April 29, 1871.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
873 
mixture containing the chloride in the smallest propor¬ 
tion gave crystals of pure sugar, those containing the 
two largest proportions gave a crop of the pure potassic 
chloride. 
The solutions containing potassic bromide behaved in 
a very similar manner, giving crystals often very clear 
and sharp, and sometimes five or six m.m. in extreme 
dimensions, but always anhydrous and of irregular com¬ 
position. The solutions containing potassic iodide eva¬ 
porated to very thick sticky masses, sometimes contain¬ 
ing a number of minute crystals which could not be 
separated from the mother-liquor. 
The sodium salts gave more definite results. In the 
case of the chloride, the solution containing least salt 
first gave crystals of pure sugar, and then on further 
concentration deposited crystals, which are doubtless the 
same as those of the compound examined by Peligot, and 
are identical with those obtained from the liquid con¬ 
taining the next higher proportion of salt, viz. NaCl to 
C 12 H 22 O n . This compound crystallizes in prisms ter¬ 
minated by pyramids, is very soluble in water, less so in 
spirit. When to its solution in spirit of not more than 
7o per cent, ether is added, an oily layer is formed at 
the bottom of the vessel, and in this crystals form, which 
have the composition C 12 H 2 . 2 O n , NaCl, 2H 2 0. 
The solutions containing sodic bromide can hardly be 
made to crystallize at all. A small quantity of minute 
confused crystals were deposited after some months from 
the solution containing 3NaBr to 2C 12 H 22 O n ; these 
when pressed and dried over oil of vitriol gave numbers 
which would point to a formula, NaBrC 12 H 22 O n HERO, 
but it is more probable that when pure it is similar in 
composition to the analogous compound of sodic chloride. 
The solutions containing sodic iodide give crystals of 
definite and constant composition with remarkable ease. 
These crystals always have the same composition, what¬ 
ever the proportions of the constituents in the mixture, 
unless one be in such large excess that it can in part 
crystallize out before the liquid becomes saturated with 
the compound. The solutions containing a moderate 
excess of sodic iodide yield the best crystals and quickest 
growth. It can be recrystallized as often as desired 
from water or dilute spirit without suffering decomposi¬ 
tion, forming large transparent crystals even from small 
quantities of solution. Their constitution is expressed 
by the formula 2 (C^H^O^), 3NaI, 3H 2 0. None of 
the mixtures containing lithium gave any crystals other 
than those of sugar. 
The mixtures containing ammonic salts gave no defi¬ 
nite compounds. 
No results were obtained from the solutions containing 
ammonic iodide. 
The crystals of sugar containing ammonic chloride, 
and the equally distinct, though generally smaller ones, 
containing potassic bromide, and those deposited from a 
hot alcoholic solution of the lower salt-compound, must 
be built up by an anhydrous compound of the salt and 
sugar, isomorphous with sugar itself, crystallizing out 
together with an excess of the latter. 
That the crystals are not simply sugar with adhering 
ammonic chloride is shown by their individual perfec¬ 
tion, and by the fact that they are deliquescent, whereas 
neither constituent is so. 
The solutions of all the bodies described in this paper, 
especially that of the lower salt compound, exhibit per¬ 
sistent supersaturation in a remarkable degree. A satu¬ 
rated warm solution, when cooled and shut up in an air¬ 
tight vessel with several crystals of the solid body, con¬ 
tinues to deposit more of the compound for several 
months. 
The composition of the sodic iodide compound makes 
it seem probable that the true molecular weight of cane- 
sugar should be represented by 004,1144 0 22 . 
The measurements of the various crystals mentioned 
in Mr. Gill’s paper were kindly executed by Professor 
W. II. Miller." 
BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.—METRO¬ 
POLITAN COUNTIES BRANCH. 
At the Ordinary Meeting of the above Branch, held at 
the Charing Cross Hotel on Friday, April 21st, Dr. E. 
C. Seaton opened a discussion on ‘ Some of the Lessons 
to be derived from the present Epidemic of Smallpox.’ 
Dr. Seaton, after alluding to the severity of the 
present epidemic, proceeded to give statistical details 
which had been compiled, and w T hich, he argued, proved 
very strongly the great value of vaccination for the 
prevention and mitigation of the virulence of smallpox. 
Thus, in the cases which had occurred in London there 
had been forty-five per cent, of deaths among the un¬ 
vaccinated, whilst among the vaccinated they only 
amounted to nine per cent. A rule had been adopted 
in the metropolitan smallpox hospitals that all persons 
engaged in those establishments should be revaccinated 
before entering upon their work. The result had been 
that, with three exceptions, they had hitherto escaped 
infection. These three exceptions proved the rule, for 
it was found upon inquiry that in each case, for one 
reason or another, the regulation had not been carried 
out. He mentioned that while on a visit to Rotterdam, 
he had been surprised to notice the small proportion of 
infants brought for vaccination compared with the pro¬ 
portion in this country. Upon inquiry he found that 
throughout Holland vaccination was frequently deferred 
until the children were five or six years of age, the con¬ 
sequence being a death-rate from smallpox far in excess 
of that of this country. He thought one lesson to be 
learned from this epidemic was the necessity of the com¬ 
pulsory registration of all births. Next that the com¬ 
pulsory provisions of the Yaccination Act should be 
thoroughly carried out. At the same time, while it was 
proper to compel people to do that which was right in 
the matter, they ought also to be shown that it was 
their duty. Much might be done in this way by mem¬ 
bers of the profession taking the trouble to explain and 
refute the groundless objections that were brought 
against vaccination. He had found in several towns 
and rural districts that by means of a little persuasion, 
it had been possible to carry out the provisions of the 
Act without an appeal to the law. In conclusion he 
said that, in his opinion, vaccination successfully per¬ 
formed once in infancy and again at the age of puberty, 
was a most valuable safeguard against the smallpox. 
Dr. Steele, of Liverpool, furnished some information 
concerning the epidemic in that town. The death-rate 
there had been twelve per cent, among vaccinated cases 
and sixty per cent, among unvaccinated. In Liverpool 
there had been but one case of smallpox among the 
large number of persons employed at the'hospitals, and 
that had been in a person who had been exempted from 
the rule of re vaccination. 
Mr. Lillee, Medical Officer of Whitechapel, said that 
medical officers were greatly cramped in their action by 
the amount of “red tape” they had to contend with, 
and mentioned an instance where a person who had 
been sent from Whitechapel to the Homerton Asylum 
was sent back again because a printed form w r as not 
filled in which had not been previously supplied. 
Dr. LAkKESTER considered that the fact that after so 
long a time the disease was still in our midst was a disgrace 
to the country. If it had been a cattle disease, and oxen 
or sheep had been the victims, we should have stamped 
it out long ago. He advocated the compulsory registra¬ 
tion of all births. Then he would appoint inspectors in 
every parish who should have the power to go into every 
house and see that vaccination was strictly attended to. 
He considered also that medical men should immediately 
inform the medical officer of health of cases of smallpox, 
in order that he might take the necessary steps to 
prevent its spread. They ought not, as in many cases, 
to assist in keeping its existence secret, for fear of loss 
of custom to their patients, thus allowing them to become 
