THE AU STEAL ASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
263 
At Auckland recently a plumber, named Frederick Nasmyth, after partaking 
of a hearty dinner, took, by way of dessert, a piece of bread, upon which he 
had spread some “ Hough on Hats.” An alarm having been raised, the foolish 
man — he had been on the “spree” for several days previously — was removed 
to the hospital, and remedial measures successfully adopted. 
You will have received long ere this full accounts of the terrible volcanic 
orputions in the Lake district. I may mention, however, that two professors 
of the Auckland University, who made an analysis of the volcanic dust, state 
that a small proportion is soluble, and that it is very valuable as manure. 
Other portions show the presence of quartz, pumice, and other volcanic minerals. 
We note that 500 chinchona trees, from one to two feet in height, are 
available for distribution from the Domain Gardens, an opportunity being thus 
offered for testing the suitability of the climate to the cultivation of this plant, 
concerning which there was some controversy a few years ago. 
(OwjtjmsLwix 
The results of the first examination conducted by the new Pharmacy Hoard 
of Queensland have just been made known. Twenty-five candidates entered 
their names for examination, of whom twenty presented themselves. The subjects 
for examination were — (1) Practical Dispensing, (2) Pharmacy, (3) Materia 
Medica, (4) Botany, (5) Latin, and (6) Translations and Criticisms of Autograph 
Prescriptions. The examination in each subject was conducted both in writing 
and orally. Out of twenty candidates who presented themselves for examination only 
three succeeded in passing, at the head of whom stands the name of Mr. John 
Pears Potts. The southern papers, commenting upon the high standard required 
by the new board for the candidates to pass, remark, “However severely this 
may press upon the candidates in preparing for the examination, the general 
public will reap the benefit of having their prescriptions prepared by men who 
thoroughly understand their profession. There is certainly no class of men who 
ought to know their business more thoroughly than dispensing chemists, in 
whose hands the issues of life and death are daily placed ; therefore we consider 
this era in Queensland pharmacy ought to be hailed by the general public with 
great satisfaction.” 
The three candidates who passed the first examination of the Queensland 
Pharmacy Board in June were Messrs. Connellan (Gatton), Simmonds (Brisbane), 
and J. P. Potts (Brisbane), the latter formerly an apprentice of Mr. H. W. Potts, 
chemist, now of Melbourne. 
Mr. J. P. Potts has purchased the chemist’s business of Dr. Cripps in 
Rockhampton, through Messrs. Prosser and Co., of Sydney. 
In a letter to the Queenslander, Mr. C. Twisden-Bedford gives an interesting 
account of the manner in which the famous pituri plant ( Duboisia Hopwoodii) is 
prepared for consumption by the aboriginals of the North Gregory district. Mr. 
Bedford writes : — “ They first place a portion in their mouths and chew it into a 
pulp ; this is spat out on to a piece of bark, and some of the whitewood leaves 
are burnt and added thereto ; then worked up with the fingers to the consis- 
tency of putty. It now undergoes a second process of chewing, spitting out, and 
more ashes added to it. After this has been done repeatedly it is ready for use, 
and it is a comical sight to see half-a-dozen nude niggers, squatted on their 
hams, gravely passing this, no doubt, delicious morsel (to them) from one to the 
other, each chewing it in turn until the effects begin to appear in their staring 
eyes and a stupid look. I can only compare it to the appearance of an habitual 
opium consumer after indulging in his favourite drug. The effect on some is 
