VoL. ii., No. 4. THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST OF AUSTRALASIA, 
A Pharmacy Act. 
I must not omit to draw especial attention to one item 
considered at our last meeting. I refer now to the resolution 
carried relating to the Pharmacy Act, The Council are em- 
powered to draw up a draft bill and present for discussion at a 
general meeting, at an early date. The question seems 
to be assuming a definite shape, which has undoubtedly been 
greatly assisted by the recommendation of the Pharmacy Acts 
Committee, who in their report advised a course, of which the 
above is the outcome. While the resolution was before the 
meeting a conversational discussion took place, and the ques- 
tion arose as to which of two Acts — the “Quebec Pharmacy 
Act 1885” or the “ Pharmacy Act of Victoria 1885” — it would 
be best to follow. Opinions for and against both were ex- 
pressed, and from a careful perusal of the two Acts it is 
jpatent that either would require modifying to suit our 
requirements ; but with two such bases as these Acts will 
most probably prove to be, the society should experience no 
difficulty in arriving at one, calculated to serve both the 
interest of the trade or profession and the public generally. 
It is hoped when the draft of a bill is laid before the society, 
a very large meeting will assemble to discuss it ; but on this 
point due notice will no doubt be given. 
RECIPROCITY WITH BRITAIN. 
The editorial remarks in your last issue anent the “inter- 
change of pharmaceutical certificates with Great Britain” 
ought to be most heartily endorsed by every pharmacist 
throughout Australasia. Cannot a little federation on this 
question be adopted? Let all the pharmaceutical societies 
and associations throughout these colonies unitedly petition 
the home authorities and the society of Great Britain on this 
most desirable recognition, and one is bound to believe their 
united action would carry weight with those with whom this 
“recognition” rests. Were the efforts on our part successful, 
they would prove a very pleasing and lasting memento of the 
Jubilee year. It certainly rests with Australians to make the 
first move in this matter. The combined membership of all 
the societies and associations must number several hundreds, 
and it is not easily believed that their combined action would 
be readily ignored, coming so soon after the splendid impres- 
sion which has recently been made at home by Australasia. 
Colonial Mustard. — The proprietors of the Waverley Vine- 
gar Works have recently founded a new industry, viz., the 
making of mustard from colonial-grown seed. They have 
bought this season something like 400 bushels of the seed at 
8s. per bushel, and state there is a market for a great deal 
more than that quantity. On their premises at West Terrace, 
the company dry the seed, then crush in a mill, after which it 
passes through a hydraulic jiress for the purpose of extracting 
the vegetable oil, which, on being clarified, finds a ready mar- 
ket. The seed cake which results from the pressure used, is 
then ground in a steam mortar, and after several siftings, is 
ready for use. It is affirmed that the colonial seed, from the 
dryness of the climate, is more pungent than the English, and 
the mustard made in the colony is steadily gaining favour, 
both for dietetic and medical purposes. 
Intercolonial Medical Congress. — The local committee of 
this congress, which it is purposed, shall be held in this city 
during the current year, have presented a “progress report,” 
and from it we gather the following items : — The date of 
meeting will extend from August 30th to September 2nd, both 
days included; an evening reception of members and guests 
will be held on August 29th at the University, and in the same 
building will be held all the meetings. Excursions are to be 
organised to places of interest in the neighbourhood of Ade- 
laide, and arrangements are being made with a view of obtain- 
ing reduced rail and steamboat fares. The governors of seven 
colonies have cordially expressed their approval of the project, 
and have authorised the committee to place the congress 
under their patronage. The business of the congress will be 
carried on in sections, based on the following subjects : — An- 
atomy and physiology, pathology and morbid anatomy, medi- 
cine, surgery, gyncecological medicine and surgery, diseases of 
children, mental diseases, ophthalmology, laryngology and 
otology, dermatology, materia medica, therapeutics and phar- 
macology, hygiene, state medicine. All those gentlemen who 
are desirous of contributing papers are requested to give early 
intimation of their intentions. The committee have received 
much encouragement by promises of support from the different 
colonies, and a large and representative 'gathering is antici- 
pated. 
97 
Tobacco Growing. — A grant of 2,500 acres of land, on the 
Darling River, Northern Territory, has recently been made by 
the Government to Mr. Brandt, who intends utilising this 
area for the cultivation of the tobacco plant. 
Chemical Manufacture. — At the late Autumn Show, the 
proprietor of the Adelaide Chemical Works, New Thebarton, 
had an exhibit of bonedust, superphosphate, sulphuric, sul- 
phurous, nitric, and muriatic acid. The demand for the 
sulphuric acid is now somewhat large, as it is used exten- 
sively in the production of superphosphate of lime, which is 
adopted in many parts of the colony as a fertilizer. 
South Australian Paper. — It has been well known, for 
some considerable time, that the porcupine grass and Mul- 
let’s fibre are suitable for paper making. Both of these pro- 
ducts abound all over the colony, and a short time back a 
quantity of the raw material was sent to England, for the 
purpose of having their value thoroughly tested. Messrs. 
Joynson, of Kent, England, manufactured the paper at their 
mills, and report “ that the paper made from the Mullets 
fibre is strong, well coloured, and with the addition of a com- 
moner material, such as the bark of the stringybark trees 
sawdust, or wood fibre mixed with it, a paper suitable for 
printing purposes could be manufactured profitably in the 
colony.” Here is an opportunity for some of our capitalists 
to invest. 
Fire. — Mr. H. Glover, chemist. Mount Gambler, on the 
morning of March 18, had a shed destroyed by fire. The 
damages amounted to only about £10 ; the brigades being 
promptly on the spot prevented more damage. 
Gas Retorts. — A trial has just been made of colonial- 
made retorts, used in the manufacture of coal gas. The ex- 
periment was made at the Yatala prison labour gasworks, 
and has proved most successful. Mr. W. Shearing, of the 
Hindmarsh Pottery, was the maker of the retorts, and I be- 
lieve this is the first trial of colonial-made retorts ever 
attempted in the colonies. 
Suicide by Poisoning. — Anne Gray, a married woman, re- 
siding at Farina, committed suicide by taking a quarter of a 
tea^ipoonful of strychnine, on March 4. From evidence taken 
at the inquest, it appears that deceased had been drinking 
heavily for a few days, and while recovering from the bout 
performed the rash act. Verdict returned was: “The de- 
ceased came by her death through poison administered by 
her own hand, in a fit of temporary insanity.” 
Jubilee Exhibition Items. — The space to be occupied by 
South Australia, at the Jubilee Exhibition, will amount to 
about 50,000 feet ; New South Wales and Victoria will require 
about 15,000 feet ; and the other colonies from 1,000 to 2,000 
feet, while for British and foreign exhibitors something like 
89,000 feet will be required. A large and valuable shipment 
of fine art exhibits is expected from Great Britain and 
Belgium. The executive committee have decided to accept 
the offer of the Australasian Electric Light and Storage Com- 
pany, to light the Exhibition Building and grounds, by means 
of electricity, for the sum of £4,000. This sum is exclusive of 
about £1,000, which will be required for gas lighting and ap- 
pliances. The Exhibition will be opened during three even- 
ings in each week. A design for the diploma has been ac- 
cepted, with some alterations and additions, and the sum of 
£10 awarded to the designer, “ Felix.” It is probable that 
the day of opening will be altered to June 30, instead of the 
21st. The building itself has so far advanced towards com- 
pletion, that on Saturday, March 12, the vice-President and 
Secretary formally took possession of the main portion. 
Goods for exhibition have commenced to arrive, and a large 
quantity is stored in the bonded warehouses. 
Among the names published of British firms who are ta 
exhibit at our Exhibition, I notice the follbwing, all of whom 
are connected with the drug trade : — Messrs. Gaskell, Deacon 
and Co., Lancashire, chemicals; The Glasgow Apothecaries’ 
Company, Glasgow, bottles; Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome 
and Co., London, chemicals; Breffit’s Bottle Company, Lon- 
don, glass bottles ; Jeye’s Sanitary Company, London, disin- 
fectants; A. and F. Pear’s, London, soaps; Ellsman and 
Sons, Slough, Embrocation ; F. J. Harrison and Co., Leinster, 
hydroleine; R. Cresswell and Co., London, sponge; Evans, 
Son and Co., Liverpool, lime juice ; Brand and Co., Mayfair, 
London, meat essence ; Sir J. Murray, Dublin, fluid mag- 
nesia; J. H. Graham and Co., London, filters; Robson and 
Co., London, patent medicines; and Mothershead nnd Co., 
Manchester, digestive foods, 
