PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION IN THE PROVINCES. 
189 
under variations of temperature and atmospheric pressure, and give one 
illustration. 
6th. What relation exists between the densities of gaseous bodies, simple 
and compound, and their combining weights. 
7th. Ihe percentage composition of an organic acid was found to be— 
Carbon.40 
Hydrogen.6‘6 
Oxygen.53-4 
100-0 
and its silver salt contained 64 68 per cent, of silver. Deduce the formula, 
and name the acid. 
8th. Explain what is meant by mono-, di-, and tri-atcmic alcohols ; give 
one example of each, with its actual composition and typical foimula, and 
mention the most important derivatives in each series, with the typical for¬ 
mula of each derivative. 
9th. Write the respective formulae of the yellow and the red prussiates of 
potash ; and mention the characteristic behaviour of each with the salts of 
iron. 
10th. Give the chief tests for the salts of zinc, magnesium, aluminium, 
copper, silver, and lead. 
The answers were forwarded for estimation to Dr. Attfield, who was good 
enough to report upon them in the following words :— 
17, Bloomsbury Square , W.C., June 8, 1869. 
My dear Schacht,—T he following table contains tie results of my analysis of the 
examination papers you forwarded yesterday:— 
Number of question . 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
Totals. 
Full value of answer . 
9 
40 
19 
9 
20 
10 
20 
20 
12 
24 
183 
“V V 7 ” 
A-. X • I-J» • • • • 
9 
10 
10 
9 
20 
10 
20 
16 
0 
0 
104 
“Bristoliensis” . . 
9 
10 
6 
6 
8 
0 
0 
6 
0 
0 
45 
“ Finis ” .... 
9 
15 
12 
7 
13 
10 
20 
16 
0 
0 
102 
“ Semper Idem . . 
6 
15 
3 
4 
5 
10 
0 
3 
10 
0 
56 
“X. Y. Z.” and “Finis ” are practically equal, and their papers are about twice as 
good as those of “Semper Idem” and “Bristoliensis.” The latter gentlemen have 
done quite as w r ell as I could have expected from your description of the course of 
reading they have gone through ; the former either possess unusual ability, or have 
supplemented your class-work by much heme-study. The general character of the 
questions and answers shows me that your excellent plan of mutual instruction has 
been carried out in a most judicious manner, the leading principles of chemistry form¬ 
ing, apparently, the staple of your conversations. I hope you will give publicity to 
your scheme, for I am convinced that, short of direct professorial instruction, and the 
actual performance of experiments, no method of learning is likely to be so successful; 
certainly no method whatever is so practicable for men engaged in the practice of 
pharmacy during the greater part of every day. Not the least advantage of the system 
is the occasion it affords of free interchange of thought and feeling between the 
followers of a common calling. 
With best wishes for continued success, and thanks for the opportunity yon have 
given me of familiarizing myself with this new feature of pharmaceutical education, 
Believe me, my dear Schacht, 
Yours very faithfully, 
John Atteield. 
