48 
Pharmaceutical  Meeting. 
[Am.  Jour.  Phurm. 
\    January,  18!  9. 
An  interesting  communication  on  "  Pharmacopceial  Preparations  from  an 
Economical  Standpoint"  was  read  by  Wm.  L.  Cliffe,  in  the  absence  of  the 
author,  Chas.  H.  La  Wall.  Several  questions  pertaining  to  the  economical  side 
of  pharmacy  were  taken  up  by  the  writer,  but  the  one  which  is  of  vital  import- 
ance and  which  seems  the  most  difficult  to  adjust  is  that  of  compensation  for 
service  rendered.  As  stated  by  the  author,  the  opinion  seems  to  prevail 
among  the  laity  that  the  pharmacist  realizes  immense  profits  on  everything  he 
sells.  Such  an  opinion  is  very  far  from  the  truth,  however,  as  shown  by  the 
arguments  used.  In  conclusion,  the  author  said  that  increased  requirements 
for  pharmacists  should  be  accompanied  by  increased  remuneration  for  services 
rendered,  and  that  no  true  progress  can  be  made  until  equilibrium  is  estab- 
lished in  this  direction.  This  paper  will  appear  in  a  later  issue  of  this 
Journal. 
Those  remarking  on  the  subject  of  this  paper  were  Messrs.  Thompson,  Eng- 
land and  Kebler. 
A  "  Note  on  Specific  Gravity,"  by  Thos.  S.  Wiegand,  was  read  by  Wm.  B. 
Thompson.    (Seep.  26.) 
Mr.  Kebler  said  that  in  taking  specific  gravity  it  is  important  to  observe  cer- 
tain conditions;  as,  for  instance,  that  of  temperature,  in  order  to  obtain  con- 
cordant results;  this  also  applied  to  other  constants. 
Having  continued  his  work  for  the  Committee  on  Revision  of  the  Pharma- 
copoeia, Lyman  F.  Kebler  presented  in  abstract  a  paper  having  the  following 
title:  "The  Physical  and  Chemical  Properties  of  Lithium  Benzoate  and 
Lithium  Salicylate."  Some  rather  interesting  results  were  reported  by  the 
author,  as  well  as  some  important  recommendations  in  regard  to  testing  the 
above  salts,  but  these  will  not  be  dwelt  upon  here,  as  the  paper  will  be  pub- 
lished in  full  in  a  subsequent  issue  of  this  Journal. 
The  following  were  exhibited:  A  sample  of  excellent  saffron  grown  in 
Lebanon  County,  Pa.,  and  another  of  the  best  commercial  saffron  offered  in 
this  country.  These  w7ere  sent  by  Jos.  L.  Lemberger,  of  Lebanon,  for  purposes 
of  comparison,  the  Lebanon  County  saffron  being  considered  by  him  to  furnish 
the  type  for  this  drug  on  account  of  its  freedom  from  contamination. 
•  In  reply  to  a  query  as  to  why  saffron  should  be  kept  moist,  Mr.  England  said 
that  it  was  probably  on  account  of  volatile  oil. 
Mr.  W.  S.Weakley,  a  student  of  the  College,  reported  the  presence  of  a  resin  in 
the  stigmas,  and  it  was  suggested  that  the  presence  of  this  constituent  might 
contribute  toward  the  effect  produced  on  the  eyes  of  those  handling  this  drug. 
vSpecimens  of  a  species  of  Lemna,  or  duckweed,  which  grows  in  the  canals 
and  ditches  of  Holland,  were  received  from  Prof.  J.  B.  Nagelvoort.  This 
species,  known  as  the  red  Lemna,  is  said  to  be  very  abundant  there  and  to  have 
encroached  on  the  territory  of  Lemna  polyrhiza,  the  most  common  species. 
Owing  to  its  color  in  the  fresh  state,  which  is  said  to  vary  from  the  common 
red  brown  of  Fe20;;  to  the  more  reddish  tinge  of  Sb2S;j,  the  ditches  have  more 
the  appearance  of  roadways  than  of  waterways. 
Mr.  Kebler  reported  that  in  a  consignment  of  aconite  which  he  recently  ex- 
amined four  bails  assayed  well,  while  one  was  found  to  contain  25  per  cent,  of 
tormentilla,  specimens  of  the  aconite  and  of  the  adulterant  being  exhibited. 
On  motion,  the  meeting  adjourned. 
Florence  YaplE,  Secretary  pro  tern. 
