August 5, 1871.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
115 
explains the curious fact that the presence of alkalies or 
their carbonates will prevent the oxidation of iron. 
Our excellent Secretary, Dr. Attfield, with his usual 
aptitude for the practical application of his favourite 
science, has given an exhaustive paper on a proposed 
new nomenclature for universal adoption in future 
editions of the Pharmacopoeia. The continual changes 
that have hitherto taken place, and the consequent in¬ 
crease of synonyms, are often a cause of much perplexity 
io the dispenser. I hope that the doctor’s suggestions 
may be fully considered by future compilers of the next 
editions of our own, as well as those of other countries. 
"We should then bo unanimous, and travellers would 
have less difficulty in getting their prescriptions pre¬ 
pared. 
In the provinces, Pharmaceutical education is gaining 
ground more and more. Papers read at meetings of the 
several Associations throughout the country, show that 
private study and the number of students are rapidly 
increasing. 
In America, pharmacy seems to be prosecuted with 
more than usual vigour. They seem determined, in that 
part of the world, to fulfil the words of one of their poets, 
when he told them that— 
“ Though before you mountains rise, 
Go ahead! 
Scale them certainly you can, 
Let them proudly dare the skies; 
What are mountains to a man?” 
At the December meeting of the Philadelphia College 
of Pharmacy, Dr. Maisch made an important communi¬ 
cation respecting the solution of acetate of morphia and 
•other alkaloids,—a subject, however, that had previously 
heen alluded to by one of our members, Mr. Martindale, 
■of University College Hospital. When the ordinary 
.solution has been kept for some time, it becomes greatly 
altered in appearance; a myceloid growth rapidly forms 
and a brown matter is deposited, mixed with crystals. 
-Analysis showed these latter to be the pure alkaloid 
without a trace of any acid. It is singular, also, that 
-the solution of ammonium acetate decomposes and has 
••eventually an alkaline reaction. 
Those of us who have been accustomed to peruse the 
foreign publications must have painfully missed those 
from Paris. The horrid transactions and frightful dis¬ 
play of human depravity, must have rendered scientific 
research impossible. We heartily sympathize with our 
Gallic brethren and reiterate the advice given by Horace 
lo his friend Tibullus:— 
“ Inter spem curamque, timores inter et iras, 
Oinne crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum. 
Grata superveniet, quae non sperabitur, kora.” 
I must not, however, trespass longer upon your pa- 
rtience, although many things that have transpired during 
the past year might be profitably recalled to our memo¬ 
ries. In the present day we, as Britons, must put forth 
our best energies, lest we fall into the rear of intelligent 
nations. Our young men are justly, though tacitly, 
making an urgent appeal for our help. We do not, of 
course, press them to join our ranks; but when they ask 
to be admitted and we do receive them, we arc not doing 
the thing that is honest, if we fail to show the greatest 
solicitude for their welfare. The act of taking a pupil 
or apprentice is now one of very grave responsibility. 
When we sign an indenture we there and then become 
answerable for the proper education of that pupil, either 
by personal supervision or by securing the services of 
some substitute. Nay, I go further; my own impres¬ 
sion is, that no one ought to take a pupil unless fully 
•competent to answer most of the many questions that 
•crop up in the mind of an earnest student, or else to 
show him how to get the desired information. 
On the other hand, I think that a lad who has not re¬ 
ceived a good solid education, is not the one to be a 
Pharmaceutical pupil. His time then becomes too 
valuably occupied to be wasted in procuring the exceed¬ 
ingly little knowledge l'equisite for passing the Prelimi¬ 
nary examination. We often hear it said that a youth 
has a good education because ho is tolerably conversant 
with Colenso and Morcll. This is a very common mis¬ 
take. It is not education. Professor Huxley has justly 
reminded such an one, that reading, writing and arith¬ 
metic are only the means whereby we are enabled to 
open the educational casket. 
I am fully conscious that I am addressing many to 
whom these remarks are superfluous, but the letters that 
appear from time to time in our Journal too plainly 
evince the deficiency to which I allude. We ought not 
to rest satisfied with the sandy foundation of semi-igno¬ 
rance, but steadily persevere in building our intellectual 
structure on the rocky basis of observation and expe¬ 
rience. 
Appropriate food is as necessary for the mind as it is 
for the body. If we choose to feed our mental powers 
on the trashy material that is often miscalled literature, 
we cannot expect to have a healthy appetite for that 
which is good and worth remembering. What is it that 
prevents so many of us feeling a delight in the researches 
of others, or searching for ourselves ? It is nothing less 
than mental dyspepsia and intellectual debility. Example 
is far better than precept, and we cannot expect our pupils 
to acquire a keen relish for mental cultivation, or be¬ 
lieve it to be necessary, if they see that we ourselves 
care so little, and become so apathetic. 
It is no drudgery or hard work that I recommend, but 
a pleasant relief from the monotonous routine of a che¬ 
mist’s life. The test-tube or the microscope, the herba¬ 
rium or the pencil, will soon enough reward the trial 
with the substitution products of pleasurable surprise and 
wonder; for—■ 
“ Labour with what zeal we will, 
Something still remains undone; 
Something uncompleted still 
Waits the rising of the sun.” 
I cannot conclude without allusion to the indefatigable 
exertions of our secretary, Dr. Attfield. Few of you 
know what a debt is owing to him for the completion of 
our first Year-Book. Unforeseen and unavoidable diffi¬ 
culties arose, that postponed its issue till late in the sea¬ 
son ; and it is to his indomitable esprit de corps , and the 
editorial ability of Mr. J. Ince, that we are mainly in¬ 
debted for that volume. I am sure, therefore, that you 
will allow me, in your names, to thank them heartily 
and sincerely. 
It only remains for me now, Gentlemen, to thank you 
for having a second time placed me in the honourable 
position of your President. May success crown your 
endeavours, and may the advancement of true pharmacy 
be the guiding star of the British Pharmaceutical Con¬ 
ference ! 
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE¬ 
MENT OF SCIENCE. 
The general opening Meeting of this Association took 
place on Wednesday evening in the Music Hall, George 
Street, Edinburgh. Professor Huxley, the retiring 
President, having thanked the Association for the kind¬ 
ness he had received during his term of office, vacated the 
presidential chair in favour of Sir William Thomson, 
who then proceeded to deliver the following Address: 
Address. 
For the third time of its forty years’ history the British 
Association is assembled in the metropolis of Scotland. 
The origin of the Association is connected with Edin¬ 
burgh in undying memory through the honoured names 
of Robison, Brewster, Forbes, and Johnston. 
In this place, from this chair, twenty-one years ago. 
Sir David Brewster said,—“ On the return of the British. 
