mkmiam"'}        Pharmaceutical  Colleges,  etc.  177 
chloride  is  completely  reduced,  the  mass  is  treated  with  water  to  wash 
out  the  chlorides  of  the  alkalies  thoroughly,  the  residue  is  dried  at  a 
temperature  not  exceeding  220°  F.,  when  it  is  ready  for  use.  The 
operation  can  be  readily  conducted  in  a  capsule  of  porcelain  or 
platinum,  the  platin-chloride  is  introduced  and  covered  with  a  circu- 
lar piece  of  mica,  a  little  smaller  than  the  wide  diameter  of  the  cap- 
sule, with  a  hole  in  the  centre,  through  which  the  tube  conductiug  the 
gas  is  introduced.  The  capsule  is  then  heated  by  any  convenient 
arrangement  by  which  a  temperature  not  exceeding  400°  or  500°  F., 
is  attained,  at  which  temperature  it  can  be  maintained  with  a  little 
management ;  a  small  Bunsen  burner  with  a  rosette  can  be  used.  If 
the  temperature  be  too  high,  the  platinum-black  will  not  be  as  good 
as  that  made  at  a  lower  temperature.  Washing  the  platinum-black, 
after  the  chloride  is  taken  out,  with  a  solution  of  caustic  potash  or 
soda,  and  subsequently  washing  with  distilled  water  may  improve 
the  product. — Amer.  Chemist,  Feb.,  1872. 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. — The  examination  of  the  candidates 
for  the  degree  of  Graduate  in  Pharmacy  commenced  in  this  Institution  on 
Thursday,  February  29,  and  was  conducted  in  the  same  manner  as  last  year 
(see  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,  1871,  page  173),  except  that  the  Examining  Com- 
mittee, appointed  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  likewise  changed  the  method  from 
verbal  to  written  queries  and  answers,  so  that  but  few  questions  were  asked 
verbally.    The  queries  adopted  for  the  present  year  were  as  follows  : 
Chemistry.    Prof.  Robert  Bridges,  M.  D.    Session  1871-72. 
No.  1.  Give  the  general  properties  of  Carbon,  and  name  the  different  forms 
used  in  medicine  and  pharmacy,  the  nature  and  special  properties  of 
each,  including  the  impurities  which  may  be  present  in  each  variety 
and  the  mode  of  detection. 
No.  2.  How  is  Oil  of  Vitriol  prepared?    State  its  chemical  name,  its  compo- 
sition, its  physical  and  chemical  properties.    Also  its  officinal  prepara- 
tions and  any  cautions  which  may  be  necessary  in  their  use. 
No.  3.  What  is  the  chemical  name  of  Sal  Sodse  ?    Give  the  sources  from  which 
it  i3  derived,  its  composition,  with  its  physical  and  chemical  properties. 
No.  4.  What  acid  of  phosphorus  is  officinal?*  Give  the  different  processes  by 
which  the  officinal  acid  is  made,  and  explain  the  reactions  and  changes 
which  take  place  during  its  formation.    Give  a  formula  for  the  reaction. 
No.  5.  State  the  mode  of  preparing  Chlorate  of  Potassa  and  give  in  symbols 
the  rationale  of  its  formation. 
No.  6.  In  what  degree  of  oxidation  is  it  best  to  detect  iron  ?    Give  the  tests  to 
be  used  and  their  effect,  and  also  state  in  what  officinal  preparations 
iron  cannot  thus  be  directly  detected. 
No.  7.  What  "Alums"  are  officinal?    Give  a  general  formula  (in  symbols)  of 
their  composition. 
