V
ROYAL BOTANIC GA RDENS, KEW.
MUSEUM LIBRARY.
X
y
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from BHL-SIL-FEDLINK
*
https://archive.org/details/pharmaceuticaljo2618phar
PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL
AND
TRANSACTIONS.
SECOND SERIES.
VOLUME VI.
18G4-65.
LONDON :
JOHN CHURCHILL AND SONS,
NEW BURLINGTON STREET;
MACLACHLAN & STEWART, Edinburgh ; and EANNIN & Co., Dublin.
1865.
PRINTED LY
JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, LITTLE QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS.
CONTENTS
SECOND SERIES, VOL. VI.— 1864-5.
No. I.
The Conditions of Membership, 1 — The Minor Examination, 4 — Legislation affecting Pharmacy, 5.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 5 — Benevolent Fund, 6 — List of Members, Associates, and Apprentices ( continued ), 6.
Original and Extracted Articles : Lectures on the British Pharmacopoeia — On the Relation of the British Pharmacopoeia to Pharmacology. Lecture II. Dr. John Attfield, E.C.S {concluded), 7 — On the Amount of Alkaloids in the Cinchona Trees cultivated in Java. Dr. J. E. De Try, 15. — On the Use of Quinovic Acid (Cin¬ chona Bitter) in Medicine. Dr. J. E. D. Try, 18 — On the Root-Bark of the Cin- chonse. J. E. Howard, F.L.S., 19 — The Pharmacopoeia Process for Citrate of Iron and Quinine. Mr. E. Fleurot, 21— Tyson’s Process for Blue Pill. Dr. Aldridge, 21 — On the Causes of Change in Seed-Oils. Mr. C. Tomlinson, 23 — The Leech- Destroyer. Mr. R. G. Mumbray, 23 — Percolation and Maceration. Mr. J. C. Pooley, 23 — Liquor Ferri Perchloridi. Mr. A. Utley, 24 — Pharmaceutical Le¬ gislation. Mr. John Tuck, 24 — The Proposed Pharmacy Act. Mr. E. B. Yizer, 26. Mr. F. Tibbs, 27. A Minor Associate, 28 — The Late Mr. Barry, 29 — Memoir of Luke Howard, 34 — Note on an Alkaloid obtained from the Seeds of Ricinus communis, or Castor-Oil Plant. Professor Tuson, 35 — Metric Weights and Measiires Act of 1864, 36 — Miscellanea , 37 — Reviews: The Essentials of Materia Medica. Alfred Baring Garrod, M.D. etc., 39 — A Companion to the Pharmacopoeia. Peter Squire, E.L.S., 41 — The Prescriber’s Analysis of the British Pharmacopoeia. J. Birkbeck Kevins, M.D. etc., 43 — Bootes Received , 44 — Cor - re pondents , 44.
No. II.
Separate Examinations for Chemists already in Business on their own Account, 45.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 47 — List of Mem¬ bers, Associates, and Apprentices {continued) , 47 — Benevolent Fund, 47.
Original and Extracted A Hides : On the Red Variety of Pitayo Bark. J. E. Howard, F.L.S., etc. {with cuts), 48 — On the Determination of the amount of Alkaloids in Cinchona Bark. Dr. J. E. De Vry, 50 — The Rice Paper of Formosa. Mr. Robert Swinhoe, 52 — On Accidental Poisoning in connection with the Responsibilities of Dispensing Chemists. Mr. Henry B. Brady, 53 — Tyson’s Process for Blue Pill. Dr. Aldridge, 56 — Emplastrum Hydrargyri. Mr. T. Blunt, 56 — On the Process of the British Pharmacopoeia for Preparing Linimentum Aconiti, and on
IV
CONTENTS.
the Medical Agency of the Linimentum so Prepared. M. Donovan, M.R.I.A., etc., 57 — On Aconitia and its Physiological Effects. Mr. Ernest Hottot, 59 — On My- roxylon Toluiferum, and the Mode of Procuring the Balsam of Tolu. John Weir, GO — On the Properties of Silicic Acid and other Analogous Collodial Substances. Thomas Graham, F.R.S., etc., 63 — Lighthouse Illuminating by Magneto-Electricity. J. H. Gladstone, Ph.D., etc., 67 — On the Chemical History of Gun-Cotton. Pro¬ fessor Abel, F.R.S., etc., 71 — Report on the Industry of Manures, 83 — Action of Iodine, Bromine, and Chlorine upon Sugar, 90 — Miscellanea, 91 — Boolcs Received , 92 — Correspondents , 92.
No. TIL
Pharmaceutical Responsibility, 93 — British Pharmaceutical Conference, 99.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : — Meeting of Council, 97 — List of Mem¬ bers elected, 97 — Benevolent Fund, 97.
Provincial Transactions : Excursion of the Liverpool Chemists’ Association, 97 — - British Pharmaceutical Conference, 99.
Original and Extracted Articles: Notes on the Cases of Poisoning by Calabar Beans, at Liverpool. J. Baker Edwards, Ph.C., etc., 99 — Abstract of the Report of the Committee of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society on Chloroform, 100 — On Boiling Water. W. R. Grove, Q.C., F.R.S., etc., 106 — Gun-Cotton. John Scott Russell, F.R.S., 111 — On Literary and Scientific Studies in connection with Medi¬ cine. J. JI. Balfour, M.D., etc., 119 — Professor Balfour on Botanical Science and the Bible, 121 — Report on the Industry of Manures. A. W. Hofmann, Ph.D., etc. {continued) , 123 — The Manufacture of Vegetable Oils, 127 — Accidental Poisoning by Strychnine, 129 — Case of Poisoning by Strychnine : Action against the Chemists for Damages, 133 — Poisoning by Calabar Beans, 134 — The Late Accident at Liver¬ pool, 137 — Legislation affecting Pharmacy, 138 — Miscellanea, 138 — Boolcs Re¬ ceived, 140 — Correspondents , 140.
No. IV.
The Sixth Report of the Medical Officer of the Privy Council, with Appendix, 141.
British Pharmaceutical Conference, 143.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 143 — British Phar¬ maceutical Conference — Bath Meeting, 144.
Original and Extracted Articles : Professor Taylor’s Report on Poisoning, and the Dispensing, Vending, and Keeping of Poisons, 172 — Report of the Medical Officer of the Privy Council on Accidental and Criminal Poisoning, 184 — Pharmaceutical Responsibility. Messrs. Clay and Abraham, 187 — Letter from “J. C.,” 190 — The Supply of Cod-Liver Oil. Mr. R. Howden, 191 — A New Indian Vermi¬ fuge, 192 — Boolcs Received , 192 — Correspondents, 192.
No. V.
On the Duties and Responsibilities of the Chemist in Dispensing Medicines, 193.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 196 — List of Mem¬ bers, Associates, and Apprentices ( continued ), 196 — Pharmaceutical Meeting — Do¬ nations to the Library and Museum, 197 — The Distribution of Prizes, 199 — A Contribution to the History of Balsam of Peru. Dr. Attfield, 204.
Original and. Extracted Articles : Extraction and Preservation of Aromata. C. R. C. ' Tichborne, F.C.S., 206 — On Commercial Carbonate of Bismuth. Mr. C. Umney, 208. — Pharmaceutical Application of Glycerine. Mr. F. Baden Benger, 209 — Applica¬ tion of Dialysis in Determining the Crystalline Constituents of Plants. Dr. Att¬ field, 212 — Purity of Foreign Iodide of Potassium. Mr. F. C. Clayton, 214 — On a
CONTENTS.
V
Test for Methylic Alcohol. Mr. J. Tuck, 215 — Report on Weights and Measures used in Pharmacy. Mr. B. Proctor, 218 — On Microscopical Research. Messrs. Beane and Brady, 232 — On the Purity of Sulphate of Quinine. Mr. Walter Stod- dart, 241 — On Commercial Podophyllin. Mr. James Spearing, 244 — A Chemist’s Holiday Jottings in France. Mr. Daniel Hanbury, 245 — On the Rancidity of Fats. Thomas B. Groves, F.C.S., 249 — On the Processes for Preparing Tinctures. Mr. W. D. Savage, 254 — On the Cultivation of Medicinal Plants. Mr. T. T. P. Bruce Warren, 256 — On the Preparation of Concentrated Infusions. Mr. T. Grundy, 259 — Note on Potentilla Torment-ilia. Mr. John Adams, 260 — On the Calabar Bean. Mr. J. B. Edwards, Ph.D., F.C.S., 261 — On the Morphia Salts of Commerce. Mr. W. E. Heathfield, 262 — On Commercial Phosphoric Acid. R. Parkinson, Ph.D., 264— On the Assay of the Alkaloids. T. B. Groves, F.C.S., 268 — • On the Purity of Commercial Powder of Opium, etc. Mr. Rimmington, 275 — On an Improved Wine of Iron. H. N. Draper, F.C.S., and Mr. Whitla, 277 — On Commercial Wine of Iron. Francis Stltton, F.C.S., 278 — Report on Citrate of Iron and Quinine. Mr. J. C. Braithwaite, 280 — A Case of Attempted Criminal Abortion at Brighton, 284, 291— Medical and Pharmaceutical Responsibility, 287 — • 290 — Dispensing Department. Mr. J. Leay, 289 — Test for Methylic Alcohol. Mr. E. J. Reynolds, 292 — Medical Titles, 293 — Obituary: Thomas Herring, 294 — Books Received, 295 — Correspondents , 296.
No. VI.
Separate Examinations for Chemists already in Business on their own Account, 297.
The Proposed New Pharmacy Bill, 298.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 300 — Benevolent Fund, 300 — List of Members, Associates, and Apprentices ( continued ) 300 — Phar¬ maceutical Meeting: Donations to the Library and Museum, 301 — Howell’s Safety Poison Capsule, 302 — On the Production of Hydrocyanic Acid from Bitter Cassava Root. By W. F. Daniell, M.D., F.L.S., etc., 302 — On some of the Extracts of the British Pharmacopoeia prepared from the Dry Material. Mr. F. Haselden, 304.
Provincial Transactions : Liverpool Chemists’ Association, 310 — Leeds Chemists’ Association, 320.
Original and Extracted Articles : The Application of the Starch Test for Detecting Iodide in Bromide of Potassium. Mr. W. Huskisson, jun., 322- — Commercial Bromide of Potassium. Mr. C. Umney, 324 — State of Pharmacy in France. Mr. Charles Ekin, 324 — State of Pharmacy in France : Extracts from the Report of the Commission, etc., 326 — Pharmacy in- America. Mr. W. Wilmott, 328 — Phar¬ maceutical Responsibility. Mr. Henry Deane, 328— Death by Poisoning. Mr. R. Goodwin Mumbray, 329 — Liquor Ferri Perchloridi. Mr. J. T. Miller, 331 — Poi¬ sonous Principle of Bitter Cassava Root. Mr. G. Mee, 332 — The Methylic Al¬ cohol Test. Mr. John Tuck, 333 — Fraud and Death. Mr. William Wysall, 334 — On the Metal Indium and Recent Discoveries in Spectrum Analysis. Professor Roscoe, 334 — -A Colourless Varnish, 33S — The British Pharmaceutical Conference and the American Pharmaceutical Association, 339 — Miscellanea , 340 — Case for the Benevolent, 343— Books Received, 344 — Correspondents, 344.
No. VII.
The Proposed Legislation affecting Pharmacy, 345 — The Benevolent Fund, 346. Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 348 — List of Members, Associates, and Apprentices ( continued ), 348 — Pharmaceutical Meeting: Donations to the Library and Museum, 349 — On the Botanical Origin of Gamboge. Daniel Hanbury, F.L.S., 349— On some of the Extracts of the British Pharmaco¬ poeia prepared from the Dry Material ( continued ) : Extractum Kramerice. Mr. A.
VI
•CONTENTS.
F. Haselden, 351— On Nitrite of Soda. Mr. A. J. Roberts, 354 — Donations, etc., to the Benevolent Fund, 357 — Regulations of the Benevolent Fund, 360 — Pharma¬ ceutical Society, Edinburgh, 362.
Provincial Transactions : Leeds Chemists’ Association, 373 — Meeting of Chemists and Druggists at Glasgow, 376— Meeting of Chemists and Druggists at Leicester, 379.
Original and Extracted Articles : The Extended Pharmacy Act. E., 380 — On the Use of Alcohol as a Test for the Purity of Croton Oil. By Robert Warington, F.R.S., etc., 382 — Note on Mr. Warington’s Paper, entitled ‘ On the Use of Alco¬ hol as a Test for the Purity of Croton Oil.’ By Professor Bentley, 387 — The Methylic Alcohol Test. Mr. E. J. Reynolds, 389 — Poison Preventives. Mr. E. W. Barnett, 389. Mr. T. Barling, 390 — Alleged Poisoning by Strychnia, 391 — Fatal Explosion of Oxygen Gas, 391 — Books Received, 392 — Correspondents, 392.
No. VIII.
Progress made with reference to Pharmaceutical Legislation, 393.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 395 — List of Mem¬ bers, Associates, and Apprentices ( continued ), 395 — Pharmaceutical Meeting : Notes on the Chlorides of Iron, and the Methods of making Solution of Perchloride of Iron of constant strength. J. Attfield, Pli.D., F.C.S., 396 — On a New Form of Ointment of Stavesacre and its Application in certain Cutaneous Diseases. Bal- manno Squire, M.B., F.L.S., 405 — Discovery of Theine in Eola Nuts, 407— On the Purification of Essential Oil of Almonds. Mr. W. A. Tilden, 407 — Pharmaceu¬ tical Society, Edinburgh, 409.
Provincial Transactions : Liverpool Chemists’ Association, 416 — Leeds Chemists’ As¬ sociation, 417 — Bath Chemists’ Association, 422 — Chemical Discussion Association of the Pharmaceutical Society, 425.
Meetings on Pharmacy Bill : Edinburgh Meeting, 425 — Meeting of the Liverpool Chemists and Druggists, 426 — Meeting of the Chemists and Druggists in Not¬ tingham, 430- — Meeting of Chemists and Druggists at Southampton, 431.
Original and Extracted Articles : Notes on Conessine, alias Wrightine. R. Haines, M.B., 432 — Cochineal Colouring. Dr. George Dickson, 434 — Sea-weed Wine. Mr. R. W. Tamplin, 435 — Purified Oil of Bitter Almonds. Messrs. Preston and Sons, 435 — Poison Bottles. Mr. T. H. Holloway, 435 — A Simple and Practical S: ggestion for Preventing Mistakes and Accidental Poisoning. Mr. Henry Long, 436 — Accidental Poisoning. Mr. Henry Barnaby, 437 — Proposed Legislation and the Benevolent Fund, 437 — The Meeting of Chemists at Glasgow. Mr. A. Kinin- mont, 438 — The Chemists of Salisbury, 439 — Annual Meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association, 1864, 440 — Miscellanea , 441 — Reviews : Treatment of Diseases of the Skin. Dr. W. Frazer, 442 — Skin Diseases. Tilbury Fox, M.D., 442 — The Philosophy of Health. Southwood Smith, M.D., 443 — The Year Book of Pharmacy. Messrs. C. H. Wood and C. Sharp, 444 — Obituary, 444 — Books Received , 444 — Corespondents , 444.
No. IX.
Questions relating to the Pharmacy Bill, 445.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 447 — List of Mem¬ bers, Associates, and Apprentices {continued), 447 — Benevolent Fund, 448 — Phar¬ maceutical Meeting : On the Kola-Nut of Tropical West Africa (The Guru-Nut of Soudan). W. F. Daniell, M.D., F.L.S., etc., 450 — On the Food-Value of the Kola- Nut — A New Source of Theine. John Attfield, Ph.D., F.C.S., 457 — On the Bo¬ tanical Origin of Savanilla Rhatany. Daniel Hanbury, F.L.S., 460 — Pharmaceu¬ tical Society, Edinburgh, 462.
CONTENTS.
Vll
Provincial Transactions: Liverpool Chemists’ Association, 465 — Leeds Chemists’ As¬ sociation, 468 — Meeting of Chemists and Druggists at York, 469.
Original and Extracted Articles : Tinct. Ferri Perchloridi. diaries Ekin, F.C.S., 473 — The Pharmacy Bill. Mr. Barnard S. Proctor, 471 — The Pharmacy Bill. Mr. W. Wilson, 447 — -The Proposed Legislation and the Benevolent Fund. “ G.,” 479 — On the Use of Litmus Tincture for Indicating the Point of Centralization of Acids and Alkalies by Gras-light. Mr. C. M. Blades, 479 — The Preservation of Leeches. Mr. C. F. Bevan, 479 — Some Curious Facts relating to the above, 480 — - On the Discrimination of Organic Bodies by their Optical Properties. Prof. Gr. Gr. Stokes, M.A., 481 — Uses of the Horse-Chestnut, 488 — Miscellanea , 489 — Boohs Received, 492 — Correspondents , 492
No. X.
On the Pharmaceutical Society and Chemists and Druggists, 493 — The Two Bills for Regulating the Qualifications of Chemists and Druggists, 495 — The Two Societies, from which the Bills have emanated, 499.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society .- Meeting of Council, 505 — List of Mem¬ bers, Associates, and Apprentices ( continued ), 505 — Financial Statement, 506 — Botanical Prize, 507 — Pharmaceutical Meeting : Donations to the Library and Mu¬ seum, 507 — On the Phosphate of Ammonia of British Pharmacopoeia. Mr. John Watts, 507 — On a Better Mode of Preparing Red Oxide of Mercury Ointment. Alexander Balmanno Squire, M.B., etc., 512 — Note on Chinese Sal Ammoniac. Daniel Hanbury, F.L.S., 514 — Pharmaceutical Society, Edinburgh, 515.
Provincial Transactions : Glasgow Chemists and Druggists’ Festival, 516.
Original and Extracted Articles .- The Bills to Regulate the Qualifications of Che¬ mists and Druggists, 516, 520 — Pharmaceutical Legislation. “ Opifex,” 525 — - False Accusation against a Local Socretary, 527 — Pharmaceutical Legislation. J. S. F. Richardson, F.C.S., 528 — Sale of Poisons. Mr. W. Wilkinson, 530 — Import¬ ance of the Appointment of Local Secretaries. A Country Member, 531 — New System of Examinations, 532 — The Two Measures. Mr. B. Yizer, 532 — Fire In¬ surance. Mr. M. Carteighe, 533 — Detection of Methylic Alcohol. Mr. J. F. Miller, 534 — The New Light. Mr. W. Willmott, 536 — Substitution of Corrosive Sublimate for Steedman’s Powder, 539 — Effects of the Calabar Bean as an Antidote to Poisoning by Atropia, 541 — On the Citrine Ointment of the British Pharmaco¬ poeia. Mr. M. Donovan, 541 — Magnesium : its Preparation and Properties. Mr. E. J. Reynolds, 543 — Bismuthi et Ammoniae Citras. Mr. N. Gray Bartlett, 545 — Cantliarides of the Argentine Provinces. Dr. Hermann Burmeister, 548 — On the Preparation of Liq. Ferri Perchlor., P.B. Mr. William Jardine, 549 — Cochineal Colouring, 552, 553 — Pharmacopoeia of India, 553 — Review : Manual of Practical Therapeutics. Mr. E. J. Waring, 554 — Poisoning by Arnica Liniment, 555 — - Boohs Received , 556 — Correspondents , 556.
No. XI.
The Proposed Legislation Affecting Pharmacy, 557.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meeting of Council, 560 — List of Mem¬ bers, Associates, and Apprentices ( continued ), 560 — Benevolent Fund, 561 — Phar¬ maceutical Meeting : Donations to the Library and Museum, 562 — Resina Jalapae, P.B. Mr. A. F. Haselden, 563 — On the Construction of a Pharmacopoeia. Pro¬ fessor Redwood, 565 — Pharmaceutical Society, Edinburgh, 575.
Provincial Transactions : Leeds Chemists’ Association, 582 — Meeting of Pharmaceu¬ tists at Leeds, 583.
Original and Extracted Articles: Microscopical Researches on the Alkaloids, as existing in Chinchona Bark. J. E. Howard. F.L.S., etc., {with plates), 581 — Phar¬ maceutical Legislation, 588 — Report of the Committee of the Medical Council on
Vlll
CONTENTS.
the Pharmacy Bill, 601 — Public Opinion on the Two Bills, 603 — Opposition to Free Trade. Mr. W. Rayner, 610 — Letter from Mr. Buott, 610 — Action of Perman¬ ganate of Potash on Glycerine. Mr. George Mee, 613 — Preparation of Liquor Bismuthi. T. P. Blunt, F.C.S., 613 — Cochineal Colouring. Mr. Robert Palmer, 615 — On the Arsenic-Eaters of Styria. Dr. Maclagan, 615 — Hooks Received , 620 • — Correspondents , 620.
No. NIL
The Proposed Legislation affecting Pharmacy, 621.
Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society : Meetings of Council, 623 — List of Mem¬ bers, Associates, and Apprentices ( continued ), 623 — Conversazione, 624 — The Twenty-Fourth Anniversary Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society, 627 — Adjourned Meeting : Election of Council, 639.
Original and Extracted Articles : Liquor Bismuthi. C. R. C. Tichborne, F.C.S., etc., 640 — On Mr. Miller’s Method for the Detection of Methvlic Alcohol. Harry Napier Draper, F.G'.S., etc., 641 — Spontaneous Oxidation of Amorphous (Red) Phosphorus. T. B. Groves, F.C.S., 643 — Poisoning by Oxallic Acid and Strych¬ nine. Mr. E. Hollier, 643 — Chemists: Pains and Penalties. “ J. B.,” 645 — Counter Practice. Mr. H. Clayton, 647 — Distillation by Steam. Mr. R. W. Giles, 647 — Unguentum Hydrargyri Nitratis. Mr. George Mee, 648 — On Magenta and its Derivative Colours. Frederick Field, F.R.S., 650 — Cork and its Uses. Mr. John R. Jackson, 652 — The Pharmaceutist as a Merchant. Mr. Frederick Stearns, 655 — Note on Caramania Gum. Mr. William Proctor, Jun., 658 — New Process for making Fluid Extracts, 658 — Gullibility of the Public, 659 — Fatal Explosion in Making Oxygen Gas, 659 — Pharmacy in Australia, 661 — Magnesium, 662 — Mysteri¬ ous Case of Poisoning at Dawlish, 662 — Miscellanea, 663 — British Pharmaceutical Conference, 665 — Books Received , 668 — Correspondence , 668.
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
SECOND SERIES.
YOL. VI.— No. I.— JULY 1st, 1864.
THE CONDITIONS OE MEMBERSHIP.
Since the period at which the Pharmaceutical Society was rising to the posi¬ tion of an established institution, there has never, we believe, been a more general and anxious desire manifested for admission to membership than exists at the present time. The question — “ What are the steps necessary for gaining admission to the Society ?” — is so frequently addressed to the Secretary, that it has been thought desirable to give in this form the information which is asked for by many, and is no doubt wished for by a still greater number. The inquiries to which we refer, do not emanate alone from young men who are studying with a view to their establishment as Pharmaceutical Chemists, but also and espe¬ cially from chemists and druggists already engaged in business on their own ac¬ count. This affords satisfactory evidence of the soundness of the principles upon which the decisions and established regulations of the Society have been founded. The public discussion of questions relating to the constitution, the ob¬ jects, and operations of our Institution appears to induce an increased desire to become connected with it, and the more firmly the application of a test of qua¬ lification is adhered to as a necessary condition to membership, the more is the attainment of the object desired, and the more when attained is it appreciated.
It is a natural tendency of the human mind to try to escape from a pre¬ scribed task which interferes with the voluntary excursions of thought, and in¬ volves a daily or habitual application of the mental energies in a specified direc¬ tion. This prescribed work, although a wholesome discipline, essential to the proper training of the mind in youth, is always more or less irksome, and it becomes especially so to those who have passed from the age of pupilage and entered upon the duties and distracting occupations of manhood. Yet it is quite possible to give way to this feeling unduly, and no man will ever regret the re¬ sult of efforts made to stimulate the mind to increased activity, especially when this is made the means of attaining to a higher social or professional position. The more severe may be the mental discipline imposed, the greater will be the satisfaction felt when the object sought for has been attained.
But we do not wish it to be thought that the ordeal imposed upon those who are seeking to enter the Pharmaceutical Society, is such as any man with mo¬ derate abilities and powers of application need fear to encounter. In an article following this the nature of an examination is described, and it will be found to be truly practical, and calculated fully and fairly to test the fitness of the candi¬ date for the duties he proposes to undertake. No one, of course, would think
VOL. VI. B
2
THE CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP.
of offering himself for examination without some previous preparation, and the only difficulty that can attend the undertaking is to know how to set about this preparation, and to find the time and application for its accomplishment. We propose on some future occasion to devote an article to the subject of prepara¬ tion for the examinations. At present we have merely to point out what are the steps to be taken to become registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists, Assistants, and Apprentices, and for obtaining admission into the Pharmaceutical Society.
tSTo person can be placed upon the Register or admitted into the Society with¬ out passing an examination.
Any person, after passing the required ordeal and receiving a certificate to that effect, is entitled, on payment of the specified fee, to be registered as Phar¬ maceutical Chemist, Assistant, or Apprentice, as the case may be. This gives him the title and privileges resulting from registration under the Pharmacy Act, but it does not make him in any way connected with the Pharmaceutical Society.
Those who have passed the examinations are entitled to registration, but they are only eligible for admission into the Society. Hence Registration follows as a necessary consequence of passing an examination, whereas admission into the Society, although founded upon the same qualification, is the result of a distinct application made afterwards, and it involves the payment of a separate subscrip¬ tion.
There appears to have been a good deal of misapprehension upon this subject, and it may be well therefore to endeavour to make it as clear as possible.
An apprentice proposes to be registered under the Pharmacy Act ; he there¬ fore presents himself for the classical examination, and on passing it, and pay¬ ing a fee of two guineas, he is placed on the Register. If it be asked, what has he gained by this ? it may be answered, that he has taken the first step, and paid the first instalment of the fee, for becoming a Pharmaceutical Chemist. But it may be asked, does he derive any immediate benefit, or anything in return for the payment of the fee ? In reply to this it may be stated that he has the benefit of calling himself a Registered Apprentice, which implies that he possesses the first qualification for the higher position of assistant or phar¬ maceutist, but he has not yet entitled himself to anything more. If he desires at once to enjoy the advantages of association with the Pharmaceutical Society, he must apply to the Secretary for admission as a Registered Apprentice of the Society. This he will receive as a matter of course, on presenting his certifi¬ cate, which implies the requisite qualification, but he will now have to pay a subscription of half- a- guinea a year to the Society. In return for this subscrip¬ tion he will receive the 1 Pharmaceutical Journal’ without payment, he will be admitted to the lectures provided by the Society on the payment of half the fees otherwise charged, he will have free admission to the Library and Museum of the Society, and be eligible to compete for the Bell Scholarships, besides enjoy¬ ing other advantages conferred by the institution.
At the end of his apprenticeship, or earlier it may be, he desires to take the next step, and be registered as a qualified assistant. To enable him to do this he must pass the Minor Examination of the Pharmaceutical Society. In pre¬ paring himself for this examination some amount of systematic study is neces¬ sary, and if he has the means of doing so, he will no doubt avail himself of the instruction provided by the Society, and at the same time will reap the benefit of his connection with the Society. On passing the Minor Examination, and paying the fee (which, as he is a registered apprentice, will be three guineas, otherwise it would be five guineas), he receives a certificate of qualification as an assistant, and is registere 1 as such. lie has now taken the second step towards becoming a Pharmaceutical Chemist, but in doing this he has ceased to be a Registered Apprentice, having passed to a higher grade. His examination, however, has only entitled him to registration as in the former case, and if he wishes to belong to the Society, and continue to enjoy the resulting privileges,
THE CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP.
3
lie must now apply to be admitted as an Associate. This would be granted, as a matter of course, on his presenting his certificate of qualification, and pay¬ ing the annual subscription of half-a- guinea, — the same as he paid as a Regis¬ tered Apprentice. Associates, as well as apprentices or students, enjoy the same privileges and benefits of the Society as members, excepting the right of being present at the general meetings of the Society, or of holding office, or voting in the Society.
The position and title acquired by passing the Minor Examination and being registered as a qualified assistant are held under the authority of the Pharmacy Act, and may be retained throughout the lifetime of the possessor. Not so, however, the position of Associate of the Pharmaceutical Society, for as the charter requires that associates shall be assistants to chemists and druggists, it follows that they must cease to be associates when they go into business on their own account. They must, then, become members or cease to belong to the Society. This, at least, is the present state of the law and regulations of the Society ; but it will be recollected that, according to the proposed new Phar¬ macy Bill, the Minor Examination will afford a qualification for men in busi¬ ness as well as for assistants.
Following out the case of the individual whose course we have traced from the commencement of his apprenticeship, we may assume that he now desires to take the highest grade, by passing the Major Examination. On presenting himself for this examination, he must show that he is at least twenty-one years of age, but no other condition is imposed upon him. It is not necessary that he should have attended any lectures, or pursued any particular course of study ; all that is required is that he should satisfy the examiners that he possesses the requisite amount of knowledge on the subjects on which he is examined. On passing the examination, he pays a fee, which, including what he has previously paid, amounts to ten guineas, and he is registered as a Pharmaceutical Chemist. He has now fulfilled all that the law requires. He may go into business, and call himself a pharmaceutical chemist. But here again, as before, the registra¬ tion does not connect him with the Society, or make him a member. If he wishes to be a member of the Pharmaceutical Society, he must apply for admis¬ sion, and pay the subscription of one guinea a year, or the life-member’s com¬ mutation fee of twenty guineas. But there is yet another condition essential to membership, and that is, that he should either be or have been in business on his own account. He may pass the Major Examination before going, or even intending to go, into business. He may, therefore, be registered and have the title of pharmaceutical chemist while he is yet an assistant, but he cannot yet take up his membership in the Society ; and if he desires to retain his connec¬ tion with the Society, he must remain as an associate until he enters into busi¬ ness on his own account.
It will thus be seen that those who pass the examinations and are registered as pharmaceutical chemists, assistants, and apprentices under the Pharmacy Act, do not necessarily belong to the Pharmaceutical Society, although all who belong to the Society are necessarily registered, and none can now be registered without being examined. The register contains the names of all those who possess the qualifications required by law as specified in the Pharmacy Act. It comprises all the members, associates, and registered apprentices of the Phar¬ maceutical Society, but it also includes others who, having passed the examina¬ tions and thus become registered, have rested satisfied with these distinctions, and have not sought the more prominent position acquired by connection with the Society. The list which is published annually and is appended to the present number of this Journal, contains the names of the members, associates, and apprentices of the Society, but this list does not comprise all who are registered, and those, therefore, who do not belong to the Society, although registered, will not find their names in this list. Some of those who have stopped short at the
4
THE MINOR EXAMINATION.
point of registration have done so from ignorance rather than design, being under the impression that having passed the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society, and paid the fees demanded on examination, they had thereby become entitled to all the privileges and benefits the Society affords to those who be¬ long to it. A slight investigation of the circumstances of the case would show how unreasonable such an expectation would be, and how impossible would be its realization. The maintenance of an establishment in Bloomsbury Square with all the means provided there for promoting the cultivation of pharmaceu¬ tical science, and the extension of pharmaceutical knowledge, including the gra¬ tuitous circulation of a scientific journal, are undertakings which could only be accomplished by the combined efforts and special contributions of an extensive association like that of the Pharmaceutical Society.
THE MINOR EXAMINATION.
Whatever differences of opinion may exist upon other measures connected with Pharmacy, all seem to be agreed that an examination of some kind is ab¬ solutely necessary, both for the sake of the public and for the best interests of pharmaceutists themselves. The Minor Examination has been specially brought into notice of late, and as many persons may have imperfect or mistaken ideas of its character, an account of it is subjoined from the pen of an eye-witness.
“ When a young man presented himself for the Minor Examination, the course adopted was as follows : — He first took his seat with the examiner in prescriptions, and a book was presented to him, full of those which had been actually made up at the counters • of various dispensing chemists. They were not written to puzzle him. but were the actual prescriptions pasted into the book ; those which he might have had to make up if in a situation, or such as he might be required to make up the next day. He was asked to translate them in full and at length, to give the literal English, and to give also that translation of the directions which he would write upon the label. He then passed to the dis¬ pensing-counter, when a prescription was handed to him, and he was required to make it up, sealing, finishing, and directing, as he would to a customer. His correctness and neatness and readiness in doing this were noted by the examiner, with the order in which he mixed the ingredients, and every other particular which marks a trustworthy and competent dispenser, and then he passed on to the Pharmacy table. Here he was shown the tinctures, powders, extracts, etc., of the Pharmacopoeia, unlabelled , such as P. Rhei, P. Myrrhse, Pil. Ilydrarg., Pulv. Doveri, Ext. Hyoscy., Tinct. Opii, etc., and he was expected, by smell, taste, and appearance, to recognize them ; he was questioned as to their composi¬ tion, the manner of preparing them, the proportion of opium, mercury, or active ingredients in each, etc. ; and then he took his place to be examined in Chemistry. Here he was shown the chemicals Hydrarg. Bichlorid., Alum, Potass. Iodid., etc., and questioned in the same way about them. He next presented himself at the Botany table. This was covered with fresh specimens of medicinal plants in flower, Conium, Hyoscyamus, Digitalis, etc., and he was expected to name them. Information as to the outlines of the science was sought, such as the difference between exogenous and endogenous plants, the names of the various parts, and the marks of some of the common classes. Then he went to the Ma¬ teria Medica, where roots, leaves, gums, etc., were spread out before him, and he was expected to recognize them, and distinguish between different sorts, — Indian and Alexandrian senna, Turkey and Egyptian opium, good and bad Gum Arabic, etc., and to give some information about the countries and sources from whence they came. This was the plan for all ; some began with one thing and some with another, but all went through exactly the same course. .Each ex-
TRANSACTIONS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY.
aminer gave a number to the candidate, according to his merit : 10 was the highest that could be attained ; some candidates received 8 for one thing and 5 for another, and 7 for a third, and so forth; but when all were added up, the average must be 5, or the candidate was not passed.”
Now, we are bold to ask, if this examination be not a good practical one, what examination can be so ? Is not this knowledge that which is required to make a man a good sound pharmaceutist, such as the public may safely trust, and such as they have a right to seek ? And is there anything in this which an apprentice of ordinary talents and diligence ought not to be able to pass with honour at the close of his apprenticeship? Of course the Major is more difficult, more scientific acquaintance with all these subjects is sought ; but nothing then is required from a young man which a few months’ study will not impart.
Amongst those who present themselves, chemists already in business are fre¬ quently found ; and it is much to be desired that every facility should be offered to those who are desirous of doing this. There are two hindrances which natu¬ rally influence the man in business ; he is unwilling to mingle with assistants and juniors, and to be examined with them. This has frequently engaged the attention of the Council, and there is no doubt that they would willingly arrange an examination, either in the evening or at any other suitable time, which should be for those in business only, if a sufficient number were to signify their readi¬ ness to avail themselves of it ; and then it is, no doubt, felt by those in busi¬ ness, that their time for technical study has gone by, and that however qualified they may feel themselves for the practical conduct of their business, they might be rejected because of their want of scientific knowledge. To this it may be replied, that the ordering of the examination is with the Council, and that they have both the will and the power to vary it, according to the persons to be ex¬ amined ; that the knowledge required of men in business would be very diffe¬ rent from that which would be sought from a young man fresh from his studies ; and that the sound practical acquaintance with his business, which a respectable chemist possesses, would be sure to satisfy (in his case) the examiners appointed by the Council.
LEGISLATION AEEECTING TRADE.
The County Courts Acts Amendment Bill , which was introduced in the House of Lords by the Lord Chancellor, and which, although containing some useful provisions, would, if joassed in its original form, have injuriously affected many tradesmen who have frequently to give long credit, was withdrawn on the 17tli of June.
TRANSACTIONS
OF
TILE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY.
AT A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, June 1st, 1864,
Present — Messrs. Bird, Bottle, Deane, George Edwards, Hanbnry, Haselden, Herring, Hills, Morson, Orridge, Proctor, Sandford, Savage, Squire, Standring, and Waugh.
Being the first Meeting after the Anniversary, the following Officers of the Society were elected : —
George Webb Sandford . President.
Thomas Hyde Hills . Vice-President.
Daniel Bell PIanbury . Treasurer.
Elias Bremridge . Secretary and Registrar.
6
TRANSACTIONS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY.
The usual Committees and the Boards of Examiners for England and Wales, and for Scotland were appointed. A Committee was also appointed to watch Parliamentary Proceedings.
Local Secretaries, on the Report of the Scrutineers, were appointed on the same prin¬ ciple as adopted last year,* and the List was ordered to be published in the ensuing number of the Journal and Transactions.
The following were elected —
MEMBERS.
Henry Archibald Hinton . London.
Roger Hughes . Denbigh.
John Hind Talbot, of Liverpool, having paid his arrears and his registration fee for the current year, was Restored to Membership.
Giovanni Battista B. Delviniotti, Professor of Physics and Chemistry, Corfu, was elected an Honorary and Corresponding Member.
The Secretary laid on the table a diploma granted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria to the President, for the time being, of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, as “ a mark of acknowledgment to the Council for its many obligations, and for its successful efforts in raising the science of Pharmacy.” A letter, accompanying the diploma, from the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Joseph Bovisto, explained the several Aus¬ tralian Floras, of value in Pharmacy and in the arts, represented on the diploma.
BENEVOLENT FUND.
The following subscriptions to the Benevolent Fund were received during May : —
Allanson, Charles, Harrogate ...£0 5 0
A II T 1 Vi 4
Appleton, John Cass, 45, Curzon
Street . 0 10 6
Bond, Charles, Kidderminster ... 0 5 0 Coupland, Joseph, Harrogate ... 0 10 6
Hurst, John, Louth . 0 10 0
Randall and Son, Southampton 110
Rastrick, John Alfred, Woolwich£0 5 0
Rogers, William, Maidstone . 0 5 0
Rook, Edward, Sittingbourne ... 0 10 C
Sagar, Henry, Leeds . 0 5 0
Stathers, John, Notting Hill ... 0 10 G Vizer, Edwin B., G3, Lupus St.,
Pimlico . 110
EXAMINATION, May 15 th, 18G4. MAJOR (Registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists).
Chave, Wdlliam Francis . Uxbridge.
Mills, John . Derby.
Phillips, Jonathan . Godaiming.
Squire, Alfred Rook . London.
MINOR (Registered as Assistants).
Bennett, George . . . Chesterfield.
Goulden, Edward Baker . London.
REGISTERED APPRENTICES.
name. residing with. address.
Bardsley, William . . . Mr. Nicholson . Highbury.
Garside, Thomas . Mr. Garside . Southport.
Havard, Benjamin . Mr. Jones . Cardigan.
Jeffery, George J. C . Mr. Gulliver . Lutterworth.
Lewelyn, David . Mr. Jones . Cardigan.
Lewin, William J. C . Mr. Lewin . Plymouth.
Sambrook, William . Mr. Jones . Cardigan.
Wilson, Thomas Davison . Messrs. Dobinson and Son . Sunderland.
* See vol. v. p. 5.
LECTURES ON THE BRITISH PHARMACOPCEIA.
ON THE RELATION OF THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA TO
PHARMACOLOGY.
Lecture II.
Delivered before the Members of the Pharmaceutical Society , April 20, 1864.
BY DR. JOHN ATTFIELD, F.C.S.,
DIRECTOR OE THE SOCIETY’S LABORATORIES.
(Continued from Vol. V., p. 636.)
Spiritus Ammonite Aromaticus. — Southall (Pliarm. Journ. vol. xviii. p. 550) made exactly the suggestions which, carried out, would result in an aro¬ matic spirit of ammonia, having all the improved characters of that now ordered. He suggested the use of ammonia itself, as well as carbonate of ammonia ; the rejection of those aromatics that caused the spirit to become coloured when set by, and that it should be distilled ; precisely the three improvements on the Lon¬ don, Edinburgh, and Dublin spirits that have now been introduced into the pre¬ paration by the authors of the British Pharmacopoeia.
Spiritus. — Proctor’s remark concerning the old London spirits (Pliarm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 2), that being little used, they might very well be re¬ placed by the stronger unofficinal essences, which were in far greater demand, seems to have been acted on. It is greatly to be regretted, however, that the name has not also been changed. The Dublin formulae having been introduced into the British Pharmacopoeia, why not have retained the Dublin name “essen¬ tia”? All three Pharmacopoeias, however, had formulae for spirits, and this is, possibly, the reason that the name “ essence’’ was rejected ; but the strength having been so greatly altered, the consequence will be that in neither kingdom will the word u spirit” mean what it used to mean, whereas the term “ essence ” would have caused no ambiguity.
Spiritus Chloroformi is now a five per cent, solution of chloroform in spirit. This strength was selected because the resulting liquid does not lose its chloro¬ form even when diluted by water containing much saline matter (Garrod, Med. Times and Gaz. 1864, vol. i. p. 389). Before it was made officinal, this spirit, then erroneously termed chloric ether, was well known to vary in strength from five to twenty-five parts of chloroform in one hundred. Tate (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. iii. p. 533) examined thirteen Liverpool samples, and found them to contain from ten to twenty per cent, of chloroform, indicating the importance of having its strength definitively and officially settled.
Succi. — Juices of medicinal plants were ordered in many of the Pharma¬ copoeias of the last and early part of the present century. Those of hemlock, broom, and taraxacum are again introduced. A paper on these and several other expressed juices, the result of experiments commenced so early as the year 1835, by Squire, will be found in Pharm. Journ. vol. i. p. 94. He proposed them as substitutes for tinctures which are made from the dried parts of plants, thus obviating any deterioration from the exposure of Haves, etc., to the influences of heat, light, and air. The process for Succus Tarcixaci is also that described by Hills (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 401).
Succus Limonis described in the Materia Medica as the expressed juice of the ripe lemon, may, according to Syme (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. v. p. 161), be preserved unaltered for at least twelve months by simply heating to the boiling- point, and then, while still hot, bottling, corking, and securely sealing. He, in short, recommended Alsop’s well-known method of preserving infusions (Pharm. Journ. vol. i. p. 58). If bottled during the winter, the juice need only be heated to 150°.
8
LECTURES ON THE BRITISH PHARMACOPEIA.
SuppOSiTORiiE — The basis of the suppositories is white wax and lard. Tanner (Pharm. Journ. 2ndser. vol. iv. p. 514) demonstrated the great superiority of cacao butter for these and similar preparations, and it is already extensively used for this purpose in other countries (Med. Times and Gaz., 1864, vol. i. p. 374). In the next edition of the Pharmacopoeia the formulae will possibly be altered.
Syrupi. — Syrupus Aurantii is now made by mixing the tincture of orange peel with simple syrup, instead of dissolving sugar in an infusion of the peel, as directed in all the old Pharmacopoeias. Savory (Pharm. Journ. vol. ii. p. 453) pointed out the troublesome character of the syrup prepared from the peel ; and Southall (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 12) suggested spirit instead of water for extracting the orange peel, which was in effect recommending the tincture. The new syrup will be found to be much superior to the old.
Syrupus Ferri Ioclidi. The strength of the new syrup is the same as that of the last three Pharmacopoeias, — that is, about five grains of iodide of iron in one fluid drachm ; but the proportion of sugar is much increased. Tichborne showed (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 170) that the weaker the syrup the more prone to decomposition, and suggested a preparation approaching perfect satura¬ tion with sugar. The present syrup is exactly such as recommended by Tich¬ borne. Evaporation of water from it must be carefully guarded against, or some of the sugar will crystallize out. No process is given for estimating the amount of iodide of iron in the syrup, which, according to E. Smith (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 272), is liable to great variation. A volumetric method however, by T. and EL Smith, is given in the ‘ Pharmaceutical Journal,’ 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 353.
Syrupus Ferri Pliosphatis. The formula and process for the preparation of this syrup is almost word for word that of Gale, as described in the ‘Pharmaceu¬ tical Journal,’ 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 497 : granulated instead of ordinary sulphate of iron being employed, — quite an unnecessary piece of refinement. This is the only syrup in which the product is said to “ measure ” instead of “ weigh ” a certain amount. Gale described his product by measure, and the authors of the Phar¬ macopoeia have not, apparently, thought uniformity of expression sufficiently important to induce them to take the trouble of translating the description. Gale says that this syrup will be found to be definite in strength, permanently bright, and easily made. Each drachm contains about one grain of phosphate of iron, 3 Fe 0,P05, or rather more than one grain and a quarter of the hy¬ drated blue phosphate of iron, 3 FeO,P05 -j- 8 HO, with twenty-five minims of diluted phosphoric acid.
Syrupus Jlemidcsrni. This, in the Dublin formula, is made by dissolving sugar in an infusion of the hemidesmus. Bell recommended (Pharm. Journ. vol. iii. p. 240) percolation of the hemidesmus to avoid loss of the highly volatile flavouring principle, and suggested a syrup five times stronger than the one now introduced.
Syrupus Mori. The process for this syrup would be improved if the mul¬ berry juice were heated to 212°, and strained before adding the sugar, as sug¬ gested by Southall (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 12). Heating after the .sugar is added renders filtration difficult.
Syrupus Papaveris. The process by which syrup of poppies is now to be made is that of Groves (Pharm. Journ. vol. xiv. p. 203) ; it is an improvement on one previously suggested by T. and H. Smith (Pharm. Journ. vol. xii. p. 283), and its chief feature is that of the addition of spirit to a concentrated infusion of poppies, by which mucilaginous and fermentative matter is precipitated ; the spirit being subsequently removed by distillation. Several pharmaceutists have proposed processes for making syrup of poppies, but the products have, sooner or later, been proved to be unsatisfactory. That now given is improvable, its author admitting it to be “ somewhat troublesome.”
RELATION OP THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA TO PHARMACOLOGY. 9
Syrupus Senna also, though, made by a new process, is stated by a writer in Edin. Med. Journ., Feb. 1864, to be, like Syrupus Papaveris, improvable.
Syrupus Tolutanus is still made from the balsam, and not from the tincture of tolu, as suggested by Finlay (Pharm. Journ. vol. ii. p. 138), and as it was directed to be in the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia. This is well, for Soubeiran once submitted to the Society of Pharmacy of Paris some specimens of syrup of tolu made with the tincture, but in comparison with others prepared directly from the balsam, they were pronounced to be decidedly inferior. Soubeiran also (Pharm. Journ. vol. i. p. 430), following out a suggestion previously made by Deville (ibid., p. 290), that probably the same specimen of balsam might be used over and over again in the preparation of syrup of tolu, found that this might be done twice in the case of the formula of the French Codex, in which one part of balsam to four of water and eight of sugar were used, but that with half this quantity of balsam, that is, with one part of balsam to eight of water and sixteen of sugar, the balsam could not be used a second time. Now in the Phar¬ macopoeia we are directed to use one part of balsam to thirteen of water and twenty-six of sugar ; obviously, therefore, our balsam cannot possibly be used a second time. Savory subsequently (Pharm. Journ. vol. ii. p. 453) confirmed these results of Soubeiran. I refer to these investigations because some phar¬ maceutists are still of opinion that a diminution in the quantity of balsam can be admitted, which is much the same as using a larger quantity more than once.
Syrupus Zingiberis. Syrup of ginger is now made by mixing the tinc¬ ture with syrup. The London and Edinburgh Colleges ordered that it be made directly from the rhizome. The last Dublin Pharmacopoeia, however, directed it to be prepared from the tincture. Proctor and Southall also (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. pp. 11 and 12) suggested this alteration.
Tincture. — The formulae and processes for the preparation of tinctures have been so much altered, apparently without reference to any published investiga¬ tions on the subject, that some experience is necessary before they can be criti¬ cally examined in detail. Thirteen of the fifty-six are made by simply macerating the ingredients in the spirit for the uniform period of seven days, — a period which, even supposing the mixture has that occasional shaking which is not ordered, but which will of course be practised, may be unnecessarily long, or not long- enough. I say that agitation will, as a matter of course, be practised, because experience has shown it to be necessary ; at the same time, it is obvious that the authors of the Pharmacopoeia have thought it to be unnecessary, inasmuch as in no one of these thirteen tinctures has this operation been prescribed, while in every other tincture occasional agitation has been expressly ordered. Of the re¬ maining forty-three tinctures, four are simple solutions made in a few minutes. The rest, thirty-nine in number, are for forty-eight hours mere mixtures of in¬ gredients and spirit macerating together, being shaken briskly now and then ; the mixture is then transferred to a percolator, and when the fluid portion has drained from the ^ingredients, the latter is treated to a little more spirit, and finally pressed. This method of making these thirty-nine tinctures is certainly partly a process of maceration, which however may or not be complete. The latter half of the process may or may not be percolation, may or may not be mere filtration, may or may not be simple displacement. It may be percolation only, as in the case of a substance whose active principle not having been all dis¬ solved during maceration, nor by subsequent rapid percolation, still yields some¬ thing to the spirit which is finally put into the percolator ; it is even easy to conceive a case in which active matter will after all remain in the marc, the latter part of the process would then be maceration and partial percolation. Or, the forty-eight hours’ maceration having extracted the whole of the active matter from the ingredients, the other part of the process becomes one of mere filtra-
10
LECTURES ON THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA.
tion and subsequent displacement of adhering tincture by the spirit finally placed in the percolator. Thirdly, a substance having been partially exhausted of its valuable constituents by the forty-eight hours of maceration, and then placed in the percolator, the remainder of its active principles may be dissolved out by the percolation through it of the semi-formed tincture, the final addition of spirit displacing what tincture may be remaining adhering to the marc, subse¬ quent pressure recovering some of the spirit so added. This last case is doubt¬ less the model on which, theoretically, the processes for the thirty-nine tinctures are constructed. How far they actually conform to it can only be determined by experiment ; and such experiments, though not by any means difficult to per¬ form, — that is, so far as ascertaining the proportions of solid matter in a tincture at various stages of its manufacture is concerned, — have not yet, so far as I am aware, been conducted on any extensive scale. If one or several pharmacolo¬ gists would take up this subject, the probable result would be the discovery of greatly improved processes for each tincture. Some would possibly be found to require only short maceration ; others long maceration, shortened probably in most instances by subsequent percolation ; and many perhaps be most advan¬ tageously prepared by percolation alone.
The only general series of experiments made with a view of improving the processes for the preparation of tinctures are those of Burton (Pharm. Journ. vol. v. p. 82). He examined the officinal tinctures of the London Pharmaco¬ poeia with the object of comparing the efficiency of the process of maceration, in which the ingredients after agitation subside to the bottom of the vessel, with that of maceration, in which the ingredients enclosed in a bag are suspended in the upper part of the menstruum. Burton’s method of examination consisted, first, in taking the specific gravity of the tinctures, it being assumed that a pro¬ cess was complete when a tincture ceased to acquire weight by further contact with the solid materials. Specific gravity alone could not, however, always be depended on, chiefly on account of the variation in the amount of moisture in the ingredients ; it was therefore considered together with the weight of hard extract obtained on evaporating a portion of the tincture in an oven, and ex¬ posing the residue to a temperature of 230°. In this way, operating upon dif¬ ferent portions of one sample of a drug, Burton ascertained the most desirable period of maceration for each tincture. By the light of his researches we may be able, to some extent, to judge of the efficiency of the new process given in the British Pharmacopoeia.
Tinctura Aloes. This tincture, which cannot be easily prepared by percolation, is to be made by maceration for seven days. Now Burton found (Pharm. Journ. vol. v. p. 123) that so far as the aloes is concerned, exhaustion was complete in forty-eight hours if the ingredients were suspended in the upper portion of the spirit, but that the extract of liquorice was not perfectly dissolved at the end of that time. Probably, therefore, the period of seven days might be much short¬ ened, especially if the extract of liquorice were previously rubbed down with some of the water of the proof spirit.
Tinctura Assafceticlce. In preparing this tincture, the Pharmacopoeia orders maceration of assafoetida in rectified spirit for seven days. According to Bur¬ ton, this period cannot be shortened.
Tinctura Calumbce. The triple operation of maceration, percolation, and ex¬ pression, ordered by the Pharmacopoeia, is according to Burton’s results unne¬ cessary. By his method of macerating, less than forty-eight hours is sufficient to effectually exhaust calumba of everything soluble in proof spirit.
Tinctura Cascarillcc. Burton’s results show that if cascarilla be suspended in proof spirit, two days’ maceration is ample time for perfect exhaustion. The triple process of the Pharmacopoeia is not therefore the best that could have been adopted.
. RELATION OF THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA TO PHARMACOLOGY. 11
Tinctura Cinchona; Flavcc is probably one in which the forty-eight hours of maceration ordered, only partially exhausts the bark ; the next operation in the percolator being true percolation, and the final addition of spirit to the marc an operation of displacement only, for the tincture made by Burton scarcely attained its maximum density in less than three days.
Tinctura Conii. When made by maceration of the leaves in proof spirit, Burton found tincture of hemlock to attain its maximum density in a day and a half. If the fruits yield their active matter with equal readiness, the Pharma¬ copoeia triple process admits of improvement.
Tinctura Digitalis can be made by Burton’s maceration in forty-eight hours. Here again, therefore, the process of the Pharmacopoeia can be much simplified.
Tinctura Ferri Perchloridi. See Liquor Ferri Perchloridi.
Tinctura Hyoscyami will probably be found to be most advantageously pre¬ pared by the Pharmacopoeia process.
Tinctura Jalap ce also, even when the jalap is suspended in the proof spirit, does not attain its maximum density till the third or fourth day of maceration (Burton), so that the triple process will probably expedite its preparation.
Tinctura Kino. The Pharmacopoeia process for the preparation of this tinc¬ ture consists in macerating the powdered kino in rectified spirit for seven days. The directions do not include occasional agitation, but shaken or not shaken, the kino adheres to the bottom of the vessel it may be placed in, and is only de¬ tached by violent rotation of the liquid. If, however, Burton’s suggestion be adopted, namely, that of suspending the kino in a bag placed just below the surface of the spirit, exhaustion is perfectly effected in twenty ■•four hours, with¬ out any agitation whatever.
Tinctura Lavandula; Composita is the only one of the fifty-six tinctures in which a quart instead of a pint is directed to be made in a single operation.
Tinctura Lobelia; and Tinctura Lobclice JEtherea. Why is an ethereal as well as an alcoholic tincture of Lobelia included in the Pharmacopoeia ? They are identical in strength, and both ether and alcohol are efficient solvents of the active matter of Lobelia. (Bastick, Pkarm. Journ. vol. x. p. 540.)
Tinctura Lupuli. Coates showed (Pharm. Journ. vol. vi. p. 428) that Bur¬ ton’s suggestion of enclosing the hops in a bag during maceration, greatly facili¬ tated the preparation of the tincture, inasmuch as the hops could be pressed in the same bag. Burton found (Pharm. Journ. vol. v. p. 126) that the tincture when prepared in this way attained its maximum density in thirty hours ; yet the authors of the British Pharmacopoeia tell us to macerate for forty-eight hours, then to pack in a percolator, — an inconvenient operation, on account of the bulky character of the hop, and moreover quite unnecessary ; next to displace adhering tincture by pouring into the percolator some fresh proof-spirit ; and finally to subject the contents of the percolator to pressure. Obviously the first and last operations are alone necessary, namely, maceration and expression.
Tinctura Opii. This tincture is to be made by macerating opium in proof spirit for seven days. Nor can it apparently be made by maceration in a shorter time, for Burton states that it does not attain its maximum density till the end of a week. Many pharmaceutists, however, prepare it in a few hours by per¬ colation.
Tinctura Qjuinicc Composita. This is a solution of one hundred and sixty grains of sulphate of quinia in a pint of tincture of orange peel. Some pharma¬ ceutists have complained that the whole of the quinia will not dissolve (Southall, Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 12) ; but others have shown, however, that if the quinia be digested (temp. 90° to 100°) instead of merely macerated for seven da}^s, complete solution is effected (Hemingway, Pharm. Journ. vol. xi. p. 68). Many again have stated that a deposit occurs in the tincture after seme
12
LECTURES ON THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA.
time, though this statement has also been contradicted. Mr. Hemingway now tells me that a precipitate may or may not be formed, wdien the tincture is set by, and that the cause is the variable nature of the peel used in making the tincture of orange. If peel sufficiently good cannot now be obtained, it may be found necessary, in a future edition of the Pharmacopoeia, to include a small quantity of sulphuric acid in the formula for this tincture.
Tinctura Rhei. The formula for this tincture is new. It will replace the Tinctura Rhei Composita of the London and Dublin, and the Tinctura Rhei of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeias. I am told that, in this instance, the triple process ordered is a most excellent one. Liquorice is no longer a constituent of tincture of rhubarb, an omission suggested by Proctor (Pharm. Journ.2nd ser. vol. i. p. 11).
Tincturse Valeriana. According to Burton, valerian is readily deprived of its soluble constituents by maceration in proof spirit for forty-eight hours. Sub¬ sequent percolation therefore, as directed in the Pharmacopoeia, is unnecessary.
Tinctura Zingiberis. Tincture of ginger is now nearly twice the strength of the old London and Edinburgh preparations, — a change in accordance with a suggestion of Proctor (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 11), who urged as reasons for an increase in the strength, that the stronger tincture, called Essence of Ginger, was more in demand, and could be used for preparing Syrup of Ginger.
From these notices of about one-third of the whole number of tinctures con¬ tained in the British Pharmacopoeia, it is obvious that the processes for their preparation are in only a few instances the best that could have been devised. The manufacture of tinctures is peculiarly the province of chemists and drug¬ gists, — a class whose confidence in the Pharmacopoeia would have been greatly increased had the volume contained good evidence that the published researches of members of their own body and other gentlemen had had that attention they deserved.
The remaining two-thirds of the tinctures still need investigation, such as was brought to bear on them by Burton.
Trochisci. — Medicated lozenges were not mentioned in the London and Dub¬ lin Pharmacopoeias. The Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia contained formulae for ten lozenges; three of these, namely, Trochisci Morphia , Trochisci Morphia et Ipeca¬ cuanha, and Trochisci Opii , have been retained in the British Pharmacopoeia ; and three new ones, namely, Trochisci Acidi Tannici , Trochisci Bismutlii, and Tro¬ chisci Catechu, introduced. Each tannin lozenge contains half a grain of tannic acid ; each bismuth lozenge, two grains of white bismuth ; each morphia lozenge, one thirty- sixth of a grain of hydrochlorate of morphia ; each morphia and ipeeacuan lozenge, one thirty- sixth of a grain of hydrochlorate of morphia and one-twelfth of a grain of ipeeacuan ; and each opium lozenge, one-tenth of a grain of extract of opium.
Unguenta. — Owing to the amalgamation of the old London cerates with the ointments, and the great discrepancies between several of the London, Edin ¬ burgh, and Dublin formulae for the ointments, this class of preparations has un¬ dergone considerable change. So far as can be seen at present, most of these changes are improvements.
TJnguentum Aconitia is now officinal. Unguent-urn Atropice is also new to the Pharmacopoeia, but is not introduced to supersede Unguentum Belladonna , which is still retained, though the process of making it is slightly modified ac¬ cording to the suggestion of several pharmaceutists. Unguentum Cantharidis is apparently a compromise between the London Ceratum Cantliaridis , the Edinburgh Unguentum Infusi Cantharidis , and the Unguentum Cantharidis of the three Pharmacopoeias. Unguentum Cetacei is the London preparation with almond oil in the place of olive oil, as suggested by Deane and others
RELATION OP TI1E
BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA TO PHARMACOLOGY.
13
(Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. ii. p. 353). TJnguentum Creasoti is of the Dublin strength, that is, twice as strong as the London, and three times the strength of the Edinburgh ointments.
TJnguentum Hydrargyri. This is still made by rubbing metallic mercury with lard and suet. According to Tyson (Pharm. Journ. vol. i. p. 452), it is best made at once from black oxide of mercury, and he recommends a formula for its preparation in that manner. Donovan, Guibourt, and Watt (Pharm. Journ. vol. iii. p. 400) also believe the efficacy of mercurial ointment to be due to the black oxide of mercury always present in it. Finally, Yon Bserensprung proved by many experiments (Journ. fiir Prakt. Chem. 1850, no. 9, and Pharm. Journ. vol. x. p. 554) that metallic mercury, either in the finely divided or gaseous state, is not capable of permeating dead or living animal membranes ; that on triturating mercury with various substances a small quantity of black oxide of mercury is formed, and that this is the sole active constituent of blue ointment and several other preparations ; that the action of blue ointment is uncertain, because the quantity of oxide contained in it varies according to its age and mode of preparation ; and lastly, that a more uniform and effective preparation can be made from the pure protoxide. These conclusions of Von Bserensprung have never, to my knowledge, been questioned, and yet the old, irrational process of making the officinal mercurial ointment is still adhered to.
TJnguentum Hydrargyri JYitratis. The mixture of solution of nitrate of mercury, oil, and melted lard, is now to be heated until the strong chemical action indicated by brisk effervescence has ceased. The resulting ointment will be an improvement on the old London form. The process is that of the London and Dublin Pharmacopoeias, and is apparently that originally sug¬ gested by Duncan. Alsop, however (Pharm. Journ. vol. i. p. 100), came to the same conclusions after making many experiments. He at first proposed the use of almond oil in the place of the olive oil of the London formula, but on repeating his experiments before publishing a paper on the subject, he found that the superiority of the ointment he had obtained on using almond oil was due to the increased heat he had accidentally employed, and was in¬ dependent of the variety of oil.
TJnguentum Hydrargyri Oxidi Jiubri. This ointment differs from the okl varieties in containing almond oil. Possibly this alteration will afford a more permanent preparation. Keffer (Chem. News, vol. ii. p. 258) made the oint¬ ment with castor oil instead of lard, and at the end of two years found it to be without rancidity or loss of colour.
TJnguentum Iodi Compusitum. The iodine and iodide of potassium of this ointment are now. directed to be mixed together by the help of a little proof spirit. Rectified spirit was formerly employed, but, according to Proctor (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 11), water is better than either.
Ver atria. — The process for the preparation of this alkaloid appears to be good, but requires the use of a large amount of rectified spirit. Thompson suggested (Pharm. Journ. 2nd ser. vol. ii. p. 54S) a modification of the pro¬ cess now adopted, which was far more economical.
Vina. — The wines, like the tinctures, are to be made in quantities of one pint. But as in the tinctures, so in the wines, there is one exception to this rule, that of Vinum Aloes, of which a quart is to be made at one operation.
Vinum Ferri was formerly made by digesting iron wire in sherry wine for a month, the metal being gradually dissolved by the agency of the acid salts naturally present. When made with wine of uniformly good quality, the preparation was a satisfactory one, but the amount of iron in it necessarily varied -with the proportion of acid salts present in the sherry. An attempt has now been made to introduce a “steel wine ” of constant strength, by dis¬ solving eight grains of tartarated iron in every ounce of sherry. But a deposit
14
LECTURES ON THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA,
soon occurs in the new preparation, and hence the formula is even more un¬ satisfactory than before. Proctor recommended (Pharm. Journ., 2nd ser. vol. i. p. 10) the employment of ammonio-tartrate or ammonio-citrate of iron, rather than the potassio-tartrate or tartarated iron now ordered ; and Soubeiran (Pharm. Journ., vol. iii. p. 544) suggested the use of acid tartrate of the pro¬ toxide of iron, giving formulas for the preparation of both the salt and the wine. Soubeiran’s wine has the advantage of resembling the old preparation so far as containing a protosalt of iron, but it is more acid. Obviously a for¬ mula that shall give a wine of iron of constant strength and appearance, is still much needed. A well-lmown pharmacologist is, however, now working on the subject (Pharm. Journ., 2nd ser. vol. v. p. 492) ; we may therefore hope to have a more satisfactory preparation in a future edition of the Pharmacopoeia.
Thus, gentlemen, have I endeavoured to bring before you the actual cases in which the authors of the British Pharmacopoeia have taken advantage of the published researches, and adopted the suggested improvements of Pharmacolo¬ gists. I also have not hesitated to point out the many instances in which this course has been neglected. We are told in the preface to the British Pharma¬ copoeia, that in preparation of that work the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom found themselves committed to four difficult tasks, namely, “ to supersede three Pharmacopoeias, each of them long held in great repute, — to reconcile the varying usages, in pharmacy and prescriptions, of the people of three countries, hitherto in these respects separate and independent, — to consult the prepossessions of three important public professional bodies, which have ruled long and ably over this branch of medicine, — to represent accurately, yet with caution, the advancement made in chemistiy and pharmacy during the thirteen years which have elapsed since the iast edition of any of the Pharmacopoeias of the Colleges of Physicians was published.” To what extent the old Pharmacopoeias have been superseded is not for the pharmaceutist to determine. He only knows that he must dispense what the physician pre¬ scribes, and he finds that so far from having to “ alter or destroy all pharma¬ ceutic preparations made according to previous, and now altered formula},” (Preface, Brit. Pharm. p. xx.,) he will have to keep double stock for an inde¬ finite period. Still less can he decide on the manner in which the authors of previous Pharmacopoeias have been conciliated. But with regard to the removal of phannacopoeial discrepancies by blending the three books, and the extent to which the volume has been made the exponent of modern pharmacy, he can pronounce decided opinions. The fusion of the three Pharmacopoeias into one is an object to which the attention of therapeu¬ tists and pharmaceutists has long been directed, and the necessity of which was forcibly demonstrated in a paper read before the Pharmaceutical So¬ ciety by Squire, in the year 1845 (Pharm. Journ., vol. v. p. 200), and again in the volume with which that pharmacologist subsequently enriched the literature of pharmacy. The accomplishment of this object in the publication of the British Pharmacopoeia cannot but command the congratulations of phy¬ sician, pharmaceutist, and patient, and the manner in which discrepancies have been adjusted may be pronounced to be, on the whole, most satisfactory . But that the compilers of the Pharmacopoeia have either accurately or cau¬ tiously represented the advancement made in pharmacy during the past thir¬ teen years, is open to serious question. A review of the six lectures which have been delivered before you by request of your Council, and of the critical notices which have been published by the various medical, chemical, and pharmaceutical journals, must bequite sufficient to show that while the Materia Medica portion of the book is, on the whole, a success, that which relates to the preparations and compounds is to an equal extent a failure. Hor is this result astonishing when it is remembered that the British Pharmacopoeia has
ALKALOIDS IN JAVANESE CINCHONA.
15
for the most part been constructed by physicians, gentlemen whose post of duty is the bedside of the sick, not the pharmaceutical laboratory. The physician best knows what natural and artificial medicinal agents are admis¬ sible into the Materia Medica, but the pharmaceutist best knows how those materials are to be prepared and compounded. It is as irrational to delegate the compilation of a Pharmacopoeia to one class only as to the other. It is true that the British Pharmacopoeia contains better evidence of the labours of pharmaceutists than any previous Pharmacopoeia, but had the work been thrown open to comment before, instead of after its publication, or the opinions of pharmaceutists been elicited in some other way, a work might have been produced which should bear favourable contrast with the Pharmacopoeia of any other country, and have commanded the confidence of all interested in its pages.
ORIGINAL AND EXTRACTED ARTICLES.
ON THE AMOUNT OP ALKALOIDS IN THE CINCHONA TREES
CULTIVATED IN JAVA.
BY DE. J. E. DE VEY.
A. Cinchona Call say a.
The materials of which the analytical results are contained in the annexed Table were the following : —
No. 1. A tree grown in the open sunshine, on a very bad volcanic subsoil, at Tjibodas, 4500 feet above the sea. The tree, which was six years old, had died from disease.
No. 2. A tree six years and a half old, grown in the same locality and under the same circumstances. Before its death it bore llowers and ripe fruits.
No. 3. A tree six years and a half old, transplanted four years ago from the above-mentioned locality to the dense shade of the forest on the slope of the mountain Gede. Was nine feet high when it died.
No. 4. A tree seven years old, grown at Tjiniroean, 4820 feet above the sea, on the mountain Malabar, in the light shade of Erytlcrina indica. Died with¬ out known cause.
No. 5. A tree seven years old, grown and transplanted like No. 3. It had two stems, of which one died by disease and was cut off, whilst the remaining stem is still alive.
No. 6. A tree seven years and a quarter old, grown and transplanted like No. 3. Died from disease.
No. 7. A tree seven years old, grown in the open sunshine , iii a very bad volcanic subsoil, at Tjibodas, 4500 feet above the sea. Died strongly infected by mycelium.
No. 8. A tree three years and a half old, grown from a cutting in the dense shade of the forest near Gedongbanteng, on the mountain Malabar, 5800 feet above the sea. Died infected by mycelium.
No. 9. A thick branch from the oldest tree in Java, imported from Paris in April, 1852. The tree growing at Tjibodas in the straw" berry -*garden of the Governor-General is now more than twenty feet high.
No. 10. A thick branch from a tree eighteen feet and a half high, growing in the dense shade of the forest on the slope of the mountain Gede, 4700 feet above the sea.
No. 11. A tree seven years old, grown in the plantation Tjkoekoer, on the mountain Malabar, 5600 feet above the sea. Died from disease.
1G
ALKALOIDS IN JAVANESE CINCHONA.
Ho. 12. The top of a tree growing in the plantation Ivebon Pahud on the mountain Malabar, 5800 feet above the sea. The top had been broken off by the wind, but the tree is still alive.
Ho. 13. A tree grown in the plantation Kebon Pahud on the mountain Malabar, 5800 feet above the sea. The amount of the bark of the stem of this tree was only 22 grammes, and that of the bark of the root only 8 grammes, so that both were combined for chemical investigation.
ISTo. 14. A tree grown in the same locality. The root was so small that it produced only 4 grammes of bark, which were not analysed.
P. Cinchona lanclfolia.
Ho. 1. A tree four years old, grown in the plantation Gedongbadak on the mountain Malabar, 6200 feet above the sea, almost without shade.
C. Cinchona jpahudiana.
Ho. 1. A tree seven years old, transplanted four years ago from the bad volcanic subsoil at Tjibodas, in the dense forest on the slope of the moun¬ tain Gede, 4700 feet above the sea. Was sixteen feet high when it died.
Ho. 2. Avery thin tree, seven years old, from the same locality. Although it was eighteen feet high, it produced only 148 grammes of dry bark.
Ho. 3. A tree seven years old, grown in the open sunshine in a bad volcanic subsoil at Tjibodas, 4500 feet above the sea. Was in perfect health, and had borne abundance of flowers and ripe fruits. The circumference of the stem at the base wras 25'5 centimetres.
Ho. 4. A tree seven years and three- quarters old, grown and transplanted like Ho. 1. Its height was 356 centimetres, with a circumference at the base of 24‘5 centimetres. Was in perfect health.
Ho. 5. A tree twro years and a quarter old, grown at Tjiniroean, on the mountain Malabar, 4820 feet above the sea, in the shade of the forest, from Javanese seed. The fibrous root produced 46 grammes of dried bark.
Ho. 6. A tree five years old, grown in the plantation Gedongbadak, on the mountain Malabar, 6400 feet above the sea. It was 253 centimetres high, with a circumference at the base of 18 centimetres.
Ho. 7. Six trees, four years old. The tallest was 342 and the shortest 234 centimetres high. Only the roots of these very thin trees w^ere anatysed.
Ho. 8. One hundred young trees two years and a half old, grown in dif¬ ferent localities on the mountain Malabar between 5000 and 6500 feet above the sea. These very healthy plants produced together 1670 grammes dry bark of the stem, 12966 grammes dry stemwoocl, 870 grammes dry bark of the roots, and 1911'54 grammes dry wood of the roots.
Ho. 9. Pour thin trees four years old, grown in the plantation Gedongbadak, on the mountain Malabar, 6300 feet above the sea, from which the tallest was 530 and the shortest 153 centimetres high. The roots were so small that they produced together only 56 grammes of dry bark.
Ho. 10. A very healtlry tree four years and a half old, grown in the planta¬ tion Gedongbadak, on the mountain Malabar, 6200 feet above the sea, in the forest, but almost without shade. It was 500 centimetres high, with a cir¬ cumference at the base of 5’9 centimetres.
Ho. 11. A few^ hundred very young seedlings between six and eight inches long, which had died shortly after their being planted out in the forest. Their roots produced 100 grammes of dry bark.
Ho. 12. The top of a still living tree growing on the mountain Malabar, 5900 feet above the sea.
Ho. 13. Avery healthy tree, five years old, grown in the plantation Gedong¬ badak, on the mountain Malabar, 6300 feet above the sea, in the forest, but
|
Material. |
Alkaloids in 100 parts. |
Quinine in 100 parts. |
Qtiinicline in 100 parts. |
Cinchonine in 100 parts. |
Cinchonine and Cinchonidine in 100 parts. |
Cinchonidine in 100 parts. |
Quinovic Acid in 100 parts. |
|
A. Cinchona Calisaya . |
|||||||
|
1. a. Bark of tlie stem . |
1-750 |
||||||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
0-820 |
||||||
|
2. a. Bark of the stem . |
5-000 |
3-148 |
0-387 |
1-465 |
1-441 |
||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
1-323 |
0-655 |
0241 |
0-427 |
0-765 |
||
|
c. Bark of the thick brandies |
2-600 |
1-184 |
0-436 |
0-980 |
0-640 |
||
|
3. Bark of the stem . |
1-040 |
X |
y |
0-620 |
|||
|
4. Bark of the stem . |
0-648 |
X |
y |
0-386 |
|||
|
5. Bark of the stem . |
2-941 |
1-685 |
0-868 |
0-388 |
|||
|
6. Bark of the stem . |
1-770 |
1-515 |
0-255 |
||||
|
7. a. Bark of the stem . |
3-443 |
0-444 |
2-834 |
0-165 |
• |
0-036 |
|
|
b. Bark of the root . |
2-877 |
0-305 |
2-492 |
0-080 |
0-670 |
||
|
c. Bark of thick branches . . . |
1-046 |
0-420 |
0-550 |
0-076 |
0-195 |
||
|
S. Bark of the stem . |
0-200 |
X |
y |
0-325 |
|||
|
9. Bark of a thick branch . |
1-942 |
0-910 |
0-772 |
0-260 |
0-465 |
||
|
10. Bark of a thick branch . |
1-416 |
1-070 |
0-346 |
0-210 |
|||
|
11. a. Bark of the stem . |
1-190 |
0-125 |
0-441 |
0-624 |
0-155 |
||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
3-325 |
0-500 |
1-717 |
1-108 |
0-300 |
||
|
c. Bai’k of the branches ... |
0055 |
X |
y |
0"055 |
|||
|
12. Bark of the stem . |
2-255 |
1-036 |
0-183 |
1-036 |
0-691 |
||
|
13. Mixed bark of the stem and |
|||||||
|
root . |
2-920 |
1-550 |
0-490 |
0-880 |
0-587 |
||
|
14. Bark of the stem . |
2-760 |
1-394 |
0-234 |
1-132 |
0-610 |
||
|
B. Cinchona lancifolia. |
|||||||
|
1. a. Bark of the stem . |
4-130 |
2-300 |
1-830 |
trace |
|||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
2-910 |
1-900 |
1-010 |
0-180 |
|||
|
c. Bark of the branches ... |
0-180 |
X |
y |
trace |
|||
|
C. Cinchona pahudiana. |
|||||||
|
1. Bark of the stem . |
0-165 |
X |
y |
||||
|
2. Bark of the stem . |
0-700 |
0-700 |
|||||
|
3. a. Bark of the stem . |
0-500 |
0 |
0-500 |
0-050 |
|||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
0673 |
X |
y |
0-383 |
|||
|
4. a. Bark of the stem . |
1-274 |
0 |
1-274 |
0-073 |
|||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
2-S18 |
1-849 |
0-969 |
0-312 |
|||
|
5. a. Bark of the stem . |
0-090 |
0 |
0-090 |
0-200 |
|||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
1-941 |
1.576 |
0-365 |
1-080 |
|||
|
6. a. Bark of the stem . |
trace |
0-190 |
|||||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
1-270 |
0-730 |
0-540 |
0-500 |
|||
|
7. Bark of the root . |
0-948 |
X |
y |
0-465 |
|||
|
8. a. Bark of the stem . |
0 |
0095 |
|||||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
2-330 |
1-400 |
1-930 |
0-570 |
|||
|
9. a. Bark of the stem . |
0-310 |
0-310 |
0-193 |
||||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
0-900 |
0-900 |
0-560 |
||||
|
10. a. Bark of the stem . |
0-469 |
0-385 |
0-084 |
0-067 |
|||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
4-244 |
2-987 |
1-257 |
0-360 |
|||
|
11. Bark of the root . |
0-785 |
0-785 |
0-377 |
||||
|
12. Bark of the stem . |
0-110 |
0-110 |
trace |
||||
|
13. a. Bark of the stem . |
0-684 |
0684 |
|||||
|
b. Bark of the root . |
2-142 |
1-672 |
0-470 |
0-265 |
|||
|
14. Bark of a branch . |
trace |
0-180 |
|||||
|
15. Bark of a branch . |
0-584 |
0-214 |
0-370 |
0-064 |
YOL. YI. €
18
ON THE USE OF QUINOVIC ACID IN MEDICINE.
almost without shade. It was 455 centimetres high, with a circumference at the base of G‘7 centimetres. It bore some fruit.
No. 14. A thick branch from a still living tree growing in the open sunshine on the bad volcanic subsoil at Tjibodas, 4500 feet above the sea. The largest circumference of this branch was 16 ’5 centimetres.
No. 15. A thick branch from a still living tree growing in the dense shade of the forest on the slope of the mountain Gede, 4700 feet above the sea.
Although the discrepancy in the amount of alkaloids and quinovic acid is so great that it is quite impossible to derive any general conclusion, there are, never¬ theless, a few facts which deserve special attention. The result of the investi¬ gation of the bark of Cinchona Calisaya, marked No. 2, proves that when the bark of a tree grown in such a bad soil contains such an amount of alkaloids, this species will produce the best results in Java if properly managed. The result of the investigation of the bark of Cinchona lancifolia, No. 1 sub. B, is equally satisfactory. It is true that the amount of alkaloids in the stem-bark of Cinchona pahudiana is much smaller than that in the bark of any other species in Dutch and British India which I have examined ; but I consider it nevertheless large enough to allow the admission that the bark of this tree will prove to be not without some value. The large amount of alkaloids in the roots of this species shown by the results of the bark noted No. 10, sub. C, also deserves attention, and if compared with the results of the bark noted No. 11, sub. C, it proves that the roots of this species produce quinine even in the first stage of their existence. There are some who condemn Cinchona pahu¬ diana because of the excessive thinness of its bark, which they consider too thin to be peeled. The exaggeration of this statement has been proved by Mr. M‘Ivor, who presented me with perfect peeled bark of plants of this species only eleven months old. This gentleman, whose skilful management of the cinchona cultivation on the Neilgherries I have so much admired, gave me the following statement upon this subject: — “ The Pahudiana, when culti¬ vated in the open sunshine , yields a bark of average thickness ; but when grown under dense shade , the bark is so thin that it cannot be removed from the stem.” I conclude by quoting with great sympathy the following words of Mr. Clements II. Markham “ There is much to be learnt which practice only can teach ; and it is surel}^ better for us all to recognize this fact, and not to allow such difference of opinion as we may feel respecting a prospect as yet uncertain to interfere with courteous communication of sentiment, and co¬ operation as far as possible.”
The Hague , April 22nd, 1864.
ON THE USE OF QUINOYIC ACID ( CINCHONA BITTER) IN
MEDICINE.
BY DE. J. E. DE VEY.
When I found, in 1859, that all parts of the different species of Cinchona growing in Java contained quinovic acid, of which I detected in the wood of the roots of C. Calisaya so much as 2 ’57 per cent., it appeared to me very probable that the tonic properties of some preparations of bark, particularly of an aqueous infusion, such as the Infusum Corticis JPeruviani cum Magnesia, ' frigide paratum, which formerly was frequently prescribed by many Dutch physicians, might be at least partially ascribed to quinovic acid. I therefore
* Pliarm; J ournal, April, 1833, p. 441.
THE F H AHM A C OP(EI A PEOCESS FOE CITEATE OF QUININE.
19
employed the wood of several dead cinchona plants at my disposal for the pre¬ paration of this acid, which, by order of the Governor-General, was, at my request, experimentally tried by the medical staff of the Army. The official report on these experiments was so favourable, that the chief of the medical staff, Dr. "Wassink, requested a further supply, in order to continue the experi¬ ments on a larger scale. As I had no more material at disposal with which to prepare quinovic acid, I wrote to my friend Mr. A. Delondre, at Havre de Grace, who was kind enough to send me not less than five kilogrammes of the crude acid from his manufactory of quinine. Although my laboratory in J ava was perfectly adapted for all kinds of chemical researches, the purifica¬ tion of such a quantity of a substance famous for its bulky volume gave me not a little trouble, but at length I succeeded in preparing two kilogrammes of quinovic acid sufficiently pure for medical use. This quantity was used by the medical staff of the Army for experiments on a larger scale in the hospitals of Java and Sumatra. The general report on these experiments, the result of which was very favourable, has been sent by the chief of the medical staff*, Major-General Dr. G. Wassink, to the Governor-General of Dutch India, under date 5th March, 1863. It appears from this report that the quinovic acid has been used in the hospital of the west-coast of Sumatra in sixty-five cases of intermittent fever with or without complications, and in the great majority of cases with perfect success. In the hospital at Samarang, it has been used with the same success in forty-five cases, and it is with great satis¬ faction that I quote the following passage from the report respecting the ex¬ periments at Samarang : —
“ The application of quinovic acid in diarrhoea and dysentery was made in consequence of the observation of its physiological action in diminishing the secretion of the intestines, which was attributed to a diminution of the peri¬ staltic motion. In this aspect also the results were very satisfactory, and it is therefore a new property of the quinovic acid discovered, which agrees with the tonic properties which have been ascribed to it by Dr. de Vry.”
It appears therefore not only that my suggestion about the tonic properties of the quinovic acid is well founded, but also that it is a remedy against intermittent fever. I therefore venture the suggestion to use the leaves of cinchona in British India against jungle-fever, which is in many districts a real plague. If the leaves are collected in the different cinchona plantations, which can be done without great cost, a tincture could be prepared from them with proof spirit, in which menstruum quinovic acid is easily dissolved, but not chlorophyll and some other inactive substances. I have much expectation that the proper use of such a tincture as a prophylactic would prevent many cases of jungle-fever in the localities where they are endemic. As the manu¬ facturers of quinine throw away every year some hundred pounds of a sub¬ stance containing quinovic acid, there is abundance of material for further ex¬ periments. I have found besides that the so-called ncmcleic acid, discovered by Mr. C. Bernelot Moens, military pharmaceutist at Batavia, in a species of Nauclea, is identical with quinovic acid ; and as, according to my investiga¬ tions, all the species of Nauclea, which are plentiful in the forest of J ava, con¬ tain this acid in their bark, we have here another source whence an abun¬ dant supply could be obtained.
The Hague, April 23rd, 1864.
ON THE BOOT-BABK OF THE CHINCHONHh
BY J. E. HOWARD, E.L.S.
[ A letter from a gentleman owning a district in New' Granada, containing
c 2
20
ON THE ROOT-BARK OF THE CHIN CHON,®.
trees of Chinchona, lias been pat into my hands by Mr. Markham. It shows very satisfactorily that the reprobation of the practice of extirpating these trees, which has found utterance in England, is beginning to produce a salutary effect in South America.
The letter is from Don Harciso Lorenzano, and is dated Bogota, March 4th, 1864. He writes to his correspondent ( — ■ Griffiths, Esq.) as follows : —
“ I have to thank you for having sent me a copy of the ‘ Edinburgh Review ’ of last year, in which I have had the satisfaction of reading the article on the cultivation of the quina trees in the East Indies. Permit me to congratulate you on the successful result of this undertaking, which partly ensures the supply of so precious a drug for the future. It appears to me that the principal mo¬ tive which induced the government of India to commence this cultivation, after overcoming so many difficulties, was the fear that the quina trees would be ex¬ tirpated, in consequence of the disorder and waste that is allowed in the woods, where they are destroyed by the barbarous method of pulling up the roots. Fortunately this destructive method, which, without any doubt, would extirpate this precious plant in a few years, is only practised in the forests of Pitayo, where it is due to the immoderate desire of making money which has taken possession of the Indians who own the greater part of the land. But in none of the other establishments for the collection of bark, in this country, has a similar scandal been repeated. On the contrary, beneficial rules are observed for the conservancy of the woods, more especially in those where I have a proprietary interest. The method consists in leaving a part of the trunk, about three feet in height, whence shoots may sprout, and in clearing away the surrounding trees to enable the rays of the sun to penetrate. By this means most of the trees that are cut down quickly shoot up, and the rays of the sun penetrating to the cleared ground, the seeds which fall from the tree germinate freely. Thus we have the satisfaction of seeing, in the forest worked on this principle, that the trunks of cut trees send out new shoots, and that the young plants grow vigorously. This result gives us full confidence that the good kinds of quinas , which exists in the country, will be permanently preserved.
“ From the above considerations we may conclude that there need be no fear that humanity will see itself deprived of this precious medicine, seeing that as well in Bolivia as in Peru, Ecuador, and Hew Granada, the rule of cutting the bark according to a fixed plan is observed, and care is taken that the woods are replenished with increased numbers of plants of the best species, while some ex¬ periments have been made in forming plantations on land where the best con¬ ditions for their growth are found. From all this Ave hope that in a few years we may see magnificent results.”
There can be but one opinion as to the inexpediency of continuing the “ barbarous practice ” referred to, whatever comes of the question as to the com¬ parative produce of the root-bark. My observations apply to the root-bark of the Calisaya as found in commerce accompanying that of the trunk and branches. The low price which this brings, amid all the keen competition of the bark sales here, is sufficient evidence of its inferiority. I have just examined a favourable specimen, which is probably still unsold. This contains some better bark of the trunk mixed with a preponderance of that of the root. Separating this last, I found that it would be worth about half the price of flat Calisaya.
This question ought certainly to be set at rest, as it easily might be by the sacrifice of some half-dozen trees out of the million plants of the Chinchona JPahudiana which the Dutch possess in the island of Java. If, from the root- bark of these a competent proportion of commercial sulphate of quinine can be obtained to defray the expense of cultivation, then the important fact of their value will be established ; but I believe this has not yet been done.
In time for the next number I hope to send a paper on the so-called “bark
tyson’s process for blue pill.
21
from the root of C. lancifolia ” which is really a very interesting new variety of the C. Pitayensis — the Pitaya roja of commerce.
THE PHARMACOPOEIA PEOCESS EOE CITRATE OE IRON AND
QUININE.
TO THE EDITOR OE THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Sir, — Having unsuccessfully tried to prepare gome “ Citrate of Iron and Quinine” according to the process described in the new British Pharmaco¬ poeia, and having, after repeated trials, come to the conclusion that the pro¬ cess was a fallacious one, allow me to ask you the favour of publishing in the next ‘ Pharmaceutical Journal ’ the following receipt of mine, which not only gives an elegant preparation, but also a product similar in every respect to that found in commerce.
I am, Sir, yours obediently,
Mauritius , May Gth, 1864. E. Fleurot, M.P.S.
Ferri et Quinlze Citras.
Take sjp fluid ounces of a saturated solution of citrate of peroxide of iron,* made of such a strength that this quantity shall exactly represent six drachms of the anhydrous salt.
To such a solution, heated b}r the water-bath, add one drachm of citric acid previously dissolved in one ounce of distilled water, and immediately after¬ wards add at once the quantity of quinia freshly precipitated by solution of ammonia from two drachms of disulphate of quinia. Continue the applica¬ tion of heat, and stir the mixture constantly until all the quinia is dissolved. Solution of ammonia (P.L.) is then added drop by drop in sufficient quantity (about 2 fi. o z.) until the desired yellowish-green colour is obtained. The mixture must be stirred up briskly after the addition of each drop of ammonia.
Great care should be taken not to add an excess of solution of ammonia ; the solution must, on the contrary, be slightly acid to litmus paper. The liquid is then left to evaporate on the water-bath until it acquires a syrupy consistence, when it is spread with a brush on glass plates, and placed in a stove to scale.
Note. — It sometimes happens that the solution of the salt in water has a milky appearance ; this shows that there was not a sufficient quantity of citric acid in the preparation ; it is obvious, then, to try a little of it previous to its concentration. For this purpose, take a small quantity of the liquid, dry it on a glass plate, and examine the salt as to its solubility and transpa¬ rence. If, on dissolving the salt in water, the solution is not found to be quite clear, add to the preparation, while it is on the water-bath, a few grains of powdered citric acid, and repeat the process of drying, etc. etc., until you obtain a perfectly transparent solution.
TYSON’S PEOCESS FOE BLUE PILL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Sir, — In reading over Dr. Attfield’s lecture, contained in the last number of your Journal, I perceive that he quotes, approvingly, from Tyson, a process for
* The saturated solution of citrate of peroxide of iron is made by saturating at the heat of the water-bath a solution of citric acid with freshly-prepared hydrated sesquioxide of iron, until no more oxide is dissolved in the solution of citric acid. The excess of oxide of iron is then removed by filtration, and the liquid evaporated to such a strength that every fluid ounce must represent one drachm of anhydrous citrate of iron.
22
OX THE CAUSES OF CHANGE IN SEED-OILS.
making blue-pill, which. I happen to know by experience to be a very dangerous one. After quoting Tyson to show that protoxide made a more certain (?) mer¬ curial pill than the metal, he proceeds : — u Tyson made his protoxide (black oxide) of mercury from calomel, also by an ingenious modification of the usual method. He says, ‘ But the great secret that remains, is to procure the slate- coloured protoxide. Aqua Calcis will not do, as it produces an ash-colour from a mixture of muriate of lime ; Liquor Potassse alone will not do, for it produces a brownish-black powder, containg a portion of submuriate of mercury undecom¬ posed, and which no addition of Liq. Potassae will act upon, but by the addition then of a small quantity of Liq. Ammoniac (as well as Liq. Potassae), the calomel is completely decomposed, and the slate-coloured protoxide immediately pro¬ duced.’ I have quoted these observations of Tyson,” confines Hr. Attfield, u be¬ cause I believe they contain the basis of a method of preparing a much better and more rational blue-pill than the officinal article ; I commend them to the notice of therapeutists.”
How, Sir, it is some five-and-thirty years since, when I was an apprentice, that I made a substitute for Hydrargyrum cum Greta by mixing the nearly black precipitate obtained by the action of ammonia on calomel with chalk ; and what was the consequence ? That I nearly poisoned some children in the n|iglibour- hood. It purged and vomited violently.
The fact is, this black precipitate is not an oxide of mercury ; it is (as has since been shown by Sir Bober t Kane) a chloro-amiduret of mercury, containing half the electro-negative elements that are in the officinal “ white precipitate.” I should not however have noticed the chemical error, only it might lead to dan¬ gerous practical consequences.
I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
John Aldridge, M.D.,
Pharmaceutical Beferee to the Pharmacopoeia Committee
of the Medical Council.
Lower SacJcville Street , Dublin, Lane 18, 1864.
[P.S. Perhaps I may be permitted to indorse Mr. Abbott’s statements at the Leeds Association with respect to soap liniment, which I can thoroughly.]
OH THE CAUSES OE CIIAKGE IN SEED-OILS.
TO THE EDITOR OE THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Sir, — In your last number, Mr. Whipple objects to some statements of mine contained in your Journal for April last, and inserted by way of appendix to my paper “ On the Cohesion Figures of Liquids,” contained in your number for March.
In using the terms “ gum and mucilage,” to account for the change that comes over certain seed-oils, I wished to explain that it is owing to the separation of some part of the matter of the seed with the oil, which by subsequent fermen¬ tation, or some similar change, induces or assists the acidification of a portion of the oil. The gum and the mucilage may not form the whole of the impurity, nor may they always be present ; but one, or both, is commonly present in the oil obtained from the seed-presses. Woody fibre and albumen occur more or less constantly. But woody fibre is less likely by its change to set up a putre¬ factive action than gum and mucilage ; the albumen would probably be sepa¬ rated more readily by settlement. A scientific friend connected with the oil trade, to whom I am indebted for some of the information in my paper, speaks of the “ oil foots” as containing a considerable proportion of gum or mucilage. This refers more particularly to the olive-oil foots. Animal oils will, of- course, contain a different series of impurities. My remarks referred chiefly to cro-
PERCOLATION AND MACERATION.
23
ton and castor-oils, both seed-oils, and it is possible they may contain less gum or mucilage than olive- oil, which is from the flesh of the fruit. But of the general fact there can, I think, be no doubt, viz. that if an oil be packed while containing impurities, such as gum, mucilage, albumen, etc.., with water, these would be liable to putrefactive change, and would probably set up or in¬ crease acidification in the oil itself. My informant states, that when palm-oil is sent to this country dirty, it invariably contains a larger proportion of acid oil than that which is sent clean and fairly dry. He also adds, “ that a con¬ siderable part of the foots of olive-oil is not soluble in alcohol, oil, or in turpen¬ tine, and has no property like spermaceti or adipocere. It is undoubtedly vege¬ table matter of some kind, and would repay examination.”
I remain, etc.,
King's College , June G, 1S64. C. TOMLINSON.
THE LEECH-DESTROYER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Dear Sir, — I hope to be excused for reverting to this subject. Since the pub¬ lication of last month’s Journal, I have received several letters from members and others, detailing their various experience : One gentleman suggests “the in¬ sect must be allied to the freshwater shrimps, of which he has hundreds in his leech aquarium ; and they do not attack the leeches while living.”
I merely recommend a reperusal of the account ; it is the living leech that is punctured, — in fact, the voracious little parasite turned from a dead leech when placed beside it with apparent loathing, and would not again come in con¬ tact.
Another correspondent suggests that the insect is the larva of one of the water-beetles, probably the Nepa, known as the water-scorpion; and refers to Kirby and Spence as authority.
I have an impression that some years since the Journal contained a paper from the French “ On the Enemies of the Leech,”* but not having all the back numbers bound, I am unable to ascertain if memory serves.
I have for four months past been trying an experiment, with a view to the perfect conservation of leeches, hitherto with complete success, and hope in due course to report thereon.
I remain, Sir, yours faithfully,
R. Goodwin Mumbray.
PERCOLATION AND MACERATION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Sir, — I am not one of those who seem to take pleasure in finding fault with the British Pharmacopoeia, apparently ignoring the difficulties with which its compilers had to contend. I see in it much to approve, and think it a step in the right direction ; but having fairly tried it, the compromise between mace¬ ration and percolation does not, to me, appear to be a satisfactory process for making tincures. It has however suggested to my mind a modification of the old maceration process, which I have tried with satisfactory results.
I first procured a narrow-mouthed bottle holding exactly 80 fl. oz. to the neck. I then weighed the ingredients for a half-gallon compound tincture of
* Vol. xii. p. 39, “ On the Enemies of the Medicinal Leech,” by Dr. Ebrard. — Ed.
24
PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION.
cardamoms, reduced the dry articles to a uniform coarse powder passed through a sieve of 20 meshes to the inch, put them into a 4-pint wide-mouthed bottle, then cut and added the raisins. I then put in 3 pints of proof spirit, macerated with occasional agitation for forty-eight hours, then with a covered funnel filtered into the 80 fl. oz. bottle as much as would drain off. I then pressed the marc and filtered the product. Having returned the marc to the wide-mouthed bottle, I added the fourth pint of proof spirit, again macerated for twenty- four hours, and pressed and filtered the product. I then added of proof spirit sufficient exactly to fill the 80 oz. bottle, which was 5 fl. oz. I have tried the same plan with compound tincture of senna, P.L., and with the same results, excepting that the waste was oz. instead of 5 oz. of spirit. By this plan the marc is practically exhausted, the process is easy, the result certain, the waste small, and the time occupied short, requiring perhaps to be extended a little in one or two instances, but not more. I have only a common screw- press, and my pupil has been the manipulator. Considering the difficulties attending the percolation process even under favourable circumstances, I am disposed to think the plan I have suggested will prove more eligible. If you think it worth while, you can publish this for the benefit of all whom it may concern.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
Bath, May 24, 1864. John C. Pooley.
P.S. — I trust that in the revised edition of the British Pharmacopoeia there will be some more accurate adjustment of the title “ compound,” as it passes my skill to divine why tincture of senna is not , if tincture of cardamoms is, a compound.
LIQUOB EEBBI PEBCHLOBPDI.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Sir, — That the process given in the Pharmacopoeia for this preparation does not yield a product which will answer the tests there given for its purity, few who have tried it will, I think, deny, but, on the contrary, will agree with the remark made by Mr. E. Davies, in his lecture on “ Iron,” as reported in the last Journal, that u it gave a dark liquid containing protosalt and nitric acid.”
After various experiments, I have found that if twelve instead of ten ounces of hydrochloric acid (sp. gr. 1T7) are used in the Pharmacopoeia process, add¬ ing the additional two ounces after the iron is dissolved and the liquid filtered, then adding the nitric acid as directed, and evaporating to the bulk ordered, that a liquor is obtained which will answer the tests given, and on the addition of the requisite quantity of spirit, yield a tincture of elegant appearance, simi¬ lar in colour and taste to the Tinct. Ferri Sesquichlor. P.L.
To those of your readers who possess Mr. S. Darby’s translation of Wittstein’s 1 Practical Pharmaceutical Chemistry’ I need say no more, they will find the de¬ composition clearly and fully explained there ; and it may be sufficient to re¬ mind others, that profochloride of iron requires half as much more chlorine as it already contains to convert it into perchloride.
I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
A. Utlear
4, Mount Vernon Road, Liverpool, June Gilt, 1864.
PHABMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION.
BY MR. JOHN TUCK.
There seem to be at the present time many erroneous notions abroad as to the proposed Pharmacy Bill, and the influence it will have upon the various divisions
PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION.
of the labourers in the field of Pharmacy. Throwing all special pleading aside, and putting it in its simplest form, the present Bill proposes nothing more nor less than the following : —
1st. All the present chemists and druggists in business to be registered, and to have all of their existing rights and privileges, as before.
2nd. Members of the Pharmaceutical Society, and Pharmaceutical Chemists, to enjoy their chartered rights and privileges as at present.
3rd. Chemists and druggists’ assistants actually employed as such before the passing of this Act, to be registered as Assistants under the Pharmacy Act, with power to commence business without examination.
4th. The Benevolent Fund is to be open to all, that is to say, past Members and Associates' of the Society, Pharmaceutical Chemists, and registered chemists and drugo-ists.
o c
5th. After the first day of January, 1865, no person to commence business, unless he shall have received a certificate or certificates of qualification, from the Examiners of the Pharmaceutical Society, either as a chemist and druggist, or Pharmaceutical Chemist.
A more just and liberal measure to suit all parties could not I think be possibly devised ; no reasonable man could desire anything more. The Pharmaceutical Society is the recognized head of the profession of Pharmacy in Great Britain, it obtained its Charter, its Act of Parliament, its exemption -from -jury privileges, and will without doubt obtain this proposed Act.
I look upon the measure as one that chemists and druggists of all grades, whe¬ ther members of the Society from its foundation, Pharmaceutical Chemists by examination, or simply chemists and druggists, should strive hard to get passed into law ; no stone should be left unturned, no means left untried to effect this desirable object, as it is for the common good of all. One great cause of the success of this measure will be, that there is no reasonable ground of opposition to it. It does not, like the proposed Medical Bill, inflict an injury, either directly or indirectly, upon any section of the trade, on the contrary, all exist¬ ing rights are respected and guaranteed ; hence all reasonable source of opposi¬ tion (which by the bye would have strangled any measure in its birth) ceases to exist.
It has been supposed and stated by some that a formidable opposition would arise to it, on account of its not proposing to open the doors and admit the “ outsiders ” to the title and privileges enjoyed by its examined and other mem¬ bers, but this opposition, which is more imaginary than real, is so obviously un - just and unreasonable, that it may well be thought little of or cared little for ; I affirm that the Council dares not, even if it would , to so deliberately breads faith with the Government , the JMedical Profession, the public, and lastly and more important than all , the examined members . An opposition would then arise, and I for one should be glad to see it, such as never has been felt in 17 Bloomsbury Square before.
The Society is composed of three different classes : — 1. The founders, a body worthy of all respect and consideration as the pioneers of progress in Pharmacy in this country.
2. Those members admitted previous to the Pharmacy Act coming into force ; and —
3. The examined Pharmaceutical Chemists, a body of men that stand high in the profession of Pharmacy, and who without any compulsion have nobly spent their time and money, studied their profession, aud honourably taken its highest qualification.
Now I ask on what reasonable grounds can the “ outsiders ” who, to say the least of it, have done nothing for the Society, and oftentimes much against it, on what grounds, I repeat, can they reasonabl)\expcct to be admitted to the title
26
THE PROPOSED PHARMAGY ACT.
and privileges of the “ insiders ” in any one of the three sections before men¬ tioned cod sti tilting the Pharmaceutical Society ? The same means still exist for gaining admission as existed and still exist for Section 3 of the Society, and these means are examinations. Should the proposed Bill pass, the outsiders may join the Society and be registered as qualified chemists and druggists, with the title of Associate of the Pharmaceutical Society, and have the same privilege as members at any meeting of the Society, on passing the Minor examination only.
In conclusion, if we wish to raise Pharmacy to the position it occupies in other countries, if we wish to do away with a lifelong toil and little remuneration for the same, if we wish to benefit both the public and ourselves, we shall all, both members of the Society and non-members, unite for the common good, and directly and indirectly use our utmost exertions to get the proposed Pharmacy Bill passed into the law of the land.
Wilton , near Salisbury, June 21, 1864.
THE PROPOSED PPIARMACY ACT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Sir, — I trust you will pardon my intruding upon your space; but having been prevented from attending the Annual Meeting last month, I have not had the opportunity of saying a few words upon the new Bill proposed to be taken into Parliament.
I have attentively read each clause, and, as a whole, consider it in every way answers the desired object without injuring the interest of any party ; but while such is the case, one is somewhat surprised at finding the majority of the speakers at the meeting expressing great doubts whether we shall have power to pass the Bill through Parliament ; and one main antagonistic cause evi¬ dently exists within our own family of chemists and druggists, consequently should be within our perfect control : and unless the difficulty be removed, I firmly believe our efforts will be abortive, and the expense thrown away ; and we shall retire with no great dignity.
But why should this be? Can it be possible that after so many years’ labour towards uniting the trade into one homogeneous body, and at the very time when unity of action is most absolutely necessary in order to obtain success, that for the sake of holding our own preconceived opinions we should wilfully fly in the face of reason ? We all know that every man is biassed in favour of his own opinion, and that no dogmatic assertion that that opinion is based on wrong grounds will ever convince a man of his error ; but let the parties meet, and calmly and logically enter into the disputed points, and error will speedily give place to sound reason. How this is just the point with us at the present time.
The Pharmaceutical Society brings forward a Bill which, as I before said, I firmly believe in all its main points satisfactory ; but there are other persons, not members of our Society, and these are not so satisfied, but feel themselves injured by certain clauses, and they therefore solicited an interview with our Council. Here was a step, I humbly conceive, in the right direction ; and had our Council acceded to that request I can see no reason why difficulties should not have been removed ; and in place of the present antagonistic feeling, which, but too evidently exists, a mutual friendly action might have been brought to bear upon the desired object, and success in all probability have crowned our efforts ; whereas, as matters stand at present, the two bodies are arrayed in deadly warfare, opposing and opposed.
How, granting our Bill passed, let me ask what have we gained? Certainly no friends ! not one who would put forth his hand and wish us God speed ! but
THE PROPOSED PHARMACY ACT.
27
a host of unwilling and irritated brethren, kicking against the trammels of, to their way of thinking, an unjust law. Now we profess to be acting for the 'benefit of all parties, and yet only one side of the evidence is heard, and upon that evidence an opinion is passed and a Bill framed, without allowing one word of argument from the very persons whose interest, together with our ov7n, we are supposed to have at heart. I must contend, Sir, that this is not a very reasonable mode of proceeding ; neither can I understand upon what grounds the late Council could have refused to entertain the proposal to meet the officers of the United Society ; the deed is done, but surely it cannot be too late even now to remove the evil.
The Session is now far advanced ; business of importance probably coming before the House, a Bill brought in would stand a good chance of being hurriedly considered, and very possibly hastily rejected, when it is seen how largely divided in opinion are the very persons seeking legislative powers.
I do not wish to say a word against the gentlemen who held office ; I feel satisfied too much praise cannot be given to them for the anxious . care and thought bestowed upon their work, under the able guidance of our President, of whom we cannot speak too highly ; but there is no denying the fact that a mis¬ take has been made, and the question is how that mistake is to be remedied ? In order to answer this query I think we need but to consider how the move¬ ment originated. The Council, at the request of members of the Society, called a General Meeting, at which it was considered advisable that a Bill should be prepared, and, if possible, passed in Parliament. The Bill has accordingly been prepared, and brought forward by the Council for the approval of the Society, and at the Annual Meeting accepted. Thus far all is well ; another step is now required ; let the newly elected Council, in their turn, call a general meeting of the entire trade , either at the Society’s house or other convenient place ; sub¬ mit the Bill as approved, and then let the objections be fairly, calmly, and tho¬ roughly considered. Such a meeting, if conducted in a liberal and friendly spirit, could not but be satisfactory to all parties ; and would materially tend to remove the present ill-feeling which exists, and give power and effect to our cause before Parliament. Apologizing for the length of my letter, but feeling the urgency of the cause, I could not refrain from giving utterance to these few words ; earnestly desiring to see animosity trodden down, and friendship esta¬ blished between brothers of our large and wide-spread family.
I am, Sir, faithfully yours,
Edwin B. Vizer.
63, Lupus Street , Belgravia South , June, 1864.
THE PROPOSED PHARMACY ACT.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Gentlemen, — Having been prevented by business from attending the Annual General Meeting, I have read vdtk some interest the account of the proceedings and speeches made by various members on that occasion. As one of the mem¬ bers by examination, may I be allowed in a few words to express my opinion on the subject of this proposed new Pharmacy Act? There appears to me, through¬ out all the discussions, to be a most extraordinary solicitude on behalf of the “ Examined Men,” — a fear, almost, that they should be brought to the level of those outsiders it is proposed to admit. As an examined member I must say (and I dare say I might do so for others) I feel exceedingly grateful for the great in¬ terest shown to preserve my position, but, as far as I know, I believe this feeling of jealousy (for it is nothing more) does not exist among the examined men themselves, and I believe it to be a great mistake. If this new Pharmacy Act
2S TIIE NEW ACT AS AFFECTING ASSISTANTS.
is to come, into operation and benefit us as a trade, it must be founded on the most liberal basis. We all know there are men outside the Society who are cer¬ tainly on an equality, and some I have no doubt superior to many we call Phar¬ maceutical Chemists, both in scientific attainments and in sound practical busi¬ ness qualities, and these are the very men we want, men of experience and energy. Why, then, if they are to be admitted, should they not enjoy the same privileges, when they might bring their talents to bear, not more to their own advantage, than to that of the Society itself ? I think it should be the object of the Council and of all who are interested in the welfare of the Society to strive to gain and bring into its membership those men who will conduce most to its well- working and prosperity. Of course under the proposed Act, many others must be admitted, but we need not trouble about them ; our object should be to raise others as much as ourselves. And it must be remembered that most of these men have, although not connected with us, been contributing to the science and practice of Pharmacy and Chemistry. Here, then, is the opportunity for the Society to become firmly established ; let not the Council cavil obstinately for a false superiority, but if the doors are to be opened let them be opened wide freely, let all in on the same footing with ourselves, and then see that they be well guarded for the future. How is it we see so little change in the Council ? I should like to see a clause in the new Bill to this effect, that no member should remain more than two or three years in succession, it would bring more intelli¬ gence and energy to bear on its deliberations, — not but what we owe a good deal to the present members, but I think a little changing about would be beneficial. I sent a suggestion last year that the Pharmaceutical men should have a dinner, but I was sorry to find it met with no response. I still look forward to the time when we shall have our annual dinner, but at present I shall leave the matter to abler hands. At all events, it shows that “Pharmaceutical Chemists” are not such a hungry lot as the public take them for.
I remain, Gentlemen, yours faithfully,
Frederick Tibbs.
47, Blaclcfriars Road , London , June 21, 18G4.
THE NEW ACT AS AFFECTING ASSISTANTS.
TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
Sir, — At the anniversary meeting of the Society, Mr. Edwards, in advocating the adoption of the Amended Pharmacy Act, submitted that he could not do better than allow the measure to speak for itself, and stand upon its own in¬ trinsic merit ; and seeing that the Society is now committed to carry the matter to Parliament, no assistance should be slighted or despised. It has occurred to me that were the proposed Bill, as affecting those Assistants now without the Society, fairly stated to them, it must gain from them a large amount of vigorous moral support , and, if I might instance the beneficial change the co-operation of young men in the early closing movement has produced throughout the king¬ dom, who could fathom the influence such moral support might wield ? The moderation of the change sought, the undeniable desirability of the object, the spirit of justice to both sides breathed throughout the Bill, and the facility and inexpensiveness of its application to the whole trade, cannot fail in the minds of non-principal outsiders to overturn many a prejudice and refute a legion of old, and in some instances plausible, objections.
By way of illustration, take this one,— Your examinations oblige us to incur outlay our position will not warrant, and they require too much time for general adoption by the profession.” Now this one argument, to my own very limited knowledge, has debarred some score of young men with wdiom I have been brought
THE LATE ME. BAEEY.
29
into contact, and whose business abilities and manual industry were fully equal to the average, from presenting themselves for examination. It is useless to deny that success in business, rather than distinction in science, is the chief object most of us have in view ; and that few, but those who have been fortunate enough to attend such lectures, and work in such laboratories as the Pharma¬ ceutical Society provides, or have acquired the rudiments of their profession un¬ der superior and indulgent masters, pursue their studies with avidity, and attain eminence as scientific chemists. Separate this minority, and the remainder are lacking either the inclination or the means to qualify for any higher examina¬ tion than the present, or perhaps a rather more stringent “ Minor ” one. The average number of working hours amongst chemists (taking town and country together) is thirteen per diem, and whatever character the individual business may possess, it is not reasonable to expect much systematic and zealous study in conjunction with such an undue tax on the faculties of both body and mind, especially when the subjects of such study are identical with those to which, by the requirements of business, the wearied soul has been confined all day long.
But to exact from Assistants such an amount of knowledge as the u Minor ” requires, is only to ask for as much as few intelligent young men with a spark of interest in their labour, and with the very desultory reading obtainable in the routine of an ordinary pharmacy, could fail to acquire. Doubtless there are many honourable exceptions to such a type of Assistants both within and without the Society ; but facts will, I think, bear me out in asserting that the majority answer to this description. To such, after passing the requisite ordeal and paying a very moderate fee, the Amended Pharmacy Act, if passed , would give a legal and sufficient recognition of competency, together with a share in the govern¬ ment of the Society, and permission (itself a powerful stimulus to further exer¬ tion') to take the higher degree whenever they become competent to do so. At the same time, and this is the noble aim of the proposed legislation, reasonable though not infallible safety would be secured to the community by preventing- unskilful and jgnorant men from compounding the prcescripta of the faculty.
In conclusion, let me commend the serious consideration of the matter to the Assistants in our profession, and I feel firmly persuaded that the genuine “elo¬ quence ” of the measure alone will plead so effectually with them, that such a body of volunteers would arise to assist its progress into law as no amount of opposition could withstand, or successfully encounter.
Apologizing for the great liberty taken, and the amount of valuable space oc¬ cupied, I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
A Minor Associate.
THE LATE ME. BAEEY.
It is probable that the subject of this notice was personally known to a very small proportion of our readers. Yet it is appropriate, and we trust it may be found instructive, here to sketch a few of the salient features and leading events of the character and life of a founder of the Pharmaceutical Society, whose labours have produced an indelible impression on the legislation of our country.
John Thomas Barry was the son of Alexander Barry, Esq., of Fratton, near Portsmouth. He was born in 1789, and was the eldest of a numerous family, seveial of whom were distinguished by conspicuous talents. His brother, Alex¬ ander, was a Hospital Lecturer at the age of twenty- one, and he was one of the youngest men ever elected into the Eoyal Society ; but in 1832 his life of early promise was cut short by an accidental explosion occurring in the course of a scientific investigation. Another brother, Dr. Martin Barry, highly dis-
30
TIIE LATE ME. BAREY.
tinguished himself during a brief career. In 1834 he ascended Mont Blanc, and published an account of what was then a rare feat. He received the Gold Medal, of the Royal Society, of which he also was a Fellow, for his physiological researches.
Mr. Barry himself early evinced unusual ability. Whilst still young he was deprived of both his parents. The direction of the education of the younger members of the family thus devolved upon him, and was carried out with cha¬ racteristic assiduity and intelligence.
When about fifteen years of age he entered the establishment of Messrs. Allen and Howard, of Plough Court, Lombard Street. Here he soon displayed the sterling qualities of his character, and in a few years gained the entire con¬ fidence and firm friendship of Mr. Allen, to whom, indeed, he rendered himself almost indispensable. It was not long before he succeeded in reorganizing the old establishment, which even at that time had been carried on for three-quarters of a century, impressing upon it much of the systematic precision of arrangement which has ever since characterized it.
At this time Mr. Allen was lecturer at Guy’s Hospital on Chemistry and Na¬ tural Philosophy ; and Mr. Barry pursued certain branches of medical science in the same school, intending at this period to follow the medical profession, but the state of his health compelled him ultimately to relinquish the project. In anatomy he particularly distinguished himself. His talents were especially noticed by Sir Astley Cooper, who in subsequent years spoke very strongly of the brilliant success he might have commanded had he devoted himself to the practice of surgery.
About the year 1817 Mr. Barry applied the method of evaporating in vacuo to the production of pharmaceutical extracts. Under the celebrated patent of Mr. E. C. Howard, the principle was already applied in the refining of sugar. Mr. Barry invented a very ingenious apparatus for the purpose, which he pa¬ tented, expecting it to be used in some important manufactures, but he declined to patent the process as applied to pharmaceutical purposes, thus leaving it open for the adoption of the trade.
The apparatus was peculiar, in not requiring the use of an air pump. It con¬ sisted essentially of a distillatory apparatus, immersed in a water -hath to prevent the ingress of air, with a large receiver attached at the end of the condenser. Into this receiver a pipe from a steam boiler opened, and streams of cold water could be made to play over its exterior. The vacuum was obtained by displacing the air from the receiver by a jet of steam, then condensing the steam, and re¬ peating the process as often as required. Each “ blowing ” was calculated tore- move four-fifths of the air from the apparatus, and thus, after a few repetitions, the mercury in the gauge would rise to within an inch and a half or two inches of the height of the barometer. Mr. Barry stated, that in actual practice the gauge commonly stood at 28 inches even during active ebullition, which was then kept up by a temperature of from 95° to 100° FA' This arrangement was efficient, and easily worked ; but it has never come into general use. Perhaps the most interesting part of the apparatus, at the present day, is the condenser , which was arranged in every respect exactly as that which is now known as “ Liebig’s Condenser.”
The importance of guarding against inaccuracy in making and errors in using poisonous articles deeply impressed Mr. Barry, and so early as about the year 1814 he introduced the plan of keeping the few poisons admitted upon the dis¬ pensing shelves in angidar bottles, whilst all the more virulent poisons were kept altogether apart. His method of adjusting the strength of hydrocyanic acid was greatly in advance of the time, and especially elicited the approbation of his
* Med. CIxir. Trans., 1st scries, vol. x. pt. 1, 1819.
THE LATE ME. BARKY.
31
friend Dr. Wollaston. He was beautifully neat and exact in his chemical ex¬ periments, habitually operating on very small quantities of material ; thus closely following Dr. Wollaston, who appears to have initiated this important improve¬ ment in the method of chemical research. Throughout life it was his practice to try a reaction for himself rather than to refer to a book. Thus his knowledge be¬ came remarkably sound ; and he accepted the results of his experiments with unhesitating confidence.
His reliance on scientific principles was amusingly illustrated only a year or two since. One Sunday morning, volumes of smoke were noticed to issue from a cupboard in his dwelling-house. Remembering that he had put away there some signal-lights, he at once suspected spontaneous combustion, but instead of looking in and endeavouring to extinguish the fire with buckets of water, he closed the keyhole and pasted strips of paper along the crevices, and then, having thus blockaded the enemy, quietly sat down to read his Bible. All signs of activity within soon ceased ; and when eventually the cupboard was examined the damage done was found to be very limited.
In 1838 Mr. Barry was elected as a foreign member by the College of Phar¬ macy of Philadelphia.
But whilst he was still in early life Mr. Barry’s energies were devoted to an object of more general interest than the organization of a business, or the appli¬ cation of the sciences associated with it. His revered friend Mr. Allen was ac¬ tively co-operating in almost every philanthropic undertaking of the day ; and there can be no doubt that such an example had its natural influence upon Mr. Barry. W e do not know the circumstances which gave the special direction to his labours. But it is not surprising that a sensitive and very thoughtful mind should have been roused to action in contemplating the horrible frequency of executions under the criminal law as it existed during the earlier part of this century. That this national disgrace has been so nearly removed is we believe more largely due to the labours of Mr. Barry than to those of any other individual. From natural temperament and from adopted principles he shrank from pub¬ licity, and never allowed himself to be made prominent in committees or socie¬ ties. Self-reliant, and wonderfully energetic, he never sought to operate through organizations.
So early as the year 1808 a committee was formed which styled itself a “ Society for Diffusing Information on the Subject of Punishment by Death.’’ Among the leading members were William Allen, Luke Howard, Joseph Gurney Bevan, Richard Phillips, and Basil Montagu. They at once put themselves in communication with Sir Samuel Romilly, who was delighted to find himself thus supported in his humane endeavours to ameliorate the criminal code. Their meetings were held at Plough Court ; but Mr. Barry, who at this date was only nineteen years of age, does not appear to have taken any prominent part in their proceedings for many years subsequently.
We cannot give a better idea of the part he eventually took in this great ques¬ tion than by extracting some portions of the notice of his labours which appeared in the ‘ Morning Star ’ of the 4th April. Alluding to the year 1828, when a new Anti-capital Punishment Society was formed, the writer says : —
“ Circumstances had drawn public attention to the cruel impolicy of retaining the capital laws against forgery ; and to their repeal the Society at first appears to have more especially directed its attention. The gallows at this period flourished in great vigour, for, in 1829, no less than twenty-four persons were hanged in London alone, and amongst these there was not one murderer. In 1830, Sir Robert Peel brought in his Bill to consolidate the Acts relating to forgery. Sir James Macintosh moved an amendment on the third reading of the Bill, the effect of which was to abolish the capital punishment, except in so far as it related to the forging of wills and powers of attorney. At this critical moment Barry put forth all his marvellous
32
THE LATE MR. BARRY.
energies. Correspondence with the provinces had to he maintained, statistics pre¬ pared and arranged, members of Parliament to be addressed through their consti¬ tuents, and every possible pressure brought to bear on the legislature in order to secure the success of the amendment. None but himself could ever really know the actual extent of the efforts by which Barry, almost single-handed, strove to accom¬ plish his end. The philanthropist kept a list of friendly legislators who conld be relied upon for ‘franking’ his voluminous correspondence, and estimated that his anti-forgery law agitation alone required ‘ franks ’ in lieu of postage to the value of one thousand pounds. The most remarkable evidence obtained by Barry of the growing opposition to the death-punishment was a petition from more than a thou¬ sand bankers presented by Brougham to the House of Commons on the 25th of May, 1830. To such testimony the legislature could not turn a deaf ear. Macintosh’s amendment was carried against the Government by a majority of 13. The Lords, however, took alarm at this innovation, and re-enacted the capital penalty.
“In 1832, Sir Thomas Denman, then Attorney-General, brought in a measure totally to abolish death-punishment for forgery. Again Barry was at work with his correspondence, petitions, and statistics, and lie had the satisfaction to see the Bill go up to the House of Peers. It was near the end of the session when the Lords took up the Bill. After much discussion it came back to the Commons altered by the re-enactment of the capital penalty for the forgery of wills and powers of attorney.”
By a singularly sagacious use of circumstances, Mr. Barry obtained, as the Bill was passing through its last stage in the House of Commons, assurances from the minister which rendered the Lords’ amendment inoperative, and no person after this ever suffered death for forgery.
“We must not omit to mention that at this stage of his career Mr. Barry was nobly supported by the eloquent pen of John Sydney Taylor in the columns of the ‘ Morning Herald.’ A close intimacy existed between them. After Taylor’s death, Barry edited a selection of his Avritings, and never ceased to the close of his own life to speak with affectionate admiration of the talents and generous nature of his de¬ parted friend. From the report of the committee, Barry’s course for some years appears to have been marked by splendid triumphs. The year 1832 had witnessed, in addition to the passing of Denman’s forgery Bill, the abolition of capital punishment for false coining, and also for horse stealing, sheep stealing, cattle stealing, and stealing in a dwelling-house, the last four measures being carried by Mr. William Ewart. In 1833, Mr. Barrett Lennard carried his proposition to exempt house¬ breaking (as distinguished from burglary) from the extreme penalty of the law. In 1834 and 1835, on the motion of Mr. Ewart, returning from transportation, stealing letters from the Post Office, and sacrilege were removed from the catalogue of offences punishable with death ; and in the former year the disgraceful provision for ‘ hang¬ ing in chains ’ was erased from the statute book, attempts having been made to re¬ vive that odious practice at Leicester, and some other assize towns. In 1836, a Bill passed into a law, on the motion of Mr. Aglionby, for putting an end to the custom of executing within forty-eight hours after sentence all persons convicted of murder, — a custom which had occasionally cut off, with cruel precipitation, those wffiose innocence was discovered too late. In 1837, a large number of capital offences was at once swept away by Lord John Russell’s Acts. They included ‘cutting and maiming,’ and rick-burning, for which the punishment of death was altogether abolished ; and attempts to murder, robbery, burglary, and arson, where it was re¬ served only in cases of extreme aggravation. The importance of these Acts is best illustrated by the fact that the number of persons sentenced to death, which in 1837 amounted to 438, had fallen in 1S39 to 56. In 1840, for the first time in the history of Parliament, a resolution for the total abolition of the punishment of death was moved by Mr. Ewart, and no fewer than ninety- four members voted in its favour. In 1845, the committee of the Society could congratulate itself upon the fact, mainly the result of its labours, that whereas in 1829, the year after its formation, twenty- four persons had been hung in London for offences other than murder, for twelve years preceding 1844 not one execution for any offence but murder had disgraced
THE LATE MR. BARRY.
33
the metropolis. Those who had the pleasure in after years of hearing from Mr. Barry’s lips the story of his life for the seventeen years covered by the above-men¬ tioned report, could till pages with stories of thrilling interest. He held that, wit! regard to a question on which public feeling must often prove fickle, and for which the masses of the people could hardly be expected to sustain any long-continued agitation, the course for him to adopt was to demonstrate by continued and persist¬ ent efforts the injustice, impolicy, and inconsistency of the law in dealing with individual offenders. By this means the administrators of the law became converted by circumstances rather than by argument from open opponents into allies or sup¬ porters. This line of action necessarily brought him into contact and sometimes collision with men in power, who exhibited not unfrequently the usual amount of official dislike to his humane interference. In after years, even when apparently exhausted by sickness, he would dwell with animation on some of these incidents of the past. He would tell how the first man convicted of murder, after the passing of Aglionby’s Act, was proved (through the time allowed by that measure to elapse between sentence and execution) to have been totally innocent ; or he would describe, with a keen sense of injustice and wrong, how, after long and weary journeys into the country, after tough wrestling with the Home Secretary of the day, or long midnight interviews with his friend Sydney Taylor, followed by an eloquent appeal for mercy from Taylor’s pen, all proved in vain, and some unoffending victim of mis¬ taken justice died to expiate another’s crime.
“ Mr. Barry took an active share, though in enfeebled health, in the operations of the Society for Promoting the Abolition of Capital Punishment, which took the place of its predecessor, the ‘ Society for Diffusing Information,’ etc., and never denied himself, however severe his physical suffering, to those who sought his counsel in aid of the cause he had so much at heart.”
When in 1841 the chemists and druggists determined to offer an organized opposition to the Medical Bill of Mr. Hawes, Mr. Barry cordially united and afforded them the valuable aid of his great experience in Parliamentary business. Thus he became one of the founders of the Pharmaceutical Society, and ever after evinced a sincere interest in its welfare.
About eight years ago Mr. Barry retired from business. He had never married, his health was frail, and as he frequently suffered from weakness or entire loss of voice he naturally shunned society and led a life of much seclusion, lie continued to take an active part in circulating publications relating to the object upon which the best energies of his life had been expended, and his deep abhorrence of oppression and injustice caused him to regard with lively interest every great event affecting the welfare of mankind. To objects of which he approved he liberally contributed, but so thoroughly did he act in the spirit of the injunction “ When thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth,” that his name was scarcely ever seen on a subscription list, and his most intimate connections were, for the most part, unaware of his benevolent actions. In the same spirit he withheld his name from any public connection with the great labour of his life. It is scarcely to be found in the two volumes published under his superintendence by the committee of which he was the very soul ; and in the memoir of Sydney Taylor above referred to, we have sought for his name in vain, although the work is preceded by a biographical sketch, written by himself, and abounds in editorial notes.
His personal appearance was striking. In figure he was tall and slim, his head was remarkably well developed and fine in form, his nose long and aquiline, and his features strongly expressive of the calm refined thoughtfulness of his mind. His general manner was remarkably gentle, affording no indication to the casual observer of the deep earnestness of purpose and stern energy of will which constituted the true basis of his character. It is not surprising that such a man inspired those immediately about him with respect amounting almost to awe. Yet blended with these indications of superiority and power there was ever
VOL. vi. r
MEMOIR OF LUKE HOWARD.
34
noticeable a peculiar tenderness of feeling. No one, we think, can peruse the memoir of Taylor without perceiving the sympathetic pathos of the editor. It is evident that he accompanies with loving admiration the noble sentiments, generous impulses, and poetic tenderness of his departed friend. A remarkable power of accurate observation, combined with studious habits and a retentive memory, enabled him to accumulate from reading and travelling, in which he took great pleasure, a rich fund of general as well as scientific knowledge.
His last illness was marked by characteristic activity of mind, blended with the abounding consolations of a sincere Christian faith. Not long before the close, with animated emphasis he said, u Already I seem as if I were floating in clouds of everlasting light and glory ; eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which I now ex¬ perience e.”
He died at his residence near Hornsey, on the 31st of March, and was buried at Winchmore Hill, in the ground belonging to the Society of Friends, to which body he united himself in early life.
MEMOIR OF LUKE HOWARD.
The decease of one of the oldest pharmaceutists in the country claims a few words of notice in our Journal.
Luke Howard died on the 21st of last March, in his 92nd year. It is in¬ teresting to look back to the changes which have taken place during his long life. In his earliest days, phlogiston reigned supreme in the realms of what was then scientific chemistry. The belief in the transmutation of metals still sur¬ vived, and in the druggist’s store pulvis crardi Jiumani , oleum lumbricorum , and oleum catulorum still occupied a place. He was already a young man when Lavoisier revolutionized chemistry by the discovery of oxygen ; when Priestley and Cavendish found out the joints of the armour of ignorance. He was in the full tide of the busy occupations of life when Davy riveted the attention of society at large by his magnificent discoveries ; and was the intimate friend of Dalton. Iodine, the vegetable alkaloids, and a host of the other most valua¬ ble aids to medical skill, were totally unknown until long after.
It was about the year 1796 that he and the late Mr. Allen, taking the place of Mr. Gurney Bevan at Plough Court, first brought science — such as it then was — into connection with the preparation of medicines in England. Soon after this they jointly entered upon the foundation of a laboratory on a larger scale, and for the supply of the trade at large with pure preparations of the chemicals then in use. This was first at Plaistow. Mr. Howard afterwards, separating from Mr. Allen, removed it to Stratford, where it has been carried on up to the present time by his children and grandchildren.
Chemistry was not, however, Mr. Howard’s most favourite science. In the year 1796, he, in conjunction with Mr. Allen and some few other scientific men, founded an association for the investigation of natural science, under the title of the Askesian Society. They got on the track of some of the most perplexed questions of modern science. Their first subject was, “Light: what becomes of it when it falls on a surface which does not reflect it?” Several of their papers were published, and were valued by the scientific men of the day.
Mr. Howard found in meteorology, then quite in its infancy, a subject of particular interest. Pie set up an observatory at Plaistow, and traced the con¬ nection of electricity and temperature with the different forms of the clouds. He soon found that the clouds admtited of classification, and his essay on the “■ Modifications of the Clouds ” laid the foundation of all modern meteorolo¬ gical science. The names which he adopted for them, cumulus , stratus , etc., are
ALKALOID FROM RICINUS COMMUNIS.
35
*\vell understood and exclusively used by all scientific writers throughout the world.
Nearly half a century ago, Mr. Howard withdrew from all active participa¬ tion in commercial pursuits, and gradually also from scientific investigation, and devoted his time to various religious, philanthropic, and literary pursuits. He inherited a fortune which enabled him to do this without anxiety, and a happy Christian old age closed his peaceful career.
Amongst his published works are — ‘The Yorkshireman,’ ‘Notes on the Odyssey,’ ‘ The Climate of London,’ ‘Notes on the Modifications of the Clouds,’ ‘ The Barometrographia,’ and ‘ Lectures on Meteorology.’
NOTE ON AN ALKALOID OBTAINED FROM THE SEEDS OF RICINUS COMMUNIS, OR CASTOR-OIL PLANT.
BY PROFESSOR TUSON.
It is well known that certain parts of several plants belonging to the Natural Order Euphorbiacece , as well as various pharmaceutical preparations obtained therefrom, have been long employed in medicine as remedial agents ; and that, notwithstanding this circumstance, our knowledge respecting the chemical constitution and physiological ac¬ tion of the active principles residing in such bodies is even at the present day in an exceedingly unsatisfactory state.
For a considerable period I have devoted much of the time which I could snatch from that occupied in my regular professional pursuits to attempts at isolating the active constituents of the seeds and oils of castor and croton, of gum eupliorbium, and of cas- carilla bark, i. e. the bark of Croton eleuteria or of Croton cascarilla. Now although, as yet, I have not succeeded in accomplishing the particular object which I had in view when I commenced my experiments, I have nevertheless discovered several substances possessing chemical if not therapeutic interest, and it is one of these proximate principles which I have separated from the seeds and oil of Ricinus communis that I wish to partly describe in this communication. The compound to which I refer is an alkaloid, and I have provisionally named it ricinine.
Preparation of ricinine. — Crushed castor-oil seeds are exhausted by successive quan¬ tities of boiling water, and the matters soluble in water separated from the oil and other insoluble materials by filtration through wet calico. The filtered liquid thus obtained is then evaporated to dryness over a wrater-bath, and the extract produced is treated with boiling alcohol so long as it exerts any solvent power. The alcoholic solutions are allowed to cool, when a small amount of a resinoid body precipitates. This is separated by filtration, and the filtered liquid is concentrated to a small bulk and allowed to stand all night. The next morning a mass of almost white crystals are found to have deposited from the alcoholic solution. These crystals are the new alkaloid, ricinine. It may be obtained perfectly pure by recrystallization out of alcohol and decolorizing by animal charcoal.
Properties of ricinine. — Ricinine crystallizes in rectangular prisms and tables. - When placed on the tongue, it slowly manifests a feebly bitter taste, resembling somewhat that of .bitter almonds. Cautiously treated on a microscope slide, ricinine melts and forms a perfectly colourless and mobile fluid, which on cooling solidifies into a whorl of acicular crystals. Heated between two watch-glasses, a sublimate is obtained, which appears to be unaltered ricinine. Strongly heated on platinum foil, ricinine first melts and subsequently burns with a highly luminous and fuliginous flame.
The best solvents for ricinine are water and alcohol; benzol and ether dissolve but a- small quantity of the alkaloid. Heated with solid hydrate of potash it evolves am- - monia, thus demonstrating the presence of nitrogen.
Concentrated sulphuric acid dissolves the alkaloid without colouring it, and the addi¬ tion of bichromate of potash simply causes the development of a green colour.
Iodic acid is not deoxidized by ricinine, even when these substances are warmed to¬ gether.
Concentrated nitric acid dissolves ricinine without evolving red vapours, although heat be applied. On evaporating the solution thus produced to a small volume and al-
BILL ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
36
lowing it to' cool, groups of transparent and colourless acicular crystals develope. These* crystals are rendered opaque by the addition of water.
Concentrated hydrochloric acid dissolves ricinine, but the hydrochlorate of the base, which is doubtless produced in this reaction, appears to be readily decomposed both by evaporation and dilution. A solution of ricinine in hydrochloric acid does not give a precipitate with a concentrated aqueous solution of bichloride of platinum, but on evaporating a mixture of these bodies well-defined octahedra and modifications of octa- hedra having a deep orange colour crystallize out.
On mixing together cold saturated aqueous solutions of ricinine and perchloride of mercury no change is at first observed, but if the mixture be allowed to stand for a few minutes a mass of beautiful silky crystals, arranged in radiate tufts, is formed ; which is so solid that the vessel in which the experiment is performed may be inverted without any fear of its contents falling out. The mercurial compound of ricinine is soluble in water and in alcohol, menstrua from which it may he purified by crystallization.
If ordinary castor oil be shaken up with water, the water decanted and evaporated to dryness, a small quantity of resinous residue is left, which, when treated with boiling benzol, partly dissolves. If the benzolic solution of this residue be allowed to evaporate spontaneously, a small quantity of white crystals are obtained, which, so far as one can judge from their physical properties, are ricinine.
Neither ricinine nor the resinoid body which falls when the alcoholic solution of the aqueous extract of the seeds is allowed to cool, is the purgative principle of castor oil or of the seeds from which it is expressed, for I administered two grains of each of these educts to a rabbit more than a month ago, and the animal has not evinced the slightest inconvenience, temporary or otherwise. The true active principles of officinal Euphor- biaceae I am still seeking, and the nature of the results which I have already obtained, induce me to indulge in the hope that before long I shall be enabled to publish an ac¬ count of them. I may be permitted to conclude this imperfect account of ricinine by stating that I have obtained a similar if not identical body from croton seeds, and, so far as I have yet discovered, differing in several important characters from those described as belonging to cascarilline, an alkaloid discovered by Brandes in the bark of Croton eleuteria or Croton cascarilla, both plants belonging to the Natural Order Euphorbiacese. — The Veterinarian.
A BILL [AS AMENDED IN COMMITTEE] TO BENDER PERMISSIVE THE USE OF THE METRIC SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN THIS COUNTRY.
Whereas for the Promotion and Extension of our internal as well as our foreign Trade, and for the Advancement of Science, it is expedient to legalize the Use of the Metric System of Weights and Measures : Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Com¬ mons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows :
1. This Act may be cited as the “Metric Weights and Measures Act, 1864.”
2. Notwithstanding anything contained in any Act of Parliament to the contrary, no Contract or Dealing shall be deemed to be invalid or open to Objection on the, Ground that the Weights or Measures expressed or referred to in such Contract or Dealing are Weights or Measures of the Metric System.
3. The Table in the Schedule hereto annexed shall be deemed to set forth, in terms of the legal Weights and Measures in force in this Country, the Equivalents of the Weights and Measures therein expressed in Terms of the Metric System, and such Table may be lawfully used for computing, determining, and expressing, in legal Weights and Measures, Weights and Measures of the Metric System.
SCHEDULE to which this Act refers.
Schedule of Tables of the Values of the principal Denominations of Measures and Weights on the Metric System expressed by the Means of the legalized Denomina¬ tions of Measures and Weights in Great Britain and Ireland.
BILL ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
37'
MEASURES IN LENGTH.
|
Metric Denomination. |
Equivalent in British Denominations. |
||||
|
Metres. |
Miles. |
Yards. |
Feet. Inches Decimals. |
||
|
Myriametre . |
10,000 |
( 6' |
376- |
0* |
11*9 |
|
l or |
10,936* |
0* |
11*9 |
||
|
Kilometre . . . . . |
1,000 |
1,093* |
1- |
10*79 |
|
|
Hectometre . |
100 |
109* |
1* |
1*079 |
|
|
Dekametre . |
10 |
10* |
2* |
9*7079 |
|
|
Metre . |
1 |
1* |
0* |
3*3708 |
|
|
Decimetre . |
1 1 0 |
3*9371 |
|||
|
Centimetre . |
• 1 1 () o |
• |
0*3937 |
||
|
Millimetre . |
To (To |
0*0394 |
MEASURES OF SURFACE.
|
Metric Denomination. |
Equivalent in British Denominations. |
|
|
Square Metres. |
Acres. Square Yards. Decimals. |
|
|
Hectare . Dekare . Are . Centiare ...... * |
10,000 1,000 100 1 |
f 2* 2280* 3326 1 or 11,960* 3326 1,196* 0333 119* 6033 1* 1960 |
MEASURES OF CAPACITY.
|
Metric Denomination. |
Equivalent in British Denominations. |
|
|
Cubic Metres. |
Qtrs. Bshls. Pks. Galls. Qts. Pts. Decimals. |
|
|
Kilolitre .... Hectolitre .... Dekalitre .... Litre . Decilitre .... Centilitre .... |
1 1 3 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 0 1 To ooo 1 100000 |
3* 3* 2* 0* 0* 0*77 2* 3* 0* 0* 0*077 1* 0* 0* 1*6077 1*76077 0*176077 * 0*0176077 |
WEIGHTS.
|
Metric Denomination. |
| Equivalent in British Denominations. |
|
|
Grams. |
Cwts. Stones. Pounds. Ounces. Drams. Decimals. |
|
|
Millier . . . Quintal . . . Myriagram . . Kilogram . . Hectogram . Dekagram Gram .... Decigram . Centigram . Milligram . . |
1,000,00.0 100,000 10,000 1,000 100 10 1 1 10 1 10 0 1 10 00 |
19* 5* 6* 9* 15*04 1* 7* 10* 7* 6*304 1* 8* 0* 11*8304 ( 2* 3* 4*3830 ( (or 15432*3488 grains) 3* 8*4383 5*6438 0*56438 0*056438 0*0056438 0*00056438 |
3S
MISCELLANEA.
MISCELLANEA.
Poisoning by Digitaline. — A very remarkable trial has lately taken place at Paris, in which a homoeopathic physician, named La Pommerais, was charged with having poisoned a poor widow named Pauw, whom he had known for many years, and had attended her husband before his death, after which she became his mistress ; and this connection continued till 1861, when it was broken off in consequence of Pom¬ merais marrying a Madlle. Dubizy. The intimacy was renewed in July last, when he suggested that she should insure her life for £22,000, and that after payment of the first premiums she should simulate illness, and then make a proposal to the insurance companies that her policies should be exchanged for a life annuity. The policies were effected in July for the above amount, at annual premiums of £750, and on the morning of the 17th of November the widow Pauw was found in great agony, and died in the evening. Dr. Gaudenat, who had been in attendance, certified that death was caused by a fall three months previously. Pommerais afterwards applied to the companies for payment of the money due upon the policies; but suspicions having arisen, a, post¬ mortem, examination wa,s ordered, and hence the present trial. The post-mortem exa¬ mination was made by MM. Tardieu and Poussin. No poison was discovered in the viscera, but there was an absence of disease in the internal organs. However, from the symptoms exhibited before death, and from experiments made on animals with the vomited matters scraped from the floor of the room occupied by the deceased, and with the con¬ tents of the stomach, they were of opinion that death had resulted from some powerful poison, probably digitaline. On the other side it was contended that the experiments made with the matter scraped from the floor of the room were valueless, as it was impos¬ sible to say that organic matter in a state of decomposition might not have been suffi¬ ciently poisonous to cause the effects described. MM. Claude Bernard, Valpian, and Raynal were examined as to the action of digitaline on the heart, and described the experiments they had made with that substance. The jury found the prisoner guilty of poisoning the widow De Pauw. No mention of extenuating circumstances having been made, La Pommerais was condemned to death, and has since suffered the penalty.
Poisoning by Ranunculus acris. — An inquest was recently held at the Bull Hotel, Dartford, before Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner, on the body of a child named Sarah Elizabeth Heron, aged six years. It appeared by the evidence of the mother and father of the child, that some time before death the deceased had complained of feeling very unwell, and in great pain about the body and legs. The mother afterwards dis¬ covered that the deceased had been eating buttercups from a field close by, and sent for a powder from a chemist’s ; but as the deceased vomited a great deal, and presented every appearance of having been poisoned, the parish surgeon (Mr. Martin) was sent for, but that gentleman did not arrive at the house till the child was dead. A post-mortem examination had been made, which proved the deceased had been poisoned by eating buttercups ; and the jury returned a verdict to that effect.
Suicide by Aconite. — An inquest has been held at Bolton on the body of Hannah Hulme, aged 25, a domestic servant, who died from the effects of aconite. It was proved in evidence that she had been visited for the last eight months by a married man, who had represented himself as single. On finding that she had been deceived, and that she was pregnant, she drank a quantity of strong infusion of aconite, the remain¬ ing portion of which was found in a pint jug under the bed on which she was found dead. The jury found that “ The deceased destroyed herself by drinking an infusion of aconite whilst in a state of unsound mind.” The man was severely reprimanded for his heartless conduct.
Tincture of Aloes as an Application to Wounds. — M. Delioux observes that, notwithstanding the great repute of aloes as an external application in former times, it is now seldom used, and that he was induced to give it a trial in consequence of its great utility in veterinary practice. After trying it in combination with other balsamic sub¬ stances, he has come to use it alone, finding a saturated tincture made with one part of aloes and two of alcohol to be the best preparation. Suppurating wounds, when at all of an atonic character, are to be dressed by means of charpie dipped in the tincture, the application causing little or no pain. Old and obstinate ulcers, and ulcers from decubitus in cachectic subjects are much benefited by it. It is useful also to bear in mind its great cicatrizing power in wounds and ulcers occurring in our domestic animals, especially the
REVIEWS.
39
horse. Erosures and fallings by its aid are prevented degenerating into ulcers. — Bull, de Therap., vol. lxvi. p. 28.
Alleged Death from Chlorodyne. — At an inquest held at Shipton Sollars, Gloucestershire, before J. Lovegrove, Esq., coroner, on the body of an old woman who had taken ten drops of “ Dr. Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne,” and who was found dead a few hours afterwards, Mr. A. W. Gabb, surgeon, who was acquainted with the deceased and had prescribed for her, made the following statement: — He knew the history of the case, and was well acquainted with “ Dr. Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne.” He had not used it now for some time, because its effects on different constitutions appeared so un¬ certain. He had known fifteen drops to prove almost fatal. He did not know the composition of the medicine, but chloroform formed a prominent ingredient. Such a medicine ought not to be sold indiscriminately —except under medical advice. Being a sticky medicine it was difficult to drop, and he invariably used a minim glass for the purpose. He had given twenty-five drops in a dose, but that was by gradually increas¬ ing it. The cause of death in this case was the chlorodyne deceased took. — A verdict in accordance was returned.
Practical Application of Dialysis. — As a note to his paper on the “Utilization of Brine,”* Mr. Whitelaw has published the following in the ‘ Chemical News,’ May 28 : — The salt meat is placed in a dialy tic bag made of untanned skin, or other suitable ma¬ terial, and the bag filled nearly, but not quite, full of brine from the beef barrel. The dialyser is then placed in sea-water, and the process allowed to go on for several days, till the meat and brine are sufficiently fresh for use, or till the brine in the dialytic bag is within 1° or 2° of Twaddell’s hydrometer of the same strength as sea-water. In this way, as the brine becomes freed from salt, the beef, which, by the action of salt, has been contracted, gives its salt to the brine in the bag; and so the process goes on, the beef expanding like a sponge, and gradually taking up a great part of the natural juice that it had previously lost in the salting process. In this way no loss of juice is sustained by steeping, and the brine left in the bags, after a nightly dialysis in fresh water, can be used for soup. Thoroughly salted beef, without bone, takes up nearly one-third its weight of juice, and this absorption takes place gradually as the strength of the brine in the dia¬ lyser becomes reduced. Meat thus treated — being, in fact, fresh meat — may be cooked in a variety of ways that are obviously not available for salt meat ; and so the food of sailors, and consequently their health, may be improved.
Preservation of Chloroform. — It requires but a short time for chloroform which is exposed to the sun’s rays to undergo decomposition, hydrochloric acid being deve¬ loped, and a strong odour of chlorine being present. This is prevented if the chloroform is kept in the dark ; and when it has undergone decomposition by exposure, M. Boettger finds that it may be easily purified by shaking it up with a few fragments of caustic soda. As long, indeed, as it is in contact with the caustic soda it may be preserved for an indefinite period in diffused light. — Bull, de Therap ., May 15.
REVIEWS.
The Essentials of Materia Medica and Therapeutics. By Alfred Baring Gar- rod, M.D., F.R.S. ; Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians ; Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in King’s College, London ; Physician to King’s College Hospital ; and Examiner in Materia Medica in the University of London. Second Edition, revised and much enlarged. London: Walton and Maberly. 1864.
The appearance of a second edition of Dr. Garrod’s well-known and appreciated text¬ book is a great boon to students at the present time, when such a work is in much re¬ quest. The fact of a large issue of the first edition having been sold is, in itself, evi¬ dence that a volume of this kind was required, and that the want was supplied in a satis¬ factory manner. The object and general nature of the work will be best judged of by the following extracts from the Preface : —
“ The present work is intended to serve as a text-book of Materia Medica, and while it is hoped that it omits -nothing essential to the study of the science, it excludes such details as are often embarrassing to the student and seldom necessary to the practitioner.
* Yol. v. 2nd ser. p. 516-
40
REVIEWS.
It has been his object, while limiting its size, to include all points connected with the officinal preparation of medicines, and so much information on the therapeutic action of drugs as would serve as a sufficient guide in actual prkctice. All controversial points have been avoided, as unsuited to the design of the work; and the information confined to the facts really ascertained as to the action of each drug, and the purposes for which it has been advantageously employed.”
“ A Table of Contents, by a glance at which the reader will at once see all drugs sci¬ entifically arranged, together with their pharmaceutical preparations, is contained in the present edition ; as likewise a Table indicating the principal changes of nomenclature and important differences of strength between preparations in the British Pharmacopoeia and in the London Pharmacopoeia, 1851; and lastly, a somewhat copious Posological Table is now introduced.”
The following notice of M'ezereon will serve as an illustration of the manner in which Dr. Garrod has carried out his design : —
“ Thymelacee.
Mezereum, Mezereon. The dried bark of Daphne Mezereum , or Mezereon ; Linn. Syst. Octandria Monogynia ; or Daphne Laureola, the Spurge Laurel. The latter is chiefly found in commerce ; indigenous.
Description. Thin, flat, or curled pieces of various lengths ; tough, of a brown colour outside, but white and fibrous within, with slight odour, taste hot and very acrid.
Prep, and Comp. An acrid volatile oil , acrid resin , and a crystalline principle ; daphnin. When the root is boiled in water, an acrid vapour rises.
Off. Prep. It is contained in Decoctum Sarze Composititm.
Therapeutics. Mezereon is a powerful local irritant, and even vesicant ; it causes vo¬ miting and purging in large doses, but in small ones diaphoresis and diuresis. Used in chronic rheumatism, syphilis, scrofulous and skin diseases. Seldom given in this country, except in the compound decoction of sarsaparilla. In America an ointment is used.
l)ose. Of compound decoction of sarsaparilla, 1 fl. oz. to 2 fl. oz. or more.”
The above description, which includes everything that is absolutely essential for the medical practitioner and medical student to know, may be taken as a fair specimen of the others.
Such a text-book cannot but prove a useful guide to medical practitioners, and to those students of materia medica who are not called upon to look deeply into the science, and even to the latter class it will serve as an introduction to the larger and more com¬ prehensive works of Pereira, Christisou, Wood and Bache, etc.
Although we thus gladly admit that the work of our author contains much that is good, we must at the same time state that it is by no means free from errors. Some of these, as want of clearness of description, and wrong spelling of technical terms, have doubtless arisen from the desire of the author to get his work published as soon as pos¬ sible after the issue of the British Pharmacopoeia ; but others having been recently pointed out in this Journal and elsewhere, we cannot but regret to have to refer to again from their occurrence in the present volume. We trust, however, that a new edition will be speedily called for, and thus afford bur author another opportunity of carefully revising the work, and make it still more worthy of the high reputation he has deservedly ac¬ quired.
A Companion to the Pharmacopoeia ; comparing the strength of the various Prepara¬ tions with those of the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, United States, and other foreign Pharmacopoeias; with Practical Hints on Prescribing. By Peter Squire, F.L.S., Chemist on the establishment of the Queen, Chemist in Ordinary to the Prince of Wales and the Royal Family, late President of the Pharmaceutical Society.
The defects and deficiencies of the British Pharmacopoeia have been felt and admitted to be so numerous, and some of them so important, that those for whose use the work was intended have hesitated in adopting it as their accredited guide, and appear at the pre¬ sent time to be waiting for the Medical Council to give it the value and authority that such a work ought to possess. On its first appearance, all those interested in the subject were anxious to know what changes would be effected by it ; at present, the anxiety is rather to know what changes are to be made in it, or what explanations can be given
.REVIEWS.
41
that may reconcile medical men and pharmaceutists with reference to the points on which dissatisfaction has been expressed. Several little works have appeared, having for their object the explanation of changes effected by the introduction of the British Pharmacopoeia, and tending to facilitate its ado. lion by prescribers and dispensers. These, although useful in their way, may all be considered as having rather an ephemeral object, and they have therefore been brought out in an inexpensive form. It has been thought indeed, as the British Pharmacopoeia is published in English at rather a high price, and as the copyright of the text is secured to the Medical Council, so that it can¬ not be brought out by other authors in a new dress, it might reasonably be expected that it should contain all that is requisite for its comprehension and application. Being in the vernacular language, a translation is not required, and it could not very well be annotated as our Pharmacopoeias have hitherto been, without using the text upon which to found the annotations, which would probably be considered an infringement of the copyright. We have had no intimation therefore of any work, such as Phillips’s ‘ Translation of the Pharmacopoeia’ being in contemplation, nor indeed is there the same occasion for such a work now as there has been formerly, for the British Pharmacopoeia is much more full in descriptive and explanatory details than any of our previous Phar¬ macopoeias have been. The defects which unfortunately exist in the new Pharma¬ copoeia are not such as a commentator could set right ; they can only be corrected by the high medical authority from which the work emanates.
Under these circumstances there has naturally been some speculation writh reference to the purport of Mr. Squire’s book. It was difficult from its title to say what was its principal object, or what position it was intended to occupy with reference to the Phar¬ macopoeia. Was it to be emendatory, or explanatory, or supplementary ? The first of course it could not be, unless it were suggestively, without the authority of the Medical Council ; but there was scope enough for an explanatory and supplementary work, although, as already stated, it would be difficult to give to such its full value without embodying the text of the Pharmacopoeia, and thus to some extent superseding the use of that work. This obviously was not contemplated by the author, for ‘ A Companion to the Pharmacopoeia’ clearly implies that it is to be used with the Pharmacopoeia, and not as a substitute for it. On looking through Mr. Squire’s book, we find that although much of the substance of the Pharmacopoeia is used, yet it is but rarely that the text is quoted literally. It is generally much abbreviated, and sometimes essentially altered, so that the new version cannot be taken fully to represent the original. The alterations are some of them given, we presume, as suggested amendments, and in this class may be included the method adopted of expressing the quantities of ingredients in some of the formulae by numbers, without indicating any specific weights or measures. The author states in the preface, — “ I have, as far as practicable, expressed the formulae in parts, which may be regarded either as pounds, quarter pounds, or ounces, or indeed any weights, English or foreign. The liquids, however, are always directed to be measured ; I have therefore placed at the top of each page this general direction, .Solids by weight , liquids by measure .” Thi?, as the author says, he has been able to carry out only partially, for there are many cases in which it is found to be inapplicable. We confess we think it of very questionable utility even in gases in which the author has applied it. Take, for instance, a very simple case, that of Unguentum simplex. This, by the new method, is represented thus : — “ Prepared lard, 3; white wax, 2; almond oil, 3; melt together.” In the Phar¬ macopoeia the quantities are given as ounces by weight of the solids and fluid ounces of the liquid, and as long as the quantities used are limited to ounces, these, or any other numbers bearing the same relation to each other, may be used ; but suppose the operator wishes to substitute pounds for ounces, he has in this case to make a calculation of the quantity of oil by measure that will correspond with the altered weight of the solids. Or suppose the operator wants to make ten gallons of Acidum Sulphwicum Aromaticurr, ; turning to the Pharmacopoeia, he finds a formula which yields two pints, and as he requires forty times this quantity, he very easily calculates the quantities of ingredients, which will be 6 pints of sulphuric acid, 10 gallons of rectified spirit, 5 pounds of cinnamon, and 3 pounds 2 ounces of ginger. But now, turning to the “Companion,’ he finds another version of the formula, in which we have, “ sulphuric acid, 3 ; rectified spirit, 40 ; cinnamon, in powder, 2; ginger, in powder, 14; macerate for seven days.” There is surely as much calculation required here as in the other case, or we should say rather more. In this case too, by abbreviating the formula; an essential part of the
VOL. VI. E
42
REVIEWS.
process is entirely omitted, so that if the “ Companion ” were consulted and not the Pharmacopoeia, the product would not be such as the Pharmacopoeia orders. In the formula for Syrup of I'o/u, a curious instance occurs of mystification resulting from the adoption of this new method of expressing quantities. The process is thus described : — “Balsam of Tolu, 1^; sugar, 32; water, 20; boil the balsam half an hour, adding water when required ; filter, add sugar, and dissolve. When finished, weighs 48 oz., and measures 64 oz. sp. gr. 1*33.” We thiuk it would puzzle any other than an accom¬ plished pharmaceutist to make anything intelligible out of this, and yet the process as given in the Pharmacopoeia is perfectly simple, clear, and well described. If liquids as well as solids had been ordered by weight, as is the case in some of the Continental Pharmacopoeias, the use of simple proportional numbers would, of course, have greatly simplified the formulae ; but while liquids are measured, we do not see that any advan¬ tage results from the plan adopted by the author.
The arrangement of the matter in the “ Companion ” is different from that in the Pharmacopoeia, and is no doubt considered better ; for unless there were some special object in altering the arrangement, the simultaneous use of the two works would have been easier if they had both been arranged alike. In both the arrangement is alphabe¬ tical, but in the Pharmacopoeia the Materia Medica part is separated from the pre¬ parations whilst in the “ Companion ” they are put. together, the preparations being de¬ scribed under the heads of the principal drugs used in producing them, as is usually done in works on Materia Medica. The adoption of this plan, we think, gives to the work less of a pharmaceutical character than it would otherwise have.
In the processes there is not much of an emendatory character, and yet it cannot be said that there is nothing of this character. In a few instances, such as those of Liquor Fe ri Perchloridi and Tinctura Ferri Perchloridi , where glaring defects exist in the Pharmacopoeia processes, they are pointed out, and suitable remedies are suggested. The value and importance of these suggestions make us regret that the author, whose skill and experience in pharmaceutical operations are well known, has not entered more generally and fully into that class of annotation in his book. The process for Spiritus FEtheris nitrosi is condemned, as also is the substitution of the strong fuming nitric acid of 1*5 sp. gr. for the weaker acid of the London Pharmacopoeia, and the process for collodion is set right, while the new process for spirit of sal volatile is very justly com¬ mended. But in most cases the processes are passed over without comment, not how¬ ever without alteration, for, as we have already said, most of the matter, and especially the processes, taken from the Pharmacopoeia, are expressed in altered terms, often much abbreviated, and sometimes from this cause rendered obscure. In some cases there are obviously intentional deviations from the Pharmacopoeia instructions, some of which may be improvements, although we do not think them always so. One thing, however, we decidedly object to, and that is, that there is nothing to indicate which part is in accord¬ ance with the Pharmacopoeia and which is not. This character in the work entirely pre¬ cludes its use in any other way than as a companion to the Pharmacopoeia, which was probably intended.
The work does not partake much of an explanatory character, yet to a certain extent brief explanations are given, especially where tests are described. Thus in the first article, on Acacia, the test for Gum Arabic is extended, improved, and explained. In the article on Acetum, after giving the Pharmacopoeia test, the following explanatory sentence is added : — “ Indicating absence of hydrochloric acid, lime, and metals.'” This should have been, indicating the absence of more than a minute quantity of sulphuric acid and lime, a nd the entire absence of lead, copper, and tin. To the test for arsenious acid is appended, “ the iodine converts the arsenite of soda into arseniate.” It would have been well in this case to have explained how it does so, for those who understand the modus operandi of the test do not require to be told what the result of the reaction is. The explanations given in this way, however, are generally very brief, but not always so much so as in the above instance, and sometimes they are full and sufficient.
But the principal object of the book cannot be said to be either that of suggesting amendments or of explaining processes and reactions ; it is rather that of supplementing the Pharmacopoeia with matter likely to be useful to those by whom such works are con¬ sulted. Thus, with reference to salts and many other substances used in medicine, we have a statement of their solubilities and solvent poyvers. Of definite chemical substances the chemical equivalents are frequently, although not invariably given. As these may be
REVIEWS.
43
used by students, we cannot avoid remarking here that great carelessness is evinced in this part of the work, so that no reliance can be placed on the numbers representing the chemical equivalents of compound bodies. In the Pharmacopoeia a table of the equivalent weights cf elementary bodies is given at the end, constituting Appendix C, and it was a very sim¬ ple and easy thing to calculate and give the equivalents of compounds where their com¬ position is represented, as it is in the Pharmacopoeia, by symbolical formulae. On looking over these however, we find t hem in a great number of instances to be wrong. Thus re¬ ferring to Acidum Arseniosum ,” the English name of this is changed from “ arsenious acid ” as given in the Pharmacopoeia to “ white arsenic sublimed .” To this is added “ Teroxide of arsenic, As03,eq. 75.” Now 75 is the equivalent of arsenic, that is the metal arsenicum , and it is so given in the table already referred to, it does not, there¬ fore, represent arsenious acid , the equivalent of which is 99. The equivalent of benzoic acid (H0,C14H603) is given as 112, it should have been 122 ; that of tartaric acid (2 HO, CsH4O10) is given as 75, whereas, according to the formula, it should have been 150. The equivalent of phosphate oj ammonia (3NH40,P05, -f- 5HO) is given as 143, it should have been 194; that of arseniate of iron (3FeO, As05) is given as 274, it should have been 223 ; that of carbonate of lead (2(Pb0,C02) + HO,PbO) is given as 134, whereas the number representing the formula would be 387'5 ; what the number 134 is intended to represent we cannot conceive. The equivalent of citrate of potash (SEOjCj.jHjOjj) is given as 100, it should have been, according to the formula, 300 ; that of carbonate of potash (K0,CO.2-|- 2 HO) is given as 83 5, it should have been, according to the formula, 87. These are a few and only a few out of numerous cases of a similar description, which are much to be regretted, and the occurrence of wdiich it is difficult to account for. With reference to medicines ordered in other Pharmacopoeias as wrell as the British Pharmacopoeia, their relative strengths, as ordered in the several works referred to, are indicated, although not always correctly, as, for instance, in the case of infusion of senna. The doses of medicines are also given, and, above all, their medicinal properties are described. This latter part of the matter comprises what is referred to in the title-page as “ practical hints on prescribing.” We have no doubt this will prove to many a very acceptable part of the information contained in the book, as some dissatisfaction has been expressed at the absence of such matter from the Phar- macopceia. The author states, w'ith reference to this part of his work, that he has u col¬ lated it from the best authorities,” and this statement was perhaps necessary to justify the introduction of strictly medical matter by a pharmaceutist. It must not be supposed that these practical hints on prescribing are intended for the use of Pharmaceutical Chemists, or that the full description given of the therapeutic action of medicines affords an indication of the amount of knowledge of this sort required by the chemist and drug¬ gist. This part of the matter is no doubt intended for medical men ; and the author says, in the preface, “ knowing something of the wants of both pharmaceutists and pre- scribers, I have endeavoured to make the book as practical as possible, and I trust that the labour bestowed upon it will not be without some result.”
The Prescriber’s Analysis of the British Pharmacopoeia. By J. Birkbeck Nevins, M.D. Bond., Lecturer on Materia Medica in the Liverpool Royal Infirmary School of Medicine. Second Edition. London: John Churchiil and Sons. 1864.
The first edition of this useful little work was noticed by us in our issue for April last, page 523. The present edition may almost be regarded as a new work, for it ap¬ pears to have been carefully revised, and has been so much enlarged that it contains about three times the amount of matter as formerly. We can recommend it to our readers as a useful and reliable guide to the British Pharmacopoeia.
PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE.
Intending visitors to Bath at the meeting in September who require accommodation are requested to communicate their wishes to the Local Secretary, in order that such accommodation may as far as possible be secured for them.
John C. Pooley, Local Secretary.
8, Georye Street, Bath.
44
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
Manual of the Medicinal Preparations of Iron, including their Preparation, Chemistry, Physiological Action, and Therapeutical Use. With an Appendix, containing the Iron Preparations of the British Pharmacopoeia. By Harry Napier Draper, F.C.S. Dublin: Fannin and Co., Grafton Street; London: Robert Hard- wicke ; Edinburgh : Maclachlan and Co. 1864. (From the London Publisher.)
Selecta e Prescriptis. Selections from Physicians’ Prescriptions ; to which is added a Ivey, containing the prescriptions in an unabbreviated form, with literal trans¬ lation. For the use of Medical and Pharmaceutical Students. By Jonathan Pereira, M.D., F.R.S. Fourteenth edition. London: John Churchill and Sons, New Burlington Street. 1864. (From the Publishers.)
The British and London Pharmacopoeias compared ; with an abbreviated Materia Medica : giving the Chemical Symbol, Equivalent, Natural Order, Habitat, Properties, Strength, and Dose of Every Article in the British Pharmacopoeia. By George Barber, Pharmaceutical Chemist. Second Edition, revised and enlarged. London : Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. 1864.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
To be placed on the Register as a Pharmaceutical Chemist and to participate in the privileges of Membership, it is necessary to pass the Examinations as indicated in the Regulations of the Board of Examiners (Copy of which may be had of the Registrar).
The Board do not require that any special course or courses of Lectures or Laboratory instruction should have been attended ; if the Candidate evince an acquaintance with the subjects on which he is examined, the usual Certificate of competency is granted, and he is Registered accordingly.
X. Y. Z. (Rochdale). — The Quinine may be recovered from the solution by precipita¬ ting with Carbonate of Soda.
A Constant Reader. — The Proposed Pharmacy Act. See Section 5 of the proposed Act, ‘Pharmaceutical Journal,’ page 558.
Vir (Newcastle-on-Tyne). — A so-called “Patent Medicine,” recommended for the relief or cure of any complaint, requires a Stamp, and can be sold only under a Patent Medicine Licence, whether a Patent be taken out for it or not.
Aqua DestiUata (Manchester). — (1) It is not probable that a new edition of the British Pharmacopoeia will be published in less than twelve months from the present time. (2) The required information will be obtained on application, by letter, to the Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square.
B. R. (Buxton). — Such a knowledge of the Pharmacopoeia is required that would indicate an acquaintance with all the more important preparations and their constituents. The Regulations of the Board of Examiners may be obtained of the Secretary.
Chemicus. — Nitro-prusside of Sodium may be obtained of any Operative Chemist. See any text-book of Chemistry.
Inquirer (Aberdare). — (1) Riddle’s Latin Dictionary. (2) Apply, by letter, giving name and address, to the Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square.
B. (Whitchurch, Hants) proposes that “ a Central Office should be established, where both Principals and Assistants could apply respecting Situations ; a payment of Five Shillings to be made on being suited.” [We beg to remind our Correspondent that such a Central Office already exists at 17, Bloomsbury Square, where a book is kept for the names of applicants, whether belonging to the Society or not, and free of any charge.]
A Young Member. — Pereira’s ‘ Materia Medica and Therapeutics.’
An Apprentice (Manchester). — Fownes’s ‘Manual of Chemistry,’ and Bentley’s ‘Manual of Botany.’
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the transmission of the Journal before the 25th of the month, to Elias Bremridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.
Advertisements (not later than the 23rd) to Messrs. Churchill, New Bur¬ lington Street. Other communications to the Editors, 17, Bloomsbury Square.
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.
SECOND SERIES.
YOL. VI. — No. II.— AUGUST 1st, 18C4.
SEPARATE EXAMINATIONS EOR CHEMISTS ALREADY IN BUSINESS ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT.
Our readers will see, by the Pharmaceutical Transactions, that the propriety of examining chemists already in business on their own account, apart from younger members of the trade who may more properly be termed “ Students,” has been again under consideration of the Council, and it has been decided to institute such an arrangement. We believe this resolution wiU find general favour. Had compulsory powers been given in the Pharmacy Act of 1852, such a step would now be unnecessary, but as submitting to the ordeal has been hitherto and is still only voluntary, it is desirable to remove as many obstacles as possi¬ ble. The bringing together Principals and Assistants for examination has always been regarded as an obstacle to the former, who may naturally feel a disinclina¬ tion to descend from an established position and once more stand at the gate for admission, side by side with those who have perhaps only twelve months previously emerged from apprenticeship. In the event of the passing of the proposed amendment of the Pharmacy Act, the necessity for these separate examinations would in a few years cease to exist, as no chemists would after that period com¬ mence business without previous test of qualification ; but for the present we think the proposition wise, and calculated greatly to assist those who deem mere registration as “ Chemists and Druggists'1'1 somewhat derogatory. In reality such registration would secure and perpetuate all vested interests, and indeed improve the position of men so registered ; but by this proposal the way to dis¬ tinction would be rendered less difficult, and easier access to membership of the Society provided. It was stated in our Journal of last month that an increased desire for Membership was made evident by the inquiries so constantly sent to the Secretary by “ chemists and druggists already engaged in business on their own account and that “ the more firmly the application of a test of qualification is adhered to as a necessary condition to membership , the more is the attainment of the object desired , nd the more tvhen attained is it appreciated.'''
From this proposition none will dissent, not even the candidates for examina¬ tion, and we do not understand, by receiving two different classes at the exami¬ ners’ table at two separate times, the Board has any idea of smuggling unquali¬ fied men into membership. Nevertheless, although both may be tested for the Same knowledge, there should be a wide distinction in the manner of examining them, — the one more practical than the other. The Student fresh from his books and experimental laboratory must bring proof of his acquaintance with the elements which are to fit him for the service of the public ; he will naturally be more at home in the language of the schools ; he may have been a diligent ap¬ prentice and a trustworthy assistant, but he has not been called on to take the
YOL. VI. F
46
SEPARATE EXAMINATIONS FOR CHEMISTS.
full responsibility, unaided by the supervising care of a master, of a dispensing establishment ; let him not however be misled by what we say on this point, his examination is practical as well as technical, and a want of familiarity with the practice of the dispensary would be fatal to his hopes, but it is important that in technicalities he should be more perfect, as he has to give evidence that he is qua¬ lified to begin; whereas the man who has not only begun, but creditably con¬ ducted his business for a period of five years, brings a certain amount of evidence that he possesses the right foundation, and his examination should therefore be more — much more — practical than technical. He has already utilized his educa¬ tion, in reality improved it, and yet might not pass muster so well in a mere technical questioning as his juvenile competitor.
A schoolboy at the end of his pupilage passes a severe ordeal and takes high honours, an ordeal fitted for advanced pupils, but the time has gone by when such an one was regarded as an educated man : the real work of education is now to begin with him, and he has only shown his ability, cultivated ability we may call it, to proceed with the work.
And this holds good with special or “ professional ” education as well as general.
A student of history, if he be not a teacher also, may have forgotten the ac¬ tual dates of the Conqueror’s landing in England, the signing of Magna Charta, or the expulsion of the Stuarts ; but he has nevertheless a very clear appreciation of the influences these events have exercised on the character and liberties of Englishmen. So too in Botany, one branch of study indicated for Pharmaceutical Chemists by our Act of Parliament ; it is well known that many of the elements of the science, we mean the exact details of classification, are but matters of memory, and unless a man is handling flowers continually he forgets them ; but they have assisted him and taught him great principles ; he has generalized the information obtained by their means, knows the indige¬ nous medicinal plants when presented to him, and possesses such an acquaint¬ ance with -the vegetable substances employed in medicine as renders him a safe vender or dispenser for the service of the public. He has attained the end for which he studied, and the examiners finding him so qualified need not make him recount the steps by which he ascended the tree of knowledge, — he has plucked and applied its fruit.
We are quite aware that one of the greatest responsibilities of the Council lies in the Examinations ; they are the very foundation of the Society, and the maintenance of their integrity is the tenure by which its privileges are held. To reduce these examinations to a mere farce would be to destroy their value both in the eyes of the public and of pharmaceutists ; to break faith with the Legis- gislature which enacted the law, and with those who have been examined under it ; therefore we should not be slow to denounce and warn our readers against any proposal which could have such an effect, although that proposal might be one which would for the moment increase the numerical strength of the Society. We have to <