Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1900. 
Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy. 
it  was  shown  that  the  same  substance  of  different  sizes  and  densities  took  up 
different  stains.  He  further  remarked  that  two  other  factors  were  equally 
important  in  securing  uniform  results,  viz.,  the  position  of  the  object  in  the 
reagent  and  the  necessarily  varying  strength  of  the  solution  of  the  reagent  as 
well  as  the  varying  composition  of  most  of  the  aniline  stains.  So  that  it  was 
not  always  a  lack  of  technique  on  the  part  of  the  worker  which  caused  a 
variability  in  results,  but  that  there  must  be  more  or  less  dependence  upon  the 
structures  themselves,  as  well  as  the  effects  upon  them  with  reagents,  and  he 
said  that  Virchow's  principle  of  using  as  few  reagents  as  possible  and  endeavor- 
ing to  understand  the  structure  of  the  object  was  the  safest  to  follow. 
Frederick  T.  Gordon,  apothecary  at  the  League  Island  Navy  Yard,  exhibited 
a  simple  apparatus  for  the  estimation  of  urea,  the  estimation  being  based  upon 
the  amount  of  nitrogen  evolved  from  a  mixture  of  urine  and  chlorinated  lime. 
Prof.  F.  X.  Moerk  said  that  the  apparatus  was  similar  to  that  described  by 
Dr.  Squibb  in  1884,  the  difference  being  that  Dr.  Squibb  used  L,abarraque's 
solution  instead  of  chlorinated  lime  for  decomposing  the  urea. 
Following  the  presentation  of  papers  was  an  exhibition  of  specimens. 
Professor  Moerk  called  attention  to  some  specimens  obtained  through  Mr. 
Geyer  from  Messrs.  Baugh  &  Sons  Co.,  Philadelphia,  and  representing  pro- 
ducts obtained  from  bones  and  skins  in  the  manufacture  of  fertilizers.  These 
included  samples  of  glue,  oils  such  as  neat's-foot,  light  bone  and  marrow  oil, 
and  solid  products,  as  lard  stearin,  tallow  and  bone  grease. 
Professor  Ryan  again  exhibited  the  valuable  collection  of  opium  specimens, 
which  was  loaned  for  exhibition,  at  the  previous  meeting,  by  Messrs.  Gilpin, 
Langdon  &  Co.,  and  said  that  since  then  the  collection  had  been  presented  to  • 
the  College.  He  therefore  moved  that  a  special  vote  of  thanks  be  conveyed  to 
Messrs.  Gilpin,  Langdon  &  Co.  for  their  gift  and  the  motion  was  unanimously 
adopted. 
On  motion,  the  meeting  adjourned. 
FLORENCE  Yapi^e, 
Secretary  pro  tern. 
CHICAGO  COLLEGE  OF  PHARMACY. 
The  second  meeting  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  Chicago  College  of 
Pharmacy  for  the  discussion  of  pharmacopceial  revision  was  held  at  the  Palmer 
House,  Wednesday  evening,  February  21st.  The  subject  for  discussion,  for  the 
evening,  was  "The  Standardization  of  Drugs  and  their  Preparations."  The 
meeting  was  called  to  order  by  President  W.  B.  Day  and  opened  with  an 
address  by  Dr.  George  F.  Butler,  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Delegate  to 
the  Convention  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  Dr.  Butler 
treated  of  standardization  as  viewed  by  the  physician.  The  necessity  of  uni- 
formity and  reliability  of  the  medicines  used  by  the  physician  was  strongly 
dwelt  upon,  as  being  of  the  first  importance  ;  the  variation  in  medicinal  value 
of  drugs  grown  or  collected  under  varying  conditions  was  pointed  out,  and  the 
difficulties  in  determining  just  to  what  principles  the  physiological  activities  of 
some  drugs  are  due  was  indicated.  The  speaker  thought  there  was  no  differ- 
ence of  opinion  among  those  engaged  in  medical  service  generally  concerning 
the  desirability  of  standardization,  the  question  being  as  to  how  far  standardi- 
zation is  practicabe. 
