531 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December 30,1371. 
A paper was then read by Mr. H. Bassett, F.C.S., 
*'• On Eulyte and Dyslyte,” two beautifully crystalline 
compounds obtained by the action of nitric acid on citra- 
- conic acid, a product of the dry distillation of citric acid. 
The two substances each contain nitrogen, but owing to 
the comparatively small quantity obtained, namely, 
-somewhat less than two ounces from thirty pounds of 
citric acid, the author has as yet been unable to tho¬ 
roughly investigate their nature. 
Professor Armstrong also read a paper on “The 
Nitration Products of the Dichlorophenol Sulphuric 
Acids,” being a continuation of his researches on the 
nitrochlorophenols. 
The meeting then adjourned until the 18th of January, 
1872. 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 
!Sir Robert Ciiristison on the Fresh Waters of 
Scotland. 
At the First Ordinary Meeting of the Royal Society 
of Edinburgh for the present session, held on Monday, 
December 4, the President, Sir Robert Christison, 
described some recent observations on the fresh -waters 
of Scotland. These observations were classified by him 
under three heads—(1) the composition of the water 
of certain of the fresh-water lakes and of the streams 
which feed them, and the changes undergone by the 
waters of the streams which are fed by the lakes; 
(2) the temperature of the water at various depths in 
the lakes ; and (3) the action of the waters on lead. 
He first directed attention to the general geological 
structure of this country, by which, in a great measure, 
■the properties of the Scottish fresh waters are regu¬ 
lated. Generally, and particularly in the Highlands, 
the mountain summits are very pointed or rugged, and 
the mountains abound in precipices, crags and loose 
rocks, and the intermediate valleys, exceptin the course 
of the large rivers, are narrow and stony, and capable of 
little or no cultivation. Sometimes, however, and this 
chiefly in the Lowland hills, the spurs are ridgy and at 
times separated by upland valleys, boggy and abounding 
in peat. From this structure it followed that in most 
districts of the Highlands rain or snow took but little 
-time to descend in streams to the lower grounds; and 
;SO the water of the Highland streams w r as uncommonly 
pure in dry weather, and not much less so in other kinds 
-of weather. In the lower country streams generally were 
nearly as pure. The water of streams near Lochgoilhead 
might be taken as a fair type of the streams which feed the 
fresh-water lochs in that district; and the general results 
of some observations made last summer were, (1) that the 
water of those streams was almost entirely free from 
colour ; (2), that, like most of the Highland streams, it 
•contained a very small portion of saline and of organic 
matter—so small, that the ordinary tests scarcely affected 
the waters, the hardness of the water being about one- 
tenth that of the Edinburgh water; (3), that the water 
would affect lead. In winter time there was not so great 
-a difference in the composition of the waiter as might 
naturally be expected. It assumed a somewhat brownish 
•colour, but otherwise its purity was very great, and its 
effect on lead wais, at the same time, more rapid. During 
long drought the composition of the water of the stream¬ 
lets wais much that of the springs from which in such 
times the streamlets were fed, and spring water had 
more saline matter, but was always colourless. The 
water of the lakes fed by these streams was much that of 
the streams. The water of the lowland lakes was some¬ 
what differently constituted. 
From want of time, Sir Robert Christison deferred the 
discussion of the last topic, the action of the waters on 
lead, to another opportunity. 
PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY. 
The Second Meeting of the session 1871-72 was held 
on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 21, 1871 ; Dr. \V ixson H. 
Pile presiding. 
Mr. Charles Heinitsh, of Lancaster, Pa., presented 
a sample of capsicum, bearing a very small fruit, finely 
flavoured. It w r as raised from seeds brought from 
Mexico during the war. The species seems to be un¬ 
known. 
Professor Maiscii exhibited specimens of cundurango, 
received, since the last pharmaceutical meeting, from 
various parties. The flow'ering-branch and the pod of 
that variety of cundurango called “ mata-perro,” sent 
for exhibition by MTvesson and Robbins, of New York, 
belong to a plant of the Natural Order Asclepiadacecc , 
though not to the genus Asclepias. Authentic specimens 
of mata-perro, tumbo grande and tumbo chico, received 
from the same house, were likewise exhibited, and com¬ 
pared wdth a specimen coming from the State Depart¬ 
ment at Washington. The latter is a piece from a young 
branch, and probably identical with the tumbo grande, 
which, however, consists, in the specimens exhibited, of 
older bark only. The experiments of physicians with 
the cundurango first received in this country have not 
sustained its reputation. It remains to be seen whether 
mata-perro and tumbo chico possess valuable medicinal 
properties; for the former, alterative properties and 
beneficial effects in syphilitic complaints are claimed. 
Various samples of cundurango met with in commerce 
consist of mata-perro and tumbo chico, the latter some¬ 
times mixed wdth small and variable quantities of tumbo 
grande. The appearance of the decoctions of the three 
varieties, and their behaviour to ammonia and nitric acid, 
afford no reliable means of distinguishing them, as had 
been stated in a circular lately received. 
Professor Maiscii also exhibited South American and 
East Indian clove or culilawan bark. The former comes 
from Dieypcllium caryophyllatum , Nees, and occurs in 
large quills, composed of several layers of the thin liber; 
the latter is the produce of Cinnamomum Culilawan , Nees, 
and comes in flat pieces, the taste resembling a mixture 
of cloves, cinnamon and sassafras. 
Professor Parrish presented specimens of “ Boldo” 
leaves and branches, brought by Dr. E. W. Burton from 
Concepcion, in Southern Chili, where it has a reputation 
among physicians and people as a specific remedy in 
chronic liver complaints. The tree was supposed by Dr. 
Burton to be a species of Drimys , probably Drimys chi- 
lensis, but the leaves are opposite, wdiile those of all the 
Maynoliacecc are alternate. The tree is an evergreen, 
growing 20 feet high, and is very abundant. The twigs 
or small branches are covered with a thin bark, perhaps 
a line in thickness, firmly adherent to the tough and 
fibrous wood. The wood is slightly, the bark very, aro¬ 
matic ; it is wrinkled longitudinally, covered with vesi¬ 
cles, light brown or fawn colour, much branched, wdth 
opposite very numerous branchlets; the terminal branches 
are very bushy. The leaves—which are described as of 
a dark though lively green colour on the upper surface, 
lighter on the under when fresh—are in this dry speci¬ 
men reddish-brown, mottled with whitish spots, coria¬ 
ceous, deeply marked with midrib and alternate, some¬ 
times opposite veins, which are anastomosed and looped 
near the edges. They are conspicuously covered with 
vesicles and very aromatic, opposite, petiolate, entire, 
ovate, wdth a small stipule at the base. The flavour is 
grateful, and recalls that of chenopodium. The medi¬ 
cinal virtues of this tree were discovered by its marvel¬ 
lous effect on a flock of sheep enclosed in a corral formed 
of this tree. The sheep were much afflicted wdth a dis¬ 
ease attributed to the liver, and by browsing on the 
leaves of the Boldo, constituting their enclosure, were 
restored to health. Large quantities of this drug are 
said to be exported from Chili to Peru, where it is highly 
valued. 
