92 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[July 30, 1370. 
private interests to consult. The two may not always 
concur. It is one part of the duties of the Society 
to lay down regulations for the storing and dispens¬ 
ing of poisons, so as to prevent, as far as possible, 
the lamentable calamities from accidental poisoning, 
which so often shock the public mind. We will not 
say that they have slipwn any indifference to this 
duty; but its discussion has been productive of so 
much difference of opinion, that the matter has been 
postponed, though we hope not abandoned.” 
It is evident from these remarks that the action of 
the Society in regard to poisons is not lost sight of 
outside its limits and we would suggest that those 
members who have propositions to offer on this sub¬ 
ject should communicate them for publication in the 
Journal and for criticism by others. It is possible 
that in this way some good service may be done, 
while leisurely discussion of the subject and con¬ 
sideration of proposals may lead to a suitable issue 
more readily than hasty debate would do. 
Some few weeks ago an article appeared in a me¬ 
dical contemporary, making use of very strong lan¬ 
guage in reference to the proceedings of the Notting¬ 
ham and Notts Chemists’ Association. The only 
assignable foundation for the strictures contained 
in that article was so obviously misconception, that 
they might have been passed by in silence had it 
not happened that two journals connected with 
Pharmacy have reproduced this objectionable article 
without any comment and have thus given it an 
importance it would not otherwise possess. What 
took place at the Nottingham meeting was reported 
as follows in the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal’ of 
April last:— 
“ A matter of some considerable importance to the 
trade was brought forward, namely, the issue of cata¬ 
logues, not only of surgical instruments, but of many 
druggists’ sundries, by Messrs. Maw, Son, and Thomp¬ 
son, to the medical profession throughout the country, 
at prices identical with those sent to the trade. Great 
indignation was felt and expressed by the meeting at the 
course adopted by this house, which, more than any 
other, receives the support of the chemist.” 
From this it will be evident that the vexation ex¬ 
pressed by the meeting was not beoause Messrs. 
Maw and Co. had sent their catalogue of surgical 
instruments to the surgeons of the kingdom. Such 
an objection would have been unreasonable, and 
the true ground of objection was, that they not only 
did this in the legitimate exercise of their business, 
but also issued to medical men catalogues of drug¬ 
gists’ sundries. In the article we have referred to, 
it is assumed that Pharmacists desire to coerce me¬ 
dical men into buying surgical instruments through 
them. We need not reply to the argument that 
such a desire would be absurd, further than by 
stating that it has no existence. 
From the ‘Journal de Chimie Medicale ’ we learn 
that, as a therapeutic agent, bromide of sodium 
offers several advantages over the corresponding 
potassium-salt, being much easier of elimination 
from the animal economy. M. E. Decaisne has 
administered it to a patient during a whole year 
without producing that saturation which is observ¬ 
able in the case of bromide of potassium. 
We have much pleasure in making known that 
Dr. F. A. Fliickiger, whose paper on Pdiatany ap¬ 
pears in this number, has been promoted from the 
position of Private Tutor to the Professorship of 
Pharmacy and Pharmacognosy at the. University of 
Berne. 
We regret to hear that Dr. Thomas Anderson, 
Director of the Calcutta Botanical Gardens and 
Superintendent of the Darjeeling Cinchona Planta¬ 
tions, is seriously ill. He left Calcutta some months 
ago on account of his health. 
Dr. Birdwood has published a most valuable and 
exhaustive paper on the history, botanical and other¬ 
wise, of Gum Olibarfcim, in the last part of the ‘ Lin- 
nean Transactions.’ 
The plans for the erection of a Pharmaceutical 
Institute in connection with the University of Mar¬ 
burg have been approved, and the work was to have 
been commenced at once, but will now probably be 
delayed by reason of the war. 
femsitrfiffns trf tire f traratol Satictjr. 
EXAMINATION IN EDINBURGH. 
Addendum. —P. 69, line 13, after Present—Messrs. 
Buchanan, insert Ainslio, Ivemp, and Young. 
Itetrnp of Scientific Societies. 
QUEIvETT MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 
The Fifth Annual General Meeting of this Club was 
held on Friday evening last, July 22nd, at University 
College, Gower Street; Peter Le Neve Foster, Esq., Pre¬ 
sident, in the chair. 
According to the Annual Report of the Committee, 
which was read, the Club still maintains its popularity 
and success. It numbers over 500 members, and meets 
for the prosecution of microscopical inquiry and discus¬ 
sion twice a month throughout the year. Mr. Peter Le 
Neve Foster, in vacating the presidential chair, which 
he had so ably filled during the past year, delivered a 
valedictory address, in which he called attention to 
various open questions in microscopical science as fields 
well worth investigation. Professor Lionel S. Beale, 
F.R.S., was elected President for the ensuing year, and 
Messrs. Henry Lee, F.L.S., Arthur E. Durham, F.R.C.S., 
Peter Le Neve Foster, M.A., and Dr. Robert Braith- 
waite, F.L.S., wero elected Vice-Presidents; while 
Messrs. Allhon, T. W. Burr, F.R.A.S,, Witham M. By¬ 
water, and Charles F. White, wero olected to fill four 
vacancies on the Committee. The proceedings then ter¬ 
minated in a conversazione. 
