116 
THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
A correspondent has transmitted to the editor of L’ Union Pharmaceutique 
the prospectus of an oyster dealer who, besides dealing in the ordinary ‘bivalves, 
advertises specialities in medicinal oysters, such as “ huitres ferrugineuses ” 
and “huitres au goudron.” The former are recommended to ansemic persons, 
and the latter are said to replace with advantage all other means of administer- 
ing tar, whilst of both it is alleged that analyses made by “ distinguished 
savants ” leave no doubt as to their valuable qualities. ’* 
It is becoming common to use cocoa and chocolate as the media for many 
other substances — either to increase their own special nutritive qualities or to 
impart to them a new character. Perhaps the strangest addition (writes the 
British and Colonial Druggist ), as well as most recent, to increase its nutritive 
properties and to make it a more strengthening article of diet, is that of Nor- 
wegian tar to chocolate. The proportions made use of are about two grammes, 
fifty centigrammes of the tar per kilogramme of chocolate. Kola-nut chocolate 
is also in the market. So recently as the 1st December an application was 
made for letters patent for the “ preparation and medication of chocolate, cocoa, 
&c., for beverages.” We may, therefore, expect to see some new pharmaceutical 
and medical preparations in this direction in the immediate future. ... We 
think we are not incorrect when we prophesy a still more important position 
for cocoa in the pharmaceutical world than at present obtains. 
1885. 
Says the Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions (London), of 2nd January, 
in its editorial article bearing the above title : — 
“ The year that has just closed will always be memorable, from the fact 
that in the course of it the first decided step towards the establishment of a 
definite plan of pharmaceutical education was taken by the Council of the 
Pharmaceutical Society. All previous efforts to achieve this most important 
object of the Society’s formation have been only preparatory and tentative; 
but the system for the initiation of which the amended bye-laws have been 
drawn up by the Council, and confirmed by the special general meeting of the 
Society last May, will, it is hoped, in course of time, become a means of 
impressing more emphatically upon those who contemplate entering upon a 
pharmaceutical career the indispensable necessity of systematic scientific 
education. It would be superfluous here to enter into any disquisition upon 
the advantages of such education, for they are now fairly acknowledged. It 
will be sufficient that, from a public point of view, the scientific education of 
the pharmacist is necessary to enable him to perform his duties with adequate 
regard for the safety of the community, and that, so far as the more special 
interests of his class are concerned, it is necessary to secure first the considera- 
tion and respect that may reasonably be looked for by its members. 
“ A perfect form of apprenticeship is, no doubt, the best means of 
providing for technical training in such a business as that of pharmacy ; but 
the requirements of the business at the present time comprise much more 
than the mere mechanical proficiency to be obtained from routine work. A 
knowledge of scientific principles is also requisite, and there is no period when 
the influence of scientific teaching is likely to *be so beneficial as during the 
period of apprenticeship, when the daily performance of the ordinary operations 
of pharmacy offers constant opportunity for the illustration of scientific principles.” 
Alluding to the increase in the examination fees, the writer continues : — 
“ The fact must be borne in mind that the Society is not a material gainer 
