AraMJa°yU,ri8P78rrm'}  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting,  261 
A  paper  by  Mr.  Alonzo  Robbins  upon  Mate,  the  Ilex  Paraguayensis, 1  was  read 
and  samples  of  the  different  commercial  varieties  of  the  drug  were  exhibited 
Remarks  were  made  upon  the  uses  of  mate  and  of  the  North  American  yaupon  tea 
(Ilex  cassine,  Lin.)  The  patient  labor  bestowed  by  Mr.  Robbins  upon  his  researches 
was  commented  upon,  and  on  motion  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  directed  to  be 
returned  to  the  author. 
A  member  reminded  the  meeting  that  various  committees  of  the  College  were 
now  engaged  in  the  preliminary  revision  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  and  a  typical  formula 
was  exhibited,  showing  the  manner  in  which  the  formulas  were  proposed  to  be 
reported.    The  formula  shown  was  for  Confectio  Opii. 
Take  of  Opium  in  very  fine  powder,  .  .  .3  parts 
Aromatic  Powder,         .  .  .  37  " 
Clarified  Honey,       .  .  .  60  " 
100  parts 
Parts  by  weight  in  all  cases  are  designated. 
The  advantage  of  this  manner  of  representing  the  formulas  was  evident,  as  the 
ratio  of  the  active  ingredient  to  the  entire  amount  is  seen  at  a  glance,  the  quantity 
resulting  being  exactly  100  parts. 
A  paper  by  Dr.  F.  V.  Greene,  U.  S.  N.,  was  read  on  chamalirln,  a  bitter,  neutral 
glucoside,  isolated  by  the  author  from  Chamazlirium  luteum,  Gray.  Samples  of  the 
rhizome  of  this  plant  and  of  Aletris  farinosa  ,Lin.,  were  exhibited,  both  of  which  are 
sometimes  called  blading  star,  a  name  more  generally  applied  to  Liatris  squarrosa 
Willd.  The  extremely  bitter  new  glucoside  was  likewise  exhibited,  and  its  beha- 
vior to  various  solvents  and  reagents  illustrated.  On  motion,  a  vote  of  thanks  was 
tendered  to  Dr.  Greene  for  the  interesting  communication. 
A  paper  upon  Emulsions,  by  Mr.  L.  von  Cotzhausen,  was  then  read  ;  the  various 
processes  described  were  illustrated  by  samples  of  the  results  of  the  different  for- 
mulas, some  of  the  emulsions  being  two  months  old.  This  paper  elicited  a  great 
deal  of  comment,  several  members  detailing  their  experience  with  the  different 
processes. 
An  inquiry  was  made  regarding  the  preparation  of  pills  of  salicylic  acid  by  compres- 
sion, the  inquirer  relating  the  difficulty  he  experienced  in  freeing  perfect  pills  from  the 
press.  Prof.  Remington  ascribed  the  difficulty  to  the  dryness  and  non-adhesiveness  of 
the  material,  and  mentioned  that  the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  of  powdered  soap, 
exposure  to  a  damp  atmosphere  by  placing  in  a  tight  box  which  has  been  filled  with 
steam  from  boiling  water,  rubbing  the  end  of  the  plunger  and  lower  die  with  paraf- 
fin, oftentimes  would  remedy  the  difficulty. 
Prof.  R.  called  attention  to  a  plan  for  preserving  prescriptions  which  he  had  used 
with  great  satisfaction,  and  referred  to  a  contrivance  for  the  same  purpose,  designed 
by  W.  H.  Naulty,  Little  Rock,  Ark  ,  which,  however,  he  had  not  yet  seen.  He 
uses  Mann's  Binder  j  the  prescriptions  maybe  either  temporarily  or  permanently 
JThe  papers  by  Mr.  Robbins  and  Mr.  Cotzhausen  will  be  published  in  the  June  number.— Editor. 
