252 THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 
classified poisons, appears to me badly constructed. Are these medicines 
to be entered in the Poison Book, and are they to be labelled “ Poison” ? 
I do not so understand the clause myself, but that it refers only to copying 
in the prescription book. Yet, there is certainly some ambiguity, and if by 
any meaus the first construction could be put upon it, an early alteration of 
the clause would be imperatively demanded. Again, application of the laws 
against the adulteration of food to such a complicated business as ours, hold¬ 
ing the retailer only and not the manufacturer responsible, if fully acted upon, 
may be made an instrument of cruel and unjust oppression. But no doubt 
full explanation of all the clauses will be given by competent persons. 
I am, Sir, yours truly, 
Joseph Ball. 
METALLIC BISMUTH. 
As a proof that pure metallic bismuth is not quite so easily procured as 
Dr. Redwood, in his August note, asserts, I beg to send the copy of a letter 
received a few days ago, in the ordinary course of business, from one of the 
most extensive metal refiners of London. 
“ To Mr. Schacht, Clifton. 
“ Sir,—We much regret we cannot at present execute your order for pure 
bismuth. All we have contains traces oi copper, and we are the only holders 
in London,” etc. etc. 
It is pretty clear from this that the ability to procure this metal pure in 
commercial quantities does not depend, as Dr. Redwood insinuates, upon the 
willingness of the purchaser “ to pay the price for it.” 
G. F. Schacht. 
September 21, 1868. 
[If chemical purity be required, the difficulty of obtaining it is not confined 
to bismuth. No commercial articles used in medicine are free from traces of 
impurity, nor is it necessary that they should be.—E d. Pharm. Journ.] 
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 
The thirty-eighth annual meeting of the British Association commenced its proceedings 
at Norwich, on Wednesday the 19th of August, at one o’clock, in St. Peter’s Hall. In 
the evening the Duke of Buccleucn resigned the presidential chair to Dr. Hooker, who 
then delivered the annual address; deviating from the usual custom of reviewing the 
progress of the sciences, and confining himself mainly to his own special department. 
At the general meeting the minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and the 
various reports read. The attendance was numerous, 1700 having assembled in the 
hall. 
The officers of the Chemical Section were :— 
President. —Prof. Frankland. 
Vice-Presidents .—Sir B. Brodie, Warren De la Rue, Dr. Gladstone, Prof. Liveing, 
Prof. W. A. Miller, Prof. Odling, Prof. Roscoe, Dr. Stenhouse, Prof. Williamson. 
Secretaries. —Dr. Crum Brown, Dr. Russell, F. Sutton. 
Committee. —Prof. Attfield, J. H. Atherton, H. B. Brady, J. C. Brough, J. G. Barford, 
W. Crookes, A. R. Catton, F. C. Calvert, A. Fletcher, J. R. Gassiot, G. Gladstone, T. B. 
Groves, A. Gamgee, F. Guthrie, Rev. R. Kerwan, H. Macleod, E. J. Mills, Prof. Aug. 
Morren, W. Perkin, B. Paul, J. Chandler Roberts, W. L. Scott, J. Spiller, E. C. Stan¬ 
ford, Angus Smith, Hon. A. Strutt, W. Thorpe, C. Tomlinson, P. J. Worsley. 
