334 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[October 26, 1872. 
otto of roses—a very rare specimen. He also de¬ 
scribed some of the valuable contributions by Messrs. 
Mottershead and Co., of Manchester. One of the most 
important of these was a drying closet, fitted with an 
apparatus for maintaining a constant temperature—a 
most important aid in the preparation of pharmaceutical 
products and analytical operations. It is so constructed 
that when the required temperature is secured, by the 
simple turning of a tap, any variation in temperature is 
prevented, and if left to itself will remain at that tem¬ 
perature for days if required. 
A simple compact and useful pharmaceutical stove and 
drying closet, with a contrivance for heating the 
plaster spatula, and a kettle in which a pint of water 
may be boiled in less than four minutes, was also 
exhibited and described. The luminous butterfly was 
■the most wonderful object exhibited. On exposure to 
the magnesium light, it became luminous when viewed 
in a dark room, and continued for several minutes 
to display the natural colours painted by the artist. 
Hydrometers, electric telegraphs, and other articles were 
also exhibited. The contents of the case given by 
Messrs. Evans were also displayed, as well as a similar 
-one contributed by Mr. Alderman Taylor. Several 
.microscopes were on the table, accompanied by a large 
mumber of interesting mounted objects. Mr. Lord 
brought for exhibition a number of vacuum tubes, to 
illustrate the phenomena of luminosity produced by a 
current of magnetic electricity being passed through 
.them. Books, microscopes, manuscripts, photographs, 
■skeleton plants, metric measures, etc., were contributed 
by the Chairman, Messrs. Alderman Taylor, R. Robin¬ 
son, E. Lord, J. Hadfield, and J. W. Bamford. 
The thanks of the meeting were presented to Messrs. 
Barron, Harvey, and Co., and to Messrs. Mottershead 
. and Co., and also a very cordial vote of thanks to, and 
of sympathy with, Mr. Hudson, brought the proceedings 
to a close. 
The next ordinary meeting will take place on the third 
Wednesday in November. 
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The first General Meeting, twenty-fourth session, 
was held at the Royal Institution on Thursday evening, 
the 10th inst.; the President, Mr. E. Davies, E.C.S., in 
the chair. 
Messrs. Kennerley, J. T. Pratt and E. S. Sumner 
were elected members, and Mr. J. L. Warburton was 
■elected an associate of the Association. 
Mr. T. J. Abraham, on behalf of Dr. Cameron, pre¬ 
sented to the museum a specimen of Guarana. 
The President then delivered the following opening 
address:— 
President’s Address, 1872. 
Gentlemen,—The old proverb that “union is strength,” 
and the saying of the wise king, “ in the multitude of 
counsellors there is safety,” receive in this age a very 
lull application. From shoeblacks to philosophers asso¬ 
ciations for common purposes are everywhere met with, 
and co-operation is the panacea for mental and spiritual 
wants, as well as for material ones. Banded ourselves 
in such an association, I think that we shall derive bene¬ 
fit from a careful consideration of the objects of our 
runion together, and how we can best increase its efficiency. 
Twenty-three years ago the founders of the Liverpool 
-Chemists’ Association first met; their objects being then 
.strictly pharmaceutical, and the government of the 
.society confined to chemists and druggists. That I am 
honoured by re-election to the post of your president is 
proof that those exclusive views have ceased to prevail, 
:and now our constitution is as comprehensive as is the 
science by whose name we are called. 
This is a matter of rejoicing ; a merely class associa¬ 
tion might have degenerated into a trades-union, but 
with wide basis we can build a noble edifice, and being 
chemists in the widest sense, all things chemical have 
an interest for us. 
The idea at the root of all such associations is a 
noble one. It is the helping of the weak by the strong; 
the abandonment of the position which exclusive know¬ 
ledge gives by raising our fellows to the same level by 
imparting that knowledge, and the abnegation of self for 
the common weal. That, human nature being what we 
know it to be, this high standard is not perfectly at¬ 
tained does not astonish us, but it is a legitimate cause 
for joy that this thought is not forgotten, and that, to a 
great extent, it is carried out. There is a cynicism 
abroad, and rather fashionable, which disbelieves all 
this, or professes to do so, but I scarcely think that one 
amongst us is so bad as never to have felt that it is 
“ more blessed to give than to receive.” I shall take it 
for granted that you do think so, and that you wish the 
success, and, not content with wishing, will work for 
the prosperity of the association. Our object, as stated 
in the rules, is the advancement of chemical and phar¬ 
maceutical knowledge. Do we take the best means for 
the attainment of this end ? if not, how shall we proceed 
in a more promising direction ? 
The almost universal plan in our own and other like 
societies is to have a paper read by some member, fol¬ 
lowed by a discussion upon it. This has the advantage 
of ensuring a thorough examination of a subject, by its 
being made a matter of careful thought in the quiet of 
the study, where authorities can be consulted and argu¬ 
ments maturely weighed. The disadvantages are the 
desirability of the paper embodying the results of origi¬ 
nal research, for which comparatively few have time in 
these busy days, when the ties of business and the fever- 
heat of competition leave few opportunities for retiring 
from the noise and bustle of the world to work for other 
than material advantages. Then the modesty of some 
whose aid should be given, lead them to dread the ordeal 
of facing an audience, whose business is to be critical, 
for half an hour. The courage to do this is not always 
found in those who would really have nothing to fear, 
whilst it is sometimes present where there is little else 
to praise. The papers thus fall into the hands of the 
same individuals, and, in the dearth of anything new, 
subjects are chosen on which controversy has ceased, and 
the discussion resolves itself into a vote of thanks. I am 
not disparaging this feature of our proceedings, and 
should be sorry indeed if the reading of papers should 
cease to be the main attraction of our meetings, but I 
would like a variety in the bill of fare, and I believe 
that we should gain by it. 
It is always easier to point out a difficulty than to 
show how to surmount it; to pine for improvement than 
to attain it. One suggestion, which I am happy to say 
will be tried when we meet again, is to have a subject 
expressly for discussion. It may be laid before us 
briefly by some member who has made it a subject of 
thought, and then opinions for and against, fairly and 
freely expressed, will give life and interest to the meet¬ 
ing. Each can speak on the particular aspect which is 
best known to him, and I trust that we shall all bear 
cheerfully to hear our cherished opinions somewhat 
roughly handled, and to meet opposition without anger 
or loss of temper. This is the sine qua non , without 
which we shall either lose all profit in a strife of tongues 
or fall into listless acquiescence. 
Meetings for miscellaneous contributions have been 
tried, and in some cases without great success. I have 
been sorry to find that this announcement on the circular 
has had the effect of reducing the attendance to a mini¬ 
mum. This might be remedied if notice were given to 
the secretary of the nature of such communications so 
that they could be announced on the circular. The fact 
is that so many of our members are content to be merely 
receptive, without troubling themselves to impart, that 
it never occurs to them that they ought, as a duty owed 
