VoL. i. No. 4. 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST OF AUSTRALASIA. 
75 
Corrcsponbcivtc, 
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents. 
THE ACCIDENT ON THE MANAPOUEI. 
To the Editor of the Chemist and Druggist of Australasia. 
Sir, — By this mail I send, you a copy of a Napier paper 
containing an account of the inquest on the chief mate of the 
s.s. “ Manapouri,” who died from inhaling the fumes of nitric 
acid, a 2-gallon jar of which was broken in the hold of that 
vessel on her way from Auckland. The third mate and a sea- 
man have since died in Gisborne. 
Several questions of interest to us were raised at the inquest, 
which could be beneficially discussed in your columns. For 
instance : 1. Was the case sufficiently marked ? and was suffi- 
cient notice given by the shippers? The jury thought not. 
The only notice was by the usual consignment note, and the 
case was marked on the top as acids are usually sent out. 2. 
Was it proiierly packed? The case was 
an upright case, sufficiently large to hold 
the jar and allow from an inch to an 
inch and a half at the sides for packing. 
The material used was sawdust. The 
broken jar was still in position when I 
saw it on show at the inquest, and about a third full of acid — 
evidently, froin the softened and yellow colour of the case, and 
the yellow staining of the skin, nitric acid. The case had 
evidently been laid on its side, for some of the sawdust and 
half the cover were charred ; also the angles of the case, which 
was said to have been taken out of the hold inflames. This, 
I must confess, puzzles me. I have seen several accidents 
with nitric acid, but have never seen combustion result; nor 
can I find any mention of it in any book at my disposal. 
Taylor, “on poisons,” mentions the dangerous character of 
the fumes of mixed nitric and sulphuric acids, and as the 
latter is said to be a frequent impurity in nitric acid, possibly 
that may account for the noxious nature of the fumes and the 
combustion. 
Would it not be advisable that officers of vessels carrying 
cargo should have furnished them instructions as to what to 
do in such ernergencies ? A wet cloth over the mouth and nose 
before going into the hold would have possibly prevented the 
sad results. 
Yours, Ac., 
Napier, New Zealand, PHAEMACIST. 
March 5th, 1886. 
ANNUAL EEPOET OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL 
SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA. 
lo the Editor of the Chemist and Druggist of Australasia. 
Dear Sir,— Being a member of the Pharmaceutical Society 
of Australasia, I received the twenty-ninth annual report of 
the council of that society, and glancing through it I find 
statements^ made in it which are grossly incorrect, and how 
the council of^ the society, which has given itself such a 
grandiloquent title, has allowed such an incorrect report to be 
placed before its members is beyond my comprehension. 
First of all, the paragraph referring to the Intercolonial 
Conference which was to have been held in Sydney, is incorrect, 
to say the least of it. The Pharmaceutical Society of N.S.W. 
never received from Melbourne a statement or programme of 
subjects, which the Melbourne Society wished to be discussed 
at the Conference, and in fact that was one of the reasons that 
the Conference postponed. I may say that the Melbourne 
Society, as far as I can judge, did all it could to make matters 
unpleasant. The N.S.W. Society placed ample funds (£200) 
at the disposal of the Conference, and had the other colonies 
taken a little more interest in the matter, all would have pro- 
ceeded satisfactorily. 
Then again, the paragraph referring to the Melbourne Con- 
ference, which IS expected to take place in October. How can 
it receive the support of the N.S.W. Society? I do not think 
anyone will officially be present from Sydney in October, and 
as for the projected Melbourne Conference meeting with 
support throughout Australia, I know it is not likely, the general 
feeling being one of utter disregard ; and, nay, a perfect feeling 
of apathy exists concerning the matter among the general body 
of Pharmacists throughout Australasia. 
I, for one, would be glad to see the Pharmacy laws of the 
various colonies assimilated; and the N.S.W. Society took the 
necessary course to have the matter discussed at the Conference, 
but received no support from the colonies, as can be seen by 
the various replies to the invitation which was issued. The 
paragraph mentions “friendly interchange of opinions.” I 
expect all would be well, provided certain people in Melbourne 
could air their eloquence, and take the lead of affairs generally. 
Another paragraph of this report deals with the discon- 
tinuance of the issue of the London Chemist and Druggist. If 
the members of the Society had been consulted in the matter, 
the issue of the Chemist and Druggist would have been con- 
tinued, as I, for one, and I am certain many others, care little 
about such a production as the “Australasian Journal of Phar- 
macy.” Take for instance the reports forwarded from Sydney, 
they are simply ridiculous, and have too much to say about the 
Technical College. Perhaps the Sydney correspondent formed 
one of the deputation from that institution which waited on 
the Minister of Public Instruction a few days ago with reference 
to issue of licences ; the \yhole thing was a perfect farce. The 
deputation consisted of six persons, of whom five had no con- 
nection the profession, and one is an employee in s^xvhole- 
sale drysalters of this city. I should advise the Pharmacists 
of N.S.W. to keep a sharp look out, and oppose the aims of 
the Board of Technical Education in every way in their 
endeavour to gain power to issue licences, and only support it 
as an 'educational body, when the Society in N.S.AY. has a 
voice in the appointment of the Instructor of the Pharmacy 
Department. 
In conclusion, may I ask, with many others, why theVic- 
toyian Society took the title “ Australasia ? ” Let us have your 
opinion, Mr. Editor, upon the subject, and also upon the high- 
handed way this so-called Australasian Society has conducted 
itself, both regarding the Conference, and the stand it seems, 
to have taken against the London Chemist and Druggist, which 
has been so much appreciated by our profession in these 
colonies. I may say I hope your journal was represented at 
the annual meeting of the Society, for, if not, I am afraid the 
report which will appear, will not be worth much, as it will 
not be what I consider an independent report. 
Hoping, at an early date, to see your comments upon the 
subject I have mentioned, and wishing your publication every 
success, 
I remain, 
Yours, Ac., 
A MEMBER OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY 
OF AUSTRALASIA. 
Sydney, March 14, 1886. 
HYDROBROMIC ACID. 
To the Editor of the Chemist and Dmggist of Australasia. 
Sir, — Some little time ago I made some of the Acidi 
Dromohydrici Sohitio according to the formula to be found in 
“ Squires Companion.” After allowing the deposit to settle, 
I filtered it, and set it aside for about a week. On looking at 
it at the end of that time I found a lot of well defined crystals 
deposited at the bottom, which had no taste, in fact, just like 
chewing pieces of glass. I have made this solution several 
times, but never had this happen before. Could you or any 
of your readers inform me, through your journal, what those 
crystals are ? I would be glad to forward sample of those 
kept. — I am. Sir, yours, etc., 
“ STUDENT.’^ 
New Zealand, March, 1886. 
DEATHS. 
Chapjian. — On Jan. 30th, 1886, at his residence, Dampier^s- 
Bay, Lyttleton, New Zealand, Henry Thomas Hugh 
Chapman, M.R.C.S., after two days’ illness, aged 42. 
Piper. — On the 17th ult., at South Yarra, Stanley Wedgwood, 
son of Walter George Piper, late of Anerley, London, 
S.E., aged 11 months. Norwood and Anerley papers 
please copy. 
McCoy. — On the 25th ult., at her residence, “ Maritima,” 
Brighton Beach, Anna Maria, the dearly-beloved wife of 
Professor McCoy. 
Boyes. — On the 26th March, at Albert Park, Herbert Baby 
Boyes, chemist, aged 27 years. 
ACID. 
G. & Co. 
C. 
This Side Up. 
