March, 1881. 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
85 
It remains to be added that the interest attached to this 
species rests not merely on its stateliness for scenic purposes 
in horticulture, its stem (like the trunk of its congeners) con- 
taining a peculiar starch, though garden traffic ought to hold 
this Zamia too valuable to be sacrificed for technical pur- 
poses ; but the acrid principle which pervades these plants, 
and especially the alluring fruits, is so intense that fatal 
poison cases have actually occurred in these colonies from 
consuming Zamia fruits without maceration and baking, yet 
the peculiar principle of acridity has never been chemically 
ascertained, and thus awaits, perhaps for important thera- 
peutic purposes, careful elucidation. 
To the Editor of The Australasian Supplement to the Chemist 
and Druggist. 
Sir — As there are two sides to every question, so there are 
two ways of looking at facts. And I am sure your corre- 
spondent in last month’s issue, “ Sensus Communis,” will not 
find fault with a brother pharmacist because he may not have 
common-sense enough to see things in exactly the same light 
as he does. No doubt there is enough of the patent medicine 
trade in the world just now ; so there has been, and ever will 
be, whilst the orb goes round ; but that we, as a body of reason- 
able men, have any cause to grumble because certain persons 
take the trouble to place on the cover of a neatly got up 
almanac, or on the back of a pretty picture card, our name, 
without first consulting us, I fail to see. Nor do I think that 
the mere fact of our names appearing thereon makes us god- 
fathers to the preparation, whatever it may be ; and if it be 
intended (as I think it is) to give purchasers some idea of 
where the genuine article may be procured, instead of allowing 
them to seek it at the nearest huckster’s shop, my opinion is 
that, so far from complaining, we have reason to be thankful 
that the transaction was so directed. 
Patent medicines will be in demand, and quack pills and 
powders swallowed, as long as time endures. And if by the 
use of my humble name the traffic in them can be diverted 
from the contact of cheese, butter, eggs, and treacle to the 
counter of the qualified chemist, Drs. Jayne, Ayer, Holloway, 
and the rest are quite welcome to use it. — I am, sir, your 
obedient servant, Nostrum. 
To the Editor of The Australasian Supplement to the Chemist 
and Druggist, 
Sir— -As an attendant at the late annual meeting, I was much 
gratified at not only seeing so influential and numerous an 
assembly, but also at the tone of thought and unanimity 
regarding the business of the society. Of course, there was 
the usual spluttering of a pigmy volcano from simply a mis- 
conception of a few details which were effectually illuminated 
by explanation, and regarding which at future meetings I 
would like to offer a suggestion to metropolitan members 
that, if followed, would, I think, to some extent check that 
carping spirit which is so apt to germinate feelings of an 
unfavourable character, and with suitable soil make such 
rapid growth, for 
Small herbs have grace ; 
Great weeds do grow apace. 
To those desirous of advancing the interests of the society, 
and who take a vital interest in its concerns, and therefore 
are its most valued members, being at times placed in a 
decided disadvantage to other “ go-as-you-please,” lukewarm 
members, who are mere subscribing, but otherwise dis- 
interested, adherents, my suggestion is that as the society’s 
office is so centrally situated, and the courtesy of our 
able honorary secretary so proverbial, that the annual 
accounts and report . being praiseworthily circulated ante- 
cedent to the meeting, it would be politic for residents 
in and near Melbourne feeling a proper interest in its?, 
affairs, and desiring further information or details regard- 
ing the council’s statements than appear in its report, 
to wait on the honorary secretary, before the meeting, to 
obtain any explanation that may be deemed necessary, and 
which, if unexplained or thought unsatisfactory, could then 
at the meeting be better dealt with, I venture to believe, than 
by reserving all such inquiries, with all details, till the meeting 
actually takes place. Such a procedure as I suggest would 
effectually sift out all but those matters in which the general 
body of members would feel an interest in hearing discussed, 
and the introduction and importance of which would be con- 
sidered by all as desirable and praiseworthy. An honorary 
council should not, I take it, be questioned at a public meeting 
on unimportant matters of detail, as it retards progress, and is 
apt to engender an undesirable and unamiable spirit, oftimes 
affecting and lasting during the continuance of the meeting. 
But where reason and common-sense points to errors or mis- 
direction, I say impugn the ruling authorities in scorn of 
consequence. 
The council should, I think, take into their earliest con- 
sideration the advisability of making strenuous exertions for 
augmenting the number of its members. Surely a direct 
appeal by circular, enumerating the advantages to be per- 
sonally derived from joining, and the obligations of every 
pharmacist to swell the ranks, and thus add to the welfare 
of the society, would be sure to, on some, have the desired 
effect ; this, with the creditable and pleasing esprit de 
corps evinced by the heads of our wholesale houses, who, 
on proper representation, I feel, would allow their repre- 
sentatives to interest themselves in furthering the coun- 
cil’s views, who, in turn, would communicate direct to 
the honorary secretary the views of these gentlemen, to 
whom they had introduced the question, so that in time the 
council could state that almost every registered pharmacist had 
been personally asked “ to do his duty” to himself to 
advance and protect pharmacy throughout the whole of Aus- 
tralasia, and to assist and nourish a young and promising 
child of science and trade, so that its constitution may be 
built up a credit to those who nobly father it now and to those 
who may hereafter take our places in the rank and file of 
pharmacy. 
It is now many years since a determined effort was made to 
secure to all more freedom from the present unnecessary 
number of hours (of slavery) to business ; and, as our worthy 
president alluded to it in his apt address, will our new council 
again see what may be done in this direction ? — Yours, &c., 
Henricus. 
ANNUAL CRICKET MATCH. 
The annual match between the wholesale and retail chemists 
was played on the Melbourne ground on Thursday, 7th April, 
and resulted, after a very close and exciting finish, in a victory 
for the retail by two runs. There was a good attendance, and 
some interest was manifested in the match. Mr. J. Hemmons 
acted for the wholesale as umpire. The following are the 
respective scores 
Wholesale. 
Treadaway, b Ross o 
Lyons (captain), b Ross 30 
Jenkinson, b Ross 21 
Coates, st Wade, b Strutt ! .* 16 
Duff, b Ross 8 
Court, b Ross o 
Floyd, b Ross o 
Moss, c Barnard, b Lewis l 
Cherry, b Lewis o 
Anderson, b Ross o 
Fripp, not out o 
Byes i 
Leg-byes 5 
Total 82 
Bowling Analysis. — Ross, 66 balls, 31 runs, 7 wickets ; Lewis, 42 balls, 
20 runs, 2 wickets ; M‘Kie, 18 balls, 10 runs ; Strutt, 18 balls, 15 runs, 1 
wicket. 
Retail. 
Hope, b Floyd 13 
M‘Kie, b Treadaway 1 
Lewis, b Floyd 0 
Strutt, b Treadaway n 
Ross (captain), b Moss 13 
Barnard, run out 7 
Cunningham, b Floyd 18 
Atkin, c Lyons, b Treadaway 
Wade, b Treadaway 
Baker, b Floyd . . ! 16 
Cunningham, not out 
Byes ’ ’ 2 
Total 
.. 84 
Bowling Analysis. —Treadaway, 72 balls, 31 runs, 4 wickets; Floyd, 54 
balls, 20 runs, 4 wickets ; Moss, 18 balls, 9 runs, 1 wicket; Jenkinson, 12 
balls, 18 runs ; Lyons, 12 balls, 6 runs. 
In the second innings the wholesale lost eight wickets for 
105, Treadaway (60) and Moss (22) being the highest scorers. 
