SHEFFIELD ASSOCIATION OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
369 
this, however, had evidently been a mistake, as the same man afterwards charged 8c?. 
for two oz.; in the former case he had probably mistaken an oz. phial for an oz. 
One of the first things to create distrust in the mind of the purchaser is the variety of 
price. A. charges a penny an oz. less than B ., the difference in price on such a small 
amount is very perplexing to the public, and highly susceptible of having the worst 
possible construction put upon the transaction in the case of either party. Secondly, 
I would notice the great diversity of strength as shown by the different sp. gr. Imagine 
the article varying from -837 to '956. There is certainly just cause for Professor Chris- 
tison’s remarks, that “ Sweet spirit of nitre when given for exciting the kidneys to in¬ 
creased secretion frequently fails to act, from the extent to which the remedy is adulte¬ 
rated, together with the substitution, even in the best druggists’ shops, of the weaker 
London preparation, for that formerly in use in this part of the country.” It would 
seem also to have been as bad in England some years ago, for I find Dr. Pereira writing 
that “few articles of the Pharmacopoeia are more extensively adulterated than spirit of 
nitric ether.” He then quotes a Mr. Hennell as saying, in 1840, “ that it was then 
selling in the trade at a price which was just above that of the duty on the spirit used 
in manufacturing the genuine article.” Whether the variety of strength is due to the 
desire for increased gain, or a fear that there may be some danger in selling itjit the full 
strength, or due to an extent to the wholesale houses, I seek not to inquire; but certain 
it is that the tampering with drugs, either by dilution or wilful adulteration, cannot be 
too strongly condemned. And just as the public are entitled to fair play at the hands 
of the retailer, so is the retailer entitled to demand absolute purity from the manufac¬ 
turer. 
I would, thirdly, call your attention to the almost universal acidity of the samples. 
According to the Pharmacopoeia it effervesces feebly, or not at all, on the addition of a 
solution of bicarbonate of soda ; only one of the twenty-nine samples answered to this 
test. I understand, from various writers, that spirit of nitre decomposes very rapidly, 
and that though feebly acid at first, it soon becomes charged with free nitrous acid, 
owing to its decomposition. One remedy for this would be only to order small quantities 
at a time, and if not perfectly fresh to return it. I have read that if a prescription con¬ 
taining iodide of potash and spirit of nitre be made up with the acid nitre, instead of a 
colourless liquid, you will have a dark brown fluid containing nitrate of potash, and free 
iodine. I have not yet had time to try this with the different samples in my possession, 
but mean to do so on a future day, when it will be interesting to lay the varied results 
before you. 
The paper was received with marked attention by the meeting, and at its conclusion 
was heartily applauded. 
An animate 1 discussion took place by the members, regarding the price, quality, and 
strength, and the lecturer’s views were generally acquiesced with,—Mr. Kerr remark¬ 
ing, in reference to the acidity of sweet spirit of nitre, that if a small quantity of carbo¬ 
nate of magnesia be kept in the stock-bottle, the free acid will be neutralized, and its 
power to do harm destroyed. 
In some remarks regarding the specific gravity of tinctures, Mr. Laird suggested that 
the members in making tinctures in future should keep a note of their specific gravity, 
how prepared, etc., and send the collected results to the next meeting of the British 
Pharmaceutical Conference. 
A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman and to Mr. Laird terminated the proceedings. 
SHEFFIELD ASSOCIATION OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
The usual monthly meeting of this Association was held in the Cutlers’ Hall, on Wed¬ 
nesday, the 8th of January, when Mr. Dobb delivered a lecture “ On Alcohol and its 
Sophistications.” He said no mention was made by ancient writers of rectified or 
ardent spirits, but in the reign of Henry II. the Earl of Pembroke found the Irish people 
indulging in usquebagh, or whisky, the aqua vitae, of the Spaniards and Italians; and it 
was said that the monks of the latter countries discovered the art of distilling these 
spirits. The lecturer described the production of alcohol from grain or other substances 
capable of yielding sugar, which, under the influence of a ferment, is converted into 
alcohol and carbonic acid, the flavour of the spirit being due to foreign substances 
"VOL. IX. 2 B 
