October 8, 1870.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
2S9 
there was hut very little difference between them, 
and Mr. C. Fryer had also very highly distinguished 
himself. Three other gentlemen also, Messrs. H. 
Forster, J. P. Jackson, and E. Sainsbury were also 
well worthy of the certificates which had been 
awarded them. • 
The questions for examination were as follows :— 
Botany and Materia Medica. 
BOTANY. 
Hours from Ten till One. 
1. Describe the structure of disk-bearing woody tissue 
and mention the Orders of plants in which it is especially 
found. 
2. "What are the distinctive characters between a root 
and a stem ? Define the following :—Corm, bulb, tuber, 
tubercule, rhizome, and runner. 
3. Distinguish between determinate, indeterminate, 
and mixed inflorescences. Define a spike, spadix, amen¬ 
tum, corymb, umbel, and capitulum. 
4. Give a sketch of the changes which the crude sap 
undergoes in the leaves and other green parts by which 
it is converted into elaborated sap; and mention the im¬ 
portant practical applications which arise from a know¬ 
ledge of such changes. 
5. Give the essential characters of the following Na¬ 
tural Orders, and enumerate the officinal plants which 
they respectively contain:— Malvacece , Papaveracea , Cu- 
« curbitacecs , Scrophulariaccce , Polygonacece , and Iridacece. 
MATERIA MEDICA. 
Hours from Two till Five. 
1. Describe the physical characters of the seeds and 
bark of Strychnos Kux- Vomica. Mention the physical 
and chemical characters by which the latter may be dis¬ 
tinguished from Cusparia bark. 
2. What are the botanical and geographical sources of 
buchu leaves ? Describe the leaves of the officinal spe¬ 
cies yielding buchu. Mention their medical properties, 
and enumerate their officinal preparations. 
3. What is the botanical source of elaterium ? De¬ 
scribe how it is obtained in the greatest state of purity, 
its physical, chemical, and medical properties, the means 
of ascertaining its purity, and the dose. 
4. What are the botanical and geographical sources of 
■Jamaica sarsaparilla ? Describe the difference between 
mealy and non-mealy sarsaparillas. What are the cha¬ 
racteristics of good sarsaparilla ? 
5. Describe the physical and chemical characteristics 
of virgin scammony. Mention the substances commonly 
used to adulterate scammony, and the means by which 
•such adulterations may be detected. 
The medals and certificates having been handed 
to the successful competitors, 
Dr. Attfield, in making his statement with re¬ 
ference to the Class of Practical Chemistry, said it 
would be unnecessary for him to read the whole of 
the report which at the close of the session he had 
presented to the Council, but it might not be out of 
place for him to say that for the second time in the 
history of the Laboratory the balance of the finan¬ 
cial account had been on the right side; and, as 
considerable interest and importance was now be¬ 
ing attached to the question of provincial schools, he 
might mention that for some years past he had kept, 
in a form available for ready reference, statistics of 
the Laboratory, which were at any time open to the 
inspection of any one who might be thinking of esta¬ 
blishing similar schools. His books showed the 
name of every student for the last eight years, the 
date of his entry and departure, etc., and also tables 
shoving the number of students in any one session 
or in any part of a session, and the average position 
attained. Diming the last session 112 pupils had 
attended the Laboratory, or about 23 more than in 
any previous year. Many only came up to study 
for a short time preparatory to passing their exami¬ 
nations, having already worked at home with the aid 
of books, and perhaps with some assistance besides. 
Of course these gentlemen did not attend the lec¬ 
tures, and thus it happened for the first time since 
the Laboratory had been instituted that the num¬ 
bers attending were much larger than the entries to 
the Chemistry lecture class and within one of those 
attending the Botanical class. He had again to an¬ 
nounce, as he did on the previous occasion, that he 
had during the session held two examinations 
weekly, in the course of which he took the students 
at least over the whole chemistry of the Pharmaco¬ 
poeia. These examinations had been remarkably 
well attended, and seemed so popular, that they 
would be regularly continued. With regard to the 
competition for prizes, he might mention that two 
days were allotted for the examination, the students 
working from ten to four each day, and books of any 
kind being permitted, so that it was strictly an 
examination in practical chemistry. The questions 
asked, of which copies were on the table, consisted 
mainly in the analysis of liquids, solids and phar¬ 
maceutical preparations, and one essay at quantita¬ 
tive analysis. Twelve gentlemen competed, of whom 
six were remarkably successful. Mr. Fryer obtained 
•92 of the possible number of marks, Mr. Francis 
•87, Mr. Best *85, Mr. Raffles, '85, Mr. Sainsbury 
‘83, Mr. Metcalfe ’82, Mr. Webb ’70, and Mr. Peck 
•68. In accordance with his recommendation the 
Council had awarded medals to the first two, and 
certificates of honour and merit to the others. With 
regard to the general conduct of the students it was 
unnecessary to say much, although he might easily 
enlarge upon this subject, for where the students 
spent one hour with his colleagues, Professors Red¬ 
wood and Bentley, they spent from ten to fifteen 
with him, so that he had abundant opportunities of 
judging of their mental and moral character and 
calibre. Of course, as in all schools, he had found 
during the session perhaps 1 or 2 per cent, of idle 
and mischievous students,—young men who were 
well known to all employers, and who were just as 
dangerous in a shop as any article in Schedule A, 
and perhaps equally deserved to be locked up and 
marked “poison;” but even these were all the 
better for a short stay in the Laboratory. He was 
glad to conclude with two statements, first, that 
during the last two days a greater number of appli¬ 
cations had been made for benches than at any pre¬ 
vious time, though, he was happy to say, there was 
still plenty of room, additional accommodation hav¬ 
ing been provided; and, secondly, that during the 
ensuing session the Laboratory would still have the 
services of Mr. Tilden and Mr. Moss as senior and 
junior assistants. 
The questions for examination were as follows 
Practical Chemistry. 
Hours: Ten to Five. 
Books and memoranda permitted. 
1. The “solution” given to you may contain any of 
the ordinary metallic salts used in medicine; analyse it, 
and state the results. 
2. The accompanying “powder” is also a mixture of 
common metallic salts; examine it, and report your con¬ 
clusions. 
