42 



THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



groups united to the tertiary carbon atom. 

 The same may be said of the pinacones, 

 thus methyl-pinacone 



(cH>C(OH)-C(OH)<CH.) 



is no more narcotic than ethyl alcohol, 

 but this action is more marked in methyl- 

 ethyl-pinakone and still more so in di- 

 ethyl-pinakone 



(C=H.->c(OH)-C(OH)<C.H.) 



Ureas containing one or more substituted 

 alcohol radicals possess no narcotic ac- 

 tion, however, we find the contrary to be 

 the case in those which contain a tertiary 

 alcohol radical, here the rule that an 

 ethyl united with the tertiary carbon 

 atom is more active than methyl, takes 

 effect. For this reason those ureas con- 

 taining the tertiary butyl radical 



^CH3 

 -C— CH3 



are less hypnotic than those 



containing tertiary amyl. — C- 



'C2H5 

 -CH3 

 ^CH3 



In view of what has already been ac- 

 complished, there is but little doubt that 

 a relationship between chemical consti- 

 tution and medicinal action, exists to a 

 certain extent. This is evidently sub- 

 ject to several conditions, most important 

 among these, may be mentioned the in- 

 tramolecular structural arrangement, — 

 the degree of solubility which regulates 

 the more rapid or slower absorbtion in 

 the system, — various decompositions 

 which these bodies undergo after enter- 

 ing the body, — the electrolytic conduc- 

 tivity of the compound. A definite 

 classification is not at present possible 

 for the field is new, and comparatively 

 little has been thus far accomplished, 

 from this however, we may draw an idea 

 of future possibilities. 



AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL 

 ASSOCIATION. 



To the Members : — 



As your committee of the Scientific 

 Section of this association, we desire to 

 call your attention to your responsibility 

 in connection with your membership, and 

 would urge that you give immediate at- 

 tention to the matter of contributing to 

 the Scientific Department of our associa- 

 tion in the coming year. We would 

 strongly urge that you should not dis- 

 miss the matter from your mind and 

 leave your work until the time of ap- 

 proaching the meeting of '94, but at 

 least start in the work at once. It is to 

 be hoped that you will select a subject 

 V\^hich has a special interest to you, and 

 report the same to the chairman of this 

 committee at an early date. If we can be 

 of any assistance whatsoever, call upon 

 us freely, and we will be happy to serve 

 in our capacity in any way that you may 

 command. 



It is gratifying to state that a number 

 of encouraging letters have already been 

 received from members who promise to 

 contribute papers. Our coming meeting 

 evidently will be an enthusiastic one. 

 These queries are intended to be merely 

 suggestive, and it it to be hoped that the 

 different members in glancing over this 

 advance list — which may be the only one 

 sent out — will find something that will 

 interest them, or, suggest to them some- 

 thing else which will be more accept- 

 able. 



LIST OF QUERIES PROPOSED. 



1. The Ferric Hydrate process of as- 

 say. With which drugs does it give 

 uniformly satisfactory results ? 



2. Peroxide of Hydrogen solution is al- 

 ways furnished of an acid character. Is 

 it allowable to remove this acidity before 

 dispensing, and can it be done without 

 certain injury to the reparation ? 



