February 1", 1872.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
679 
Fructus,’ bought in June last by our Vice-President, Mr. 
Brodie, as the genuine,article; but be (Mr. Brodie) found it 
to be largely adulterated with the fruit of Anthriscus vulgaris, 
or common beaked parsley, which I may mention, in passing, 
is highly poisonous. Mr. Brodie showed this specimen to 
Professor Hennedy, of this University, who pronounced it to 
be largely adulterated with a number of species of the TJm- 
belliferce ; but, as Mr. Brodie had stated, the fruit of An- 
tliriscus vulgaris was most prominent.” It is exceedingly 
doubtful whether any but a very fair botanist would have 
detected the admixture, or, at any rate, have pronounced its 
mature. 
Above and beyond the practical use of botany, and, as I 
think, of incalculable value, is its educational value. 
For cultivating the power of exact observation and keen 
discernment, with rapid and logical generalization, there is 
no study which is even remotely comparable with that of 
botany; and these are the very qualities which the pharma¬ 
cist most requires. Hence on this ground I would, if botany 
had no practical value, urge its retention as a part of the 
examination curriculum. At the same time, it does not 
follow that it should be imposed as a part of the Minor or 
Major examination only; its proper place of entree is the 
Preliminary, in which case its study would form, as the na¬ 
tural sciences should form, apart of the school routine. Were 
the Preliminary examination made more severe (technical 
subjects, as the reading of prescriptions, being excluded), and 
required before apprenticeship, we should soon cease to hear 
complaints of difficulty in passing the Minor, soon have a supe¬ 
rior class of men in the profession, and—what a blessing !— 
cease to see the quasi tobacconist and chemist shops that so 
often appear to lead their proprietors into the Gazette or 
worse. And we should, in addition, find little need for com¬ 
plaint of counter practice and other illicit transactions. That 
there would be fewer applicants for admission into the pro¬ 
fession, and that assistants would become scarce, is beyond a 
doubt; but these things would work round with rise in prices 
and enhanced “respectability.” The form which pharmaceu¬ 
tical education should take is a subject into which I cannot 
now, from want of space, enter. 
Henry Pocklington. 
The Choice op a Microscope. 
Sir.—All students who possess a microscope must have 
hailed with pleasure the commencement of a series of articles 
in the Journal upon that department of microscopy of most 
utility and interest to them; and those who do not already 
possess an instrument will, in addition, thank Mr. Pockling- 
ton for his advice concerning the purchase of one. 
I can but think, however, that he should not have omitted 
to advise intending purchasers to provide themselves with 
a binocular microscope; for, while the cost is certainly some¬ 
what in excess of the prices mentioned in his article, *the ad¬ 
vantages are assuredly many and great. 
The comfort, relief, and freedom from injury to the sight, 
consequent upon the conjoint use of the eyes; the stereoscopic 
projection, the superiority of penetrating power, and the 
smaller amount of fatigue, are some among the benefits re¬ 
sulting from its use. 
Mr. Pocklington has mentioned Mr. Swift as a maker of 
cheap and good instruments. To this fact I can bear explicit 
testimony. His prices are moderate, while his workmanship 
is excellent, and in particular his students’ lenses are at least 
equal to those of any other maker. 
Moreover, one of his cheap binocular stands fitted with his 
arrangement of the analysing prism, and his modification of 
the Webster condenser (a veritable multum in parvo), is one 
with which study can be carried on with the smallest possible 
trouble, and without loss of time. 
In the arrangement of the polariscope above alluded to, the 
analysing prism is carried in a sliding-box, which brings it 
into position immediately above the binocular prism. This 
method combines the use of the polariscope with the bino¬ 
cular without the trouble of screwing and unscrewing, etc. 
It possesses also the advantages of giving more light, and 
less distortion than in the ordinary modes of mounting this 
prism. True, the power of rotation is here lost; but is not 
this more than compensated by the convenience and other 
merits of the arrangement ? The polarizer is carried on a 
large diaphragm attached to the condenser, and rotates be¬ 
neath a smaller diaphragm provided with a clear aperture 
and two selenite films. I have been thus minute in speaking 
of this arrangement, under the conviction that the polariscope 
must frequently be called into requisition in the course of 
Mr. Pocklington’s articles, and under the assurance that so 
gieat a saving of time as is here effected is by no means a 
small desideratum. • 
There are other stands in which this arrangement of the 
analysing prism obtains, but as the same box carries both this 
and the binocular prism, the sliding in of the one displaces 
the other, so that when using the polariscope the instrument 
becomes monocular. 
One other indispensable appurtenance remains to be men¬ 
tioned, viz. a stage capable of rotation in the optic axis of the 
microscope, than which none can be more suitable or less ex¬ 
pensive than that devised by M. Nachet. To those seeking 
a compact instrument, to which additions can at any time be 
made, one of the above description appears to me to be of 
the greatest utility. 
In conclusion, let me express the hope that the articles of 
Mr. Pocklington will well explore the interesting field of 
microscopy in which he has proffered his guidance; and that 
we may have cause to remember his teaching as a great and 
lasting good. 
R. L. Churchyard. 
112, Camden Hoad, February 7th, 1872. 
Pounce. 
Sir,—In Mr. Jackson’s note on the Algerian Callitris in 
your number of Feb. 3, he speaks of the powdered resin, (com¬ 
monly called Gum Sandarach or Gum Juniper) having been 
formerly used in lieu of blotting-paper. 
It was certainly called Bounce, but it was employed not to 
absorb superfluous ink, which simple purpose some cheaper 
powder would have effected quite as well, but to render parch¬ 
ment or the abraded surface of paper more suitable to write 
upon. 
In the Fncyclopcedia Britannica (1797) we read— 
“ Po»nce, gum Sandarach pounded and sifted very 
“ fine, to rub on paper, in order to preserve it from sink- 
“ing, and to make it more fit to write upon.” 
And in Guibourt’s Uistoire des Drogues (1849) under the 
head Be sine Sandaraque — 
“ * * on l’emploie aussi reduit en poudre, sur le 
“ papier dechire par le grattoir, afin d’empecher l’encre 
“de s’y repancLre et de brouiller l’ecriture.” 
A common practice with chemists when they have to write 
on a wooden box, is to rub the surface with a little powdered 
mastich or common resin,—a simple precaution that prevents 
the ink running. 
The custom of using an absorbent powder instead of blot¬ 
ting-paper is still universal in France and Italy. The com¬ 
position of the powder so used varies in different places. In 
the new reading-room of the Great Library in Paris, small 
trays of fine sawdust are provided in company with the ink- 
stands. D. Hanbury. 
The Benevolent Fund. 
Sir,—Many letters have appeared in the Journal, advo¬ 
cating the increased support of the Benevolent Fund, some 
of which deserve careful consideration. I have, however, 
been surprised that no one has hitherto thought of “ Hospital 
Sunday” at Birmingham, or “Colston’s Bay” at Bristol. 
In addition to these two well-known schemes for the benefit of 
local charities, there is another, which, though not so well 
known perhaps, is still more deserving the consideration of 
the pharmaceutical profession; I mean the “simultaneous 
collection ” made by the commercial travellers throughout the 
kingdom on a given day for the benefit of their Benevolent 
Fund and Orphan Schools. The result of this collection is 
generally from £800 to £1000 every year ; and a trustworthy 
friend of mine informs me that he does not believe it inter¬ 
feres with the annual subscription. I think the “simul¬ 
taneous collection ” might, without much trouble, be tried 
for the Pharmaceutical Benevolent Fund, to its great benefit; 
and I hope that I may before long see announced in your 
columns the establishment of “ Benevolent Fund Monday.” 
A Subscriber. 
