584 
Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Ifeeting. 
(Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\      Nov.,  1881. 
A  vial  of  the  Eau  Medicinal  d'Husson,  from  the  store  of  the  late  Elias- 
Duraiid,  and  now  over  thirty  years  old,  was  presented  by  Dr.  B.  H.  Rand» 
It  is  a  wine  of  colchicum. 
Dr.  L.  Wollf  read  a  papier  upon  oleates  and  oleo-palmitates  (see  p.  443) ^ 
which  elicited  considel'able  discussion.  The  author  expressed  great  satis- 
faction with  the  results  of  the  method  described  in  his  paper.  In  this- 
connection  Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  a  sample  of  ointment  of  nitrate  of  mer- 
cury^ prepared  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  become  discolored  by  an  iron  spa- 
tula. The  method,  however,  was  not  communicated,  although  it  has  been 
promised. 
Mr.  Sayre  stated  that  he  had  tried  various  substances,  and  found  stearic 
acid  to  give  a  very  good  ointment,  but  it  was  too  stiff ;  as  yet  a  really  satis- 
factory formula  was  a  desideratum. 
Dr.  Wolft"  stated  that  if  oleic  acid  was  treated  with  nitrous  acid  it  would 
not  congeal  into  elaidin  unless  palmitic  acid  was  present.  Prof.  Maisch 
thought  that,  if  it  could  be  inferred  by  this  observation  that  oleic  acid  was. 
not  altered  by  the  action  of  nitrous  acid,  then  a  purer  oleic  acid  should  be 
obtained  by  exiDressing  the  solidified  mass;  and  a  purer  olein,  by  express- 
ing the  oils  of  almond  or  olive,  solidified  by  the  same  agency.  Gottlieb^ 
who  is  said  by  Gmelin  to  have  been  the  only  chemist  who  experimented 
with  pure  oleic  acid,  states  that  with  hyjionitrous  acid  oleic  acid  is  con- 
verted into  elaidic  acid,  and  that  no  other  product  is  formed. 
The  question  of  a  rehable  method  of  testing  2^epsin  was  mentioned  at  the 
last  meeting  as  being  very  desirable. 
Mr.  Sayre  stated  that  albumen  or  fibrin  from  bullock's  blood,  freshly 
obtained,  when  dissolved  by  solution  of  pepsin,  and  evaporated,  yielded  a 
bitter  product.  A  carefully  j^repared  jmper  uj)on  this  subject  would  be 
valuable. 
Prof.  Maisch  stated  that  all  experiments  for  comparison  should  be  made 
under  circumstances  perfectly  similar;  for  it  was  well  known  that  the 
same  quantity  of  pepsin,  if  dissolved  in  different  quantities  of  liquid, 
would  dissolve  in  a  given  time  more  albumen  or  fibrin  in  the  concentrated 
than  in  the  weaker  solution  ;  the  length  of  time  that  the  solution  was  per 
mitted  to  act  upon  the  albumen  also  must  be  similar. 
It  was  queried  what  the  value  of  pepsin  in  a  physiological  point  of  view 
was.  Some  medical  men  regard  it  as  a  most  valuable  medicine,  and  con- 
sider its  usefuhiess  as  but  j)artially  developed.  The  most  valuable  mate- 
rial to  be  used  as  a  diluent  was  also  discussed  soniewliat,  and  it  was  thought 
by  some  of  the  members  that  sugar  of  milk  was  not  the  best  for  that  pur- 
pose. 
The  method  of  prej^aring  the  aromatic  waters,  by  mixing  the  volatile 
oil  with  hot  water,  and  shaking  at  intervals  till  cold,  was  commented  upon. 
Glass  flasks  are  liable  to  be  broken  during  the  operation,  and  the  vexation 
which  results  from  the  use  of  a  tin  can,  and  from  keeping  the  canister 
tightly  closed,  was  exhibited  by  a  collapsed  can,  the  compression  being 
caused  by  atmospheric  pressure. 
There  being  no  further  business,  the  meeting  adjourned. 
T.  S.  WiEGAND,  Registrar. 
