496 
ANALYSIS OF STEED MAN’S SOOTHING POWDERS. 
From an examination of these powders, a report of which was published in the ‘ Me¬ 
dical Times and Gazette ’ of January 1, it appears, from a careful weighing of each 
powder contained in four packets obtained from four different shops, that the variation 
in the weight of the powders was from 2£ grains to 3f grains. 
The following is given as the result of chemical analysis:— 
Percentage Composition of 
Steedman’s Powders. 
Calomel.27-20 
Ash.o-06 
Organic Matter.72-74 
100-00 
The organic matter appeared to contain a trace of opium, and to consist mainly of 
inert substances ; 28 out of i2'/4 parts of organic matter was soluble in boiling water, 
leaving a brownish gum, bitter to the taste, and the remainder of the organic matter was 
insoluble in water. 
In reference to the above analysis, Dr. Thomas Stevenson, Guy’s Hospital, in a letter 
to the editor of the ‘Medical Times and Gazette,’ observes:—Your analyst found no 
morphia, but its presence may be readily detected thus:—Touch the powder with strong 
nitric acid; the powder becomes studded with orange-coloured dots. Dissolve a frag¬ 
ment of molybdate of ammonium in stroug sulphuric acid. On touching the powder 
with this solution, a beautiful purple coloration is produced. That a salt of morphia, 
and not opium, gives rise to these reactions, I infer from the fact that no opium can be 
detected by a lens, or by the tests for meconic acid.” 
The following rejoinder from the author of the report on Steedman’s Powders, ap¬ 
peared in the ‘ Medical Times and Gazette ’ of January 22 :—“ Morphia is a substance 
which contains nitrogen as one of its constituents. It must, therefore, be obvious that 
if a given powder contain no nitrogen, it cannot contain morphia. . . . The production 
of a purple colour with molybdate of ammonia and strong sulphuric acid is, moreover, 
a rather common occurrence, and takes place on the employment of a multitude of 
organic substances as well as with morphia. Among tnese substances cane-sugar is in¬ 
cluded, and it was doubtless to the reducing action of the cane-sugar present in Steed- 
man s powders, that Dr. Stevenson owes the production of the purple which he mis¬ 
took for the sign of morphia.” 
, Steedman s teething powders were also examined, each packet of which consisted of 
nine powders; the weight of these powders was found to vary from 1-42 grains up to- 
2-78 grains. 
The chemical composition being given as follows: — 
Calomel.42-03 
Organic Matter.57-97 
Ash.trace 
100-00 
The organic matter appeared to be quite inert. It was soluble in water, giving a so¬ 
lution having no particular taste. No opium was detected. There was no corrosive 
sublimate. 
THE CHEMISTS’ BALL. 
^ This annual gathering of London pharmacists and their friends took place at Willis’s 
Rooms on the 19th of January. Three hundred ladies and gentlemen were present. 
Dancing was kept up for five or six hours with great energy and evident enjoyment. 
The supper was well served, the wine excellent. The Chairman (Dr. Attfield) in pro¬ 
posing the usual toast, congratulated the company on reaching the fourth of these 
entertainments. All there, he said, were sailors in the good ship “ Pharmacy,” and 
during each twelvemonth of toil it was cheering to look forward to their annual recrea¬ 
tion, their islet of pleasure in the ocean of labour. Then it was gratifying to know 
