THE AU STEAL ASIAN JOUENAL OF PHAEMACY. 
385 
Walter Henry Toft, son of Captain Toft, also writes that in his second profes- 
sional examination at Edinburgh University in anatomy, physiology, materia 
medica, and pathology, he successfully passed in all four subjects. 
[From our Special Correspondent.) 
Brisbane, 8tli October. 
There is very little of interest to write about this month, and my letter must 
necessarily be very brief. 
The following chemists were registered on 7th September by the Pharmacy 
Board, under the provisions of the Pharmacy Act of 1884 : — William Ninian 
Jeffry, George Altorfer, William Corson, Louis Konig, William James Hunter, 
George Henry Pickburn, Fred. William Simmonds, John C. Towle, John 
Hall, jun., Francis Letters, Herbert John Tracy, Edward Cohen, William 
Coningham, and John Pears Potts. Three candidates went up for examination 
last month, and all failed. They complain about the questions being difficult, 
especially in botany, considering that we have no School of Pharmacy here. 
I Lear that the Pharmaceutical Society have elected Mr. Thomason as 
lecturer at the School of Pharmacy to be established; Mr. Schmidt, lecturer 
on botany, and Professor Pepper on Chemistry. Already there are some ten or 
twelve members enrolled, and more are expected. It is about the only way 
that assistants can really hope to pass a difficult examination. 
An extra duty of 2\ per cent, has lately been put on drugs and patent 
medicines, which, brings it up to 7J per cent. 
Mr. L. Konig, who has been “ spelling ” in Brisbane during the last ten 
months, has left with stocks for Boulia, almost on the borders of South Australia. 
I believe, on good authority, that Mr. C. H. Hughes, of Maryborough, is 
going to take unto himself a wife. 
The Opium Bill, the nature and objects of which I explained in a previous 
letter, has been thrown out in the Legislative Council, on the second reading, 
by a majority of 12 votes to 10. 
The Acclimatisation Society have just received from India a small parcel of 
the seeds of those valuable plants Elettaria tardcmomum and E. robusta. It 
is believed that many favourable localities can be found in our northern dis- 
tricts, where the plant would luxuriate, and the society have intimated their 
readiness to supply settlers desirous of giving it a trial with a small quantity 
of seed. It may be interesting to note that a plant of E. robusta was wintered 
at Bowen Park (in the bushhouse) without any protection, the lowest tem- 
perature being 30 c . This proves the plant to be much hardier than is generally 
supposed, although the higher the temperature the more success will attend its 
culture. 
At a recent meeting of the Blackall Hospital committee a long discussion 
took place upon the supply of medicines, the local chemist declaring that he 
could not reduce his prices as requested and make anything for his trouble, 
and subsequently resigning his position as dispenser. It was eventually arranged 
that Dr. Button be appointed to the vacancy for a period of four months 
at an increase to his salary of £80 per annum, and that prices for supplying 
the stock for the hospital be obtained from the various wholesale houses of 
Brisbane and Kockhampton. 
At the City Police Court, on 10th September, Messrs. Kenny and Maloney, 
grocers, were charged with selling coffee adulterated with chicory to the extent 
