636 
AN “INSATIATE MONSTER.” 
Sodje Carbonas Exsiccata. —In drying carbonate of soda it is not now 
heated to redness, as formerly; the resulting salt will consequently be more 
readily soluble in water and the objections to the old carbonate urged by 
Ince (Pharm. Journ., vol. iii. p. 279) and Muskett (Pharm. Journ., 2nd 
ser., vol. i. p. 214) be removed. The present process, however, which is from 
the last Dublin Pharmacopasia, has also been shown by Draper (Dub. Med. Press, 
and Pharm. Journ., 2nd ser., vol. iii. p. 129) to be objectionable, inasmuch as it 
yields a hard cake difficult to powder. He proposes that the bicarbonate of soda 
be used as a source of dried carbonate; the product on heating to redness being 
a fine white pulverulent pure monocarbonate. 
(To be continued.) 
ORIGINAL AND EXTRACTED ARTICLES. 
THE NEW PHARMACY BILL. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—As the draft of the proposed Pharmacy Act is now published, its 
various clauses are fairly open to criticism. Every one interested and con¬ 
nected with Pharmacy must be unanimous in the wish to unite the whole 
body of chemists in the proposed legislative Act. 
In the first place, it is only fair that all existing interests should be pre¬ 
served intact. 
Secondly,—It is proposed to register all chemists and druggists, and their 
assistants, upon the payment of one guinea for such registration ; after which 
their connection with the Society is ignored, unless they pass the Minor ex¬ 
amination, and become Associates. I take it that this is not a fair recognition 
of the large body of chemists and druggists ; would it not be better to unite 
the whole body with the full privileges of membership upon a smaller annual 
payment—say half a guinea per annum ? 
Thirdly,—Surely it is not the intention of the proposed Act to register the 
present members and founders of the Pharmaceutical Society as chemists 
and druggists, and take from them their present title of Pharmaceutical 
chemists ; if so, that will be an act of injustice to those who have given their 
time and money, and recognized the progressive principles of the Society. 
Fourthly,—Let those who are non-members be registered as chemists and 
druggists ; the present members retain the title of Pharmaceutical Chemists ; 
the examined members, Pharmaceutical Chemists (by examination). 
I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 
54, Stanhope Street, Liverpool. J. THOMPSON. 
AN “ INSATIATE MONSTER.” 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
During the month of June, 1863, I placed in an unglazed one-gallon jar fifty 
healthy leeches. 
At the end of a week my assistant reported seven dead. This appeared un¬ 
accountable, as the water had been changed daily, kept cool, and the access of 
any deleterious matter guarded against. Next day there were nine more deaths, 
and in the day following twelve. I now began to feel not a little interested as 
to the cause of this most unusual mortality; and on examining the dead leeches 
found that each one had three or four hardened swellings upon the under surface, 
the mouths distended, and the whole substance flabby. Next day there were 
fifteen more victims, all presenting a similar appearance. 
