TWf:NTY-SIXTII ANNIVEESARY OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 689 
Upon one of the tables were placed specimens of the new preparations in¬ 
cluded in the British Pharmacopoeia just published. These were contributed 
by several members of the Society. Messrs. Johnson and Matthey exhibited 
some very fine specimens of chemically pure hydrate of soda and of metallic 
sodium. These products are now manufactured on the large scale at a com¬ 
paratively low price by the Magnesium Company. They also showed some 
large ingots of fused platinum, some new pigments, and specimens of sodium 
amalgam, etc., illustrating Mr. Crooke’s process for extracting gold. Mr. 
Bobbins contributed some very rich pieces of gold and silver quartz from 
the Ovens gold-mines in Nova Scotia; and also specimens of Dr. Bichardson’s 
new styptic colloid and anaesthetic ether. From the AVoolwich Arsenal labora¬ 
tory Mr. Spiller sent a series of interesting photographs of the new ordnance 
and of some of the results of recent gunnery experiments. Professor Abel, 
F.B.S., contributed a portable easily extemporized battery for military and 
submarine purposes, some specimens of gun-cotton, and also an iron shell 
made to represent a piece of coal, and used in the American war for mixing 
with the fuel on board blockade runners when about to fall into the enemy’s 
hands. 
Air. Beanes, F.C.S., sent for exhibition a new form of ozone generator. 
By this machine a constant and very powerful current of air, highly charged 
with ozone, is obtained. This ozonized air is.now being practically applied to 
the decolorization of sugar. It is also proposed to be used for the purifica¬ 
tion of the air in sewers, for the ventilation of the wards of hospitals, etc. 
The ozone is produced by a powerful brush discharge of electricity. The 
apparatus was shown in action, and explained by Mr. Ladd. Mr. Pratt ex¬ 
hibited an ingenious little machine for writing in type. This apparatus would 
be especially useful to, and is, we believe, partly intended for the blind. Air. 
H. Deane contributed a gas stove suitable for pharmaceutical purposes. 
Messrs. Brohne and Seseman showed some improved atomizers, for producing 
medicating sprays ; and Messrs. AVeiss and Son, a syringe invented by Mr. 
Ashton. Messrs. Knowles, Smith, and Harburton sent a new pill-machine. 
Alessrs. Johnson and Co. sent a number of platinized dishes, scale pans, etc. 
Professor Tennant, F.G.S., contributed some fossils and minerals; and Mr. 
AYright also sent a good collection of minerals. 
THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNIVEBSABY OF THE 
PHABMACEUTTCAL SOCIETY. 
The Annual General Aleeting was held at the House of the Society on AYed- 
nesday, the 15th of May, 1867. 
ME. GEORGE W. SANDFORD, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. 
The President, in opening the meeting, said :— 
Gentlemen,—We meet once more, according to the provisions of our Charter, 
to discuss the general condition of the Pharmaceutical Society; its past, its 
present, and its future. I believe there has never been a more important period 
in its existence. We, at least many of us here present, can recall the circum¬ 
stances of its rise, the little threat of interference in the business of Chemists 
and Druggists which stirred among them one of the most easily assailable feel¬ 
ings, I might more properly say instincts^ of human nature, that of self-defence. 
Prior to 1841 the members of our trade had no doubt possessed this instinct in¬ 
dividually —so individually perhaps that each acted on the belief “ that a man’s 
enemies are they of his own household,” and a chemist sought only to protect 
