459 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
Wednesday Evening , January 6th, 1869. 
MR. H. SUGDEN EVANS, VICE-PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. 
The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, the following 
DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 
were announced, and the thanks of the Meeting given to the respective 
donors thereof:— 
Catalogue of Scientific Papers, vol. ii.: from the Royal Society,—Catalogue of the 
Third and Concluding Exhibition of National Portraits : from the Committee of Coun¬ 
cil on Education,—Faraday’s Chemical Manipulation, Barber’s Pocket Companion to the 
Pharmacopoeias, Owen’s Conspectus of the Pharmacopoeia: from the Registrar,—Florula 
Discoana; Contributions to the Phyto-Geography of Greenland: from R. Brown, F.R.G.S., 
—Specimen of Carbonate of Magnesium: presented by Mr. B. S. Proctor,—Fruits of Areca 
Catechu : presented by Mr. Mackmurdo,—Resin of the Coral plant ( Ceradia furcata ?), 
from the mainland opposite the Isle of Icaboc, Africa; the donor thinks this is the pro¬ 
duce of a species of Sarcocaulon , DC. Monsonia, Linn, f.): presented by Rev. J. C. 
Brown, LL.D.,—Seven specimens of Sulpho-carbolates: presented by Mr. J. Balmer,— 
Specimen of Mexican Copalchi Bark, from a recent import: presented by Mr. Collins 
(Curator). 
Dr. Redwood drew attention to the specimens of sulpho-carbolates on the 
table; they were a class of salts recently introduced into medical practice. 
These specimens had been presented by Mr. Balmer, of Islington, and were 
prepared by acting upon carbolic acid with sulphuric acid at a temperature of 
28 ( )° or a little higher. They appeared to possess the same properties as car¬ 
bolic acid, and, if this proved to be the ease, would be much preferable in 
many cases, as they did not possess the strong odour of that acid. 
The following papers were read :— 
ON HOME-GROWN PODOPHYLLUM AND JALAP. 
BY WALTER G. SMITH, M.B. DUBLIN. 
FELLOW OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS ; ASSIST. PHYS. TO THE ADELAIDE HOSPITAL. 
The influence of climatic conditions on the characters and secretions of 
plants offers an interesting field for inquiry as a branch of botanical geography, 
and in connection with economic considerations ; and I propose, in the following 
brief communication, to describe specimens of podophyllum and of jalap which 
have been cultivated in the Botanic Gardens of Trinity College, Dublin, refer¬ 
ring more especially to their respective yield of resin, as compared with the 
amount afforded by these plants when grown in the New World, their native 
habitat. 
Since we know that temperature is the prime regulator of the distribution of 
plants, and that isothermal lines may be taken as more or less correct indicators 
of the general climatic conditions of any locality, the study of the isotherms of 
different countries will guide us in estimating the probability of a plant being 
likely to adapt its mode of life to diverse circumstances. Meyen was of opinion 
that when a sufficient number of meteorological observations have been made, 
we shall even beforehand be able to determine exactly whether a plant may be 
transplanted from its indigenous station to another, or whether this trouble 
would be unrewarded. 
