550 
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 
At the close of the address a very cordial vote of thanks was given to Professor Archer 
for his interesting communication. 
The deliverance of the Committee appointed to examine the essays which had been 
sent to the Secretary was then made known. The paper on 4 Glycerine ’ was named as 
the best, and therefore entitled to the President’s prize. On the sealed envelope being 
opened, the author’s name was found to be F. Baden Benger, residing at Messrs. Bell and 
Co.’s, 338, Oxford Street, London. The work, Professor Nichol’s ‘ Physical Sciences,’ 
illustrated, was the prize given by the President, and the Secretary received instructions 
to forward the same. The second prize, Balfour’s ‘Manual of Botany,’ was awarded to 
the author of the paper on ‘ Displacement,’ who was James Burt, residing at Mr. Mun- 
day’s, Worthing. There were other two essays which the Committee thought deserved 
recognition, and they therefore awarded a third prize to the writer of the essay upon 
‘ Camphor,’ viz. Balfour’s ‘ Outlines of Botany,’ and a fourth prize for the essay on 
‘ Iodine,’ the volume given for which was a copy of M. M. Edwards on ‘ Zoology,’ with 
plates. The author of the former was J. G. Stevens, residing with Jeffreys and Sons, 
Cheltenham, and of the latter, Thomas Collier, with Mr. Collier, of Sheffield. The Com¬ 
mittee remarked that Mr. Collier had borrowed largely from some writers on ‘ Iodine,’ 
which they think Mr. C. ought to have acknowledged. On the whole, the essays were 
very creditable. 
The President then gave his— 
YALEDICTOEY ADDRESS. 
In accordance with what has always been the custom of the retiring President, I beg 
to offer you a few remarks, as in the course of a very few hours my successor will be ap¬ 
pointed, and I shall cease to hold the honourable position in which you so kindly placed 
me twelve months ago. 
In commencing, allow me to refer to what has been the real work of the bygone ses¬ 
sion. First, in regard to scientific meetings, we have had Jive, and these, on being glanced 
at, will, I am sure, bear favourable comparison with any previous session. In November 
we had a very lucid communication by Dr. Stevenson Macadam, on the Recent Pro¬ 
gress of Organic Chemistry. Our Secretary exhibited in operation one of Carr’s Patent 
Levigating Machines, and fifty specimens were added to our museum, the gift of the 
Council in London. 
In February we had from Dr. James Young some remarks full of interest regarding 
“ Cicutine Granules,” and the “ Freshwater Aquarium ” was treated in a masterly style 
by Mr. Moffat, of Glasgow. At our next meeting Mr. Stevenson read an admirable pa¬ 
per, comprehending the new preparations in the British Pharmacopoeia, which gave rise 
to a long and profitable discussion. About the close of March, Mr. Mackay introduced 
to our fourth meeting Robbins’s “ Oxygennesis,” a new material for the immediate pro¬ 
duction of Oxygen gas, and Mr. D. R. Brown read a paper on “ Volumetric Analysis,” 
illustrated by interesting experiments. 
Our fifth meeting is just closing, and I need scarcely refer to the very able and valu¬ 
able communication which Professor Archer has so kindly given us this evening. To all 
the gentlemen who have thus assisted in keeping up the interest of these meetings my 
best thanks are tendered, and especially for the readiness with which they have come 
forward and contributed to our scientific gatherings. I am also glad to say that the atten¬ 
dance has been throughout the session most excellent. 
During my year of office there have been four meetings for Examination, and it is 
pleasing to know, that applicants for admission are becoming more numerous. At the 
last meeting of the Board of Examiners, no fewer than six passed their Major examina¬ 
tion, thus fitting them to be registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists, all of whom will 
doubtless be made Members of the Society, as their applications will come before the 
Loudon Council at their next meeting. 
I could have wished that the Library had been more freely used than it has been 
during the winter months. Every facility was given by the Curator, who attended regu¬ 
larly every alternate Tuesday evening, but he has, on the whole, received little encourage¬ 
ment. Many of the books have now been re-bound, and I really hope that in future a 
more satisfactory report may be given regarding this department. 
I cannot but congratulate you on the production of the national Pharmacopoeia. We 
have now had it before us for some time ; and though there are many disposed to find 
