494 
PBOCEEDINGS  OF  THE 
on  the  actual  history  of  the  iodine  manufacture  of  Europe,  giving 
all  the  details  of  manufacture,  statistics,  etc.,  wanted,  to  aid  any 
who  may  feel  disposed  to  enter  on  the  production  in  this  country. 
The  paper  of  Mr.  Porteus  was  referred  to  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, and  the  thanks  of  the  Association  directed  to  be 
tendered  to  the  author.  [See  the  sequel  for  this  paper. — Editor.] 
An  invitation  was  received  from  Peter  Williamson,  Esq.,  Grand 
Master  of  Masons  for  Pennsylvania,  to  visit  their  Hall,  which 
was  accepted  for  this  afternoon,  with  thanks  for  the  courtesy. 
Also,  an  invitation  from  Dr.  Joseph  Parrish,  Superintendent 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Training  School  for  feeble-minded  children, 
was  accepted,  and  similarly  disposed  of. 
4.  The  manufacture  of  Castor  Oil  as  a  branch  of  American  industry. 
What  is  the  estimated  crop  of  beans  for  1856,  where  grown,  and  what  the 
amount  of  oil  extracted  up  to  August  1st,  1857  ?  To  what  uses  besides 
medicine  is  the  oil  put,  and  how  far  short  of  the  domestic  consumption  is 
the  production  ? 
No  communication  having  been  received  from  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain, of  St.  Louis,  to  whom  it  was  referred  without  permission, 
the  subject  was  dismissed  from  the  list. 
5.  It  is  said  that  Hyoscyamus  niger  has  become  naturalized  in  some 
parts  of  Michigan,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Detroit.  How  does  the  medici- 
nal power  of  this  native  grown  plant  compare  with  that  of  the  best  Euro- 
pean grown  drug  ? 
Was  reported  on  by  F.  Stearus,  of  Detroit,  who  read  the  re- 
port, and  illustrated  it  with  specimens  of  the  plant,  and  several 
pharmaceutical  preparations  from  it  and  the  foreign  leaves. 
The  paper  was  referred  to  the  Executive  Committee  for  pub- 
lication. 
6.  What  is  the  actual  state  of  the  production  of  volatile  oils  in  the 
United  States,  and  more  especially  in  Ohio,  New  York,  and  New  Jersey, 
as  regards  quantity,  quality,  and  locality,  together  with  remarks  on  the 
trade  in  volatile  oils  generally  ;  their  adulterations  and  tests. 
This  subject  was  accepted  by  E.  S.  Wayne,  of  Cincinnati,  but 
no  report  being  received,  it  was  dismissed  from  the  list. 
7.  What  measures,  if  any,  have  been  taken  to  introduce  the  culture  of 
liquorice  root  into  the  United  States,  and  to  what  extent  have  they  suc- 
ceeded ? 
This  paper  was  referred  without  permission  to  Mr.  Laidley,  of 
