168 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
The advantages of a true citrate of magnesia, have, I think, not been suffici¬ 
ently appreciated, but it is clear that the exchange from a composite salt, pre¬ 
pared from chance formulas, of different therapeutic values, to one which is a 
definite chemical production, and which has therefore a definite therapeutic 
value, has many advantages to recommend it. 
The specimen of saccharated effervescing citrate of magnesia which is placed 
upon the table is made by the mechanical combination, in equivalent quanti¬ 
ties, of carbonate of magnesia and citric acid, together with the addition of 15 
per cent, of sugar. It fulfils the conditions required in this preparation of 
brisk effervescence during the discharge of the carbonic acid, and a nearly 
bright subsequent solution ; and it is presented in the belief that this attempt 
will be appreciated by this Conference, in vindication of those principles of mo¬ 
rality as applied to the ethics of pharmacy which it should be our aim to 
maintain. 
Several members took part in the discussion of the question of pharmaceutical ethics 
raised by this paper, but, whilst recognizing the high motives influencing the writer, the 
general feeling did not appear to be that the practice of using the conventional name 
of “Granular Citrate of Magnesia ” was an abuse demanding protest. 
Mr. Brady spoke of the origin of the name objected to by Mr. Dymond, and the gra¬ 
dual omission of the salt of magnesia, which at first seems to have been used by the 
maker of the preparations. There were so many other more salient points for attack, 
from seidlitz powders downwards, that he was rather surprised at the selection of this 
comparatively new addition to the Materia Medica. 
Mr. Schacht thought that it would be found that the British Pharmacopoeia con¬ 
tained several instances of the application of names not strictly accurate. 
Mr. Hanbury did not hesitate to express the strong objection he felt to the employ¬ 
ment of definite chemical names for substances, the composition of which they were in¬ 
tended to conceal. It appeared to him that medical men were chiefly responsible for 
this sort of thing, since strange compounds, such as granular effervescent bromides or 
iodides were introduced by the makers to their notice, and by prescribing them they created 
the demand for substances of the real nature of which they could know very little. At 
the Exhibition of 1862, the jury in the section of pharmacy condemned the use of such 
preparations. * 
Mr. Brough pointed out that Mr. Dymond’s salt was not a citrate of magnesia, as it 
was called, but a mixture of substances which ultimately produced such a salt. 
Mr. Ebert said that, instead of the so-called citrate of magnesia, he had" prepared a 
mixture of citric acid, carbonate of soda, and sugar, and given it the name of “Granular 
Effervescent Aperient,” supplying it where the other was asked for, and explaining that 
it was the same excepting in name. 
I. REPORT ON THE ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF 
THE EMPLOYMENT IN PHARMACY OF NITRIC ACID OF 
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 1-5. 
II. REPORT ON THE NITRO-HYDROCIILORIC ACID OF THE 
BRITISH PHARMACOPCEIA, AND THE CHANGES IN IT ON 
KEEPING. 
BY W. E. HEATH FIELD, F.R.G.S., F.C.S. 
The inquiry proposed in reference to the first of these two subjects having 
been rendered supererogatory, in consequence of the change prescribed in the 
British Pharmacopoeia, which has appeared since the announcement of these 
questions, I pass it over with the comment that it has been difficult to procure 
nitric acid uniformly of the gravity of 1*5 ; that it is very rarely free from a 
