PRESERVATION OF HERBS, ETC. 
595 
cacy of the principle because of the general question of pending legislation. 
Now, the necessity of the case is much modified; aud it is not needful as a 
question of obtaining members that the Society should increase the facilities for 
entrance. All must present themselves for examination, although it will still be 
proper to afford every reasonable facility for doing this. But if not disposed to 
insist on the immediate necessity of local examinations, I feel that there is a 
want of a most pressing character, viz. the means of local education. That 
Bloomsbury Square will continue full to overflowing, as at present, aud will 
attract the elite of the pharmaceutical students of the kingdom, may be safely 
assumed. 
But this does not account for more than a tithe of the students who must 
annually offer themselves for the Minor and Major Examinations; and pro¬ 
vincial schools of pharmacy for our leading centres of population are evidently 
a necessity. Now I wish to claim for such efforts the countenance and support 
of the Council, conveyed in such a way as may meet the special requirements of the 
case. It is evident that local interest and support must form the nuclei of any 
new schools, and I claim that wherever these may develope a complete scheme 
of efficient pharmaceutical education in the provinces, they shall be subsidized 
and supplemented by the Society, upon the same principle that induced it to 
spend money for years upon the school at Bloomsbury Square, and to give a 
student for £30 an education costing £60 or more. The science-teaching of 
the country is encouraged by Government upon a principle similar to this, by 
capitation grants, payments for results, prizes, scholarships, contributions of 50 
per cent, towards the cost of apparatus, etc. Let the principle be granted, and 
the financial question will not be difficult. Our Society had £4600 of invested 
property on account of its general fund a year since, and certainly it is no duty 
of ours to lay up this money for posterity. Such a bold and comprehensive 
scheme as that set on foot by our brethren at Newcastle-on-Tyne well deserves 
the support to which I am alluding, even though we may regard it as an ex¬ 
periment. Again I would ask, what say our representatives ? 
Yours respectfully, 
Bichard Reynolds. 
Leeds , March 19, 1869. 
PRESERVATION OF HERBS, ETC. 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Gentlemen,—Dr. Attfteld refers to a mode adopted by Mr. Holloway, of 
Sydenham, for keeping powdered herbs, etc. I used the plan proposed, many 
years since, to preserve powdered foxglove, which was being much used both in 
medical and veterinary practice. 
It was found that towards the end of a year (after gathering) the leaves 
became comparatively inert, and I adopted the plan the following year of pow¬ 
dering at once the whole year's supply of foxglove, and putting it into wide¬ 
mouthed stoppered bottles, with just enough rectified spirit to make the powder 
sensibly damp, but not at all approaching wetness; this takes about 10 per 
cent, of spirit. The process seemed to answer thoroughly. If the foxglove is 
afterwards wanted in very dry powder, drive off the spirit with a gentle heat; 
if for tincture, it is always ready with 10 per cent, of spirit already mixed, 
although this needs not to be taken into consideration. Under no circumstances 
should so much spirit be put as to allow of any subsidence. 
My experience is that there are very few leaves and herbs that are thoroughly 
satisfactory a few months after gathering, if kept in the ordinary way. If the 
plants were dried rapidly at a moderate heat, say 80° to 90°, and at once 
2 s 2 
