574 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
this exclusion to the dried fruit, and would do so without hesitation, since, as I 
now proceed to show, we have in the Succus conii a most worthy representative 
of hemlock, and therefore a most valuable m dicine. 
I have now made numerous experiments with this dru^, supplied to me by 
INIessrs. J. ]3ell and Co., Mr. Buckle, Mr. Hanbury, and Mr. Hemingway, but 
I need not do more than quote a passage from a communication which will, I hope, 
be published in the next number of the Journal. The siiccns is in every respect 
so unobjectionable a preparation, and so long as it is carefully prepared, I venture 
to say we shall want no other, not even an extract. 
In conclusion, I would say a few words by way of introducing to the notice 
of the Society a succus and an extract prepared by Mr. Hemingway from the 
fresh root. I am extremely sorry that severe indisposition prevents Mr. 
Hemingway from fulfilling his desire of being here to-night. He should pro¬ 
perly have introduced these preparations to the Society, for their existence is 
entirely due to his interest in the question. Finding the spirituous prepara¬ 
tions of the dried plant useless, we naturally directed our attention to the recent 
herb, and as the roots at this season of the year were alone to be obtained, 
Mr. Hemingway procured ten pounds, and Mr. Buckle most kindly gave us 
his valuable time and the use of his powerful hydraulic press, whereby the 
juice upon the table was obtained. The extract was prepared from a portion 
of the expressed juice the same day. 
I find that these preparations contain a considerable amount of conia, but as 
I have not yet had time to complete my examination of them, nor opportunity 
of ascertaining their physiological effects, I must leave this matter also for 
subsequent consideration. 
Dr. Harley, in reply to a question of a member as to the dose of Succus 
Conii given by him, said.that he found fluid drachms to be not too large a 
dose ; in fact, he had administered as much as 2 drachms. He stated that dif¬ 
ferent individuals were very differently affected by the preparations of conium. 
He had especially noticed that great smokers would bear large doses of conium. 
Dr. Harley added, that he had tried the effects of a specimen of Succus Conii 
made as far back as 1863, and found it equally efficacious as that recently pre¬ 
pared. 
The President remarked, that the experiments of Dr. Harley were most 
important, especially as the new British Pharmacopoeia was about to appear. 
He believed that conium fruit w'ould be retained in that volume, as in the pre¬ 
sent Pharmacopoeia. 
Professor Redwood said that he had lately received a letter from Dr. Chris- 
tison, in which he had referred to the length of time during which extract of 
conium would retain its activity. Dr. Christison stated that twenty years ago 
he had received from the late Jacob Bell a specimen of the extract, which, upon 
being lately administered by him, was found to have maintained its original 
strength. 
Dr. Attfield remarked that the thanks of the meeting were especially due 
to Dr. Harley for his present communication, as papers which combined phy¬ 
siological with chemical research were particularly interesting at their meetings, 
as the members themselves had no opportunities of testing the value of reme¬ 
dies. 
