then you simply find fault with Mr.
Lamble for prescribing as other chemists prescribe ?

Mr. Horton : I don’t find fault, but I do think valu¬
able time was thrown away whilst the chemist was pre¬
scribing for it.

The Coroner then summed up, and in doing so said that
there appeared to be a feud in the town between the
medical men and the chemists, who were both a very
useful class of men, and who both discharged very proper
and important functions. There was no doubt that poor
people, who could not well afford to pay a doctor, often
took their children to a chemist, in whom they had per¬
fect confidence, instead of going to a regularly licensed
practitioner, and there was not a chemist in the town who
would refuse to prescribe for them; but this did not ap¬
pear to give satisfaction to the medical profession, who
were naturally jealous of the rights of that profession.

In the present case, Mr. Lamble evidently did not intend
that the mother should go until Saturday evening without
seeking medical help. The mother, however, seemed to-
have considered that the condition of the child was due
to the natural incidence of measles, and went on hoping
for a change until medical skill was too late to save its
life. No aspersion had been cast upon Mr. Lamble in the
matter, and as regarded Mr. Horton, he seemed to have
understood from the witness Stacey that he would go
elsewhere for medical aid.

The jury returned a verdict of “ Death from natural
causes.” — Devonport and Stonehouse Gazette.

Alleged Acceleration of Death by a Soothing

Powder.

An inquest was held at Devonport, on Friday, the 19th
inst., by the Coroner, Mr J. Vaughan, to investigate the
circumstances under which a child named Abraham Hill
had come to its death. It appeared that the deceased’s
parents were in the town on a visit to their friends. On
the previous day the child was unwell and the mother
gave it a Steedman’s powder. There was nothing
unusual in her treating the child in this way. She
had often done so before, and the powders had
apparently invariably had a salutary effect on the
child. The child was one year and seven months old,
and had an inordinately large head, and its mother
had fancied that it had water on the brain ; and it also
transpired that the mother had had two other children
die in a similar manner — namely, in convulsions — though
at a much younger age. The child had been a healthy
one comparatively speaking, though its mother had many
times given it Steedman’s powders. The child became
very relaxed the night prior to its death, and was more
or less relaxed throughout the next day and up to the
time of its death. It vomited, and was seized with con¬
vulsions, which continued to affect it at intervals up to
the time of its death. Mr. Horton, surgeon, ordered the

December 27, 1879.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

519

child to be put in a bath, but before this could be done it
died. By the direction of the coroner, Mr. Horton made
a post mortem examination of the body, from which he
said he concluded that the child, having previously suffered
from water on the brain, and having been much purged
and weakened by the entire absence of food in the system,
was particularly amenable to the influence of a narcotic,
and he thought the convulsions spoken of might have
been caused by the drug administered, which he judged
contained a certain proportion of opium. From an
analysis of one of these soothing powders recently made
it was found to contain a certain proportion of narcotic.
These powders were never prescribed by medical men.
They were a proprietary medicine of which large quantities
were sold. He was of opinion that the deceased child had
died from the effects of a narcotic administered to it in
some form.

The Coroner said the jury would have to specially con¬
sider whether the child died from a narcotic, and whether
it was administered in the Steedman’s powder.

In reply to questions from the jury, Mr. Horton said
he could not say whether the powder administered con-
| tained opium or not. If it was a soothing powder and
did not do so, the powder was simply a fraud in itself,
because soothing powders must contain a narcotic. The
jury ultimately found a verdict that the child died from
natural causes, accelerated by a narcotic given with the
best intentions and without the slightest blame to anyone.

Suicide of a Plympton Tradesman.

Mr. J ohn Eastcott, grocer and patent medicine dealer,
Fore Street, Ridgway, has committed suicide by taking
strychnine. The deceased, who was only twenty- seven
years old, had lately given way to intemperate habits.
On Friday afternoon, December 12, about three o’clock,
he went to bed, and rose about eight o’clock on Saturday
morning and opened his shop. He served a customer,
and then remarked that he would go upstairs as he was
not feeling well. His wife heard groans proceeding from
one of the bedrooms, and on asking her husband what
was the matter he replied that he had taken a drop of
strychnine on a lump of sugar, and that he had poisoned
himself because he was ashamed to look people in the
| iace in consequence of having been seen drunk. Medical
assistance was immediately obtained, but death ensued
about half-past nine o’clock. An inquest was held by
Mr. Rodd, county coroner, in the evening, when the jury
returned a verdict of “ Temporary insanity.” — Western
Morning News.

tspqusMjj IRemonuutit.

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

[380].

R Sod. Salicyl. .
Quin. Sulph. .
Acid. Sulph. Dil.
Sp. JEth. Nit. .
Glycerin. Opt. .
Aq. FI. Aurant. .
M.

. grs. 800.

. grs. 200.

. q.s. ut solv.
. nt 100.

__ The above is a copy of a prescription brought me to
dispense. Would some of your readers please give me
the best mode of dispensing the same ?

R. W. H.

and Gf>ucms.

[645]. EVANESCENT INK. — Can any reader kindly
give me a recipe for making the above ink ?

A. J. Hurn.

[646]. COD LIVER OIL JELLY.— A reliable for¬
mula for cod liver oil jelly is required, the one given in
the ‘Year-Book of Pharmacy’ has not been found work¬
able. It is cod liver oil, 85 parts, sugar, 8 parts, water,
4 parts, isinglass, 3 parts. It succeeded once by some
modification, which has been forgotten, and cannot be hit
on again.

“Nos.”

[647]. BOISRAGON PILLS.— Will any obliging cor¬
respondent state the ingredients in “ Boisragon Pills?”
I understand they are in use about Suffolk.”

St. Rule.

LIQUID GLUE. — The following yields a good
product, provided the proper kind of glue is employed : —
500 parts of the best, white, transparent glue are broken
into small pieces, covered with 670 parts of distilled
water, and allowed to stand until the pieces have become
soft, and nearly all the water has been absorbed. Any
pieces which may from time to time project beyond the
surface of the water are to be pushed under. The mass is
now melted on a water- or steam-bath, and 75 to 83 parts
of commercial nitric acid, specific gravity 1380, are added
very slowly, and with constant stirring. Of course, the
glue solution must be contained in a vessel which is not
attacked by the acid.

When using a weaker acid than that above mentioned,
it may happen that the mixture gelatinizes on cooling.
In this case, the mass is to be remelted, and more acid
to be added. But it is better to wait a few days before
doing this, as the glue sometimes liquefies of its own
accord. Too much acid makes the glue too thin, and
destroys its adhesive properties.

Another formula yielding a very good product is this :
Take of best white glue, or better, of best French trans¬
parent gelatine, 8 parts. Cut it fine, cover it with dis¬
tilled water, and soak it until soft; then pour off any
excess of water. Melt it on a water-bath, and add to it
1 part of glacial acetic acid. When thoroughly mixed,
bottle it, — New Remedies. _

books, Pamphlets, etc., received. "

Pharmacographia : a History of the Principal Drugs^ of
Vegetable Origin met with in Great Britain and British
India. By Friedrich A. Fluckiger, Ph.D., and
Daniel Hanbury, F.R.S. Second Edition. London :
Macmillan and Co. 1879.

Year-Book of Pharmacy for 1879 with the Trans¬
actions of the British Pharmaceutical Conference
at the Sixteenth Annual Meeting, held in Sheffield.
London: J. and A. Churchill. 1879. _ _

^oti^sptulque.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

Sunday Trading.

Sir,— I am pleased to see the subject of Sunday trading
being ventilated in the Journal, and in the hopes that it
maylead to some practical alteration of what is at present
a thing greatly to be deplored, I am induced to offer a few
remarks upon the subject.

That a chemist and druggist is bound, to a cer.am extent,
to trade on Sunday, is one of the peculiarities of his particukir
branch of commerce. Illness, like time and tide, waits for
no man ; and it is, therefore, a public necessity that when
disease in any form makes itself apparent, that the victim

520

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 27, 13:9.

should be able to obtain the requisite remedies, successfully
to wage battle against his enemy. But, t-xat it is necessary
for anyone to purchase pennyworths of hair oil, half ounces
of lozenges, small-tooth combs or tooth brushes, on the
Sabbath day, no reasonable man would admit ; nevertheless,
by opening his shop, by removing one or two shutters, plac¬
ing the door open wide and by lighting the gas inside and
outside, the chemist offers the necessary inducement for the
public to purchase these necessary articles which could have
as easily been obtained the day previous and would have un¬
doubtedly been so procured had the public been aware of
the impossibility of obtaining them on Sundays.

The public do not wish nor expect their butcher, baker,
or draper to open his establishment on a Sunday to serve
them with meat, bread, yards of ribbon or halfpenny¬
worths of tape ; and neither do they wish nor expect the
chemist to do so either.

The public require educating into the new state of affairs,
and the best way of doing it is by politely refusing to sell
anything but bond fide medicaments required for a specific
purpose for useat once. At first, doubtless this plan would
meet with some opposition, people have been for so long
accustomed to demand anything from a chemist, and at any
time, that they have begun to look upon what is but a
favour as a right, and I have often been told that we are by
law compelled to open on Sunday.

My establishment is situated in a main thoroughfare of
the S.W district, and on the confines of two parishes, one
very poor, the other one of the richest in the whole metro¬
polis ; on either side there are chemists’ shops, both within
a stone’s throw, who open on Sundays, and, save taking
down all their shutters, court public patronage for anything
wlr'cli caprice may dictate as on week days. This shop for
the past twelve years has been entirely closed all day on
Sunday; anything of a necessitous description can always be
obtained by ringing the bell, while all other demands arfe
politely refused. Regular patrons knowing these rules do
not ask for such things, while casual callers never take
umbrage at what their own sense of justice commends as
correct. The one great stumbling block to the removal of
a great deal of the present amount of Sabbath trading is the
low standpoint from which most proprietors view this
subject, that of £ s. d.

Brown opens; Jones because of his neighbour’s delinquency
excuses himself, and does likewise, for fear that Brown
should net a few stray fish to his (Jones’s) detriment. Till
this difficulty is removed and the financial is made sub¬
servient to the moral and physical, I am afraid that
Sunday trading as at present conducted will remain. The
few shillings taken on Sunday by openly asking for
patronage is poor compensation for the mental and bodily
strength expended to obtaiu them.

Let the chemist stand upon his own rights and, while the
willing servant of the public, resolutely but politely decline
to be the slave of a captious few who think they are legally
entitled to have all their demands satisfied at any time.
Chemists as a rule are a class of men who bear a great deal
for the sake of their cloth and the moral obligations which
it imposes upon them, but one of these is not, that they
should keep open shop, when their brother tradesmen are
enjoying their “ day of rest” after six days’ labour.
London, S.W. “Spes.”

Sir, — A good deal has been written of late upon the
above subject. Will you allow me to add a few words?

I was very pleased with the remarks of “ Yolo,” in a re¬
cent issue and would that his plan were universally adopted.

I took a business in this town twenty-three years since,
it had then been established twenty-seven years. To my
great regret 1 found it had been the custom to sell on
Sunday anything and everything that a country druggist’s
shop contains ; this unnecessary and unchristianlike traffic
I determined to discontinue and placing a card inside the
window of the shop door, whereon was written, “ Medicines
only sold on Sunday,” I soon found my customers for
hair oil, capers, etc., etc., on that day, diminish considerably
and in the course of a year or so it became a rarity for me
to be asked for anything of the kind on the first day of
the week. I have kept to this plan up to the present time,
and intend c’oing so as long as I am in business; should
anyone be curious to know how my “ returns ” were affected
by so doing, I can assure them they have considerably in¬
creased.

With regard to late closing I consider twelve hours a
day quite long enough to be behind the counter. I have
never had an assistant or apprentice, yet am thankful to
say I have been blessed with good health, and although I
am now fifty-three years of age and have brought up a large
family I can take a walk of from thirty to forty miles in a day
with little inconvenience. Of course I have not neglected
the “ x’ules of health;” on rising I have a cold bath, ex¬
cepting iu very severe weather, when I take it with just the
chill off. I open shop at 8 o’clock, and as there is from two
to six hours’ daylight during the greater part of the year,
before this time, I get out and enjoy it (many and many a
good dish of trout have I brought home before breakfast,
that have fallen to my rod). If this plan were more
generally adopted, I feel sure the health of members of our
trade would be considerably benefited.

When I was an assistant I arranged to have half a day
(from 1.30 till 11) once a week, instead of going out at night
after closing shop ; this was a great boon to me and I believe
such an arrangement, where it can be made, will be found
beneficial alike to employer and employed.

Wiltshire.

P.S. — For the last eight or ten years we have closed oar
shops here at 4 p.m., one day in the week.

Sir, — After six years’ experience as assistant and a like
period as principal, I am very fully convinced that in
provincial towns (not having had a lengthened city
experience I will not venture to speak in reference to
that), the whole question lies in this, “ Is the principal so
penurious as to wish to enslave himself or assistant on the
day of rest in order to help his week-day trade ?” Abso¬
lutely necessity for Sunday trading is almost infinitesimal,
to prove which I will state the following facts : — I happen
to have the oldest established business in this town, in a
central position, to which is attached a good family
business and a fair share of poor customers. It is my custom
to be absent, otherwise occupied, every Sunday during the
following hours, 9.0 to 12.30, 1.S0 to 4.0, 6.0 to 9.0.
No assistant is in the house, though it is rarely left for
domestic reason, and it is seldom that any customer applies
during my absence, and I scarcely ever remember having
heard a complaint that any hardship has resulted through
my inattention. The fact is, people know pretty well
when they can find me if they have real wants ; and, I
might say, it is no use their applying for anything else —
they would not get it, and they apply at the time when
they know (though we have no light in the shop), I shall
be found there. We average about two customers per
Sabbath the year round. Facts, sir, are stubborn things.
GO. Market Place , Hull. J. Chas. Storey.

IF. ill. MacNaugliton. — The preparation is a proprietary
one, the formula of which has not been published in this
country. It has been alleged, however, to consist mainly
of the electuaire lenitif of the Codex.

J. A. H. — The following recipe for a cement for joining
leather is given in the new edition of Cooley : — Gutta
perclia, 4 parts ; caoutchouc, 1 part (both cut small) ; bi¬
sulphide of carbon, 8 parts : mix in a close vessel and
dissolve by the heat of a water-bath. To be gently warmed
before using.

“ Qucero.” — (1) The chloral hydrate and camphor should
be triturated together until they liquefy. See, on the
dispensing of chloral hydrate and camphor, vol. viii., pp.
319, 339, 398 and 406. (2) You would do rightly in using
the Pharmacopoeia preparation.

“ Nemo.” — See the recipe for tooth wash, before, p. 443.

F. C. Maggs. — Myrtle wax is obtained from two or
three species of Myrica and is used for hardening candles,
making “ heel -ball,” and by “medico-botanists,” for
ointments, etc. We believe that its value is less than that
of ordinary wax.

A . C. and T. W. L. — The oleate of lead in the prescrip¬
tions sent is no doubt that referred to in a paper on the
treatment of eczema, by Dr. Sawyer, which appeared in the
Practitioner for November. It is there said to be “ pre¬
pared by heating a mixture of oleic acid and oxide of lead.”

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Mr. Plowman, Dispenser, Subscriber.

January 3, if so.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

521

COTO BARK AND ITS CHIEF
CONSTITUENTS.*

BY J. JOBST AND O. HESSE.

One of the authors, in the early part of the year
1873, obtained, through a London firm of importers,
a specimen of stem bark from Bolivia, which was
called “coto cinchona,” although it had no resemblance
to cinchona bark. About a year later Professor
Wittstein obtained some of the same kind of bark
from a Hamburgh firm, who informed him that the
bark had been collected from the same districts as
the cinchonas, in the interior of Bolivia, and that it
was used internally, either in the form of powder or
of an alcoholic extract, as a remedy' in cases of
diarrhoea and colic, and for neuralgia in the face. It
had been also recommended in cases of rheumatism
and gout.

According to Martens the bark is obtained from a
cinchona ; hence the name “ coto cinchona.” Wittstein
believes that many of its properties belong rather to
the Rubiacece, than to the Laurinece or Terebinthinacece.

The name coto bark, or coto-coto is met with in
Brazil, and is there applied to bark obtained from a
rubiaceous species, the Palicurea densiflora, Martius.
But whether this plant produces their coto bark, or
some bark allied to it, is unknown to the authors.

The first coto bark obtained by the authors, and
which they term “ genuine coto bark,” to distinguish
it from other kinds which have been lately met with
in commerce, has been anatomically examined by C.
Hartz, f with whose results the authors for the most
part agree.

This bark consists of irregular, flat, and slightly
curved pieces of about O’ 6 m. long, and 60
mm. broad, by 8 to 14 mm. thick. It is of a
reddish cinnamon colour, but somewhat darker on
the inner side. As a rule it has the appearance as if
the outer layer had been intentionally removed. It
has a pleasant cinnamon smell at first, but soon has
a pungent irritating action on the nostrils. The taste
is pungent, but not bitter, expectorant, or astringent.
It has a somewhat unequal texture, the outside
forming a granular and tolerably even breaking
mass, lying on a coarse fibrous and uneven breaking
cellular portion of which the inside consists.

Hartz found that the membranes of all the cells,
with the exception of the sclerenchymatous and
liber cells, gave a blue reaction like pure cellulose
with iodochloride of zinc, as well as with iodine and
sulphuric acid. According to him they are all thin
walled, and more or less contain a brown coloured
substance which belongs to the class of phlobaphen
and could be removed by ammonia or potash. The
sclerenchymatous and liber cells are, on the contrary,
of a gold yellow colour, and are not coloured, even
after a month’s immersion, by a solution ol iodine or
rosaniline, on being immediately after washed with
glycerine. With the exception of plasma they con¬
tain no organized constituent. Their membranes
are composed of many concentric porous layers which
are very hard, and without previous treatment are
not coloured by iodochloride of zinc, or by iodine
and sulphuric acid.

The parenchyma cells of the external and internal
bark contain a small quantity of tannin which must
originally have existed in a soluble form. It occurs
along with phlobaphen, and the more abundantly in

* Abstract of a paper in Liebufs ‘ Annalen,’ 199, 17 — 96.

t Pharm. Journ., [3], vol. vi., p. 301.

Third Series, No. 497.

those cells which are richer in this latter substance.
Starch, in single or semi-granules, is present in small
quantity in almost all the cells of the parenchyma,
and the granules generally exist in greater number in
the inner half of the cell. Hartz has also found in
the same cell-formation entire cells frequently full
of a colourless or slightly yellow-coloured mixture,
from which, after extraction by and evaporation of
the ether, was obtained a camphor-like smelling
substance, crystallizing in prismatic needles.

From coto bark Wittstein* obtained (a) an ethe¬
real oil of a pale yellow colour, lighter than water
and possessing a biting aromatic taste ; (6), a volatile
alkaloid resembling trimethylamine ; (c), a yellowish
brown soft resin and a dark brown hard resin ; also
starch, gum, sugar, oxalic acid (as lime salt), tannic
acid, formic, acetic and butyric acids.

Jobst has found in the bark a fine crystalline body,
cotoin, f and two other crystalline bodies, dicotoin
and piperonylic acid. The therapeutic action of the
bark has been investigated by Dr. v. Gietl,t who
prescribed the bark for diarrhoea, partly in the form
of a powder, and partly as an alcoholic tincture. It
was successful in fifteen cases out of sixteen in which
it was employed. Direct experiment confirmed the
supposition that this action was due to cotom.

Whilst these experiments were being made another
kind of coto bark came into the market, having
much outward resemblance to the bark above
described. It was said to have been collected from
the shores of the river Mapiri in Bolivia. This
bark occurs in pieces of O’ 7 m. long, by 40 to 76 mm.
broad, and 12 to 18 mm. thick. The fracture and
colour of the bark are similar to the “genuine”
coto bark, but not unfrequently it has deep whitish
furrows on its surface. In smell it is less pungent,
somewhat resembling nutmegs, and it has a slightly
pungent taste. In order to distinguish this bark it
has been named rparacoto bark, although it is fre¬
quently improperly called coto bark.

From the experiments of Dr. Burkart with an
alcoholic tincture of paracoto bark it would appear
that its therapeutic action is similar to, although
somewhat less active than, coto bark. The chemical
investigation of the bark now shows it to contain
piperonylic acid like “ genuine ” coto bark, but it has
also other constituents which differ from the constitu¬
tion of Cotoin and Dicotoin, viz., paracotoin, hydro-
cotoin, diben zolhydroc oton, leucotin, oxyleucotin,
a volatile oil, a tolerable quantity of liquid resin,
and a very small quantity of tannic acid. The tannic
acid and resin were not further investigated. The
authors have been unable to confirm the statement
of Wittstein that the bark investigated by him con¬
tained a volatile alkaloid ; they have examined large
quantities of paracoto bark, but could not discover
evidence of the existence of any volatile alkaloid.
The therapeutic action of the bark is chiefly due to
the paracotoin.

Of the two kinds of bark, paracoto bark is more
frequently to be met with, although there is no dif¬
ference in their commercial designation. Therefore
it is not surprising that some manufacturers have
failed to obtain cotoin. As a rule, the commercial
preparation termed cotoin consists of a mixture ot
crystalline products such as could be obtained from

* Pharmaceutical Journal, 3
\ Pharmaceutical Journal, [3
t Pharmaceutical Journal, [3

, vol. vi., p. 302.
, vol. vi., p. 764.
, vol. vi., p. 302.

522

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 3, 1SS0.

paracoto bark by extraction with ether, etc.
But as eotoln and paracotoln have a physio¬
logical action which is quantitatively different,
this confusion has given rise to differences ol
opinion among medical men as to the action ol
this substance. The object of the present paper
is to prevent the spreading of these erroneous
views by describing the characteristic features of
these bodies, so that they may be very easily dis¬
tinguished.

{To be continued.)

ASPIDIUM MARGINALE, SWARTZ.*

BY GEORGE W. KENNEDY.

At the last meeting of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceu¬
tical Association, held in Reading, Mr. Charles H.
Cressler, of Chambersburg, placed on exhibition a living
plant of Aspidium Marginale, accompanied by specimens
of the rhizome and stipes, the oleoresin prepared from the
rhizome, and a tape worm expelled by its use. Mr.
Cressler claims for it medicinal properties, similar to
those of the European A spidium Filix Mas. A partial
analysis of the plant was made by Mr. J. L. Patterson’
of Philadelphia (see American Journal of Pharmacy
1875, p. 292). He obtained an oleoresin by percolation
with ether, which he says will compare favourably in
appearance with the best German article obtainable, and
isolated filicic acid, and a resin, besides other principles
of less medicinal importance.

Professor Maisch obtained a sample of the oleoresin,
and gave it to a friend, who by its use was relieved of a
tape worm, including the head.

It was suggested at our last meeting, and has been
advocated since by the editor of the A merican Journal of
Pharmacy, that pharmacists should submit the oleoresin
of Aspidium marginale to physicians, and that the results
obtained be duly recorded, the object being the determi¬
nation of its true therapeutic effect, and if found
efficient, its introduction into the next Pharmacopoeia.

In compliance with a promise, the writer made some
experiments with the rhizome, which he now proposes to
state.

The plant grows abundantly in rich woods and
on the hillsides in Schuylkill county, where the writer
resides, and is most common in the northern portion
of it. The fronds arise to the height of from nine to
twenty inches, are from two to four inches in width,
ovate, oblong in outline, evergreen, smooth, thickish,
and almost coriaceous. The pinnae are lanceolate;
broadest near the base and deeply pinnatifid, the lobes
oblong crenate, serrate, the lower ones nearly distinct.
The sori or fruit dots are round, somewhat kidney¬
shaped, and are found close to the margin, from which
character this species takes its name. The rhizome
closely resembles that of Aspidium Filix Mas. The
characteristic points for distinguishing the two drugs
have been described in an article by Professor
Maisch in the American Journal of Pharmacy, 1878,
p« 292.

Autumn being considered the most favourable time
for collecting the drug, the writer gathered a quantity
of the fern in the latter part of last October, and
separated the greenish portions of the subterraneous
parts, consisting of the leaf-stalks and rhizome, which
were weighed, and exposed to the air and sun until
completely air dry. The loss in weight was 66-20

* From the ‘Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Pharma-
coutical Association, 1878—79.’

per cent., and the yield of air-dried material 33-80
per cent. A portion of this was exposed to 120° F.,
in a common oven, until it ceased to lose weight, the
loss amounting to 12-25 per cent., making a total loss of
78-45 per cent., and a yield of the anhydrous article of
21-55 per cent.

The air-dried rhizome w-as reduced to powder suf¬
ficiently flue to pass through a sieve of forty meshes. It
was moistened w-ith ether, specific gravity 0*750, packed
in a glass apparatus like a Kipp’s gas generator, and
ether poured upon it until completely exhausted. The
ethereal solution thus obtained was of a reddish-brown
colour, vrith a greenish tinge. It was transferred to a
glass retort, and the retort placed in hot water, until at
least 75 per cent, of the ether was recovered in a receiver
kept chilled with ice. Pharmacists not having the
facilities for evaporating by steam heat will find this a
very convenient process for the recovery of ether, as no
serious results can take place from flame. The liquid
remaining in the retort was transferred to a shallow
vessel or capsule exposed to the air, and evaporated
spontaneously until nearly all the ether odour has
passed away. Thus prepared, the oleoresin was
thick, oily, of a brownish-green colour, opaque,
decidedly acid to test paper, and of an acrid and
nauseous taste.

In a short time precipitation of a resinous sub¬
stance took place, and in a longer time filicic acid,
in a granular form, was deposited on the bottom and
sides of the bottle. The writer is of the opinion that
the cause of this deposit is due principally to con¬
tinuing the evaporation too far, because, as the ether
disappears, the remaining alcohol generally found in
ordinary ether is incapable of holding the oil, resin,
etc., in solution. On the addition of a small quantity
of chloroform or stronger ether, a beautiful dark red¬
dish-brown solution is obtained. I would, therefore,
suggest that in preparing the oleoresin, stronger ether
be used.

Four fluid ounces of the oleoresin were prepared, and
of this, three-fourths were given to four physicians, with
the request that they would watch its action closely, and
report the results at their earliest convenience. Only one
physician has, thus far, had occasion to use the oleoresin,
with which twelve feet, at one time, and ten feet, at
another, in all twenty-two, feet of tapeworm were ex¬
pelled. Since that time, the patient has not complained,
and the doctor believes that the head was discharged.
A friend, who has been annoyed with taenia for some
time, has been treated with kameela ( llottlera tine -
toria) and kooso ( Brayera anthclmintica) with un¬
satisfactory results, discharging only small pieces
of the worm. Since he has been using the oleoresin
of Aspidium Marginale, a piece eight feet long was
expelled at one time, and I hope that, with a
continued use of the present treatment, a cure may
be effected.

The oleoresin was administered in the following way :
— One and a-half fluid drachms were placed in a two-
ounce vial, half filled with granulated sugar, well shaken;
filled with water, and again well shaken. The patient,
after fasting about twenty-four hours, at 10 o’clock p.m.,
took one-third; at 11 o’clock p.m., one-third, and at
6 o’clock, next morning, the balance, which was followed,
two hours afterwards, with a large dose of castor oil.
The parasite, or a portion of it, was expelled in a few
hours.

Three experiments were made with the view of ascer¬
taining the amount of ethereal extract the drug would
yield, one pound being operated upon at each experiment.
In each case the \ ield was about one and a-half ounces,
or 9 "3 7 5 per cent.

On incineration I obtained from the rhizome a small
quantity of ash, estimated at 4 per cent., which I found
to consist principally of lime, potash, silica, phosphoric,
sulphuric and carbonic acids.

January 8, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

523

©h* Ikpatptital dflupd.

SATURDAY , JANUARY 3, 1880.

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

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

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

1879.

Although in pharmaceutical affairs, as in most
other respects, the past year has been characterized
by unusual dullness, it has not been altogether
uneventful. In the first place we may refer with
satisfaction to the fact that certain questions which
have for some time past disturbed the tranquility of
the pharmaceutical atmosphere have been either
definitively settled or dealt with in such a manner
as to do away with the possibility of injurious dis¬
sension. During the past year sundry females have
been elected members of the Pharmaceutical Society;
but as yet none of them have aspired to become
also members of the Council, and there are still
no signs that this event will at any future time
lead to the fulfilment of the dire foreboding that
the presidential chair might one day be filled by
an old woman. Another event that has been brought
about by concession to abstract principle relates to
the reporting of the proceedings of the Council of
the Pharmaceutical Society. The “gate” has now
been opened, and it is believed that when it has been
passed the illuminating effect of the pharmaceutical
press will be materially augmented. We will not,
however, venture to anticipate the consequences of
this event, or to predict whether any additional lens-
power thus provid ed will operate by reflection or by
refraction. For our own part we will simply state
that the report of the Council’s proceedings —
furnished as hitherto by the official reporter under
the direct authority of that body — will still continue
to be published in this Journal in the respective
weeks when the Council meetings are held.

The Special General Meeting of the Society held
during the first days of the year marked the decline of
an agitation which, at one time, seemed to threaten
the production of disunion and conflict in the pharma¬
ceutical body; but that tendency has now so far
subsided that there is little reason to apprehend its
revival. Opinions will probably still differ as to
the influence exercised by that meeting in respect
to the immediate question discussed ; but we can at
least rejoice to think that it operated like oil on
troubled waters, and by aff ording scope for a little de¬
clamation gave vent to some pent-up energy. Soon
afterwards the irksome Shepperley case was de¬

cisively brought to an end, and though in some
quarters regret was felt that this event was not
celebrated after the fashion of an Irish wake, probably
everyone will by this time be glad that the case can
be treated as a thing of the past. The subsequent
attempts to advance reform in medical legislation were
of such a nature as to remove any uneasiness that might
be felt on the score of interference with the ordinary
business of chemists and druggists, and the general
expression of public opinion was so unmistakably
opposed to such a step that it would have been
difficult to demonstrate the existence of any further
cause for apprehension. Medical defence associations
it is true, still remained in the field, and, perhaps,
they have not yet altogether ceased from troubling ;
but in regard to the subject of counter practice by
chemists and druggists it may be fairly assumed
that there is no longer much to be feared. At least,
this seems to be the natural inference to be drawn
from the suggestion offered by Dr. B. W. Richardson
in a presidential address, with the object of making
medical practice a part of the recognized business of
a chemist and druggist, and establishing for that
purpose an inferior degree of medical qualification.
Though we have no sympathy with this project, its
proposition from such a quarter is certainly no slight
recognition of the necessity that exists in many
instances for the services of the chemist and druggist
in advising as to the use of medicine.

The subject of co-operative trading is, next to that
of “ counter practice,” the one which has attracted
most notice from chemists and druggists, who, in
common with the general trading community, have
experienced the injurious effects of the competition
set up by what is termed the “ store” system. Un¬
fortunately we cannot in regard to this subject refer
to any settlement of the questions that it has raised,
or to any step that has been taken towards providing
an effectual remedy for the evils which retail traders
have suffered in consequence of the spread of the
“store ” system. The propositions that have been put
forward with that object have been almost always
vague, contradictory, and to some extent imprac¬
ticable. Some extremely opinionated and often
injudicious speeches have been made at public meet¬
ings, and much of the evidence given before the
Select Committee of the House of Commons was not
in any degree better calculated to be of service to the
interests of retail traders. In fact they have in
general merely suffered and complained, without
having apparently formed any distinct and generally
accepted idea how they are to help themselves, and
at the present moment it seems that such an idea
has yet to be developed.

Though chemists and druggists are to some extent
situated differently from other classes of tradesmen
in regard to the “store” system, the difference obtains
only with a part of their business. Under existing
conditions a large portion of the business done by

524

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTION'S. [tauwy 3, if 80.

tliem, in many instances, is altogether foreign to
pharmacy, consisting simply of hand to hand transfer
of articles from the seller to the purchaser, and
requiring no greater skill than is necessary lor the
draper or the grocer in conducting their trades.
It is in this department of the chemist and druggist’s
business that the influence of the “ store ” system
is most severely felt, and hence we have had
numerous complaints of the loss of trade in patent
medicines and articles of a similar nature by reason
of their being sold at the “stores” at reduced prices.
The result experienced is no doubt very serious in
cases where the trade in such articles constitutes a
very considerable proportion of the chemist and
druggist’s business, and it is natural that it should
have given rise to very general inquiry how this
destructive competition is to be met. Some have
recommended the adoption of the “ store ” system
by selling at the same rates, others have suggested
the total abandonment of the trade in patent medi¬
cines and articles of such a nature as can be sold by
any person of ordinary trading capacity. These two
proposals represent extreme measures that are not
altogether necessarily alternatives, though they may
be taken as having their origin from two incom¬
patible ideas respecting the nature of the chemisf
and druggist’s business. The plan of competing
with the “stores” in the matter of price is one which
presupposes that the business of the chemist and
druggist is in no respect different from that of the
grocer or the draper, and if the assumption were cor¬
rect this plan would probably be the best to adopt,
provided the advantages of very extensive sales
and immediate cash payments could be secured.

But the assumption above referred to is one that
cannot be maintained. This circumstance has re¬
peatedly been testified to almost involuntarily and in
no instance, perhaps, more distinctly than by one of
the witnesses before the Select Committee, who, as a
chemist and druggist himself, and in answer to the
question why he did not sell a certain proprietary
cosmetic preparation at the same price that the
“ stores ” did, stated that he could not do so. Under¬
lying this statement is to be recognized a sense of the
fact that the business of the chemist and druggist is
so far different from all other kinds of trade as not
to admit of its being conducted upon the same lines
and under the same conditions as to rate of profit
that would satisfy the requirements of other kinds of
business. Closely connected with this view of the
matter is the idea from which originates the recom¬
mendation to abandon altogether the trade in patent
medicines and what are termed druggists’ sundries.
According to that idea this trade is inconsistent with
the business of the pharmacist, and if the practice of
pharmacy were an occupation sufficiently separated
from other kinds of business that idea might com¬
mand more general consideration as a guiding prin¬
ciple. That it is not so, however, would be

superfluous for us to contend, and that it can ever
become so is perhaps more than one can venture to
hope. In many cases it would almost amount
to giving up business if the sundry trade of a chemist
and druggist’s shop were discontinued, and even
where purely pharmaceutical business is so extensive
as to render such a course practicable, we doubt
whether its adoption would not entail great dis¬
advantage. It is precisely for this reason that it
seems impossible to take as alternative plans the
entire abandonment of trade in sundries or the sale
of these articles at “ store” prices.

The conditions affecting individual cases are so
various that regard must be had to the conditions
obtaining in particular instances rather than to ab¬
stract principle, and looking at the matter from this
point of view it seems that the practical alternative
is either to maintain prices at such a rate as is com¬
patible with the general character of purely pharma¬
ceutical business, or else to take a lower status and
compete with the “ stores ” in the price of sundry
articles.

But though the mixed nature of the chemist and
druggist’s business introduces some special difficulty
in dealing with the “ store” competition, as regards
the trade in patent medicines and sundries, the
conditions under which the purely pharmaceutical
portion of that business is conducted furnish reason¬
able grounds for seeking to protect that portion of
the business from being interfered with. It was
upon this ground that the prosecution of the London
and Provincial Supply Association was undertaken
by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society. The
appeal against the judgment given in favour of the
“stores” by the County Court Judge has during
the past year resulted in a reversal of that judgment,
mainly upon the ground that it was not competent
for an association of persons, not specially qualified,
to do what any one of the number could not lawfully
do. This decision of the Lord Chief Justice and Mr.
Justice Mellor has been appealed against by the
London and Provincial Supply Association, and it
was hoped that the hearing of the appeal would have
been brought on before the end of the year. Unfor-
fortunately this has been impossible, and the matter
still remains open. In all probability, however, the
case will be heard and decided early in the coming
year, and it will then be seen whether the existing
provisions of the Pharmacy Act thoroughly suffice
for the protection of pharmaceutical business from
the interference of unqualified persons, or whether
further legislation must be sought for to secure this.

As regards the ordinary trade features of the
chemists and druggists’ business, it seems scarcely
possible to expect the Legislature to enforce restric¬
tions in favour of chemists and druggists, unless the
articles sold contain dangerous poisons or in some
way come within the scope of the provisions of the
Pharmacy Act. That this is the case with many

January 3, 1S80.J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

525

patent medicines is notorious to those conversant
with the business, though it is not so well known to
the public generally, and it is beyond question that
fatal accidents have resulted from the indiscriminate
sale of such articles, and from this ignorance on the
part of the public.

The status of the pharmacist in Great Britain has
been the subject of a large amount of discussion
during the year and has been the topic of several
presidential addresses. At Sheffield, the President
of the Pharmaceutical Conference, Mr. G. F.
Schacht, varying his stand- point from the internal
one taken at Dublin, from which he was able to
recognize the typical pharmacist as an illustration
of a high order of citizen, went outside the pharma¬
ceutical body to discuss the estimate of the pharma¬
cist by others. The conclusion was not very
flattering, namely, that in the eyes of the public
pharmacists are tradesmen neglected by “ Society ”
and credited with being “ its obliged and humble
servants, slavishly ready to do whatever is told
them, and to take for payment whatever cannot be
conveniently bestowed on the professional man on
the one hand or the co-operative stores on the other.”
This public estimate of pharmacists, Mr. Schacht
considers to be mainly the echo and reflection of
that previously adopted by a large proportion of the
medical profession, arising mainly from an in-
differentism, due possibly to the isolation of phar¬
macy and its teaching from the general medical
curriculum. As a first step towards unification he
suggested that every student in medicine, — using the
term in the broad sense inclusive of pharmacy, —
whatever branch he may intend ultimately to
practise, should be brought at some period of his
training through one common portal, wdiich might
consist of one of the sets of the examinations.

In the Inaugural Sessional Address delivered in
Bloomsbury Square in October, Dr. Tilden took up
still another position, that of one who was once
closely associated with pharmacists, but who has
now' so far severed his connection with them as to
be able to look on their proceedings from the stand¬
point of an outsider. Some of the passages in this
address were very outspoken, the key note being
that so far and so long as the pharmacist is a trader
he must take with other traders the chances of
competition with the u stores” and submit to the
neglect of what is called tc Society.” For an im¬
provement in the pharmacist’s position Dr. Tilden
looks to the gradual but steady development of the
professional phase of his calling, in which he need
not fear the competition of the mere trader. As an
attempt in this direction may ue here mentioned
the inquiry set on foot by the Rochdale Chemists’
Association, with a view towards the development
of the pharmaceutical portion of the business and pro¬
moting the transfer of the dispensing of medicine from
the medical practitioner to the chemist and druggist.

A similar tone was observable in an address
delivered a few days aftenvards by Dr. C. Symes, as
President of the Liverpool Chemists’ Association.
Already, urged the speaker, the public regards
pharmacy as something above an ordinary trade
and the pharmacist as a man of superior intelli¬
gence, and although the fact that he is a shopkeeper
militates against him with the superficial portion
of “Society,” yet those who have the most sub¬
stantial claims to position themselves readily accord
to pharmacists their proper status. It was suggested
that pharmacists should educate themselves and the
public to speak of their places of business as phar¬
macies and to regard the charges for dispensing as
fees or payment for professional work.

In the following month the President of the North
British Branch, Mr. J. B. Stephenson, dealt with
the same subject. Referring to complaints of the non-
recognition of the true position of pharmacy and the
pharmacist by the medical profession and the public,
Mr. Stephenson said that, as far as his experience
went, such complaints were groundless. Assuming
as a fact the dual nature of pharmacy as a calling, he
wishes to magnify the profession as much as possible,
but by no means to minimize the trade. One reason
given for this desire was the opinion that the fees at
present paid by the public for the professional, or
dispensing, portion of the pharmacist’s services are
insufficiently remunerative, so that if the public
insists upon withdrawing from him the profits derived
from dealing in such articles as can be obtained from
the stores, higher fees will have to be paid for
medicine. A prominent feature in this address was
a strong protest against the existing traffic in patent
medicines. Its effect in changing the calling of the
pharmacist from being a compounder of medicine
to becoming a salesman of the preparations of others
was pointed out, and pharmacists were urged to
utilize the prestige of their influence — which had
hitherto served to float many of these preparations
— in the opposite direction, for the purpose of dis¬
couraging and discrediting the whole system

A large amount of correspondence pro voked by a
pungent letter signed “ Hampshire ” has also been
devoted to the future of the pharmacist. A great
number of these letters were occupied principally
with the subject of prices, and many of them showed
indications that the writers thought the prosperity of
their calling would depend upon the price that
might be obtained for patent medicines. In fact,
the subject of patent medicines has, during the
whole year, furnished a running fire of discussion
wdiich has been addressed mainly to two questions,
first, what should the pharmacist do in the presence
of the enormous competition in the sale ot patent
medicines by grocers and others which has developed
during the last few years ? and, secondly, can un¬
registered persons be prevented from dealing, under
the cover of the patent medicine stamp, in prepara-

526

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3, 1880.

tions consisting altogether or in part of scheduled
poisons ? With respect to the former question,
opinions have been very divergent, as in the dis¬
cussion relating to “stores,” many being in favour
of adherence to the advertised prices, whilst others
would meet their cutting competitors by selling at
equally low, or even lower, prices. There have not
been wanting those, however, who think with Mr.
Stephenson that the time has come for the pharma¬
cist to wash his hands of this system of quackery,
and like another Frankenstein do what he can to
destroy the monster he has assisted to create.

The second question was brought under the con¬
sideration of the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society in July, on a motion by Mr. Hampson
that the General Purposes Committee should be
instructed to take into consideration the largely in¬
creasing sale of patent medicines containing scheduled
poisons by unregistered persons, and to report
thereon especially with regard to the advisability of
endeavouring to restrict the sale of such preparations
to registered persons. In the discussion it was in¬
cidentally stated that the subject had been under
the consideration of the Pharmacy Act Amendment
Committee, which had arrived at the conclusion
that it was not advisable at present to attempt tp
obtain further legislation on this point. But the
President expressed a decided opinion that the
Pharmacy Act, 1868, is sufficiently strong to prevent
the sale of definite scheduled poisons by unregistered
persons, and cannot be evaded by simply sticking a
duty stamp on the containing vessel. The motion
was agreed to, but no report from the Committee on
the subject has yet been published.

The subject was set down as well in the September
agenda paper of the Law and Parliamentary Com¬
mittee of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Associ¬
ation. This Committee, also, evidently recognizing
the difficulty of obtaining legislation without evidence
that it would be conducive to the public interest,
ordered a circular to be sent out asking for well-authen¬
ticated instances in which fatal results have followed
from the sale of scheduled poisons under cover of
the patent medicine stamp and for suggestions and
information on the sale of patent medicines generally.
The replies evoked were read at a subsequent meeting
of the Committee ; their nature was not reported,
but they do not appear to have contributed much
to the elucidation of the subject, as no step was
taken beyond instructing Mr. Haydon to continue
his quest for information.

The modification introduced into the Dental Bill, '
for the purpose oi enabling chemists and druggists
actually engaged in the practice of dentistry at the
passing ot the Act to be registered as dentists, has
had a result which seems to have greatly surprised
the promoters of this measure. The number of
persons so registered in the United Kingdom
amounts to 2049, or upwards of one-third of the

entire number of persons registered under the Act,
and those who desire to see the right to use the
title of dentist restricted to persons specially engaged
in the practice of dentistry in all its branches
have recently sought to make out that the Act was
never intended to confer legal recognition upon
anyone who was not engaged in the practice of
dentistry in that more extended sense. They
contend that the mere extraction or stopping of
teeth and such minor operations, commonly prac¬
tised by chemists and druggists, do not entitle
them to be called dentists or to obtain registration
as such. We have, on several occasions, pointed
out in reply to these cavils that we cannot perceive
any reason why a person habitually engaged in
conducting any dental operations should not be
termed a dentist, and though we willingly concede
that no person so engaged should assume the
designation of dentist unless he is competent to
the work he undertakes, we cannot admit that the
use of that designation necessarily involves practical
acquaintance with the entire range of dental practice
as at present generally understood. Chemists and
druggists claimed recognition under the Act, inas¬
much as many of them had long been in the habit
of extracting teeth, and because they apprehended,
from the restrictive object of the Bill, that their con¬
tinuance of that practice would have been construed
as an infringement of the law if the Act had not
given them recognition. We cannot regard their
action in this way as other than justifiable as a
measure of self-protection, and although heartily
sympathizing with the dental reformers in their
desire to establish a high standard of professional
qualification and a trustworthy indication of dental
skill, we must confess that the objections raised to
the registration of chemists and druggists seem to
us somewhat illiberal.

The Weights and Measures Act is still practically
in abeyance as it affects chemists and druggists, but
we have so recently dealt with this subject that it
would be useless to reiterate in this place. So far
as we can learn the local authorities are not taking
any steps to carry out the provisions of the new Act :
the only persons active are certain enterprising in¬
spectors who undertake to construe the Act and,
according to their lights, to furnish interpretations of
it, chiefly with the result of creating confusion of
ideas and mystification. It is, however, at least clear
that these officers have yet to be taught their busi¬
ness, especially in regard to the verification, stamping
and inspection of apothecaries’ weights and measures,
and in some instances that we are acquainted with
they have undoubtedly exceeded their powers by
doing things that are not authorized by the Act. As
already pointed out it is the local authorities through¬
out the country who have to lay down regulations
for carrying out the provisions of the Act, and until
we hear that in any particular instances this is

January 3, 1880 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

527

done and approved of by the Board of Trade, the
inspectors of weights and measures will really have
no authority upon which to act.

In a Parliamentary session that was unusually
unproductive of legislation, there was not much
effected to interest the chemist and druggist. Me¬
dical Bills were introduced, but not passed ; neverthe¬
less, they were carefully watched by the Council during
the time they were under consideration. Besides
this, the Sale of Food and Drugs Act was amended
so as to clear up doubts as to what constitutes pre¬
judice to the purchaser, and a new Petroleum Act
was passed prescribing a new method of testing the
flashing point of hydrocarbon oil.

Several cases of prosecution for breaches of the
Pharmacy Act have been recorded besides that
against the London and Provincial Supply Asso¬
ciation already referred to. Two other prosecutions
instituted by the Council have been reported,
in one of which it was decided that a patent
medicine stamp does not cover the sale of a
scheduled poison. There have also been a large
number of unreported cases, in which persons have
discontinued their illegal practices after being
warned, or have paid the penalty without going into
court. The Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Associa¬
tion has also obtained convictions in six cases
under the provisions of the 17th section, and the
police in various parts of the country have been
similarly successful in ten other cases.

Twenty-six cases of prosecutions under the pro¬
visions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act have been
reported as relating to substances that are some¬
times, with the exception of the last, retailed by
chemists and druggists. These are sweet spirit of
nitre (2), cream of tartar (8), milk of sulphur (4),
tincture of camphor (1), tincture of rhubarb (1),
violet powder (1), castor oil pills (2), annatto (1),
soda water (1), baking powder (1), dispensing of a
prescription (1), and paregoric devoid of opium (3).
There were convictions in twelve of these cases, but
it is a significant commentary on the inference some¬
times drawn from the returns furnished by public
analysts, with respect to the sale of adulterated drugs,
that in only two instances, the sale of tincture of
camphor deficient in spirit and of milk of sulphur,
was the convicted person a chemist and druggist.

Referring next to matters more immediately affect¬
ing the Pharmaceutical Society, we remark first that
the Council, which now exercises such important
functions in the interests of pharmacists, as well as
of the public, has undergone a slight change in its
constitution. Two of its members, who had served
the Society in it for some years, and who retired by
rotation, Messrs. Betty and Hanbury, declined to be
again nominated. Another member, Mr. Cracknell,
who retired by rotation , was not re-elected. The new
members elected were Messrs. Richardson, Squire,
and Symes. Another vacancy, caused by the resig¬

nation of Mr. Fairlie, was filled by the Council
selecting Mr. Slipper. Once more the Presidency
is held by Mr. G. W. Sandford, succeeding Mr.
Williams, who had filled the office during three
years ; Mr. Schacht was chosen Vice-President, in
the place of Mr. Bottle; and Mr. Greenish was
again elected Treasurer.

The history of the examinations, although not so
stirring as in some previous years, has not been with¬
out incident, but the two alterations made in the
arrangements may be described rather as confirming
practices already obtaining than as presenting any
novel features. On more than one occasion since the
Preliminary examination has been conducted by the
College of Preceptors the questions have included
an exercise not strictly within the limits of the
Regulations, upon the translation of Latin into
English. Although it was understood that these
cases were simply tentative and were not allowed to
affect the result of the examination, they answered
the purpose of calling attention to the “half-process”
of examining in the Latin language hitherto adopted,
and in March, upon a joint recommendation of the
Boards of Examiners for England and Scotland, it
was resolved by the Council that after the 31st of
December, 1879, candidates for the Preliminary
examination should be required to translate simple
sentences from English into Latin. The other
alteration was the incorporation in the Bye-laws, at
a Special General Meeting held on the same day as
the Annual Meeting, of certain regulations with
respect to the fees paid by candidates who fail to
attend or are unsuccessful in the examination room.

In February was published a letter from an
esteemed correspondent, adopting the nom de plume
of Devon, which might reasonably have raised the
suspicion that the writer was attempting to demon¬
strate the truth of the saying that figures, may be
made to prove anything ; for, though professedly it
was based on the official statistics, successive para¬
graphs of the letter contained the different pro¬
positions that each candidate in London during
1878 had had to face on the average 13'8 examiners,
that there had been more than half as many
examiners as candidates, and that in the Major there
had been nearly two examiners to each candidate.
In the reply to the criticism evoked it became, how¬
ever, apparent that Devon’s object was to raise a
protest against the viva, voce examinations on the
ground that they deter nervous men and favour
“ cramming.” In his opinion viva voce examinations
are the stumbling block in the way of men trying to
attain the higher qualification, and their substitution
by an examination mainly written, conducted by
examiners appointed only three days previous to the
examination day, was suggested as likely to double
the percentage of Minor men passing on to the Major
examination.

Whatever may be the defects of the present

528

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3, 1880.

system, however, it can hardly be said to have an
unduly deterrent effect, since the number of persons
passing the qualifying examinations during the year
have been probably amply sufficient to supply the
gaps which death or other causes may have made in
the ranks, whilst, what is More satisfactory, the
number who have passed the Major is nearly equal
to the passes and failures combined in the previous
year. The total number of candidates examined
has been 2296, of whom 134 sat for the Major, 656
for the Minor, 32 for the Modified, and 1474 for the
Preliminary examination ; this was 365 in excess of
the gross total of candidates in 1878. Of the 134
Major candidates, 76 or 567 per cent, passed,
against 51 out of 81, or 617 per cent, in 1878. Of the
656 Minor candidates, 331, or just over 50 per cent,
passed, the proportion being nearly the same as in
the previous year, and of the 32 Modified candidates
20 passed. The Preliminary examination yielded
783 successful candidates, or 537 per cent, of the
whole, against 47*6 per cent, in 1878, besides which
47 certificates of other examining bodies have been
received in lieu of it.

The subject of the amendment of the Pharmacy
Act, 1868, has been under the consideration of the
Council on several occasions, and in March a Com¬
mittee was appointed with power to obtain the
necessary legal assistance to draft a Bill embodying
the recommendations of a previous Committee on
the subject, and to deal among other things with the
question of titles.

A considerable amount of interest has been dis¬
played in respect to the revision of the British
Pharmacopoeia, and the relation in which pharma¬
cists should stand to it. In December Mr. Hampson
brought forward a motion to the effect that the
Medical Council should be asked to receive a
deputation to urge upon it the desirability of the
Pharmaceutical Council being legally empowered to
nominate pharmacists to co-operate with the Medical
Council in framing and amending future editions of
the British Pharmacopoeia. The motion was, how¬
ever, lost.

Another subject that has been under the con¬
sideration of the Council has been the Hanbury
Memorial Fund. This has now been closed, the
amount invested having reached *£400. The
Council has now formally accepted the trust of
administering the fund, and a die for the medal,
which is to be awarded every two years, has been
prepared.

A Special General Meeting of the Society was
held in January to consider a motion requesting the
Council to assist, by a pecuniary grant, the Trade
Association in paying the expenses incurred in the
defence of the Shepperley case. The motion was
agreed to, but the Council had been advised that it
could not deal with the Society’s Funds in such a
manner. The Annual Meeting was held, as usual,

in May, when the principal topic for discussion was
the proposed admission of women to membership,
which, so far as that meeting was concerned, was
decided adversely by a small majority. Notwith¬
standing this the Council at its meeting in October
elected two ladies as members. A Special General
Meeting was held after the Annual Meeting to
sanction an alteration in the Bye-laws. In the
evening of the same day the Annual Conversazione
took place at South Kensington. At the October
Evening Meeting the annual distribution of prizes
given by the Society was made, the Pereira Medal
once more going to a student in the Society’s school.
The students were afterwards addressed by Dr.
Tilden.

The Benevolent Fund has again been the medium
of a large amount of much needed help. In annui¬
ties there has been expended ,£950, and in grants for
temporary relief about £720, making a total of
£1670, or £300 in excess of the expenditure in the
previous year. Towards meeting this there has
been received £1200 in subscriptions and £55 in
donations, being about £120 less than the receipts in
1878. In December three new annuitants were
elected, bringing the number up to 32, but by the
death of Mrs. Trumper, a few days since, this has
been reduced to 31.

The Society’s Library has been increased by nearly
three hundred volumes and pamphlets, the donations
and purchases having been about equal in number.
Some valuable works have been purchased out of the
Hanbury Bequest, which is now all spent. The
circulation of books has been larger than in the pre¬
vious year, an increased proportion (about one-third)
having gone into the country. The attendance of
readers in the Library during the day has been
smaller, but during the evening larger, than in the
preceding year. The Museum, also, has been en¬
riched by a large number of donations, some of con¬
siderable value. It may appear almost invidious to
mention some of the donors without mentioning all,
but their great value will excuse special reference
to the collections of opium products, presented by
Messrs. Macfarlan and Messrs. T. and H. Smith ;
of coto and other products, presented by Dr. Hesse ;
of American drugs, given by the Philadelphia Col¬
lege of Pharmacy ; of foreign drugs, by Mr. Christy,
to whose business energy many of them owe their
introduction ; and of Indian drugs, by Dr. Dymock.

The usual Evening Meetings have been held
during the present year, but it is regrettable to
have to record that the attendance on some occa¬
sions has been small. No doubt this is affected by
the fact that the papers can be perused in this
Journal two or three days after they are read at a
meeting ; but it should be remembered that, apart
from the stimulus which the expectation of having
a good audience gives to the production of papers
many points of interest arise in the discussions

January 3, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

529

following tlie reading of them, and these discussions
are, of course, entirely dependent upon the persons
present at the meetings. There were exceptions,
however, when the lecture theatre was well filled,
on the occasions of two lectures by Professor
Redwood, on “Electricity as a Source of Light,”
and one by Professor Bentley, on “ The Life of
the Plant.” The papers read at the Evening Meet¬
ings, ten in number (against fifteen last year), have
been as follows : — “ Myrtus Chekan,” by Mr. E. M.
Holmes ; “ An Examination of Distilled Essence of
Lemon,” by Dr. W. A. Tilden ; “ The Estimation
of Diastase,” and “Extract of Malt,” by Messrs.
W. R. Dunstan and A. F. Dimmock; “Note on
Plasma,” by Mr. W. Willmott ; “ The Action of
Iodine on Rhubarb,” by Mr. H. G. Greenish;
“ Mongumo Bark,” by Professor G. Dragendorff ;
“Note on Shea Butter,” by Mr. E. M. Holmes;
“ Taraxacum,” by Dr. C. Symes ; and “ A Method
for the Volumetric Estimation of Arsenic Acid,” by
Mr. W. A. H. Naylor. The last evening was
devoted to a discussion relating to the new Weights
and Measures Act, the subject having been intro¬
duced by Dr. B. H. Paul.

The North British Branch has enjoyed a fair
measure of prosperity, and at its Annual Meeting in
April the Council was able to present a favourable
report. On that occasion Mr. J. B. Stephenson
was reelected President, Mr. A. Napier, Vice-
President, and Mr. John Mackay, to whom the
Branch owes so much of its success, was reappointed
Honorary Secretary. Evening meetings have been
held as usual and several valuable papers read at
them have appeared in these columns.

Turning to the sister island we are pleased to
have to record an arrangement that has brought this
Journal into closer relations with the pharmacists of
Ireland. In 1878 the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Ireland decided to furnish an official
report of its proceedings to this Journal. Early in
the present year it made an application to the
Council of the British Society, which was acceded to,
for the regular supply of this J ournal to each of its
members, and this arrangement has been carried out.
The present therefore presents a suitable opportunity
for a brief epitome of the history of this Society.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland was incor¬
porated by Act of Parliament in August, 1875, and
held its first meeting on September of the same
year. It then consisted of the twenty- one members
of Council named in the Act. Since that period
151 pharmaceutical chemists have been registered,
147 having been registered after examination, and 4,
as being licentiate apothecaries, were under the Act
exempt from examination. About 90 pharma¬
ceutical chemists have been elected members of the
Society since its formation, and at the present time
it appears to be in a fairly prosperous state. During
the year 1879, 71 candidates resented themselves

lor the Preliminary examination, of whom 60 passed
and 11 were rejected. There were 18 candidates for
the licence to act as pharmaceutical chemists, of whom
11 passed and 7 were rejected. Since April, 1876,
164 candidates have passed the Preliminary examin¬
ation of this Society under the new code of regula¬
tions, most of whom have to appear for their final
examination at some future date. In November last
the Council resolved that the certificate of having
passed the Preliminary examination of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Great Britain should be accepted
as equivalent to the corresponding examination of
the Irish Society. Lastly, it having been thought
desirable to secure, if possible, some alteration in
the Act constituting the Society, chiefly in the direc¬
tion of compelling all sellers of scheduled poisons to
become registered, a draft of an amendment Bill
was discussed and agreed to by the Society at its
annual meeting in October.

The year has not been marked by any of those
sensational introductions to the materia medica that
occasionally for a time appear to be of such sur¬
passing value, but eventually afford so large a per¬
centage of absolute failures. It has not, however,
passed without the mention of a few new drugs,
coming principally from Liberia, Japan, and the
never-failing stores of the western hemisphere, and
affording materials for testing the warrant for a local
reputation, which in some cases has been made to
cover a wider area by the efforts of public-spirited
advertisers. Perhaps, however, the substance that
has attracted most attention is the bladder wrack
{Fucus vesiculosus), which is to be found abundantly
on our own shores. Reputed to be the principal
constituent of a well-advertised nostrum for obesity,
which, whatever it may have consisted of earlier in its
history, undoubtedly now contains it, preparations of
Fucus vesiculosus have come into demand. This alga
would seem to be worthy of further investigation,
and Mr. Conroy has done useful service in presenting
a resume of what has been written about its therapeu¬
tics, as well as in indicating a method for its pharma¬
ceutical treatment. Among the Liberian drugs
have occurred some bearing such suggestive names
as “ erysipelas plant,” “ dysentery plant,’ ‘ abortive
plant,” “ cream of tartar plant,” as well as a com¬
paratively pure elemi resin. Among the Japanese
drugs are some that, like the aconite of which the
chemical history has been partially worked out,
promise to be at least as valuable as their analogues
at present in use in this country and America ; as, for
instance, a species of Patrinia , with an odour more
powerful than ordinary valerian, and two species of
Coptis containing berberine. Under the trivial name
of “ cascara sagrado,” the bark of the Californian
Ehamnus Pursliiana has been brought forward as a
remedy for constipation, and probably it may possess
properties similar to those attributed to the bark of
B. Frangula. “ Yerba reiuna” is a name of the

530

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3, 1880

same class, and the drug is said to be derived from
the Frankenia grandifolia. The “ herba santa
maria,” which has been the object of a few.inquiries,
is, according to Mr. Rey, the Chenopodium ambro-
sioides, L., a Brazilian plant enjoying in its native
country some reputation as a neurotic and a ver¬
mifuge. Another Brazilian plant, Ocimum basilicum ,
has been mentioned as yielding a juice that is also a
powerful vermifuge. The Myrtus Ghehan, Spreng.,
a Chilian plant possessing aromatic properties, and
said to be useful in the treatment of bronchitis and
as a general tonic, was the subject of a paper read at
an Evening Meeting by Mr. E. M. Holmes. “ Folia
carobae,” the leaves of the Jacaranda procera, also a
South America tree, have been reported as coming
into use on the continent as an antisyphilitic and
alterative. Lastly, one of the most interesting con¬
tributions to the history of the crude materia medica,
in which Mr. E. M. Holmes called attention to a
long cylindrical bean, occurring sometimes amongst
calabar beans of the more orthodox shape, if it did
not exactly introduce a new drug, nevertheless
pointed to a hitherto unexpected botanical source
of it. Turning to the animal kingdom, “ ostrich
pepsine ” appears likely to belie the omnidigestive
promise of its name, and if the statements made at
the November Evening Meeting as to its non¬
activity be confirmed, its reputation in this country
may be said to have bloomed and withered in a few
fleeting months. And a similar fate appears to
await the only other recent addition to the animal
materia medica, the Blatta orientalis.

Besides fresh substances suggested as additions to
the materia medica, our knowledge has been ad¬
vanced during the year with respect to others which
possess still, more or less, the character of novelties.
“ Bidara laut,” the wood and bark, probably, of
Strychnos Ligustrina, used in India as a popular
remedy against dysentery and which two or three
years since furnished the subject of an animated
dispute in Germany, has been examined by Mr. H.
G. Greenish, who found a specimen to contain
in the dry wood equal to 2 ‘26 per cent, of anhydrous
brucia and in the bark the large amount of 7’38
per cent., but no strychnia. It would therefore
appear to be a convenient source of pure brucia
that might be used in clearing up the physiological
doubt whether the action hitherto attributed to
brucia has not really been due to its contamination
with strychnia. The same experimenter examined
also the wood and bark of Strychnos Colubrinum and
found them to contain both strychnia and brucia,
in which they resemble “ false angustura bark,” as
ascertained by Professor Dragendorff and Mr.
Shenstone. Incidentally, his observations also
suggest the inference that the percentage of alkaloid
in the Strychnos barks diminishes with the age and
thickness ot the specimen.

The great interest which has in late years been

excited in curari, principally from an expectation
that it might be useful in the treatment of hydro¬
phobia, has led to the examination of other species
of Strychnos , a plant or plants of which genus it is
believed furnish its principal constituent. The
result has been that several American species have
been found to exercise the physiological action
characteristic of curari rather than the well-known
one of the Asiatic species with which the name
strychnia is generally associated, and that some
species possess this property in so mild a form as to
allow of the hope that soon a definite and manage¬
able preparation may take the place of the dangerous
and uncertain one now imported as “ curari.”

The bark of Alstonia constrictor, known as the
“ Australian fever bark,” which has also been the
subject of a dispute as to its alkaloidal constituent,
— some observers saying that it had one and others
none, — has been further examined by Messrs. Oberlin
and Schlagdenhauffen, who report that they have
obtained from it two alkaloids, one crystalline
(alstonine) and the other amorphous (alstonicine) ;
the possible relation of the amorphous to the
crystalline substance being indicated by its name.
This bark has on more than one occasion during
the year been confounded with “ dita bark,” which
is obtained from the Alstonia scliolaris, and was
some time since alleged to yield a febrifuge equal to
quinine.

Quebracho bianco bark, from the Aspidosperma
Quebracho, which has been long used in South
America for the same purposes as cinchona bark,
has come into more prominence this year in conse¬
quence of the isolation, by Herr Fraude, of an
alkaloid which he has named “ aspidospermine,”
and which is alleged to have a specific action in
relieving dyspnoea. Here, also, a similarity of name
has induced an almost ludicrous mistake, and a
“quebracho Colorado” tvood from the Loxopterygium
Lorentzii, a plant belonging to a different order,
which wood has lately been imported into Europe
for tanning purposes, has no doubt sometimes been
supplied for the “quebracho bianco” baric. Lotur
bark, another bark that was formerly looked upon as
a cinchona bark, has been investigated by Dr. Hesse,
who reports that he has isolated from it three alka¬
loids, which he has named “loturine,” “colloturine,”
and “ loturidine,” and which all give an intense blue-
violet fluorescence in dilute acid solutions. Amongst
the other alkaloidal principles that have been
announced as discovered are “ anthocercine,” from
a solanaceous plant, Anthocercis viscosa, and “ bac’
carina,” from Baccharis cordifolia, a Composite
plant said to be a cause of sheep poisoning in some
parts of South America. In the hands of M.
Tanret, also, pomegranate root bark has yielded
three other alkaloids, besides pelletierine, but these
have not yet been fully described. On the other
hand the list of alkaloids has been reduced by two,

January 3, 1880. J

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

531

« mercurialine,” a volatile alkaloid attributed to
Mercurialis annua and M. perennis , having been
identified as trimethylamine ; and the supposed
“piturine,” from the curious drug “pituri,” being
reported by M. Petit as identical with nicotine.

Nor have investigators been lacking for older and
more widely known drugs, such as rhubarb, myrrh,
veratrum, ginger and others. To take perhaps the
most ancient first. Although the curious obscurity
which so long has hung about the origin of this
drug has not yet been quite removed, a thorough
examination, partly of new materials, by Dr. Trimen,
confirms the opinion that true myrrh is obtained
from the Balsamodendron Myrrha , Nees, and that
the plant grows in Somali-land and on the Red Sea
coast of tropical Africa. An interesting account of
the different sorts of myrrh has also appeared in a
paper by Mr. R. H. Parker.

On the subject of rhubarb, Mr. H. G. Greenish
has published the results obtained in the analysis of
four specimens, named respectively rheum chinense,
sibiricum, mandshuricum, and palmatum. So far
as commercial value is indicative of quality, these
results may be said to be confirmatory of the theory
that the most important active principle of rhubarb
is cathartic acid, since it is present in much the
largest proportion (4 '96 per cent. ) in rheum chinense,
whilst from the mandshuricum and palmatum
rhubarbs, although they approach chinense in the
amount of chrysophan and tannin present, cathartic
acid is nearly absent, being apparently replaced in
the latter by mucilaginous matter. The same in¬
vestigator has made some experiments as to the
trustworthiness of the amount of iodine absorbed by
rhubarb as an indication of the quality of the root,
and reports that it cannot be depended upon, as the
absorption does not depend on the active ingredient
alone.

Ginger is another substance which notwithstanding
the antiquity of its use as a condiment aud drug has
been hitherto very imperfectly known. Even con¬
cerning the essential oil, the only principle that has
been supposed to have been studied, very conflicting
statements have been made. This reproach has now
been removed to a considerable extent by the in¬
vestigation made by Mr. Thresh. From the ethereal
extract, which contains the most important constitu¬
ents of the rhizome, Mr. Thresh obtained the
essential oil as a limpid straw-coloured liquid, sp.
gr. -815, having an odour different from that of
ginger and an aromatic camplioraceous taste, and
soluble in 25 parts of alcohol of sp. gr. *815. From
the fact that by exposure to heat it became darkened
in colour and of higher specific gravity it seems
probable that this liquid is a mixture of two or more
bodies with different densities and boiling points,
and Mr. Thresh thinks that probably the most
volatile constituent of the original oil has the finest
aroma. Passing by some fatty bodies and neutral

and acid resins, which were separated and studied, it
may be stated that the active pungent principle of
ginger was obtained as a viscid, pale straw-coloured
liquid, entirely devoid of odour, with a very
pungent, slightly bitter taste, and very soluble in
alcohol, even when dilute. This principle has been
named ^gingerol.” Both the aqueous solution of
the ethereal extract and an aqueous extract gave
indications of the presence of an alkaloid. The value
of this investigation was made immediately manifest
by the application of the resulting knowledge in
the modification of the formula for “ soluble essence
of ginger.”

Continuing their researches upon the veratrum
alkaloids, Messrs. Wright and Luff have this year
reported upon the results obtained with the roots of
Veratrum album and V. viride. From the former
they state that they have separated, besides jervine
(C20H37NO3), three other alkaloids, previously unde¬
scribed. Two of these, pseudojervine (C29H43N07)
and rubijervine (C26H43N02), are crystalline, while
the third, named veratralbine (C2SH43N05), is
amorphous. Not one of these four is capable of
exciting sneezing; but there was also a small quan¬
tity of another base observed, which when mixed
with veratralbine was powerfully sternutatory, and
as this property was lost on saponification, and a
small quantity of veratric acid formed, the authors
think the presence of veratrine was indicated. From
the roots of V. viride they obtained, but in much
smaller proportion, jervine, pseudojervine, rubi¬
jervine, and signs of the base yielding veratric acid.
Veratralbine was not detected, or only as a trace,
but in its place was cevadine (C32H49N09), defined
as the “ veratrine of Merck ” by the same authors in
their previous paper, when it was obtained from
sabadilla seeds. A paper on Veratrum viride, by
Mr. C. Bullock, of Philadelphia, whose name has
been previously associated with this subject, is
partially confirmatory of these results, though this
observer claims to have obtained a much larger yield
of alkaloids by the process which he describes. It
has also been announced by M. Hetet that he has
obtained veratrine from the leaves of Sarracenia
purpurea.

Aconite, also, has been the subject of further
research by Dr. Wright, and he has reported to the
Pharmaceutical Conference that, like Messrs. Paul
and Kingzett, he has separated from Japanese
aconite a crystallizable alkaloid differing from aconi¬
tine, which he has named “ japaconitine,” and re¬
presents by the formula C6eH88N2021. This Dr.
Wright supposes may be a dehydrated derivative
of an alkaloid differing from aconitine by containing
four more atoms of hydrogen ; but no trace of this
hypothetical base was found. Dr. Wright also
confirmed the statement that the Japanese aconite
root is considerably richer in crystallizable base than
the root ot A. Napellns. Not the least important

532

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3, 1 80

statement contained in this report was one that,
practically, all the alkaloids present in the roots
were extracted by unacidulated alcohol, a fertile
cause of decomposition being thus avoided. Dr.
Wright reported, also, that he had separated an
alkaloidal substance from atis roots (. A. keterophyllum ),
but that the numbers obtained on analysis of a small
quantity did not answer to the formula attributed to
atisine by Mr. Broughton. Another observer,
however, Dr. Wasowicz, has reported that with a
substance isolated by him from atis root he has
obtained figures closely approximating to those re¬
quired.

Cinchona has once 'more contributed its quota to
the literature of the year. A remark in a letter to
the Secretary of State for India from Mr. J. E.
Howard, implying the possibility that the unplea¬
sant results alleged to sometimes follow the adminis¬
tration of the mixed alkaloids of succirubra bark
might be due to the presence of aricine, or perhaps
paricine resulting from its alteration, gave rise to a
correspondence, not devoid of asperity, between that
gentleman and l)r. Hesse, the most satisfactory out¬
come ot which was a communication from Dr. Hesse,
giving a lucid description of the preparation and
characters of those two alkaloids. Mr. David How¬
ard has put on record the observation that in the
bark of C. officinalis from the Indian Government
plantations the proportion of quinine and total crys-
tallizable alkaloid appears to increase with age
(going back as far as 1863), whilst that from C. suc¬
cirubra is known to deteriorate when beyond a
certain age. From Dorpat Herr Mandeln has re¬
ported that in experimenting on the citrates of
quinine he has obtained an anhydrous acid salt,
containing one molecule of quinine to one of citric
acid ; an anhydrous neutral salt, containing three
molecules of quinine to two of acid; and a basic salt,
containing two molecules of quinine to one of acid
and half a molecule of water. Early in the year
Mr. W. Stevenson described a modification of the
Pharmacopoeia process for the estimation of quinine
in citrate of iron and quinine, consisting principally
in the use of a saturated solution of quinine in dilute
ammonia water in washing the precipitate. Further
on, in a useful paper read before the Pharmaceutical
Conference, Mr. F. W. Fletcher described an appli¬
cation of Dr. Paul’s plan of fractional crystallization
to the same end. Mr. Challice has also described
an improved method of producing the thalleioquin
reaction in dilute solutions of quinine. In the more
purely pharmaceutical direction, Mr. Gilmour has
called attention to the amount of quinine in Easton’s
syrup and the loss which takes place during the
washing of the precipitate in its preparation, amount¬
ing to 10 per cent, even when care is taken to use
the slightest possible excess of ammonia. This loss
Mr. E. Smith has proposed to avoid by dissolving
the sulphate of quinine directly in the phosphoric

acid and ignoring the small quantity of sulphuric
acid, a plan that has been endorsed from the other
side of the Atlantic by Mr. Davidson, with a caution
to avoid the use of sugar containing ultramarine in
making the syrup.

Opium, by its varying composition, still furnishes
problems for solution. M. Petit has suggested a
process for its rapid assay, which consists in extract¬
ing with cold water, and adding annnon ia and then
alcohol to the filtered liquid. The crystalline pre¬
cipitate contains narcotine (varying in some test
experiments Irom 6 to 9 per cent, of the precipitate),
but this, when greater accuracy is required, may be
estimated by adding the combining equivalent for
pure morphia of sulphuric acid, and then titrating
the acid left free in consequence of the inability of
narcotine to saturate an acid liquor. Professor
Fluckiger has described another process requiring
more time, which consists in extracting the opium
with water during twelve hours, filtering, adding to
the filtrate alcohol, ether, and finally ammonia water,
and allowing the mixture to stand a day or two.
In a process suggested for adoption in the United
States Pharmacopoeia, Professor Prescott subjects
the opium to a preliminary treatment with benzole,
then digesting it in nearly boiling water, and adding
to the filtered liquor successively benzin, ether and
chloride of ammonium. The meconates of morphia
have been the subject of some interesting experi¬
ments by Mr. Dott which appear to show that a
trimeconate of morphia is not formed, but that a
definite dimeconate, crystallizing with five molecules
of water, is. An amorphous substance which was
probably the monomeconate, proved to be very un¬
stable, decomposing into the dibasic salt and free
meconic acid.

Ergot, too, has received some further contributions
to its history. The investigation of the circum¬
stances attending a periodical fatality and prevalen ce
of foot rot among sheep near Bristol, led Mr. Stod-
dart to the conclusion that they were due to the
growth of an ergot upon the ray grass on which the
sheep fed. The development of the fungus on the
Lolium perenne was carefully observed and the in¬
ference drawn from its life-history was that for
pharmaceutical purposes the ergot of rye should be
gathered in the months of August or September, as
the fungus then attains its greatest medicinal activity
at the close of the vegetative period. Some doubts
having been thrown by Herr Blumberg upon the
nature of one of the alkaloids of ergot, — ergotinine, —
its discoverer sent to this Journal a reclamation
describing his method of obtaining it in a crys¬
talline form, accompanied by a specimen. Lastly,
a solution for hypodermic injection has been sug¬
gested by M. Yvon, made by exhausting ergot,
previously treated with carbon bisulphide, with water
containing a small quantity of tartaric acid. It
may be remarked here that a similar preliminary

January 3, 1*80.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

533

treatment of colcliicum seed with, petroleum spirit,
to remove fatty matter, has been recommended.

The report by Dr. Rutherford on the physiological
actions of drugs on the secretion of bile has aroused
an interest in a whole group of resinoid substances
which have been suggested for experiment as chola-
gogues, — such as euonymin, iridin, leptandrin and
juglandin, and information has been supplied res¬
pecting their source and preparation. Euonymin ap¬
pears to be most in request, and there has been some
uncertainty in consequence of different samples
varying in colour. This variation has, however,
been explained by Mr. J. Moss as principally de¬
pendent upon the age of the bark from which it is
prepared ; that with a green colour being from
young bark, and the brown, and less active, from old
bark. The colour of podophyllin, and the causes
affecting it, have been discussed in a paper by Mr.
Lloyd. An examination by Mr. Flowers has de¬
monstrated that the milk-juice from Lactuca Cana¬
densis contains several principles identical with those
occurring in lactucarium prepared from L. virosa ;
and with respect to this substance Mr. Lemberger
suggests the removal of caoutchouc by treatment
with petroleum spirit, before using it for pharma¬
ceutical purposes.

Extract of malt is a preparation that has come
into considerable demand, and is supplied by
numerous competing makers, in forms presenting
varying physical aspects. Messrs. Dunstan and
Dimmock, therefore, did useful service in throwing
some light upon their composition. Considering
that probably the value of malt extract depends
almost entirely upon the diastase it contains, the
authors described a process for its estimation, but
it is a significant commentary upon this assump¬
tion, that in the advertisement of a well-known
preparation, which it is claimed is prepared accord¬
ing to Baron Liebig’s own recipe, it is put forward
as a merit that the extract is perfectly free from
diastase.

It will now be necessary to refer to a number of
subjects with more brevity. With respect to coto
bark and cotoin, although they appear to be making
their way into favour, some confusion exists between
them and another similar bark and its products. To
dispel this Messrs. Jobst and Hesse have published
an elaborate paper, the first portion of an abstract
of which appears in the present number of this
Journal. Pilocarpine also appears to retain a place,
and a great improvement in the process of its pre¬
paration, by using ammoniated alcohol, has been
described by Mr. Gerrard. Araroba, or Goa powder
another substance that has assumed considerable
importance during the last few years, has had its
botanical origin determined, it being attributed to a
leguminous plant which has been named Andira
Araroba. According to Herr Liebermann, araroba
does not contain chrysophanic acid, but a substance

which he has named chrysarobin, of which the chry¬
sophanic acid that has been obtained by the treat¬
ment of araroba has been an oxidation product.
Chaulmoogra oil, another new remedy, has been
examined by Mr. Moss, avIio separated from it a new
lat acid, which he has named gynocardic acid, and to
this Dymock’s colour reaction for chaulmoogra
oil appears to be due. No alkaloid, or only very
slight traces could be detected. The nature of
glycyrrhizin has been the subject of further investi¬
gations by two chemists, but unfortunately with
discordant results, Mr. Habermann looking upon
it as an acid containing nitrogen, and Mr. Sestini
as a glucoside free from nitrogen. The composition
of the milk of the cow tree has been determined, and
the actual existence of the curious fermentative
principle which has long been attributed to the juice of
the Carica Papaya has been proved and its separation
reported almost simultaneously by two observers.
Cows’ milk also has yielded to Mr. Blyth two alka-
loidal principles, which have been named galactine
and lactochrome. Amongst other new bodies that
have been made known during the past year are
scillipicrin, scillitoxin and scillin, from the squill ;
kinoin, a crystalline body, from Malabar kino ;
spergulin, a fluorescent body, from the seeds of
species of Spergula ; teucrin, an acid substance, from
the Teucrium fruticans ; came-llin, a bitter substance,
said to resemble digitalin in its reactions, from the
seeds of Camellia japonica; and berberonic acid,
formed by the decomposition of berberine. Berberine
and its salts have been the subject of several papers,
and this is only indicative of the increased attention
which is being directed, especially in the United
States, to this alkaloid and the plants containing it.

To the literature of pure pharmacy there have
been numerous other contributions. Perhaps one of
the most ambitious has been that of Dr. Squibb on
Repercolation, a process which, it is to be feared,
before it could be carried out with the scientific
accuracy shadowed forth in the paper, would require
much more uniformity of practice and skill in the
operators than at present obtains, in this country, at
least. A process of Remaceration has also been
described by Mr. Rother, based upon principles
followed in many beet-sugar factories. An apparatus
for continual dialysis, suited to the preparation of
dialysed iron, has been described by M. Lebaigue.
Extracts have been the subject of a readable paper
bv M. Schmitt, triturations of one by M. Wessel-
hoff, and a simple standard for solutions kept for
dispensing purposes has been suggested by Mr.

; Mushens. With respect to pills a gelatine coating
has been recommended by Mr. Dimock, and powdered
j marsh mallow root has been mentioned as an ex¬
cipient. Mr. Mead, also, has provided a useful
formula for preparing suppositories containing green
j extracts with a basis of gelatine. Spiiit of nitrous
j ether has again been the subject of several com-

534

THE rHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3, . 880.

munications, in one of which Mr. Smeeton has
advocated a return to the Edinburgh process for its
preparation. Methods for its analysis have been
described by Dr. Dupre, Dr. Muter, and Mr.
Rimmington, that of the last-mentioned differing
from the others in the separation of all the con¬
stituents and in the decomposition of the potassium
nitrite formed in estimating the nitrite of ethyl by
means of the zinc copper couple. Mr. Allen, too,
has described the process followed by him in the
estimation of alcoholic tinctures.

Thymol, by its insolubility, sometimes presents
inconveniences to the pharmacist. Dr. Symes has
noted the fact that milk is a good solvent of this sub¬
stance, and that thymol liquefies when triturated with
chloral and camphor. Some ambiguity appears to
exist in certain quarters respecting the characters of
thymol and menthol, and this Mr. Mason en¬
deavoured to clear up in a paper read before the
Liverpool Association. A similar confusion as to
the botanical source has also been apparent.

A clear mistura guaiaci has been suggested by Mr.
B. Squire, made by diluting the tincture with gly¬
cerine. Mr. Hornsby has also pointed out that if
sufficient liquor potassse be added to tincture of
guaiacum it may be diluted with water without pro¬
ducing more than opalescence. Mr. Collier de¬
scribed to the Conference the use of tincture of
quillaia in preparing this and similar mixtures, in
the emulsification of oils and in the extinguishment
of mercury ; he also contributed a paper on the
chemical history of saponin from soap bark, in
which it appears to exist as a lime compound. Tinc¬
ture of kino has evoked an amount of discussion
disproportionate to the frequency with which it is
used, and for the avoidance of the gelatinization that
occasionally takes place in it, — probably dependent
upon the variety of kino used in its preparation, —
the addition of glycerine has been suggested, as also
have been occasional agitation and exposure to light.
The use of a tincture of marsh rosemary root ( Statice
Caroliniana) has been recommended as a substitute
for both tincture of kino and tincture of catechu.

The hygroscopic nature of plasma has been the
subject of observation by Mr. Willmott. He finds
it to be due to the glycerine, which has the property
of absorbing moisture from the atmosphere until a
certain proportion is reached, and he proposes to
substitute a similar quantity of water for some of
the glycerine ordered to be used in making the gly¬
cerine of starch. Complaints as to difficulty some¬
times experienced in preparing a miscible Gregory’s
powder induced Mr. Gilmour to make some expe¬
riments, which appear to indicate that this non¬
miscibility is due to the magnesia or other powders
being in too dry a condition, and that this objection¬
able dryness may be produced by the apparatus used
in the mixing. Among other communications that
have been published may be mentioned formulie for

pharmaceutical preparations of coca and of drosera
as well as some medicated solutions of alumina.
Recipes for the preparation of some drugs for smok¬
ing have also appeared. Taraxacum, in respect to
the best time for its collection, has also been the
subject of a paper by Dr. Symes, avIio favours
November or December if frost has not occurred.

The formation of nitrites and nitrates under
different circumstances has been the subject of
considerable attention. Mr. Waring, continuing
his researches, has reported that exposure to light
prevents nitrification, that presence of carbonate of
calcium appears to be indispensable to the growth
of the ferment, and that nitrification takes place more
rapidly in proportion as the temperature is increased
from 50° to 86° E., but that 104° F. is fatal to the
ferment. Dr. Davy, following in the same direc¬
tion, has made some experiments which appear to
show that nitrification is not affected by light, but
that it requires a supply of air or free oxygen, and
that it goes on most rapidly at a temperature of
from 70° to 80° F. It was also noticed that in a
liquid containing much animal matter the process is
stopped or goes on very slowly, or the nitrites and
nitrates may be decomposed and disappear after
being formed. Sometimes in water containing
sewage impurities there is a very rapid forma¬
tion of nitrites at the expense of the free ammonia.
Recently Messrs. Schloesing and Muntz have
announced the isolation of the “ferment.” The
important bearing that some of these observations
have upon the analysis of water must be obvious,
and may help to explain the inconclusive results
of the discussion upon an exhaustive paper read
by Dr. Tidy before the Chemical Society, when the
one thing most manifest was the uncertainty at¬
tending all the present methods of water analysis
in the absence of any knowledge of the history of a
water.

An examination, by Dr. Tilden, of a specimen of es¬
sential oil of lemon obtained by distillation, which con¬
firmed the presence in it of a terpene agreeing with
the terebenthene of French oil of turpentine, and of
a peculiar terpene, named citrene, further led to the
unexpected observation that it was superior in odour
to the foreign essence, and, in consequence of the
interest excited, the method of its preparation was
subsequently described by Mr. Moss. Chamomile
oil has been the subject of a series of investigations,
from which it appears that it contains isobutyric and
angelic acids in combination with isobutyl, and
angelic and tiglic acids in combination with amyl
and other bodies. Tiglic acid has also been found
to be the volatile acid of croton oil and identical
with methylcrotonic acid ; it has also been proved
to be produced from angelic acid by the action of
heat. Further, the specific gravity and rotatory
power of a large number of essential oils have
been determined by Dr. Symes.

January ?, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

535

A modification of Dr. De Vrij’s process of pre¬
paring bromide of ethyl has been proposed, consisting
principally in the use of a dilute sulphuric acid in
the preparation of the sulphethylic acid. Hydro-
bromic acid has been prepared by the action of
bromine upon oil of copaiba, and its composition as
obtained by the ordinary methods of preparation,
known as Fothergill’s or Wade’s, has been dis¬
cussed by Mr. Palmer. A useful modification of
the usual process for preparing solution of perchlo-
ride of iron, by adding the iron solution to the acid,
instead of the reverse, has been suggested by Mr.
Shuttleworth, and it has been suggested to extend
the change to the solution of persulphate. The in¬
fluence of sugar on the formation of gallate and tan-
nate of iron has been studied by Dr. W. I. Clark,
who has found that its presence up to a certain point
(3’2 per cent.) favours the formation of a precipitate
when a solution of tannin is mixed with one of
ferrous sulphate, but if in greater proportion an in¬
creasing retardation takes place. It is curious that
the percentage of iron is smaller in proportion as the
quantity of precipitate is greater.

Numerous other papers having special chemical
interest have been published, but it will be impos¬
sible to do more than mention a few of them.
Messrs. Dupr£ and Hake have described two new
methods for the estimation of minute quantities of
caibon. Mr. Naylor has given a method for the
volumetric estimation of arsenic acid, based upon the
reaction which takes place between arseniate of soda
and iodine. Mr. Allen has suggested the action of
nitric acid as a means of detecting an admixture of
petroleum spirit with benzol. Mr. Siebold utilizes
the colour reaction of iodine to detect the presence
of alcohol in chloroform. Dr. Senier has corrected
a text-book error as to the saligenin test for salicin.
Professor Leeds has published an elaborate investi¬
gation as to the influence of light upon iodides.
Dr. De Witt has described a new series of colouring
matters derived from diazo compounds. Further, the
synthesis of several compounds has been reported,
such as that of atropine from tropic acid and tropin,
of milk sugar, cane sugar, helicin, and possibly salicin.
In the application of practical chemistry to manu¬
factures the two most important developments have
been Holloway’s process of roasting pyrites, a modi¬
fication of the Bessemer steel process, and Vincent’s
utilization of beet residues in the preparation of
trimethylamine, methyl chloride and other com¬
pounds.

Whatever may be the case in other fields, the past
year promises to be a memorable one in the history
of the so-called elements, whether in respect to the
number of substances that have been added to the
list, or the increase in the probability that at least
some at present included in it will have to give up
their claim to the title. The inferences drawn from
the spectrum researches of Mr. Lockyer have re¬

ceived some countenance from the experiments of
Professor Meyer on chlorine, aided by his improved
method of taking vapour densities, and the conclu¬
sion of this investigator’s research will be awaited
with considerable curiosity. Just at the close of the
year, too, it is alleged that Mr. Edison has solved
the great problem of rendering the electric light
available for ordinary lighting purposes.

The annual meetings of societies in which British
pharmacists take special interest have been those of
the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association, held
in London in May, the British Medical Association,
held in Cork in August, and the British Pharma¬
ceutical Conference and the British Association,
held in Sheffield, also in August. The American
Pharmaceutical Association met in Indianapolis and
the German Apothecaries’ Association in Hanover,
both in September.

Some very interesting lectures have been reported
in this Journal during the past twelve months.
Besides those of Professor Redwood on “ Electricity
as a Source of Light ’’ and Professor Bentley on
“ The Life of a Plant,” may be mentioned those of
Mr. Perkin on “ Alizarin,” of Professor Abel on
“Detonating Agents,” and Mr. Crookes on “Radiant
Matter.” To these may be added the paper of Pro¬
fessor Claypole on the “ Migration of Plants from
Europe to America ; ” one by M. Herlandt on the
“Relations existing between the Active Principles
of Plants and their Botanical Characters,” which we

hope to supplement shortly by one on the same
subject written by Professor Dragendoref ; a con¬
tinuation by Mr. H. B. Baildon of his “ Thoughts
on Botany and Professor Allman’s Presidential
Address to the British Association. Nor must we
forget to mention the continuation of Dr. Dymock’s
valuable Notes on Indian Drugs.

During the year some valuable works on pharmacy
and the sciences allied to it have been published.
Some of these are new, such as Stille and Maisch’s
‘Dispensatory,’ Roscoe and Schorlemmer’s ‘In¬
organic Chemistry,’ Blyth’s ‘ Manual of Practical
Chemistry,’ Allen’s ‘Commercial Organic Analysis,’
as well as the Year-Book of the British Conference,
the Report on Pharmacy of the American Asso¬
ciation, and the admirable ‘ Jahresbericht ’ of Dr.
Dragendorff. There have also appeared _ new
editions of ‘ Pharmacographia,’ Wurtz’s ‘Chemistry,
Cooley’s ‘ Cyclopaedia,’ and Piesse’s ‘ Perfumery.’

The year has not passed away without death
robbing chemistry and pharmacy of many of their
votaries, but the most prominent of these have been
natives of other countries. Thus Germany has lost
Mohr, Sonnenschein and Giessler, France has
lost Poggiale, Chevalier
United States has lost in
authors of the celebrated _ t
Mohr and Wood were Honorary Members oi the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. In this
country we have also had to record the death of Mr.
Bartlett, formerly a Member ot the Council, and
Messrs. Walker, Robinson and Thompson who
have served the Society in the capacity ol Local
Secretaries.

and Boutron, and the
Dr. Wood one of the
Dispensatory. Messrs.

536

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3, 1880.

We have now come to an end of our task.
Enough has been said to show that the year 1879, it
not crowded with striking events, was not without a
useful history. Our last words shall be a hearty
wish for the prosperity of pharmacy and pharmacists
in the year that is now opening.

transactions.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The sixth general meeting of the thirty-first session
was held at the Royal Institution on Thursday evening,
December 18, the President, Dr. Charles Symes in the
chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The President, in calling attention to the new Weights
and Measures Act, said : “ Those present who were
engaged in pharmacy will be aware that recently a
sensation has been got up on the question of apothecai'ies’
weights and measures, and that those who appear to be
the best informed also appear to be very imperfectly
informed as to the actual working requirements of the
Act, which, by the way, are of vastly more importance to
us than the shapes of the standards. What I wish par¬
ticularly now to say, however, is that I believe the
specially legalizing of these weights and measures is a
retrogade step, and one which we shall all sooner or later
regret. Now, when we are looking forward to the uni¬
versal adoption of the metric system, any attempt to prop
up one which is rapidly falling into decay, and had already
received its death-blow in its expulsion from the last
Pharmacopoeia, cannot but prove prejudicial.”

The President then exhibited a new kind of spirit
lamp, which burns by means of a glass wool wick. He
said that in Germany a new kerosene lamp has been
introduced which burns on this principle, and that a
similar wick has been suggested as suitable for spirit
lamps. Greater heat is said to be obtained with little or
no consumption of wick, and as the flame keeps more
closely to the wick the lamp could be moved about quickly
without danger of it going out.

Mr. Alex. Watt, F.C.S., E.I.C., exhibited Scheibler’s
thermo-regulator, and gave a very interesting description
of its working, which he practically illustrated.

The paper for the evening was then read, on — ■

The Chemistry of Tanning.

BY EDWARD DAVIES, F.C.3., F.I.C.

The skins of beasts being the first recorded material
used for clothing, the best method of preparing them for
use was necessarily one of the first questions presented
for solution to the mind of man. Simple cleansing from
blood and fat, and drying in the air was doubtless all that
was done for long periods of time; but more elaborate
methods were gradually practised, with the view of
making the skins more supple and of preserving them
from the action of the weather, until at last the art of
tanning became a recognized occupation among men.

It is not known when the use of oak bark or other
substances containing the little understood class of as¬
tringent bodies called tannins was found out. The whole
history of the art in ancient times is almost a blank, the
methods used being no doubt kept secret among the craft
and handed on from father to son, unwritten and carefully
kept from the world at large.

The chemistry of tanning involves a knowledge of the
materials employed, firstly, of the skin, and secondly, of
the substances used to change the skin from a body drying
into a translucent, horny, hard hide, into fibrous, opaque,
flexible leather.

The skin of animals consists, first, on the outside, of a

thin cellular layer called tlie epidermis, horny and dead
on the outside and constantly replaced from within; then
the rete viucosum, in which the colouring matter exists which
gives the colour to the skin of man ; then the corium, or
true skin, a layer varying in thickness in various animals
and in different parts of the same animal ; this is the
layer from which leather is made, and consists of fibres
intersecting each other in every direction, connected by a
cellular structure which binds them together. On the
inner side the skin is lined with a fat-bearing tissue,
which separates it from the muscles or flesh. In tanning
leather this and the outer layers are separated from the
corium by preliminary operations.

The various mechanical portions of the process of
tanning will be omitted except when they are connected
with chemical action. One of these is the removal of
hair, for which the most diverse processes have been used.

1. Sweating. — In this method under the influence of
moisture, a semi-putrefaction takes place in the
epidermis, which becomes disintegrated and loosens the
hair.

2. Liming. — In this milk of lime is used. The
cellular tissues are destroyed, whilst the fibres remain
uninjured. It is important not to carry this action too
far, or the cellular connecting tissue of the corium will be
injured, and the leather irreparably damaged. Lime
soaps are also formed with the fatty matters.

3. The Use of Sulphides. — Alkaline sulphides and the
sulphides of calcium and barium have long been used as
depilatories. Rusina, a mixture of 1 part orpiment and
2 or 3 parts slaked lime, is practically used, and this is a
good example of an empirical process from which
chemical knowledge enables us to deduce a scientific
one. A decomposition takes place between the two
bodies, by which calcium sulphide is formed, and this
substance might just as well be used direct, and the
dangerous arsenic avoided. Mr. Warington proposed 3
parts polysulphide of sodium, 10 of slaked lime and 10 of
starch. M. Matern, of Antwerp, in 1872, exhibited at
Vienna a new depilatory liquid, consisting of slaked lime,
soda and sulphur, some sulphide of sodium being formed.
In 1873, M. Eitner used this mixture successfully, and
then got pure sulphide of sodium, by which bullocks’
hides were depilated in fifteen hours. Crystallized
sulphide of sodium is used ; 1 kilogram is dissolved in 2
litres of water and thickened with 3 kilograms of slaked
lime. This is painted on the hair side, working it well
in, the hides folded together, put into a warm room about
19° C., covered with a wet rug and left fifteen hours.
The hides must be well washed before scraping off the
hair, or the hands of the workmen will suffer. Further
details will be found in a valuable paper in the J ournal
of the Chemical Society , 1876, p. 982. Sodium sulphide
can be easily made at a low price, if a demand should
arise, by the reduction of the sulphate.

4. By the Use of Acid Liquor. — This is produced by the
fermentation of barley meal, giving rise to lactic and
acetic acids. This is not available for heavy hides as it
swells them too much.

The next operation is the swelling or raising of the
hides. When lime has been used to remove the hair it
is necessary to remove this from the interior of the hide
as it would injure the leather. The hides are put into
spent or red tan liquors, which contain gallic and lactic
acids. These not only remove the lime, but as the lime
has become carbonated the evolution of carbonic acid gas
tends to swell the hides and enable the tannin more
readily to enter the fibres. Lime is also sometimes re¬
moved by the use of the excrements of pigeons, fowls and
dogs. The action of this disgusting mixture has been
ascribed to uric acid, but it is more probable that ammo¬
nium chloride is formed, which is decomposed by the
lime, calcium chloride being formed.

All these operations have as their object the prepara¬
tion of the hides for the true tanning operation, which
consists in immersing the hides in a solution containing

January 3, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS

537

tannin. This combines with the organic matter of which
the fibres of the corium are composed, and forms an im-
putrescible compound which is leather. Two theories
have been propounded to explain this. The first is, that
the tannin unites with the fibres in their unchanged state,
and the action goes slowly on until the fibres are acted on
through their entire thickness, and that the length of
time necessary to thoroughly permeate the skin, and the
fibres throughout, is the reason why one or even two
years have been taken for very thick hides.

The other, advocated by Dr. F. Crace Calvert in the
Cantor lectures for 1864, is that the hides are composed
of a substance analogous to the organic matter of bones,
or osseine, which does not unite with tannin, and that
there is a slow transformation of this into the isomeric
body gelatine, which, as it is formed, unites with the tan¬
nin. The slowness with which thick hides are tanned
would be explained by the long time required to bring
about this transformation. Although this view has the
sanction of such an eminent name, my own opinion is that
the first is the correct one, as a simple experiment will
show. Hide dried and rasped is shaken up with a dilute
solution of oak-bark, from which in a minute or two it
will so thoroughly remove the tannin that iron salts will
give no reaction. This shows that tannin can unite with
unaltered hide.

The chemistry of the tannins is not at all clearly
worked out. They are obtained with difficulty in a pure
state without decomposition, as they appear to be unstable
complex bodies. There are certainly several kinds, differ¬
ing greatly in composition although possessing certain
properties in common. The tannin best known in the
separate state is that obtained from nut-galls. Until
recently this, when obtained by ether, was supposed to
be a pure glucoside of gallic acid ; that is, that it was a
compound containing the elements of glucose and of gallic
acid, less the elements of water.

C27H22Oi7 + 4H20 = C6H1206 + 3C7Hg05.

Later investigations have show that it contains varying
qualities of digallic acid together with tannin and that
pure tannin is almost unattainable. Messrs. Paul and
Kingzett ( Journal of the Chemical Society, 1878, p. 217)
state that commercial tannin examined by them in no
case contained any glucose and was merely digallic acid,
C14H10O9, which with H20 gives —

C14H10O9 + H20 = 2C7H605.

M. Schiff holds the same view. Schlorlemmer, in
‘Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds’ says, “there
cannot be any doubt that tannin contains a glucoside of
gallic or digallic acid. Possibly the tannin as it exists in
the nut-galls is a glucoside of digallic acid, and is decom¬
posed by the process of extraction, although this is re¬
markable, as nothing but ether is used.

The tannin of oak -bark, or quercitannic acid, according
to Stenhouse does not give gallic acid when boiled with
dilute acids, but a reddish-brown substance. Tannins
have been divided into pathological and physiological
tannins. The former including the galls due to the in¬
juries produced by insects, the latter are the tannins
forming natural constituents of plants.

They may also be roughly divided into two classes,
according to the colour which they give with Fe2Cl6,
some giving a blue-black and others a green. The first
comprises the tannins contained in nut-galls, oak-bark,
myrobalans, sumach, valonia. and divi-divi. The second
includes catechu, kino, mimosa bark, larch and birch
bark. That this indicates a real difference in chemical
composition is shown by their behaviour with tartar
emetic in presence of ammonium chloride. The first
class give a dense precipitate ; the second are only
partially precipitated. The tannins from various sources
agree in precipitating gelatine, especially in presence of
alum or salt, and in precipitating the alkaloids. Tannin
decolorizes a solution of iodine in iodide of potassium to
a very large extent, forming hydriodic acid and ellagic
acid. I have tried to find a quantitative process for

estimating tannin upon this reaction, but without
success.

The various processes which have been proposed for
testing the amount of tannin in various materials present
a disheartening prospect to the student. In our ignorance
as to the true chemical nature of the tannins all the
processes are of the most empirical character, and in
the absence of a pure standard tannin to work upon tho
results obtained are only relatively true. Two samples
of the same material may be compared, but when two
different materials are taken their relation to one another
cannot be certainly stated. The principal processes
are : —

# L The gelatine process. With this I cannot get a
distinct end reaction. The solution of gelatine is neces¬
sarily so dilute that to produce a distinct precipitate
in the filtered liquor a considerable quantity of ether,
tannin or gelatine, as the case may be, must be added.
Spotting the solution on a mirror, very valuable in many
cases, does not succeed any better. In works a gravi¬
metric application of this process is a good deal used. A
solution of the tanning material having been made, a known
quantity is precipitated with gelatine in a dilute solution,
boiled, and the precipitate washed on a weighed filter,
dried and weighed ; two-fifths of the precipitate is
assumed to be tannin. Now the combination of tannin
with gelatine has long been known to be of variable
composition, according to the circumstances under which
it was made, and I have madtj experiments which show
that if to a known weight of gelatine a small excess of
tannin from various materials has been added, the pre¬
cipitate washed and weighed, the results were so astound¬
ing in their variation that I hesitate to publish them
without repetition.

2. G-erland’s tartar emetic process. This process,
published in the Chemical News, August 1, 1863, is in
my opinion the best for those tannins to which it is
applicable. It will only do for the iron-bluing tannins.
I refer for details to the original paper, noticing a very
curious point. Using the author’s proportions of 2-611
grams tartar emetic per litre I invariably find any sample
of so-called pure tannin which I can get tests about

75 per cent. The author says that he got one which
tested 97 per cent. I was therefore glad to read in the
paper by Messrs. Paul and Kingzett that they had got

76 per cent, from commercial tannin. Assuming that
commercial pure tannin is, if not pure, at all events the
only attainable standard, Gerland’s standard solution
should be reduced in strength by one-fourth, and I then
find that the results agree in several cases with Neu-
bauer’s.

3. Neubauer’s process. This consists in using per¬
manganate of potassium in a dilute solution of tannin
containing sulphate of indigo. The results are constant
for the same sample, but seem to be uniformly too high.
The great fault of the process is the necessity for re¬
moving gallic acid if present. It must almost necessarily
<nve too high results when we remember that there is
a variety of organic matter present besides tannin and
gallic acid, and that it is assumed that these exert no
reducing action until the whole of the tannin, gallic acid
and indigo are oxidized. When the gallic acid is removed
by gelatine another organic body is introduced, though it
is said to have little or no action. Nevertheless, for sub¬
stances of the iron-greening class it appears to be almost
the only process which we have.

4. Hanmer’s method with rasped hide added to a
tanning solution, and taking the sp. gr. before and after
the removal of the tannin. This is too delicate for
practical use, the differences being very small It is also
assumed that nothing dissolves out of the hide in cold
water. It is also stated that gallic and other organic
acids are absorbed, and I have noticed that the colouring
matter of the solution Is almost entirely removed. The
difficulty of rasping the hide, of which a large quantity
is required, is also very great.

538

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3, i88o

5. Wagner’s cinchonine process with magenta for
indicator. This has failed so completely in my hands
that I should feel obliged if anyone would inform me
where full details of the process are to be had. Using
the proportions given I find that the supernatant liquid
is coloured long before all the tannin is precipitated.

Time will not allow of an account of other processes
for preparing leather. Any substance which will form
an insoluble non-putrescible compound with the fibres of
the skin may be considered as a tanning agent. Alum
is used in the “ Tawing ” process, and salts of iron were
proposed so far back as 1842, by M.. Bordier. He
oxidized ferrous sulphate with nitric acid to produce a
basic ferric sulphate, iu a solution of which the hides are
then to be steeped. In 1855 a patent was taken out in
England for a similar process. It seems to have fallen
into disuse until very recently, when Professor Knapp
took out a patent which very closely resembles Bordier’s.
In the Chemical News, January 17, 18/9, is a paragraph
from a foreign journal entitled “Revolution in Tanning.

“ Professor Knapp proposes the use of a basic ferric sul¬
phate instead of oak-bark or other tanniferous material.
He adds to a boiling solution of copperas the quantity of
nitric acid requisite for the peroxidation of the iron and
after the reaction is over adds more copperas. The hides
are suspended in the cold solution at a suitable degree of
concentration, and are ready in from two to four days.
To complete the proof of the chaotic state of the chemis¬
try of tanning and of the contradictory statements about
it, in the Journal of the Chemical Society, January 1, 1879,
there is an abstract of a paper by Gottfriedsen, in which
he states that an examination of iron- tanned leather
had been made by Muntz, who considers that it is not
leather at all, and that no combination of oxide of iron
with the fibres of the hide is formed. He, on the other
hand, affirms that leather so made is more lasting than
bark -tanned leather. This review of the state of our
knowledge of the chemistry of one of the oldest and most
important manufactures, shows how much remains to be
done before a perfect explanation of the chemical re¬
actions can be arrived at. As in many other cases
practice has got before theory, but a perfect theory
must be found before practice can be also perfect, and
then, no doubt, time and material will be saved, and still
further improvements made in leather.

The paper, which was illustrated with a very fine
collection of the various products used in the art of
tanning, was much appreciated by those present, and
gave rise to a short discussion, in which the President,
Messrs. Conroy, Haddock and Watt took part.

On the motion of Mr. Watt, seconded by Mr. Wood¬
cock, a unanimous vote of thanks was passsed to Mr.
Davies.

Mr. Davies replied at some length to the points raised
in the discussion, and the meeting closed.

ROCHDALE CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Rochdale Chemists’ Asso¬
ciation was held on Tuesday evening, December 9, in the
Town Hall (by the kind permission of the mayor). An
excellent repast was provided in the refreshment room,
partaken of by over forty persons, comprising members
of the Association, their wives and daughters and a few
invited guests. Afterwards, the company adjourned to
one of the lower rooms.

A report of the work of the Association during the
year was read by the Secretary, Mr. J. W. Bamford,
which showed that the society had not been inactive,
efforts having been made to give the Association a wider
constituency; these efforts had, however, not proved very
successful. The present number of its members is six¬
teen, one having died during the year.

The Association not having realized what was desired,
— the co-operation of the neighbouring towns of Bury and

Hey wood,— maintains a very friendly relation with the
Association of Manchester, although that relation is not
strictly of an official character.

The subject of dispensing the prescriptions of medical
men has engrossed a large portion of the energies of the
Association. The readers of the Pharmaceutical Journal
will not be entirely ignorant of those efforts.

A class for the study of chemistry has been com¬
menced, for the exclusive benefit of the apprentices and
assistants. This class, although meeting separately, is
in connection with the Government science classes of the
town.

The President, Mr. R. Robinson, delivered an address,
of which the following is a brief abstract: —

The President said that although the Association had
not been successful in its efforts to get the medical men
to give up dispensing, yet the exchange of ideas and
opinions between the two bodies had had the good effect
of promoting a more friendly feeling between them, and
he thought other associations would do well to take up
the question and ever keep it well to the front. It was
pleasing to find so many of the young men,, the future
chemists, ready and willing to take a practical part in
their meetings. By a few pleasing experiments some of
them would demonstrate that fire, air, earth and water
were not the simple bodies they were thought to be, in
times not so very remote. As the students progressed
in their studies they would find chemistry the most
fascinating of all sciences. It enabled us to some extent t q
look into Nature’s laboratory and see and comprehend a
few of the wonderful changes continually going on.
Reference was made to a few of the products of the
combustion of coal, and that probably it only required
an extension of knowledge to convert the almost
valueless charcoal into the priceless and sparkling
diamond. We might ridicule the idea of the alchemist
of old attempting to convert the baser metals into
gold, but might it not some day be found that gold
is a compound of elements which have been chemi-
caly combined in Nature’s crucible? The discoverer of
aniline dyes did not convert coals into diamonds, but into
something quite as good ; he delighted millions by
his discovery, gave employment to thousands in making
and using his dyes, and last, but not least, realized a
handsome fortune. And so it might be with our students :
they might not be able to make gold, produce a diamond,
or discover a new dye, but they might by research find
something quite as profitable to themselves, and perhaps
more useful to their fellows, and if they did none of these
things they would still have their reward if they diligently
sought for the hidden treasures of nature and science.

Mr. W. A. Scott moved the adoption of the report, and
referring to the address of the President said that the
diamond was first supposed to be of vegetable origin by
Sir Isaac Newton, a supposition which was afterwards
verified by Cavendish or Priestley, who succeeded in
burning it.

Mr. Ellis Lord seconded the motion, observing that the
question of the indiscriminate sale of poisons was one
to which the Pharmaceutical Society should give its
attention.

Mr. Wilkinson, of Cheetham Hill, Manchester, thought
the poison question was a very difficult one, and one that
might lead to serious injury to the interests of chemists
themselves if an attempt was made to put a stop to the
evil that had been referred to.

Mr. Hermann Woolley expressed his cordial thanks
for being invited to the meeting, and congratulated the
Association on its vigorous and healthy tone. Referring
to the Association at Manchester, which he and Mr.
Wilkinson represented, he said it was a mutual advantage
that the union should be intimate. Referring to the
subject of patent medicines, he thought the time was
coming when the trade in these articles would pass into
other hands and the chemist would be left to the
prosecution of the duties of his calling pure and simple. ,

Januaiy 3, 1880. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

539

In the course of the evening, Mr. Harold Woolley
exhibited a number of Geissler’s tubes, and a small model
of a magneto-electric engine, working a small pump,
which contributed to the entertainment of the meeting.

Mr. Alderman Taylor proposed a vote of thanks to the
gentlemen from Manchester, who had favoured the
meeting by their presence, and especially to Mr. Woolley
for his beautiful experiments. This was seconded by
Mr. W. A. Scott, and supported by Mr. Hadfield, and
carried by acclamation.

The remainder of the evening was spent in the per¬
formance of a variety of experiments by the students of
the Association, Mr. Lees producing aniline and Turkey
red dye by appropriate reagents.

Mr. Renshaw gave a series of illustrations of the
modus operand i of chemical analysis, showing variously
coloured precipitates from the mixture of colourless
solutions.

Mr. W. Bamford performed a number of experiments
in frictional electricity.

Messrs. Robinson and Handley concluded the series by
a variety of experiments with gases.

A very hearty vote of thanks to the President for his
genial conduct in the chair, moved by Mr. Alderman
Taylor, and carried with acclamation, brought the pro¬
ceedings to a termination shortly after eleven o’clock.

HULL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual supper in connection with this Association
was held on Thursday, December 18, at the Cross Keys
Hotel, Marketplace. The Mayor (Alderman King, M.D.)
presided, and amongst those present were the Rev. J.
McCormick the Rev. J. Branston, Councillors Field,
Thompson, Smith, Myers, Wallis, and Fryer, Dr. Holden
(Medical Officer of Health), Mr. O’Donoghue (Clerk of
the School Board), Mr. Niven, etc.

The loyal and patriotic toasts having been duly
honoured, the Mayor gave “ The Archbishop and Clergy
of all Denominations.” The Rev. J. McCormick and
the Rev. J. Branston responded.

Mr. J. Oldham proposed “ The Mayor and Corpora¬
tion,” and the toast was acknowledged by the Mayor,
who next gave the toast of the evening, “ Success to the
Chemists’ Association. Mr. G. Myers (President) re¬
sponded.

Mr. Allison proposed “The Town and Trade of Hull.”
Mr. T. J. Smith responded.

Several other toasts were given, including “ The Medi¬
cal Profession,” “The Visitors,” “The Lecturer,” and
“The Officers,” “The Pharmaceutical Society,” and the
“Trade Defence Association,” a very pleasant evening
! being spent.

flarliamentarg and Jtaur proceedings.

Cream of Tartar Prosecution.

At the Fareham Petty Sessions, held on Tuesday,
December 23, before F. Bradshaw, W. H. Deane, and
F. Bretherton, Esqrs., and Captain Turner, Mr. William
Octavius Smith, chemist and druggist, of Titchfield, was
summoned upon the information of police-sergeant James
Duke, of the Hants Constabulary— local inspector under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Act— for that he did
sell to James Duke, the purchaser, and to his prejudice,
a certain drug, to wit, cream of tartar, which was not of
the nature, substance and quality demanded by the said
James Duke.

Police-sergeant Duke deposed that on November 14,
he in company with another constable went to Titchfield,
and at the defendant’s shop purchased a quarter of a
' pound of cream of tartar, and then told the defendant
that it was for the purpose of having it analysed. It
was divided into three portions, each of which was sealed.
One portion was given to the defendant, another retained

by him, and the third was forwarded to Mr. Arthur
Angell, the public analyst for the county, in order that
lie might make an analysis of it. This he did and
reported that the sample contained the following per¬
centages of foreign ingredients, viz., tartrate of lime,
9"2t), and sulphate of barium, 0’29. He also reported
that these substances were insoluble, and were not in¬
jurious to health.

Mr. Granger, barrister-at-law, said : He appeared for
the defendant, who was charged under the Food and
Drugs Act with selling, to the purchaser’s prejudice, a
certain drug, to wit, cream of tartar. He should sh'ow
that Mr. Smith, who succeeded to the business of Mr.
Chitty, got all his drugs from one of the first wholesale
houses in London, viz., Messrs. Barron, Squire and Co.
His predecessor, Mr. Chitty, had been in the habit of
dealing with the firm, and Mr. Smith knowing it to be a
first-rate house continued the custom. He should prove,
by calling witnesses, that cream of tartar was made from
the juice of the grape, and that it was brought over to
this country in the form of crystals which only required
to be ground to be ready for use. Nothing whatever was
done to it except this, and he should prove that the
presence of tartrate of lime in it was a necessity which
could not be avoided. If it were to be said that unless
there was no tartrate of lime in cream of tartar it must
not be sold, then that would mean putting a stop to the
sale altogether. This tartrate of lime came from the
earth, and the analyst himself had told them that it was
not injurious to health. He should also call before them
Dr. Paul, editor of the Pharmaceutical Journal, who
would tell them that this cream of tartar came up to the
standard of the British Pharmacopoeia, which was the
recognized standard for all drugs. He had analysed a
sample sent him by Mr. Smith, and the result differed
slightly from that obtained by the public analyst, but
this Dr. Paul would probably be able to explain. He
(Mr. Granger) could say with confidence that it was not
an offence within the “ Food and Drugs Act.” It was
not a mixture injurious to health, and therefore did
not come within the first section, but it came distinctly
within the fourth sub-section of the sixth section. The
sixth section was to the effect that “ no person shall sell
to the prejudice of the purchaser, any article, food, or
drug not of the nature, substance or quality demanded
by such purchaser;” and the fourth sub-section was to the
effect that it should not be deemed an offence “where
the food or drug is unavoidably mixed with some
extraneous matter in the process of preparation.” The
tartrate of lime was something which was unavoidably
mixed with the cream of tartar in the process of prepara¬
tion. He failed to see how the sub-section could be got
over, when he showed them that the cream of tartar in
question was the best article of the kind that could be
purchased, and he had no doubt the magistrates would
consider it their duty to dismiss the summons.

William Octavius Smith, the defendant, was then
sworn, and the following evidence was taken. Witness
said he was a registered chemist and had succeeded this
year to the business of a chemist and druggist at Titch¬
field, for some time carried on by Mr. Chitty. He found
that Mr. Chitty was in the habit of getting his drugs
from the wholesale house of Barron, Squire and Co., and
knowing that firm by name as one of the first houses in
the trade he continued to get all his drugs from it. He
produced an invoice from IN fessrs. Barron, Squire and Co.
of a parcel of drugs, including some creain of tartar.
This cream of tartar was passed into stock in the con¬
dition in which it was received, and he had sold it with
the greatest confidence. He had sent the sealed sample
given him by the police -sergeant to Dr. Paul for the
purpose of having it analysed. .

Dr. Benjamin Horatio Paul was then sworn. He said
he was a consulting and analytical chemist, and editor of
the Pharmaceutical Journal, and had had much experi-
ence in these matters. He received from the defendant

540

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 3, 1830,

a sample of cream of tartar, sealed with the seal of the
Hants Constabulary, on November 15. He analysed it and
found that it contained 6 ‘95 per cent of dry tartrate of lime
and 0-3 per cent, of sulphate of barium. The remainder
consisted of bitartrate of potash. In reply to a question as
to how cream of tartar is made, he said it was altogether
manufactured abroad in the wine-growing districts, and
was made by boiling the argols, deposited in the process
of fermentation, in water for the purpose of separating
what was insoluble. The crystals thus obtained were
then sent over to this country, and only require to be
crushed to be ready for use. He did not agree with the
public analyst in saying that the ingredients, besides the
bitartrate of potash, were insoluble. The sulphate of
barium was insoluble, but beyond that the whole was
perfectly soluble. He thought perhaps the nature of the
soil had something to do with the quantity of these
ingredients occurring in the cream of tartar, but the way
in which wine was made had probably more. He
had never met with a sample without tartrate of lime.
A certain portion was an inevitable necessity, as it was
impossible to avoid a portion of it becoming mixed with
the tartrate of potash. Some of the argols contained as
much as from 30 to 50 per cent, of tartrate of lime.
The percentage in cream of tartar varied from 1 to 10 or
12 per cent., generally it was about 6 or 7 per cent. In
his opinion that sold by defendant was a very good com¬
mercial sample. He explained the difference in his
analysis and that made by the public analyst, by suppos¬
ing it to be due to the circumstance that the latter had
returned the amount of tartrate of lime as containing
■water, whereas he had returned it as perfectly dry. The
sulphate of barium was not injurious ; it was absolutely
insoluble.

Mr. Inspector Littlefield : If I go to a chemist’s shop
and ask for a sample of cream of tartar, should I expect
to get such as has been analysed ?— -Yes, you would get
something very like it.

Captain Turner : Does cream of tartar depreciate
through being kept in stock, or being opened ? — No, not

at all.

Can you account for the presence of the sulphate of
barium ? — I cannot ; but the quantity is almost infinite¬
simal.

Is it possible to extract the lime ? — Yes, with consider¬
able difficulty, but not without largely enhancing the
price of the article. I do not think if it was extracted that
would make any material alteration in its merits.

Is this sulphate of barium found in all samples? — No,
not alwavs.

Mr. Frederick Barron, of the firm of Barron, Squire
and Co., was then sworn. He stated that he had supplied
the shop, now occupied by Mr. Smith, for about sixteen
years, but he had a gentlemen behind him whom he
had supplied for forty years. The cream of tartar which
he sent to Mr. Smith was of the first commercial quality.
It was the highest priced article of its kind in the market.
The crystals were purchased from the brokers who sold
for the manufacturers, and nothing whatever was done
to them beyond crushing them.

At this stage Mr. Bradshaw interposed and said the
magistrates were all agreed to dismiss the case.

Mr. (Granger therefore made an application for costs
He said it was surely never the intention of the Act that
respectable tradesmen should be brought up in the way
the defendant had been. It was a very serious matter,
for upon the quality of a chemist’s drugs his success and
reputation depended. He thought it a case where the
magistrates might exercise their right to dismiss it with
costs.

Mr. William Flux, of the firm of Flux, Slade and Co.,
solicitors, who watched the case on behalf of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Great Britain, asked to be allowed
to say a few words on the question of costs. There had
been several cases similar to the present, each in its turn
dismissed, and he was anxious that the Society should be

able to say that a case had been dismissed with costs. It
might be deemed expedient that representations should
be made to a central authority with a view to the pre¬
vention of similar attacks on the qualities of drugs sold
by chemists. The character of a chemist’s drugs should
be as far above suspicion and as carefully guarded as the
personal reputation of anyone should be, and when the
qualities of articles sold by a chemist were called in
question, he must remain exposed to the suspicions of
friends and neighbours, or call upon such gentlemen as-
were present to attend at great inconvenience and expense
to properly support him before the magistrates. As he
(Mr. Flux) read the statute, the costs, if awarded to the
defendant, would not have to be borne by the policeman
who had acted in regard to the purchase, but would fall
upon the county, and the dismissal with costs was
especially desirable.

The magistrates consulted and said that upon principle
they would allow costs, but that some limit should be
put to them and they therefore fixed the amount at three
guineas.

Excise Prosecution at Aberdare.

At Aberdare Police Court, on Tuesday December 23,
(before the stipendiary, Mr. J. Bishop), Daniel Tudor
Williams, carrying on business in Gadlys Road, was sum¬
moned for selling a bottle of whisky, he not holding a
licence entitling him to do so. Mr. W. H. Priest, super¬
visor of the Methyr district, appeared on behalf of the
Excise authorities in support of the summons, and Mr.
Kenshole (Messrs. Linton and Kenshole) appeared for
the defendant.

John Davies stated that on November 14 he went to the
defendant’s shop in Gadlys Road, Aberdare, for some
salts and a bottle of whisky, which was supplied to him
by Mrs. Williams. Defendant’s wife at first showed
some little hesitation in serving him with the whisky, and
said they were out of it, but eventually, however, she let
him have the bottle produced, and charged 2 s. 4 cl. for it.

Thomas Nash Williams, manager of the New Inn
public-house, High Street, said that he walked up to the
Gadlys Road, with the last witness, who was his son-in-
law. He asked him to go into defendant’s shop for the
bottle of whisky, and saw Davies go into the shop and
come out again with it. This was all the evidence in
support of the summons.

For the defence defendant’s servant, Maria Floud, was
called, who stated that she was washing out the shop at
the time John Davies came in asked for some salts.
When he asked for a bottle of whisky Mrs. Williams
replied that she did not keep spirits, and Davies left with¬
out it. Ann Griffiths, who was in a room adjoining de¬
fendant’s shop, also spoke to not hearing Davies ask for
the bottle of whisky.

The Stipendiary remarked to defendant’s solicitor that
it was no use to call such witnesses, because if they did
not hear the whisky asked for and sold it appeared that
there were others who did.

For the defence it was alleged that the witnesses,
brought forward were as equally worthy of credence as
were those for the prosecution.

The Stipendiary considered the case proved, and fined
the defendant £12 103., one-fourth of the full penalty
of £50.

Mr. Priest pointed out that by one section of the Act
of Parliament, a person who had held a licence and had
been convicted of selling spirits was not again allowed to
hold such a licence. The fine was paid. It may be ex¬
plained that the defendant formerly held a licence, which,
lie did not renew in July last. — Western Mail.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Bennett, Lloyd, Jarmay, Dymock, Williams,
Smith, Rayson, Evans, Junior, Poor Old A., Senex,.
Libertas, Fortuna fortibus favet, Minor, W. S. T.

January 0, i860 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

541

C0T0 BARK AND ITS CHIEF
CONSTITUENTS.*

BY J. JOBST AND 0. HESSE.

(Concluded from page 522.)

Cotoin. f

To obtain cotoin the “genuine” coto bark in a
powdered state is extracted by percolation with cold
ether ; the greater part of the ether is distilled off
and the still warm residue is mixed with warm petro¬
leum spirit. After proper admixture there separates
on cooling a blackish brown oily-resinous mass.
The solution is allowed to become completely
clear, then decanted off, and allowed to evaporate
spontaneously. Cotoin gradually separates out in"
large pale yellow crystals. A great part of the cotoin
remains with the oily residue. This is boiled with
water and lime, and the still hot clear brownish
yellow solution is saturated with acetic or hydro¬
chloric acid, which causes a reddish white turbidity.
After twenty-four hours the solution has become
clear, and large glistening yellowish laminae have
been formed, which are often more than a centi¬
metre long, together with pale yellow needles which
separate in single crystals or in groups of crystals.
Both forms of crystallization belong to cotoin.

The crude coto'in can be obtained in a perfectly
pure state by one or two crystallizations from boiling
water containing animal charcoal. This method of
purification only serves for the preparation of small
quantities of cotoin, as it melts in boiling water, and
in that condition is only sparingly soluble.

Thus obtained, cotoin forms pale yellow curved
prisms, whilst a chloroform or alcoholic solution of it
deposits on slow evaporation large prisms or plates.
In the latter case it sometimes is deposited in an
amorphous condition crystallizing only after some
time. It is easily soluble in alcohol, chloroform,
benzine, acetone and carbon bisulphide, but is inso¬
luble in petroleum spirit. It is somewhat more
soluble in boiling water than in cold ; the latter dis¬
solves very little of it although the solution is
rendered tolerably yellow in colour.

Caustic and carbonated alkalies easily dissolve
cotoin, but it is completely re-precipitated on adding
excess of hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. Carbonic
anhydride precipitates the greater part of it from
these basic solutions. It is also soluble in potassium
disulphite, but is reprecipitated unchanged on the
addition of an acid.

Coto'in gives a blood-red colour with concentrated
nitric acid in the cold, and gradually dissolves on
heating to the same colour. A red resin separates
from these solutions on cooling or on adding water.
Concentrated sulphuric acid gives a brownish-yellow
solution. Concentrated hydrochloric acid gives a
yellow colour and a yellow solution when heated ;
but cotoin crystallizes out unaltered on cooling the
solution.

An aqueous solution of cotoin has a neutral reaction
and reduces silver and gold salts in the cold. Ace¬
tate of lead causes no precipitation, but the basic
acetate gives a yellow precipitate. Ferric chloride gives
in a dilute solution a brownish-black coloration, and
also a blackish-brown precipitate in a concentrated
solution. Ferric chloride gives a deep brownish-red

* Abstract of a paper in Liebig's ‘ Annalen ,* 199, 17 — 96.
t A specimen of coto'in has been presented to the Museum
of the Pharmaceutical Society by Dr. Hesse.

Third Series, No. 498,

coloration, and an aqueous solution of acetate of
lead a yellow crystalline precipitate, when either of
them is added to an alcoholic solution of cotoin.
Fehling’s solution is slowly reduced by it in the cold,
but quickly when heated.

Cotoin has a bitter taste, and its dust has a ster¬
nutatory effect on the nostrils. Its solution has
no action on polarized light. At 130° (uncorr.) it
melts to a yellowish liquid which solidifies on cooling
to a crystalline mass. A trace of the resinous sub¬
stance considerably lowers the melting point.

Cotoin is not volatile and is decomposed when
heated at a high temperature. It contains no water
of crystallization, and shows no loss in weight at
100® or 140° C., if it has been previously dried in a
desiccator.

Purified cotoin gave on analysis numbers corre¬
sponding to the formula C22H18Oc.

As the aqueous solution of cotoin has a neutral
reaction, it has not therefore the properties of an
acid. It dissolves in alkalies, lime and magnesia, to
yellowish brown solutions. These solutions, on ex¬
posure to air, gradually become of a dark brown.

When cotoin is dissolved in excess of ammonia
and plumbic acetate added to the solution, there is
produced a fine yellow amorphous precipitate of
triplumbic cotoin, C22H12Pb306. On adding basie
lead acetate to an aqueous solution of cotoin a yellow
amorphous precipitate is produced, containing less
lead than the before-mentioned compound.

Tribromocotoia. — C22H15Br30G (m. p. 114° uncorr.)
is obtained in beautiful yellow prisms by saturating
a chloroform solution of cotoin with bromine. It is
almost insoluble in cold water, and is partly decom¬
posed at a boiling temperature, but is easily soluble
in alcohol, chloroform and ether. Triacetyl cotoin,
C22H1503, (C2H302)3 (m. p. 94° uncorr.), crystallizes
in large anhydrous prisms. It is easily soluble in
chloroform and ether, with difficulty in cold but
easily in hot alcohol.

As above observed, cotoin is soluble in concen¬
trated hydrochloric without decomposition, but it is
completely decomposed when heated with hydro¬
chloric acid in a sealed tube for two hours at 140®,
yielding, on adding excess of ammonia to the solution,
benzoic acid and a red amorphous substance that
is soluble in ether.

By fusion with potash cotoin is converted into
benzoic acid and an oil having the odour of bitter
almonds.

Dicotom. — When cotoin was treated with boiling
water and filtered, and the insoluble residue boiled
with the filtrate, it was observed that leafy crystals
separated out as often as this operation was repeated.
These crystals were sifted out from the coto’in crystals,
and this method is, in fact, the only one known to
the authors of separating dicotoin from cotoin..

Cotonetin, C20H10O5, was the name first applied by
them to this body, but further investigation showed
that the formula C44H34On is the correct one ; hence
they have termed it dicotoin.

Dicotoin melts in boiling water, in which it is only
sparingly soluble. On cooling the solution, pale
yellow, glistening laminae are obtained, as well as
crystals similar to those of cotoin. If after this
treatment the melted dicotoin, or that which is un-
dissolved by water, be dissolved in ether, and the
solution be treated with animal charcoal and filtered,
there is obtained on spontaneous evaporation, of the
ether a yellow amorphous residue, which is soon

542

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 10, 1680.

^transformed into leafy crystals that melt at about

100°.

The analysis of these crystals showed the fact that
•dicotoin is to a great extent transformed by boiling
•with water into what seemed at first to be an isomeric
form of cotoin, melting at a lower temperature than
the prismatic form ; but these differences proved on
.examination to be merely due to an impurity, and
these leafy crystals were ordinary cotoin. Dicotoin
•is consequently an anhydride of cotoin, and stands in
vthe same relation to it as digallic acid to gallic acid.
It crystallizes in glistening and almost white laminae,
which are easily soluble in alcohol, acetone, ether,
chloroform, ammonia, and sodic hydrate. It is con-
converted into cotoin by being heated with potassic
hydrate. It melts at 74 — 77.°

Paracotoin .*

This body is obtained from paracoto bark. The
finely ground bark is extracted with ether, and the
ether residue after some days solidifies to a crystalline
mass. The solid mass, which consists of paracotoin,
oxyleucotin, leucotin, and dibenzoylhydrocoton, is
separated by pressure from the resinous mother liquor,
and then fractionally crystallized from hot alcohol.
Paracotoin crystallizes out first, and when quite pure
gives no bluish-green colour when boiled with concen¬
trated nitric acid, but forms a yellow to brownish-
yellow solution.

Paracotoin crystallizes in beautiful pale yellow
laminae, which melt at 152° (uncorr.), and sublime at
a higher temperature, apparently unaltered in com¬
position. It solidifies at 148° to a crystalline mass.
It is easily soluble in ether, chloroform, boiling
alcohol, acetone, and in benzine, from the last of which
it crystallizes on cooling. It is somewhat soluble in
boiling water, separating on cooling in delicate
laminae.

Paracotoin has a neutral reaction, is tasteless, and
gives no coloration with ferric chloride. Its chloro¬
form solution has no action on the plane of polarized
fight. It is somewhat soluble in ammonia, more
especially on being heated, and crystallizes out un¬
changed. Potassic or sodic hydrate dissolves it with
decomposition, especially on heating, forming a weak
acid, Paracotoinic acid, C19H1407.

Analysis of paracotoin, dried at 100°, gave numbers
agreeing with the formula C19H1206, so that it may
be regarded in a certain degree as the anhydride of
paracotoinic acid.

Paracotoin forms a yellowish-brown solution with
concentrated sulphuric acid, and with concentrated
nitric acid when heated. On cooling the nitric acid
solution yellow prismatic crystals separate, probably
a nitro compound of paracotoin, which give proto-
catechuic acid and a carbonaceous mass when heated
with concentrated hydrochloric acid at 140°. The
nitro compound is unaffected by being heated for
some hours with glacial acetic acid, or with acetic
anhydride. Bromine has a peculiar action on paraco¬
toin. On adding bromine drop by drop to a chloro¬
form solution of paracotoin the bromine is at first
absorbed, hydrobromic acid being evolved, but on
adding niore bromine there is separated a scarlet red
crystalline precipitate. On collecting and washing
this precipitate with chloroform, it was found that
the portion in contact with the moist air had become
intensely yellow, and this change quickly extended

* A specimen of paracotoin has been presented to the
Society’s Museum by Dr. Hesse.

to the entire mass, hydrobromic acid at the same time
being disengaged. Dried at 100° it lost hydrobromic
acid, and acquired a chrome green colour. It appears
to be a bromo-paracotoin, C38H21Br3012, and in the
same manner as paracotoin it yields paracotoinic acid
and the characteristic smell of paracumarhydrin when
heated with a solution of potassic hydrate.

Paracotoin is converted into protocatechuic acid by
fusion with potassic hydrate. On adding sulphuric
acid to the fused mass, and then distilling, a small
quantity of formic acid distils over.

Paracumarhydrin. — When heated with a solution
of potassic hydrate, paracotoin forms a yellow
solution, which soon becomes of a darker yellow, and
gives off a volatile body, having a strong smell of
cumarin. This volatile body, as well as the non¬
volatile portion which was obtained by extraction
with ether, proved to be a substance which the
authors have named paracumarhydrin, having the
formula C9H803.

Paracumarhydrin forms colourless laminae, which
smell like cumarin. It melts at 85° (uncorr.) when
directly obtained from paracotoin by the action of
potash, but melts at 82— 83° when recrystallized from
boiling water, or when obtained in the other manner
described. It was found to be impossible to convert
it into cumarin, or into the hypothetical body para-
cumarin, by the action of dehydrating agents.

Paracumarhydrin has a neutral reaction. It is
easily soluble in ether, alcohol, acetone, and chloro¬
form, but sparingly so in cold water, although it
easily dissolves in hot water, from which it crystallizes
on cooling in large colourless laminae. The forma¬
tion of this body from paracotoin would be easily
explained by the following equation, C49H1206 +
2fhO = 2C9Hs03 + C02, but whether its formation
may not depend on the production of a crystalline
acid bodjq which was obtained in small quantity,
could not be definitely ascertained. Its analysis
approximated to the formula C9H804 ; hence it may
be a homologue of piperonylic acid. It melts at
200°, and dissolves with difficulty in boiling alco¬
hol and in ether, separating in small crystals on
evaporation.

Paracotoinic Acid. — This acid is produced from
paracotoin by the action of baric hydrate, or milk of
lime, but preferably by the action of potassic hydrate.
Its formation from paracotoin takes place according
to the equation C19H12Oc + H20 = C19H1407. It. is
obtained as a fine yellow amorphous powder, which
easily dissolves in alcohol and in ether, but is almost
insoluble in pure water, although very easily soluble
in ammoniacal water.

Ammonium, barium, calcium, lead, and silver salts
have been obtained.

Leucotin .*

This is the chief constituent of paracoto bark. It
is separated from the crystalline mass remaining in
the alcoholic mother liquor from which paracotoin
has been separated by adding glacial acetic acid, in
which leucotin is very easily soluble. The expressed
solution is evaporated, and the residue crystallized
from very dilute boiling alcohol. Thus obtained, it
is in the form of small white prisms which are very
easily soluble in alcohol and ether, especially on
being heated. It is especially soluble in chloroform,
acetone, and glacial acetic acid. It melts in boiling

* A specimen of leucotin has been presented to the
Society’s Museum by Dr. Hesse.

January 10, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

543

water, a saraU portion dissolving ; on being cooled,
the solution becomes milky, and then deposits small
needles of leucotin. It is not apparently more
soluble in alkaline water. It melts at 97°, solidify¬
ing on cooling to a crystalline mass. At a higher
temperature it becomes brown, and evolves pungent
vapours. Its alcoholic solution (2 p. c) has no action
on polarized light. It has a neutral reaction, and
forms no compounds with bases, not even with lead.
With concentrated sulphuric acid it gives a dark
yellow solution, and with concentrated nitric acid a
bluish green resin and solution ; the latter becomes
turbid on the addition of water.

The formula C21II20Oc was first assigned to leucotin,
but further investigation showed that the formula
C34H32O10 is the more correct.

Dib'oumleucotin , C34H30Br2Oj0 (m. p. 187°), and
tetrabromoleucotin (m. p. 157°) have been obtained.
By partial fusion with potassic hydrate in the pre¬
sence of a little water, leucotin is converted for the
most part into benzoic acid, together with protoca-
techuic acid, formic acid, and a new body, cotogenin,
of the formula C14H140-. By continuing the action
cotogenin is completely transformed into protoca-
techuic acid. It is believed to be a derivative of
protocatechuic aldehyde. It melts at 210°, dissolves
with difficulty in cold alcohol, but more easily in hot.
These solutions give an intensely green coloration
with ferric chloride.

A volatile body, liydrocoton, C18H24Oc is formed at
the same time by the action of the potassic hydrate
on leucotin. Hydrocoton crystallizes in white prisms
which melt at 48 — 49° (uncorr.). It gives dinitro-
coton* by the action of concentrated nitric acid.,

Oxy leucotin*

Most of the oxyleucotin would be found with the
jmracotoin, as it is only to a slight extent separated
from the latter by crystallization from alcohol ; but it
can be obtained by heating the mixture of the two
bodies with dilute potash or soda, which dissolves
the paracotoim The undissolved residue of oxyleu-
cotin can be crystallized from boiling alcohol or
glacial acetic acid. It forms large white prisms
which melt at 133’5Q (uncorr.), and are insoluble in
caustic alkalies. It readily dissolves in boiling
alcohol or glacial acetic acid, separating on cooling
in fine prismatic crystals, but only with difficulty in
cold chloroform, ether, and benzine, although readily
on warming. It corresponds in properties with
leucotin. It contains no water of crystallization, and
its now corrected formula is C34H32012.

Di- and tetra-bromo compounds have been ob¬
tained. Boiling aqueous solution of potassic
hydrate has no action on oxyleucotin, but by fusion
it is converted into hydrocoton, cotogenin, protoca¬
techuic aldehyde and acid, benzoic and formic acids.

Dibenzoiilhydrocoton .*

This substance is contained in the crude leucotin,
and is best separated from it by its insolubility in
glacial acetic acid. It can be obtained in a state of
purity by being converted into the dibromo-com-
pound. It contains no water of crystallization, and
is of the formula C32H3208. It crystallizes in white
stunted prisms which melt at 113° (uncorr.), and
solidify on cooling to a radiating crystalline mass.
At a higher temperature it distils almost unchanged.

* Specimens of dinitrocoton, oxyleucotin and dibenzoyl-
hydrocoton have been presented to tlie Society’s Museum
by Dr. Hesse.

^ Is . very easily soluble in boiling alcohol (recrys¬
tallizing on cooling) and in chloroform, tolerably
so in ether and acetone, but is quite insoluble in
petroleum spirit, sparingly so in cold glacial acetic
acid, although easily on being heated. It is some¬
what soluble in boiling water and in hot potash, but
separates out on cooling.

Dibenzoylhydrocoton is converted, for the most
part, into hydrocoton and benzoic acid by fusion
with potassic hydrate and into benzoic acid and ur>
isolated decomposition products by the ation of con¬
centrated hydrochloric acid in a sealed tube at 140°.
Di- and tetra-bromo compounds have been obtained

Hydrocotom .*

Hydrocotoin remains in the resinous mother liquor
from which the other bodies have been separated as
above described. The resinous mass is treated with
weak soda lye, and the solution precipitated with
hydrochloric acid. The crude red resinous precipi¬
tate of hydrocotin is purified by crystallization from
hot weak alcohol.

t It crystallizes from a concentrated alcoholic solu¬
tion in large pale yellow prisms, and from a dilute
solution in hard, thin needles, which are often more
than 5 c.m. in length. It is soluble in ether,
sparingly so in petroleum spirit, but easily dissolves
in chloroform, acetone, and in hot ammonia, crystal¬
lizing out on cooling. It has a neutral reaction.
Ferric chloride gives a dark brownish red coloration
as with cotoin and dicotoin. Concentrated nitric
acid forms a blood-red solution when heated, which
deposits a red resin on cooling. This resin dissolves
in alcohol to a blood-red colour. It is partly soluble
in boiling water, but is deposited in the form of
almost white prisms on cooling. It melts at 98° ;
the formula is C15H1404.

Bromine, acetyl, and bromo-acetyl derivatives
have been obtained.

Fusion with potassic hydrate converted it into
hydrocoton and benzoic acid, and heating with con¬
centrated hydrochloric acid in a sealed tube at 140°
into benzoic acid and methylic chloride.

Piper onylic Acid (C8H(J04). — This acid is obtained
from the paracoto bark which has been already ex¬
tracted with ether, by exti'acting the bark with lime
water. The extract is made acid with hydrochloric
acid and then shaken with ether. The ether residue
is partly crystalline, and can be purified by re-crys¬
tallization from alcohol, then converted into a potas¬
sium salt, and the aqueous solution of this salt
treated with animal charcoal. “ Genuine ’’ coto bark
also contains this acid, but only in quantity suffi¬
cient to give a qualitative reaction.

The properties of piperonylie acid have been
already described by Fittig and Mielck ( Liebig's
Annalen, 152, 40). Many of the salts described by
them have also been prepared, in addition to many
of its derivatives.

Ethereal Oil of Paracoto Bark.f — By boiling paracota
bark with water an ethereal oil distils over, which
has the peculiar smell of the bark ; but as the oil has
a very high boiling point, a preferable method is ta
subject the bark to the action of superheated steam.
The oil in the distillate can be extracted with ether.

By this treatment the authors have obtained from
a large quantity of the bark about one kilogramme

* A specimen of hydrocotoin has been presented to the
Society’s Museum by Dr. Hesse.

f A specimen of this essential oil has been presented to
the Society’s Museum by Dr, Hesse.

544

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January lo, 1880.

of the oil. Freshly prepared it is very mobile,
eolourless, neutral, and has a peculiar smell. Its
specific gravity is 0*9275 at 15°. It has a laevo-rota-
tory power of 2*12°. It begins to boil at 78°, alcohol
(from the ether used) distilling over ; the tempera¬
ture then rises to about 100°, and oil and water come
over. The temperature goes up quickly to 160°, at
which it remains for some time, gradually rising to
170° — 175°, then to 220°— 235°, and finally to 240°—
250°. At the last temperature yellowish fumes are
evolved, and a thick yellow mass remains in the
still, which has not been further investigated. The
chief part of the oil distils over at 220° — 235°.

By repeated fractionation five characteristic oily
bodies have been separated, a Paracoten, C13H18,
b. p. 160° (uncorr.), and specific gravity 0*8727 at
15°. 13 Paracoten, CnH18, b. p. 170° — 172° (un¬

corr.), specific gravity, 0*8846 at 15°.

a Paracotol*, C15H240., b. p. 220° — 222°, specific
gravity, 0*9262 at 15°. It has a slight smell, and
gives, with concentrated sulphuric acid, a deep red
mass, and, with concentrated nitric acid, a yellow
resin. Heated above its boiling point it becomes
yellow, and is partly decomposed. It gradually
acquires a yellow colour on exposure to air. This
oil appears to be isomeric with cubeb oil, with
which it has much similarity.

/3 Paracotol, C28H40O2, b. p. 236° (uncorr.), specific
gravity, 0*9526 at 15°. It is a colourless oil, with a
slight aromatic smell. It is somewhat difficult to
separate this oil from a paracotol.

7 Paracotol, O28H40O2. This is an isomer of
13 paracotol, from which it is distinguished by its
higher specific gravity, boiling point, and by its very
slight action on the polarized ray.

Its specific gravity is 0*965 at 15°, and it boils at
240° — 242° (uncorr.) . It has a slight smell, is colour¬
less, and becomes very quickly yellow on exposure
to air, owing no doubt to oxygen being absorbed.

Physiological and Therapeutic Action of Coto Bark
and its Constituents.

The conclusion arrived at by Dr. V. Gietl, who
prescribed an alcoholic tincture of the bark, is that
44 We have in the new (‘ genuine ’) coto bark a specific
remedy for diarrhoea in its various modifications.’’

Dr. Burkart has communicated his experience
with regard to the employment of the bark itself
and of an alcoholic tincture of it (1 : 9). In doses of
©*5 to 1*0 gram, the bark caused hiccough, nausea, a
burning sensation in the stomach, and even vomiting.
With a dose of 1 gram of the bark the burning feel¬
ing in the stomach was very considerable, extending
from a quarter to half an hour ; finally, most of the
bark was vomited. The tincture was even more
nauseous. When rubbed on the skin it produced
hypersemia, with a burning sensation.

Dr. Burkart also states that paracoto bark, simi¬
larly prescribed, has much the same effect as coto
bark, excepting that its action on the skin, mucous
membrane, and ulcerous surfaces is extremely
slight, so that, to produce an action equal to coto
bark, a considerably larger quantity must be used.
He has also prescribed an alcoholic tincture of
“genuine” coto bark, and his observations are in
accord with those of V. Gietl’s, but he believes that,
on account of its secondary action on the stomach,

* Specimens of a, (3, y, paracotol have been presented to
iho Society’s Museum by Dr. Hesse.

the bark is not apparently suitable for therapeutic
purposes.

For these and other reasons the authors recommend
the employment of the active principles of these two
barks, cotoin. and paracotoin, both of which have
yielded good results in the hands of Dr. Burkart,
who employed cotoin partly in the form of powder
(*05 gram per dose every two or three hours), partly
in aqueous solution (0*1 to 0*5: 120 with the addition
of a taste corrective) in cases of acute and chronic
stomachic catarrh. In cases of chronic stomachic
catarrh, with relaxation of the coating of the stomach,
it was specially efficacious, and in the diarrhoea of
phthisis also causing a reduction of the febrile symp¬
toms.

Cotoin, in all cases, Dr. Burkart further remarks,
is passed by the urine within 4 — 6 hours after being
taken. To detect cotoin in the urine he used the
nitric acid reaction.

Paracotoin was found to have absolutely no action
on the mucous membrane.

Paracotoin was employed with great success by
Dr. Burkart in powder (in doses of 0*1 to 0*2 gram
every two or three hours) in cases of chronic and acute
stomachic catarrh, and with success in two cases out
of three in cholera nostras.

Professor Balz (Tokio, Japan,) has successfully
employed paracotoin in Asiatic cholera, and, where
possible, by subcutaneous injection, in doses of 0*2
gram.

Oxyleucotin, leucotin, and hydrocotoin have an
analogous action, but in such a very slight degree
that very large doses of these bodies are necessary to
have the same effect as cotoin and paracotoin.

SYRUP OF LACTO-PHOSPHATE OF LIME.*

BY EDWARD S. KELLY.

This preparation is not a chemical combination, but a
simple solution of phosphate of lime in lactic acid, pre¬
served with sugar. The observations of Dussart mentioned
by Dorvault may perhaps be considered the oldest
authority upon this subject ; he proposed the use of lacto-
phosphate of lime, although its chemical formula had not
been determined.

He found it useful in rachitis and osseous affections
accompanying a bad state of the digestive organs and in
dysentery. It was prepared by saturating lactic acid
with gelatinous phosphate of lime concentrated over a
water-bath to the consistence of honey, forming a white
product, soluble In water, partially soluble in alcohol ; it
was given in the form of pastils and syrup, dose from 1
to 10 grams.

This gelatinous or hydrated phosphate of lime was re¬
commended by Possoz and Collas as being better than
the ordinary phosphate of lime. It is prepared thus : —
Calcined bone is treated with hydrochloric acid, forming
a solution, the acid is neutralized with carbonate of soda,
and the precipitate washed and dried, but not enough to
render it pulverulent; it contains 2 parts of water to
1 of lime.

Griffith’s ‘Universal Formulary,’ third edition, gives a
formula by Chiles for this syrup : solution of chloride of
calcium is mixed with solution of phosphate of sodium
and the resulting precipitate, after washing, is dissolved
in cone, lactic acid and syrup added. As thus prepared
it does not contain as much lactic acid as would seem
desirable. Nelson, in his ‘Druggist’s Handbook of
Private Formulas,’ page 42, No. Ill, gives a process which
is the same as Neergaard’s, except that the amount of
sugar is a little larger.

* Read before the Alumni of the Mass. Coll, of Pharm.
From New Remedies, November, 1879.

January 10, is SO. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 5 1 5

In the Druggists' Circular, volume 19, 1875, page 146,
is an account of some so-called syrup lacto-phosphate of
lime which, being tested, proved to be only solution of
phosphate of lime in hydrochloric acid.

The ‘Proc. of the Am. Pharm. Assoc.’ contain various
formulas for this syrup. In volume 19, page 161, is that
of Neergaard’s which is so well and favourably known.
Volume 21, page 188, gives processes by R. Rother and
C. Menibre, the latter using lactate of sodium and acid
phosphate of lime, dissolving each in a little water ; the
solutions are then mixed with syrup and flavoured. In
volume 22, page 80, is Langelle’s process, essentially that
of Neergaard’s. Volume 24, page 104, has a formula in
which basic phosphate of lime is used, but the amount is
only 3 grains to the tablespoonful. This basic salt is so
made as to contain 25 per cent, of -water, which renders
it soluble, and in this condition it may be kept on hand
ready for U3e; on page 241 of the same volume may be
found the formula for its preparation.

The American Journal of Pharmacy, volume 45, page
234, contains a note by Brown, of Philadelphia, in which
he states that he obviated the troublesome precipitate
often met with in this s}rrup by using glucose in place of
sugar.

Volume 48, page 58, of the same journal has the i
opinion of John W. Watts, of Baltimore, upon a so-called
syrup lacto-phosphate of lime, into which phosphoric,
lactic, and hydrochloric acids enter, prepared thus : — To
the magma of freshly precipitated phosphate of lime the
two former acids are added ; these not being sufficient to
dissolve all the lime, the hydrochloric acid is added, which

is also said to be necessary to its

preservation, not keep-

ing more than two or three months without it, and being
nearly enough to convert all the phosphate into chloride.
The formula is given to show the amount of hydrochloric

acid which it contains.

Phosphate of lime . . .

. . 5ss. + gr. 16.

Dilute phosp. acid . . .

. • 3yij.

Lactic acid .

. . xi.

Hydrochloric acid . . .

• • 3vi-

Sugar .

. . q. s.

M.

Neergaard may justly be considered as the man who
first brought syrup lacto-phosphate of lime to the attention
of pharmacists, and his formula is the one I have adopted
without modification ; it is as follows : —

Cone, lactic acid . fl. ?,i.

Magma of freshly precipitated phosp. lime. . q. s.

Orange flower water . fl. ^iss.

Distilled water . q. s. ad. fl. 3 viij.

Sugar . ^xi.

M. S. A.

The magma of phosphate of lime has been prepared
both from the precipitated phosphate of lime of commerce
and calcined bone ; the latter is cheapest and hence used
in making the syrup upon a large scale. The lime is put
into a porcelain-lined kettle and hot water added, direct
heat is applied, and strong, pure, hydrochloric acid added
with stirring until the salt is dissolved ; it is then removed
from the fire and ammonia water slowly added (made thus,
880° ammonia, 1 part, and water, 7 parts), with constant
stirring (to prevent the formation of hard curd-like
masses in the precipitate), until the lime is all thrown
down. The magma is now ready to be washed ; it has
generally been done by transferring to a cotton cloth and
taking to the sink, running in water and squeezing out
till the washings cease to give a precipitate with an acid
solution of nitrate of silver. Of late the washing has
been done by decantation, which is less tedious, and must be
the process employed in large operations. Hot and cold
water have both been used to wash the lime, but that,
treated with hot water is equally soluble with that treated
with cold water. When all the solution of chloride of
ammonium has been removed, and the magma transferred
to a mortar, the lactic acid was added and by constant

stirring made to dissolve the lime to saturation ; the acid
when saturated being still notably sour to the taste. The
orange flower water and distilled water were then added
to make the required amount; as the lime does not all go
into solution, it is filtered and water added through the
filter to preserve the measure. After the solution of the
sugar Is complete, the preparation is again filtered. Thus
prepared, syrup lacto-phosphate of lime is of a light straw
colour, pleasant acid taste, and agreeable flavour.

Mr. Neergaard remarks that heat should not be used
to dissolve the sugar, as it would make the syrup milky,
but no heat is required, as the quantity of sugar is not
enough to make a saturated solution.

Having met with the same trouble spoken of by Mr.
Brown, namely, precipitation, I have modified my process
of late, adding one drachm of hydrochloric acid to each
pint of the syrup thus made, the difficulty is obviated.

The character of this precipitate is much like the soft jelly
often found floating in the syrup or adhering to the sides
and bottom of the bottle; this will redissolve by the
application of heat, but may not remain in permanent
solution. The odour or colour does not change after this
precipitation has taken place ; hence the conclusion that
it is not a fungous growth.

Although the testimony of physicians as to its thera¬
peutical value does not agree, this syrup seems worthy of
a place in the U. S. P. of 1880, and if we can judge by
the formulas offered, and the number of manufacturers
who quote it upon their lists, it has had a very consider¬
able sale and use. Certainly for pleasant taste we have
but few preparations which will favourably compare with
it, and in these days this is a consideration both with
physicians and those who must take medicines.

THE MINERAL CONSTITUENTS OF CINNAMON
AND CASSIA.*

BY O. HEHNER, F.O.S.

The discrimination between ground cinnamorl ( Cinna - .
momum Zeylanicum) and cassia (cassia lignea and cassia
vera) is a matter of some importance, but of considerable
difficulty. These spices are imported into this country
in very large quantities. Thus during the first forty -
three weeks of this year 18,002 packages (of 56 lbs. each)
of cassia lignea, against 13,212 packages of cinnamon (each
weighing about £-cwt.), and during the same period of
last year, 45,433 packages of cassia and 13,489 of cin¬
namon were imported. The wholesale prices of cinnamon
fluctuate between 6d. and 4s. 3d. per lb., whilst cassia
barely reaches 6d. Considering now the extreme simi¬
larity between these barks, both botanical and structural,
not a little inducement exists to substitute the cheaper
for, or mix it with the more valuable spice, and it is a
fact, that notwithstanding the large amount of cassia
imported, it is almost impossible to obtain it under its
proper name at retail establishments. I am informed
that cinnamon sticks are never ground, but always sold
in their whole state, only cinnamon chips and cassia
being powdered. Much cassia, no doubt, is used by
distillers of essential oils, manufacturers of mixed spice
and of curry powder, but it cannot be doubted that much
of it finds its way into the consumer’s hands under a
name to which it has no valid claim. However this may
be, it is important to public analysts that they should
be* in possession of means to discriminate between the
two kinds of bark.

The only test which, as far as I am aware, has been in
use, is that founded upon the alleged difference in the
behaviour of the decoctions towards iodine. Thus
Fliickiger and Hanbury direct in their ‘Pharmacographia’
to “make a decoction of powdered cinnamon of known
genuineness, and one of similar strength of the suspected

* Bead before the Society of Public Analysts, November

19, 1879. From TJ e Analyst, December, 1879.

54G

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 10, 1680.

powder. When cool and strained test a fluid ounce of
each with one or two drops of tincture of iodine. A
decoction of cinnamon is but little affected but m t a
of cassia a deep blue-black tint is immediately produced.
But, considering that both cassia and cinnamon contain
much starch— as shown by the microscope— it seems a
priori improbable that cassia starch should act normally
towards iodine, whilst that of cinnamon refuses to do so
The different amount of tannin would certainly not
explain the distinction, as has been suggested by Pereira,
as both cassia and cinnamon are rich in tannic acid.
But the fact is that decoctions of both cassia and the
cheaper kinds of genuine cinnamon turn blue with iodine.
A few drops of iodine are first decolorized by the solu¬
tions but a point is readily reached when the blue colour
permanently makes its appearance, modified, of course,
by the yellow colour of the decoction. The finest samples
of cinnamon do not react much with _ iodine, probably
because, on account of their immaturity, they contain
little real starch. The iodine test is therefore of very
questionable value, and genuine cinnamon might by it be
condemned as adulterated. It may be admitted that m
the case of cassia the reaction is obtained more readily
than with cinnamon.

To find, if possible, some real difference between the two
kinds of bark, I examined their mineral constituents,
believing that the more woody bark, cassia, would contain
a larger amount of salts of lime and magnesia than the
delicate membranous cinnamon. . The following analyses
show, however, that tVis supposition was not entirely sub-
stantiated. All analyses were made upon the ash obtained
at the lowest possible temperature (below visible red
heat), but not recarbonated, that is to say, precisely as
they would result in an ordinary analysis.

cinnamon

Per lb.

Is. 1 0<2.

3s.

3s. 6d.

Coal . .

« •

0-27

0 41

0-31 .

Sand. .

0 0

1-09

0-53

0-52 .

Si02. .

0 •

0-27

031

0”25 .

C02 . .

» •

29-29

32-27

32-40 .

p8o6 •

• •

3*52

2-20

3-00 .

so3 . .

» «

2*42

2-73

2-84 .

Cl . .

0 0

018

0*51

0-76 .

Ee„03 .

m

0-78

0-41

0-46 .

Mn304 .

m

0-86

0-97

013 .

CaO . .

40 09

36-98

40-39 .

MgO .

2 65

3-30

3-86 .

k2o . .

14-22

16-70

10-35 .

Na20 .

0 •

3-98

2-97

4-65 .

99-62

100-29

99-92 .

Ash . .

0 •

4-78

4-59

4-66 .

CASSIA
Lignea. Yera.
1-26 —
3T6
0-90
*27T8
3-67
2-02
014
1-23
5T1
25-29
5-48
20-58
3-98

0-24

0-20

36-26

1T3

0-71

0-09

6-14

1-13

52-72

110

5-60

0-90

WHOLE CINNAMON.

100-00 100-16
1-84 4-08

CINN.
CHIPS,
contg.

Retail, per lb.

Is. lOd. 3s. 3s. 6cZ. 3s. 6 d.

6s. wood, yd.

per lb.

Moisture . .

12-67 12-05 11-38 11-64

12-94 .

11-25

Ash in Bark .

4-78 4-59 4-66 314

4-28 .

4*44

Lime in Ash .

40-09 36-98 40*39 3432

36-99 .

42-H

Mn304 . .

Soluble Ash .

0-S6 0 97 0-13 0-62

0-59 .

0-34

25 01 28-93 25-22 26'3 6

17-67 .

18-34

I nsoluble Ash

74-96 71-02 74 78 73*64

72-33 .

81-66

CASSIA LIGNEA. CASSIA VERA.

Whole. Ground.

Moisture . . .

14-22 11-88 11-05 .

10-37

11-36

Ash in Bark

1-84 2-54 2-55 .

4-08

4-85

Lime in Ash

25’29 34-49 28*63 .

52-72

43-40

Mn304 . . .

Soluble Ash . .

5-11 4-94 3-55 .

IT 3

1-53

40-58 2678 30-91 .

8-36

15-89

Insoluble . . .

59-42 73-22 69-09

91-64

84-11

much less. Secondly, that the amount of ash soluble in
water is about one quarter of cinnamon ash, less in cassia
vera, more on cassia lignea. Thirdly , that cinnamon ash
contains less than one per cent, of oxide of manganese,
cassia vera upwards of one per cent., cassia lignea far more,
up to five per cent. This is indeed the most noteworthy
feature brought out by the analyses. The amount of man¬
ganese has a direct influence upon the colour of the ashes.
Thus all cinnamon ashes are white, or nearly so, those of
both descriptions of cassia grey or brown, and the latter,
when heated with hydrochloric acid, yield an abundance
of chlorine gas. Thus the amount of manganese serves
to distinguish cinnamon from cassia lignea with a high
degree of probability, and even a comparatively moderate
admixture of the latter would thus be rendered evident
in the former. The manganese is most readily separated
from the ash by means of bromine after the phosphate of
iron has been precipitated by acetate of soda.

The difference between cinnamon and cassia vera is
not so marked, but the low proportion of soluble ash in
this will be a point worthy of notice. But cassia vera is only
imported to a very small extent, and it is, as an adulterant
or substitute, of far less importance than the cassia
commonly so-called, namely cassia lignea. It is, moreover,
so mucilaginous that when heated with water it yields a
glairy or ropy decoction.

All of the samples, the analyses of which are reported
above, were of undoubted purity, and many of them were
kindly furnished me by Messrs. J. Travers and Son, to
whom I am much indebted. My thanks are also due to
Mr. E. Riley for having assisted me in carrying out the
investigation.

In the discussion which followed the reading of this
paper, Dr. Dupr6 asked Mr. Hehner whether he had any
information as to the places where the cinnamon and
cassia came from. It might be that this remarkable
amount of manganese was not always found ; was there
reason to suppose that it was really a characteristic of
cassia, or that it was due to a local peculiarity of the
district ?

Mr. Stewart asked if Mr. Hehner had made any
determinations of the quantity of iodine added in each
case; it seemed to act much more rapidly with cassia
than with cinnamon.

Mr. Hehner, replying to Dr. Duprd, said that he had
had one of the samples of cassia lignea for two years, two
other samples were quite recent, two cheap cinnamons
were recent also, and they gave an ash very rich in
manganese, which no doubt proved that they consisted of
cassia. He had no doubt that by far the largest amount
of ground cinnamon sold was really cassia. In reply to
Mr. Stewart, he said cinnamon decoctions required, as a
rule, a very much larger quantity of iodine. The test as
given in different books was really contradictory.
Fliickiger and Hanbury say: first arid one or two drops,
and “a deep blue-black tint is immediately produced,”
and a few lines further on they say, “But the colour
quickly disappears and becomes permanent only after
much of the test has been added.” No doubt there is a
little more starch in cassia than in cinnamon.

Examining these figures it appears — First, that the
proportion of ash in cinnamon fluctuates between com
paratively narrow limits. Cassia vera contains an
amount equal to that of cinnamon, but c issia lignea yields

* 13y difitrence.

CARLSBAD SALT.— (Dr. Uloth.)

The natural Carlsbad Salt, hid in solution by the
Carlsbad Mineral Spring, contains about 2 per cent, of
potassium sulphate, which constituent was usually left
out, when preparing the salt artificially. The author
directs the following proportions, in order to prepare
artificial Carlsbad water : —

Sodium Sulphate, Anhydrous ... 45 parts.

Sodium Bicarbonate . 33 „

Sodium Chloride . 20 „

Potassium Sulphate . 2 „

Dissolve 4 parts of this in 500 parts of water.

Zeit., and Pharm. Centralh.

Pharm.

January 10, 18!0] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

547

2fh« flhanttaceutical Joutpral.

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , JANUARY 10, 1880.

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

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

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

DEATH BY MISADVENTURE.

The London daily paper which lays claim to
having the largest circulation in the world has
within the last few days informed its readers in an
editorial article that, “in spite of all our legal enact-
“ ments and provisions, gross neglect may still pre¬
vail in the dispensing of dangerous drugs.” The
particular case that has called forth this dictum is
of a nature that forbids dissent from the opinion
expressed, and probably many who read the article
and the details of the case to which it refers will be
impressed with a conviction that it is but another
illustration of the necessity, insisted upon sometimes
in medical journals, for a thorough reform of the
system under which poisonous and dangerous medi¬
cines are supplied to the public.

To a certain extent such an idea will be justified,
not only by the facts of this particular case, but
also by those of similar cases that we have lately
had to record in this Journal, and so far as those
cases are illustrative of the system under which
dangerous drugs are supplied to the public we must
acknowledge that there is no kind of foundation for
objecting, as wTe recently did, to the demands of the
Medical Press and Circular for “a speedy and sweep¬
ing reform,” since it is impossible to read the case
reported at page 557 without concurring with the
opinion expressed by the jury that there had been
gross neglect on the part of those whose duty it was
to attend to the management of the drags.

But while making this admission it must not be
supposed that we retract in the slightest degree our
objections to the views put forward in the medical
journal above referred to, in so far as they tended to
throw an imputation upon registered chemists and
druggists. The case now under consideration is not
one that justifies any such imputation, though in
accordance with a common form of popular ignorance
the writer in the Daily Telegraph, failing to recog¬
nize the fact that a place where drugs are sold across
the counter is not necessarily a chemist and druggist’s
shop, makes use of the case to ground an argument
as to the necessity for caution being exercised by
chemists and druggists to avoid the hasty distribu¬
tion of poison.

In reality as the sale of the drug which caused
the death of the child did not take place in a

chemist and druggist’s shop at all, but in a shop
having, it is true, that semblance, but kept by a
regularly qualified medical practitioner, using the
designation of a physician, and assisted in the con¬
duct of his business by a licentiate of the Society of
Apothecaries. Neither the one nor the other was
directly responsible for the mistake by which the
child’s death was caused, but having left the shop
open in the charge of a mere boy, who had on pre¬
vious occasions manifested a precocious desire to
officiate as a dispenser, there was, it must be admitted,
too much reason for the censure expressed by the
jury, and re-echoed by the Daily Telegraph.

Among the cases of death by misadventure a very
considerable proportion are not at all the result of
any neglect of the precautions prescribed by law for
the observance of legally qualified vendors of poi¬
sonous drugs, but are due to want of caution or deli¬
berate misuse on the part of the persons who obtain
possession of such drugs, either by ordinary purchase
or by means of a physician’s prescription. Some of
our medical reformers would recommend as a remedy
against poisoning in this way the adoption of a
system like that prevailing in some parts of the
Continent, by which it is made impossible to obtain
any kind of medicine except by the order of a
qualified medical man ; others would restrict the
use to which prescriptions are to be put by patients
for obtaining more than one supply of the medicine
ordered . It may be that there are grounds upon which
either, or both, of these plans could be advocated as
being desirable and beneficial in the interest of the
public, either in general or in reference to special
instances; but the question whether this be so or not
is one for consideration by medical men rather than by
pharmacists. The advocacy of any such plans must,
however, be founded upon well ascertained facts, not
upon mere assumption, and even if it does sometimes
happen that in the absence of such restrictions, cases
of poisoning occur we contend that there is no ground
for throwing blame upon chemists and druggists.

Such restrictions or rather regulation of the sale
of poisons as there are in force have been brought
into existence by the efforts of the Pharmaceutical
Society, and it appears a mere gratuitous exhibition
of ignorance to find fault with the authority pos¬
sessed by that body in this respect. The cuckoo cry
about the “ facilities afforded for obtaining poisons,”
so often heard, is one that does not in reality convey
any reproach to the registered chemist and druggist,
who carries on his business in such a way as to give
force to the specific provisions of the Pharmacy
Act, and by the timely exercise of his skill and
experience offers additional protection to his
customers. However thoroughly his duties are
performed in these respects, he cannot absolutely
provide against a possible misadventure resulting
from causes beyond his control. Only three weeks
ago we referred to a case, illustrating this fact, in
which a physician’s prescription was made the

548

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January iO.1880.

medium of obtaining, in a perfectly legitimate way,
sufficient poison to produce by its misuse a fatal
result. The daily papers of this week report
another case of a similar nature in Bayswater, where
laudanum sold in accordance with the provisions of
the Pharmacy Act was misapplied with fatal con¬
sequences. It is idle to talk about the facilities for
obtaining narcotic and other poisons, as the jury is
reported to have done at the inquest in this case, as
if such facilities were unduly afforded by chemists and
druggists, and especially is this kind of comment
beside the question, so long as some of the most
potent poisons can be readily obtained in the form
of patent medicines at the grocers or the co-operative
stores, without any indication of their dangerous
nature to warn purchasers against their incautious
use, so long also as the presentation of a physician’s
prescription enables a person to obtain, either from
one or from several shops, a supply of poison that
may have fatal effects if misapplied.

We contend, therefore, that the vague complaints
often made in a sense detrimental to the chemist
and druggist are as a rule without any foundation.
The questions they raise are in reality questions for
medical practitioners to consider and if possible deal
with. Through the agency of the Pharmaceutical
Society the drug trade has done its part towards
regulating the sale of poison and limiting the facili¬
ties of obtaining poisons, and in the exercise of the
more special functions of pharmacy the several
members of that trade constantly furnish to the
public, as well as to medical men, protection against
the consequences of accidental mistakes in prescrip¬
tions. If in certain cases medical men desire to
limit the use that is to be made of their prescriptions
it is for them to institute such an arrangement
among themselves and with their patients, possibly
also with that object to seek the co-operation of the
chemists and druggists who perform the supple¬
mentary work of dispensing the medicines they
order. If it be desirable that a person suffering
from neuralgia or the effects of intemperance should
not be allowed to procure laudanum or chloral
without a physician’s order, the grounds upon which
such restrictions are to be claimed must first be well
made out and supported by the evidence of facts,
and then it will be a question between the medica
men who seek to impose such restrictions and the
public who are to be subjected to them whether
they will, on the one hand, be tolerated, and whether
on the other, they can be enforced.

Besides the cases of the kind above referred to,
there are some in which “ death by misadventure”
is certainly referable to neglect on the part of the
persons who have the management of drugs, and,
from the result of many years’ special observation,
we can affirm that such cases are more frequently '
traceable to medical men than to chemists and
druggists. In stating this, we do not desire to make
invidious or unnecessary comparisons, but merely to

demonstrate the absence of any adequate foundation
for much of the comment upon the subject of
accidental poisoning which has appeared in the
medical press. If the writer of the article in the
Daily Telegraph of last Monday would correctly
inform himself as to the actual circumstances of such
cases we are confident he would perceive that, in
regard to the sale of poisons, his special reference to
chemists and druggists as requiring advice to observe
caution where the public safety is concerned is not so
much needed in that quarter as it is in others. In
regard to the spirit of his general recommendations,
however, we thoroughly concur with him, and in the
interest not only of the public, but also that of
chemists and druggists, we should be glad to see
him at some future time dealing with the subject
under the light of more accurate information.

ANOTHER CREAM OF TARTAR PROSECUTION.

At the moment of going to press we learn by
telegram that another prosecution for the sale of
cream of tartar containing six per cent, of tartrate of
lime bas been instituted at Romsey, and that the
summons was dismissed. The defence of this case
was conducted by the Birmingham Association, and
we congratulate the executive of that body upon
having so successfully followed the lead of the
Society.

The number of instances in which prosecutions
have been undertaken without any sufficient reason
and where there was no foundation for the charge
of adulteration is now so considerable, and the need¬
less vexation and trouble caused thereby are so
prej udicial, that there seems to be ample occasion for
adopting the suggestion made by the President at the
late meeting of the Council and communicating with
the Local Government Board with the view of
ejecting some arrangement by which the certificates
of public aualysts should be subjected to competent
scrutiny and consideration before being made the
basis of prosecution. At present the decision of
the question whether in any particular instance
adulteration has been practised or not seems to be
left in very incompetent hands, and to be dealt with
in a manner calculated to cause much inconveni¬
ence and detriment to persons who are entirely
blameless.

A CORRECTION.

By a slip of the pen, it was stated last week in our
yearly resume, that Mr. Schacht became Vice-Presi-
in the place of Mr. Bottle. This was not correct,
Mr. Savage having been Mr. Schacht’s immediate
predecessor in that office, which he had held for three
years.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The next meeting of this Association will be held
at George Street, Hanover Square, on Wednesday
evening, January 14, wrhen a paper on ‘‘Benzol and
its Derivatives” will be read by Mr. G. W. Bullen.

The name of Mr. John Hurst, Pharmaceutical
Chemist, has been placed by the Lord Chancellor on
the Commission of the Peace for the Louth Borough.
Also, in addition to the pharmacists already men¬
tioned as having been elected to municipal office,
Mr. Herbert J. Orchard, Chemist and Druggist,
has been chosen Mayor of Newport, I.W.

Jammy 10, 1680.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

549

$rra#ms 0f % $041%

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday , January 7, 1880.

MR. GEORGE WEBB BANDFORD, PRESIDENT.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT.

Present — Messrs. Atkins, Bottle, Churchill, Gostling,
Greenish, Hampson, Hills, Robbins, Savage, Shaw, Squire,
Slipper, Symes and Williams.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.

The minutes of the meeting for the election of an¬
nuitants were also read.

The Secretary stated, in reply to a question by Mr.
Williams, arising out of the minutes, that the total
amount of the Society’s investments on the General Fund
was about £22,000.

The Board of Examiners.

The Secretary read a letter from the Privy Council,
approving of the gentlemen appointed last month by the
Council to act as examiners during the present year.

The Reporting of Council Proceedings.

The Secretary read the report of the Special Com¬
mittee appointed to make arrangements for the admission
of reporters. The Committee recommended that a second
table be placed in the Council room for the necessary
accommodation of press reporters ; and that press re¬
porters should leave the room when the Council resolves
itself into committee.

Mr. Hampson moved that the report be received and
adopted.

Mr. Gostling seconded the motion.

The President said he had received one application
for admission.

Mr. Shaw asked if the discussion on this motion
should take place in commbtee.

The President thought it would be better.

Mr. Hampson saw no necessity for such a course.

The President suggested that the adoption of the
Committee’s report should be carried first, and then that
any discussion on particular applications should take
place in Committee.

The Vice-President suggested that an addition should
be made to the Committee’s report, providing that the
editor of any journal which wished to be represented
should make application, and that if his application were
acceded to, a letter from the Secretary, stating that fact,
should be the credential for a person entering the room
as a reporter.

The President thought this suggestion was really
covered by the resolution passed last month.

Mr. Atkins thought the Vice-President’s suggestion
was well worthy of adoption.

Mr. Hampson did not see any necessity for hampering
the matter with minute regulations of this sort.

The motion for the adoption of the report was then
passed unanimously.

Mr. Symes expressed his dissent from the Vice-Presi¬
dent’s suggestion.

Mr. Savage moved that the consideration of the ap¬
plication received and the details should be considered in
committee.

Mr. Hampson objected, and on the motion being put
it was lost.

The application was about to be read, when

The Vice-President said he did not understand that
the vote just taken was on the question of individual
applications.

The President also stated that there were several
matters of detail which he thought ought to be discussed,
but which he had not been able to get the Committee
to go into. These matters he still thought had better be
discussed in committee. He thought the Vice-Presi¬

dent’s suggestion was a very good one, and was not
intended to throw any difficulties in the way.

After some further discussion, in the course of which
Mr. Squire stated that he had not understood the object
of the motion for going into committee,

Mr. Bottle moved —

“ That only one reporter be admitted from any journal
at the same time.”

He wished to do so before any application was read, in
order that the motion might not have any personal appli¬
cation.

M. Shaw seconded the motion.

Mr. Hampson asked if notice ought not to have been
given of this motion. It opened the whole question, de
novo, in his opinion.

The President did not think it wa3 necessary to give
notice of such a motion, which only referred to the detail
of arrangements to be made, and he thought the sooner
the arrangements were made the better.

The motion was carried nern. con.

Mr. Churchill said the Council had not yet settled
the question of the reports of the committees, which was
very important.

The President said he had intended to propose that,
inasmuch as there were sometimes private matters in¬
cluded in the reports of the committee*, the Council
should, if necessary, go into committee to receive such
reports, when, under the regulation already passed, the
press reporters would be required to leave the room.

Mr. Gostling thought such a resolution a very proper
one, and he would move it.

Mr. Churchill seconded the motion.

The Vice-President thought the Council might have
a broader regulation. The proceedings of committees
were supposed to be private, and never published, but
simply the fact that the reports were agreed to. If that
were the case, and the constituency of the Council were
in no way deemed entitled to know the contents of the
reports of the committees, would it not be well to make
a general regulation that reporters be not admitted until
the reception of the reports was concluded ? Why should
they come into the room simply to be asked to leave it
whenever a report was being read ?

Mr. Williams said there was a difficulty in the words
“if necessary.” How could the Council tell whether it
was necessary or not, unless the whole report were read.

Mr. Gostling said there would be some member of the
Committee present who could say whether the report
contained matter which ought not to be published.

Mr. Williams said in that case there would be a long
discussion each time whether the Council should go into
committee or not, which was not a practice to be en¬
couraged, as it wasted a great deal of time.

M r. Gostling remarked that as a rule the report of the
General Purposes Committee contained details not proper
to be published.

Mr. Hampson said if this motion were passed it would
have the effect of shutting out all discussion of committee
work. There had been many interesting and important
discussions on reports of committees, and to shut them
out would be to curtail the report even in the Society’s
own Journal.

Mr. Symes thought the motion was scarcely in ac¬
cordance with the recommendation of the Special
Committee. The suggestion made to the Council waa,
he understood, that only some special portion of a report
should be heard in committee. But, according to the
motion, if there were two lines in a report, containing
matter of a private nature the whole report would have
to be taken in committee. The President himself had
suggested that a red mark should be placed against the
report of any matter which the Committee thought
should be kept private.

The President said the paper from which he had just
been reading was the same that he laid before the Com¬
mittee. It would be quite competent for any gentleman.

550

[January 10, 1S80.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

who was a member of the Committee to say theie were
certain things in the report which ought not to be pub-
ished. He could not join with the Vice-President m
thinking that the reporters should be excluded until all
the reports had been disposed of ; if so they would only
come in sometimes when the diplomas _ were being
stamped, which always formed the last item on the
agenda. He was quite willing that the motion should
be put in any form which would make it workable.

Mr. Robbins said it appeared to him there was omy
one committee whose proceedings were of vtry great
interest to the members outside, and that was the
General Purposes Committee. But the members, of
Council all knew that there were a great many questions
which came before that Committee which could not be
published. The most important part of the Society’s
work was done in that Committee. What was done . by
the other committees was of comparatively little im¬

portance to readers outside. #

Mr. Gostling said he would, at the President s sug¬
gestion, put the motion in the following form :

“That inasmuch as matters of a private nature. are
sometimes recorded in the proceedings of the % arious
committees, it will be well before such minutes are
read, for the Council, if necessary, to resolve itself
into committee for the purpose of receiving and
considering the report of such private matters.

Mr. Chukchill seconded the motion.

Mr. Williams thought the reports of the committees
should always be read in committee, and that. then, it
should be an open question whether the discussion
should take place in committee or not. The report
might contain nothing of a private nature, and might
contain matter of great public interest which ought to be
discussed openly and reported. That could be decided
in two minutes, after the report had been read.

Mr. Atkins thought that all the differences which
were now springing up like mushrooms might have been
avoided if the Council had clearly made up its mind on
the point of whether the reporters should be called upon
to leave the room or not. The report of the Committee
including that regulation had been adopted without any
discussion, and he certainly was not aware that the
subject was concluded, or he should have offered some
remarks upon it. He felt more and more convinced that
the reporters might have been allowed to remain subject
to the same honourable regulations as the Council. s
own reporter. ITe did not wish to be a prophet of evil
after having supported the change, but he thought it
would be found that asking the reporters to be continually
trotting in and out of the room would be a great
nuisance.

The Pbesident said he had no fear of the reporters, but

the Council ought to retain in its own hands the means

of keeping them in order.

Mr. Williams then moved as an amendment —

“ That the Council shall resolve itself into committee
to receive the reports of all committees, and discus¬
sions thereon shall be taken in committee or open
Council as decided by the Council at the time.”

Mr. Squire seconded the amendment.

Mr. Hampson decidedly objected to the amendment.
The report would be perfectly unintelligible if the
reporter was unable to start with the text. It was the
custom in all public bodies for the reports to be read and
extracts from them to be published. It was only an
occasional matter which the Council wished to keep
private. He thought it very undesirable that either of
these motions should pass. These important changes
should be introduced in a proper way by notice of motion
being given, so that members of Council should have an
opportunity of thinking the subject over. He should
much prefer to have the reporters present on all occasions
and to trust to the honour of those gentlemen. He
regretted now that the Council had agreed to the exclusion
of reporters when in committee.

Mr. Squire said the question whether reporters shou
be present in the room or not had been already decided
and it did not bear on this point.

Mr. Savage said it did very largely, because if he
understood the proposition aright, under any circumstance
the report of a committee must be read in committee,
and a resolution was already passed that reporters must
leave the room when the Council was in committee, so
that during the reading of the report of every, committee,
however insignificant, and however desirable it might be
for them to be present, they must leave the room.

The President said that depended on which proposi
tion was adopted.

Mr. Bottle drew attention to one of the Bye-Laws
which said that every committee should present its re¬
port to the Council. Now it was proposed that the
report should be made to a committee.

Mr. Symes wished to point out that this proposition,
though it did not quite undo everything the Council did
last month, would undo half or two-thirds of it, for the
reports of the committees occupied at least half of the
time. Mr. Williams’s amendment would prevent the re¬
reporters coming in until the Council was about to
break up.

The amendment was then put and lost, and the origi¬
nal motion was carried by a considerable majority.

Mr. Shaw said of course the responsibility would
devolve upon some members of the respective com¬
mittees, of moving that the Council should resolve itself
into committee.

Mr. Atkins said he should move on another day that
the reporters be not asked to leave the room.

Mr. Hills said he should move, if it were not too late,
that the press reporters should be admitted on the same
conditions as the official reporter.

The President said the Council had already decided
the contrary. He then read an application he had re¬
ceived from the editor of the Chemist and Druggist, saying
he should like to send a reporter to all meetings and to
be allowed to attend himself occasionally. He asked for
the latter favour purely for the sake of insuring accurate
information, and he should wish to be regarded as a
second reporter from his journal. He had further re¬
quested that the agenda paper and other documents
furnished to the members of Council might be sent to
him. Mr. Sandford had replied privately, acknowledg¬
ing the receipt of the letter, and saying that as far as
the first part of it was concerned he had not the slightest
doubt that a reporter would be admitted, but with
regard to the other points he could only submit them
to the Council. In the meantime he should be glad to
know what was meant by the “other documents. ’ In
reolv to that Mr. Wootton said he had no special docu-
| memts in his own mind, he only thought that papers
respecting the business of the Society were sometimes cir¬
culated, and, if so, he should of course be glad to have
them, though not necessarily for publication. Mr. Woot¬
ton had also called on him, when he was informed that
there were no documents handed to the Council but the
agenda paper, except that occasionally reports of com¬
mittees were circulated which were entirely private until
they were in the hands of the Council collectively. Mr.
Wootton said he did not make any point of the other
documents. The first question, of course, was the admis¬
sion of a reporter from the Chemist and Druggist.

Mr. Hampson moved and Mr. Atkins seconded — -

“ That a reporter from the Chemist and Druggist be
admitted to the ordinary monthly meetings of the
Council of this Society.”

Mr. Williams thought before this motion was passed
the Council had better discuss the second question,
whether the editor also should be allowed to be present.

The President remarked that the resolution already
passed on the motion of Mr, Bottle disposed of that.

The Vice-President said that the letter having been
received he considered a certain answer should be sent to

Jairaary 10, It 80 u

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

551

it, which should contain the conditions on which the
reporter should be admitted. He should also like it to
■contain a paragraph to the effect he had before suggested,
requesting that in the event of any change of the indi¬
vidual representing the journal he should bring that letter
as his warranty for entering the Council -room.

The President said no doubt an answer should be
sent ; but he believed there was a gentleman waiting to
come in.

Mr. Symes thought it would be sufficient if the Secre¬
tary, in writing to the editor, called his attention in a
footnote to the conditions attached to the admission of
the reporter.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

The President said the application of the editor of
the Chemist and Druggist to be himself occasionally pre¬
sent was already disposed of ; then came the question of
forwarding him the agenda and other documents.

Mr. Bottle thought there was no objection to sending
him the agenda.

The Vice-President asked if a copy was supplied to
the editor of the Pharmaceutical Journal.

The Secretary said no.

Mr. Symes thought that was no objection; if he asked
for one he would no doubt receive it.

Mr. Williams said the agenda was a private document,
and if it were to be sent to any strangers there should be
a resolution to that effect.

Mr, Shaw then moved —

“ That the agenda paper of the ordinary Council
meetings be sent to the editor of the Chemist and
Druggist, marked ‘ private.’ ”

This was seconded by Mr. Symes, and carried unani

mously.

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

Bown, John Quinton.

Carter, Francis.

Crook, Herbert.

Eaton, Edward Jarrett.

Greig, James.

Gulliver, William Inchle.

Harburn, Alfred.

Hugill, Arthur Major.

Kirk, William Peele.

Powell, William.

Richardson, William.

Williams, Thomas Henry.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists.

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscription for the current year,
were elected “ Members ” of the Society : —

Be van, William . Harwich.

Bown, John Quinton . Nottingham.

Carter, Francis . London.

Crook, Herbert . Gravesend.

Eaton, Edward Jarrett . Diss.

Gibbons, Wralter . Manchester.

Greig, J ames . . Glasgow.

Gulliver, William Inchle . London.

Harburn, Alfred . Bishop Auckland.

Kirk, William Peele . Retford.

Laxon, Matthew . . March.

Richardson, William Henry ...Lincoln.

The President said he was very glad to see so many
who had just become qualified as pharmaceutical chemists
joining the Society as members.

Mr. Williams wished to say a word or two with
regard to a lady applying for membership before the next
list was put to the vote, and he should move that the

Council resolve itself into committee, as it was a private
matter.

^Mr. Hampson thought this was a dangerous precedent.
He understood the election of members was always in
open Council.

Mr. Williams remarked that what he had to say was
of a personal nature, and ought to be said in committee.

The Council then went into committee.

The Council having resumed, —

. Mr. Hampson expressed his satisfaction that the So¬
ciety had decided to elect as a member a lady who for
many years had aspired to this position, and that a
question which had caused so much excitement in the
Society was now thoroughly settled.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following registered Chemists and Druggists who
were in business on their own account before August 1,
1868, having tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected Members of the Society : —

Leech, Elizabeth . London.

Lewis, John Phillip . Rickmansworth.

Turner, Robert Charlton . Douglas (I. of Man)

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tion, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Bottomley, Albert Frederic ...Holbeck.

Coleman, Edward James . Cardiff.

Francis, James . Carnarvon.

Lee, Alexander Milne . Strichen.

Macpherson, Colin Allan . Edinburgh.

Pearson, Henry . Nottingham.

Walmsley, Robert . Brighton.

Modified.

Emsley, Joseph . London. -

Rich, Geo. Benjamin Orridge... London.

Stewart, James . Grantham.

Thompson, Thomas . Sunderland.

ASSOCIATES.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “Associates” of the Society: —

Minor.

Adams, Benjamin . Grantham.

Allison, William Billyard . Retford.

Bell, Robert . Lancaster.

Brown, Frederick . Lincoln.

Brown, John . Pontefract.

Burrell, Thomas . Edinburgh.

Collins, Robert Enos . Old Leake.

Cox, Frederick John . Newark.

Crichton, Alexander . Burntisland.

CrowTther, William Fearne . Beverley.

Dawson, William . L mdon.

Garrett, John Henry . Kineton.

Gordon, John . Bradford.

Haden, Walter Edward . Lichfield. ,

Hooper, David . Southwark.

Logsdail, Henry . Lincoln.

McDerment, James . Ayr.

Protheroe, John Godwin . Christchurch.

Rees, Harding . South Norwood.

Robinson, Charles Bradshaw ...Great Bridge.

Modified.

Carter, James . London.

Jones, Thomas . London.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary examina¬
tion and tendered their subscriptions for the current

552

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 10, i»80.

year, were elected “ Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society : —

Allan, Alexander Fergusson ...Greenock.

Astley, Frederick Aspinall ...St. Anne s-on-the-Sea.

Bamforth, Joseph . Manchester.

Blenkiron, Jeremy . Shildon.

Boyd, Alexander . Glasgow.

Brown, Fredk. William, jun. ...London.

Brown, George Wall . Rortsea.

Chamberlin, Charles James ...Barnsley.

Comer, Ernest Edward . East Dereham. t

Cooper, George Henry . Oldham.

Crow, William Edward . Louth.

Crowther, Charles J. H . London.

Dale, John Dickin . Stafford.

Dickinson, John George . Lancaster.

Down, Frank Walter . Sittingbourne.

Dowty, William . Evesham.

Elliott, Henry . London.

Evison, Alfred . Alfreton.

Gant, Robert Richard . Norwich.

George, Alfred Walter . Gt. Yarmouth.

Greaves, John Elijah ... . London.

Greener, Michael Hindmarsh... Alnwick.

Hall, Robert Edward . Camborne.

Hebron, Frank . Knaresborough,

Hep worth, Harry . Skipton.

Heron, Frederick Chambers ...London.

Hill, John . Alford.

Hogg, Tom . Derby.

Hughes, William . Llandyssill.

Hunter, George Ackland . London.

Jones, Ellis . Portmadoc.

Jones, John Albert . Liverpool.

Kerr, David . Oakham.

King, Ebenezer Thomas . Reading.

Lawrence, Harry . Dudley.

Leicester, Thomas . Chester.

Littleboy, Jno. W. Hattherden..Norwich.

Little, Walter G . London.

Marlar, John Frederick . Halstead.

Martin, John . Redruth.

Martin, John Bennett . Falmouth.

Mayo, Harry . Towcester.

Miller, Frederick . Strood.

Moore, Frank Philip . Aberdeen.

Morgan, William . St. Clears.

Morrison, Edward . Kelso.

Northey, Edward John . Truro.

Paine, Charles . Belton.

Procter, George Woodyatt . Sunderland.

Procter, Henry Raithby . Boston.

Roberts, Rowland . Holyhead.

Roberts, William . Chester.

Robinson, John Whiteley . Knaresborough.

Scholes, William I . Pendleton.

Skirrow, William . Bingley.

Stothert, James . Atherton.

Sutherland, David Alexander... Edinburgh.

Taylor, John Williams . Norwich.

Thomas, David Robert . Aberystwith.

Tomlin, John Percy . Tunbridge Wells.

Watts, Robert . Chatham.

Whineray, Edward . Ulverston.

Wigg, James . Streatham.

Willett, Frank Augustine . Oxton.

Withers, William . West Bromwich.

Williams, Arthur Gore . Llandovery.

Williams, James Boden . Manchester.

Wilson, Albert . Garstang.

Wilson, David Wm. Richard ...Thirsk.

Wood, Arthur Wm. Henry . Ullesthorpe.

Woltz, Alfred Eughne . London.

Young, Robert John . Bideford.

Mr. Shaw said it was remarked some time ago that

there were no apprentices coming into the trade j but he
never before heard such a long list of names read

Restoration to the Register.

The name of the following person was restored to the
Register of Chemists and Druggists : —

George Barlow, Pocklington, Yorkshire.

Additions to the Register.

The Registrar reported that — .

Henry Cutting, Selby, Yorkshire,

John Hardcastle, 23, Waterloo Road, Hunslett, Leeds,

Lloyd William Hughes, Ruthin, Denbighshire,
having severally made the statutory declaration that they
were in business before the passing of the Pharmacy Act,
1868, and these declarations having been duly supported
by duly qualified medical practitioners, their names had
been placed on the Register.

Reports of Committees,
finance.

The report of this Committee was read, including a
recommendation that sundry accounts be paid.

The Vice-President said there was one item, namely,
the Solicitor’s bill, which he thought it would be useful
should be explained to the Council, and he moved that
the Council go into committee for that purpose.

This was agreed to, and the various items having been
explained, the Council resumed, and the report and re¬
commendations were received and adopted.

HOUSE.

The report of this Committee stated that the house-
porter was somewhat recovered in health, and was able
to resume his duties, although not fully restored ; he was
at present sleeping out of the house, but no permanent
arrangement had been made.

The report was received and adopted.

BENEVOLENT FUND

The report of this Committee included a recommenda¬
tion of the following grants: —

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist.
Applicant has had two previous grants of like amount.

£10 to a former member (from 1844 to 1867). Appli¬
cant has had several previous grants, beginning in 1867,
and amounting in all to £55. He is in very bad health,
and unable to do anything.

£10 to the widow of a former member (from 1866 to
1872). Applicant has had three previous grants.

£10 to the widow of a registered chemist and druggist.
Applicant has had three previous grants.

The death of Mrs. Trumper, an annuitant, was re¬
ported.

Mr. Shaw said the Secretary had stated that a con¬
siderable number of the subscribers of 1878 had not
subscribed during 1879, and he should like to ask if he
could account for that in any way. Another fact which
arose out of the late election he wished to refer to,
namely, it appeared that the interest taken by the
members with regard to the privilege of voting was being;
reduced year by year. Four years ago upwards of 4000
voting papers were returned, but this year there was a
falling off of nearly 1000, notwithstanding that there had
been more subscribers. He should also like to know if
it were the fact that those who employed canvassing
cards were the most successful. He was glad to see that
one man had succeeded in obtaining an annuity, viz.,
Mr. Hollin worth, whom on a former occasion the Com¬
mittee had declined to relieve because he was still in
business, but he believed he had received the largest
number of votes this year.

Mr. Williams remarked that Mr. Hollin worth sent
no cards out at all, therefore it did not appear that they
were of so much importance. He himself had given his

January io, i*8o.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

553

vote to Mr. Hollinworth, being, to some extent, in¬
fluenced by the fact that he had not sent out cards.

Mr. Hampson thought the Council must wait for a
more lengthened experience before it could draw any
conclusions on this point.

Mr. Robbins said this might be a convenient time to
make an observation with regard to the election, by
which subscribers might profit in future. At the last
election, as usual, many papers were sent in which were
informal, the majority because the voters did not take the
trouble to sign their names. But another point, which
was perhaps still more important, was this. A very large
number of subscribers, he found, from a very laudable
•desire no doubt, voted for as many candidates as their
votes would allow, notwithstanding there were only
three annuitants to be elected ; thus, if there were eight
candidates and a person had eight votes to give, if he
gave one to every candidate they would all be in the same
relative position as they would have been had he not voted
at all, so that he might have saved himself this useless
labour which at the same time gave the scrutineers an im¬
mense amount of useless work. He hoped the subscribers
would use a little more discretion in future and only
give votes to as many candidates as there were annuitants
to be elected.

Mr. Hampson said it must be born in mind that any
vote given to a candidate who did not succeed was
carried forward to his credit another year, so that every
vote given was of some value.

The Secretary said the number of voters this year
was really in excess of those in the year referred to.
The diminution to which Mr. Shaw alluded arose in this
way, that the office now, for the purpose @f saving the
expense of postage, only sent one voting paper to each
person entitled to vote, whether he were a member or a
.subscriber, whereas formerly it was the practice to send
a. voting paper to each member and associate, and an
additional one if he were a subscriber to the Fund.

Mr. ShAW said he had received two papers himself,
one having reference to twenty votes which he had in
virtue of a donation he had made as treasurer of a fund,
and he had another paper with regard to his own
personal votes.

The Secretary said that was an exceptional case ;
he should be glad to send him two papers, or even three,
every year under the same circumstances.

Mr. Shaw asked if the Secretary could tell the
difference between the subscriptions in 1878 and 1879 in
round numbers ?

The Secretary said the number of persons who did
not subscribe this year but did in 1878 was ‘273, repre¬
senting about £120. There were, however, fresh sub¬
scribers in 1879 who were not on the list in 1878.

Mr. Atkins thought there could not be any great
difficulty in finding out why there were not so many
subscribers. It was perfectly clear that in the depressed
state of trade throughout the country, in which all
shared, especially in the agricultural districts, most
painfully, many persons could not afford to subscribe,
and probably they would have to face the same thing in
another form in the shape of an increased number of
applications for relief. With regard to the question of
■canvassing, he had received no cards at all this last year,
and his votes had been given perfectly free and unfettered.
He regretted to say that the candidate for whom he had
voted, consid e ring it was one of the most deserving cases,
was one of the failures, but he hoped he would meet with
more success another year.

The report and recommendations were then unani¬
mously adopted.

library, museum and laboratory.

The Librarian’s report had stated that the average
Attendance during the preceding month had been, day,
10 ; evening, 19. Circulation of books, town, 182 ;
country, 74. Carriage paid. £1 18s. 9 d.

The following donations to the Library had been
received and the Committee had recommended that the
usual letter of thanks be sent to the re-pective donors : —

Attfield (Professor J.), Chemistry, General, Medical
and Pharmaceutical, 7th (U.S.) ed., 1876.

From Mr. H. C. Lea, publisher.

Chemists’ and Druggists’ Diary, 1880.

From the Publishers.

Royal Botanic Society of London, Fortieth Annual
Report, 1879. From the Society.

Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society, Medico-
Chirurgical Transactions, 1879, v. 62.

From the Society.

Royal Society of London, Catalogue of Scientific
Papers, 1861-73, v. 8, 1879. From the Society.

Tommasi (Dr. Donato) :

Nuove Prove in Conferma alia Teoria termica sullo
Stato nascente dell’Idrogeno, 1879.

Recherches sur la Constitution des Hydrates
ferriques, [1879 ?].

Sull’Equilibrio termioo nelle Azioni chimiche, 1879.

Poggiale, Reduction du Chlorure d’ Argent par
Tommasi, 1879. From Dr. Tommasi.

The Committee recommended the purchase of the
following books for the Library: —

Annals of Chemical Medicine, ed. by J. L. W.
Thudichum, 1879, v. 1.

Cavendish (H.), Electrical Researches, ed. by J. C.
Maxwell, 1879.

Fliickiger (F. A.) and D. Hanbury, Pharmaco-
graphia, 2nd ed., 1879. 2 copies.

Landauer (J.), Blowpipe Analysis, Eng. ed., by
J. Taylor and W. E. Kay, 1879.

Milne (A.), Manual of Materia Medica and Thera¬
peutics, by W. Craig, 4th ed., 1879.

Morfit (C.), Chemical and Pharmaceutic Manipu¬
lations, 1850.

Pasteur (L.), Studies on Fermentation, translated by
F. Faulkner and D. C. Robb, 1879.

Royal College of Physicians of London, Translation
of the New London Pharmacopoeia, by J. B.
Nevins, 1851.

Stills (A.), and J. M. Maisch, National Dispensatory,
2nd ed., 1879.

Thomson (A. T.), Elements of Materia Medica and
Therapeutics, 1832-3. 2 v.

Thomson (T.), History of Chemistry, 1830-1, 2 v.

The Curator had reported that the average attendance
in the Museum had been, morning, 12 ; evening, 4. He
had received letters from two gentlemen, offering speci¬
mens for the Museum, and was authorized to accept such
as he deemed desirable. An offer to sell specimens of
thorite and euxenite had also been received, and acting on
the advice of Professor Redwood the Committee had re¬
commended that they be purchased.

The Professors had attended and reported on their
respective classes.

A proof of the first sheet of the * Historical Sketch ’
had been laid before the Committee by Professor Red¬
wood.

The Council went into committee to consider the ques¬
tion of books missing from the Library. On resuming,
the report was received and adopted.

Daniel Hanbury Memorial Medal.

Mr. Williams said the Council was aware that a me¬
morial fund had been raised in honour of the late Daniel
Hanbury, and Mr. Daniel Bell Hanbury, his father, had
expressed a wish to have a copy of the medal. A silver
copy of the medal had been struck, and was now before
the Council, and he had great pleasure in moving that it
be presented to Mr. Daniel Bell Hanbury. Those who
knew what that gentleman had done for the Society
would agree with him that it was only a proper and very
inadequate compliment to be paid to him.

554

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 10, isso.

Mr. Squire seconded the motion, which was carried

unanimously. .

Reports of Committees — continued.
general purposes.

The Council went into committee to receive the report
of this Committee. It included the usual report of the
Solicitor as to cases placed in his hands, enclosing cheque
for a penalty and costs which had been received, and also
correspondence with various parties.

Several other cases of alleged infringement of the
Pharmacy Act were also reported, and in one case a 1
prosecution was recommended.

The report also included a letter received from Mr.
Greaves, of Chesterfield, resigning his office as Local
Secretary.

The Council having resumed, —

The President moved that the report and recom¬
mendations be received and adopted. He said it would
have been seen from the report that he had authorized the
solicitor of the Society to attend at the Fareham Petty
Sessions on the prosecution of Mr. Smith for the sale of
cream of tartar said to be adulterated. He did that on
his own responsibility, and he thought it right to report
to the Committee and to the Council why he had done
so, and to ask their approval. Certain words had been
introduced into the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, at the
instigation of the Society, namely, “ Where the food or
drug is unavoidably mixed with some extraneous matter
in the process of collection or preparation,’’ it should
not be deemed an adulteration; the cream of tartar
in this case was simply contaminated with the tar¬
trate of lime wThich was inherent in its preparation,
because, according to the Pharmacopoeia, bitartrate
of potash was to be made from argol, and argol
contained tartrate of lime, therefore, he thought that
any prosecution of a chemist for selling cream of
tartar which contained no more tartrate of lime than
6 per cent, was a vexatious prosecution and a pro¬
ceeding against which the Council ought to fight.
For that reason he had authorized the solicitor to attend
as he had previously authorized him to do in the
Cbertsey case. One great advantage resulted from the
solicitor’s presence, namely, that at his instance the
magistrates granted the defendant his costs, limiting
them, however, to three guineas. It was true it was a small
sum, but a principle was involved, because it showed that
the chemist left the court in a much better position, and
that it was considered by the magistrates to be a vexatious
prosecution. Arising out of this cream of tartar case, a
suggestion had been made that the Council should
endeavour to get some referee appointed, beyond the
county or district analyst, before whom the adulteration
of drugs should be considered before any prosecution was
authorized, and it was not altogether inopportune at this
moment, because there was now a public prosecutor
appointed, who commenced his work at the beginning of
the year, and if the Council could possibly make any repre¬
sentation to the Local Government Board which would
prevent these vexatious prosecutions, it would be very
well to do so. At the same time, he must say that he
felt the Society stood on very delicate ground in this
matter, because its members should be the last persons to
encourage anything like a sophistication of drugs. That
could not be too strongly put forward. Anything like
real adulteration or admixture, whether injurious to the
persons using it or lessening the effect of the article,
would at once be discountenanced by that Society, and he
did not wish it to be understood that it was it3 business
to defend every one who was prosecuted for adulteration,
but rather to establish a general principle that there wrere
one or two articles, such as cream of tartar and sweet
spirits of nitre, with regard to which action was taken
sometime ago, and there might be others, as for instance,
scammony, to which the special provision he had just
quoted would apply. If an analyst took a parcel of
scammony he might find a small percentage which was

not scammony at all; all authorities admitted there
must be a certain percentage of impurity in it. But the
analyst might say it was not the article demanded. In
such cases the Society ought to come forward, but not in
others, and he should be as careful as anyone to prevent
the Society coming forward to hinder a prosecution for
real adulteration.

Mr. Hampson thought the explanation of the Presi¬
dent was extremely satisfactory. The members of
Council must all feel that he had not in any way over¬
stepped the limits of the discretion reposed in him. No
one at that board had any desire to countenance adul¬
teration in any possible form, but it must be remembered
that that Society, besides having certain important
public functions to carry out, was a society of members
of the trade, and by its charter was distinctly empowered
to protect those who carried on the business of chemists
and druggists. Of course the Society could not defend
every case that occurred, but it was desirable to take up
any typical case, such as would give a warning to
analysts who probably did not always understand their
profession, or public bodies, when they undertook such
vexatious prosecutions as this.

The Vice-President said when he spoke on this
matter in committee on the previous evening he had been
careful to say that he heartily approved of the course
taken by the President ; but he expressed his gratification
that his action had taken that somewhat informal course,
and he was anxious that when the matter was discussed
something similar to what had fallen from the President
should be stated. The President had made it clear that
he had regarded the act as an exceptional one, and one
that, if followed at all, must be followed with the greatest
caution in the future. He knew it was according to a
resolution passed some time ago that private prosecutions
might be defended if after careful consideration the
Council thought it desirable. That resolution was passed
in opposition to his judgment, but it existed, and there¬
fore must be acted upon. But in such cases as this he
thought there was a better course open than mere
defence, one which the President had hinted at, that
the Council should endeavour to establish what might be
a standard condition of purity which the law should
sanction, or say that all cases should be referred to some
such authority as that Society before an analyst was
allowed to prosecute at all. Either of those courses would
be much more worthy of the attention of the Council
than the defence of individual cases as they arose, which
must always, to the outside public, appear more or less —
no doubt erroneously — as if the Society were defending
an impurity, not necessarily an adulteration, but an im¬
purity, which was an awkward position, and one which
he should not like to see become the general view of the
matter. With regard to this particular case, he did feel
that defence of a second case was a little unnecessary. The
Society’s legal officer had been sent to attend one case, and
had got a verdict which was published before the world,
and he thought the Council might have rested content
with that trial, and referred every other defendant who
appealed to it to the case the Society had assisted in
making public. Everything had been made clear about
the cream of tartar and he did not think the work needed
to be done all over again. Certainly he should not be in
favour of defending another case next week if it occurred,
however much he might approve of the President’s action
in the past. At the same time he wa3 perfectly content
with the declaration of the President as to what his course
should be in the future.

Mr. Savage said that but for the observation of the
Vice-President he should have thought the explanation
of the President was ample to meet the case, but from
those observations it seemed necessary that something
more should be said. There was a very clear expression
in the 6th section of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act,
namely, “ where the food or drug is unavoidably mixed
with some extraneous matter in the process of collection

January io, 1880. j THE PHARMACEUTICAlj JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

555

or preparation;” — that was the precise case before them,
and he took it if another case were to arise of a similar
character the Council would be perfectly justified in
taking the same course again. There he differed from
the Vice-President ; because whatever might have taken
place in a case already decided, it must be clearly under¬
stood that the evidence adduced there went for nothing in
another case ; it was no evidence in a court of justice
unless the facts were proved, and to do that you must
have the solicitor there, and also the evidence previously
given. It was necessary for the Society to justify the
confidence placed in it, and come forward and support
every case of this kind where it was found that injustice
was being done to an individual.

Mr. Atkins expressed his gratification that the Presi¬
dent had done what he had, and he was very thankful
the law officer had been instructed to move in the matter.
He maintained that the accused having come out of court
in the way he had after the support he had received from
that Council, was in a much better position than if he
had simply defended the case at his own charge. It gave
him a status which he could not otherwise have secured.
Therefore he differed from the Vice-President on the
general principle. It was not the first time he had heard
it cogently argued from his point of view ; but he entirely
differed from him. The Pharmaceutical Society was
formed, amongst other things, for the protection of those
who carried on the business of chemists and druggists,
and although it might not be desirable to repeat frequent
defences of cream of tartar cases, still when a typical case
occurred it was not only a -privilege but a duty to step
forward and defend it. He would declare as emphatically
as anyone that the Society utterly repudiated adultera¬
tion; but when it was believed, as in this case, that there
would have been a maladministration of justice, seeing
that the Society was not formed simply for the promoting
of pharmacy, or of education, but to protect pharmacists,
it was its duty to come forward. Many men could not
efficiently defend themselves in such cases; they lost
their nerve when prosecuted, and the Society could give
validity to a defence which no individual man could. He
knew that great satisfaction had been felt that the Society
had acted in this matter, and he hoped the same course
would be adopted in future.

Mr. Robbins thought the members of Council must
all be satisfied with the step Mr. Sandford had taken in
the matter, but they ought not to let it remain where it
was. He quite sympathized with Mr. Schacht in his
dislike to defending cases of adulteration. He himself
would not vote for defending any cases of adulteration,
but he contended that this was not such a case. The
pure bitartrate of potash was not cream of tartar, but
this was a very difficult thing for magistrates to decide,
and the Council ought to come to some decision what
amount of tartrate of lime in bitartrate of potash might
be considered pure cream of tartar. If the Council could
not define that point, how could the magistrates, who
knew nothing whatever about the matter ? He thought
it was the duty of the Council to fix on some standard of
purity.

Mr. Williams wished to remind Mr. Robbins that to
fix a standard for a natural product was impossible.
Analysts had tried to do so with regard to milk, but had
not succeeded. So it would be found with cream of
tartar made in various countries, and according as it was
treated with what was called the plastering process or not,
so there would be a variation in the amount of tartrate
of lime. It was understood that the grape juice itself
did contain tartrate of lime, but to what extent had
never been established, and it would probably differ with
the soil in which the grape grew, borne authorities went
as high as 16 or even 20 per cent, of lime in perfectly
natural and unadulterated cream of tartar, and therefore
it would be quite impossible to fix a standard. He should
like to make one more remark with regard to the position
of the President. It was not fair that he should be

appealed to and that he should have, without any advice,
to take serious action in cases which did not give him
time to summon the General Purposes Committee. He
had before suggested that it would be a good thing for
the Council to appoint a small sub-committee of some
kind to be consulted by the President on any matter of
importance which arose suddenly and required prompt
action. The next case might not be of so simple a
character, when the advice of a small committee would
be both welcome to the President and to the general
interest of the Society, and he should be inclined to give
a notice of motion to carry out the suggestion.

Mr. Shaw said he understood the adoption of the
report had been moved, and there was no amendment ;
and therefore he thought this discussion was rather
irregular. The President had acted very properly in
this case, and he hoped the result obtained for the first
time of getting the defendant his costs would have the
effect of putting an end to these vexatious proceedings.

The President said he was perfectly satisfied with the
approval he had received from the Council and hoped no
more time would be spent in discussing the subject.

The motion for the adoption of the report was then put
and carried unanimously.

Weights and Measures.

The President said he had been informed the other
day, by a maker of graduated measures, that he had
applied to the city inspector to get his measures marked,
and was told that no measure could be marked under
the Act except those which contained a given measure
as “ level full.” He (the President) felt that was alto¬
gether a mistake, and went to see Mr. Chaney about it.
Mr. Chaney laughed at the idea, and said, “You will see
our own standards are graduated up to a certain mark,
not to the brim.” The 46th section of the Act clearly
provided for the making of graduated measures, because
it spoke of measures partly composed of glass and partly
of metal. Mr. Chaney told him that a great deal was in
the hands of the inspectors. The Central Board would
ultimately give out the standards to be used by all
inspectors, but had not yet done so, and therefore the
inspectors were not in a position to verify the measures.
Still each inspector in his own district must administer
the law to some extent according to his own judgment.
Mr. Chaney also gave him a report by the Board of
Trade, of its proceedings under the Weights and
Measures Act, in which it was stated that every informa¬
tion would be given by the Central Board to the local
authorities, and the latter were invited to communicate
personally with the officer in charge of the standards, or
if necessary, with the Assistant-Secretary of the Board.
He suggested to Mr. Chaney that the Council might
possibly send a memorial to the Board of Trade to en¬
deavour to get some definite instructions sent to all the
district inspectors so as to bring them into harmony with
one another. It had already been suggested that there
should be one uniform mark, and that separate districts
should have a little distinctive mark in addition. The
President then read the draft of a memorial which he
thought it would be advisable to send to the Board of
Trade or to Mr. Farrer.

Mr. Symes thought the Society, as a body, had wasted
a deal of valuable time over this question, for it was not
yet at all ripe. It had been taking cognizance of over¬
officiousness of local inspectors and giving them an
importance they did not merit. He himself thought it
would be better to let the matter ripen, for it would be
probably years before the Act was carried into force in
some localities, and in others perhaps it would never be
enforced at all. He thought it would be much better,
therefore, to wait until the matter was more ripe before
taking further action.

Mr. Hampson said members of the trade were very
anxious for information on this matter. He had been in
correspondence with several persons who wanted to know

556

THE PH ARMACEU TIC AL JOURNAL AND 'TRANSACTIONS. [January 10, is so.

how they could get their measures stamped, and who
were in a state of trepidation lest they should be pounced
upon by inspectors who did not understand their business.
There was no doubt that inspectors would require a special
education before they were able to carry out the Act of
Parliament, but he somewhat demurred to Mr. Symes’s
remarks, and thought it would be very advisable for the
Council to put itself in communication with the Govern¬
ment officers who had special charge of this Act, and, if
possible, bring about a uniform method of inspection so
as to avoid anything like officiousness or ignorant inter¬
ference by the inspectors. He certainly thought it would
be a long time before the Act was carried out, but there
was a law in force, and the trade ought to be prepared
for anything which might arise. He thought such a
memorial as had been suggested would be a very valuable
opportunity of leading the authorities in the right
direction.

Mr. Shaw said he had been for many years acquainted
with the inspector of weights and measures in Liverpool,
who had sought information from him recently op various
points. He told him that he had received from the head
office in London his first consignment of measures for the
purpose of verifying apothecaries’ measures, including a
4 oz., 3 oz., 2 oz., 1 oz., $ oz., 2 drachms and 1 drachm.
These were metal cylinders which had to be filled to the
brim. From what he stated it was optional with any
local board or corporation to adopt the Act or not in
reference to that district.

The President said they must all adopt the Act.

Mr. Shaw said he meant as to putting it in operation
in their district. At any rate, it had been adopted in
Liverpool, and that was the reason why the inspector
had been in communication with the office in London.
He was now waiting for the larger measures, such as the
30, 40, 20, and 10 ounce measures. He did not know
how the verification would be accomplished.

Mr. Williams could not agree with Mr. Symes, that
the Council or the Society had wasted time in considering
this question. The apothecaries’ weights and measures
had now been legalized, and it would be a source of great
annoyance to many members of the trade if they should
be fined for the possession of weights and measures not
stamped. Very possibly in some cases the law would not
be carried out, but that would be the fault of the autho¬
rities, and the Council must assume it would be carried
out everywhere. It was evident, however, that the local
authorities required instruction, and it was in evidence
that the central board was willing to give that instruc¬
tion. Therefore he thought a memorial, such as proposed,
should be sent from the Council, and if necessary, a de¬
putation should wait on Mr. Farrer and settle any
question which might arise. It was most desirable that if
possible this instruction should be made so simple and uni¬
form that members could not suffer vexatious prosecution.

Mr. Savage said that the Brighton Town Council
refused to have anything to do with this Act for some
time, but it had now ordered a set of weights and
measures.

Mr. Gostling supported the proposition that a memo¬
rial be sent, and he hoped there would also be a short
epitome of the regulations printed in the Calendar.

Mr. Symes said he did not oppose the memorial being
sent ; he only thought the Council had helped to fan the
excitement which Mr. Hampson had spoken of, and so
far, had done nothing to satisfy it.

Mr. Williams reminded Mr. Symes that the matter
was forced upon the Council by the conduct of certain
local officials in the north.

The following resolution was then carried unanimously,
on the motion of Mr. Greenish, seconded by Mr.
Williams : —

“ That a memorial be presented to the Board of Trade,
urging the necessity of uniform practice in verify¬
ing and marking measures in the various districts
throughout the country.”

Report of Examinations.
December , 1879.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

Candidates.

f*

- -

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, 10th ....

. 7

5

2

„ 11th. . . .

. 6

3

3

,, 17th. . . .

. 6

4

2

—19

—12

— 7

Minor, 10th . , . .

17

5

12

„ 11th. . . .

. 21

15

6

„ 17th. . . .

. 21

8

13

„ 18th. . . .

. 25

10

15

—84

—38

—46

Modified, 10th . . .

4

2

2

Totals ....

. 107

52

1 m i

1 V' 1

Scotland.

Candidates.

—

Examined.

Passed.

Failed.

Major, 17th . . .

1

0

1

Minor, 17 th . . .

. 9

8

1

„ 18th . . .

. 6

3

3

—15

—11

— 4

Modified, 18th . . .

2

0

2

Totals ....

18

11

7

Preliminary

Examination.

2 certificates were received in lieu of the Society s
Examination : —

1 College of Preceptors.

1 University of Cambridge.

On the motion of Mr. Schacht, seconded by Mr.
Bottle, it was resolved —

“That the absence from the examination, of which
they had given notice to attend, be excused in the
case of certain candidates ( named in the Resolution),
a medical certificate in each case having been handed
to the Secretary.”

Inundations in Hungary.

The President read a letter he had received from Dr
Paul, enclosing one from the President of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society of Hungary, thanking the Members of
the Council and other subscribers for the. aid they had
given to meet the distress amongst pharmacists occasioned
by the recent floods in that country.

3i;octni[ial transactions.

SUNDERLAND CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

The general meeting of the Sunderland Chemists’
Assistants and Apprentices’ Association was held at the
rooms, corner of William Street, on Monday evening, the
5th inst. The chair was occupied by the President, Mr.
A. Harding. After some preliminary business had been
settled the Secretary (Mr. J. J. Browell) read the reports
of the last session. The number of honorary members
is 26, of members 22; the average attendance at the
meetings had been 12. The income of the past session
amounted to £15 85. lid., the expenditure being
£4 3s. Id., leaving a balance of £11 5s. lOd. The
Association is indebted to Messrs. Barron, Squire and Co.
for a donation of £2 2s., and to Dr. Muter and Mr.
Baxter for their liberal contribution of books.

The reports having been adopted, the President
expressed his pleasure at the prosperous condition of the
Association, as manifested by the balance in hand as well
as by the attendance of members, which he hoped would

January 10, 1880. ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS.

557

t

increase still further, and in speaking of the progress
which had been made during the past session congra¬
tulated the members on the establishment of the classes
which had been formed, and said that he trusted the
members would avail themselves of the opportunities now
offered by the society and would attend as many of them
as possible. A materia medica class had been arranged
to be held fortnightly, conducted by Mr. T. Walton. A
pharmaceutical chemistry class and botany class were held
weekly by Mr. J. J. Browell. The fees of the chemistry
class, amounting to 30s., had been, expended in the
purchase of apparatus, etc. The President then thanked
the members for the assistance they had rendered during
the past session and hoped that the society would be as
successful in the future as it had been in the past and
that it would be a means of benefiting the members in
! more ways than one.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the officers
and committee, to those gentlemen who had assisted with
contributions of money and books, to those gentlemen of
the town who had come forward and given their in-
I teresting lectures, and to those members who had read
! papers.

The election of officers was then proceeded with, the
following being the result: — Mr. J. J. Browell, President;
Mr. A. Harding, Mr. R. H. Mushens, Vice-Presidents ;
Mr. C. Rankin, Secretary ; Mr. J. Peacock, Treasurer ;
Mr. J. Humphrey, Librarian ; Messrs. J. W. Robinson,
R. Leithead, J. G. Johnson, J. Scelly, J. Whitfield,
J. Cowey, Committee.

Iroipfdinp of j$eientifi([ Societies.

j CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Association was held on January 1,
1880, at 32a, George Street, when a paper on the “ Ex¬
amination of Urine” was read by Mr. W. A. H. Naylor,
E.C.S., who stated that the acidity of urine is now generally
admitted to be principally due to the presence of the
acid phosphate of sodium. Qualitative and quantitative
processes, illustrated experimentally, were next given for
the detection and estimation of uric acid, urea, sugar,

! albumen, etc., only those methods being recommended
which had, in the author’s hands, proved satisfactory.
In conclusion the hope was expressed that pharmacists
would give this branch of analysis the attention it
deserves.

After the discussion, a vote of thanks having been pro¬
posed by Mr. James, seconded by Mr. Wallis and carried,
the meeting terminated.

Poisoning by Morphia.

On Saturday, January 3, Mr. S. Collier held an inquiry
at the Eagle Tavern, East India Road, Poplar, relative to
the death of Lilian Selina Holt, aged five, which occurred
f on the previous Wednesday.

Selina Holt, mother of the deceased, said that on
the previous Tuesday the child was unwell, and witness
sent a girl named Hammond to Dr. Moore’s surgery, at
50, St. Leonard’s Road, for a powder. Deceased soon
after having the powder given her went to bed, and
complained of headache. About seven o’clock next
morning her father found her dead in bed, and it was
discovered that the powder which had been administered
to her was composed of hydrochlorate of morphia.

Frederick Albert Hughes, a lad of thirteen, after being
cautioned, stated that he was employed by Dr. Moore,
and was accustomed to serve in the shop. Whenever
persons called and asked for poisonous drugs he told
them, in the absence of the assistant, to call again. A

girl called about twelve o’clock on Tuesday, and stated that
she wanted a powder for a child of five years. Witness
took a bottle from a shelf and handed it to the assistant’s
wife, who, after placing some of the contents in a paper,
handed it to the girl and charged her twopence for it.

Frederick M. Henbeck, L.S.A., assistant to Dr.
Moore, said that at the time of the sale of the powder he
was out visiting. When he returned the boy told him
what had been given to the girl, and witness, finding that
the powder had been taken from the bottle in question,
exclaimed, “Good God, you have poisoned the child.”
Witness, not knowing the address of the parents, placed
the matter in the hands of the police. The amount of
morphia administered was six grains. Witness had re¬
peatedly told Hughes not to serve in the shop. The
bottle was labelled “ Poison,” and was identical in
appearance with others on the shelf.

The boy Hughes (recalled) said that he did know what
the contents of the bottle were. He admitted having been
told not to serve, but on some occasions he was called upon
to do so.

The assistant denied that his wife, who was unable through
illness to attend and give evidence, served the powder as
alleged by Hughes, and although the girl Hammond was
called, she could give no positive evidence on the point.

Hughes insisted that the assistant’s wife served the
powder, and that he merely handed her the bottle.

Dr. Rugg gave evidence, to the effect that deceased died
from the effects of the poison ; and, after a lengthened
inquiry, the jury returned a verdict of death from mis¬
adventure, at the same time expressing their opinion that
there had been gross neglect on the part of those whose
duty it was to attend to the management of the drugs.
— Daily Telegraph.

The Sale of Vermin Killer.

On Monday, January 5, Mr. L. R. Rowbottom, the
Wigan Borough Coroner, held an inquest at Scholes,
touching the death of Lucy Fortune, the wife of a
compositor, who had committed suicide by swallowing a
quantity of vermin killer. After evidence had been given
as to the circumstances attending the taking of the
poison—

Francis Robert Dawson, registered chemist and drug¬
gist, King Street, Wigan, said he knew the deceased by
sight. She had been an occasional customer of his, but
he did not know of his own knowledge where she lived,
or her name. On Wednesday evening last she came to
his shop between six and seven o’clock, and asked for a
sixpenny packet of Battle’s Vermin Killer. He told her
he had not got one in stock, but that he had threepenny
ones, and she said she would have a threepenny one. He
inquired what she wanted it for, and she said destroying
rats. He entered the particulars in the poison book, and
she signed it. Since Saturday he had weighed a three¬
penny packet, and previously he had weighed several.
The one he weighed on Saturday was thirteen grains,
that being the heaviest he had weighed. Some time
before he weighed a similar parcel, and it only weighed
six grains.

The Coroner: Then there was a difference of seven
grains in one of these packets ?

Witness: Yes.

The Coroner : You did not know that this woman was
a married woman, and of your own knowledge you did
not know where she lived. Would you have gone to 105,
Scholes ?

Witness : I would if I had wanted to find her.

The Coroner : And if you had not found her there, what

then 1

Witness did not answer.

The Coroner : Why did you not insist on that woman
bringing in a witness when you sold her the poison ?

Witness : Because it is not the custom of the trade.

The Coroner : Well the sooner it is the custom of the
trade the better it will be. If you do not comply with

parliamentary and 3a«j proceedings.

558

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January io, isso

the provisions of the Act of Parliament you will find
yourself convicted in heavy penalties which will take the
profits off the poison. You knew of your own knowledge
that there was sufficient poison in one of these packets to
kill anybody?

Witness : I did.

The Coroner : Why did you not insist on the woman
bringing a witness ?

Witness : If the person had been an absolute stranger
I should have insisted on it.

The Coroner: You say you did not know her name, or
where she lived. Do you call that knowing a person ?

Witness : I knew her as an occasional customer. She
had a very respectable appearance, and I knew her by
talking to her.

The Coroner : The fact of the woman being a woman
of respectable appearance does not prove your knowledge
of her. Because she was an occasional customer you con¬
sidered she was known to you ?

Witness : I did.

The Coroner : That is your interpretation of the Act of
Parliament ?

Witness : It is.

The Coroner: On the 31st December I see you sold
poison to other persons — did you know them ?

Witness : I knew one of them by sight.

The Coroner : I suppose you take it for granted that if
you know a person by sight and he makes a statement
that statement is true?

Witness : If I have some knowledge before.

Dr. White said on Saturday morning he made a post
mortem examination of the body of the deceased. There
were no external marks of violence. The body was well
nourished and the organs were generally healthy, except¬
ing the vascular state of the stomach and old adhesions
on the lungs showing pleurisy. The brain was healthy
excepting the vascular state of the base of the brain and
the spinal marrow. He had heard the evidence of
George Portune, senior, Mrs. Hodge and Mr. Dawson, and
he had come to the conclusion that the woman died from
taking poison. Battle’s vermin killer, on the authority of
Dr. Turner, consisted of flour, Prussian blue, sugar, and
strychnia — the latter in the proportion of 23 per cent.
Taking the average weight of one of the threepenny
packets at 9 grains there would be very nearly 2 grains of
strychnia in one. Half a grain of strychnia would be
sufficient to cause death.

Mr. Dawson added that on [Saturday he analysed a
13 grain packet of Battle’s- vermin killer and found 2J
grains of strychnia.

Dr. White said he knew the deceased was a very quiet,
respectable woman and very anxious to get on.

This closed the evidence, and the Coroner proceeded to
sum up. In the course of his observations to the jury he
said there were very few Acts of Parliament through
which it was impossible to drive a coach and four, and it
seemed that the druggists were driving a coach and four
through the Sale of Poisons Act. A registered chemist
and druggist was entitled to sell poisons under certain
restrictions, and one of those restrictions was that he was
not to sell it to a person whom he did not know unless he
had a witness with him. In this case the deceased was
only an occasional customer, he did not know her name,
he did not know where she lived, in fact he knew nothing
about her, and yet he sold her sufficient quantity of poison
to kill a dozen people. It seemed to him that Mr. Daw¬
son had acted very carelessly, for if the woman had given
a wrong address there would have been no means of
tracing where she got the poison from. He (the coroner)
did not believe that the Act of Parliament ever intended
that druggists should be allowed to act in that manner.
Mr. Dawson had been extremely negligent.

A J uryman : He deserves a good censure.

The Coroner : It is not for me to prosecute him ; it is
the duty of some other party if they think he has con¬
travened the provisions of the Poisons Act.

The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict
to the effect that the deceased committed suicide while
in a state of unsound mind.

Dr. White said the question might be asked how it
was the contents of the woman’s stomach were not sub*
mitted to a chemical analysis. He ought to tell the jury
that poisoning by strychnia left very slight traces, and he
did not think it worth his while to go to the trouble,
seeing that there was no doubt as to the cause of death.
He condemned the system of selling poisons to persons
comparatively unknown to the vendors by chemists, and
pointed out the restrictions that were imposed on surgeons
in the use of poisons by the Vivisection Act. Something
more should be done to limit their sale by other than
medical men in view of the facilities that at present
existed for obtaining them by people who wished to put
an end to their existence.

The Coroner said he fully concurred in the observations
of Dr. White, and several of the jurymen expressed
similar opinions. — From the Wigan Observer.

The National Dispensatory, containing the Natural
History, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Actions and Uses of
Medicines, including those recognized in the Pharma¬
copoeias of the United States and Great Britain. By
Alfred Stills, M.D., LL.D., and John M. Maisch,
Ph.1). With Illustrations. London : J. and A
Churchill, New Burlington Street. [Philadelphia,
printed.] 1879. Large 8vo.

This is a very bulky volume of 1628 pages, closely
printed, and may well have cost its compilers the “ years
of labour ” they claim to have devoted to its preparation.
For they have aimed to produce a digest of all that is of
practical importance, not only in pharmacology strictly so
called, but also in the medical domain of therapeutics.
Clearly their difficulty has been to determine what to
exclude without injury to the volume as a book of
reference.

As is usual in “ Dispensatories” the dictionary plan is
strictly followed; every article, crude drug, or prepara¬
tion being placed alphabetically by its first word. It is
probable that this has been found by experience to be the
most convenient mode for pharmacists. It would be an
improvement to have a copious system of cross references;
but this is to a considerable extent supplied by a very full
index. For this is a very comprehensive book, and includes
a vast number of substances. Besides the official drugs
and preparations of the British and American Pharmaco¬
poeias, most of those of the German one and of the French
Codex are included, and in addition a great number of
non-official medicines more or less used find a place
either as separate articles or as “allied drugs” under
more important or better known substances. Probably
the book may be fairly regarded as the most comprehen¬
sive of its class and as forming a very full dictionary of
the materia medica of to-day. Information especially
with regard to many of the drugs at present chiefly or
entirely employed in America will be acceptable to
English pharmacists.

As an example of the method of treatment the first
article may be taken, Absinthium. There we find, after
the pharmaceutical, botanical and vernacular names, a
reference to figures of the plant and a short description,,
and then follows an account of the chemical constituents.
A short description of other allied species of Artemisia
comes in next, and then we have the pharmaceutical pre¬
parations, and an account of the physiological actions
and the medical uses of the drug. Mutatis mutandis
other articles are treated in a similar way or with even
greater fulness. Thus the second article, Acacia, gives
also accounts of the collection and commerce of gum
arabic , of its alterations and substitutions ; and of

January 10, 1880.J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

559

numerous other varieties of gum. In the case of mineral
substances, of course much attention is necessarily given
to the mode of production or preparation, to impurities
and adulterations and the tests for them.

The nature of the work does not afford scope for much
original matter, but the authors have thoroughly digested
their mass of material, and present their resun 16 to the
reader well and clearly. In the case of many native
American plants somewhat full descriptions are given.
Special care seems to have been taken also in the
descriptions of the external characters of drugs. A
rather striking feature in the book is the absence of all
special references to other works, with the exception of
the occasional quotation of a figure ; much space has been
^gained by this, at some cost it must be allowed.
.Scattered through the text are about 200 selected wood¬
cuts of small size and unequal value ; some of the micro¬
scopic ones are very good .

The prominence given to the physiological actions of
drugs is a somewhat novel feature in works of this class.
This portion of the subject seems to us also to be par¬
ticularly well done, the results of the most recent obser¬
vations being given with brevity and clearness and in a
manner which exhibits a full acquaintance with modern
research in this important branch of medical science.
In connection with the section on the medical uses of
drugs is a very full therapeutical index, where drugs are
placed under the headings of the various diseases and
morbid states in which they are employed. An appendix
contains tables of maximum doses of important drugs,
of weights and measures and a list of reagents.

The treatment of substances having a definite chemical
composition is remarkably good. The authors by no
means restrict themselves to the consideration of those
occurring in the various Pharmacopoeias, but, as far as
we can judge, no chemical having any kind of use in
medicine or possessing general interest for the pharmacist
is omitted.

The processes for their manufacture are clearly and
accurately described. In those cases in which any
practical difference exists between the processes in the
British Pharmacopoeia and in that of the United States,
Both are given in full, and the respective merits of each
are impartially discussed.

As a matter of fact, it frequently happens that
methods adopted in practical manufacture, on the large
scale, differ very materially from those suitable for use
by the pharmacist. When this is the case the authors
do not fail to give a very readable account of one or more
manufacturing processes. Such accounts generally contain
a very fair amount of detail without being tedious, and
are accompanied by explanatory and critical remarks,
which are to the point.

Occasionally, however, exceptions here and there occur.
Thus, the description of the preparation of glycerine is
very meagre, and this is the more surprising since that
body plays a very important part in American pharmacy.
We may remark that Tilghman only is mentioned in
connection with the manufacture of glycerine by the de¬
composition of fats by the action of water at an elevated
temperature.

Tilghman’s process certainly was the first which was
applied for this purpose ; but it served chiefly to lead
up to the method by which nearly all the pure glycerine
•of commerce is now prepared, viz., the distillation process,
first patented by Wilson and Payne in 1854.

The arrangement of matter is not always perfect. Por
example, under the head of “Properties” we find, in
some cases, a description not only of the physical
characters of a chemical, but its reactions, the tests for
its purity and the methods for its volumetric or gravi¬
metric estimation. In others this matter is divided
under the separate heads of “ Properties,” “ Tests,” and
‘ Tests of Purity.” Again, under tests may be included
the ordinary analytical reactions which take place be¬
tween the substance and various reagents ; or, as is

generally the case, a list is given of reactions which the
body should not undergo in order to prove its freedom
from certain impurities.

These are very slight blemishes and, speaking
generally, we are bound to state that the articles on
the various chemicals in use in medicine and of pharma¬
ceutical interest are as interesting as they are accurate
and instructive.

Amid so much excellence it may seem ungracious to
point out any of the very few minor errors which occur,
but it is impossible to pass without remark the fact that
the formula of oxide of glyceryl is given as Q3H503, and
those of stearin or tristearin, and of olein or triolein,
93H5°3> 3 C18H3602, and C3H503, 3 C18H3402, respec¬
tively.

Again, in commenting on the process in the British
Pharmacopoeia for the preparation of ferri phosphas, it
is stated without qualification that the phosphates of
iron are insoluble in acetic acid, and no account is given
of the means suggested in this country from time to
time for wholly precipitating the iron as phosphate. In
describing the means adopted in the British Pharmaco¬
poeia for the estimation of red and pale bark, the process
is said to be the same as for yellow bark, the authors
forgetting to mention that chloroform is substituted for
ether.

Pharmacy is perhaps the weakest part of the entire
contents of the volume.

It must not be inferred from this that we consider the
treatment of that subject wholly bad, but we mean that the
character of the portion of the book devoted to pharmacy
is by no means equal to the high-class quality of the
remainder. The general article on pills, for instance,
contains no matter that would be of any value to a
pharmacist of any experience, while at the same time
there is such an absence of detail as to render the article
quite useless to a beginner. It would have been far better
to have had no general article on the subject, and to have
simply discussed the individual merits of each pharma-
copoeial pill mass.

The book is remarkably free from typographical errors,
and the type itself is bold and clear.

The first edition of this work has already been ex¬
hausted and a second is being issued. We most heartily
congratulate the authors on their well-deserved success,
for we can cordially recommend this new ‘ Dispensa¬
tory ’ as a very valuable work of reference for the medical
practitioner and pharmacist.

Year-Book of Pharmacy, comprising Abstracts of
Papers relating to Pharmacy, Materia Medica and
Chemistry, contributed to British and foreign journals,
from July 1, 1878, June 30, 1879, with the Transac¬
tions of the British Pharmaceutical Conference
at the Sixteenth Annual Meeting, held in Sheffield,
August, 1879. London: J. and A. Churchill. 1879.
The Year-Book for 1879 has now, presumably, been
issued to most of the members of the Conference, and no
doubt most of the readers of this Journal will, have
already made an examination of the volume. It is not
quite so thick a volume as that for 1878, which is due to
the first portion, consisting of the introduction and the
abstracts of papers published during the year only
extending to 310 pages, instead of 390. It may. be
remarked, however, that the editor, in his Introduction,
states that the majority of the abstracts in the present
volume will be found to be more condensed than those in
most of the previous volumes, although it is claimed that in
no case has this abridgment been carried so far as to make
the reader unduly dependent on the original article. This
statement is fairly confirmed by an examination of the
volume, and taken in connection with the. evident careful
selection of subjects may explain the limitation to the
smaller number of pages. The Year-Book for 18/9 is

560

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 10, 18S0.

marked by the excellencies to which Mr. Siebold has
accustomed us in former years, and also, we are bound to
say, by the defective arrangement of subjects to which
we have before now adverted. But it may be granted
that since this is persisted in it is probably intentional,
whilst the editor’s r&sumt and the index will help to
lessen any resulting inconvenience.

The 4 Transactions ’ section of the volume consists of
the usual lists of members, followed by the papers read
at the meeting at Sheffield, and the discussions upon
them, with which the readers of this Journal will be
already familiar.

Notice has been received of the death of the follow¬
ing : —

On the 2nd of December, 1879, Mr. George Atkinson,
Chemist and Druggist, Wolverton Station. Aged 35 years.

On the 13th of December, 1879, Mr. Samuel Hamand,
Chemist and Druggist, Stoke, Devonport. Aged 70 years.

On the 14th of December, 1879, Mr. Robert May Rew,
Chemist and Druggist, Regent Street, W. Aged 50 years.
Mr. Rew had been a Member of the Pharmaceutical
Society since 1870.

On the 20th of December, 1879, Mrs. Susan Trumper.
Aged 71 years. Mrs. Trumper was elected an Annuitant
on the Benevolent Fund in 1876.

On the 22nd of December, 1879, Mr. John Oates
Clayton, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Lowerhead Row,
Leeds. Aged 48 years. Mr. Clayton had been a mem¬
ber of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1854.

On the 23rd of December, 1879, Mr. Henry Charles
Lowe, Chemist and Druggist, Brooks Bar, Manchester.
Aged 57 years.

On the 26th of December, 1879, Mr. John Fegan,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, High Street, Exeter. Aged 31
years. Mr. Fegan had been a Member of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society since 1871.

On the 26th of December, 1879, Mr. George Allen,
Chemist and Druggist, Congleton. Aged 35 years.

On the 27th of December, 1879, Mr. William Smith,
Chemist and Druggist, Nottingham. Aged 45 years.
Mr. Smith had been a Member of the Pharmaceutical
Society since 1872.

On the 28th of December, 1879, Mr. John Wortley,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Market Place, Durham. Aged
47 years. Mr. Wortley had been a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society since 1856.

On the 31st of December, 1879, Mr. Thomas Haffenden,
Chemist and Druggist, Dyke Road, Brighton. Aged 40
years. Mr. Haffenden had been an Associate in Business
of the Pharmaceutical Society since 1868.

“Cream op Tartar.”

Sir, — By this time, one might have expected that the
very absurd prosecutions in regard to “ cream of tartar ”
would not again crop up. Why, may I ask, are public
analysts so fond of making themselves ridiculous? Hardly
one has escaped the lash of censure, and not one has proved
himself worthy of that confidence which, as a good and
worthy member of society, we should place in him. He is
too keen, he wants more making-up, he seems ignorant of
the good old knowledge hidden in the works of Thomson,
Brande, Pereira and others. His new-fangled ideas when
put to the test do not stand, and he is too proud to learn,
although every facility is now afforded.

In regard to the recent case of prosecution of Mr. Smith, of
Titchfield, let me ask, what are the special qualifications of
the analyst, Mr. Arthur Angell ? Did Mr. Angell consult
any authority of note before giving his certificate? and if
not, by failing to do so, he has indirectly sanctioned a
prosecution which has only proved a police disaster.

I look upon the whole police business, in regard to the Sale
of Food and Drugs Act, as a complete and ridiculous farce.
The history of such adventures supports such an opinion,
and I am laconically reminded of the sentiments of Paracelsus
by these repeated prosecutions of cream of tartar vendors.
I hope the police and public analysts have not experienced
the sensations of Paracelsus when he bestowed the following
invective on cream of tartar : — “ It is called tartar because
it produces the oil, water, tincture and salt, which burn
the patient as hell does.”

Thomson well says: — “According to him it is the
principle of every disease and every remedy, and all things
contain the germ of it.”

I have no doubt the police and public analysts who have
so conspicuously figured of late in these prosecutions have,
by a kind of intuition unknown to their honoured
personalities, drifted into Paracelsus’s views. How
otherwise are these puerile prosecutions to be accounted
for ?

Thomson says : — “ All the specimens which I had an
opportunity of examining, contained rather more than 5
per cent, of tartrate of lime.”

Pereira says : — 4 ‘ As found in commerce it contains 2 to
5 per cent, of tartrate of lime.”

Stille and Maisch say : — ‘ 4 The amount of tartrate of
calcium contained in crude tartar varies between 5 and 15
per cent.”

In the purified salt, by careful management, it may be
reduced to 3 per cent.

But this would enhance the price of cream of tartar
so much as to positively crush it out of the market
entirely.

A little calcium tartrate, in a medicinal point of view,
can do no harm. I have not met with a single case of
injury, and I cannot place my hand upon one which has
been recorded.

The small quantity of barium sulphate is also innocent ;
and, even if it could be converted into a soluble or absorb¬
able salt of barium the amount is so small that it could do
no harm to the human system.

In the case of cream of tartar when no adulteration is
intended, surely no fraud is meant or designed. Calcium
tartrate is a constituent of grape juice, and it is soluble in
water containing tartrates. In pure water it is almost in¬
soluble.

The presence of a small, nay, a fractional part of barium
sulphate, is not worth notice. Thus, we have got the
Adulteration Act dragged through the mire, and the last
absurd prosecution only shows how honest, upright men
are paraded before benches of magistrates, as if it were a
crime to act honestly and trade honourably, while quacks
and charlatans, with all kinds of show and tomfoolery, base
lying and deceit, escape police supervision. Truly, the laws
of this country, and its law officers, are not in keeping with
our generation, or boasted civilization, justice and probity.

Northallerton. Henry Brown.

“Inquirer” — India Rubber Cement. — Probably the fol¬
lowing, which has already appeared in this Journal, would
answer your purpose : — One part of shellac to ten parts of
liq. ammon. fort. (sp. gr. *880), to be placed in a wide¬
mouthed bottle in a warm place and frequently shaken
during three or four weeks. The mixture first forms a
transparent mass, but afterwards becomes liquid.

J. Hicking. — Very much would depend upon the nature
of the substance designated by the name. See upon this
subject a paper by Mr. Martindale and subsequent corre¬
spondence, Pharm. Journ., [3], vol. vii., pp. 471, 507 and
528.

“ Givendolin” — (1) Lolium perenne, 0 aristatum. (2)
Not sent. (3) Holcus lanatus. (4) The frothing is due to
the presence of saponin.

“Minor” — Recipes for preparing transparent glycerine
jelly will be found in the number for November 30, 1878,
p. 463, and elsewhere.

A. T. Smith — We would recommend you to apply to some
medical authority for advice on the subject.

C. E. W. — See the 16th section of the Pharmacy Act,
1868.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Jackson, Reynolds, Wilkinson, Dewson, Jones.

January 17, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

561

CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHEMISTRY OF
GURJUN BALSAM.

BY EDUARD HIRSCHSOHN, MAG. PHARM.

Iii my work, ‘Contributions to the Chemistry of the
more important Gum Resins, Resins and Balsams,5*
will be found experiments which were made with a
liquid sold as gurjun balsam. The sample I
examined did not solidity on heating, showed a
slight fluorescence, and did not give with nitric and
sulphuric acids the violet coloration mentioned by
Fluckiger. + As no sample of the balsam described
by Fluckiger was at my disposal, I was unable at
the time to determine whether any difference, other
than the above-mentioned, could be detected between
the two specimens by means of the reagents I had
employed in the quoted work. Last year Professor
Fluckiger presented a sample of the balsam he had
examined to the Museum of the Pharmaceutical
Institute ot this town, and the experiments made
with this specimen, kindly placed at my disposal by
Professor Dragendorff, and a sample of gurjun
purchased at a neighbouring chemist’s, yielded the
following results.

Both samples showed astrong fluorescence in green,
and formed on standing a deposit consisting entirely
of crystals, the quantity of which in the last-named
sample was small in comparison to that received
from Professor Fluckiger.

On heating in a test tube, the balsam from
Professor Fluckiger became quite solid, so that the
■ tube could be inverted without any fear of the
contents running out, while with the second sample a
solidification appeared only after heating for a
considerable length of time, and even then it did
not become so thick as the first-named sample.

Alcohol (95 per cent.) dissolved both samples with
the exception of a white residue.

Ether (pure) dissolved also incompletely. The
cloudy mixture became on the addition of an equal
volume of alcohol nearly clear, and the greater part
of the deposit was taken into solution.

Ether and Alcohol (equal volumes) gave an
opalescent solution.

Chloroform dissolved, forming a clear liquid.

Solution of Bromine (1 part of bromine in 20 parts
of chloroform) added to the chloroformic solution of
the balsam (3 drops balsam, 1 c.c. chloroform and
5 drops bromine solution) produced at first no
appreciable alteration, but after a time the mixture
became intensely green-coloured and retained this
colour tolerably long.

Bisulphide of Carbon gave a cloudy solution with
the balsam and the reagent recommended by
Fluckiger produced a deep violet coloration, which
in Fliickiger’s sample was permanent for hours,
whilst in the second sample it disappeared in the
course of a short time.

Alcoholic Solution of Acetate of Lead (a saturated
solution of acetate of lead in 95 per cent, alcohol)
produced in the filtered alcoholic solution no
change.

Alcoholic Solution of Ferric Chloride (10 per cent, in

* Archiv der Pharmacie, vii., 6, 1877.
f Fluckiger proceeded as follows : — One drop of the
balsam is dissolved in twenty drops of bisulphide of carbon,
and one drop of a previously cooled mixture of concentrated
sulphuric and nitric acids added and the whole well shaken.
* Jahresbericht fur Pharmacognosie, etc.,’ 1876, p. 220.
Third Series, No. 499.

95 per cent, alcohol) coloured the alcoholic solutions
of the balsam darker.

Concentrated Sulphuric Acid dissolved the balsams
v ith yellowish brown colour, and this solution with
five to ten volumes of water gave a white milk;
with three to five volumes of alcohol, a flesh-coloured
mixture passing into violet.

Alcoholic Hydrochloric Acid (i.e. 95 per cent,
alcohol saturated with gaseous HC1.) yielded with
the balsam a yellowish red tincture, which on the
addition ot alcohol became violet.

Petroleum Spirit dissolved incompletely.

Chloral Ilea pent * coloured both balsams, as well as
the residue left on evaporating the petroleum spirit
solution, deep green.

To allow of an easy comparison of the reactions
previously, and those now obtained, I have tabulated
the results as follows.

Fliickiger’s Gurjun
Balsam.

Gurjun
Balsam
( Archiv . d.
I'harm , vii.,

6, 1877).

Ether .

Alcohol .

Ether- Alcohol . .

Chloroform . . .

Solution of Bromine.

Chloral Reagent . .

Fluckiger’s Reagent.

Solution incomplete.

11 11
„ opalescent.

„ clear.

Green coloration.

Green.

Violet coloration.

Incomplete.

11

Perfectly

clear.

Incomplete.

Yellowish

coloration.

Green.

Bright yellow
coloration. ,

As will be seen from the above table the two
samples of true balsam now examined differ from
the one previously experimented upon : (i) in the
Fluckiger reaction ; (ii) they are completely soluble
in chloroform, and (iii) give with solution of bromine
a green coloration. The slight difference between
Professor Fliickiger’s sample and that from a chemist
in this town is due, I am convinced, to the presence
of alcohol in the latter, for if it be freed therefrom
by distillation the two give identical reactions.

The true gurjun balsam differs from copaiva bal¬
sam : —

(i) in the violet coloration produced by Fluckiger’s
reagent in the bisulphide of carbon solution ;

(ii) in the incomplete solubility in ether (copaiva
balsam gives a clear solution) ;

(iii) in the negative behaviour of acetate of lead to
the alcoholic solution. (Copaiva balsam gives a
cloudiness which on warming disappears.)

Dorpat, JRussia.

THE FUNCTION OF CHLOROPHYLL.

The following is a more detailed abstract of the
very important communication recently referred to
in The Month as having been made to the Berlin
Academy of Sciences, by Dr. Pringsheim, which
appears to throw considerable fresh light on the
function of chlorophyll in the life of the plant.

Having been led by previous researches to the

* Archin. der Pharmacie, vii., 6, 1877.

562

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 17, 1680.

.conclusion that important results might be obtained
by the use of intense light, Dr. Pringsheim contrived
an apparatus by means of which the object under view
should be brightly and constantly illuminated by a
Strong lens and a heliostat. If in this way an object
containing chlorophyll — a moss-leaf, fern-prothal¬
lium, chara, conferva, or thin section of a leaf of a
phanerogam — be observed, it is seen that great
changes are produced in a period varying from three
to six or more minutes.

The first and most striking result is the complete
decomposition of the chlorophyll ; so that in a few
jninutes the object appears as if it had been lying for
some days in strong alcohol. Although, however, the
green colour has disappeared, the corpuscles retain
their structure essentially unaltered. The change
then gradually extends to the other constituents of
the cell; the circulation of the protoplasm is ar¬
rested ; the threads of protoplasm are ruptured and
the nucleus displaced ; the primordial utricle or ecto¬
plasm contracts and becomes permeable to colouring
substances ; the turgidity of the cell ceases, and the
.cell presents, in short, all the phenomena of death.

That these effects are not due to the action of the
high temperature to which the cell is exposed under
these circumstances, is shown by the fact that they
are produced by all the different parts of the visible
spectrum. The result is the same whether the light
has previously passed through a red solution of
iodine in carbon bisulphide, through a blue ammo-
niacal solution of cupric oxide, or through a green
solution of cupric chloride. If the carbon bisulphide
solution of iodine be so concentrated that only rays
of a greater wave-length than 0 00061 mm. can pass
through it, these effects are not produced, although
.about 80 per cent, of the heat of white sunlight is
transmitted. On the other hand, if the ammoniacal
solution of cupric oxide be so concentrated that the
whole of the waves of a less wave-length than
0*00057 mm. are absorbed, a rapid and powerful
effect is produced, although the amount of heat that
passes is very small. It is thus shown that the
phenomena in question are not the result of heat.

The next point determined by Dr. Pringsheim is
that the effects are not produced in an atmosphere
devoid of oxygen. This was the case whether the
oxygen was replaced by pure hydrogen or by a mix¬
ture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide ; while the
removal of the carbon dioxide from atmospheric air
was altogether without effect on the phenomena.
The conclusion drawn is that the decomposition of
.chlorophyll in the living plant is a process of com¬
bustion, which is influenced and promoted by the
action of light, and which is not related to the de¬
composition of carbon dioxide by the plant. When
the green colour of the chlorophyll-grains has been
partially destroyed, it cannot be restored, even
though the cell continues to live ; from which it is
inferred that the result is not a normal physio¬
logical, but a pathological effect. No substance was
found in the cells which might be regarded as the
product of the decomposition of the chlorophyll, nor
was any oil or starch detected in the etiolated cell,
nor any formation of grape sugar or dextrin. The
assumption is. therefore that the products of decom¬
position are given off in the gaseous form.

The conclusion is drawn that the decomposition
produced in the protoplasm and in the other colour¬
less cell contents is the direct effect of the photo¬
chemical action of light. That it is not due to the

injurious influence of the products of decomposition
of the colouring matter of the chlorophyll is showii
by the fact that it takes place equally in cells
destitute of chlorophyll, such as the hairs on the
stamens of Tradescantia, the stinging hairs of the
nettle, etc. It is, on the other hand, dependent on
the presence of oxygen, or is a phenomenon of com¬
bustion.

The result. of a variety of experiments leads Dr.
Pringsheim to the important and interesting con¬
clusion that the chlorophyll acts as a protective
substance to the protoplasm against the injurious
influence of light, diminishing the amount of com¬
bustion, or, in other words, acting as a regulator of
the respiration.

He then proceeds to investigate what are the
substances which become oxidized in the process of
respiration. In every cell, without exception, that
contains chlorophyll, Pringsheim finds a substance
that can be extracted by immersion in dilute hydro¬
chloric acid for from twelve to twenty-four hours,
to which he gives the name hypochlorin or hypo-
chromyl, and which he believes to be the primary
product of the assimilation of the chlorophyll. It
occurs in the form of minute viscid drops or masses
of a semi-fluid consistency, which gradually change
into long red-brown imperfectly crystalline needles.
It is soluble in alcohol, ether, turpentine, and benzol,
but insoluble in water and in a solution of sodium
chloride. It becomes gradually oxidized on exposure
to an imperfectly crystalline resinous substance. It
is probably an ethereal oil and an invariable accom¬
paniment of the colouring substance of chlorophyll,
and even more universally distributed than starch
or oil. It has not yet been detected in those plants
which do not contain true green chlorophyll, such as
the Phycochromacece, Diatomaceae, Eucacese, and
Eloridem. Starch and oil appear to be reserve sub¬
stances, produced by the oxidation of the hypochlorin
under the influence of light ; it being the most
readily oxidizable constituent of the cell, more so
even than the chlorophyll itself.

That the hypochlorin is present invariable quantity
in every chlorophyll grain under normal circum¬
stances, and is subject to continual increase and
decrease, may be proved without difficulty. All com¬
parative observations on chlorophyll graius in younger
and in older conditions point unmistakably to the con¬
clusion that the collection and increase of the starch
enclosed in the ground-substance of the chlorophyll
goes on pari passu with a decrease of the hypochlorin.
In dark the hypochlorin, which does not take any
direct part in the transport of food materials, is
more permanent than starch ; and this again is in
agreement with the conclusion that its transforma¬
tion in the cell into more highly oxidized bodies is
hindered by the increased respiration in light.

In the facts here described and the conclusions
derived from them, Dr. Pringsheim believes that an
entirely new light is thrown on the cause of the
well-known fact that assimilation takes place only
in those cells of the plant which contain chlorophyll,
and ©nly under the influence of sunlight. This
substance acts universally as a moderator of respi¬
ration by its absorptive influence on light, especially
of the red rays, and hence allows the opposite
phenomena of respiration and elimination of carbon
dioxide to go on in those cells which contain it. A
more detailed account of the experiments and results
is promised by the author in a future paper.

January 17, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

5G3

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN AMERICA.

The following interesting letter upon this subject,
dated New York, December 30, appeared in the Times of
Monday last : —

Within the past two weeks Mr. Edison, the inventor,
has stumbled upon something which at last bids fair to
solve the problem of the illumination of dwellings with
electricity. Up to the present winter the efforts of Mr.
Edison have been dead failures. All the startling an¬
nouncements made in his behalf have been premature.
None of them have been justified by the facts. They in¬
dicated what the inventor hoped to accomplish, not what
he had actually accomplished ; and as, latterly, it had
gradually been making itself known that Mr. Edison had
failed, there was beginning to be great scepticism in the
public mind as to his ever accomplishing anything im¬
portant in this field of experiment. About two months
ago Edison abandoned his platinum lamp altogether and
began to experiment with carbon. He has now hit upon
something by accident which not only astonishes the
public, but more especially himself and the men in bis
shops. The most astonished man is certainly Edison
himself.

The shops at Menlo Park, a flag station on the Pennsyl¬
vania railroad, sixty minutes’ ride from New York, were
established four or five years ago. They were devoted to
the manufacture of electrical apparatus, the perfection of
the telephone, the phonograph, the motor, etc. In the
summer of 1878 experiments began to be made with the
electric light. Edison supposed at first that the whole
battle was won when he had found a plan to divide the
electric current. He adopted for a lamp a coil of plati¬
num wire, and endeavoured to perfect a regulator of the
current which would allow the coil to become luminous
without becoming so hot as to melt. He laboured dili¬
gently to perfect this device until about two months ago.
About 17 feet of fine platinum wire were used in his coil.
His first trouble grew out of the tendency of the current
to form a voltaic arc between adjacent parts of the coil.
Every time that an arc was formed his wire melted and
disappeared in a flash of sparks. To insulate the coil
with some material which would also become luminous
was his constant effort. Zinc was tried and other ma¬
terials. Wire made of iridium and other hard metals and
various minerals were used, but all without success. Then
the idea of enclosing the wire in a globe of glass from
which the air had been exhausted occurred to him. W eeks
and months of costly experiment with this idea followed.
The vacuum was useful, as it economized force. The
radiation of heat was not so great in a vacuum, and a
larger proportion of the energy of the current was saved
for maintaining the luminous incandescence of the wire.
The experts foresaw failure long before Edison did ; and,
finally, Edison himself reluctantly came to the conclusion
last fall that he was on the wrong track entirely. The
man wore himself out very nearly, and the disappoint¬
ment almost sent him to his grave.

About] two months ago the inventor resolved to test
the utility of carbon. He was determined not to
surrender until that had been done. What inspired him
to make this departure was a trivial incident. One day
he was busy with some lamp-black and tar, with which
he was making some wafers for a telephone. Happening
to rub some between his fingers, he found he could draw
it out into a thread. The thought came into his mind,
“ Why can I not make a carbon wire for an electric
lamp ? ” Alter a little consideration, he began a series
of experiments in this direction. He found that he
could easily make a carbon wire, as had occurred to him,
and that a burner for a lamp could be made from it.
After several weeks of effort, he found that a carbon
wire, enclosed in a hermetically sealed glass globe, from
which the air had been exhausted, would do well for a
short time. It made a good light, and was satisfactory
in that respect, but it was not durable. Invariably it
was soon consumed. He then thought of the idea of

taking a simple cotton thread, carbonizing it in a retort,
and making coils out of that. All sizes of thread and
twine were tried. But even this material would not do.
The texture of the carbonized thread was too loose. The
material was better than lamp-black and tar, but was
not good enough. Then Edison tried common paper.
He cut out thin strips of various kinds of paper, which
he carbonized as before, by laying them between sheets of
tissue paper, enclosing them between cast-iron plates,
and subjecting them to intense heat in a muffle furnace.
The slips were cut out in the form of a horseshoe. One
of these slips, made from Bristol board, was enclosed in a
vacuum (if that be a proper expression) in a glass globe^
the electric current being conducted to and from it by
means of platinum wires. This was three or four weeks
ago. The lamp thus made was tried. The horseshoe of
carbonized paper became incandescent, and gave a
beautiful mellow light, equal to that of one gas burner.
It did not consume, and it lasted very well during the
first day of experiment. Next day the same lamp was tried
again. It behaved beautifully, somewhat to the surprise
of Mr. Edison and his assistant. Both men now became
very much interested. They instructed their glass*
blower to make several lamps with great care ; the pump
perfected by Crook and Sprengel was used to exhaust the
air from the globes ; and particular attention was paid to
the matter of sealing the stems of the globes (which waa
done with a blow-pipe). About two weeks ago experi¬
ments began with these lamps. They all behaved well,-
and a few days more served to show that a valuable
invention had finally been evolved from the busy brain of
the philosopher of Menlo Park. In fact, the lamp
appeared to be complete.

A whole crop of new questions now sprang into view,
one of them being the durability of the new style of
incandescent carbon under a strong current. This ques¬
tion was readily disposed of. One lamp was raised to a
power of thirty gas burners with perfect safety, and the
capacity of the paper carbon to withstand an intense
current appeared to be proved. As it is not the intention
of Mr. Edison to make lights for dwellings of greater
power than one or two gas burners, he considers that this
part of the problem is disposed of. If a burner can be
made to give the light of thirty gas burners with safety,
it can surely be relied upon to give the light of one or
two. Then came up another question. Ten lights could
be maintained in the laboratory with the expenditure
of one horse power, or eight net in a dwelling. In prac¬
tical use the current would be turned off and on suddenly.
Would not the sudden turning on of a current of elec¬
tricity, equal to one-eighth of one horse power, rupture
the carbon in time? One-eighth of one horse power will
drive several sewing machines, and when administered
in the form of a blow is all a man would ever wish to
have applied to his person. One of the men in the shops
was detailed to turn on and off the current of electricity
at one of the lamps. The man did this 5000 times,
which would be about the number of times that a lamp
would be lighted in a dwelling in the course of ten or
twelve years. The lamp withstood this test perfectly.
Various other questions came up and were promptly
solved in the same manner by actual experiment. The
state of feeling which reigned in the shops at Menlo Park
as these experiments went on, and as it was found that
the lamps sustained every test, can better be imagined
than described. Every man, from Mr. Edison down, was
first astounded and then exhilarated. They have had so
many failures that they can now scarcely believe their
senses.

There are now forty-five lamps lighted every evening
at Menlo Park, and the number is being increased as fast
as the lamps can be made. Two or three of the dwell¬
ings in the village have been supplied with them, and a
dozen or more street lamps along the road leading to the
railway station have also been furnished with them. The
others are in the shops. One of the latter has now been

364

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January IT, i860.

in use day and night for fifteen days, and is as good as
when first put into operation.

The invention of this new lamp has not produced any
very striking effect in regard to gas stocks here yet.
Scepticism in regard to Mr. Edison’s achievements is too
strong yet. But a very decided effect has been produced
with reference to the stock of Mr. Edison’s Electric
Lighting Company. There are 3000 shares in the capital
of the company, the par value of each being 100 dollars.
This stock was down to 20 dollars a share last summer,
and a large number of the present holders bought at that
price. The rise in value during the last two weeks has
been enormous. The Hon. Roscoe Conkling, United
States Senator from New York State, bought several
shares this past week, and paid 3000 dollars apiece for
them. August Belmont, the banker, has bought during
the past week at 3500 dollars a share, and will take all
that are offered at that price. Drexel, Morgan and Co.,
bankers, who are already large holders, and, in fact, the
principal owners, are also buying at similar prices.
There has been nothing like it in the history of stocks in
New York city. Very few large holders of shares in the
Edison Company are now willing to sell at 3500 dollars ;
and the majority of the small proprietors are demanding
and waiting for 5000 dollars a share. The stock may
never go to that height, because experiment may develop
defects in the new lamp not yet observed ; but the
feeling in the company now is one of perfect confidence
that the problem of household illumination has been
solved, and higher quotations are predicted by them.
The company is composed of merchants and bankers of
high standing, and few of them are willing now to sell
out except for very great inducements.

Mr. Edison himself does not indulge in extravagant
assertions. I had a long talk with the inventor to-day,
and went with him all over the shops, learning every
detail of construction of the lamps and examining the
generators, air-pumps, furnaces, motors, and other ap¬
paratus. Mr. Edison makes no predictions, but says that
he is going on until he has one hundred and fifty lamps of
the new pattern burning in the dwellings and streets of
Menlo Park. It is his own test of the merits of the new
lamp, the object being to develop defects. A few weeks
from now he will be able to formulate a clear opinion
about the merits of the invention. Wires are meanwhile
to be run down to the village of Rahway, four miles
distant, in order to test the difficulties of distributing the
mains and lamps over a large area. Until the data
afforded by the whole of this test are collected, Mr.
Edison will not declare his final opinion about this
matter. He believes, however, that the new lamp can
be distributed over a large area, and houses lighted there¬
with, for the same price as now paid for gas, possibly
less, but of the latter he is not certain. The lamps are
four inches high, are simplicity itself in construction, and
will cost to construct only 25 cents, apiece.

The Sawyer lamp has been left far in the rear by the
new invention. Mr. Sawyer has never been able to
produce a perfect vacuum, nor to produce a lamp comely
enough to be a desirable part of the furniture of a dwelling.
It is a straight glass tube ten inches or twelve inches
long, and one and a half inches in diameter, and is filled
from end to end with heavy copper coils and other ap¬
paratus. The light is produced by the incandescence of
a pencil of carbon. The tube is filled with nitrogen gas,
and sealed at the bottom into a copper base with wax.
The. light is an extremely beautiful one, mellow as the
sunlight, capable of being turned up and down at plea¬
sure, and in every respect delightful ; but the apparatus
is clumsy and not adapted for the interiors of tastefully
furnished dwellings. The lamps will burn five hundred
hours and cost 10 dollars apiece. Mr. Edison’s lamp is
only four inches long. It is sealed with the aid of a
blow-pipe, and is thus proof against the accidents to the
sealing-wax to which the Sawyer lamp is liable. The
vacuum within it is almost pei'fect, It is comely enough

for any apartment. Mr. Cyrus W. Field has lately lent
his name towards the formation of a company, with a
capital of 1,000,000 dollars, to take up the Sawyer lamp,
and introduce it into factories, warehouses, mines, rail¬
way stations, public halls, dry docks, and hotels. It has
been intended to build a factory, and go into business on
a large scale. What the effect of the discovery by Mr.
Edison will be on the future of the Sawyer company can-
uot be predicted, but it is believed that a complete re¬
construction and simplification of the Sawyer lamp have
now been made necessary.

The only other system which is making any headway
in the United States at the present time is that of Mr.
Charles F. Brush, of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. It is
the one system employing the voltaic arc and automatic
regulator for the illumination of large buildings which
has emerged from the large crowd of its competitors, and
is coming into practical use. The Brush light flickers
now and then, but is steady enough for all practical
purposes. An arrangement has been made by means of
which any number of lights, from one up to twenty, may
be run with one machine in one circuit, the power ab¬
sorbed being exactly in proportion to the number of lights
used. It requires fourteen horse power to maintain
eighteen lights. This system has now been tried for one
year, and is found to meet all the purposes of illumina¬
tion in factories, warehouses, and large stores. The
system is now unfait accompli, and it is coming into general
use very rapidly. Nineteen-twentieths of all the electric
lights in use in industrial establishments in the United
States are those of Mr. Brush. They are employed in
cotton factories, rolling-mills, printing offices, and stores.
The lamps are of two thousand candle power each. They
consume from one and a half inch to two inches of carbon
per hour, costing about 1 cent. There are now eight
hundred of them in use in the United States.

With reference to cost, the experience of the Conant
Thread Mills at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, may be cited.
There are 38 of the Brush lamps in those mills, replacing
500 gas-jets. The cost of the plant is 2000 dollars, with
65 dollars for each lamp. The carbons are found to cost
1| cent, per hour per lamp. One man spends a quarter of
his time attending them, which will cost 3 dollars a
week. The company finds that the total cost of running
the 38 lamps is about 1 dollar 16 cents, per hour, which is
a great saving of expense, because the gas formerly con¬
sumed cost 5 dollars an hour.

The Riverside worsted mills at Providence, Rhode
Island, have been employing the Brush electric light since
February last. The company were sceptical at fir.-t, but
allowed the light to be introduced in the first instance at
the expense of the Electric Supply Company. Twenty
lamps were hung in the weaving-room, 110 feet long by
100 feet wide, where 110 broad Crompton looms are in
operation. The porcelain globes which surround the
lamps were painted white on one side, the side toward
which the men look; the other two-thirds were clear
glass, thus throwing the whole light on their work. The
20 lamps replaced 250 gas-burners. Since February 60
more lamps have been introduced to the mill, and the
whole 80 have been subjected to the best test ever made
in this country. The manager of the mills has given me
the following data as the results of his experience with
the light : —

“Cost of a 16 -light machine, 2000 dollars; cost of
double lamps (containing an extra set of carbons into
which the current may be switched when the whole set
is burnt), each, 80 dollars ; number of gas-burners
replaced by the 80 lamps, 1000 dollars ; cost of 1000
gas-lights formerly per hour, 12 dollars 25 cents. ; cost of
80 electric lights per hour, 80 cents. ; candle power of the
1000 gas-jets (15x 1000), 15,000 ; candle power of 80
electric lamps (2000 x 80), 160,000.”

Of course, less light would answer in the factory, but
the increase of illumination is very much liked. The
light is strong, steady, and fine.

January 17, 1880. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

565

The Brush lamp has now taken its place in this
country among the other ordinary wares of the market,
the utility of the system having been fully demonstrated.

No progress is now being made with the Fuller system.
The untimely death of the inventor, just as he was on
the verge of success, has proved a great blow to the
company.

EXPERIMENTS ON THE COMPARATIVE VALUE
OF SOME EXTRACTS OF NARCOTIC PLANTS.*

BY H. BRETET.

• The following account of some experiments, limited to
the extracts of narcotic plants, have for their object to
attract the attention of pharmacologists to the proportion
of alkaloids contained in each of different extracts yielded
by the same plant.

The Codex admits two extracts of these plants — the
alcoholic extract and the extract of the defecated juice.
Many medical men prescribe also the aqueous extract or
extract prepared by infusion, which, consequently, is kept
in pharmacies and is met with also in commerce. I am
ignorant as to what motive has caused a preference for
the juice extract, which, rationally, ought to be the least
active. In fact, even with the best press, the plants
retain always at least a fourth part of the natural juice;
there would always therefore be a fourth part of the
alkaloid lost, assuming that the whole of these were in
solution in the plant juices, which is far from being the
truth, and it is very evident that the exhaustion of the
plant, green or dry, by two infusions and successive
pressings is much more complete. The large quantity of
product thus obtained has probably led to the supposition
that it is produced by the addition only of inert matters
to the juice, and that, weight for weight, the extract so
obtained is less active ; the contrary, however, is the re¬
sult shown by the titrations I have made.

The only figures that I have been able to find relative
to the richness in alkaloids of the extracts upon which I
have worked have been published by Dragendorff.* These
figures are of very great interest, but they do not allow
of comparison; since for that purpose it is absolutely
necessary to operate upon extracts yielded by the same
plant.

My first experiments were made upon conium. 10
kilog. of leaves yielded 210 grams of extract of defecated
juice. I exhausted the residue from this operation with
boiling water, by means of two successive infusions, and
obtained thus 500 grams of solid extract. To estimate
the conia in these extracts I operated upon 10 grams of
each. The extract was dissolved in 30 grams of distiller!
water and 2 grams of bicarbonate of soda were added to
the solution. When the reaction had terminated che
liquid was shaken with 100 c.c. of rectified ether every
ten minutes during two hours; the ethereal liquid was
then separated and the agitation was repeated with a
fresh quantity of ether. The united ethereal liquids were
shaken with 60 grams of water acidulated with sulphuric
acid during half an hour, after which the acid liquid was
treated with Mayer’s reagent (iodide of mercury and
potassium) in considerable excess. After twenty-four
hours of contact at a temperature of about 30° C. the
liquid was filtered, the residue dissolved in 93° alcohol,
and this solution evaporated in a previously weighed
capsule, — first in a water-bath, and then in a stove at
100° C., — until the weight was constant.

The residue left by the extract of the defecated juice
weighed 0*074 gram.

The residue of the infusion extract weighed 0T05

gram.

The double iodide of mercury and conicine contains
17*69 per cent, of alkaloid. It results from the foregoing
experiment that —

* Repertoire de Pharmacie for December, 1879, p. 537.

t ‘Analyse Chimique de quelques Drogues Actives,’ 1876.

10 gr. of extract prepared from defecated juice of
conium contained 0*01309 gr. of conicine; — and

10 gr. of extract prepared by infusion from the same
plant, after being deprived of juice contained 0*01857 gr.
of conicine.

In another comparative experiment, made with an
extract prepared from the juice and one prepared by
direct infusion of the fresh plant, —

10 gr. of extract from juice contained 0*0159 gr. of
conicine.

10 gr. of aqueous extract contained 0*0329 gr. of
conicine.

These figures, which, while differing considerably from
the former, show results tending in the same direction,
were obtained by the same process.

This process is imperfect in itself, when applied to
conium, because the salt of conicine is rather soluble in
water ; therefore I give the preceding figures only as
terms of comparison, but as such they have their value,
because the manipulation was the same in the smallest
details in all the operations.

For plants containing fixed alkaloids, —belladonna and
datura, — I have completely modified the analytical
method. 10 grams of extract are dissolved in 15 grams
of .water and 2 grams of bicarbonate of soda added to
the solution. When the evolution of gas has terminated
I mix the liquid with 10 grams of well- washed wood
sawdust* and dry completely iu a water-bath ; the powder
is then introduced still warm into a displacement ap¬
paratus and chloroform poured upon it. After twelve
hours’ contact, the lixiviation is continued with 250 grams
of chloroform, and the last portions driven through
with water. The chloroform solution is received in
a flask containing a titrated solution of sulphuric acid
corresponding to a determined volume of an alkaline
solution. The chloroform being distilled, the cooled acid
liquor is thrown upon a small moistened filter, the flask
and the filter being rinsed with water until the united
liquids measure 60 c.c. A solution of alkaloids is thus
obtained, in which the acid in excess is neutralized by a
titrated solution of potash, the volume used giving, by
difference, the quantity of alkaloid.

When operating upon alcoholic extracts, it is necessary
to modify this process still further, otherwise it gives
figures much above the reality and differing among
themselves for the same extract.^ In estimating these
extracts I do not distil off the chloroform, but agitate in
the cold with the acid solution, which is afterwards
separated by means of a separating funnel. The
chloroform, retaining the chlorophyll, is again shaken
with distilled water, which is afterwards added to the
first solution. The titration is then made as in the other
extracts.

I analysed by this method a certain number of extracts
of belladonna and datura from various sources ; after¬
wards I made the following experiment : —

Two stalks of belladonna yielded 1550 grams of stripped
leaves ; these were divided into two equal parts, one of
which was dried and yielded 122 grams of extremely dry

leaves

The 775 grams of fresh leaves were bruised and the
juice was removed by strong pressure and clarified in the
ordinary manner. The coagulum (a) produced by the
clarification of the juice was collected carefully. While
moist it weighed 20 grams ; after drying in a stove its
weight remained at 4 grams. It was put aside for the
estimation of the atropine.

The clarified juice gave 23 grams of extract of pilular
consistence (b).

* The sawdust is cleansed by long boiling in dilute
caustic soda, then washed by decantation, first with pure
water, next with acidulated water, and finally again with

distilled water. , . ...

f I am unable at present to explain these variations

except by hypotheses, which I refrain from mentioning,
wishing to remain absolutely within the domain of facts.

566

THE PHARMACEUTICS L JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 1.7, 1880

The leaves from which the juice had been, removed
were exhausted with boiling water and gave 12 grams of
very firm extract (c).

The dried leaves were pounded and gave 104 grams of
semi-fine powder. 52 grams of this powder, exhausted
with boiling water, yielded 18 grams of aqueous extract
(d). 52 grams, exhausted with 60° alcohol yielded 16

grams of alcoholic extract (e).

The four extracts were titrated by the process just
described. As to the coagulum, 2 grams of bicarbonate
of soda were dissolved in 10 grams of water, the coagulum
was suspended in this liquid, and then the whole was
dried in a water-bath. The powder resulting from this
operation was introduced into a displacement apparatus
and treated similarly to the extracts.

The alkaline solution employed to saturate the acid
contained 175 gram of pure and perfectly dry potash per
100 c.c. ; consequently each tenth of a cubic centimetre
represented 0-00175 gram of potash. The equivalent
of this base being 56-11, and that of atropine 289,
each division of the alkaline liquor corresponded to

0 001/5 x 2j»9_ Q.QQ9Q13 0f atropine or daturine, the
56-H

elementary composition of these alkaloids being the same.

10 c.c. of acid liquor— that is to say the quantity
employed for each’operation— were neutralized by 90 divi¬
sions of the alkaline liquid.

The liquid from the coagulum (a) required only 85
divisions.

The liquid from the extract of the juice (b) required
only 86 divisions.

The liquid from the extract (c) required only 82
divisions.

The liquid from the aqueous extract (d) required only
82 divisions.

The liquid from the alcoholic extract (e) required only
75 divisions.

Prom which it results that —

Atropine

grams.

The coagulum (a) .

10 gr. of extract (b) (defe¬
cated juice) ....

10 gr. of extract (c) (leaves
deprived of juice) . .

10 gr. of extract (d) (aque¬
ous extract) . . . .

10 gr. of extract (e) (alco¬
holic extract) . . . .

contained 0*009013 x 5 = 0*0459
0-009013x 4 = 0-0305
0-009013x 8 = 0-0721
0-009013x8 = 0-0721
0-009013x15 = 0-1352

From a general review of these experiments the follow¬
ing facts are deducible : —

1 kilogram of fresh leaves deposited upon clarification
of the juice 5'16 gr. of albuminous coagulum, containing
0*0580 gr. of atropine.

1 kilogram of fresh leaves yielded 29*60 gr. of juice
extract, containing 0*305 per cent., or 0*1067 gr. of
atropine.

1 kilogram of fresh leaves, deprived of juice, yielded
15*50 gr. of aqueous extract, containing 0*721 per cent.,
or 0*1117 gr. of atropine.

1 kilogram of fresh leaves, weighed 157 grams when
dried, and yielded 54*94 grams of aqueous extract, con¬
taining 0721 per cent., or 0*3961 gr. of atropine.

1 kilogram of fresh leaves weighed 157 grams when
dried, and yielded 48*54 gr. of alcoholic extract, containing
1*352 per cent., or 0*6562 gr. of atropine.

The following are the results of the titration of some
other extracts from various sources : —

Alcoholic extract of datura, made in my establishment
in 1877 : contained 1*442 per cent, of alkaloid.

Alcoholic extract of belladonna of commerce, two
samples: contained 1*081 and 1*400 per cent, of alkaloid.

Extract of defecated juice of belladonna of commerce,
two specimens: contained 0*090 and 0*270 per cent, of
alkaloid.

Aqueous extract of datura, made in my establishment
in 1879 : contained 0*451 per cent, of alkaloid.

Aqueous extract of belladonna of commerce, three
specimens: contained respectively 0*721 per cent., 0*180
per cent., and no alkaloid.

En resume, in these researches, evidently still incom¬
plete, I have constantly found the alcoholic extract much
more rich in alkaloid, which was well foreseen ; next
to it comes the extract by infusion which, notwithstand¬
ing the abundance of inert matters in it, always contains
proportionally more alkaloid than the extract of the
juice. It follows, also, from the experiment upon the
fresh belladonna that the extract of the non defecated
juice, which formerly wasj always employed, contains
more alkaloid than the extract of defecated juice, since
the albuminous coagulum always contains a small
quantity. Thus, in the present case, a kilogram of fresh
belladonna leaves yielded 29*60 + 5*16 = 34*76 grams of
extract with fecuke, containing 0*1647 gram of atropine,
or 0*473 per cent, in the place of 0*305 per cent, which
the Codex extract contains. This confirms the opinion
of some of the older pharmacologists, who considered the
extracts of Storck to be more active than the extracts of
defecated juice.

PHYTOLACCXN : A NEUTRAL PRINCIPLE CON¬
TAINED IN THE SEEDS OF PHYTOLACCA DE-
CANDRA.*

BY EDO CLAASSEN*.

The seeds of pokeberries (the fruit of Phytolacca de-
candra, L.) contain an indifferent crystallizable principle
which I have named phytolaccin, and which is obtained
in the following manner: the pulverized seeds of the
pokeberries are treated several times with alcohol, the
alcohol is removed from the filtrate by distillation, the
residue washed with some petroleum spirit (gasoline or
petroleum benzine), to remove adhering oil, then per¬
fectly dried on the water -bath, finely pulverized and ex¬
tracted by means of concentrated ether (or chloroform).
The ethereal solution leaves behind, after distillation from
the water-bath, a syrup-like liquid filled with acicular
crystals which, after separation from the mother liquor,
can be obtained perfectly white and pure by recrystalli¬
zation or washing with a little alcohol. Phytolaccin is
tasteless and colourless, and crystallizes in acicular silky
prisms, mostly forming radiated tufts. It is insoluble in
water, but pretty easily soluble in alcohol, particularly
when hot; ether and chloroform dissolve the same very
easily, and petroleum spirit somewhat difficultly, even
when hot. Diluted acids, as well as concentrated acetic
and hydrochloric acids, ammonia or a pretty concentrated
solution of sodium hydrate do not dissolve it, even at
the boiling point. Cold concentrated sulphuric acid,
however, dissolves the same with brownish-yellow colour,
turning brownish-red when the solution is heated. Con¬
centrated nitric acid, when cold, has no effect on the
phytolaccin; but, when heated, it dissolves the same,
assuming at the same time a yellow colour. From a
solution in alcohol (which, as I may mention by the way,
is tasteless), or in ether, the phytolaccin falls down, on
addition of water, as a flocky precipitate. Heated it
melts, then turns brown and black and is entirely con¬
sumed. It contains no nitrogen, as the reactions for it
gave a negative result.

COLD CREAM WITHOUT OIL.

Quince Seed Mucilage .... 10 drachms.

Almond Oil Soap . 15 grains.

Stearic Acid . drachms.

Glycerine . ^ drachm.

Rub the stearic acid and the soap together in a warm
mortar, add gradually to the mixture the mucilage so as
to form an emulsion, and then the glycerine. Lastly add
a suitable perfume.

* From New Remedies, November, 1879.

January 17, liEO.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

567

|hapH£plitaI Journal

- ♦ -

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1880.

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

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

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

THE ABUSE OF NARCOTICS.

Since the time when, on the motion of Mr.
Hampson, the Council of the Pharmaceutical
Society resolved that the General Purposes Com¬
mittee should take into consideration the largely
increasing sale by grocers, general dealers, and
other unregistered persons of patent medicines
containing scheduled poisons, attention has also
been directed to a particular phase of this subject in
other quarters and in a manner that may eventually
lead to the adoption of some concerted action on the
part of medical and pharmaceutical societies.

The object of Mr. Hampson’s motion was to
restrict the sale of such patent medicines to persons
registered under the Pharmacy Act. He argued that
the spirit of the Pharmacy Act implied the fitness
of such a restriction as one consistent with the
interests of the public, and that as a matter of justice
to those registered to carry on the sale of poisons on
the ground of their being specially acquainted with
the nature of these articles, it should be the ex¬
clusive privilege of registered persons to deal in
poisons. That this argument is reasonable does not
need much demonstration, and the undoubted fact
that the sale of poisons under the cover of the
patent medicine stamp is a growing evil, renders
the subject deserving of consideration.

On a subsequent occasion, Mr. Hampson, through
the medium of this J ournal, addressed a letter to the
trade asking those who were in a position to give
tangible proof that the patent medicine stamp is
used to cover sales of scheduled poisons, to furnish
him with particulars of such cases, and in all pro¬
bability we may soon hear something of the informa¬
tion thus obtained.

It so happened that in the same number of the
Journal that contained Mr. Hampson’s request there
was a report of a prosecution instituted by the
Pharmaceutical Society against an unregistered
person at Horsington, for selling laudanum not dis¬
tinctly labelled, as the Pharmacy Act requires, with
the name and address of the seller, and the only
attempt at a defence was the statement that the
bottle containing the laudanum was stamped with a
patent medicine stamp. This circumstance illus¬
trates the existence of a belief that the use of a
patent medicine stamp will serve to constitute an
exception to the provisions of the Pharmacy Act as

regards the sale of scheduled poisons, and it is probably
under the influence of this belief that the practice
of selling such poisons with a patent medicine
stamp attached has become so general.

It is true that the sixteenth section of the
Pharmacy Act provides that nothing thereinbefore
contained shall extend to or interfere with the
making or dealing in patent medicines, but this
reservation ol rights existing at the passing of the
Act does not in any way furnish a justification for
the retail sale of scheduled poisons otherwise than,
as the Act provides in the seventeenth section.

In regard to such cases there is, therefore, no
difficulty in rendering the Pharmacy Act effective
in repressing such irregular sales of poisons ; but in
regard to patent medicines the matter is not so
simple, since these are in general secret preparations,
and although they may contain poisonous ingredients
the Pharmacy Act declares that in patent medicines
these ingredients are to be exempt from being deemed
poisons within the meaning of the Act.

The door is thus left open for the grocer, the
bookseller, and the co-operative stores to be the agents
in distributing among the public some of the most
potent articles of the materia medica, and it is a
constant source of complaint by chemists and drug¬
gists that the trade in patent medicines is being taken
out of their hands in this way. Some of the most
popular of these secret preparations contain narcotics,
and we have had occasion not unfrequently to record
fatal effects that were so intimately associated with
the use of such preparations as to make these
appear their probable causes. Quite recently a
writer in the Times has drawn special attention to
the abuse of medicinal narcotics as being in his
opinion an evil of still greater magnitude than the
abuse of alcoholic stimulants. He specially instances
chloral and a secret preparation — said by analysts
to consist essentially of morphia flavoured with
musk and other ingredients — which he describes as
having an enormous family consumption, and he
represents the present demand fur and ignorant
employment of such narcotic preparations as being
in excess of all reason.

This writer uses as a signature the letters F.R.C.S.,
and it may therefore be inferred that, from his
position and pursuits, he has had opportunities of
speaking from actual observation as well as upon
the strength of general experience, and, apart from
certain suggestions as to the causes of a craving for
narcotics, we fear there is too much reason for
accepting his opinion as in the main well founded.
This is also done by a physician who wrote a day or
two afterwards to the Times on the same subject
and dwelt upon the facilities existing for procuring
narcotic drugs as well as the “ manoeuvring ” by
which persons contrive to obtain undue supplies of
them from druggists’ shops. In this writer’s
experience also, a patent liquid holding morphia is
referred to as having been the cause of serious

568

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 17, isso.

symptoms which for some time baffled his skill, and
he points out that it is worthy of inquiry whether
the sale of opium or morphia or chloral at “ stores”
is calculated to promote the abuse of these and other
articles deemed “poison.” Dr. Kesteven followed
by expressing the opinion that the Sale of Poisons
Act requires amendment and in support of this
view he gave an instance of a patent medi¬
cine containing opium being purchased with suici¬
dal intent at a druggist’s shop by a patient of his.
The Times , in a leading article, comments upon
this correspondence as directing attention to a for¬
midable social evil, though with the admission that
the statements made would occasion little surprise
to those having had opportunities of becoming
acquainted with the extent to which the consump¬
tion of narcotic drugs has increased during the last
tew years. In this article attention is again called
to the fact that morphia is the active ingredient of
some half-dozen so-called patent medicines which
are sold to any customer who may demand them,
disguised under names suggestive of their virtues in
affording relief from pain.

At the Clinical Society of London the same sub¬
ject has been under consideration, especially in
reference to chloral, and the committee appointed to
inquire into it made a report last week, though
without arriving at any definite result, but the
Medical Press and Circular takes advantage of the
attempt made to collect information from chemists
and druggists to follow up its ill-advised and un¬
worthy abuse of that class by condemning that
attempt as “the delusion of folly,” inasmuch as
the chemist and druggist in the eyes of that
misguided journal is solely and simply a vendor
“ interested” in the increased consumption of chloral,
in “free trade in poisonous drugs,” and carrying on his
business so that the claims of society and humanity
are subordinated to the sordid desire of gain. Apropos
of this impudent attack there is a letter in the Times
from Mr. Baldock, and written at the same time, in
which he describes an instance where he declined to
supply a narcotic drug, and took the trouble to warn
his customer against its use, and we have reason to
know that such a course is by no means unusual.
In the same letter, however, he mentions the way
in which the patent medicine stamp permits the sale
of poisons without restriction and defeats the object
of the Pharmacy Act as being the really dangerous
facility for obtaining poisonous drugs.

It is to be expected that the correspondence
to which we have referred and the action taken
by the Clinical Society will, before long, result in
some attempt to deal with the evil that has been
thus exposed to public notice. It is therefore
possible that the co-operation of medical men with
chemists and druggists, which we last week pointed
to as being desirable in another case, may soon
become a reality, and that the object contemplated
by Mr. ITampson s motion last July may receive
support from the medical profession as well as the
pharmaceutical community, as being one to ensure
public benefit.

In regard to some of the points touched upon in
the correspondence above referred to, it is to be

observed that some very mistaken ideas appear to
prevail. Thus the quantity of chloral now sold
cannot be a tithe of what it is assumed to be by
F.R.C.S., and the President of the Pharmaceutical
Society has had to correct the statement of one of
the writers by pointing out that chloral is enu¬
merated in the schedule of poisons and was included
in that schedule upon the representation of the
Council that it should be deemed a poison within
the meaning of the Pharmacy Act.

PHARMACY IN NEW ZEALAND.

A movement to form a Pharmaceutical Society of
New Zealand, inaugurated at the commencement of
last year, has we are glad to learn, progressed very
favourably, so that by the end of October the
number of members who had joined, exclusive of
associates and apprentices, was upwards of one
hundred. The head-quarters of the new Society
have been fixed at Wellington, with Local Com¬
mittees in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, and
its first President is Mr. Charles D. Barraud.

Notwithstanding the success that has been attained,
a large number of chemists and druggists in business,
amounting to one- third, have not yet joined the
Society, and in the prospect of an attempt being
made to obtain a Pharmacy Act for the colony a
vigorous effort is being made to induce these to join
the common cause.

In anticipation of the meeting of the colonial
Parliament a Bill has been drafted, based on the
ATctoria Pharmacy Act, which is said to work well
and which in its turn was founded on the Pharmacy
Acts of Great Britain. The main provisions would
render examinations compulsory in New Zealand
and “introduce means for systematic technical
education.” There are strong hopes of passing this
Bill, since the Wellington Committee has been
assured that it will command the cordial support of
the Legislature as a measure calculated to afford
important protection to the community and as being
in accord with the views of a Commission at present
sitting on high-class education.

THE CHEMISTS’ BALL.

As probably most of our readers are aware, next
Wednesday is the day fixed for the Annual Chemists’
Ball. It is to take place, as usual, in Willis’s
Rooms, King Street, St. James’s, and we hope that
it will meet with a success equal to that which has
attended similar gatherings in former years. Par¬
ticulars as to tickets and a list of the Stewards will
be found in our advertising pages.

SCHOOL OE PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday the 23rd inst., when a note on “A
supposed Reaction of Aconitia ” will be read by Mr.
A. G. Evans. A Report on Analytical Chemistry,
will be made bv Mr. A. F. Dimmock, on “ Koet-
storffer’s Process for the Estimation of Foreign Fats
in Butter.”

At a meeting of the trustees of Sir Josiah
Mason’s Science College, Birmingham, held last
week, Dr. W. A. Tilden was appointed Professor of
Chemistry in the College.

The death is announced of Dr. William Budd,
formerly of Bristol, whose name will long be honour¬
ably remembered in association with the investigation
ot the nature of typhoid fever.

January 17, 1880.3 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

569

®nrauttuma of % ffpiraiptiral $041%

The name of

Slater, William Martin . Ipswich,

should have appeared in the list of Apprentices or
Students of the Society elected on the 7th inst. See
page 552.

®ntnsaction$.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The third general meeting of this Association was held
in Anderson’s College, 204, George Street, on Wednesday,
January 7, Mr. Alexander Kinninmont, F.C.S., President,
in the chair.

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been
read and adopted,

The President called upon Mr. John C. Hunter to give
his paper on a “ Botanical Visit to Kew Gardens.”

Mr. Hunter, after describing some places of interest on
the way up the river to Kew, gave a short account of the
early history of the gardens, and then mentioned some of
the wonderful plants in Museum No. III., such as
the Rafflesia Arnoldi, from Sumatra, and the Welwits-
chia mirabilis, discovered by the late Dr. Welwitsch in
Africa, etc. Passing on to the growing plants, Mr.
Hunter then mentioned some of the contents of the
large Palm House with its splendid collection of palms
and other tropical plants. Afterwards reference was
made to the other houses containing the tree ferns,
orchids, heaths, not forgetting the Victoria Regia House,
and its beautiful specimen of that lily. Mr. Hunter
concluded with a short account of the hortus siccus, or
herbarium of Kew, and its appliances for the promotion
of scientific botany.

A collection of some British ferns and other plants was
placed on the table to illustrate some of the characters of
various plants in Kew spoken about in the lecture.

After some remarks from Messrs. Brodie and Clarke,

The President asked the meeting to award a hearty
vote of thanks to Mr. Hunter, which was duly given, and
after election of members the meeting closed.

MIDLAND COUNTIES CHEMISTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The annual soirie of this Association was held on
Thursday, January 1, in the Town Hall, Birmingham.

Messrs. Southall Brothers and Barclay exhibited a
number of experiments illustrating the structure and
chemistry of various flames; these were arranged and
shown in the different compartments of one of the corri¬
dors and included luminous and non-luminous flames ;
experiments showing the production of water and car¬
bonic acid gas ; singing flames, and weight experiments,
the latter proving that bodies burning in air produce
compounds heavier than the substances burned. In
the south corridor Messrs. Harris and Co. exhibited a
set of crystals in glass, illustrating the science of crys¬
tallography ; an ingenious apparatus by Reichardt for
regulating the temperature of the drying oven ; apparatus
showing the increased luminosity of phosphorus in
rarefied oxygen and its total disappearance in oxygen
under a pressure of one atmosphere ; the electrolysis
of water and of sodium chloride was also demon¬
strated and explained. Other tables were occupied
by vacuum tubes and electric apparatus. Experiments
in spectroscopy and pneumatics, and an improved
apparatus for the estimation of nitric nitrogen
in drinking waters must also be mentioned. The
great gallery was occupied by a microscopic display
by the members of the Microscopical and Natural

History Society. At half-past eight, Mr. Hubert Lang¬
ford gave a selection of humorous sketches, called “Studio
Studies,’ which were highly appreciated.

During the evening a selection of operatic music was
performed by the band ; the amusements concluded with
dancing at half-past nine. There was a good company,
and a most enjoyable evening was spent.

EDINBURGH CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’
ASSOCIATION.

The fourth meeting of the session was held on the
evening of Wednesday, January 7, in the rooms of the
Pharmaceutical Society, 119a, George Street; Mr.
Robertson, Vice-President, occupied the chair.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and
approved of,

The Chairman intimated that the subject for the even¬
ing was a debate, “Should Women be admitted as
Members of the Pharmaceutical Society?”

The discussion was opened by Mr. Hill, who gave an
emphatic approval of the recent action of the Council in
admitting women as members.

He was followed by Mr. William Aitkin, speaking on
the negative side, and the debate was continued by
Messrs. Steward, Maben, Fraser, Hutton, and others,
the majority of the speakers being in favour of the
affirmative.

Messrs. Hill and Aitken having briefly replied, a vote
was taken, resulting in a majority of one for the
negative.

jparliamentarjr amt liaui proceeding.';.

Another Cream oe Tartar Prosecution.

At the Romsey Borough Police Court, on January 9,
before Messrs. Walter E. Godfrey (chairman) and Charles
Dyett, Mr. William Blissett, chemist and druggist, of
Church Street, Romsey, was charged under the Sale of
Food and Drugs Act, 1875, that “he did at the said
borough sell to Edward Kellaway, on December 5, 1879,
a certain drug, to wit, cream of tartar, which said drug
was mixed with certain materials, to wit, sulphate of
barium and tartrate of lime, so as to affect injuriously the
potency of such drug.”

Mr. Glaisyer, instructed by the Secretary of the Che¬
mists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great Britain,
appeared for the defendant.

Edward Kellaway, having been sworn, said he was the
superintendent of the police for the borough. On
December 5, last, he purchased in Mr. Blissett’s shop
1 J ounce of cream of tartar. He told Mr. Bli-sett it was
for the public analyst. It was divided into three parts,
one part he left with Mr. Blissett, another part he
delivered to Mr. Angell, the borough analyst, and the
third part was produced. On December 16, last, he re¬
ceived from Mr. Angell a certificate (produced) stating
that the cream of tartar contained tartrate of lime 6 per
cent., sulphate of barium very slight traces only, and that
tartrate of lime is insoluble, not injurious to health, but
is a useless ingredient in cream of tartar.

Cross-examined by Mr. Glaisyer.

Are you specially appointed under this Act? — I am.

By the borough or the county? — By both.

May I ask are you summoned here by the county or
the borough authorities ? — By the borough authorities.

Who instructed you to buy cream of tartar ? -I do not
know that I need answer that question.

Were you instructed by your chief or by the town
council? — Not by the town council.

Did you buy cream of tartar at more than one place ? —
No.

570

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. (January . 1880

Why did you call on Mr. Blissett instead of on some
other druggist? This is the second time, you know, that Mr.
Blissett has been brought before the magistrates charged
with adulterating his drugs. — Why should I not call
on Mr. Blissett.

Why call on Mr. Blissett only ? — If Mr. Blissett had
not supplied me I should have gone somewhere else.

Did the public analyst instruct you to purchase the
cream of tartar?— No.

To whom was the certificate of the analyst submitted
when it was received? — I received it from the analyst.

Did you issue the summons without reference to any¬
one else? — No.

Who then gave instructions for the summons to be
issued? — I cannot answer that question.

Has the certificate been before any person who is
competent to judge of the constituents of the drug in
question ? — I consider it has.

Did the public analyst give instructions for the prose¬
cution ? — Certainly not.

You asked for cream of tartar only? — I did.

You do not know what the constituents of cream of
tartar are, I suppose? — No.

Mr. Glaisyer : Will you call the analyst, if you please.

The Magistrates’ Clerk : That is for you to do.

Mr. Glaisyer : I beg your pardon, the 21st section of
the Act enacts, “At the hearing of the information in such
proceedings the production of the certificate of the analyst
shall be sufficient evidence of the facts therein stated,
unless the defendant shall require that the analyst shall
be called as a witness.” Unless the defendant shall
require that the analyst shall be called, his (the analyst’s)
certificate shall be sufficient, I gave notice by letter to
the inspector that the defendant required the analyst to
be called as witness.

The Magistrates’ Clerk : You required him to be
present, and he is here.

Mr. Glaisyer : Then I require the prosecution to call
him as a witness, otherwise I submit this case is not
complete.

Mr. Angell : Before I am sworn I should like to know,
with due respect to the bench, who guarantees my fees
and the cost of my attendance here to-day for the
purpose of giving evidence.

Mr. Glaisyer : I have nothing to say on that question.

The Chairman of the Bench : On the part of the
defendant you have given notice that you would require
the analyst to be present.

Mr. Glaisyer: I have given notice that I should re¬
quire that the analyst should be called as a witness,
but -

Chairman of the Bench: I presume then that will
carry expenses.

Magistrates’ Clerk : The Act distinctly says so.

Mr. Glaisyer : That is not so. The section from which
I have already quoted clearly states that the analyst’s
certificate shall be sufficient evidence unless the de¬
fendant requires the analyst to be called as a witness.
The defendant did require the analyst to be called as a
witness.

Chairman of the Bench : It appears to me, from that,
that the defendant must pay the analyst’s expenses.
The certificate is sufficient for the bench.

Mr. Glaisyer : I submit that it is necessary for the
purpose of this prosecution that the analyst should be
called by them as a witness, as the defendant has required
him to be called, and consequently the analyst’s certificate
is not “ sufficient evidence ” of the facts therein stated.

Mr. Angell went into the witness box.

Mr. Glaisyer : I have not called Mr. Angell as my
witness.

Magistrates’ Clerk: You have given notice that he
must be here.

Mr. Glaisyer : I should be glad to know whether the
bench considers the case of the prosecution is complete
without their having put the analyst in the box, I, on

the part of the defendant, having given notice that the
defendant would require that the analyst should be called

as a witness ?

Magistrates’ Clerk : You have taken a step under the
Act which you were entitled to do. You have given
notice to make us bring the analyst here ; that being so,
you must of course pay his expenses.

Chairman of the Bench: We think the defendant is
liable for the analyst’s fees and expenses.

Mr. Glaisyer : Then may we have that as a point of
law clearly stated ?

Magistrates’ Clerk : No, I think not. Mr. Angell
asked a question and the magistrates have decided it.

Mr. Glaisyer : I am not prepared to call Mr. Angell as
my witin ss.

Mr. Angell : I distinctly refuse to give evidence unless
my expenses and fees are guaranteed.

Mr. Glaisyer : Then I submit the case for the prose¬
cution is incomplete, and that I have no case to answer

— as it now stands.

Magistrates’ Clerk: The analyst says he will give
evidence if you pay him.

Mr. Glaisyer : The prosecution have put him in the
box.

Magistrates’ Clerk : That is not so.

Mr. Glaisyer : But Mr. Angell is in the box.

Magistrates’ Clerk: You have called him.

Mr. Glaisyer : I have not called him.

Magistrates’ Clerk : Then stand down, Mr. Angell.

Mr. Angell here left the witness box.

Mr. Glaisyer : As my client’s character as a chemist
and druggist is at stake, I feel that I must go on with
the case to prove his innocence of the charge brought
against him, and to enable me to do this I will guarantee
Mr. Angell’s fees.

Mr. Angell again went into the box and was sworn.

Mr. Glaisyer : Have the prosecution any questions to

ask ?

Superintendent Kellaway : Not a word.

Mr. Glaisyer: What is your name ?— Arthur Angell.

Where do you reside ? — At 4, Portland Terrace,
Southampton.

What is your profession ?— I am public analyst for the
county of Hants and for this borough.

Have you any special knowledge of the constituents of
drugs ? — That gained through my career only ; I have
never been in the drug trade.

Have you ever studied at any pharmaceutical school ?
—No.

For what length of time have you studied pharmacy ?
— I have never studied at a pharmaceutical school.

Therefore your knowledge is simply that of a chemist ?
— Quite so.

Did you recommend a prosecution in this case ? —
Certainly not.

Have you ever recommended that prosecutions should
be instituted under this Act ? — No. I am not allowed to
give an opinion.

Do you suggest in any way articles to be purchased
for analysis ? — In some instances.

Did you suggest that cream of tartar should be bought?

— Yes, amongst other things.

The sample on which this prosecution is based was
submitted to you last month and you analysed it? — Yes.

What did you find to be present ? — The only foreign
materials present were the 6 per cent, of tartrate of lime
and a very slight trace of sulphate of barium.

Let us have the whole of the constituents, if you
please. — They are stated in my certificate.

Your certificate refers to tartrate of lime and sulphate
of barium only. How did you ascertain there was any
cream of tartar in the drug you analysed if you did not
try to find out what was properly present ? — Because
upon ignition I could see it was a tartrate ; we are not
supposed to search all through the organic acids in an
analysis of this description.

January l/, it so , THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL and transactions.

571

But liow did you know it was cream of tartar at all? —
Prom its appearance and flavour.

I want to know how you knew it was cream of tartar ?
— I think I have said I found it was a soluble tartrate.

That is not sufficient. — I knew by its flavour that it
was acid tartrate of potash.

Did you judge solely by flavour what it was ? — You

have a chemist there, and -

Answer my question if you please. — I tested for acid
and found that it was acid to test paper.

Then you consider that was enough to prove the
presence of cream of tartar ? — That and other tests.

What other tests ? Tell me how you ascertained it was
cream of tartar at all? — There were no special tests put
-directly for cream of tartar.

Then you did not apply any special test for cream of
tartar ? — There is no test for cream of tartar.

You say you found 6 per cent, of tartrate of lime
present ? — Yes.

How did you arrive at that result ?— By the usual
process of analysis.

Give details, please. — The substance was weighed out
in the usual way, dissolved in hydrochloric acid, the
solution filtered, separated from a trace of barium sul¬
phate, neutralized, precipitated with oxalate of ammonia,
Altered, ignited, weighed as oxalate of calcium, the pre-

Icipitate dissolved and converted into sulphate, and
weighed as such, the mean of the two taken.

Now you say you found traces of barium. How did
you find that ? — In the ordinary way, by decomposition
and precipitation with sulphuric acid.

Can you give me details both as to tests and quantities
found ? — I employed no special test, except that of micro¬
scopical examination. I should not like to swear it was
barium sulphate.

That is very important, because in your certificate you
charge this man with having sold sulphate of barium
mixed with his cream of tartar. How did you test for
this barium? — Its insolubility in acids and its granular
and opaque appearance under the microscope ; it was only
a very slight trace.

Is that the only substance insoluble in acids which
might be present in cream of tartar? — -No; but it is
the only substance which would pass examination under
the microscope as well.

You say in your certificate that neither the lime nor
the barium are injurious. — Not in the quantity the sample
contains.

Is cream of tartar used as medicine, do you know ? —
Yes ; I do know, but simply from reading in books and so
forth. I have no real knowledge on that point.

How is it obtained ? — From argol.

What is argol? — Argol is the crude precipitate from
wine during fermentation.

What is the chemical name for that precipitate ? — It is
not a chemical, it is not chemically pure, it is acid tar¬
trate of potash with lime, and sometimes barium ; at
least, all samples of argol I have ever tested contain some

lime.

Where does the tartrate of lime come from that is
present in cream of tartar? — I have no knowledge; but
I presume it is mixed in to affect fermentation.

Where does the barium come from? — I do not

know.

The lime maybe in the juice of the grape I suppose ?—
Not to the extent of the percentage in this sample.

What quantity might be- there then? — Well, I should
think not more than 1 per cent.

Then how is cream of tartar made from argol ? — Com¬
mercially, do you mean ?

How is cream of tartar made ? — Argol is crude cream
■of tartar : this is cleansed by crystallization. I am not
conversant with the process of manufacture.

Let me have it as far as you can. — As far as I can
recollect the argol is boiled in water and concentrated,
probably filtered, the colouring matter precipitated in

some way, and the ordinary process of crystallization
brought about by concentration.

Have you tested many samples of cream of tartar ? —
Yes ; perhaps fifteen or sixteen.

Have you met with one that did not contain tartrate of
lime ? — Certainly not.

Tartrate of lime in variable quantities ? — Yes.

Have you ever looked for lime in wine ? — I have, and
found it there.

How did it come there do you suppose ? — It is a
common practice with makers of wines to lime them.

Have you ever tested grape juice? — No; but I have
sufficient knowledge of such natural products to know
that no great quantity of lime could be present in the
natural juice of the grape. Might I be allowed to make
a statement which will justify me in giving the certificate
I have given ? I have no means whatever of putting
before the bench a justification of my position. I am in
a most invidious position, almost that of a public pro¬
secutor, and I do not like to leave the box without
making a statement.

Magistrates' Clerk : I think you may make any state¬
ment you like.

Mr. Glaisyer: Any statement by the analyst should
have been made before his cross-examination.

Mr. Angell : I do not consider I have been giving evi¬
dence on behalf of the prosecution.

Mr. Glaisyer : Then please say no more on my behalf,
I want nothing further from yoxi.

Chairman of the Bench : You are brought here by the
defendant.

Mr. Glaisyer : I want nothing further from him. This
case is brought under the 6th section of the Sale of Food
and Drugs Act.

Magistrates’ Clerk: Under the 4th.

Mr. Glaisyer: Under the 4th I am told, that section
states “ No person shall, except for the purpose of com¬
pounding as hereinafter described, mix, colour, stain, or
powder, or order or permit any other person to mix, colour,
stain, or powder any drug with any ingredient or material
so as to affect injuriously the quality or potency of such
drug, with intent that the same may be sold in that state,
and no person shall sell any such drug so mixed, coloured,
stained, or powdered, under the same penalty in each case
respectively as in the preceding section for a first and
subsequent offence.” Therefore you see that the de¬
fendant is charged with having sold a certain drug, to wit,
cream of tartar, which was mixed with a certain material,
to wit, sulphate of barium and tartrate of lime, so as to
affect injuriously its potency. I am prepared to prove
if necessary that no barium was present, and also that the
tartrate of lime found in the sample is an essential con¬
stituent of cream of tartar, and that cream of tartar, as
such, does necessarily contain uncertain proportions of
tartrate of lime — but necessarily some — and the public
analyst has stated in his own evidence that no sample of
cream of tartar which has been submitted to him has
been free from tartrate of lime. The process which he
has described as that for the production of cream of tar¬
tar is substantially correct. The crystals are deposited
from the must of the wine when the aqueous liquid
changes to spirituous liquid; that deposit is dissolved in
water by boiling, and the scum on this boiling liquid, “the
cream” is skimmed off, and that when it is crystallized is
cream of tartar, and that cream of tartar contains as a
necessary constituent a certain quantity of tartrate of
lime varying according to the countries from which it is
imported — varying very considerably. The defendant,
whom I shall call before you, will state that he purchased
the cream of tartar, from which the sample supplied to
Superintendent Kellaway was taken, from a most respect¬
able house, indeed one of the leading firms of wholesale
druggists in the country — Messrs. Hearon, Squire and
Francis. Mr. Squire, who is in attendance here, will tell
you that the cream of tartar was imported by his firm,
and by them it was simply ground and sent out, and

572

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 17. 880.

Professor Attfield, whom I shall call — Professor of Prac¬
tical Chemistry to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great
Britain— analysed a sealed sample of this cream of tartar,
and he will tell you that the tartrate of lime which he
found in that sample is a natural constituent of all cream
of tartar, and further that no traces of^barium were present.
While I am upon this subject I may say that the public
analyst states that the very slight traces of barium which
he said were found by him in this sample were wholly in¬
nocuous. Upon these facts being proved, I shall ask you
to dismiss the case, if you even think now it is necessary
for me to go further.

Chairman of the Bench : Have you many witnesses to
call ?

Mr. Glaisyer: Three.

Chairman of the Bench : I think you had better
proceed.

Mr. William Blissett, called, sworn, and examined by

Mr. Glaisyer.

You are a chemist residing in this town, I believe ? —
Yes ; I have carried on business here for two years.

You have heard the evidence of Superintendent
Kellaway, and it is substantially correct ? — Yes.

Prom whom did you buy this cream of tartar ? —
From Messrs. Hearon, Squire and Francis, on October 1,
last.

Did you sell it in the same state in which you bought
it ? — I placed it in slock and sold it in precisely the same
state in which it reached me. .

Have you ever met with cream of tartar that did not
contain tartrate of lime ? — Never.

Mr. William Squire, called, sworn, and examined by

Mr. Glaisyer.

You are a member of the firm of Messrs. Hearon,
Squire and Francis, I believe ? — Yes.

Of 5, Coleman Street, London? — Yes.

In what s ;ate do you buy cream of tartar ? — We either
import it or buy it on the market. Generally we import
it from Bordeaux ; it is also imported from other places.
We buy very little on the market.

Do you always analyse it when you buy it ? — Yes ; we
invariably subject each parcel to analysis.

Is tartrate of lime invariably present ? — Invariably, in
greater or smaller proportions.

The certificate of the analyst charges the defendant
with having sold cream of tartar containing 6 per cent, of
tartrate of lime and a trace of sulphate of barium. The
article in question was supplied to the defendant by your
firm, I believe?— We supplied Mr. Blissett with the
cream of tartar before the bench ; this cream of tartar
contains 6 per cent, of sulphate of lime, but no trace of
barium. I have known cream of tartar to contain as
much as 11 or 12 per cent, of tartrate of lime, but I have
never sold any containing so large a proportion.

Do you know of your own knowledge that tartrate of
lime is always present ? — Yes.

Why is it present ? — It is one of the natural con¬
stituents of the juice of the grape, and it is not in any
way added to the cream of tartar as an adulterant. I
have never yet seen a sample of cream of tartar without
tartrate of lime.

Mr. Dyett : You say you have never seen cream of
tartar without tartrate of lime ? — I will go further than
that, it is utterly impossible to obtain the ordinary cream
of tartar without it. You may go to any shop in the
kingdom and you will not find one sample of commercial
cream of tartar that does not contain some proportion of
tartrate of lime.

Professor Attfield, called, sworn, and examined by Mr.

Glaisyer.

You are Professor of Practical Chemistry to the
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain ? — I am.

Author of a manual of chemistry ? — Yes.

Member of the Council of the Institute of Chemistry ? —
Yes.

Have you frequently analysed cream of tartar ? — Yes ;
many times for the past twenty-five years.

I have already told the bench what cream of tartar is,
but you can no doubt describe it more clearly — please do
so ? — Cream of tartar is made from tartar. Tartar is the
name of a substance deposited naturally from wine.
Tartar is contained in the crust of port wine bottles ; it is
chiefly deposited in the manufacture of the wine. The
tartar is a natural constituent of the juice of the grapes
from which the wine is made.

Have you examined pui'e grape juice? — I have ex¬
amined pure grape juice, pressed by myself from grapes,
and I have found lime in that juice; moreover books by
standard authoi-s state that tartrate of lime is contained
in grape juice. For instance in a book on chemistry by
Gmelin, English translation, vol. x. (there are eighteen,
volumes of this work), page 287, under the head of tar¬
trate of lime appears this sentence. — “ Tartrate of lime
occurs in many plants, especially in grapes, and mixes
with the tartar.”

Now please proceed with the process of manufacture for
cream of tartar? — Tartar is dissolved in the juice of the
grape, but it is deposited as a solid from the wine ; that
is because it is insoluble in the spirit of the wine produced
in the course of fermentation. From that crude tartar
cream of tarter is made. The crude tartar is boiled with
water and the cream of tartar separates out from the
clear hot liquor. That cream of tartar still contains the
tartrate of lime of the grape juice. I have analysed
hundreds of samples of cream of tartar. They all contain
tartrate of liine. Books by standard authors also state that
cream of tartar contains tartrate of lime, as for instance
in the book already quoted (page 276), it states that the
crude tartar contains tartrate of lime, the purified tartar
constantly containing tartrate of lime to the amount,
according to Vauquelin, of 5 to 7 per cent., sometimes,
according to Duflos, even of 16 per cent. Therefore I
say that cream of tartar is essentially and naturally a
mixture of acid tartrate of potash and tartrate of lime.
Pure acid of tartrate of potash is sometimes called cream
of tartar, but on the other hand cream of tartar is not
necessarily acid tartrate of potash, nor even, according to
the British Pharmacopoeia, is cream of tartar pure acid
tartrate of potash.

Have you examined a sealed sample of the cream of
tartar before the bench? — On January 6, last, I received
a sealed portion of the cream of tartar in question which
I analysed.

With what result? — As regards the presence of tartrate
of lime in the cream of tartar I confirm what is stated on
the public analyst’s certificate.

Magistrates’ Clerk: Of course your evidence is not
evidence as against the certificate of the borough analyst.

Mr. Glaisyer : I beg your pardon ; it is not only equally
good, but it is better. It is. vivd-roce evidence on an
analysis of the same article ; it is better than any certifi¬
cate. Kindly proceed, Professor Attfield.

Professor Attfield : As regards the presence of tartrate
of lime I confirm what has been stated by the public
analyst. I also confirm him in the proportion, but I differ
from him entirely as to the conclusion he draws from the
analysis. I say from my knowledge of the subject that
the presence of this 6 per cent, of tartrate of lime shows
that the article analysed is cream of tartar — pure cream
of tartar. As to sulphate of barium I say there is no¬
trace present, and I further say, that having heard the
evidence of the public analyst, that his tests do not prove
the presence of any trace of sulphate of barium. I tested
for the barium -

Magistrates’ Clerk: We shall take your evidence for
what it is worth of course.

Mr. Glaisyer: Certainly you will, and it is worth a
great deal.

J Professor Attfield (continuing): I tested for the barium

anuary 17, n*8o.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

573

chemically, and also by the microscope, and also by the
spectroscope, and I thus proved the entire absence of

barium.

Cross-examined by Superintendent Kellaway.

What is the standard book by which you prove the
purity of drugs ? — There is no book that is a standard
for the purity of all drugs.

Do you admit that the Pharmacopoeia is an authority ?
— It is one of the best authorities, but only one of many.

Mr. Angell : May I cross-examine the witness ?

Chairman of the Bench : I think you may. You see,
Mr. Glaisyer, Mr. Kellaway is only superintendent of
the police.

Mr. Glaisyer: I will raise no objection, but really the
prosecution should have instructed a competent advocate
to conduct their case.

Mr. Angell : In the characters and tests for the purity
of cream of tartar given in the British Pharmacopoeia,
there occurs this paragraph, “ And when neutralized by
ammonia is rendered slightly turbid by oxalic acid”? —
That statement does occur in the British Pharmacopoeia.

Does not a slight turbidity indicate a slight contami¬
nation with lime? — That depends on the quantity you
employ, and what you understand by the word “ slight.”

What would you understand on reading this paragraph
by “slight turbidity”? — As a chemist, from that I can
only infer that lime is an admitted constituent of cream
of tartar.

I want your opinion, and value it very much, on this
point, as to whether on reading “slight turbidity” in the
British Pharmacopoeia, you do not understand that the
contamination with lime is also slight, independent of the
quantity operated upon. Do you, or do you not, under¬
stand that the words “slight turbidity” mean that the con¬
tamination is slight ? — I read the word “ slight, ” in that
paragraph in connection with the quantity taken.

Then the quantity taken is of no importance ? — I say
that all I am told there is this, that lime in a slight
quantity is an officially recognized constituent of cream
of tartar.

And do you consider that 6 per cent, of dry tartrate of
lime would produce a slight turbidity only? — The test
relates to lime and not to tartrate of lime. I repeat that
my reading of that test is this only, that lime is a natural
constituent of cream of tartar -

I agree with you that lime is a natural constituent in
cream of tartar. You are Professor of Practical Che¬
mistry, you have told us, to the Pharmaceutical Society ?
— I am.

Does not the Pharmaceutical Society issue the British
Pharmacopoeia ? — Certainly not. That Pharmacopoeia is
written to guide medical men.

I have been misinformed on that point, then. We, as
public analysts, want to know where we are to go for our
standard, and I am simply trying to substantiate some¬
thing that may be useful to public analysts. Did you
find an insoluble residue when you examined the cream
of tartar in question ? —Which process do you refer to ?

Did you by any process find any insoluble residue ? —
When boiling it with strong acid there was a very slight
residue.

What did you do with that residue? — I examined it by
the spectroscope and I found that it was not barium.
It was silica. I am of opinion that what the public
analyst thought was sulphate of barium was silica.

Did you rely entirely on the spectroscope, then? —
No; I relied on chemical evidence and microsco¬
pical evidence combined with the spectroscopical evi¬
dence.

What was your chemical test which proved to you
that it was silica and not barium? — That the residue was
soluble in hydrofluoric acid.

That would prove it was silica, undoubtedly. You
have told the bench that you found lime in grape juice ?
— I have.

In natural grape juice ? — Yes.

Yhen you expressed the juice from the grapes did you
crush the seeds with it ? — I did not.

How much lime did you find ? — I did not examine it
quantitatively.

Was there enough there to weigh ? — Yes, but I did
not trouble to weigh it ; I could have ascertained very
easily.

Then it does not by any means prove that in cream of
tartar there might be as much as 6 per cent, of tartrate
of lime? — It neither proves as much, more or less.

Mr. Glaisyer: The examination of the grape juice was
not for the purpose of this particular case ?

Professor Attfield : No; it was made months ago.

Mr. Glaisyer : Do the bench think it necessary for me
to address them.

Chairman of the Bench : I think not.

The magistrates retired, and after a short interval re¬
entered the court, when the Chairman said : The magis¬
trates have carefully considered this case ar.d have decided
to dismiss the summons, but without costs.

Mr. Glaisyer : I really must appeal to you to reconsider
your decision as to costs, and I submit there are several
reasons for doing so. In the first place, the charge
against the defendant has not been maintained, but is
proved to have been utterly groundless and frivolous.
Again, this is the second time he has been brought before
you within the last eighteen months on a frivolous charge
which the prosecution could not maintain. The defence
in these cases involves a heavy expense, which under the
circumstances should be borne by the prosecution, and I
may remark that the costs would not have to be paid by
Superintendent Kellaway, but would be paid by the
county fund. And yet again, the same question has quite
lately been tried in your county, and the summons was
then dismissed, in a case where the drug contained still
more tartrate of lime than is found in the present in¬
stance, and since that decision the prosecution has had
ample time to retire from the present proceedings. Under
all these circumstances I must press for some costs to be
awarded.

Chairman of the Bench : We have fully considered the
matter and cannot alter our decision.

Alum in Norfolk Baking Powder. — The Conviction
Quashed with Costs.

At the Cambridge Quarter Sessions, J anuary 9 (before
the Pecorder, J. R. Bulwer, Esq., Q.C., M.P.), the
appeal of G. and E. Warren, grocers, Cambridge, v.
Henry Phillips, inspector of provisions for the borough,
came on for hearing. It was an appeal against a
decision of the magistrates who, on November 20, con¬
victed the Messrs Warren of selling a certain article
of food, to wit, baking powder, which contained a certain
ingredient, to wit, alum, the same being injurious to
health. The penalty imposed by the justices was a fine
of 40s. and costs.

The appellants were represented by Mr. T. C. Blofeld
and Mr. Horace Browne; Mr. Cockerell and Mr. Turner
appeared for the respondent.

The notices of appeal, the sale of the powder in
question, and the fact that it contained alum were all
admitted, and

Mr. Cockerell at once proceeded to open the case for
the respondent. He said that the proceedings before
the magistrates were taken under the 3rd section of the
Sale of ‘Food and Drugs Act, 1875, for selling an article
ol food, namely, baking powder, mixed with an in¬
gredient that rendered it injurious to health. The
interpretation clause described “ food ” as every article
used for food or drink by man other than drugs or water.
In a case recently heard at Malton a question arose upon
the words “ injurious to health” under the Public Health
Act 1875, with respect to certain nuisauces caused by
manure works there, and it was held that it was unneces¬
sary to make out that the said nuisances were injurious

574

THE rHAKMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January n, ,880.

to the health of everybody, but sufficient to show that the
alleged nuisance was injurious to the health of children or
invalids. The case referred to was that of the Malton
Local Board against the Malton Manure Company. The
facts under which the conviction in the baking powder
case took place were these : — Some proceedings having
been taken against a baker for the adulteration of certain
buns sold by him, and it being alleged by him in defence
or mitigation that the adulteration was caused by the
use of this Norfolk baking powder, it was thought
desirable and necessary to test the validity of the sale of
that powder by having an analysis made of it as sold by
the dealers in Cambridge, and that analysis led to these
proceedings being taken ; the real defendants then and
the real appellants now were the manfacturers of this
powder, Messrs. Smith and Sons, of Norwich. A quantity of
the powder was purchased, and it was put before the public
analyst, whose certificate he handed in to the Recorder.

Mr. Blofeld said the appellants would not dispute the
analysis being approximately correct, but he would hand
up to the Recorder the actual analysis. There was only
one thing omitted. Learned counsel then handed up the
analysis to the Recorder, observing that he did not wish
it to be made public.

Mr. Cockerell said, speaking roughly the quantity of
alum contained in the powder was about one-third of the
whole, and the question for the Recorder to decide was
Avhether that quantity made the powder injurious to
health.

The Recorder pointed out that in one of the analyses
the alum was described as crystallized potash alum, and
in the other as burnt alum.

The Recorder said the conviction set forth that the
appellants, “did sell a certain article of food, to wit, baking
powder, mixed with a certain ingredient, to wit, alum, so
as to render such article injurious to health.” Therefore
they had first to ascertain what was the food that was
mixed with the alum ? The charge was “food, to wit,
baking powder, mixed with a certain ingredient, to wit,
alum.” Therefore the “ article of food ” was the baking
powder.

Mr. Cockerell : That is my contention.

The Recorder : But the baking powder, from the
analysis you have handed to me, is not complete without
the alum. The alum is a part of the baking powder.
First of all before you get the thing that is mixed you
must get the food.

Mr. Cockerell: The food is the baking powder. I say
alum is no part of the baking powder necessarily.
Baking powder ought to contain no alum.

The Recorder: But you have got the powder that the
man sells.

Mr. Cockerell : It is sold as baking powder.

The Recorder : What of that ? Suppose for argument
that I sell chalk and arsenic mixed together and advertise
it as baking powder, is it to be said that I adulterate an
“article of food,” chalk by the arsenic, or the arsenic by
the chalk ? Let us go by steps. Where is your article
of food that is adulterated ? The article of food becomes
extinct by the adulteration. Where is your article of
food without the alum? Bicarbonate of soda and other
matters. Is bicarbonate of soda an article of food ?

Mr. Cockerell : I say that baking powder is an article
of food, commonly sold by these people and by various
others; but alum is not a necessary part of that powder,
which ought not to contain any.

The Recorder: Is there anything known as baking
powder?

Mr. Cockerell : Ob, yes.

The Recorder: If you will give me evidence of that
I will be glad. I never heard of baking powder beyond
what chemists advertise as such, any more than I know
of aperient draughts which may contain no one knows
what. Is there such a thing known as baking powder?

Mr. Cockerell: Yes, known to the public.

The Recorder : I mean as an article of food.

Mr. Cockerell : Of course people do not eat baking
powder. Everybody knows wbat it ought to be.

The Recorder: You can only know what baking
powder is by analysing it. Suppose A sells a particular
compound and calls it baking powder, which is to produce
certain effects if used in cookery ; B makes up a certain,
other mixture and calls that baking powder ; while C, D,
and so on, proceed in like manner. They are all called
baking powder.

Mr. Cockerell asked if the word “ mix ” did not bring
the baking powder under the section.

The Recorder : The Act says “ No person shall mix
any article of food.” You must first of all get your
food.

Mr. Cockerell : I say the alum ought not to be there,
and that the powder is mixed improperly.

The Recorder: Then you are driven to the other
alternative, that the bicarbonate of soda and the rest of
the ingredients are an article of food.

Mr. Cockerell : When compounded as baking powder.

The Recorder : Suppose I go to a druggist’s shop and
ask for an aperient draught, and it is composed of
rhubarb and magnesia. Is the chemist to be convicted for
adulterating rhubarb with magnesia, or magnesia with
rhubarb ?

Mr. Cockerell : You get what you want.

The Recorder : No, I do not ; I ask for an aperient
draught.

Mr. Cockerell: Suppose you went and asked for a
particular drug ?

The Recorder : If the inspector had gone and asked
for bicarbonate of soda, and they had given him the soda
mingled with crystallized potash alum, there would have
been a case directly.

Mr. Cockerell said the effect of the learned Recorder’s’
construction of the Act would make it inoperative alto¬
gether.

The Recorder: No, if a baker chooses to mix some
noxious compound, — mind I do not say this is, — with his
bread and sells it he is liable. I am only calling
attention to the matter just to have my mind clear
upon it.

Mr. Cockerell said no question of this kind had ever
been raised. We treat baking powder as an article of

food.

The Recorder : Then I shall want you to tell me what
baking powder is.

Mr. Cockerell : My medical witness will tell you what
this particular baking powder is, and what baking powder
ought to be without alum, but that is put in because it
is cheaper. It is admitted that the powder is to be put
into articles of food.

In the course of further argument the Recorder said
even if the powder became injurious to health when put
into food it was not an article of food.

Mr. Cockerell also said that the rice flour was an
article of food.

The Recorder : I do not know know what evidence will
be given upon it, but I should have thought the rice was
only a medium or padding.

Mr. J. W. Knights, public analyst for the borough and
county of Cambridge, F.C.S., etc., deposed that he was
of opinion that when mixed with the flour the baking
powder rendered the gluten of the flour and the soluble
phosphate contained in the flour insoluble. When a
teaspoonful of the powder was mixed with a pound of
flour and water added, it would liberate the carbonic
acid gas and render the soluble phosphates contained in
the flour insoluble, by forming phosphate of alumina,
which is insoluble. It would render the phosphoric acid
insoluble. He believed an adult in health required 50
grains of phosphoric acid per day. Phosphoric acid was
derived from bread and other articles of consumption ; in
some cases chiefly from bread. Bread made with this
powder, as directed, would give less soluble phosphoric
acid than there should be by 7-10ths. 7-10ths of the

January 1", 1880.] THiis PRARMACETTTICAIj JOUIINAL AND TRANSACTIONS

575

phosphoric acid would be rendered unavailable and he
should presume the bread would be less nutritious.
With children the effect would be the same, but to a
greater degree. It would impair digestion.

Cross-examined by Mr. Blofeld : As to rendering the
phosphoric acid insoluble, what authority have you for
stating that a man in health requires 50 grains of
phosphoric acid in the twenty-four hours? — I saw it so
stated in a medical work. Parkes’s ‘Treatise on Practical
Hygiene.’

Are you aware that the body rejects as much as from
75 to 100 grains of phosphoric acid per day? — A very
large quantity.

May I take it that which the body rejects is what
the body does not require to assimilate ? — Cei'tainly not,
but I am not a medical man. When the bicarbonate of
soda and alum are mixed with water effervescence takes
place and carbonic acid gas is given off. The residuum
from the alum is hydrate of alumina, that from the soda
is sodic sulphate or sulphate of soda.

So that when the bread is made with this powder there
is no alum in it and no bicarbonate of soda ; they both
cease to exist ? — Yes.

By the Recorder : This change takes place when water
is added. In the presence of flour the case is somewhat
different. The bicarbonate of soda and the alum effer¬
vesce in the dough, and there is a residuum from each,
but the hydrate would become phosphate.

By Mr. Blofeld: When mixed with the flour and
moisture I should say the phosphate of alumina is formed
immediately, and not hydrate first, but I cannot say that
positively. It is necessary, to change the hydrate of
alumina into phosphate, that there should be actual con¬
tact between the hydrate and the phosphoric acid in the
flour.

How is the little hydrate of alumina there would be
in a 1 -pound loaf to come into contact with all the grains
of phosphoric acid to be found in the dough, so as to form
it into phosphate of alumina ? — Because it is mixed in a
dry state. Phosphate of alumina is perfectly well known
to be insoluble in water. I believe phosphate of alumina
is not soluble in the gastric juices, but that is a question
for a physiologist and not a chemist. It is perfectly in¬
soluble in acetic acid. It is soluble in hydrochloric acid,
and the gastric juice is supposed to contain that. I do
not believe the gastric juice is practically a weak solution
of hydrochloric acid. I have heard that no hydrochloric
acid exists in the gastric juice in a free state. I forget
where I read that, but it was not in a newspaper. I have
no authority for the assertion that the gastric juice is not
equivalent to hydrochloric acid. The injurious effect of
this baking powder does not depend upon the assertion
that phosphate of alumina is insoluble in the stomach.

If it is soluble in the stomach what harm could it do ? —
It would probably have an astringent effect.

The Recorder : Does a minute quantity of alum in
bread make it injurious to health — I have heard that it
rather improves it ? — I think it is no improvement.
However small the quantity there is a corresponding
quantity of phosphoric acid rendered insoluble.

By Mr. Blofeld : Cannot cite any case where injury
has been done to health by the use of a small quantity of
alum.

By the Recorder : Alum is very little prescribed ex¬
cept for use externally and as a gargle.

The Recorder : How long would it take to kill a man
if he ate an ordinary quantity of bread daily made with
this baking powder ? — A man in health and with good
digestion would possibly live some time.

The Recorder : He would live for ever ? Have you
ever heard an instance of anybody having a fit of in¬
digestion from eating bread made with this powder and
clearly traceable to it ? — No. I have come into contact
with no case, but I should judge, from my chemical
knowledge, that indigestion would follow. The effect of
either hydrate or phosphate of alumina would be to

harden the gluten. Baking powder can be made with

many other ingredients besides bicarbonate of soda and
alum.

As a chemist, in how many ways could you make
baking powder ? — Four or five ways probably. By com¬
bining an alkali with an acid, baking powder is formed.
°nly three or four ways would be unobjectionable.

There is no such thing as baking powder, is there,
beyond the fact that a man fancies the name and gives
it to what he makes ? — There is no recognized formula
for making baking powder.

You might make it as you would make an aperient
draught ? — Yes ; it is not known in the British Pharma¬
copoeia. It is what men choose to call it. It might be
termed “Substitute for yeast powder,” or “Norfolk
dumpling powder.”

Mr. Matthew Moncrieff Patteson Muir, prselector of
chemistry in Caius College, Cambridge, then gave the
effect of an experiment that he had made with a mixture
like that contained in the baking powder with phosphate
of soda instead of flour, and said he found insoluble
phosphate of alumina. He also made an experiment
with half a pound of flour free from alum, treated it
with water, and found the water contained a large
quantity of phosphoric acid. He also mixed half a
teaspoonful of the baking powder with half a pound of
flour, treated it as before, and found the water contained
very small quantities of phosphoric acid. Witness was
about to give the result of experiments made with bread
in which was mixed the Norfolk baking powder and
bread made wfith another baking powder, but Mr. Blofeld
objected to a comparison between baking powders. Wit¬
ness then described an experiment he had made with the
Norfolk baking powder when made into bread according
to directions, and said he found about 1^ grains of soluble
phosphoric acid to the pound of flour used in the bread.
In an experiment he had made with yeast bread he found
about 3 grains of soluble phosphoric acid to the half-
pound of flour, or, in round numbers, four times the
quantity. He tested the bread with hydrochloric acid
of Troths per cent, strength at a temperature of 100° F.,
with the results he had given. The reason for taking
that particular kind of hydrochloric acid was because
that was taken as the average strength of the hydrochloric
acid in the gastric juice. He then stated that he com¬
posed a mixture like the baking powder prepared, a
quantity of gluten from flour, digested it with half a
litre of Hollis per cent, strength hydrochloric acid for
fifty hours, and found that there was 20 per cent, less of
the gluten dissolved than there was in a similar quantity
heated without alum, soda, etc. Then he made a further
solution with a mixture of dextrine — a modified form of
starch which might be taken to represent the starchy
matter in flour — with water, and added a solution of
alum and a solution of phosphate of soda. The phosphate
of alumina which was precipitated carried with it the
greater portion of the previously soluble dextrine. In
experimenting with a loaf made of the seme powrder he
determined the quantity of phosphate of alumina existing
was 25 grains per 4-pound loaf ; that wras about 5 grains
to the J-pound loaf. Witness then corrected himself, and
said he made a mistake in his calculation, he should have
said about 3‘03 in the \ pound loaf. From these ex¬
periments he should say the effect of this baking powder
made into bread was that the alum in powder was wholly
decomposed, with the production of phosphate of alumina
and sulphate of soda. This phosphate of alumina, he
added, rendered the gluten and the dextrine less soft.

By the Recorder: I could form no idea of the effect
of a man eating an ordinary quantity of bread for a year
made with this baking powder because I have no medical
knowledge.-

Dr. J. B. Bradbury, Linacre lecturer in physic at St.
John’s College, F.R.C.P., and one of the physicians at
Addenbrooke’s Hospital, deposed that from what he had
heard from the experiments of the last two witnesses, he

576

THE FHARMACEUT1CAL JOURNAL AND 'TRANSACTIONS. [January 17, 188a.

should say the effect of the powder used in bread would
be to rob the dietary of a certain amount of soluble
phosphate which was essentially necessary to nutrition.
He agreed with the other witnesses as to the amount of
phosphoric acid required for a healthy adult every twenty-
four hours, and as to the amount contained in a pound of
flour. In answer to the Recorder, the witness said that
people suffered from indigestion who did not eat bread.
They got their phosphoric acid from meat, milk, etc.
Baking powder produced the same effect as aerating the
bread, which was done by forcing carbonic acid into the
dough by machinery.

Bread made with yeast disagrees with some people.
Practically speaking, is there any fault to be found with
bread made with this baking powder?— I should say
people might partake of it occasionally with impunity,
but if they were to eat it constantly, and especially if
they were to live upon it, it wculd have a deleterious
effect. It would produce indigestion even in a man who
led a regular life.

How long has this baking powder been in use ?

Mr. Blofeld : Thirty-nine years, and many millions
must have eaten bread, etc., made with it.

Dr. Bradbury : It leaves no record how many people
have died. There are many diseases one cannot fathom.
Stone is very common in Norfolk, and it is not very easy
to fathom the cause of it.

The Recorder : Baking powder does not produce stone,
does it ? — Indigestion does.

The Recorder : I should have thought the water of
Cambridge would have produced more.

Cross-examination continued : A man eating bread
made with this baking powder wculd be the worse for it
at the end of five years.

Is bread made with this baking powder anything like
so indigestible as new cheese ? — New cheese would suit
one person who would not suffer at all, while others
would suffer.

Your evidence with respect to this baking powder is
founded on the assumption that the phosphate of alumina
is insoluble in the stomach ? — Not altogether, but chiefly.

And if I satisfy you that the phosphates are not
insoluble in the stomach your opinion would be altered
or modified ? — It would.

In answer to questions by the Recorder, witness said
that 50 grains of phosphoric acid were excreted by a
healthy man in twenty-four hours, and these had to be
supplied, and that if a man were deprived of the com¬
ponent parts of the phosphoric acid he would be injured
to that extent.

Dr. Paget, Regius Professor of Physic in the University
of Cambridge, F.R.S., P.R.C.P., etc., deposed that having
heard the evidence of Messrs. Knights and Muir, and
assuming that their experiments were correct, the effect
of a person in ordinary health eating an ordinary quantity
of bread made with this baking powder would be that in
the course of time digestion would be impaired. Going
on the experiments of Mr. Muir, that it has the effect of
rendering less soluble the dextrine and the gluten of the
bread, he should certainly be of opinion that it would
render them less digestible, and so far injurious to health.
In children the effect would be more marked, and with
persons who had weak stomachs and were troubled with
dyspepsia or feeble digestion it would be positively
injurious. Questioned on the amount of phosphoric acid
required to be taken into the system by a person in good
health every twenty-four hours, the professor stated that
to keep a person in health he must take as much of an
ingredient, if it were a constituent of the body, as went
out of him, and assuming it to be correct that 50 grains
of phosphoric acid went out daily, he required to have a
like amount introduced.

Mr. Blofeld : Do you imagine that the loss of 2^ grains
of phosphoric acid through eating 1^ pound of bread
would be injurious to any man’s health? — Not if a man
got other food. If a man were to get 2^ grains of phos¬

phoric acid less every day than passed out of him it would
very soon be a serious matter.

If I neutralize 2^ grains of phosphoric acid which T
should otherwise get should I be one whit the worse off
than before ? — Probably not ; probably you take more
phosphoric acid every day than is good for you.

Mr. Blofeld : I hope you confine your remarks to phos¬
phoric acid. But take anyone else in this court; would
any man eating this bread be sensibly injured ? — I hope not,,
because I should hope everybody gets as much food as
would compensate him for the loss of the phosphoric acid
he requires. If he gets meat, cheese, eggs, milk and
other things in fair quantities the loss of that small
amount of phosphoric acid would be of very small
moment indeed. The articles I have mentioned contain
phosphoric acid, as do fish and cheese in very large quanti¬
ties, and vegetables in less quantities. At this moment I
cannot think of any article of food that does not contain
phosphoric acid. My opinion that bread made with this,
baking powder is injurious is based upon the fact spoken
to by Mr. Muir that it renders less soluble the gluten and
dextrine of the flour.

The Recorder : Would you say in the words of the Act
of Parliament that bread made with this baking powder
was an article of food injurious to health ? — I would not
venture to say it except in the case of persons of weak
digestion. We have not sufficient exact experience I
think in regard to persons in ordinarily good health to-
give an opinion on the matter. There is experience of
alum in bread being injurious to health.

Is alum always injurious ? — Taken repeatedly I should
say it would be. I should say if any practical physician
were asked if he would allow any person to take even a
few grains every day of his life ior a time he would not
only advise to the contrary, but would say probably it
would cause some disorder of the stomach before long.
It is scarcely ever prescribed except externally.

Mr. Blofeld then addressed the Court on behalf of the
appellants, and called —

Mr. Fras. Sutton, F.C.S., F.C.I., public analyst for
Norfolk and other places. He deposed that when the
baking powder was mixed with the alum it became
hydrate of alumina. He did not believe that in
bread made of this baking powder phosphate of alu¬
mina was found, and it was a very difficult thing to
prove that it was. If it were so formed it was be¬
lieved that it would be soluble in the gastric juice.
Alumina found in bread might neutralize a certain
amount of phosphoric acid in the bread ; but the fluids of
the stomach decomposed that phosphate of alumina, and
the result would be that the person would be none the
worse for it. He had made two 4-pound loaves, one with
yeast and the other with the Norfolk baking powder.
The yeast bread on treatment with cold distilled water
gave 3'04 grains of phosphoric acid dissolved by the water^
The bread made with baking powder gave 2 ’32 grains,
being a difference of 72-100ths of a grain in a 4-pound
loaf, or 17^-100ths of a grain in a 1-pound loaf.

It is said that the use of baking powder hardens the
gluten and the dextrine? — My opinion is that it has no
such effect in bread. I have tried an experiment to see
if it did by mixing phosphate of alumina with gluten, but
I have made no experiment with dextrine. I do not.
agree that phosphate of alumina renders the gluten less
soluble from the experiments I have made. My experi¬
ments was to mix the phosphate with the gluten in a
very large excjss. In one of the boxes produced I have-
got gluten without phosphate, and in the other the same
quantity of gluten with phosphate added in five times the
proportion that would be found in the baking powder,
and the condition is not altered in the least.

The Recorder : Have you tested its solubility * — No, I
did not think it was fair to make such a test with hydro¬
chloric acid. It is not soluble in water, but it is soluble-
in the juices of the stomach.

By Mr. Blofeld : Hydrochloric acid has not got thfr

.’snaarylT, 1880.) THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL- TRANSACTIONS.

577

stlivary fluids or the pepsine in it. Hydrochloric acid is
only one of the ingredients, and is but a feeble reproduc¬
tion of the gastric juice. It is like the gastric juice,
leaving out the most important parts. The salivary
fluids are particularly necessary for the digestion of all
kinds of food, like bread and so on.

You would not be surprised to find that Mr. Muir’s
experiments were correct, and yet that if the phosphate
got into the gastric juice it would do no harm ?— Not at
all. I may also say that a very high authority, Mitscher-
lich, of Berlin, states that compounds of gluten with
alumina are perfectly soluble in the juices of the stomach.

Will you tell us the result of the experiment you have
recently made with two pigs ? — Two healthy pigs, of
about five stone weight each, were purchased and placed
in a pen with a boarded floor to prevent them getting
earth, which contains alumina. For eight clear days
they were fed upon bread made with this Norfolk baking
powder in proper proportions mixed up with warm water
to a very soft, sloppy consistence, so as to give the best
chance for the formation of phosphate of alumina. They
consumed in the eight days 91 pounds of flour, and at
the end of twenty-eight days I went and saw them
killed. The pigs had thriven well during that time, and
their internal appearances were perfectly healthy. I had
the stomach removed and the whole of the bowels, and
had them tied up and sent to my laboratory, where I
examined them. I opened one stomach where the pigs
were killed, and they had the mixture of the powder then
in a sloppy condition. I removed separately the contents
of the upper portion of the bowels, the second stomach,
and also the contents of the lower bowels, or rectum. I
took equal portions from the two sets of bowels for each
pig, keeping the two uppers separate and the two lowers
separate. I then dried down these separate portions of
faeces in platinum vessels, and then burned off the
organic matter, with the addition of small quantities
of nitrate of potash to prevent the reduction of the
phosphoric acid ; the result would be the ash, in fact,
of the faeces, and would contain the whole of the phos¬
phoric acid and other mineral matters present. I then
made an analysis of the ash to find the ratio between the
alumina and the phosphoric acid. The analysis of the
upper bowels showed, phosphoric acid, 7 '24 per cent.,
oxide of iron, 1*08, alumina, 3*68, lime, 0 9, magnesia, 0'4,
sulphuric acid, 0'274, the remainder was unconsumed
carbon, alkalies, etc. In the case of the lower bowels the
proportions were, phosphoric acid, 2’43, oxide of iron,
1T8, alumina, 4*91, lime, 1T3, magnesia, 0*54, sulphuric
acid, *343. On the assumption that the whole of the
phosphoric acid is combined with the alumina, the excess
of alumina in the upper portion of the bowel was 2 07
per cent., and in the case of the lower bowel 3T5 per
cent. But it is an open question whether the whole of
the phosphoric acid is combined with the alumina, because
the other things present, which are stronger bases, keep
it entirely to itself. The inference to be drawn from the
experiment is that the gastric juice in the stomach takes
all the phosphoric acid it requires, and if the phosphate of
alumina is there at all the gastric juices absorb the
phosphoric acid out of it if it is required, leaving the
hydrate of alumina in the bowel to be rejected with
the faeces.

By the Recorder : That experiment is a guide to what
goes on in the human stomach, and I look upon it as an
analogous case.

By Mr. Cockerell : Is alum in bread injurious? — Per sc,
I do not think it should be allowed, because it opens up
a way for fraud. Apart from that, I do not think a
little of it used would be injurious. I do not think 40
grains in a 4-pound loaf would be injurious. That is my
private opinion ; I am not giving a medical opinion on
that point. Chloride of alumina would be objectionable
in a large quantity.

The Recorder : I suppose you might evolve poisonous
things out of a mutton chop ? — Oh, yes.

By Mr. Cockerell : Mr. Muir produced his phosphate of
alumina in conjunction with the gluten ; mine was pro¬
duced the same way as it would be in the bread. I
extracted the gluten from the flour in a pure state. The
effect of hardening the gluten in any way would be to
make it tough like leather. It is of no use my making
experiments that do not go on in the stomach. Those
made by Mr. Muir were merely a waste of time and
nothing more.

By the Recorder : I do not dispute the accuracy of Mr.
Muir’s experiments as he made them. My opinion of
Mr. Muir’s experiments as a chemist is a very high one,
and I think he is a very admirable experimenter.

Re-examined : I have used this baking powder for
years for all kinds of pastry, cakes, etc.

By the Recorder : I have had no reason to complain of
its having given dyspepsia, indigestion, or anything of
the kind, nor have my wife or family.

The Recorder asked if there was any need to go further
after what this gentleman had said. This wras a penal
enactment, in which the first offence rendered a person
liable to a penalty of £50, and the second to imprison¬
ment, with hard labour, for a period not exceeding six
calendar months. Could he be expected to confirm this
conviction when a skilled witness like Mr. Sutton (for
whose opinion he had the highest esteem) declared upon
his oath that there was nothing injurious to health in the
use of this baking powder, raising the question even upon
the merits, without the question as to whether the case
came within the statute ?

Mr. Blofeld said he shoidd like to call Dr. Thudicum
and Dr. Tidy in fairness to Messrs. Smith and Sons.

The Recorder assented, and

Dr. J. L. W. Thudicum, F.C.P. Lond., F.C.S., and
Fellow of several other learned societies, deposed: I have
been frequently consulted on these questions by the
Government and by Boards of Health.

Mr. Blofeld: You have been present throughout this
trial, and, having heard all the evidence that has been
given, and the experiments that have been made by Mr.
Muir and those of Mr. Sutton, and his experience of this
baking powder, is there in it in your opinion anything that
is injurious to health ? — In my opinion there is nothing
injurious in the use of this baking powder.

Assuming that phosphate of alumina is formed in the
stomach, would it or would it not be decomposed in the
gastric juices in the stomach ? — It would be entirely
decomposed by the gastric juices in the stomach.

Do you admit that there is phosphate of alumina
there ? — I merely assume that there is for the purpose of
this argument.

Is it your opinion that there is or is not ? — It is not
proved that there is.

By the Recorder : The decomposition would take place
without any extra effort of the gastric juice. The
difference it would make by its presence would be in¬
appreciable.

By Mr. Blofeld : The hydrate of alumina in the bottle
produced is perfectly harmless.

The Recorder (to Mr. Sutton) : How much do you say
you produced from a 2 -pound loaf ? — 6 grains.

Dr. Thudicum : That rests upon the evidence of Mr.
Sutton, and I coincide with it. It is perfectly harm-
less*

Mr. Blofeld : Dr. Beverley may have taken 20 grains ?

— He might. ...

You have heard a good deal said about the dimaiution
of the phosphoi’ic acid absorbed into the system by the
use of this baking powder, will you give us your opinion ?

_ The diminution of phosphoric acid in the human body

by the use of this baking powder would be quite
inappreciable, and would be of no consequence wrhate\ er
to the body.

You heard Mr. Sutton give his evidence as to the
experiment he made with the two pigs and the conclusion
he came to. Do you agree with the conclusions he drew ?

578

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. lJ.ni.ar, 17, ,830.

— I agree with them, and think they are physiologically
stronger than he put them.

The Recorder : You think the experiment was a satis¬
factory one ? — Very so.

Mr. Cockerell, addressing the Recorder, said he took
it that he had decided the case, and as he (Mr. Cockerell)
did not apprehend he should be able to alter the
Recorder’s view of the matter it would be absurd for him
to take up more time.

The Recorder said it was satisfactory to find that there
was not so much difference between the gentlemen on the
one side and on the other. No one disputed the accuracy
of the experiments made, but upon the one side hydro¬
chloric acid was used, and on the other side it was said
by a very able gentleman that this acid was only one of
the component parts of the gastric juice, and the experi¬
ment he made was strictly analogous to what took place
in the human system.

Dr. Charles Meymott Tidy, M.B., F.C.S. (Professor of
Chemistry and of Forensic Medicine at the London
Hospital, Medical Officer of Health for Islington, and
late Deputy-Medical Officer of Health for the City of
London, etc.), was next sworn and examined by Mr.
Blofeld.

The first question is as to phosphate of alumina being
formed. Do you agree that it is formed in bread by the
use of this baking powder, or is it an open question or
not ? — I think it is very improbable that the phosphate of
alumina is formed at all, because in order to form phos¬
phate of alumina you must have actual contact between
the phosphoric acid and the alumina, and I cannot see
how that can be brought about under the ordinary
conditions of digestion, and even granting that it occurs
— and I do not think it makes the slightest difference in
the case — even supposing that it does occur, I know, as a
matter of fact, that the phosphate of alumina is soluble in
the gastric juices in weak acid solutions, and I know that
when phosphate of alumina is in solution of that nature
with the membrane between and the alkaline blood on
the other side the whole of the phosphoric acid filters
through into the blood. I know that as a laboratory
experiment, and I know if that occurs as a laboratory
experiment it occurs much more rapidly in the living
tissue.

Can you see anything in the use of this baking
powder which can be injurious to health? — No ;
most certainly not. I should like to say, in giving my
opinion with respect to this powder, that I do not wish to
express any opinion about alum in bread as a means of
fraud. I conceive alum ought not to be used in large
quantities, as it is not on the question of injury to the
health, but for the reason that bread holds a larger
quantity of water and bakers can use a very inferior
quality of flour. I am only giving my opinion of this
baking powder and not of the alum in bread-making.

Mr. Cockerell : Nor of the use of alum at all ? — I do
not give it, but simply as alum leads to fraud.

The Recorder : You think there is nothing injurious
in this powder ?— No, in the proportions in which it is
possible to use it. It might be said, “ Couldn’t you put
in a large quantity of this powder ? ” but this could not
be done, as it would spoil the bread entirely. Therefore,
it is utterly impossible, to my mind, that this powder
could be used for the purpose of fraud from the point of
view from which I put alum forward and from which
aluin is occasionally used.

t Mr. Blofeld said he had Dr. Beverley here, but he
did not think, after the evidence that had been given, it
was necessary to call him. That was his case.

The Recorder, in giving judgment, said : It is un¬
necessary for me to express any opinion upon the legal
point as to whether this case falls within the Act of
Parliament ; but if my opinion is worth anything to
anybody, I still adhere to the opinion I have already
expressed, that it does not come within the Act for
reasons some of which I have already given. I decide

- - — - - — . ==*

this case upon its merits and upon the evidence. After
the evidence we have just heard I do not think this
baking powder is an article of food, or that bread made
with it becomes an article of food injurious to health
and, as a matter of fact, I find in favour of the ap¬
pellants.

Mr. Blofeld : I have to ask for costs.

Mr. Cockerell : I never heard of any costs being given
against the magistrates. We come here to uphold the
decision of the magistrates.

The Recorder : Who is the respondent ?

Mr. Cockerell : Mr. Phillips, the provision inspector.

The Recorder : Who put the law in force ?

Mr. Cockerell said proceedings were taken against the
sellers of this powder in Cambridge in consequence of a
conviction that took place there of a man for selling buns
made with this powder. The magistrate threw out a
hint that proceedings should be taken against the sellers
of the powder.

Mr. Blofeld said the buns in question could not have
been made with this baking powder.

The Recorder also said that they could not have
found alum in the buns if they were made with this
powder.

Mr. Cockerell : They did not say it was alum.

Mr. Blofeld : They did say so, and here is the convic¬
tion to prove it. (Conviction handed in.) The persons
who started these proceedings were a committee con¬
nected with the corporation, and not the magistrates.

The Recorder : I should be loth to make an order for
costs, and especially against Mr. Phillips, a public officer
put forward by the corporation to look after the health
of the town, but if the conviction were sustained I see
that the costs Mr. Phillips would have received from
Messrs. Warren would have been £10 Is. Ordinarily
speaking, I should not think of giving costs against the
magistrates nor against a public officer, but I should like
to know the circumstances under which this prosecution
was instituted.

Mr. Cockerell said he had stated the circumstances.

The Recorder : Where will the costs come from ?

Mr. Cockerell did not know.

Mr. Horace Browne said they would come out of the
corporation. His learned friend, Mr .Cockerell, was
being instructed by the Town Clerk.

After further opposition on the part of Mr. Cockerell,

The Recorder said : I do not see why the usual results
should not follow upon a successful appeal. I quash the
conviction, with costs.

The costs allowed amounted to £100. — Norwich Argus.

flwto.

The Art of Perfumery, and the Methods of Obtaining
the Odours of Plants ; the Growth and General Flower
Farm System of Raising Fragrant Herbs j with In¬
structions for the Manufacture of Perfumes for the
Handkerchief, Scented Powders, Odorous Yinegars and
Salts, Snuff, Dentrifices, Cosmetics, Perfumed Soap,,
etc.. To which is added an Appendix on Preparing'
Artificial Fruit Essences, etc. By Septimus Piesse,
Ph.D., F.C.S. Fourth Edition, rewritten and.
enlarged. London : Longmans and Co.

The great development of this art within comparatively
few years renders it necessary to manufacturers, to
chemists and druggists, and others commercially in¬
terested in this industry, that from time to time a
comprehensive resume of the improvements and dis¬
coveries relative thereto should be published in the form
of a manual of reference. Such works hitherto published
in England have been written in a vein rather too
“popular,” and although general processes have been
briefly described, and the formulse of many fashionable
compounds given, yet both these and the American works

January 17, 1880. J THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

579

by Christian! and Snively fail to give to the manufacturer
summary of all the facts relating to improved processes,
the detection of adulterations, the botanical nature and
culture of the plants used, and the researches in organic
chemistry which have an important bearing on the
•subject. Undoubtedly such a work would be voluminous,
but not more so than those relating to other industries,
^nd if historical chapters (already most ably worked out
by another author), quotations from Scripture and from
the poets were omitted, there would be more space for
■extracting, from such useful works as Guibourt, Gerhardt,
-Gmelin and others, the essence of all that relates to the
•subject, and in fact, render the book more suitable to
practical men than to antiquarians and young ladies.
Still, the treatise now under notice is a great im¬
provement over the old editions. It contains ad¬
ditional illustrations and a few useful cultural notes, etc.
(mostly reprinted from a series of papers contributed by
Mr. Piesse to the Garden during the last half of 1877),
but improvements in the main processes are unnoticed.
To take, for instance, the process of maceration. It is
described precisely as in the French edition of 1865, i.e..
the employment of a pan suspended en bain-marie. No
mention is made of Piver’s plan of dividing a long
macerating tank into about seven compartments, con¬
nected by pipes leading from the top of one to the base of
the next. In this system a metallic basket containing the
vegetable substance to be extracted is suspended in each
compartment, a kettle on the left supplies the fat,
heated to the proper temperature, which circulates from
left to right through the tank, in which a constant
temperature of 65° 0. is maintained by means of a steam
pipe. The basket at the left contains the substance
which has passed through all the compartments, it is
raised from time to time, filled with fresh substance and
then attached to the right, the other baskets being moved
to the next compartment to the left. In this way the
fresh substance has to traverse each compartment from
right to left, while the fat flows slowly from left to right,
and, saturated with the perfume of the substance, collects
in the tank on the extreme right * This process enables
the operator to effect complete exhaustion of the sub¬
stance operated upon. (It was described by Turgau in
4 Grandes Usines da France,’ iv., p, 132.)

Neither is any mention made of Piver’s enfluerage pro¬
cess. This consists of two upright chambers fitted with
shelves of perforated metal, or trays, upon which the
flowers and grease are placed ; these two chambers,
otherwise air-tight, communicate by a pipe at the base,
and a bellows on the top of each chamber, worked by a
lever, causes the air to circulate to and fro from one
chamber to the other, and the grease absorbs the odour
much more rapidly and with less liability to become ran¬
cid than by the old method of piling up the frames or
chdssis : this process was, however, described in Mr. Piesse’s
French edition of 1865. In a few lines Piver’s other in¬
vention, termed the “pneumatic” process, and Millon’s
process of extraction by ether are briefly described.
Whilst on the subject of processes, •why should Mr. Rim-
mel’s “myrogbne” be omitted? It at least created some
interest at the Paris Exhibition, and now promises to
become of great practical value.

Not a word is said of the artificial formation of vanil-
line by Haarmann from coniferin (patented in 1874)
and by Tiemann from oil of cloves (patented in 1876);
neither is mention made of the equally interesting papers
by Tiemann and Herzfeld on the artificial formation of
coumarin.+

Mr. Piesse gives the formulae of several of the specialities
prepared by his firm, such as lignaloe, and opopanax
bouquets, but it is remarkable thatpsidium is overlooked;
this is said to be prepared from the flower of the pome¬
granate, although that flower is odourless. With regard
to opopanax, the odour of the gum-resin is compared by

* ‘Proc. Am. Pharm. As.,’ 1876, p. 274.
t Dei it. Chem. Ges. Ber., x., 63, 233.

emiuent writers on drugs to that of bruised ivy leaves, ash-
weed Bgopodium Podagraria) and garlic, — in Christiani’s
formula for his bouquet there is no opopanax whatever—
either the gum-resin or the oil. The section devoted to
soaps, hair-washes, preparations for the skin, etc., con¬
tains much valuable information, in fact appears to be
the best •written portion of the book, which, although it
lacks in many points, is superior in some respects to the
American works above quoted.

In conclusion we may remark that throughout the book
the personal and possessive pronouns recur with unpleasant
frequency aud keep the name of the author continually
in the mind of the reader, — an inelegant, fault which a
good writer should never be guilty of (except for adver¬
tising purposes).

Dotys and (faeries.

[638]. CLEANING OF PAINTINGS.— H. W. asks
the method, mode of application, and the manner in
which peroxide of hydrogen acts in cleaning oil paintings.

The picture had better first be sponged with cold water
and allowed to dry, then apply the solution of peroxide
of hydrogen with a clean sponge in successive lines, not
going over the same surface twice, and again allow to
dry. If the solution is sufficiently strong the painting is
now tolerably clean; if not, a second or third application
is necessary.

Peroxide of hydrogen (hydroxyl or hydrogen di-oxide
(H20.2)), owing to the readiness to part with half its com¬
bining weight of oxygen, is a powerful bleaching agent ;
but the way in which it serves to clean oil paintings is
accounted for thus : — Sulphuretted hydrogen, which is
present in the atmosphere, especially in the neighbour¬
hood of towns, attacks the lead in the paint and forms
lead sulphide, which is readily soluble in peroxide of
hydrogen, water and lead sulphate being the result.

PbS + 4H20., = PbS04 + 4H204

J. T. C. Williams.

[638]. CLEANING OF PAINTINGS— In reply to
H. W.’s query, the discoloration of paintings is due to
the carbonate of lead contained in the paint becoming
converted into black sulphide of lead (PbS) by the
HoS present in the atmosphere.

When the peroxide of hydrogen is applied, the black
sulphide is oxidized to the white sulphate and so the
colour of the painting is restored. J. T. Llotd.

%* No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

Eusa Grass Oil.

Sir, — Permit me to correct a mistake which occurred at
the Pharmaceutical Meeting on November 7. The Eusa grass
oil which I presented to the museum was not distilled from
the grass which I sent for identification, but from undoubted
A. schoenanthus , Lin., obtained from the grass distilling
districts. The grass sent, which really has an odour o£
fresh ginger, is a rather rare grass found about old wells
near Bombay, and not at all like A. schoenanthus, which
I consider has no claim to the name of ginger grass.

Bombay. W. Dymock.

Petroleum Act, 1879.

gir) — Jt will be noted that the schedule of the Petroleum
Act, 1879, which you recently published in your columns,
contains no description of the “ lead-line or pendulum ”
referred to in the directions for applying the flashing test.
Professor Abel has, however, informed me, in reply to a

580

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January n, mo.

letter pointing out the oversight, that “a pattern pendulum
or lead -line, as a guide for the length of pendulum to be
used in connection with the petroleum test, has been de*
posited at the Standards Office, Old Palace Yard, with a
label upon which is specified that the pendulum is two feet
in length, from the point of suspension to the centre of
gravity of the weight.”

Where a large number of samples have to be tested 1
would recommend the use of a metronome, such as is used
in teaching music, adjusted to beat synchronously with the
pattern pendulum, the distinct sound emitted at each
oscillation forming, in my experience, a better guide than
the noiseless swing of the lead- line.

Boverton Redwood,
Chemist of the Petroleum Association.

Fewness of Candidates for the “Bell
Scholarship.”

Sir, — As wonder has been expressed more than once at
the small (1) number of candidates who compete for the
“Bell Scholarships,” and as no answer has yet been re¬
corded, I beg to offer the following thoughts towards the
solution of this problem.

It is improbable that a boy gains the knowledge of French
and Latin requisite for that examination during the three
years that he is engaged in the profession of pharmacy ; but
lie rather acquires a knowledge of pharmacy, chemistry and
botany, and forgets most of what he knew in classics,
mathematics and modern languages.

Now a boy, having — at the close of his school days — a
little better knowledge of classics, mathematics and modern
languages than is requisite for the Bell Scholarship would
not feel greatly tempted by the prospect of being allowed
to compete — after a three years’ apprenticeship — for a
scholarship worth £30 and instruction for one year, if he
knew that there lay within reach scholarships of greater
pecuniary value, and leading to more lucrative professions
than that of pharmacy. Thus the average value of the six
hundred scholarships at the colleges in Cambridge is £240
each ; whilst from the statements of my friends in the Uni¬
versity of Oxford, I gather that the scholarships there are
of greater value ; and in both universities a man may hold
more than one scholarship.

Therefore a boy, whose education was of this standard,
would not enter the profession of pharmacy unless that —
(1) he had a father in the profession ; or (2) he had a dis¬
like to further study; or (3) he was ignorant of other open¬
ings, and over-estimated the value of this ; or (4) he had a
decided liking for pharmacy ; all of which causes may com¬
bine with others that are unknown to
Manchester. A. H. Jackson.

Late Hours and Sunday Trading.

feir, I have with interest perused all letters regarding
late hours which have appeared in your Journal since
September G, when the subject was first raised by Mr. J.
K. Nicol. The discussion certainly must have done good
since it has been clearly proved by the statistics given by
Mr. T. H. Powell and statements by other gentlemen that
the root of ill-health is long hours of business.

Now that we have hit upon the evil we must try to
remedy it. Several methods have been suggested and
among others one is prominent and perhaps pugilistic, that
is, foi assistants to hunt in couples and bully the employers,
to overawe if possible, and make them give their signature
to the early closing movement. This will not do ; it has been
too often tried without success. The secret lies entirely
with the assistants themselves ; they must either adopt the
plan of mechanics who, when they require more pay or
shor ter hours, simply go out on strike, or make up their minds
to take a good round salary from those over zealous employers
who try to usher two days’ work into one. Regarding
Sunday tiading, I think it a most degrading thing of men
holding a position in society as chemists, as a rule, are
expected to do, to try and make gain on that day which
above all others is set aside as a day of rest. Is it not
possible that c lemists living at a distance from their shops
could allow their brethren in trade who live next door to
their shops the power of dispensing any prescriptions
which may be urgently required on the Sunday ?

I his surely might be done quietly without throwing
the shop open for regular trade. I would consider a business

J not worth having if it did not pay after getting due atten¬
tion for six days in the week. Employees generally say in
defence of Sunday closing that they get a large number of
prescriptions on that day and should they close their shops
customers would go elsewhere and probably not return ; but
let them take into consideration the large number of those
prescriptions which could have been got on Saturday or
remained till Monday, because invariably a great many are
old prescriptions requiring to be repeated; and most as¬
suredly chemists instead of being deserted by the public
merely for closing their shops on Sunday would be coun*
tenanced and admired for their stability. W. S. T.

Patent Medicines and the Sale of Narcotics.

Sir, — Your articles on “patent medicines” and the sale
of narcotics have greatly interested me. An experience of
fifty years induces me to offer a few remarks thereon.

I think it will be admitted by the public and the medical
profession, that those who have had a special education and
a practical examination as to their knowledge of the pro¬
perties, doses, mode of preparation, and action of medicines
on the human frame, are best qualified to vend them, and
are thereby able to answer any questions respecting them
and their adaptability to the case for which they are
wanted.

I need not say how often the chemist prevents a serious
result by inquiring for what purpose the article asked for is
required. Although a patent medicine is a secret remedy,
the chemist generally knows the basis of it, e.g., he knows
that most rheumatic and gout medicines contain colchicum,
and cough medicines opium or its salts or chloral. I con¬
sider the trade has acted unwisely in aiding the proprietors
of patent medicines by circulating counter bills, but it is
the bold and continuous advertisements backed by house to
house circulation of almanacs and pamphlets which has
brought them so prominently before the public.

My suggestions are —

Let every chemist keep prepared a simple remedy for
ordinary ailments, and retail it as required, giving only a
few doses in each bottle, and recommending the applicant,
if not relieved to apply to his medical man or go to
parish doctor, dispensary or hospital.

Sell patents at full prices ; but give no encouragement to
their sale, and cease to circulate their counter bills. And,
as you justly observe, medical men are equally interested in
bringing about some regulations for restricting the sale of
nostrums, many of them containing scheduled poisons ; they
should cease when practicable to act as apothecaries, and
thus let the chemist have the dispensing of their prescrip¬
tions. By so acting they would do away with a good deal
of counter prescribing, which many of us cultivate, simply
because we are deprived of our legitimate business. Now
I think if this were brought before medical men by the
principal chemists of a locality, the higher class of them
would soon fall in with the suggestion, thus placing each
section of the profession in its right position and producing
that unity and co-operation which is so desirable.

Senex

II. — An unregistered person is not liable, as such, to a
penalty for selling sweet spirit of nitre of any strength.
The pill mentioned would contain a scheduled poison, and
would therefore come under the provisions of the Pharmacy
Act with respect to the dispensing of poisons.

B. T. Kimber. — The article on gelatine will be found on
p. 148, of vol iv., 3rd series.

J. M. Aldridge. — The information is given in Payen’s
‘ Industrial Chemistry,’ art. Coal Gas.

“ Sigma.” — We are not acquainted with a work devoted
to the manufacture of cocoa and chocolate, but a lecture on
the subject delivered before the Society of Arts, by Mr. J.
Holm, was reported in vol. iv. of the present series of this
Journal, pp. 804, 843, 885.

E. W. Hurley. — The insertion of queries as to price,
similar to yours, always fail to evoke useful information, so
much being dependent upon the nature of the business and
neighbourhood in which the dispenser is engaged.

T. W. L. — Respecting the making of suppositories con¬
taining green extracts see the Dispensing Memorandum
on p. 949 of vol Ax^(1879).

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. Wallis, Mee, Martin, Summers, Deck, Evans, Sons
and Co., Sanklan J. H.

January 24, ipso.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

581

NOTES ON INDIAN DRUGS.

BY W. DYMOCK.

{Continued from page 463.)

Solanum nigrum, Linn., Solanace^e. The plant.

Vernacular. — Makoi (Hind.), Kamuni, Ghati

(Bomb.), Manattak-kali (Tam.), Kakmachi

(Beng.).

History , Uses , etc. — Tbe plant is called Kakamachi
in Sanskrit works and is described as having tonic,
alterative and diuretic properties. Mahometan
writers, under the name of Anab-us-thalib, describe
several kinds of Solanum, of which S. nigrum is
probably one, but the fruit imported into Bombay
from Persia under the name of Anab-us-thalib appears
to be that of Solanum dulcamara. In India the
juice of S. nigrum is given in doses of from 6 — 8 ozs.
in the treatment of chronic enlargements of the liver,
and is considered a valuable alterative and diuretic.
The juice after expression is warmed in an earthen
vessel until it loses its green colour and becomes
reddish-brown ; when cool it is strained and adminis¬
tered in the morning. It acts as a hydrogogue,
cathartic and diuretic. Mr. M. SherrifF, in his Supple¬
ment to the ‘ Pharmacopoeia of India,’ speaks very
favourably of it when used in this way.

Description. — An erect annual or biennial plant,
with spreading or diffuse branches, 1 — 3 feet high,
glabrous or pubescent with simple hairs, without
prickles, but the angles of the stem sometimes raised
and smooth or rough with prominent tubercles.
Leaves petiolate, ovate, oblong, attenuated at both
ends, 1 — 3 inches long, entire or repandly toothed.
Flowers small and white, in little cymes contracted
into umbels on a common peduncle from very short
to nearly an inch long. Calyx 5-toothed or lobed
to the middle. Corolla deeply lobed, 3 — 4 lines in
diameter. Anthers very obtuse and short, opening
in terminal slits often, at length continued down the
sides. Berry small, globular, usually nearly black,
but sometimes yellow or dingy red.

Chemical Composition. — The alkaloid solanine was
first obtained in 1820 by Desfosses, of Besangon,
from the berries of this plant. The same alkaloid
was afterwards found in S. dulcamara. Winckler
in 1841 observed that this alkaloid could only be
obtained in an amorphous condition from the latter
plant, and that it differed from the solanine of the
potato. In 1858-59 Zwenger and Kind discovered
that solanine, C43H69N 016, was a compound of sugar
and a crystallizable alkaloid, solanidine, C25H3;)NO.
The latter under the action of strong hydrochloric
acid parts with water and becomes converted into
an amorphous basic compound, solanicine,C50H76N2O.

Commerce. — The dried fruit known as Anab-us-
salib in Bombay comes from Persia. Value Re. I
per pound.

S. nigrum is a common weed everywhere in culti¬
vated ground.

Gen.? Sp.? Solanace^e. Local name , SanipAt.

The drug consists of the plant in fruit broken up
into small pieces. The fruit is a globular dry papery
mucronate capsule, firmly attached to the calyx ; the
upper part of the capsule to which the placenta is
attached is double. The placenta, which is large and
oblong, is supported upon a thick peduncle and
occupies the centre of the capsule ; to it are attached
numerous straight six-angled wedge-shaped seeds,
which are packed closely together and fill the re¬
maining space. The calyx is 5-partite, the upper
Third Series, No. 500.

segment very large and extending over the fruit like
a hood . Leaves ovate, leathery, about I inch long,
with short blunt hairs, margin much lighter in
colour than the rest of the leaf. Seed straight, wedge-
shaped, with six prominent longitudinal ridges.
Testa tubercular, each tubercle minutely granular.
The stems, which are numerous, are woody and
covered by a thin grey bark ; the central pith is
very large. The drug has a slightly bitter some¬
what tea-like taste, and is prescribed in the condition
known in Sanskrit as Sanipdt (typhoid symptoms).
It is said to come from Northern India.

Emex, Sp.? Polygonace/E. The herb. Vernacular. —
ShukA.i (Hind., Bomb.).

History, Uses, etc. — This drug is described in
Mahometan works as the Akraniki or Afsharniki of
the Greeks. Other Arabic names given are Shaukat-
ul-baida, Shaukat-ul-Arabiya and Kathir-ul-rakab.
The Latin name is said to be Atrakias. Some say
it is the same as the Bddaward of the Persians.
Muhammad Husain very truly denies this, but
admits that it is somewhat like it. He says the
Persian names are Charchah and Kangar-khar, and
describes two varieties : one with a white flower and
more slender stems than the other, which has purple
flowers andis the kind generally used. “Thelatter,” he
says, “has triangular stems the size of a man’s finger
or less, and thick small triangular downy leaves,
terminating in thorns ; the seeds are small, triangular
and of a greyish colour. The whole drug is of a
yellowish-white colour and sweetish taste. The
root and fruit are generally used, but the root is to
be preferred. Shukai is more drying and astringent
than Bddaward ; it is attenuant and deobstruent,”
etc. ({ Makhzan-ul-adwiya,’ article “Shukai.”)

Description. — The drug, as met with in Bombay,
consists of all parts of the plant broken up; but very
little of the root is present. The portions of the
stem are of a greenish-yellow colour, round, crooked,
channelled, with numerous branches springing from
the axils of the leaves; the external surface of the
stem is silicious, hard and pubescent, internally it is
full of soft pitli. The petioles of the leaves are
stem-clasping, the lower ones completely so. The
lower leaves are of considerable size, with a triangular
midrib, channelled on the upper surface, and short
thick spinous lobes, which vary much in shape. The
plant has a gummy, rather disagreeable taste. The
fruit is occasionally found mixed with the drug in
considerable quantity. It is a woody nut, \ of an
inch long, formed by the fusing together of the
different parts of the perianth and ovary, somewhat
triangular in form ; at the base are spines formed
by the calycine segments ; at the apex the perianth
forms a number of tooth-like processes, which sur¬
round the top of the ovary. The seed is ovoid,
horny, and has a terebinthinate odour.

Commerce. — Sliukdi is imported from Persia.
Value Re. | per pound.

Rumex vesicarius, Linn. Chuka (Hind., Beng.,
Bomb.), Chukra (Sans.).

This is cultivated all over Asia and is used just as
sorrel is in Europe ; excellent potage d l oseille may
be made with it. The plant is doubtless one ol the
kind of Hamaz mentioned in Arabic works, and is
much esteemed for its medicinal properties. The
juice is said to allay the pain of toothache, and by
its astringent properties to check nausea, promote

582

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 4, 1880.

the appetite and allay morbid craving for unwhole¬
some substances. The herb also is considered veiy
coolin" and of use in heat of stomach, and external y
as an epithem to allay pain, especially that caused
by the bites or stings of reptiles and insects. 1 he
seeds are said to have similar properties and are
prescribed roasted in dysentery, and as an antidote
to scorpion stings. The root is also medicinal.

Description.— The fruit sold in the shops as Gul-
hamaz is reddish-brown, about of an inch long,
and consists of three fringed leaf-like expansions,
each furnished with an oblong glandular body and
attached at the base to a short thick pedicel ; they
enclose a triangular polished dark brown seed.

Acalypha Indica, Linn., Euphorbiace.®. The

plant. Vernacular. — Kuppi, Kokli (Bomb.) ;

Kuppai-meni (Tam.).

History, Uses, etc.— I have not met with any
description of this plant in native works on materia
medica, although it appears to be well known to the
herbalists. Ainslie gives “ arittamunjayrie ” as the
Sanskrit name and “ shwet-basanta” as the Bengali ;
he has the following notice of the plant. “ The root,
leaves and tender shoots are all used in medicine by
the Hindoos. The powder of the dry leaves is given to
children in worm cases, also a decoction of them with
the addition of a little garlic. The juice of the same
part of the plant, together with that of the tender
shoots, is occasionally mixed with a small portion of
margosa oil, and rubbed on the tongues of infants for
the purpose of sickening them and clearing their
stomachs of viscid phlegm.”

The Hakeems prescribe the koopamaynee in con¬
sumption. It would appear from Rheede’s account of
this plant, that on the Malabar coast the root is
supposed to have a purgative quality ; his words are,
“Radix trita, et cum aqua calida assumpta, cathartica
est ; folia trita et cum aqua epota ventrem laxant ;
illorum decoctum auribus immissum mitigat dolorem.”
He calls it “cupameni” (‘ Mat. Indica,’ vol. ii., p. 161).
In the ‘Phar. of India’ (p. 205) the following refer¬
ence to this plant by Dr. G. Bidie, of Madras, will be
found. “ The expressed j uice of the leaves is in great
repute, wherever the plant grows, as an emetic for
children, and is safe, certain, and speedy in its action.
Like ipecacuanha it seems to have little tendency to
act on the bowels or depress the vital powers, and it
decidedly increases the secretion of the pulmonary
organs. The dose of the expressed juice for an infant
is a teaspoonful.” Dr. iE. Ross speaks highly of its
use as an expectorant, ranking it in this respect with
senega ; he found it specially useful in the bronchitis
of children. The purgative action of the root noticed
by Rheede (‘Hort. Mai.’ x., p. 161, t. 81) is confirmed
by Dr. H. E. Busteed, who has used it as a laxative
/or children. In Bombay the plant has a reputation
as an expectorant, hence the native name Kokli
(cough).

Description. — Stem erect, from 1-2 feet high,
branchy, round, smooth ; leaves scattered, petioled,
ovate-cordate, three-nerved, serrate, smooth, about
two inches long and one and a -half broad. Petioles
as long as the leaves. Stipules small, subulate.
Spikes axillary, generally single, peduncled, erect, as
long as the leaves, many flowered, crowned with a
body in the form of a cross, the base of which is
surrounded with a three-leaved calyx ; the arms of
the cross are tubular, with their mouths fringed ; from
the base of the cross on one side issues a style- |

like thread, with a fringed stigma. The body of the
cross contains an ovate seed-like substance. Male
flowers numerous, crowded round the upper part of
the spike. Calyx four-leaved, leaflets cordate.
Filaments minute", nu merous . Female fl o wers below
the male, remote. Involucre cup-formed, with an
opening on the inner side, striated, smooth, toothed,
from 2-4 flowered. Calyx three-leaved (Roxb).

In Bombay A. Indica is not nearly so abundant
as A. ciliata, Willd., which is one of the commonest
roadside weeds towards the end of the moonson.

POKLI-MIRI. FlPERACE-iE.

These are abortive pepper-corns and have long
held a place in the Hindu materia medica. Garcia
d'Orta notices the drug under the name of Canarese
pepper, and observes that it never finds its way to
Portugal, but that it is valued as a medicine by. the
natives to purge the brain of phlegm, to relieve
toothache and as a remedy for cholera. I am in¬
clined to think that this drug must be the aborted
produce of the female vines of P. trisicum men¬
tioned by Roxburgh ( ‘ Flora Indica,’ i. 153).

Myrica sapida, Wall. , Myrice,e. The hark. Ver¬
nacular. — Kaiphal (Hind., Bomb.,Beng.); Maru-

dam-pattai (Tam.).

History, l Tses, etc. — This is the Katphala of San¬
skrit writers, who describe it as hot and stimulant,
and recommend it in catarrh and affections of the
chest. It is also used by the Hindus as an external
stimulant application in cholera, etc.

Under the names of Dar-shishaan, Kandool, and
Aod-ul-bark, Mahometan writers tell us that the bark
is resolvent, astringent, carminative and tonic ; that
it cures catarrh and headaches. With cinnamon they
prescribe it for chronic cough, fever, piles, etc. ; com¬
pounded with vinegar it strengthens the gums and
cures toothache ; an oil prepared from it is dropped
into the ears in earache. A decoction is a valuable
remedy in asthma, diarrhoea and diuresis ; powdered
or in the form of lotion, the bark is applied to putrid
sores ; pessaries made of it promote uterine action.
The usual dose for internal administration is about
60 grains. Duhn-ul-kandool, an oil prepared from
the flowers, is said to have much the same properties
as the bark.

Description.- — Bark half an inch thick, externally
scabrous, pitted from the separation of pieces of suber,
of a mottled rusty-brown and dirty- white colour;
suber warty ; substance of bark and inner surface of
a deep dull red colour ; when soaked in water it pro¬
duces a deep red solution. Taste strongly astrin¬
gent.

Microscopic Structure. — Within the suberous layer
is a remarkable stratum of stony cells ; the paren¬
chyma is loaded throughout with red colouring
matter, and permeated by large laticiferous vessels,
from which a gummy latex exudes when the bark is
soaked in water.

Chemical Composition. — The bark yields its colour¬
ing matter freely to water and alcohol. Water also
extracts the gum. The watery extract evaporated to
dryness yields a brittle highly astringent substance
of the colour and taste of kino. No chemical exami¬
nation of these substances has been made.

Commerce. — The bark comes from the hilly districts
of Northern India. Value, Rs. 1-2 per m»nnd of 41
pounds.

(To he continued.)

January 24, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

583

THE TESTING OF PEPSINE.*

BY A. PETIT.

Recent investigation having directed attention to the
ferments which preside over the transformation of the
various alimentary matters, it appeared to me that it
would be useful to define the present state of this in¬
teresting question, and particularly to state the method
of testing most convenient to be adopted for these
ferments, of which the medical employment is becoming
more and more common.

In commencing this study I would recall that all the
facts relative to the action of pepsine and diastase have
been explained with the greatest clearness by M. Mialhe.
Upon reperusing the memoirs of 1845 and 1846 it will be
seen that his opinions, sharply discussed at the time
when they appeared, are now accepted by all investi¬
gators occupied with the phenomena of digestion. On
the present occasion I will deal only with certain facts
connected with the transformation of nitrogenous foods
by pepsine.

These substances, — albumen, fibrin, casein, etc.,— sub¬
mitted to the combined action of pepsine and an acid,
are transformed at first into a compound, named casei-
form albumen by M. Mialhe and more recently
syntonine ; then into another substance, — the ultimate
product of the stomachic digestion of albuminoid matters,
— the albuminose of Mialhe, or the peptone of Lehmann.
According to their source, these peptones, although they
are very probably isomers, differ from one another by
their action upon polarized light.

M. Henninger thinks that the peptones are formed by
the hydration of albumenoid matters, and as they
combine indifferently with acids and bases he considers
them as weak acid amides. M. Meissner divided the
products of transformation of albuminoid matters into
parapeptones, metapeptones, dyspeptones and peptones
a, /3, and y ; but these divisions can no longer be
accepted in the present state of science.

The essential characters of peptones are those of not
being precipitated by saturation of the acid liquids
holding them in solution, or by nitric acid, or by ferrocy-
anide of potassium added to acetic acid. They are
mostly soluble in water, even after having been pre¬
cipitated from their aqueous solution by excess of alcohol.

The test by nitric acid has a prime importance, as will
appear subsequently. It permits, in fact, of ascertaining
rapidly whether the transformation is more or less
advanced. When nitric acid added drop by drop to a
peptic solution of albumen no longer gives a precipitate
it may be concluded that all the albumen is transformed
into peptones.

The report upon pepsine presented in 1865 by M.
Guibourt to the Soci5td de Pharmacie did not sufficiently
bring out the importance of this reaction. M. Guibourt
thought that the solution of the fibrin was sufficient, and
it appears (p. 102) that 1 gram of pepsine prepared by
the Commission, in presence of 8 ’40 grams of lactic acid
and 20 grams of water, very incompletely modified 12
grams of fibrin after heating for twelve hours at 40 to 458 C.
The solution was in fact semigelatinous and was strongly
precipitated by nitric acid. Certainly, at the present
time, such a pepsine would be considered to be of
mediocre quality.

Rapid solution indicates that the pepsine is of good
quality, but between this phenomenon and that of trans-
>rmation the difference is essential.

Let us now examine the various methods of testing that
have been proposed for pepsine and see which is most
suitable for adoption.

1. Test by coagulation of milk. — This process ought to
be rejected. M. Guibourt had, in 1865, come to the
conclusion from experiments made on rennet, that the
principle in rennet which produces the coagulation of
milk is not tn-«t which dissolves and transforms fibrin. I

* Journ. de Pharm. ei d« Chimie, 5th ser., vol. i., p. 82.

have observed also that a pepsine, twelve times more
active than another prepared from calves’ rennet, was
much less active than the latter in respect to the coagula¬
tion of milk. It is probable that this special action is due
to a particular ferment.

2. Test by coagulated white of egg. — This test is uni¬
versally adopted in England and in Germany. I have
made some experiments to determine —

(a) The temperature most favourable to solution ;

(b) The action of various acids ;

, (c) The acidimetric strength which it is advisable to
give to the liquors.

With respect to temperature, experiments were made
at from 30° to 80 Q C. Even at elevated temperatures
the action of acidified pepsine is produced, but the maxi¬
mum occurs at 50°.

With liquors containing 2 to 15 per mille of acetic or
butyric acid, I have been able to convince myself that in
the presence of these acids pepsine is without action upon
coagulated white of egg. Tartaric, lactic, and especially
hydrochloric acids, on the contrary, facilitate the action
of pepsine.

The solution of tartaric acid ought to be of the strength
of about 10 grams, and that of lactic acid from 8 to 12
grams per litre. With hydrochloric acid, the digestion
of white of egg takes place very well in liquors containing
from 1 to 3 parts per 1000 of real acid, the most favour¬
able acidity being 1| parts per 1000.

In the study of similar phenomena it ought never to
be forgotten that the digestion in the stomach goes on at
a temperature of about 40° C. It is therefore especially
at this temperature that the test of artificial digestions
should be made. It might happen, in fact, that an acid
solution, acting on albumen at 50° or 608 C., would be
less active at 40° C. This is what takes place with lactic
acid, which at a concentration corresponding to 2 or even
3 per 1000 of real hydrochloric acid leaves white of egg
in great part undissolved at a temperature of 40° C.,
whilst hydrochloric acid of 1 per 1000, in the same con¬
ditions of time and temperature, dissolves and transforms
all the albumen.

In these facts is found the experimental demonstration
that the free acid of the gastric juice is hydrochloric
acid. This is a fact, moreover, gained to science by the
remarkable researches of M. Richet, who has proved that
the acidity of the gastric juice is about 2 per 1000; that
it is due solely to hydrochloric acid, and that if lactic
acid is found there it is the product of a special fer¬
mentation which the food has undergone in the stomach.

The more that artificial digestions are studied the more
evident becomes the similarity which exists between
these phenomena and those of the stomachal digestion.
No doubt, the stomach absorbs during the digestive
period a portion of the liquids and of the peptones they
contain, and this, according to Schiff, favours digestion
considerably. The movements in the food which this
initiates facilitate the action of the gastric juice, the secre¬
tion of which is uninterrupted ; but it is no less true that
in experiments in vitro it is easy to equal and even to su/r-
pass the digestive power of the stomach.

We know that the activity of the gastric juice is
always maintained within certain limits, the secretions
of the stomach rapidly re-establishing an equilibrium
when this is more or less destroyed. The specific action
recognized in hydrochloric acid throws light on the
rationale of certain medicines and the troublesome in¬
fluence exercised by some substances upon the act of
digestion. As has been justly remarked by M. Richet,
in the case of abnormal fermentations there is produced
a great .excess of lactic, acetic and butyric acids. Hydro¬
chloric acid is no longer secreted, but instead, a less active
acid, lactic acid, or inactive acids, acetic and butyric.
The utility will hence be understood of employing in
such a case alkalies, which in saturating the free acids
induce a fresh secretion of hydrochloric acid and thus
restore to the gastric juice all its digestive power. It

581

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 24, isse.

will be understood also that to attain the same object
sometimes solutions of hydrochloric acid and sometimes
of the alkaline bicarbonates have been given with success.

It is necessary, besides, in this case, that the acetates ^and
butyrates should be eliminated by stomachal absorption ;
otherwise they would be decomposed and the inactive
acids again set free by the hydrochloric acid secreted
normally or administered as medicine.

To return to the testing of pepsine by coagulated
white of egg, one objection that may be brought against
it is that it does not establish a sufficient gradation in
the transformations. However this may be, the method
of operating is as follows : —

An egg is kept in boiling water during half an hour,
and the very coherent white is then passed through a
moderately fine strainer. 5 grams of this coagulated
albumen, put into contact at 40° C. with 25 grams of
hydrochloric acid containing T50 of HC1 per litre, ought
to be dissolved in four to five hours by 0-10 gram of
pepsine of good quality. It is necessary to agitate the
flask every half-hour.

Test by fibrin. — This appears to me to present great
advantages over the preceding. The phenomena are
very distinct and very comparable. Whatever may be
the origin of a ferment, in the same conditions of time,
temperature and acidity of the menstruum, its exact
equivalence can be determined by relation to other
specimens. The following are the conclusions I have
arrived at with respect to the best conditions for the
transformation of fibrin.

The temperature of 50° C. is that of the maximum.
The same pepsine is about four times less active at 40°
than at 50° C.

The acid most favourable to the transformation is
hydrochloric acid. In order to approach the action of this
acid it is necessary to employ relatively large quantities
of lactic or tartaric acids, about 25 to 30 grams per litre.
With lactic acid in the proportion of 20 grams per litre
the action is five times less than that which corresponds
to a 3 per 1000 solution of hydrochloric acid. With
hydrochloric acid the most favourable action is obtained
with a solution containing between 2 and 5 grams of real
HC1 per litre.

To recapitulate, it appears that the acidity of the
gastric juice does not exceed 2 to 3 grams per litre of
acid expressed as HC1, which would give 5 to 7‘5 grams
of acid expressed as lactic acid, whilst the action would
be much weaker in the presence of the latter solvent.

I would also remark that the acidity of the 1 per 1000
in HC1, which is favourable to the solution of coagulated
albumen, is not sufficient for the easy transformation of
fibrin. In order to approach physiological conditions I
would propose therefore to employ T50 gram of real HC1
per litre in the testing with coagulated white of egg and
3 grams per 1000 for testing with fibrin.

It may be asked whether it is not possible to render
the testing of pepsine more practical by diminishing the
time of operating. Nothing is more easy. In heating
during six hours instead of twelve about twice as much
pepsine is required for the transformation. Again, in
heating during six hours at 40® C. instead of twelve hours
at 50° C., nearly eight times the quantity of pepsine is
required to obtain the same result.

This great influence exercised by temperature renders
it necessary that a standard for operating should be fixed
in an exact manner. The Commission of 1865, in recom¬
mending to heat to from 40® to 45°, was not sufficiently
precise upon this important point.

I have stated that there is an essential difference be¬
tween the solution of fibrin and its transformation ; the
following experiments demonstrate this very clearly : —

A pepsine prepared in my laboratory, which dissolved
and transformed in twelve hours at a temperature of
508 C. six hundred times its weight of fibrin in a liquor
containing 4 per 1000 of real HC1. dissolved in the same
conditions : —

1 hour 15 minutes.
1 hour 30 minutes.

4 hours.

5 hours.

1,200 times its weight of fibrin in 1 hour.

2,400 „ „ „ 1 hour 10 minutes.

4,800 „ „ „ 1 hour 15 minutes.

9,600 „ „ „ 1 hour 45 minutes.

19,200 „ „ „ 2 hours 10 minutes.

It was not thought necessary to carry the experiment
further.

An identical experiment was made with lactic acid in
the proportion of 0'40 gram to 25 c.c. or 16 grams per
litre. Although the same pepsine transformed in these
conditions only one hundred times its weight of fibrin,
instead of six hundred times, as in the preceding experi¬
ment, it was found that it dissolved — •

1,200 times its weight in . 30 minutes.

2,400 ,, ,,

4,800 ,, ,,

9,600 „ „

19,200 „

It is necessary to add that in flasks differing from the
others only in the absence of pepsine no liquefaction took
place.

To test a pepsine, therefore, I should take of hydro¬
chloric acid of the strength of 3 grams of HC1 per litre
25 c.c. ; then 5 grams of moist fibrin strongly dried, and
add to several flasks so prepared quantities of pepsine
ranging from 0T0 to 0’60 gram. These should be heated
to 50° C., for it has been seen that four times as much
pepsine would be required at 40® C., which would be an
useless waste. Agitate every half-hour until the complete
solution of the fibrin, and then every hour.

A good pepsine ought not to give a precipitate with
nitric acid after twelve hours’ heating in flasks containing
25 to 30 centigrams, and after six hours in those contain¬
ing 50 to 60 centigrams. The nitric acid should be added
drop by drop to 10 c.c., for example, of the solution, and
not the slightest turbidity should be produced in the liquor
at the moment of adding it.

In these experiments I have for some time used a
fibrin of mutton washed until it has become white and
preserved in pure glycerine. When required for use it is
washed with plenty of water.

In subsequent communications I shall show the action
which a number of bodies exercise upon the peptic and
diastasic ferments.

THE ALKALOID OF THE BAPTISIA TINCTORIAL

BY FRANCIS V. GREENE, M.D., U.S. NAVY.

In the volume of the Amer. Jour. Phar. for the year
1862, there appears at page 310 an particle on the
“ Baptisia tinctorial by B. L. Smedley, in which he
claims to have isolated the alkaloid of this plant. The
process given is as follows : — The root was boiled with
water acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and to the
strained decoction milk of lime added in slight excess.
The copious precipitate produced was collected, washed
with distilled water, dried and treated with boiling
alcohol. On evaporating the alcohol from the filtered
solution there remained an extract of a light yellow
colour, which was treated with hot water slightly acidu¬
lated with sulphuric acid. The solution thus obtained
was agitated with animal charcoal, filtered and set aside
to crystallize ; it yielded perfectly transparent crystals,
in plates, similar to those of potassic chlorate. It was
further stated that by adding ammonia in slight excess to
the above liquid a white, feathery precipitate of the
alkaloid was obtained.

A later investigator, Mr. J. A. Warner, (op. cit. supra,
1871, p. 251), after repeating the above process, and
ascertaining that the crystalline salt of the first writer
was composed entirely of calcium sulphate, announced
the following method, by which he had separated what
he supposed to be the chloride of the alkaloid of this

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy, December,
1879.

January 24, 1880. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

585

plant. A concentrated tincture of the root, after being
rendered slightly acid by the addition of sulphuric acid,
was evaporated to a small bulk, a large quantity of water
added and the precipitated resin separated by filtration.
To the clear filtrate solution of potassio-mercuric iodide
was added in slight excess, the precipitate collected,
suspended in water, decomposed by sulphuretted hydro¬
gen and the sulphide of mercury removed by filtration.
The filtrate, which was supposed to contain the
alkaloid in solution in the form of an iodide, was then
concentrated, carbonate of ammonia added in slight
excess and the syrupy liquid shaken with chloroform.
On separating and evaporating the chloroform solution
there remained an amorphous mass, which was dissolved
in water acidulated with hydrochloric acid. This solution
was treated with animal charcoal, filtered and concen¬
trated to one-third its bulk, when it yielded long, needle-
like crystals.

It will be seen from the above process that the opinion
in regard to the presence of an alkaloid in this plant was
based solely upon the formation of a precipitate when
Mayer’s test solution was added to an acidified aqueous
solution of its root, and consequently, as the crystals
obtained in the above manner were not afterwards so
treated as to yield the uncombined alkaloid, the results
of this examination have not been accepted (‘ Prac.
Pharm.,’ Parrish, 1874, p. 475) as conclusively establish¬
ing the existence of such principle in this root. The
following experiments, while rendering it doubtful
whether the base of the salt obtained as above was really
an alkaloid, prove conclusively that the root of the
Baptism tinctoria does contain such a substance.

A few ounces of the powdered root were exhausted by
percolation with distilled water, the percolate filtered,
calcined magnesia added and the mixture evaporated to
dryness. The magnesia mass was then extracted with
absolute alcohol. On evaporating the alcohol from this
solution there remained a light yellow amorphous mass
a small portion of which was placed on a piece of red¬
dened litmus paper, and moistened with a drop of distilled
water, when a deep blue coloration was produced. A
small quantity of the mass was then dissolved in a little
distilled water, and the filtered solution placed under a
bell-glass over sulphuric acid. On the evaporation of the
liquid no crystals could be discovered in the residue. It
was therefore re-dissolved in slightly acidulated water,
and again evaporated over sulphuric acid, when the mass
was still found to be amorphous. It was finally dissolved
in distilled water, and the acid solution tested with the
various reagents for alkaloids, with the result of giving
very decided precipitates with potassio-mercuric iodide,
iodine in iodide of potassium solution, p<*jtassio-cadmic
iodide, phosphomolybdic acid, phosphotungstate of soda,
and tannic and picric acids. The whole of the light
yellow amorphous mass was then dissolved in a small
quantity of distilled water, a little calcined magnesia
added, the mixture evaporated to dryness, when it was
successively agitated with the different simple solvents
with the following results. On evaporating the benzol
that had been shaken with the mass, and adding a little
distilled water to the small amount of residue, no blue
colour was communicated to reddened litmus paper, and
no precipitates were formed by the acidified solution with
the above-mentioned tests. Absence of the blue colour
and of the precipitates was also noticed when benzin
and chloroform, that had been agitated with the mass,
were treated in a similar manner. Ether, on the contrary,
dissolved the alkaloid from the magnesia mass; the
residue therefrom, when moistened with distilled water,
staining the reddened litmus paper a deep blue, and
when dissolved in acidulated water affording precipitates
with the above-named reagents. Hence, it will be seen
that we have for this alkaloid solubility in water, alcohol
and ether, and insolubility in benzol, benzin and chloro¬
form. From the insolubility of this alkaloid in chloro¬
form it will be evident that the crystals obtained in the

process used by the last-mentioned experimenter could
not have been those of the chloride of this alkaloid,
which, although undoubtedly present in an uncombined
state in the concentrated solution, after treatment with
carbonate of ammonia was not removed from it by the
use of chloroform.

A larger quantity (8 troy ounces) of the powdered root
of the Baptisia tinctoria was subsequently percolated as
befox-e, and the filtered sohition evaporated to dryness
with calcined magnesia. The dried mass was extracted
with 95 per cent, alcohol, and this solution evaporated to
a small bulk. Distilled water was added in large
quantity, and the liquid filtered to remove the deposited
resin. A solution of tannic acid was then added to the
clear filtrate as' long as a precipitate was formed. When
the precipitated tannate had subsided it was transferred
to a filter, washed with distilled water, and while still
moist removed to a mortar, intimately mixed with finely
pulverized oxide of lead, and the mass thoroughly dried in
a capsule, after which it was extracted with ether. On
evaporating the ether there remained a considerable
quantity of the same yellowish, semi-transparent, gummy
mass that had been obtained in the first experiment. A
small portion of this mass, ignited on platinum foil, left
no inorganic residue.

In order to separate the alkaloid from the foreign
matter contained in this mass it was determined to
resort to the use of oleic acid, in the manner lately
recommended by L. Wolff [Am. Jour. Phar., January,
1878, p. 8). A small quantity of the pure acid was added
to the mass contained in a capsule, the contents heated
over a water-bath, the oleic acid, containing the alkaloid
in the form of an oleate, poured off, and benzin, which
dissolves both the acid and the oleate, added to it. The
benzin solution was then agitated with distilled water
slightly acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and, after the
complete separation of the two liquids, the aqueous
solution was drawn off. After concentrating this solu¬
tion it was placed aside to crystallize, and in a few days
acicular crystals were formed. The amount of the
chloride obtained in this manner proved merely sufficient
to establish that this alkaloid is soluble in ammonia, and to
determine its chai'acter by the precipitates afforded by it
with the usual reagents for this class of substances.

Lastly, about 2 troy ounces of the finely powdered root
were thoroughly moistened with a solution of bicarbonate
of soda, the mass placed in a porcelain capsule, heated to
dryness on a water-bath, then powdered, transferred to a
small percolator and extracted with ether. After eva¬
porating the ether from the percolate, which was of a light
yellow colour, distilled water was added to the residue
and the liquid filtered to separate a yellowish- white resin
that had subsided. This aqueous solution of the alkaloid
which was still of a pale yellow colour, was then concen¬
trated, carefully neutralized with very dilute hydro¬
chloric acid, l'epeatedly agitated with successive portions
of ether as long as this menstruum removed any colouring
matter, and then placed aside, when, after a few days, it
yielded crystals, some of which presented the form of
perfect octahedra.

APIOL.*

BY H. C. WHITNEY.

The seed of Apium Petroselinum has variously been
made the subject of research and analysis by different
parties ; prominent amongst them Messrs. Joret and
Homolle, of Paiis, who claim to have found therein,
besides a crystallizable fatty matter, pectine (the apiin of
Braconnot), chlorophyll, tannin, colouring and extractive
matters, lignin, various salts, volatile oil, and a peculiar
oily substance for which they proposed the name of
apiol.

* From New Remedies , January, 1880.

586

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 24, 1880.

This is said to be a yellowish oily liquid, non-volatile,
heavier than water, of a peculiar and tenacious odour,
distinct from that of the plant, and of an acrid, pungent
taste. They also claim it to be inflammable, insoluble in
hot or cold water, very soluble in alcohol, and entirely
dissolved by ether or chloroform. It is analogous
to the fixed oils, but is not chemically changed by the
alkalies.

The process given by them for obtaining the so-called
apiol is as follows i — They exhaust the seed with alcohol,
treat the tincture with purified animal charcoal, distil off
three-fourths of the alcohol, treat the residue with ether
or chloroform, evaporate the solution thus formed, mix
the residuary liquid with an eighth of its weight of
litharge, allow the mixture to rest twenty-four hours,
and then filter through a thin layer of charcoal.

I found, in reviewing this process, that the alcohol
dissolves from the seed the apiin, essential oil, resin, and
the supposed apiol.

After the treatment with ether or chloroform, the oil,
resin, and apiol are separated from the pectine, and being
mixed with an eighth of its weight of litharge for the
purpose of removing what fat oil it may yet contain,
besides the saponifiable resin, it is allowed to stand for a
certain length of time and filtered, and the product thus
obtained is what they named apiol. After the apiin is
separated by ether or chloroform and the fatty oil and
resin by litharge, the mere act of filtering through
charcoal certainly cannot separate the essential oil from the
peculiar oily substance which they want to obtain, but
must pass through the filter with it, so that what they
obtain as pure apiol can only be an impure essential
oil obtained by the absorption process as lately proposed.

To substantiate this idea, I took freshly powdered
parsley seed, subjected it to repeated distillations with
water until the latter passed entirely clear, obtaining
thereby water strongly impregnated with the volatile oil
of parsley seed. The oil at the bottom thereof being
separated therefrom, the water was subjected to
cohobadon from a solution of sodium chloride, yielding
the entire quantity of oil contained in the seed ; which
in this instance amounted to 4’27 per cent. The oil so
derived corresponded closely to the so-called apiol of
Joret and Homolle, with the exception of its being
lighter in colour and evidently purer than theirs.

The residue of the distillation was strained while hot,
separating the (by distillation) exhausted seed ; the
liquid yielding upon being filtered, a large quantity of
apiin on cooling. The residuary seed, being treated with
petroleum benzine, gave 9 11 4 per cent, of a green fatty
oil and liquid resin. Being subsequently subjected to
the action of ether, gave 2734 per cent, additionally of
tatty oil and resin ; the latter being separated, as in the
former ease, by shaking it with alcohol. The fatty oil,
being entirely freed from resin, amounted to 7 ‘239 per
cent. The different portions of alcohol containing the
resin, dissolved from the fatty oil, gave upon evaporation
a greenish-brown oily liquid, lighter than water and
readily saponified by the fixed alkalies, with a peculiar
odour distinct from that of the essential oil, which in all
but the latter respect differs from the apiol of Messrs.
Joret and Homolle.

Of late, Mr. E. V. Gerichten ( Berichte der Deutschen
Chemischen Gesellschaft, Nos. 16—17)* claims to have
found during his researches and investigations in parsley
seed a body for which he proposed the name of apiol, or
parsley-camphor, and asserts that it is the only substance
which is entitled to that name.

He finds that it is obtained during the distillation of
the oil of parsley seed from the seed with water ; which
would be at a temperature not much above 212° F.,
whereas he subsequently claims for it a boiling point of
300° C. 1

How this occurs is to me not exactly comprehensible,

* Phamn. Journ., [3], vii., 693.

since I failed, during a number of experiments therewith,
to discover any separation of the fine needles of the
parsley-camphor which he claims to have found. He
further gives a method for obtaining the same by a direct
process, which, after all, does not materially differ from
that of Messrs. Joret and Homolle, and which certainly,
as I have conclusively proven above, does not yield
anything else than the impure essential oil as obtained by
the absorption process.

The apiol or parsley-camphor of Mr. E. V. Gerichten
must have been derived by a different process than
described by him in his paper. It makes but little
difference, however, for the apiol of Mr. E. V. Gerichten
can be of little more than chemical interest, while the
article of that name by Messrs. Joret and Homolle is
that which is so much valued for its emmenagogue
properties and which alone finds therapeutical application.
As the latter article is certainly nothing but a complex
body, not saponifiable by fixed alkalies, which does not
congeal at a temperature of 32° F., and, contrary to the
statement of Messrs. Joret and Homolle, comes over
almost entirely at a temperature of 212° F., I am safe to
say that it is principally composed of the essential oil of
parsley seed intermixed with small quantities of a soft
resin, which latter is in such minute quantities that I can
readily infer the emmenagogue properties to be contained
in the volatile oil, and would suggest, therefore, that the
apiol of the present be superseded by the term, oil of
parsley seed, from which the medical profession no doubt
will receive the same emmenagogue effect ; or, if such
is not the case, that the soft resin, which is one of the
constituents of the apiol of old, be separated by the
process I have above indicated, and employed for the
purposes which apiol has been used for until now.

“PUNCH” ON POISONING BY PATENT.

(A Little Tragedy of the Statute Book.)

Scene. — A Chemist's Shop — Legally Disposed Proprietor
and three suffering Customers discovered discussing
the “ Sale of Poisonous Drugs Act."

Legally Disposed Proprietor. Well, you can’t have it.
There !

First Suffering Customer. There — indeed ! Why the
child has kep me up, without a blessed wink of sleep,
these five nights ! You might make us up a ’aporth of
laudanum ? Come, now.

Legally Disposed Proprietor. Can’t do it, my good
lady. Law is law.

Second Suffering Customer. Just so. But my case is
very different. I want something just to quiet this neu¬
ralgia. Now, I’m told that a little opium -

Legally Disposed Proprietor. No use, sir ; we daren’t
let you have it. Get a doctor’s order.

Third Suffering Customer. But, really, it is prepos¬
terous. Here, I come for something to allay violent
symptoms of incipient coma, and do you mean to tell me
you can give me nothing calming of any kind ?

Legally Disposed Proprietor. Oh, yes, I can do some¬
thing for you in the patent way. Have you ever tried
Deadman’s Somnolent Elixir ?

Suffering Customers ( all together). No ! Is it strong ?

Legally Disposed Proprietor. Strong ? Why, it would
send an elephant off like a top ( produces it), and it’s only
one-and-three-ha’pence. We sell a good deal of it.

First Suffering Customer. Give me a bottle.

Second Suffering Customer. Here, I’ll have one.

Third Suffering Customer. So will I.

Legally Disposed Proprietor. That is the article ( hands
small packet bearing Government Label to each). But
mind the directions, because it is strong. (Smiling.) It
is what we call a powerful narcotic.

[Exeunt three Suffering Customers, with three bottles
of powerful narcotic, to make arrangements for
three Coroner's inquests, as Curtain falls.

January 24, 1880. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

58 7

2The §hanmaqutual Journal

- ♦ -

SATURDAY , JANUARY 24, 1880.

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

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

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

MISREPRESENTATION OF THE PHARMACY ACT.

The position of chemists and druggists in regard
to the popular abuse of narcotics, which has been
lately commented upon by medical journals and the
daily press, is one which does not appear to be
generally understood, and even those who have
written upon this subject manifest defective acquaint¬
ance with the provisions of the Pharmacy Act that are
intended to serve for the protection of the public
against accidental poisoning. In like manner the
functions of the Pharmaceutical Society in respect
to the carrying out of that Act have been incorrectly
construed, and a letter recently written by the
coroner for Doncaster furnishes a striking illustra-
tion of this fact.

In that letter reference is made to a fatal case of
the misuse of “soothing syrup,” in which an infant,
three months old, was “doctored” by its mother
with two teaspoonfuls of a syrup stated to contain
opium and purchased from a person who is described
as an “ unregistered druggist.” The coroner justly
remarked that it was clear the Pharmacy Act had
been infringed in this case, and he adds that there
was reason to expect an example would be made by
the punishment of the offender. So far there is no
exception to be taken to the remarks of the
Doncaster coroner ; but he goes on to say that
shortly afterwards a paragraph appeared in a local
newspaper stating that the seller of the syrup of
poppies had paid to the Solicitor of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society the sum of five pounds as a penalty for
breach of the Pharmacy Act, and then he comments
upon this fact as indicating that an offence of a
grave nature had been privately condoned, arguing
at the same time that such a proceeding showed the
Pharmacy Act was defective and required amend¬
ment.

If there were any kind of justification for the in¬
ference that a breach of the Pharmacy Act had been
“ condoned ” by the Pharmaceutical Society, the
argument of the Doncaster coroner would have had
some weight. In such a case there would have been
some reason also for the objection raised by the Daily
News to the Pharmacy Act “ allowing chemists to
compound with the Pharmaceutical Society,” and
for the statement made in the London letters of

various provincial papers that an infringement of
the Pharmacy Act had been “ squared ” for five
pounds paid to that institution.

But there is no foundation for any of these sug¬
gestions, which have originated solely from ignorance
of the Pharmacy Act and its provisions, and as
pointed out by the President of the Pharmaceutical
Society in the Times of the 21st inst., the Don¬
caster coroner, as well as those who wrote under his
inspiration, have failed to make themselves ac¬
quainted with the powers conferred upon the Society
by the Pharmacy Act. It is thus that they have
failed to perceive that in the Pharmacy Act provi¬
sion is made for dealing with two distinct offences,
one of which, viz., the selling of poisons otherwise
than in conformity with the Act and with regulations
made in pursuance of it, the Pharmaceutical Society
is specially empowered to take cognizance of by
suing for penalties. This it does as a public duty,
and any penalties recovered are under the control of
the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury. The
other offence of selling poisons without proper labels
is one that renders the sellers liable to prosecution
by any person before justices of the peace in England
or the sheriff in Scotland, and upon summary con¬
viction renders them liable to a penalty.

As pointed out in the Times of last Thursday, by
Messrs Flux, Slade and Co. , the Solicitors to the
Pharmaceutical Society, there is no trace in the
Pharmacy Act of legislative intention that the So¬
ciety should become public prosecutor for carrying
out the provisions of the seventeenth section of the
Act, under which a policeman or any other person
could prosecute an offender against it. The prosecu¬
tion referred to by the Doncaster coroner was not
instituted under that section of the Act, but under
the fifteenth section, above referred to as relating to
the special duty of the Society according to the Act,
and, as the Solicitors point out in their letter to the
Times, defendants are at liberty to exercise their
undoubted right to pay the penalty before judgment
so as to avoid a trial of the action.

Under such circumstances there is no foundation
for the charge that the Pharmaceutical Society or its
Solicitors have privately condoned offences of grave
nature involving the destruction of human life, and
the strictures of the Doncaster coroner, as well
as the comments in the newspaper press to which
they gave rise, are devoid of any meaning. The
fact that the seller of the soothing syrup had
been subjected to a penalty under the fifteenth
section of the Pharmacy Act did not in any degree
relieve him from liability to a further penalty under
the seventeenth section, and if, as Messrs. Flux and
Slade point out, there was, in the fatal case referred
to by the Doncastor coroner, an offence of so grave
a nature as to involve the destruction of human life,
it still remains to be explained why a verdict of man¬
slaughter was not found.

The circumstances above narrated serve to show

588

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. January \88os

Very forcibly the ignorance that prevails concerning
the Pharmacy Act and the powers that it confers, and
the facilities with which it may be used for repressing
irregular sales of poison. If, for instance, the Don¬
caster coroner had taken the trouble to communicate
with the Secretary, or the Solicitors of the Society, or
if he had referred to the Pharmacy Act itself, there
is every reason for believing that his accusation
would never have been made.

THE NEW WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT.

In other trades besides that of the chemist and
druggist the new Act appears to be causing incon¬
venience, and one of the most recent illustrations of
the fact is mentioned in the Daily News of last
Thursday. The trade in oil has hitherto been
carried on with the aid of a measure recognized as
the five gallon measure, and oil is exported to a very
large extent in five gallon tins. Some few wholesale
firms in London are alone said to export no fewer
than a million gallons of oil annually in such tins,
independently of the Liverpool trade and that of
other places. This five gallon measure, however, is
not comprised among the secondary standards sanc¬
tioned by the Board of Trade, and as a consequence
two well-known wholesale firms have been proceeded
against under the new Act for using in their trade a
measure of which there is no recognized Board of
Trade standard, although it is the measure which by
common usage of the trade has always been adopted.

A letter from Messrs. McIntyre and Sons, the
•manufacturers of graduated glass measures, which
appears at page 600, will give some idea of the
trouble and perplexity that chemists and druggists
may have to encounter from the local inspectors’
varied interpretation of the new Act. We think that
it will not require much sagacity to perceive in the
statements made by Messrs. McIntyre ample grounds
for regarding this subject of weights and measures as
one of special importance to chemists and druggists.
It would, we think, be very unwise to look upon the
Act in its bearing upon apothecaries’ weights and
measures as being likely to remain a dead letter,
though we are awrare this is believed by some persons
to be possible. For this reason wre have deemed it
our duty to mention the subject from time to time so
as not to lie open to the charge of having failed to
furnish desirable information.

At the last meeting of the Council the prepon¬
derance of opinion was in favour of memorializing
the Board of Trade in regard to the practical
working of the Act as it relates to chemists and
druggists’ weights and measures, and we have reason
to believe that a definite understanding is likely to
be arrived at. J

THE CHEMISTS’ BALL.

The Fourteenth Annual Ball, held at Willis’s
Rooms on Wednesday last, far from showing any

signs of flagging interest, surpassed nearly alii its pre¬
decessors in the number attending it, three hundred
and seventy having been present. Although the
company was so large, the excellent arrangements of
the Committee were so admirably carried out by the
Honorary Secretary, Mr. Arthur L. Savory, and
his colleagues, as to secure the comfort of all. As on
previous similar occasions only one toast was given,
“ Success to the Chemists’ Ball,’’ coupled with the
Health of the Ladies. In proposing it, Mr. G. F.
Schacht, Vice-President of the Pharmaceutical
Society, remarked that it might add to the pleasure
already experienced by those present to know that,
in consequence of the success of the gathering, their
attendance on that evening would probably provide
the means of alleviating to some extent the distress
of other members of the craft who had not been so
fortunate as themselves.

THE CONSUMPTION OF CHLORAL.

Some of our readers probably have observed in
the medical journals a disposition to ascribe the
misuse to which it is believed chloral is very largely
put to undue facilities offered by chemists and
druggists for its purchase. We would therefore
suggest that a useful purpose would be served by
the communication of observed facts as to the de¬
mand for chloral and the conditions under which it
is procured by purchasers, as well as information of
any cases in which its use has been attended with
fatal results. The Committee of the Clinical Society
of London has already taken some steps in this
direction.

FIRE AT NEWCASTLE.

A very destructive fire broke out, on Saturday
last, in the warehouse of Messrs. Mawson and
Swan, as the consequence of breaking a bottle con¬
taining some volatile inflammable liquid. The whole
block of buildings, extending back from Mosely
Street, has been destroyed, together with the con¬
tents, and the damage done is estimated at something
like fifteen thousand pounds.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Dinner of this Association will be
held at the Holborn Restaurant on Wednesday
evening, January 28, at 8'30 p.m. precisely; Pro¬
fessor Redwood in the chair.

We observe that Mr. Robert Gibson, medicated
lozenge manufacturer, entertained over two hundred
and forty friends and workpeople to dinner, in the
Hulme Town Hall, Manchester, on the evening of
January 15, in celebration of his silver wedding.

January 24. i860 ] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

589

gfransaqtiatts 0f % f frra^utitat

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

At a meeting of the Board of Examiners for England
and Wales, held in London on Wednesday, January 1,
1880, the report of the College of Preceptors on the
examination held on January 6, was received.

Three hundred and three candidates had presented
themselves for examination, of whom one hundred and
seventy-one had failed. The following one hundred and
ihirty-two passed, and the Registrar was authorized to
place their names upon the Register of Apprentices or
Students : —

(Arranged alphabetically).

Ansell, Alfred . Birkdale.

Arden, Lawrence . Bourne.

Baker, Walter James . Dorking.

Baldwin, Harry . Nawton.

Banka, Alfred . Stratford-on-Avon.

Bannerman, James Murdoch... Edinburgh.

Barlow, Ernest Silas . Oldham.

Batterbee, R-obert Henry . Lynn.

Batty, George Arthur . Great Driffield.

Baugh, Richard . Carnarvon.

Beck, William . Bristol.

Beckett, Frederick Lloyd . Hey wood.

Begg, Arthur . Bolton.

Brooker, Alfred William .... . .London.

Browne, William Ernest . West Cowes.

Brownlow, John . Gainsboro.

Burnet, George Maxwell . Ashton.

Burns, William . London.

Bury, James Edward . Evesham.

Buxton, Thomas . Belper.

Cairns, James Wallace . Edinburgh.

Carnaby, Francis William . Blyth.

Carter, Charles Frederic . Leicester.

Chapelow, Thomas Henry . Southampton.

Chapman, Ingram William ...Crowle.

Chell, Frederick . Buxton.

Chippendale, John Richard ...Preston.

Coates, William Henry . York.

Connellan, John Dart . Penzance.

Cookson, Joseph . Lytham.

Cooper, Frederick Clement ...London.

Corder, Edmund Herbert . London.

Coulter, Charles . Walthamstow.

Cox, Edward James English... Warminster.

Cox, George Frecker . Guernsey.

Dadley, Edwin . Nottingham.

Darroll, William Rurwell . Warminster.

Davies, James Griffith . Rowston.

Davison, Albert Ernest . Glasgow.

Denham, Frederick John . Exmouth.

Dick, James . Lochgelly.

Dines, William . King’s Lynn.

Doig, John . Dundee.

Duckworth, Arthur . Rochdale.

Evans, John Richard . Dowlais.

Evans, Richard David . Dowlais.

Evans, Rowland 0 . ’. . Pontypridd.

Fairbanks, William John . London.

Ferriman, Herbert . Rugby.

Flint, Francis Bramwell . Leek.

Forbes, Alexander . Fraserburgh.

Forbes, Edward . Bolton.

Foulkes, Edward James . Whitchurch.

Franklin, John William . Gloucester.

Fuller, Arthur Edward . Cambridge.

Gasson, William . Crawley.

Gautby, George . .....Hull.

George, Alexander Cosgrave ...Rusholme.

Gray, Arthur Underwood . Roth well.

Hall, Albert Edward . Warrington.

Hall, Reuben . Bath.

Harrison, Tom Henry . Barnsley.

Heggs, William Francis . West Bromwich.

Hopkins, John Henry . Leicester.

Hunt, John Osbaldeston . London.

Hutchinson, Dennison S . Blackpool.

Hyslop, Samuel James . Newcastle, Staffs.

James, Tom Arthur . Mansfield.

Jones, Evan . Waenfaur.

Jones, John Hughes . Llangollen.

Jopling, William . Bishop Auckland.

Kerr, James . Aberdeen.

Kirkness, Robert . North Shields.

Latham, Thomas . Manchester.

Laurence, Thomas Gentle . Glasgow.

Lawrence, Thomas . Clifton.

Liverseege, John Francis . Nottingham.

Lloyd, James Clement . Lewes.

Long, Alex. John Temlett . Bristol.

MacGillivray Finlay . Nairn.

McGregor, John . Aberfeldy.

Marshall, Robert Hay . Old Aberdeen.

Martin, Alexander . Leslie.

Mason, Arthur Thomas . Bolton.

Matthew, John . Fraserburgh.

Mayor John Beecham . Manchester.

Moore, George Francis Joseph.. Lincoln.

Morris, John . Neath.

Neil, John . Glasgow.

Nicholson, Thomas Tanner . London.

Oldfield, Herbert . Chesterfield.

Orange, Frederick Charles . Southsea.

Parkinson, Joseph, junr . Preston.

Parry, Thomas . Sandgate.

Paton, Richard Thomas . Berwick-on-Tweed.

Phillips, George Henry . London.

Porter, Andrew Bower . . Leven.

Porter, Thomas Wilson . Louth.

Price, Charles Cleaver . Bristol.

Pridham, Frederick John . Llanelly.

Rae, Robert Sanders . Annan.

Riddoch, James . Huntly.

Robertson, William . Grantown-on Spey.

Robins, Harry Hollies . ...Dudley.

Rubbra, Francis Edmund . Brockley.

Sandys, George John . Bexley Heath.

Sewell, George William . Darlington.

Simpson, James . Peterhead.

Smee, Walter Wallis . Axminster.

Smith, John Frederick . New Basford.

Smith, Robert Gibson . Newport (I. of W.).

Spencer, William . Market Rasen.

Spurway, Edgar . Kidderminster.

Stacey, Ernest Lloyd . London.

Stanley, Edward Elijah . Walsall.

Stevenitt, Charles Edward . Sleaford.

Sugden, Stephen Hall . St. Annes-on-the-Sea.

Suttar, John . Peterhead.

Thomas, Joshua James . Neath.

Thornton, William . Curdworth.

Tucker, Percy . Exeter.

Vaillant, Henry . Plymouth.

Wake ham, Horace Norton . Helston.

Wallis, Phillip James . Wellingborough.

Walton, Samuel Archibald . London.

Watt, George . Bonnington.

White, Francis William . Launceston.

White, William Everard . Bottesford.

Whyte, Peter . Fraserburgh.

Wilcock, James William . Brighouse.

Wright, Christopher . Catterick.

Wrigley, Samuel Ernest . Fairfield.

590

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 24, 1880.

The following is a list of the centres at which the
examination was held, showing the number of candidates
at each centre and the result :

Candidates.

Candidates.

Carnarvon

Hull

Exam- \
ined. /

S 'o
«j i
K.3
W

T3

-d

Passec

?3

00

a

Cl.

Ph

. 9

9

J ersey .

. 1

...

i

.20

8

12

Lancaster .

. 5

4

i

. 3

1

2

Leeds .

.11

2

9

.13

7

6

Lincoln .

.13

6

7

. 2

1

1

Liverpool .

.10

2

8

. 2

1

1

London .

.45

17

28

. 8

5

3

Manchester .

.23

15

8

. 4

...

4

N e wcastle - on-T.

9

2

7

. 3

2

1

Northampton ..

. 4

2

2

. 5

2

3

Norwich .

. 8

2

6

. 3

1

2

Nottingham .

.13

6

7

. 4

2

2

Oxford .

. 1

. . .

1

5

2

3

Petei'borough . .

. 4

1

3

.20

8

12

Sheffield .

. 3

1

2

.13

5

8

Shrewsbury .

. 4

2

2

. 8

3

5

Southampton ..

. 8

3

b

. 2

1

1

Truro .

. 2

2

. . .

. 6

2

4

Worcester .

. 2

1

1

. 2

1

1

York .

. 5

3

2

The questions for examination were as follows : —
Time allowed : Three hours for the three subjects.

I. LATIN.

1. Translate the following passages into English : —

A. Id ne accideret magno opere sibi praecavendum
Caesar existimabat. Namque omnium rerun quce ad
bellum usui erant summa erat in eo oppido facultas,
idque natura loci sic muniebatur ut magnam ad ducendum
bellum daret facultatem, propterea quod flumen Alduas-
dubis ut circino circumductum paene totum oppidum
cingit ; reliquum spatium, quod est non amplius pedum
DC qua flumen intermittit, mons continet magna altitudine,
ita ut radices montis ex utraque parte ripce fluminis
contingant.

B. Multo denique die per exploratores Caesar cognovit
et montem a suis teneri et Helvetios castra movisse, et
Considium tirnore perterritum quod non vidisset pro viso
sibi renuntiasse. Eo die quo consuerat intervallo liostes
sequitur, et milia passuum tria ab eorum castris castra
ponit.

2. Parse the words in Italics in the above extracts.

3. Decline the nouns res, flumen and opus, and give the
first person singular of the present and perfect indicative,
the present infinitive, and the supine of the verbs sequitur,
daret, contingant and moveri.

4. Translate the following sentences into Latin: —

(i.) The town is surrounded by a broad river.

(ii.) The mountain is held by the forces of the
enemy.

(iii.) The scouts report to Caesar that there is great
abundance of everything in the town.

II. ARITHMETIC.

[The working of these examples, as well as the answers,
must be written out in full.]

5. A gentleman’s income last year was £685, out of
which he saved £274 7s. Qd. What was his average daily
expenditure ?

6. Multiply the sum of f and ^ by their difference, and
divide the product by 8|.

7. Reduce 6J guineas to the decimal of £5.

8. If the carriage of 60 cwt. for 20 miles cost £14 10s.,

hat weight can be carried 30 miles for £5 8s. 9d. ?

9. What is a metre, a litre, and a gramme ? What is
the proportion between a litre and a gallon ? Reduce
2 miles 3 furlongs 15 yards to metres, etc.

III. ENGLISH.

10. Define what is meant by an Adjective, a Verb, an
Adverb, and a Preposition.

11. The words after and before may be used as adverbs,
as prepositions, and as conjunctions. Give sentences illus¬
trating each of these uses.

12. Correct the following sentences, givingyour reason
in each case: — “ I do not know who to blame.” “ He is
older than her.” “ Nor want nor cold his course delay.”
“ John as well as Thomas are to blame.”

13. Parse fully each word in the following sentence : —
“ Words are like leaves, and where they most abound,

Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.”

14. Write a short composition on one of the following
subjects Intemperance,” “ Eashion,” “ The Drama,”
“ Great Cities,” “ The Endowment of Research,” “ Uni¬
versities.”

rLoutm}ial ©ransaotions.

LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The fifteenth conversazione of the Liverpool Chemists’
Association was held at the Royal Institution on Thurs¬
day evening, January 15.

The proceedings opened with a very excellent musical
entertainment, kindly undertaken by Mr. Charles Sharp,
after which the meeting adjourned to the museums,
where microscopic and other objects of scientific and
general interest were exhibited, manufacturing processes
conducted, and scientific demonstrations given.

The following members of the Microscopical Society
of Liverpool and other gentlemen exhibited objects of
interest by the aid of powerful microscopes : —

T. F. Abraham, Animal Sections, etc.; H. C. Beasley,
Sections of Igneous Rocks ; G. F. Chantrell, Low Forms
of Animal Life ; M. Conroy, F.C.S., Arrowroot and
other Starches ; J. H. Day, Sections of Wood, Coal and
Fossil Wood ; E. Davies, F.C.S., Vegetable Sections
and Coal ; A. E. Fletcher, F.C.S., Crystals under Po¬
larized Light ; I. Fisher, Volvox Globator ; Dr. Hicks,
the Circulation in a Frog’s Foot ; A. H. Mason, F.C.S.,
Physiological Specimen of Human Eye, Lung of Snake,
Microphotographs, etc. ; Dr. Symes, Acari in Powdered
Cantharides ; J. Vicars, Diaptomus Castor (alive).

The following exhibits and demonstrations were held
in the various spacious rooms of the building at intervals
during the evening : —

The Manufacture of Artificial Fruit Essences practically
illustrated, by Michael Conroy, F.C.S., Hon. Sec.; Pro¬
cess for Continuous Extraction, in Operation, Dr. Symes ;
Works of Art, in Repousse Silver and Bronze, and also
of Cloisonnd Enamel of their own and Japanese Manu¬
facture, Messrs. Elkington and Co.; a collection of Cin¬
chona Barks, and a series of Alkaloids and Salts prepared
therefrom, Mr. Thos. Whiffen, London ; a “ Dehne ”
Laboratory Filter Press in Action, Messrs. Van Gelder
and Apsimon ; a New Illuminating Apparatus, Messrs.
Chadburn and Son ; Photographic Transparencies, Mr.
Jas. A. Forrest; a collection of Artificial Fruit Essences,
Messrs. Evans, Sons and Co.; Complete Set of the Ele¬
mentary Bodies, Dr. J. Campbell Brown ; a series of
Food Products, illustrating tbeir different constituents,
etc., Messrs. Southall, Brothers and Barclay; Views of
Ancient Liverpool and Novelties in Photographic Art,
Messrs. Brown, Barnes and Bell ; Engraving and Litho¬
graphic Printing, etc., Messrs. Blake and Mackenzie ;
Glass Blowing, practically illustrated, Mr. Topham ; the
Manufacture of Cardboard Boxes, practically illustrated,
Messrs. Ayrton and Saunders ; Exhibition of a series of
Tubes illustrating some of Mr. Crookes’s researches on
Radiant Matter, Dr. Symes, President ; Exhibition of
Geissler’s Vacuum Tubes, illuminated, Mr. Alfred H.
Mason, F.C.S., Vice-President ; Melde and Lissagon’s

591

January 24, ib80.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

a

Pendulum Curves, Mr. Alfred E. Fletcher, F.C.S. ;
Graphoscopes, Stereoscopes, etc., Messrs. Chadburn and
Son ; Graphoscopes, Stereoscopes, etc., Messrs. Knott
and Co.; Graphoscopes, Stereoscopes, etc., Mr. Marr ;
Transformagoria, Mr. Boulding ; Jewel Kaleidoscopes,
Mr. J. Hallawell, jun. The Edison Loud Speaking
Telephone was exhibited by the Edison Telephone Com¬
pany and worked in connection with different parts of
the town. Mr. Edison’s representative was in attendance.

At 8 '30 the chair was taken in the lecture theatre by
the President, Dr. Symes, when Mr. Edward Davies,
F.C.S., F.I.C., etc., delivered a popular lecture on “Gases
and Vapours.”

Mr. Davis delivered the lecture in his usually lucid
and instructive manner, and delighted his hearers by
many beautiful and rare experiments ; those bearing
upon the influence of pressure on vaporization, the
spheroidal state of water, and freezing water in a red hot
crucible, being very successfully shown.

After the lecture,

Mr. James Birchall exhibited, by means of the oxy-
hydrogen light, nearly fifty photographic views of town
halls, churches, and other buildings of historical interest,
in the chief cities of Belgium, including Li^ge, Ghent,
Bruges, Louvaine, Ypres, Courtrai, etc., accompanying
each with an interesting brief description.

During the evening the band of the First Lancashire
Artillery Volunteers, by permission of Major Grayson,
attended and played several selections.

Refreshments were served in the library and the com¬
mittee-room.

The whole of the proceedings passed off in a very
satisfactory manner, and the meeting broke up at half¬
past ten.

NORTHAMPTON PHARMACEUTICAL
ASSOCIATION.

A supper in connection with the above Association was
held on Wednesday evening, January 14, at Franklin’s
Restaurant, Guildhall Road. The Chairman of the
Society, Mr. J. Lewis ; the Vice-Chairman, Mr. G. C.
Osborne, and all the members with some friends were
present.

After supper, the first toast the Chairman proposed
was, “ The Health, Happiness and Prosperity of the late
Chairman, Mr. G. C. Druce,” who had during the past
year left the town. This was drunk with enthusiasm, all
present feeling that they had lost, not only an able chair¬
man, but an efficient and willing conductor of various
classes. The next toast was “ The Prosperity of the
Northampton Pharmaceutical Association,” to which the
Vice-Chairman responded. In the course of his remarks
he stated that the attendance at, and the interest taken
in, the Botany Class which he himself conducted, had
been fairly good, and he expressed the hope that the
classes would be kept up in full vigour till the end of the
session. The Chairman then proposed “ The Healths of
the Conductors of the Chemistry and Materia Medica
Classes, namely, Messrs. Hayllar and Slater, both of
whom briefly responded. Various other toasts, songs and
recitations followed and an enjoyable evening was spent.

§roi{ftdings afl Iwntiftq Societies.

CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of this Society was held on Thursday,
January 15, Mr. Warren De La Rue, President, in the
chair. The following certificates were read for the first
time : — A. Lloyd, P. Mathews, G. H. Morris, H. F.
Pasley, A. G. Salamon, E. Wilcock, W. H. Wood.

The following papers were read on — •

The Effects of the Growth of Plants on the Amount of
Matter removed from the Soil by Rain. By J. H. Prevost.
— The soil used was taken from a plot of ground which

had been richly manured with stable manure and ashes
in October, 1878. It was placed in two glazed earthen¬
ware pans, the depth of soil being 3 inches ; the surface
exposed was 17 inches in diameter. The drainage water
was collected and muslin covers tied over the pans. Each
pan contained 4300 grins, of soil. In one was sown 4 grms.
of white clover seed, the other was left blank. The
seed was sown on July 21, and the two pans exposed till
October 4. The clover plants had grown up, but had
not flowered. The drainage from the clover soil con¬
tained 48125 grains per gallon; that from the blank pan
amounted to 220 grains per gallon. These residues were
analysed. The author states that it is impossible from
the meagre data in hand to draw any definite conclusions
except that the results do not very widely differ from
those Dr. Voelcker obtained with the drainage from a
wheat crop ; the principal points of interest being that
rain removes much more matter from a soil containing
no plants than from one which is cropped, and that the
• proportions in which the salts are removed do not greatly
differ. Further researches are promised.

Mr. W arington said that the method of investigation
just described was at one time much used in Germany.
It was, what might have been anticipated, that the loss
on a cropped soil would be much less than on an un¬
cropped soil. This had been abundantly proved by the
experiments of Rothampstead. Many striking results
had been obtained during the past wet season. The
best advice to give to farmers was that if they wished to
prevent loss of the constituents of the soil, they should
always keep a crop on it. He had noticed that Dr. Prevost
had found phosphoric acid in the drainage. This was ex¬
ceedingly unusual, as in most cases all was retained. It
might be accounted for by the small depth of soil. The
soluble organic matter required much investigation.

Mr. Wynter Blyth then described a simple apparatus
for the treatment of substances in open dishes by volatile
solvents. It consisted of a circular cast-iron pan of suitable
size, open at the top ; the bottom was not flat, but pushed
up in a dimple like the bottom of a wine bottle. The eva¬
porating dish was placed inside and covered by a glass bell
jar, the edge of which rested in the circular trough formed
by the projecting dimple. Mercury is poured in until
the edge of bell jar is covered and thus an air-tight mer¬
cury joint formed. To the upper end of the bell jar is
fitted a condenser, which may be vertical and return the
condensed liquid to the dish or horizontal if evaporation
is desired. The author had used such an apparatus with
great convenience for more than twelve months, the
escape of vapour being thus completely prevented. The
apparatus was exhibited.

The next paper was read by Mr. W. H. Perkin on —

Dibromanthraquinones. — Graebe and Liebermann give
two processes for the preparation of dibromanthraquiuone ;
one by brominating anthraqumone ; the other by oxidiz¬
ing tetrabromanthracene. These processes yield, how¬
ever, two different products, which are isomeric; they
are named by the author a and / 3 dibromanthraquinone.
The a body is prepared by heating bromine with anthra-
quinone ; it crystallizes from naphtha in flat needles ; it is
nearly insoluble in alcohol and fuses at 245p C. The
/3 isomer is prepared by boiling tetrabromanthracene vdth
chromic acid, dissolved in a large excess of glacial acetic
acid, for some time. On recrystallizing six or seven times
from naphtha, the body was obtained in needles fusing
at 275° C., quite different from the crystals of the
isomeric a substance. The substance is soluble with
difficulty in alcohol. The author then studied the action
of caustic alkalies on these two substances. In both
cases alizarin (identified by its dyeing properties, its spec¬
trum and by analysis) was obtained. The decomposition
of the a body furnished, besides alizarin, a colouring
matter somewhat resembling alizarin; it dissolves in
alkalies with a blue- violet colour, and its alkaline solution
is precipitated by lead acetate. It has, however, no dye¬
ing properties. Its absorption spectrum gives two weak

59!

i'UE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

[January 24, 1880,

bauds. It is not quinizarin nor anthrapurpurm, and may
be a dioxyanthraquinone with the hydroxyls m the same
position as the bromine m the dibromanthraqumone.
Liall amount of another colouring matter seems to be
present dyeing mordants. The author is at present en¬
gaged in the study of these substances, the quantity
prepared in the present research being too small fora
complete investigation. The author then discusses the
formation of the same dioxyanthraquinone from the two
isomeric dibromanthraquinones. In the case of the
£ compound, as no secondary colouring matter seems

formed, the reaction is :

C«<CO>C«H<^ + 2KHO =
C«He<cO/C«H%HO + 2KBr-

In the case of the /3 isomer, probably bromomonoxyan-
thraquinone is first formed, the further action of potash
produces bromalizarin with the liberation of hydrogen,
which attacks the bromine and removes it as hydrobromic
acid, and thus alizarin is formed. Probably, too, a cer¬
tain amount of destruction takes place between the potash
and the alizarin, some hydroanthraquinone being formed.
At the end of the paper the author states that he has
recently examined Auerbach’s original paper on isopur-
purin, and concludes that that substance, from the
properties given, is a mixture of flavopurpurin and an-
thrapurpurin ; the former substance preponderating.
Isopurpurin is not, therefore, identical with anthrapur-
purin as has been stated by the author of the present
paper.

The Secretary then read a paper on —

The Melting and Boiling Points of Certain Inorganic
Substances. By T. Carnelly and W. Carleton
Williams. — The authors have determined the melting
points of various substances by the specific heat method
{Chem. Soc. Jour., 1376, i., 489). The list includes
tellurium, with its chlorides and bromides, cuprous
bromide, etc. The boiling points were determined by
the method described in Chem. Soc. Jour., 1878, Trans.
281. The melting points of silver and copper have been
recently re-determined by Violle, and in consequence,
some corrections have been necessitated in the last paper
of the authors {Cliem. Soc. Jour., 1879). The authors
point out that in the mercuric compounds the melting
point sinks and the boiling point rises with an increased
molecular weight, the reverse is the case with cuprous
compounds, thus : —

Mercuric

Cuprous

Mr. Warington then contributed some notes on —

Some Practical Points connected with his Laboratory
Experience. — The first point considered was the modifica¬
tion proposed by Dr. Frankland, some time since, as a
substitute for the steel blocks which form the air-tight
connectors between the laboratory and the measuring
tubes in the gas apparatus. It will be remembered that
Dr. Frankland causes the measuring tube to end in an
upright funnel in which fits roughly a conical stopper,
which terminates the laboratory tube. The joint was
made tight by a j.iece of sheet indiarubber tied on the
lower end of this conical stopper, the indiarubber being
turned back, applied to the sides of the funnel and the
joint covered with mercury. This modification the
author has found extremely convenient ; one difficulty
was the constant wearing out of the indiarubber. This
was traced to its rubbing up and down, as it was not
absolutely fixed on the stopper. By tying the indiarubber
above as well as below the stopper, this difficulty has
been obviated and the rubber lasts many months instead
of a week. The author strongly recommends the coating

melting point

Chlorides.

287

Bromides.

244

Iodides.

241

boiling point
melting point

303

319

349

434

504

601

boiling point

954

861

760

of laboratory benches, mercury troughs, etc., with
paraffin. The wood is made quite hot by a Bunsen
flame or in an oven and the paraffin rubbed in. Thus
the wood is completely protected from the action of
acids. In the determination of nitric acid by Frankland’s
process, the author has observed that the action is often
incomplete when the attack on the mercury is feeble ; by
adding a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid the reaction is
always vigorous and the results good. Diphenylamine
solution in strong sulphuric acid forms a magnificent blue
coloration in the presence of a trace of. a nitrate. The
author has thus detected -nnrTnr of a milligram of nitrogen
as nitric acid. The absence of other oxidizing agents must
be secured.

The Society then adjourned to February 5.

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association was held on Thursday,
the 8th inst., Mr. H. Allen, Vice-President, in the chair.

The Secretary read the following paper on —

The Analysis of Steel.

BY WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, F.C.S.,

Assistant Demonstrator of Chemistry in the Laboratories
of the Pharmaceutical Society.

Steel differs from pig iron in its percentage of carbon,
its property of welding and its higher melting point, steel
melting at a temperature of 1800° C. and pig iron from
1400 to 1600° C. It is distinguished from wrought iron
by its fusibility and larger proportion of carbon. Steel
is further characterized by its softening at a red heat and
its property of becoming hard and brittle by sudden
cooling. These properties depend upon the proportion of
carbon present and on the presence or absence of other
substances. It is not my intention, this evening, to
treat of the manufacture of steel, but of its analysis;
I may say, however, that most of the steel in
commerce is produced by one of the three following
processes : (1) The cementation method, consisting in

the addition of carbon to malleable iron ; (2) the Siemens-
Martin method, by the solution of malleable scrap iron
in molten pig iron; (3) the Bessemer process, as improved
by Mushet, consisting in the oxidation of the carbon and
silicon of the pig iron by blowing air through the molten
metal and the subsequent addition of an iron containing
a large proportion of carbon to bring the >ron back to
the composition of the steel required.

The steel made by any of these processes should contain
from 98 to 99 per cent, of iron. Carbon might exist in it
in two forms, (1) as uncombined carbon or graphite, of
which a good steel should contain a very small proportion,
the best steel containing none ; (2) the carbon existing as
carbide of iron, generally known as combined car Don,
the proportion of which determines in a great measure
the quality of the steel. A small amount of carbon,
from 0'8 to 0'05 per cent., renders the steel more difficult
to fuse, and a larger amount, from 1*0 to 2'0 per cent.,
facilitates the fusibility but decreases its tenacity and
weldability. Phosphorus is an important element in
steel ; the proportion should be as small as possible, as
little as 0T per cent, rendering it “cold short” or
unworkable at ordinary temperatures. From this
will be seen the importance of the recent discovery
of Messrs. Thomas and Gilchrist, that by substituting
a lining of magnesian limestone instead of a silicious
lining for the Bessemer converter the phosphorus is
almost entirely eliminated. Silicon is an ingredient
which should not exist in large quantities in the steel ;
0'5 per cent, renders the steel “ red short ” or un¬
workable at a red heat. Silicon is considered a necessary
constituent of hard steel to the extent of from 0‘03 to
0'04 per cent. Krupp’s cast steel contains 0‘3 per cent.
Sulphur is an element which exists in the best steel

jiunary 24, isso.j THE PHARMACETJTiCAL JOTRNAIi AND TRANSACTIONS.

593

only to the extent of from O’OO to 0‘01 per cent. ; OT per
cent, renders it red short, weldable at lower tempera¬
tures, but brittle. Copper should be entirely absent from
good steel, as a very small amount renders it red short.
Manganese is now universally considered a necessary
constituent of steel ; its probable virtue consists in its
presence during the manufacture by combining with the
.silicon and sulphur, thus removing them. This view is
confirmed by the fact that nearly all the manganese
passes into the slag ; 0’3 to 0’5 per cent, generally exists
in the steel.

It will be seen that the determination of the amount
of carbon, phosphorus, sulphur, silicon, manganese and
copper is very important, and from the small amount of
the substances present the accurate analysis of steel is
-one of the most difficult and delicate processes in che¬
mical analysis. The steel must be reduced to a fine
state of division before analysis, either by means of a
hard file or by crushing in a steel mortar. The graphite
is most easily and accurately determined by the method
proposed by Tosh : 5 grams of the steel are dissolved
in pure hydrochloric acid and warmed; the solutionis
filtered, the insoluble matter washed with dilute hydro¬
chloric acid until the filtrate ceases to give any coloration
with potassium fefrocyanide, then with a hot solution of
sodium hydrate to remove silica, with boiling water, and
finally with a mixture of alcohol and ether, as this residue
cften contains hydrocarbons. The insoluble matter is
dried at 100° C., weighed, then ignited and weighed
again, the loss is pure graphite, the residue may contain
titanium and a mere trace of silica. This method gives
results which compare very well. The total carbon is
best estimated by Bromeis’ modification of Regnault’s
method. The steel must be in very fine powder. A
piece of combustion tube drawn out in the usual manner
for organic combustions is first filled to about three
inches with a mixture of equal parts of lead chromate
and previously fused potassium chlorate. Three grams
of the steel are mixed with lead chromate, previously
incorporated with 16 per cent, of fused potassium
chlorate, and the mixture introduced into the tube, then
finally some pure lead chromate. A calcium chloride
tube and previously weighed potash bulbs are then
attached. The lead chromate is first heated to redness,
then the mixture containing the steel, which when it is at
a red heat burns with incandescence, all the carbon being
oxidized to carbonic anhydride; finally, the mixture at the
end of the tube is heated, which dz-ives forward any
remaining carbonic anhydride. I have obtained accurate
results with this process ; two combustions of the same
steel gave respectively T5 and T6 per cent, of total
carbon. Fresenius recommends that a weighed portion
of the steel be dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid and the
gases evolved passed over red hot cupric oxide ; the
carbonic anhydride produced, after drying through cal¬
cium chloride, is absorbed by solution of potassium
hydrate and weighed. This only gives the combined
carbon, as when steel is dissolved in hydrochloric or
sulphuric acid the formerly combined carbon unites with
the nascent hydrogen and forms hydrocarbons, the gra¬
phitic carbon remaining behind ; this is either treated
as I have described under graphite or burned in a stream
of oxygen, the resulting carbonic anhydride being ab¬
sorbed by potassium hydrate solution. This amount
added to the former gives the amount of total carbon in
the steel. The presence of- hydrocarbons in the residue
of graphite, as I have before noticed, renders the process
untrustworthy for the estimation of the combined carbon
only. The process for the estimation of combined car¬
bon which is most commonly employed in commercial
analysis is that proposed by Eggertz. It depends upon
the fact that when steel containing combined carbon is
dissolved in nitric acid a soluble brown colouring matter
is produced, the intensity of which varies with the amount
of combined carbon present. By dissolving the same
weight of two different kinds of steel in nitric acid and

diluting till both colours are alike, the steel containing
the largest amount of combined carbon will yield the
largest amount of liquid, the proportion of the volumes
indicating the relative proportion of carbon in the two
steels. If then the amount of carbon in one sample of
steel be known the amount in another sample can be
determined by this process. An ordinary piece of bar
steel is obtained and the amount of total carbon deter¬
mined by combustion, several combustions being made
and the mean taken ; the graphite is then determined by
the method of Tosh and deducted from the amount of
total carbon ; this gives the amount of combined carbon
present in the steel. This sample, the carbon in which
has been determined thus, is kept as a standard steel,
portions of which must be filed off from time to time
as required. A tube sealed at one end and of the
same bore as a graduated tube, so that a given
quantity of liquid stands at the same height in both
tubes, must be obtained, and some pure nitric acid
having a specific gravity of 1*20. Nitric acid of this
strength and at the temperature followed in the experi¬
ments yields with iron containing no combined carbon a
solution of ferrous nitrate of a greenish colour. A deci¬
gram of the standard steel and the same quantity of the
steel under examination is weighed out and placed in two
test tubes with from T5 to 3 cubic centimetres of the
nitric acid, and after a short time both are placed in a
water-bath at a temperature of 80° C. for about two or
three hours ; if any residue is then left the supernatant
liquid is poured off and the residue treated with more
nitric acid until nothing more is dissolved. The solution
of the standard steel should be poured into the graduated
tube and diluted so that every cubic centimetre corre¬
sponds to O’OOOl gram of carbon, thus if the standard
steel contains T55 per cent, of carbon the solution must
be diluted to 15*5 cubic centimetres and then poured into
the ungraduated tube ; a mark should be made on this
tube indicating 15*5 cubic centimetres. The solution of
the other steel is then poured into the graduated tube and
diluted with water until the colour appears the same as
that of the standard upon placing them in front of a piece
of wet blotting paper and holding in front of a window ;
by this means the changes in colour can be viewed with¬
out difficulty. The number of cubic centimetres the
solution of the steel occupies when the colours are the
same indicates, after division by ten, the percentage of
combined carbon in the steel. If, for instance, the solu¬
tion stood at 9'5 cubic centimetres the steel contains *95
per cent, of combined carbon. This process is quick and,
provided the necessary materials are at hand, easy of
manipulation, so that twenty analyses of combined carbon
per diem may be made with ease. To facilitate the
working of the process it has been proposed to imitate
the colour produced by the standard steel by various
substances having a similar colour, as a solution of coffee
in alcohol, caramel, etc., but the most satisfactory way is
to take O'l gram of the standard steel for each analysis.

Phosphorus being present only in small quantities in
steel, and as a small difference in the percentage makes an
appreciable difference in the quality of the steel, its esti¬
mation must be conducted with great care. Tosh’s
process is to dissolve three grams of steel in aqua regia,
evaporate the solution to dryness, dissolve in hydrochloric
acid and filter off insoluble matter. The iron, which is
now in the ferric state, is reduced to the ferrous state by
heating with excess of sodium sulphite ; sulphurous acid
is driven off by heating, a little ferric chloride added
and then solution of ammonium carbonate until a
permanent precipitate is produced. This precipitate,
which is small, contains all the phosphorus as ferric phos¬
phate ; it is filtered off and, after washing, dissolved in a
small quantity of hydrochloric acid, citric acid added
and the phosphorus precipitated as ammonio-magnesium
phosphate. This process is quite accurate and generally
reliable. Abel dissolves the steel in warm nitrohydro-
chloric acid, evaporates to dryness, expels the nitric acid

594

the pharmaceutical JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

by excess of hydrochloric acid and again evaporates to
dryness. The residue is dissolved in hydrochloric acid,
diluted and filtered, nearly neutralized with ammonium
carbonate, the iron reduced as in Tosh’s process by
ammonium sulphite and subsequent expulsion of the
sulphurous acid by heat after acidifying the solution
with dilute sulphuric acid. Amonium acetate and a
small quantity of ferric chloride are added and the
solution boiled; all the phosphorus is precipitated as
basic phosphate and acetate. The liquid is quickly
filtered, washed once with boiling water, dissolved in
hydrochloric acid, neutralized with ammonium carbonate,
a mixture of ammonium hydrate and sulphide added and
the solution warmed. By this means the phosphate of iron
is decomposed, the iron remaining as a precipitate of
sulphide, which is filtered off and washed with dilute
ammonium sulphide solution, all the phosphorus passing
into the filtrate, which is precipitated in the usual manner
with magnesia mixture. The process which I have been
in the habit of employing is to empty two grams of the
steel into a capacious beaker containing about one ounce
of hot nitric acid. When all action has ceased the solu¬
tion is evaporated to a low bulk, hydrochloric acid added
to expel all the nitric acid and the solution evaporated to
dryness, dissolved in hydrochloric acid, filtered to remove
silica, and evaporated to low bulk with nitric acid ; twenty
cubic centimetres of ammonium molybdate solution pre¬
pared by Eggertz’s method are then added and the solution
allowed to stand in a warm place for twenty-four hours.
The precipitate is filtered off, washed with a mixture of the
ammonium molybdate solution and water, dissolved in
ammonium hydrate, tartaric acid added (in case any
traces of iron should be left in the precipitate), then
magnesia mixture. This process gives results which
compare very well and eliminates most sources of error.

Sulphur is estimated by taking ten grams of the steel,
which is emptied into a hot mixture of two parts of
hydrochloric acid and one part of nitric acid. When all
action has ceased the liquid is evaporated to dryness,
dissolved in hydrochloric acid, filtered, the filtrate diluted
with water and nearly neutralized with ammonium
hydrate, barium chloride added, the solution warmed, and
allowed to stand twelve hours. The barium sulphate is
filtered off and washed with dilute hydrochloric acid and
hot water. Eggertz estimates sulphur by dissolving the
steel in sulphuric acid and exposing a silver plate to the
action of the gases evolved, the colour produced being
compared with standard coloured plates. Sulphur may
also be estimated by dissolving ten grams of steel in con¬
centrated hydrochloric acid and passing the gase3 evolved
through a solution of lead acetate acidified with acetic acid.
The lead sulphide is washed, heated with nitric acid, and
when cool sulphuric acid added, the solution evaporated
until fumes of sulphuric anhydride appear, diluted with
water, and the lead sulphate collected and weighed.

Silicon is estimated in the filtrate from the graphite
estimation by evaporation and dissolving the residue in
hydrochloric acid and treating it in the usual manner.
Sometimes it occurs that slag has become incorporated
with the metal and therefore the silicon results would
come out too high. Eggertz dissolves the steel in bromine
which does not attack the slag, but separates, of course,
the silicon from the iron. Sodium carbonate dissolves
this latter variety of silicon but has no effect on the
former. Slag in English iron rails was found by Eggertz
to be often from 4 to 5 per cent. In finished steel and
c ist steel, however, it rarely occurs.

Manganese is estimated by dissolving two grams of
iron in hydrochloric acid, a small quantity of nitric acid
is added, the solution warmed, so as to convert the
iron into the ferric state, and neutralized with ammo¬
nium hydrate so that it shall be cloudy. A saturated
solution of ammonium acetate is then added and the
solution boiled, when the iron is completely precipitated
as basic iron acetate, which is collected on a filter and
washed. The washings and filtrate are rendered alkaline

with ammonium hydrate and a few drops of bromine
added, the solution kept at a temperature of 50° C.,
and being allowed to remain at that temperature for
twelve hours; the hydrated oxide of manganese is collected
on a filter, dried, ignited and weighed as Mn304.
Formerly sodium or potassium salts were used through¬
out the above process, but it was found that after ignition
the oxide of manganese had an alkaline reaction due to
the presence of sodium hydrate. Wright and. Menke*
have shown that the oxide of manganese precipitated by
bromine in presence of potassium acetate, after drying,
contained 11 '87 per cent, cf K20.

Copper is estimated by dissolving thirty grams of steel
in hydrochloric acid, partially neutralizing with sodium
carbonate, evaporating to low bulk, passing sulphuretted
hydrogen, dissolving the precipitate and estimating the
copper by the colorimetric method, if only a small
quantity is present.

After a discussion on the above, paper the Chairman
called upon Mr. Arnold to deliver his Report on Phar¬
macy.

Suppositories.

BY H. R. ARNOLD.

The manufacture of these preparations is somewhat
troublesome to the pharmacist, often involving much
time and ending unsatisfactorily. This report will
best be classed under three heads 1st. A reference to
the machines generally used ; 2nd. The excipients, and
3rd. The manner of manipulating green extract suppo¬
sitories.

The general way of making these preparations is to
melt the excipients together at a gentle heat, then to add
the active ingredients, and constantly to stir until the
mixture is of the consistence of thick cream, then to pour
it into metal moulds, previously cooled (more especially
is this necessary if the mould be made of block tin).

These moulds are made in two pieces, the conical
hollows occupying the junction, so that when the mass is
cold they are easily opened and the suppositories turned
out. Another form of mould has been devised and used
by Mr. Gerrard, the mould opening as it were transversely,
instead of longitudinally, as is the case with the other.
Lastly, machines have been invented, but I believe not
generally adopted, for making suppositories by pressure.
Whether this method will ever supersede the old way of
melting I would not venture to predict, though at present
I fail to see the superiority of this new method over the
old ; at any rate with the excipients that are now in
general use for suppositories. Suppose, for instance, we
wish to make some opium suppositories : — First the ol. theo-
bromae has to be grated, and obtained in as fine a state of
division as possible ; then the powder or extract must be
well mixed with it ; and by the time this is done I think
you will have come to the conclusion that it would have
been better had the ol. theobromse been melted and con¬
stantly stirred till cold; by this means a more homogeneous
mass is obtained. The mass is now subjected to pressure.
Regarding the appearance of suppositories made by pres¬
sure (using only ol. theobromse as the excipient), they do not
compare at all favourably with those obtained by the old
process, the surface presenting several veins or patches of
a lighter colour than the rest of the mass. This defect is
not noticed so much with morphia and other light coloured
suppositories, as with the darker ones, such as opium ; if,
however, the basis be altered by the substitution of wax
and lard, so as to nearly resemble the B.P., these defects
are remedied.

The excipients that have been proposed form time to
time are vaseline, stearic and oleic acids, ol. theobromse
and 10 per cent, of cetaceum, and gelatine.

The B.P. basis is too soft, and I think the lard and
wax might be left out with advantage.

* Jour. Chem. Soc ., Jan., 1880.

January 24, i»so.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

595

The following method answers well in making green
extract suppositories. Rub the extract in a mortar with a
little water to a thin paste, then having previously melted
the ol. theobromse, add it gradually to the extract, stirring
well until it begins to thicken. Should the extract separate
through the ol. theobromae being too hot, the addition of a
few drops of water will completely suspend it. The
advantage of the method will be more evident in making
suppositories containing morphia in combination with an
extract, as the extract invariably separates upon the first
addition of the oil, but the water easily solves this
difficulty.

In making suppositories containing tannin, too much
heat must be carefully avoided, or the tannin coagulates
in a resin-like mass.

Lastly, of the many solutions that have been proposed
from time to time for moistening the mould, none seem
to answer so well as a solution composed of equal parts of
sapo mollis and glycerine.

Mr. W. H. Sytnon3, F.C.S., at the commencement of
the discussion, exhibited several varieties of pessaries
and suppositories prepared with various bases, cacao but¬
ter, gelatine, oleic acid and stearic acid, vaseline and
paraffin, and by the various official formulae, including
those made in accordance with the 1874 Additions to
the British Pharmacopoeia. The suppositories had first
been fashioned with the fingers, and then pressed into
the ordinary mould. They exhibited the same appear¬
ance as those made by fusion, all had been kept for over
two years and had undergone very little change, with
the exception of a 5 grain socotrina aloes suppository
three months old, prepared with the gelatine basis, which
had become covered with a buff coloured incrustation.
The advisability of using a small quantity of oleic acid
as a solvent for alkaloids when prescribed in minute
quantities, as in the case of atropin, was maintained.
The advantage of using a thermometer marked at 130° F.
for a stirring rod in the preparation of tannin suppositories
as a means of preventing the agglomeration of the tannin,
which takes place above the temperature indicated, was
suggested. The speaker also explained an easy method
of making suppositories and pessaries of extraordinary
sizes. A cone of tin foil is made on a moderator lamp
with wick-stick, or other suitable cone, the tin foil is
strengthened by a paper cone, to which its apex is at¬
tached by sealing wax. The mould so made is then
placed in any support, such as the mouth of a bottle, or
in moist sand, and a proper quantity of the melted mass
poured into it ; the whole can then be floated on cold water
until set, when the tin foil is stripped off. Specimens
made by this method were handed round for inspection.

Mr. R. H. Parker thought that the best form of mould
was that made of gun-metal, and opening on hinges from
the suppositories in longitudinal section and fitted with
a screw clamp. He thought that when tannin was used
in suppositories a gelatine basis was inadmissible, although
prescribed in the Skin Hospital Pharmacopoeia. When
melted with cacao butter it sometimes aggregated into
pasty lumps ; this was due to the access of water, either
from the water-bath or from using an imperfectly dried
specimen of tannin. In the latter case the difficulty was
surmounted by avoiding a high temperature. The speaker
had found that dry powdered tannin stirred into melted
cacao butter at 212° F. for ten minutes, showed no sign
of aggregation. He objected to extemporaneous drying
of extracts. Many extracts, if not all, suffered more or less
deterioration by continued exposure to a temperature of
180° to 212° F. Powdered extracts were perhaps unobjec¬
tionable if dried very slowly, in which case of course the
heat was not extemporaneously applied. A much more
homogeneous appearance was obtained by reducing the
extract to thin creamy consistence with water and
then rubbing down with the melted fat, which must be
kept at a temperature of 100° F. The combination of
tannin with aqueous extracts and cacao butter was easily
managed by mixing the powdered tannins with one part

of the fat and the extract secundum aHem with the other,
then stirring the two together. When atropin was ordered
in pessaries the alkaloid should be carefully triturated with
nineteen parts or other convenient quantity of very finely
powdered sugar of milk in order to weigh small quanti¬
ties conveniently. It was less objectionable than oleic acid,
because it answered for both the theobroma and gelatine
bases ; in the former case the fat should be stirred till
nearly cold, while in the latter it of course dissolved.
Moreover, oleic acid unless present in an objectionably
large quantity would not facilitate the measurement of
small quantities of the alkaloid. When extracts were pre¬
scribed for bases, Mr. Parker thought that they were best
manipulated as a pill mass, being divided by pressure on
the pill machine; this produced cylinders that might be
inserted into the ordinary mould, which should be dusted
over with starch, the mass being finally pressed into
shape.

The meeting then adjourned.

|arliamfntarg and Sam fro^edinjs.

Prosecutions under the 17th Section of the
Pharmacy Act.

At the Newcastle-on-Tyne Borough Police Court, on
Thursday, January 15, 1880, before B. B. Blackwell,
Esq. (Chairman), Alderman Robinson and J. Burrell,
Esq., Mr. William Wright Brewis, grocer and patent
medicine vendor, of 1, New Street, Newcastle, was sum¬
moned by the Secretary of the Chemists and Druggists’
Trade Association of G-reat Britain, for contravention of
the Pharmacy Act, 1868. He was charged, “ That he
did on January 12 last, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, unlaw¬
fully sell to Mr. W. F. Haydon, certain poison, to wit,
‘Battle’s Vermin Killer,’ being a preparation of strych¬
nine, in a certain packet, the cover of which packet did
not set forth the name or address of the seller of the
same. That the said sale was effected, the purchaser
being unknown to the seller and not introduced to the
seller. That the date of the sale, the name and address
of the purchaser, and the name and quantity of the
article sold were not entered by the seller in a book kept
by him for that purpose, contrary to the statute in such
case made and provided.”

Mr. Henry Glaisyer, solicitor, Birmingham, appeared
in support of the summonses. Mr. George Rowell, soli¬
citor, Newcastle, appeared for the defence.

Mr. Rowell said he should advise his client to plead
guilty, and simply address the bench in mitigation of the
offence.

Mr. Glaisyer said he was instructed by Mr. Haydon,
Secretary of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Asso¬
ciation of Great Britain, who laid the information, to
prosecute the defendant for three offences under the 17th
section of that Act. Three summonses had been issued,
but as the defendant pleaded guilty, one statement of the
facts would be sufficient. On the 12th of this month,
Mr. Haydon purchased at the shop of the defendant,
No. 1, New Street, in that borough, a packet of Battle’s
vermin killer. The packet in which this vermin killer
was contained did not set forth the name or address of
the seller, the purchaser was unknown to the seller, and
was not introduced to the seller, and the formalities re¬
quired by the Act as to the registration of the sale were
not complied with by the seller. The article had since
been analysed by Mr. Haydon and found to be a prepara¬
tion of strychnine. Preparations of strychnine were
added to part 1, schedule A, of the Pharmacy Act in
December, 1869, as appeared by a notice published in the
London Gazette of December 21, 1369.

Mr. Rowell said in this case he should ask the bench to
impose a merely nominal penalty. His client was a grocer
carrying on an extensive business in the town. Some

596

THE rHAKMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Januar, 21, i?80

little time before he had taken out a licence to sell patent
medicines. By accident one of the articles, of which he
then took into stock a very small quantity, was Battle’s
vermin killer. This was a well-known article sold hun¬
dreds of times every day in the way his client had sold
it for domestic purposes, and not at all for medical

purposes. , .

Chairman of the Bench: Your remarks as to this
poison being sold in hundreds of cases in the same manner
in which it has been sold by your client is not only no
reason why your client should not be punished, but rather
the contrary, and we must say that we are sorry to find
from your statement that there are numerous instances
in which the law has been broken and the public safety
endangered. Every week, almost, there are persons
poisoned by taking this vermin killer, and if your client
reads the papers he must have seen these cases and he
ought, therefore, to have been much more cautious as to
its sale.

Magistrates’ Clerk : Will you be satisfied with a con¬
viction on one summons, tylr. Glaisyer ?

Mr. Glaisyer : Yes ; with the costs in all the summonses.

Mr. Rowell: One summons would have covered the
whole charge.

Magistrates’ Clerk : I am responsible for the summonses
having been issued. I advised Mr. Haydon to take out
three summonses as there were three distinct offences.

The magistrates conferred.

Chairman of the Bench : We have carefully considered
this matter, Mr. Rowell. Your client is convicted upon
the selling, that is, for having unlawfully sold this poison
to a person a perfect stranger to him, and not introduced
to him, without making any inquiries ; that we consider
the most important charge, and we convict upon that,
and we fine your client 40.9. and costs in that summons,
but he must pay also the costs in the other two sum¬
monses.

At the Leeds Borough Police Court, on Friday,
January 16, 1880, before W. Brace, Esq., Stipendiary,
Hubert Murray, trading as a chemist and druggist, at
110, Kirkgate, Leeds, was charged : “That he did on
the 29th day of October, 1879, at the said borough,
unlawfully sell to W. F. Haydon, Secretary to the
Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great
Britain, certain poison, to wit, oxalic acid, in a certain
packet, the cover of which packet did not set forth the
name of the seller of the same, contrary to the statute in
such case made and provided.”

The defendant pleaded guilty so far as selling the

packet.

Mr. Glaisyer, who was instructed by the Secretary of
the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great
Britain, by whom the information was laid, said that on the
29th day of October last, Mr. Haydon went to the defen¬
dant’s shop. No. 110, Kirkgate, Leeds, and purchased from
an assistant, who gave the name of Backhouse, two penny¬
worth of oxalic acid. The packet was labelled “ Oxalic
Acid. Poison. Edward Boothman, Druggist, 110, Kirk¬
gate, Leeds.” The parcel was subsequently analysed by
Mr. Haydon and found to contain oxalic acid. Oxalic
acid was a poison enumerated in part 2, schedule A, of
the Pharmacy Act. The defendant was wholly un¬
qualified to sell poisons scheduled under the Act, not
being a registered chemist and druggist ; but he
attempted to do so under cover of Boothman’ s name.
Edward Boothman, a registered chemist and druggist,
who formerly owned the business now being carried on
by the defendant, had been dead some years. The
defendant was the tenant of the premises at 110, Kirk¬
gate, and he had been regularly rated for those premises
and has paid rates for many years.

Mr. Haydon, Secretary of the Chemists and Druggists’
Trade Association of Great Britain, deposed that on
October 29, last, he went to the defendant’s shop, No.
110, Kirkgate, when he purchased from the assistant of

the defendant, who gave the name of Backhouse, two-
pennyworth of oxalic acid, which he now produced,
labelled, “ Oxalic Acid. Poison. Edward Boothman,
Druggist, 110, Kirkgate, Leeds.” He subsequently
analysed the contents of the packet and found it to be
commercial oxalic acid. Hubert Murray, the defendant,
was not qualified to sell such poisons, his name not
appearing in the last published register of pharmaceutical
chemists and chemists and druggists.

The Defendant : I am not a chemist, I admit that, but
I thought I had done all that was necessary in carrying
on my business by means of a qualified man.

The Stipendiary: Do you say your assistant is a
qualified person?

The Defendant: He is not a registered chemist and
druggist, but he has had a great deal of experience. We
sell very little indeed of this oxalic acid.

The Stipendiary : In this case the defendant is charged
with selling poison which is not labelled with the name
of the seller.

The Defendant : It is labelled with Boothman’s name
and I am carrying on the business in Boothman’s name.

The Stipendiary : That is so ; but that is just what
the law says you must not do. The full amount of the
penalty appears to be £5 ; I shall order in this case that
you pay a penalty of 50 s. and costs.

The Defendant: Cannot you mitigate the penalty,
your worship ?

The Stipendiary: You do not appear to understand
me. The full penalty is £5, and I have reduced it to half
that amount. You must understand that every day you
carry on this business you aru trading in an illegal
manner, and are liable to "be sued for penalties for trading
as a chemist without qualification.

The Defendant: Then what am I to do with my
business ?

The Stipendiary: You must obey the law or you will
have the Pharmaceutical Society or some other body
suing you for further penalties.

Poisoning by Morphia.

An inquest was opened at the Guildhall, Doncaster, ora
Wednesday, January 14, respecting the death of a woman
named Leonora Hattersley, aged 30 years, which happened
the previous night.

The Coroner (A. J. Shirley, Esq.) in opening the in¬
quest said it appeared to him to be a very singular case,
and he was sure would receive at the hands of the jury
the attention it deserved. Deceased had lived at Brier-
ley, near Burnsley. About sixteen years ago she-
went out of her mind, but recovered, remaining very
weak, both bodily and mentally. About four years ago she
suffered from melancholia, but recovered in about fifteen
months, and ever since then she had been liable to fits
and remaining prostrate. On Saturday and Sunday week
she had two fits, Dr. Leak, of Hems worth, being the at¬
tendant. Deceased had an uncle living at 32, Bridge
Terrace, Doncaster, and on Monday afternoon she came
with her sister on a visit. It appeared ever since her
first illness deceased had been in the habit of taking
morphia — sometimes he believed six draughts in one week,
and sometimes as many as three draughts in one night,
without medical advice. She had also had injections of
morphia into different parts of her body, but not recently.
On the same afternoon she arrived at Doncaster her
sister went to Mr. Hopper’s shop in Cleveland Street and
obtained a sleeping draught, telling the man who supplied
her that her sister was used to taking them, and she
wanted a strong one. The deceased went to bed at 10.30
and had a tablespoonful of Hopper’s mixture at 11. She,
however, did not sleep until four o’clock in the morning
when upon her saying she thought she had had, or was;
going to have a fit, another dose of mixture was given to-
her, and in about two hours she dozed off and never
awoke again, djing about eight o’clock the same evening.

January 24, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

597

Dr. Wilson was sent for, he arriving about seven o’clock
in the morning, and he at once thought the case was one
of morphia poisoning, and not a case of a person being in
a fit. Mr. Walker, the house surgeon at the Infirmary,
also saw the deceased, and would be able to give his
opinion. He (the Coroner) mentioned the above facts
thus carefully because they would have to inquire whether
death was caused by fits or by an overdose of morphia.
He must also mention that that was the second time
within three months he had had to inquire into cases of that
kind, and his predecessor held a similar inquiry shortly
before his death. Not only was the question of the use
of morphia and other narcotics local, but it was a matter
which had been discussed in the Times , both by correspon¬
dence and an article which appeared on Monday. The
Coroner here read extracts from the Times article, which
deprecated the free use of morphia.

Caroline Hattersley, mother of deceased, said that
during the last twelve years her daughter had suffered
from epileptic fits. Three weeks before her death she
was suddenly taking ill, but Dr. Leak did not express
alarm, calling it hysterical croup. She had had sleepless
nights, not being able to rest anyway. To facilitate her
having rest draughts were brought which caused sleep for
three hours at a time. She had morphia injected several
times, but it was never used without the doctor’s atten¬
dance. She had also suffered from neuralgia. The reason
she came to Doncaster was to give her change of air and
scenery. Witness was not with her when she died. They
had got everything for her that could do her any good.

Sophy Hattersley, sister to deceased, stated that the
doctor said the mental illness contributed to the bodily,
but deceased always thought differently. Brandy was
given as a stimulant, and chloral and morphia made into
draughts for her. Morphia was injected into her arms
abouttwelve grains [sic) at a time. The draughts she gener¬
ally took previous to her death did not make her sleep
very long. The last time morphia was injected was a year
and a half ago, while at Scarborough. On Monday wit¬
ness and her sister reached Doncaster about half-past two
in the afternoon, and deceased then seemed rather excited.
They did not bring any sleeping draughts with them. Dr.
Leak had attended her twice during last year, a week ago
being the last time. He then changed the medicine.
Witness thought the first medicine contained iron. She
was unable to continue the last medicine, as she became
ill after taking a dose of it. On the night of Monday,
January 12, witness went to Mr. Hopper’s, Cleveland
Street, and asked for a sleeping draught, saying “ Let it
be a strong one, as she has taken ten grains of morphia.”

The Coroner here reminded witness that she must have
misled the attendant, as the ten grains were injected, not
inwardly consumed.

Witness resumed: The attendant said he would give
her five grains, and told a little boy who was in the shop
to hand him a bottle. Witness now said she told the
chemist’s assistant the ten grains of morphia' were taken
when the deceased had the neuralgia. The bottle was
produced, and bore a label “ Solution of Morphia. To be
used with great care.” There was also a notice under¬
neath saying according to the Act of Parliament the
mixture had to be labelled “ Poison,” although its com¬
position remained unaltered. Deceased measured the
dose herself by marks on the bottle. Nothing was said
at the chemist’s shop about the dose, and witness did not
ask, as the bottle was the same one used previously. The
sale was entered in a book, and witness signed her name.
She never signed one before. When deceased went to
bed she was restless and tossed about till four in the
morning. The first dose was given at eleven, and another
at four in the morning, but part of it was left in the
glass, and she also spilled a little of the first one. After
eleven deceased said either she had had a fit or was going
to have one. She also vomited. The dose was not
diluted with water. After the second dose she did not
sleep for two hours, and was again sick. Witness per¬

suaded her to try and sleep, and in a few minutes she
seemed to go into a fit in her sleep, the same as witness
had seen her do while at Scarborough. It was then
between six and seven, and from that time till seven at
night she seemed to be asleep. She had never been in a
fit of such a length before, but during the past few weeks
she had grown weaker. Her hands and lips were blue.
Dr. Wilson was sent for about half-past seven in the
morning. Deceased turned cold almost directly after
going into the fit. Mr. Walker, of the Infirmary, was
with Dr. Wilson.

William James McChesney, manager and assistant at
Mr . Hopper’s shop, Cleveland Street, said he remembered
a female going to the shop about seven o’clock for a
sleeping draught, and stipulating for ten grains of morphia.
Witness told her he thought it was a great deal. In
answer to the Coroner, he said he should think half a
grain would kill a man. He asked her if she was sure
she wanted morphia, or was it chloral hydrate. She
replied she was sure it was morphia, as a medical m am
had told her so. Witness made her some up, saying it
contained five grains each draught. He also explained
to her that one draught would be ten times in excess of
the maximum dose, and enough to kill several people. He
did not tell her when to repeat it, as he thought it would
not be used above once. He once made up a draught
containing ten grains of morphia for a man, but he was
since dead.

The Coroner : I should think so.

Witness : The sum of Is. 6cl. was paid for the bottle,
which was a 6-ounce one. Morphia was extracted from
opium. Witness was not himself registered. He put
both labels on the bottle. Did not think the label saying
its composition remained unaltered was liable to mislead
people, by making them believe it was harmless. He
particularly explained that not more than a teaspoonful
was to be taken by an ordinary person. Witness pro¬
duced the book, fully showing the sale and signed by the
purchaser.

The Coroner here read the section of the Act, which
said that no poison was allowed to be sold to any un¬
known person, or, if so, without being introduced by
someone known to the seller, and their name also signed
in the book.

Witness said he saw a young man, cousin of deceased,
whom he knew, outside, but he did not go into the shop.

By the Foreman : I told the unman if she gave more
than a teaspoonful it would be at a risk.

By the Coroner : The next morning Miss Hattersley
went down to the shop and said they had had to call in
two doctors. Witness told her he was very sorry, but he
had used every precaution in his power by telling her
how to use the medicine. She replied, “ There must be
some mistake. I believe I wanted chloral hydrate. I
am entirely to blame myself.”

Robert Tong, an errand boy in the employ of Mr.
Hopper, who was in the shop when Miss Hattersley was
supplied with the medicine, detailed the circumstances,
and said that when Miss Hattersley went into the shop
she said two doses had been given. No blame was laid
on either party. Witness was in the shop all the time. He
did not hear Miss Hattersley say, “ It is my own fault.”

Miss Hattersley, recalled, said she did not remember
being cautioned, except by Mr. McChesney saying it
was a large dose, and she said in answer she had been
used to taking large doses. She did not remember any
conversation about a spoonful. When she went on
Tuesday morning to ask how many grains had been
given she told the assistant Dr. Wilson’s opinion was
it was an overdose of morphia. The assistant said it was
a strong dose, and seemed troubled, and witness told him
he was not to blame.

Cross-examined by Mr. McChesney : I did not say I
was entirely to blame. I said I did not think I wanted
morphia, it must have been chloral.

In answer to a juror Mr. McChesney said there was

598

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND 'TRANSACTIONS. [January 24. isso.

no limit to the quantity of morphia which could be
supplied.

The case was then adjourned to Monday, the 19th,
the bottles meanwhile to be analysed by Mr. Allen, the
borough analyst.

At the adjourned inquest on Monday afternoon, the
following additional evidence was taken

Thomas Mallone Leak, physician and surgeon, of
Hemsworth, said he had known the deceased, Leonora
Hattersley, since she was born. Sixteen years ago he
attended her for a bad attack of kleptomania. It was
some time before she recovered, in fact it was in doubt
whether she should not be sent to an asylum. In a few
weeks, however, she recovered somewhat, but was always
weak and ailing, mentally and bodily. Later on she
suffered from neuralgia, dyspepsia, hysteria, and epileptic
fits. She had continued in a like state up to the present
time. He did not think he had attended her more than
three times during the past year, once it was for neuralgia,
and the last time for croup. He had an attendant named
Hunter, who left eighteen months ago. He was quite
certain that neither he nor his attendant had ordered her
10 grains of morphia. She had taken very little of it. He
never recommended her to take morphia ; if she wanted
any, he gave it to her, but never told her to buy it. On
looking into his books, he found she had not taken
morphia more than three times, and not more than J a
grain. If he was giving a dose, he should give from J to

a grain. It would be dangerous to give as much as 3
grains. When he supplied morphia, it was given in an
ounce draught, but the strongest deceased ever took was
| a grain. It was several years since she had morphia
injected, about ^ of a grain, increased to a | of a grain,
not more. Neither by injection nor draughts had he or
his assistant ever given her as much as 10 grains of
morphia. He had given her hydrate of chloral, from
June to July, 1878, in 15 grain doses. That was the
ordinary dose, and would not be dangerous. He did not
know she ever got any morphia or chloral at any
chemist’s shop. The last time he attended her was on
Sunday, December 28, being called in for an attack of
croup. He mixed some medicine for her, which he
thought was consumed. He attended her after, and
changed the medicine, as she had ceased to be feverish,
and had had two epileptic fits. She was a person liable
to go off at any time. Mr. Coleman recommended her
coming to Doncaster. He (witness) knew the family,
who were exceedingly respectable. He never saw anyone
waited on before, as deceased had been.

By the Foreman : He did not remember anyone being
able to take morphia in grains, but had known them
take a quantity of laudanum tantamount to 5 grains of
morphia.

By the Coroner : He did not know of bottles marked
for teaspoons. The bottle produced wa3 a 6-oz. bottle,
and if he had sent it out he should have put on so much
for a dose. It was impossible to say how much morphia
anyone could take that had been used to it. 3 grains
was dangerous for anyone to take at first, but one
accustomed to it might take 5 grains.

By tbe Foreman : If he sent morphia he should put it
in a bottle as a dose.

By the Coroner : Not on any account would he supply
a bottle containing 30 grains. He did not know that a
female was more susceptible to it than a male, but this
woman would be very likely to suffer from it unless she
had been in the habit of taking it unknown to him.

Dr. Wilson, physician and surgeon, said he was called
to deceased. He was told she was subject to epilepsy,
and that during the night she had had a fit. She was in
a profound state of insensibility, and he could elicit no
signs of consciousness whatever. He ordered various
applications likely to rouse her and left. He was again
summoned, and found his directions had been carried out,
but still she had not recovered. Finding she was in a

state of stupor deeper than she ought to be, he made
inquiries. The sister went into the room and showed
him a bottle, asking if it had anything to do with it, and
he replied everything. Witness sent to the Infirmary for
the galvanic battery and Dr. Walker. She died at 8
o’clock that night. He thought death was caused by
morphia poisoning. He afterwards made a post-mortem
examination. They found she was suffering from heart
disease in a form not at all unlikely to cause sudden
death. Epileptic fits sometimes cause death, but deceased
did not show any symptoms.

William Walker, house surgeon at the Infirmary, was
called in to see deceased. He had heard Dr. Wilson’s
evidence, and confirmed it. The body was well nourished,
and was not at all emaciated,

By Mr. Clayboum : When he went it was too late to
apply the stomach pump.

Sergeant John Thompson proved receiving two bottles,
marked A and B, from the coroner. He took them to
the public analyst, Mr. Allen, at Sheffield, with instruc-
tions to analyse them.

Mr. Allen, public analyst, said he received two
bottles from Sergeant Thompson, and was told by him
to search for narcotic poison. It was necessary to
direct his attention to the point in question. He
analysed the bottle marked A. It smelt of chloroform.
He also found a preparation of iron, iodine, and a small
quantity of morphia, but not more than ^ a grain to the
fluid ounce. He did not examine that further, but
analysed the bottle marked B, which he found to be a
solution of morphia, containing about 5 grains of hydro¬
chlorate of morphia to the fluid ounce. The bottle was
divided into twelve parts, so that an ounce would be two
divisions. When he received it, rather more than four
divisions, or 2 ounces, had been used by someone. There
was a little acid in the bottle. In the official authority,
the Pharmacopoeia, the maximum dose to be taken was
\ a grain, reckoning 4 grains to the ounce. There are 4
grains of hydrochlorate of morphia in a fluid ounce. He
had analysed a bottle before containing 4 grains to the
ounce, but never one so strong as that one. 1 grain of
morphia was considered dangerous, and not more than \
a grain should be given as a dose.

The Coroner, in summing up, said it was one of the
most important cases they had had to consider for some
time. It was only some months ago that a similar
inquiry was held, and the jury then recommended that
more care should be taken in dispensing medicines. The
three things they had to consider, were, a case of
poisoning ; if it was by morphia poisoning ; was there
any negligence, and if so, on whose side. The Coroner
concluded by saying that supposing the jury agreed
that there had been negligence on the part of the
druggist, was it so gross as to amount to criminal
negligence ; and if there had been criminal misconduct,
it would be their duty to say so ; if, on the other hand,
they believed due care had been exercised, and that
death had been caused by misadventure, it would be
their duty to say so.

The jury then retired for about twenty minutes, when
they returned the verdict that deceased died of morphia
poison, by misadventure on the part of the sister, and gross
negligence on the part of the druggist, but not so gross-
as to amount to criminality.

The Coroner said the verdict was an exceedingly proper
one. The recommendation which was given at the last,
inquest had not acted in a salutary manner, and he was
satisfied the druggist had not used the care he should
have done.

The Coroner then reprimanded McChesney, telling him
it might have been a much more serious affair. It was
perfectly clear either that he did not give instructions to
the sister, or she did not understand him. He hoped that
in future McChesney would be more careful, as if again
before a jury that fact would go hard against him. To
the sister the coroner said he had no doubt she had been

599

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January 24, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS.

very kind and attentive to the deceased, but he would
recommend her when she went again to a druggist’s
shop not to make a rash statement, and also to take care
the druggist put full directions on the bottle.— Doncaster
Free Press.

The Use of Patent Medicines containing Poisons.

Last week Mr. St. Clair Bedford held an inquiry at
;the Westminster Sessions house, as to the death of Mr.
Henry MacFarlane, aged 53 years, of 21, Coburg
Row, Westminster, who died on Monday under some¬
what mysterious circumstances.

Henry MacFarlane, the son, said his father was a
horse dealer, and had been a sufferer from rheumatic gout
for the past ten or twelve years. He had been in the habit
of taking different patent medicines. He would always
take a larger dose than was prescribed on the bottle.
Witness got home at two o’clock on Wednesday, the 7th
Inst., and found his father had had a severe attack of the
gout. The deceased told witness that “ he had taken a
jolly good dose of the tincture,” but did not say the
quantity. He then held up a 1 -ounce phial labelled
“ Gout and rheumatic tincture.” On Sunday morning
the deceased complained of shortness of breath, and
witness fetched Dr. Sylvester, who prescribed some
other medicine. He did not get any better, and when
Dr. Sylvester called on Monday morning the deceased
was unconscious. The doctor then told the witness that
his father was suffering from an effusion on the brain.
The deceased remained insensible until his death, which
occurred on Monday night.

Dr. Sylvester said he had no knowledge of the
deceased previous to his being called to his residence.
Witness made a post-mortem examination, and found
excessive inflammation of the pericardium, with effusion
of serum. The left ventricle of the heart was very much
thickened, the aorta was diseased, and both lungs were
full of serum. The abdomen and kidneys were very
much contracted, and the latter were afflicted with
Bright’s disease of some years’ standing. Death was due
to Bright’s disease and peritonitis.

The Coroner : Do you know the contents of the phial ?

Witness : No ; I do not know the contents, but if the
tincture contains morphia or opium it would accelerate the
death. He (witness) could certify the cause of death,
but he would not like to swear that the tincture did not
accelerate the death, because he thought it more probable
that it had.

The jury, after some discussion, returned a verdict in
accordance with the medical testimony.

Poisoning by Laudanum.

On Thursday, Jan. 15, Dr. Hardwicke held an inquiry
at 2, Ingestre Road, Highgate New Town, as to the
death of James Charles Mills, 24, who committed suicide
on the previous Saturday. He was a salesman at Messrs.
Ward and Crawley’s, house furnishers, of Camden Town.
In consequence of toothache he had been in the habit of
taking laudanum for the purpose of procuring sleep. On
Saturday morning he returned home, complaining of
being very tired. After drinking a large quantity of
laudanum, which, however, was supposed to be sherry,
he went to bed, where a few hours afterwards he was
found in an insensible condition. He gradually got
worse, and died from poisoning by laudanum. The jury
returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide
while of unsound mind. — Times.

Wrongful Use of Mercurial Powders.

An inquiry has been held at Okehampton into the cir¬
cumstances attending the death of Lilian Drew. It ap¬
peared from the evidence that the child while being
treated for measles by a regular medical practitioner had
had some powders aaministered to her by the advice of a
nurse. Symptoms of salivation were manifested, and the

child eventually died, and in the opinion of Dr. Walters
death resulted from exhaustion produced by mercurial
poisoning. It was admitted, however, by the medical
witnesses that the powders might not have caused death,
although they aggravated the symptoms. The jury re¬
turned a verdict that the death resulted from measles and
other disorders, and requested the coroner to caution all
persons not duly qualified to abstain from administering
any drugs without medical advice.

©bituarg.

Notice has been received of the death of the follow¬
ing : —

On the 5th of December, 1879, Mr. Henry Clairmont
Lea, Chemist and Druggist, Hastings. Aged 76 years.

On the 15tli of December, 1879, Mr. James Tennant,
Chemist and Druggist, John Street, Pentonville, N.
Aged 69 years.

On the 15th of December, 1879, Mr. Henry Huggins,
Chemist and Druggist, Stansted. Aged 40 years.

On the 3rd of January, 1880, Mr. John Hartley
Jennings, Chemist and Druggist, Burley Lawn, Leeds.
Aged 52 years.

On the 6th of January, 1880, Mr. Edward Jame3
Evans, Chemist and Druggist, Llanybyther, Carmarthen¬
shire. Aged 36 years.

On the 7th of January, 1880, at his residence, Rose
Hill, Derby, Mr. Arthur Elijah Hughes, Chemist and
Druggist. Aged 32 years.

On the 9th of January, 1880, at Malta, Mr. John
Reginald Evans (of the firm of Evans, Sons and Co.,
Liverpool), of Wallace Bank, St. Michael’s Hamlet,
Liverpool.

On the 10th of January, 1880, Mr. Henry Limon,
Pharmaceutical Chemist, Burgh-le-Marsh, Lincolnshire.
Aged 48 years. Mr. Limon had been a Member of the
Pharmaceutical Society since 1857.

gispnsins fRcmonuutit.

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

[381]. I had the following prescription handed me last
week to prepare. How should it be dispensed the second,
third and fourth weeks ? State quantity of iodide for
those weeks : —

R Iodid. Potass . grs. 100.

Spirit. Ammon. Aromat. . . . 3j.

Aq . , , ad 3xx.

5j ter die sd.

The iodide to be increased ij per dose every week until
80 grains are taken each day.

Two chemists’ assistants I have asked say the ij means
double. For myself I think the physician means ij grains
per dose. Which is right ? J. H.

[382]. I should like to have the opinions of any of your
readers as to what should have been given for last-men¬
tioned article in the following prescription. The powders
were for a child two years of age.

Scammony . 24 grains.

Jalap . 24

Grey Powder . * 18

Powdered Antimony . . . . 18

Mix. Divide into six powders.

99

99

99

Junior.

600

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 24, 188<T.

[383]. What should be used when alum, sulph. is
ordered in a prescription ?

W. S.

[384]. Will some reader kindly say if the following
prescription can be dispensed without separation ? My
customer informs me that it has frequently been dispensed
in town without any separation : —

Tr. Valerian. Am . 3hj-

Ferri et Quin. Cit . 3j-

Aquae . ad 3viij.

• i i i I ii • • <

Is the separation not due to the ammonia in the tinc¬
ture ?

Beta.

djjoitiiapottdqnq.

Weights and Measures Act, 1878.

Sir, — As manufacturers of graduated glass measures, we
have carefully read the reports of your meetings to learn
all that was possible respecting the above Act.

We found that at the Evening Meeting of the Pharma¬
ceutical Society on December 3, 1879, Mr. Greenish stated
that he had four dozen and eight measures verified, for
which the inspector charged halfpenny each. We have
applied to the inspector for our district and he states his
fees are halfpenny for each line on the measure. The
President stated at the same meeting that he had been
confirmed at the Standards Office in the idea that an 8 oz.
measure might be graduated in ounces, half ounces and
drachms, and that it was fully provided for in the Act that
a 6 oz. measure should have graduations from half drachm
up to full measure. We have been informed by our in¬
spector that he will not verify either 6, 8, 12 or 16 oz., and
no size above 20 oz. measures. The sizes that he will
verify must be graduated quite different to the present
method. A 4 oz. measure on the drachm side must have a
line only at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 16 drachms, and no lines
above the 16. On the ounce side the graduation would be
the same as at present, excepting that the 1| oz. line would
be removed. According to his opinion also the 1 oz. and
2 oz. measures are to be treated similarly, no measure
showing a line for 6 drachms — whilst the 20 oz. measure
must have lines only at 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 10 and 20 ounces,
“ only seven lines on each.”

Can any of your numerous readers kindly inform us if
our inspector is correct in his interpretation of the Act, as
it seems very hard on all the chemists and druggists
throughout the United Kingdom that their measures, al¬
though quite correct, should not pass the inspector through
not being graduated as above P Can they also inform us if
the use of “fl. oz.” and “ fl. dr.” on each measure in place
of the present symbols for fluid ounces and drachms is com¬
pulsory, also if it is a correct rendering of the Act to charge
a halfpenny per line for testing, as, if so, it will cost four-
pence halfpenny to verify a 4 oz. measure, there being nine
lines on each ? We also consider it very hard that all the
grosses of graduated measures we have in stock should be
rendered quite useless for home trade, through not being
graduated in what we venture to call, as practical
graduators, an awkward way. Dispensers, too, will fre¬
quently have to use two measures to get one quantity,
say for instance, six drachms, besides hampering trade by
so greatly increasing the cost. Finally, the present
inspector only attends his office twice a week for three
hours a day. How is he to verify the grosses of measures
that we alone would require verifying ?

J. H. McIntyre and Sons.

The Electric Light and Paper Carbons.

Sir, — The appearance in your issue of 17th inst. of the
long letter on Edison’s recent doings in electric lighting,
prompts me to send you a note on this subject. It will
interest many of your readers to know that as regards the
use of paper carbons, the point now made most important
by Mr. Edison or his friends, this versatile American has
been forestalled by an English electrician and pharmacist.
More than twenty years ago my friend and neighbour, Mr.
Joseph W. Swan, expressed to me his conviction that

incandescence lamps would ultimately prove better than
the electric arc, and that carbon would probably be the
best material to be rendered incandescent by the current.
He worked for some time upon this subject, producing his
carbons from paper and card, and I remember many years
ago taking up one of his paper carbons under the impression
that it was a piece of watch spring. It was of a steel grey
colour, sonorous, and sufficiently elastic to bear slight
flexure if carefully handled. With these carbons he ob¬
tained a beautiful and steady light, though not a durable
lamp. They were used, as Edison has recently used them,
enclosed in an exhausted vessel, and included in the voltaic
circuit, but Mr. Swan’s difficulties, like those which Mr.
Edison is now experiencing, showed that to obtain and
maintain a satisfactory vacuum was more important and
more difficult than to produce carbon ribbons from paper
and card. I am glad to add that Mr. Swan’s recent ex¬
periments give promise of ultimate success, and that not
far distant.

Grey Street , Newcastle. Barnard Proctor.

“Unknown to the Seller.”

Sir, — The opinion expressed by the Wigan coroner, re¬
ported in the Journal recently, introduces another difficulty
in connection with the retail trade and induces me to ask
what is understood by the words used in the 17th section of
the Pharmacy Act, 1868, “unknown to the seller,” and
“known to the seller.” In large towns, where there is a
class of operatives, these are so constantly removing that it
is almost impossible to say more than you know them by
sight, and this term can with great propriety be applied to
others who have been occasional customers for years, when
they required a simple medicine ; and although I know that
they do reside somewhere in the neighbourhood (perhaps
under some officers in charge of the building), yet if they
asked for Battle’s vermin killer and took it with the inten¬
tion of committing suicide, and did accomplish their pur¬
pose, according to Mr. Rowbottom I should have acted
“ carelessly ” in supplying it.

Whilst admitting the necessity for due care in the sale of
poisons, I cannot suppose that it was intended to fetter our
business with such stringent restrictions as to make it
almost impossible to carry on a retail trade.

Observer.

Errata.— On p. 572, col. i., line 22 from bottom, for
“sulphate of lime” read “tartrate of lime.” On p. 579,
col. ii., at the end of the equation in Mr. Williams’s reply
to query 633, for “ 4H20.t” read “4H2O.”

H. B. L. B. (who should have sent his name and address).
— It is not compulsory to pass an examination before
practising as an analyst. The answers to your other
questions would be so dependent upon circumstances of
which we are ignorant that we cannot give them satis¬
factorily.

if. S. S— See the article on Syrup of Lactophosphate of
Lime in the number for the 10th inst., p. 544. For the
preparation of ipecacuanha see the paper by Dr. Duck¬
worth, on the “Pharmacy of Ipecacuanha,” in vol. ii. of
the present series of this Journal, p. 721.

“An Apprentice .” — A recipe for “inseparable lime juice
and glycerine ” has been given in the Journal for June 14
last, p. 1032, as well as in other places.

“ Qncero.” — (1) Royle’s or Garrod’s ‘Materia Medica
and Therapeutics ’ would possibly suit you. (2) Proctor’s^
‘ Lectures on Pharmacy’ or Parrish’s ‘Practical Pharmacy.’

“French.” — (1) Petit Moniteur de la Pharmacie, the
office of which is at 6, Rue Git-le-Coeur, Paris. (2) We
caunot say, but possibly your object might be attained by
the cautious use of a depilatory.

T. O. Owen. — See the communication on “Distilled
Essence of Lemon,” by Mr. J. Moss, published in the
J ournal for March 29 last, p. 798.

C. L. H.— Species laxantes St. Germain (Gray’s Suppl.).
— Senna leaves exhausted with spirit, %iv ; elder flowers,
Aiiss ; fennel seeds, anise seeds, aa 3X* Weil cut and
bruise them and mix together, and when dispensing add
purified cream of tartar powdered, 5vj. _ _

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Dr. Downes, Messrs. G. Cormack, Macnaught Bros., Howie,
Reynolds, Flynn, Eyre, Mallen, Williams, Umney, Miller,
Junior, Mot Rekla, W. R.

January 31, 18S0.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

60 L

“ THE MONTH.”

Cold frosty air and biting north-easterly winds
are still the order of the day, and the ground seems
too hard and dry to allow even the earliest flowers
to burst through its frozen crust. Even the winter
heliotrope is far behind in its appearance, and the
Christinas rose is rarely to be seen. At the time of
writing, however, a specimen in bud of the llelle-
borus foetidus has been forwarded by a Kentish
correspondent. The small number of flower buds
and the frost-bitten appearance of the leaves of this
specimen show that winter has dealt hardly with
it even in that favoured “garden of England.”

In the Botanical Gardens at Regent’s Park, the
boldo tree is now in blossom ; also, the winter’s bark
tree, whose handsome clusters of snow-white flowers
contrast admirably with the dark green foliage.
A species of eucalyptus and one of the cardamom
plants, Amomum angustifolium, are also in blossom
in the Economic House, but the Herbaceous Ground
presents so blank an appearance that skating rather
than botanizing appears to be the most attractive
pursuit to those pharmaceutical visitors who have
the good fortune to obtain admission.

The subject of the dormant vitality of seeds must
always possess some interest for pharmaceutical
readers, since it has a bearing upon the cultivation
of henbane. In a recent number of the Garden a
correspondent gives an instance which came under
his notice, in which the seeds of several species of
JSolidago apparently remained dormant for twenty
years . The ground had been covered with shrubs
and carefully kept free from weeds during that time;
at its expiration the ground was cleared, and two
years afterwards it was covered with specimens of
Solidago three or four feet in height.

In the Gardeners' Chronicle a correspondent calls
attention to the poisonous properties of the berries of
Solanum Dulcamara. Eight animals out of a flock
of healthy (?) sheep pined away and died after eating
the plant, and there was found in their stomachs only
dulcamara besides the turnips; on removal from
the field no more died.

In the same paper, Mr. C. U. Dod remarks that
he recollects a boy of twelve, at a boarding school,
whose life was but just saved by emetics within an
hour of eating nightshade berries. On the other
hand, the editors of that journal say that the berries
of S. nigrum have been eaten as tomatoes with im¬
punity.

Bentley and Trimen in their ‘ Medicinal Plants ’
state that “ the action of dulcamara is unknown, and
that several physicians have given the preparations
of dulcamara in very large doses without any obvious
effects.” In Gerarde’s time it was evidently used in
medicine as a resolvent; the celebrated Boerhave
considered the young shoots superior to sarsaparilla;
while Linnaeus recommended it as a remedy for in¬
flammatory diseases, fever and rheumatism, and
does not appear to have regarded it as poisonous.

The black nightshade, .JSolanum nigrum, how¬
ever, has had a bad reputation, Floyer having
stated that thirty of the berries killed a dog in three
hours. Dr. Swain Taylor also observes that the
berries of the Solanum nigrum have in one instance,
at least, produced very serious effects on children
who have eaten them. The children complained of
headache, nausea, vertigo, colic and tenesmus. One
| child died in the acute stage, and two others, appa¬
rently from secondary consequences, during treatment.
Third Series, No. 501.

He denies, however, that the effects of the plant on
the system are as dangerous as they are generally
supposed to be. On the other hand, one hundred
and eighty ripe berries of the plant have been given
by Duval to a dog, and in another experiment six
ounces of a watery extract, without any ill effects
resulting. Orfila also relates that he found the
extract of the plant to have a very feeble effect as a
poison.

Amidst these conflicting statements it is difficult
to arrive at the truth, and it seems a blot on the
escutcheon of the medical profession that the know¬
ledge of the medical properties of two of our com¬
monest wild plants should still remain undefined.
It would be interesting to determine ‘whether a
poisonous property is contained in the seeds and not
in the pulp of the fruit, whether it is more powerful
in certain seasons than in others, whether the
poisonous effects occasionally produced are due to
idiosyncrasy, or whether other plants have been
mistaken for Solanum. In the case of sheep poisoning
above mentioned, it is within the limits of possi¬
bility that belladonna, or other herbs poisonous to
sheep, might have grown in the same field, and that
death might have been dm to their eating such
plants. In a case of sheep poisoning which occurred
in a particular meadow on a farm in one of the
southern counties, the plants by which the sheep were
poisoned were found to be Ranunculus Flammula and
Hydrocotyle vulgaris, plants which are almost sure
to be abundant in damp pastures in the hedges of
which Solanum Dulcamara loves to grow. Woody
nightshade is such a common plant that it must
very frequently be within the reach of both sheep
and children, and it is certainly remarkable that
cases of poisoning by it are excesssively rare. Ob¬
servers in the country might possibly be able to
find out whether the berries of these plants are
eaten by birds.

A correspondent of the Garden points out that
although the plants of Cotoneaster microphylla and
other bushes in the neighbourhood are quite cleared
of berries, those of Cotoneaster Simmondsii remain
untouched by them, another illustration of the fact
that different species of the same genus may, like
those of the genus Aconitum, possess very different
properties.

More than twenty years ago Professor Bentley
pointed out the differences between aconite root and
horseradish,* in consequence of the former having
been mistaken for the latter with a fatal result. The
two roots are so totally unlike in almost every respect
that it is difficult to comprehend how even a cook
could mistake the one for the other. Nevertheless
on Christmas day last, a farmer and his family, at
Malmesbury, partook of the scraped root of aconite,
and the wife succumbed, in spite of medical aid, to its
deadly properties.

Under proper treatment, however, aconite is by
no means one of the most fatal poisons. In th#
British Medical Journal for December 27, an account
is given of recovery after taking a teaspoonful of
linimentum aconiti, a quantity nearly equal in
strength to an ounce of the B.P. tincture. It cannot
be too widely known that after an emetic lias been
given, or the stomach pump used, the antidotes to
aconite poisoning which have been found most effec¬
tual are strong stimulants, such as ether, brandy,

ammonia, etc. _ _ _ _

* Pharm. Journ., [1], vol. xv., p. 44‘J.

602

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 31, 18S0.

The economical, but dangerous custom of putting
the sprouting top of the horseradish root back into
the ground after it has been used, when, from the
scraping it has been subjected to, it would have the
conical shape and little more than the size of aconite
root, has probably led to the sad mistake which has
recently occurred. In connection with this subject
it may be interesting to note that an Indian species
of aconite root, called “wakhma,”* and supposed
to be obtained from Aconitum palmatum, has a
peculiar odour slightly resembling horseradish when
dried, and probably in the fresh state also. This
odour Dr. Dymock, in his paper, likens to that of
the garden nasturtium which, as is well known,
smells like plants of the cruciferous order. It would
be worthy of inquiry if any of the species of aconite
cultivated in gardens in this country have roots pos¬
sessing a similar odour to that of horseradish.

The interesting researches of Dr. Pringsheiin on
the function of chlorophyll were briefly referred to
in the last “ Month,” and subsequently a fuller
abstract was given in this Journal, f In refer¬
ence to these notices a letter has been received
from Dr. A. Downes, of Chelmsford, claiming that,
in a paper by himself and Mr. T. P. Blunt, t com¬
municated to the Royal Society in October, 1878,
on the Influence of Light upon Protoplasm, which
was a continuation of their research upon the effect
of light upon bacteria and other organisms associated
with putrefaction and decay, X Dr. Pringsheiin has
been anticipated in the observation that chlorophyll
acts as a protective substance to the protoplasm
against the injurious influence of the light by di¬
minishing the amount of combustion. In that paper
it was recorded that sunlight in the presence of free
oxygen destroyed bacterial life by effecting the
gradual oxidation of the constituent protoplasm of
these organisms, and it was argued that it would be
unreasonable to suppose that this protoplasm is so
essentially different in its fundamental composition
from other protoplasm that this special action of
light should be found in connection with it only.
But it is pointed out that, nevertheless, protoplasm
may be very differently circumstanced in its rela¬
tions to light and oxygen, in that it may be protected,
and among the forms of protection mentioned is that
of “special colouring matters, which filter out the
more injurious rays.” Dr. Downes says that when
this sentence was written the protective function of
chlorophyll was very prominently in the authors’
minds.

Professor Plan chon has recently contributed an
interesting communication to the Journal de Phar-
macie, in which he shows that great similarity of
structure exists in the stem and bark of several
species of Strychnos , including the hoang-nan of
China, the m’boundou poison of West Africa,
Strychnos Nux-vomica , S. Castelnce and S. Colubrina.
The bark consists of an outer corky layer of rectan¬
gular cells ; next a zone, consisting of elongated cells
filled with reddish matter, then a zone of scl erogenous
or stony cells, and, lastly, the liber tissue. In the
bark of the species yielding curari this stony layer is
more developed than in others. The wood is marked
by the presence of large lacunae, which at first sight
might be mistaken for vessels. I11 one species, S.
Colub’ina , the lacunae do not at first appear to be pre-

* Pharm. Journ., [3], vol. viii., p. 23.

+ See before, pp. 501 and 561.

X See Pharm. Journ., [3], vol. viii., p. 512.

sent ; but upon microscopical examination they are
found to exist, and to be filled with what seem to be
white silky fibres, though really consisting of matter
secreted by the plant in the interior of the lacunae,
as may be seen from the resinous deposit which is
found in a rudimentary state in several other species.

It may be hoped that M. Plan chon will continue his
researches, and endeavour to show in which part of
the bark the curarine is more especially developed.

According to the Journal de Pharmacie one of our
common weeds, Arenaria rubra , L., perhaps better
known in this country under the name of Lepi-
gonium rubrum, Fries, has recently been brought
into notice in France by Dr. Boureau, of St. Lazare,
as a remedy for cystitis, vesical catarrh, hsematuria
and gravel. The results obtained from its use have
led him to the conclusion that its diuretic properties
will cause it to become an important agent in
therapeutics. It has been known for some time in
Malta and Sicily, and was introduced by a Maltese
into Algeria about twelve years ago ; it was there
experimented upon by Dr. E. Bertlierane, whose
paper in the Bulletin de la Societe des Sciences
d’Algerie, 1878, appears to have attracted atten¬
tion in France. It has been analysed by M. F.
Yigier, a Parisian pharmacien, who attributes its
action to the large proportion of alkali and the
resinous aromatic principles it contains ; but as the
distillate was decidedly ammoniacal there seems to
be a possibility of its containing also, an easily de¬
composable alkaloid. M. Yigier considers the best
pharmaceutical preparations to be a decoction and an
aqueous extract. Inquiries as to the probability of a
demand arising for it in this country having recently
been made, it may be well to mention that the plant is
a common littoral weed in England, andthatif gathered
on our southern shores it is likely to be scarcely,
if at all, inferior to that obtained from Algeria.

Another new Californian drug has been introduced
to notice in the United States. It is called “ yerba
mansi,” and is the root of Anemopsis calif ornica,
Hook., a plant belonging to the natural order Sauru-
raceai. It is used as a remedy for venereal sores
and swellings. As might be expected in a plant so
nearly allied to the pepper family, the root possesses
an aromatic pungent taste. Its properties have
been found by Mr. J. U. Lloyd to be due to a
volatile oil heavier than water and to an astringent
substance. He could find no trace of alkaloid or
resin. The active principles of the plant are yielded
to alcohol.

In the American Journal of Pharmacy , Professor
Maisch- gives an account of experiments performed in
the laboratory of the Philadelphia College of
Pharmacy, which he believes to furnish confirma¬
tion of his former statement in February, 1876, that
gentian root does not contain tannin. Further
experiments upon the fresh root are to be under¬
taken and it is hoped that by aid of the results
obtained this moot point may be definitely settled.

Dr. T. Peckolt has examined the volatile oil of
Myroxylon peruiferum and finds that its sp. gr. is
0*892 at + 13° C., and 0*852 at + 15° R. and that it has
a pleasant aromatic odour resembling sassafras. The
action of combined nitric and sulphuric acid on it
produces a resinous mass of a brown colour and a
mild aromatic musky odour, a gramme of oil yielding
0*60 of the resin, which is said to be well adapted as
a substitute for musk. The Myroxylon peruiferum, Ld,
must not be confounded with M. Pereiras , Klotsch.

January 31, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

603

which yields balsam of peru. The former is a native
of South, not Central, America, and yields a resin
resembling balsam of tolu, but not containing any
crystals of cinnamic acid. It is known at Buenos
Ayres under the name of “albahaca.’'

In the Pharm. Central ., Oct. 30, a mixture of Siam
benzoin, pitch, salicylic acid, gurjun balsam and
absolute alcohol is recommended as a cheap sub¬
stitute for balsam of peru, which it much resembles.
It is especially adapted for healing wounds, and for
use in veterinary practice ; it goes under the name of
I “ balsamum salicylico-benzoinatunl.,,

To a limited number of persons sneezing appears
to be a pleasant operation, but those who find it
excessively disagreeable will be glad to learn of a
simple and cheap remedy, made known in the
British Medical Journal by Mr. S. M. Bradley,
surgeon to the Royal Infirmary at Manchester. It
consists in placing a loose plug of cotton wool in the
nostrils. In hay fever, in a dusty atmosphere, or in
those stages of catarrh in which a cold atmosphere is
irritating to the mucous membrane of the nose, this
simple application is said to give immediate relief.

An Italian correspondent of the Lancet calls atten¬
tion to an insidious and frightfully fatal disease called
“pellaga,” of which no less than 97,000 Italians
are said to be dying at the present time, the number
of victims representing 3’62 per 1000 of the whole
population, and in the infected departments, especi¬
ally in Lombardy and Venice, a higher proportion
than ever occurred during the worst cholera epidemic
in France. The disease usually runs a slow course,
like consumption. Its cause is believed to be the
exclusive consumption as food of maize in a deterio¬
rated condition and the unhealthy state of the hovels
in which the rustics live.

Another case of fungus poisoning has recently
occurred at Lynn, in Norfolk, in which the
patient died. The case is a very interesting one
from a botanical point of view, since the fungus
j eaten, Amanita phalloides, is nearly allied to the
Amanita muscaria. It seems to have acted as an
irritant poison, and not in a similar manner to the
A. muscaria. Fortunately for the advancement of
scientific knowledge, the case fell into the hands of
an accomplished fungologist, Dr. C. B. Plowright, so
that the symptoms produced can be traced to a known
fungus. The species eaten in this case is an espe¬
cially dangerous one, as it has a pleasant taste
resembling that of the mushroom. Only half an
ounce appears to have been eaten on an empty
stomach, but no symptoms were produced until
after a lapse of twelve and a half hours.

In a paper on the destruction of obnoxious insects,
by Dr. Hagan, professor of entomology at Harvard
| University, he states that the application of yeast on
insects produces in them a fungus which proves
fatal to the insects. In an experiment made by Mr.
J. H. Burns,* all potato beetles sprinkled with
diluted yeast died on from the eighth to the twelfth
day and the fungus was .found in the vessels of
the wings. Most persons must have noticed dead
flies stuck to the window panes in the autumn by a
fungus or mould which has caused the death of the
insect. In proposing, as Dr. Hagan does, to use
yeast as an insecticide, he has struck on a new plan
of destroying enemies that are intangible by ordinary
means. A great deal more is required to be known,
however, of the relations between various micro-

_ _ l _ _ _

* Nature, December 25, p. 188.

scopic bacteria and fungi, such as mucor, before it will
be wise to fill the atmosphere of our houses with
fungoid germs, lest the remedy be worse than the
disease, it has been remarked by many people that
in years when cholera was prevalent in this country
there were very few house flies to be seen.

At the drug sales recently, a fine specimen of the
leaves ot Cassia obovata was offered, probably from
Barcelona. Calabar beans and jaborandi of good
quality were more abundant than usual, and condu-
rango bark, which appears to have no sale in this
country was again oifered. A small variety of
cardamoms, bleached perfectly white, the roots of
Cyperus esculentus, senega containing vincetoxicum
root, and aricine bark ( C . pubescens), were also
noticed. Siam benzoin in the tear was offered in
unusually large quantities.

Within the last few weeks, also, a very fine sample
of pale bark in quills was offered at the drug sales
under the name of Loxa bark, but the price bid for
it upon the basis of experience as to the usual com¬
position of this bark was small, and as it had been
ascertained that this particular parcel contained an
unusually large amount of quinine it was with¬
drawn from the sale, and when put up afterwards at
the bark sale it realized four shillings a pound.

The fate of this bark in the drug sales serves to
illustrate how much need there is for revising the
Pharmacopoeia standard of officinal bark. At present
external appearance is thought more of than any¬
thing else; bark presenting the characters of flat
calisaya or yellow bark will always sell, whether it
contains quinine or not, and, generally speaking, the
bark of this kind now met with in the market does
not contain anything like the amount of quinine
indicated in the Pharmacopoeia as proper, while a
great deal more contains none at all. The Loxa
bark above referred to, contained 1*75 per cent, of
quinine, with 0‘61 per cent, cinchonidine and was
therefore well calculated for pharmaceutical use.

Lately there have been several parcels of bark con¬
taining aricine offered, and although they all agreed in
being totally destitute of any of the usual cinchona
alkaloids, they have been sold at good prices. It is
somewhat difficult to conjecture what use such bark
as this can be put to, for it is not only without even
cinchonidine or cinchonine, but is also without the
bitterness characteristic of the poor kinds of bark
that are useful in making liqueurs, although they may
not have much medicinal value.

A communication from Mr. Murrell on the use of
nitroglycerine in angina pectoris, which appeared a
few months since in the Lancet , has created some
demand for medicinal preparations of this compound.
The appearance, therefore, in the Practitioner for the
present month, of an article by Mr. Martindale on
the difficult subject of its pharmacy is very timely.
Mr. Martindale has made the important observation
that nitroglycerine is readily soluble to the extent of
15 per cent." in almond or olive oil, and he is of
opinion that a 1 per cent, oily solution would in
many cases be preferable for medicinal use to the
alcoholic solution of the same strength, it being
stable, non-volatile, uninflammable and perfectly in¬
explosive. Nitroglycerine is also readily soluble in
melted cacao butter, but care is necessary to prevent,
by frequently shaking the solution, a separation
during the cooling of the fat. To such a medicated
fat of definite strength sugar may be added, and the
mass may then be rolled into pills, and varnished.

604

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January si, isso.

It being usually desirable, however, to obtain the
effects of the nitroglycerine as quickly as possible
after administration, a more convenient plan is to
add the cacao butter mass to chocolate paste, mix
well with the aid of heat, and then roll out and cut
into lozenges, which may be made to contain each
one-hundredth of a grain, or more if required.

In New Remedies for this month a new supposi¬
tory mould is described and figured, which has the
advantage of compressing the suppositories while the
mould is opened and thus preventing their breakage
when made of cacao butter or other material of a
friable character.

In the same journal is described a new tincture
press, of a different character to any hitherto in use,
which has recently been patented by Mr. J. G. Baker
of Philadelphia. Professor Remington considers it
to be well adapted to expressing tinctures of bulky
drugs, such as arnica flowers, hops, etc. ; “the only
class of drugs for which it cannot be successfully
used are those in very fine powder and such as are
of a sticky or tenacious character.” The materials
are supplied to the press through a funnel, and fall
on a screw which works in a horizontal direction
in a tapering tube, at the end of which they are
delivered quite dry, while the liquid passes through
a perforated false bottom in the tube. By this means
the use of press cloths is avoided, and the residue
is not dry on the surface only and moist in the in¬
terior, but is uniformly dry throughout.

In a note upon vanillin, in the CliemiJcer-Zeitung
(Dec. 18 and 25), by Messrs. Haarmann and Reimer,
regret is expressed that consumers of vanilla have
been so slow in adopting the use of the vanillin
prepared artificially by the oxidation of coniferin.
On more than one occasion, however, statements
have been quoted in this Journal which, if correct,
would fully explain this, to the effect that the arti¬
ficial vanillin does not truly represent all the
aromatic principle of vanilla. Nevertheless, in the
present article the authors maintain that the artifi¬
cial vanillin is not to be distinguished from the
patural principle for which vanilla is valued, it
being identical in melting point, crystalline form,
smell, taste, and chemical reactions, whilst it can be
produced much more cheaply. The amount of
vanillin in vanilla varies from \ to 2 per cent., and
it is estimated that the annual consumption of
vanilla amounts to at least 50,000 kilograms yearly,
at a cost of ,£150,000. This the authors claim would
be fully represented by 1000 kilograms of vanillin,
costing £70,000.

At the meeting oi the Chemical Society on the
23rd inst. Dr. Pavy brought forward a modification
in connection with the test for sugar by the reduction
of cupric oxide, which promises to be of service
where the test is only occasionally used. In order
to obviate the inconveniences accompanying the
keeping of the usual test solution for any consider¬
able time, he has sought for a method of bringing a
mixture of the dry ingredients into a coherent mass
so that they might be kept in solid form. This has
now been effected under his directions by means of
pressure, and the product is a sort of pellet, which
when placed in about 3 c.c. of water and heat applied
yields the clear deep blue liquid constituting the
ordinary cupric test solution.

In a paper read before the Royal Society on the
13th inst., Dr. E. J. Mills claims to have observed a
new order of chemical phenomena, which he has

provisionally designated “ chemical repulsion.” If a
thin layer of solution of baric chloride be evenly
distributed between two plates of glass, placed hori¬
zontally, excess being removed by pressing the plates
together, and then dilute sulphuric acid be brought
into contact with it through a perforation made in
the upper plate, precipitation takes place and con¬
tinues progessively and uniformly from the perfor¬
ation as a centre ; forming an increasing circle, for
instance, if the perforation be circular. If the sul¬
phuric acid be introduced through two perforations
in the upper plate, two circles are formed, but as
their circumferences approach each other develop¬
ment is retarded between the perforations, the figure
of advance being no longer circular but oval, and
however long the experiment may be continued there
always remains a line of demarcation of “ no chemi¬
cal action” between the two figures. When there
are perforations at the four points of a square and
one in the centre, the centre circle, having as it de¬
velops no way of escape from the surrounding four,
eventually forms a square figure bounded by repul¬
sion lines. Dr. Mills considers that the phenomena
observed afford proof of two propositions — (1) that
chemical action can take place at a distance, and (2)
that two or more chemical actions, identical except
in position, completely exclude one another.

The public has been so surfeited during recent
years with the wonders of science that even the
announcement simultaneously from both sides of the
Atlantic that the track has been struck which might
lead to the artificial crystallization of carbon in the
diamond form fails to excite an exuberance of sur¬
prise. One of these claims, and the one most
worthy of notice, has been put forward by Mr.
Mactear, of the St. Rollox Chemical Works, who
announced at a meeting of the Philosophical Society
of Glasgow, in December, that he had produced
artificially what he believed to be diamonds, but
which, until further tested, he preferred to describe
as a pure crystalline form of carbon. These crystals
were said to have the crystalline form and possess
the refractive power of diamonds, also to resist the
action of acids and alkalies and the intense heat of
the blow-pipe. This claim was at first somewhat
summarily dealt with by Professor Maskelyne, in
a characteristic letter addressed to the Times and
Nature. That gentleman, having had “a few
microscopic crystalline particles” handed to him
as representing the product, submitted them to
examination and found that when rubbed between
topaz and sapphire they were crushed without
producing abrasion ; that they behaved towards
polarized light in the manner of a birefrangent
crystal ; and finally, that the particles resisted
all attempts to burn them. From these and other
experiments Professor Maskelyne had no hesitation
in declaring that Mr. Mactear’s “diamonds” were
not diamonds, but consisted of some crystallized
silicate, possibly one resembling augite.

Mr. Mactear, however, was not so easily put down,
and replied, affirming in the most positive manner
that he had been able to produce carbon in the
diamond modification, and that of this he did not
despair of convincing Professor Maskelyne; mean¬
while, he asked the scientific world to suspend its
judgment. In addition, Mr. Crookes, in the Chemical
News of the 9th inst., stated that some of Mr.
Mactear’s particles when submitted to the molecular
discharge in a high vacuum showed phosphorescence

January 31, 1880. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

605

similar to tliat manifested by Brazilian diamonds
under similar conditions. Almost simultaneously,
on the 8th inst., appeared another letter from Pro¬
fessor Maskelyne, in which he acknowledges, after
working during several hours with Mr. Mactear,
that without altering his opinion with respect to
that part of the product he had previously examined,
he had now seen other portions, differing in pro¬
perties and worthy of further investigation, which
he believed bore out the claim that topaz and sapphire
had been scratched with them. In fact this letter
was followed by a certificate signed by four experts,
testifying that a diamond had been scratched, and
rubies, sapphires, an amethyst and a cairngorm had
been engraved with Mr. Mactear’s “ crystallized
carbon sand.” However, eventually, in a letter
published on the 16th, Mr. Mactear admits that
the substance he had looked upon as crystallized
carbon was not so, but consisted almost entirely of
silica, alumina, magnesia and a residue insoluble in
hydrofluoric acid, which when fused with caustic
soda still contained minute crystalline forms and
particles of what was assumed to be carbon in some
graphitic form ; in fact, that it was probably a mixture
of substances of the nature of sapphire, spinel, and
possibly corundrum, with graphitic carbon. But
notwithstanding his present failure, Mr. Mactear
believes he is on the right track, and is encou¬
raged by Professor Maskelyne to pursue his re¬
search. Meanwhile, he claims that the production
of such a hard crystalline substance is likely to be
successful from a commercial point of view, as it
might replace diamond dust in many of its uses in
the arts, it being producible at a moderate cost.

Incidentally, this result appears to have thrown
some doubt over the trustworthy nature of the
inferences drawn from phosphorescent phenomena
in a high ‘‘vacuum,” inasmuch as the crystalline
particles ascertained to consist of silica, alumina,
magnesia, etc., manifested a behaviour similar to
Brazilian diamonds. Chemical inferences from
physical phenomena, as in this case and in spec¬
troscopic observations, appear therefore to be ques¬
tionable, just as the inferences drawn from certain
phenomena of a pretended supernatural order have
been shown to be untrustworthy by the recent
“ capture of a spirit,” called up by a young lady
upon whom a distinguished philosopher is said to
have been experimenting for years without being able
to detect any deception.

The other claim has somewhat of pathetic interest
attached to it. A frog, impatient of confinement in a
frogarium, threw off restraint, and, like his brother
of nursery fame, went on his travels, but only
like him to come to grief, being found some time
after starved to death and shrunk to half his original
proportions. Froggie’s former jailor, a Dr. W. B.
Fletcher, being of an inquiring turn of mind, sub¬
mitted the body to dissection, and coming to the
lungs found these organs clogged with thousands of
black crystals which looked like coarse gunpowder,
but under the microscope presented facets with
smooth surfaces, presenting the same angle of crys¬
tallization as the diamond. On burning they gave
off carbonic acid gas and are represented to have
been pure crystals of carbon, in fact, it may be sup-

Sosed, black diamonds. Theorizing upon these results
►r. Fletcher suggests that in the lungs of huge reptiles
of the antediluvian period dying under similar con¬
ditions there may have been formed large crystals

of carbon which afterwards became transformed into
lustrous diamonds. Remembering the very severe
rebuke referred to in these columns last month, it
is perhaps rather venturesome to ask whether this is
a specimen of “ quiz.”

The announcement respecting Mr. Edison’s alleged
success in solving the problem of the general appli¬
cation of the electric light, which was included in
these columns last month, has since been supple¬
mented by some very interesting — though rather
highly coloured — information respecting the work
done in this direction at Menlo Park and in other
parts of the States. But it turns out that the success
at present is one that has rather been attained than
maintained. It is found that in many of the lamps
the carbons, after a time, become destroyed, though
whether by the oxygen in the residual millionth of
an atmosphere, to which degree the exhaustion of
the globes is said to be effected, or by the impair¬
ment of the vacuum by the access of air through
minute imperceptible fissures formed during varia¬
tions oi temperature in the glass, is yet a subject of
dispute. Moreover by the substitution of incandes¬
cent carbon for incandescent platinum the number
of lights maintainable per horse power is considerably
reduced and the expense thereby increased. In fact,
Mr. Edison seems to be at present foiled by difficulties
that have hitherto baffled other investigators, and
amongst them, as appears from the letter of Mr.
Proctor in last week’s Journal, is Mr. J. W. Swan,
of Newcastle, one of our own craft.

That a residual atmosphere in an exhausted globe
is capable of manifesting considerable activity is
shown by the result of an investigation recently re*
ported by Mr. Swan to the Newcastle Chemical
Society, as to the nature and cause of the deposit
which takes place on the sides of the vessel when
carbon is heated to incandescence by the electric
current. Such a deposit was examined a short time
since by Mr. B. S. Proctor, and pronounced to be
chiefly carbon, and the question arose whether the
carbon had been volatilized and deposited from a
gaseous form. Experiments are now said to have
conclusively proved that this is not the case, but that
the deposit is due to the mechanical transport of car¬
bon particles, the residual air contained within the
globe being the medium.

With the opening year the Institute of Chemistry
has shown signs of life in the announcement of an
examination in practical chemistry to be held towards
the end of next month, and in the offer of two prizes
in encouragement of original research. One prize of
the value of £50, provided by the President, is for
the “ best original investigations involving gas ana*
lysis ; ” the other, of the value of .£25, is provided
by Dr. C. Meymott Tidy, and is for the “ best original
investigation on the special reactions of the alkaloids
and their separation from mixtures.” These prizes
will be open to Associates of the Institute and to all
persons (except Fellows) who shall, before the 31st
of December next, have qualified for the associate*
ship in all respects short of passing the prescribed
practical examination, for which examination success
in this competition will be accepted as a substitute.

This month, one of the oldest and most important
of pharmaceutical journals commences its seventy-
second ear and one hundred and eighth volume with
a new series. Its first series of six volumes appeared
in the years 1809 to 1815, under the title of the
Bulletin de Pharmacie. Then came the second

606

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 31, iaso.

series of twenty-seven volumes, published under the
title of the Journal de Pharmacie et des Sciences
Accessoires. With the third series of forty-six
volumes, commencing in 1841, the present title of
Journal de Pharmacie et de Chimie was adopted, and
the fourth series, just concluded and numbering
thirty volumes, was commenced in 1864.

Apropos of scientific journals, a very interesting
Catalogue of Scientific Serials of all countries that
has been compiled under the auspices of Harvard
University by Mr. S. H. Scudder includes the names
of 4390 scientific serials. Of these 1128, or more
than one-fourth, are published in Germany. Next
comes France with 715 ; then follow Great Britain
and Ireland with 550, the United States with 427,
Italy with 333, Austria and Hungary with 308,
Holland with 218, Russia with 107, etc. Judged by
this standard of numbers, the preponderance of scien¬
tific periodical literature published in the German lan¬
guage is very marked, as it exceeds that published
in Great Britain and her colonies and in the United
States added together.

Not long since a remark was attributed to the
German government to the effect that Germany
being a civilized country regulations controlling the
sale of proprietary medicines in it were not required.
There would therefore appear to be a sad retrogres¬
sion towards barbarism if it be true, as currently
reported, that the suppression of secret and pro¬
prietary medicines is now under consideration by
the German Imperial Health Department. It is
said also that in Switzerland the sale of secret and
patent remedies is about to be submitted to very
stringent regulations.

Salicylate of soda is of comparatively recent intro¬
duction as a remedial agent, but is at the present
time very extensively prescribed. It must be ex¬
pected that some of its combinations in prescriptions
will present difficulties such as that experienced in
No. 380, where salicylate of soda is added to a mixture
with quinine. If a solution of sulphate of quinine
be poured into a solution of salicylate of soda, the
quinine will separate, and some of it will float on
the surface of the liquid and the remainder will
adhere to the sides of the bottle ; but a very satis¬
factory mixture may be made from this prescription
by dissolving the salicylate of soda in a part of the
orange flower water and mixing with it from two to
four drachms of mucilage of acacia. The dissolved
quinine being then poured in becomes thoroughly
diffused through the mixture, and continues so with¬
out any tendency to agglomerate.

The dispenser should always direct his efforts to
carrying out the intentions of the prescriber, and this
cannot effectually be accomplished unless the active
ingredients are so combined in the medicine that the
atient will experience no difficulty in taking a
efinite quantity of each ingredient in the measured
dose. Most of the difficulties that present them¬
selves with combinations of quinine may be over¬
come by the addition of a little mucilage.

In the prescription No. 381, there appears to be
an omission, on the part of the prescriber, of the
word “grains” after “ij the directions as regards
increase of dose would then read, an increase of two
grains per dose every week until 80 grains are taken
per day. As the prescription stands, each dose will
contain 5 grains of iodide of potassium to be taken
three times a day; this proportion, it is intended,
should be that of the first week; the second week, by

increasing the dose two grains, each dose would be
7 grains, and so on until it reaches 27 grains, which
would be equivalent to 81 grains in the day, the
closest approach to the maximum dose indicated.
There does not appear to be any valid reason for the
rendering of these two figures into double the dose.

No. 382 is one of those recipes, frequently met
with by dispensers, which are generally considered
to be copied from a family medical guide, or written
by a person who has not received a medical educa¬
tion. Perhaps none of the recipes which come
under the notice of the dispenser give more trouble
than some of these. He has in these prescriptions
to use great care, the names of the drugs are some¬
times very puzzling, and the dose is also approaching
the dangerous. Such a dose as is here ordered may
be given in cases demanding prompt treatment, but
the dispenser, in the exercise of his judgment, would
do well to make some inquiry previously to the
dispensing of the one in question. As regards the
preparation intended by “ powdered antimony,” the
antimonial powder, B.P., being an official prepara¬
tion, would be the safest to use.

When alum, sulph. is ordered in a prescription, it
is usual to use the alum of the B.P. It is more
generally ordered as alum, sulph. than alumen. The
prescribers of medicine direct their attention to
therapeutics and do not always follow closely the
alterations required by the progress of chemical
science. There is a sulphate of alumina, made by
dissolving a precipitated hydrate of alumina in
sulphuric acid, which is official in the United States
Pharmacopoeia.

The prescription, No. 384, contains ferri et quince
cit. with tr. valer. ammon., and necessarily the
quinine will be thrown out of solution, for the most
part adhering to the sides of the bottle. A little
mucilage added to the water in which the salt has
been dissolved previously to the addition of the
tincture will obviate this inconvenience and form a
satisfactory mixture. This combination of ingre¬
dients has already been commented on in the pages
of this Journal ; the prescription will be found Sep¬
tember 21, 1878, p. 238, and referred to in “ The
Month,” following p. 246, and at the same time
reference is made to “ The Month,” June 29, 1878,
p. 1045. It may again be stated here that when
ammonia is prescribed with a solution of sulphate
of quinine, or those combinations of quinine used in
dispensing and having a place in the B.P., the
quinine will be thrown out of solution in the solid
form, unless diffused by means of mucilage pre¬
viously added to the vehicle.

GURJUN BALSAM.

A letter received from Professor Dragendorff
informs us that Mr. Hirschsohn was in error in
stating in his recent paper on this subject (see before,
p. 561) that one of the samples described in it as
having been examined by him had been received
from Professor Fllickiger, it having been presented
to the Dorpat Museum by Professor Hamberg, of
Stockholm.

PICR0T0XIN AND ITS PROPERTIES.

The recent introduction of picrotoxin as a remedy for
the night-sweating which accompanies phthisis has led to
some inquiry respecting the nature and properties of this
drug. The following information is taken from an

January 31, 1880. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

607

article appearing in the British Medical Journal for the
17th inst., under the title of “Recent Studies on Thera¬
peutics : — ”

Picroxtin is the active principle of cocculus indicus
{Anamirta cocculus, the Menispermum cocculus of Linnaeus),
a plant which has been recognized as a medicine since the
days of the Arabian physicians, by whom it was de¬
scribed under the name of “ maheradsch.” This cocculus
was probably first known in Europe as a poison for taking
fish, which it first throws into ‘violent irregular motion
and then stupefies. All kinds of fish are killed by it ;
the barbel, it is said, taking the longest to die. Fish are
inordinately fond of the berries, and, when rendered help¬
less by the dose they have taken, are readily caught.
They should be removed from the water as soon as they
appear on the surface, and their bellies emptied, or their
flesh may become poisonous and cause irritation if eaten.
In nearly all civilized countries, the use of cocculus for
this purpose is illegal. Cocculus has also been used from
an early peroid by unprincipled brewers, partly for
giving beer a due degree of bitterness without the em¬
ployment of hops, partly to give it “ bottom ” and render
it more intoxicating. In an old treatise on brewing, we
find the following instructions : — “ Three pounds of
cocculus indicus to be added to ten quarters of malt,
it giving an inebriating quality which passes for strength
of liquor ; it also prevents the second fermentation of
beer, and the bursting of the bottles in warm climates.”
It is said to be used by thieves and bad characters for
the purpose of drugging their victims.

It is a curious circumstance that, although cocculus indicus
possesses such powerful and valuable properties, it has in
modern times found little favour as a medicinal agent ;
and we cannot help thinking that its general abandon¬
ment as a remedy was a singularly unwise step. It is a
valuable local application for certain forms of skin-
disease. In the east, it has been long used applied
externally in the form of a powder for the destruction of
vermin on the skin, as well as for the cure of scabies ;
and, in the form of ointment, it is said by Christison to
be one of the best applications for the treatment of ring¬
worm of the scalp. Speaking of the ointment of the old
Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, he said that, although it may
occasionally fail to cure the eruption, it always does good
by relieving the accompanying irritation. Undoubtedly
a picrotoxin ointment, made with vaseline or some
similar substance, would prove a welcome addition to the
armament of the dermatologist. Cocculus indicus also
possesses considerable value as a medicine for internal
administration. A few years ago, M. Felix Planat
recommended it as a remedy for epilepsy — not as a
specific, but as a truly useful drug. The sole exceptions
recognized by him to its curative powers in this affection
are inveterate cases, whether idiopathic or symptomatic.
He employs a tincture made by macerating for three
weeks two hundred grammes of cocculus indicus in one
thousand grammes of alcohol. Of this, he begins by
giving two drops twice-a-day, and then each successive day
increases each dose by one drop until thirty drops a-day
are being taken. He then gradually reduces the quantity
a drop at a time until the original dose is reached, when
the treatment is suspended for a fortnight ; after which
it is renewed, and again intermitted alternately during
six months. For chorea, picrotoxin is recommended by
no less an authority than Gubler ; and, according to
Tschudi and others, it is especially useful in paralysis of
the sphincters. It is also employed in various forms of
dyspepsia, notably when there is severe epigastric pain
aggravated by pressure or by taking food. Dr. Phillips
speaks of it as being of singular service when the colon
is distended with flatus, and when the bowels are
constipated and the motions hard and lumpy. He also
recommends it for certain symptoms associated with
irregular menstruation. The administration of two or
three drops of a saturated tincture of cocculus three or
four times a day prior to the expected flow, and continued

during the first two or three days of its progress, will
frequently ward off the pains and render the discharge
more natural.

Picrotoxin, or cocculin as it is sometimes called, was
discovered by Bouillay in 1812 ; and its composition is
represented by the formula C12H1405. It may be
obtained in several different ways, details of which will
be found in Watt’s ‘Dictionary’ and other works on
chemistry. It is colourless, inordorous, has an intensely
bitter taste, and is neutral to test-paper. It is soluble in
water, alcohol, ether, and fixed oils, and it crystallizes out
from aqueous solutions in the form of beautiful stellate
groups of colourless needles. In its physiological action
it is most peculiar. In some respects its effects on the
living organism resemble those of strychnia. ' Tonic and
clonic spasms of great severity and violence culminating
speedily in death are induced by large doses, and opistho¬
tonos and gasping are frequent concomitants. It induces
spasmodic c< ntractions, involving first a single group of
muscles, and finally almost every muscle in the body.
The tetanic cramps of picrotoxin differ from those of
strychnia in that the latter affect chiefly the extensors.
It has been well said that the convulsions of picrotoxin
more resemble the choreic, those of strychnia, the tetanic ;
in other words, picrotoxin exerts its influence chiefly on
the cerebral contres, whilst strychnia affects the spinal.

Quite recently, Dr. Mmrell has introduced picrotoxin
as a remedy for the night-sweating of phthisis. He uses
a 1 in 240 solution in water, and of this he gives from
one to four minims three times a day, the last dose being
taken at bedtime, or immediately before the time at
which the perspiration usually commences. He has
employed this mode of treatment at the Royal Hospital
for Diseases of the Chest in twenty cases, with only one
failure. The sweating is usually arrested in two or three
days, and there is no return for a fortnight or more.
The picrotoxin is best give alone, and not in a mixture,
and it has been found to succeed after oxide of zinc,
belladonna, Dover’s powder, and other remedies have
failed. A great advantage of the treatment is that it
does not make the skin too dry, but leaves it comfortably
moist, whilst not unfrequently atropia seems to parch it
up. The aqueous solution is apt to deposit crystals in
winter, but it soon clears up on warming.

JAPAN WAX.*

It is only about twenty-five years since Japan wax has
found its way to Europe. From small insignificant samples
which reached the London market about the year 1854,
the quantity exported has reached very large figures at
the present time. Japan as well as China produces this
article, but the manner of production and even the true
source of the Chinese article are still so much enveloped
in doubt that no reliable data can be given. _ The. authsr
of the present paper, therefore, confined his investigations
to the Japanese article.

Before entering upon a description of the latter, the
author gives a list of such other vegetable tallows or fats
as have been actually used, or might possibly be employed,
as substitutes of Japan wax. The most important of these
are the following : —

Carnauba Wax, also called Ceara or Brazil wax, found
upon the leaves of Copernicia cerifera, Mart. Native
of Brazil. Forms a hard brittle mass, melting at

83’5°— 84° C. i

Pela Wax, or Chinese wax, is produced upon the young
shoots of Fraxinus chinensis, Roxb., by the agency of an
insect, viz., coccus pe-la, Westwood. ^It does not reach
the European market. Melts at 82‘5° C.

# Abstract of a paper by Arthur Meyer, of the Pharma-
outical Institute of the University of fctrassburg. I rom
irchiv der Pharm., Aug. Reprinted from New Remedies ,
fovember, 1879.

608

THE PHARMACEUTICS L JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January si, 1880.

Koga Wax , without doubt obtained from Cinnamomum
'pedunculatum, N. ab E., in Japan. Softer than Japan
wax.

lbota Wax, produced by an insect upon Ligustrum 1 bota,
Sieb. Very firm and white. Neither of the two latter
reach Europe.

Chinese Vegetable Tallow, Stillingia tallow, prepared
from the seed-kernels, or more likely fruit-capsules of
Stillingia sebifera, Mart.,, in China. A rather soft,
white, granular mass, chiefly used in China for making
candles. Melts at 37° C. ; according to the author,
however, it does not melt completely, until 45° C. is
reached.

Palm Wax from the trunk of Ceroxylon anclicola, Humb.,
of tropical America. When crude, melts at over 100° C.

Myrica Wax, or myrtle wax, from the fruit of Myrica
cerifera, L. Melts at 47‘5° — 49 C.

Japan wax may be distinguished from all of these by
its physical and other properties. Formerly it was only
imported in round cakes, of about 12 cm. (4-f inches) in
diameter, and 2'5— 3 cm. (1—1 inch) in thickness; but
at present it occurs also in square cakes, and in square
blocks, the latter of about 65 kilos (143 pounds) each.
When freshly broken, the fractured surface is almost
white, sometimes slightly yellowish-green. At the surface
they have a hoary appearance, owing to a shining, crys¬
talline, white down. When freshly broken, the odour is
tallow-like and disagreeable. Occasionally dark yellow
lots occur in the market. These fetch a lower price, and
have the peculiarity that they turn dai’ker relatively
much more rapidly than the white variety. After being
preserved for some time in a solid condition, the melting
point of the fat is at 52— 53° C. ; but a recently solidified
sample melts at exactly 42° C. The specific gravity of
the bleached substance is somewhat above that of water.
Boiling alcohol of 97 per cent, dissolves it easily, but
deposits it nearly all again on cooling, retaining only
3 per cent in solution. Warm ether likewise dissolves it
readily, but deposits it in flakes or granular masses on
cooling.

There are three principal sources of this fat or tallow
in Japan, namely, Rhus succedanea, L., Rhus vernicifera,
DC., and Rhus sylvestris, Sieb. et Zucc. The latter, how¬
ever, furnishes none of the commercial product, being
only cultivated in some districts of Japan for domestic
use.

Rhus succedanea, L., when fully developed, attains a
height of about 9 metres (29^ feet), and has a short
trunk, reaching a circumference of about 1 metre (39‘4 in.).
The stem or trunk is covered with a uniform grey bark,
and has a yellow wood, which contains a bright sap
turning dark or black on exposure to air. The ramifica¬
tion is not profuse, and the leaves are placed close together
at the ends of the branches. The colour of the leaves is
a handsome green, turning to red in the autumn. They
are about 15 — 20 cm. (5f — 7-J inches) long, imparipinnate,
and have a round, naked petiole. The leaflets, from four
to six pairs, are opposite, naked, rather tender and entire.
Some samples are stated to have more or less serrated
leaflets. The size of these is about 5 — 7 cm. in length,
and 1’5 — 2'5 cm. in width. The flowers are mostly
situated in the axis of the leave®, and form broad, multi¬
florous panicles, which are, however, much shorter than
the leaves. The flowers are dioecious, small, greenish-
yellow and have a short peduncle.*

Rhus vernicifera, DC. attains a height of 8 to 12‘5
metres (26 to 41 feet), and a girth of 1 m. (39'4 inch.).
The bark of the trunk is grey and becomes fissured by
age; the wood is greenish-yellow. The leaves make

* For a further description of this and the following as
well as for the details of the microscopical examination of the
seeds, see the original, which is illustrated by two excellent
coloured plates. In New Remedies there is an illustration
of a flowering branch of Rh. succedanea constructed after
the plate accompanying the author’s paper.

their appearance in May, and fall off about the end
of October, without first turning red. Their length is
up to 30 cm. (12 inch.). The leaflets are in pairs of

4 or 5, entire, and mostly opposite. The upper ones are
elliptical, the lowest pair oval and somewhat smaller;
all have a short pointed apex and generally an uneven
base.

Neither Rhus succedanea nor R. vernicifera appear to
be natives of Japan. Professor J. Rein, of Marburg, who
has resided for some time in the countn , thinks they are
introduced from the Loochoo Ldands. R. sylvestris,
however, is a true native of Japan and does not occur
elsewhere.

The fruits of the above, and of many other species of
Rhus, have a great similarity, being a drupe or stone-fruit,
which in the case of R. succedanea is about 7 mm. long,

5 mm. broad, and 5 mm. high. The colour of its smooth,
shining epidermis, when dry, varies from a dirty bright
yellow to a light brown ; when fresh, it is yellowish-green.
The vegetable fat or tallow is contained in firmly closed
cells which are loosely coherent, and are completely filled
with the fat. For this reason the fat resists, while in¬
closed by the epidermis, the action of solvents, such as
hot alcohol or ether, and even hot water. The shell incloses
the embryo very tightly, and the whole fruit may be
boiled with water for a long time before any fat is ex¬
tracted from it. Mr. Meyer assayed ten fruits, which
together weighed 1-51 grams. They consisted of 46‘45
per cent, mesocarp, 42’35 per cent, epidermis and puta-
men, and 8’85 per cent, embryo (with 2'35 per cent. loss).
The quantity of fat extracted from the ground mesocarp
by ether amounted to 20’9 per cent, of the whole weight
of the fruit. The properties of the fat, whether obtained
from the one or the other species of Rhus, are identical.
It is brittle, bright yellowish-green, and has the specific
gravity 0'916. It melts at 52 — 53° C. when old, and at
42° C. when recently solidified. * At 30° C. it is soluble
in about 700 parts of 97 per cent, alcohol.

From the various statements of eye-witnesses and ex¬
isting reports on the process employed by the Japanese
to extract the fat, Mr. Meyer concludes that the most
usual plan is the following : —

The fruits are previously well dried, f and then ground
by means of mill-stones, or in mortars, with wooden
pestles, or by bamboo flails. They are then freed by
sifting and winnowing from shells and epidermis ; some¬
times, however, these latter are not separated. The mass
is then heated over boiling water, in order to melt the
fat in the cells, which is then expressed by means of
different presses. During the second pressing, a little
fatty oil is occasionally added to the mass, in order to
retard the congelation of the fat. The crude tallow thus
obtained is now boiled with dilute lye, whereby it becomes
granular and more susceptible to the bleaching process ;
then exposed to the sun, and several times melted with
water. The bleaching and melting is repeated until the
product is pure and white.

Japan wax is chiefly used in Europe (and in the U. S.)
as an admixture to beeswax in the manufacture of candles,
as it facilitates the removal of the latter from the moulds ;
it is also used in the manufacture of wax-matches. Shoe
and furniture manufacturers likewise use it in consider¬
able quantity as an ingredient in polishing materials.
For pharmaceutical purposes (ointments) it is not well
adapted, since it is, like bleached beeswax, already a
rancid substance, and promotes the rapid deterioration of
fats mixed with it. Perfumers, however, make use of it
for preparing a castor oil pomade; a mixture of castor oil
and Japan wax having the peculiar property of becoming
entirely transparent by repeated melting.

* The fat obtained from the fruits of Rhus Toxicoden¬
dron, L., melts always at 42p C., whether old or new.

f Complete drying is supposed to be necessary for this
reason, that the milk- sap of the mesocarp becomes insoluble
in water, etc., only after drying in the air.

January 31, i860.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

609

©he fhapaqutical Journal.

■ ■ ■» -

SATURDAY , JANUARY 31, 1880.

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

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

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

THE SALE OF POISONS.

In pointing out last week the misconception
under which the coroner for Doncaster laboured in
respect to the Pharmacy Act, and by which he was
induced to make an entirely unfounded charge
against the Pharmaceutical Society, we anticipated
that this correction of his error and especially the
very clear exposition of the matter by Messrs. Flux
and Slade, the Solicitors of the Pharmaceutical
Society, would have sufficed to convince him that he
was wrong in his opinion that the Society had
privately condoned offences of a grave nature, in¬
volving the destruction of human life. We were also
disposed to believe that as a natural result of this
demonstration of error on the part of the coroner
for Doncaster, that gentleman would have lost no
time in rescinding his unjust charge. Such a pro¬
ceeding seemed to be not only proper in common
fairness, but also to be one consistent with the official
position of the accuser and requisite under the cir¬
cumstances of the case.

But Mr. Shirley has' not followed this course.
On the contrary, he has again written a letter on
the subject, which appeared in the Times of last
Tuesday, without manifesting any sign of having
been convinced of his erroneous interpretation of the
Pharmacy Act. We can therefore only infer that he
has not recognized his mistake and express our regret
that this circumstance compels us again to refer to the
subject for the purpose of exposing his errors, and if
possible, making them apparent to himself. In the
letter just mentioned, Mr. Shirley takes the trouble
to point out that the person who incurred the for¬
feiture of five pounds was besides that liable under
the seventeenth section of the Act for selling poison
unless he did so in accordance with the regulations
specified in the Act. Why he should take this
trouble and thus occupy the columns of the Times
it is not so easy to comprehend, because the state¬
ment is merely a reiteration of the information given
by Messrs. Flux and Slade in the explanatory letter
by which they sought to enlighten Mr. Shirley
concerning the Pharmacy Act.

But though Mr. Shirley has somehow arrived at
a perception of the fact that in respect to the sale of
poisons there are two distinct offences contemplated

by the Act, and two distinct penalties provided for
their commission, he has apparently failed to
perceive that there is a wide difference between the
two offences so far as the powers and action of the
Pharmaceutical Society are concerned. The pio-
visions of the fifteenth section of the Act are to be
regarded as mainly directed to the promotion of the
objects for which a Royal Charter of Incorporation
was granted to the Society, and — out of regard for
the public benefit to be derived from their promotion
— the Pharmacy Acts of 1862 and 1868 were passed
to confirm that charter and furnish a protection to
persons competent to carry on the business of phar¬
macy. Though the provisions of that section operate
in a manner conducive to the public interest, they
are at the same time principally protective of a class
and the duty of proceeding against offenders under
this section was therefore made the especial business
of the Pharmaceutical Society. That duty was to be
exercised in accordance with the objects of the
charter, “ for the protection of those who carry on
the business of chemists and druggists.” And while
the funds of the Society were to be applicable for the
purpose of defraying the cost of prosecuting offenders
in such manner as the Council of the Society might
direct, all penalties recovered by convictions under
the fifteenth section were to be subject to the
disposal of the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s
Treasury.

If there were in the Pharmacy Act no other pro¬
vision for restricting the sale of poison than that
above referred to, it might reasonably have been made
incumbent upon the Pharmaceutical Society to
exercise its powers under the fifteenth section of the
Act, not specially for the protection of the class it
represents, but also in all cases where the interest
of the public was prejudiced. Such an extension
of the Society’s duties as a public guardian would
have necessarily entailed its endowment with
public funds adequate for the purpose. Even if
such had been the duty of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety it would have been impossible to prevent
persons sued for penalties from paying the penalty
incurred so as to avoid trial of the action, and in
such a case there would not have been a shadow of
justification for saying that an offence had been con¬
doned without due regard to public interest, or
“ squared ” by the payment of money.

But the important point is that in the Pharmacy
Act there is other provision for restricting the sale of
poison in regard to the interests of the public, and
by the seventeenth section it is made unlawful to
sell any poison unless certain specified conditions
are fulfilled by the seller. A person committing an
offence under this section is liable to prosecution at
the instance of anyone who chooses to take action,
and upon summary conviction is liable to a penalty
of five pounds. This is altogether irrespective of
the liability incurred under the fifteenth section, and
the provisions thus made by the Pharmacy Act, give

010 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 31, 1880.

the public generally full power to punish offenders.
The case which has called forth the strictures of the
coroner for Doncaster was precisely one of a nature
to be dealt with, under the seventeenth section now
referred to, by those persons who were in the exercise
of their official duties cognizant of the offence. If
there be any blame attributable for the failure to
prosecute it lies at the door of those who, knowing
the facts, did not avail themselves of the power
given by the Pharmacy Act, and it is not to be cast
upon the Pharmaceutical Society.

But Mr. Shirley so represents the circumstances
of this case in his last letter to the Times as in some
degree to make it appear that the further prosecution
of the offender was the duty of the Pharmaceutical
Society. He says “that a druggist who sells poison
“to a child in an unlabelled bottle asking no
“ questions and causing death should be punished
“as the law directs.” We do not demur to the
justice of this proposition as it reads, but it contains
a fatal fallacy which renders the inference intended
to be drawn from it invalid. The assumption that
the seller of the poison was a druggist is no doubt
intended to suggest that his punishment was a duty
appertaining to the Pharmaceutical Society ; but
that assumption was altogether gratuitous; he was not
a druggist at all, but as was proved before Mr.
Shirley, acting as coroner at the inquest, he was a
grocer, and in no way qualified to deal in poisons.

It is only by means of such confusion of the two
kinds of offences punishable by the Pharmacy Act
that it is possible for Mr. Shirley to suggest that
“ the public will learn with surprise that having ex-
“ tracted for its own benefit five pieces of the
“ current gold coin of the realm called sovereigns, the
“ Society’s functions ceased.” It might more cor¬
rectly be said that the Pharmaceutical Society having
performed its duty of prosecuting under the fifteenth
section of the Act, some other persons had failed to
perform their duty by prosecuting under the seven¬
teenth section. It is true this fact may be a ground
for satisfaction in knowing that a public prosecutor
is now appointed, and that in future there will be a
special functionary to deal with such cases ; but it
affords no real ground for the conclusion that the
utility of the Pharmaceutical Society is less than it
is properly supposed to be, or than it it ought to be.
Neither is it any reason for concluding that the
action taken by the Pharmaceutical Society in the
case Mr. Shirley refers to was a half measure, or
anything less than it should have been according to
the law both in the interests of the public and in the
interests of the class it represents.

Therefore the whole of the conclusions to the
disparagement of the Pharmaceutical Society and
the Pharmacy Act, which Mr. Shirley considers
irresistible, and has been enabled to make known
by the publication of his letter in the Times, are in
reality mere unsubstantiated fancies. J ust in the
same way, his assumption that the five pounds paid

to the Pharmaceutical Society as the penalty for a
breach of the fifteenth section of the Act was money
obtained for and applied to the benefit of the Society,
can only be supposed to rest upon defective ac¬
quaintance with the Pharmacy Act. Nothing there¬
fore seems to remain for Mr. Shirley but to
ponder over the provisions of that Act, and to con¬
fess with a good grace he has been mistaken. In
that way he may yet prove that his zealous activity in
this matter has been well intentioned, and he may
serviceably contribute towards the realization of
objects which others besides himself are desirous of
bringing about, for lessening the liability to acci¬
dental poisoning arising either from the sale of
poisons by unqualified persons or from their sale
without due precaution.

THE NEXT EVENING MEETING.

An Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety will be held on Wednesday next, when the
following papers will be read : — “ Tincture of Senega
as an Emulsifying Agent,” by Mr. H. Collier ; and
“ On the Diffusive Properties of Some Preparations
of Iron in Relation to Dialysed Iron,” by Professor
Redwood. Some Specimens of Drugs, etc., from
the late Indian Museum, which have been presented
to the Pharmaceutical Society by the Government,
will be placed upon the table.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

On Wednesday evening, the Annual Dinner of
this Association took place at the Holborn Restaur¬
ant, the chair being taken by Professor Redwood.
Among the guests were Professor Bentley, Dr.
Muter, and Mr. Luff, and in all, the party
numbered ninety-three. After dinner, several
toasts were proposed and responded to, and some
good songs and music were given by members ot
the Association. In all respects the vitality mani¬
fested by the ordinary meetings of the Association
was recognizable on this occasion, and there was
little reason to doubt that its members were as good
at recreation and refreshments as they have proved
themselves to be at work. Such Associations are
calculated to be of great service in promoting the
interests of pharmacy, and we cordially hope that
this one may continue to maintain the prosperity
and success it has already attained.

SEIZURE OF COCCULUS INDICUS.

At Revel, one of the Russian ports in the Baltic,
a large quantity of cocculus indicus, imported as
laurel berries, has been seized and confiscated. The
chemist who detected the fraud will get half the
value of the seizure, in this case amounting to several
hundred roubles. With the exception of a portion
retained for scientific purposes, the whole of the
cocculus indicus will be destroyed.

At the next meeting of the Chemical Society,
which will be held on Thursday, February 5, the
papers read will be : — “ Communications from the
Laboratory of the Tokio University, Japan: On
Persulphocyanate of Silver,” by W. Atkinson; and
“ On Methylated Dioxethylenamines,” by H. F.
Morley.

January 31, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,

Gil

gftansaittums of % fjjamauMcal ^octcb.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.

At a meeting of the Board of Examiners for England
and Wales, held in London on Wednesday, January 21,

1880.

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

Certificate' of the University of Oxford.

Rogers, Francis Alfred . Stamford.

Certificates of the University of Cambridge.

Keeling, Arthur Gadsby . Walthamstow.

Daintree, Ernest . Cardiff.

Certificate of the University of Edinburgh.

Dodds, Nicholas . Kelso.

Certificates of the College of Preceptors.

Bacon, Edward . .

Benson, Colin . Chelmsford.

Hall, William Joseph . Belper.

Roberts, Richard Ellis . .....Penmaenmawr.

MEETING OF THE NORTH BRITISH BRANCH.

The third evening meeting was held in the Society’s
rooms, 119a, George Street, Edinburgh, on Thursday,
January 22, Mr. J. B. Stephenson, in the chair. The
minutes of previous meeting having been read and con¬
firmed, the Honorary Secretary announced the follow¬
ing donations : —

To the Museum'. — Thirty-three specimens from the
Society in London, mostly drugs from North British
America, per Mr. Holmes. These will be exhibited at
the next meeting.

To the Library : — The Canadian Pharmaceutical Jour¬
nal for December, from the Ontario College of Pharmacy ;
The Pharmacist and Chemist for December, from the
Chicago College of Pharmacy ; The Australian Supple¬
ment to the Chemist and Druggist, from the Pharmaceuti¬
cal Society of Victoria; the Journal of the Chemical Society
for December and January, and Balfour on the Ipecacu¬
anha Plant, from Mr. Mackay.

Dr. Stevenson Macadam then read the following paper

on —

The Presence of Arsenic in Common Things.

BY DR. STEVENSON MACADAM,

Lecturer on Chemistry , Edinburgh.

Fully eighteen years ago I drew special public attention
to the extensive employment of arsenical green colouring
matter in ordinary wall paper-hangings, which contained
from 1 to 40 grains of arsenic in each square foot of
paper. Taking 20 grains of arsenic as an average pro¬
portion, an ordinary large-sized room with 1000 square
feet of wall surface would thus have 20,000 grains of
arsenic, and an ordinary small-sized room with 500 square
feet of wall surface would have 10,000 grains of arsenic
covering the walls. Such arsenical colouring matter is
in most cases more or less loosely adhering to the surface
of the paper, and the dusting and rubbing down of the
walls are liable to detach the pigment as a fine powder,
which becomes diffused through the atmosphere of the
room, and temporarily settles on the carpet, bedclothes,
bed and window hangings, cornices, etc., liable to be
disturbed again by the next dusting operation, any
alteration of the bedclothes or hangings, or even during
the airing of the room. The arsenical dust might thus be
inhaled in every breath. Possibly, also, the alternate
damping and drying of the wall paper in such a room,
which always takes place from time to time during occu¬
pancy and non-occupancy, and even during fluctuations
in the humid condition of the atmosphere, may tend to
vaporize the arsenic into the atmosphere of the room. I

have repeatedly tested the dust from the cornices, etc., of
rooms papered with the arsenical paper-hangings, and
have always found more or less arsenic in the dust.

During the last year my attention has been specially
directed to the great prevalence of green colour in textile
fabrics, paper for labels and boxes, artificial flowers,
children’s books and toys, and other common articles, and
I resolved to investigate how far the green colour was of
an arsenical nature. In a very large proportion of the
articles examined arsenic was found more or less present,
often in small quantity, but occasionally in very large
proportion. The preliminary trials were made by
Reinsch’s process, taking care to have a blank experi¬
ment throughout, and, thereafter, various articles were
selected for the purpose of the determination of the quan¬
tity of arsenic present in such. The quantitative analysis
was carried on by treating the article with a dilute solu¬
tion of hydrochloric acid, containing one part by volume of
the acid to eight parts of water. After heating and
filtration, the arsenic and copper were precipitated by a
stream of hydrosulphuric acid, and the liquid filtered and
the precipitate washed. Thereafter the mixed sulphides
were treated with dilute ammonia, the solution evapo¬
rated to dryness, the residue acted upon by nitric acid,
again evaporated, dissolved in water, and the resulting
arsenic acid treated with ammonia and ammoniacal sul¬
phate of magnesia solution. The precipitate thus obtained
of the arseniate of magnesia and ammonia —

2 (MgN H4As04)H20

was dried on a weighed filter, and the arsenic calculated
therefrom into arsenious oxide.

Working in this way, I examined three samples of thin
gauze cloth which were coloured of a light green tint.
These cloths gave me the following results, calculated to
the square foot of each of the cloths: —

Arsenious Cxide obtained
from the square foot.

No. 1 Cloth . 31 72 grains.

No. 2 „ . . . 11-60 „

No. 3 „ . 26*60 ,,

Average of three samples . . . 23*31 grains.

These cloths are sold for cheap ball dresses, and for
trimming dresses, and are often used for covering
gasaliers, mirrors, etc., during summer weather. The
price was sixpence to a shilling a yard, and consequently
for a few pence, a large amount of deadly material could
readily be purchased. Indeed, taking ten yards of cloth
of 36 inches wide as a reasonable amount in a dress, there
would be present in such a dress 90 square feet, each
containing on the average 23 grains of arsenic, or in all
fully 2000 grains of arsenic. Such an amount is enough to
startle any one, not only in the fact of its being present
in the cloth, but also in the readiness with which the
poison can be so procured.

Again, I examined a large number of green coloured
papers, more or less glazed, and used in covering paste¬
board boxes, and in making printed and other labels

for articles of food, drink and general merchandise.
Indeed, a large proportion of band-boxes sent out by
milliners, hatters, etc., of toy boxes, and of shop labels
and tickets are more or less covered with this green
paper. Three samples were taken for quantitative
analyses, and they yielded as follows: —

Arsenious Oxide obtained
from the square foot.

No. 1 paper . 45*40 grains.

No. 2 „ . 35*98

No. 3 ,, . 16-22 „

Average of three samples : . . 32*53 grains.

Taking the average amount of 3*2 grains of arsenic*
in the square foot, a small sized band-box with three
square feet of green surface, will have about 100 grains of
arsenic. An ordinary sized cracker-box with one and a
half square feet of green surface will have 48 grains.

612

i tiLE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3 1, 1880.

whilst the small cracker-boxes, specially fitted up for
children, have a square foot of green paper and 32 grains
of arsenic. Even the papers of the crackers themselves are
often green and arsenical, and yield 2 to 3 grains of arsenic
each. The labels on tinned meats are often green and
arsenical, and yield from 6 to 20 grains of arsenic each.
Indeed you can scarcely purchase a bottle of any liquid
or solid article of food, delicacy or stimulant, at the
present time, without running the risk of getting at least
one poisonous dose of arsenic on the label affixed to the
bottle or package, or even on the paper in which the
article is wrapped up.

I have likewise found the same poisonous green pigment
on envelope wrapping bands, each containing 1 to 2 grains
of arsenic ; in children’s picture and story books contain¬
ing at least 50 grains of arsenic ; in concert and ball-room
cards and tickets, in artificial flowers, water colour paints,
children’s toys, etc. Indeed, the present rage for green
colour seems so general that it is a rare thing to find
a shop window where arsenical green is not present on
the paper of the shelves or walls, the labels and tickets
on the articles, and the wrappers or boxes containing the
wares.

In domestic use also, the green colour has lately in¬
vaded the size tinting of kitchens, presses, and rooms
which are size painted. Emerald green, which is sold in
every painter’s shop to all and sundry at a few pence per
lb. contains, as analysed by me, fully 50 per cent, of
arsenic; and size green, which is also sold to every one at
as cheap a rate, contains from 2 to 14 per cent, of arsenic,
according to the depth of the shade of green. I have
tested the size colour as supplied and put on by painters
on the walls of kitchens and other rooms, and have
calculated that from 7 to 36 grains of arsenic are present
in every square foot of wall surface.

In this communication I have limited my analyses and
observations to those cases in which the arsenic was
present as arsenical green in large quantity. I am aware
that the same poison is present in other colours and in
other states of combination than as the arsenite of copper
(Scheele’s green), and the aceto-arsenite of copper
(Schweinfurt green), and it is probable then I may
return to the subject again. But in the meantime,
enough has been said to show the great prevalence of the
poisonous arsenical green in common things. It scarcely
admits of question that such ready means of acquiring
deadly material should not be allowed in any country.
Independently of the question of accidents occurring
from children sucking or even eating articles containing
the poison, or of parties being affected by the arsenical
wall papers, or wall size paint, there is the facility for
carrying out murderous designs, which ought not to be
placed in the hands of a community, or be left to chance
for malicious people not to take advantage of. There
seems little use in a Poison Act to restrict the sale of
comparatively small doses of poison, when every one can
purchase in any painter’s or drysalter’s shop about half
a pound of arsenic in the form of emerald green for six¬
pence, and at least a quarter of a pound of arsenic iu
green paper hangings for the same money ; and where,
without making any direct purchase at all, anyone can
obtain from an old meat can, a bottle label, a grocer’s
wrapper, a child’s picture book, a worn-out artificial
flower, or a piece of an old band-box, as much arsenic a3
will enable him to inflict deadly injury upon himself or
his neighbours.

Noxious trades cannot be carried on where the atmo¬
sphere or the water supply of a community are affected
injuriously thereby, and it would seem reasonable that
the wholesale trade of disseminating over the country
vast quantities of arsenic should be equally amenable to
and be suppressed by the strong arm of the law.

Dr. Macadam illustrated his lecture by tests, and ex¬
hibited a large number of articles in common use contain¬
ing arsenic.

Mr. D. B. Dott, Edinburgh, afterwards read the fol¬
lowing notes on “Beberia”: —

Beberia.

BY D. B. DOTT.

Beberia is the principal alkaloid of the bark of the
greenheart tree ( Nectandra Rodicei), and was discovered
therein by Dr. Rodie, of Demerara, in 1834. Professor
Maclagan, in 1843, showed that Rodie’s beberia was a
mixture of two alkaloids — beberia and siperia. In 1845,
Maclagan and Tilley assigned to beberia the formula
C35H20NO6 (old notation); but it was first obtained in
approximate purity by Y. Planta, who gave the formula
C19H.21N03. In 1860, Walz made experiments on buxine,
the alkaloid of Buxus sempervirens, and found it to be
identical with beberia; his analysis agreeing with the
formula of V. Planta. A valuable paper on the subject
was contributed by Professor Fliickiger to the Neues
Jahrbuch fur Pharmacie (xxxi., p. 257), of which an
abstract appears in Pharmaceutical Journal (2nd ser.,
vol. xi.). He prepared his purified base by exhausting
the crude alkaloid with ether, dissolving the base so ob¬
tained in dilute acetic acid, and precipitating with potash.
This treatment was repeated several times until the pre¬
cipitate produced was free from colour. The alkaloid
prepared in this way was analysed by Dr. Kraushaar
(Fliickiger’s assistant), and gave of carbon, 71 ‘61 per
cent., and of hydrogen, 6 ‘73 per cent. The platinum
compound gave 19*22 per cent, of platinum. The chief
point of interest in Fliickiger’s paper is, however, his
identification of the alkaloid pelosine with beberia.

Pelosine was discovered by Wiggers in 1838, and found
by Bodeker to answer to the formula C18H22N03.
Fliickiger prepared pelosine from the bark of Cissam -
pelos Pareira, L., and found that its reactions were in all
respects the same as those of beberia, and he was quite
unable to detect any difference between the two bases.
An analysis gave 72*09 per cent, of carbon, and 6*80 per
cent, of hydrogen. The platinum compound yielded
19*13 per cent, of metal, and the hydrochloride, 12*68 per
cent, of hydrochloric acid. Referring to these results,
Fluckiger remarks, “ Perhaps Bodeker’s formula is the
more correct. It would be desirable to examine crystal¬
line derivatives of the alkaloid in order to ascertain
whether C18H21N03 or C19H21N03 is the true expression
of its constitution; but I tried in vain to obtain, for
instance, a bromated compound, or any product of the
decomposition of the alkaloid in a crystallized state.”

From what has been said it maybe held as proved that
beberia, pelosine, and buxine are one and the same alka¬
loid, and Fluckiger maintains that the name buxine must
be applied to them all as it was given as early as 1830 to
the alkaloid of Buxus by Faurb. I do not admit, however,
that this rule of priority of name must be considered as
invariably binding, and would rather be inclined to say
that if an alkaloid or other substance had become well
known under a cei’tain name, that name ought to be
retained, even although the substance had been called
something else at an earlier time.

As I mentioned in a note read before the British
Pharmaceutical Conference at Dublin, I some time ago
obtained the hydrochloride of beberia in the crystalline
form, which enables me to say that the alkaloid I worked
with was really pure beberia. The hydrochloride was
recrystallized several times, and the base precipitated
from its solution by ammonia. Thus obtained and dried
j at the ordinary temperature, beberia is a white amor¬
phous substance which loses water by exposure to the
heat of a water-bath. It is a monacid base of well-
marked alkaline character, being capable of decomposing
ammonic salts when warmed with their solutions. This
property is only possessed by the stronger alkaloids such
as codeia and morphia, and not by the weaker members
of the class such as papaverine and narcotine. Beberia
combines to form readily soluble salts with hydrochloric,
I nitric, sulphuric, acetic, tartaric, citric and oxalic acids.

Jauuarj 3!, l-fo.j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

G13

I r =" - = ; - - —

The hydrochloride crystallizes in minute four-sided prisms
from an aqueous solution. If the solution is neutral it is
apt to assume the form of a transparent jelly. The only
other salt I have obtained in the crystalline form is the
nitrate. It is almost characterestic of the salts of beberia
that their solutions yield precipitates with such a variety
! of reagents. These include hydrochloric, hydriodic and
nitric acids, potassic ferricyanide and ferrocyanide, sodic
phosphate, nitrate and iodide, and mercuric chloride.
Beberia forms a deep red solution with strong nitric acid,
which on dilution with water gives a bulky precipitate ;
hut I hardly think this reaction can be considered
characteristic of the alkaloid, and I have tried in vain to
devise some colour-test which should be conclusive
evidence of its presence.

It only remains now to give the results of my analysis
of the crystallized hydrochloride. The alkaloid was
estimated in the air-dry salt by precipitation with
ammonia, the precipitate being dried at 120° C.

6T25 grs. gave 5T05 grs. = 83’34 per cent.

3-520 „ „ 2-970 „ = 84-37 „ „

Mean = 83"85 per cent.

I need hardly say that no great accuracy could be ex¬
pected in this determination, as the alkaloid is by no
means insoluble in solution of ammonic chloride.

The chlorine was estimated by precipitating with argentic
nitrate in the presence of nitric acid.

6’225 grs. gave 2‘540 grs. Ag Cl = 10-37 per cent. HC1.

7-380 „ „ 3-010 „ „ „ = 10-36 „ „

8"220 ,, „ 3*338 „ ,, ,, — 10’32 „ „ „

Mean = 10*35 per cent.

Various portions of the hydrochloride prepared at
different times were dried by exposure to the air and
then under a bell-glass over sulphuric acid.

10*040 grs. lost 1*470 grs. =14*64 per cent.

6-755 „ „ 0-900 „ =13-32

7*695 „ „ 1-025 „ =13-32

8*620 „ „ 1-240 „ =14-38

Mean = 13-91 per cent.

C18H21N03H20. 3HoO = 13-25 „ H20.

The last molecule of water is net lost in the exsiccator
or in the water-bath, but requires a temperature ap¬
proaching 120° C. for its elimination. At the same time,
however, there is evidently some decomposition, as the
anhydrous hydrochloride obtained at that temperature
invariably yielded a smaller percentage of chlorine than
was afforded by the same salt dried over sulphuric acid.

The beberia-hydrochloride platinic-chloride was pre¬
pared by adding solution of muriate of beberia to
solution of platinic chloride, the fox-mer being in excess.
The precipitate was well washed with warm water and
dried at 120° C. The temperature must not be allowed
to rise above that, on account of the liability of the salt
to decomposition under the influence of heat.

4-290

grs.

gave 0-840

gr.

pt.

= 19"55 per

cent,

3-955

>y

99

0-770

99

99

= 19-46

99

6-065

99

99

1-180

99

99

= 19-45

99

2-535

99

99

0-495

99

99

= 19 52

99

5T90

99

99

1-015

99

99

= 19-55

99

Mean= 19*50 per cent.

It was not considered necessary to make a combustion
of the alkaloid, as the afore-mentioned results, considered
along with those of previous experimenters, are sufficient
to determine the composition of the base.

Appended are the percentages of Kraushaar’s and
Fluckiger’s analyses. The numbers under the name of
he last-mentioned chemist relate to pelosine.

Found.

F. K.

C 72-09 71-61

H 6-80 6-73

Calculated for
Cl8H21N03.

72-24

7-02

F.

19-13

The Platinochloricle.

T7- Calculated for

(Ci8H2iNo3.HClX>PtCl4

19-22 19-50 19-54

The Hydrochloride.

Found.

C18H19N03 83-85

HC1 10-35

Calculated for

c18h21no3.hcih.2o.

84-58

10-32

These results leave little room for doubt that the com¬
position of beberia is represented by the formula

c18h21no3.

Mr. Dott gave practical illustrations of the tests for
beberia and kindly presented to the Society specimens
of bebeeru nuts, beberia and hydrochlorate of beberia.

Essential Oil of Aloes.

Dr. Wm. Craig, Edinburgh, exhibited to the meeting
a curiosity in the shape of a specimen of the essential oil
of aloes, on which he made the following remarks : —

This oil is a pale yellow mobile liquid, sp. gr. 0-863,
and boils at from 266° to 271° C. It is to the
presence of this oil that the odour of aloes is due. It
exists in very small quantity in aloes, only about two
fluid drachms being obtained from five hundred pounds of
aloes. This oil has a resemblance in taste and smell to
the oil of peppermint. The boiling point, however, of
the oil of peppermint is only 190° C. Although aloes
has been used in medicine for upwards of two thousand
years, its volatile oil was first discovered in 1873 by
Messrs. T. and H. Smith and Co., the well-known che¬
mists of this city, and the discoverers of aloin, the active
principle of aloes. In that year they succeeded in isolat¬
ing a small quantity of the “oleum aloes,” and exhibited
it that same year at the Vienna exhibition. That speci¬
men was afterwards presented to the Pharmaceutical
Society, London, and unfortunately the bottle contain¬
ing it was broken, and the oil was lost. Last year they
again succeeded in obtaining a small quantity of the oil
from five hundred pounds of Ba.rbadoes aloes. When it
is remembered that to obtain two fluid drachms of this
oil, it is necessary to distil about 500 gallons of fluid, the
members of the Society will have some idea of the diffi¬
culty of obtaining this substance. In the specimen
exhibited the oil is floating on the surface of a colourless,
mobile, ethereal liquid, of a sp. gr. 0"95, being the liquid
from which the oil of aloes was finally distilled. The
specimen exhibited is interesting on account of its extreme
rarity, being in all likelihood the only specimen of this
oil in the world. Through the kindness of the Messrs.
Smith, I am enabled to exhibit it to the members of this
Society. Of course there has been no opportunity of in¬
vestigating its therapeutic qualities, but from its nature
it is likely to be an aromatic and antispasmodic.

Dr. Craig also exhibited some very beautiful and perfect
crystals of citric acid.

The usual vote of thanks to the gentlemen who fur¬
nished the evening’s programme brought the meeting to
a close.

|i;oDtmtial ©ransaffions.

GRIMSBY CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual dinner of the above institution took place
at the Royal Hotel, on the evening of Tuesday, the 20th
inst. After dinner the usual loyal and patriotic toasts
were given and responded to, and were followed by those

614

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 31, i"80

of “The Trade Association of Great Britain,” “The Phar¬
maceutical Society of Great Britain,” and the toast of
the evening, “Success to the Grimsby Chemists’ Associ¬
ation.”

The President (Mr. G. Croft) explained the chief objects
of the society. He said the Association was formed for
the mutual protection of the trade in Grimsby and dis¬
trict ; to promote friendly relations of chemists and drug¬
gists towards each other ; and to create a better under¬
standing amongst the community than had previously
existed. He was convinced that the chemists of Grimsby,
as well as chemists generally, were an intellectual class
of society, and he sincerely hoped they would individually
alid collectively try to elevate their professional status
rather than degrade it. If a trade grievance occurred let
it be brought before the Association and all would be
made right. He felt that these annual dinners would
be productive of good fellowship and trusted they would
be more successful each succeeding year. Several of the
gentlemen present enlivened the proceedings during the
-evening with songs and pianoforte music.

GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS*
ASSOCIATION.

The assistants’ section of this society met in Anderson’s
•College,. George Street, on Wednesday evening, the 14th
anst., to hear a paper by Mr. David Lees, President.

Mr. Lees took for his subject “ The Constituents of
the Atmosphere,” and spoke of the more important of
them at some length, explaining the functions of the
elements which go to compose the air, their properties
collectively and in an isolated condition, the effect of
continued breathing on the air, and its relation to the
-animal and vegetable worlds generally.

The paper was attentively listened to throughout, and
after a few remarks by members a hearty vote of thanks
was awarded to the reader.

It was intimated that Mr. William Simpson, Vice-
President, would read an essay at the next meeting.

SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND
CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting was held on Wednesday evening
January 23. Mr. W. Ward, F.C.S., etc., in the chair
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year
— President, Mr. G. Ellinor, Ph.C., etc.; Vice-Pre
sklents, Mr. J. Preston and Mr. Turner; Joint Hon
Secs., Mr. E. Radley Learoyd and Mr. G. W. News
holme; Treasurer, Mp. W. Jervis; Council, Messrs
Ward, Carr, Burnell, Ottley, Maleham, Cubley, Watts
and Hall.

The President delivered his inaugural address, in the
course of which he said, the past year had been event¬
ful in the assembling, for the first time in Sheffield, of the
British Pharmaceutical Conference, and expressed the
great satisfaction it gave to local members. Referring to
the subject of prosecutions under the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act, he thought it was high time a determined
effort was made to protest against the manner in which
money is unjustly taken out of the pockets of chemists
in various parts of the country, through the incompetence
-or want of correct knowledge of drugs by the majority of
borough or county analysts. The question that should
be asked was, Is it light that defendants should have to
pay the costs when there is no adulteration? He further
noticed some of the amusing and variable interpretations
of the Pharmacy Act and the instructions given by some
coroners. In conclusion, he expressed a hope that he
would be able to conduct the business of the Society with
that care and diligence which had characterized his pre¬
decessors.

Votes of thanks fo? past services concluded the busi¬
ness of the meeting.

§roitcfditt08 of Roddies.

CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association was held at the
rooms of the Association, George Street, Hanover Square,
on Wednesday evening, January 14, the President in the
chair, when a paper was read by Mr. G. W. Bullen on
“ Benzene and its Derivatives.”

After a few preliminary remarks with reference to the
important position occupied by the benzene, or aromatic
group, both chemically and commercially, the author
commenced by giving a somewhat detailed account of
the discovery, manufacture, and uses of benzene, passing
notice also being given to the other hydrocarbons of this
group, viz., toluene, xylene, cumene, etc.

The nitro-derivatives of the benzene series were then
considered, special reference being made to nitro-benzene,
or artificial oil of almonds, including the best methods
for distinguishing it from the natural oil ; reference was
also made to two other kinds of nitro-benzene differing
from that ordinarily known in having higher boiling
points, the differences in the boiling points being due to
the presence of the nitro-derivatives of the higher hydro¬
carbons, toluene, xylene, etc., in greater or less propor¬
tions. These two heavy nitro -benzenes are used solely
in the commercial world for the manufacture of aniline.

The amido-derivatives, or those bodies which are de¬
rived from benzene and its homologues by substitution of
amidogeu (NH2) for hydrogen, were then described,
attention being principally confined to the discovery and
manufacture of aniline, the amido-derivative of benzene,
processes for the manufacture of the principal dyes on the
large scale being mentioned.

The two kinds of alcohols belonging to the series were
next brought under notice: — 1. The phenols, or those
alcohols which are incapable of being converted into
aldehydes and acids by oxidation. 2. The normal, or
aromatic alcohols, which contain the group CH2OH, and
are capable of forming aldehydes and acids by oxidation
in the same manner as the ordinary primary alcohols,
such as methyl and ethyl alcohols.

The difference in the formation of these two kinds of
alcohols having been explained, the most important of the
phenols and their derivatives were then described, viz.,
carbolic acid, cresol, thymol, pyrocatechin, guaiacol,
resorcin, orcin, and trinitrophenol, or picric acid. It
was also noticed, as being of some interest, that carbolic
acid and thymol, possessing such great similarities
in their antiseptic and caustic properties, are so closely
allied chemically. The normal alcohols and their alde¬
hydes were then submitted to consideration, benzol
alcohol being regarded as the most important, yielding as
it does benzaldehyde, or bitter almond oil, and benzoic
acid by oxidation . Saligenin was mentioned as partaking
both of the nature of a phenol and a normal alcohol, the
hydroxyl radical being substituted for hydrogen, both in
the principal and lateral chains of the molecule. Among
the aldehydes benzoic aldehyde, or bitter almond oil,
salicyl aldehyde, the aldehyde of salicylic acid, and
vanillin were noticed, mention being made of the fact
that vanillin prepared artificially from coniferin was a
complete failure from a commercial point of view, as it
loses its aromatic odour in a very short time. Among
the acids of the aromatic group, benzoic acid was regarded
as occupying a position analogous to that of aniline among
the aniline dyes, or in other words, as being the keystone
of the series, there being a vast number of acids derived
from it by addition, substitution, etc., — salicylic, or oxy-
benzoic, and gallic, or trioxybenzoic acids, being men¬
tioned among other examples. In conclusion, the principal
processes for the manufacture of benzoic acid, both from
natural and artificial sources, were described.

After the reading of the paper a discussion took place,
at the termination of which a cordial vote of thanks to
Mr. Bullen for his interesting paper was passed.

January 3i, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

615

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE¬
MENT OF SCIENCE.

Buffon.*

BY PROFESSOR ST. GEORGE MIVART, F.R.S., SEC.L.S., V.P.Z.S.

( Continued from page 517).

I next desire to direct your attention to another matter
treated of by Buffon — I mean the resemblances and
differences which exist between the mind of man
and the higher psychical faculties of animals.

This question is eminently a question of our own day,
and one which I feel cannot but excite interest in this
Section.

But its accurate investigation is attended with special
difficulties, and amongst them are two temptations, which
are apt to beset the inquirer :

(1) . The first of these arises from the wide-spread love
for the marvellous of whatsoever kind, and the tendency
to inverted anthropomorphism.

(2) . The other is the temptation to strain or ignore
facts to serve a favourite theory.

As to the former of these dangers, I may perhaps be
permitted to quote some remarks made by Mr. Chambers,
approvingly cited by Professor Bain: “There are two
subjects where the love of the marvellous has especially
retarded the progress of correct knowledge — the manners
of foreign countries, and the instincts of the brute
creation . . . . It is extremely difficult to obtain

true observations” as to the latter “from the disposition
to make them subjects of marvel and astonishment.”
. . . . “ It is nearly as impossible to acquire a know¬

ledge of animals from anecdotes as it would be to obtain
a knowledge of human nature from the narratives of
parental fondness and friendly partiality.” This I believe
to be most true, and that here the danger of mistaking
inference for observation is exceptionally great. The in¬
quirer ought not to accept as facts marvellous tales with¬
out criticism and a careful endeavour to ascertain
whether the alleged facts are facts and not unconscious
fictions.

As to the second danger, the lamented George Henry
Lewes, whom no one can suspect of any hostility to Evolu¬
tion in its most extreme form, remarks (in his posthumous
workf just published) that the researches of various emi¬
nent writers on animal psychology have been “biassed by
a secret desire to establish the identity of animal and
human nature,” and certainly no one can deny that those
who do assert that identity are necessarily exposed to the
temptation referred to. Of course persons who desire to
disprove this identity are exposed to the opposite tempta-
tation ; but it cannot be maintained that there is evidence
of Buffon having been influenced by any such desire.

The obvious difference between the highest powers of
man and animals has led the common sense of mankind
to consider them to be of radically distinct kinds, and the
question which naturalists now profess to investigate is
whether this is so or no.

But we may doubt whether many who enter upon this
inquiry do not enter upon it with their minds already
made up that no such radical difference can by any possi¬
bility exist. To admit it, they think, would be tanta¬
mount to admitting some non-natural origin of man, to
accepting as a fact something not harmonizing with our
views as to nature generally, leading to we know not what
results — possibly even to lending some support to Christi¬
anity. To admit it, would be to deny the principle of
continuity. There cannot,- therefore, be any essential
difference between man and brute, and their mental
powers must be the same in kind. This, I think, is no
unfair representation of the state of mind in which this
question is very likely to be entered upon at the present
time. Surely, however, if we profess to investigate a

* Presidential Address to the Biological Section of the
British Association, Sheffield, August, 1879.

t ‘Problems of Life and Mind.’ Third Series, 1879, p.

question, we ought in honesty to believe that there is a
question to investigate, or else leave the matter to others ;
and if evidence should seem to show that “intellect”
cannot be analysed into sense, but is an ultimate, it ought
to be accepted, at the least provisionally, as such, even at
the cost of having to regard its origin as at present inex¬
plicable. Can we explain the origin of “motion?” But
what rational man thinks of denying it on that account?
Let us not reject anything, then, which may be evident,
on account of certain supposed speculative consequences.

But that no such consequences as those referred to need
follow from the admission of the radical distinctness of
human reason, seems evident from the views of Aristotle.
He certainly was free from theological prejudices or pre¬
dispositions, and yet to his clear intellect the difference
between the merely sentient and the rational natures was
an evident difference, and the facts which are open to
our observation are the same as those which presented
themselves to his.

To enter on this inquiry with any fair prospect of
success, it is not only necessary to guard against such
temptations as these, but it is also necessary to be pro¬
vided with a certain amount of knowledge of a special
kind : namely, with a clear knowledge of what our own
intellectual powers are. I conceive that, great as is the
danger of exaggeration and false inference as to the
faculties of animals, the danger of misapprehending and
underrating our own powers is far greater.

Buffon held very decided views as to the distinctness
of the mind of man from the so-called minds of animals.
But an ingenious and gifted writer,* * § who has recently
done good service in supporting Buffon’s claims to greater
consideration than he commonly receives, has, neverthe¬
less, done him what I believe to be strange injustice in
attributing to his great work an ironical character, and
this in spite of Buffon’s protests against irony in such a
work as his. I cannot venture to take up your time with
controversy on this subject; but apart from Buffon’s
protest against “equivoque,” it is incredible to me that
he should have carried on a sustained irony through so
voluminous a work — thus making its whole teaching
absolutely mendacious . One remark of Buffon’s, which
has been strangely misinterpreted by this writer, I shall
have occasion to notice directly; but I think it may
suffice to clear Buffon’s character from the aspersion of
his admiring assailant, to point out that in the table of
contents in the final volume of his ‘History of Mam¬
mals, ’J (which table gives the pith and gist of his several
treatises), he distinctly affirms the distinctions maintained
in the body of his work.

The following were Buffon’s views. In his “Discourse
on the Nature of Animals, ”§ he says, “Far from denying
feelings to animals, I concede to them everything, except
thought and reflection” .... “they have sensa-
tions, but no faculty of comparing them one with another,
that is to say, they have not the power which produces
ideas.” He is full of scorn|| for that gratuitous admira¬
tion for the moral and intellectual faculties of bees, which
Sir John Lubbock’s excellent observations and experi¬
ments have shown to be indeed gratuitous. Speaking of
the ape, most man-like (and so man-like) as to brain, he
says :^[ “II ne pense pas : y a-t-il une preuve plus ^vidente
que la matiere seule, quoique parfaitement organisde, ne
peut produire ni la pensde, ni la parole qui en est le signe,
a moinsqu’elle ne soitanime'e parun principe supdrieur ?”**

* Mr. Samuel Butler. See his ‘Evolution, Old and New,’
Hardwicke and Bogue, 1879.

f Op. cit ., tome i., p. 25.

X Op. cit., tome xv.

§ Op. cit., vol. iv., p. 41.

|| Op. cit., tome iv., p. 91.

t Op. cit., tome xiv., p. 61.

** Mr. Butler cites objections brought forward in a certain
passage (from pp. 30 and 31, vol. xiv.), as if they were
Buffon’s own. But they are the objections of an imagined
opponent whose views Buffon himself combats. It is worthy

616

THE r H AKMACEUT1C A? j JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 31, 1880.

Buff on has been accused of vacillation with respect to his
doctrine concerning animal variation, but no one has
accused him of vacillation with respect to his views con¬
cerning reason and instinct.

I come now to the passage which I said has been so
strangely misunderstood. It is that in which he expresses
his conviction that “animals have no knowledge of the
past, no idea of time, and consequently no memory.”
But to quote this passage without explanation is gravely
to misrepresent the illustrious French naturalist. Buff on
Avas far from ignoring, indeed he distinctly enumerates
the various obtrusive phenomena which often lead the
vulgar to attribute, without qualification, both know¬
ledge and memory to brutes. But, in fact, he distinguishes
between* * * * § memory and memory. His words are: “Si
l’on a donne quelque attention a ce que je viens de dire,
on aura ddjk senti que je distingue deux espbces de
memoire infiniment differentes l’une de l’autre par leur
cause, et qui peuvent cependant se ressembler en quelque
sorte par leurs effets; la premiere est la trace de nos
iddes, et la seconde, que j’appellerais volontiers rdmini-
scencef plutot que m&noire, n’est que le renouvellement
de nos sensations,” and he declares^ true memory to con¬
sist in the recurrence of ideas as distinguished from
revived sensuous imaginations.

This distinction is one Avhich it is easy to perceive.
That we have automatic memory, such as animals have,
is obvious; but the presence of intellectual memory (or
memory proper) may be made evident by the act of
searching our minds (so to speak) for something which
we know we have fully remembered before, and thus in¬
tellectually remember to have known, though we cannot
now bring it before our imagination.

As with memory, so with other of our mental powers,
we may, I think, distinguish between a higher and a lower
faculty of each; between our higher, self-conscious, reflec¬
tive mental acts— the acts of our intellectual faculty —
and those of our merely sensitive power. This distinction
(to which I have elseAvhere§ called attention) I believe to
be one of the most fundamental of all the distinctions of
biology, and to be one the apprehension of which is a
necessary preliminary to a successful investigation of ani¬
mal psychology. it is, of course, impossible for us
thoroughly to comprehend the minds of dogs or birds,
because we cannot enter into the actual experience of
such animals, but by understanding the distinction
between our own higher and lower faculties!) we may, I
think, more or less approximate to such a comprehension.

It may, I believe, be affirmed that no animal but man
has yet been shown to exhibit true concerted action, or to
express by external signs distinct intellectual conceptions
—processes of which all men are normally capable. But
just as some plants simulate the sense-perception, volun¬
tary motions and instincts of animals, without there
being a real identity between the activities thus super¬

of note that Buffon long anticipated our contemporaries
with respect to man’s place in nature in so far as concerns
his mere anatomy. For he did not hesitate to affirm that
the Orang differs less from us structurally than it differs
from some other apes.

* Op. cit ., tome iv., p. 60.

t Here he follows, without citing, the old distinction of
Aristotle between memory and reminiscence.

X Op. cit., tome iv., p. 56.

§ ‘ Lessons from Nature,’ Murray, 1876, p. 196

|| Certain writers (as, for example, Professor Ewald
Hering, of Prague) have used the word “ memory 99 to
denote what should properly be called “ organic habit,” i.e.
the power and tendency which living beings have to per¬
petuate, in the future, effects wrought on them in the past.
But to call such action as that by which a tree as it grows
preserves the traces of scars inflicted on it years before,
“ memory,” is a gross abuse of language— a use of the word
as unreasonable as would be the employment of the word
‘sculptor” to denote a quarryman, or “sculpture” to
indicate the fractures made in rocks by the action of water
and frost.

ficially similar, so there may well be in animals actions
simulating the intellectual apprehensions, ratiocinations,
and volitions of man without there being any necessary
identity between the activities so superficially alike.
More than this, it is certain a priori that there must be j
such resemblance, since our organization is similar to that
of animals, and since sensations are at least indispensable
antecedents to the exercise of our intellectual activity.

I have no wish to ignore the marvellous powers of
animals or the resemblance of their actions to those of
man. No one can reasonably deny that many of them
have feelings, emotions and sense -perception, similar to-
our own ; that they exercise voluntary motion and
perform actions grouped in complex ways for definite
ends ; that they to a certain extent learn by experience,
and can combine perceptions and reminiscences so as to
draw practical inferences, directly apprehending objects
standing in different relations one to another, so that, in.
a sense, they may be said to apprehend relations. They
will show hesitation, ending apparently, after a conflict
of desires, with what looks like choice or volition, and
such animals as the dog will not only exhibit the most
marvellous fidelity and affection, but will also manifest
evident signs of shame, which may seem the outcome and
indication of incipient moral perceptions. It is no great
wonder, then, that so many persons, little given to patient
and careful introspection, should fail to perceive any
radical distinctions between a nature thus gifted, and the
intellectual nature of man.

But, unless I am greatly mistaken, the question can
never be answered by our observations of animals, unless
we bear in mind the distinctions between our own higher
and lower faculties.

Now I cannot here even attempt to put before you
what I believe to be the true view of our own intellectual
processes. Still I may, perhaps, be permitted to make
one or two passing observations.

Everybody knows his OAvn vivid feelings (or sensations),
and those faint revivals of feelings, simple or complex,
distinct or confused, which are imaginations and emotions;
but the same cannot be said as to thought. Careful in¬
trospection will, however, I think, convince anyone that a
“ thought ” is a thing widely different from an “ imagina¬
tion ” — or revival of a cluster of faint feelings. The
simplest element of thought seems to me to be a “judg¬
ment,” with an intuition of reality concerning some
“fact,’ regarded as a fact real or ideal. Moreover, this
judgment is not itself a modified imagination, because the
imaginations which may give occasion to it persist un¬
modified in the mind side by side with the judgment they
have called up. Let us take, as examples, the judgments
“ That thing is good to eat,” and “ Nothing can be and
not be at the same time and in the same sense.” As to-
the former, we vaguely imagine “things good to eat,”
but they exist beside the judgment, not in it. They can
be recalled, compared, and seen to co-exist. So with the
other judgment, the mind is occupied with certain
abstract ideas though the imagination has certain vague
“images” answering respectively to “ a thing being” and
“ thing not being,” and to “ at the same time ” and
“ in the same sense ; ” but the images do not constitute
the judgment itself any more than human “ swimming ”
is made up of “ limbs and fluid,” though without such
necessary elements no such swimming could take place.

This distinction is also shown by the fact that one and
the same idea may be suggested to, and maintained in
the mind by the help of the most incongruous images,
and very different ideas by the very same image. This
we may see to be the case with such ideas as “ number,”

“ purpose,” “ motion,” “ identity,” etc.

But the distinctness of “thought” from “imagination”
may perhaps be made clearer by the drawing out fully
what we really do when we make some simple judgment,
as, e.rj. that “ a negro is black.” Here, in the first place,
we directly and explicitly affirm that there is a con¬
formity between the external thing, “ a negro,” and the

January 31, 1880. j THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS

617

‘external quality, “blackness” — the negro possessing that
•quality. We affirm secondarily and implicitly a con¬
formity between the two external entities and the two
•corresponding internal concepts. And thirdly, and lastly,
we also implicitly affirm the existence of a conformity
between the subjective judgment and the objective
existence.

All that it seems to me evident that sentience can do,
is to associate feelings and images of sensible phenomena,
variously related, in complex aggregations ; but not to
apprehend sensations as “facts” at all, still less as internal
facts, which are the signs of external facts. It may be
conceived as marking successions, likenesses and unlike¬
nesses of phenomena, but not as recognizing such phe¬
nomena as true. Animals, as I have fully admitted,
apprehend things in different relations, but no one that I
know of has brought any evidence that they apprehend
them as related, or their relations as relations. A dog
may feel shame, or possibly (though I do not think
probably) a migrating bird may feel agony at the imagi¬
nation of an abandoned brood ; but these feelings have
nothing in common with an ethical judgment, such as
that of an Australian, who, having held out his leg for the
punishment of spearing, judges that he is wounded more
than his common law warrants.

Animals, it is notorious, act in ways in which they
would not act had they reason ; while, as far as I have
observed or read, all they do is explicable by the associa¬
tion of sensations, imaginations, and emotions, such as
take place in our own lower faculties. We cannot, of
course, prove a negative, but we have no right to assume
the existence of that for which there is no evidence, with¬
out which all the facts can be explained, and which if it
did exist would make a multitude of observed facts im¬
possible. Apes (like dogs and cats) warm themselves
with pleasure at deserted fires, yet, though they see wood
burning and other wood lying by, though they have arms
And hands as we have, and the same sentient faculties,
they never have, so far as I know, been recorded to have
added fuel to maintain their comfort. Swallows will
continue to build on a house which they see has begun to
be pulled down, and no animal can be shown to have made
use of antecedent experience to intentionally improve upon
the past.

If, on the other hand, animals were capable of de¬
liberately acting in concert, the effects would soon make
themselves known to us so forcibly as to prevent the
possibility of mistake.

Mr. Lewes has not hesitated to affirm* that “ between
animal and human intelligence there is a gap which can
-only be bridged over by an addition from without,” and
he also says :+ “ The animal world is a continuum of
smells, sights, touches, tastes, pains and pleasures : it has
no objects, no laws, no distinguishable abstractions, such !

as self and not self . If we see a bud, after we

have learned that it is a bud, there is always a glance

forward at the flower and backward at the seed .

but what animal sees a bud at all except as a visible sign
of some other sensation?” As a friend of mine, Professor
Clarke, X has put it : “In ourselves sensations presently
set the intellect to work ; but to suppose that they do so
in the dog is to beg the question that the dog has an in¬
tellect. A cat, to bestir itself to obtain its scraps after
dinner, need not entertain any belief that the clattering
of the plates when they are washed is usually accompanied
by the presence of food for it, and that to secure its share
it must make certain movements ; for quite independently
of such belief, and by virtue of mere association, the
simple objective conjunction of the previous sounds,
movements, and consequent sensations of taste, would
suffice to set up the same movements on the present
occasion.” Let certain sensations and movements become

* ‘ Problems of Life and Mind,’ vol. i., p. 156.
t L.c., p. 140.

j ‘ Questions on Psychology,’ p. 9.

associated, and then the former need not be noted : they
only need to exist for the association to produce its effects,
and simulate apprehension, deliberation, inference and
volition. “ When the circumstances of any present case
differ from those of any past experience, but imperfectly
resemble those of many past experiences, parts of these,
and consequent actions, are irregularly suggested by the
laws of resemblance, until some action is hit on which
relieves pain or give pleasure. For instance ... . let a
dog be lost by his mistress in a field in which he has never
been before. The presence of the group of sensations
which we know to indicate his mistress is associated with
pleasure, and its absence with pain. By past experience
an association has been formed between this feeling of
pain and such movements of the head as tend to recover
some part of that group, its recovery being again asso¬
ciated with movements which, de facto, diminish the
distance between the dog and his mistress. The dog,
therefore, pricks up his ears, raises his head, and looks
round. His mistress is nowhere to be seen ; but at the
corner of the field there is visible a gate at the end of a
lane which resembles a lane in which she has been used
to walk. A phantasm (or image) of that other lane, and
of his mistress walking there, presents itself to the
imagination of the dog ; he runs to the present lane, but
on getting into it she is not there. From the lane, how¬
ever, he can see a tree at the other side of which she was
wont to sit ; the same process is repeated, but she is not
to be found. Having arrived at the tree he thence finds
his way home.” By the action of such feelings, imagina¬
tions, and associations — which we know to be verae causae —
I believe all the apparently intelligent actions of animals
may be explained without the need of calling in the help
of a power, the existence of which is inconsistent with
the mass, as a whole, of the phenomena they exhibit.

But if there is a radically distinct intellectual power
or force in man, is such a distinction of kind so isolated a
fact as many suppose ? May there not exist between
the forces which living beings exhibit other differences of
kind ?

Each living being consists of an aggregation of parts
and functional activities which are evidently knit
together into a unity. Each is somehow the seat or
theatre of some unifying powers or condition which
synthesises their varied activities, and is a principle of
individuation. This seems certainly to have been the
opinion of Buff on, and it is to this opinion that I referred
in speaking of the fourth cause to which he attributed
the changes in organic forms. And to me it seems that
we must admit the existence of such a living principle.
We may analyse the activities of any animal or plant,
and by consideration of them separately find resemblances
between them and mere physical forces. But the
synthesis of such forces as we find in a living creature
is certainly nowhere to be met with in the inorganic
world.

To deny this would be to deny the plainest evidence of
our senses. To assert that each living body is made up
of minute independent organisms, each with its own
“principle of individuation,” and without subordination
or co-ordination, is but to multiply difficulties, while such
a doctrine conflicts with the evidence of our own percep¬
tions, which lead each of us to regard himself as one
whole — a true unity in multiplicity.

The existence in each creature of a peculiar, co-ordina¬
ting, polar force, seems to be specially pointed to by the
phenomena of serial and bilateral symmetry, by the
symmetrical character of certain diseases, by the phe¬
nomena of monstrous growths, and by the symmetrical
beauty of such organisms as the Radiolarian Ithizopods.

It also seems to me to be made evident, by the various
activities of each animal, which are, as a fact, grouped in
one in mutual interaction — an organism having been
described by Kant as a creature, the various parts of
which are reciprocally ends and means.

I think now I hear the exclamation — This is “Vitalii !’

618

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND ‘TRANSACTIONS. [January 31, 1680.

•while some of my hearers may deem these matters too
speculative for our Section.

But consciously or unconsciously, general conceptions
of the kind exist in the minds of all biologists, and in¬
fluence them in various ways, and their consideration,
therefore, can hardly be out of place here ; while as to
“ Vitalism," I am convinced I shall not be wasting your
time in endeavouring to remove a wide-spread miscon¬
ception.

The “ Vitalism ” which is so reasonably objected to, is
that which supposes the existence in each living creature
of some separate entity inhabiting the body — an extra-
organic force within the living creature, and acting by
and through it, but numerically distinct from it. But
the view which I venture to put before you as that which
is to my judgment a reasonable one, is that of a peculiar
form of force which is intra- organic, so that it and the
visible living body are one thing, as the impress on
stamped wax and the wax itself are one, though we can
ideally distinguish between the two. It is, in fact, a
mode of regarding living creatures with prime reference
to their activities rather than to their material composi¬
tion, and every creature can of course be regarded either
statically or dynamically. It is to regard any given
animal or plant, not as a piece of complex matter played
upon by physical forces, which are transformed by what
they traverse, but rather as a peculiar immanent principle*
or form of force (whensoever and howsoever arising),
which for a time manifests itself by the activities of a
certain mass of complex material, with which it is so
entirely one that it may be said to constitute and be such
animal or plant much rather than the lump of matter
which we can see and handle can be said to constitute such
animal or plant. On this view a so-called “ dead bird ”
is no bird at all, save by abuse of language, nor is a
“corpse” really a “dead man” — such terms being as
self-contradictory as would be the expression “ a dead
living creature.”

Thus the real essence, the substantial constituent, of
every living thing is something which escapes our senses,
though its existence and nature reveal themselves to the
intellect.

For of course our senses can detect nothing in an
animal or plant beyond the qualities of its material com¬
ponent parts. But neither is the function of an organ to
be detected save in and by the actions of such organ, and
yet we do not deny it its function or consider that
function to be a mere blending and mixture of the pro¬
perties of the tissues which ompose it. Similarly it
would seem to be unreasonable to deny the existence of a
living principle of individuation because we can neither
see nor feel it, but only infer it. This power or polar
force, which is immament in each living body, or rather
which is that body living, is of course unimaginable by
us, since we cannot by imagination transcend experience,
and since we have no experience of this force, save as a
body living and acting in definite ways.

It may be objected that its existence cannot be verified.
But what is verification ? We often hear of “verification

* The word “ principle” has been used to denote that
activity which, together with material substance, constitutes
a living creature, because that word calls up a less sensuous,
and therefore less misleading, phantasm than any other.
The old term if/vxv, or soul, has in modern times come to be
associated with the idea of a substance numerically distinct
from the living body, and capable of surviving the destruc¬
tion of the latter. But as structure and function ever vary
together (as do the convexities and concavities of a curved
line), so “the principle of individuation” or soul of an animal
or plant and its material organization must necessarily
arise, vary, and be destroyed simultaneously, unless some
special character, as in the case of man, may lead us to con¬
sider it exceptional in nature. Even in man, however,
there seems no adequate reason for believing in the existence
of any principle of individuation, save that which exerts its
energy in all his functions, the humblest as well as the
most exalted.

by sensation,” and yet even in such verification the
ultimate appeal is not really to the senses, but to the in¬
tellect, which may doubt and which criticizes and judges
the actions and suggestions of the senses and imagination.
Though no knowledge is possible for us which is not
genetically traceable to sensation, yet the ground of all
our developed knowledge is 'not sensational, but intel¬
lectual, and its final justification depends, and must
depend, not on “feelings,” but on “thoughts.” I must
apologize to such an audience as that I have the honour
of addressing for expressing truths which, to some of my
hearers, may appear obvious. I would gladly suppress
them as superfluous did not my own experience convince
me that they are not superfluous. To proceed : “ Cer¬
tainty ” does not exist at all in feelings any more than
doubt. Both belong to thought only. “ Feelings ” are
but the materials of certainty, and though we can be
perfectly certain about our feelings, that certainty belongs
to thought and to thought only. “ Thought,” therefore,
is our absolute criterion. It is by self-conscious thought
only that we know we have any feelings at all. Without
thought, indeed, we might feel, but we could not know
that we felt or know ourselves as feeling. If then we
have rational grounds for the acceptance of such a purely
intellectual conception as that of an immanent principle as
the essence of each living creature, the poverty of our
powers of imagination should be no bar to its acceptance.
We are continually employing terms and conceptions —
such, e.g., as “being,” “substance,” “cause,” etc. — which
are intelligible to the intellect (since they can be dis¬
cussed), though they transcend the powers of the imagi¬
nation to picture.

(To be continued.)

fjavlianwntarg and law §ro<t«dings.

Prosecution under the 17th Section of the
Pharmacy Act.

At the Birmingham Police Court, on Thursday,
January 22, 1880, before A. Hill, Esq. (Chairman),
Alderman Biggs and A. J. Elkington, Esq., Theodore
Morris, trading as a chemist and druggist, at 199, Lodge
Road, Birmingham, was summoned by the Secretary of
the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade Association of Great
Britain, for an infringement of the 17th section of the
Pharmacy Act, 1868. He was charged, “That he did,
on the 2nd inst., unlawfully sell to W. F. Haydon
certain poison, to wit, laudanum, being a preparation of
opium, in a certain bottle, the label of which bottle did
not set forth the name of the seller of the same, contrary
to the statute in such case made and provided.”

Mr. Henry Glaisyer, solicitor, Birmingham, appeared
to prosecute. The defendant conducted his own defence.

Mr. Glaisyer, having explained the section of the Phar¬
macy Act on which the summons was based, said on the
2nd day of this month Mr. Haydon purchased at the shop
of the defendant, No. 199, Lodge Road, two pennyworth
of laudanum. The bottle was labelled “ Poison, Lauda¬
num. R. D. Hughes, Chemist, 199, Lodge Road.” The
contents of the bottle were subsequently analysed by Mr.
Haydon and found to contain laudanum, a preparation
of opium. Opium and its preparations are enumerated
in Part II., Schedule A of the Act. The defendant is
wholly unqualified to sell poisons scheduled under the
Act, not being either a pharmaceutical chemist or a
chemist and druggist; but he appears to do so under
cover of Hughes’s name. The defendant is the tenant of
the premises at 199, Lodge Road, and has paid rates for
those premises.

Mr. William Frederic Haydon, pharmaceutical che¬
mist, and Secretary of the Chemists and Druggists’ Trade
Association of Great Britain, deposed that on J anuary 2
last, he went to the defendant’s shop at 199, Lodge Road,
and purchased from the defendant himself two penny*

January si, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL ANL TRANSACTIONS.

619

(

I .

I

j

I

worth of laudanum which he now produced, labelled
“Poison. Laudanum. R. D. Hughes, Chemist, 199, Lodge
Road.” He subsequently analysed the contents of the
bottle and found it to be laudanum, a preparation of
opium. The defendant was not qualified to sell such
poison, his name not appearing in the last published
Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists and Chemists and
Druggists. The name of Richard David Hughes ap¬
peared on that Register as a chemist and druggist,
residing at 18, High Street, Denbigh.

Magistrates’ Clerk: You do not deny selling this
poison, I suppose ?

The Defendant: No; but there is the name of the
proprietor on the bottle.

Chairman of the Bench : How long have you been at
the shop ?

The Defendant : Eighteen months.

Chairman of the Bench : Was the shop taken in Mr.
Hughes’s name ?

The Defendant : No ; I opened it as a drysalter.

Magistrates’ Clerk: Did Hughes ever live on those
premises ?

Defendant : No ; but he has been backwards and
forwards to Birmingham.

Mr Elkington : Are you Mr. Hughes’s assistant, and
paid by him as such ?

Defendant : I am a salaried assistant, and over a
certain sum all the money made out of the business
belongs to me. I am the tenant of the premises and pay
the rents, rates and taxes.

Chairman of the Bench : Do you ask for an adjourn¬
ment to call Mr. Hughes as a witness ? if not, we must
decide the case on the evidence given.

Defendant : I would rather the case was settled now.

Chairman of the Bench : You must pay a penalty of
21s. and costs, or in default one month’s imprisonment.
I hope full publicity will be given to this case.

was compelled to be done in regard to the sale of
laudanum and other poisons.” — Standard.

Poisoning by a Liniment.

Mr. Collier, deputy coroner, held an inquest on Mon¬
day last at the Plough, Lewisham, on the body of
William Charles Penny, aged 63, a builder, living at
Lewisham Hill, who died from the effects of poison.

Eanny Richards, servant to the deceased, said on
Thursday night the deceased, who was confined to his
bed, asked for a sleeping draught he had been in the
habit of taking, pointing to the mantelpiece, on which
was a bottle. Her mistress poured it out and witness
handed it to deceased, who drank it off. A moment after
the bottle containing the sleeping draught was found at
the foot of the bed, and it was then seen that the de¬
ceased had been given a liniment which he had been
using for his leg. The wife exclaimed, “ Oh, my darling
husband, what have I done?” Witness ran for some
salt and water, which was given the deceased and made
him sick, and she then went for Mr. Shute. On her return
the deceased had expired. There was one candle alight
at the time, but it was at the opposite end of the mantel¬
piece. When Mrs. Penny poured the liniment out her
eyes were suffused with tears, because of the pain her
husband was in.

Mr. Shute, surgeon, said he supplied both the liniment
and the sleeping draught ; they were in similar bottles.
The liniment was composed of two-thirds of aconite and
one-third soap liniment, the former being a deadly poison
and the latter harmless. The liniment and draught
were of different shades in colour.

The jury returned a verdict of “ Death from misad¬
venture,” but strongly recommended that some additional
precautions should be used in sending out bottles con¬
taining poison, both as to colour and shape.

Poisoning by Chloeodyne.

Dr. Hardwicke held an inquest on Thursday, January
22, at the St. Pancras Coroner’s Court, on the body of
John Macham, aged 61, surgical instrument maker, of
37, Oak Village.

"’Mrs. Jane Macham, widow of deceased, said he had
been ailing for the last twelve months, and had been to
St. Bartholomew’s and other hospitals for relief ; he was
also in the habit of taking Dr. Collis Browne’s chlorodyne.
On the night of Monday week, shortly after he went to
bed, he laid on his back and made a peculiar noise.
When she got up on the following morning she found
him in the same position. She saw he had a bottle con¬
taining chlorodyne in the bed with him. Medical aid
was procured, but he died about half-past twelve. The
deceased began taking chlorodyne about three months
ago, but she did not think he had had more than two
bottles. He was very desponding in mind, fearing he
would lose his trade. He said he could not bear it, and
had said he would destroy himself.

Mr. Reuben Warne, surgeon, said that when called in,
he found the deceased in a state of collapse, and death
followed shortly afterwards. He had made a post-mortem
examination. The heart was fatty, and the lungs and
brain congested. There was no doubt the deceased
had died from poisoning by chlorodyne.

The Coroner and Jury had considerable discussion as
to the facilities for obtaining poisons, especially those
contained in patent medicines.

The Jury then returned the following verdict : — “ That
the deceased committed suicide by poisoning himself with
chlorodyne, being at the time in an unsound state of
mind. The Jurors are further of opinion that the most
stringent measures ought to be enforced to prevent the
sale of poisons in the shape of patent medicines, and that
at all events is should be made compulsory that a label
should be affixed thereto bearing the word ‘ Poison,’ as

gis^njsinfl

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

[381]. Owing to the word grains appearing after 80
instead of after ij, the sentence looks rather vague, but
no doubt the physician means 2 grains. It will therefore
be 7 grains per dose the second week, 9 grains per dose
the third week, and so on until 27 grains per dose, or 81
grains per day, is reached.

[383]. Alum. A sulphate of ammonia and alumina
usually written in prescriptions, alum sulph.

** 1ST TT

.-.i.-.

*■ - - - l*i*»*«* *•»

[384]. In answer to Beta T beg to s
first put in the tinct. valerian, am., then the aqua
lastly the ferri et quince cit., he will find it compatible,
have never found it incompatible.

F. L. Holloway.

will

and

I

[384]. Dissolve the “ferri et quin, cit.” m aq.
distillat. leaving room for the addition, gradually, of the
“tinct. valer. ammon.” Shake well, and see the result

J. B. O.

620

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [January 3 1, isso.

[385], I had a prescription last week with ol. sinapis
sem. in it, and not knowing what the doctor meant, I
sent up to inquire, but, after making himself very un¬
pleasant, he failed to explain what it really was he did
mean. This was the prescription —

R Tinct. Iodin. Co . Jij.

01. Sinapis Sem.,

Spt. Vini Rect . . aa 3VB-

Ft. liniment.

Would some one kindly say what should be used for it?

Liverpool. John H. Talbot.

Jjtotys and Queries.

[647]. BOISR AGON PILLS.— In answrer to St. Rule,
the following is Dr. Hewson’s formula : —

R Hyd. Subchlor . gr. xij.

Pulv. Scammon. . gr. xij.

Ext. Coloc. Comp. ..... t)ij-

01. Carui . .rq, iv.

Aloes Soc . gr. viij.

M. Ft. pilulte, xiv ; sumat ii hora somni.

Hackney. C. H. Bradshaw.

[648]. HYDROBROMIC ETHER AND BROMO-
FORM. — 1. What is the dose of hydrobromic ether
(ethyl, bromid.), and is a spirit of it the best preparation?

2. Is bromoform, or a spirit thereof, administered in¬
ternally, and if so, in what doses ?

Pharmacist.

*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬
cated by the name and address of the writer; not necessarily
for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith.

The Sale of Patent Medicines containing Poisons

Sir, — In a recent case of poisoning by chlorodyne brought
before the coroner at St. Pancras,* the jury added a rider :
“The jurors are of opinion that the most stringent measures
ought to be enforced to prevent the sale of poisons in the
shape of patent medicines.”

Cannot the Pharmaceutical Society use their influence to
restrict the sale of patent medicines to registered chemists
only ?

Are not all unqualified persons liable for the sale of
chlorodyne and all medicines containing poisons ?

. In this neighbourhood the proprietor of a patent medi¬
cine has actually offered to supply licences to oilmen and
grocers who will sell his preparations.

Islington, N. J. K.

Sir, — At the present time, when the question regarding
the sale of poisons is before the public mind, I think the
Pharmaceutical Society should collect all the facts which
will be taken as evidence in considering the necessity of
revising the Poisons Bill. That such a revision is necessary
is quite evident whilst we daily see the wholesale distri¬
bution by grocers, drapers and others of such medicines as
chlorodyne, Powell’s Jbalsam, Winslow’s syrup, etc., etc.,
most of which contain in a greater or less degree some
active poison, and many of which have proved their strength
by their fatal effects.

Now, sir, should this revision of the Act take place,
surely an opportunity is offered to the Pharmaceutical
Society for stepping in and endeavouring to obtain for the
pharmaceutical chemists the sole privilege of vending medi¬
cines of all kinds, whether containing poisons or whether
ordinary Pharmacopoeia preparations; the public would

* See the previous page.

then have responsible people to look to, and their interests
I am sure would be benefited.

Is it not reasonable, too, that the law should guarantee
chemists some protection of this sort, in consideration of
the expense it puts them to in order that they may pass
their examinations ? A lawyer’s practice is protected from
intruders, as is also the practice of a doctor; why, then,
should chemists be left out ?

By obtaining some real advantage of this sort the Society
would be doing its legitimate duty as the representative
body of an educated and responsible class of men, and
would confer a benefit on both the chemists and the public
of no small importance.

A Pharmaceutical Chemist.

Cream of Tartar.

Sir, — Two years ago we had doubts about the purity of a
lot of cream of tartar we bad purchased. W e sent a sample
to the public analysts here ; the following is the result of
their analysis : —

Bitartrate of Potash .

(Hydrated) Tartrate of Lime . .

. . 8*87

Iron and Alumina .

Sand and Silica .

Water .

99 97

(Signed) McCowan and Biggart.

This was accompanied with a certificate stating it to be a
sample of genuine cream of tartar.

Possibly the above may be of some interest at the present
time.

Greenock. Macnaught Bros.

J. J. Point. — There is no law 'that would compel a che¬
mist and druggist to supply medicine on a Sunday, but we
do not think that anyone would refuse to do so in a case
of serious illness.

T. 0. Oiven. — (1) See the paper on “ Soluble Essence of
Ginger,” by Mr. J. C. Thresh, before, p. 193. (2) It has

been pointed out by Dr. Symes ( Pharm . Journ., [2], vol. v.,
p. 161), that lemon juice may be preserved without the
addition of alcohol by heating it to 150° F. and then exclud¬
ing it from the air by carefully closing the full bottles at
this temperature. The operation should be carried out
during the winter.

W. M. Bishop. — See the note on the pharmacy of nitro¬
glycerine in “ The Month,” before, p. 603.

A. P. S. — Ganot’s ‘ Elementary Treatise on Physics,’ or
Deschanel’s ‘ Natural Philosophy.’

T. W. Ogilvie. — Cetraria glauca. If our correspondent
will compare the specimen sent with commercial Cetraria
islandica, he will see that the latter has minute cylindrical
prominences on the margin of the frond and has a paler
under surface.

J. T. B. M. — The finely-divided peroxide of iron, known
also as rouge, prepared by precipitating a hot filtered solu¬
tion of sulphate of iron with concentrated solution of oxalic
acid and decomposing the resulting oxalate of iron, after
washing and partial drying, by heat.

T. Walton.— The principal alkaloids in the root of
Aconitum Napellus are aconitine and pseudaconitine, both
of them crystallizable, and the former present in relatively
the larger quantity. These alkaloids, according to Wright
and Luff, are decomposable into two others, aconine and
pseudaconine, which may occur ready-formed in the root.
They are accompanied by at least one other alkaloid, picra-
conitine, which is comparatively inert. In A. ferox root
pseudaconitine is present in larger proportion than is
aconitine, together with another apparently non -crystalline
alkaloid. From Japanese aconite Wright and Luff have
separated an alkaloid that they have named japaconitine,
and which may or may not be identical with one observed
by Paul and Kingzett.

Mr. C. Bennett is thanked for his communication.

Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from
Messrs. J. Wade, E. Wyborn, J. C. Thresh, Burroughs
and Co., Ion, Dentist sine L.D.S., Tradesman, C.

February 7, 1880.]

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

621

TINCTURE OF SENEGA AS AN EMULSI¬
FYING AGENT.*

BY HENRY COLLIER,

Teacher of Pharmacy, Guy's Hospital.

I had the honour of laying before the Pharma¬
ceutical Conference at Sheffield emulsions of various
fixed and volatile oils prepared by means of tincture
of soap bark — the Quillaia saponaria. The employ¬
ment of this tincture is by no means new, for it has
been in use as an emulsifying agent for some years.
I thought, however, that a useful purpose might be
served by bringing forward, more prominently than
hitherto had been done, this very useful agent in
pharmacy. It has received official recognition in
France, at least by the Paris Pharmaceutical So¬
ciety, who have published a formula for the pre¬
paration of the tincture and described its use in tlieir
‘Rapport sur les medicaments nouveaux.’ I also
at the same meeting gave an account of the results
of my experiments upon the saponaceous matter ot
quillaia bark. I there mentioned that this soapy
principle was widely diffused throughout the vege¬
table kingdom, that it had been the object of
numerous investigations and that most discordant
results were given by different experimenters. The
literature of senegin, or polygalic acid, the active
matter of senega root, is not so extensive as that of
saponin ; different statements are made respecting
it, and it is still a matter of doubt whether polygalic
acid and saponin are identical. Senega root appears
to have been first examined by Gehlen in 1804, who
found, together with resin, a substance which he
described as perfectly insoluble in water, but so¬
luble in alcohol. To this principle was given the
name of polygalin. This was associated by Pfaff, who
called it “kratzender extractivstoff,” and by Bucholz,
who named it senegin, with saponin, which is soluble
in water. Quevenne, in 1836 (. Journal de Pharm.,
22 — 460), published a most exhaustive chemical
examination of senega. He appears to have first
obtained pure senegin, and according to him it is
different from saponin. He gave it the name of
polygalic acid, from the fact that it united with
bases to form salts. It is not, however, an acid
which will expel carbonic anhydride from alkaline
carbonates, even with the aid of heat.

Belly ( Annal . Pharm., 90 — 211), who did not,
however, follow Quevenne’s method of preparation,
in his examination of senega regards saponin and
senegin as identical.

I have not been able to find that since Bolly’s
work the saponaceous matter of senega root has been
further chemically examined. W. Procter, junr. , in
1861 ( Chem . News, 1861 — 40), published his phar¬
maceutical researches upon polygalic acid, in which
he recommends its use in 1 to 2 grain doses in pow¬
der or pill. The decomposition products of saponin
and senegin or polygalic acid are the same, so that
it is probable that these substances are identical, and
that the differences in the statements of the various
authors may be accounted for by the different degrees
of purity of the substance they obtained. If it may
be considered any testimony as to the identity of
saponin and polygalic acid, I can state that tincture
of senega and tincture of quillaia have a similar
effect upon mercury. This metal, shaken with either
of these tinctures, is quickly reduced to a very minute

* Read at the Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain, February 4, 1879.

Third Series, No. 502,

state of subdivision. They are alike also in their
power of emulsifying fixed and volatile oils.

In recommending any particular agent for use in
pharmacy it is essential to bear in mind the nature
of the substance employed. Acacia, tragacanth or
yolk of egg, which are generally used in making
emulsions, possess no very active properties. Occa¬
sionally, however, active substances are employed in
small doses, and they are then considered not to
have any detrimental effect. For instance, fixed oils
are very frequently made into emulsions by means
of liq. potassse. To use tincture of senega in medi¬
cinal doses as an emulsifying agent would certainly
not meet with approbation, but in very small quan¬
tities there would not be the same objection. I have
here examples of emulsions of various fixed and
volatile oils prepared with tincture of senega of
Pharmacopoeia strength, but made by maceration
only. These mixtures possess all the characters of
good emulsions and they are very easily made. The
following is the general formula for the fixed oils,
cod liver, olive and castor : —

Oleum . §ss.

Tinct. Senegae . niv.

Aq . . . . §ss. Misce.

The same quantity of tincture has been used for
ol. terebinthinse mxx ; copaiba 3ss ; ext. filicis li¬
quid. oj ; chloroform, inx.

The Pharmacopoeia dose of tincture of senega is
from 3ss to 3ij. The use of a sixth part of the mini¬
mum dose could hardly be considered objectionable
on account of the effect which it might produce. If
so, solution of potash and lime water might also
justly be removed from our list of emulsifying
agents.

As regards the suspension of resins, I do not con¬
sider that tincture of senega is so useful as acacia or
tragacanth ; these substances require thick liquids
or they will separate too rapidly. Tincture of
quillaia was adopted by the Paris Pharmaceutical
Society for the preparation of “ emulsions des medi¬
caments insoluble clans l’eau,” and a formula is given
for an emulsion of balsam of tolu, but a large quan¬
tity of spirit and of tincture is required and the
mixture is not a very perfect one.

I have here a mixture containing —

Tinct. Tolu . tn, 40.

Tinct. Senegse . 20.

Aq . ad gj. Misce.

This is a very good emulsion, but the quantity of
tincture is large, which of course is open to objection ;
a less quantity of tincture does not prevent the
aggregation of the resin into lumps.

In conclusion, I trust you will consider that the fact
of tincture of senega possessing emulsifying powers
is a sufficient reason why I should have brought it
before your notice this evening.

[TJu discussion on this paper is printed at p. 638.]

THE SUPPOSED ALKALOID OF PODOPHYLLUM.*

BY JOHN M. MAISCH.

In a paper “ On the Proximate Principles of some
Berberidaceae and Ranunculaceae,” contributed by the late
Professor Ferdinand F. Mayer to the American Journal
of Pharmacy, 1863, pp. 97 — 100, the following sentences

* From the American Journal of Pharmacy , December,
1879.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [Febiuary 7, i860.

are found:— “The rhizome of the mayapple contains
both berberina and a colourless alkaloid, a resin, a fiee
acid, a neutral odorous substance yolatilizable in white
scales and saponin. AVhen the alcoholic extract of the
rhizome is freed from alcohol and then mixed with water,
the latter dissolves the acid, a considerable quantity of
berberina and saponin, together with some resinous
matter. The precipitate left after washing with water,
the so-called resinoid podophyllin, is a mixture of a resin
and the volatile principle, which are soluble in ether,
and a portion soluble in alcohol, which is the other
alkaloid in combination with saponin and brown resinous
matter.”

This being the first published assert ion of the presence
of an alkaloid in podophyllum, soon after I embraced the
opportunity of ascertaining the correctness of the state¬
ment as far as the presence of berberina was concerned,
by working up the mother-liquor from the preparation of
the resin from several hundred pounds of podophyllum.

It was evaporated to a small bulk, strongly acidulated by
hydrochloric acid, and the resulting crystalline precipitate
again dissolved in boiling water and treated with hydro¬
chloric acid. On cooling and standing, deep yellow
crystals were obtained, resembling those of commercial
hydrochlorate of berberina, but evidently tinged with a
notable quantity of brown colouring matter. The
crystals, which weighed between one and two drachms,
were laid aside for future examination and purification,
but no opportunity presenting itself for several years, the
substance was eventually lost. However, its appearance
was so convincing that it seemed to furnish a valid reason
for the addition of hydrochloric acid in preparing the
officinal resin of podophyllum (Amer. Jour. Pkarm., 1863,
p. 303).

When about the year 1868 or 1869 I undertook the
separation of berberina from the officinal resin prepared
by myself, I was surprised at not finding the alkoloid
sought ; but noticed in its stead the solubility in hot
water of that portion of the resin which is soluble in
ether (see Amer. Journ. Pham., 18/ 4, p. 231). It is the
same substance which was obtained by Wm. Hodgson in
1831 (see Jour. Phil. Coll, Plmr., iii., p. 273), by boiling
the rhizome in water, and the laxative properties of
which were ascertained by him. The various investi¬
gators who have since experimented with podophyllum
could either not discover any alkaloid at all, or observed
only slight indications of its presence through the reaction
with one of the general reagents for alkaloids, notably
with Mayer’s test liquid. Since, however, the proximate
composition of the resin as obtained fiom the rhizome
collected in the spring and autumn varies to some extent,
it seemed also possible that the alkaloid, if present, might
be found in larger proportion at one period than at
another. The valuable paper contributed by Mr. Biddle
at the last meeting (see November number, p. 543)* does
not completely remove the doubt. The mother-liquors
from his experiments were presented and exhibited at
the last meeting, and by Mr. Biddle kindly placed at my
disposal for further investigation. One of the samples
consisted of the concentrated washings of the resin
prepared from the rhizome collected in March and April
(No. 1) ; the other was a similar mixture obtained from
the rhizome collected in May, July and October (No. 2) ’,
the latter had yielded the slightest reaction with Mayer’s
reagent.

The two samples were set aside for about a week, after
which time both had separated a slight precipitate, and
the clear liquids yielded no turbidity at all with Mayer’s
test. The liquid No. 1 was somewhat concentrated,
allowed to cool, and filtered when it was rendered turbid
on the addition of the test. It was now evaporated to a
syrupy consistence, and, after standing for about two
weeks, filtered from the resinous deposit, a, mixed with
a little hydrochloric acid, and after twenty-four hours again
filtered from the precipitate, b. The filtrate was rendered

* See Pharmaceutical Journal, before, p. 468.

decidedly turbid on the addition of potassio-mercuric iodide.

A portion of the acid liquid was agitated with ether
the remaining portion was first rendered alkaline by the
addition of sodium carbonate, and then likewise treated
with ether. In both cases, on the complete evaporation
of the ether, a yellowish amorphous mass, of a rather dis¬
agreeable odour, was left, which was agitated with dilute
hydrochloric acid, the solutions being afterwards again
tested with Mayer’s reagent, without producing the
slightest turbidity.

The resinous deposit, a, was di>solved in a little alcohol,
the solution filtered, the filtrate precipitated by cold
water acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and on the
following day again filtered. The clear liquid gave no
reaction with potassio-mercuric iodide, until after it had
been concentrated, cooled and filtered. It was, however,
noticed that the turbidity again disappeared, after a short
time, while on other occasions it remained. The caiise
for this different behaviour wai only determined after
many repetitions, and was found to be a slight increase
of temperature caused by the radiating heat from a
heated iron plate, or by the accidental exposure of the
test-tube to the direct rays of the sun ; in fact the
warmth of the hand was found to be sufficient for making
the turbidity disappear entirely or partly. The cold
liquid was now completely precipitated by Mayer’s test ;
the precipitate, which vras soluble in hot water, was well
washed with cold water, dissolved in a little soda and the
solution acidulated with hydrochloric acid ; on passing
sulphuretted hydrogen through the solution, not the
faintest indication of the presence of mercury could be
discovered.

The precipitate b was boiled with water, and filtered
while hot. On cooling, the filtrate became turbid. It
was again passed through paper, acidulated, and now
yielded no turbidity with Mayer’s test, until after it had
been further concentrated ; the precipitate had precisely
the same behaviour as indicated above.

The mother-liquor, No. 2, was concentrated and
treated with ether and potassio-mercuric iodide ; the
results were identical with those obtained with
No. 1.

It will be observed that none of the experiments de¬
tailed above indicate the presence of even traces of an
alkaloid, and the cause of the precipitation by Mayer’s
test must therefore most likely be sought for in the slight
solubility in water of podophyllinic acid, one of the
constituents of the so-called resin of podophyllum, since
even Klunge’s test for berberina has proven its entire
absence. To test the correctm ss of this supposition, two
samples of podophyllinic acid, prepared from the well-
washed officinal resin with hot water and with ether,
were dissolved in hot water, the filtered solutions cooled,
again filtered, and these filtrates treated with Mayer’s
reagent, both with and without the addition of hydro¬
chloric acid ; but in no case was any turbidity observed.
The slight quantity of this resinous compound which
remains dissolved in cold water is equally soluble therein
after the addition of some potassio-mercuric iodide ; but
it seems that some other constituent of the rhizome is
capable of retaining for some time a somewhat larger
portion of podophyllinic acid in complete solution,
which is then precipitated by the test liquid men¬
tioned, and perhaps by other salts, without, however,
combining with the metal. Hence the clear mother-
liquors, if tested shortly after the preparation of
resin of podophyllum, may yield a precipitate with
the test liquid, which would not be obtainable a few
days later.

I believe that it may now be considered proven that the
rhizome of podophyllum contains no alkaloid at any
period of its growth. The yellow crystalline precipitate
mentioned above must have doubtless been due to some
accidental impurity in the drug (probably hydrastis ?),
which, from its minuteness, escaped detection before the
article was ground.

February 7, 1*80.1

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

623

gfhe §lmpraqutual Jottpil

- + -

SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 7, 1880.

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

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

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

THE REGISTRAR’S REPORT.

The publication of the usual annual statistical
Report as to the number of persons on the Registers
and the numerical strength of the Pharmaceutical
Society, which was presented by the Registrar to
the Council at its last meeting, affords us the yearly
opportunity of pointing out some of the bearings
it has on the interests of the trade when con¬
sidered in connection with former reports. The
full meaning of the figures in certain directions
cannot be fully estimated in the absence of other
information, — such, for instance, as the relation they
bear to the increase of the general population, — but
so far as their indications can be followed they are
of sufficient interest to justify us in directing atten¬
tion to them specially on these periodical occasions.

It appears that the general Register of Chemists
and Druggists now contains 13,551 names, or 242
more than at the beginning of the year 1879. This
increase represents the difference between 403
additions, of which 360 were made in virtue of
persons passing the qualifying examinations (Minor
and Modified), and 161 erasures, of which 155 were
made in consequence of deaths reported from various
sources. Rut the number of 242 does not represent
a real increase on the Register, as — taking the average
of former years — it is probably reducible by about
100 names that have become subject to erasure
through death and other causes, but which, they not
having been reported, will remain on the Register
till its next rectification by the Registrar under the
special powers conferred on him by the tenth section
of the Pharmacy Act.

With respect to the Register of Pharmaceutical
Chemists it is satisfactory to find that the anticipa¬
tion expressed a few weeks since in our yearly
summary as to this most important class has been
fulfilled. In the course of last year 77 persons
passed the Major examination and thus became
entitled to registration as pharmaceutical chemists,
and as during the same time the erasures only
amounted to 65 it follows that this class shows
an increase of 12 on the new Register, the numbers
now being 2299 against 2287, as given in the last
previous report. It may be remarked that this
increase, like that before referred to, is subject to
reduction through unreported deaths, but probably

not to the extent of doing away with it altogether.
Satisfactory as this is as an improvement on the
previous year, in which there was a decrease of 20, it
is evident, in the face of the increase of 242 on the
general Register of Chemists and Druggists, that the
number of persons passing the Major examination is
not yet equal to the task of maintaining the relative
numerical proportions between the class of pharma¬
ceutical chemists and the whole body of the chemists
and druggists, impaired as it is by the death not only
of those who like themselves had passed the highest
examination, but also of a larger number of those
who became pharmaceutical chemists without exa¬
mination, by election as Members of the Pharmaceu¬
tical Society, in the earlier days of its history.

A very interesting point in connection with this
Report is the information which it, taken together
with the printed Registers, affords as to the pro¬
gressive increase in the relative proportion of persons
carrying on business as pharmaceutical chemists and
chemists and druggists in virtue of having passed
the legal examinations. By the courtesy of the
Registrar, in supplying us with proof sheets of the
forthcoming Registers, we are enabled to state these
relations on the present occasion.

Taking first the Register of Pharmaceutical Che¬
mists, the number of persons enrolled on it who
have passed the Major examination is 1410, or 61*33
per cent., against 1346, or 58*84 per cent., on the
previous Register, being an increase absolutely of
64, and relatively of 2*49 per cent. The relative
proportion of Major men to the whole body of
chemists and druggists is now 10*4 per cent.

The number of examined persons, irrespective of
pharmaceutical chemists, who are on the Register
of Chemists and Druggists in virtue of having passed
the Minor examination is 2645, being an increase
of 248, their percentage relation to the whole Register
having at the same time been increased from 18*01
per cent, to 19*52 per cent. The total number of
the two classes of examined men, therefore, now
number 3055, or 29*92 per cent.

These details may be more conveniently repre¬
sented in the tabular form, thus—

January 1, 187 s*.

January 1, 18-0,

N umber.

Per cent.

Number,

Per cent.

Pharmaceutical

Chemists: —
Examined . .

Non-examined

10'40) ,..or
0-5G j 16 90

Chemists and

Druggists who
have passed
the Minor onlv

2397

18-01

2645

19 52

[Remainder, in-

eluding those
w h o have
passed the
Modified . .

8625

04-81

8607

63-52

Total . . . .

13,309

100-00

1*3,551

100 00

The report on the numerical strength of the Phar¬
maceutical Society affords, on the whole, subject for

624

THF PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February T, 880.

congratulation, since it sliows tliat there were at the
commencement of the present year a larger number
of registered chemists and druggists connected with
it as Members and Associates than at any previous
period of its history. The total number of the four
classes was 4589, against 4536 in the previous year,
or an increase of 53. Moreover this increase is
sufficient, within one quarter per cent. , to maintain
the previous relative numerical proportions between
the subscribers to the Society and the whole number
of chemists and druggists on the Register. Although
t may be hoped, and reasonably believed, that this
proportion will be increased as years roll on, and the
Register records more exclusively the names of
examined persons, yet it ought not to be forgotten —
as it would appear to be occasionally by some who
might have been supposed to be better informed —
hat upwards of one-third of all the persons legally
entitled to carry on the business of a chemist and
druggist in Great Britain are now voluntarily asso-
iated with the Pharmaceutical Society.

In examining the details of this report it will be
found that there was last year (from the cause that
has already been hinted at) a decrease of 19 Pharma¬
ceutical Chemist Members. It is interesting to
note, as throwing light on the nature of this de¬
crease, that the number of pharmaceutical chemists
elected and restored to membership last year (74)
nearly equalled the number of persons who passed
he Major examination (77), and thus became
eligible for such membership. There was also a
decrease of 13 Chemist and Druggist Members, a
class that must eventually become extinct. On the
other hand, there was an increase in the number of
Associates in Business amounting to 66, and one
of 19 in the Associates not in Business. The de¬
crease in the first two classes was therefore 32, and
the increase in the last two 85, leaving a nett in¬
crease, as stated before, of 53.

Besides the foregoing there has been in the class
of Apprentices an increase of 31, there being at the
close of the year 1071 Apprentices or Students of
the Society on the Society’s books, the number twelve
months previously having been 1040.

The following table will enable a direct compari-
sion to be made between some of the indications of
the statistics of this Report and those of the one
presented in February, 1879 : —

Jan. 1, 1879.

Jan. 1, 1880.

No.

Percent,
of whole.

No.

Percent
of whole.

Pharmaceutical Chemists,
Members of the Society .

2002

87-54

1983

86 25

Other Registered Chemists
and Druggists connected
with the Pharmaceutical
Society .

2534

2606

Total number of Registered
Chemists and Druggists
connected with the Phar¬
maceutical Society . . .

4536

34-08

4589

83-86

Registered Apprentices sub¬
scribing to the Society . .

1040

—

1071

—

ADOLPHUS FREDERICK HASELDEN.

It falls to our lot this week to record the death, on
Wednesday last, of Mr. Adolphus Frederick
Haselden, a gentleman who in his time rendered
valuable service to the pharmaceutical body, and
especially to that portion of it constituting the Phar¬
maceutical Society of Great Britain. Mr. Haselden
joined the Society as an Associate at its commence¬
ment, and became a Pharmaceutical Chemist
Member in 1855. For many years continuously he
served as a member of the Council, having been
first chosen in 1859 to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Mr. Jacob Bell. In 1869 he was chosen
Vice-President, and upon the resignation of Mr.
Sandford, in 1871, he became President, which
office he held until his retirement from the Council
in 1873. Mr. Haselden also acted as an Examiner,
with the exception of a short interval, from 1864 to
1877. Mr. Haselden contributed to this Journal
a large number of papers which, besides being
eminently practical, were frequently marked by a
brightness and piquancy that gave evidence ot
considerable literary skill and rendered them very
pleasant reading. As to the esteem in which Mr.
Haselden was held nothing need be added to what
has fallen from the lips of some of his former col¬
leagues and is reported on another page.

SIR DOMINIC CORRIGAN.

We regret also to have to record the death of Sir
Dominic Corrigan, Bart., the first President of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Sir Dominic
took a great interest in the foundation of the Irish
Pharmaceutical Society, and the vigorous evidence
he gave before the Parliamentary Committee to
which the subject had been referred no doubt con¬
tributed much towards securing the favourable re- j
port upon which the Act constituting the Society <

was based. _ _ _ _

THE CALENDAR.

An advertisement in another page announces the
fact that the Calendar of the Pharmaceutical Society
for 1880 is now ready, and we call attention to it
here, because we feel that were this valuable little
annual better known among pharmacists, much
trouble now spent in seeking information would be
saved. Besides the lists of persons associated with
the Society, the Pharmacy Acts and Charter, and
the list of subscribers to the Benevolent Fund, the
Calendar contains abstracts of a large number of
Acts of Parliament and General Orders more or less
affecting the carrying on of the business of a chemist
and druggist. A list of these will be found in the
advertisement. In the present issue also the Pre¬
liminary examination questions of the past year are
included. In thus putting within the reach of the
trade, for a nominal sum, a hand-book containing so
much information the Council renders a service that
might be taken more advantage of than at present is
the case. _ _ _ _

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association will be held on
Thursday next, 12th inst., when a paper will be read
by Mr. I.R. James, on “Ostrich and other Pepsmes.
u a Report on Botany ” will also be made by Mr.

F. W. Branson.

February 7, 1880.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.

625

irans^tions of tjjc flarmaqaitical fodttg.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

Wednesday , February 4, 1880.

MR. GEORGE FREDERICK SCHACHT, VICE-PRESIDENT, IN

THE CHAIR.

Present — Messrs. Atkins, Bottle, Churchill, Frazer,
Gostling, Greenish, Hampson, Hills, Mackay, Richardson,
Rimmington, Robbins, Savage, Shaw, Squire and Symes.

The Vice-President expressed his regret at the cause
which led to his presiding over the meeting that day,
namely, the illness of the President, Mr. Sandford, who
was suffering from bronchitis, from, which, however, he
was now recovering.

The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and
confirmed.

Examinations.

Mr. Mackay asked whether he might remind the
Council that some time ago it was arranged that there
should be an interchange of visits between the Board of
Examiners in London and the Board of Examiners in
Edinburgh, and that the two Boards should visit each
other in alternate years. There had now been a lapse of
two years in this interchange. He did not wish to move
a resolution on the subject, but simply to suggest that
some arrangement might be made by the Council and the
Board of Examiners by which a deputation might be
appointed to visit Edinburgh at the April examination,
or, if that was not convenient, at the July examination.
In that case the examinations would be arranged so as to
go on during the time that the deputation was present.
An immense amount of good had accrued from the pre¬
vious interchange of visits, inasmuch as the examinations
were now conducted as much like each other as any two
examinations could be.

Mr. Hampson asked whether there was a resolution on
the subject, and whether the Council was bound to send
a deputation to be present at the Scotch Board, or whether
it was only done once with an understanding that it might
be done again.

Mr. Mackay said that it was done more than once.

The Vice-President said that he felt sure that the
scope of the resolution was not simply that one visit
should be paid.

Mr. Shaw said that the resolution was passed on ac¬
count of a great diversity between the results of the
examinations by the Scotch Board and the English Board.
Was there now any difference between the results of the
two examining boards ? If so that might be a reason for
the resolution being carried out.

The subject was then dropped until later in the
meeting.

Members of the Council who Retire.

The lot being taken in the usual manner for the seven
members of the Council who should retire in May next,
the following names were drawn : —

Atkins. Rimmington. Sqdire.

Frazer. Savage. Symes.

Hampson.

The following who remained in by lot last year now
retire by rotation : —

Gostling. Mackay. Schacht.

Greenish. Sandford. Slipper.

HiHs.

The following remain in office for another year : —

Bottle. Robbins. Williams.

Churchill. Shaw. Woolley.

Richardson.

Elections.

members.

Pharmaceutical Chemists,

The following, having passed the Major examination
and tendered their subscriptions for the current year,
were elected “ Members ” of the Society

Evans, William Henry . London.

Gascoigne, Charles . Hurworth.

Kerr, Charles . Dundee.

McCallum, Hugh . Hong Kong.

McJannet, James . East London, S. Africa.

Shillcock, George . Bromley.

Chemists and Druggists.

The following registered Chemists and Druggists, who
were in business on their own account before August 1,
1868, having tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected Members of the Society : —

Callaway, Lemuel . Ipswich.

Henry, Edward Laurence . Lewisham.

Mullock, Richard . Birkenhead.

ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions, being in business on their own account, and having
tendered their subscriptions for the current year, were
elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society : —

Minor.

Brandsma, Dirk Gerhard . Ware.

Dawson, William . Greenwich.

Dixon, Herbert . London.

Freeland, Alonzo Joseph . Angmering.

Hobbs, John Kingdon . Harlesden.

Jones, James Lewis . Llanerchymedd.

Jones, Owen William . Flint.

Parker, Charles . Milnthorpe.

White, John Thomas . Wordsley.

Willis, Blankley William . Devizes.

Modified.

Frobisher, Frederick . Selly Oak.

Hick, John . London.

Littlejohn, Alexander . London.

Negus, Samuel Thomas . Northampton.

ASSOCIATES.

The following, having passed their respective examina¬
tions and tendered their subscriptions for the current
year, were elected “Associates” of the Society:

Minor.

Bates, Frederic William . Crowles.

Chadwick, John . Accrington.

Cock, James . South Molton.

Cormack, George . Fochabers.

Dow, William . Kinross.

George, John Irving . Tunstall.

Irving, Thomas Stableforth ...Spalding.

James, Thomas Cragg . Dalton-in-Furness.

Jones, William Harris . Abergavenny.

Littlefield, James Clarence . Ventnor.

Moon, George William . Malton.

Murison, John . Fyvie.

Newman, Alfred Pointon . Crewe.

Porteous, Arthur Alexander ...Kirkwall.

Richardson, Arthur . Epworth.

Tatam, Sam. Blackmore Charles. Ottery St. Mary.

Thompson, Thomas Clay . Bedworth.

Wilkins, Robert Elliott . Surbiton.

Winfrey, Richard . Long Sutton.

Wyborn, Edward . Reading.

Modified.

Dwyer, John . London.

APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.

The following, having passed the Preliminary examina¬
tion and tendered their subscriptions for the > current
year, were elected “Apprentices or Students of the

Society

Adam, James Bell D . j

Ansell, Alfred . Birkdale.

Arnott, Daniel . ...Pontypridd.

626

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 7, 1380.

Banbury, Richard . Camelford.

Batty, George Arthur . Gt. Driffield.

Bell, Thomas . London

Biggs, Frederick William . Lichfield.

Briggs, George William . Bui well.

Buxton, Thomas . . . Belper.

Carnaby, Francis William . Blyth.

Chadwick, Arthur . Leeds.

Chapman, Ingram William ...Crowle.

Clarke, Walter . Bromley.

Coates, William Henry . York.

Corder, Edmund Herbert . London.

Cox, George Frecker . Guernsey.

Dudley, Edwin B . Nottingham.

Davis, Norman . Sunderland.

Doig, John . . . Dundee.

Duckworth, Arthur . Rochdale.

Featherstone, William B . Birmingham.

Fieldsend, John Francis . Boston.

Flint, Francis Bramwell . Leek.

George, Alexander Cosgrave ...Rusholme.

Horne, Albert D . Manchester.

Humphries, Jacob . Cleckheaton.

Hunt, John Osbaldeston . London.

Jones, John Hughes . Llangollen.

Laing, Arthur L . Edinburgh.

Lloyd, James Clement... . Lewes.

Mack, William Wilson . Nottingham.

Martin, Alexander . . Leslie.

Nethereott, Walter John . Stroud.

Nicholson, Thomas Tanner . London.

Orange, Frederick Charles . Southsea.

Parker, Thomas Hei'bert . Bedford.

Robb, Thomas . Edinburgh.

Robinson, John Colburn . London.

Short, Frederick William . Chagford.

Smee, Walter Wallis . Axminster.

Smith, Harry James . Speenhamland.

Smith, William John . Nevvcastle-on-Tyne.

Stephenson, Thomas . Edinburgh.

Suttar, John . Peterhead.

Tozer, Frederick Early . Maidenhead.

Watson, Frederick Percy . Lincoln.

Watts, Francis . Wolverhampton.

Weddle, William . Gateshead.

Weighill, William Lancelot ...West Hartlepool.

Wilde, Francis . Andover.

Wilson, Alexander William ...Eastbourne.

Wood, Alfred Lyon . Stonehaven.

Wylde, Samuel Roe . Macclesfield.

Young, Herbert Edward . Binfield.

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

The names of the following persons, who have severally
made the required declarations and paid a fine of one
guinea, were restored to the Register of Chemists and
Druggists : —

William Henry Evans, 1, Culvert Road, Battersea
Park, London, S.W.

Anthony Tucker Roberts, 32, Buckingham Road,
Brighton.

Registration.

The Registrar said that three persons had severally
made the statutory declaration that they were in business
before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, and had
applied for enrolment upon the Register. The applica¬
tions were in due form, but as it appeared to him that
the Council was sometimes under the impression that he
did not exercise sufficient care in placing names on the
Register, he had thought that he would bring the names
before the Council before registering them. He would
read the applications which had been made and the
reports which he had received upon them.

The Vice-President said that the first question
seemed to be whether the Registrar was perfectly
justified in adopting such a course.

Mr. Symes thought that what the Registrar proposed
to do was perfectly unnecessary, unless there was some
doubt cast upon the cases.

Mr. Mackay thought that the Registrar ought to say
whether he had the sligntest doubt about the cases.

The Registrar said that he had not.

The Vice-President said that the Council had better
leave the responsibility of registration in the hands of
the Registrar.

Mr. Mackay asked whether it was to be understood
that the Council was satisfied with the way in which
names had been placed hitherto upon the Register ?
Was it an undoubted fact that the claims of all the
persons whose names had been recently placed on the
Register were perfectly satisfactory ?

The Registrar said that he should never think of
placing any name on the Register unless he was tho¬
roughly satisfied of the legitimacy of the claim. He might
mention that the Council had recently placed a man upon
the Register with whose claim he was not at all satisfied.
He had