THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
291 
distilled water, 3oz. When the reaction is complete let the vessel stand for two 
minutes in a water-bath at 212° F., and then filter contents into the syrup in 
the bottle. When cool make up the measure, if necessary, with distilled 
water, and shake well. Specific gravity 1*360.” 
The Sheffield Pharmaceutical Society and Chemists’ Society at the annual 
general meeting presented to Mr. Norman S. Smith an illuminated address and 
shelf of scientific books, on the occasion of his leaving Sheffield. Mr. Smith’s 
good offices in the organisation of the junior association were very complimentarily 
referred to. The annual report and financial statement were considered of a 
satisfactory character, the establishment of the Sheffield School of Pharmacy 
being a matter upon which the council specially congratulated the members. 
The attendances at the classes on materia medica, botany, and theoretical and 
practical chemistry were reported to have been thoroughly satisfactory. 
At a general meeting of the Liverpool Chemists’ Association, 8th April, 
Mr. Henry Dauber, jun. read a very interesting paper on “ Yerba ” ( Ilex 
Paraguay ensis), the national “tea” of South America. The reader gave a 
lengthy account of the cultivation and preparation of the plant, remarking: — 
“ Yerba has a very sustaining effect on persons who constantly drink its 
infusion. Conflicting opinions, however, respecting its effects on the constitu- 
tion are held by eminent men. M. Sellieu recommends Paraguay tea as being 
pleasanter to the taste and less injurious to health than China tea, whilst 
Professor Bentley affirms it to be more exciting, and when taken to excess to 
produce a kind of intoxication. It may nevertheless be said that the sober 
portion of the inhabitants of South American republics cherishes yerba as the 
great natural beverage, deriving nutriment and the greatest comfort from its 
use. It has been attempted to introduce yerba into this country, but, probably 
owing to the want of knowledge as to its preparation, the attempt has, so far, not 
been successful. I think it can be safely predicted that, were it brought 
systematically before the British public, it would soon become a favourite 
beverage, and prove a valuable rival to other imported teas.” 
iloics Bjjoarrmtls. 
In America medical women are numbered not by tens, but by hundreds, and 
their practice both among private patients and in hospitals is of the most 
extensive kind. In 1881 no less than 470 women were known to have taken 
medical degrees (exclusive of graduates of eclectic and homceopathic schools), 
and in reply to circulars of inquiry, rather more than 300 full answers were 
received, and some information obtained about 130 more. Of these 430 women 
390 are found to be engaged in active practice. These women are scattered 
over 26 States of the Union, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts having 
the largest number. 
A company has recently been floated in London, entitled the Ammon iaphone 
Company, with a capital of £100,000 in £5 shares. The object of the company 
is to purchase the American, Canadian, Australian, and foreign ammoniaphone 
business of the Medical Battery Company, for the manufacture and sale of the 
ammoniaphone and other apparatus. 
With a view of obtaining a reliable opinion from the pharmacists of Great 
Britain as to whether the opinion of the profession favoured the abolition of the 
patent medicine duty, which had been said to be generally regarded as oppres- 
sive, the British and Colonial Druggist recently invited expressions of views 
from those interested. A summary of the opinions is now published, and it 
shows that the majority uphold the retention of the duty. 
