254  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  {Am^\l^m' 
golden  sulphuret  of  antimony,  acetate  of  lead,  tartar  emetic,  sulphate  of  copper, 
flowers  of  Malva  sylvestris,  German  chamomile  flowers  and  hops. 
In  regard  to  the  cream  of  tartar  fruit,  Prof.  Maisch  stated  that  it  belonged  to 
the  genus  Adansonia^  and  probably  to  A.  Gregorii,  which  is  stated  to  be  a  native  of 
Northern  Australia.  The  fruit  is  smaller,  and  the  taste  of  the  acidulous  pulp  differs 
from  that  of  A.  digitata,  the  baobab,  of  which  handsome  specimens  had  been  on 
exhibition  from  Jamaica.  In  answer  to  a  question  he  stated  that  he  had  not  had 
the  time  yet  to  ascertain  the  composition  of  the  pulp.  He  also  called  attention  to 
the  Latin  names  by  which  the  Japanese  chemicals  were  designated,  and  which  were 
similar  to  those  used  in  Germany  and  Holland  ;  for  instance,  Zincum  oxydatum 
sulfuricum. 
Mr.  Mitchell  exhibited  and  explained  the  uses  of  a  "  pill  finisher,"  consisting  of 
a  circular  disk  of  brass,  which  is  more  durable  than  when  made  of  wood. 
Prof.  Maisch  presented  several  samples  of  Capsule  Catapota  Plicatiles,  which  are 
used  in  Germany  to  some  extent  in  place  of  the  wafer  capsules  introduced  by  Mr. 
Limousin,  of  Paris.  The  former  are  thin,  like  paper,  folded  by  machinery,  and 
being  made  of  gelatin,  may  be  readily  closed  by  moistening  the  edges,  become 
pliable  when  immersed  in  water,  and  may  then  be  swallowed  like  wafer  capsules, 
which  latter,  however,  appear  to  be  more  elegant  in  appearance  and  more  useful  in 
application. 
Prof.  Remington  read  a  paper  on  u  Aromatic  Elixir  of  Licorice  "  (see  page  231)5 
exhibited  a  sample  of  the  preparation,  and  showed  its  effectiveness  for  disguising 
the  bitter  taste  of  sulphate  of  quinia.  Mr.  Brown  stated  that  he  made  such  an 
elixir  by  dissolving  8  grains  of  ammoniacal  glycyrrhizin  in  1  fluidounce  of  simple 
elixir.  Inquiry  having  been  made  about  a  compound  elixir  of  eucalyptus,  which  has 
been  recently  introduced  for  the  same  purpose,  it  was  stated  to  owe  its  effects  like- 
wise to  glycyrrhizin,  but  appeared  to  be  flavored  with  oil  of  eucalyptus,  besides  other 
aromatics. 
Mr.  Gaillard  read  a  paper  on  "Weights  and  Measures"  (see  page  226.)  Re- 
marks on  the  adoption  of  the  metric  system  in  medicine  and  pharmacy  in  our 
country  were  made  by  Professors  Maisch  and  Remington  and  Mr.  Bullock,  who 
stated  that  its  general  adoption  could  be  secured  only  by  educating  medical  and 
pharmaceutical  students  in  its  use,  so  that  they  were  able  to  think  in  this  system 
without  the  necessity  of  calculation. 
Prof.  Maisch  informed  the  meeting  that  the  tables  for  converting  apothecaries' 
weights  and  measures  into  grams,  which  were  calculated  by  him  and  published  in 
the  February  number  of  the  "  Am.  Jour.  Phar.,"  had  been  copied  by  the  Treasury 
Department  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Referring  to  the  use  of  measures  in  British  and 
American  pharmacy,  he  remarked  that  it  would  be  of  interest  to  trace  their  adoption 
in  Great  Britain,  since  the  Edinburg  and  Dublin  Colleges  had  recognized  the  use 
of  weights  for  liquids  at  a  time  when  these  were  measured  by  the  London  College. 
Prof.  Maisch  also  called  the  attention  of  the  meeting  to  two  low-priced  micro- 
scopes, on  exhibition,  both  giving  very  clear  definitions  5  one  was  a  simple  micro- 
scope, costing  $12  ;  the  other,  a  compound  microscope,  at  $35. 
There  being  no  more  business  before  the  meeting,  a  motion  to  adjourn  was 
seconded  and  carried.  Ed.  D.  Boyer,  Registrar  pro  tern. 
