THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[January 25 , 1873. 
594 
tions,” by Mr. Davies, contained observations on the 
formation of the sulphides of copper and barium, also 
some notes on the separation of cobalt and nickel. 
Mr. H. Grimshaw communicated the results of his 
researches on ethyl-amyl and its derivatives. 
After the President had made some remarks on the 
thoroughness with which this research had been carried 
out, a communication from Dr. Schorlemmer “ On the 
Heptanes from Petroleum” was read. This paper con¬ 
tained among other matter an interesting account of the 
separation of isomeric heptylenes by means of hydro¬ 
chloric acid. 
A paper by Air. T. Carnelley on the “ Vanadates of 
Thallium” was then read. It contained descriptions of 
several new and complex vanadates of thallium. 
Mr. IGngsett communicated to the society the results 
■of his experiments on the conversion of sodium chloride 
into sodium sulphide by the action of hydrosulphuric 
acid; and finally Mr. P. Braham exhibited some ingenious 
arrangements which he had made for the prosecution of 
physical investigations under the microscope. 
The meeting was then adjourned until Thursday, 
February 6th, when the following papers will be read -— 
“ On Anthrapurpurin,” by W. H. Perkin; “ On the 
Solidification of Nitrous Oxide,” by T. Wills, and on 
<< Isomerism in the Terpene Family,” by Dr. C. A. 
Wright. ‘ . 
PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY. 
A meeting of this society was held December 17th, 
1872 ; Professor Procter in the chair. 
Professor Maisch read a paperon “Impurities in Ladies’ 
Slipper-root,” and exhibited preserved specimens of roots 
and flowering plants of Cypripedium pubescens, C. parvi- 
Jloricm and C. aca ulc ; also commercial samples of pure 
cypripedium, and some admixed with hydrastis, senega 
and other dicotyledonous roots. 
In answer to a question by Mr. Shinn, Professor 
Procter stated that there was considerable demand for 
cypripedium by eclectic physicians, who use it in such 
cases in which valerian is indicated. 
Mr. Remington read a paper on “ Ceresin,” and ex¬ 
hibited a sample of simple cerate prepared from it. 
Nothing can be said as yet about its keeping qualities, 
the time being too short. It was remarked that cerate 
prepared from paraffin quickly spoils, while yellow wax 
and benzoinated lard preserve it for a JLong time. 
Mr. Shinn remarked that emulsions of cod-liver oil 
containing phosphate of lime were being prescribed by 
physicians, and asked the experience of those present 
in making emulsions containing large quantities of 
fixed oils. He had samples from two makers, both of 
which separate and became rancid after some time; 
the quantity of lime salt in both is stated in ambiguous 
terms. The fair method would be to state the quantity 
of phosphate of lime, lactic acid and cod-liver oil in a 
certain measure. 
Professor Procter had used a mixture of tragacanth 
and acacia in proportion of 1 to 6, and the product is 
rather thick. 
Professor Maisch said one maker of this emulsion had 
lately obtained a patent, which, however, is probably 
of no value. As early as 1855 he prepared emulsions 
containing 50 per cent, of cod-liver oil, with alkalies 
and alkaline earths,* which may be sweetened and fla¬ 
voured to taste. This is not a true emulsion, but a par¬ 
tial saponification. 
Mr. Shinn had used lime water, 2 ounces to a pint, in 
conjunction with gum arabic; also sucrate of lime, by 
means of which a 75 per cent, emulsion can be pre¬ 
pared and mixed with syrup of phosphate of lime and 
lactic acid. 
* See ‘American Journal of Pharmacy,’ 1856, p. 1. 
Mr. Remington remarked that he had seen a communi¬ 
cation from an attorney threatening certain parties with 
prosecution for infringement of patent if they did not 
desist in the manufacture of this preparation; but ap¬ 
parently the threat would not be carried out. 
Professor Maisch said a method is much needed 
whereby fixed oils can be emulsionized as readily as 
volatile oils, ether and chloroform are by the method of 
Mr. J. W. Forbes.* 
Mr. Shinn had seen a patent churn in use as a labour- 
saving agent in making large quantities of emulsions. 
Professor Maisch presented a well-made sample of 
benzoated oxide of zinc ointment, prepared by A. H. 
Bolton in a paint mill. 
Mr. Boring exhibited cucumber ointment in good 
condition, made in 1868, by the method as modified from 
the French formula by Professor Procter, f who, having 
tried various methods, stated that with this one suc¬ 
cess depends upon time and patience properly expended 
upon it. 
Professor Markoe, of Boston, who was present, at the 
suggestion of Mr. Shinn, addressed the meeting and 
spoke about his recent visit to England, describing se¬ 
veral of what may be termed representative pharma¬ 
ceutical establishments of Great Britain which he visited 
in Liverpool, Harrogate, Leeds, Newcastle, Edin¬ 
burgh, London, etc. The proprietors, he said, rarely 
reside in the same building in which the business is 
carried on, but if the number of employes is suffi¬ 
ciently large a housekeeper is usually employed, the 
clerks residing and taking their meals on the premises. 
The current literature, especially scientific, and a well- 
selected library is not unfrequently met with, the 
clerks having access to it in the evening. In some 
stores apprentices are never employed, only qualified 
assistants, those acting as dispensers having their se¬ 
parate counters, each with complete apparatus and ap¬ 
purtenances, as for instance in Mr. Abraham’s store, in 
Liverpool, where there are four dispensing counters. 
The precautions against mistakes wflth poisons, adopted 
by several British pharmacists, were mentioned, and a 
description was given of the alkali works at New- 
castle-on-Tyne. The speaker then spoke about the 
Brighton Meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Con¬ 
ference, at which he was present, and said that the at¬ 
tendance was not as large as that at the meetings of 
the American Pharmaceutical Association, if the mem¬ 
bership and the short distances which the British 
pharmacists have to travel is taken into consideration. 
Percolation, which is well understood and so indispen¬ 
sable in the United States, is little known and practised 
in England. The speaker’s impression is that the 
British pharmacists, as a class, at least in the larger 
cities, are chemists and men of education, but that 
galenical pharmacy is better understood in America. 
arliitmettfarj anli fromMnp. 
Sheriff Court of Lanarkshire, Glasgow. 
Friday , 1(BA January , 1873. 
(Before Mr. Sheriff Substitute Murray.) 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY V. WILSON. 
This was a complaint, under the Summary Procedure 
Act, 1864, at the instance of the Pharmaceutical Society 
of Great Britain, incorporated by Royal Charter, and 
Elias Bremridge, residing at 17, Bloomsbury Square, 
London, their Registrar, by authority of the Council of 
the said Society, Complainers, and Burns, Alison and 
Aiken, Writers, Glasgow, their Mandatories, against 
William L. Wilson, tenant of and carrying on business 
* See Pharm. J ourn. [3] vol. ii. p. 747. 
f See ‘American Journal of Pnarmacy,’ 1853, 409. 
