1044 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[June 24, 1S7T- 
*** No notice can he taken of anonymous communica¬ 
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must he authenti¬ 
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily 
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. 
The Lancet and the Specteoscope. 
Sir,—All who are in the habit of reading the Lancet must 
have remarked the article in a recent number, containing some 
rather caustic reflections on the value of part of Dr. Letheby’s 
evidence, in which he refers to the valuable aid afforded by 
the micro-spectroscope. Either the author of that article 
must have been misled, or not much accustomed to the use 
of that instrument. 
The bands produced by the blood-spectrum are by no means 
“dim,” but, on the contrary, well defined when observed by 
a properly-constructed instrument. The micro-spectroscopes 
generally sold differ greatly; most of them give rectangular 
fields, but all are not equally adapted for observing the spectra 
of coloured solutions. The prisms of one kind are so ar¬ 
ranged that the colours run parallel to the short side, and are 
much diffused. The others are so arranged that the colours 
run parallel to the long side of the rectangle. The former 
arrangement is the best for observing the spectra of incan¬ 
descent metals, and showing what the Editor of the Lancet 
terms “the China ribbon” lines. It will, however, give very 
inferior results with the absorption bands of coloured liquids. 
The latter arrangement, or that with the colours running 
parallel with the longest side of the field, will show them well 
defined, even when a very diluted solution of blood is used. 
Moreover, this is not the chief point to be observed in 
micro-spectroscopy. It is not so much whether the bands 
are well defined, but their position in the spectrum. It must 
have constantly occurred to every observer that there are 
numerous examples that, when placed on the stage of the 
microscope one after another, appear identical even to the 
most practised eye and the closest scrutiny. But when two 
spectra are placed side by side by means of the auxiliary 
prism, the question of their identity is instantly decided. If 
the spectra be from the same substance, they will fit exactly 
one on the other; but if not, there would be what the geologist 
would term “ a fault.” Mr. Sorby and Dr. Letheby are quite 
correct when they say that no other known spectrum is like 
that of blood. If the spectrum of blood be observed by the 
terminal prism of the spectroseope, the spectrum of no other 
known substance, placed in juxtaposition by means of the 
side prism, will exactly match it. 
The jargonium fallacy has nothing whatever to do with the 
question; and, before taunting Mr. Sorby, the Editor of the 
Lancet would do great service in the cause of medical juris¬ 
prudence if he would name any substance that would give a 
spectrum coincident with that of blood. 
W. W. Stoddaet. 
“Oedees” in Council. 
Sir,—What have the Council been doing to Mr. Brown, 
that Mr. Brown should so rebuke the Council ? lias it proved 
such a bear-garden since he joined it, that his rooted aversion 
to “ regulations” has been forced to give way to the necessity 
of prescribing standing orders for its better government ? 
I can assure Mr. Brown that before he enjoyed the distinc¬ 
tion of a seat at the Council, business was conducted ihere 
with the decorum and regularity to be expected from gentle¬ 
men and men of business. There was in those days no ne¬ 
cessity to codify the very A B C of public affairs. 
But “nous avons change tout cela.” The Council is now 
distracted by party feeling, its unity of action sadly impaired, 
its influence abated; and these new “standing orders” give 
token of still further disorganization. 
As we read clauses 6, 7 and 8, we wonder if the object be 
to impeach the late President or to affront his successor, 
and a horrible apprehension takes hold of us that the next 
clause will follow— 
“ 9. To prevent confusion, no two members will in future 
be allowed to speak at once, without express permission from 
the chair.” 
But seriously these exhibitions are calculated to bring the 
Council and the Society into contempt. How could the Pre¬ 
sident have accepted a proposition imputing to him total 
incompetence for the duties of his office ? 
It is time that the better sense of the Society rose against - , 
the factious proceedings by which elections of Council have- 
recently been dominated, and that our members should recol¬ 
lect that the Council which they appoint is not a parliament 
but a government. Ex-Councilloe. 
Poison Regulations. 
Sir,—I am surprised to find so much opposition to the- 
“ Poison Regulations;” however inconvenient and unpleasant 
it may be to submit to those regulations, my belief is that 
the more we have of Government inspection the better it will 
be for the bond fide chemist. The Pharmaceutical Council 
deserves the thanks of the community'fior swelling the tide of 
that progress which, in my belief, is gradually carrying us- 
to the adoption of the continental system of Government 
appointment and supervision. That system, while making the- 
number of pharmacists less, would place those left in a posi¬ 
tion to do without debasing the trade by dealing in farthing- 
dips and methylated tincture of rhubarb. 
A Countey Chemist. 
The Pseliminaby Examination. 
Sir,—If “ J3. S.” intended his letter of the 13th ult. to be a. 
reply to mine of the 29th April, I fail to see that he has an¬ 
swered one point in it. I urged two objections to the Modified 
men being admitted to the Minor. 
1st. Injustice to those who were not of age at the time of 
the passing of the Pharmacy Act, many of whom had been 
longer in the trade than some of those eligible for the Modified- 
2 nd. That no advantage would be gained by being admitted 
to the Minor without the Preliminary, as to a considerable- 
extent the same knowledge requisite in the Preliminary is- 
requisite in the Minor, in the translation of prescriptions. 
“ L>. S.” is perfectly correct in saying that the Modified does 
“test the practical capabilities of the candidate,” so far as it 
goes, but as to its being a “ delusion and snare,” it can nei¬ 
ther be the one nor the othex*, as all who avail themselves of 
the Modified know, or ought to know what to expect. 
To take the Modified with all its privileges (which “ S. S.’ T 
admits to be as great a3 those enjoyed by pharmaceutical 
chemists), and then to cry out because they cannot skip the 
Preliminai’y, seems to me selfish in the extrexne. 
If in the words of “ Another Associate ” mexx desire phar¬ 
maceutical honours, they ought not to shrink from the con¬ 
ditions under which they are conferred. 
June 7th, 1871. Minoe Associate. 
“ Live and Let Live.” —The evils of the system are obvious, 
but at present it seems as if it must be left to work its own 
cure. If our corespondent can suggest any method of ad¬ 
vantageously dealing with the subject, wo should be glad, to 
receive such communication from him. 
“ Ice Cream Soda.” —One of the ingredients in your mixtui’e 
might raise the question whether you would not require to- 
take out a spirit licence. 
“Kappa.” —Articles on the subject of the removal of hy¬ 
drocyanic acid from oil of bitter almonds will be found in the 
Phabm. Jouen. 1st Ser. Yol. XIII. p.277, and 2nd Ser. Vol. 
VI. p. 407. 
F. W. Steel. —Our attention has been drawn to the same 
practice befoi’e, but it is one that we do not see that there is 
any possibility of interfering with. 
“ Spes.” —Boiled linseed oil is generally used for the pur¬ 
pose. 
“ Cotmtry Druggist.” —(1.) The mixture should be sent 
out in an 3 viij bottle, not filled up. ( 2 .) We believe a per¬ 
fumed carbolic acid has been advertised by several manufac¬ 
turers. 
[*%* Carbolic acid readily dissolves essential oils, and it 
may be made aromatic in this way at discretion.— Ed. Phabm. 
Jouen.] 
Communications, Lettees, etc., have been received from 
Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. E. Agnew, Mr. T. Perkins, Mr. Pardoe, 
Mr. W. Grey, Mr. R. Owen, Mr. Pollard, Mr. Proctei*, Messrs. 
Schoetensack, Mr. J. MTnnes, Mr. W. "Wilkinson, Mr. J. 
Smith, Mr. II. B. Brady. Mr. Woolley, Mr. Coles, Mr. W. 
Hills, Mr. H. B.-Polanch N. E. L. El., J. T. C., R. G. H., 
S. R., A. P. S., A. B. C., R. H. C. M., W. J. S., “Phyto,” 
“ Chemicus,” “ Ignotus,” “ Chemist.” 
