VoL. i. No. 1. THE CHEMIST AND DEUGGIST OF AUSTEALASIA. 
caries’ Begistratxon Ordinance, 1881, with respect to any 
person appointed in lieu of a medical officer to visit any 
plantation hospital or infirmary in any district. These are the 
clauses imposing penalties on unregistered persons for practis- 
ing medicine or Pharmacy, and on Pliarmaceutists and Apothe- 
caries for prescribing or performing operations. 
Fiji New Customs’ Dues. 
The Customs’ duties payable in Fiji have been revised, and 
are published in a schedule to “The Customs’ Duties Ordi- 
nance, 1885,” passed on October 13. 
Drugs including all articles used as medicine, are charged 
15 per cent., ad valorem ; aerated and mineral waters, 9d. per 
dozen pints ; methylated spirits, 2s. per gallon ; opium, 
including all goods, Ac., mixed or saturated with opium, or 
with any preparation or solution thereof, or steeped therein, 
per lb., 15s; perfumery and perfumed oils, 15 per cent., ad 
valorem ; spirits of all kinds, 14s. per liquid gallon ; soap, ^d. 
per lb. ; fancy, scented or medicated soap, 15 per cent., ad 
valorem ; sponges, 10 per cent., ad valorem ; articles not 
specified, 5 per cent., ad valorem. 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 
(from our own correspondent). 
In the “ Government Gazette ” of November 27, notice was 
given that it was intended to apply to the Parliament of New 
South Wales, in the present session thereof, for leave to bring 
in a Bill to form a company to be known as the “Pharmaceu- 
tical Spciety of New South Wales,” into a body corporate by 
the style and title aforesaid, with perpetual succession and a 
common seal, with power to sue and to be sued, and to acquire 
and hold real and personal estate, and to examine and to 
decide iqjon the admission or rejection of members thereof, 
and to grant diplomas to qualified members, and by which 
Bill the liability of members of the said proposed body corpo- 
rate is defined and limited. 
At the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the 
Sydney Hospital, on December 1, the j)rice paid for surgical 
instruments was under 'discussion. Mr. Abigail considered 
that it was too high. It was ascertained that they were 
ordered by the Secretary, and afterwards submitted to the 
medical staft for their approval, though without the prices 
paid for them. It was suggested that a better plan would be 
in the future for the Senior Medical Officer, and the Secretary 
to order all instruments in conjunction, and the whole matter 
was referred to the House Committee. 
At the meeting of the Senate of the University of Sydney, 
on December 7, the following resolution was carried, on the 
motion of Professor Stuart — “That a committee consisting 
of the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart, Dr. 
MacLaurin, and Dr. Eenwick, be appointed to draw up and 
transmit to the proper authorities in the United Kingdom, a 
memorial, praying that graduates in Medicine of the University 
of Sydney be accorded by law rights and privileges equal to 
those enjoyed by graduates in Medicine of Universities in the 
United Kingdom.” 
The N.S.W. branch of the British Medical Association has 
had under its consideration the question of the registration of 
deaths. At a meeting held on December 4, a report was 
received from a committee appointed to enquire into the regu- 
lations. One point insisted upon is that the true cause of 
death should be a matter of confidential communication 
between the medical inactitioner and the Begistrar-General. 
Further, in cases where the attendance of a medical practi- 
tioner could not be obtained, they would make provision for 
receiving certificates that the death was from natural causes 
from some responsible person, such as a J.P., a clergyman 
authorised to celebrate marriages, or a police officer of the 
district. Other more technical details were suggested in the 
report which was forwarded to the Begistrar-General of New 
South Wales. 
The Customs’ returns, for the week ending November 20, 
showed that 11 cases of opium had been imported during the 
week, while 73 cases had been in stock ; duty had been paid 
on 9, and 3 had been exported, leaving the stock at 72 cases. 
Penny stamped tappers, available for all mail matter, have 
been issued by the General Post Office, and are on sale at 2s. 
2d. a packet of 25. Postage stamps of the value of 10s. and 
20s. have been issued. They are the same as the duty stamps 
bu surcharged ^Yith the word “ postage.” 
BOYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
Microscopical Section. 
At the last meeting of the session, held on December 14, 
Dr. Morris exhibited a test slide of amiihiplenra pellucida, 
mounted in a new medium of great refractive power. Equal 
parts of sulphur and arsenic disulphide, with one-twentieth 
part of mercury dioxide, are fused on a piece of mica, sub- 
limed on to the cover glass, finally re-melted on the ’cover 
glass, and mounted in Canada balsam. The very thinnest 
cover glass maybe used, which is a matter of great importance 
when high powers are employed. Dr. Morris strongly recom- 
naends the final mounting in Canada balsam. The slide exhi- 
bited was carefully compared by the members with the latest 
test, a pellucida mounted by Dr. Chase, of New York, and it 
was the general opinion that the new medium produced the 
best results. 
QUEENSLAND. 
(from our own correspondent.) 
The general feeling here is that “ The Che just and Druggist 
OF Australasia” will be a great boon, as hitherto we have been 
quite in the dark as to the doings of our brethren scattered 
over our great colony. It is hoped that the proprietors will 
meet with the success they deserve in their undertaking. 
Some of the home houses will, perhaps, learn a little geography 
from your new journal, and find that Brisbane is not in New 
South Wales. 
The Pharmacy Board have been busy preparing a new list 
of chemists, which will be published at the beginning of the 
year. There has been no meeting of the Pliarmaceutical 
Society during the month. 
I understand that the Pharmacy Board- have the syllabus 
for examinations ready, it will be on similar lines to that 
used in Great Britain. Unfortunately the Premier, the Hon. 
S. Griffiths, is too busy with cholera regulations to attend 
much to pharmacy. The syllabus must be approved by him 
as representing the Government, and even then examiners 
will have to be appointed before the first examination can 
be held. 
I notice that Mr J. C. Moffatt, chemist, who has been on a 
visit to the old country with his family, is among the saloon 
passengers quarantined at Peel Island on account of the out- 
break of cholera. 
Mr. Moffat has addressed a letter to the Brhhane Courier, 
couched in cheerful terms. No such thing as panic ever 
held sway among the passengers who are making the best of 
their detention. They are rather short of reading matter. 
One of them, a naturalist, is making use of his golden 
opportunity for collecting. Mr. Moffat thanks gentlemen who 
have sent over milch cows and cricketing materials. 
The Licensing Act, 49 Viet. No. 18, which was assented to 
on November 10, contains a special proviso that none of its 
provisions shall apply to any person who sells any spirituous 
or distilled perfume bona fide as perfumery, or being an 
apothecary, chemist, or druggist, administers or sells any 
spirits as medicine, or for medicinal or chemical j^urposes. It 
also gives inspectors extensive powers of search in cases where 
adulteration is suspected. They are to be allowed, if necessary, 
to break open any room, and to take any samples they may 
desire. These are to be submitted to a “Government analyst,” 
or, in case there is no such official, to a person appointed by 
the Minister to examine or analyse them. Adulterated liquors 
are to be forfeited, and the vendor is liable to a penalty of not 
less than £10 or more than £50 for a first offence, and not 
less than £50 nor more than £100 for the second offence, with 
liability to imprisonment and forfeiture of his license. 
In one section a long list of adulterations is given, including 
cocculus indicus, coixperas, opium, Indian hemp, strychnine, 
darnel seed, extract of logwood, salts of zinc, alum, or any 
extract or compound of such ingredients or any other delete- 
rious matter or thing. Any publican who has any of these 
things on his licensed premises, and is unable to account 
satisfactorily for their possession, or shall mix any of them 
or tobacco or salt, with his liquor, shall be guilty of an offence 
under the Act. 
Owing to the prolonged drought, business is reported to be 
veiy dull all over the colony. Still there have been many new 
businesses started during the last few months. In Brisbane, 
