PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 
371 
Howell’s new capsule for poison bottles was also submitted to the meeting. A long 
discussion took place, and while the ingenuity of the application was admired, the pro¬ 
priety of securing any dispensing bottle, whether containing poisonous substances or not, 
was much doubted, and ultimately the whole subject was remitted to a committee to 
consider and report to a subsequent meeting. 
The Secretary then read over a list of new books just purchased, and named the pre¬ 
sentation by Dr. Borland, of Kilmarnock, of the London Dispensatory of 1751, and the 
Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia of 1752. Thanks were voted to Dr. Borland for his contri¬ 
bution. 
The new arrangements in connection with the library for the present session were then 
announced, and the meeting adjourned. 
The second meeting of session ’G4-5, was held in St. George’s Hall, 119a, George 
Street, on Tuesday evening, 13th December, at 9 o’clock; Mr. Kemp, President, in the 
chair. 
Before the commencement of the business of the evening, Mr. Mackay made the fol¬ 
lowing remarks in presenting a bust of the late Jacob Bell:—• 
I have now much pleasure in presenting to the Society here, a bust of our late lamented 
friend and founder, Jacob Bell. It is the gift of Thomas H. Hills, Esq., of London. 
Some time ago the original bust was executed in marble, at the expense of Mr. Hills, 
who, in that liberal spirit which is so truly one of his leading characteristics, gave it as 
a memorial to the Society in Bloomsbury Square, where it now stands in a very promi¬ 
nent position. All who have seen this original, or the copy now before you, pronounce 
both to be very faithful representations of the expressive and intelligent countenance of 
the late Mr. Bell. Many now present will, I doubt not, be able to add their testimony 
to this statement. I am sure I speak the sentiments of those now hearing me, when I 
say, that while to the present generation of Pharmaceutists no monument is required to 
keep alive in them, either the memory or esteem of Jacob Bell; yet it cannot be doubted 
so faithful a likeness as that now before us, will in no way lessen our appreciation or 
admiration of so much departed worth, while to those who are to follow, its possession 
cannot but prove a source of unmingled satisfaction. 
After a few remarks from the President, as to the unwearied labours of the late Mr. 
Bell, and the bright example he had left behind him, he proposed a cordial vote of thanks 
to Mr. Hills for his kind and appropriate gift, which was seconded by Mr. Blanchard, 
and carried with acclamation. 
Professor Archer, of the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art, then read the fol¬ 
lowing “ Notes on Brazilian Pharmacy,” which he illustrated with specimens of the dif¬ 
ferent articles named:— 
Oil or Butter of Cacao .—Very few solid vegetable oils w r ould have stronger recom¬ 
mendations to use in Pharmacy than this, if it were obtainable in sufficient quantities, 
but the value of the nuts for making the diet drinks, cocoa and chocolate, prevents any 
very considerable quantities being made. The Brazilians, however, make sufficient for 
their own purposes, and small quantities are exported by them to Portugal, France, and 
England, where its sweet and bland qualities have made it much valued for lip salves, 
unguents for chapped hands, and for pomades, for which purposes it is eminently fitted 
by its neutral properties. No vegetable fat is so devoid of odour, or so little liable to 
rancidity. It is obtained by bruising or grinding the kernels of the nuts and boiling 
them ; by this means the oil is easily separated and floats to the surface in a liquid state, 
but solidifies on cooling, when it is taken off, remelted, and clarified. The nuts yield 
nearly fifty per cent, of this fat. In the cocoa plantations the oil is used for burn¬ 
ing. The Brazilians have discovered a peculiar property in this oil, by which it can be 
converted into a permanently fluid state, and its illuminating powers be very greatly in¬ 
creased. They distil from the liquid caoutchouc, or milk of india-rubber tree, a spirit 
which they call caoutchoucine, and a very small quantity of this added to the cacao butter 
renders it very limpid, and increases its light-giving properties. If the demand for the 
oil should ever be much increased in Europe, there is no doubt it might easily be ob¬ 
tained. 
Andiroba , Carapa , Car ah, or Crab Oil .—Another vegetable butter, which is exten- 
