November 5, 1870.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
371 
alkaloids were wasted. He was satisfied that no infu¬ 
sion of cinchona made in one hour would contain all the 
alkaloids which might he extracted from it. 
Mr. Umney said, some time since, Professor Redwood, in 
his resume of the alterations which would in all proba¬ 
bility be made in future editions of the Pharmacopoeia, 
mentioned the fluid extract of ergot as one of those pre¬ 
parations which he thought could be equally well pre-* 
pared without ether. He (Mr. Umney) had made con¬ 
siderable quantities in both ways, and he found no 
difference in the product after it had been kept four 
or five months. He would lay on the table two speci¬ 
mens which had been made about four months, one pre¬ 
pared in each way. It was important to recollect that 
the loss of ether was something considerable,—70 or 80 
per cent.; and it appeared to him a farce to take up an 
inert body by means of an expensive solvent like ether, 
and then to redistil it, and then to throw away that inert 
body. 
Mr. Barnes asked what solvent Mr. Umney employed. 
Mr. Umney replied water only at 120°. 
The Chairman said he supposed Mr. Umney had fol¬ 
lowed the directions in the Pharmacopoeia, simply omit¬ 
ting the ether. He had always thought the ether 
process unnecessary, and it involved not only a waste of 
material, but a waste of time. 
Mr. Martindale said he had always felt that there 
was a disadvantage besides that of taking the oil from 
the ergot by means of the ether, for they could not be 
certain that they did not take away some active proper¬ 
ties which the water alone would not have done. There 
was therefore a great disadvantage in using ether to ex¬ 
haust the oil, because it might likewise take with it other 
principles which might be of great service. He had 
made the fluid extract as Mr. Umney had suggested, and 
it had been used for a considerable time at University 
Hospital, and equally approved with that made in the 
ordinary way. 
Professor Redwood said that if the ether was not 
thoroughly well washed, so as to deprive it entirely of 
spirit, it would remove some of the active principle of 
the ergot. The result of the experiments made seemed 
to indicate that pure ether did not take out the ordi¬ 
nary active matter of the ergot, but only the essential 
oil. In justice to one of the members of that Society, 
he should say his attention was first drawn to this sub¬ 
ject from the fact of Mr. Hemingway having commu¬ 
nicated to him that the fluid extract of ergot could be 
made quite as well without ether as with it, and that he 
had been in the habit of so preparing it for some time. 
A Member said he had prepared the extract without 
ether for some years before it was introduced into the 
Pharmacopoeia, and had not found that there was any 
difference in its strength. 
The Chairman said Professor Redwood had suggested 
other matters in which some alteration in the mode of 
preparation might be made, amongst others purified ox¬ 
gall and belladonna plaster. He should like to know 
whether any of the members had made experiments upon 
any of these preparations. 
Mr. Umney thought that the belladonna plaster would 
be much better if made in the mode suggested by Mr. 
Balmer, with the alcoholic extract of the root. 
tM iiciaJ fnmsatiwms. 
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
Annual Meeting. 
Session 1869-70. 
. The Annual Meeting was held at the Royal Institu¬ 
tion, October 13th, 1870. In the absence of the Presi¬ 
dent, Mr. Shaw took the chair. 
Messrs. F. Allison, J. Blair, A. T. Horton and E. 
Keighley Sharp were elected members of the Association. 
The Secretary then read the Annual Report. 
Annual Report. 
The Report which your Council lay before you this 
year presents features of unusual interest, both with re¬ 
ference to the Association itself and also as regards events 
closely connected with it, and which should exert con¬ 
siderable influence on its progress and vitality. Having 
completed the twenty-first year of its existence, the 
Association has given evidence of its ability to contend 
with and overcome the difficulties incident to the youth 
of all voluntary societies, and may now look forward 
confidently to years of strength and usefulness. Still 
there are dangers to be avoided; the enthusiasm which 
greeted its early years has passed away, and from its. 
solid advantages and practical value to its members it 
must now derive its support. To provide these, and to 
watch over the interests of the Association are the duties 
of your Council, and they trust that you will find that 
they have not neglected their responsible functions. 
15 members and 2 associates have been elected during 
the past session; 24 have resigned, or by death and. 
removal have ceased to belong to our ranks, leaving 127 
at present on the roll. 
In that important department of the work of the As¬ 
sociation which consists in its fortnightly meetings, your 
Council cannot report so favourably as in some former 
years. The interest of these meetings can only be kept 
up by the united efforts of the members, and your Council 
trust that by an increased supply of papers, and more 
vigorous discussion of them, their usefulness may be 
augmented. The papers read have principally related 
to the practice or ethics of pharmacy, and your Council 
desire to express their acknowledgments to those gen¬ 
tlemen who have contributed them. 
Several additions of valuable works have been made 
to the library, and its treasures have been freely used. 
The Librarian reports that 374 books have been taken 
out, against 290 in the previous session, and that this 
does not represent the whole benefit resulting from tho 
constant access which members have to tho books, as 
in many cases they are consulted at the library, and not 
taken away. 
Your Council have the pleasure of announcing that 
ten guineas have been voted by the Pharmaceutical Con¬ 
ference from the Bell and Hills’ Fimd for the purchase of 
books for the library. 
The Materia Medica collection in the museum is ar¬ 
ranged, affording a complete illustration of the Pharma¬ 
copoeia, and your Council have much pleasure in inform¬ 
ing you that a valuable collection of 70 dried medicinal 
plants has been presented to the Association by Mr. 
Ransom, of Hitchin. 
The School of Pharmacy has been conducted as in the 
previous sessions. Y'our Council have had the subject 
of providing pharmaceutical education under their care¬ 
ful consideration, and trust that the measures which 
they have’adoptcd will be attended with increased success. 
The lectures on the evenings of the general meetings, 
by Mr. Davies, F.C.S., have also been continued during 
the past session, and have, formed a valuable part of the- 
proceedings of the session. 
Your Council have been much gratified by the visit of 
the Pharmaceutical Conference. The meeting has been 
most successful, the numbers attending having been 
large, and the expressions of satisfaction general. 
A very pleasant opportunity for friendly intercourse 
was afforded by the President at his house in January last, 
and a large number of members enjoyed his hospitality. 
The following members of Council retire by rotation, 
and are eligible for re-election:—Messrs. Davies, Murphy, 
Sharp and Dr. Symes. 
Y'our Ti-easurer will present a report of the finance of 
the Association which shows a balance due to> him of 
£14. 15s, 3 d. 
