THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
265 
such that almost any well-read man would have known something about them. 
As far as I can see, the only question to which any objection could be raised 
was, what are phyllodes ? But, as they are so especially Australian, I thought 
it appropriate. It must be remembered that any subject is difficult to one who 
knows nothing about it, and so it was in this instance. Quite a quarter of the 
candidates, and I believe many more, did not know that the potato was a tuber, 
or that an onion was a bulb, or what were the names of the different parts of a 
flower, which was the calyx or the corolla, the petals or stamens. To men like 
this it would be impossible to set any paper in botany that they could answer. 
Only one man knew what a “ corm ” was, although one corm at least is largely 
used in medicine, and is so named in the Pharmacopoeia. In pharmacy, I am 
told that quite a number of men did not know tincture of opium (laudanum) 
or tincture of rhubarb when they saw it. The system of marking we adopted 
was to give 50 marks for each paper, and 50 for the viva voce , making 100 marks 
in each subject, and it was my suggestion that anyone who got 25 marks in 
botany and in chemistry should pass in those subjects. It is very significant 
that only one failed in botany and chemistry only ; all the others failed in some 
of the other subjects as well. The viva voce questions were as simple as I could 
make them. I tried to find out what the candidates knew ; not to set difficult 
or catch questions. Two of the examiners, Mr. Field and myself, have passed 
the same examinations at home, and we were both asked much more difficult 
questions than we put to the candidates. Moreover, the same examinations in 
the other colonies are much more difficult also, as anyone may see if they will 
compare them.— I am, sir, &c., 
Brisbane. J. CLEMENT ELLISON, M.B., London. 
Mtxxtntxnxu* 
At a sitting of the Medical Court on the 15th June, Messrs. William Wright 
and W. G. Cox appeared for examination as chemists and druggists. Both 
gentlemen passed, and were complimented on their efficiency. Mr. Wright is 
connected with the establishment of Messrs. L. Fairthorne and Son, but 
served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Hatton and Laws, of Launceston. 
Mr. Cox has been for some time connected with the establishment of Messrs. 
Hatton and Laws. 
At Hobart, on 18th June, a young man named William Dunn visited 
Mr. Hinsby’s pharmacy in Elizabeth-street, and purchased sixpence worth of 
strychnine, stating that he wanted to destroy some dogs. Returning home, 
however, he swallowed the poison, and on his friends finding out what he 
had done, messengers were despatched, one for a medical man and one for 
the police. Dr. Hardy was quickly on the spot, and did all he could for the 
unfortunate fellow, but without avail. A constable conveyed him to the hospital, 
where he died in terrible agony shortly after his admission. 
A recent suicide has again called attention to the fact that there is no law in 
this colony to regulate the sale of poisons. 
The North China Daily News states that the French and German Ministers are no 
longer opposed to the terms of the opium convention entered into last year at London. 
There is a man named Smith living in one of the small towns in 
Michigan who claims to be a dentist. A sign over his door, painted by 
himself, reads " Teeth Extracted without Enny [Pane, Laffin Gas Ten (10) cents 
a Ha Ha!” 
