562 
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 
attention, the manner in which it has been done, and any other matters relating to phar¬ 
macy or the Pharmaceutical Society which seem to deserve a passing notice. In en¬ 
deavouring to discharge this duty, it will be my object to make my remarks as brief as 
While, on the one hand, there is perhaps some cause for regret on account of the few¬ 
ness of our meetings, there is, on the other, cause for congratulation on account of the 
importance of the subjects brought before us, and the numerous attendance of members 
and visitors on each occasion. 
X am sure I just express what we all feel, when I say that we are under special obli- 
gations to Dr. Scoresby Jackson for his admirable opening address, in the course of which 
he ably pointed out to assistants and apprentices the importance of study, the kind of 
studies necessary to a right knowledge of the business, and the manner in which those 
studies ought to be pursued; and also to principals, the responsible position they 
occupy in relation to the medical profession and the public : an address which was pub 
lished in extenso in the December number of the ‘ Pharmaceutical Journal,’ and which I 
heartily commend to the attention of pharmaceutists generally. We have also been 
much indebted to Dr. Stevenson Macadam for his able assistance at our scientific meet¬ 
ings, and other substantial proofs of his interest in the Society. Although at the time 
suffering under a heavy and sudden bereavement, he was kind enough to send for our 
November meeting two pampers on Pharaoh’s Serpents, one of which was read by Mr. 
Mackay and the other by Mr. Hopwnod, calling attention to the poisonous nature of the 
ingredients, and giving an account of a variety of interesting experiments on some of the 
lower animals, for the purpose of testing the strength and physiological effects of the 
poison, the result of which clearly proved its powder to destroy life. 
As the papers were published just at the time when the rage for the serpents was at 
its height, I believe they served as a note of warning to the public against them, and 
thus helped to prevent the indiscriminate sale of a really dangerous poison. In addi¬ 
tion to these, Dr. Macadam gave us at our last meeting a highly-instructive address on 
Chemical Philosophy, in the course of which he explained the composition of various 
important bodies, the theory of chemical types, and the law of substitution, with illus¬ 
trations of the new method of expressing the various changes which result from its 
operation,—and thus greatly simplified what to many appears a very difficult and com¬ 
plicated subject. Our thanks are due to Messrs. Morson and Son for specimens of the 
seed, cake, and oil of the Argemone Mexicana , presented to the museum, and exhibited 
at our first meeting ; on which occasion Dr. Argyll Eobertson made some observations 
on the resin of that substance, which, he informed us, is much used by the native oculists 
of India, as a local application in cases of external inflammation of the eye. He also, 
at our second meeting, kindly exhibited and explained the construction and mode of 
using a new and ingenious instrument for the removal of blood, which is much employed 
on the Continent as a substitute for leeches. 
Mr. Mackay, our respected Secretary, also deserves our best acknowledgments, not 
only for his zeal in the interests of the Society, his efforts to obtain for our meetings the 
services of gentlemen able and willing to address us on suitable subjects, but also for 
the very efficient assistance he has given us this session in the form of communications 
on matters of public importance—on Mr. G. F. Ansell’s proposed method for detecting 
the presence of explosive and other gases in mines, with a simple form of apparatus in 
operation ; on Bowditch’s Patent Carburetter; and also on Eedwood’s inode of preserving 
meat and other animal substances used for food, specimens of which in a state of pre¬ 
servation he exhibited to the meeting. The importance of these subjects becomes 
evident when we consider the objects sought to be attained—the saving of human life, 
the improvement and economizing of our gaslight, and the cheapening of one of the 
chief necessaries of life ; objects which, it is to be hoped, will ere long be fully realized. 
In Mr. Mackay’s readiness to bring before the Society anything new and interesting 
which comes under his notice, we have an example deserving of imitation by others. 
While we are, no doubt, anxious to enlist the sympathy and assistance of professional 
men, and have a preference for scientific subjects, still it is evident that there is a broad 
margin for subjects of a practical kind, in regard to which, it is well known, many of our 
members have extensive experience, and are well qualified to speak,—such, for example, 
as new and improved apparatus and processes for the manufacture of chemical or phar¬ 
maceutical compounds, new sources or applications of drugs, adulterations, tests, etc. 
