460 
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The following donations were announced to the Library:—The ‘ Pharmaceutical 
Journal’ for February, from the Society; the ‘Chemist and Druggist,’ from the Editor. 
To the Museum, a specimen of Matico, from T. K. Arnott, Esq. 
The thanks of the Society having been voted to the donors, 
The President submitted a resolution for the adoption of the meeting, indicating to 
the medical profession the course it would be the duty of pharmaceutists and others to 
adopt in regard to the ‘ British Pharmacopoeia;’ but, after some discussion, it was agreed 
to withdraw the motion. 
Mr. J. Abraham then continued to a conclusion his review of the ‘ British Pharmaco¬ 
poeia,’ of which the following is a resume. 
Mr. Abraham occupied the evenings of February 11, 18, and 25, with a review of the 
‘ British Pharmacopoeia.’ He expressed his great satisfaction with the changes in the 
weights, observing that they were in accordance with the opinions which he expressed 
in a paper read to the Society in 1855, and published in the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal, 5 
vol. xiv. page 411. He believed that they would conduce to the convenience of the 
pharmaceutist, and cause little or no inconvenience to prescribers. The grain, the scru¬ 
ple, and the drachm were unchanged, and these were the weights chiefly found in prescrip¬ 
tions. Although the Medical Council did not recommend the use of the terms drachm and 
scruple, they would continue to be as clearly understood as formerly. If prescribers for¬ 
got the change in the ounce, the error would only amount to ten per cent. By the sys¬ 
tem adopted, all ambiguity w r as got rid of, and if we chose to use the grain weight only, 
we should have a perfectly decimal system. He thought that the compilers of the Phar¬ 
macopoeia had carefully studied practical results; and though he did not doubt that errors 
would be found in it, he believed that it represented much of the results of experience 
and the progress of science. 
i He proceeded in his review seriatim, w r ith the especial object of calling attention to the 
changes which had been made with relation to the London Pharmacopoeia. He regretted 
the exclusive introduction of the strongest nitric acid, and the calling of corrosive sub¬ 
limate “ chloride of mercury,” which he believed would, in the hands of inexperienced 
persons, cause fatal mistakes. Also the change in the mode of preparing extracts from 
fresh leaves, which directed the chlorophyll to be first separated and afterwards added,— 
fearing that the product, although prettier, would be more perishable. The Pil. Coloc. Co. 
of the London Pharmacopoeia had, he thought, answered every purpose ; he regretted 
the introduction of a new one and of the old Ext. Coloc. Co., which had no advantage 
over it, and drove those who had not stills to the wholesale druggist. The compound 
rhubarb pill was now to have oil of peppermint instead of oil of caraway. He regretted 
this, because he remembered that when it was made from the old Edinburgh Pharmaco¬ 
poeia, then the only officinal form, many persons complained of the peppermint causing 
disagreeable eructations. The Ext. Opii Liquidum he supposed to be intended to repre¬ 
sent Liq. Opii Sed. Measure for measure, it would be about as strong as laudanum ; but 
he found that 75 drops of it were equal to one fluid drachm, whilst it took 136 drops of 
Tinct. Opii to fill the same measure. 
The applying of the name of spirits to preparations which we already knew as essences 
would be inconvenient. 
The appendices and symbols were valuable, and the book Would be more frequently 
found in the laboratory than the old Pharmacopoeia had been. 
He noticed the omission of the names of many articles in general demand. Such as 
it was, the book was now the legal standard, although the medical profession might 
continue to prescribe from former formulae if they indicated their intention on their 
prescriptions. 
A vote of thanks to Mr. Abraham terminated the proceedings. 
The Tenth General Meeting was held at the Boyal Institution, March 10th, 1864; the 
President in the chair. 
The following gentlemen were elected members:—Messrs. Thomas F. Austin and 
John Newman. 
Mr. Mercer exhibited several sets of grain-weights from 4000 grains down, which 
were much admired. 
Mr. Mercer then proceeded to read the paper of the evening, “ On the Chemistry of 
the British Pharmacopoeia,” reviewing in a very able manner the principal changes in 
the chemical processes directed to be followed. 
