190  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  {Am^jN:. 
lactate  sofa.— Supplement  to  Med.  Chir  Centralblatt,  1876.— T.  Med. 
Feb.,  1877. 
The  Sudden  Checking  of  Opium  Eating — The  eminent  Sir  Robert  Christison, 
after  a  large  experience  in  the  treatment  of  such  cases,  says  that  no  good  can  be 
done  by  "  gradual  reduction,1'  and  that  it  can  be  safely  left  off  abruptly,  even  after 
many  years'  indulgence.  He  recommends  bromide  of  potassium  to  allay  irrita- 
bility, and  chloral  to  procure  sleep.  For  the  first  three  days  the  patient  suffers  from 
great  depression,  loathing,  sickness  and  vomiting.  By  the  fourth  night  he  falls 
asleep  and  awakes  refreshed,  and  in  most  cases  the  progress  afterward  is  very  satis- 
factory. There  is,  however,  great  danger  of  a  relapse.  Should  diarrhoea  super- 
vene, suppositories  of  morphia  should  .be  ordered. — South.  Med.  Rec,  Feb. 
Expressed  Oils  of  Cherry  and  Plum  Seeds.  —  Guyot  recommends  the  prepara- 
tion by  expression  of  the  fixed  oils  which  are  contained  in  the  seeds  of  the  cherry 
and  the  yellow  plum  (mirabelle) ,  particularly  in  those  districts  where  the  liquor 
known  as  kirscben-xvasser  is  manufactured.  He  obtained  by  extraction  with  ether 
6-4  per  cent,  of  oil  from  the  former  and  107  per  cent,  from  the  latter  seeds.  The 
cherry  oil  is  limpid,  golden-yellow,  and  has  a  decided  almond  odor,  which  disap- 
pears on  exposure  after  some  time.  The  plum  oil  is  similar,  but  darker  yellow,  and 
of  a  stronger  almond  odor. — Rep.  de  P/iar.,  1876,  p.  678. 
The  Dispensing  of  Copaiba  Resin. — Alfred  Balkwill  proposes  the  following 
form  of  exhibiting  copaiba  resin,  which  gives  satisfaction  to  the  prescriber  and 
patient.  It  is  no  trouble  to  make,  and  the  mixture,  in  elegance  of  appearance,  per- 
manence and  therapeutic  action,  is  preferable  to  all  other  forms. 
It.    Resinse  Copaiba;   jiss 
Olei  Amygd.  dulc   giv 
Mucilag.  Acacia;   5iss 
Liquor.  Potassse   5ss 
Olei  Cinnamomi     gtt.  r-i 
Aqua;,  q.  s,  ad   gvi 
A  sixth  part  three  times  a  day. 
Dissolve  the  resin  in  the  oil,  with  gentle  heat,  then  add  the  potassa  solution,  and 
form  an  emulsion. — P/iar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  Nov.  25,  1876. 
MINUTES  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 
March  20TH,  1S77. 
The  meeting  was  organized  by  electing  Mr.  S.  S.  Bunting  to  the  chair.  C.  W. 
Hancock  officiated  as  Registrar  pro  temp. 
Prof.  Maisch  presented  a  copy  of  Lindley's  "  Natural  System  of  Botany,"  from 
D.  B.  Smith;  also,  a  pamphlet  from  Dr.  H.  C.  Wood  entitled,  "The  United 
States  Pharmacopoeia,  and  the  American  Medical  Association  also,  samples  of 
Calcutta  catechu  and  gambir,  from  Messrs.  Behn,  Meyer  &  Co. 
