8G THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. March, 1882. 
gation of Alstonia spectabilis bark by one of A, constricta 
bark, in which he has found three alkaloids, with evidence of 
a fourth. Messrs. Harnack and H. Meyer state that they are 
able to confirm the suspected existence of two jaborandi alka- 
loids differing in physiological action. The new alkaloid 
“ jaborine” appears to be readily formed from pilocarpine, 
and may be altogether a product of alteration ; it is said to 
be frequently present in commercial pilocarpine, when its 
physiological action dominates that of pilocarpine ; it is 
said that perfectly pure pilocarpine has a physiological 
action similar to that of nicotine, which alkaloid it 
resembles in yielding pyridine bases upon decomposition ; 
if distilled with excess of potash a small proportion of a base 
passes over apparently identical with coniine. Pituri has been 
investigated by Professor Liversedge, who has arrived at the 
conclusion that its alkaloid is not identical with nicotine, as 
alleged by M. Petit. The presence of nicotine in Indian hemp 
has been also disproved by Messrs. Siebold and Bradbury. 
Cape tea has been examined by Mr. H. G. Greenish, who has 
found it to be devoid of theine, but to contain a glucoside and 
a body giving a green fluorescence in alkaline liquids. Om- 
phalocarpum procera , also, has been examined for theine, by 
Mr. Naylor, with a negative result ; this and the discovery of 
the presence of bodies analogous to gutta and saponin appear 
to clear up a doubt as to whether the genus belongs to the 
Sapotacete or the Ternstroemiaceas. Nerium odorurri has 
yielded to Mr. H. G. Greenish two bitter principles, probably 
glucosides, and both powerful cardiac poisons, and Professor 
Warden has signalised the presence of pseudoindican in The- 
vetia nereifolia. Messrs. Wright and Rennie have described, 
under the name of “ glycyphyllin” the sweet principle of the 
leaves of Smilax gly cophylla, used in Australia against scurvy. 
From Erytlirina corallodroendn , a leguminous tree of which 
the bark is used in Brazil as a hypnotic, M. Bochefontaine has 
isolated an alkaloid and named it “ erythrine.” From another 
South American plant belonging to the Rutaceas, the Xan- 
thoxylwn Naranjillo, said to resemble jaborandi in its physio- 
logical actions, Dr. Parodi has separated a hydrocarbon ana- 
logous to pilocarpine. Aspidium rigidum, a Californian fern 
that has been recommended in the treatment of tasnia, has 
been found by Mr. Bowman to contain a resin and an acid 
similar to male fern. Further, Mr. T. B. Groves has reiterated 
a previous statement as to the presence of codeia and narecia 
in poppy capsules that appeared to have been overlooked . 
Enormous strides have been made in our knowledge of the 
organisms which are now generally admitted to be the deter- 
mining causes of infective diseases, and sufficient has been 
published in this journal to show that pharmacists are much 
interested in the subject. It may be a long time before 
Punch's sketch of a pharmacist being called upon to supply 
various kinds of these organisms is realised, but what has been 
done with pepsine and its allies shows that the ferments are 
not outside pharmacy, and even now the treatment of disease 
is sufficiently affected to make its mark upon the materia 
medica. Among the chemical substances that have been put 
forward more prominently during the past year in the anti- 
septic treatment of disease are resorcin, hydroquinone, cin- 
namic acid, styrone, and oil of eucalyptus. Amongst other 
new remedies, chinoline has been recommended as a cheap 
substitute for quinine ; /3-naphthol as a substitute for 
tar in the treatment of skin diseases ; salicylated camphor 
in lupus, hydrofluoric acid in goitre, and benzoate of calcium 
in albuminuria. 
The obituary of the year includes several names which were 
as household words among the pharmacists of Great Britain. 
Scotland has lost in John Mackay a most indefatigable and 
genial leader, who for forty years was the directing spirit of 
the North British Branch as its honorary secretary ; and in 
Henry Baildon, one who helped in the foundation of the 
branch and afterwards served in the office of president and as 
a member of the board of examiners. In England John 
Abraham and Isaiah Bourdas have passed away, both formerly 
members of the council, and the latter for a short time vice- 
president. In John Stenhouse, too, we have lost an eminent 
chemist who lent lustre to the roll of honorary members of 
the Pharmaceutical Society. Lastly, William Gowen Cross 
was the first local secretary to the society for Shrewsbury, and 
served it in that capacity until the time of his death. 
Peculiar Property op Bromine.— A fine tube is half- 
filled with bromine and hermetically sealed ; on heating, the 
bromine becomes opaque, so that the tube appears to be filled 
with a dark red resin. 
ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE OF WATER 
Obtained at a depth of 57 feet on the plains of the parish of 
Marnoo t for the Shire Council of Stawell. 
(By John Kruse.) 
The appearance clear, with minute black sediment when first 
uncorked, emitting an odour of hydrogen sulphide ; taste, bitter 
saline. Sp. gr., 1018. Reaction to test-paper neutral. Amount 
of saline matter, nearly 1523 grains to the gal., or about 2 per 
cent. 
The saline matter was found to be composed in 100 narts 
of : — 
Sodium chloride 
80*34 
Magnesium do 
8-71 
Magnesium sulphate 
723 
Calcium do. 
3-72 
100-00 
PHARMACY BOARD EXAMINATIONS. 
The preliminary examination was held at Melbourne, Ballarat, 
Sandhurst, and Warrnambool on the 2nd March. 
The following are the candidates who passed : — J. J. M. 
Hemmons, Warrnambool ; Wm. Watson, Sandhurst. At the 
modified examination, held on the 6th March, 1882, Alric 
0. Hughes, Greville-street, Prahran, passed. 
EXAMINATION FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF THE 
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY. 
The examination was held at the rooms of the Pharmaceutical 
Society on the 6th March, before the examiners appointed by 
the Pharmacy Board (Messrs. Bosisto, Blackett, and Johnson). 
William Lowe, Sandridge, and Sidney Victor Say, Carlton, 
passed in all subjects ; and Thomas S. Woodfull, Prahran, 
in chemistry (the only subject taken). 
THE PHARMACY BOARD OF VICTORIA. 
Paper Used at the Sixteenth Preliminary Examina- 
tion, 2nd March, 1882. 
Time allowed — Three hours. 
Latin. 
Caesar. De Bello Gallico. ( a ) Lib. I., cap. 19. — Quibus 
rebus cognitis, quum ad has suspiciones certissimaa res acce- 
derent, quod per fines Sequanorum Helvetios transduxissent, 
quod obsides inter se dandos esse curasset, quod ea omnia non 
modo injussu suo et civitatis, sed etiam inscientibus ipsis 
fecisset, quod a magistratu iEduorum accusaretur, satis esse 
causae arbitrabatur, quare in eum aut ipse animadverteret, aut 
civitatum animadvertere juberet. 
(a) Translate the above literally. To whom does it refer ? 
(b) Parse every verb in it fully, omitting participles. 
(<?) What case is each of the following words in, and what 
is the rule in each case? — Rebus, Helvetios, ea, civitatis, 
inscientibus, causse. 
( d ) Write out all the indicative mood, active and passive, 
of “ do,” and all the subjunctive active of “ facio.” 
{e) Write out in full the declension of “obses” and “ ipse.” 
(b) Lib. I., cap. 31. — Locutus est pro his Divitiacus iEduus : 
Gallias totius factiones esse duas : harum alterius principatum 
tenere iEduos, alterius Arvernos. Hi quum tanto opere de 
potentatu inter se multos annos contenderent, factum esse uti 
ab Arvenis Sequanisque Germani mercede arcesserentur. 
Horum primo circiter milliaXV Rhenum transisse: posteaquam 
agros et cultum et copias Gallorum homines feri ac barbari 
adamassent, traductos plures : nunc esse in Gallia ad C et XX 
millium numerum. 
(a) Translate the above literally. 
(b) Why are the infinitives used throughout ? 
(e) Write out in full the Latin numerals for which XV, C, 
aand XX are symbols. 
Translate into Latin — 
(a) All these people differ from each other in language, 
customs, and laws. 
(b) He says, that all these people differ from each other in 
language, customs, and laws. 
Arithmetic. 
1. Multiply £453 11s. 9£d. by 365. 
2. Divide £4 3s. 9d. by 2§. 
