June 8, 1872.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
1003 
water has reached eighty degrees, the source of heat 
must he withdrawn ; the inner vessel must then he filled 
with the petroleum to he tested up to the level of the 
outer rim or flange, which must he indicated hy a mark 
-on the inside, and the cover with the thermometer must 
he put in its place. The source of heat must now he 
again placed beneath the vessel containing the water, 
and when the temperature of the petroleum in the inner 
vessel has reached eighty degrees, a small light should he 
applied to the circular opening in the cover; if the 
vapour he not ignited—that is, if no pale blue flash or 
flicker of light he produced—the application of the light 
should he repeated at about every two degrees of in¬ 
crease of temperature until the flash of the ignited 
vapour he observed, and the temperature at which the 
first flash takes place is the temperature at which that 
sample of petroleum gives off an inflammable vapour. 
In every case a second experiment shall be made to 
check the results obtained in the first. 
A model of the apparatus described above is deposited 
with the Warden of the Standards, and reference shall 
he made to it in case of any difficulty or dispute as to 
the meaning of the terms employed in this description. 
HOUSE OF COMMONS. 
Thursday , May 30 th. 
The Public Health Bill. 
Sir C. Adderley asked the First Lord of the Treasury 
whether the Public Health Bill, relating to a subject 
which the Gorernment pressed on the diligent attention 
of a Commission three years ago, and had twice advised 
Her Majesty to recommend to Parliament for immediate 
legislation, and which was now being postponed to other 
Goverment measures, might not have a morning devoted 
to its consideration in Committee. 
Mr. Gladstone : I can so far comfort the mind of my 
sight hon. friend, with whom we are quite agreed as to 
the importance of this measure, as to assure him that it 
would be a mistake to suppose that the Public Health 
Bill is postponed to the other principal measures of the 
Government. That is by no means the case, and we 
are very anxious to arrive at the time when we may 
•deal with the Public Health Bill in the same way as 
with other principal measures of the Ministry—by de¬ 
voting to it the whole available time of the House, 
so far as that time is under our direction and control. 
We hope to-night to dispose finally of one of the chief 
Government measures. We shall then proceed with 
the Scotch Education Bill in the same manner as with 
the Ballot Bill—that is, by inviting the House to give 
to it the whole of its available time. In our opinion 
that is the best way of disposing of all these measures, 
and we should not confer any real advantage on the 
Public Health Bill by devoting to it a mere fragment of 
time. It is for the sake of getting forward with that 
Bill that we wish to get rid of the measures which at 
present obstruct its progress. 
Monday , June 3rd. 
Use of Ether in Ireland. 
Colonel Knox asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland 
whether his attention had been called to the great in¬ 
crease of intoxication in the north-west of Ireland, 
caused by the use of ether and a mixture of naphtha and 
ether, sold by chemists and grocers, and whether he was 
prepared to take steps to put a stop to the abuse, and 
deter parties who turn their establishments into dram¬ 
shops. 
The Marquis of Hartington said the attention of the 
Irish Government had not been called to that matter 
lately, but as long ago as 1868 its attention was directed 
to it by a presentment of the Grand Jury of the county 
Tyrone, forwarded by Mr. Justice George. The Govern¬ 
ment then made a full inquiry into the subject, and 
ascertained that the practice of using ether as a stimu¬ 
lant instead of ordinary spirits was confined to the north 
of Ireland, and principally to the counties of Tyrone 
and Londonderry, where ether was taken not as an 
addition to whiskey, or any other spirit, to strengthen 
it, but merely diluted with water as a stimulant instead 
of ordinary spirits. Thereupon the Irish Government 
communicated with the Board of Inland Revenue as to 
whether any measures should be taken for checking that 
practice. The Board of Inland Revenue reported that 
in the existing state of law they could not interfere. 
The subject 'appeared to have been further considered 
by the Government; but, looking] to the fact that that 
practice was almost confined to the two counties he had 
named, and that ether was very largely used for medi¬ 
cinal and many other purposes, it was not then thought 
necessary to take any further step in the matter. At 
present an inquiry was, however, being conducted under 
the direction of the Irish Government into the alleged 
adulteration of whiskey in many parts of Ireland. As 
soon as the reports on that subject were received, they 
would be considered by the Government, who would 
also take the opportunity of considering the question to 
which the hon. and gallant member had referred. 
Tuesday, June ith. 
The Juries Bill. 
On the motion of the Attorney-General it was agreed 
that the Select Committee on the Juries Bill do consist 
of 17 members :—The Attorney-General, Mr. Lopes, 
the Attorney-General for Ireland, Mr. Raikes, Mr. 
James, Mr. Kennaway, Mr. Watkin Williams, Mr. W. 
H. Smith, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Amphlett, Mr. Pease, Mr. 
Floyer, Mr. Denman, Sir M. H. Beach, Lord G. Caven¬ 
dish, Mr. Straight and Sir Wilfred Lawson. 
Suicide by Prussic Acid. 
On Wednesday, June 5th, Mr. Langham held an in¬ 
quiry respecting the death of George Mellow, aged 
about 38, for 20 years in the employment of the Apothe¬ 
caries’ Company, at their Hall, in Water Lane, Black- 
friars. The mother of the deceased said that for some 
time he had been in a bad state of health, and com¬ 
plained of pains in his head, but she never heard him 
threaten to destroy himself. On Monday morning he 
left his home to go to his work, when he said he was 
very sick and ill. She did not see him alive after¬ 
wards. George Brown said that during the last fort¬ 
night he had been employed in repainting Apothe¬ 
caries’ Hall. On Monday, about ten o’clock, witness 
went to the jacket-room, and found deceased lying on 
his back. He called for assistance; and, thinking he 
was in a fit, they pulled him out into the fresh air. 
Finding he did not recover, he was removed to the retail 
department and a surgeon was sent for, but deceased 
expired a minute or so before his arrival. Witness 
found on the floor a blue glass bottle, containing prussic 
acid, from which deceased must have taken about two 
teaspoonfuls. Mr. Robert Halley said that he considered 
deceased had not been in his right mind for several 
months past. Dr. Halse, of New Bridge Street, Black- 
friars, said that upon his arrival he found him dead. 
The body smelt strongly of prussic acid. The jury re¬ 
turned a verdict of temporary insanity. 
Poisoning By Oxalic Acid Contained in 
Black Draughts. 
On Thursday, May 30th, Mr. Humphreys held an inquest 
at the Lord Hood Tavern, Rich Street, Limehouse, into 
the circumstances attending the death of James Simmons, 
