May 27, 1871.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
SATURDAY, MAY 27, 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 “ JPharm. Journ." 
LOCAL SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE. 
The increased attention that has been devoted 
duiing the last few years to the subject of scientific 
education, and the consequent recognition of the 
great benefits which would result from the more 
general possession of scientific knowledge, have 
already resulted in some practical attempts to sup¬ 
ply the great defect which had previously existed. 
The universities have, to some extent, acquiesced in 
the claims of science to a place among the studies 
of those who are able to resort to them for education, 
whilst public and private efforts have been made 
here and there throughout the country to supply the 
needs of students in other ranks of societv. 
But the rate of progress has hitherto been com¬ 
paratively slow, and the question from whence the 
funds are to be obtained for defraying the expenses 
attending the inauguration of science schools is one 
that has had and will have very great influence upon 
it. The thoughts of many who have been working 
for the spreading of such knowledge have often been 
turned to the rich educational endowments existing 
in this country, and many wishes have been ex¬ 
pressed that the trustees of these funds should con¬ 
sider whether they might not be utilized to assist in 
gaining the desired end. 
Such help has come in a recent offer from the 
authorities of the University of Durham of .£1000 a 
year for six years towards the foundation of a school 
of science in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with a promise 
that if the institution answers their expectations, the 
grant of £1000 annually shall be made perpetual. 
In order that the school might be carried on effi¬ 
ciently, it was desired by the University that their 
offer should lie met by a guarantee of a like amount 
from Newcastle and the district. The matter has 
been taken up with great spirit. At a preliminary 
meeting subscriptions to the amount of £"350 a year 
for six years were promised, and in addition the sum 
of £3000 spread over six years guaranteed. This 
amount has since been increased to £16,000, and it 
is hoped that a capital fund of £30,000 may be 
raised, with which it is intended to establish a college 
for the teaching of physical science as applied to 
engineering, mining, manufacture and agriculture. 
As an instance of the valuable results arising from 
Third Series, No. 48. 
911 
the union of scientific and practical knowledge may 
be mentioned the process invented by Mr. Julius 
Robert for the extraction of sugar from beetroot 
and sugar-cane by diffusion, as described by the 
late Mr. Ferdinand Kohn, in a paper read before 
the Society of Arts a few weeks ago, an abstract of 
which will be found in a previous number. Here 
was a manufacture which had been carried on for 
centuries upon what was acknowledged to be a 
primitive and imperfect principle, even the most 
perfect machinery failing to give a satisfactory re¬ 
sult. But coming under the notice of a man who, 
while cognizant of one of the latest-revealed scientific 
truths, was also acquainted with the practical details 
and requirements of the manufacture, a process was 
invented which has already proved of great import¬ 
ance, and which was well described by the chairman 
of the meeting, Mr. G. C. T. Bartley, as “ a most 
remarkable instance of the application of pure science ■ 
to practical and commercial purposes.” 
On the other hand, Mr. Mattieu Williams, in a 
paper on “ Burnt Iron and Burnt Steel,” read before 
the Chemical Society last month, illustrated the 
large amount of empirical knowledge sometimes 
acquired by workmen, which is either allowed to die 
with them as a trade secret or is not made generally 
useful, through the inability of those possessing it to 
explain the “reason why.” Speaking of the diffi¬ 
culties which had to be overcome in the rolling of 
large iron plates and in the reheating of such great 
masses without burning them, he referred to the 
large wages which were offered to workmen who 
could conduct these furnace operations successfully. 
He said that he knew an illiterate black-faced work¬ 
man who earned as much as £40 weekly by pay¬ 
ments received as tonnage upon work done under 
his direction. Having watched this man and others 
similarly successful in furnace operations, he found 
that, by various devices—the philosophy of which 
they did not dream of understanding—they subjected 
the iron to the action of a reducing flame only, and 
so prevented its oxidation. 
It is for the purpose of bringing scientific educa¬ 
tion into closer contact with such manufacturing 
skill that colleges like the one projected at New¬ 
castle are intended: we believe they are sure to exer¬ 
cise a lasting and beneficial influence upon the future 
of our country, and to repay well any cost that may 
be incurred in their establishment. 
We trust that ere long no part of the country will 
be without such a college, and that in this way, 
among other advantages, opportunities may be pro¬ 
vided for the acquisition of thorough scientific know¬ 
ledge, which is so indispensable for the proper exer¬ 
cise of a pharmacist’s daily business. 
A lecture will be delivered “ On National Health,” 
by Dr. Acland, at the Royal College of Physicians, 
next Friday, the 2nd of June, at 5 p.m. ; and at the 
same time on Wednesday, the 7tli of June, a course 
of three lectures “ On War in its Sanitary Aspects, 
with special reference to the period from 1793 to 
1815,” will be commenced by Dr. Guy, and con¬ 
tinued on the following Friday and Wednesday. 
On Tuesday evening the House of Commons went 
into committee on the “Adulteration of Food and 
Drugs Bill,” but progress was immediately reported, 
and the House resumed. 
