Yol. ii., No. 4. 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST OF AUSTRALASIA. 
113 
forms in use, Smee’s and Bunsen’s are mentioned. “ Thersi- 
loclius ” describes the employment of a (drove’s cell, which is 
certainly the strongest, if not the most convenient of two- 
liquid cells. Yet a single cell does not develope a sufficient 
amount of electricity to decompose acidified water. In order 
to produce an adequate hitomttj for the purpose, at least two 
of Grove’s elements are needed, or three or tour cells of other 
forms, such as Daniell’s, Bunsen’s, Smee’s. When thus 
placed “in series,” as telegraphists say in the intensity 
arrangement, or battery form), the quantiti/ of electricity is 
increased according to the extent of surface of the plates that 
are “ connected ” with one another ; in other words the inten- 
sity varies with the number of cells in the circuit. “ Dam 
Spiro Spero ” makes no allusion to the sources of error in 
measuring the gases in the voltameter. The deviation from 
actual proportion depends upon two circumstances — 1. The 
greater solubility of oxygen in water, as compared with hydro- 
gen. 2. The partial conversion of oxygen into ozone involving 
contraction in bulk. The error may be obviated as regards 
the first point by using the improved form of voltameter 
devised by Hofmann, where the tubes are furnished with 
stop-cocks, through which the liberated gases are allowed to 
escape from time to time, until the water is saturated with 
oxygen ; and then the orifices are closed and the electrolysis 
allowed to proceed. With such precaution, the cubic space 
occupied by the hydrogen is observed to be practically double 
that occupied by the oxygen. The percentage of ozone pro- 
duced is but trifling, and does not materially affect the 
measurement of the gases in the graduated tubes. 
The synthetical method is well detailed, a eudiometer being 
utilised for the purpose. Corrections should of course be 
made tor temperature and pressure. It is obvious that the 
difference of height of the mercurial column in the barometric 
and eudiometric tubes would affect the calculated results if 
proper correction were not made. In practice, a telescope, 
situated at a distance of a few feet from the apparatus, is used 
to obtain accurate readings. 
No candidate speaks of the actual condensation of volume 
after explosion. Students frequently assert in viva voce ex- 
amination, that two litres of hydrogen and one of oxygen form 
one litre of water ! The proper statement is that the 3 vols. 
indicated contract to two of steam, which in turn condense by 
cold to a proportionately minute bulk of water. The extent 
of condensation after synthesis can be experimentally deter- 
mined by an excellent apparatus devised by Dr. Hofmann, of 
Berlin. The tube in which the mingled gases are contained 
in their combining volumes, is surrounded by a jacket of 
steam, the heat of which enables the steam produced by the 
union of the gases to retain the gaseous form. The combina- 
tion may be effected by the passage of a spark from either a 
Leyden jar or a Buhmkorff’s induction coil. The volume con- 
traction of one-third may then be clearly observed. 
The account of pollen commanded less attention than the 
subject deserves. Several speak of it as “dust,” “grains” or 
“line Hour,” and do not lay stress on the fact that pollen in 
reality consists of cells or sacs filled with a granular fertilis- 
ing fluid. It should be remembered that a grain (as of sand) 
implies a minute solid particle — homogeneous throughout. 
The tenia fovilla as applied to the essential fecundating prin- 
ciple, is not used by any of the candidates. The colour, size, 
shape, markings, and structure, as well as the varying ap- 
pearance of the extine are, however, in most cases j)ointed 
out. 
The colour may be white (acttm), red {rerhascum), blue 
(polenionlum) or purple, but is never green. It is usually some 
shade of yellow or brown. The size is microscopic r-tr3-20th to 
3-400th millimetres in diameter. Tlie form is described by one 
as generally triangular. It is of this figure in cenothcva, but 
more commonly round or ovoid ; occasionally cubical [senna) 
or cylindrical [tvadescantia). Brongniart attempted to distin- 
guish natural orders by the form of the pollen. Thus, in 
campannlaceo' and geraniacecc it is spherical. The markings 
vary as does the testa of seeds, being granulated, reticulated, 
or even spiny like a sea urchin. The object of the projec- 
tions is that alighting on the stigma the pollen may be re- 
tained on its surface, while on the other hand it can adhere to 
the bodies of bees, &c. In anemophilous flowers it is usually 
dry, in entomopliilous ones often sticky or oily. As a rule in 
separate vesicles, they sometimes cohere in masses called 
jiollinia as in asclepiads and orchids. In some of the latter 
tke club shaped massuhe are stalked and rest on a disk (retina- 
culum). The peculiarity of the pollen in coniferous trees is 
alluded to by “ Thersilochus,” while sketches are given by 
both prizemen. As regards the number of pores or slits 
(oscula), there may be one, two, or many. Three is common, 
but in rare cases (e.g. holyhock) they may be numbered by 
hundreds. rrotru:»ion of tubes takes iflace at the “ poles,” or 
at any thin j)ortions of the outer coat, and sometimes a lid 
falls off at one point. Normally, in monocotyledons, one 
pollen tube is exserted, while dicotyledons are characterised 
by three prolongations, of which two are usually abortive. 
The functions of pollen are too meagrely described, but our 
space will not permit full particulars. Suffice it to say, that, 
by imbibition of moisture from the viscid or glutinous stig- 
matic surface the cell swells ; the extine being thick, and 
inelastic ruptures at weak places, and the elastic and disten- 
sible membranes protrudes through the opening. The 
thread-like prolongation traverses the style (often several 
inches in length), being nourished by the conducting tissue of 
the same — until the delicate tube reaches the ovule which it 
penetrates by way of the micropyle, and thus comes in con- 
tact with the embryo sac. Then, by endosmose, one- of the 
germinal vesicles becomes impregnated with the fovilla, so 
that when certain complex changes have been effected, the 
ovule, when fully ripe, becomes the seed which contains the 
true embryo or infant plant destined to reproduce the indi- 
vidual. Thus is brought about the acme of the plant’s exist- 
ence, viz., the fertilisation of the ovule, through the inter- 
action of the fovilla (developed in the male apparatus) on the 
mucilaginous fluid contents of the embryo sac — a theory 
which was first established by the German botanist Came- 
rarius, and published in his famous treatise, “De sexu p?a?ffa- 
A word or two on the third question. The rhizomes of the 
pharmacopceia are ten in number, as shown below. 
Described, but xot N.oied 
AS Such. 
Helix Mas 
Gelsemium 
Zingiber 
Turmeric 
[ill appendix.) 
Of these, the two first candidates give all but Curcuma, 
“ Dum Spiro spero ” enumerates seven, omitting cimicifuga, 
gelsemium and curcuma. “Karma Loco” only mentions 
four. He is in part excused, but not justified by the fact that 
in the index to the B.P., only four of the above appear, viz., 
those marked with an asterisk. But, if he had looked at the 
text he would have found two others designated Rhizomce, 
while, on further examination of the volume, he -would have 
discovered four more specified as rhizomes in the few descrip- 
tive lines preceding the “characters.” Such inconsistencies 
of nomenclature are, however, too great to be overlooked in 
our standard volume, and clearly show the need of more care- 
ful revision of clerical errors in the British Pharmacopoeia 
which has long since attained its “majority.” 
COMPETITION No. 14. 
In consequence of the absence of competitors for the prizes 
w’hich would have been awarded, in our last issue no <i[uestions 
were set for further competitions. Now, however, we venture 
on a fresh set. 
Answers to the following questions are required to be re- 
turned by the 15th of May. 
The report will appear in the June issue of this journal. 
Named ix British Pharma- 
copceia. 
* Bhizoma Arnicje 
,, Cimicifug^B 
,, Podoiihylli 
* ,, Serpentariie 
* ,, Valeriamc 
* ,, Veratri Viridis 
QUESTIONS. 
1. Describe two processes for the manufacture of vinegar, 
state the strength, properties and tests of this preparation. 
2. Give an account of the general contour and external aj)- 
liearance of a tree-fern, palm, and pine, respectively, explain- 
ing the causes of the varying aspect. 
3. Name the official drugs derived from trees of the natural 
order Lauraccie, stating particularly what parts are used, and 
how they are obtained. 
A suggestion for increasing the usefulness of this depart' 
ment will be found on the next page. 
