406 
LECTURES ON THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 
pleasure in announcing to the meeting that Mr. J. H. Atherton had promised to read a 
series of papers on the Preparations in the new Pharmacopoeia. He thought they would be 
of great use and benefit to the Society, as showing the difference between the old and new 
preparations, the reason of the change in their manufacture, and the improved method 
of testing their strength and purity. 
The President then called upon Alexander Butel, Esq. (an honorary member), to de¬ 
liver the lecture of the evening, on the “ History and Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid.” 
The Lecturer traced the history of this acid from its earliest date, and showed the dif¬ 
ferent methods adopted in its manufacture, improvement upon improvement, up to the 
present time. The Lecturer said,—“ Thus by the action of sulphuric acid, we produce tar¬ 
taric, stearic, phosphoric, and a great many other acids. By it we create our sulphates, we 
obtain our alkalies, we generate chlorine to disinfect the sick chamber, or bleach our cotton 
and linen fabrics ; our soda-ash and caustic soda are now entirely manufactured by that 
powerful agent, and we are thus enabled to vitrify cheaply common sand, and give rise to 
those many industries connected with the production of glass. Our soap-boilers can thus 
manufacture at an almost nominal price the goods by which cleanliness has found its 
way amongst the poorest cottages. By means of its corrosive action we thoroughly 
scale those thin sheets of iron which are afterwards impregnated with tin or zinc; 
thus forming our tin plates and our galvanized iron, which defy the oxidizing action of 
air, water, or gases. The reaction of sulphuric acid on zinc produces an electric cur¬ 
rent, by which electro-plating is performed, and enabling the man of moderate means 
to cover his table with a brilliant display of silvered spoons, forks, castors, etc. Then 
sulphuric acid creates almost entirely those artificial manures by which the farmer has 
within the last twenty years more than doubled his crops, and thereby increased his 
cattle and improved his bread. Need I say that the dyer, the tallow-bleacher, the soda- 
water manufacturer, the bleacher, and almost every branch of manufacture, is more or 
less dependent on sulphuric acid. Thus we perceive that sulphuric acid is an article of 
general use in the arts and trades. We must admit that it is the principal agent by 
means of which our gigantic soap manufactories, alkali-works, our dye-works, and, indi- 
rectly, the great cotton mills, the woollen establishments, and many branches of our 
metallurgic manufactories, have been erected; that it is one of those great means of 
production which create those innumerable articles of commerce which, when loaded in 
our merchant vessels, find their way to the extremities of the earth ; thus disseminating, 
in a gradual, unobtrusive manner, the substantial benefits of our civilization among those 
tribes and nations where barbarism is not yet displaced.” 
The Lecturer then proceeded to explain the chemical composition of the substances 
from which it is produced, and the decompositions necessary for its formation ; after¬ 
wards going minutely through the details of its manufacture, from the burning of the 
sulphur to the bottling of the acid. The lecture was admirably illustrated by models, a 
complete set of which was expressly prepared for the occasion, and presented to the 
Society by the Lecturer. 
After a few remarks from the President and Dr. Tatham, Mr. Atherton proposed 
that the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. Butel for his most interesting 
and instructive lecture, which was seconded, and carried with acclamation. 
Mr. Butel, in responding, stated that he should be happy at some future time to 
appear before them again. The meeting was very numerously attended. 
LECTURES OH THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 
ON THE CHEMICAL PROCESSES AND PREPARATIONS. 
Lecture I. 
Delivered before the Members of the Pharmaceutical Society , February 17, 1864. 
BY THEOPIIILUS REDWOOD, PH.D., E.C.S., 
PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY TO THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, AND 
SECRETARY TO THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 
The advent of the British Pharmacopoeia forms an epoch in the history of 
Medicine in this country. For nearly two centuries and a half the Pharma- 
