Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June  1 
Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  299 
The  last  meeting  of  the  season  was  held  in  the  Hall  of  the  College,  May  9, 
1874. 
The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  A.  P.  Brown,  who  was  appointed  Pres- 
ident pro  tern. 
Prof.  Maisch  presented  a  copy  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  American  Acad- 
emy of  Arts  and  Sciences,  which  was  received  with  thanks.  Also  a  sample  of 
insect  powder  jloivers,  Pyrethrum  roseum,  from  Betanelly  &  Co.  A  discussion 
took  place,  during  which  it  was  stated  that  the  powder  made  from  the  above 
flowers  possessed  a  more  decided  and  somewhat  different  odor  from  that  gen- 
erally seen  in  the  market;  and  it  was  stated  that,  in  powdering,  large  quantities 
of  insect  powder  flowers  were  fraudulently  mixed  with  old  chamomile  flowers, 
matricaria,  etc. 
Jos.  P.  Remington  presented,  on  behalf  of  Mr,  Blackman  of  Newport,  R.  I., 
through  T.  H.  Hazard,  a  thirty  grain  suppository  mould,  constructed  on  the 
principle  described  in  the  minutes  of  last  meeting,  The  thanks  of  the  College 
were  directed  to  be  forwarded  for  the  gift. 
Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  a  sample  of  the  leaves  of  Liatris  odoratissima,  which 
were  obtained,  through  T.H.  Hazard,  from  Florida.  They  are  used  for  perfum- 
ing tobacco,  preserving  cloths,  etc.,  and  contain  coumarin  as  per  analysis  of 
Prof.  Procter* 
A.  P.  Brown  called  the  attention  of  the  meeting  to  the  miserable  quality  of 
the  oil  of  sandal  wood  as  generally  furnished  by  the  wholesale  druggists.  He 
showed  a  specimen  of  pure  oil  which  possessed  the  usual  persistent  odor, 
whilst  the  other  was  of  a  thicker  consistence,  weaker  in  odor  and  had  the 
smell  of  oil  of  copaiba  in  addition. 
A  communication  from  Mr.  Wilder  was  read  by  the  registrar,  as  follows  : 
Cudbear  versus  Cochineal. 
I  have  often  wondered  why  cudbear  (Lecanora  tartarea)  never  has  been 
proposed  as  a  coloring  agent  for  elixirs,  etc.,  instead  of  cochineal.  It  has  at 
least  that  one  good  property  of  not  reacting  with  iron  salts,  whether  proto  or 
sesqui.  Its  only  fault  is  that,  when  largely  diluted  with  water,  (the  alcoholic 
solution)  it  acquires  a  bluish  (violet)  tinge,  very  perceptible  by  shaking.  This 
can,  however,  be  remedied  by  the  cautious  addition  of  a  drop  or  two  of  any 
diluted  acid.  I  say  cautious  because,  with  acids,  its  rich  carmine  color  turns 
brick-red  (which  color  in  itself  is  beautiful  enough). 
Thinking  that  the  cudbear  might  react  with  some  salts,  so  as  to  give  a  muddy 
or  otherwise  unsightly  color,  I  examined  its  behaviour  to  the  following  tests  : 
Ammonia. — Violet  shade  (gives  a  splendid  show-color.) 
Acids. — Brick-red  (according  to  proportion  and  strength;  diluted  acids  act 
either  as  simple  diluents  or  brighten  the  color.) 
Ammon.  chlorid.  ] 
Potass,  nitr. 
Potass,  bicarbon.     }  A  bluish  (violet)  shade. 
Sodii  bicarbon. 
Magnes.  sulph.  J 
*  See  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1850,  p.  55P,  and  18(36,  p.  443. 
