94 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
April, 1880. 
suspension. It appears to entirely remove all traces of 
albuminoid ammonia, which is such a fertile cause of fevers 
of the typhoid type, and blood disorders, if it exists in any 
quantity in the water, and which is a substance very apt to 
contaminate rain-water if the roofs be not clean or the drain- 
age of the premises imperfect. The paper was illustrated by 
means of experiments, which demonstrated very conclusively 
the value of the alumina tersulphate as a purifier, and which, 
although of considerable commercial value in England, is as 
yet unknown in colonial commerce. 
With the view of increasing the utility of the collections in 
the Technological Museum the superintendent, Mr. Cosmo 
Newbery, has, with the sanction of the trustees, arranged 
that special explanations will be given on each Saturday at 
eleven o’clock. On Saturday, 17th April, Mr. Newbery com- 
menced his course of explanatory lectures on the collection in 
the Technological Museum. He devoted his remarks to the 
collections of cereals, Victorian minerals, and ceramic work, 
explaining the contents of each case in a lucid and interesting 
manner. His audience was small, but appreciative. The 
second lecture was delivered on the 24th April. There was 
a good attendance of ladies and gentlemen, and considerable 
interest was manifested by those present. Mr. Newbery 
described the metallurgical section of the museum, commencing 
with a description of the varieties of minerals with which the 
metallurgist meets. He showed the way in which the various 
metals could be recognised, and their physical properties 
ascertained. Afterwards an adjournment was made to the 
Library, where several practical experiments were carried out 
to illustrate the theories expounded. The lecture was the 
second of a series, which is to be continued weekly, 
and it seems that the privilege of attending them is 
highly appreciated judging from the appearance and character 
of the audience. 
The first of a course of three lectures on agricultural chemistry 
was commenced on the 21st April by Mr. R. W. Emerson 
Mac Ivor, F.C.S., in the Industrial and Technological Museum. 
There was a good attendance. “ The soil” was the subject of 
the lecture, and after explaining its constituents, Mr. Maclvor 
pointed out that to procure thorough fertility the soil must 
contain a portion of the thirteen substances which enter into 
the composition of a plant, and that if one is missing the plant 
cannot grow. The soil, also, must not be too retentive or too 
open. In a moist district the farmer will make more profit 
out of a comparatively open soil than out of a heavy one ; but 
in a dry country like Victoria a loamy or heavy soil is pre- 
ferable, as it retains sufficient water to meet the requirements 
of plants in dry weather. The colour of the soil is also 
important, a dark one absorbing the sun’s rays, and being 
invariably warmer than a light one, which reflects the rays. 
The warmth of the soil not only accelerates the growth of the 
plant, but acts beneficially at the early stage of germination. 
Referring next to drainage, the lecturer pointed out the 
importance of farmers in this country draining their land in 
order to open its pores, and allow of an absorption of any rain 
which may fall. The evaporating power of the Victorian 
atmosphere is 42 in. per annum, whereas the average rainfall 
is only 26 in., so that it was manifestly to the advantage of 
the farmer to drain his land. After describing the composition 
of subsoils, Mr. Maclvor concluded by a reference to ploughing, 
advocating thorough and occasionally deep ploughing. The 
more strictly chemical portion of the lecture was illustrated 
by various experiments. 
BALLARAT. 
THE BALLARAT DISTRICT CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The monthly meeting of the association was held at Lester’s 
Hotel, on Wednesday, 21st April ; there was a good attend- 
ance. The president, Mr. T. P. Palmer, took the chair at 
twenty minutes past nine p.m. The minutes of the previous 
meeting were read and confirmed. 
A letter was read from Mr. Holdsworth, of Sandhurst, sug- 
gesting the idea of enlarging the number of members of the 
Pharmacy Council by the appointment of a member thereat 
from each of the large towns of the colony, such members to 
be honorary members ; and asking the association to inaugu- 
rate the matter. In reply, the hon. secretary was instructed 
to write to Mr. Holdsworth, and recommend that the 
chemists of Sandhurst and other large towns should do as 
Ballarat had done, and form themselves into associations, 
and seek representation on the council by election instead of 
hon. membership. 
Mr. Towl reported the death in the hospital, after a long 
illness, of Mr. J. C. Proctor, an old Ballarat chemist, who 
carried on business for many years in Armstrong-street. 
According to notice, Mr. Towl brought forward his motion 
re dispensing for Friendly Societies. The matter was post- 
poned till next meeting, in order to obtain information rela- 
tive to the working of the Friendly Societies’ dispensaries in 
Melbourne and suburbs. 
The hon. secretary stated that he had attended the meeting 
of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society on 2nd April, and 
when the discussion on the alteration of laws and regulations 
was proceeding had introduced the request of the association re 
alteration in the method of voting for members of the council — 
viz., that it should be conducted by ballot instead of proxy 
papers; but it was not carried, on account of the expense 
attending the ballot method. Also, to save time and expense 
to country members, he had given notice of motion to the 
effect that the council meetings in future be held at three p.m., 
in lieu of eight p.m. 
The subject of the infringement of the price list by mem- 
bers of the association was brought up, and the president 
and secretary were deputed to wait upon one of the members 
respecting it. Considerable discussion then took place about 
the price of several articles not in the price list. The price of 
trusses was agreed upon as follows Single, 6s.; double, 
8s. 6d.; patent single, 8s. 6d.; double, 12s. 6d. Higginson’s 
enemas— common, 6s. 6d.; screw, 7s. 6d.; super., 10s. Guard’s 
hair dye, 4s. Members were requested to note any articles 
they thought it necessary to add to the list by next meeting ; 
after which fresh lists will be printed. 
Mr. Whittle again brought forward the question of altering 
the method of voting for members of the Council of the Phar- 
maceutical Society, and urged upon the hon. secretary to in- 
troduce the subject again at the general meeting on 7th May. 
Mr. Whittle also gave notice of motion to alter some of the 
rules of the association. 
Mr. H. Rocke, of Melbourne, was present for a short time. 
The customary vote of thanks to the chair brought the 
meeting to a close. 
We regret to record the death of Mr. Joseph Longstaff 
chemist, which took place on the 4th of May, at his residence^ 
Victoria-street. ^ The deceased gentleman arrived in Ballarat 
in the year 1857, and founded the business in Bridge-street 
now being carried on by his cousin, Mr. T. Longstaff ; but a 
few years since he purchased the business of Mr. Keogh, whole- 
sale chemist, in Melbourne. The troublesome legal proceed- 
ings which arose out of this transaction, coupled with a serious 
illness, undermined his previous comparatively strong con- 
stitution. He returned to Ballarat about three weeks since 
with a premonition of his early death, and with a desire to end 
his days where he had spent such a considerable portion of his 
life, and where he had earned for himself the respect and 
esteem of all with whom he had come in contact. Mr. Long- 
staff leaves a widow and five children, who, we are sure, will 
receive the condolence and sympathy of a very wide circle of 
friends . — Ballarat Star. 
We regret to record the death of Mr. J. C. Proctor, at the 
Ballarat Hospital, on the 1st April, where deceased had been 
for some weeks, under treatment for tumor. Mr. Proctor was 
fifty-five years of age, and brother-in-law to Dr. Stewart 
whose dispensary in Armstrong-street the deceased managed 
for some time. He was also with Mr. Cowl, of Sturt-street 
as an assistant intermittently, for some years. The deceased 
had resided in Ballarat for twenty-seven years, and bore the 
reputation of being an excellent chemist. 
The unpleasant and offensive odour of iodoform is easily 
overcome by E. Biermann by the addition of from 5 to 8 drops 
of volatile oil of fennel to 1 gram of iodoform. Its efficacy is 
really surprising, and far exceeds that of oil of peppermint 
(see Amer Jour. Pharm April, 1879, p. 190) and of balsam of 
Peru, — Pharm. Ztg . 
