156 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
If so, a similar destruction of the active principle must be feared when it attacked 
podophyllin. 
Mr. T. B. Groves thought that instead of a process like that of the British Phar¬ 
macopoeia, which gave a mixture of a salt of beberia and resin, it would have been 
preferable to have separated these principles. 
“A CHEMIST’S HOLIDAY—JOTTINGS IN FRANCE. BY D. HANBURY, F-L.S. 
[Abstract .] 
“ This was a short paper, written in a familiar style, entitled 1 A Chemist’s Holiday,’ 
which consisted of memoranda on pharmaceutical subjects made during a visit to the 
Alp3 of Dauphiny. The author having visited the monastery of the Grande Char¬ 
treuse, took occasion to call attention to the important service which pharmaceutic 
art had rendered to the institution, the large revenues which, amounting to nearly 
£20,000 per annum, are at present chiefly derived from the sale of the elixir and cor¬ 
dials prepared by the monks. This was followed by some remarks upon the firs and 
pines of Dauphiny, and the various species of turpentine derivable from them ; an 
observation on the frequency of mistletoe on the Scotch fir; and an enumeration of 
the more interesting medicinal plants noticed in this part of France. The author then 
reminded his hearers of a curious kind of sugar, called Manna of Brianqon, which old 
authors have asserted is found upon the larches growing near that town, but which, 
from its rarity, lias long fallen into oblivion. He remarked that the substance was 
nevertheless interesting, from the recent discovery of Berthelot that it contains a 
peculiar kind of sugar. The author stated that he had examined the larches about 
Briangon in the year 1857, but without finding a trace of saccharine exudation. On 
the present occasion, however, he was more fortunate, for he succeeded, by the help of 
some peasants, in obtaining a good specimen of the larch manna. The specimen which 
was exhibited consisted of a dry white substance, in small grains and tears, the largest 
of which scarcely exceeded in length one-third of an inch. The paper concluded 
with a few notes on the mineral productions of the country, and especially on the 
medicinal springs of Uriage.” 
The President remarked upon the paper as showing how much a knowledge of 
botany would adcl to the interest and pleasure of a journey. 
“ ON THE RANCIDITY OF FATS. BY T. B. GROYES, F.R.C.S. 
[Abstract.*] 
Cl The author states the occasion of his paper to have been the observation of the 
preservative effect of aromatic oils on oxide of mercury ointment, which induced him 
to compare the relative efficacy of the various essential oils of commerce, both as re¬ 
gards mixed ointments and the pure fats. 
“ After general remarks on the process of rancidification, and the theories that have 
been imagined to account for it, he proceeded to consider the possibility of applying 
remedial measures of a radical character, which he decided in the negative. The ex¬ 
periments on variously-prepared specimens of lard, aromatized and non-aromatized, 
were then detailed, and the conclusion arrived at that creasote, oil of pimento, oil of cloves, 
and balsam of Peru, were capable of greatly retarding, if not of altogether preventing 
oxidation. A comparison of the effect of these aromata in preserving these aqueous 
solutions of albumen, gave countenance to the theory of the cause of rancidity of fats be¬ 
ing the disturbance effected by a ferment of the albuminous order. He concluded, by 
strongly urging the necessity of using for the preparation of ointments, especially those 
containing metallic oxides, materials retaining unaltered the odorous principles with 
which nature has endowed them, and suggested the advisability of adding to lard, and 
other inodorous fats, small proportions of oil of pimento, to render them more perma¬ 
nent ; to effect which, two drops to the ounce had been found sufficient.” 
The President expressed the opinion that in order to make lard keep well, the 
leaf or flare, from which it was rendered, should previously be thoroughly washed. It 
should be cut up and placed upon a sieve, which could be freely agitated in a vessel of 
water. The food of the animal would affect the quality of the fat, and good lard could 
not be expected from animals that were ill-fed. 
Dr. Parkinson was reminded by the author’s statement of the preservative power 
