816 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[April 6, 1873. 
cases. Compound decoction of aloes, for instance, 
was to be simplified. If they could see the formula as it 
stood in proportional numbers, they would then judge 
how far it would be possible to make it with the weights 
and measures to which they had been accustomed. 
He (Mr. Wood) took the formula as it at present stood 
in the Pharmacopoeia, and made out such proportional 
parts as appeared to him would effect a sufficient simpli¬ 
fication of the preparation, short of making a radical 
alteration in it strength altogether; and he apprehended 
that in things which were of daily use—as many of these 
preparations were—it would be hardly safe to effect a 
radical alteration in the strength and proportion of all 
of them. He had given in his paper the formula for 
the compound decoction of aloes, which was tolerably 
simple as expressed in parts, but if he wanted to make a 
quart of it, what quantities ought he to take ? He must 
either, obtain a set of grain weights up to a considerable 
quantity, or a set of grain measuring-glasses to carry it 
out, or he must enter into a somewhat elaborate calcula¬ 
tion by which he could ascertain what number of grains, 
drachms, or ounces would exactly fit this very simple 
relation of parts. And all he asked was that they 
should not throw the labour of doing this upon each indi¬ 
vidual pharmacist, but put it in the Pharmacopoeia side 
by side with the parts, so as not to interfere with them. 
Several gentlemen had expressed considerable objection 
to seeing fractions or grains used, but if they were going 
to simplify these proportions, and were going to apply 
to them an utterly complicated and awkward set of 
things, such as their present weights and measures were, 
they must have fractions. There was no simplicity 
about their weights and measures, and they would not 
fit simple relations. One effect of the new system would 
probably be to disgust them with the defects of the present 
system of weights and measures; and; if so, it would tend 
to promote the adoption of the metric system. It was 
true that several Continental pharmacopoeias had adopted, 
in all its simplicity, the course which Professor Redwood 
had proposed, namely, to use parts, and nothing but 
parts ; but there were two things which made a difference 
between the Continent and this country in this matter, 
for there they weighed liquids as well as solids, which 
grea tly simplified the matter ; and he believed that on 
the Continent their weights and measures had never been 
in such a state of confusion as they were in this country. 
We had got an ounce which contained 4374 grains, so 
that there was a fraction to begin with, and unless they 
could make the ounce of some even number of grains 
they could not get rid of the fractions. Mr. Martindale 
had taken exception to the use of the term cubic centimetre, 
and thought it. exceedingly awkward. He (Mr. Wood) 
quite agreed with that, but had used it in his paper for 
want ot a better terrfi. It appeared to him that the term 
fluid gramme would be simpler. Mr. Carteighe had 
suggested, that before they could do much in the way 
of extending the use of the metrical system, they must 
begin with the members of the medical profession, and 
that appeared to him (Mr. Wood) to be an important 
point if they wished to make progress. Some time ago 
he prepared a table in which the doses in the metrical 
system were placed side by side with the ordinary doses, 
but he was stopped for want of a choice of terms; and 
ho thought that if they could invent terms for the metri¬ 
cal weights and measures which would bo unobjection¬ 
able for use amongst them, they would remove one 
great difficulty. 
A paper by Mr. Histed, of Brighton, was then read 
on the. “ Occurrence of Copper in Cajuput Oil.” The 
paper is printed at p. 804. 
The President announced that the next evening 
meeting would be held on Wednesday, May 1st, on which 
occasion Mr. Greenish’s paper, on “Pharmacy in Aus¬ 
tria,” will be the first paper read. 
SnilHiural fetsaxiioros. 
MANCHESTER CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
The last Ordinary Meeting of the session was held at 
the Mitre Chambers on March 26th; the President, Mr. 
Lane, in the chair. 
A highly interesting paper was read by the Vice- 
President, Mr. Fewster, on the medicinal plants of the 
Nat. Order Papaveraceae. The reader briefly described 
the botanical characteristics of the Order and the proper¬ 
ties of the various substances contained in it, mentioning 
Chelidonium majus, Sanguinaria canadensis and the 
several varieties of the poppy. After giving the descrip¬ 
tive characters of the several opiums, the reader 
recommended the use of extract, papaveris in making syrup. 
papaveris, thereby ensuring a definite quantity of extrac¬ 
tive. He also advised the use of equal parts of spirit, water, 
and glycerine for making up the pil. saponis, B.P., which, 
thereby keeps pliant and may be rolled easily. 
A most elegant preparation of syrup, croci was shown, 
made by cold infusion with glycerine added. This has 
been kept three months without growing turbid, and on. 
dilution gives an amount of colour equal to freshly pre¬ 
pared syrup. The meeting concluded by a cordial vote 
of thanks to the Vice-President for the able manner 
in which he dealt with the subject. A general meeting 
is arranged for Thursday, April 9th. 
IjwIimntaTg anir fato fnrmMnp. 
Suicide by a Vermin Killer. 
An inquest was held at Oldham on Friday, March 22nd, 
touching the death of a woman which was supposed to 
have occurred from the effects of poison. Fromthe evidence 
it appeared that the deceased, in consequence of her pil¬ 
fering habits, had been threatened by her son, with; 
whom she lived, that he would send her to the work- 
house. She was found in a convulsed state, and, after 
suffering considerably, died before the arrival of a medi¬ 
cal man. Amongst some papers that were found in. 
her pocket was one labelled “Battle’s Lincoln Vermin- 
Killer—Poison. ’ ’ 
The coroner asked whether any one had been to- 
Messrs. Braddock and Bagshaw, who had sold the ver¬ 
min-killer, to ascertain whether they had made a proper 
entry of the sale, and was informed that a constable had 
done so, but no such entry could be found, and it was 
suggested she had given a wrong name, whereupon he 
remarked that she ought to have been introduced by 
some one who knew her. . 
At the close of the evidence the coroner said there 
seemed to be a strong presumption that the deceased had 
died from the effects of poison. There was also every 
appearance that that poison was strychnine. He thought 
Battle’s vermin-killer contained strychnine. If so, there 
came the question whether Messrs. Braddock and Bag¬ 
shaw had sold it to her, and, if so, whether they hacL 
taken the precautions required by the Pharmacy Act. 
The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had. 
died from the effects of poison taken whilst in an un¬ 
sound state of mind. 
The Alleged Attempt to Poison by Tartar Emetic. 
On Wednesday, March 27, the boy charged with, 
having attempted to poison the Rev. Chichester Reade, 
by mixing tartar emetic with his wine (see ante , p. 778), 
was again brought up at the Clerkenwell Police-Court; 
but, in consequence of the unexplained absence of one of 
the prosecutor’s maid-servants, who had given evidence 
against the prisoner at the previous hearing, the case 
could not be proceeded with, and the boy was released 
upon recognizances. 
