^eptJembefhi897m'}    British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.  461 
he  believed,  were  due  to  poisonous,  properties  developed  on  exposure  to  air.  He 
strongly  condemned  this  mode  of  administration,  and  suggested  a  preparation 
made  by  dialysis  of  a  glycerin  (sterilized)  extract  of  the  fresh  glands  as  probably 
being  the  best. 
FURTHER  OBSERVATIONS  ON  COMMERCIAL  OIL  OF  CITRONELLA. 
By  John  C.  Umney  and  R.  S.  Swinton. 
The  object  had  in  view  by  the  authors  in  this  investigation  was  to  determine 
whether  the  differences  observed  to  exist  between  native-distilled  citronella  oil 
and  that  distilled  by  English  firms  were  due  to  adulteration  or  to  the  mode  of 
distillation.  Their  work  showed  that  the  letter  was  the  cause  of  these  differ- 
ences, and,  in  conclusion,  they  stated  that  the  native-disiilled  commercial  oils 
differ  from  those  distilled  by  English  firms  in  containing  a  highly  optically  active 
terpeue,  which  raises  the  optical  rotation,  and  a  large  percentage  of  sesquiter- 
pene, which  raises  the  specific  gravity,  the  presence  of  which  constituents 
reduces  the  odor  value  and  impairs  the  solubility  in  alcohol  ;  and  that  the 
products  of  the  English  firms  possess  much  greater  odor  value  than  most 
native-distilled  commercial  oils. 
THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  VALUE  OF  SUMATRA  BENZOIN. 
By  Thomas  Dunlop. 
The  author  examined  a  number  of  samples  of  commercial  Sumatra  benzoin 
and  drew  the  following  conclusions  from  his  results  :  (1)  Sumatra  benzoin 
contained  from  8  to  30  per  cent,  of  barky  and  woody  matter  ;  (2)  the  price 
paid  for  the  drug  was  no  criterion  of  the  quality  ;  (3)  if  this  variety  were  to  be 
nsed  pharmaceutically,  it  should  be  previously  estimated,  so  that  proper  allow- 
ance could  be  made  for  impurities  ;  (4)  in  the  forthcoming  British  Pharmaco- 
poeia more  accurate  statements  should  be  made  regarding  the  actual  "char- 
acters" and  solubility  of  this  drug. 
NOTE  ON  SOLUBLE  COMPOUNDS  OF  ARSENIC. 
By  G.  G.  Henderson. 
The  writer  prepared  several  compounds  similar  in  type  to  tartar  emetic,  but 
containing  arsenic  instead  of  antimony.  The  sodium  arsenio-tartrate  was  re- 
commended as  best  adapted  for  medicinal  purposes  on  account  of  its  stability 
and  ready  solubility.  It  can  be  made  by  boiling  100  parts  of  arsenious  acid 
with  190  parts  of  acid  sodium  tartrate. 
PHARMACEUTICAL  ETHICS-A  RETROSPECT. 
By  Leo  Atkinson. 
This  paper  embodied  a  consideration  of  the  evils  and  annoyances  which  have 
hampered  the  advancement  of  pharmaceutical  practice  ;  but,  in  closing  his  re- 
marks, the  author  took  an  optimistic  view  of  the  situation,  and  indicated  meas- 
ures whereby  a  healthier  state  of  affairs  might  be  hoped  to  be  attained. 
NOTE  ON  SYRUPUS  FERRI  QUININES  ET  STRYCHNINE  PHOS- 
PHATIS  (EASTON'S  SYRUP). 
By  R.  Brodie. 
In  this  paper  the  writer  proposed  to  modify  the  B.P.C.  formula  for  this  prep- 
aration by  substituting  hydrochloride  of  quinine  for  the  phosphate  at  present 
