372 
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF EDINBURGH. 
in nearly every chemical work that nitro-glycerine is gradually decomposed, deposing 
oxalic acid, while such a change has never occurred in the same article manufactured on 
a large scale. With suitable apparatus it takes less than one hour to completely 
neutralize a ton of nitro-glycerine; and, as a further control, a small quantity of every 
day’s produce, after it has been well mixed, so as to be fully uniform, is sealed and kept 
for inspection. That practice has now been carried on for eighteen months, and shows 
not the slightest vestige of decomposition in any of the numerous samples. 
Having to store large quantities, not only in six factories, but also in numerous dep6t,s, 
it is but natural that I should have been anxious myself to investigate the matter. In 
the case of dynamite it is true that spontaneous combustion could mean only its catch¬ 
ing fire and burning without explosion, since internal or external heating must naturally 
have the same effect; still spontaneous combustion, even where no explosion can ensue, 
is a serious evil. 
Fortunately the tendency of organic compounds to decompose under divers influences 
increases so rapidly with the increase of temperature, as to render an investigation very 
easy without having to rely on the tedious experience of years. I kept a small quantity 
of dynamite for forty days and nights exposed in a current of heated air, the temperature 
of which varied between 140° and 200°, after which time it was found perfectly unaltered, 
only there "was a loss in weight of about 2| per cent, due to a slight evaporation of nitro¬ 
glycerine at that high temperature. 
Adding to safety tests like this the circumstance that nitro-glycerine has now been 
stored in many factories and depots for about four years, and in large quantities, with¬ 
out ever causing an accident or having been found to deteriorate, I think that there is 
ample proof of its stability. Nature, indeed, is not so treacherous as she is sometimes 
accused of being, and there are few substances, except those of a very complex composi¬ 
tion, which caunot be stored without deterioration. 
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF EDINBUBGH. 
At a meeting of this College, held on the 12th inst., it was stated by the President 
that a deputation had, on the 2nd inst., waited on the Lord Advocate in regard to the 
operation of “ The Sale of Poisons and Pharmacy Act,” passed during the last session of 
Parliament, and that he had since received a communication from his lordship, stating 
that the Act was not a Government measure, but was promoted by several members of 
Parliament, to whom the Government gave facilities, as it was considered, upon the 
whole, to be a good measure; that the striking out of the words “legally qualified 
practitioners,” in clause 16, seemed to his lordship to inflict a hardship on medical prac¬ 
titioners in Scotland, of which they might justly complain. The Lord Advocate stated 
that it was probable the effect, in Scotland at all events, was not perceived, the Bill 
having been carried through hurriedly during the last days of the session. His lordship 
considered that, if the effect of it is to prevent a medical man from selling or dispensing 
medicines mentioned in Schedule A, the operation of it may be injurious to the popula¬ 
tion of the outlying districts in Scotland, who depend almost entirely on their medical 
attendants for a supply of medicines; and that if, upon further consideration, it be held 
that the 16th clause leads to the above result, his lordship was prepared to do what he 
could in order to get this matter put right. The President further stated that, having 
carefully examined the Act, in relation to the powers of the College granted by their 
various royal charters, and especially by the charter of 1851, which ordains and declares 
that the College may grant diplomas or licences qualifying their licentiates to exercise and 
enjoy all rights of practice in the arts and sciences of anatomy, surgery, and pharmacy, 
commonly enjoyed by the Fellows of the College, he was of opinion that the licentiates 
were thus constituted legally qualified apothecaries, and therefore that nothing contained 
in the Act extended to or interfered with their business. At the same time, to put the 
matter beyond doubt, the College resolved to procure the opinion of counsel, and also to 
take steps to co-operate with other licensing bodies in order to obtain an amendment of 
the Act, if necessary .—Medical J'imes and Gazette. 
