300 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[October 12, 1872. 
he would adjourn the inquest in order that a post-mortem 
examination might be made. He might, however, say 
it was very difficult for traces of laudanum to he found 
in the body, so that the jury would perhaps not he in any 
better position were that to be done. 
Several of the jury condemned the practice of chemists 
and druggists supplying medicine of a dangerous cha¬ 
racter to children without giving them verbal instructions, 
and were of opinion that such practice ought to be dis¬ 
continued. 
The jury, in returing a verdict that the deceased died 
from the effects of taking an overdose of “ infants’ cor¬ 
dial,” recommended that chemists and druggists gene¬ 
rally ought not to sell medicines of a dangerous character 
to children who are not old enough to carry a proper 
message to their parents.— Manchester Courier. 
RICHARD STURTON. 
The death of Mr. Richard Sturton, of Peterborough, 
Local Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society, took 
place, after a short illness, on Sunday, September 29th, 
in his 39th year. The sudden and premature close of 
his life was a source of the most poignant grief to a 
large circle of relatives, by whom he was dearly beloved, 
while the high regard in which he was held by all who 
had the pleasure of his acquaintance caused a very deep 
feeling of regret when it was known that his career of 
usefulness had been ended. 
He was in every respect a Christian gentleman, a 
thorough man of business, and an excellent pharma¬ 
ceutist. He became a member of the Pharmaceutical 
Society in 1855, having previously studied in the labo¬ 
ratory at Bloomsbury Square, and passed the Major ex¬ 
amination with honours. During the funeral, most of 
the houses of business in Peterborough were partiallv 
closed. J 
THOMAS ELLIS HOOKER. 
It is with deep regret that we have to announce the 
decease of Mr. Thomas Ellis Hooker, for twenty years a 
member of the Pharmaceutical Society. He died at his 
residence at Sidcup, on the 28th ult., at the early age of 
48. His knowledge of business was acquired in the esta¬ 
blishment of Messrs. Randall and Son, of Southampton, 
and Messrs. Lea and Perrins, of Worcester. 
Whilst living in the country he studied for the Minor 
and Major examinations, and passed them successfully 
without the assistance of teachers or classes. 
Erom 1851 to 1867 he was in business at Wellington, 
Somerset. From his earliest years, however, science 
presented great attractions to him. To electricity espe¬ 
cially ho devoted much time and thought, and in the 
A\ est of England he was well known as a lecturer on 
voltaic and frictional electricity, the induction coil, 
thunder and lightning, etc. His lectures were always 
highly appreciated, owing mainly to the large number 
of interesting facts he brought forward, and the illus¬ 
tration of almost every fact by an experiment, in the 
preparation of which he spared no cost or trouble. He 
invariably performed his experiments at home first, and 
thus ensured their success on the lecture-table. Where 
there was the slightest probability of a failure in any of 
them, he would repeat them before the lecture com¬ 
menced, so anxious was he that not a single illustration 
should be wanting. Some few years since he relin¬ 
quished the business for pursuits more directly con¬ 
nected with his scientific attainments, but subsequently 
returned to it, and for the last three and half years he 
held the position of manager in the dispensing depart¬ 
ment at Messrs. Allen and Hanbury’s. In this respon¬ 
sible position he gained the sincere esteem and respect 
of all who wore brought in contact with him. 
Comspcmkncc. 
* m * No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬ 
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬ 
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily 
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. 
PlIABMACEUTICAL EXAMINATIONS. 
Sir,—In reading the letter of Mr. Frederick Andrews, 
upon the subject of Pharmaceutical Examination, printed in 
the Journal of the 14th ult., my attention was arrested by 
the statements that “ it is sufficiently notorious that many 
incompetent men do manage to pass the Minor examination,” 
and that the vigilance of our examiners is “being constantly 
and systematically evaded. I wish to ask Mr. Andrews 
whether he has well considered the meaning of these words 
and all which they imply. If so, I hope he will think with 
me that it is high time we had something more than such 
mere general statements to do duty as evidence. Since speak¬ 
ing with you on this subject the other day, I find another cor¬ 
respondent in your last number repeating, at p. 279, the state¬ 
ment of Mr. Andrews, and with the same vague generality. 
As strangely inconsistent with these statements, I may point 
to another which I remember to have been made less than, 
twelve months since by Mr. Louis Siebold, of Manchester, to 
the effect that “nobody can bring himself to believe in tho 
real unfitness of so great a number of men as are annually 
turned back;” and I for one, in the absence of some state¬ 
ment of facts to assist me, am unable to judge with which 
of these conflicting statements the truth lies, or whether 
both are wrong. Until such evidence is produced, perhaps 
it will be fairest to the examiners to give them credit for 
knowing their business. 
Qu.EBENS. 
Errata. —In last number, p. 266, at foot of col. 2, Messrs. 
Flux’s address should be, “ 3, East India Avenue, E.C.,” 
instead of “ 3, East India Avenue Road.” Page 278, col. 2, 
1. 1 from bottom, for “money lost” read “money cost; page 
279, col. 1, 1. 34, for “ their own money ” read “ our owrt 
money.” 
“ Spojfortli .”—Wantof carein preparingdilutedhydrocyanic 
acid, will cause it to become coloured as you mention. Pereira 
states, “ I have seen prussian blue formed and deposited after 
the hydrocyanic acid has been carefully distilled three times.” 
We think that this is rarely the case with that found in the 
market at the present time. Aqueous hydrocyanic acid 
undergoes decomposition spontaneously by being converted 
into formiate of ammonia, 
CNII-f 2H20=CH(NIL,)02. 
A little diluted hydrochloric or sulphuric acid is generally 
added to the medicinal acid by the manufacturers to prevent 
this. 
J. A. —Iodide of potassium decomposes on exposure to the 
air, especially if the latter contain any mixture of nitrous 
acid or chlorine gases, as is frequently the case in dispensing 
establishments. The colorization is due to a little iodine 
being set free. Ozone produces a like effect. It is much more 
liable to decomposition if the iodide contain more than traces 
of iodate of potash as an impurity, which it often does. 
G. L. (Brixton Hill ).—Dissolve the bromide in half the 
water; having slightly powdered the quinine, add the re¬ 
maining water to it, and mix with the bromide solution and 
add the spirit. If the bromide contain much free ammonia, 
some pure quinine will be precipitated and adhere like a 
resinous substance to the sides of the bottle. 
“ One of tlieJJvfortunates" who, having been born too late to 
be registered for the “ Modified,” writes lamenting the 
grievance of having to pass the ordeal of the Preliminary 
examination before being admissible to the Minor, fails to 
excite our sympathy, or to convince us that the “ peculiar 
hardship ” under which he supposes himself and “numbers of - 
others” to suffer,is one worthy of discussion in the Journal. 
H. (Trowbridge).—The drug you allude to is probably 
Guarana, a sort of paste made of the seeds of Paullinia 
sorbilis, and remarkable for containing theine. See a paper 
by Stenhouse in Phabm. Joubn., vol. XYI. (1857) p. 212. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. W. F. Barrett, Mr. G. H. Snell, Mr. H. E. Godfrey, 
Mr. P. Vincent, Professor Tuson, Mr. Rimmington, Mr. 
Abbott, G. C., T. H., A. P. S., J. R. C., “Elector,” “A 
Chemist,” “ An Associate.” 
