November 25,1871.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
431 
tried, and expressed a hope that he would he successful 
in his efforts. 
Mr. Alfred E. Tanner then read a paper on “Nitrite 
)f Amyl,” which is printed at p. 421. 
The President said that he felt a great interest in 
he subject, as many years hack he had experimented 
vith nitrite of amyl, and had experienced from it some 
"cry singular effects. After inhaling from a few drops 
m blotting-paper a peculiar sensation was experienced, 
i sense of dizziness, singing in the ears, the face flushed 
md veins throbbed until the paper was removed, when 
the effects disappeared. It appeared, however, to be 
dmost without action on the lower animals. He thought 
that Mr. Tanner’s modesty scarcely allowed him to claim 
the merit due to his discovery of a much improved 
method for making this substance, as, in his opinion, the 
author had shown sound chemical knowledge, and great 
perseverance and skill. The paper was valuable, as 
containing the result of original research, and he trusted 
that the other members would be induced to investigate 
new products which came under their notice, and com¬ 
municate their discoveries to the Association. 
Mr. Mason fully endorsed the remarks of the Presi¬ 
dent, and said they were much indebted to Mr. Tanner 
for his important communication to the Association in 
the valuable paper they had just heard. The method of 
manufacture employed by Mr. Tanner was a good sug¬ 
gestion ; it was rather remarkable that the same idea 
had occurred to Professor Maisch, of Philadelphia, and 
evidenced the more honour due to Mr. Tanner, in that 
he had successfully brought about the result anticipated. 
Mr. Tanner had reminded them that it was of the 
highest importance that these sensitive therapeutical 
agents should be employed in as pure a state as possible, 
it was therefore of importance that the pharmacist should 
have some reliable test; he agreed with Mr. Tanner that 
the boiling-point was a guarantee of purity, but thought 
it desirable that the boiling-point and the specific gravity 
should be taken together; he did not think fractional 
distillation was a reliable test, it could not be expected 
that an homologous compound like amyl nitrite would 
be so stable as a body having a simple composition. 
Ethyl nitrite distils without change, but when we get 
up to amyl we find the nitrite decomposing. 
Mr. Tanner said Mr. Maisch published his paper some 
twelve months subsequently to his (Mr. Tanner’s) dis¬ 
covery. He also observed that he used anhydrous 
amylic alcohol in preparing the nitrite of amyl; the pro¬ 
cess had failed when anhydrous spirit had been employed. 
Dr. Symes, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Tan¬ 
ner, said the subject was a very desirable one to know 
about. He thought the boiling-point was a sufficient 
test of purity for medical pm-poses, and fully appreciated 
the value of Mr. Tanner’s discovery, as he had prepared 
it by the old process, and it was important to have a 
process by which any one with an ordinary amount of 
chemical knowledge might produce it. If pharmaceuti¬ 
cal and chemical products were generally prepared in¬ 
stead of being purchased, much additional knowledge 
would be gained, and the scientific character of the phar¬ 
macist greatly elevated. 
BRISTOL PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. 
Friday, November 10, 1871; a General Meeting of 
the Association was held this day, Mr. W. W. Stoddart 
in the chair. 
The Chairman briefly introduced the newly elected 
President, and expressed the gratification he felt in re¬ 
signing the post he had held for two sessions to one who 
would adorn it so well as Mr. Townsend. 
Mr. Charles Townsend, having taken the chair, said 
the first duty he had to perform was a very pleasing one, 
namely, to distribute the prizes to the successful candi¬ 
dates among their students of the last session. 
Air. Arthur Little had earned— 
1st prize, advanced grade, Inorganic Chemistry. 
1st prize, elementary grade, Organic Chemistry. 
1st prize, advanced grade, Structural and Physiologi¬ 
cal Botany. 
Mr. Little had also been awarded the gold medal of 
the Science and Art Department of the Committee of 
Council on Education for his proficiency in this last 
subject, viz. “Structural and Physiological Botany.” 
This was a great distinction, and an honour at once to 
himself, to his teacher and to the Association of which 
he was a member. 
Mr. George W. Tamplin had earned— 
1st prize, advanced grade, Organic Chemistry. 
A prize, elementary grade, Systematic and Economic 
Botany. 
Mr. Charles Bennett had earned— 
2nd prize, elementary grade, Inorganic Chemistry. 
2nd prize, elementary grade, Organic Chemistry. . 
A prize, elementary grade, Structural and Physiolo¬ 
gical Botany. 
Mr. Ernest Samson had earned— 
1st prize, elementary grade, Organic Chemistry. 
Mr. Charles E. Bishop had earned— 
2nd prize, advanced grade, Inorganic Chemistry. 
Mr. Baynham had earned— 
A prize, elementary grade, Systematic and Economic 
Botany. 
The prizes having been distributed, the President 
delivered the following address :— 
Ladies and Gentlemen,—For the first two years of its 
existence the Bristol Pharmaceutical Association has 
been under the presidency of a gentleman so well known, 
and highly esteemed throughout the kingdom for his 
varied and abundant talents, and for his accurate know¬ 
ledge of the several sciences immediately connected with, 
pharmacy, that any one may be excused for feeling con¬ 
siderable diffidence in occupying the post of his suc¬ 
cessor ; and as I make no claims to be considered a 
scientific president, I must roly upon your kindness to 
receive the few remarks I have to make this evening 
with some little indulgence. 
We commence to-day the third session of our Associa¬ 
tion ; it has been upon its trial for two years, and tho 
time is fitting to ask what has been accomplished, in. 
what respects our objects have succeeded, and in what 
respects we have failed ? 
That there has been conspicuous success is evident 
enough from the pleasant duty I have had to perform 
this evening; and those of you who have given the- 
greatest attention to, and felt the warmest interest in 
our Association, well know that there have been very 
many failings also. 
We have in our city about eighty members of our 
pittfession, and it is gratifying to notice, that of this- 
number no less than fifty-seven were last year associated, 
with our Society; and I venture to hope that all, or- 
nearly all the rest, will come in and assist us in the work 
of establishing in Bristol a thoroughly efficient school of 
scientific pharmacy. This, then, is one element of suc¬ 
cess ; there is an increasing interest in the objects we- 
have at heart on the part of those actually in business,, 
and who, I would have all the students to remember, 
can themselves derive but small benefit from our labours. 
It is for those who, as one by one we grow old and 
weary in the work, come in and fill our places, to- 
reap the fruits of labours which for thirty years have- 
been incessant, and which now we are endeavouring to 
carry home to all. 
To a large extent we may consider also that the pro¬ 
vision which has been made for scientific instruction in 
the past two years has been successful; no society can 
have two more able professors than Messrs. Coomber- 
and Leipner, tho character of their instructions and their- 
value to those who are really in earnest in availing 
themselves of their lectures may be gathered from ths- 
