382 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
at Paris, causing the death of several persons, as well as the destruction of much 
property. An action has since been brought against M. Fontaine, who has 
been sued for heavy damages, on account of the injuries resulting from the im¬ 
prudent use of a dangerous substance. After a long and minute investigation 
of the subject, in which evidence and arguments were heard on both sides, the 
judgment of the Court, presided over by M. Cressent, was delivered on 
Thursday, the 9th of December. The judge, having lucidly aud impartially 
reviewed all the circumstances of the case, stated that, notwithstanding the 
elaborate nature of the inquiries which had been instituted, the cause of the 
explosion remained uncertain, and the Court, therefore, decided that they could 
not, without injustice, impute imprudence to M. Fontaine in this case, as he 
could not be expected to be cognizant of mysteries which were unknown to the 
most experienced and scientific operators. M. Fontaine was thereupon imme¬ 
diately acquitted, and the prosecutors adjudged to pay the costs. 
TRANSACTIONS 
OF 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, December 1st, 1869, 
MR. H. SUGDEN EVANS, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. 
Present—Messrs. Bottle, Bourdas, Brady, Carteighe, Deane, Dymond, Edwards, 
Haselden, Hills, Mackay, Morson, Randall, Sandford, Savage, Squire, Stoddart, and 
Williams. 
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 
The Report of the Finance and House Committee was presented, showing on the 
General Fund Account a balance in the Treasurer’s hands of £1001. 7s. 2d., and sub¬ 
mitting for payment accounts, and various items, amounting to £799. 13s. lid.; and on 
the Benevolent Fund Account a balance of £411. 5s. 4 d. 
Resolved—That the Report be received and adopted, and payments made. 
The Committee reported that they had estimated the receipts for the month of 
December, and had ascertained that a larger balance than would be required would be 
in hand at the end of the year, whereupon it was 
Resolved—That the Treasurer be requested to purchase £2000 Stock, New 3 per 
Cents., to the General Fund Account. 
On the further report and recommendation of the Committee, it was 
Resolved—That 1700 copies of the Register for 1870 be printed, and published 
at 5s. per copy. That a Calendar of the Society for the year 1870 be prepared, 
and published at Is. per copy. 
It was moved by Mr. Deane, seconded by Mr. Squire, 
Resolved—That the House and Finance Committee be requested to examine the 
applications for the office of Collector, and report to the Council thereon. 
The Report and proceedings of the Library, Museum, and Laboratory Committee were 
read. 
With reference to the additional accommodation required in the Laboratory, the Com¬ 
mittee submitted a plan by which a sufficient number of benches might be provided, 
and a certain portion of the Laboratory partitioned off for the use of students pursuing 
quantitative analysis. Estimates for the work were submitted, and the Council 
Resolved—That the consideration of those estimates be again referred to the La¬ 
boratory Sub-committee with power to carry out the proposed work, or any modi¬ 
fication thereof, which they may deem desirable or necessary. 
