82 THE MICROSCOPE. 



of Trustees, was to be, and will be, competed for in the following 

 manner: The candidates for graduation attaining the grade very 

 satisfactory in the examination of materia medica specimens and 

 questions, are to examine ten sections of drugs, the prize to be 

 awarded to the one determining the largest number correctly; if 

 necessary, a second and third examination of such sections 

 is to be made by those recognizing the largest number of the first 

 set. 



At the recent examination the competitors were nine in number, 

 and on this, the first occasion, it was deemed advisable to prepare 

 several sections of drugs in such a manner that the microscope was 

 not absolutely necessary for their identification, while the largest 

 number consisted of sections especially prepared for the microscope, 

 the cell-contents being removed so that only the structure was 

 visible. The sections selected were of the first-class calumba, 

 cocculus indicus, nux vomica and pumpkin seed, and of the second 

 class, sarsaparilla, taraxacum, veratrum, flat Calisaya bark, clove 

 and conium fruit. One of the competitors determined 9, one 8, two 

 7, one 6, three 5, and one 3 of the specimens, the two highest being 

 the same students, who without considering this special examina- 

 tion, were awarded the Procter prize. One of the specimens was 

 not identified, a result which is easily understood by those who are 

 familiar with the microscopic appearance of the transverse and 

 longitudinal sections of the calyx tube of caryophyllus, resembling, 

 as they do, a number of rhizomes and roots containing oil cell in 

 the bark. The results of this examination were, therefore, highly 

 satisfactory, the more so as only a very small proportion of these 

 students had previously received instructions in the use of the 

 microscope. 



That the microscope is not as frequently used in pharmacy as 

 it deserves to be, is due to a variety of causes, prominent among 

 which is the want of opportunity and for instruction in the applica- 

 tion of that instrument for the needs of the pharmacist. The 

 Alumni Association of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, has, 

 during the past winter, endeavored to supply this want by organiz- 

 ing a class under the direction of A. P. Brown, Ph. G., who is an 

 experienced microscopist. Although only a limited number of 

 students embraced the advantages thus offered, yet the zeal shown 

 was so encouraging that a spring class will be formed early in April, 



