•September 9,1S71.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1871. 
Communicationsfor 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- 
nuDGE, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, TV.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington 
■Street, London, JF. Envelopes indorsed u Bharm. Journ.” 
CHEMISTS AND THE USE OF STILLS. 
There seems yet to be considerable misappre¬ 
hension as to tlie use of stills by chemists, and 
among other illustrations of the fact we hare re¬ 
ceived the following letter on the subject:— 
“Your correspondent ‘Aqua Destillata’ seems ignorant 
•of the fact that for the use of a one-gallon still no licence 
•or permit is necessary. He can use anything under two 
gallons without the interference of the Excise. If he 
wishes to use a larger one, he ought to pay the same 
licence as myself and others, or the Excise Commis- 
•sioners would be acting unfairly towards us.” 
Tliis is wrong. A chemist cannot use a still of 
.less content than two gallons without a licence or 
special indulgence from the Board of Inland Revenue, 
nny more than he can use one of larger capacity. 
It is true that immediately after the Act 9 & 10 Vie. 
c. 90 was passed, the Inland Revenue authorities 
.tillowed a retort of less content than two gallons to 
be used without licence, although the Act in question 
specifies that “ any still or retort ” is to be paid for. 
'This indulgence was evidently granted for the 
reason that retorts are constantly used by chemists 
in their general business, and also that retorts 
cannot economically be employed for purifying 
or concentrating alcohol. However, since this per¬ 
mission to use retorts was given twenty-five years 
ago, and since the Board of Inland Revenue has 
power to withhold the indulgence at any time, it 
would perhaps be wise for those desirous of using, in 
"their business, retorts —especially of large capacity— 
to ask the Board’s permission before doing so. 
The clause giving the Board of Inland Revenue 
the power to grant exemption from the payment of 
ibis duty is as follows:— 
“ Provided always that the Commissioners of Excise 
may permit the keeping and using of any still or stills 
for experiments in chemistry, under such regulations as 
they think fit; provided also, that the Commissioners of 
Excise may permit the keeping and using of any still or 
stills by persons carrying on trade or otherwise, for the 
manufacture of any articles other than spirits or spirit 
mixtures, upon every person who has a still giving notice 
thereof to the nearest officer of excise, and conforming 
to 6uch regulations as the Commissioners of Excise think 
fit to direct before beginning to use any still as last 
aforesaid.” 
It is worthy of remark in regard to tliis matter, 
that in tliis clause reference is only made to stills, 
and although the Act specifically states that the 
“sum of ten s h il l i n gs shall be yearly paid by every 
person keeping or using any still or retort, so long 
as any still or retort is kept or used as aforesaid,” 
retorts are not mentioned at all. 
THE SALE OF BENZINE COLLAS, ETC. 
We congratulate our readers that the Act for 
the safe keeping of petroleum and other substances 
of a like nature, passed at the end of the late session 
of Parliament, provides for the sale of benzine collas 
and similar articles without a petroleum licence. 
Tliis matter has been the source of much annoy¬ 
ance, and has given great trouble to have it put on 
a satisfactory footing. According to section 7, the 
provisions of the Act respecting the regulations as 
to storage of petroleum shall not apply to petroleum 
kept either for private use or for sale, provided the 
following conditions are complied with :— 
“ (1.) That it is kept in separate glass, earthen¬ 
ware, or metal vessels, each of which contains not 
more than a pint, and is securely stopped. 
“ (2.) That the aggregate amount kept, supposing 
the whole contents of the vessels to be in bulk, does 
not exceed three gallons.” 
Tliis question is therefore at length definitely 
settled, and druggists need not be under any further 
apprehension of annoyance on account of the sale 
of benzine collas or similar preparations. 
THE EVENING MEETINGS. 
The first evening meeting of the session, to be 
held on Wednesday, October 4tli, will, as usual, be 
devoted to the presentation of the prizes awarded to 
the successful students during the past session. 
The address to the students will be delivered by 
Mr. John Mackay, of Edinburgh. The Council, 
mindful of the additional interest given in past 
years to these special occasions by the presence of 
the ladies, have again extended their invitation to 
them. 
As will be seen by reference to the official notices, 
the Council will be glad to receive for exhibition 
during that evening and the following day any 
articles of novelty or otherwise specially interesting 
to pharmacists. 
THE BENEVOLENT FUND. 
As there are but two candidates for the forth¬ 
coming election of annuitants on the Benevolent 
Fund, there will be no competition this year. We 
are requested to mention tliis in order to explain 
the non-issue of the usual voting-papers. 
