228 
THE PHAKMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 16,1871. 
some of tliese preparations are so destitute of medi¬ 
cinal properties, but are so agreeable to the taste, 
that they may be taken until, gradually, through the 
alcohol they contain, they create an appetite for 
alcoholic stimulants. This doubtless would be a dis¬ 
advantage outweighing by far any benefit accruing 
from the pleasing appearance and the agreeable 
taste. 
We find it stated, in a recent number of Galignanis 
Messenger, that the Ma} T or of the 1st arrondisse- 
ment of Paris, on a report of the Comite des Ambu¬ 
lances, has conferred on Mr. Swift, English chemist, 
of the Place Vendome, a medal of honour, for his 
energetic services during the first siege of Paris. 
This mark of high satisfaction was accompanied by 
a diploma, declaring that the recipient’s exceptional 
devotedness and attention had entitled him to the 
gratitude of the French people. 
Our newspapers and magazine covers are so 
overladen now-a-days with announcements and tes¬ 
timonials of wonderful cures and extraordinary 
effects of some quack nostrum with a long name, 
but about the composition of which we are supposed 
to know nothing, that it really would be a relief if 
we could have plain old Gerard back amongst us 
again, turning almost our entire British flora into a 
medical garden. The leaves of Polygonatum multi- 
Jlorum appear to have been in his time most effica¬ 
cious in removing the marks of bruises, for, beaten 
into a paste, and applied to the injured part, they 
were said to remove all external appearances, and 
to cure, as Gerard himself says, “ any bruise, blacke 
or blue spotts gotten by falls or woman’s wilfulnesse 
in stumbling on their liastie husband’s fists, or such 
like.” 
The island of Nissiros, one of the Sporades, in the 
Grecian Archipelago, is of volcanic formation, the 
centre of it consisting of the crater of a large extinct 
volcano, so much impregnated with sulphur that 
cultivation is impossible. This sulphurous substance 
appears to be encroaching yearly on the arable land. 
A few years since, the Ottoman government esta¬ 
blished a manufactory for refining the sulphur found 
in the crater of the volcano, but hitherto little has 
been produced. If this establishment were worked 
on a large scale, it would afford a considerable 
amount of employment to the inhabitants; but some 
Nissiriotes who had been engaged in the work, 
having all of them died within a short time, the 
natives are unwilling to engage themselves in the 
labour for fear of a similar fate. 
BRISTOL PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.. 
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY. 
♦ 
Session 1871-2. 
The Council has the pleasure to announce having- 
made arrangements by which it is enabled to offer to 
fellow-members and associates tho following complete 
course of instruction in chemistry, botany and materia 
medica. 
A course of thirty lectures by Mr. Coomber, F.C.S.,, 
on Elementary Inorganic Chemistry, every Tuesday, at 
7.30 p.m., commencing in October. 
A course of thirty lectures by Mr. Coomber, F.C.S., 
on Elementary Organic Chemistry, every Tuesday, at 
8.15 p.m., commencing in October. 
A course of sixty lectures by Mr. Leipnor, on Botany,. 
Physiological, Economic and Systematic, every Monday*, 
at 7.30 p.m., commencing September 18th. 
At the conclusion of this series, that is in May next,, 
an examination will be held in each subject, at which.-, 
each student is required to present himself. 
Tickets for tho entire series -will be five shillings for.- 
members and associates, provided the holder complies- 
with the condition of presenting himself for examina¬ 
tion, and shall have attended not less than twenty-five 
lectures in each course, in accordance with the regular- 
tions of the classes, if not, the fee will be ten shillings.. 
The ticket will admit to either ono, or the whole of the 
above series, but students are earnestly advised to ab¬ 
stain from entering for more courses than they can rea¬ 
sonably expect to follow up. 
As the botanical lectures commence on Monday, the- 
18th, it is hoped that every principal will at once ac¬ 
quaint the assistants and apprentices of his establish¬ 
ment with the facilities offered for their scientific culture* 
and will do his best to further the efforts of the Council, 
some member of which will shortly call for an answer' 
to this application. 
Tickets for the above lectures may be obtained of the- 
following gentlemen:—Mr. Stoddart, North Street; Mr. 
Schacht, Clifton; Mr. Pitman, Redcliff Hill; Mr. Tap- 
lin, Corn Street; Mr. Martin, Redland; Mr. Stroud, 
Wine Street; Mr. Townsend, Union Street; who will 
be happy to give any further information which may be 
desired. 
Through the kind offer of the late President, Mr. 
Stoddart, the Council is also able to announce a series of 
about twenty-five lessons on the chemistry, botany and. 
materia medica of the Pharmacopoeia, adapted to the re¬ 
quirements of those associates of the Society who arO' 
preparing for the examinations at Bloomsbury Square. 
Mr. Stoddart declines to accept any payment for his 
labours, but agrees with the rest of tho Council in the 
propriety of charging a fee of £1. Is. for attendance at 
these lessons, the proceeds being arranged to go to the • 
formation of a fund to meet the expenses of a pharma¬ 
ceutical museum, or some similar educational object.. 
The lessons will be every Tuesday and Thursday evening,, 
commencing September 19th. 
Tickets for this course to be obtained only at Mr.. 
Stoddart’s, North Street. 
Mr. Coomber is also prepared to offer a course of prac¬ 
tical laboratory instruction on Friday evenings at the- 
laboratory in Nelson Street. 
The fee for this instruction is £1. 1.?. per quarter, ancL 
the tickets are to be obtained of Mr. Coomber only. 
G. F. Schacht, Hon. Sec .., 
