840 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[April 13, 1872. 
Sir,—As fast as time moves, chemists are qualifying them¬ 
selves for their high responsibilities and improved status. 
They have only to beware of the well-meant but fatally 
short-sighted policy which would make children of them in 
their adolescence. 
Help me to give a hint to the gentlemen who are aspir¬ 
ing to seats in the Council. Let them, through you or 
otherwise, make known their sentiments as to further com¬ 
pulsory regulations. If those who are opposed to gratui¬ 
tous degradation will plainly say so, the hearty support of 
hosts of unknown friends will, I venture to predict, em¬ 
phatically assure them they are in the right. 
T. Mathew. 
Glastonbury, April 9 th, 1872. 
Exemption prom Jury and other Service. 
Sir,—I am much gratified to learn, from your report of the 
meeting of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society on the 
3rd instant, that steps are about to be taken to obtain for 
registered chemists and druggists the same privilege of ex¬ 
emption from jury service as has for some years past been 
possessed by pharmaceutical chemists. 
Permit me to invite the attention of the Council, and 
especially of the Parliamentary Committee entrusted with 
this matter, to the fact that there are other services, quite as 
objectionable from a professional point of view as j ury service, 
which chemists are sometimes called upon to render, and 
from which pharmaceutists are not exempt; to wit, service as 
special constables, parish overseers, ward assessors, etc. 
Would it not be practicable to include exemption from all 
these duties in the representation which, in accordance with 
the resolution moved by Mr. Bottle, is to be made to the 
Attorney-General ? 
I speak feelingly upon this subject, having been compelled 
in 1870 to be sworn in a special constable; and on two suc¬ 
ceeding occasions I have been called upon to appear before 
the magistrate, on the nomination of the Vestry, as a fit and 
proper person to fill the office of overseer of the poor of the 
borough of Oldham. I need scarcely say that these duties 
require the devotion of considerable time for their proper ful¬ 
filment, and, in the case of chemists and pharmaceutists 
appointed to the services, consequent absence from the duties 
of their highly responsible calling. 
W. Bagshaw. 
Oldliam, April 8th, 1872. 
The Council and Provincial Education. 
Sir,—It has been most delightful to notice the full report of 
the last Council Meeting, given in the Journal, which is, I 
venture to state, a step in the right direction, and a step 
which cannot but commend itself to all who are interested in 
the doings of the Council, whether electors or mere readers 
of your Journal. 
The hearts of provincials have been gladdened, too, to 
observe the decision come to relative to provincial educational 
grants. How is it, Sir, that this decision should have been 
arrived at at so close on to the annual election ? Surely our 
provincials will now be emboldened to speak out at the 
annual meeting, as well to commend this lute decision as to 
urge its being carried out by the incoming Council in a liberal 
spirit. 
Being well acquainted with the Sheffield Association (to 
which allusion is made at the Council Meeting), allow me to 
remark upon the words which are reported to have fallen 
from the lips of Mr. Sandford relative to a paragraph in their 
annual report—words which I should not cared to have 
noticed (as the utterance of one who appears to be piqued 
when there is anything of provincial interest), except that it 
would seem to lead your readers to think that the Sheffield 
Association is a failure as an educational institution. The 
Council, in the report alluded to, were sufficiently honest, to 
state that “ there was a marked lukewarmness on the part 
of the apprentices to avail themselves of the advantages 
offered them,” and Mr. Sandford adds, in his superciliousness, 
“ The Council ought not to encourage that lukewarmness, 
or assist people who did not endeavour to assist themselves.” 
Now, Sir, how is that applicable to an association which, in 
that very report to which allusion is made, shows in the 
balance-sheet a gross expenditure of £30 during the year for 
educational purposes, and a net loss of over £15. It is for 
him to show how lukewarmness could be encouraged by a 
grant made for educational purposes to such an association. 
The paragraph Mr. Sandford alluded to had reference to 1871 
as compared with 1870 ; and as your readers will call to mind 
that 1870 was affected by extraordinary circumstances, that 
year could not be taken with fairness as a criterion for follow¬ 
ing years. The report implies as much when it relates a 
“ falling off.” The truth is, Sir, the Sheffield Association is 
most active, and has shown its vitality by the unparalleled 
efforts that it has made for educating the apprentices and 
assistants, which efforts have been crowned with success, 
as previous reports appearing in the Journal amply show. 
The average attendance at their lectures and classes during 
1871 would bear favourable comparison even with the atten¬ 
dance at Bloomsbury Square, or with other provincial schools. 
Let us hope that the initiative taken during the dying 
hours of the present Council may be followed up by the' 
new Council, so that their electors may judge whether they 
be true representatives or no. 
J. P. 
W. H. B .—Mucilage of Tragacanth made into a paste with 
equal parts of glycerine and water. (2.) See a discussion 
on the subject at one of the evening meetings, 3rd ser. vol. I. 
p. 371. We believe the use of ether is now generally discon¬ 
tinued. 
31. P. S. —A reference to the transactions printed in last 
week’s Journal will show that the Council are taking action 
in the matter. 
JR. S. B. —A heavy hydrocarbon oil answers well. 
A. B. C. —(1.) Syrupus Sarsoe. (2). Syrupus Hemidesmi. 
W. Laugher. — (1). See the article on p. 829. (2). It is 
customary to use the genitive, q.s. [quantum sufficit] being 
understood. (3). The Pharmaceutical Journal and the 
‘ Year Book of Pharmacy.’ 
“ 31edicus.” —We are unaware of the composition of the 
proprietary medicine referred to. 
C. Marshall. —See Sutton’s £ Volumetric Analysis,’ Wank- 
lyn and Chapman’s ‘Water Analysis,’ and the article on 
water in Watts’s ‘Dictionary of Chemistry.’ 
“ Sttulens.” —You will find instructions for the preparation 
of plants for an herbai-ium in most elementary botanical 
works. 
A Registered Student of the Society. —(1 and 2.) A 
pamphlet containing some information on the subject has been 
forwarded to you by post. (3.) A methodical arrangement 
would probably be advantageous. (4, 5, and 6.) The con¬ 
ditions in relation to the Botanical Prize are printed in the 
Journal for March 2nd, p. 710. 
J, Wright. —A formula for syrup of lacto-phosphate of 
lime will be found at p. 3 of the present volume. 
W. B. Clarlc. —The apparent absurdity in the Preliminary 
Examination question referred to by you, is evidently due to 
a misplacing of the punctuation. 
A. P. S. —A formula for Easton’s syrup was given in the 
first volume of the present series, p. 419 : see also other 
details on pp. 377 and 397. A formula for Dr. Coffin’s 
Composition Powder will be found on p. 457 of the same- 
volume. 
B. C. Clarice. —The journal was printed on the 27th, the 
date of your letter. Reports of Meetings should be sent 
addressed to the Editor. 
F. C. Treadgold and AT.—We cannot undertake to re¬ 
commend particular manufacturers. A list of some of the 
makers of apparatus will be found, 3rd series, vol. i. p. 480. 
J. H. Henry. —You will find the information you require 
in Fresenius’s ‘ Qualitative Analysis.’ or, in fact, in any 
systematic manual of chemistry. 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr. J. R. Jackson, Mr. Frazer, Mr. G. C. Druce, Mr. 
Bagshot, Mr. Rimmington, Mr. Laugher, Mr. C. Marshall, 
Mr. Wilson, Mr. Richards, “ Pharmacist,” “ Chemicus.” 
W. B. and “ Dixie ” have not complied with the regulations, 
as to anonymous communications. 
