504  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.    { As?pte0mbe?,^m' 
The  practice  of  keeping  pyroxylon  in  water  was  considered  objectionable,  as 
decomposition  is  thus  brought  about. 
INDIAN  BAEL  AND  ITS  PREPARATIONS. 
By  A.  C.  Abraham. 
The  pulp  was  regarded  as  the  active  portion  of  the  fruit,  and  clinical  experi- 
ments to  support  this  claim  were  brought  forth.  Some  portions  of  the  B.  P. 
process  for  making  the  fluid  extract  were  somewhat  obscure,  but  were  eluci- 
dated by  the  author  with  the  result  that  a  more  satisfactor}^  preparation  was 
obtained.  The  recognition  of  bael  fruit,  by  the  British  alone,  of  European 
Pharmacopoeias,  indicated  the  indifference  with  which  it  was  regarded. 
LIQUOR  AURI  ET  ARSENII  BROMATUS. 
By  R.  Wright. 
The  following  formula  was  submitted  as  speedy  and  reliable  : 
Arsenious  acid  (in  powder)  40  grains. 
Potassium  carbonate  40  " 
Bromine  100  " 
Gold  (in  leaf)  13*5  " 
Distilled  water,  sufficient  for  1  pint. 
Boil  the  arsenious  acid  and  potassium  carbonate  with  4  ounces  of  distilled 
water  until  solution  is  complete.  Add  12  ounces  of  distilled  water  to  the 
gold-leaf  placed  in  a  wide-mouthed  bottle,  then  run  in  the  bromine  and  shake 
until  the  latter  is  dissolved.  Add  the  first  solution  and  shake  for  a  few  seconds. 
Transfer  to  a  flask  and  boil  until  bromine  fumes  cease  to  be  given  off.  Allow 
to  cool;  add  distilled  water  to  make  1  pint  and  filter. 
ESSENCE  OF  RENNET. 
By  J.  A.  Forret. 
The  speed  with  which  the  author's  method  can  be  carried  out  was  the  princi- 
pal point  in  its  favor.  Three  or  four  calves'  stomachs,  preserved  in  the  dry  con- 
dition, were  macerated  for  one  hour  in  50  ounces  of  a  10  per  cent,  solution  of 
salt,  repeating  this  operation  twice.  To  the  strained  liquids  ]/2  per  cent,  of 
boric  acid  and  10  per  cent,  of  alcohol  were  added,  filtration  being  facilitated  by 
the  addition  of  about  an  ounce  of  kaolin. 
THE  EFFECT  OF  SOLVENTS  ON  THE  ANALYTICAL  CHARACTERS 
OF  GINGER. 
By  J.  F.  Fiverseege 
The  author  instituted  a  series  of  experiments  for  determining  the  character 
of  the  commercial  article,  but  concluded  that  probably  the  simplest  way  of 
detecting  sophistication  with  spirit  of  ginger  was  to  determine  the  cold  water 
and  methylated  spirit  extracts. 
CHINESE  OPIUM. 
By  Frank  Browne. 
In  a  previous  paper  the  author  communicated  some  notes  on  the  smoking 
value  of  Chinese  opium.  On  further  observation  he  came  to  the  conclusion 
that,  as  regards  narcotizing  power,  the  extracts  of  Chinese  opium  are  inferior 
to  the  opium  of  India,  although  the  former  contain  large  quantities  of  mor- 
phine. 
