BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
491 
ascertain, is to be found among the Preparations and Compounds. Hence, here 
we have a substance placed in the Materia Medica solely on account of its pre¬ 
paration, which preparation is afterwards omitted. This is another of the many 
illustrations which the British Pharmacopoeia presents of the discrepancies which 
exist between the Materia Medica and the part treating of the Preparations and 
Compounds. 
We have now finished our critical and explanatory notices of the articles of 
the Organic Materia Medica of the British Pharmacopoeia, and we trust that 
throughout our lectures we have kept prominently in view the remarks we made 
at their commencement, which were as follows:—When we consider the great dif¬ 
ficulties that the framers of this national work have had to encounter, I feel sure 
that you will all agree with me, that whatever errors it may contain and whatever 
its shortcomings may be, we should make all reasonable allowances for them, and 
approach its consideration and critical examination in a philosophic and friendly 
spirit, and with an anxious desire of finding out its merits rather than its de¬ 
fects. At the same time, it is imperatively necessary that a work of so much 
importance, one of constant reference and study, and one upon the right inter¬ 
pretation of which will frequently depend the issues of life or death, should be 
thoroughly and critically examined,—not only for the purpose of preventing any 
present inconvenience and danger, but also as a guide to the framers of subse¬ 
quent editions. 
In the spirit thus alluded to, and with the object of doing something to 
the future improvement and development of the British Pharmacopoeia, we 
have endeavoured to discharge the duty required of us by the Council of the 
Pharmaceutical Society ; and in taking our leave of the Organic Materia Medica, 
we can only repeat what we stated at the conclusion of our last lecture, that al¬ 
though it is certainly not a perfect work, upon the whole it has been well done, 
and is a great improvement upon the corresponding portion of any previous 
Pharmacopoeia published in the United Kingdom. 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
The annual meeting of the members of the British Pharmaceutical Conference— 
which, it will be remembered, is an organization chiefly for the encouragement of scien¬ 
tific inquiry into matters connected with pharmacy—will be held at Bath this year, at 
the time of the visit of the British Association to that city. Of the subjects suggested 
for investigation the following have been accepted, either by the gentlemen who proposed 
them or by other members, and a paper on each question (or an abstract of the paper if 
the author shall have previously published his results) will be read at the meeting :— 
Extract of Fucus vesiculosus is occasionally prescribed for use in medicine. When 
made by the action of proof-spirit, a green product is obtained; when by water, a red 
extract results. What is the most eligible form in which to exhibit any medicinal prin¬ 
ciples that may be present in the plant ? Accepted by J. Whitfield. 
Valerianate of Zinc. Describe an easy method of determining the purity of this salt 
as found in commerce. Accepted by F. Sutton. 
Valerianate of Iron. What is the best process for the preparation of this salt? What 
are its characters, and how may its purity be most readily ascertained? Accepted by F. 
Sutton. 
Syrup of Senna. Devise a formula for this preparation which shall afford a syrup less 
prone to ferment than that of the London Pharmacopoeia. Accepted by J. A. Knights. 
Methylated Spirit. Required, an easy method of detecting methylic alcohol in the 
presence of ethylic alcohol. Accepted by J. Tuck. 
To what extent is dialysis applicable in determining the nature of the crystalline con¬ 
stituents of plants ? Accepted by J. Attfield. 
Report on the applications of Glycerine in Pharmacy. Accepted by F. B. Benger. 
What is the quality of the diluted solution of Phosphoric Acid met with in commerce, 
and what the best and safest method of obtaining it of constant strength ? Accepted by 
R. Parkinson. 
