THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
371 
The American Journal of Pharmacy has the following: — “We are 
indebted to Mr. W. B. Brownscomb, of Richmond, Victoria, Australia, for a 
communication on the results of the experimental culture of Solanum 
tuberosum , var , boreale, of which we were enabled in the latter part of 
1884 to send a few tubers to Mr. Joseph Bosisto. Two tubers, weighing 
30 grains, were planted 20th February, 1885, the first crop in August yielding 
tubers weighing 7dwt. On 4th November these were again planted, and on 
10th March last they were lifted, the result being 18oz. The plants have 
flowered and seeded profusely, and it is calculated that next season the yield 
will be 4 to 5cwt.” 
The British and Colonial Druggist publishes some correspondence between 
Messrs. Grimwade, Ridley and Co. and the Inland Revenue authorities on the 
subject of eucalyptus oil, and its liability to the Patent Medicine Stamp 
Duty. A sample of the oil having been submitted for examination, the Board 
of Inland Revenue state that it was found to be pure, and that “such oil 
would, therefore, seem to fall within the exemption in the Act 52 George III., 
c. 150, in favour of medicinal drugs uttered or vended entire, without any 
mixture or composition with any other drug or ingredient.” 
Adulteration of Drugs and Cutting Prices.— The demand for cheap drugs 
will find a corresponding reply by cheapening drugs. We are learning of dex- 
trine masquerading as part and parcel of powdered gum arabic, of large pro- 
portions of powdered starch in certain powdered drugs of vegetable origin. 
Adulteration seems to be on the increase, and for this we must in a large mea- 
sure thank the cutters. These latter are demoralisers of common honesty in 
business, for they are making this once cardinal virtue an uncommon commodity 
among themselves, and reflecting the same hideous shadow around the community. 
— Bharm. Bee. 
“ Gladstone Pomatum.” — The London correspondent of the Irish Times states 
that an application has been received at the Patent Office to take the preliminary 
formalities necessary to preserve the sole right of manufacturing the famous 
“ pomatum ” in which the Prime Minister seeks oratorical refreshment. An 
enthusiastic female admirer extracted from Mrs. Gladstone the secret of the con- 
coction of the celebrated elixir, and with characteristic shrewdness set at once 
about turning a little bit of confidence to commercial advantage. The Prime 
Minister is said to have consumed during his last campaign no less than 11 pint 
jars of this recuperative mixture. 
At the twenty-third annual meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Con- 
ference, which opened at Birmingham on 30th August, the chairman proposed 
— “ That this meeting desires to place on 'record its sense of the invaluable 
services rendered by Mr. Sidney Plowman as hon. secretary for the last five 
years, and their great regret that he has found it necessary to relinquish the 
office.” Special mention was made of Mr. Plowman’s labours in connection 
with Colonial and Indian business, and the vote was agreed to with acclamation 
The death of Mr. Bush, the secretary for New South Wales, was referred to 
with regret, and it was announced that Mr. Ryder Horton had been appointed 
to the vacancy. 
At a meeting of the council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 
on the 4th August, the library and laboratory committee reported that it had 
considered the best way of carrying out a separate course of instruction in 
pharmacy, by lectures and class demonstrations, and recommended that such 
