September 17, 1870.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
235 
fact that sulpho-carholic acid gives no precipitate with 
chloride of barium or nitrate of lead. It produces a 
characteristic purple colour with perchloride or perni- 
trate of iron. 
Many physicians affirm that it is a more powerful dis¬ 
infectant than plain carbolic acid. The salts most com¬ 
monly used are the sulpho-carbolates of soda and zinc. 
Last year Mr. Hanbury alluded to the madder plant, 
a species of the Rnbiaccce, which, although not in our Ma¬ 
teria Medica, yert is employed as a medicinal agent in 
manufacturing districts, and will, therefore, be my ex¬ 
cuse for again alluding to it. 
Its principal consumption, as you know, is for tinc¬ 
torial purposes, and its value may be easily conceived 
when no less a sum than £1,000,000 is annually paid by 
us for foreign madder. 
It owes its colouring matter to alizarine,which, singu¬ 
larly enough, does not exist in the living plant, but is 
produced by a kind of fermentation. 
A few months ago two Germans succeeded in artifi¬ 
cially making alizarine in quantity by the destructive 
distillation of coal-tar, like the well-known aniline dyes, 
alizarine being a product from anthracine as aniline is 
from benzol. 
During the past twelve months our London and pro¬ 
vincial brethren have not been idle at their evening- 
meetings, for subjects of the highest importance have 
been discussed. 
In London Professor Redwood, w r ith his usual apti¬ 
tude, has given a series of most useful notes on the Phar¬ 
macopoeia, which have in their turn elicited practical 
remarks from our ever-ready friend, Dr. Attfield, and 
other members. Abstracts of these have appeared in the 
Journal, to which periodical I must also refer you for an 
amount of work done in the provinces, and which I 
think wall thoroughly stand the test of criticism. Nor 
must I forget our Transatlantic confreres, who have been 
prosecuting pharmaceutical researches with great dili¬ 
gence. Their transactions are well worth an attentive 
perusal. 
Since our last meeting at Exeter an International 
Congress of Pharmacists has been held at Vienna, and I 
trust we may have the pleasure of reciprocating the 
friendly feeling evinced on that occasion by a cordial 
invitation to our own shores. 
In conclusion, I trust I shall be forgiven if I impress 
on every one present the importance of sinking petty 
differences of opinion, and uniting together in advancing 
the object for which we have met here to-day, viz. the 
promotion of pharmacy. We certainly have the oppor¬ 
tunity, and we ought to take the greatest care not to let 
it pass unheeded or unimproved. 
Government shows a disposition to help us in every 
way, and will give a decided preference to those who 
pass our examinations. For instance, they will admit 
no candidate for the office of naval dispenser until 
he has a satisfactory diploma from the Pharmaceutical 
Society. In return we are in duty bound to see that we 
fulfil our trust, and discharge the moral obligations that 
they have entrusted to our care. 
We are pharmaceutists, that is, professed preparers of 
compounds containing the active principles of articles in 
an acknowledged materia medica, and such, in my opi¬ 
nion, ought to be our chief business, and the object of 
thoughtful study. 
If my view be correct, our proper and legitimate aim 
ought to be attaining a knowledge of the best method of 
making those preparations. 
I am well aware that in order to make both ends meet, 
a great number of our body combine a multitude of hete¬ 
rogeneous goods in their common stock. Nevertheless, 
I submit that it does not alter my idea of the desirability 
of a pure and simple pharmacy. 
The general tendency of the medical profession of the 
present day is to leave to us dispensing of prescriptions 
which they prescribe. It is then plainly our duty to lose 
no time in rendering ourselves competent to undertake 
that office in the best possible manner. 
At a late address Professor Huxley spoke very strongly 
on this point. He said, when speaking of the curriculum 
of study, “ I would abolish Materia Medica altogether. 
. . . I cannot understand the arguments for obliging 
a medical man to know all about drugs and where they 
came from. Why not make him learn about cutlery, be¬ 
cause he uses knives ?” 
I quote this as a very significant expression and sign 
of the times. I must confess I cannot go quite so far as 
the Professor, for the dispenser well knows the difficulty 
in dispensing that often arises from a want of knowledge 
in the properties and peculiarities of the drugs with 
which the prescriber has to do. 
No one, I presume, would call the medical profession a 
trade, because in some out-of-the-way spot in the country, 
and many miles from a pharmaceutist, a medical practi¬ 
tioner dispensed his medicine or even the prescription of 
another. Then why should we be prevented from raising 
our status and entering the professional ranks, because 
some of our brethren in the country find it necessary to 
amplify their already small income by the sale of more 
general accessories ? 
It must be borne in mind, too, that the present time is 
an anomalous one, and one that will gradually pass away, 
like the old apothecary. 
Let us then accept the challenge that is now virtually 
thrown at our feet, and do the best we can under the 
circumstances. In future years our children and succes¬ 
sors will give us credit for, and enjoy the advantages 
which will have arisen from our present endeavours in 
their behalf. It may be that all the thanks the founders 
of Pharmacy will ever obtain, will be given by them 
long after we have passed away. 
Nevertheless we should err if we forgot the long-tried, 
steady and faithful work done by such men as Squire, 
Morson, Deane, and many others whose names need only 
be mentioned. 
Why should we not then unite hand in hand, and with 
the unselfish and free spirit of true science, proceed 
steadily onwards, surmounting every obstacle, and letting 
the motto on our banner be “Excelsior!” for 
“All the means of action, 
The shapeless masses—the materials— 
Lie everywhere around us. What we need 
Is the celestial fire to change the flint 
Into transparent crystal, bright and clear.” 
I cannot conclude without alluding to the great exer¬ 
tions of Messrs. Attfield, Brady and Reynolds on behalf 
of this Conference. I do not hesitate to say that to them 
-we are in a great measure indebted for our successful 
progress. Few know the immense amount of work that 
has°been willingly gone through by their untiring exer¬ 
tions. . . 
Long may we deserve and appreciate their self-denial, 
and long, very long, may we enjoy the privilege of 
having them as our official guardians. 
In a society like the present, money matters necessi¬ 
tate delicate, firm and careful management, and this we 
have in our esteemed Treasurer, Mr. H. B. Brady, who, 
though always considerate, is ever watchful for our inter¬ 
ests ; I sincerely hope, therefore, that we may hail him 
for many more years as Honorary Treasurer to “The 
British Pharmaceutical Conference.” 
On the motion of Mr. Mackay (Edinburgh), seconded 
by Mr. Williams (London), a vote of thanks was ac¬ 
corded to the President for his excellent address ; which 
compliment he briefly acknowledged. 
The reading of Papers was then commenced, and was 
carried on till shortly after 4 o’clock, when the Con¬ 
ference adjourned to the Exhibition of Pharmaceutical 
Products, Apparatus, etc., which is held in a room over 
the Savings Bank in Bold Street. 
