290 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[October 8, 1870. 
3. “ Tincture of rhubarb.” Examine the specimen for 
methylated spirit. 
4. Report on the purity of the following articles :— 
Acetic acid. 
Diluted phosphoric acid. 
Distilled water. 
Glycerine. 
5. “ Bleaching powder.” State the percentage of chlo¬ 
rine in the sample. 
Professor Bentley announced the result of the 
contest for the Herbaria Prizes. These prizes were 
offered to young students,—the object being to en¬ 
courage the study of Botany amongst these young 
men scattered throughout the country when they had 
opportunities of collecting specimens, which, in all 
probability, they never would have again, and in this 
respect they were particularly valuable. On the pre¬ 
sent occasion, this contest had been peculiarly suc¬ 
cessful,—four very excellent collections having been 
sent in, two particularly being of most exceptional 
merit, so much so indeed, regard being had not only 
to the care with which the specimens had been col¬ 
lected, the admirable manner in which they had 
been preserved, but also the mode in which they had 
been arranged, and particularly the knowledge ex¬ 
hibited in naming them, that it was impossible to 
choose between them, and both collections were on 
the table, where he hoped parties would take an op¬ 
portunity of inspecting them. One was sent by Mr. 
Webb, who had already taken a prize in Botany and 
Materia Medica; and to show the advantage of sound 
early training, he might mention that this gentle¬ 
man was residing with their friend Mr. Deane. The 
second collection was equally admirable, and was 
contributed by Mr. Rammell, who was living with 
Mr. Jackson at Crediton. It was interesting to no¬ 
tice, as shoving the great influence of good training 
on an industrious student, that this gentleman was 
the fourth who had successfully competed for this 
prize whilst residing with Mr. Jackson. Silver 
medals had been awarded to both these gentlemen, 
and amongst the others more particularly deserving 
of honourable mention, were Mr. Alexander Wood, 
who obtained a Certificate of Honour, and Mr. C. J. 
Stansby, who obtained a Certificate of Merit. 
Mr. Deane said, some persons might imagine as 
he was the Examiner in Botany, that Mr. Webb 
might have had certain special advantages afforded 
him in making his selection, but he had much plea¬ 
sure in stating that that gentleman had been so con¬ 
scientious in the matter, that he would not receive 
any assistance from him beyond a little instruction 
in the mechanical arrangement and setting out of 
his plants. In every other respect, the collection 
was entirely his own work. 
Mr. Haselden (Vice-President) in announcing the 
name of the successful competitor for the Pereira 
Medal, said he had had the honour of examining the 
papers. Seventeen gentlemen were eligible to com¬ 
pete, four of whom did so, of whom Mr. Peck was 
the successful candidate. With respect to the Prize 
of Books, he had had the pleasure not only of setting 
the questions, but also of conducting the examina¬ 
tion, in conjunction with his Mend Mr. Cracknell. 
Out of twenty-nine eligible to compete for this prize, 
seventeen entered, and the work was very well done 
by nearly all; so much so, that great credit was due 
to Mr. Webb, who had succeeded in carrying off the 
prize. 
The questions for examination were as follows:— 
Pereira Medal. 
Section I. botany. 
Time allowed: Two Hours. Competitors are required 
to answer at least Two Questions in each Section. 
1. Describe the germination of a bean and of a grain 
of wheat. 
2. Explain the terms achene, drupe , berry , and capsule, 
and give an example of each. 
3. What are the principal medicinal plants growing in 
England ? Enumerate them, stating which occur wild 
and which are cultivated, and mention the Natural Order 
of each. 
4. Explain botanically the nature of Ergot. 
Section II. materia medica. 
1. Enumerate the medicinal products of the Order 
Euphorbiacecc, naming the plant from which each is de¬ 
rived and the country in which it grows. 
2. What are the chief constituents of Opium ? Name 
the more prominent characters by which some of them 
may be recognized. 
3. What is the alkaloid of Greenheart Bark, and in 
what other substance has it been observed to exist ? 
4. In what countries and by what plants are the fol¬ 
lowing drugs produced, —Star Anise, Winter's Bark, Ga- 
langal, Venice Turpentine, Fenugreek , Grains of Baradise, 
Bay Berries, and Elecampane ? 
CHEMISTRY. 
Time allowed: Two Horn’s. 
1. Describe the laws of substitution, giving at least 
three instances of substitution products. 
2. What is the action of the following metals on nitric 
acid:—copper, gold, silver, tin, and zinc ? 
3. Describe tartaric, citric and malic acids, and their 
derivatives. What change occurs when these three 
acids are heated separately with caustic potash P 
Prize of Books. 
DISPENSING AND PHARMACY. 
1 
Time allowed: Two Hours. Standard Number of Marks, 
300. 
State the best method of dispensing the following 
prescriptions, assigning the reasons for the same, and 
write the labels in suitable language :— 
]£> Potassse Tartratis 3iij. 
Potassae Bicarb, ^ij. 
Acid. Citric. 3iss vel q. s. 
Spt. iEther. Nitros. 5vj. 
Mueilag. Acacia} 5iv. 
Aquai Destill, ad £vj. M. 
Ft. mist., pars sexta horae tertiis partibus capienda per 
vices tres, postea singulis horis. 
Camphor a; gr. iij. 
Ext. Hyoscyam. gr. 4. 
„ Opii gr. M. 
Ft. pil. hor. somn. sum. et repet. inter noctem dolore 
vel inquietudine perstante. Mitte viij. 
State the proportions of the ingredients in, and the 
method of preparing, the following decoctions :—cin¬ 
chona, haematoxylum, hordeum. 
Describe and explain the P. B. process for preparing 
extractum glycyrrhizae, suggesting any improvement 
that might be made. 
State the reason for directing the albumen to be sepa¬ 
rated from the extracts of aconite, belladonna, hemlock, 
henbane, and lettuce. 
Describe and explain the process of the Br. Ph. for 
making syrup, tolutanus. 
The Chairman said, before calling upon Mr. 
Schacht to deliver the address, he could not refrain 
from saying a word of welcome to the students for 
