522 
Pharmaceutical  Colleges,  etc. 
(Am.  Jouk.  Phakm. 
t     Nov.  1,]  872. 
Dr.  Pile  read  an  interesting  paper  on  a  new  application  of  tube  hydrometers 
in  taking  the  specific  gravity  of  liquids.  The  paper  was  referred  to  the  Publi- 
cation Committee  * 
Prof.  Maisch  read  a  communication  from  Dr.  X.  Landerer,  pf  Athens,. 
Greece,  giving  an  account  of  the  discovery,  26  years  ago,  in  the  plains  of 
Pikermi.  of  bones  of  antediluvian  animals,  among  which  the  following  specie* 
have  been  recognized  :  Mesopithecus  pentelicus,  Hyaena  eximia,  Hyaena  Ohei" 
reti,  Canes  (diversae  species),  Thulassodyctis,  Felis  Attica,  Machaerodon  cultri- 
dens,  Histrix  Attica,  Rhinoceros  Schleyermacheri,  Rhinoceros  pachygnathus^ 
Dinotherium,  Sus  Erymantheus,  Mastodon,  Hippotherium  gracile  (Equus  pri- 
mogenus,  frequentissimum),  Helladotherium  Atticum,  Helladotherium  Duver- 
nay,  Palaeotragus  amalthea,  Palaeonyx,  Palaeorcas,  Gazellae  (diversae  species)* 
Testudinum  marmorum. 
Professor  Maisch  exhibited  specimens  of  squill,  cut  in  transverse  slices,, 
which  have  been  sent  by  Mr.  James  B.  Heyl,  of  Hamilton,  Bermuda.  Mr* 
Heyl  cultivates  the  squill,  and  employs  the  fresh  bulb  in  preparing  the  tincture,, 
vinegar,  syrup  and  compound  syrup,  specimens  of  which  were  likewise  exhibited. 
The  sample  is  the  red  variety  of  squill,  which  is  considered  more  efficient  than? 
the  white.  Dr.  Pile  stated  that  fresh  squill  formerly  appeared  in  our  commerce, 
and  that  the  vitality  of  the  bulbs  was  preserved  by  keeping  them  in  sand  in 
the  cellar.  It  was  suggested  that  the  plant  might  be  cultivated  in  the  South- 
ern States,  and  a  supply  of  fresh  bulbs  then  easily  obtained.  In  the  countries 
bordering  on  the  Mediterranean,  where  the  squill  is  indigenous  or  has  become 
naturalized,  the  fresh  is  invariably  preferred  to  the  dry  article. 
Prof.  Maisch  also  showed  specimens  of  sneezeweed,  collected  by  Mr.  Chas. 
S.  Brown  in  Mississippi  and  Tennessee.  The  plant,  which  is  very  acrid,  is- 
considered  a  deadly  poison  to  horses  in  the  south-western  portion  of  the  United 
States.  A  comparison  with  specimens  of  Helenium  autumnale,  Linn.,  taken 
from  the  College  herbarium,  and  collected  near  Philadelphia,  proved  the  iden- 
tity of  the  different  plants,  and  that  the  sneezeweed,  to  which  the  poisonous 
properties  are  attributed,  is  not  Helenium  tenuifolium,  Nuttall,  as  stated  by 
Dr.  J.  M.  Bigelow.f  No  informatin  has  as  yet  been  received  that  the  plant 
grown  in  the  Middle  States  is  regarded  as  poisonous. 
Prof.  Procter  stated  that  mesquite  gum  obtained  in  Texas,  from  Algarobia,. 
is  said  to  have  been  shipped  in  some  quantity  to  Europe,  for  what  purpose 
being  unknown. 
The  meeting  then  adjourned. 
William  McIntyre,  Registrar  pro  tern. 
f  Ijarmamttol  Colleges  anir  Initiations, 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. — The  attendance  at  the  lectures  in 
this  institution  is  so  large  that  additional  seats  had  to  be  provided  for.  The 
course  was  opened  on  the  second  of  October,  the  introductory  lecture  beings 
delivered  by  Professor  Maisch. 
*See  page  481  of  the  present  number. 
f  See  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1872,  July,  308. 
