Am'junuer'i8?7arm'}    Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  313 
seed  oil  that  when  it  is  subjected  to  heat  gives  rise  to  acrolein  products 
which  render  all  substances  cooked  with  it  disagreeable  to  the  taste  and  in- 
jurious to  the  stomach ;  whether  this  is  connected  with  the  coloring  mat- 
ter or  not  is  as  yet  an  unascertained  fact.  But  the  coloring  matter  of  cot- 
ton-seed oil  which  may  probably  be  of  a  resinous  nature,  is  a  source  of 
great  trouble  in  a  commercial  way  and  prevents  its  use  in  making  white 
soaps.  The  soap  may  be  white  for  a  time,  but  in  a  few  months  brown  spots 
•develope,  and  finally  the  whole  material  looks  so  badly  that  it  can  only  be 
sold  by  working  it  over  into  a  colored  soap.  There  is  a  very  handsome 
fortune  for  the  discoverer  of  some  efficient  and  practical  method  of  accom- 
plishing the  removal  of  this  matter. 
Mr.  Frank  X.  Moerk  read  a  paper  upon  subiodide  of  bismuth,  and  showed  a 
number  of  samples  made  by  different  processes.  Mr.  England  stated  that 
the  use  of  this  substance  was  increasing ;  it  is  used  as  an  antiseptic  like 
iodoform,  and  is  also  given  internally  in  the  form  of  emulsions  in  doses  of 
five  to  thirty  grains. 
Mr.  Steinmann  read  a  paper  upon  colorless  solution  of  Hydrastis,  and  Mr. 
€larkson,  one  upon  cacao  shells,  of  which  no  analysis  appears  to  have  been 
published.  The  use  they  are  put  to,  that  of  adulterating  spices,  led  to  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  subject,  one  of  the  members  stating  that  "ground  black 
pepper"  had  been  offered  at  two  cents  per  pound,  and  inquiry  elicited  the 
formula  by  which  it  was  manufactured ;  90  pounds  dried  bread,  and  5  pounds 
each  of  charcoal  and  black  pepper  were  ground  together.  Another  mem- 
ber stated  the  mouldy  ship  bread  which  came  back  from  sea  voyages  was 
bought  up  for  this  purpose. 
Professor  Trimble  read  a  paper  entitled  Laboratory  Notes,  giving  the  results 
of  various  analyses  made  by  different  students  in  the  laboratory  during  the 
last  winter.  Prof.  Maisch  inquired  whether  the  amount  of  ash  was  calcu- 
lated on  the  air  dry  or  exsiccated  drugs,  and  it  was  stated  that  the  air  dry 
articles  were  used.  Professor  Maisch  exhibited  a  specimen  of  expressed  oil 
of  mustard  seed  made  by  him  23  years  ago,  which  had  remained  sweet  till 
a  short  time  since. 
Prof.  Trimble  read  a  paper  upon  acetate  of  amyl,  or  pear  oil,  as  it  is  termed. 
It  is  now  largely  used  as  a  menstruum  for  dissolving  gun  cotton,  for  which 
purpose  it  does  not  need  to  be  purified  with  the  care  that  the  pear  oil  used 
as  a  flavoring  essence  is;  the  latter  is  worth  $2.50  per  pound,  while  the 
cruder  article  can  be  had  for  that  much  per  gallon. 
Mr.  Eugland  stated  that  in  one  of  the  Italian  journals  a  very  inexpensive 
process  was  reported. 
Professor  Eemington  said  that  a  California  doctor  called  on  him  lately, 
and  showed  him  a  root  which  he  was  sure  could  be  made  to  yield  a  fortune 
if  made  into  a  patent  medicine;  the  root  was  quite  aromatic,  and  reminded 
him  of  lovage  or  angelica.  Professor  Maisch  said  that  the  small  sample 
shown  had  the  characters  of  oska  root,  which,  twenty  years  ago,  attracted 
some  attention,  and  which  was  derived  from  an  undetermined  umbelliferous 
plant. 
Prof.  Remington  read  three  prescriptions  sent  to  him  from  Canada  by 
