PHAHMACEUTICAL MEETING, EDINBURGH. 
329 
compound fluid extract countenanced, and a form given for it in the Pharma¬ 
copoeia, whether the ingredients constituting the compound portion are really of 
service, or whether, as some assert, with the exception of the mezereon, that 
they are useless, I am not in a position to say, but guaiacum is considered use¬ 
ful, and the liquorice and sassafras improve the flavour of the preparation ; for 
good, well-made liquid extract of sarsaparilla alone has not an agreeable flavour. 
In making the compound liquid extract, I make, as stated in the Pharmaceutical 
Journal, vol. ii. p. 20, a soft extract of the compound ingredients, and having 
made the calculation, add the proper quantity to each pint of the simple liquid 
extract. This p)lan was adopted by my predecessors forty years ago, so that 
compound liquid extract of sarsaparilla would, in reality, be no novelty. In 
the directions given in the Pharmacopoeia for preparing the liquid extract, there 
seems to be a fear of raising the temperature too high. I see no disadvantage, 
but rather an advantage, in raising it to the boiling-point; by this the albumen, 
if there is any, becomes coagulated, and if a little starch is taken up—and there 
is very little in the so-called Jamaica variety—it does not prevent a good and 
elegant preparation being made ; and I have not been able by distillation, ope¬ 
rating in a moderate way upon twenty pounds of Jamaica sarsaparilla, to obtain 
the odour or flavour which pervades during the cooking of sarsaparilla, nor have 
I obtained any of the essential oil mentioned by analysts, therefore the volatile 
principle must, I think, be so small that the sarsaparilla cannot suffer by being 
brought to the boiling-point. The extract is richer, and if, after the second 
quantity of water has been strained off, the root is washed with a little more 
water, no pressing is necessary ; all that is useful will drain away, the cortical 
layers being perfectly exhausted of extractive. It is, I am convinced, as I have, 
I think, before stated, an oversight, in a general way, to order the liquors to be 
mixed, and then evaporated away; the first rich liquor should be evaporated by 
itself and added to the second, when that has been reduced almost as low as 
required. 
17th October^ 18G6. 
At the conclusion of the meeting, hlr. Botham, of Sheffield, exhibited and 
explained the construction of his “ Improved Peeding-Bottle.” 
PHAEMACEUTICAL MEETING, EDINBUEGH. 
The first meeting of the Session 18G6-67 took place in St. George’s Hall, on Tuesday 
evening, November 20 ; Mr. Kemp, President, in the chair. 
On taking the chair, the Presidei^t delivered the following address:— 
Gentlemen,—Before entering on the business which is more immediately to engage 
our attention, it is my duty to acknowledge your kindness in placing me, for the third 
time, in the honourable position of President of this branch of the Pharmaceutical 
Society. 
I therefore thank you very cordially for this additional proof of your confidence, 
which I fear has not been deserved on my part, but which, I assure you, it will be my 
endeavour to justify, so far as that can be done by strict attention to my duties and 
unabated zeal for the interests of the Society. 
My next duty is to remind you that, in the relation in which we stand to each other, 
we have reciprocal duties to discharge, and that the success of our scientific gatherings 
depends very much on your presence and hearty co-operation. 
I hope, therefore, that we will all feel our responsibility with regard to it, and that 
there will be an earnest and united effort to make the Session which has just opened 
surpass those which have preceded it, at least, in the degree of interest taken in the-pro¬ 
ceedings, and the number attending the meetings. 
With the exception of the late highly successful meeting of the Pharmaceutical Con¬ 
ference, held at Nottingham, the proceedings of which have been extensively published, 
I do not remember any recent events connected with pharmacy which seem to call for 
YOL. YIII. 2 
