May, 1880. 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
1 
INDEX TO LITERARY CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Leading Article 1 
The Month 1 
Meetings — 
Tiie Pharmacy Board of Victoria 2 
The Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria 2 
PAGE 
Modified Examination 3 
Preliminary Examination 3 
Veterinary Medical Association 3 
Legal and Magisterial 4 
Ballarat 5 
page 
Modified Examinations 5 
My First Aquarium 6 
Correspondence 7 
Prussian Blue Photographs 8 
Cfte €fjenmt atttr Urugtjtst. 
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MARRIAGES. 
Lewis— Balderson.— O n the 5th May, at Trinity Church, Balaclava, by 
the Rev. Dr. Torrance, Arthur C., second son of Mr. George Lewis, J.P., 
of Windsor, to Lydia J., third daughter of Mr. R. Balderson, mayor of 
St. Kilda. 
MASON— Jackson.— On the 15th May, at St. John’s Church, by the Rev. 
J. II. L. ZillmanD, George Stephen Mason, of Mason and Son, hatters, 
Coll ins-street, to Mary Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Mr. John 
Jackson, chemist, Jeffcott-street, West Melbourne. 
DEATH. 
Wood.— O n the 6th inst., at his residence, Cunningham-street, Northcote, 
Mr. W. B. Wood, aged fifty-two. 
LIBRARY.— SPECIAL NOTICE . 
The following Periodicals are missing from the 
Library : — The “ Practitioner ,” January , 1879; 
<( Journal of Science” November and December , 1879, 
Nos.; “ Nature f March and December, 1879, Nos. 
Members are invited to examine their Libraries , and 
if any of the above-mentioned worJcs be found therein, to 
forivard such work or works to the Librarian of the 
Society . 
NOTICE. 
Subscriptions for the year 1880 are now due, and 
members are respectfully reguested to remit the same . 
The most important topic of scientific discussion during 
the past month has been upon the state of the Yan Yean 
water. For some time the attention of the public has 
been unpleasantly drawn to this vexed question. The 
water has been so turbid and disgustingly muddy that a 
large number, perhaps the greater proportion, of con- 
sumers felt reluctant to drink it even after filtration — 
which, as usually conducted, is of little avail — notwith- 
standing the assurances we have received from some high 
scientific authorities that to purify this water is almost 
wrong, certainly wasteful, as it is argued that the vege- 
table and suspended organic and mineral matter is very 
“nourishing . 1 De gustibus non est disputandum is an old 
proverb ; but verily there are some whose sense of taste 
is so vitiated that they are quite willing to forego the loss 
of “ vegetables,” as contained in the Yan Yean pea-soup, 
preferring clear, bright, “pure” water. “Dirt,” Lord 
Palmerston once said, “is only matter in the wrong 
place ;” and an increase of six or seven grains of dirt and 
mud in our potable water would indicate that a great deal 
of “ matter in the wrong place” has got into the reservoir. 
Whether this result is due to unskilfulness on the part of 
those who have charge of the works — as Mr. Johnson’s 
letter would seem to show — or not, we think that 
it is the duty of the Government to make speedy 
efforts to effect a complete change in the methods 
in use, or adopt, as is done in Europe and America, 
some mode of purification. We know that this 
is easy enough to talk about, and that the purification 
by precipitation by alum or lime can be carried out per- 
fectly on a small scale. Even filtration, when conducted 
properly by means of a “ dripstone” or piece of Omaru 
freestone, as recommended by Mr. Foord, is quite 
effective. Yet it is said that the economical and engineer- 
ing difficulties are a serious, if not insuperable, difficulty. 
But when we know that cities much larger than Mel- 
bourne are supplied with water purified by means of 
lime and filtration, &c., surely the difficulties which have 
hitherto staggered us might be overcome. As to the 
objections urged at the Medical Association meeting, we 
look upon them as, if not puerile, at least based upon an 
imperfect conception of the methods proposed to be 
adopted. We think that our medical friends might assist 
instead of damping the efforts of water reformers. Drs. 
Brande and Taylor twenty years ago told us that the Yan 
Yean water was, in its then state, 66 unfit for the use of a 
population.” It contained at that time of total solids 11*4 
per gallon ; now we find 15*4 grains per gallon as the 
minimum. Mr. Ellery has, he says, employed lime, in 
the proportion of 3 grains to a gallon, for many years with 
perfect success, and with every confidence in its safety ; 
and how, even if lime is left in solution, anything but 
benefit could result to the drinker of water thus treated, 
we, not being believers in the action of infinitesimal doses, 
treat as a problem beyond our powers. It is, as Mr. 
Johnson says, to be hoped that as the subject is now 
being ventilated it will result in good. 
^he ittonth. 
Mr. Cosmo Newbery delivered another of his interesting 
lectures on practical chemistry at the Industrial and Techno- 
logical Museum, on the 22nd May, to a large audience. He 
dealt briefly with the subject of the methods of extraction of 
silver by the wet processes, and also continued his descriptions 
of the collections in the museum. Mr. Rule also continued his 
description of Tasmanian minerals. 
