316 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING, EDINBURGH. 
alone could enable him to understand the nature of the case, and upon the correct 
interpietation of which alone he could found a scientific or rational plan of treatment. 
No disease is simple enough for his management, because he is unable to test the condi¬ 
tion of the various organs, so as to ascertain how far the apparently simple external 
phenomena are associated with graver internal complications, and, therefore, he would 
be doing the patient a grievous injury by trifling away precious time, at a season when, 
if the commencement of serious disease were detected, it might still be averted. One 
thing is quite certain, that the more highly the Pharmaceutical Chemist is educated, 
and the more studious he is in his own calling, the less likely will he be to interfere 
with matters of which, simply from lack of time and opportunity to inquire into, he is 
incompetent to treat. Ignorance alone could induce him to attempt those duties 
in the performance of which the Physician finds even a lifetime too short to be 
instructed. 
^ It is plain, therefore, that whilst the medical practitioner and the Pharmaceutical 
Chemist are associated in the treatment of disease, each has his own part to perform, 
and it is not only to their mutual advantage, but eminently to the interest of the 
patient, that they should cultivate a kindly feeling towards each other, and that each 
should sustain the dignity, and advance the knowledge, of his own department. It 
is because I feel a great interest in the welfare of the Pharmaceutical Society that I 
have ventured to be thus explicit upon a point which has been heretofore, and might 
again become the means of preventing that unbroken harmony which it is so desirable 
to maintain; and it is extremely important that you, Gentlemen, who are now setting 
out upon the voyage of your professional life, should not only be well instructed in all 
those matters which will enable you to pursue your course prosperously, but also that 
you should be cautioned against those rocks and whirlpools which, if encountered, 
whether unwarily or wilfully, would be apt to make shipwreck of your adventure. 
In conclusion. Gentlemen, let me say one word about those things which are of in¬ 
finitely greater importance than the applause of men or the uninterrupted prosperity of 
your eaithly career. It would be a sorry ending to a diligent and useful life to have no 
better reward than the mingled chaplet of thorns and laurels which men can put upon 
your brows; it would be a dark evening of your days if you had no inheritance beyond 
the perishing things of time. Look to it, therefore, that you do not let the labours and 
anxieties of your professional calling choke the better part of your nature. Be sober, 
be vigilant, remembering who is your adversary. Be courageous, be faithful, be grate¬ 
ful, remembering who has given you all your good things, and that He is sufficient for 
all things. Cast all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you. 
At the close of this addiess there was considerable discussion on some of the points 
mentioned, in which Mr. D. R. Brown, Mr. Nicol, Dr. James Young, and Mr. Mackay 
took part. J 
A vote of thanks was, on the motion of Mr. Brown, awarded unanimouslv and with 
acclamation, to Dr. Jackson, for his interesting communication. 
A note was then read by the Secretary from Dr. Stevenson Macadam, explaining his 
absence from the meeting in, consequence of the unexpected death of his brother, and. 
thereafter, read the following communication from Dr. Macadam “ On the Poisonous 
Nature of the Ingredients in Pharaoh’s Serpents— 
“ The chemical toy which is now sold largely in many shops in this city, at prices 
ranging 10 m threepence to one shilling each, is composed of a highly dangerous and 
poisonous substance called the sulphocyanide of mercury. The material is a double- 
headed poisoned arrow, for it contains two poisonous ingredients, viz. mercury and 
sulphocyamc acid, either of which will kill. Experiments have been made bv me upon 
the lower ammuls, and I have found that one-half of a sixpenny Pharaoh’s serpent is 
sufficient to poison a large-sized rabbit in an hour and three-quarters. A less dose also 
destroys life, but takes longer to do so. The toy, therefore, is much too deadlv to be 
ieg , a !' v aS n ? er ® y amusi ng 5 and seeing that it can be purchased by every schoolboy, 
and be brought home to the nursery, it is rather alarming to think that there is enough 
of the Poison in one of the serpents to destroy the life of several children. And the 
moie so, that the so-called Iharaoh’s serpent is covered with bright tinfoil, and much 
resembles in outward appearance, a piece of chocolate, or a comfit. I hope that the 
rage for the Pharaoh s serpents will die out in Edinburgh without any disastrous conse- 
