November 11,1871.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
to ‘ Bentley ’ as a text book to perfect liis necessary 
knowledge of details with much more pleasure than 
would otherwise have probably been the case. A 
mere book knowledge of botany partakes too much 
of the nature of a cram; and it is easy to tell whether 
a student has studied from nature or not. A student 
will learn (out of a book) the names of the different 
varieties of leaves; but if he is shown a lanceolate 
leaf he will probably say it is ovate, and other things 
in the same way, unless he has also studied from 
nature. It is to be hoped that next year the indi¬ 
genous medical plants, and some others that are 
easily cultivated, will be grown at the Botanical 
Gardens, and that students will have liberty to go 
there, as such opportunities for study are very im¬ 
portant, and will prevent the sad confusion that too 
often exists in the student’s mind respecting the 
identity of English medicinal plants. 
Next and last comes the great subject of Che¬ 
mistry. We take our popular name of Chemists 
from our supposed acquaintance with this science; 
but chemistry has developed so wonderfully of late 
years, that it is but a very limited branch of its 
professors that pharmaceutical chemists represent. 
Still we ought to have a moderate knowledge both 
of theoretical and of practical chemistry, and many 
excellent chemists have sprung from our ranks. 
When young hopeful is brought by his father to the 
druggist, the latter is informed that the young gen¬ 
tleman has evidenced, by his fondness for experi¬ 
ments, his fitness for the profession; and it is to 
give this energy scope that he is placed behind the 
counter. Alas! it too often happens that the man 
of drugs looks blandly on his expectant pupil, but 
gives him little time to pursue Ills researches; or the 
latter, when he has time and opportunity afforded 
him, satisfies himself with burning his fingers and 
clothes, or making explosions and stinks. Now, 
however, that the examinations are compulsory, 
there is a great awakening to the necessity of early 
study; and to t'liis the number of students who have 
entered their names for our lectures testifies. There 
is no royal road to chemistry; the turn for experi¬ 
ments is the first round of the chemical ladder, and 
the secret of the ascent is by perseverance and patient 
study, under proper guidance, to keep still getting 
higher. Let your motto be “Per aspera ad ardua 
tendo.” Lectures on chemistry, as well as on 
botany, are of the greatest assistance, and should be 
attended if possible. An attendance at the working 
classes on chemistry is also a great help to those 
who have the opportunity. The regulations explain 
clearly the outline of the examination, so that I need 
not dilate upon it. Dr. Attfield’s work on chemistry 
is most useful to pharmaceutical students, but it is 
well to take two works on the subject, as the student 
has then the benefit of different minds, and it is also 
well that the pharmaceutical bias should not be too 
strong. 
I have now given a running commentary on the 
published regulations of the Board of Examiners, 
and, in conclusion, would remark that the use of the 
best books available on the different subjects is most 
advantageous to the student. To one who has 
studied observantly, a short synopsis is useful for 
occasional reference, but to any one who uses it as 
a “ cram,” it is apt to prove a delusion and a snare. 
There are few of us but forget much of what we 
learn; we are much less likely to do so, if we study 
thoroughly as far as we go. I have heard it said 
3$ 8 
by or of such-and-such a student, that he answered 
almost every question, and was surprised that he 
had failed; and so probably he did, but his answers 
were perhaps almost all wrong. I think such men 
must have tried the ready method of cram, and ex¬ 
perienced, to then- cost, that it was a failure, as one 
who has really studied is generally more cautious in 
his answers, and has his understanding to guide 
him as well as his memory. I have taken the 
liberty to allude to some mistakes that candidates 
have made, but have no recollection who made them; 
indeed, the identity of the candidates is generally 
unknown to the examiners. The most painful part 
of an examination day, both to examiners and exa¬ 
mined, is to hear of the failures, whilst the pleasantest 
to the examiners is the signing of a good crop of certi¬ 
ficates. Examiners and examined have always been, 
and, I suppose, always will be considered to be 
natural enemies, so I will enliven the end of my 
paper by giving you a grotesque picture of his tor¬ 
mentors, written by a student who afterwards rose 
to high eminence in the field of scientific natural 
history, the late Edward Forbes. 
“ I followed him instinctively, and saw 
A sight which sickens me to recollect. 
There, in a lofty and a lengthy hall, 
Around a table covered with green baize, 
Sat the Examinators,—animals 
Of wondrous shapes, with horns and bills, and claws 
And hoofs, and asses’ ears and grinding teeth 
Wherewith to torment and to terrify 
The luckless student who, unknowing what 
A horrid fate awaited him, came there 
In Sunday clothes to seek for a degree.” 
VESICATING INSECTS. 
BY M. C. COOKE, M.A. 
(i Continued from page 322.) 
Violet Blister Fly, Lytta violacea, Br. and 
fiatz.—Brandt and Batzeb. ii. t. xviii. f. 10. Lytta 
tigas mas, Buchn. Repert. xxvi. t. i. f. 6. 
Found in Central India. 
This species is described by Brandt and Ratzeburg 
is follows:— 
“ Lytta violacea. —Head rather large, strongly 
■otundate-quadrate, the posterior margin nearly 
straight above, the lateral margins arcuate, blackisli- 
fiolet, finely and somewhat uniformly punctate,, 
filming; forehead very slightly convex; crown con¬ 
vex in the middle above the forehead, and above the 
irown a fine longitudinal impression. Antennse fili- 
‘onn at the tip, nearly smooth; the first joint cla- 
rate, moderately swollen at the apex; the second 
oint nearly orbicular, about one-third the length of 
die first; the third joint cylindrical, longer than the 
first. The thorax above elongate-quadrate, gra- 
lually narrowed in front, and with the reflexed por¬ 
tion shining, smooth, with scattered impressed 
mints; in the middle with a small furrow which 
mites with a triangular impression in front of the 
posterior margin ; lateral margins slightly piorni- 
aent. Scutellum triangular, very small. Breast 
,vitli fine scattered black hairs arising from punc¬ 
tate impressions, otherwise smooth, shining, unifomi 
blackish-violet. Legs moderate, violet with fine 
black hairs. Elytra widened behind, dull blackisli- 
riolet, very finely granulate-punctate, _ and clothed 
ivitli depressed,under a lens very conspicuous, bans* 
