298 
THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
servant to throw the bottle away, so that no one should get hold of it. The 
deceased told the servant on one occasion that she used laudanum, for 
rheumatism. Just before the death of Mrs. Kent the symptoms of poisoning 
were distinct, and the medical man would have nothing to do with the case. 
The deceased denied having taken poison. The inquest has been adjourned 
to allow of further inquiries, and a search for the bottle of laudanum, which 
the servant said she threw into a cesspit. 
The proposal to place a duty of 20s. per lb. on opium gave rise to some 
discussion in the Legislative Council on the evils arising from opium smoking 
among the Chinese in the colony, and some members urged that the duty 
should be made prohibitive. It was pointed out, however, that a prohibitive 
duty would be useless unless the same course were taken by the other colonies. 
The revenue derived from the duty on this drug in 1884, which was the 
latest year for which Sir Patrick Jennings had a return, was £20,413. The 
item passed. 
A new wing is being added to the St. Vincent’s Hospital, to accommodate 
seventy patients. The institution is capable at present of receiving only one 
hundred patients, and a new building is greatly needed. 
At a meeting of the medical profession held in Newcastle on the 14th July, 
a resolution was passed affirming it to be the duty of the medical profession 
to take the initiative in some scheme of sanitary reform for the city and 
district, and preliminary steps were taken to form a sanitary association for 
the amelioration of the sources of preventible disease and the maintenance of 
public hygiene. 
The Senate of the Sydney University has decided to appoint a lecturer in 
physiological medicine, his duties to commence in Michaelmas term. 
On the invitation of a number of the leading Sydney pharmacists, Mr. 
Shillinglaw was taken, on the 31st of July last, for a trip round Sydney 
Harbour. A start was made shortly after two o’clock from Circular Quay, some 
thirty gentlemen being on board. The day being beautifully fine, the trip was 
most enjoyable, and was further enhanced by the presence of an excellent 
band of music. After visiting some of the most charming spots in the harbour, 
the engines were stopped, and Mr. J. S. Abraham invited the gentlemen 
present to join with him in drinking the health of their guest. During his 
speech, Mr. Abraham said many kind things of the very friendly spirit shown 
by Victoria, which, he trusted, would meet with a reciprocal response in Hew 
South Wales. He also spoke of the great benefits likely to result from the 
Conference to be held in Melbourne in October, 1886, and at which he hoped 
to be present. The toast was drank in a very cordial manner. Mr. Shillinglaw 
briefly responded, thanking them for the very kind and hospitable manner in 
which they had received him in Sydney. 
The establishment of a number of Schools of Mines in the large centres 
of population, as well as the development of the silver mines of the colony, is 
causing a demand for skilled labour, and also for the services of assay ers. 
The formation of the Schools of Mines has been entrusted to the Board of 
Technical Education, and several new members have been added to this Board 
who are known to be experts in mining matters. It is understood that only 
men with high qualifications will be accepted for any of the appointments. 
On the 3rd inst. Mr. Garvan moved in the Legislative Assembly — “ That the 
House resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider the expediency of intro- 
ducing a bill to remodel the law relating to the protection of inventions and the regis- 
tration of designs.” The object sought was to increase the facility of obtaining 
a patent, and to grant protection to persons during the time that they are 
