EDINBURGH MEETING. 
325 
sition of metallic salts like perchloride of iron and nitrate of silver, the better 
proportionate results they give than the unprotected gun-metal would be suffi¬ 
cient ground for retaining them, even for common formulae. The very 
smooth surface, amounting almost to polish, which some admire, may be ob¬ 
tained by the use of burnished moulds, provided no lubricant is employed. In 
case of adhesive masses, very rapid cooling is sometimes sufficient to liberate the 
cones when formed. It must be recollected that the mere act of moulding- 
suppositories and pessaries is a mechanical employment, and skill in operating 
is the direct result of practice depending on amount of experience rather than 
the scientific attainments of the operator. 
Finally I would urge, with due respect to those who have described ingenious 
methods for the extemporaneous preparation of medicines in these forms, the 
importance of greater uniformity than can possibly be attained by the employ¬ 
ment of soft or pliable materials such as have been recommended for moulds. It 
is to be hoped for many reasons that in another edition of the Pharmacopoeia a 
still increased number of formulae for suppositories will be given, and that the 
now very large employment of pessaries will be deemed sufficient ground for the 
introduction of two or three of the commonly used sorts, that from these a rule 
might be drawn which would form the basis for dispensing any prescription 
containing pessaries, whatever the medicament ordered. 
EDINBURGH MEETING. 
The first meeting of the present Session took place in St. George’s Hall on Tuesday 
evening, December 3, Mr. J. R. Young, President, in the chair. There was a large at¬ 
tendance. 
The President, in commencing proceedings, said:—Following the example of those 
who have hitherto occupied this chair, I have now, at the commencement of another 
series of Pharmaceutical meetings, to congratulate you on our again assembling together, 
and on the prospect of again having opportunities of listening to occasional papers, and 
of engaging in discussion on matters having for their object the advancement of that 
art and science in which most of us are engaged. 
You are doubtless aware that these meetings had their origin very shortly after the 
formation of the Pharmaceutical Society, and, in the language of the then editor of the 
Journal, were “ instituted as an experiment for the purpose of illustrating the advantage 
of scientific discussion, and in the hope that similar meetings would shortly be appointed 
by the Society.” It was felt at the outset that there might be some difficulty in finding 
a sufficient number of individuals connected with the business ready and willing to supply 
materials, so as to make these meetings interesting ; and in consequence assistance was 
sought, and most generously given in many instances, from those engaged in the 
higher departments of the profession, and whose avocations led them to an intimate ac¬ 
quaintance with the history, the characteristics, and medicinal qualities of those sub¬ 
stances which we are engaged from day to day in compounding and vending. 
A very few months sufficed to prove that in London, at least, the experiment was 
most successful; the number and the practical importance of the papers steadily increased, 
and the attendance of medical friends at the meetings showed the interest they took in 
the proceedings, and doubtless stimulated our brethren in the south to persevere as 
they have done until now. The scientific meeting has become with them a great institu¬ 
tion, and with the aids they now have in training their apprentices and assistants, who 
in course of time are drafted into their number, they experience no difficulty in provid¬ 
ing subject matter of themselves, and that of such importance as to give character 
and tone to the Society of which they are members. I do not know whether it is pos¬ 
sible to maintain similar meetings in all the large provincial towns throughout the 
country ; but, knowing the difficulty we have experienced here in sustaining them con¬ 
tinuously, I lately availed myself of an opportunity which offered, of conversing with 
a friend, who for many years was an active office-bearer of w-hat I had always supposed 
