SHEFFIELD ASSOCIATION OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
467 
into glucose. It was stated that 1 part of ptyalin could convert 2000 parts of starch 
into sugar ; also, that the saliva of newly.born children had not this power; and even 
at the age of five months the saliva of an infant could only produce a partial change in 
starchy foods. The practical bearing of these facts upon infant feeding is evident. 
The lecturer pointed out the large quantities in which some of the fluids of the body 
were secreted, such as the gastric juice, which was estimated to reach thirty pounds in 
twenty-four hours. He spoke of hydrochloric acid as being now definitely proved to 
exist in the gastric juice, the question having been settled by Graham’s diffusion expe¬ 
riments ; also, its maximum is found to occur after food has been taken. Pepsine 
received full consideration. Its effect in causing the solution of albumen and other 
nitrogenized substances, converting them into peptone, was shown. The necessity for 
this conversion seems dependent upon the low diffusive power of albumen, which is 
absorbed at only one-eighth the rate of such a substance as sugar. The probleuu 
whether a quantity of peptone can be made artificially was alluded to, and it was 
pointed out that pepsine requires five times as long to digest albumen artificially as it 
does in the human stomach. 
The lecture was listened to with the greatest interest, and the best thanks of the 
Association were offered to Mr. Scattergood, on the motion of Mr. Smeeton, seconded 
by Mr. Thompson. 
SHEFFIELD. 
At the monthly meeting of the United Society of Chemists and Druggists, held 
February 12, 1868, at the Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield, it was resolved to present to the Pre¬ 
sident of the Society (Mr. E. P. Hornby) the following resolutions, which we entrust in 
his hands to see that they are duly and efficiently enforced at the next monthly meeting 
of the London Executive; also, we being chemists and druggists, and not members of 
the United Society, give our hearty support to Mr. Hornby, to enable him to carry the 
principles of the proposed Pharmacy Bill to which we agree. 
Resolved—“That in the opinion of the chemists and druggists of Sheffield, the prin¬ 
ciple and spirit of the proposed Pharmacy Bill deserve the support of the entire trade, 
and we, members of the United Society and others, will give it our support.” 
Resolved—“ That in the opinion of this meeting, the resolution proposed at the last 
meeting of the Executive, viz. ‘ That a letter be sent, signed by the President and Se¬ 
cretary, to the Home Secretary, requesting him to suspend action on the Pharmacy 
Bill until the opinions of the district associations be obtained,’ be rescinded, its tendency 
being factious and vexatious, and utterly at variance with the best interests of the 
trade.” 
Resolved—“ That the best thanks of this meeting he given to our fellow-townsman, 
Mr. E. P. Hornby, for the discretion and promptitude displayed in availing himself of 
.the opportunity for advocating and advancing the interests of not only us but of the 
trade generally, and assuring him of our entire support.” 
We declare these resolutions to have been duly passed. 
(Signed) William Ward, President. 
Edward Barber, Vice-President. 
R. 0. Huddlestone, Hon. Secretary. 
The next meeting of this Association was held on Wednesday evening, March 11th, 
at the Cutlers’ Hall, on which occasion Mr. G. Harrison delivered a lecture on “ Iron 
and its Compounds.” The lecture was illustrated by excellent coloured diagrams. A 
vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Harrison for his interesting lecture. 
2 H 2 
