MISCELLANEA. 
391 
and second, to render a lengthened period of study in London or elsewhere im¬ 
perative, under the pretence of keeping up Schools of Pharmacy. 
Now, unless the first is guarded against, the Legislature will hardly pass the 
Bill. I should like to see some specification as to what really will be required 
of future druggists, and that nothing be included therein which will not tend 
immediately to ensure proficiency in pharmacy. All we want is to have those 
as druggists who can read prescriptions, dispense, make, and identify the Phar¬ 
maceutical preparations, detect adulterations, and have a knowledge of the doses 
and effects of the articles they deal in. These things can be stated, and they 
are such as the Legislature will be likely to grant. 
Then, as to the second. Centralization would tend to the injury of country 
druggists: those, be it observed, from whom the principal support of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society is obtained. Now, many a druggist looks forward anxiously 
to the time when he will have a vacancy for another apprentice, so as to receive 
the premium, and the training he can give him has been hitherto sufficient to 
enable the youth to start in business. But should it be found by-and-by that 
further study and attendance at lectures is required, those who are in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of such schools will have a mighty advantage with parents and 
guardians over others less favourably situated. It would be suicidal for country 
druggists to advocate such a scheme. But make the examination such that an 
ordinary druggist can, if he takes the trouble, prepare his apprentice to pass it, 
and I think the Bill will deserve and secure the support of all. 
I am, Sir, yours obediently, 
Weymouth , December 8, 1831. Thomas Barling. 
[Our correspondent in the above letter seems to have overlooked the second 
clause of the proposed Bill, wherein it is provided that those who pass the exa¬ 
mination (the “ Minor”), which entitles them to be registered as “ Assistants ” 
under the Pharmacy Act, shall be also entitled to be registered as Chemists and 
Druggists under this Act. The subjects of that examination are stated in the 
Pharmacy Act, and the regulations of the Board of Examiners are in the hands 
of every member of the Society ; they so completely coincide with—neither 
falling short of nor exceeding—Mr. Barling’s requirements, that we think they 
must have his entire approval.— Ed. Piiarm. Journ.] 
Alleged Poisoning by Strychnia.—The case of alleged poisoning by strychnia, 
at York, mentioned in our last number, turns out to be no mistake at all on the part of 
Mr. Hardman’s porter, but merely the result of an excessive dose of morphia. Dr. 
Porter made a post-mortem examination and an anatysis of the contents of the stomach, 
and the result was that no poison was found, excepting morphia, which, as was well 
known, the deceased had been in the habit of taking in large doses. The verdict was, 
that death was caused by fatty degeneration of the heart, accelerated by an overdose of 
morphia, taken voluntarily. 
Fatal Explosion of Oxygen Gas.—On Saturday night, December 17th, in Man¬ 
chester, the bursting of a retort in which oxygen gas was beiug generated killed the 
operator and his son, aged two years, severely injured his wife, and destroyed the room 
and its contents in which the explosion occurred. Mr. Samuel Crowther, formerly and 
for some years property-master at the Theatre Royal, Peter Street, carried on business 
as a photographic artist, and dealt largely in gases used for the production of the oxy- 
hydrogen light. On this occasion the gas was being made from chlorate of potash and 
binoxide of manganese; and these materials, it appears, were obtained from Mr. Hughes, 
chemist, Cateaton Street. An inquest on Mr. Crowther and his son was held on Tues¬ 
day, December 20th. Professor Roscoe examined the manganese, which contained 
twenty-five per cent, of pulverized coal or soot, which, he said, would render it, when 
mixed with chlorate of potash, as dangerous as gunpowder. The jury returned a verdict 
of “Manslaughter” against Mr. Hughes, who was committed for trial, but afterwards 
admitted to bail. 
