BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
151 
both being better for commercial purposes than the decimal; but if his choice 
was between the decimal system and the present want of system, there could be 
no doubt that a change would be for the better. He then drew attention to the 
cost of making a change, and gave several suggestions for diminishing the in¬ 
convenience of the transition state. 
Mr. E. Wood confessed that he had once regarded the decimal system as 
being almost perfect, but further reflection had brought him to a conclusion 
similar to Mr. Proctor’s, and he was very much of a convert to an octavial 
method. 
Mr. F. Sutton (author of the ‘ Handbook of Volumetric Analysis’) said, 
that he had used the metric system for five or six years in his own laboratory 
and was well satisfied with it. It must now be accepted as the universal system 
of men of science throughout the world. lie hoped to see it introduced into 
dispensing, and that if the old weights and measures were retained in the forth¬ 
coming British Pharmacopoeia, their equivalent value might be also given 
according to the metric system. 
Mr. Brady suggested the appointment of a Committee to whom the subject 
might be referred. 
Mr. Mawson wished to recall the meeting to the fact that the adoption of 
the decimal method had become a practical question for the legislature. Its 
principle had been sanctioned by the vote of the House of Commons, and doubt¬ 
less a Bill upon the subject would again be introduced next session. The de¬ 
cimal system therefore was likely to be attained, which the octavial was not. 
Mr. Heathfield said that the assayers of London used the decimal system 
in operating upon the precious metals. 
Hr. Edwards strongly deprecated the use of old names in any new systems 
of weights and measures that might be introduced. For instance, the adoption 
of the terms “ quart,” u pound,” and “ ounce,” in our present imperial system 
had led to constant misunderstandings, since those terms were preoccupied in 
other tables. He hoped a new nomenclature would be introduced with any new 
system. He concluded by proposing 11 That Mr. Proctor is requested to con¬ 
tinue his attention to the question of a new system of weights and measures in 
pharmacy, and report thereon to our next meeting.” 
Mr. Mawson seconded this resolution, which was carried. 
Mr. Reynolds then brought before the meeting four cases of glaring adul¬ 
teration or fraudulent substitution which had lately come under his notice, and 
illustrated them by exhibiting the substances in question. They were the fol¬ 
lowing :— 
1st. An article professing to be Howard’s disulphate of quinine, which had 
been sold at sixpence per ounce under Howard’s current price. This called 
attention to the matter, and analysis showed the article to be entirely sulphate 
of quinidiue. It was singular that in looking over the salt, some fragments of 
green sealing-wax were found, this being the colour used by Messrs. Howard 
for sealing either the bottles or the tins of the quinidine salt. 
2ndly. Tartaric acid, which was not a substance generally supposed to be 
tampered with, had lately been made the subject of frauds upon a very large scale. 
A house engaged largely in tartaric acid had commanded the market for some 
time by their power of selling a shade below any one else. An analysis of this 
acid had once been made, but as no alum was found, it was reported genuine. 
Some of it was bought by a confectioner and found not to produce the usual 
effect, and it was then submitted to examination again. The result was that 
from 12 to 17 per cent, of Rochelle salt was detected, the particular sample 
shown containing 12T per cent. This gave 5‘2 per cent, of ash when in¬ 
cinerated. 
