138  Pharmaceutical  Colleges  and  Associations.  {XmM™%z]£rm> 
albumen  of  eggs,  he  was  desirous  of  utilizing  the  yolks,  and  this  led  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  fixed  oil  contained  in  the  latter  and  to  an  attempt  of  isolating  the 
emulsifying  principle ,  in  which  Mr.  Wolff  had  been  nearly  successful.  As  obtained, 
the  principle  will  readily  emulsify  oil  in  water  by  simple  agitation. 
The  use  of  fixed  oils,  in  pharmacy,  was  brought  forward,  and  among  others 
benne  oil,  obtained  from  the  seed  of  the  Sesamum  Orientale,  was  mentioned  as  a 
remarkably  bland  oil.  Prof.  Maisch  stated  that  the  chief  objection  to  it  was,  that,, 
though  not  a  drying  oil  proper,  it  gradually  became  thick  and  ropy  on  exposure,  and 
could,  therefore,  not  be  advantageously  substituted  for  expressed  oil  of  almonds  5. 
a  sample  of  cold  cream  made  by  using  this  oil  in  place  of  oil  of  almonds  was 
exhibited  by  Mr.  Mitchell,  and  was  considered  equal  to  that  made  by  the  officinal 
formula  excepting  in  color.  Prof.  Maisch  said  that  it  was  quite  a  question  how 
much  of  the  commercial  expressed  oil  of  almonds  was  really  such,  great  quantities  of 
apricot  and  peach  kernels  were  annually  consumed  to  obtain  oil  from  them.  The 
test  recommended  by  Hager  will  detect  the  substitution  :  equal  parts  of  25  per 
cent,  nitric  acid  and  the  oil  are  agitated  and  warmed  to  about  i2o°F.,  when  almond 
oil  will  form  a  white  emulsion-like  mixture,  the  other  oils  mentioned  turning  yellow 
or  pinkish  (see  also  "Araer.  Jour.  Phar.,"  1877,  P-  595)- 
A  sample  of  so-called  California  rock  soap  had  been  shown  at  the  November 
meeting  ;  since  that  time  it  has  been  subjected  to  a  chemical  investigation  by  Mr. 
Betz  in  the  laboratory  of  the  College,  and  proves  to  be  a  silicate  of  alumina  with 
traces  of  calcium  sulphate  and  iron,  showing  that  it  is  a  species  of  kaolin,  and  owes 
its  detersive  qualities  to  its  mechanical  rather  than  chemical  action. 
Prof.  Maisch  showed  specimens  of  drugs  that  had  been  presented  to  him,  as  being 
very  beautiful,  carefully  prepared  and  of  such  superior  quality  as  not  often  seen  in 
the  market ;  they  were  the  root  of  Archangelica  officinalis,  the  flowering  herb  of 
Erythrasa  Centaurium,  or  European  Centaury,  and  Manna  in  very  large,  white  Hakes- 
There  being  no  further  business,  o'n  motion,  the  meeting  adjourned. 
Thos.  S.  Wiegand,  Registrar. 
PHARMACEUTICAL  COLLEGES  AND  ASSOCIATIONS, 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. — The  junior  examination  was  held  about 
the  middle  of  February,  94  first  course  students  participating.  As  in  the  preceding 
year,  twelve  specimens  had  been  laid  out  for  identification,  and  the  same  number  of 
questions  prepared  to  be  answered  in  writing.  The  time  allowed  was  five  hours,  of 
which  fifteen  minutes  could  be  devoted  to  the  examination  of  the  specimens.  The 
result  was  in  the  main  satisfactory  to  the  examiners.  The  following  were  the 
questions :  x 
1.  What  is  the  chemical  name  of  Chalk?  State  its  composition  and  name  the 
gas  which  is  separated  from  it  by  the  action  of  acids.  Give  the  composition  of  this 
gas,  its  symbol,  its  physical  and  chemical  properties  and  the  method  by  which  it 
may  be  detected. 
