594 
CONSEQUENCES. 
bein’s directions, for detecting the presence of minute quantities of hydrocyanic 
acid, as described in the Journal for January last ; but the results do not con¬ 
firm the statement therein contained. 
It is quite true that the test-papers are exceedingly sensitive to the presence 
of hydrocyanic acid vapour ; but unfortunately for the value of the reaction 
as a proof of the presence of hydrocyanic acid, they are equally sensitive to 
the action of chlorine, and, in a less degree, to that of the vapours of several 
other substances. 
1 st. One drop of Scheele’s acid was dropped into a bottle of 80 fluid ounces 
capacity, and the test-paper being suspended in it, began to assume the blue tint 
instantly, rapidly becoming deeper in colour. 
2nd. A trace of chlorine gas gave an immediate coloration, soon becoming 
deep blue. 
3 rd. Five drops of strong nitric acid were dropped in ; in 1^ minute the 
coloration had commenced, slowly changing to a deeper tint. 
The following substances gave no reaction :—hydrochloric acid gas, acetic 
acid vapour, and sulphuric dioxide. 
CONSEQUENCES. 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Gentlemen,—Those who accomplished the feat of shooting the Niagara of 
pharmacy half a year since, may now consider the consequences of that leap. 
Firstly, let us realize that we have reached and passed what was for a quarter 
of a century the goal of our aspirations. We must for the future be attracted 
by new hopes and aims, and shall find ourselves brought under new influences 
on all sides. But we have everything to hope and nothing to fear, because the 
principle of self-government has been so amply vindicated in the final settlement 
of the “ Pharmacy Act (1868).” Had our interests depended on the caprice of 
a Government official, or had the election of the Council been subject to unjust 
limitations, we might have stood aside with a feeling of helpless indifference. 
But now the Council ought in practice to represent what it does in theory, viz. 
the sentiments of our body at large. But to bring the actions of the Council 
into accord with the sentiments of its constituency, it is evident that we must 
know much more of the opinions and tendencies of individual members of 
Council than is the case at present, and that the Council, as such, must act in 
the light instead of in the dark. 
The indiscriminate publication of all that occurred at meetings of the Council 
would not be proposed by any reasonable man ; but the new fact that the 
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society holds, on behalf of the State, the control 
of pharmacy in Great Britain, justifies the demand that the deliberations of 
that body shall be consistent with the spirit of our national institutions. The 
General Medical Council has had to open its doors to the press, and probably 
would not recur to the old system, even were it possible. 
It is evident that some evils might be promoted by the injudicious application 
of the principle of publicity ; one of the most apparent being the encourage¬ 
ment of possible demagogues, talking for notoriety. Even this evil would not be a 
# fatal one, and it is by no means certain that such efforts to please the lieges 
would succeed ; but they would prove futile under the system of regulated pub¬ 
licity for the acts of members of Council which I advocate. Will some of our 
representatives favour us with their opinions on the question ? 
Another consequence of the “ Pharmacy Act ” appears to me to be this. Many 
members have wished for local examinations, and only desisted in their advo- 
