August 27,1S70.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
175 
in hand was accounted for by the fact that several 
subscriptions due from honorary members had not been 
collected, in order that their acknowledgment might 
appear in the balance-sheet of the next half-year, in 
which session the subscriptions of the majority of the 
honorary members would become due. 
Treasurer's Balance Sheet for the Half Year ending 
August 5, 1870. 
Dr. 
To Balance brought forward, February, 1870 . 
„ Annual Subscriptions of 2 Honorary Mem¬ 
bers at 10^. 6d . 
„ 14 Assistants’ Half-yearly Subscriptions 
at 3s... 
11 Apprentices’ Half-yearly Subscriptions 
at 2s..... 
Allowance off Printing . 
Cash from Library Fund for Hire of Books 
Ditto for Fines. 
» 
Cr. 
Rent of St. George’s Rooms from January 1 to 
H. Cooper, 
W. B. Blunt 
£. 
8 . 
d. 
1 
6 
7 
1 
1 
0 
2 
2 
0 
1 
2 
0 
0 
1 
3 
0 
5 
4 
0 
4 
3 
£6 
2 
5 
£. 
s. 
d. 
0 
15 
0 
0 
10 
0 
0 
4 
6 
0 
8 
2 
0 
3 
0 
3 
15 
0 
0 
6 
9 
£6 
2 
5 
Auditors. 
The President then called upon Mr. W. B. Clark 
(Honorary Secretary) to read his report, from which it 
appeared that during the session nine members of the 
Association (forming more than 35 per cent.) had passed 
eleven examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society, as 
follows,—three Minor, two Modified and six Classical or 
Preliminary examinations. This highly satisfactory re¬ 
sult, the Committee think, has not its equal in any 
similar Association. 
Classes have been conducted by the more efficient 
members of the Association during the session upon 
chemistry, materia medica, botany, Latin, and arith¬ 
metic. Scientific papers have also been read by several 
gentlemen upon interesting subjects, to whom the best 
thanks of the Association are due. Forty-eight meet¬ 
ings have been held during the half-year, which have 
afforded great facilities for the improvement of the 
members, and have been well attended. 
In acknowledgment of the services rendered to the 
Association by Mr. Edward Atkins, B.Sc., and Mr. R. 
Weaver, C.E., those gentlemen were elected honorary 
members. 
The following gentlemen were elected as the Com¬ 
mittee for the ensuing half-year:— 
*Mr. Jos. Young, President; *Mr. W. E. Hill, Vice- 
President ; Mr. S. H. Cadoux, Honorary Secretary ; *Mr. 
E. H. Butler, Treasurer ; *Mr. W. B. Clark, *Mr. W. 
B. Blunt, and Mr. E. Green. 
The Committee desire to express their thanks to Pro¬ 
fessor Attfield, Ph.D., and to the Rev. R. Harley, F.R.S., 
for their kind services in forwarding the respective 
examination papers for the chemistry and arithmetic 
classes. 
A programme of the arrangements for lectures, classes, 
etc., from the present time up to February, 1871, has 
been issued. 
* Associates of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
of Stitnfiftt jgjjMfs. 
GRANT COLLEGE MEDICAL SOCIETY, 
BOMBAY. 
July, 1870. 
A New Indian Remedy. 
by mr. narayan daji, Graduate of the Grant 
Medical College. 
{Continued from page 156.) 
Medicinal Properties and Uses. —From the Natu¬ 
ral Order to which this tree belongs, it may be inferred 
d priori that it would possess the characteristic proper¬ 
ties of that Order, and this is found from experiment to 
be true. The medicinal and physiological properties of 
this tree resemble so closely those of the officinal Picrcena 
excelsa, or Jamaica Quassia-tree, that our Indian plant 
may safely be considered a substitute for it. As Ailanthus 
bark owes its efficacy to the ailanthic acid contained in it, 
there is scarcely any difference of action between the 
two except in the dose. 
Physiological Effects of Ailanthic Acid, (a.) On Vege¬ 
tables .—In a strong aqueous solution of the acid the 
leaves of Hydrocotyle Asiatica were immersed, and kept 
there for about eighteen hours without any appearance 
of contraction, or other perceptible change in the leaves. 
(b.) On Animals .—Monads ( infusoria) developed during 
the decomposition of hay in water, were placed in a di¬ 
lute watery solution of the acid and examined under 
a microscope, when their motion became less active, and 
they were observed to perform a kind of rotatory motion 
round themselves. When a stronger solution was added 
to a drop on the plate, the animalcules became motion¬ 
less, contracted and died, showing the poisonous influ¬ 
ence of the acid. 
Common flies avoid touching the acid, even if it is 
mixed with sugar; but how far it proves poisonous to 
them is a matter of question. No poisonous effects were 
perceptible by its internal administration to a hen; 
nineteen grains of the acid were given in a single dose. 
(c.) On Man .—In doses of from one to three grains 
ailanthic acid, when given internally, acts as a tonic and 
stomachic, exciting the appetite and promoting diges¬ 
tion. When given continually in larger doses (from 
grs. iii to grs. v two or three times a day) its digestive 
and alterative action is distinctly marked, especially in 
cases of torpid states of the digestive function attended 
with muscular and nervous relaxation and constipation. 
It increases secretions, especially that of the liver, as in¬ 
dicated by the stools changing their colour to yellow, 
improves the tone of the muscular and nervous system, 
and produces a corresponding healthy change in the 
general system. Although it much resembles the pure 
bitters, such as gentian or chiretta, yet its action is spe¬ 
cially marked by a peculiar stimulation of the digestive 
and secretory processes. In larger doses (from grs. xv 
to grs. xxx) it is apt to occasion uneasiness about the 
stomach, nausea, vertigo, vomiting and purging, but 
without any distressing symptoms. It does not produce 
narcotism, its powers being chiefly directed towards the 
sympathetic system. It does not exhibit antiseptic pro¬ 
perties when placed in contact with dead animal or 
vegetable matter. It does not prevent coagulation of 
blood. 
The dry ailanthate of lead acts as a sternutatory, caus¬ 
ing an irritant effect on the mucous lining of the nose. . 
Therapeutic Uses .—In dyspepsia, anorexia, and torpid 
states of the digestive organs, accompanied with habitual 
constipation, ailanthic acid has been found very service¬ 
able. It is particularly useful in cases where the indi¬ 
gestion results from a want of tone in the general sys¬ 
tem, such as occasionally occurs in the convalescence 
from fevers, and from the frequent use of purgatives. 
Its beneficial effects in these cases have been more 
