300 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
napellus ), which has recently proved so poisonous, in juxta- 
position. The aluminous clay, from Whitby and Paisley, 
w r as associated with its product, alum ; and the cryolite, from 
Greenland, with the so designated new metal, aluminium, in 
cylinder or bar, wire, and foil. The above-named mineral is 
now the source whence this metal is most easily obtained. 
The formation of carbonate of soda from common salt, by 
the aid of sulphuric acid, and the subsequent burning of the 
sulphate thus formed with carbonaceous matters, was illus- 
trated by the specimens already adverted to. The nut of 
the strychnos was placed with its alkaloid strychnine ; and the 
wounded capsules of the poppy, and the instrument used 
for making the incisions, so as to allow of the escape of the 
juice, with the product, opium. 
The like arrangements also obtained among many of the 
morbid specimens. Thus the various calcular concretions 
were placed in the order of their classification. Mr. Hen- 
derson having sent the model of a diseased spleen, an account 
of which is inserted in the present number of our Journal, 
other models were supplied from the Museum of the Royal 
Veterinary College, and it was the same with many other 
And yet, for all this, on looking over the above list of names, 
we cannot help being struck with the comparative fewness in 
number of the members of our own profession that were 
present. Surely they ought to have constituted by far the 
majority, whereas they were the minority. Why is this ? On 
a similar occasion last year, above five hundred invitation 
cards w r ere sent out, and the number returned was astonish- 
ingly large, arising from change of residence, deaths, and 
other causes. This year the President generously gave an in- 
vitation to the whole of the profession. It was only to “ask 
and to have and the adage is, “ that which is not worth 
asking for is not worth having nevertheless this plan was 
not more successful than the other. 
It was, however, very gratifying to see some there who 
had come from long distances, and one of our number, Mr. 
McKenna, thought it worth his while to come from Ireland for 
this especial purpose. Such zeal is worthy of commendation. 
