688 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [February 24, 1872. 
Calamene. Patchouli. 
Difference between weight \ . 3327 -311 grm. 
of air and vapour . . . ) 
Temperature of balance case . 12*5° C. 9° C. 
Temperature of sealing . . 280° C. 294° C. 
Capacity of globe .... 110*8 c.c. 98*49 c.c. 
Residual air. 2*6 c.c. 1*95 c.c. 
Calculated density of vapour. 6*80 7'2 
Each of these differs little from the theoretical 7*06, 
and they differ in opposite directions. 
It is well known that several oils of the first group 
form compounds with hydrochloric acid of the compo¬ 
sition C 10 H 16 .2HC1. It might, therefore, be antici¬ 
pated that the oils of the second group would combine 
with a smaller quantity of hydrochloric acid; and, in¬ 
deed, the hydrochloride of cubebene is said to be 
Ci 5 H 24 .2HC1. I tried patchouli and rhodiene. Dry 
hydrochloric acid gas was passed through the oil till it 
was perfectly saturated ; in each case it remained liquid; 
portions were freed from excess of acid by exposure in 
vacuo over sticks of jiotash, or by heating in a water- 
bath and analysed. Two different preparations from 
patchouli gave 7*11 and 11*18 per cent, of chlorine; the 
product from rhodiene purified in the two ways men¬ 
tioned above gave 18*26 and 16*78 per cent. These 
numbers differ from one another, and from those deduced 
from any probable formula. They seem to indicate that 
these liquid hydrochlorides are somewhat indefinite. 
(To be continued .) 
A BLUE COLOURING MATTER IN THE BILE. 
BY E. RITTER.* 
Stiideler and Jaffe have shown that a blue colouring 
matter can be obtained by the action of nitric acid on 
the biliary pigments. Ritter describes a blue colouring 
matter, which he regards as a constituent of the bile, 
and not as a product of chemical action. He finds it in 
the bile of man, the ox, the sheep, the pig, the dog and 
the cat. It is prepared as follows:— 
Bile is shaken with chloroform till a yellow solution is 
obtained, and the yellow chloroform solution is treated 
with soda till the colour entirely disappears. On neu¬ 
tralization with hydrochloric acid two layers are formed, 
one of which contains the yellow chloroform solution, the 
other the blue colouring matter in a state of suspension. 
The colouring matter is insoluble in chloroform and 
acids. It dissolves in alkalies, forming a colourless or 
yellowish solution. When this solution is neutralized 
with acids and exposed to the air, a brown precipitate 
forms, which after a few days, but sometimes only after 
a month, again becomes blue. Reduced indigo, on the 
other hand, dissolved in alkalies, becomes instantaneously 
blue on exposure to the air. 
YORK CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Annual Dinner of the York Chemists’ Association 
took place at the King’s Arms Hotel, Fossgate, on 
Thursday evening, the 8th of February. 
The President of the Association, Mr. Geo. Dennis, 
took the chair, and Mr. Councillor Cooper the vice-chair. 
The usual loyal and other toasts were proposed, and a 
most enjoyable evening was spent. 
GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ ASSOCIA¬ 
TION.—ANNUAL FESTIVAL. 
The Annual Festival of this Association was held on 
Wednesday evening, 14th inst., in the Royal Restau¬ 
rant, West-Nile Street. Upwards of eighty gentlemen 
sat down to supper. The chair was occupied by Mr. 
Hugh Hart; Messrs. James M‘Donald and Thomas 
Davison acting as croupiers. There were also present 
* N. Reperfc. Pkarm. xx. 569, and Journ. Chem. Society. 
Drs. P. A. Simpson, Hugh Miller, D. C. Black, A. M. 
Robertson and R. C. Moffat, and Messrs. E. C. C. Stan¬ 
ford (Edinbarnot), William Tate and James Mackenzie 
(Edinburgh), Charles Kerr (Dundee), Frazer, Kinnin- 
mont, Jaap, D. B. Kerr, William Whyte, R. T. Dun, 
William Kennedy, James White, etc. etc. 
After supper the Secretary, Mr. J. M. Fairlie, stated 
that he had received several letters of apology from 
gentlemen in and around Glasgow, including Messrs. 
Mackay, Baildon, Buchanan and Blanchard (Edinburgh), 
Alexander (Greenock), Dr. Thorpe (Glasgow), etc. 
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were then given 
from the chair and duly responded to, the Volunteers 
being acknowledged by Captain Steuard. Mr. M‘Donald 
afterwards proposed “ The Medical Profession,” coupled 
with the name of Dr. Simpson, who, in acknowledging 
the toast, referred to the close tie which bound the two 
professions of physician and pharmaceutist together; and 
expressed his conviction that, although so closely con¬ 
nected, it was absolutely necessary that they should be 
carried on by different individuals. He considered it a 
high compliment they had done him in connecting his . 
name with this toast, and concluded an able speech by 
making some felicitous remarks regarding toasts in 
general, and the need the medical profession had of all 
the good health they could wish them. 
The Chairman then proposed the toast of the evening, 
“ Success to the Glasgow Chemists and Druggists’ Asso¬ 
ciation.” He alluded to the past history of the Society, to 
its struggles for early closing, and its efforts for the ad¬ 
vancement of the education of the chemist and druggist; 
and pointed out that whether it was viewed as an edu¬ 
cational institution or as a mutual improvement society, 
it was worthy the support and countenance of every 
person in and around the city connected with pharmacy. 
The toast was coupled with the names of the President 
and Secretary of the Association. 
Mr. Davison (President) spoke of the action taken by 
the Association in the earlier stages of the poisons regu¬ 
lation question, and said he believed that action did 
much to instigate, if not to encourage, the action of 
other societies throughout the country. He said the 
syllabus issued this session, including as it did the names 
of Mr. Stanford and Dr. Simpson, both of whom had 
delivered such excellent addresses, would bear favour¬ 
able comparison to that of any Society in the kingdom. 
Mr. Fairlie (Secretary) referred to the future pro¬ 
spects of the Society, and hoped that the offer and sug¬ 
gestion made by their excellent councillor Mr. Frazer, 
viz. a donation of £5 to establish a library and museum, 
would be kept in view until it was an established fact. 
He mentioned that many, after they had passed their 
examinations, or got established in business for them¬ 
selves, took but little interest in the Society. He thought 
this should not be, that it was to the interest of every 
one to uphold such an association, and that all should, 
consider it their duty to give it a helping hand. 
The other toasts were, “ The Pharmaceutical Society 
and Council,” proposed by Dr. Black and acknowledged 
by Mr. Frazer; “The Pharmaceutical Conference and 
Chemical Science,” proposed by Dr. Robertson and ac¬ 
knowledged by Mr. Stanford ; “ The Strangers,” pro¬ 
posed by Mr. Kinninmont and acknowledged by Messrs. 
Tait and Mackenzie (Edinburgh); “The Chairman,” pro¬ 
posed by Mr. Jaap ; and “ The Croupiers,” by Dr. Miller. 
Mr. M‘Donald, in acknowledging the latter toast, 
regretted the long hours that still existed in many esta¬ 
blishments, and stated that he was authorized by the 
Company which he represented (The Glasgow Apothe¬ 
caries’ Company) to state that if the project referred to 
by the Society, viz. that of establishing a library and 
museum, was gone into with spirit, they would give an 
annual donation of £5 to help to keep it up. 
At intervals during the evening several songs and 
recitations were given, and the company broke up at an 
early hour. 
