CORRESPONDENCE. 
312 
I trust my meaning will not be mistaken. 
I don’t find fault with the Act, but I do 
think the compulsory examinations are un¬ 
just to those who, like myself, entered and 
were in the trade three years before knowing 
that the examinations would be required. 
I think some leniency should have been 
shown us. Probably this will bring expres¬ 
sions of a similar kind from other towns by 
those wbo have the same ideas concerning 
it as I have. 
I am, yours respectfully, 
F. C. S. 
Noricich, October 18 th, 1869. 
“ Ponderatis” (Leicester).—The applicant 
must have attained the age of twenty-one 
years. Apply by letter to the Registrar, 
giving full particulars. 
“ Cinchona ” (Northampton).— (1.) The 
directions of the ‘British Pharmacopoeia’ 
are to strain while hot, not filter. (2.) The 
substitution of a proportionate quantity of 
the fluid extract of bark for the bark itself 
would not be justifiable. 
“Beta” (Ampthill).—The salt in ques¬ 
tion is not included in the schedule. 
A. P. 8. (Liverpool).—(1.) Liquor Calcis 
Saccharatus is liable to deteriorate by long 
keeping, and is therefore better freshly pre¬ 
pared. (2.) On ordinary days visitors are 
admitted to the Royal Botanic Society’s 
Gardens by an order from a member, and 
not by payment. 
W. —The Act applies to any product of 
petroleum, provided it gives off inflammable 
vapour at less than 100° Fahr. 
J. C. (Windsor).— The Minor Examina¬ 
tion is necessary in the case referred to. 
“ Harry Stanley” (Bristol).—(1.) We 
have no knowledge of the composition. of 
the article. (2.) In the label sent for in¬ 
spection the words “prepared only by,” 
render the preparation liable to stamp duty. 
“ Student ” (Hammersmith). — Electro¬ 
plating. Gold Solution: 1 oz. troy of fine 
gold is dissolved in nitro-muriatic acid, and 
the solution evaporated until it assumes a 
deep red colour, and crystallizes on cooling. 
Dilute with one pint of pure water, and fil¬ 
ter. Heat this solution to about 200° Fahr., 
and precipitate the gold by ammonia : wash 
the precipitate with hot water. Dissolve 
this gold in one gallon of water containing 
8 oz. of hyposulphite of soda, and boil to¬ 
gether for one hour; when filtered, this 
solution is fit for use. In gilding, this solu¬ 
tion must be warmed to about 130° Fahr. 
A small anode of gold, of about one-tenth 
the size of the article to be gilded, and a 
current of two pairs of common galvanic 
plates, are used. 
“Persian Bouquet ” (Boston).—Olivers 
* Lessons on Elementary Botany ’ (Macmil¬ 
lan & Co.) will afford the information re¬ 
quired. 
“A Correspondent ” (Hastings), with re¬ 
ference to the subject of “uniformity of 
prices,” states that laudanum is sold by a 
druggist in his town at 4 d. per ounce, and 
queries whether, at the price of opium, it 
can legitimately be sold at such a price, un¬ 
less done on the principle adopted by some 
grocers, of selling one article for less than it 
costs, for the purpose of obtaining custom 
for other goods. 
“A Member” (Leamington).—We have 
no experience of the use internally, of the 
ethereal extract of mezereon, B. P. The 
bark itself has been given in doses of 10 
grains; this w r ould probably be equivalent 
to about one-sixth of a grain of the extract. 
S. I). —We do not think there would be 
any advantage in distilling the mixture, nor 
can we suggest any other means of accom¬ 
plishing the desired object. 
“Junior A.” —It is not correct to dispense 
and send out a mixture containing a salt 
undissolved, unless the liquid prescribed is 
insufficient for the solution of the salt. 
“ Pyro.” —We know of no work on the 
subject. Our correspondent -wishes to know 
the best way of growing mushrooms from 
what is called “ spawn.” 
W. G. (Islington).—(1.) Pepsine is pre¬ 
pared from the rennets either of the calf, 
sheep, or pig, taken from the animal as 
soon as killed. These are washed under a 
thin stream of water. The internal mem¬ 
branes are then carefully scraped off, and 
macerated in water for two hours at a 
temperature of 15° C., and then strained 
through a coarse cloth. The pepsine in the 
solution is then precipitated by acetate of 
lead, allowed to settle, and the supernatant 
liquid poured off; a current of sulphuretted 
hydrogen is passed through the semi-liquid 
deposit, which precipitates the lead in the 
form of sulphide. The pure pepsine remains 
in solution, which is then filtered, and eva¬ 
porated to dryness at a uniform temperature 
of 45° C. (2.) The appearance of the pre¬ 
paration referred to is that of a dark-brown 
liquid, with, a reddish-brown precipitate. 
Correction-.—W e regretr that an error 
occurred in our notice of the entertainment 
given by the chemists of Torquay. The 
name of the chairman of the dinner should 
have been given as Mr. J. B. Guyer. 
