564  Minutes  of  Pharmaceutical  Meetings. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharb^ 
Dec.  1,  1872. 
The  Fever  Tree. — Dr.  Pedro  L.  N.  Chernovis,  of  Bahia,  in  a  late  number  ot 
the  "  Gazeta  Medica  da  Bahia,"  gives  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  history* 
uses,  propagation,  medical  and  miscellaneous  properties  of  the  Eucalyptus 
globulus,  an  immense  tree  introduced  into  various  provinces  of  Brazil  from 
Australia,  and  called,  as  in  Spain,  arvore  dafebre,  from  its  "  marvellous  results 
in  the  treatment  of  intermittent  fevers."  The  tree  is  colossal,  sometimes 
attaining  a  height  of  300  feet  and  a  diameter  of  30  feet.  All  parts  are  aroma- 
tic, less  so  in  the  trunk  and  bark,  more  so  in  the  small  roots,  flowers  and  leaves. 
It  is  a  comparatively  new  medicine  of  much  promise,  and  is  given  internally 
for  intermittent  fever,  in  doses  of  from  one  to  four  drachms  of  the  powdered 
leaves — twice  during  the  intermissions — or  in  infusion  (two  drachms  in  four 
ounces  of  boiling  water),  morning  and  evening.  Aqueous  and  alcoholic  extracts, 
in  doses  of  from  two  to  eight  grains,  are  also  used  for  the  same  disease.  One 
or  two  drops  of  its  essential  oil,  on  sugar,  in  pill  or  capsule,  are  advised  in 
bronchial  and  pulmonary  affections,  laryngitis  and  catarrhal  aphonia. — Boston 
Med.  and  Surg.  Journ.,  Oct.  24,  1872. 
Sftimtfs  of  %  ffcarmatflitiral  Iteetinjps. 
A  pharmaceutical  meeting  was  held  Tuesday  afternoon,  Nov.  19th,  1872, 
William  B.  Webb  in  the  chair. 
Minutes  of  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 
Mr.  Remington  made  some  remarks  on  ceresin,  a  new  substitute  for  white 
wax.  It  is  obtained  from  ozokerite,  or  fossil  wax,  found  in  Gallicia,  Ozoke- 
rite is  distilled  between  250°  and  300°  centigrade,  to  separate  liquid  oils;  the 
residue  is  treated  with  Nordhausen  sulphuric  acid  to  separate  impurities.  It 
is  then  refined  by  a  simple  process,  and  sent  into  commerce.  The  commercial 
article  is  used  principally  in  the  manufacture  of  candles,  as  a  substitute  for 
wax  or  paraffin,  differing  from  paraffin  by  its  greater  opacity,  and  not  being 
unctuous  to  the  touch,  and  its  behavior  when  treated  with  various  solvents, 
— ether,  boiling  alcohol,  turpentine,  benzin.  Chloroform  dissolves  both  paraffin 
and  ceresin  to  greater  or  less  extent,  and  each  is  deposited  from  warm  solution 
in  a  different  manner,  paraffin  being  unchanged  on  cooling  on  the  sides  of  the 
vessel,  whilst  ceresin  is  a  heavy  flocculent  precipitate.  Ceresin  costs  90  florins 
per  50  kilos  in  Bremen,  equal  to  about  S46  gold  laid  down  here.  Tt  may  be 
used  to  adulterate  wax,  or  as  a  substitute,  resembling  it  quite  closely  in  frac- 
ture, but  being  a  little  white  in  color. 
Prof.  Maisch  presented  to  the  College  several  pamphlets  on  pharmaceutical 
subjects,  donated  by  Dr.  Theod.  Peckolt,  and  styled  Analyses  de  Materia  Med- 
ica Brasileira  dos  productos  que  Ferao  premiados  nus  Exposigoes  nacionals 
e  na  exposao  universal  de  Paris  em  1867.  Explicagoes  sobre  a  Colleceao 
de  Pharmacognosia  e  Chimica  Organica,  etc.  Enviada  a  Exposiqao  Nacional. 
Historia  das  Plantas  Alimentaras  e  de  gozo  Do  Brasil  contendo  generalidades 
sobrea  agricultura  Brasileira,  a  cultura,  uso  e  composicao  chimica  de  cada  uma 
dellas.    Also,  a  treatise  on  "  Guarana  oder  Urana.''    Also,  on  "  Lophophytum 
