550 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
Gamboge (5 grains). 
Santonine (5 grains). 
The formulae for Pessaries in Professor Simpson’s first paper are seven in 
number, and contain respectively:— 
Oxide of zinc.15 grains. 
Acetate of lead. 1\ ,, 
Mercurial ointment ... \ drachm. 
Iodide of lead.5 grains. 
Tannin.10 ,, 
Alum and catechu ... 15 grains of each. 
Belladonna.10 grains (extract). 
In Dr. Tanner’s paper six formulae are given, viz.:— 
Iodide of lead 10 grains, with extract of belladonna 5 grains. 
Mercurial ointment 10 grains to •§ drachm. 
Acetate of lead 5 grains, with extract of opium 3 grains. 
Oxide of zinc 15 grains, with extract of belladonna 3 to 5 grains. 
Iodide of potassium 15 grains, with extract of conium 1 scruple. 
Tannin 10 grains, with catechu 15 grains. 
In Dr. Simpson’s later paper the list is a much more extensive one, embracing 
formulae containing borax, carbolate of lime, carbonate of soda, exsiccated sul¬ 
phate of zinc, perclilori.de of iron, bromide of potassium, and a number of other 
remedies. 
I can scarcely conclude without acknowledging the obligation I am under to 
Messrs. Maw and Son, of Aldersgate Street, for the time and trouble they have 
expended in carrying out my views as to the best form of mould for these pur¬ 
poses. One seldom finds a business house on so enterprising a scale, so ready 
to meet the views of experimenters, even in very small particulars. 
Mr. D. Hanbury wished to call the attention of the meeting to a collection 
of Pessaries and Suppositories of various kinds and very superior manufacture, 
exhibited by Mr. J. L. Bosley, of 128, Brompton Road. Mr. Hanbury was 
sorry that Mr. Bosley was not present, but he believed the composition of the 
articles exhibited was stated on the labels. 
Mr. Brady said that he did not approve of the shape of Mr. Bosley’s speci¬ 
mens, but considered those now exhibited and prepared by himself as far pre¬ 
ferable in that respect. 
Mr. T. II. Hills agreed with Mr. Brady in his remark that formulae for 
Suppositories and Pessaries should be included in the Pharmacopoeia, as it was 
difficult to prepare them extemporaneously. But with respect to the material 
to be used, he was of opinion, from his experience, that cacao butter, from its 
low melting-point, and from its being so cleanly, was better without any ad¬ 
mixture of lard. 
Mr. Gale thought that all pharmaceutists would thank Mr. Brady for his 
practical paper. He had himself experienced similar difficulties, but had over¬ 
come them by the use of pewter moulds with a small hole in the bottom. He 
had observed a slight decomposition in iodide of potassium pessaries made with 
cacao butter. 
ON THE PURGATIVE ACTION OP CERTAIN EUPHORBIACEOUS 
SEEDS. 
BY E. J. WARING, M.D., F.L.S. 
To the student of Medical Botany there is perhaps no single Natural Order 
which presents for his consideration so many subjects of interest and importance 
