458 
THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
Some 86 cases of brandy, which were recently brought from Marseilles, have 
been seized by direction of the Central Board of Health. Samples analysed by 
Mr. C. R. Blackett were described as “below the standard, and not genuine 
brandy,” and Mr. Blackett added that he did not consider that the liquor should 
be allowed to go into consumption. 
Letters patent were granted by the Attorney-General on the 7th December to 
Mr. Thos. Swallow, of Cairns, Queensland, for a new powder for fining or 
clarifying saccharine juices, syrups, and solutions, which is produced by mixing 
and compounding together certain quantities of water, sulphuric acid, chloride of 
sodium, charcoal, manganese, and ochre. 
At the meeting of the committee of the Melbourne Hospital, held on the 
14th inst., the tenders for the supply of drugs, &c., for the year were further 
considered, and, on the recommendation of the drug committee, the tender of 
Messrs. Rocke, Tompsitt and Co. was accepted. 
A meeting of the council of the Imperial Federation League was held on 
the 10th December ; Mr. Carter, M.L.A., in the chair. The chairman announced 
that an offer had been made by Messrs. Francis Forrest and Co., of 132 Collins- 
street, Melbourne, agents for Messrs. A. and F. Pears, of London, to supple- 
ment the previous offers of prizes for the best essay on Imperial Federation by 
the sum of £10 10s. It was resolved unanimously to accept the offer with 
thanks. 
The monthly meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria was held in the 
hall, Albert-street, on Wednesday, the 10th November. The president, Dr. 
Jamieson, occupied the chair. It was notified that the resignation of Dr. W. 
Warren had been accepted by the committee. Dr. T. S. Davies, of Williamstown, 
was elected a member of the society. The evening was devoted to the discussion 
of Dr. James Robertson's paper on the question—" Is Phthisis Pulmonalis 
Contagious r” 
The ordinary monthly meeting of the Odontological Society took place on 
Thursday, 2nd December ; Mr. Cumming, the president, occupied the chair, and 
there was a good attendance of members. A letter from Dr. Rose concerning 
the Dental Bill was read. Mr. Macgregor exhibited some of the first artificial 
teeth which had been manufactured in the colonies. Pathological specimens were 
shown by various members. The president opened a discussion on Artificial 
Dentures, in which several took part. 
At the Hotham Court on the 3rd December, George Leveridge, a milk vendor, 
was proceeded against by the town inspector on a charge of having sold adulterated 
milk” The evidence went to show that the defendant sold a pint and a half of 
milk to the inspector for 2d., which was afterwards sent to Mr. Dunn, analyst, who 
examined it, and found that it contained 27 per cent, of added water. The 
defendant stated that he sold it as “ milk and water.” A mitigated penalty of 
£5, with £2 2s. costs, was imposed. 
We have great pleasure in announcing the safe return to Melbourne of our 
esteemed friend Mr. William Bowen, the president of the Pharmaceutical Society 
of Australasia, who, in addition to being in excellent health, expresses himself 
greatly delighted with his trip to the old world. A number of Mr. Bowen’s 
friends went down to the steamer on her arrival to welcome him back. Mr. 
Bowen has promised us some notes of his impressions of pharmacy in other 
countries, which we hope to publish next month. 
A well-attended meeting was held in the library of the Pharmaceutical 
Society on Thursday, the 9th December, for the purpose of establishing a 
cricket club. Mr. A. C. Lewis laid before the meeting a statement of last 
annual cricket match, and, after some discussion, it was unanimously resolved 
