522 
EDINBURGH MEETING. 
it also contains the medicinal substances of Martinique (about 120), of Guadaloupe (25), 
of Guyana (30), West African Colonies (10), of Re'union (50), of French India (120), 
and of Cochin China, Tahiti, etc. (about z0). 
During the interval that has elapsed since 1862, small additions have constantly 
been going on, until 1867, when an entire collection of the native drugs of the Cape of 
Good Hope, chiefly collected by the late eminent Cape botanist, Dr. Pappe, was given 
to us by the Commissioner (Mr. Currey), who represented that Colony in the Paris Ex¬ 
hibition. Since then the pharmaceutical world has lost an eminent man, Mr. Waring- 
ton, who so many years held the direction of the drug department of Apothecaries’ Hall 
in London; before his death, he expressed a wish to his sons that his collection, a very 
valuable one, should be placed in the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art. This 
was done at the end of last year, and it will in a very short time be available for stu¬ 
dents. 
Although I have mentioned chiefly the medicines of other countries than our own, 
some progress has been made in collecting those with which we are more immediately 
connected. Besides Mr. Warington’s collection, we have a beautiful series illustrating 
the preparation of opium in the Indian factories, for which we are indebted to Dr. 
Christison, son of Professor Christison, who took great interest in getting it complete 
for us; placed beside, and in continuation of this, is a beautiful series of the salts and 
acids of opium, and when I mention that they were prepared by Messrs. T. and H. 
Smith, of Duke Street, to whose liberality we are indebted for them, any praise of them 
would be superfluous. I think I have now shown that the materia medica branch of 
the museum has not been neglected, and that it cannot fail of being of great importance 
to those who are anxious to make themselves masters of the subject, and obtain that 
eminence of which there have been so many bright examples. At present this depart¬ 
ment is far from being completely arranged, but no student who applies to inspect a 
specimen is ever refused ; indeed, we feel it a pleasure to afford every possible facility 
to all who are in the pursuit of knowledge. 
At the close of his remarks, Professor Archer read the following letter from the 
Messrs. Wilson, wholesale botanical druggists in Boston, who had, at the request of Dr. 
Edwards, F.C.S., sent over a few specimens of dried herbs and flowers. Half-a-dozen 
specimens which had arrived from America that day were submitted to the meeting. 
They were apparently preserved in flat tin cases, and had the top made of glass:— 
“ B. O. and G. Wilson, Wholesale Botanic Druggists, 18 and 20, Central Street, 
Boston, Jan. 9, 1869. 
“ Professor Archer, Industrial Museum, Edinburgh, Scotland. 
“ Dear Sir,—For the past twenty-five years we have been engaged in the selection and 
preparation of American herbs, roots, barks, flowers, and seeds. Our attention has been 
particularly directed to the selection of the herbs and flowers, and we have obtained a 
reputation for the preparation of a class of goods of superior quality to those of any other 
house of America. We cull all the stalks, separating them from the leaves, and reject¬ 
ing them, pressing only the bright fresh leaves, these being the portion which contains 
all the desirable qualities of the herbs; of course this method of preparation enhances 
the cost, but it is found by a majority of our best pharmaceutists that they are intrin¬ 
sically cheaper, as well as superior in quality. 
“ We enclose a statement of the American Pharmaceutical Association, in regard to 
our preparations, to which we would call your attention. 
“ It has been suggested by Dr. J. Baker Edwards, F.C.S., Montreal, that we send you 
a few samples of the goods spoken of, and desire you to place them among your speci¬ 
mens, and he gave the writer the enclosed note, and will write you in regard to the 
matter. In accordance with his suggestion, we have sent to our agents in Liverpool a 
small parcel with directions to forward to your address. We trust you will make such 
disposal of them as shall bring them to the notice of the pharmaceutists in your locality. 
We shall be happy to hear of their receipt by you, and trust they will be of mutual 
benefit to the pharmaceutists and ourselves. We are, Sir, yours respectfully, B. O. and 
G. C. Wilson. —W. F. Horton.” 
Specimens shown at the meeting by Professor Archer: — Eupatorium perfoliatum 
(boneset), Gnaphalium polycephalum (life-everlasting), Marrubium vulgare (horehound), 
Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), Hyssopus officinalis (hyssop), Salvia officinalis (sage 
leaf). 
