BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
153 
traces of carbonate present in iodide of potassium, Mr. II. said that the influence of 
the sugar would prevent such a reaction ; in fact, Liquor Potass® would not decompose 
the diluted syrup. 
Medical authority had stated iodate to be a serious contamination, very small doses 
of it producing inconvenient symptoms. The author of the paper had sought for the 
presence of bromide ; it was quite as desirable to look for iodide in commercial bro¬ 
mide of potassium, and this was easily done by the starch and chlorine test. 
“ ON A TEST FOE METHYLIC ALCOHOL IN PRESENCE OF ETHYLIC ALCOHOL, 
WITH REMARKS ON METHYLATED SPIRIT. BY MR. JOHN TUCK. 
[Abstract.] 
“ After referring to the value of methylated spirit and the composition of wood 
naphtha, the author stated it to be his opinion, that wood naphtha, once mixed with 
spirit of wine, could not again be separated; and that, though the characteristic odour 
of methylated spirit could be removed, yet the process required such cumbersome 
apparatus, that its use would certainly be followed by official detection. Seeing, how¬ 
ever that the illegal process might possibly be employed, and the revenue be thus de¬ 
frauded, and the inodorous methylated spirit be used in pharmacy and in concocting 
liqueurs, he had searched for a test, whereby even the deodorized naphtha could be 
detected, when mixed with spirit of wine. Such a test he had found in an alkaline 
solution of the double iodide of potassium and mercury. On boiling a few drops of 
this with pure spirit of wine, a yellowish-white precipitate was formed; but when 
methylic alcohol was present no such precipitate occurred. Details of the application 
of the test were then given. In testing flavoured spirits, tinctures, etc., it would pro¬ 
bably be desirable to distil the suspected liquid, and apply the test to the distillate. 
The author added that, since completing the paper, he had found that acetone was 
the principle which prevented the formation of a precipitate by methylated spirit.” 
Mr. T. B. Groves wished to inquire if volatile oils would produce the same effect 
as acetone. 
Mr. Tuck had not tried the experiment, but would do so in the meeting. It 
was found that oil of cloves had the same influence. 
Mr. Reynolds thought that the mercurial test now suggested gave the same reac¬ 
tion as that which Mr. Emerson Reynolds proposed last year, but which it had been 
shown was entirely unreliable in the presence of such derivatives of alcohol as are 
found in sweet spirit of nitre, or equally of volatile oils. Looking at the practical re¬ 
lations of methylated spirit to pharmacy, he maintained that it led to gross abuses, 
and no greater service could be rendered to our body than by supplying a good test 
for detecting it. He regretted that this practical end could not yet be considered as 
accomplished. 
Dr. Parkinson said there was no doubt of the annoyance caused by the introduc¬ 
tion of this spirit, but he thought that the public were not now so easily misled by it 
as was the case at first. 
Dr. Attfield, Mr. Pooley, and Mr. Brady expressed their sense of obligation for 
the author’s labours in so important a field, and hoped he would continue his experi¬ 
ments. 
“ REPORT ON THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES USED IN PHARMACY. 
BY MR. BARNARD S. PROCTOR. 
[Abstract.^ 
“ The author first made a comparison of the apothecaries’ weights of our own coun¬ 
try with those of other civilized nations. Though there are forty different European 
pounds and as many ounces in general use, there were only two or three systems of 
pharmaceutical weights, and these not widely differing from each other. The English 
system, though good in the abstract, had no simple relation to the systems of other 
countries, nor to the other weights and measures of this country. Some of its own 
members were in an anomalous position. What was a fluid pound of apothecaries’ 
weight ? Was it 12 avoirdupois ounces, 12 troy ounces, or 16 avoirdupois ounces.? 
A critical examination was then made of several suggested alterations in the weights 
and measures of pharmacy, those of Mr. Jacob Bell, Mr. Griffin, Dr. C. Wilson, and 
