474  Pharmaceutical  Colleges  and  Associations,  {^si^'idn!"*' 
A.  Fitz  obtained  quite  different  results  by  using  a  mixture  of  2,000  water, 
joo  glycerin,  1  potassium  phosphate,  0*5  magnesium  sulphate,  2  German  pepsin, 
and  20  chalk,  to  which  was  added  a  trace  of  a  schizomyceta,  which  will  be  described 
in  a  future  communication.  At  a  temperature  of  400  the  liquid  soon  begins  to 
ferment,  carbon  dioxide  and  hydrogen  being  given  off,  and  the  fermentation  is  fin- 
ished in  ten  days.  The  solution  then  contains  normal  butyl  alcohol  and  normal 
butyric  acid,  besides  a  little  ethyl  alcohol,  and  a  higher  acid,  probably  caproic. 
loo  parts  of  glycerin  yielded  7*7  pure  butyl  alcohol  and  12*3  anhydrous  calcium 
butyrate. — Jour.  Chew.  Soc,  Feb.,  from  Deut.  Chem.  G'es.  Ber. 
PHARMACEUTICAL  COLLEGES  AND  ASSOCIATIONS. 
Cumberland  County,  Me.,  Pharmaceutical  Society.— At  a  meeting  held  July  27, 
Dr.  H.  T.  Cummings  read  a  lengthy  and  interesting  paper  on  dangerous  cosmetics, 
dwelling  especially  on  the  freckle  lotions,  which  usually  are  strong  solutions  of  cor- 
rosive sublimate  or  of  lead  salts ;  on  the  so-called  hair  restorers,  which  usually  con- 
tain lead,  and  on  the  enamels,  pearl  powders  and  similar  cosmetics  consisting  not 
unfrequently  of  bismuth  compounds,  lead  carbonate  and  white  precipitate.  Regard- 
ing the  trade  in  these  articles  the  lecturer  said  : 
Now  in  view  of  this  fact  that  perfumers  and  cosmetic  tinkers  are  liable  to  put  death  in  the  pot  of 
cold  cream  or  the  jug  of  lotion,  what  is  the  duty  of  the  pharmacist?  There  are  but  two  alternatives  that 
I  can  see,  the  one  to  refuse  all  agency  in  the  sale  of  such  compounds ;  and  the  other,  if  their  patrons 
insist  on  having  them  to  let  the  purchaser  take  them  on  his  or  her  own  responsibility — but  never  by  word 
or  act  to  recommend  them.  It  seems  to  me  that  those  who  scatter  these  deleterious  preparations  round 
so  freely,  and  expose  the  public  genera'ly,  and  the  fair  sex  especially,  to  such  dangers,  ought  to  be  made 
amenable  to  the  provisions  of  the  law  regulating  the  sale  of  poisons.  Experience,  as  has  been  amply 
proved  from  what  has  already  been  said,  has  attested  to  the  dangers  incurred  in  the  use  of  these  poisonous 
preparations,  and  it  is  too  late  for  most  people  to  plead  ignorance  on  this  point;  but  if  through  cupidity 
they  persist  in  being  the  agents  of  their  distribution,  after  having  been  fully  informed  upon  this  matter, 
then  they  should  be  regarded  as  public  enemies. 
The  new  School  of  Pharmacy  at  Paris,  which  is  now  being  erected  in  a  part 
of  the  Luxembourg  gardens,  will  occupy  a  space  of  17,000  square  meters,  or  some- 
what more  than  four  acres.  In  front  of  the  building  will  be  a  grand  court,  57 
meters  long,  and  ornamented  with  grass  plots  and  with  the  statues  of  Parmentier 
and  Vauquelin  j  at  both  ends  will  be  two  pavilions,  containing  the  laboratories  of 
the  professors.  The  principal  building  will  have  a  central  vestibule,  and  contain 
the  necessary  offices,  library  and  two  lecture  rooms,  each  of  which  will  be  480 
square  meters,  and  accommodate  600  students.  In  the  rear  of  the  main  building 
will  be  the  gardens  and  green-houses,  and  a  building  90  meters  long  and  three 
stories  high,  intended  to  afford  laboratory  instruction  to  600  pupils.  The  building 
will  be  erected  over  the  catacombs,  due  precautions  being  taken  to  guard  against 
accidents,  and  will  probably  be  completed  in  1880. 
