374 
Pharmaceutical  Colleges  and  Associations. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharru. 
July,  1887. 
suggesting  some  definite  course,  urged  the  adoption  of  measures  for  pre- 
venting the  adulteration  of  drugs  and  of  food.  In  connection  with  this  sub- 
ject Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  a  specimen  of  false  serpentaria,  samples  of  which 
he  had  repeatedly  received  from  different  parts  of  the  country  during  the 
past  ten  years,  without  being  able  to  trace  it  to  its  source,  until  about  a  year 
ago  Prof.  Coblentz,  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  succeeded  in  procuring  the  plant 
which  proved  to  be  Polemonium  reptans ;  in  size  and  shape  it  resembles  ser- 
pentaria, but  is  easily  distinguished  from  this  by  the  white  color. 
Acting  upon  a  suggestion  in  the  President's'  address,  the  Association  di- 
rected the  appointment  of  a  committee  of  five  to  visit  the  Pennsylvania 
Medical  Society  at  its  meeting  in  Bedford  Springs,  June  29,  and  present 
resolutions,  soliciting  the  aid  and  co-operation  of  that  association  in  pro- 
moting the  prescribing  by  physicians  of  officinal  medicines  only,  or  of 
preparations  the  working  formula  of  which  is  known;  also  inviting  the 
Medical  Society  to  send  delegates  to  the  meetings  of  the  Pharmeceutical  As- 
sociation. 
The  officers  elected  for  the  ensuing  year  are:  President,  William  L. 
Turner,  of  Philadelphia;  Vice-presidents,  William  Harris,  of  Hamburg,  John 
W.  Miller,  of  Allegheny  ;  Treasurer,  J.  L.  Lemberger,  of  Lebanon ;  Secretary, 
Jacob  A.  Miller,  of  Harrisburg.  Charles  D.  Lippincott  was  elected  assistant 
secretary,  and  the  Association  finally  adjourned  to  meet  next  year  in  Titus- 
ville,  Crawford  Co.,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  May. 
Three  of  the  papers  read  during  the  sessions  we  are  enabled,  through  the 
courtesy  of  the  authors,  to  publish  in  the  present  number.  Several  papers 
were  of  a  statistical  nature,  or  treated  of  general  subjects  not  capable  of  be- 
ing presented  in  a  condensed  form ;  but  of  the  following  we  give  brief  ab- 
stracts : 
Hydrometer  scales,  by  Gust.  Pile. — While  the  principles  are  well  known 
upon  which  hydrometers  are  constructed,  the  manner,  in  which  the  scales 
attached  thereto  are  ruled,  is  not  generally  known.  In  cases  where  the  di- 
visions are  uniform,  a  determination  of  two  points  and  sub-division  of  the 
space  into  the  requisite  number  of  parts  may  be  made ;  but  those  scales  re- 
quiring marks  which  are  not  equidistant,  must  be  prepared  in  a  different 
manner.  Charts  are  prepared  for  each  kind,  the  sub-divisions  being  care- 
fully determined  by  experiment  and  calculation  for  different  lengths  of  the 
entire  scale,  and  then  united  by  straight  lines  which  obviously  diverge  uni- 
ormly  from  the  shortest  to  the  longest  scale.  Three  or  four  or  a  larger 
number  of  points  are  then  determined  upon  the  new  instrument,  and  by 
sliding  this  trial  scale  along  the  chart  until  the  different  points,  thus  deter- 
mined, coincide  with  the  proper  degrees  on  the  standard  chart,  the  remain- 
ing sub-divisions  are  readily  indicated. 
Water,  its  uses  and  abuses  in  Pharmacy,  by  J.  L.  Lemberger. — For  all  medi- 
cinal preparations  the  use  of  distilled  water  is  urged  in  preference  to  water 
from  other  sources.  The  abuses  of  water  in  pharmacy  are  found  in  its  un- 
warranted use  for  diluting  a  menstruum  or  a  medicinal  liquid. 
Linimentum  ammonite,  by  Prof.  J.  P.  Remington. — The  U.  S.  P.  formula, 
w'lieh  directs  cottonseed  oil,  yields  a  liniment,  which  readily  separates  into 
