88 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[July 29,1S7U 
PRESSED BEEP AND DESICCATED BEEF-JUICE. 
Baron Liebig conceived the idea of extracting from 
the wild cattle of South America those substances to 
which meat owes its characteristic properties, and con¬ 
veying them to the ill-nourished populations of Europe. 
The so-called extract of meat was to be made, sent over 
to Europe, and distributed among the labouring classes, 
whose cheerless fare was thereby to be rendered stimu¬ 
lating, and equivalent to an animal diet. From the 
entire ox only eight or ten pounds of the Liebig’s extract 
are procurable, but these eight or ten pounds of extract 
are very potent, and will animalize a mountain of vege¬ 
table food. The plan has, to some extent, answered. 
European food has been eni’iched with animal products 
from South America, and, in token of the success of the 
enterprise, the Liebig’s Extract Company paid an 8 per 
cent, dividend some time ago. There are, however, dif¬ 
ficulties in the way. The great bulk of the carcass—all 
the nutritive part, as distinguished from the stimulating 
extract—is thrown away, or converted into manure, and, 
in those hot climates, constitutes a serious drawback, in¬ 
volving considerable outlay for its proper disposal. On 
the other hand, the extreme concentration of Liebig’s 
extract is a hindrance to its proper employment by the 
poorer classes in Europe. At present the benefit has 
been almost confined to invalids and the wealthy and 
middle classes, and has hardly reached the poorer people, 
w'ho ought to be the chief recipients of it. 
A new process for accomplishing the objects above 
referred to has just been brought out by Mr. Henley, a 
well-known engineer, and a company, called “ The Pres¬ 
sure Meat Preserving Company,” is being formed to 
work it. 
Flesh, in its natural condition, consists of about 75 
parts of water and 25 parts of solids. Mr. Henley pro¬ 
poses to remove the greater part of the water, whereby 
the meat will be reduced to ono-half of its original 
weight (without loss of substance), and will bo preserved 
at the same time. YJe have just tasted some of it, which 
had been kept for about a month in a chemical labora¬ 
tory, and can speak to the soundness of its condition. 
The novelty in Mr. Henley’s process is the employment 
of powerful pressure as a means of making the drying 
possible. In six horns the bullock which walks into the 
slaughter-house may be put on board ship in the shape 
of a highly dried pressed beef and desiccated beef-juice.— 
The Lancet. 
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE EMPLOYES OF MESSRS. 
BURGOYNE, BURBIDGES AND CO. 
The annual Excursion and Dinner of the persons em¬ 
ployed by the above firm took place on Saturday last. 
The place selected for their visit was the Downs Hotel, 
Epsom. 
Among the amusements provided for the entertain¬ 
ment of those present were walking, running and jumping 
matches, prizes for the winners in which were furnished 
by the liberality of the firm. One of these prizes was a 
handsome silver cup on an ebony stand; another, for 
the visitors—won by Mr. J. K. Pitt, the cork-merchant, 
—was an opera-glass. At the dinner-table the chair 
was occupied by Frederick Burbidgo, Escp 
Indian Agriculture.—The culture of bamboo for 
paper-making and other purposes is being promoted by 
the Government of Central India. The Indian Govern¬ 
ment is buying land in the hill district of the Neil- 
gheries for a spice plantation. Colonel Boddam has 
proposed the cultivation of the sunflower in Mysore. It 
is very successful in France. Government has sent out 
six more Scotch gardeners for experimental cotton¬ 
growing. These men have answered very well.— 
Nature. 
THE PHARMACY BILL. 
The following circular, treating of the views of the 
Manchester Defence Association on the present state of 
the question of poison regulations, and of the course it 
intends to take in the event of any further attempts at 
legislation on the subject, has been forwarded to us for 
publication:— 
“ 63, Piccadilly, Manchester , July, 1871. 
“ Dear Sir,—The withdrawal of the Pharmacy Bill by 
the Government is a cause for congratulation to all the- 
members of the trade who have so earnestly and effec¬ 
tually resisted its enactment. This result has been at¬ 
tained through the powerful opposition inaugurated by 
the Chemists’ Defence Association, and carried on with, 
so much unanimity and cordiality conjointly with the 
Metropolitan and West of Scotland Defence Associations , 
and promptly seconded by local organizations in all parts 
of the kingdom. 
“ It is the intention of this Association to continue its 
existence, to be ready to resist any future attempt on the 
part of Government to unnecessarily interfere with the- 
internal management of our business. 
“ We have been much encouraged by the keen appre¬ 
ciation of the points at issue, and by the great amount 
of support we received from members of Parliament, and 
we unhesitatingly affirm that if opposition be again re¬ 
quired, with the active and zealous assistance of friends- 
throughout the country, we shall be able successfully to- 
resist the passing of any measure, similar to or of so ob¬ 
jectionable a character as that so happily withdrawn. 
“ We do not wish a renewal of the conflict, and wo-- 
fervently trust that the wisdom of Government may 
obviate this necessity. Such a contest is undesirable,, 
but w T e believe it to be our duty to boldly face the diffi¬ 
culty should it again arise, that our trade may retain its* 
just measure of independence, be free from the undue- 
and needless interference of the Privy Council, with the' 
liberty to carry on our business with intelligent prudence 
and self-reliance which no arbitrary legal restrictions, 
however ably devised or fenced round with penal clauses, 
could so well secure. 
“We take this opportunity of calling your attention' 
to the fact that our opponents, whilst advocating with a 
zeal difficult to account for, the legal compulsory regu¬ 
lations for the storage and dispensing of poisons con¬ 
tained in the withdrawn Bill, have not been able, neither 
have they attempted, to bring forward any evidence that 
the public safety is jeopardized by the present condition 
of things, or that abuses exist to warrant Government in 
bringing forward the recent measure. 
“ It is incomprehensible how the declaration could bo 
made by any person that the objections to the Bill had 
been completely removed by the amendments, whilst tho 
penal clauses for the non-observance or infringement of 
the regulations, and tho absolute power of the Privy 
Council and of the Pharmaceutical Council were retained. 
These are the essential principles contended against by 
this and kindred Associations, whose action has been 
endorsed by the approval of a vast majority of the che¬ 
mists throughout the country. 
“ We trust that the question is settled, as w r e quite- 
agree with the advocates for the imposition of the objec¬ 
tionable regulations that a settlement is desirable, and. 
we hope that both they and the Medical Department of 
tho Privy Council will read the signs of the times, and 
forbear the one from attempting to impose restrictions 
on our liberty alike unjust and unnecessary, and tho 
others from encouraging such unwise attempts. 
“ We invito you to continue your membership of our 
Association if already enrolled, or to join our ranks, and 
by adding to our numbers to increase our influence, and 
sustain our efforts should the course of events require, 
further action. 
“ Signed on behalf of the Executive Committee, 
“ Robekt IIampsox, ] Ion. Sec A' 
