40         Pharmaceutical  Colleges  and  Associations.  {Amja!!!%P7h7arm*" 
Dr.  Pile  thought  the  process,  with  bromine  in  solution,  all  that  could  be  desired 
in  simplicity,  requiring  no  watching,  but  merely  some  time  ;  the  troublesome  part 
with  both  processes  is  the  evaporation  of  the  nitric  acid.  For  this  a  low  temperature 
will  not  suffice,  a  heat  of  3400  to  35o°F.  being  required,  and  afterwards  care  not 
to  dilute  until  cold.  A  much  higher  temperature  will  dissolve  the  enamel  of  the 
Berlin  capsules,  which  will  be  partly  precipitated  upon  the  addition  of  water. 
Prof.  Maisch  remarked  that  the  determination  of  neutralization  by  means  of  litmus 
was  very  unsatisfactory,  since  the  litmus  solution  changed  its  color  very  gradually. 
Prof.  Maisch  read  a  paper  by  L.  Wolff,  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  use  of  Petroleum 
Benzin  in  Pharmacy  (see  page  1).  He  regarded  this  as  a  very  interesting  subject, 
and  one  which  was  by  no  means  exhausted.  Some  time  since  ("  Am.  Jour.  Ph.,"' 
1872,  p.  134),  he  had  presented  to  this  meeting  styracin  made  of  the  use  of  petroleum 
benzin,  and  other  observers  had  born  testimony  to  its  manifold  uses.  Wm.  L. 
Harrison  ("Am.  Jour.  Phar.,"  1874,  p.  161),  found  in  it  an  easy  and  cheap 
way  of  obtaining  cinnamic  acid,  besides  styracin,  and  Wallace  Procter  had 
separated  with  it  a  white  crystalline  substance  from  Magnolia  tripetela  [Ibid.,  1872,. 
p.  146).  It  is  an  excellent  solvent  for  monobromated  camphor  and  other  crystalline 
bodies,  and  affords  a  ready  means  of  obtaining  them  in  good  crystallizations. 
Prof.  Remington  said  that  an  odor  of  kerosene  might  remain  in  such  preparations 
from  the  employment  of  a  petroleum  benzin  which  had  not  been  carefully  rectified. 
Dr.  Pile,  in  preparing  some  oleoresins,  had  used  the  kind  known  as  gasolin,  and 
did  not  find  any  odor  remaining. 
Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  quinine  flower,  so-called  ("Am.  Jour.  Ph.,"  1876,  p.  454)  5, 
from  experiments  made  by  Mr.  Th.  F.  Beckert,  it  is  possible  that  it  may  contain 
an  alkaloid  j  if  so,  it  would  be  the  first  found  in  the  Gentianaceae.  Mr.  Beckert 
observed  that  the  tincture  evaporated,  thrown  into  water  slightly  acidulated  and 
filtered,  would  yield  a  slight  precipitate  with  Mayer's  solution. 
Dr.  J.  Dabney  Palmer,  of  Monticello,  Fla.,  had  sent  the  quinine  flower  and  its 
tincture  5  also  tincture  and  fluid  extract  of  Buttonwood  (Cephalanthus  occidentalis) 
and  tincture  of  Sarracenia  flava  or  Trumpet  plant,  which  appear  to  be  employed 
medicinally  in  that  section  of  the  country. 
Prof.  Remington  had  upon  the  table  for  inspection  from  the  Centennial  Exhibition 
an  interesting  collection  5  from  A.  Beslier,  Paris,  Pharmaceutical  preparations 
and  a  large  mounted  specimen  of  Thapsia  Garganica ;  from  Joseph  Bosisto,  Victoria,, 
Eucalyptus  products  and  Australian  pharmaceutical  preparations ;  from  Mr.  Brugsch, 
Egyptian  Commissioner,  Egyptian  Drugs,  Pharmaceutical  preparations,  etc.  5 
purchased  by  the  College  from  Behn  Meyer  &  Co.,  of  Singapore,  a  large  collection 
of  raw  products  of  that  region.  A  detailed  account  of  these  acquisitions  will, 
appear  in  the  Curator's  report,  to  be  read  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  College. 
William  McIntyre,  Registrar, 
PHARMACEUTICAL  COLLEGES  AND  ASSOCIATIONS. 
The  Richmond  Pharmaceutical  Association  held  its  annual  meeting  on  the  even- 
ing of  December  12th,  Dr.  John  R.  Garnett  in  the  chair,  Mr.  Jos.  N.  Willis, 
Secretary.  Mr.  Hugh  Blair  reported  on  the  operations  of  the  Society  during  the 
past  year,  and  made  some  valuable  suggestions  relating  to  its  future  welfare  and 
usefulness.  Reports  were  also  received  from  the  Recording  Secretary,  Mr.  Jos.. 
Anthony,  and  the  treasurer,  Mr.  B.  C.  Lewis. 
The  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  resulted  as  follows  :  President,. 
Hugh  Blair  j  First  Vice-President,  Joseph  N.  Willis;  Second  Vice-President,  P  E. 
Dupuy  5  Recording  Secretary,  Joseph  Anthony  j  Corresponding  Secretary,  T. 
Roberts  Baker.  Executive  Committee  :  Wm.  P.  Poythress,  Polk  Miller,  Jesse  Child. 
