Am.  Jour^ Pharm. I        American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  oil 
of  a  century,  he  still  takes  great  interest  in  pharmacy,  and  still  prepares 
most  of  the  medicines  used  by  himself  and  family. 
A  number  of  papers  were  read  and  discussed,  and  a  larger  number,  for 
want  of  time  to  read  them,  were  referred  for  publication. 
After  passing  votes  of  thanks  to  the  Local  Secretary  and  his  co-laborers, 
to  the  Entertainment  Committee,  and  to  the  drug  trade  and  citizens  of 
Pittsburg  and  vicinity,  the  thirty-third  annual  meeting  came  to  a  close. 
The  following  papers  were  presented  to  the  Association  : 
Phamaceutical  Notes,  by  H.  T.  Cummings,  M.  D.,  of  Portland,  Maine. 
Ergot,  deprived  of  fixed  oil  by  petroleum  benzin,  yielded  a  fluid  extract, 
which  retained  its  efficiency  after  standing  for  three  years.  The  powdering 
of  crude  opium  may  be  facilitated  by  washing  it  with  benzin.  Bulky  vege- 
table drugs,  like  leaves,  flowers,  etc.,  when  powdered,  are  thereby  reduced 
in  volume.  The  specific  gravity  of  liquids  may  be  taken  by  accurately 
weighing  ten  cubic  centimeters  of  the  same.  Water  containing  organic 
and  mineral  impurities,  may  be  purified  by  alum,  of  which  ]  Gm.  was  in 
one  case  sufficient  for  two  quarts  of  foul  smelling  and  dark  colored  water 
taken  from  the  bottom  of  a  cistern. 
Precipitates  iyi  Fluid  Extracts,  by  Prof.  J.  U.  Lloyd .  This  is  a  continuation 
of  the  researches  reported  in  previous  years.  Strong  solutions  of  seven  chemi- 
cal compounds  were  treated  with  strips  of  filtering  paper  to  complete  satu- 
ration ;  the  remaining  solution,  in  all  instances,  retained  less  of  the  chemi- 
cal than  it  orignally  contained;  but  the  liquid  expressed  from  the  paper^ 
instead  of  being  stronger  than  the  original  solution,  was  in  all  cases  iveaker. 
The  solutions  of  citric  acid  and  of  ammonium  carbazotate  expressed  from 
the  paper  were  of  about  the  same  strength  as  the  solutions  left  from  the 
original  ones  after  having  been  partly  absorbed  by  the  paper.  Still  weaker 
expressed  solutions  were  obtained  with  berberine  hydrocblorate,  sulphuric 
acid,  oxalic  acid,  quinine  hydrocblorate  and  quinine  bisulphate.  The  first 
portions  of  the  expressed  solution  of  the  last  named  salt  having  formed 
crystals  within  a  few  minutes.  Mr.  Hallberg  suggested  that  this  might  be 
due  to  the  abstraction  of  sulphuric  acid  and  the  formation  of  the  less  sohi- 
ble  diquinine  sulphate.  Prof.  Ijloyd  had  found  it  necessary  to  add  sul- 
phuric acid  in  order  to  dissolve  the  crystallized  salt  in  the  liquid.  Prof. 
Prescott  spoke  of  the  importance  of  these  investigations  for  theoretical 
science,  and  as  aiding  the  explanation  of  the  true  causes  for  the  necessity 
of  prolonged  washing  of  precipitates  and  for  other  chemical  operations. 
The  Preparation  of  Oalenieal  Liquids  from  Fluid  Extracts,  by  Prof. 
O.  A.  Wall.  The  author  sums  up  his  arguments  by  stating  that  tinctures 
and  wines  may  be  legitimately  made  from  fluid  extracts,  likewise  most 
syrups  when  they  can  be  made  that  way,  while  the  solutions  of  fluid 
extracts  in  water  which  generally  are  superior,  are  yet  frequently  so  differ- 
ent from  infusions  and  decoctions  in  strength,  and  occasionally  in  mode  of 
action,  that  they  cannot  indiscriminately  be  used  one  for  tlie  other  without 
the  expressed  consent  of  the  prescribing  physician. 
Coloring  Elixirs,  by  J.  W.  Caldwell,  Detroit.  This  is  advocated  solely 
because  it  is  required  by  the  physician  and  the  public.  A  red  color  from 
cochineal  is  suggested  for  the  elixirs  containing  bromides,  valerianates^ 
alkaloids  or  chloral ;  a  tincture  made  of  cudbear  is  recommended  for  iodides. 
