PAPERS  READ  AT  THE  BRITISH  PHARM.  CONFERENCE.  533 
After  general  remarks  on  the  process  of  rancidification,  and 
the  theories  that  have  been  imagined  to  account  for  it,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  consider  the  possibility  of  applying  remedial  measures 
of  a  radical  character,  which  he  decided  in  the  negative.  The 
experiments  on  variously-prepared  specimens  of  lard,  aromatized 
and  non-aromatized,  were  then  detailed,  and  the  conclusion 
arrived  at  that  creasote,  oil  of  pimento,  oil  of  cloves,  and  balsam 
of  Peru,  were  capable  of  greatly  retarding,  if  not  of  altogether 
preventing  oxidation.  A  comparison  of  the  effect  of  these  aro- 
mata  in  preserving  these  aqueous  solutions  of  albumen,  gave 
countenance  to  the  theory  of  the  cause  of  rancidity  of  fats  be- 
ing the  disturbance  effected  by  a  ferment  of  the  albuminous 
order.  He  concluded,  by  strongly  urging  the  necessity  of  using 
for  the  preparation  of  ointments,  especially  those  containing 
metallic  oxides,  materials  retaining  unaltered  the  odorous  prin- 
ciples with  which  nature  has  endowed  them,  and  suggested  the 
advisability  of  adding  to  lard  and  other  inodorous  fats,  small 
proportions  of  oil  of  pimento,  to  render  them  more  permanent ; 
to  effect  which,  two  drops  to  the  ounce  had  been  found  suffi- 
cient. 
SUGGESTIONS  CONCEENING  ACCIDENTAL  POISONING. 
The  Members  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  have 
had  under  deliberation  the  subject  of  the  prevention  of  accidental 
poisoning.  The  result  has  been  to  convince  them  that  most 
qualified  dispensers  of  medicine  already  adopt  precautions  to 
this  end,  and  they  consider  that  the  comparative  rareness  of 
mistakes  shows  that  such  safeguards  are  generally  attended 
with  success.  It  being  desirable,  however,  that  some  approach 
to  uniformity  of  practice  should  exist,  the  following  suggestions 
are  offered : — 
1.  It  is  recommended  that  all  who  are,  or  expect  to  be,  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  Pharmacy,  should  take  advantage  of 
existing  facilities  for  acquiring  a  good  theoretical  as  well  as 
practical  knowledge  of  their  business,  as  being  the  best  founda- 
tion that  can  be  laid  for  future  safety,  as  well  as  usefulness,  in 
their  calling. 
2.  It  is  desirable  that,  where  practicable,  a  separate  and 
suitable  part  of  the  shop  of  a  chemist  and  druggist  should  be 
set  apart  for  the  dispensing  of  prescriptions. 
