February ll, 1871.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
G51 
Cjit J’ounntl. 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1S71. 
Communications for this Journal, and boohs for review,etc., 
should be addressed to the Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the 
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Elias Brem- 
ridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, JF.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington 
Street, London, IF. Envelopes indorsed “ Eh arm. Journ.” 
THE PROPOSED POISON REGULATIONS. 
We are glad to call attention to the circular just 
issued to the members of the Pharmaceutical Society 
by its Council, a copy of which will be found in the 
minutes published this week-—because it is of great 
importance that the whole question should be tho¬ 
roughly ventilated before the Annual Meeting, that 
the members generally should know what regula¬ 
tions they are asked to enact, and that the Council 
and its present position on the question should he 
fairly understood. Much misconception has un¬ 
doubtedly existed both as to the regulations them¬ 
selves and as to the motives urging the Council to 
propose them. Men who take the responsibility of 
public duties must be content occasionally to bear 
the shade of displeasure, but we think it natural 
that the Council should endeavour, as they do in 
tills circular, to cast off the imputation of having, in 
mere servile deference to the Privy, Council, sacri¬ 
ficed the liberty of the body to which they belong. 
It would be extraordinary that they should do so, 
seeing their daily avocations are similar to those of 
chemists generally, and whatever would affect or 
annoy the one would act in like manner on the 
other. 
CHLORAL HYDRATE. 
Dr. Richardson’s remarks on the use of chloral 
hydrate, given on the preceding page, will doubtless 
be read with great interest, and they are calculated 
to serve as a wholesome warning against the abuse 
of this valuable agent. 
We may take the opportunity of stating that the 
low results sometimes obtained in testing chloral 
hydrate appear to be, in a great measure at least, 
due to the moist condition of the samples. The hy¬ 
drate is exceedingly hygroscopic, especially when in 
the form of amorphous cake, and this circumstance 
seems to be an additional reason why the hard, 
rhomboidal crystals should be preferred for dis¬ 
pensing. It appears to be doubtful whether the 
* See page 653. 
alcoliolate is being, to any large extent, if at all r 
used in the place of the hydrate. 
We have received from Messrs. Schcetensack— 
too late for insertion—a letter containing the results 
of an analysis of the chloral hydrate manufactured 
by Saame, of Gottingen, and a copy of a certificate 
signed b,y Professor Wohler, that the material ana¬ 
lysed gave the due yield of chloroform. We have 
also found this to be the case with specimens of 
chloral hydrate stated to be of Saame’s manufacture, 
and with samples obtained direct from Messrs. Dr 
Haen, through their agents, Domeier and Co. But 
by exposure to the air and absorption of moisture, 
there will often be a very large reduction in the 
amount of chloroform obtained in testing. 
Mr. W. Beynon, who for nearly two years has 
filled the office of Honorary Secretary to the London 
Chemists’ Association, has, much to the regret of 
the members, sent in his resignation, in consequence 
of not having sufficient spare time to attend to its 
duties. Mr. J. H. jEssop.lias been appointed as his 
successor. 
The death of Dr. Sheridan Muspratt is an¬ 
nounced as having taken place on Friday last, at 
his residence, The Hollies, Stoneycroft, West Derby, 
after a lingering illness. The deceased gentleman 
was fifty years of age. 
Her Majesty has directed that a pension on the 
Civil List of T100 per annum should be given to 
Dr. Stenhouse, “in consideration of his scientific 
attainments.” 
It is announced that in connection with the Milk 
Journal a laboratory is to be fitted up and placed 
under the charge of Mr. J. A. Wanklyn, for the in¬ 
stitution of original researches into the best methods 
of testing milk. 
The Liverpool Chemists’ Association held its 
eleventh Conversazione, on Thursday, the 2nd inst. r 
at the Royal Institution, Colquitt Street. It was 
very numerously attended. In the course of the 1 
evening Professor Roscoe delivered a very interest¬ 
ing lecture, illustrated by experiments, on “ Solar 
Chemistry.” 
We observe that it is stated in the Canadian. 
Journal of Pharmacy for January, which we have 
just received, that the prosecution of the twenty-five 
Toronto druggists for the illegal sale of poisons- has 
resulted in a conviction, and a fine of twenty-five 
dollars each and costs. It is intended to carry the 
matter before a higher Court. 
* See ante, No. 28, p. 547. 
