434 
MINUTES  OF  THE 
on  the  hill  side,  above  the  works.  It  was  not  found  to  answer  well,  and 
they  have  since  substituted  the  air-pump. — Editor.] 
Dr.  Squibb  thought  there  was  some  fallacy  in  this  apparatus — some 
want  of  practicability  in  application — could  not  say  exactly  where  it  is 
"but  was  under  the  impression  that  the  difficulties  of  condensing  in  a 
vacuum  will  be  the  main  obstacle  to  its  meeting  the  expectation  of  the 
inventor.  Water  boils  in  a  vacuum  at  about  67°  F.,  and  alcohol  at  27° 
F. ;  and  at  the  best  working  vacuum  obtained  in  practice,  the  temperature 
at  which  water  can  be  rapidly  driven  off  is  140°  F.  Even  at  this  latter 
temperature,  it  has  not  been  found  practicable  to  condense  the  vapor  by 
means  of  a  worm,  or  in  any  other  way  than  by  injecting  water,  finely 
divided,  into  the  vapor.  This  plan  of  condensation  by  injection  is 
entirely  inapplicable  to  alcoholic  vapor,  for  obvious  reasons.  He  further 
believed  that  the  idea  of  the  apparatus  was  not  new,  though  creditable  to 
the  inventor,  and  regretted  his  not  being  present  to  give  his  own  reasons. 
Mr.  Maisch  expressed  his  views  as  corroborating  those  of  Dr.  Squibb. 
The  Executive  Committee  brought  forward  the  following 
names  of  candidates  for  membership  in  the  Association,  they 
being  endorsed  as  required  by  the  Constitution. 
Alonzo  Bobbins,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
G.  A.  Newman,  of  Brooklyn,  N.'Y. 
Messrs.  Asahel  Boyden,  of  Boston,  and  E.  L.  Massot,  of  St. 
Louis,  being  appointed  as  tellers,  reported  their  unanimous 
election. 
On  motion,  Mr.  H.  W.  Lincoln  was  requested  to  furnish  to 
the  Executive  Committee,  for  publication,  a  cut  and  description 
of  the  herb  cutter  which  has  been  on  exhibition  in  the  rooms 
during  the  meeting. 
Dr.  Wilson  H.  Pile  stated  that  his  paper*  and  apparatus  had  not  yet 
arrived,  and  proceeded  to  give  some  figures  contained  in  one  of  his  absent 
essays,  regarding  the  meaning,  by  the  Pharmacopoeia,  of  the  term  "  per 
cent."  in  the  case  of  whisky  and  brandy. 
Dr.  Pile  said  the  term  Cl  per  cent."  invariably  means  by  weight ;  and  if 
volumetric  per  centage  is  intended  in  any  case,  the  term  must  not  be 
omitted.  A  confusion  arises  from  the  fact  that  manufacturers  give  the 
per  centage  by  volume,  because  this  figure  is  higher  than  the  figure  for 
the  per  centage  of  the  same  liquor  by  weight,  and  it  makes  the  liquor 
appear  stronger  than  it  is.  But  the  Pharmacopoeia  understands  per 
centage  to  mean  by  weight  only.  Where  it  is  admissible,  it  would  be 
well  to  indicate  both  per  centage  by  weight  and  by  measure. 
Prof.  Procter. — This  has  been  desired  by  many. 
Dr.  Squibb. — The  difficulty  arises  from  an  oversight  by  Dr.  Wood,  in 
not  discriminating  in  his  commentary. 
♦This  paper  was  read  at  the  Sixth  Session.   See  page  438, 
