170 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
Proceeding somewhat differently, with a view to the production of dilute 
nitro-hydrocliloric acid, the following process was adopted :—The proportions 
of acids ordered in the Pharmacopoeia of 1867 were united, and, on cooling, 
the specific gravity was 1-277. The water was then added, and the specific 
gravity was 1 074, thus corresponding to the theoretic gravity of the Pharma¬ 
copoeia of 1864. 352-4 grains required 1000 measures of volumetric solution 
of soda. This experiment was made on the 31st of May, and the tests were 
again applied on the 29th of August, when no variation had taken place, thus 
proving that the diluted acid was not impaired by keeping for a moderate length 
of time. 
So carefully have the framers of the British Pharmacopoeia performed their 
task, that it would ill become an experimentalist to question the value of for¬ 
mulae which are now so well standing the test of pharmaceutic experience, but 
whatever may be the estimation in which the process for the production of di¬ 
luted nitro-hydrochloric acid is held, it is clear that it can scarcely attain the 
result desired, viz., uniformity. If the acids are mixed as directed, there must 
necessarily be loss, for it is not easy to imprison the escaping vapours, and an 
explosion would be likely to occur in a bottle well stoppered ; in one not so, as 
directed, the escape of vapours is considerable, as indicated by the experiments 
detailed in this paper. 
The following works were presented:—The 1 Proceedings of the American 
Pharmaceutical Association,’ 1866, from that body ; the ‘ Laboratory ’ (whole 
series), from the editor. 
The thanks of the Conference were voted to the respective donors. 
The meeting adjourned until Wednesday morning. 
SECOND SITTING-. 
Wednesday , September 4. 
The Conference met at 10.30 a.m. 
The Committee appointed yesterday, on the subject of excise interference, 
brought up a report recommending that the following memorial on the sub¬ 
ject should be presented to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society :— 
“ The memorial of the British Pharmaceutical Conference to the Council of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society of Great Britain showeth, that whereas prosecutions have frequently 
been entered upon by the Board of Excise against persons carrying on the trade of che¬ 
mists and druggists, and that such persons have, in numerous instances, endured penalties, 
the prosecution at the same time admitting the offences to have been committed in pure 
ignorance ; and whereas the most strenuous efforts of many of the most conscientious 
members of this body to comprehend their true obligations to the Board of Inland Re- 
venue have utterly failed ; and whereas it appears that one of the chief causes of these 
difficulties consists in the dispersed nature of the information conveyed from time to 
time and through various channels from the Board: Your memorialists respectfully 
pray that the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society will use its best efforts to induce 
the Board of Inland Revenue to reduce all legislative enactments bearing upon the sub¬ 
ject to the simplest possible code, and to adopt any other measures which may appear 
to them desirable to place the relations of the excise towards pharmacy in a clearer 
light.” 
It was moved by Mr. Scbacbt, seconded by Mr. Baildon, and carried,— 
“ That the foregoing memorial to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society be 
adopted, and the President be requested to sign the same on behalf of the Conference.” 
