August 19,1371.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
■eating- intelligence to places distant from each, other? 
There is nothing more commonplace in our day than to 
know that a living human being can be placed in gentle 
sleep, and while in blissful oblivion, can have performed 
on him what were once the tortures of the surgeon’s 
art; but how few have heard or seen Sir Humphry 
Davy’s paper announcing to mankind this grand bene¬ 
ficence ! These are some of the difficulties of writers on 
science. 
“ And yet there is another I must name, be it ever so 
lightly. I refer to the desperate struggles of the man 
of science who has nothing but science to carry him on 
in life. None but such as are placed as I am, practising 
ns physicians in this metropolis of the world, and ad¬ 
mitted at the same time, as men of science, into some 
knowledge of the subject upon which I now speak, can 
tform a conception of the almost hopelessness of the posi¬ 
tion of the pure scholar in science. On this I say no 
more. I would awaken, but not weary, your sympathy. 
Ladies and gentlemen, in speaking of writers on science, 
you will say, perhaps, I have spoken in sadness. It is 
not so ; much of the difficulty these writers have had to 
bear I aceognize with admiration as their truest glory, 
and I see that hope for better worldly prospects is near. 
A profession of science is, no doubt, organizing. The 
world is at last asking men of science to employ them- 
.selves in teaching the world; and the teachers, bending* 
to the labour, are, in their turn, willing to suspect that 
they are but as children, or at best, youths in the race 
after knowledge. This is most hopeful; and it is hope¬ 
ful also to find that men like you, my Lord Bishop, who 
•claim to be the conservators of a knowledge that was 
matured when science was unborn, are listening now to 
our scholars with an attentive ear, and are beginning to 
•accept that the Lord of Nature, whether He reveal 
Himself to the ancient lawgiver in the burning bush 
that was not consumed, or to the modern astronomer in 
the burning glory of the omnipotent sun, is one and the 
same Lord. Thus there is hope, I may say certainty, in 
the future for the literature of science; for its poetry, 
its parables, its facts, nay, even for its religion. I might 
firing- proof of this belief from many sides. I am content 
to find it here; that in an assembly so distinguished 
writers on science should have been so enthusiastically 
remembered, and my poor attempt at reply so gene¬ 
rously received. For both kindnesses from my heart I 
thank you.” 
THE DISTRESSED CHEMISTS IN FRANCE. 
It will be in the recollection of our readers that 
an application was made to the Council at their last 
meeting for assistance to the distressed chemists in 
Paris and the neighbourhood, and that the Council 
decided that they had not the power to apply the 
fluids of the Society for such a purpose. 
A subscription was, however, immediately started, 
and the following list has been handed to us for 
publication. We understand that contributions 
may be sent to Mr. Elias Buemridge, 17, Blooms- 
fiury Square. 
£. s. d. 
Atherton, J. II., Nottingham . 1 1 0 
Baildon, H. C., Edinburgh . 2 2 0 
Barnard, J., London. 2 2 0 
Bell, John, and Co., London . 2 2 0 
Betty, S. C., London. 1 1 0 
Bremridge, Elias, London . 1 1 0 
Carr, John, London . 1 1 0 
Deane, Henry, London. 2 2 0 
Flockhart, Duncan and Co., North Bridge, 
Edinburgh . 3 3 0 
dale, S., London . 2 2 0 
149 
J cw • U • Vv • 
Gardner and Ainslie, Edinburgh. l l o 
Groves, T. B., Weymouth*. 110 
Haselden, A. F., London .. 2 2 0 
Hills, T. H., London. 2 2 0 
Macfarlan and Co., Edinburgh ... 3 3 0 
Mackay, John, Edinburgh . 2 2 0 
Middleton, F., London. 2 2 0 
Robertson, James, Edinburgh. 2 2 0 
Sandford, G. W., London. 2 2 0 
Smith, Edward, Torquay. 1 l 0 
Squire, Alfred, London. 2 2 0 
The Tonquin or Tonga bean (Dipteryx odorata , 
Willd.) is well-known for its agreeable liay-like fra¬ 
grance. The only uses made of these beans are, 
we believe, for scenting snuff and as an ingredient in 
perfumed sachets, for which purposes they are im¬ 
ported into this country. It is not a little remark¬ 
able that a closely-allied species, D. Eboensis , the 
Eboe-nut tree of the Mosquito shore,—which has a 
fruit and seed so nearly resembling the Tonquin as 
to be scarcely distinguishable,—has no fragrance 
whatever, but contains a large quantity of fatty 
oil, which is expressed by the natives and used as a 
hair oil. The “Mexican Balm” once so much ad¬ 
vertised for promoting the growth of the hair, is said 
to be made from this oil. 
In a Report to the Department of Agriculture at 
New York, Dr. C. C. Pamiy states the general re¬ 
sult of his inquiries, made during a recent visit to 
Jamaica, in regard to the cultivation of the Cinchona 
: in that island, and the possibility of its introduction 
into the United States. He says that the peculiar 
conditions of soil and climate required for the growth 
of the best varieties of the cinchona plant cannot he 
found within the limits of the United States, where 
no suitable elevations possessing an equable moist, 
cool climate, free from frost, can be met with. He 
thinks that the island of San Domingo, situated 
! within the tropics, and traversed by extensive moun¬ 
tain ranges, attaining elevations of over 0000 feet 
' above the sea, presents a larger extent of country 
specially adapted to the growth of cinchonas than 
any other insular region in the western hemisphere, 
and that the material for stocking successful planta- 
! tions in that island might be conveniently and eco¬ 
nomically obtained from Jamaica. 
The official P reussischc Stcuitscinzeiyer states that 
Mr. E. Gressler, of Halle, the well-known pharma¬ 
cist and manufacturer of mineral-water apparatus, 
has placed at the disposal of the Government one of 
! his apparatus to the value of 150 thalers, to be given 
as a present to a pharmacist who has distinguished 
himself either hi the execution of his duties as field 
apothecary, or in open field against the enemy. 
* For the distressed chemists of France generally. 
