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Itarwmttiial Jmtrmtl
AND
THE
*
ftartnarrnlical Journal
0
AND
/
THIRD SERIES.
VOLUME V.
1874-75*
LONDON :
J. & A. CHURCHILL, NEW BURLINGTON STREET:
MAGLACHLAN & STEWABT, Edinburgh; FANNIN & Co., Dublin.
TWIETMEYEB, Leipzig.
1875.
PRINTED BY STEVENS AND RICHARDSON,
5, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, W.C
AND
SFransittiimus.
VOL. V.— JULY 4, 1874.
PRESUMED HYBRID BETWEEN CINCHONA CALISAYA AND C. SUCCIRUBRA.
BY JOHN ELIOT HOWARD, F.R.S., BTC.
In the Pharmaceutical Journal of July 12th of last year, and subsequently in a communication to the Linnean Society, i( On the Genus Cinchona,”* I gave some account of the produce obtained from seed sent me by Mr. Broughton, “ from two trees of the same red-under-leaved variety of Calisaya.” In the latter treatise I have discussed the question as to the pro¬ bability of the variable aspect of the plants having been the result of hybridization or otherwise. I have since obtained some fresh light on the subject, which it may be well to place on record.
Towards the close of the third week in May of this year, when the plants were just two years old, I cut down five of them, leaving some inches of the stem to sprout again. From the remainder I peeled the bark, which weighed, when fully dried, 880 grains. One of the stems I forward, to show the size and growth of the plants. On subjecting the bark to chemical examination, I found to my surprise, that I had to do with a substance partaking, in something like equal proportions, of the qualities of red bark and of Calisaya bark. I obtained a crystallization of mixed sulphate of quinine and sulphate of cincho¬ nine, the latter existing in true Calisaya in very minute proportion, if at all. By recrystallization (with precautions), the sulphate of quinine was brought into a state of pure and white crystals, justi¬ fying the Calisaya character of the parent trees from which the seed was obtained. On the other hand the residuary alkaloid was, as usual from the C. succi- rubra, largely impure or uncrystallizabl e.
Certain peculiarities in the products, led me to search for quinamine, and after precipitationf of the residuary alkaloids by potassic sulphocyanide, I obtained, by precipitation and resolution in pure ether, a substance which certainly had a close resemblance to the quinamine of Hesse, crystallizing by sponta¬ neous evaporation in long needles, forming a peculiar tracery on the sides of the glass vessel.
In my description of the bark of Cinchona succi¬ rubra, I have said, j that <c the characteristic peculi¬ arity of red bark is, that it ordinarily contains the alkaloids quinine, cinchonine, cinchonidine, quin- icine ( ?) and aricine (?).” This result of my researches was published in 1862, and some ten years before Quinamine had been determined. I have no hesita-
* Linnean Society’s Journal, Botany, Vol. XIY.
4 See De Yrij on Quinamine, Pharm. Journ. Yol. IY. p. 609,
+ Illus. Nueva Quin, sub voce 0. succirubrum, p. 13.
Third- Series, No. 210.
tion in saying that the recent examination of the bark of my five trees has given me again the same results ; thus still more strongly indicating the effect of hy¬ bridism, than even by the large amount of cincho¬ nine contained.
As nearly as I could ascertain, the bark of these
five trees produced : —
Sulph. quinine . 0*170
Sulph. cinchonine . . 0*170
Cinchonine . 0*170
Quinamine (?) . 0*100
Amorphous alkaloids . . . . . 0*700
The plants themselves partake of the same inter¬ mediate character, as I have been able more fully to ascertain since I have had the pleasure of showing them to Mr. Broughton, who is now in England, and has kindly presented me with a collection of eighteen specimens of Calisaya from the plantation of Nedi- wuttum. Amongst these considerably diverging varieties is a pressed specimen of the No. V. sort, from which all of mine spring. Some of mine resemble this parent, others have so much more the character of C. succirubra as to be taken at first sight by Mr. B. for that variety; but whilst in form * and general appearance they resemble the C. succirubra , they are distinguished by the peculiar gloss or reflet which marks the Calisaya, and which is entirely absent from the G. succirubra.
On the whole I think that we may safely conclude that there has been an interference in this case of the pollen of the C. succirubra , growing as Mr. Broughton informs me in the immediate neighbourhood. I am the more confirmed in this view, since it accords with observations made by Dr. de Yrij on a hybrid sort in Java. But if such be the case, we are led to curious reflections in connection with vegetable physiology. Through the mixture of the two essentice , brought about by pollen so nearly similar, a change mtist have been wrought in the chemistry of each cell of the inner bark ; if (as I suppose) it is in these, that the alkaloids are elaborated. I would bring into relation¬ ship with this fact the following observations of the skilful chemist attached to the Dutch Plantations of cinchona. M. Moens gives me the following in- formationf £under date 5th. Dec., 1873) : — “ Some years ago, M. v. Gorkom had grafted two Calisayas upon two Pahudianas. The grafts succeeded very well, and I have recently taken the barks for exami¬ nation. This showed that the Calisayas as well a*s the Pahudianas kept their alkaloids as if they had grown
* I have some regularly ovate leaves, measuring fifteen by ten and a half inches.
4 My correspondent will pardon some rectifications in ex¬ pression, needed to convey his meaning clearly.
2
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
[July 4, 1874.
separately. The latter contained no quinine, or cin- clionidine, "but quinidine (Pasteur) and amorphous alkaloids. The former gave quinine, cinchomclme (much), no quinidine, cliichonine, and amorphous alkaloids. I think this is an experiment of consider¬ able interest, and shall repeat it, if possible, 'With C. micranthcc and G. Calisaya ( Ledger). I think the result most agrees with your idea, that the alkaloids are formed in tlie cellular tissue oi tlie "bark.
For the rest, it would seem that, in Cinchona) at least, the effect of hybridism tends only to degenera¬ tion. . _ T 1
Through the courtesy of my friends in Java, I have
just received the Report of the Plantations there for the first quarter of the present year. From this I learn that nine specimens of G . Ledgerianci have given equal to 10'03 to 14*82 sulpli. quinine, whilst four trees, which (if I understand aright) are reckoned under Ledgerianas, give either no quinine at all, or this alkaloid in comparatively small quantity ; and quinidine and (In one case) amorphous alkaloid, in suspicious amounts. Are not these trees also hy¬ brids ? These careful .cultivators take great precau¬ tions to propagate only the true C-. Ledgerianci , and I hope will be successful in guarding against the in¬ jury resulting from the pollen of interior species.
LIOTOR FERRI PHGSPHATIS CUM aUINIA ET STRYCHNIA.
In a recent note on Syrupus Ferri Phosphatis, by Mr. Blackett (before, p. 8S0) he recommended the keeping of a solution of ferrous phosphate with the alkaloid in it for the preparation of a syrup of phos¬ phate of iron, quinine and strychnine, as it may be required. He now writes respecting this suggestion : — “ I have since found that this method does not apply to the ‘phosphate of iron, quinine, and strych¬ nine liquor.’ The strychnine does not exert any decomposing action, but the quinine does most rapidly cause a decided change of colour. I find that it is very easy to keep a solution of phosphate of iron and strychnine ready, and then add one grain of phos¬ phate of quinine for each drachm of syrup required. Any one can try my suggestions, and calculate out the quantities that may be convenient.’,
THE APPENDICES OF THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA.
BY WALTER G. SMITH, M.D., DUBLIN,
Fellow and Censor K. and Q. C. P. I. ; Examiner in Materia Medica, Q. U. /. ; Assistant Physician to the
Adelaide Hospital.
(Continued from vol. iv. p. 996.j
Appendix II.
Solution of Acetate of Copper. Cu 2 C2H302- H20. — Test for butyric acid in Zinci Yalerianas : butyric acid precipitates the acetate of copper imme¬ diately.
Solution of Acetate of Potash. KC2H302. — Test for Acidum Tartaricum : distinguishes it from Acidurn Citricum.
Solution of Acetate of Soda. NaC2H302. 3 H20. — Testing Calcis Phosph. Preecip. for iron ; to neutra¬ lize the excess of the nitric acid employed.
Solution of Albumen. — Test for metaphosplioric acid (HP03) in Acidum Phosph. Dil. ; test for Acidum Carbolicum and for Creasotum.
Solution of Ammonio-nitrate of Silver. AgN03. 2NH3.- — Test tor Acidum Arseniosum, and Acidum Phosphoricum ; yellow precipitate with each.
Solution of Ammonio-sulphate of Copper. CuS04. 4 NH3. — Test for sulphide of ammonium in Liq. Ammonite Fortior ; gives black precipitate.
Solution of Ammonio-sulphate of Magnesia. — Test for phosphoric acid in Ammonice Phosphas and Ferri Phosphas ; gives white precipitate of triple phosphate, MgNH4P04.
Solution of Boracic Acid. — To detect the adul¬ teration of rhubarb with turmeric. Alkalies could not be used for this purpose, as they act on rhubarb similarly to turmeric.
Solution of Bromine. Br. — Test for iodine in bromides of ammonium and potassium.
Solution of Carbonate of Ammonia. N4H16 C308. — Test for Bismuthum Purificatum ; Zinci Carb., Zinci Oxidum.
Solution of Chloride of Ammonium. NH4C1. — In testing for magnesian salts to prevent the prema¬ ture precipitation of magnesia by ammonia. Triple phosphate is insoluble in chloride of ammonium.
Solution of Chloride of Barium. — Test for sulphuric acid or a soluble sulphate.
Solution of Chloride of Calcium. CaCl2. — Test for citric acid in Potassic Citras ; for arsenic acid in Sodce Arsenias.
Solution (Saturated) of Chloride of Cal¬ cium. — Test for percentage of nitrous ether in Spiritus dEtheris Nilrosi.
Solution of Chloride of Gold. AuC13.— Test for atropia.
Solution of Chloride of Tin. SnCl2. — Test for Plydrargyrum Ammoniatum.
Note. — Stannic chloride, SnCl4, could not be formed in the presence of nascent hydrogen.
Solution of Gelatin. — Test for Acidum Tan- nicum ; Ulmi Cortex.
Note. — Should be termed solution of isinglass, which is introduced into App. I. for this purpose.
Solution of Iodate of Potash. KI03.— Should be expunged from the Appendix as it is no longer re¬ cognized as a test. In the first edition of the Pharma¬ copoeia it was used as a test for sulphurous acid in Acidum Aceticum.
Solution of Iodide of Potassium. KI. — Test for lead. (See lead salts passim.)
Solution of Oxalate of Ammonia. (NH^ C204. — Test for lime. (See calcium salts passim.)
Solution of Perchloride of Platinum. PtCl4. — Test for potash (see potassium salts passim ) ; for nicotia in Tabaci Folia.
Solution of Phosphate of Soda. Na2HP04. — Test for magnesia. (See magnesium salts passim.)
Solution of Red Prussiate of Potash. KGFe2Cy12. — Test for ferrous salts. (See salts of iron passim).
Solution of Sulphate of Indigo (Sulphindi- goticAcid). HC8H4NS04. — Test for Liq. Chlori ; and for nitric acid in Bismuthi Carbonas.
Solution of Sulphate of Iron. FeS04. — Test for Acidum Hydrocyanicum ; and for nitric acid in Acidum Phosphoricum, Liq. Ferri Pernitratis; and for nitrous acid in Spiritus AEtheris Nitrosi.
Solution of Sulphate of Lime. CaS04. — Test for oxalic acid in Acidum Tartaricum.
Solution of Sulphide of Ammonium. (NH4)2S. Preparation : see sulphuretted hydrogen, App. I. Test for copper or lead in Liq. Ammon. Fort., and Pot. Acet. ; test for zinc (see zinc salts passim ) ; and for cadmium (see Cadmii Iodidum).
July 4, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
3
Note. — Sulphydrate of ammonium, NH4HS, is also frequently used in the laboratory.
Solution of Tartaric Acid. H2C4H406. — Test for potassium (See Pot. Acet.) and, generally, to distin¬ guish potassium from sodium salts : to prevent preci¬ pitation of oxide of iron in testing Ferri Phosph. for phosphoric acid.
Solution of Yellow Prussiate of Potash. K4FeCy6. — Test for ferric salts (see salts of iron passim ) ; and for copper salts (see Cupri Sulphas).
Appendix III.
This Appendix, as has already been remarked, deals with quantitative analysis, which is effected upon one or other of two principles.
1. Analysis by weight — gravimetric, i.e., the preci¬ pitation of a body in the free state or in some definite combination, which is then weighed, and so the quantity of the body ascertained by a simple calcula¬ tion. The requisite operations for this mode of procedure are troublesome, and involve much expen¬ diture of time, and it is unnecessary in this place to allude to them further. But many chemical assays are now more simply effected by —
2. Analysis by measure, i.e., volumetric — with which alone we are now concerned. Briefly, this method consists in noting the volume or bulk of a test-liquid of known strength required to be added to a substance before a given chemical effect is produced upon a known quantity of the substance under exami¬ nation. Or, as it may otherwise be expressed, it estimates the quantity of a body by converting it from a certain definite state to another equally definite state by means of a fluid of accurately known power of action, and under circumstances which permit of the rigorous determination of the exact point when the conversion is accomplished. For example, the amount of iron in a given amount of a ferrous solution can be easily determined by observing how much of a known solution of the purple potassic permanganate will be decolorized by the ferrous solution. The advantages which the volumetric method offers are rapidity, accuracy, and simplicity of manipulation. An analysis can often be completed in as many minutes volumetrically as it would take hours gravimetrically.
The basis upon which the practical application of this method rests is fourfold.
(a) The fundamental decomposition, or initial reaction, of the analysis in question must be fixed and invariable, else no certain results can be attained. Not a . few .proposed processes have broken dovm under this requirement.
( b ) It is necessary to have standard (volumetric or titrated) test solutions, i.e., simply solutions of accu¬ rately known strength. These solutions are prepared either (1) b^- dissolving a weighed quantity of the reagent in a definite volume of water, e.g., all the official solutions, except the volumetric solution of soda, and hyposulphite of soda ; or, (2"i by first pre¬ paring a suitably concentrated solution, determining its exact strength by a series of experiments, and then diluting it to the proper volume, e.g., the volumetric solution of soda.
(c) A graduated delivery tube, or burette, for measuring the volume of the test liquid required in a particular operation. Of the different kinds, Mohr’s clamp burette is very convenient, and is now in general use. The burette is usually constructed to hold 1000 grain-measures of the solution up to the
zero mark. A grain-measure is the volume of a grain of distilled water.
(d) We must know the final reaction, or indicator, i.e., the evidence of the completion of the intended decomposition. This always consists in some visible change, and is manifested (i.) as a change of colour, e.g., action of acids and alkalies on litmus ; (ii.) by the cessation of the formation of a precipitate, e.g., esti¬ mation of bromide of potassium and arseniate of sodium by nitrate of silver ; (iii.) by incipient preci¬ pitation, e.g., estimation of hydrocyanic acid by nitrate of silver ; and (iv.) by the use of particular reagents, e.g., in the estimation of ferrous salts by bichromate of potassium red prussiate of potash is employed as the indicator.
The different volumetric methods are conveniently grouped under three heads : —
I. Analysis by saturation or neutralization, i.e., in which the quantity of a base (alkalimetry) or an acid (aeidimetry) is measured by the quantity of acid or base which is necessary to convert it into a neutral salt. The indicator used in this case is litmus, and the general method of procedure is as follows : — Weigh or measure the necessary quantity of the substance, dilute, add a sufficient amount of litmus, and run in the acid (or alkaline) test-solution from the burette until a permanent red (or blue) tinge begins to appear.
II. Analysis by oxidation or reduction, i.e., a sub¬ stance which will take up oxygen is brought into solution and estimated with a substance of known oxidizing power, or vice versd. In other words, the quantity of the substance to be determined is found by the quantity of chlorine, iodine, or oxygen to vThieh it is equivalent as an oxidant, or which it requires to pass from a lower to a higher stage of oxidation, e.g., action of iodine on sulphurous and arsenious acids.
III. Analysis by precipitation, the principle of which is either : —
(a) Add the test-solution until no further precipi¬ tate occurs, e.g., estimation of bromide of potassium by nitrate of silver, or,
(b) Add the test-solution until a permanent preci¬ pitate begins to form, e.g., estimation of hydrocyanic acid by nitrate of silver.
The following general statement will explain the simple calculation required in any given case : —
If n = the number of grain-measures of the test solution used in a particular experiment, and a = the weight of the substance tested which corresponds to 1000 grain-measures of the standard solution— always a known quantity — then, by simple proportion,
1000 : n :: a : x (the quantity sought).
With this introduction the special uses of the different official solutions will now be briefly ex¬ plained, and an illustrative example of each process worked out.
(To be continued).
SOLUBLE STAKCH.*
BY M. MUSCULUS.
Chemists are not in accord as to what is to be under¬ stood by “ soluble starch.” Some consider as such the matter coloured blue by iodine, which can be removed from starch by means of water, and which Yaegeli has called <£ granulose.” Others think that the substance coloured violet by iodine, which Bechamp obtained by treating
* Abstract of paper read before the French Academy (■ Comples Rendus, vol. lxxviii., p. 1413).
4
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
[July 4, 1874
Starch with sulphuric acid, to be the true soluble starch. But the author has found that granulose, although it passes readily through a filter, is not really soluble in water, for it can be separated by evaporation in a state completely insoluble even in boiling water. Also that the soluble starch of B6champ is a mixture in which may be found granulose, soluble starch, and the products of decomposi¬ tion of starch (dextrine, glucose, or glucosine), which are always formed with sulphuric acid.
The author has previously made known under the name of “ dextrine globulisee”* a body insoluble in cold water, which he obtained by dissolving starch in boiling acidulated water, and evaporating after saturation of the acid and filtration, to the consistence of a syrup. This deposits an abundance of granules, insoluble in cold water and soluble only at 50°C., a property that allows of their being washed and separated from the dextrine and glucose by which they are accompanied ; further treatment with alcohol will remove a little granulose still adhering, and there will then be left what the author considers to be true soluble starch; the granules composing it being grains of starch deprived of their organization.
The author enumerates the following properties of this product to substantiate his assertion. When dried in the air it is white and resembles starch. Freshly washed, it is insoluble in cold water and does not reduce salts of copper ; but if it be left for some time in contact with water, it dissolves perceptibly and there is at the same time a little sugar formed. Its rotatory power is nearly quadruple that of dehydrated glucose. It dissolves entirely in water at 50°C., and is not precipitated upon cooling ; by evaporation, however, a residue is obtained which has recovered its insolubility in cold water. To redissolve it, it is necessary to heat it to boiling, or allow it to digest for half an hour in a water-bath at 100°C. Alcohol precipitates it and also restores it to its insoluble state. The same result is obtained by congealing the solution in a freezing mixture, in being found when the ice is melted as a white precipitate at the bottom of the vessel. When this substance is mixed with dextrine and glucose, as in the mother liquor wherein these granules are formed, all these properties disappear.
These artificial starch granules give with iodine all the colour reactions obtained with the natural granules as well as those given by dextrine, according to the disposition of their molecules, the result being variable at will. Thus, a dilute solution takes a pure red colour; but when it is concentrated to saturation, iodine gives rise to a violet colour. If iodine be added to a solution moderately diluted, so as to produce a deep red brown colour, and the solution be allowed to evaporate in the open air, it will gradually grow more and more purple ; and eventually, when sufficiently concentrated, become of a magnificent pure blue colour. If water be added, the violet colour reappears and in its turn gives place to a pure red.
If, instead of concentrating the red liquid by evaporation, a neutral salt having an affinity for water, such as chloride of calcium, be added, the result is the same. If the blue solution be allowed to stand for twenty-four hours, it deposits a blue-black substance, which is not dissolved by cold water. This precipitate, however, appears to dissolve in water ; it does not affect its trans¬ parency, and passes readily through a filter, but after a very short time it is again deposited. This is charac¬ teristic also of the iodized granulose ; from which the author concludes that in both bodies the disposition of the molecules is the same, and that they do not differ in degree of cohesion. 8
The iodized artificial granulose can, in fact, be destroyed, by a slight elevation of temperature ; it enters into solution in the water in which it was suspended, and is then only coloured red with iodine, whilst natural granulose resists a boiling temperature and continues to
* Com^tes JRendus, vol. lxv., p. 857.
be coloured blue with iodine. The artificial granules resemble also natural grains of starch, in not being coloured by a small quantity of iodine, the blue only appearing when it is in excess ; but if they be triturated in a mortar with a small quantity of iodine, a mass of a pure blue colour is produced.
When starch is incompletely dissolved, either with diastase or boiling acetic acid, the fragments which resist the longest are no longer coloured blue with iodine, but take a tint which varies from yellow to orange-red. The arti¬ ficial granules give the same colours if their cohesion be augmented, which may be done by dissolving in water and evaporating to dryness.
Diastase decomposes soluble starch in the same manner as natural starch, but much more easily and completely. According to the observations of Payen, Schwarzer, Schulze, and the author, when diastase is caused to act upon starch, all colouration with iodine disappears when the degree of saccharification reaches one-fourth ; then, by augmenting the diastase, the saccharification may be increased to one-half, a point that is not passed to any sensi-' ble extent ; in fact, by his earlier experiments, the author was led to think that it was not possible to saccharify more than one-third of a given quantity of starch by means of diastase. With soluble starch, however, the stoppage of the saccharification at one-third does not occur. The reaction with iodine disappears when it reaches one-fourth ; then, if more diastase be added, the production of sugar goes on rapidly until it reaches one- half, when it ceases, as with natural starch.
A widely diffused opinion, introduced into science by Vaegeli regards starch as essentially composed of cellulose mixed with a little granulose. Bechamp has found that dextrine obtained from cellulose has less rotatory power than dextrine from starch. The author prepared dextrine from cellulose by dissolving cotton in strong sulphuric acid. This dextrine was afterwards saccharified with boiling acidulated water, and it was found that during this transformation the rotatory power was not changed. Starch, treated in the same manner, yielded, on the con¬ trary, a dextrine of which the rotatory power had been lowered more than one-half by the saccharification. It follows that the dextrine from cellulose has the same rotatory power as the sugar which is derived from it, which is not the case with that from starch. The author further remarks that all the dextrines of starch sugar have a rotatory power at least double that of the sugar itself.
It is known that glucose freshly dissolved, and espe¬ cially dehydrated glucose, has a rotatory power at least double that of glucose that has been some time dissolved in a small quantity of water ; but this property is not persistent. The author has prepared a dextrine from glucose, by treating that sugar Avith concentrated sulphuric acid and then with 95° alcohol. This anhydride has also a rotatory power double that of the glucose, and this power is persistent.
The author has not yet obtained sugar from cellulose sufficiently pure to be able to compare it with sugar from starch ; but he feels certain that there is no great diffe¬ rence between their rotatory powers ; so that their isome¬ rism would not be manifested so clearly as in their dextrines.
The author proposes to investigate whether other sugars which are regarded as identical with glucose — the glucoses of honey and of fruits, diabetic sugar, etc. — present the same kind of isomerism.
THE OBJECT AND NECESSITY OF A PHARMA.
CEUTICAL EDUCATION.
The following remarks upon the object and necessity of the special education of the Pharmacist are taken from an introductory address, delivered by Professor John M. Maisch, before the Students in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, at the commencement of the session, October 1st, 1873 : —
July 4, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS
5
Pharmacy has long since been called an art and a science, and this two-fold character becomes more and more evident as the rapid advancement of science determines the equally rapid progress of pharmacy in common with all the industrial arts. The basis of every exact science is observation ; the experience gained thereby leads, through ratiocination on the one hand, to the establishment of fundamental principles, and on the other hand to the generalization .of scientific truths ; it is a guide to synthesis as well as to the opposite method of investigation, analysis. Science, therefore, is knowledge obtained by observation and deduction ; while art is the practical application of this knowledge, and implies likewise the requisite skill, mental as well as manual, for applying the knowledge correctly and efficiently.
. The selection of all medicinal substances of unexceptional purity ; the recognition of all adulterations and impurities ; the making of chemical and pharmaceutical preparations by the formulas of the Pharmacopoeia ; the collection, drying, and preservation of all crude drugs ; their proper comminution and exhaustion by maceration or displace¬ ment ; the compounding of physicians’ prescriptions with correctness and nicety : all this belongs to the art in pharmacy ; while the knowledge of the reasons why a prescription should be prepared in a particular way ; of the causes which affect the success of percolation; of the influence of heat, moisture, atmosphere, age, etc., upon drugs ; of the development in plants and their parts, of the active principle or principles ; of the causes of success or failure in carring out any process or manipulation connected with pharmacy, properly belong to science in its bearings upon pharmacy.
It is a well known fact that the odour of fresh valerian differs essentially from that which it acquires by age on exposure to the air; this fact is easily explained by chemistry, which has proven that the volatile oil of valerian is gradually converted by the oxygen of the atmosphere into valerianic acid, which possesses a peculiar, strong cheesy odour, the development of which replaces the much milder and different odour of the volatile oil. To detect the grosser adulterations in opium, such as stones, lead bullets and the like, requires no scientific attainments; but to ascertain the true quality of commercial opium, aside from such coarse sophistications, we invoke the aid of analytical chemistry, separate the most important principle, morphia, and determine its exact proportion in the sample before us. Bismuth, in its native state, is found associated with other metals, particularly with silver and arsenic, which are not easily completely separated by the processes adopted for the preparation of this metal on a large scale ; chemistry proves the presence of the one by the precipitate occurring in acid solutions with muriatic acid, and the most minute quantities of the other are detected by the formation with nascent hydrogen of gaseous arseniuretted hydrogen, which, under certain precautions, is reduced by heat to the metallic state.
The barks of the different species of cinchona resemble each other in ther chemical constitution, and the bark of the same species is greatly influenced in composition by age, exposure to light and moisture, climate and soil, so that chemistry fails to furnish an infallible criterion whereby the specific origin of a cinchona may be es¬ tablished ; the study of the anatomical structure of the bark of the different cinchonas, however, has furnished the means whereby they may be distinguished, or which may become available as soon as the variation in structure, caused by the natural development, shall have been correctly observed through the various phases of growth of each species. Botanical anatomy readily explains the reasons why most of the Labiatce rapidly deteriorate in quality by parting with most of their volatile oil after a comparatively short exposure ; and it shows us the cause why some, like rosemary, for instance, retain, even after years, considerable of their volatile oil, although in their unbroken condition they may possess but little odour, which is developed, however, on cutting or bruising the
leaves. In the one case the oil cells are either in direct contact with the atmosphere or scarcely protected by a thin layer of epidermis, while in the other case the epi¬ dermal layer is heavy and leathery ; and a further protection against evaporation of the oil is afforded by the natural folds of the leaf or its re volute margin. The same instrument which reveals to our eyes the minute structure of organisms, the microscope, is often the readiest means to ascertain fraudulent admixtures, and to ascertain the nature of the adulterations ; by it the blood corpuscles are revealed, if dried blood has been mixed with such a costly article as musk, and the pollen gran¬ ules of phanerogamous plants are easily detected, if they have been employed to increase the harvest of the sporules of Lycopodium clavatum.
On dissolving a solid in a liquid, cold is produced ; natural philosophy teaches us that, in passing from one state of aggregation into another of less density, a certain amount of heat becomes latent, and hence the sensation of cold is felt. The same discipline explains to us the causes why, as a general rule, the solubility of bodies in simple solvents is increased by heat ; and where there are exceptions, it calls in the aid of an accessory discipline to furnish an explanation substantiated by experimental proof. Volatile oils volatilize slowly even at an elevated temperature which remains below their boiling point ; but they are readily obtained by distilling water from the bruised plants. It is well known that the boiling point of water is far below that of these volatile principles ; but the laws of the diffusion of vapours explain satisfactorily the correctness and efficiency of a process which was used for many centuries before it received its true explanation.
In the few instances enumerated, we find ourselves aided by natural philosophy, chemistry, botany, and zoology ; in fact, by nearly all the branches of exact science, which either have constructed the delicate apparatus wherewith matter as well as the imponderable forces may be accu rately measured ; or which employ these instruments in- the exploration of a certain domain of nature. The examples given will also, in a measure, point out those disciplines which form the basis of scientific pharmacy, and, consequently, may be taken as an answer to the query : What should the pharmacist study? Materia medica, or in its more limited application to the direct wants of the druggist and the pharmacist, pharmacognosy, is botany and zoology applied to drugs ; and what may be termed pharmacy proper is really natural history and chemistry applied to preparing into suitable forms the crude materials furnished by materia medica. With but very few exceptions, mineralogy now-a-days yields no drugs. A century ago, the officinal mineralogical drugs were by far more numerous ; but since then, the close in¬ vestigations of chemistry have removed them one after another, substituting in their stead definite compounds of a precise composition ; until now but three have been left in our pharmacopoeia as representatives of unaltered pro¬ ducts of the inorganic kingdom of nature. They are black oxide of manganese, marble, and chalk — the two first named being now not directly used in medicine, but merely employed for the generation of chlorine, carbonic acid gas, and one or two salts of calcium, leaving chalk the only mineralogical medicinal drug which has been re¬ tained by the United States and most other pharmacopoeias. In a few localities discarded calamine and tutty are some¬ what employed yet ; but in most places they seclude them¬ selves in the remotest corner of the shop, where they may dream undisturbedly of by-gone days and of the instability of worldly honours ; of the times when, in the officine of the pharmacist, they kept company with the agate, amethyst, sapphire, onyx, diamond, and other precious gems. The place which mineralogy once occupied in the drug trade and in pharmacy, is more than filled out by chemistry ; and the necessity which formerly required the druggist and pharmacist to become to a certain extent a min¬ eralogist, no longer exists. Mineralogy, as an indis¬ pensable part of pharmaceutical education, has entirely
6
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
[July 4, 1874.
lost its importance, although it still holds and for ever will occupy its prominent position as one of the requisites of every liberal education.
The direct products of the inorganic kingdom of nature have almost entirely disappeared from our list of materia medica, and from the crude products of nature only those remain which are of organic origin. They either possess a cellular organization or they are destitute of it, being then merely the secretions or excretions of organized beings. Of the two principal divisions of organisms, those derived from the animal kingdom have been, like the minerals, greatly reduced in number among our officinal articles, until now scarcely half a dozen can be found in our pharmacopoeia; of this number, one — hen’s egg — represents an embryonic animal; two — cochineal and cantharides — are entire animals ; one — isinglass — is a certain tissue, and two — musk and castor — are constituted by peculiar secretions separated in sac-like cavities. These comprise all really organized drugs of animal origin, the remaining non-organized animal drugs being almost exclusively confined to secretions of a fatty or saccharine nature ; and of late the secretion of the mucous coat of the animal stomach has been added thereto, but solely with the view of obtaining therefrom the digestive prin¬ ciple, pepsin. How insignificant this number is in comparison to the number of animals, their parts, secretions and excretions, which were highly valued medicines at the same time when the emerald was regarded as a specific against all fluxes and as an antidote against the plague, pestilential fevers, and the bites of serpents and mad dogs, and when the wearing of diamonds was supposed to take away fears and melancholy, and to strengthen the heart. Then not only the blood and flesh of numerous animals of all classes were medicinally employed, but even the hair, hide, urine and dung of many were prepared in various ways, and supposed to possess often miraculous powers in curing disease. The animal kingdom, it seems, is following the mineral kingdom in its relations to medicine as a source of curative agents, of commodities for the removal or prevention of sickness. Musk and castor are gradually becoming scarcer as the human race penetrates more and more into regions hitherto uninhabited; medicinally, cochineal is now regarded as little more than a colouring matter ; cantha¬ rides are rarely employed except for their rubefacient and epispastic properties, and isinglass with its chemical cousins, the gelatins, is far more frequently employed in the culinary than in the pharmacial art. It shares in this respect the fate of the remaining organized animal drug, the hen’s egg, which human instinct prefers using from the breakfast and supper table, to taking it merely as an emulsionizer of disagreeable oils and oleoresins.
There remains but one important source of crude drugs at the present time, namely, the vegetable kingdom. This is destined, by the laws of nature, to assimilate inorganic bodies, transforming them into organic compounds, and thus preparing food for the beings of higher organization. Plants have been medicinally employed in prehistoric times, and, notwithstanding many which have at times been held in high repute, have, on close scrutiny, been found to possess little or no reliable medicinal powers ; still the gaps occasioned by the discarding of some have always been filled up by the discovery of others, more reliable than those which have become obsolete owing to their inefficiency, or from other causes have fallen into disuse. Such drugs are furnished by the torrid zone of our globe in almost innumerable numbers ; but the more temperate climes of the Northern and Southern hemi¬ spheres make valuable additions to this number, and even the icy regions of the subarctic girdle offer their modest share of vegetable products for the benefit of suffering humanity. And as though the offerings of the older sections of our earth were insufficient to meet the varied demands of modem investigation and increasing wants, the antipodal regions of the Australian continent have of late years begun to add to the already valuable stock ; and it
is not improbable that this at present rather isolated patch of the earth’s surface will, in the course of time, send upon the market of the world many important drugs, which may well be able to compete with such as are now obtained from the abodes of civilization in older con¬ tinents, or from the unexplored and almost unknown regions of central Africa and Asia.
In endeavouring to present to you a short sketch of the proper domain of materia medica, and to indicate the variations in the boundary lines of this discipline, it cannot be my purpose at this time to follow these changes from step to step, and enumerate examples of admitted and discarded articles of materia medica ; it is a curious chapter in the history of the human race, and one well worthy of a critical review. But in it, as in all other relations of the human family, we discover the progressive influence of science, before whose light the darkness of ignorance vanishes, and the fog of superstition and fancy is dispersed.
Most important in its influence upon the development of medicine and the selection of curative agents has been chemistry; that science which deals with the relations of the various kinds of matter to each other, whose labours are influencing the investigations of every other branch of natural science, are felt in numerous trades and manufactures, and are of the utmost importance in their bearings upon every-day life. It is not many years ago, when the brines left after the separation of common salt from saline spring or sea water were without value ; to-day, immense amounts of bromine are recovered from them, and this element has not only become an indispensable article in many of the arts, but medicine has also appro¬ priated it for the cure of disease ; and its compounds, which but yesterday were chemical curiosities, are to-day met with in every officine, and prescribed by every physician. The oily and tarry products of our gas factories had been valueless for a long time, until chemistry converted some of them into brilliant colours of every shade and hue, which are employed in dyeing various fabrics, in colouring candies and sweetmeats, in making fancy inks, etc. The mother liquor from soap had been a waste product, until uses were found for its most important constituent, and glycerin is now such an indispensable agent in pharmacy and medicine, in the arts and the household, that we may well wonder how civilized mankind could get along without an article which in its natural combinations is daily employed everywhere.
Chemistry has made many inroads upon materia medica, and in consequence of the investigations of the former, many articles of the latter have been placed upon the retired list, and others will doubtless sooner or later follow into deserved obscurity. Acidulous fruit, the sorrels and other refrigerant acidulous drugs, have gradually been retired from active service, or are now in most cases merely doing duty as supernumeraries in medicine ; since the pure acids, upon which their virtues depend, are being prepared in large quantities and in a condition fit for long preservation. ' Since the time when the vegetable alkaloids have been discovered, and the processes for their manufacture were perfected, their employment in medicine has continually increased, and, as a matter of consequence, tlie corresponding increase in the use of the crude material has been prevented. But chemistry is not content with such results even. By processes of substitu¬ tion it furnishes new remedies of valuable medicinal properties, which seem to be calculated to take the place, wholly or in part, of older remedies. Chloral, crotonchloral and monobromated camphor are among the latest in¬ stances of such innovation, and already chemistry prepares a new way for replacing time-honoured medicines in offer¬ ing «po- derivatives 0f alkaloids, at least one of which, apomorphia, promises not only to hold its place against tartarized antimony and the various mineral emetics, but it threatens even to supersede such a valuable emetic as ipecacuanha, and to render the fears groundless of the gradual extermination of this plant.
July 4, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS,
7
In preparing the drugs for the use of the sick, many manipulations have to be performed intelligently and correctly ; to enable the pharmacist to perform this task, it is necessary that he should be versed in the principles of natural philosophy, which also form the groundwork for experimental and applied chemistry. The proper constructions of even the more simple apparatus depends upon the correct application of physical laws, no less than the proper performance of all operations and processes. The pharmacist has to judge of the correct shape and the proper material of his mortars, capsules, flasks and retorts ; he must be able to examine the correctness and faultless construction of his prescription balance, and to use the same, be it for ascertaining the direct or the relative weight of substances. He must know the effects of air, light, and heat upon each one of the numerous drugs and preparations of his officine in order to enable him to decide promptly how to keep, how to weight, and how to comminute them ; and if intended for exhaustion and concentration, the proper vessels have to be selected, maceration and percolation successfully performed, and afterwards evaporation and distillation, crystallization and oftentimes exsiccation, executed in an expeditious manner, involving the least possible loss of time and material, and guarding against each and all the causes for partial or complete failure or deterioration. And if, in consequence of some unavoidable accident, the preparation does not turn out to be in conformity with the wants of the pharmacopoeia, the question may have to be decided — not whether it can be patched up to resemble the article for which it was originally intended, but whether the loss, which would be occasioned by its rejection, may in a measure be avoided, either by recovering the valuable solvent or by converting the preparation into some definite compound, the direct composition and purity of which may be ascertained, so as to leave no doubt as to its identity.
It is partly in consequence of the thin population of some sections of our country, that the wholesale druggist has frequently to perform the same laboratory operations, which should never be neglected by the pharmacist. The two callings resemble each other in so far as the handling of drugs and chemicals is concerned; and this involves all the essential questions of their identity, purity and preservation, and, as stated, frequently also the mani¬ pulation of pulverization, exhaustion and concentration. Here the similarity of the two callings ends. It is equally important for the druggist as for the pharmacist to be able to recognize jalap, rhubarb, and opium, to distinguish them from inferior qualities, to ascertain their medicinal value, to preserve them from deterioration, and to convert them into the various galenical preparations. The dealings of the druggist are with the pharmacist, and and as the latter stands in his intercourse with the public between the practising physician and the patient, so does he occupy a similar position with regard to the druggist. It is no excuse for the pharmacist, that the physician has prescribed an unusual dose of a poison ; he is not justified to furnish the medicine until he shall have ascertained that the physician has prescribed it knowingly and advisedly. It is likewise no excuse for the pharmacist to have received from the druggist any drug or medicinal substance incorrectly labelled ; he is not justified to use or sell the same by virtue of its label, but only after he shall have satisfied himself of its identity and purity. It is notorious that, for some time past, large quantities of muriate of cinchonia have been sold in various parts of the United States as the sulphate of quinia of a well reputed French manufacturer. Itwouldbedisreputableforany drug¬ gist to knowingly sell this fictitious article ; but it becomes a criminal act on the part of a pharmacist if he neglects to ascertain that the quinia he has bought, perhaps ten or fifteen cents per ounce under the regular market price, is, in reality, what it purports to be.
The pharmacist is daily, nay hourly, called upon to perform manipulations and decide upon occurrences which never happen to the druggist. The varied handwritings
in prescriptions — often hieroglyphic in form and appear¬ ance — the variation in the preparations ordered, the form in which they are exhibited, the doses for adults and infants, the proper methods of combining the prescribed articles, are a few of the incidents which tax the mental faculties of the pharmacist almost incessantly during the business hours. To meet all such difficulties promptly and correctly, it is not merely necessary to know that they may happen. Experience, under correct guidance, is the best, in fact the only reliable teacher in such cases, as in all others requiring mental as well as manual dexterity.
MICROCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF ANGUSTURA
BARK*.
BY P. CAZENEUVE.
The author has been engaged in a microscopical investigation of the physiological characteristics presented by true angustura bark and that of Strychnos nux- vomica, and also of the variations in their behaviour when treated with nitric acid. He states that if a^transverse section of true angustura bark, cut as thin as possible, be moistened with a little glycerine and examined under the microscope, irregularly scattered groups of much thickened cells will be seen. The false bark, examined under the same conditions, presents two distinct zones of these sclerogenous cells, which are en¬ tangled with one another, as may be seen in sections cut in various directions.
The examination may by carried furthur, by taking a very thin tangential section, cut perpendicularly to the me¬ dullary rays, placing it upon an object glass, and moisten¬ ing it with a small drop of distilled water in such a manner that the water overflows the tissue but very slightly when compressed by the upper glass. With a magnifying power of 270 diameters, grains of starch may be seen in the cells of the liber parenchyma ; and here and there, in the same tissue, large ovoid cells filled with acicular rhaphides consisting essentially of oxalate of lime. (See figure, A )
TANGENTIAL SECTION OF TRUE ANGUSTURA BARK.
A, Itaphides of Oxalate of Lime ; B, Cells con taining granular matter (Cuspariu ?).
There are also groups of rounded cells, the appearance of which recalls the appearance of a perpendicular section of the medullary rays in the woody tissue of dicotyledons in general. These groups of cells (B) contain a granular substance, soluble in alcohol, ether, and acids, and insoluble in alkalis and in water.
If, by means of a glass rod, a drop of nitric acid be applied round the edge of the glass, the acid by capillary action will spread between the two plates of glass to the narrow zone of water which surrounds the tissue. Upon the junction of the two liquids, it will be possible to watch under the microscope the progressive action of the nitric
* Abstract of a paper in the Repertoire de Pharmacie for May 10, p. 261.
8
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS
[July 4, 1874. '
acid. The oxalate of lime is dissolved, as might be expected. When the granular substance before mentioned, which the author considers to be cusparin, is reached, it melts in each cell, with disengagement of gas, into a reddish liquid, which finally disappears with excess of acid. In the false angustura bark, the action of the nitric acid appears in contact even with the aqueous zone, showing the solvent action of water upon the brucine compound. The colour produced resembles the tint of the haemoglobin of blood; it spreads rapidly through the tissue, which becomes impregnated with it throughout. By using nitrous vapour upon a perfectly dry section, and avoiding great excess of vapour, which might condense and lead to the diffusion of the colour, the author found that the active principle of the Strychnos nux-vomica is contained in the inner liber cells.
If a thin section of the suberous layer of false angustura bark be treated with nitric acid, then dipped in glycerine and afterwards examined under the microscope, it presents rounded cells, empty of contents, and coloured a beautiful green on the sides ; this colour is gradually modified and passes definitely to a yellow. The suber of true angustura bark is not modified by the action of nitric acid.
The above-mentioned characteristics of the two barks may be thus summarized : cells containing oxalate of lime are numerous in the true bark, but absent from the false one ; the red colouration by nitric acid is localized in the true bark, but general in the false ; the suber layer of the true bark is not coloured by nitric acid, whilst that of the false is coloured emerald green.
We are indebted to the kindness of the editor of the j Repertoire de Pharmacie for the use of the woodcut of the accompanying illustration.
HENNA.
A recent number of the Belgique Ilorticole contains an' interesting paper, by M. G. Delchevalerie, upon the henna of the Egyptians, of which the following abstract has appeared in the Gardeners' Chronicle.
Two very distinct varieties of the plant are cultivated in Egypt. The first, Lawsonia spinosa, differs from L. in¬ ermis by its very spiny branches and much finer leaves. This is used in making garden hedges ; and a fragrant distilled water is prepared from its blossoms. The henna is one of the favourite flowers of the Egyptians, and during its time of blossoming they ornament their rooms with it.
The second form, L. inermis, has much larger leaves than the former, and the branches are without spines. It is increased by suckers, and large tracts of ground are closely planted with it under trees in half-shady places. The green stems are cut several times a year, and stripped of their leaves, which are dried and reduced to powder, and thus form an article of commerce under the title of henna powder. The plants, which are cut down almost to the ground, soon throw out fresh shoots, which are cut with a sickle like the first, and the several crops are thus yielded during many successive years.
The culture of henna is easy, and might probably be carried on successfully in Italy and Central France. The variety inermis is that which is employed as a dye plant in Egypt. To obtain the flowers the shrub is not pruned, but is allowed to attain the height of two or three metres, when it flowers in the second year. To obtain the colour¬ ing principle, however, it is sown or planted very thickly, and the branches are mown as soon as they have reached the height of a metre.
Henna has been in use among the Egyptians from the most ancient times y the leaves having been employed in medicine as well as a cosmetic. The ancient writers mention its astringent and tinctorial properties. Dios- corides mentions it under the name of Cyprus. “ The Cyprus or ligustrum,” he says, “ is a tree which bears leaves resembling those of the olive, but longer and softer, and of a greener colour. Its flowers are white and fragrant growing in downy bunches. Its fruit is black,
and resembles that of the elder.” The name of “ Cyprus,” which the henna formerly bore, doubtless originated from the fact that the Greeks obtained it from the Island of Cyprus, the Cyprians having formerly mono¬ polized the trade in this colouring matter.
Pliny says that the Cyprus of the Egyptians is a tree with leaves like those of the zizyphus, seeds like cori¬ ander seeds,* and white fragrant flowers. The most es¬ teemed and the dearest comes from Canope, on the banks of the Nile ; the second from Ascalon in Judaea ; and the third (taking them according to the sweetness of their odour) from the Island of Cyprus.
Prosper Alpinus states that invalids procure ease by inhaling the perfume of the flowers of henna, and apply¬ ing them to the forehead. The Moors, who were well acquainted with this quality, made very extensive use of the flowers for this purpose. The same author says that the natives of Egypt prepared with the leaves a powder called archenda, which was used by the women for dye¬ ing their feet and hands of an orange colour as a means of enhancing their charms. If our women, he adds, would apply this secret to rendering their hair golden they would not need to expose their heads to the heat of the sun and to many other painful methods of ensuring this result. It thus appears that the recent rage for golden hair, like most other fashions, has nothing of novelty to recommend it.
Olivier says that the henna (which the Jews call haco- per) furnishes flowers of a penetrating odour, and that an aromatic water was obtained from them by distillation which was employed in baths, and as a perfume in religious ceremonies, such as marriage, circumcision, and the feast of Courban-Bieram. The Jews had also a custom of sprinkling the flowers of henna on the gar¬ ments of the newly-married.
The ancient Egyptians made use of henna for the purpose of perfuming the oils and unguents with which they anointed the body with a view of obtaining supple¬ ness. They also employed it in embalming, and flower¬ ing branches of henna are found in mummy-cases.
Avicenna compares the properties of henna with those of dragon’s-blood. He says that its leaves possess the same property of curing ulcers, and that a decoction of them is employed in cases of inflammation and burns, and as a remedy against ulcers of the mouth. Forskal, in his ‘ Flora of Egypt,’ refers to the medical and tinctorial properties of henna. The leaves are dried and re¬ duced to powder, being first mixed with fine sand, which causes them to divide more easily. This powder is used in dyeing, and is an article of considerable com¬ mercial importance. It is used in colouring the nails and hands, as also in giving a red tinge to the hair ; and it is thus used by old men for dyeing them grey beards. When it is desired to dye the hands with henna, the powder is formed into a paste, and applied during the night. In the morning the hands are washed, and then anointed with oil to give them greater brilliancy. If a browner hue is desired, the juice of unripe acorns is added to the paste.
Bellonias remarks that henna was an important object of commerce among the Turks, who exported it from Alexandria to Constantinople, where the trade in it was considerable. The Grand Seignor, who had a monopoly of this traffic, derived from it annually the sum of 18,000 ducats. At the present day Egyptian henna is largely exported from Alexandria, and, according to the official report, 18,385 cwt. was shipped from this port alone, during the Coptic year 1588 (or 1873), the official value of this quantity being 900,000 piastres.
The colouring principle, which is known as hennot- annine, is very abundant in the leaves of henna, and might probably be advantageously used in manufactures* It is still employed by men and women for dyeing the palms of the hands and the nails of the hands and feet of a reddish-orange, the hair and tails of horses and asses are also coloured with it ; and it has other uses in Egypt which are of minor importance.
illy 4, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
9
<§h* $harnratMal Journal.
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1874.
Communications for this Journal, and boohs for review, etc.
should not he required to attend lectures on, or he examined in, such superfluous subjects as anatomy, physiology, surgery, medicine, or midwifery ; hut that the standard in subjects essential to a sound phar¬ maceutical education, such as chemistry, botany, materia medica, pharmacy, etc., should he as high as
should be addressed to the Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square, possible Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the \ *■ ’
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Elias Brem- Our readers will probably remember that a state-
ridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C. ment was made some time since, by Dr. Leet the Re-
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington •. (..! _ T • -u tto11 .A ~ ,
Street, London, W. Envelopes indorsed (< Pharm. Journ. ’ I &lsIrar °i the indi Apothecaries Hall, to the effect
that there were from twenty-eight to thirty of the THE IRISH APOTHECARIES’ LICENCES BILL. I most important towns of Ireland, with populations Upon the second reading of this Bill last Thursday varying from 10,000 to 50,000, where there was no it was referred to a Select Committee, which will apothecary or other competent person qualified to afford opportunity for the representation of the dispense medicine.* This has long been a common, various opinions entertained in reference to the pro- complaint, and it was one of the main reasons as- posed measure. As yet we have not heard that the signed for the introduction of some reform of the law Bill of the Apothecaries’ Hall has been introduced relating to pharmacy in Ireland. But the associated into Parliament, but as regards the probability of licentiate apothecaries dispute the accuracy of this
statement. They say that Dr. Leet evidently erred egregiously, since there are not more than sixteen
its success, in case it should come before the House of Commons, it is worthy of notice that it does not seem to command the general support of the Irish I towns in all Ireland whose population (according to Apothecaries, as would appear from the terms of a the Census of 1861) exceeds 10,000 ; and they assert, •circular issued on behalf of the Association of Licen- in contradiction of his statement as to the dearth of tiate Apothecaries of Ireland, and bearing the sig- apothecaries, that in every one of those towns there nature of twenty-three apothecaries, located in as are a sufficient number of apothecaries for all require- many towns in Ireland. ments, so that no inconvenience can arise on that
In the drawing up of this circular it seems to have score, been assumed that the effect of the Pharmacy Bills If is further alleged that at present Ireland has no proposed in regard to Ireland, would be to permit a need for Pharmacy Acts, such as those passed in less educated class than themselves to the same legal England to promote the efforts of the Pharmaceu* rights now enjoyed by apothecaries who, before ob- tical Society of Great Britain towards the raising of taining their licence, have been compelled not only fhe educational standard. It is thought that in Ire- to have been engaged in practical pharmacy but also land the standard does not require to be raised, but
to spend four years at professional studies, and pass examinations sufficient to qualify for a licence in
only modified for the future by the omission of purely medical and surgical subjects from the curriculum
medicine. They argue that there would virtually be a prescribed, disestablishment and disendowment of the existing Especial objection, however, is taken to that clause Irish apothecaries, unfair to them, though it is not | °f the proposed Bill of the Apothecaries’ Hall which contended that the law should continue thus. In fact the circular points out that, although under ex-
provides for the registration of persons in business at the time of the passing of the Act, upon their pass- isting conditions every Irish apothecary must under- I mg a modified examination. It is considered that go this protracted and expensive course of instruction, there is no reason whatever why a druggist in Ireland even to practise pharmacy only, it is the fact that a should not pass through exactly the same ordeal as large number of the licentiate apothecaries do confine anT other candidate for a pharmaceutical licence ; and, their attention entirely to the compounding and dis- 011 the contrary, it is urged that there is no such
pensing medicines, and are dependent on that busi¬ ness for subsistence.
They therefore seek, in any legislation on the sub¬ ject, recognition of their vested rights, and compensa¬ tion from the State for the unnecessary outlay of
dearth of competent dispensers throughout the country as demand the admission of an imperfectly educated class.
Lastly, it i ointed out that druggists have never been legally entitled to dispense medicines in Ire-
time, labour, and money to acquire their qualifications hand, and consequently have not entered into busi- in the past, as well as for injury to their interests in ness there with such an intention, so that they really
the future by the admission of a lower
grade
of do not labour under any disability ; and there is, so
pharmacists to the same privileges, as dispensers of far> 110 reason for following the precedent of the
medicine.
It is also suggested that for the future the Apothe¬ caries’ Hall in Ireland should grant but one licence, that being a licence to practise pharmacy only. To obtain this license it is suggested that candidates
English Pharmacy Acts of 1852 and 1868, in regard to chemists and druggists already in business at the passing of those Acts.
A copy of the circular above referred to has been * See Pharm, Journ., vol. iv. p. 595,
10
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
[July 4, 1874.
sent to every Irish member of Parliament, together with a letter offering some further remarks on the subject, and requesting them to exercise their vote and influence to secure the objects of the Association of Licentiate Apothecaries of Ireland whenever either of the proposed Pharmacy Acts shall be introduced into Parliament.
CONVERSAZIONE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF
PHYSICIANS.
Among the scientific reunions of the London season the Conversazione of the Royal College of Physicians always holds an honoured place, and we learn from a medical friend that last night’s celebration was more than equal to its best traditions.
The President, Sir G. Burrows, and the Council, received the guests as they arrived ; while the “objects of interest ” that filled the library were at once varied and attractive. Nearly every department of medico- scientific study, or of antiquarian or artistic interest was represented. Among the former may be men¬ tioned the “ Aphloistic Ear-trumpets,” contributed by Dr. C. J. B. Williams ; the beautiful and effective “Binocular Microscopes and Anatomical Objects” of Messrs. Ross and Co. ; the hardly less perfect instruments of Messrs. Powell and Lealand, Messrs. Murray and Heath, and Mr. Baker ; and the “ Cho¬ lera-Curves” of Dr. C. Macnamara. Among the artistic objects, the contribution of our President, Mr. T. H. Hills, “ the studies of Lions, by the late Sir Edwin Landseer ;” the alabaster bust of Scipio Africanus, recently found in London; the royal robe, with the diamonds and other precious stones from Coomassie ; and the photographs, and specimens of pottery and Wedgwood ware, attracted much attention. Interest of no common kind attached to Sir W. Fer- gusson’s contribution of the “ Cast of the Left Hu¬ merus of Dr. Livingstone, showing the false joint consequent on the bite of a lion, whereby the body was identified. Some plans of model dwellings for the industrial classes in town and country gave gratifying proof of the advances recently made in one of the first conditions of public health and social re¬ generation. The international ice manufacturing company exhibited a drawing of the Apparatus for the manufacture of ice by steam power, with samples of ice so made, — an article to which the proverbial heat of London reception-rooms gave a more than theoretical interest.
The number of guests appears to have been un¬ usually large, affording opportunity for many pleasant rencontres between professor and pupil, college companions long separated by time and space, and members of other departments of the healing art besides the physician proper.
THE ALLEGED ADULTERATION OF SCAMMONY.
It will be remembered that at the close of the case of an alleged adulteration of scammony, which was dismissed by Mr. Vaughan, the magistrate sitting at the Bow Street Police Court on the 17th June,* the hearing of two other cases was adjourned for a fort¬ night. When these cases were called in Court on Wednesday last neither prosecutor nor defendants
* Pharm. Journ., June 20th, p. 1020.
answered, and it would therefore appear that the- cases are abandoned. If this be the case, the course was resolved upon at the last moment, since, in reply to an application at the office of the Strand Board of Works on the previous day it was stated that the prosecution was to go on.
THE PRESCRIBING OF “PATENT MEDICINES.”
Speaking of the recent action for libel in connec¬ tion with the supply of a “fever tincture” to the Govern¬ ment, for use on the Gold Coast, the Medical Times- and Gazette says,--
“We only refer to this case to deplore the custom of, in a certain sense, compelling medical men to have recourse to secret and unknown remedies for the treatment of disease when such a complete collection of well-known and well-tried medicines is available for the physician’s use. The result of this practice, however, appears to be, that on the outbreak of a war such as that which has happily just terminated on the Gold Coast, a well-intentioned but hurtful pressure is brought to bear on the authorities ; and, in deference to the strongly urged suggestions of its advocates, a secret remedy (of the composition of which the medical officer who is to employ it knows nothing) is sent out to be tried upon our sick soldiers, though we should fancy few medical men of the present day in civil practice would care to avail themselves of its services. In the present case, moreover, the testimony of the lamented Dr. Livingstone was adverse to the efficacy of this nostrum, though supported by high medical authority, as a remedy for the treatment of African fevers. In one of his books of travel, the Doctor states that on the recommendation of a friend he had tried it, and found the result unsatis¬ factory.
“ W ith a comprehensive British Pharmacopoeia, periodi¬ cally revised by the most competent men of the time, we trust that the day of nostrums and secret remedies will soon pass away for good, and that the progressive enlight¬ enment of the people generally will eventually conduce to their utter extinction.”
It may also be mentioned that whilst Dr. Hassall was under examination by the Select Committee on the Adulteration Act he was incidentally asked what he thought of the sale of “ patent medicines.” He replied that “patent medicines” were patent evils, since they were prescribed as secret remedies by per¬ sons ignorant of their composition ; and whilst in some cases they might do good, it was quite probable that in many cases they did harm.
ENGLISH MEDICINE SEEN THROUGH CHILIAN
SPECTACLES.
Last week we had the opportunity of putting before our readers the opinion of a South American pharmaceutical authority upon English pharmacy. The Times telegrams of Monday last enable us to supplement this with a view of English medicine from the same quarter of the globe. It appears that the British Minister at Santiago has been making complaints that English physicians are prevented from practising in Chili. To this the Dean of the Medical Faculty in Chili has replied that the medical knowledge imparted in England is greatly inferior to that required before the degree of Doctor of Medicine could be acquired in Chili, and that it would, there¬ fore, be unjust to allow British physicians to practise with less competence than was required from Chilian physicians. Whether this be the voice of self- interest, self-satisfaction, or conscious superiority, we are glad that neither of these elements operated to produce so harsh a criticism of English pharmacy from the neighbouring country.
July 4, 1374.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
11
%xmutmm nf tye fljOTratal jftwieli.
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, Wednesday, July ls£, 1874.
MR. T. HYDE HILLS, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.
MR. A. BOTTLE, VICE-PRESIDENT.
Present — Messrs. Atherton, Baynes, Betty, Greenish, Hampson, Owen, Radley, Robbins, Sandford, Savage, Shaw, Stoddart, Sutton, and Williams.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
The Inaugural Address in October.
The Secretary read a letter from Mr. R. Giles, of Clifton, accepting the invitation of the Council to deliver the address to the students in October next.
The British Pharmaceutical Conference.
The President read a letter from Mr. Carteighe, thanking the Council, on behalf of the sub-committee of the British Pharmaceutical Conference for their offer to make arrangements for a Conversazione, and stating that the fifth of August appeared to be the most suitable evening for the purpose. It was resolved accordingly that the Conversazione be held on August 5th.
The President, Vice-President, Mr. Sandford, and Mr. Williams, were appointed a Committee to make the neces¬ sary arrangements for the reception and entertainment of the members of the British Pharmaceutical Conference in August next, and also to arrange for the Conversazione to be held on the same occasion.
Diplomas.
The following, being registered as Pharmaceutical Che¬ mists, were respectively granted a diploma, stamped with the seal of the Society : —
Cortis, Arthur Brownhill.
Feaver, John.
Luff, Arthur Pearson.
Smith, John Jacob.
Elections.
members.
Pharmaceutical Chemists.
David, John . . ..Kenfig Hill.
Harvey, John William . Croydon.
Luff, Arthur Pearson . South Kensington.
Smith, John Jacob . Islington.
Chemists and Druggists.
Gossop, George Kennington ...Great Grimsby.
Rowell, Robert . South Shields.
associates.
The following, having passed their respective examina¬ tions, and being in business on their own account, were elected “ Associates in Business ” of the Society.
Minor.
Gardiner, William Eustace . Peckhana.
Lyon, James . Kingsland.
Modified.
Evans, Gomer . Bala.
The following, having passed the Minor Examination, were elected “ Associates” of the Society : —
Billinge, Mark . Hyde.
Bulcock, Joseph Henderson . Clitheroe.
Burley, William . Edinburgh.
Cooper, Henry . London.
Davey, John Trimble . Exeter.
Draper, James William . Malmesbury.
Dunlop, Thomas Hall . Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Durnford, John . Maidstone.
Gardiner, Bruce Hubert John... London.
Gradidge, William Ivimey . Andover.
Hammond, William Henry . Northampton.
Heslop, George . N e wcastle-on-Tyne.
Husband, John Cecil . Berwick.
Lee, Joseph . Southport.
Mac Farlane, Peter . . . London.
Pechey, Thomas Pollard . Birkenhead.
Phillips, James Wilson . Broadstairs.
Ridley, Edward Henry . Manchester.
Riley, Charles Reynolds . London.
Shaw, William Burton . Scarborough.
Stevenson, Henry Ernest . Southport.
Strickland, Robert Brewster . Manchester.
Tame, Thomas . Oxford.
Thompson, Charles . Bed worth.
Walter, George William . Homcastle.
Wheatly, Arthur William . Thame.
Winn, John Christopher . Darlington.
APPRENTICES OR STUDENTS.
The following, having passed the Preliminary Examina¬ tion, were elected “Apprentices or Students ” of the
Society : —
Axford, John William . Coventry.
Campbell, Robert Saul . Manchester.
Cleminson, John Hetherington Beverley.
Cocker, Justus John . Over Darwen.
Hall, Edwin . Horncastle.
Hallawell, William . Manchester.
Heaton, Wilmer Everard . Colne.
Holmes, Alfred John . Preston.
Larder, Herbert . Horncastle.
Parker, Thomas . Preston.
Sadler, W illiam . Margate.
Smithurst, J ohn . N ottingham .
Several individuals who had neglected to pay their subscriptions in proper time were ordered to be restored to their former status on payment of the subscription for the current year and a fine equal to half the amount.
The Preliminary Examination.
The Secretary reported that, in consequence of the large number of candidates coming up for the Prelimi¬ nary Examination, he had made inquiries as to getting accommodation elsewhere, and found that, if desired, the examination hall of the Incorporated Law Society, in Chancery Lane, could be obtained at an expense of ten guineas each examination. Several members expressed a strong opinion that it was very undesirable to hold the examination away from the Society’s own House unless absolutely unavoidable ; and, after some discussion, it was referred to the House Committee to make such arrange¬ ments, and incur whatever expense might be necessary, for the purpose of the examination, authority being given to close the Library on that day if necessary.
Finance.
The report of this Committee, recommending the pay¬ ment of various accounts and salaries, was received and adopted.
Benevolent Fund.
This Committee had met and considered several appli¬ cations for relief j and they recommended the following
grants to be made : — .
To the widow of a registered chemist and druggist,
residing in London, aged 57, £10.
To a registered chemist and druggist at Halifax, aged 60, who was a member of the Society from.1841 to 1872, now an invalid and unable to attend to business, £10.
The name of Mary Ann Dodd, of London, and that of Thomas Parker, of Halifax, were ordered to be put on the list of “ approved candidates for annuities.”
Two other cases were deferred for further investigation.
Some discussion arose as to the desirability of adding fresh names to the already published list of approved candidates, but the general opinion appeared to be that all eligible candidates should be placed upon the list, and the report and recommendations of the Committee were there¬ fore adopted.
12
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
[July 4, 1874.
Mr. Radley suggested that, in future, the list of approved ■candidates should not be published until complete, in order not to give one candidate an advantage over another. He therefore moved, and Mr. Owen seconded —
“ That the regulations of the Benevolent Fund be re¬ considered by the Benevolent Fund Committee.”
Mr. Hampson said he should like to know what required reconsideration before voting for this resolution.
Mr. Shaw suggested that any such action should be ■deferred until after the approaching election.
The President said there could be no harm in the Committee reconsidering the regulations and reporting to the Council.
The Vice-President suggested that the Committee should report in November, and with this addition the motion was agreed to.
Mr. Owen reported that he had been successful in his efiforts to obtain the election into the London Orphan Asylum of one of the children of Mrs. Stockman, towards which purpose £ 20 was recently voted from the Benevo¬ lent Fund. He desired to add, in order to show that the wholesale trade were ready to assist any real case of dis¬ tress, that Messrs. Baiss Brothers had come forward and given him £20 for the same purpose.
Library, Museum, and Laboratory.
The Committee recommended the purchase of the following books for the use of the Library : —
Smith’s ‘ Pharmaceutical Guide,’ 2nd Edition.
Waring’ s ‘ Therapeutics.’
Parrish’s 1 Practical Pharmacy,’ 4th Edition.
Dr. J. C. Thorowgood’s ‘ Students’ Guide to Materia Medica.’
Pettigrew’s * Physiology of the Circulation in Plants, in Lower Animals, and in Man. ’
Babington’s ‘ British Botany,’ 7th Edition.
Notcutt’s ‘ Handbook of British Plants.’
Mohr’s ‘ Commentar zur Pharmacopoea Germanica.’
Wanklyn’s * Water Analysis,’ 3rd Edition.
Black’s ‘ General Atlas,’ last Edition.
The Librarian had reported that, from May 13th to June 17th, he had issued 48 vols. to the provinces under the recent regulation ; that the average attendance in the Library had been 18 in the day, and 5'38 in the evening. Professor Bentley had reported that there were 43 pupils attending his special class at the Botanical Gardens ; Professor Redwood, that there were 26 Students in his class ; and Professor Attfield, that there were 33 pupils now at work in the Laboratory.
A letter had been received from Professor Attfield, stating that the Chemical Society proposed advertising their J ournal in several periodicals, and suggesting that the Pharmaceutical Society would be doing a graceful act in inserting such an advertisement gratuitously. The Committee, therefore, recommended that one advertise¬ ment per month be inserted for six months, not exceeding a quarter of a column in length, provided space could be found for it.
The Secretary reported that about fifty original letters from the late Dr. Pereira to Dr. Guibourt, of Paris, had been presented to the Society by the late Dr. Guibourt. The Committee recommended that these letters be care¬ fully bound and placed in the Library.
The report and recommendations of the Committee were received and adopted.
Female Students.
The Committee had also before it a letter from Professor Attfield, stating that two lady students who were attend¬ ing the classes of his colleagues, asked permission to attend the Laboratory. They were already devoting a good deal of time to study in the British Museum, and were desirous of working for some time in the laboratory ; to which, after giving due consideration to the subject, he saw no reason to object, if the Council were willing.
Mr. Hampson then moved : —
“That the reply to Professor Attfield’s letter be to the effect that this Council has no objectioa to his receiving lady students in the Laboratory, and that the House Committee be requested to make the necessary arrangements.”
His views upon this question were so well known, that he would not trouble the Council with many words upon it. They had already admitted ladies to tke classes of the other Professors, the Act of Parliament admitted them also to examinations, and now the two ladies applied to be enabled to obtain the best instruction in practical che¬ mistry, which would fit them for passing their examina¬ tions. He believed this course was really of more value than almost any other, inasmuch as it brought them face to face with principles and chemical conditions, and it was now for the Council to consider whether they should refuse them admission. He thought, to be consistent, this could not be done, as the applicants had already been admit¬ ted to the lectures. Remembering also that they were em¬ powered by Act of Parliament to examine ladies, they ought to give in that institution equal opportunities for obtaining the requisite knowledge. It was simply a matter of justice and fair play, which he hoped would be conceded.
Mr. Greenish seconded the motion, saying he thought it was really a question for Professor Attfield, under whose management the Laboratory was placed ; and as Professor Attfield saw no difficulty, he did not think the Council should interfere. There was only one question which the House Committee would have to consider, namely, making certain requisite arrangements.
The Vice-President said he did not desire to oppose Mr. Hampson’s view, but he asked him to withdraw the latter part of the resolution, authorizing the House Com¬ mittee to make the necessary arrangements, because it was just possible that such arrangements as they could make, would not be satisfactory ; and if lady students were to be admitted to the Laboratory it would be well perhaps at the commencement of the ensuing session to make such provision for them as would be creditable to the Society.
Mr. Hampson said he had no objection to withdraw the latter part of the resolution.
Mr. Sandford thought that such an important matter ought not to have been brought forward without notice having been given. It would entirely contradict the resolution to which the Council came some time ago — not to admit ladies to the laboratory — which was a very dif¬ ferent thing to admitting them to the lecture-room. He happened to know that Mr. Brown, who was not present that day, agreed with him in that, and in thinking that having ladies in the laboratory would be a source of mis¬ chief ; there was not proper accommodation for them. When Professor Attfield mentioned the matter, he said he had found a room which would answer the purpose of a retiring room, but in so doing he thought the Professor had gone rather beyond his province. It had been decided that ladies should not be admitted as members of the So¬ ciety, and when the question came before the General Meeting, the opinion was overwhelmingly against it, and even against encouraging them to enter the trade at all. For his own part he felt that it was not a fit vocation for women, as they were exposed to certain things which he should be extremely sorry that any woman in whom he felt an interest should be exposed to. He hoped, therefore, the motion would be refused.
Mr. Savage said that as Professor Attfield saw no objection to the ladies being admitted, and he for one quite coincided with him, he thought they ought to accede to his application. It was a matter of some importance, and although two years ago certain resolutions were passed, there had been a great deal of progress since then. As far as the accommodation was concerned, that was for the ladies themselves to consider. His opinion was that they would be a restraining influence on the young men, and that their presence would be productive of great benefit.
July 4, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
13
Mr. Owen said it was only a question of time, they must come round to it at last. Still he thought that notice of motion should be given.
Mr. Hampson said a reply was required to the letter of Professor Attfield, or he should not have brought it forward ; indeed, he knew nothing of the matter until the previous day.
Mr. Betty objected to the way in which this question was brought forward ; a side issue being raised on a letter, of which no previous notice had been given, thus taking the Council rather by surprise. He did not think they ought to be called upon suddenly in that manner to give a reply to a letter on such an important question. If it came before them in a more regular way, no doubt it would be received more favourably; and he would, there¬ fore, suggest to Mr. Hampson to withdraw the motion for the present, and let the matter of the admission of ladies come before them in a legitimate and fair manner for discussion and decision. He would not speak on the merits of the question at present, but, personally, he should wish to vote that the ladies be admitted and that the professor be not restricted in the selection of his pupils.
Mr. Sutton thought, as a matter of order, Mr. Betty was quite right, though he felt very strongly that the application in itself was right and proper.
Mr. Williams said Professor Attfield brought this question forward at the fag end of a Committee meeting, and really desired the Committee to consent to his admit¬ ting the ladies into the laboratory without bringing the matter before the Council at all. The Committee, how¬ ever, declined such a responsibility, and requested the Professor to submit the matter to the Council. It ap¬ peared to him they could only refuse the application at present, whatever course might be pursued hereafter.
Mr. Baynes also urged Mr. Hampson to withdraw the motion, seeing that no great injustice could be done, as only about one month’s instruction could be obtained by these applicants during the present session.
Mr. Hampson said it was true he had not given notice of motion in a formal manner, and he was rather gratified to find that the application came in the ordinary way, without raising the whole question and unduly enlarging it. He thought, coming in the way it did, it simply showed it was a bond fide application to receive instruc¬ tion, and that the Council would have been disposed to listen to the application, rather than require a formal notice of motion to be given for reopening a question which had been considered so startling. However, he would rather withdraw the motion than lose it, because he believed there was a great principle of fairness and impartiality involved in it. He would, therefore, with¬ draw it for the present, and give notice. of motion to bring it forward on a future occasion.
Some discussion then ensued, as to what reply should be sent to Professor Attfield.
Mr. Williams moved, and Mr. Betty seconded the following motion ; —
“ That Dr. Attfield be informed that the Council cannot, under the present arrangements, agree to the reception of lady students in the Laboratory of this Institution.”
To this an amendment was moved by Mr. Savage, and seconded by Mr. Hampson : —
“ That the further consideration of admitting ladies to the Laboratory be postponed, and, in answer to Dr. Attfield’s letter, he be informed of the fact.”
The amendment being put to the vote, the following was the result : —
For- — Messrs. Baynes, Greenish, Hampson, Owen, Savage, and Sutton.
Against — Messrs. Atherton, Betty, Radley, Robbins, Sandford, Shaw, Stoddart, and Williams.
The President and Vice-President were present, but did not vote.
The amendment was therefore lost, and the motion was then put and carried.
Law and Parliamentary.
The report of this Committee stated that they had received copies of the Apothecaries’ Licences Bill, and the Pharmacy Bill for Ireland proposed by the Apothecaries* Company of Ireland. The first Bill would extend some of the powers of the Pharmacy Act to Ireland, and enable the Pharmaceutical Society to appoint a Board of Examiners in that country. The Committee recommended that these bills be carefully watched ; and the Secretary now reported that the first named Bill had been referred to a Select Committee of the House of Commons.
The Committee had also had laid before it certain correspondence from the Society’s Solicitor, in which he narrated his failure to obtain sufficient evidence to enable him to commence proceedings against a person who was alleged to have contravened the provisions of the Phar¬ macy Act.
The report was received and adopted.
House.
The report of this Committee dealt principally with es¬ timates which had been obtained for doing certain paint¬ ing, etc., to the Society’s premises. It was received and adopted, and the. necessary work ordered to be proceeded with.
Appointment of Professors, etc., for the Ensuing
Year.
Professor Redwood was re-appointed Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy.
Professor Bentley was re-appointed Professor of Botany and Materia Medica.
Professor Attfield was re-appointed Professor of Prac¬ tical Chemistry.
Mr. Holmes was re-appointed Curator of the Society’s Museum.
Local Secretaries.*
The following gentlemen were appointed Local Secre-
|
taries for 1874-75, in |
the towns to which their names are |
|
appended : — |
|
|
Aberdare . |
... Thomas, Watkin Jones. |
|
Aberdeen . |
... Davidson, Charles. |
|
Abergele . |
... Ellis, William. |
|
Aberystwith . |
... Davies, John Hugh. |
|
Abingdon . |
... Smith, William. |
|
Altrincham . |
... Holt, William Henry. |
|
Andover . |
... Madgwick, William B. |
|
Ashby de la Zouch . . . |
... Johnson, Samuel E. |
|
Ashton-under- Lyne . . . |
... Bostock, William. |
|
Aylesbury . |
. . . Turner, J ohn. |
|
Banbury . |
... Linnett, Samuel S. |
|
Banff . |
... Ellis, Bartlet. |
|
Bangor . |
... Griffiths, John E. |
|
Barnsley . |
... Badger, Alfred. |
|
Barnstaple . |
... Goss, Samuel. |
|
Barrow in Furness ... |
... Steel, Thomas. |
|
Basingstoke . |
... Sapp, Arkas. |
|
Bath . |
. . . Pooley, J ohn Carpenter, |
|
Bedford . |
... Cuthbert, John M. |
|
Belper . |
... Ashton, John. |
|
Berwick . |
. . . Carr, William Graham. |
|
Beverley . |
. . . Hobson, Charles. |
|
Bewdley . . ...... |
... Newman, Robert. |
|
Birkenhead . . ... |
... Nicholson, Henry. |
|
Birmingham . |
... Southall, William. |
|
Blackburn . |
... Pickup, Thomas Hartley. |
|
Blandford . |
. . . Groves, W ellington E. |
|
Bodmin . . . |
... Williams, Joel Drew. |
|
Bolton . |
.. Dutton, George. |
|
Boston . |
... Marshall, Robert. |
|
Bradford (Yorkshire) |
. . . Rimmington, E elix W. E. |
* Local Secretaries are appointed in all towns in Great Britain which return a Member or Members to Parliament, and in such other Towns as contain not less than Three Members of the Society or Associates in business.
14 THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [July 4, 1874.
|
Brecon . |
. Meredith, John. |
Harwich . |
. Bevan, Charles F. |
|
Bridgnorth . |
. Deighton, Thomas Milner. |
Hastings & St. Leonards Jameson, William Edward. |
|
|
Bridlington . |
.. Forge, Christopher. |
Haverfordwest . |
. Williams, William. |
|
Bridport . |
.. Tucker, Charles, |
Helston . |
Troake, Marler Hamilton. |
|
Brighton . |
.. Gwatkin, James Thomas. |
Hereford . |
Jennings, Reginald. |
|
Bristol . |
.. Stoddart, William W. |
Hertford . |
Lines, George. |
|
Buckingham . |
.. George, Sirett. |
Heywood . |
. Beckett, William. |
|
Burnley . |
.. Thomas, Richard. |
Hirwain . |
George, J ohn Evan. |
|
Burslem . |
.. Blackshaw, Thomas. |
Hitchin . |
Ransom, William. |
|
Bury St. Edmunds . . . . |
.. Portway, John. |
Horncastle . |
Elsey, John. |
|
Buxton . |
.. Barnett, Alexander. |
Horsham . |
Williams, Philip. |
|
Cambridge . |
. Deck, Arthur. |
Huddersfield . |
King, William. |
|
Canterbury . |
.. Bing, Edwin. |
Hull . |
Bell, Charles Baines. |
|
Cardiff . |
.. Cross, William. |
Huntingdon . |
Provost, John Pullen. |
|
Cardigan . . |
.. Jones, John Edwards. |
Inverness . |
Galloway, George Ross. |
|
Garlisle . |
. Thompson, Andrew. |
Ipswich . |
Anness, Samuel Richard. |
|
Carmarthen . |
. Davies, Richard M. |
Jersey . |
Ereaut, John, jun. |
|
Carnarvon . |
. Jones, John. |
Kendal . |
Severs, Joseph. |
|
Chelmsford . |
. Baker, Charles Patrick. |
Kidderminster . |
Hewitt, George. |
|
Cheltenham . |
. Smith, Nathaniel. |
Kilmarnock . |
Borland, John. |
|
Chester . |
. Grindley, William. |
King’s Lynn . |
Atmore, George. |
|
Chesterfield . |
. Greaves, Abraham. |
Knaresborough . |
Sindall, John William. |
|
Chichester . |
. Long, William Elliott. |
Knutsford . |
Silvester, Henry Thomas. |
|
Chippenham . |
. Westlake, Bernard. |
Lancaster . |
Wearing, William. |
|
Christchurch . |
. Green, John. |
Launceston . |
Eyre, Jonathan Symes. |
|
Cirencester . |
. Mason, Joseph W. |
Leamington . |
Jones, Samuel Urwick. |
|
Cockermouth . |
. Bowerbank, Joseph. |
Leeds . |
Reynolds, Richard. |
|
Colchester . |
. Manthorp, Samuel. |
Leek . |
Johnson, William. |
|
Congleton . . . |
. Goode, Charles. |
Leicester . |
Cooper, Thomas. |
|
Coventry . |
. Wyley, John. |
Leighton Buzzard . |
Readman, William. |
|
Crewe . |
. McNeil, James Norton. |
Leith . |
Finlayson, Thomas. |
|
Darlington . |
. Robinson, Alfred Francis. |
Leominster . |
Davis, David Frederick. |
|
Deal . |
. Green, John. |
Lewes . |
Martin, Thomas. |
|
Denbigh . |
. Edwards, William. |
Lincoln . |
Maltby, Joseph. |
|
Derby . |
. Frost, George. |
Liskeard . |
Eliott, Samuel. |
|
Devizes . |
. Portbury, George Henrv. |
Liverpool . |
Abraham, John. |
|
Devonport . |
. Dickerson, Henry. |
Loughborough . |
Paget, John. |
|
Dewsbury . |
Louth . |
Hurst, John B. |
|
|
Diss . |
. Gostling, Thomas Preston. |
Ludlow . |
Cocking, George. |
|
Doncaster . |
. Dunhill, William W. |
Lyme Regis . Lymington . |
Thornton, Edward. |
|
Dorchester . |
. Evans, Alfred John. |
Allen, Adam U. |
|
|
Dorking . |
. Clift, Joseph. |
Macclesfield . |
Bates, William Isaac. |
|
Dover . |
. Bottle, Alexander. |
Maidenhead . |
Walker, Robert. |
|
Droitwich . Dudley . |
. Taylor, Edmund. |
Maidstone . Maldon . |
Wall worth, David. |
|
Dumfries ...♦. . |
. Allan, William. |
Malmesbury . |
Brown, Francis James. |
|
Dundee . |
.. Hardie, James. |
Malton . |
Hardy, George. |
|
Durham . Eastbourne . |
. Sarsfield, William. . Provost, James A. |
Malvern, Great . Manchester, etc . |
Wilkinson, William. |
|
Edinburgh . |
.. Mackay, John. |
March . |
Davies, Peter Hughes. |
|
Elgin . |
. Robertson, William. 3 |
Margate . |
Knight, Alfred. |
|
Evesham . |
. Dingley, Richard Loxley. |
Market Harborough ... |
Bragg, William B. |
|
Ex)ter . |
. Delves, George. |
Marlow . . |
Foottit, Charles Miller. |
|
Eyj . |
. Bishop, Robert. |
Merthyr Tydvil . |
Smyth, Walter. |
|
Ealkirk . |
. Murdoch, David. |
Middlesborough . |
Robson, James Crosby. |
|
Ealmouth . |
. Newman, W. F. |
Montrose . |
Burrell, George. |
|
Eareham . |
. Franklin, Alfred. |
Neath . |
Hibbert, Walter. |
|
Flint . |
. Jones, Michael. |
Newark . |
Harvey, John. Davis, Frank Pratt. |
|
Folkestone . |
. Cadman, Daniel Charles. |
Newbury . |
|
|
Erome . |
. Harvey, William Brett. |
Newcastle-under-Lyme . |
Cartwright, 'William. |
|
Gainsborough . |
Newcastle-on-Tyne . |
Proctor, Barnard S. |
|
|
Gateshead . |
. Elliott, Robert. |
Newport (I. of Wight) . |
Orchard, Herbert Joseph. |
|
Glasgow . |
. Kinninmont, Alexander. |
Newport (Mon.) . |
Pearman, Henry. |
|
Gloucester . |
. Curtis, A. A. |
Newtown . |
Owen, Edward. |
|
Gosport . |
.. Hunter, John. |
Northallerton . |
Warrior, William. Bingley, John. |
|
Grantham . |
. Gamble, Richard. |
Northampton . |
|
|
Gravesend . |
.. Smith, Geo. Mason. |
Norwich . |
Sutton, Francis. |
|
Greenock . |
.. Fraser, Charles. |
Nottingham . |
Atherton, John Henry. |
|
Grimsby, Great . . . |
.. Palmer, Enoch. |
Nuneaton . |
Iliffe, George. |
|
Guernsey . |
. . Arnold, Adolphus. |
Oldham . |
Hargreaves, Henry Lister. |
|
Guildford . |
. . Martin, Edward W. |
Oswestry . |
Smale, Richard Bill. |
|
Haddington . |
.. Watt, James. |
Over Darwen . |
Hargreaves, William Henry. |
|
Halifax . |
. . Dyer, William. |
Oxford . |
Prior, George T. |
|
Hanley . |
.. Jones, Charles. |
Paisley . |
Hatrick, William. |
|
Harrogate . |
.. Davis, Richard Hayton. |
Pembroke . |
John, David William. |
|
Hartlepool, West . |
.. Jackson, William G. |
Pembroke Dock . |
Andrews, Charles. |
July 4, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
15
Penrith . . . . Kirkbride, William.
Penzance . Cornish, Henry Robert.
Perth . Dandie, David.
Peterborough . Heanley, Marshall.
Petersfield . Edgeler, William B.
Plymouth . Balkwill, Alfred P.
Pocklington . Cundall, Bobert.
Poole . Penney, William.
Portsmouth, etc . Rastrick, J. L.
Preston.. . Hogarth, William.
Ramsgate . Morton, Henry.
Reading . Hayward, William G.
Redditch . Mousley, William.
Reigate ... . F orbes, William.
Retford . Baker, William.
Richmond (Yorks) . Thompson, John Thomas.
Ripon . Colley, John.
Rochdale . Taylor, Edward.
Rochester . Harris, Henry William.
Rothesay . Duncan, William.
Runcorn . . . Whittaker, William.
Rugby . Garratt, John C.
Ruthin . Bancroft, John James.
Ryde (Isle of Wight) ... Wavell, John.
Rye . Plomley, J ames F.
St. Albans . Martin, Henry Gilham.
St. Andrews . Govan, Alexander.
St. Austell . ; . Hern, William Henry.
St. Ives (Cornwall) . Young, Tonkin.
Salisbury . . Atkins, Samuel Ralph.
Scarborough . Whitfield, John.
Selby . Colton, Thomas.
Shaftesbury . Powell, John.
Sheerness . Ray ner, William.
Sheffield . Wilson Edward.
Shepton Mallet . Cottrill, Gilbert Jones.
Shields, North . Williamson, James.
Shields, South . Mays, Robert J. J.
Shipley . Dunn, Henry.
Shoreham . Barker, John.
Shrewsbury . Cross, William Go wen.
Sldpton . Foxcroft, Elijah.
Slough . Griffith, Richard.
Southampton . Dawson, Oliver R.
Southport . Walker, William Henry.
Spalding | . . . Rhodes, Frank.
Stafford . Averill, John.
Stalybridge . .... Brierley, Richard.
Stamford . Patterson, George.
Stirling . Duncanson, William.
Stockport.. . Lowndes, Hervey.
Stockton-on-Tees . Brayshay, William B.
Stoke-on-Trent . Adams, Jonathan Henry.
Stourbridge . Bland, John Handel.
Stratford-on-Avon . Hawlces, Richard.
Stroud . Blake, William F.
Sudbury . PI ar ding, James John.
Sunderland . Nicholson, John J.
Swansea . Brend, Thomas.
Tamworth . Alikins, Thomas Boulton.
Taunton . Prince, Henry.
Tavistock . Gill, William.
Teignmouth . Cornelius, Joseph.
Tenby . . Walkinton, Wm, Marmaduke.
Tewkesbury . Allis, Francis.
Thirsk . . . Thompson, John.
Tiverton . Havil, Paul.
Tonbridge . Wibmer, Lewis Michael.
Torquay . Smith, Edward.
Truro . Serpell, Samuel.
Tunbridge W ells . . . . Howard, Richard.
Ulverstone . Radnall, William Henry.
Uttoxeter . Johnson, John Borwell.
Wakefield . Taylor, John.
Wallingford . Payne, Sidney.
Walsall . Highway, Henry.
Wareham . Randall, Thomas.
Warrington . Woods, Joseph Henry.
Warwick . Pratt, Henry.
Watford . Chater, Edward Mitchell.
Wednesbury . Gittoes, Samuel James.
Wellington . Langford, John Brown.
Wells . Manning, Richard James.
Westbury . Taylor, Stephen.
West Bromwich . Pershouse, Edward.
Weston-super-Mare ... Rich, Thomas.
Weymouth . . . Groves, Thos. Bennett.
Whitby . Stevenson, John.
Whitehaven . Kitchin, Archibald.
Wigan . Dunsford, Samuel.
Winchester . Powell, Edward.
Windsor . Russell, Charles J. L.
Wolverampton . Brevitt, William Yates.
Woodstock . Sant, George.
Worcester . Witherington, Thomas.
Worthing . Coitis, Charles.
Wrexham . Edisbury, James Fisher.
Wycombe . Furmston, Samuel C.
Yarmouth, Great . Poll, Wm. Sheppard.
York . Davison, Ralph.
The British Pharmacopoeia.
Mr. Hampson, in accordance with notice of motion, moved as follows : —
“ That this Council respectfully urges upon the General Medical Council the desirability of having appointed a Joint Pharmacopoeia Committee of Physicians and Pharmacists, for the purpose of preparing any future edition of the British Pharmacopoeia, or preparing any further Addendum to the present issue.
“ This Council also suggests that it would be an equitable and desirable arrangement, if the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society were to nominate the Pharmaceutists on the proposed J oint Pharmacopoeia Committee.”
He said that for a considerable time before the recent excitement took, place, which culminated in the reading of a certain paper at one of the evening meetings, he had formed a strong opinion upon this subject, and had come to the conclusion that the Society occupied a very anoma¬ lous position with regard to the Pharmacopoeia. He felt that he was treading upon rather delicate ground, and that he was under some responsibility in introducing this subject, because medical gentlemen were as much con¬ cerned in the matter as himself ; but still he felt per¬ suaded it might be treated in such a manner that no one’s feelings could be hurt by it. He was exceedingly desi¬ rous that the relations between the medical profession and themselves should be most cordial ; but they had a duty to perform in this matter, and they ought not to shrink from it. The Society represented Pharmacy, and it was their duty when a subject of this sort came forward, to speak out plainly their convictions. Some twenty or twenty-five years ago it was the function of the various colleges to prepare Pharmacopoeias, and in so doing they received assistance from pharmacists then living. Since then, however, a great development had taken place in pharmacy, partly in consequence of increased activity in the trade and partly from legislation. It was only necessary to refer to the character of their own exami¬ nations, and to the proceedings of the Pharmaceutical Conference, to show what a development had taken place in pharmacy, and he considered the time had come when pharmacists ought to take an equal place on the Pharma¬ copoeia Committee. At the same time it would be absurd for pharmacists to interfere with the medical part of the question, such, for instance, as determining doses or what medicines should be admitted; but it being their duty to be acquainted with practical pharmacy, they were in a better position than medical men to frame the processes of a Pharmacopoeia. His proposition therefore was, that there should be a joint Committee, consisting partly of medical
16
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
[July 4, 1874.
men and partly of practical pharmacists, who should have an equal voice and an equal legal responsibility in the matter. Their present position was eminently unsatis¬ factory, and pharmacy was not yet recognized as it ought to be. ■ When the British Pharmacopoeia was prepared, the Society had been requested to assist , but not as prin¬ cipals, and that was the position he maintained they ought to fill. They were in this respect far behind all Continental nations, where pharmacists met physicians on equal terms and took part in the formation of the national Pharmacopoeias. Without going at all into details, he was quite prepared to maintain that neither the Phar¬ macopoeia nor the Addendum was satisfactory, and this was of the more importance, because the Pharmacopoeia when published was virtually the law of the land. By their own Act of Parliament they were bound to make preparations according to the formularies of the British Pharmacopoeia, which was an unfair position to place them in, when some of the processes where known not to be practicable. As had been shown in the recent scammony case, the Pharmacopoeia was accepted as the standard, but in some cases that standard might be put too high, and thus the honest trader might suffer. He would say, in conclusion, that he wished the resolution to be simply an expression of opinion, and as such it would have some weight on the future action of the Medical Council.
Mr. Greenish, in seconding the motion, said this was one of the most important matters that could be brought before the Council, and the question really divided itself into two parts, whether they ought to be more fully represented on the Pharmacopoeia Committee, and secondly, whether this was the proper time to move in the matter. In the first place, he thought no one could take the British Pharmacopoeia, leaving the Appendix out of the question, and consider it satisfactory. He had written to M. Soubeiran, of Paris, who informed him that the Prench Codex was framed by a mixed Committee of medical men, botanists, and pharmacists. He had ascertained also that in Belgium there was a mixed Committee of medical men and pharmacists ; in Holland the Committee was composed of four pharmacists, two botanists, one chemist, and two medical men ; and in Austria, pharmacists were groaning under something like the same difficulty as their English brethren, but they were not contented, and were endeavouring to make an alteration. In North Germany, he heard from Dr. Carl Schacht that the Committee for the last Pharmacopoeia was composed of five pharma¬ cists, two professors of chemistry, one of botany and pharmacognosy, one of pharmacy, and three medical men ; and he thought some such arrangement as that was more likely to result in a good work being produced. On the second point, whether this was the proper time to move in the matter, he thought, as the Appendix had just been issued, and considerable attention had been drawn to the matter, they might very well go to the Medical Council and present their claim to be more fairly repre¬ sented. !
Mr. Savage doubted whether it was desirable to urge this proposition further at the present time. Their rela¬ tions with the medical profession had hitherto been those of amity and kindness, and he should be sorry to do any¬ thing to cause an alteration. At one time the medical men did this work entirely by themselves ; more recently they had taken into their councils one of the professors of the Society, who had consulted some leading phar¬ macists, and he thought it would be better to let things go on quietly, and trust to the spontaneous action of the Medical Council, without exciting any feeling of jealousy on their part.
Mr. Betty said if anything was necessary to convince him of the wisdom of Mr. Hampson’s resolution, the re¬ marks of Mr. Savage would have done so. The very fact that the medical profession had done something, showed that they were alive to the necessity and importance of it ; and it was only in accordance with their own dignity as pharmacists, to say openly that they claimed to have
an official position on the Pharmacopoeia Committee. No doubt it was done with the best motives, but the semi¬ private way ill which the recent Addendum was sent to a few pharmacists was' not consistent with the best interests of the Society, nor with the position of phar¬ macy in England. If the thing were to be done at all, it ought to be done in the proper way by the Society.
Mr. Williams said this -was a very delicate question. It was the function of the Medical Council to appoint a Pharmacopoeia Committee, which should have the exclu¬ sive right of saying what should be included in the Pharmacopoeia and what not. At the same time, he thought their Society should have the power of appoint¬ ing a sub-committee as a right, rather than as a matter of favour, who should be responsible for the accuracy of the processes, and the tests and characters of the various drugs and preparations enumerated. But he was not certain they would not be taking upon themselves a responsibility which might not always be pleasant, because they would, perhaps, meet with blame which now rested upon other shoulders. Manufacturers, when applied to for the best method of producing certain preparations, very naturally declined to give them, and the members .of the Committee would be therefore left to their own devices to find out the best processes they could. In doing so they would not be always successful, and any members of the Pharmaceutical Society who might hereafter be placed on such a Committee would perhaps find themselves in a very difficult position. Still, he thought an important principle was involved ; and that they should, as a Society, ask the Medical Council to accord them this privilege, especially seeing that they were bound, under the Acts of Parlia¬ ment, to take the Pharmacopoeia as their standard, and they therefore ought to have some voice in its formation. To give one instance, in the new Addendum, acetic ether was given with a sp. gr. of *910, at which, as far as his experience went, it could not practically be made by follow¬ ing the directions given in the Pharmacopoeia.
Mr. Shaw said this was a very delicate matter, and a considerable amount of personal feeling had ' been lately generated in connection with it. Therefore, though he sympathized very strongly with the wishes and views enunciated in the resolution, he thought it would be better to postpone the matter until they had reason to believe that a new edition or an Addendum was in con¬ templation, which probably would not be the case for some years to come.
Mr. Betty suggested that the second paragraph of the resolution should be omitted, which would leave the Medical Council more at liberty to make their own arrangements.
Mr. Sand ford said it was very difficult to oppose Mr. Hampson when he said that pharmacists should be well represented on any Committee that was to compile a Pharmacopoeia. But at the same time it must be re¬ membered that, by the Medical Act, the General Medical Council, and they alone, were empowered to prepare and issue the Pharmacopoeia. When they were preparing the first edition in 1864, a much larger Committee was appointed, and pharmacy was more fully represented on it ; but still the result was a very imperfect production, as was shown by another edition being issued three years afterwards. When the edition of 1867 was being prepared, a Com¬ mittee of only five members was appointed, and the Pharmaceutical Council was asked to send a representa¬ tive to it. Dr. Redwood was selected for this office. He had given a great deal of attention to it, and everybody admitted that that edition was a great improvement on its predecessor. He fully agreed that pharmacists ought to be more fully represented, but he thought there was a feeling of irritation at the present moment in the minds of some of the Medical Council which had been en¬ gendered by recent discussions at the evening meetings, and which would be against their conceding what was asked ; he therefore earnestly urged Mr. Hampson to withdraw his resolution for the present.
July 4, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
17
The Vice-President, though agreeing with Mr. Hamp- son, thought it undesirable that they should move in the matter at that time.
Mr. Hamfson said he felt a great difficulty in declining to withdraw his resolution after what had been said, but he thought it would be a mistake to do so. He saw no reason why medical men should feel aggrieved at pharma¬ cists forming and expressing the same views which they would themselves express in a like position. As to the pros¬ pect of an Addendum or new Pharmacopoeia not being required for some time, he did not think that was any reason for delay, because the future Pharmacopoeia was already beginning to be formed in the minds of medical men and pharmacists. There were certain errors palpable in the present one, which it would be advisable for such a joint Committee as he proposed to consider and discuss before it was necessary to issue a new Pharmacopoeia. It would be the duty of such a committee to gather information, not only from English but from foreign pharmacists, and the more time they had for experimental processes the better.
Some further discussion ensued and several suggestions were made as to verbal alterations in the resolution ; eventually, on the suggestion of Mr. Sandford, it was unanimously agreed to in the following terms : —
“ That this Council respectfully urges upon the General Medical Council the desirability of associating more practical pharmacists with any Committee which may be appointed for the purpose of preparing any future edition of the British Pharmacopoeia, or any further Addendum to the present issue. This Council would be prepared to nominate such phar¬ macists in the event of the Medical Council agreeing to their proposal.”
It was then moved by Mr. Williams, and seconded by Mr. Owen —
“ That a copy of the resolution just agreed to, be for¬ warded to the General Medical Council with the respectful compliments of the Council of the Phar¬ maceutical Society.”
Payment of Scrutineers.
Mr. Greenish, in accordance with notice of motion, then moved —
“ That, in future, Scrutineers be paid at the rate of two guineas each for their services.”
After some discussion, however, as the general feeling of the Council seemed to be against such an innovation, the motion was withdrawn.
Refort of the Board of Examiners.
The Board of Examiners for England and Wales re¬ ported that during the month of June they held six meet¬ ings, and examined as follows : —
June, 1874.
England and Wales.
Candidates.
Examinations. Examined. Passed. Failed.
Major June lGth and 16th 5 4 1
|
Minor |
June 17th |
21 |
11 |
10 |
|
99 |
„ 18th |
27 |
9 |
18 |
|
99 |
„ 24th |
26 |
9 |
17 |
|
99 |
„ 25th |
25 |
11 |
14 |
|
99 |
„ 26th |
28 |
6 |
22 |
|
—127 |
— 46 |
— 81 |
Totals 132 50 82
Certificates received in lieu of the Preliminary Exami¬ nations : —
3 University of Cambridge
2 „ „ Oxford
3 College of Preceptors
1 Royal College of Surgeons (England)
1 „ „ (Ireland)
Deputation to the North British Branch.
A letter from Mr. Mackay, the Honorary Secretary of the North British Branch, was read, intimating that the first examination in the Society’s new rooms in Edin¬ burgh, would be held on the 28th inst., and inviting the Council to appoint a deputation to be present on that occasion.
It was resolved —
“ That a deputation, consisting of the Vice-President, and Messrs. Cracknell, Carteighe, and the Secretary, be appointed to attend the examination at Edin¬ burgh on the 28th inst.”
EXAMINATIONS IN LONDON.
June, 1874.
Present— 17th and 18th— Messrs. Allchin, Barnes, Benger, Bottle, Carteighe, Corder, Cracknell, Davenport, Gale, Linford, Martindale, Schweitzer, Southall, Tavlor and Umney. J ’
24th and 25th — Messrs. Allchin, Barnes, Benger, Car¬ teighe, Corder, Cracknel], Davenport, Gale, Hills, Linford, Martindale, Schweitzer, Southall, Taylor, and Umney.
26 th — Messrs. Allchin, Barnes, Benger, Bottle, Car¬ teighe, Corder, Cracknell, Davenport, Gale, Linford, Martindale, Schweitzer, Taylor, and Umney.
Dr. Greenhow was present on the 24 th on behalf of the Privy Council.
MAJOR EXAMINATION.
Five candidates presented themselves. One failed. The following four passed, and were declared qualified to be registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists : —
*Luff, Arthur Pearson . Old Brompton.
Smith, John Jacob . Yeovil.
F eaver, J ohn . Truro.
Cortis, Arthur Brownhill . Worthing.
MINOR EXAMINATION.
One hundred and twenty -seven candidates presented themselves for the Minor examination. Eighty-one failed. The following forty-six passed, and were declared duly qualified to be registered as Chemists and Druggists : —
* Riley, Charles Reynolds . London.
'■‘Heslop, George . Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Frank, John . Whitby.
Maynard, George Christopher ...Moreton-in-Marsh.
Ashley, Henry . . Gravesend.
Lee, Joseph . Southport.
g ( Bulcock, Joseph Henderson . Clitheroe.
£ (. E owler, J ames . . . .Barton-under-Needwood.
Davey, John Trimble . Exeter.
Newitt, Herbert Henry . Bicester.
Draper, James William . Malmesbury.
*3 ( Bayston, George Coryndon . Guildford.
^ 7 Gradidge, William Ivimey . Andover.
MacEarlane, Peter . London.
Lamble, John Alfred . Kingsbridge.
Frost, John a . Abergavenny.
Buckle, James . Malton.
Jones, Charles William . Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
Gardiner, Bruce Hubert John ...London.
Arnold, Harry Shaw . Cwm Avon.
■3 ( Dumford, John . Maidstone.
,§■ ( Husband, John Cecil . Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Dale, George Edgar . Colchester.
Thompson, Charles . Bedworth.
Strickland, Robert Brewster . Manchester.
g ( Cripps, Ernest Henry . Devizes.
h l Winn, John Christopher . Darlington.
1 | Bodger, John William . Peterborough.
% C. Stevenson, James . Cirencester.
■3 .( Longmore, Henry Edward . London.
l Stevenson, Henry Ernest . Southport.
10
* Passed with Honours.
18
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS
[July 4, 187f'
Tame, Thomas . Oxford.
•3 C Cooper, Henry . London.
1 Dee, Walter . Cheltenham.
Steele, Stephen . Steyning.
Hammond, William Henry . Northampton.
■3 c Lancaster, William George . Sheffield Moor.
J” | Porter, Albert . Abingdon.
•£ t Pechey, Thomas P . Birkenhead.
J- 1 Shaw, William Burton . Scarborough.
i v Billing e, Mark . Hyde.
o- 1 Ridley, Edward Henry . Manchester.
✓ Phillips, James Wilson . Broadstairs.
*3 j Rogers, Sydney . Newport Pagnell.
Stacey, Henry George . London.
(.Walter, George William . Horncastle.
The above names are arranged in order of merit.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION.
The undermentioned certificates were received in lieu of the Society’s Examination : —
Certificates of the University of Cambridge.
Hawthorne, Charles Oliver . Stafford.
Sadler, William . Margate.
Smith, John Ord . Scarborough.
Certificates of the University of Oxford.
Cleminson, John Hetherington ...Beverley.
Eazan, Charles Herbert . Colchester.
Certificates of the College of Preceptors.
Beilby, Alfred Emanuel . Sutton-in-Ashfield.
Green, William James . Yeovil.
Wilson, William Alexander . Birmingham.
Certificate of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Hancock, Edwin . . London.
Certificate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland.
Clements, Henry Joseph . St. Leonards.
§wt(tto|s flf Srimtiftc Jtaties.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE CHEMICAL SOCIETY.
At the meeting of the above Society, on the 6th March, a paper, of which the following is an abstract, was read on : —
The Position of Professional Chemists, as affected by the Adulteration Act.
BY PROFESSOR MARRECO.
The author, having premised that his main object was to elicit the views of the society, as representing the chemical opinion of the North, proceeded to suggest the following propositions as a basis for discussion.
1. That in the interest alike of the buyer, the seller and the profession, it is desirable that only thoroughly competent persons should be appointed to the new office of public analyst.
2. That there is at present no recognized standard for the “ competent knowledge,” medical, chemical, and microscopical, required by the Act.
. 3. That until some recognized examination exists, giving some guarantee of the knowledge of these various subjects required by professional analysts, this state of things cannot be remedied.
4. That it is desirable that such an examination under proper supervision should be instituted, and that only persons holding such diploma should be considered as duly qualified for the post of public analyst.
The President said, the questions which Professor Marreco had raised was a very large one. Was he prepared with any suggestions for the solution of the difficulty ?
Professor Marreco said, of course the details of the solution were things with which they had nothing to do.
He did not care how constituted or where situated, but et them have a Board before whom a man could give clear evidence that he ought to call himself a professional chemist. A man might make as many analyses as he pleased ; but he ought not to be eligible for the post of oublic analyst, unless he could bring forward some evidence of training and a standard of knowledge, in the same way as a man who was medical officer to a work- ' louse. If you appointed a man at £30 a year as medical officer to a workhouse, he had to produce distinct evidence of his training and qualification ; and what he contended :!or was this, let everybody be required to show proofs of ;hese things before he was eligible — before he was, in the language of the Act, “duly qualified.”
The President said, if he gathered Professor Marreco’s meaning rightly, what he suggested they should do was to let a formal expression of opinion from that society proceed to the proper quarter.
Professor Marreco — I don’t go to that. We have had quite enough of expressions of opinion lately.
The President said, it could not be denied that in some of the late cases brought under prosecution, the issues had been scandalous. Prom his own observations and reading, he quite agreed with every word which Professor Marreco had said ; and thought that what he aspired to was not at all impossible to attain. It would simplify the matter extremely if there were any regular degree, con¬ ferred by any English University or acknowledged place of higher Education, such, for instance, as the degree of Bachelor of Science. The higher degree would follow, as a matter of course, or any other degree which might be named for that degree, were it primd facie quali¬ fication ; and those who could not show any such degree, might be obliged to undergo a certain examination before a Board properly constituted by authority. He thought that se long as chemists only sought to act from the commercial point of view in private practice, the public government should not in any way interfere with them ; it would, in his opinion, be much more inconvenient if they did, and he did not approve of it at all. In that case you must say caveat emptorj If^the merchants would go to chemists not competent to make an analysis, it was their own fault : they should go to somebody who had given warranty of his ability in the matter. But this was not a question of a merchant sending an analysis to a chemist to be performed, but was a question of a whole district depending upon the services of a publicly appointed officer. When it was a question of magistrates deciding cases, and perhaps punishing a man, if not by the infliction of a heavy fine yet with the entire loss of his credit, then he thought it was an extremely awkward thing that the magistrates should be obliged to rely upon the judgment of people who, in themselves, did not give the least warranty that their evidence was trustworthy. In the case of a very wonderful story, Gibbon says — the Arabian historian vouched for the truth of it ; but who vouched for him ? He thought this was a case which only too often occurred now : the public analyst vouched for a certain analysis, but nobody vouched for his competency to make it. He, for his part, cordially agreed with the suggestion which Professor Marreco had thrown out ; only he would like it to take some more tangible form, because he thought a simple expression of it in their minutes would not go very far.
Mr. Glover thought Professor Marreco had hit the right nail on the head when he laid the blame of the present appointment of chemists upon the appointing body. They all knew the popular opinion was, that if a man had had a medical training he was therefore a chemist. Now, they knew that nine-tenths of medical men knew very little of chemistry. With all respect to their medical knowledge, their training did not give them that know¬ ledge of chemistry which fitted them to be analysts. It was a branch of s< i 3i c : distinct entirely from that of medical practice ; and therefore, if there was an appoint¬ ing board to be connected with some of our scientific in*
July 4, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
19
stitutions — if in Newcastle, for instance, tlie appointing board was connected with the College of Science — he had no doubt a properly qualified analyst would in all cases be appointed. At least, there would be evidence that he would be in possession of knowledge which would fit him to perform the very delicate duties of an analyst of articles of food. As long as the appointment was solely in the hands of town councils and local boards, it was utterly hopeless to expect that any properly qualified per¬ son would be appointed.
Mr. Pattinson quite agreed with Professor Marreco that some kind of certificate or diploma of competency in these matters should be obtained. The Adulteration Act had been launched upon the country when the country had not been prepared with a suffieient number of people competent to examine food, drugs, and drinks. He thought that something more than could be obtained in any of our present educational institutions was required in this instance. Probably it would be best to have a special training college or school, where the precise sub¬ ject of the detection of adulteration should be specially taught, and a certificate of competency given to such people as passed certain examinations. If that were done, it would be some considerable safeguard for the public against the mistakes we had heard of recently.
Mr. Berkley thought that town councils and local boards were the proper persons to appoint public analysts. But at the same time, if they had diplomas as medical gentle¬ men have, the local boards or town councils, who were generally composed of men who had common sense, would select good men. Analysts who pretended to analyse food and drink should have diplomas or certificates of competency. He believed that a great many of those who professed to be analysts knew nothing whatever about the subject.
Mr. Proctor would like just to confirm what Mr. Pattin- aon said about the necessity of having a distinct educa¬ tional board. Professor Marreco had alluded to the sort of education which pharmaceutists are put through ; and he knew, from having passed that examination him¬ self some years ago, 'and also from members of the Board of Examiners, that the examination of pharmaceutists was certainly not sufficient to qualify a man to hold a position as public analyst. Of course, there was very great. diversity in the amount of chemical knowledge and of medical knowledge which pharmaceutists possessed. It depended altogether upon how they pursued matters after they passed the examination. No body at present existing had the sort of machinery at command which was necessary to bring men to the very great diversity of information which was requisite in a public analyst. A man might be a manufacturing chemist, or a theoretical chemist, and still want that species of technical knowledge which was a part of pure chemistry. Men were wanted combining chemical and other knowledge, and they -\yere not to be got at present. In this particular line of busi¬ ness, he supposed nothing could be done until time was given for the school to grow, and the students to be produced.
The President said that time had been given for the train¬ ing of a sufficient number of adulteration chemists, if he might so call them; meanwhile they ought to take the very best substitutes they could find, namely, gentlemen who evi¬ denced in someway a goodgeneral knowledge of chemistry; and they should insist that only such men should have the right to be elected public analysts. If that were done, he thought nearly everybody would agree that the local au¬ thorities should retain the power of appointing the local analysts, but with the restriction that they must only elect them from a number of duly qualified persons. He would throw out a suggestion, that the Society petition Parliament to pass a law according to which the local authorities should only appoint public local analysts from such persons as had either obtained a degree in an English college -
Professor Marreco : No, no. The appointments should
be made from persons who have received a special training.
Mr. Richardson said the difficulty was that a sufficient number of qualified men did not exist.
Mr. Pattinson said the qualification would have to be defined.
Mr. Richardson said any resolution passed now should simply tend to suppress the office of public analyst.
Professor Marreco : Because you cannot get the very best men, that is no reason why you should take the worst.
Mr. Proctor said, that, in the absence of other evidence, the best evidence of the fitness of a man for that post was the higher graduation of the Pharmaceutical Society.
Professor Marreco : I quite agree with you.
Mr. Proctor : It was far better than any medical evi¬ dence they professed, and he fancied it embraced ground more valuable than that which they had got in a college of pure technical chemistry. A knowledge of drugs and of things analogous to drugs was so important, that although the pharmaceutical chemist was very deficient in pure chemistry, his knowledge of drugs compensated, to a certain extent, for it, and this covered the ground better than any other which they possessed at present. At the same time, he would not at all recommend the Government to appoint t pharmaceutical chemists. It seemed hopeless to do anything at present, till there was established a school which would educate such chemists.
Mr. Richardson said it was not only necessary to have qualified men as chemists, but also more knowledge of chemistry was required on the part of magistrates, local boards, and corporations. Until education on the matter was more diffused, which would not be for many years, he suspected it -would be more or less a fiasco. We would go on in our old English fashion of learning to do a thing by doing it, instead of learning to do it.
Ifarlranttniarj an)> fato fnrmMnjjs.
HOUSE OE COMMONS.
Apothecaries’ Licences Bill.
On Thursday, J une 25, the Apothecaries’ Licences Bill was read a second time and referred to a Select Committee. On Wednesday, July 1, the Select Committee were nominated as follows : — Mr. Errington, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Sir John Gray, Mr. Corry, Dr. Cameron, Mr. Ion Hamilton, Dr. O’Leary, Mr. Bruen, Mr. Sheil, Mr. Leslie, and Mr. Chaine.
Juries Bill.
The consideration of the Juries Bill, which has been recommitted, has been deferred till Monday next.
Poisoning by Carbolic Acid.
On Tuesday evening. Dr. Lankester, the coroner for Central Middlesex, held an inquest at Upper Holloway, touching the death of Mr. Thomas John Baker, aged 53, a surgeon. Mrs. Elizabeth Baker stated that her husband, the deceased, who suffered from dyspepsia, went to bed on Saturday night about half past 12, but could not go to sleep. About two o’clock witness was awakened by hear- ring the deceased moving about the room. In reply to her questions he said he had taken something, and was afraid it was poison. There was a bottle on the drawers labelled “ Carbolic acid — poison ; ” the deceased frequently went into his surgery for a draught. Two or three days before, he had told her that he had mixed some potash and brandy to take. She suspected that he went for this in the night, and took up the wrong bottle in mistake. There was no light in the surgery. Dr. G-. O. Spencer stated that he was called to the deceased, whom he found quite dead. On making a ’post-mortem examination, he found the cause of death was poisoning by carbolic acid. The jury returned a verdict of “ Death from misadven¬ ture.” — Times.
20
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS
[Jnly 4, 1874.
Cormpnte«.
* * No notice can be taken of anonymouscommunications. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily for pub¬ lication, but as a guarantee of good faith .
SCAMMONY.
gir _ The recent trial of Mr. Cocks, at Bow Street, is one,
in many respects, to be regretted, and serves to show how cautious analysts should be in granting certificates, in regard to alleged adulterated drugs. The specimen of powdered scammony was a fair sample ; but with every respect lor Dr. Attfield’s authority, I am sorry to say he failed to give the correct data, as will be seen. In reply to the question : “Do you say that this article we are summoned for is a, genuine scammony or adulterated ? ” Dr. Attfield : It is
a genuine scammony, it is not adulterated. According to his own analyses, he obtained, wThat he called, 7b per cent, of resin, and from a perfectly dry powder 80 per cent.
The former shows 24, the latter 20, per cent, of extraneous matters — as chalk, starch or flour, earth, moisture, etc. How then can the scammony in question be said to be pure, and up to the highest standard of the British Pharmacopoeia, which gives 80 to 90 per cent, of resin removable by ether l That it was a good sample of scammony cannot be denied; but the standard in the B.. P.* was not given correctly. Dr. Attfield was bound to give the B. P. standard, and no other. When asked : “As the highest to be expected, Dr. Attfield says: “80 per cent, is mentioned in the B P.” Now, Mr. W. Squire, in his examination, quotes from a paper by Maltass, 88 2 per cent, of resin ; Chriotison found 82 to 83 in dry specimens; and Marquart 81*25.. My object in writing is to show that the B. P. standard is not too high for pure scammony. Why was 80, and .not 90 given? In future prosecutions, I hope the magistrates will demand the production of the Pharmacopoeia, and not be satisfied with the statement of any witness. Had this been done, it is open to conjecture whether the prosecution would have failed or broken down as it did. In regard to Mr. Piesse, I hope, in future, he will consult our standard authority. Had he done so, he would not have fixed the standard of scammony at 75 to 80. So loDg as we have a standard authority, I hold that witnesses are bound to acknowledge it, and no other, and to quote from it correctly :
Henry Brown, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., etc.
Northallerton, 29 th June, 1874.
Analysis of Milk.
Sir,— In your issue of the 13th inst., you reported a case of Milk Adulteration, in which I had certified a sample of milk as adulterated with half an ounce of salt per gallon. Several inquiries have been made of me with reference to that result.
Will you, therefore, allow me to state that the salt, reported as an adulteration, was in excess of the quantity present in genuine milk.
The ash of genuine milk contains an average of ten per cent, of its weight of chlorine.
Calculating this as chloride of sodium, it will equal about 86 grains per gallon. The variations from this quantity are within moderate limits. I have not yet met with a milk, known to be genuine, in which it exceeded 1 10 grains per gallon. In the sample in question the ash of 100 grains bulk, which weighed 1*08 grains, contained '468 grain chloride of sodium, calculated from the chlorine found equivalent to 328 grains per gallon or 218 grains in excess of the maximum.
It is said that salt is added to milk during the hot weather in order to keep it sweet, and cause the cream to rise quicker; and although I cannot vouch for this, yet I have on several occasions found a considerable excess of salt in
jnilk adulterated with water. _
G. W. WlGNER.
79, Gt. Tower Street, E. C.,
29/A June, 1874.
Excessive Labour in Pharmacy.
Sir, — There must be very many, who, like myself, have read with gratification the letter which appeared from a “ Country Major Associate ” in your last. — It is seldom that we see so plain and straightforward an avowal of fact from an employer, and as such, it must have additional interest. It would be hard to believe that his is an exceptional case, for
if so, why is it that on all hands — in town as well as in the country — we hear of the scarcity of assistants? 1 am sure, if the truth were told, that the most fertile source of reduction in our ranks is nothing else but “long-hours.” There are many who point to the examinations as being the primary cause, but, speaking as a young man, I cannot believe it. In the examinations themselves, there is little to fear— provided that there were a few hours in each day that every assistant, or apprentice, could claim as his own ; and, if such were the case, we should hear less of the enormous per-centage of failures.
It may be very pleasant to think that ours is an honourable calling, and that we are in a position in which we may be of very material aid to our neighbour, by helping to alleviate his sufferings, and so on ; but charity commences at home, and certainly there is no inducement for a young man to enter the lists when, on inquiry, he finds that he may think himself blessed if he gets twelve hours’ work only per day ; whilst, possibly, in the majority of cases, he would find that he was expected to serve his master fourteen hours of the day, and to find what time he could out of the remainder of the twenty-four for rest, recreation, and study.
Leaving remuneration out of the question entirely, for we all know what that is, are there many who are fit for studying after a hard day’s work? And yet number* amongst us have no other time for this purpose, and then only to be constantly interrupted by those persons who will persist in coming after business hours, however paltry their wants may be. We may get up early in the morning, it is true, and I dare say there are many who could tell of good results from such a practice ; but is it to be expected of the future generation that their whole existence shall be passed in harness? Are they to rise early and get to their books, go from their books to the shop, and from the shop back to their books again ? It seems so, or there would have been some great change in our hours of business ere this. That the change is practicable there is not the shadow of a doubt, and it would only be another illustration of the maxim that “ unity is strength.”
There are some who, in defence, might say that when they were young they had to work many hours more than we have at present; but I would remind these that the old system was found lamentably deficient, that new regulations have had to be enforced by Parliament in the matter of education, and that unless concessions are granted, and those very speedily, too, as far as regards “ time,” we may look in vain for apprentices and assistants in sufficient number to keep pace with the demand.
A “ Major ” Student.
“ A Student .” — No ; the reaction is as follows : —
3 Cu» + 8 HN03 = 3 Cu(N03)2 + 2 NO + 4 HaO.
Cupric nitrate. Nitric oxide.
W. Symons. — We believe that efforts have been made on different occasions to secure such an arrangement, but they have always been unsuccessful.
J. Williams. — Your complaints of breaches of the Medical Act — which we are indisposed to credit — would be more appropriately addressed to the Registrar under that Act. Your other statements appear to be merely expressions of your own opinion, which are hardly of sufficient importance to pharmacists to warrant their being printed.
A. Mitchell. — (1) Orchis incarnata. (2) Orchis maculaia,
N. J. L. — Questions 1, 2, and 4 relate to questions of law, which we are not competent to answer. (3). The 23rd section of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, to which probably you refer, was repealed by the “Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act, 1868,” 32 and 33 Viet., cap. cxvii. (5) The person mentioned has passed the preliminary examination, but is not now “ a registered apprentice or student of the Society.”
II. Young. — The subjects are usually literature and science, and full information may be obtained from any of the universities granting such degrees.
“ Dandie DinmontP — See the regulations for the appoint¬ ment of naval dispensers in the Pharm, Journ. (vol. iii., p. 364), or the Society’s Calendar, and the correspondence respecting army dispensers in the Pharm. Journ., vol. iv.. p. 79.
Communications, Letters, etc., have beemreceived from Mr. Sturton, Mr. W. Symons, Mr. Wilson, Mr. T. H. Williams, Mr. Baildon, Dr. F. Porter Smith, Mr. Druce, “An Associate,” “Seven o’clock,” “Nasus,” W. T. E., X. Y. Z.
July 11, 1574.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
21
RHAMNOS PHANGULA
versus
EHAMNUS CATHARTIC US.
BY CHARLES UMNEY.
As the constant demand for novelty is a great inconvenience to pharmacists, no undue encourage¬ ment should, on this account, be given that may in any way tend to multiply unnecessarily our already too lengthy materia medica.
But there are occasions when it is found that cer¬ tain preparations, although they may have become remarkable for their longevity, should be superseded by others for manifest reasons.
One is often tempted to think that if compilers of Pharmacopoeias were to be interrogated why such and such preparations had been left again and again in their accustomed place, they would probably reply that they had heard little or nothing against them, and that they had accordingly permitted the formulas to remain where they found them.
No better illustration can be found of the foregoing than the syrup of buckthorn of the British Phar¬ macopoeia.
It is not here contemplated to dispute that the berry of Rhamnus ccitharticus is devoid of purgative principle, or is not an active cathartic, but rather to show that now certainly, and in all probability for years past, the manufacture of the juice and syrup of buckthorn has been of a most suspicious and unsatis¬ factory character, indeed, has been a thorough sham
Symp of buckthorn first appeared in the London Pharmacopoeia of 1650 (“ Syrupus Be Spina Gervina ”), but the administration of buckthorn was by no means a novelty, at that period, for a decoctiun of the berries had been used at a much earlier date as a cathartic.
The formula referred to may, with advantage, be reproduced here, if it be only to show that in the 17th century the manufacture of syrups was thoroughly understood.
SYR UP US DE SPINA C ERVIN A.
R
Baccarum Spina Cewina, Mense Seplembri collec- tarum . q.v.
Contundantur in pila lapidea, et exprimatur succus
Sued expressi pars quarto, primum per se evaporct in balneo
Debt libris ejus duabus in j ice Sacchari purissimiuncias sedecim
Coque in Syrupum , quern condias Mastiches Cinnamoni Nucis Moschata
Sent. Anisi tenuissinie pulveratorum ana drachmis tribus .
This formula was again given in the Pharmacopoeia of 1668, but was modified in 1677 by the very sen¬ sible omission of the mastich, also of the anise Iruit, cinnamon and nutmeg only being used.
This alteration seems to have been approved for the next half century (P. L., 1682, 1721, 1724), but in 1746 the fashion was in favour of ginger, which was added to the other spices, and was used (P. L., 1763) until 1788, when pimento was ordered, and the cinnamon and nutmeg omitted.
This formula has been maintained, and been given a place in each London Pharmacopoeia during this century ; and, finally, in our British Pharmacopoeia, we find it side by side with those modern syrups that are considered to represent the elegant phar¬ macy of the 19th century.
‘Third Series, No. 211.
Buckthorn Berries. — The British Pharmacopoeia does not describe (as it almost invariably does in ouier cases) the characters by which these berries may be known and distinguished from others similar in ap¬ pearance. It is possible occasionally to select berries from those that are sold for preparation of the ex¬ pressed juice that have not the four-celled and four- seeded characteristic of Rhamnus catharticus The compilers, no doubt, correctly premised that few pharmacists would prepare the juice for themselves. This, unfortunately, is too true, and herein is the- whole source of error.
Buckthorn berries are by no means plentiful. The London market is supplied from (amongst other- places) Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and also from Wiltshire, but the quantity sent is exceedingly smali.
The simplers and others who collect these berries prefer to supply the juice (?) as expressed by them¬ selves, rather than dispose of the ripe berries for such purpose.
Buckthorn Juice is described by the British Pharmacopoeia as “ the recently expressed juice of the ripe berries of common buckthorn.”
It is j ust possible that the compilers had no oppor¬ tunity of examining an authentic specimen of the juice, and therefore did not venture a description of the characters by which it could be distinguished from spurious liquids resembling it.
Of course, true buckthorn juice should at the proper season be met with in trade ; it is difficult, however, to find a specimen of purchased juice that will compare with that expressed by oneself. I have never been successful during the past ten years, in satisfying myself that from two to five volumes of water had not been added in the several specimens I have examined.
My own observation shows that ripe buckthorn berries, when expressed in the early autumn, will produce about 45 to 50 per cent, of juice, which has the following characters when freshly prepared : — Sp. gr. P070 to P080; of a green colour, which gradually changes into red, on account of the acidifi¬ cation of the mucilaginous and saccharine matters, of which considerable quantities are present, accom¬ panied by a copious deposition of an inulin (?) like substance.
After the lapse of a year, the specific gravity will have decreased, on account of this change, to about
1-035.
A recent examination of trade specimens gave the following results, and indicated that the same sophis¬ tication is still going on, which has been common lor- years past.
Succus Rhamni, of trade (1874)
Sp. gr.
1 . 1*005
2. . . 1-004
3 . 1-007
4 . 1-007
5. . 1*075 (true juice)
6 . . 1'035 (true juice, 1 year old.
These specific gravities indicate that water is the chief ingredient in the Succus Rhamni of trade, and the deductions front above figures would point to a ratio of about six parts of it to on«* of true juice.
In buckthorn syrup the juice is so disguised by the spices and sugar that it is no easy matter to speak authoritatively upon the genuineness of a specimer .
Any one however, who has had an opp jrtimit;
22
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
[July 11, 1*74.
preparing a syrup direct from the berries, cannot fail to identify a spurious preparation.
Of course, however, it must follow that, if true buckthorn juice is such a rara avis , so also is buck¬ thorn syrup.
The question now arises, how is all this to be reme¬ died. It is true we have an act specially framed for detecting and punishing adulteration of drugs as well as food and drink, but in this particular case (as in many others equally absurd) I much question if any one could be found who would seriously take up the matter.
Would not any one venturing upon it become an object of ridicule to the medical profession and phar¬ macists generally, for wasting time upon such frivolity ?
The remedy is in the rejection of Ehamnus cathar- ticus.
The Rhamnus frangula bark enumerated in the materia medica of recent German and other Phar¬ macopoeias, although somewhat a novelty in this country, still has been experimented upon by Baildon, Giles, and others, and is said to be a most valuable aperient. This bark can be easily procured at all seasons, is most easy of manipulation, and from it a syrup (if we must have a syrup) can be easily made.
Having experimented, with a view to prepare an elegant and reliable liquid preparation of Rhamnus frangula bark, I am of opinion that a fluid extract containing an equivalent of one drachm of the bark in one fluid drachm, would be most acceptable.
Percolation of the finely-powdered bark by dilute alcohol, with a modus operandi similar to that of the United States Pharmacopoeia for fluid extracts, pro¬ duces a preparation elegant in appearance, but open to one objection, viz., the precipitation of much re¬ sinous matter upon dilution with water.
Decoction and subsequent evaporation to the re¬ quired bulk, seem to be best adapted for the pro¬ duction of a concentrated fluid extract that shall be miscible with water in all proportions. — Thus :
Fluid extract of the Bark of Rhamnus Frangula.
mi , (3 j = 3 j A-)
Take of
Bruised Bark of Rhamnus Frangula 1 pound.
Alcohol (*838) . 4 fl. oza.
Distilled water . q. s.
Boil the bark in three or four successive portions of water until exhausted. Evaporate the decoctions by the aid of a water bath to twelve fluid ounces, or a sufficiency, so that the product to which the spirit has been, previously added, shall, when filtered, measure sixteen fluid ounces.
Although I am not much impressed with the ad¬ vantages to be gained by the administration of a syrup, still if such be required in order to replace the now officinal syrup of Rhamnus catharticus, I should suggest the following formula : —
Take of
Syrup of Rhamnus Frangula. (10 grs. to fl. 3j.)
Bruised Bark of Rhamnus Frangula 3 oz. 287 ars
S^gar . .1 pound S '
Water . . sufficiency.
Boil the bark in successive portions of water until exhausted. Evaporate the decoctions by a water bath to ten fluid ounces or a sufficiency, so that the solu¬ tion shall, when the sugar has been dissolved in it by a gentle heat, finally measure one pint, or weigh one pound ten and a half ounces. (Spec. grav. 1*320.)
This addition of Rhamnus frangula to our
materia medica has, I imagine, been for some time known to, or even been brought to the notice of the Pharmacopoeia Committee for consideration.
As some considerable time must necessarily elapse before the re-issue of another British Pharmacopoeia, it would be advisable to give the foregoing, or some similar preparations, a trial ; indeed, any investiga¬ tions bearing upon pharmacy would very much lessen the labours of those who are entrusted with the compilation of the work, and, to a great extent, preclude those disparaging remarks which we are all more or less inclined to make should any imperfect formula) be introduced into our national Pharma¬ copoeia.
Laboratory , 40, Aldersgate Street , E.C.
THE APPENDICES OF THE BRITISH PHARMACOPEIA.
BY WALTER G. SMITH, M.D., DUBLIN,.
Fellow and Censor K. and Q. C. P. I. ; Examiner in Materia Medica, Q. U. I. ; Assistant Physician to the
Adelaide Hospital.
( Continued from p. 3.)
Volumetric Solution of Bichromate of Pctash. K2Cr207=295. — 1000 grain-measures contain ^ mole- cule=14*75 grs.
Use. — This solution is used only for estimating the amount of ferrous salt in the preparations of iron, and was introduced for this purpose by Dr. Penny, of Glasgow. The bichrome is easily obtained pure, and the solution is quite permanent.
Procedure. — The iron compound, whatever it be, is dissolved in excess of dilute hydrochloric acid,* and the standard bichrome solution immediately t dropped in until the whole of the ferrous is converted into ferric salt, which is known when a minute drop of the liquid to be tested, placed in contact with a drop of a very dilute solution of red prussiate of potash on a white plate, ceases to strike with it a blue colour. The bichrome, it need hardly be said, has no action upon ferric salts. From the amount of bi¬ chrome solution consumed, the quantity of ferrous compound is readily calculated from the following data. One molecule of biclirome (K2Cr207) is known to contain three atoms, and no more, of available oxygen, i.e. oxygen which it will give up to other bodies. But since 2Fe0 + 0=Fe203, we learn by analogy, that two molecules of any ferrous compound plus one atom of oxygen will be converted into its corres¬ ponding ferric compound, i.e. n atoms of oxygen will peroxidize 2n molecules of ferrous salt. Therefore, one molecule of bichrome will peroxidize six molecules of any ferrous compound whatever, and the fundamental reaction is typified by the following equation : —
6 Fe S04 + K2 Cr207 + 7 H2 S04 = K2 S04, Cr23S04 + 7 H20 + 3 Fe2 3 S04 *
Now the volumetric solution of bichrome contains, for convenience, of a molecule of K2Cr207, i.e. 14*75 grs. (W), in 1000 grain- measures, the capacity of the burette, which quantity, therefore, will exactly convert of six molecules of ferrous into ferric salt.
Example. — FerriOxidum Magneticum is a mixture of ferrous oxide, FeO, with ferric oxide, Fe203. To determine the precise amount of ferrous oxide,
* The presence of free acid, hydrochloric or sulphuric, is necessary, as otherwise a basic compound of chromium would be precipitated and the oxidizing action interfered with, f So as to avoid absorption of oxygen from the air.
July 11, 1874.]
23
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
dissolve a suitable quantity, say 20 gre., in hydro¬ chloric acid, and add the standard solution of bichrome until the iron is all peroxidized. It will be found that 230 grain-measures are required.
The molecular weight of FeO = 72, which X 6 = 432, and this -j- 20 = 21*6. Then, 1000 : 230 : : 2L6 : » = 4’96grs. of FeO in 20 grs. of magnetic oxide, = 24 "84 per cent.
Note. — Permanganate of potassium (KMn04) is also often employed in an analogous way for the estimation of iron by Margueritte’s process. 2 KMn04 or K2Mn208 yields five atoms of available oxygen and will therefore peroxidize ten molecules of any ferrous compound. The permanganate is added so long as its purple colour is destroyed, and the only case in which this reaction is utilized in the Pharmacopoeia is in testing the purity of Potassae Permanganas.
The bichrome solution is used in determining the proportion of protoxide of iron in the following preparations —
F erri Arsenias 20 grs. = 170 grain-measures of vol. sol-
„ Carb. Sacch. 20 „ =208 „ „ „ „
„ Oxid. Magn. 20 „ =230 „ „ „ „
„ Phosphas 20 „ =250 „ „ „ „
Volumetric Solution of Hyposulphite of Soda. Na2S2H2044 H20=248. 1000 grain-mea¬
sures contain x\y molecule = 24-8 grs.
Uses — This solution is used in the direct estima¬ tion of iodine, and in the indirect estimation of chlorine (chlorimetry) in several chlorinated prepar¬ ations. Free chlorine cannot be estimated by hypo¬ sulphite because, instead of tetrathionate of sodium, sulphate of sodium is formed ; but chlorimetry is indirectly affected (Bunsen’s method) by first adding an acid to the chlorinated compound to liberate chlorine, then excess of iodide of potassium, whereby for each atom of chlorine present an atom of iodine is disengaged and dissolves in the excess of the potassic iodide, and finally titrating the liberated iodine. Hyposulphite has no action upon iodide of potassium.
Procedure. — The colourless solution of the hypo¬ sulphite is added to the solution of iodine until the red colour is completely discharged, or, if starch have been used as indicator, until the blue iodide of starch is decolorized. From the amount of hyposulphite used the quantity of iodine or chlorine is readily calculated. The fundamental reaction is—
I2 + 2 Na2S2H204=2 Nal + Na2S406 + 2 H20.
Colourless iodide and tetrathionate of sodium are formed. Therefore, since two molecules of hyposulphite = 2 atoms of iodine, ^ molecule hyposulphite = atom of iodine, i.e. 127 grains.
Example. — The atomic weight of iodine = 127, and accordingly 127 grains of iodine should, if pure, re¬ quire for complete discoloration exactly 1000 grain- measures of the vol. sol. of hyposulphite.
This solution is used for testing the following sub¬ stances : —
Calx Chlorata . . 10 grs. = 850 grain-measures.
Iodum . 127 „ = 1000 „ „
Liq. Calc. Chlor. . 60. „ = 500 „ ,,
„ Chlori ... 4-39 „ = 750 „ „
„ Sodae Chlor. .70. „ = 500 „ „
Volumetric Solution of Iodine. I = 127. 1000 grain-measures contain T\y atom I = 127 grs. — Iodide of potassium is employed in the preparation of this solution, simply because it is the best solvent of iodine ; it exerts no chemical action upon the sub¬ stances to be estimated by the iodine.
Use. — This solution is used for the estimation of arsenious and sulphurous acids, and sometimes of sulphuretted hydrogen.
Procedure. — The vol. sol. is dropped from the burette into the liquid to be tested, to which a little starch has previously been added, until free iodine begins to appear in the solution, as evidenced by a permanent blue colour. The solution of sulphurous acid must be considerably diluted before being tested, and the arsenical solutions must all be first rendered alkaline by bicarbonate of sodium.
The fundamental reactions upon which the diffe¬ rent estimations depend, are —
I. S02 + 12 + 2 HaO = H2S04 + 2 HI.
II. As203 + 2 I2 + 2 HaO = As203 + 4 HI.
III. H2S + I2=S + 2 HI.
The third reaction is not applied in the Pharma¬ copoeia.
Now, the molecular weight of SOa = 64, and the molecular weight of As203=198 ; therefore, since 2 atoms of iodine = 1 molecule sulphurous anhy¬ dride, I = ^ S02 i.e., 32 grs., and since 4 atoms of iodine = 1 molecule arsenious anhydride, 1 = ^ As203 = 4-95 grains.
In estimating the following substances —
Acidum Arseniosum . 4 grs. = 808 gr. -measures.
„ Sulphurosum . 347 „ = 1000 „
Liq. Arsenicalis . . . 441 5 „ = 808 „
„ Arsen. Hydr. . . 441 5 „ = 808 „
* (To be continued).
NOTES ON ALOIN.
At the meeting of the natural history section of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Vienna on the 21st. May, Dr. Rochleder described the results of some investi¬ gations which have been made in the laboratory under his charge, respecting the principles of aloes.*
Dr. E. von Sommaruga has examined some aloin pre¬ pared from socotrine aloes. This aloin is not a glucoside, and differs from nataloin and the aloin from Barbadoes aloes. The melting point of socotrine aloin lies between 118° andl20°C. — i.e. the aloin softens at that temperature — while the melting point of aloin from Barbadoes aloes, is given at 150°C. The socotrine aloin is also much less soluble in ether than Barbadoes aloin.
Stenhouse found the composition of Barbadoes aloin could be represented by the formula C17H1807. The figures obtained by the analysis of socotrine aloin answer to the formula C15H1607. Nataloin according to Tilden,* has a composition represented by the formula C25H28On, and the acetyl derivative is (^(CaHgOlgHgjOix, or C37H40 Ol7. But the formula Ci6H1807 affords nearly the same per centage composition as C25H28On, and the formula C24H2gOn, or C16(C2H30)4H1407 has a per centage com¬ position similar to C37H40O17. The figures which Sten¬ house obtained with the aloin discovered by Smith in Barbadoes aloes, agree with the formula C17H20O7, equally as well as with C17H1807. It therefore appears highly pro¬ bable that the three aloins may be represented as follows : —
Barbadoes aloin ...... C17H20O7
Natal aloin . ^i6H1807
Socotrine aloin .
and that they form the members of a homologous series which is deserving of closer investigation.
When melted with potash, as pointed out by Tilden, nataloin yields paraoxy benzoic acid and JB orcin (C8H1# Oa). The orcin (C7H8Oa) which together with paraben- zoic acid Hlaziwetz obtained by the melting of socotrine aloes with potash evidently originated with socotrine aloin.
* Proceedings of the kaiserliche Akademie der Wissen- schaften in Vienna, 1874, p. 116. t Pharmaceutical Journal, [3] vol. ii. p. 951.
24
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS
[July 11, 1874.
Barbadoes aloin gives with nitric acid, as has been before stated, chrysammic acid, besides oxalic and picric acids ; nataloin, only oxalic and picric acids and no chrysammic acid. The aloin from socotrine aloes gave when treated with nitric acid, oxalic and aloetic acids.
Socotrine aloes treated with nitric acid yields chrj'sam- mic acid, besides aloetic and oxalic acids. Chrysammic .acid has been thus obtained in an hitherto unknown degree •of purity ; not as a golden coloured powder, but in golden •coloured needles. Their composition was found to answer to the formula of tetranitrodioxyanthrachinone.
The action of bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid upon socotrine aloin gives rise to a substance similar to the purpurin of Krapp.
A description of the method of preparing aloetic and •chrysammic acids, their properties, substitution, and de¬ composition products and combinations, is to form the subject of a special communication.
THE VANILLA.*
The vanilla is remarkable for its climbing habit, which is not common among orchids. There are several species, most of which are natives of the hot and damp regions of South and Central America ; the genus is also represented in tropical Asia and Africa. The stems climb to the height of twenty or thirty feet, twining round the trunks of trees, and throwing out a profusion of aerial roots, some of which eventually reach the ground, as is the case with the banyan, while others float in the air. The leaves are thick and fleshy, as also are the greenish-white flowers. The important part of the plant, however, is the pod, which, in some of the species, is an article of commerce, and yields the delicious flavouring which is so well known. Some little uncertainty exists as to which of the species produces the most valuable fruit. It appears, however, that V. planifolia and V. aromatica are tlie most important, although V. guianensis, V. palmarum, and V. powpona also yield some of the vanilla of commerce. The pods as imported are narrow and flattened, from five to ten inches long, and of a dark brown colour ; they are pulpy within, and contain a great number of very small dark seeds.
A great part of the vanilla of commerce is brought from Mexico and Venezuela, and principally from Vera Cruz, whence, according to Humboldt, the value of the annual export in his time was 40,000 dols. The cultivation is mainly carried on at Misantla, twenty-four leagues north¬ west of Vera Cruz, the inhabitants of which are the only people in Venezuela who cultivate the plant. The growth is, indeed, extremely easy, as the ground requires no tilling : slips of the vanilla plant are set at the foot of a tree on the approach of the rainy season, and soon begin to spread up the trunk. The plantations are cleared once a year from weeds and undergrowth, and in the third year the plants bear fruit.
Five varieties are recognized by the growers. One, the vanille de cochon, is so called from emitting an offensive smell whilst drying. The harvest begins about December, when the fruit becomes yellowish-green. There are two ways of preparing it for the market. In one method the fruit is allowed to dry until the pod loses its green colour. Straw mats covered with woollen blankets are spread on the ground, and when these are warmed through the fruits are spread on them and exposed to the sun. After a time they are wrapped in blankets, and placed in boxes covered with cloths, after which they are again exposed. In about twelve hours the fruits should become of a coff ee colour, but if they do not the process is repeated. After about two months’ daily exposure they are tied up in bundles of fifty, and packed in tin boxes. Five quali¬ ties of vanilla pods are known : the best is the primierci , the pods of which are twenty-four centimetres long, and proportionately thick. The second quality is called chica prima, the pods of which are shorter, and two count as
*From the Gardeners' Chronicle for May 23rd, 1874.
one ; the third, sacate, and the fourth, v esacate, are still smaller, four of the latter being reckoned for one ; they are gathered before they are ripe. The fifth and poorest quality is called basura ; the fruit is very small, spotted, and much cut or broken about.
The following is another method of preparing vanilla for the market : About 12,000 of the pods are strung together by their lower end, as near as possible to the footstalk ; “ the whole are plunged for an instant into boiling water to blanch them ; they are then hung up in the open air and exposed to the sun for a few hours. By some they are wrapped in woollen cloths to sweat. Next day they are lightly smeared with oil by means of a feather or the fingers, and are surrounded with oiled cotton to prevent the valves from opening. As they become dry, on inverting their upper end they discharge a viscid liquor from it, and they are pressed several times with oiled fingers to promote its flow. The dried pods, like the berries of pepper, change colour under the drying opera¬ tion, grow brown, wrinkled, soft, and shrink to one-fourth of their original size. In this state they are touched a second time with oil, but very sparingly, because with too much oil they would lose some of their delicious perfume."
It appears somewhat remarkable that the cultivation of vanilla in the West Indies has not been largely undertaken, as it would be attended with but little difficulty, and would be a source of much profit to the inhabitants. But even in Caraccas and Guiana, where the plant grows profusely in a wild rtate, it is almost entirely neglected. In the Isle of Bourbon, however, it has been cultivated with considerable success, and seventeen and a half tons were exported from Reunion in 1871. At Lidge it. is grown on a small scale, to the value of 600 francs per annum ; and a plant cultivated at Paris in 1840 attained the height of three yards, and yielded 117 pods, which ripened in twelve months. In England it has been in cultivation since 1759 ; fine examples may be seen in the tropical and economic houses at Kew. Mr. Ewing and Mr. E. Bennett grew the vanilla with considerable success at Osberton ; the latter gathered no less than 300 ripe pods off a single plant in one season. He considers a temperature of from 50° to 70° to be most suitable for it. He found it necessary to effect fertilization by artificial means, the stigma being prevented from receiving the pollen of its own flower by the interposition of an organ called the retinaculum.
As the English -grown pods are very highly flavoured, it is possible that it might be practicable to grow it for economic purposes. The annual import of vanilla amounts to about five or six cwt. ; its price varies very greatly, being sometimes as high as 125s. per pound, and at other times as low as 26s.
The chief use of the vanilla is in flavouring perfumery and confectionery, and especially chocolate. One pod is sufficient to flavour a pound and a half of chocolate, being ground with sugar for that purpose. The fragrance is said to act upon the system as an aromatic stimulant, exhilarating the mind, and increasing the energy of the animal system. It is occasionally employed on the Con¬ tinent in cases of hysteria ; and is used by the Spanish physicians in America as an antidote to poison and to the bite of venomous animals, as well as in other cases. A liquid used in Peru, where it is known as Baunie de vanille, exudes from the open pods at perfect maturity. The fruits in time become covered with an efflorescence of fine needle like crystals, which possess properties similar to those of benzoic acid ; when viewed through a microscope with polarized light they are very beautiful objects.
De Menonville, who travelled to Guaxaca in 1777, thus describes his discovery of vanilla in that district. After various hindrances and disappointments he says : — “ At length an Indian, with a hoe in his hand, made his appearance. ‘ Brother,’ said I, holding out a dollar, ‘ show me some vanilla and this is yours.’ He coolly bade me follow him, and advancing a few steps through the underwood into a thicket, in which were a number of
July 11, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
25
trees, lie immediately climbed up one, threw down to me two pods of vanilla perfectly ripe, and pointed out to me a branch on which several others were hanging yet green, together with two faded flowers. The form of the leaves, the fruit, the peculiar smell of the plant — every¬ thing convinced me it was the real vanilla in everything corresponding with such as I had seen at Vera Cruz. All the trees of this little copse were covered with it. I saw a quantity of green fruit, but collected no more than six specimens of these, and four large pods which were ripe. I caused the Indian afterwards to part from the root some of the scions which had sprung up. These I tied well together, wrapping up the whole in the leaves of an Arum, which at their base are 3 feet wide. After thus packing a faggot, which weighed upwards of 30 lb., I placed it in my large sack, which I fastened on my horse. I was so well satisfied with my Indian, that besides what I promised him, I give him two reals in addition. For his part, unwillling to be outdone in generosity, he ran to his hut, and brought me three other pods of vanilla.”
The Chica Vanilla of Panama is yielded by another Orchid, a species of Sobralia. The expressed juice of V. elavicidata, a native of mountainous woods in the West Indies, is applied to recent wounds, and i3 hence called by the French in S. Domingo Liane a blessures. There is a species known as zizpic in Yucatan, which is a great ornament of the cenotes or subterranean water caverns of the country. These singular caverns are some¬ times entirely subterranean, and are then of course without vegetation ; frequently, however, they are more or less open at the top, when they are often of surpassing beauty on account of the luxuriant development of vegetable life which they contain. To these cenotes the few ferns of Yucatan are almost confined, and it is here that this vanilla attains perfection. The pods are occasionally taken to market at Valladolid, where they may be bought at an almost nominal price.
ADMIXTURE OF JAPAN WAX WITH BEES-WAX
BY C. MENE.
For some years past Japan wax has been offered in the ordinary French markets, where it is quoted at a price less than half that of bees-wax. The author, finding that it was used largely in the sophistication of bees-wax, thought it would be useful to seek a short and easy method of detecting the fraud. He therefore made numerous experiments as to the densities and melting and solidifying points of these substances, and mixtures of them in different proportions. * The results, from which the following notes are taken, were recently communi¬ cated to the French Academy.*
|
Density. |
Melting point. |
Solidifying point. |
|||
|
Pure Yellow Japan Wax |
1-00200 |
52-54° C. |
45-46° C. |
||
|
Bees- |
wax . |
• • • 9 • |
9-96931 |
64-65 |
63-64 |
|
Mixtures : — |
|||||
|
50 per cent. Japan Wax ) 50 „ Bees-wax . ) |
! 0-93518 |
64-65 |
61-62 |
||
|
60 40 |
99 99 |
Japan Wax ) Bees-wax . $ |
■ 0-92785 |
64-65 |
61-62 |
|
65 35 |
99 99 |
Japan Wax ) Bees-wax . $ |
• 0-90730 |
64-65 |
61-62 |
|
70 30 |
99 99 |
Japan Wax \ Bees-wax . f |
> 0-90452 |
63-64 |
61-62 |
|
75 25 |
99 99 |
Japan Wax ) Bees-wax . ] |
■ 0-90164 |
63-64 |
62-63 |
|
80 |
99 |
Japan Wax ) |
■ 0-S8703 |
63-64 |
62-63 |
|
20 |
99 |
Bees wax . ) |
|||
|
90 10 |
99 99 |
Japan Wax ) Bees-wax . ) |
• 0-85100 |
63-64 |
62-63 |
The densities of these substances were taken in alcohol, and their relation to the density of water calculated. As
* Comptes Rendus, vol. lxxxviii., p, 1544.
will be noticed, the density alone furnishes any help in detecting the fraud, the density of the mixture being always less than that of Japan wax or bees-wax. The author, therefore, thinks that the points of melting and solidification are of no service whatever.
It will bi remembered, however, that Dr. Roucher, in. an article on the employment of vegetable wax in phar¬ macy,* stated that he had found that Japan wax has two distinct melting points. As to the highest, he agrees with M. Mene in fixing it at 54° C. ; this he states to be the melting point when the heat is applied gradually. But when Japan wax was rapidly raised to a temperature sufficiently above its melting point and allowed to cool, it afterwards melted at 42° C., or a temperature twelve degrees lower. As bees-wax presents no similar pheno¬ menon, Dr. Roucher suggested that this would be an available test between the two substances. It would be interesting to know in what way mixtures of the two sub¬ stances comport themselves under similar conditions.
SYRUP OF HYPOPHOSPHITE OF IRON.
BY P. CARLES.
Syrup of hypophosphite of iron having for some time past been frequently prescribed by the physicians of Bor¬ deaux, the author took occasion to criticize, — at a recent meeting of the Society of Pharmacy in that city,f the previously existing formulae for its preparation.
He alluded principally to two formulae, as being the more generally known, those of Wood and Hardy.
Wood's formula is represented by the author as con¬ sisting in the mixture of two solutions — one of sulphate of iron, acidulated with phosphoric acid, with another of hypophosphite of lime.J Sulphate of lime is formed, which is precipitated, whilst the acid hypophosphite of iron re¬ mains in solution, and is afterwards mixed with simple syrup. M. Carles says of this formula, that it is defective, in that (1) it gives an acid solution, in consequence of the addition of the phosphoric acid, which changes the nature of the desired product ; (2) that it furnishes a syrup which is too dilute and difficult to preserve ; (3) that the proportions of the ingredients do not correspond with the equivalents, 85 for the hypophosphite and 139 for the ferrous sulphate, required for double decomposition to take place exactly.
Hardy’s formula consists in preparing hypophosphorou* acid by the aid of hypophosphite of baryta and q. s. sul¬ phuric acid, removiRg sulphate of baryta by filtration, and produciugthe hypophosphite of iron by boiling metallic iron in the dilute acid. This formula is criticized by the author on the ground that hypophosphite of baryta is a salt rarely met with in pharmacy, and, what is of more importance, is a poisonous salt ; so that if the operation be conducted by a person only little accustomed to chemical reactions, a portion, in consequence of its solubility, may remain undecomposed in the liquor, and give rise even¬ tually to a poisonous medicament. Besides, the process is tedious and minute, and requires special apparatus.
Another method which has been suggested, is to prepare the solution of hypophosphite of iron intended for the syrup, by double decomposition between oxalate of iron, which is now to be met with in most French pharmacies, and hypophosphite of lime. M. Carles finds, however, that in practice this method is very defective.
Commercial neutral oxalate of iron requires for its so¬ lution a large quantity of liquid, and the same incon¬ venience, though in less degree, occurs with hypophosphite of lime ; so that the precipitation of the oxalate of lime is
* Pharm. Journ. [3], vol. iii., p. 122.
+ Bulletin des Travaux de la Societe de Pharmacie de Bordeaux , voL xiv., p. 102.
X This does not quite correctly describe Wood’s process, as may be seen by reference to the oi'iginal paper in this Journal (second series, vol. ix. p. 461), where it is recom¬ mended to “rub the hypophosphite to fine powder, and pour on it the solution of sulphate of iron.”
26
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS
[July 11, 18T4.
very slow, and the solutions are too dilute to be converted
into syrup, , ,, , ,
From a consideration of these facts, the author soug t
for a simple and rapid method, but one where the quality of the product would not be sacrificed to celerity. At first he thought to prepare the hypophosphite of iron by means of ferrous sulphate and hypophosphite of soda. The great solubility of these salts allowed of their being brought into contact in a very small volume of liquid. The addition of alcohol to the mixture separates the sul¬ phate of soda, so that after filtration and evaporation of the alcohol, there remains a solution of hypophosphite of iron which only requires to be mixed with very concen¬ trated sugar syrup, or to be itself converted into syrup by the addition of suitable quantities of boiled water and sugar. Unfortunately alcohol only slowly and incom¬ pletely determines the precipitation of the sulphate of soda, and the filtration too is slow, so that in the interval the hypophosphite becomes partially insoluble and perox- idized.
M. Carles has finally adopted the following process as the best : —
Ferrous sulphate (crystals) : ; . 15' 00
Hypophosphite of soda (crystals) . 9' 14
Distilled water (boiled) . . . . 350 00
Powdered sugar 660' 00
The ferrous sulphate is pulverized and dissolved sepa¬ rately in about 20 grams of the water, and the hypophos¬ phite in the remainder. The two solutions are mixed, and agitated violently . After a quarter of an hour the magma is" thrown upon a fine cloth, pressed, and if necessary fil¬ tered through paper of open texture . A sufficiency of boiled distilled water is then added to make up the quantity of 360 grams of liquid, in which the sugar is dissolved by the aid of a gentle heat. The keeping of the syrup in partially filled bottles should be avoided as much as possible.
Each spoonful (25 grams) of the above syrup will con¬ tain O' 25 centigrams of hypophosphite. By mixing the syrup with an equal quantity of syrup of orange flowers, a medicine of much more agreeable flavour will be ob¬ tained. In this case each spoonful will contain O' 125 centigrams of hypophosphite of iron .
EE PORT FROM THE SELECT < OMMITTEE ON ADULTERATION OF FOOD ACT (1872).
The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the operation of the Adulteration of Food Act, 1872, have considered the matters referred to them, and have agreed to the following report : —
Your Committee having held 14 meetings, and examined 57 witnesses, have arrived at the unanimous conclusion that the Act has done much good. It has, at the same time, inflicted considerable injury, and imposed heavy and undeserved penalties upon some respectable tradesmen. This appears to have been owing mainly to the want of a clear understanding as to what does and what does not constitute adulteration ; and in some cases to the conflict¬ ing decisions and inexperience of the analysts. Your Committee, however, are of opinion that the Act itself is defective, and needs amendment.
The adoption of the Act has been by no means general, and in many cases where it is applied and officers have been appointed, its operatio > has been of the most restricted character. Even where a competent analyst has been established, if the local authority does not associate a special inspector with him, or does not insist upon the police or other recognized officials performing the duties of inspectors, the Act remains a dead letter. It appears that only in 26 boroughs and 34 counties have appointments been made, while the number of borooghs under the Act is 171, and of counties, 54. In the City of London the Commissioners of Sewers, and in the rest of the metropolis all the vestries or district boards under the Metropolis Local Management Act, have appointed analyst*.
From a return of the convictions in the year 1873, a* received by the Home Office, it will be seen that the number of proceedings outside the metropolis and a few large towns has been singularly small. The amount of good resulting from the Act must not, however, be judged by the number of the prosecutions and convictions. The deterrent effects are undoubtedly great, and the opinion of the promoters has been substantiated, that the most beneficial effects of the Act would be to prevent adultera¬ tion, rather than to punish it.
Tea. — It appears that, since the Report of 1856, certain grossly prepared teas have been imported from China, some being largely mixed with exhausted leaves and ferruginous sand, and others much too highly faced or coloured ; the ingredients used for colouring being chiefly Prussian blue or indigo, powdered gypsum and turmeric ; but the total amount of such teas has been small, and is kept in check mainly by the low price of pure teas. The import of green teas has recently fallen considerably, in consequence, it is stated, of the operations of the Act.
Facing tea after the duty is paid was, prior to the Act of 1872, practised to a small extent in this country ; but whether in China or at home, the evidence is conclusive that in colouring tea no deleterious matter is used to such an extent as to be absolutely injurious to health ; at the same time facing may be employed to conceal tea of a bad quality. Your Committee have reason to believe that very little adulteration of tea is practised in this country.
They would further observe that defacing tea, or re¬ moving artificial colour, seems now much more common, but this process does not appear to extract the ingre¬ dients which form the base of the colouring matter ; it simply removes the colour, leaving all the other materials on the tea.
It is proved that the bright green teas of China are always faced, and that the natural green teas of Japan, India, etc., are frequently of a colour hardly distinguish¬ able from some qualities of black tea. While condemning the practice of highly facing tea, your Committee cannot recommend that fairly faced green tea should be con¬ demned as an adulterated article.
Suggestions have been made that a certain per-centage should be allowed for colouring matters and other im¬ purities in tea. But your Committee consider that the limitation to a very small per-centage of foreign matter would exclude from the country some wholesome low- priced teas, which are largely consumed by the poor, and if a less stringent limit were adopted, it might have the effect of increasing the amount of facing laid upon the better descriptions of green teas.
The Act has borne with considerable hardship upon the retail grocers, among others, from the following causes : — The evidence and samples being, in the first instance, entirely in the hands of the prosecution ; the defendant being incapacitated as a witness ; the sole employment of analysts, to the exclusion of practical judges of the article ; the differences among analysts, and the magisterial decisions thereon ; and the recent judgment of the Court, of Queen’s Bench, that under this Act the faced tea known as green tea is adulterated ; but more especially that the alleged adulteration has taken place before the tea reached the retailer, and that he is not responsible for the frauds and tricks of the Chinese manufacturer.
It has been repeatedly suggested to your Committee that an examination of tea, for the purpose of detecting impurities, should be undertaken on landing by the Customs ; and that all tea found to be seriously adulterated should not be admitted for home consumption.
The Chairman of the Customs admitted that such an inspection of tea in bond could be undertaken by the Custom House officers, and that the great bulk of the tea would require but a brief examination by good practical officials, while suspected samples could be analysed at the laboratory at Somerset House.
Your Committee recommend that this examination should be made, as they believe it would practically stop
July 11, 1874.]
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS.
27
1 file sale in this country of tea adulterated abroad, and . relieve the retail dealer from the hardship which now -arises from his being held answerable for certain mani¬ pulations of which he may be wholly ignorant.
Milk. — The evidence before your Committee points to the fact that, previous to the passing of the Act of 1872, milk was generally adulterated with water. It has since greatly improved in quality wherever the Act has been •enforced, but the good results in improving the milk supply have not been attained without some serious cases -of injury and injustice to milk-sellers.
Too high and rigid a standard has been fixed by some analysts, and no sufficient allowances have been made for the natural variations in milk. Ten per cent, of milk solids may be more difficult to obtain under certain unfavourable < conditions than twelve or fourteen under a more generous •diet, a warmer atmosphere, and more confortable lodging. Not only does the quality of milk