764 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
Professor Attfield said lie presumed that it was the form of apparatus rather 
than the principle, which Mr. liossiter desired to bring forward, for the same 
sort of thing had been suggested many years ago by Mr. Tyson, and afterwards 
by Mr. Donovan, whilst Professor Redwood had introduced the same principle 
into an apparatus which he had devised for maceration and percolation. He 
also knew that many pharmacists were in the habit, when making tinctures on 
a small scale, of suspending their materials in a canvas bag, by a string attached 
to the stopper of the bottle. 
The Chairman said the use of a bag was an old story, but he did not think 
the conical shape of the bag. generally employed was so favourable to a free cir¬ 
culation of the fluid through the materials as the cylindrical vessel here em¬ 
ployed. He should not have said much about the apparatus, if it had been his 
own invention, but having been brought under their notice by a gentleman in 
the country, he thought they should give it their best attention. 
Mr. Bland thought one objection was, that liquids and salts coming in con¬ 
tact with the wooden cover would become absorbed, and thus tend to contami¬ 
nate future preparations. In the same way he did not approve of the solid 
materials, when in a moist state, coming in contact with the metal receptacle 
and with the air. This would be very objectionable in the preparation of 
tinctures, some of which were greatly affected by it. He feared that the pro¬ 
cess of percolation, pure and simple, had been almost banished from the present 
Pharmacopoeia ; but although he admitted that in the hands of careless or un¬ 
skilful persons, the result was not at all satisfactory, yet in cases to which it 
was peculiarly applicable, it had advantages so great, that he ior one was very 
unwilling to give it up entirely. lie agreed that a cylindrical-shaped vessel was 
preferable to a conical for holding the materials, but he was in the habit of 
using a very simple percolator, made of a cucumber glass, which was nearly 
cylindrical, terminating in a truncated cone. The sides inclined to each other 
at a very small angle, thus allowing the spirit to pass through with as little 
lateral disturbance as possible. He might add, that in Henri et Guibourt’s 
‘ Pharmacopee Raisonnee,’ published more than twenty years ago, there was a 
most excellent percolator figured, which he. did not think had been surpassed by 
anything which had been produced in this country. 
The Chairman said he did not think the wooden lid need come in contact 
with the liquid in the vessel, and with regard to the metal of which the cylin¬ 
der was composed, he had himself used for many years a percolator made of 
block tin, which had never coloured any of his tinctures. 
Professor Attfield said, in the example before them, the cylinder was made 
of perforated zinc, which would certainly be objectionable ; no doubt it might 
be made of tin or of platinum, which would obviate any difficulty but that of 
expense. 
ANNUAJL MEETING, MAY 18th, 1870. 
H. SUGDEN EVAXS, ESQ., PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. 
The Secretary having read the notice convening the meeting, 
The Chairman said it had been customary for the President on these occasions to 
make an annual address, but he would take leave on the present occasion to deviate 
from that course, as he believed the business before the meeting would be of such im¬ 
portance, and would occupy so much time, that such an address would be unnecessary, 
and he would therefore defer, until he moved the adoption of the report, any observa¬ 
tions which were necessary from the Chairman, and would at once call upon the Secre¬ 
tary to read the report of the Council. 
Mr. Brown (Manchester) suggested that the report, which had already been circu¬ 
lated, should be taken as read. 
The suggestion was put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. 
