Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1890. 
}  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting. 
199 
Mr.  Dunwody  read  a  paper  011  Krameria.  Prof.  Maisch  asked  whether  the 
percentage  of  tannin  found  was  not  considerably  lower  than  that  previously 
determined  by  Wittstein.  Prof.  Trimble  suggested  that  Wittstein  may  have 
had  a  fresher  sample  for  his  examination  ;  thus,  geranium,  while  fresh,  con- 
tained a  larger  percentage  of  tannin  than  after  drying  and  when  the  tissues 
had  become  red.  Mr.  Beringer  exhibited  samples  of  the  Brazilian  and  Peruvian 
krameria  root  examined  by  Mr.  Dunwody  ;  the  last-named  sample,  Prof.  Maisch 
said,  was  less  scaly,  much  thinner,  but  cleaner  and  of  handsomer  appearance 
than  the  commercial  article  of  25  or  30  years  ago. 
A  paper  upon  morphine  salts  and  hydrocyanic  acid  was  read  by  Prof.  Maisch, 
and  several  specimens  of  morphine  solutions  made  in  various  ways  were 
exhibited.  The  solution  in  distilled  water,  to  which  hydrocyanic  acid  had  been 
added,  remained  clear  ;  likewise  a  solution  in  bitter  almond  water,  the  latter 
having  been  prepared  by  dissolving  oil  of  bitter  almond  directly  in  water.  Mr. 
Beringer  showed  a  solution  of  morphine  sulphate  in  imported  cherry  laurel 
water,  which  had  deposited  a  crystalline  sediment.  On  testing  the  cherry 
laurel  water  he  had  found  it  to  contain  magnesia  and  to  yield,  in  the  usual 
manner,  a  decided  precipitate  of  ammonio-phosphate  of  magnesium  ;  the  water 
sold  as  distilled  cherry  laurel  water  appears  to  have  been  made  from  the  volatile 
oil  by  triturating  it  with  magnesia  and  water. 
A  specimen  of  Ceratum  Plumbi  subacetatis  was  shown,  and,  in  a  note  from 
Mr.  Andrew  Blair,  it  was  stated,  that  if  the  solution  of  basic  acetate  were  added 
to  the  melted  fatty  matters  when  barely  fluid,  the  preparation  would  keep  well, 
and  not  change  color. 
A  paper  upon  Bacteria,  by  A.  B.  Stewart,  Ph.G.,  was  read  and  referred  to  the 
Publication  Committee. 
A  paper  upon  Phhiol  sodique  was  read,  showing  that  the  solution  made 
according  to  the  formula  published  in  the  National  Formulary,  was 
much  too  strong  to  be  used  in  the  manner  directed  for  the  commercial  phenol 
sodique.  Mr.  Mclntyre  said  that  a  judicious  name  for  this  preparation  was 
wanted.  Dr.  Lowe  said  it  was  a  good  dressing  for  wounds,  promoting  healing 
by  first  intention. 
Mr.  Beringer  read  a  paper  upon  tincture  of  musk,  contrasting  the  strength 
with  that  of  the  German  pharmacopoeia,  and  recommending  diluted  alcohol 
as  a  menstruum. 
Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  a  number  of  very  handsome  and  instructive  botanical 
models,  made  by  Robert  Brendel,  of  Berlin,  Germany,  and  imported  by  him 
last  fall  for  illustrating  his  lectures.  These  models  are  made  on  a  larger  scale 
than  those  which  he  had  used  for  the  last  fifteen  years,  and  which  had  been 
made  by  the  same  firm.  The  models  comprise  flowers  of  nuphar,  polygala,- cen- 
taurea,  taraxacum,  sambucus,  salvia,  hyoscyamus,  ricinus,  humulus,  juniperus, 
and  others  ;  also,  the  yeast  plant  in  various  stages  of  development,  a  number 
of  fungi,  and  transverse  sections  of  six  ovaries,  showing  the  internal  structure. 
The  various  papers  read  were  all  referred  to  the  Publication  Committee. 
There  being  no  further  business  the  meeting  adjourned. 
T.  S.  WIEGAND,  Ri 
'(•oistrar. 
