SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION. 625 
gists’ sundries, by Messrs. Maw, Son, and Thompson, to the medical profession 
throughout the country, at prices identical with those sent to the trade. Great in¬ 
dignation was felt and expressed by the meeting at the course adopted by this house, 
which, more than any other, receives the support of the chemist. 
A cordial vote of thanks was proposed to the President for the paper he had 
read, which was carried unanimously. 
SCARBOROUGH CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
During the past winter a meeting of the Scarborough chemists was convened to 
consider the half-holiday question, at that time prominent in the town. They then 
agreed to close their shops every Friday afternoon, until a date agreed on, from 2 to 6 
p.M. ; and although nearly all other trades have fallen through, the chemists have 
manfully kept their word with remarkable equanimity and good feeling. 
Their first meeting having been so successful, the desirability of uniting together in 
an Association was suggested, and this union has now been effected. 
It was thought that a social gathering would be the most appropriate inauguration ; 
and a general response being given, about twenty members of the trade, on Friday, 
the 25th ult., sat down at the station hotel to a sumptuous dinner provided by Mr. 
Wells, a respected member of the fraternity, whose efforts to cater for the enjoyment 
of his friends were of a most successful character. 
The usual loyal and local toasts were proposed, and a most cordial feeling prevailed. 
Those present unanimously admitted the necessity of union for promoting mutual 
interests, and for preparing the younger branches, as opportunity presented, by classes 
or otherwise, to pass the now necessary examinations ; and it being understood that 
an Association with such objects should be formed, the following were elected officers 
for the ensuing year :—j President, Mr. Alderman Porrett; T ice-President, Mr. Robson; 
Secretary and Treasurer , Mr. Whitfield. It was also understood that arrangements 
should be made for monthly meeting, out of the season. 
THE SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND CHEMICAL 
ASSOCIATION. 
The First General Monthly Meeting was held on Wednesday evening, February 
9th ; Mr. E. Wilson, the President, in the chair. 
A lecture was delivered by W. Baker, Esq., F.C.S., upon “ The Detection of Poi¬ 
sons/’ He said,—“ The detection of poisons is only a branch of analytical chemistry. 
The substances to be discovered are grouped in a different manner than is usually 
adopted in ordinary analysis; with a short review of the poisons, and their classifica¬ 
tion, a method of search is proposed which may be advantageously pursued by the 
operator. 
“ Poisons are divided into irritant poisons and neurotic. Amongst the former we 
have the mineral acids, oxalic acid, alkalies and their salts, phosphorus, arsenic, anti¬ 
mony, mercury, lead, copper, zinc, and other metals, besides vegetable and animal 
irritants. The neurotic poisons are divided into three classes, according to their 
physiological action,—narcotic, spinal, and cerebro-spinal. As types of the three, 
we may take opium, nux vomica, and belladonna. 
« In case of matters containing poison being examined, the first thing to be ob¬ 
served is the odour, and then to distil a portion for the volatile poisons. Alcohol may 
be detected by its well-known physical properties, and by boiling with a little hydro¬ 
chloric acid and a few drops of potassic bichromate. The solution changes to a green 
colour from the formation of chromic oxide, and the characteristic smell of aldehyde 
is perceived. Hydrocyanic acid, if suspected to be present, must be collected in an 
ice-cold receiver containing a little water. Argentic nitrate produces a white curdy 
precipitate, insoluble in dilute nitric acid. This test may be made very delicate by 
