122 
THE CHEMIST AND DEUGGIST OF AUSTRALASIA. 
May 1, 1887. 
pears as though some extraordinary action ■will have to be 
taken to fill the vacancies, the President only possessing the 
power of filling vacancies caused by the retirement of members 
during the current year. 
The School of Pharmacy. 
The lectures and practical classes began on March 31, under 
the direction of Mr. H. A. Bruce Leipner, F.C.S., and will be 
continued throughout the winter months. Full particulars of 
the classes will be found in your advertising columns, and 
students have now an opportunity not only of acquiring a 
theoretical, but also a practical knowledge of the scientific 
part of their profession which they will do well not to neglect. 
I understand that each student receives Mr. Leipner’s personal 
supervision in the practical chemistry, and in this way the 
work most suitable, and in keeping with the knowledge and 
attainments of the individual student, is assigned to him. 
Death From a Soothing Powder. — On March 30, a child 
named Catherine Mabel Jones, 3 years and 9 months old, died 
very suddenly at her parents’ residence, No. 3, Albert-street, 
Macdonaldtown. Early in the evening, as the child was suf- 
fering from toothache, she was given one of “Steedman’s” 
soothing powders by her mother, and was then put to bed. A 
few minutes after 10 o’clock on the same night she was found 
to be dead. Dr. J. E. Jeffries having been called in, pro- 
nounced life extinct. He subsequently made a post-mortem 
examination of the body, and found that many of its organs 
were normal, although one lung was diseased. An inquest 
was held by Mr. H. Shiell, J.P., but was adjourned for an 
analysis of the stomach of the deceased by the Government 
Analyst. At the adjourned enquiry, William M. Hamlet, 
Government Analyst, deposed that he had examined the 
stomach of the deceased, together with six powders that had 
been handed to him ; he found distinct traces of morphia in 
the stomach ; there were dark markings which he considered 
peculiar to morphia-poisoning on the membranes of the 
ctomach ; “he examined the six powders, and found that one 
weighed 3 grains; three weighed grains each; another 
weighed 3.08 grains, and the remaining one weighed 4J grains ; 
the powders contained morphia and magnesia in very variable 
quantities; the quantity of morphia in each powder varied 
from half a grain to a grain ; each of the six small packets 
referred to was marked “Steedman’s Soothing powder;” 
these powders were an imitation of “Stedman’s Soothing 
Powders.”* 
The variation of the quantity of morphia in each of the first- 
mentioned powders was such as to render their use dangerous ; 
a grain of morphia would be a fatal dose to a child 3 years 9 
months old; half-a-grain of morphia had sometimes proved 
fatal. Dr. James E. Jeffries, recalled, deposed that from the 
evidence given by the Government Analyst, and from the 
post-mortem appearance of the deceased, he concluded that 
the child died from poisoning by morphia ; he, however, be- 
lieved that the bad condition of one of the child’s lungs con- 
tributed to the fatal ending of the case ; he considered J grain 
of morphia a dangerous dose for a child 3 years and 9 -months 
old ; from such a dose he should expect fatal consequences. 
Elizabeth Jones, recalled, deposed that the six powders pro- 
duced were, with two others, purchased from Mr. Williams, 
chemist, King-street, i^ewtown ; one shilling was paid for 
them ; she gave one of the powders to her baby of 11 months, 
two nights before administering one to the deceased ; she 
added nothing to the powders after purchasing them ; she had 
often given the deceased powders, but could not say whether 
they were “ Steedman’s” or “ Stedman’s the powder which 
she last gave to the deceased was mixed with a little water. 
The jury found that the child died from morphia-poisoning, 
and further, that the morphia was contained in a “Steed- 
man’s soothing powder,” which was administered to the de- 
ceased by her mother believing that it would do the child no 
harm. It was added that “ the jury would caution t'le public 
against purchasing ‘ Steedman’s soothing powder..,' as they 
are dangerous to life.” 
*It is only right to state that those who know most about the matterr 
are not prepared to say that Steedman’s powder is an imitation of the 
other. In commenting on a case at Sheffield, in which a child died after 
taking a powder prepared by Steedman, an unqualified herbalist, the 
Editor of The Chemist and Druggist, London, remarked, “It is only fair 
that we should prominently remove any impression which our report 
may have occasioned in regard to the soothing powders of Steedman, of 
Walworth, or the teething powders of Stedman of Hoxton, both] of 
which have been sold, probably by millions, without, as far as we know, 
any injury resulting to anyone.” 
[W. and T. Williams, the chemists who sold the Steedman’g ' 
powder, ask us if they cannot bring an action for damages 
against the analyst, as his misstatements have injured their 
business considerably. 
The analyst was certainly not called upon to express an ' 
opinion as to whether a certain proprietary medicine was an 
imitation of another, and, moreover, having taken such a step 1 
he ought to have made himself sure of his facts. He would ; 
have been more cautious had he had much experience in 
England, where allegations against the safety of the two ; 
preparations concerned have been repeatedly made, and j 
triumphantly refuted. But, in any action for damages, the j 
occasion would probably be considered ‘privileged,’ and, if 
not, the expense and anxiety involved would not be repaid by 
any advantage gained. Certain purists would say that Messrs. 
Williams would have avoided all this trouble if they had 
nothing to do with the patent medicine trade. But, if the 
statements of the analyst are true as to the variability in the 
weight of Steedman’s powders, they are dangerous articles to 
handle. Probably, something will be heard on the other side 
from Mr. Steedman.] 
Mr. Edmund Fuss, of Narrabri, has perfected a means of i 
preserving virus for inoculating cattle affected with pleuro- 
pneumonia. Mr. Copeman, stock inspector, has pronounced I 
it a complete success. He has inoculated two separate herds ! 
affected with pleuro, and emphatically states that the method | 
of preserving the virus was completely successful. Mr. Fuse i 
intends arranging for supplying virus throughout the colonies. 
The virus used in the aforesaid cases has been preserved for 
nine months. 
The partnership between Charles Atkinson Smith and 
Adolph Bruce Leipner, analytical chemists, Sydney, under the 
style of “ Smith and Leipner,” was dissolved on March 24, 
The business will be carried on by Charles Atkinson Smith. 
Mineral Water. — It is reported that a large flow of 
artesian mineral water has been tapped by the Government 
diamond drill at a depth of 560 fest, near Talbargon Biver, 
Ballemore, 23 miles from Dubbo. The water is charged with 
gas, but no particulars as to its saline constituents have been 
published. 
Discovery of Altjmite. — That knowledge is power is a fact 
exemplified every day of our lives. It has been recently 
illustrated at Bulladeelah, some half-a-mile from Port 
Stephen [(says the Newcastle Herald), in a very marked way. 
Some time ago some specimens of stone, apparently lime- 
stone, were submitted to Messrs. Cox and Seaver, the well- 
known geological reporters. These gentlemen visited the 
place where the mineral was found, and effected a purchase of 
the site. A company was then privately floated, the pro- 
prietors holding two-thirds of the interest, and allowing some 
other Sydney gentlemen in as partners for a sum between 
£8,000 and £10,000 for the remaining one-third interest. 
The company is now making a tramway from the hill, where 
the mineral is found, to the shore of Port Stephens, for ship- 
ping purposes. Alumite has not hitherto been found in any 
part of the world, except in one or two localities in Europe — 
one being the neighbourhood of Borne. Alumite is a native 
sulphate of potassium and aluminium with water. It occurs 
generally in compact masses, in cavities filled with crystals of 
the same substance, in volcanic districts, with native sulphur. 
To manufacture alum it is piled up in heaps, in a furnace or 
kiln, and heated to low redness, the flames being lead in an 
upward direction through the mass. After a short time the 
sulphate of aluminium is decomposed into aluminia, oxygen, 
and sulphurous acid, and the calcination is known to be com- 
plete when white vapours of this latter substance make their 
appearance. The calcined mass is then placed in cisterns 
and constantly moistened with water for three or four months 
during which time it crumbles up, and is converted into a soft 
mud. This mud contains a considerable quantity of alum, 
which is dissolved out in water, the liquor being evaporated 
down until it attains a sp. gr. of about 1.114 at 45 deg. The 
alum prepared for alumite, and formerly known as Boman or 
cubical alum, is a neutral potash alum, with crystals of a 
cubical shape. It is preferred to the common variety for 
some dyeing and printing operations, as it does not affect 
certain colors. 
