DETECTION OF PHOSPHATE OF LIME IN SUB NITRATE OF BISMUTH. 1G5 
chemists’ associations, and all the Norwich members were present. The en¬ 
tertainment was characteristic of the liberal and hearty hospitality extended 
throughout the whole week by the Norwich chemists to their brethren from 
a distance. After the removal of the cloth, the chairman proposed the usual 
loyal and patriotic toasts; “ Success to the British Pharmaceutical Confe¬ 
rence” was well given by Mr. Fitch, and appropriately acknowledged by the 
President, Mr. Hanbury. “ Success to the Pharmaceutical Society” was en¬ 
thusiastically accepted at the instance of the Vice-Chairman, and responded 
to by the Vice-President of the Society, Mr. H. S. Evans. “ The Local Com¬ 
mittee ” was proposed, in a telling speech, by Mr. Deane, Mr. Caley replying 
in a most pleasing manner. “The Officers of the Conference” were well 
cheered, at the suggestion of Mr. J. D. Smith, and returned thanks for the 
compliment through Mr. Brady and Prof. Attfield. “ The Local Secretary” 
received the applause of resident and non-resident members the moment his 
name was mentioned by Mr. Reynolds; in responding, Mr. Sutton alluded 
to the satisfactory manner in which he had been assisted by other members 
of the Local Committee. “ The Best Interests of Pharmaceutical Litera¬ 
ture ” was a toast brought forward by Mr. luce, and associated with the name 
of Mr. Brough, who made a suitable response. The health of “The Chair¬ 
man” was proposed by Mr. Hanbury, and duly acknowledged. Some amusing 
remarks by Mr. Brough on “ Fraternal Belationship,” Mr. Schachton “ Early 
Rising,” the London Secretary on “ The Enviable Position of the Happy,” and 
remarks by most present on “ Good Fellowship,” closed this successful social 
gathering. 
ORIGINAL AND EXTRACTED ARTICLES. 
NOTE ON THE DETECTION OF PHOSPHATE OF LIME IN 
SUBNITRATE OF BISMUTH. 
BY DR. REDWOOD. 
In a brief notice I gave, in the last number of this Journal, of the adulte¬ 
ration of subnitrate of bismuth with phosphate of lime, I alluded to a test 
recently published by Mr. Roussin. I am informed by Messrs. Howard and 
Sons, of Stratford, that they have found this test fallacious, as continued 
boiling causes a precipitate of bismuth itself when no phosphate is present. 
They suggest the following modification of the test, by which they say one- 
third of a grain of phosphate of lime is easily detected :—• 
“ To one part of the salt of bismuth dissolved in weak nitric acid add two 
parts of citric acid ; dissolve with the aid of a little water; add an excess of 
solution of ammonia, and boil. Any phosphate present will be thrown down 
with continuous boiling of the solution.” 
Although absence from home prevents my adding my own experience on 
the subject, I am anxious, on the unquestionable authority of Messrs. Howard, 
at once to guard those who may have been induced to use Mr. Poussin’s test 
against the erroneous conclusions to which it appears it may lead. In the 
cases referred to in my former note, I had obtained evidence of the adultera¬ 
tion indicated by other and perfectly trustworthy means before my attention 
was directed to Mr. Poussin’s test. 
