10 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
June, 1882. 
unaware of its character, and blaming those who prepared 
it, as well as the Government for allowing it to be sold in 
such a manner as to mislead people. The jury returned 
a verdict in accordance with this direction, and requested 
the coroner to communicate with the Home Secretary, for 
the purpose of pointing out the danger of allowing patent 
medicines containing poison to be sold freely with labels 
not clearly defining the danger of taking them and with a 
name indicating harmlessness. Though the account given 
of this case in the newspaper reports we have seen is not 
altogether free from obscurity in some respects, it is 
probable that the general expression of opinion to the 
Home Secretary in regard to the sale of poisons as patent 
medicines will not be without good effect.” — Pharmaceu- 
tical Journal. 
Ike iftonth. 
At the request of the honorary general secretaries to the 
British Pharmaceutical Conference the following circular has 
been sent to every chemist on the Pharmaceutical Register of 
Victoria : — 
“ Sir — The annual meeting of the Conference will this year 
be held at Southampton, commencing on Tuesday, the 22nd 
of August, at 10.30 a.m. precisely. The following sub- 
jects are suggested for investigation. The Executive Com- 
mittee hope that you will undertake to work on one or more 
of the questions, or upon others that may occur to you. The 
committee, anxious to add new subjects to this list as others 
are worked out, will be glad to receive from you any questions 
that may have presented themselves as desirable for investi- 
gation. Authors are specially requested to send the titles of 
the papers they intend to read, to the secretary British Phar- 
maceutical Conference, Broomsbury-square, London, W.C., as 
soon as possible, or not later than two or three weeks before 
the annual meeting. The subjects will then be publicly an- 
nounced, and thus full interest secured. All manuscripts of 
papers should be in the hands of the Executive Committee at 
least ten days before the meeting. ” 
“ Yours faithfully, 
“ F. BADEN BENGER, ) TT 0 „ 
“ MICHAEL CARTEIGHE, f Jdon ' eGS * 
The Chemists of Echuca: — A meeting of the resident 
chemists in Echuca having been convened by Mr. Calder, of 
Hare-street, for the purpose of considering the advisability of 
forming an association to decide upon hours of closing, and 
other matters affecting the interests of the chemists in this 
district, the meeting took place on the 22nd May ; present— 
Mr. Warrington, in the chair, Mr. Calder, and Mr. Grace, the 
latter representing the new firm of Messrs. Grace and Co. A 
letter was read from Mr. Strong, of High-street, stating his 
inability through illness to attend ; another letter was read 
from Mr. Fairthorne declining to attend, and giving a reason 
which it was considered could only have arisen from an erron- 
eous impression as to the objects of the meeting. After some 
discussion it was decided, as only three of the chemists of 
Echuca were represented, to abandon the formation of an 
association for the present. 
The recent great advance in the position of the advocates of 
the germ theory is amusingly illustrated by an episode in the 
pathological section of the Medical Congress, recorded in the 
Medical Times and Gazette. Dr. Bastian, in a speech, had 
alleged that wherever tissues are deprived of vitality, or have 
their vital power lowered, organisms can originate spon- 
taneously. M. Pasteur said he had not understood Dr. 
Bastian’s remarks, but it had been explained to him that that 
gentleman advocated the spontaneous generation of organisms, 
and, turning to Dr. Bastian, he asked if this were true. Not 
receiving an immediate negative, M. Pasteur raised his hands 
and exclaimed, “ Mon Dieu ! mon Dieu 1 est-ce que nous 
sommes encore 1&? Mais, mon Dieu, ce n’est pas possible 1” 
and then .in a vigorous speech proceeded to demolish Dr. 
Bastian’s arguments. 
The Accident to Mr. Fred. Fairthorne. — The many 
friends of Mr. Frederick Fairthorne will be glad to hear that 
somewhat reassuring news was received yesterday concerning 
the recent injury to his eye. Dr. Bowen, the well-known Mel- 
bourne oculist, holds out some hopes of the ultimate restora- 
tion to sight of the injured optic. At present it is useless, 
although the opacity is not so intense as it was. An operation 
will be performed when all inflammatory and other disturbing 
symptoms have disappeared. One eye only was hurt, the other 
being perfectly sound. The accident was caused by the burst- 
ing of a tube of nitrate of amyle, which is a very volatile 
chemical, the warmth of Mr. Fairthorne’s hands, it is supposed, 
provoking an expansion of gases to a greater extent than the 
tube could bear. Whether a minute splinter of glass or the 
nitrate of amyle caused the injury to the eye, is undetermined 
as yet. — Launceston Examiner , 5 th May. 
An amusing scene occurred a few days ago in a chemist’s 
shop not many miles from Brunswick-street. A young lady 
entered and had a prescription made up, and during the time 
required examined various articles in the show cases around. 
When paying for the drugs she inquired the price of some 
soap which had taken her fancy, and the assistant being unable 
to answer called the proprietor. This gentleman came forward 
all smiles and smirks. “Ah 1” he said, “that is a beautiful 
soap ; quite a new article ; most excellent for babies, miss ; 
most excellent for babies !” “ Oh ! I presume it is what you 
use, then,” the young lady retorted, and left the chemist 
staring after her with astonishment and vexation. “ Confound 
her impudence,” he muttered, as he turned and found the 
assistants almost exploding in their efforts to control their 
laughter. 
Mr. G. M. Reid, formerly of Castlemaine, has passed his 
second medical examination at the Edinburgh University. 
In another column Mr. J. Holdsworth, of Sandhurst, 
advertises a number of patent and proprietary medicines for 
sale or exchange. 
The business for some years carried on by Mr. J. Warring- 
ton at Echuca has been sold to Dr. Grace, of West Mel- 
bourne. 
Mr. A. A. Rigney, who for a number of years acted as dis- 
penser at the Sale Hospital, has resigned his appointment and 
purchased the business of Mr. D. M. T. Lerew at Shepparton. 
Another business has changed hands, Mr. Peddington, who 
for the last nine years has been assistant with Mr. J. Walton, 
of Gertrude-street, Fitzroy, having recently purchased Mr. 
W. Witt’s business in Carlton: 
Mr. J. C. Jones, Campbell-parade, Richmond, announces 
having taken his son, Mr. J. C. C. Jones, into partnership. 
The firm will in future be J. C. Jones and Son. 
Dr. Thomas Hopper, of Carngham, has been good enough to 
forward a complete copy of the Chemist and Druggist from 
May, 1880, for the Melbourne Public Library. 
Messrs. Rennick, Kemsley and Co., 55 Little Collins-street 
West, desire to bring under notice that they have just received 
a number of binocular and minocular microscopes from the 
well-known manufacturer, Henry Crouch, of London. 
Jtteeiittp. 
THE PHARMACY BOARD OF VICTORIA. 
The monthly meeting of the Board was held at No. 100 
Collins-street, on the 10th May. Present— Messrs. Brind, 
Lewis, Blackett, Bowen, and Owen; Mr. Brind in the chair. 
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and con- 
firmed. Apologies were received from Messrs. Bosisto and 
Holdsworth. 
Application for registration approved— William Ball, 96 
Swanston- street. 
Apprentices indentures registered— F. Waller, Sandhurst ; 
C. S. E. D. Carlisle, Hawthorn ; Richard Derry Bowen, Mel- 
bourne. 
The following cases were considered:— W. F. G. Nettleton, 
Warrnambool, application to be restored to the pharmaceutical 
register. Mr. Nettleton attended personally before the board 
to support his case. After due consideration, the board de- 
clined to restore Mr. Nettleton’s name. The second and third 
