VoL ii., No. 5. 
THE CHEMIST AND DEUGGIST OF AUSTRALASIA 
141 
in which process a small quantity of water may he added 
thereto. The mass thus obtained is then, after cooling 
treated with solvents of either the description a, or the 
description b, in the same manner as above described for the 
natural or artificial emulsion liquid ; also, instead of first 
forming the soaps in the commercial wool-fat, and then 
separating these soaps from the fat by means of acetone, the 
commercial wool-fat may be treated with the said solvent, 
acetone, and afterwards the production of the soaps insoluble 
in acetone lye effected by sjiecial additions. In this case the 
commercial wool-fat will be completely dissolved in the 
acetone with the exception of some impurities, and on shaking 
this solution together wdth the corresponding salts of the 
alkalies, alkaline earths, or heavy metallic or other oxides or 
hydrates, the soaps insoluble in acetone, ■which are thus 
formed, will be precipitated, and the fat remaining dissolved 
in the acetone will then be separated in the manner described 
above from the solvent, thus obtaining either the anhydrous 
lanolin, or, by lanolising, the lanolin itself. The fatty acids 
of the commercial wool-fat may also be separated from the 
wool-fat in such manner that they are converted into alkali 
soa^DS by the addition of alkalies, and the compound thus 
obtained treated with methyl or ethyl alcohol. These two 
solvents take up under heat, the greater part of the compound, 
but on cooling, allow the wool-fat to precipitate, while 
keeping the soaps in solution. This operation is, in particu- 
lar, of easy performance with raw wool treated with ammonia 
under the appli(?ation of ethyl alcohol, which dissolves the 
ammonia soaps very readily, leaving the wool-fat undissolved. 
The claim made by the patentee is in five separate 
points, but, virtually, covers the whole process describ e 
above. 
Correspontcntc. 
Memoranda for Correspondents. 
Always send your proper name and address; we do not publish 
them unless you ivisJu 
Write on one side of the paper only ; write early ; and devote a 
separate sheet of paper to each query if you ask more than 
one, or if you are writing about other matters at the same 
time. 
If you send us newspapers please mark what you wish us to 
read. 
Askus anything of pharmaceutical interest; \we shall do our 
best to reply. 
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions ex- 
pressed by our correspondents. 
PHARMACEUTICAL EXAMINATIONS IN NEW 
ZEALAND. 
The Editor of The Chemist and Druggist of Australasia. 
Sir, — The thanks of all engaged in Pharmacy are due to 
yourself and the writer for the excellent essay on Pharmaceu- 
tical Examinations, published in your issue of April, It is 
especially applicable to the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand, 
who, in their examinations, require a i)retence of knowledge 
only to be obtained in New Zealand by cramming, and 
yet they provide no School of Pharmacy or other means 
■where those to be crammed can obtain the necessary but use- 
less stuffing, which is never remembered or not required in any 
form of business here or elsewhere. The result of this state 
of things being that it is in the end better to incur the extra 
risk and expense of sending our apprentices to England, there 
to obtain the needful instruction and pass their examinations. 
Personally, I am in favour of the Victorian plan, viz., a 
Preliminary Examination, at least three years’ apprentice- 
ship. (The law in New Zealand releases an apprentice at the 
age of 19.) One set of text books and the same examination 
papers throughout the colony, and so that the student may 
concentrate his attention on one thing at a time and learn it 
well, separate examinations in Materia Medica, Medical 
Botany, and Practical Chemistry ; and after these have been 
successfully passed, an examination by the whole Board in 
Practical Pharmacy and Analysis, one day for each, success 
in which should entitle to registration as a Pharmaceutical 
Chemist in New Zealand or any other colony. 
There are local jealousies and some geographical difficulties 
in the way which at present may be a little troublesome, but 
the opening uj) of the country by railways and generally 
greater facilities of communication with a given point render 
them less daily. 
I may say that I have every confidence in the gentlemen 
composing the present Board of Pharmacy in New Zealand,, 
and if they will try to make the examinations such as a young 
man may pass, by diligence and such studies as are available 
in New Zealand without the present extensive and absurd 
system of cramming, they will earn the gratitude of both 
students and masters. 
It only remains for me to remark that before attempting to 
pass through Parliament amended Pharmacy and Poisons Acts 
it would be well to circulate them amongst those interested 
and duly consider any suggestions for improvement. The 
failure of Mr. Hatch in the last attempt should be sufficient 
warning. 
Trusting you will pardon this intrusion on your valuable, 
space, I am, Sir, yours truly, 
GEO. DENBY. 
Thames, N.Z., 18th April, 1887. 
[We hope to publish the full text of the proposed Sale of 
Poisons Act and Pharmacy Amendment Act in our next issue.. 
Editor.] 
RECIPROCITY WITH BRITAIN. 
The Editor of The Chemist and Druggist of Australasia. 
Sir, — I think “Native” has taken a very narrow view of thS' 
case, re recognition of colonial certificates in Great Britain 
when he asserts he does not “ believe there are half-a-dozen 
people in the seven colonies who care two pins about it.” 
It is a question of national importance that all profession 
here should be recognised as having the same status as any 
in the old country. 
All things being equal in the matter of examinations, why 
should an English diploma be accepted here, whilst a colonial 
one would be ignored in England? If reciprocity in certifi- 
cates is not necessary between England and her colonies, 
neither is it between the colonies. Let each one be content to 
work alone in that case. I believe colonials are striving very 
hard to attain an equality in all parts of Australasia and I 
wish them every success. There will then be less “cabbag.e 
garden” talk. 
The latter part of his letter is rather unkind. To an Eng- 
lishman, wherever he may elect to live, England is home ; and 
disparaging remarks regarding that home do not conduce to 
the love that should exist among brothers. 
He shows his patriotism in his remarks, but, at the same- 
time forgetting the honour due to the country that settled his- 
own. 
I heard a colonial say not long since “ that he did not care to- 
travel as he knew all about other countries from reading about 
them.” Be that as it may, if “Native” ever has the good 
fortune to travel he may possibly find other countries equally 
favoured with Australia, and just as dear to the hearts of their 
children as Australia is to his. 
Trusting that I have nottaken up too much of your valuable- 
space, 
I remain, faithfully yours, 
AN ENGLISHMAN. 
Melbourne, April 15, 1887. 
WouLD-BE M.D. writes': Knowing the interest you have always- 
evinced in students willing to better themselves, I would like 
to ask if you could publish a little information re the general 
routine of a student of medicine at the Melbourne University, 
that is, the different examinations to be passed, fees,, 
books, A'c. 
[We cannot at present treat this subject exhaustively, but 
you will get all particulars from the Calendar of the Uni- 
versity of Melbourne, which can be obtained through any 
bookseller, or perhaps better, you might write to the Secretary 
to the Faculty of Medicine, Melbourne University, who will, 
doubtless tell you all you wish to know.] 
