August 3,1S72.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
93 
“ That, in the opinion of this association, great credit 
is due to Mr. Schacht for the interest and trouble he 
has taken in pharmaceutical education, also that the 
three principles he has laid down are most excellent; 
hut, at the same time, it would be impossible for them 
to be carried out if this scheme be adopted, since his 
proposed plan could not meet the requirements of a great 
majority of students.” 
The resolution was seconded, and carried unanimously . 
Mr. Lance, in proposing the second resolution, pointed 
out the disadvantages of having both employers and em¬ 
ployed members of the same association, and instanced 
the objection many assistants would have to attending 
if their employers were present; he said ho. had no 
doubt that his resolution would meet with their hearty , 
approval— 
“ That as hitherto associations conducted by appren¬ 
tices and assistants had been equally or more successful 
than those managed by chemists and. druggists, it 
would not be advisable to compel associations to. alter 
their rules so long as they meet w r ith the Council s or 
Local Secretary’s approval.” 
This having been seconded, was carried. 
Mr. Branson said that it was proposed that no student 
should be allowed to compete unless he had attended 
twenty out of twenty-five lecture, Now, how could stu¬ 
dents, in houses of business where only two were kept, 
contrive to get out that number of times ? How many 
members of that association would, if that rule were 
carried out, be eligible? Not more than two or three; 
and if their employers also were allowed to compete, 
not one of those for whom this scheme was especially 
designed would be eligible. Ho should accordingly 
move,— 
“ That as it will be perfectly impossible for more 
than 25 per cent, of students to attend the lectures a 
sufficient number of times to qualify them to com¬ 
pete, that this association would suggest that the non- 
attendance at lectures should not be a disqualifica-1 
tion.” 
After being seconded, it was put and carried nem. 
con. 
Mr. Thomas, in a forcible, argumentative, and aptly 
illustrated speech, moved,— 
“ That this association, much regrets the invidious 
distinction made between examined and non-examined 
chemists, and would suggest that no chemist in business 
should be eligible for competition in the proposed 
yearly examination.” 
This having been seconded, was carried amid much 
applause. 
Mr. Mellor inquired if only a quarter of the num¬ 
ber of students were eligible to compete, how many 
could they look upon as being able to obtain prizes i 
Not nearly sufficient to pay for lectures upon one, much 
less two subjects. He also referred to the difficulty of 
obtaining a sufficiently competent teacher in small towns, 
and hoped that the meeting would support his resolu¬ 
tion, — 
“ That the proposed system of payment by results 
will prove totally inadequate to remunerate associations 
for the great, and in many cases, unnecessary expense 
which would be incurred in employing paid lecturers.” 
Mr Wallis pointed out the injustice (if they , adopted 
the payment by results) of depriving an association of 
those who would be the most likely to obtain money, 
namely, the students who had passed the Minor exami- 
tion. He, therefore, moved— 
“ That the passing of the Minor examination should 
not disqualify a student from earning money for his 
association or prizes for himself.” 
The Secretary observed that the great unfairness of 
the proposed scheme was its local character; by that 
he meant that it could be only successfully adopted by 
the largest towns, and where help was less needed. If 
the resolution he had the honour of proposing were 
adopted, a student resident in the smallest town would 
have the chance of obtaining a prize of books which 
would much assist him in his praiseworthy endeavours 
to pass the Minor or Major examination; and why, 
because he was resident in a small town, though he con¬ 
tributed equally with his brother student in a large town 
to the Society he should be debarred from competing he 
could not imagine. He begged to move the following 
resolution,— . , . , 
“That no scheme can with any propriety be called 
‘just or universal’ that renders neither assistance nor 
encouragement to students situate in tovns oi districts 
where by no possibility associations can be established.. 
This association would respectfully suggest that if 
the system of payment by results be adopted, the pio- 
posed examination for grants and prizes should be open 
to all bona-fide assistants and apprentices of chemists 
and druggists, even if they should nou be connected v»ith 
an association.” 
After passing a vote of tfianfcs to Messrs, jia an^, 
Lescher and Evans for their handsome cabinet of materia 
medica specimens, the meeting terminated. 
|U0«togs of SticnMt Sonctus. 
BARIS SOCIETE DE PHARMACIE. 
A Meeting of this Society was held on. Wednesday,, 
une oth, under the presidency of M. Stanislas Martin. 
Referring to a note recently read by M. . Godin, callmg 
ttention to the solubility of benzoate of iron in oils, M. 
lehu said that he had already pointed oxit this fact in 
80S. He added that not only the benzoate of iron, but 
Iso the cinnamato, was soluble m oils, whilst the arse- 
iates of iron were insoluble. 
M. Limousin, on behalf of M. Ferrand, presented a 
ote on the adulteration of essence of bitter almonds by 
itro-benzol. The author heats to ebullition in a test 
ube three or four c. c. of a twenty per cent, alcoholic 
olution of potash, together with ten dr0 P s ° f 
ected essence. If nitro-benzol be present, the mixture 
ikes a red colour ; if the essence of bitter almonds be 
nre, it becomes a pale straw colour. f 
M. Adrian read a report, prepared by himself and Mu.. 
)ubail and Boudet, upon the essence of absinthe, which, 
ccording to the recent decision of the National Assembly, 
an now only be sold in the pharmacies, The report 
ade known the composition of the various absinthe 
aueurs met with in commerce, and the processes by 
S theyb.ro ordinarily prepared These processes 
S . consist of (1) alcoholic distillation from the fresh 
lant/and (2) simple mixture of alcohol and essence of 
bsinthe. The report gave rise to considerable discus- 
Tl. Grass! regretted that the report gave no ^cation 
-ould be necessary for its delivery. , . , 
M. Boudet explained the text of the w. romwv 
■ -n,neared that it was the essence of absinthe v hie h w.. 
S The second question ho 
nswered by a public ordinance, 
egulatcd the sa!e of In reply to-oral ouU 
lade . 
oint of view. It was necessary to restrain tne co 
mnption of absinthe liqueur, the abuse o w ^ th 
, the most deplorable consequences, and amon 
mans which presented themselves to the ’ one 
f the most certain was to prevent its P* a P aratl011 
to simple mixture of the essence and alcohol. 
M Dubail said that the essence ot absinthe was ac 
