138         Pharmaceutical  Colleges  and  Associations.  {K^'^;^rm- 
2.  What  is  the  Muriatic  Acid  of  the  "  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia?"  How  is  it 
prepared  and  what  are  its  properties  and  officinal  specific  gravity  ? 
3.  What  is  the  proper  chemical  name  for  Green  Vitriol?  Describe  and  explain 
a  method  by  which  it  can  be  obtained,  and  give  an  account  of  its  properties  and  the 
changes  it  undergoes  when  exposed  to  the  air. 
4.  Describe  the  conditions  and  manner  of  the  formation  of  Vegetable  Cells. 
5.  Name  the  integuments  of  Seeds,  and  explain  briefly  the  different  parts  of  the 
Kernel. 
6.  Which  drugs  of  animal  origin  consist  mainly,  and  to  what  extent,  of  Carbon- 
ate of  Calcium  ? 
7.  Define  Specific  Gravity,  and  state  how  you  would  obtain  the  Specific  Gravity 
of  a  piece  of  lead  weighing  200  grains. 
8.  State,  in  a  few  words,  what  the  difference  is  between  a  Decoction  and  an, 
Infusion,  a  Cerate  and  an  Ointment,  a  Tincture  and  a  Fluid  Extract. 
9.  What  Liquid  officinal  principle,  soluble  in  water,  is  obtained  from  fats?  Men- 
tion some  of  its  uses  in  Pharmacy,  and  describe  its  appearance. 
10.  From  what  Country  is  Rhubarb  obtained?  Where  does  it  grow?  What 
Calcium  Salt  in  large  proportion  does  it  contain  ?  How  may  the  presence  of  this 
Salt  be  known  ?    What  Organic  Acids  does  it  contain  ? 
11.  State  the  number  of  grains  in  an  Avoirdupois  pound,  an  Avoirdupois  ounce, 
a  Troy  pound  and  a  Troy  ounce,  and  give  the  weight,  in  grains,  of  a  Fluidounce 
of  distilled  water. 
12.  Give  the  formula  for  making  Liquor  Calcis.  State  whether  hot  or  cold 
water  should  be  employed,  and  the  reason  why.  If  left  exposed  to  the  atmosphere 
what  effect  will  be  produced  ?    What  is  a  test  for  it  ? 
The  Alumni  Association  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  held  a 
meeting  February  1st,  President  Kennedy  in  the  chair,  about  fifty  members  being 
present.  After  reading  of  the  minutes,  specimens  were  handed  to  the  students  for 
examination. 
Mr.  Kennedy  submitted  a  small  and  curiously-shaped  vial,  containing  a  few 
drops  of  Chinese  oil  of  peppermint,  which  was  quite  thick  and  differed  considerably 
from  the  domestic  article  in  odor. 
Mr.  Jones  presented  handsome  specimens  of  the  iodides  of  lead  and  mercury  and 
ferrccyanide  of  iron,  made  by  a  first  course  student  of  the  college. 
Mr.  Kennedy  referred  to  a  plant  found  in  Nicaragua,  named  phytolacca  electrica? 
which  is  said  to  possess  very  pronounced  electrical  properties,  sensibly  benumbing 
the  hand  upon  touching  it ;  the  magnetic  influence  is  asserted  to  be  felt  at  a  distance 
of  seven  or  eight  feet  and  the  intensity  to  vary  with  the  hours  of  the  day,  being 
hardly  perceptible  at  night,  while  attaining  its  maximum  about  2  P.  M. 
Dr.  Miller  spoke  of  the  hieroglyphic  signs  occasionally  used  in  prescriptions, 
tracing  back  these  symbols  to  their  alchemical  origin.  Copies  of  these  signs,  with 
their  explanation,  will  be  furnished  gladly  to  any  applicant  to  A.  W.  Miller,  M.D.* 
Third  and  Callowhill  streets. 
Mr.  Moorhead  read  a  paper  on  glycerol  of  nitrate  of  bismuth  (see  p.  98),  and 
submitted  a  specimen. 
Mr.  H.  Lerchen  reported  that  an  examination  of  the  solution  and  residue 
