AmAS'i87h7!rm'}  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting. 
IQI 
Mr.  Alex.  H.  Jones  presented,  through  Prof.  Remington,  from  Messrs.  Powers  Sc 
Weightman,  a  fine  collection  of  argols  from  various  sections  of  Europe. 
Prof.  Maisch  read  a  paper  by  Mr.  L.  Wolff  on  "  Unguentum  hydrargyri  nitratis  " 
(see  page  162).  Dr.  Pile  said  he  had  followed  Mr.  Rother's  formula  of  making  it 
with  lard,  first  adding  the  excess  of  nitric  acid  and  afterwards  the  nitrate  of  mercury,, 
and  found  it  very  successful.  He  also  questioned  whether  oleic  acid  could  be  pro- 
cured at  all  times  of  sufficient  purity.  Prof.  Remington  thought  the  process  of 
Rother  all  that  can  be  desired,  and  the  substitution  of  three-fourths  lard  oil  for 
the  lard  a  wise  selection,  his  experience  being  similar  to  Dr.  Pile's  5  but  he  thought 
that  Mr.  Wolff's  views  opened  an  interesting  point  in  regard  to  the  change  in  oleic 
acid  and  the  ointment  under  consideration. 
Mr.  C.  Bullock  spoke  of  the  citrine  ointment,  as  formerly  prepared  by  John  Bell 
of  London,  as  being  particularly  noted  for  it$  fine  appearance,  and  thought  it  due 
to  the  manipulation  in  beating  it  up  well  before  and  while  it  congealed. 
Dr.  Pile  requested  the  members  to  inform  the  Committee  on  Adulterations  of  the 
National  Association  of  any  sophistications  that  may  come  under  their  notice,  and 
endeavor  to  accompany  their  communications  by  specimens. 
Prof.  Remington  said  that  Prof.  Painter,  the  chairman  of  the  committee  referred 
to,  expressed  a  wish  that  some  of  the  members  would  take  up  for  their  investigation 
the  amount  of  extractive  matter  left  after  the  evaporation  of  some  of  the  important 
officinal  tinctures.  Prof.  Maisch  did  not  see  how  any  positive  results  could  be 
obtained,  since  slight  variations  in  the  menstrua  could  influence  the  result  aside 
from  the  differences  naturally  existing  in  the  drugs. 
C.  W.  Hancock  presented  a  sample  of  an  ocher  yellow  color,  purchased  for  oxide- 
of  antimony,  which,  without  resorting  to  chemical  test,  the  general  expression  of  thev 
members  present  declared  it  not  to  be,  at  least  not  pure  enough  for  medicinal  use. 
Mr.  Bullock  mentioned  that  their  house  had  recently  received  from  a  house  in. 
Baltimore  a  sample  of  nitrate  of  potassium,  which  by  its  appearance  aroused  his 
suspicion,  and  upon  making  an  examination  found  about  25  per  cent,  of  chloride  of 
potassium.  This  salt  can  now  be  obtained  at  a  low  figure,  it  being  one  of  the  pro- 
ducts from  the  Stassfurt  (Germany)  mines. 
Dr.  Miller  exhibited  a  sample  of  so-called  Egyptian  saffron,  which  Prof.  Maisch 
pronounced  to  be  carthamus.  He  also  alluded  to  an  adulteration  of  saffron  with 
carbonate  of  calcium,  which  is  again  practised,  after  it  was  exposed  seven  years  ago> 
(see  "Am.  Jour.  Phar.,"  1870,  p.  318  and  390). 
Dr.  Pile  thought  the  sale  of  genuine  saffron  to  be  on  the  increase,  as  compared 
with  the  sales  a  number  of  years  ago. 
Prof.  Maisch  said  that  in  1871  he  investigated  the  African  saffron  of  the  Amer- 
ican market,  and  found  it  to  be  carthamus,  with  the  exception  of  one  sample,  which 
Mr.  J.  R.  Jackson  correctly  referred  to  Lyperia  crocea  (see  "  Proc.  Amer.  Phar 
Assoc.,"  1873,  P-  487). 
Mr.  Lowe  exhibited  samples  of  yellow  wax,  in  1  oz.  cakes,  prepared  by  placing 
rectangular  tin  frames  upon  plate-glass,  pouring  in  some  melted  wax,  and  when  this 
had  hardened,  enough  more  to  produce  a  cake  weighing  about  one  ounce. 
Mr.  Bullock,  having  examined  some  white  wax,  found  the  congealing  point  below 
that  generally  given  ;  and  on  inquiry  being  made  from  the  consignees,  it  seems  not 
