EDINBURGH MEETING. 
527 
conclusion that those preparations which were of an indefinite character were 
not deserving of confidence in the treatment of disease. He could not altoge¬ 
ther draw a distinction between the use of those substances which were adminis¬ 
tered for therapeutical purposes and those which were administered for dietetical 
purposes ; and he would ask them to consider what they would say to the pro¬ 
position, if such a one were made, that nothing was to be used in the shape of 
food that was not of a perfectly definite chemical nature ? Were they to use 
only pure fibrin, and the other constituents of food, in definite combination one 
with another, and to reject such things as a piece of indefinite meat, especially 
when rendered more indefinite by a process of cooking ? That, however, was a 
very broad subject, which he could not enlarge upon at that late hour; but he 
might be tempted to enter more fully upon it on a future occasion. 
Hr. Attfield thought the discussion of this interesting subject of the Phar¬ 
macopoeia should be again adjourned. There were various phases of the matter 
which had not been alluded to, and he had no doubt there were many chemical 
manufacturers who would be anxious to contribute information upon different 
points. There was also a large class of persons who were always more nume¬ 
rously represented at these meetings than any other—namely, the students, 
who he thought ought to express their opinions upon this matter. 
The Chairman thought, with Professor Attfield, that this subject was of 
such great importance that it should be adjourned and resumed at a future 
meeting. Perhaps this subject had never been brought before them in a more 
complimentary manner than on this occasion,—the editor of the Pharmacopoeia 
having, as it were, been the means of conveying to them a message from the 
Medical Council that this Society should be invited to give them their prac¬ 
tical experience of the working of the Pharmacopoeia. He hoped, therefore, 
that this opportunity would not be lost of showing to the medical profession 
and the world that they were competent to manage their own affairs, and to 
direct the medical profession as to the best way of preparing medicines for use. 
The meeting then adjourned, and it was understood that the discussion would 
be resumed on the 2nd of March. 
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 
At the meeting held in St. George's Hall on Tuesday evening, the 11th of January, 
M r. Aitken, President, in the chair, the following paper was read:— 
“On the Animal Substances used in Medicine.” By Professor Archer. 
I propose in this paper to give a slight sketch of a number of animal substances used 
in the pharmacy of this and other countries, chiefly for the information of our younger 
members, and perhaps also to revive the memory of those more advanced with respect 
to a class of substances which are daily losing their importance. 
Taking them in their zoological order, I begin with the lowest or invertebrate division, 
and first among these, the sponge.. This animal production is thus described in the 
work of an eminent French writer, M. Moquin-Tandon, recently published:—“ Sponge 
consists of the aggregation of animals belonging to the class of polyps;” “That these 
polyps exist only in the interspaces of the fibrous mass.” This opinion is not generally 
held in this country, for many zoologists suppose the fibrous mass and its gelatinous 
coating to constitute one animal. The economical value of the animal has, however, 
little or no reference to the animated gelatinous mass,, but to the fibrous framework 
which supports and distends it. This, besides its now only use for cleaning purposes, 
was formerly, when incinerated, known under the name of ISpongia usta, which was held 
to be valuable in cases of scrofula, glandular swellings, etc. Analysis showed that the 
only constituent which could be of any service in such complaints was the iodine 
sometimes present. Therefore that substance, in one form or another,, has displaced the 
sponge. 
