Amju°ne1;'i89huarm'}  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  307 
When  the  discussion  on  proposition  10  was  opened,  it  soon  became  apparent 
that  the  views  of  the  members  on  the  subject  differed  widely.  While  quite  a 
number  strongly  favored  the  retention  of  parts  by  weight,  others  were  strongly 
opposed  thereto  upong  rounds  whichdid  not  differ  from  the  arguments  used  ten 
and  more  years  ago.  But  those  who  favored  the  use  of  measures  for  liquids, 
though  they  appeared  to  be  in  the  majority,  were  by  no  means  united  upon  the 
kind  of  measure,  since  nearly  all  seemed  to  favor  the  closest  and  most  simple 
relation  between  measures  and  weights  ;  the  metric  system  offered  the  only 
solution  of  the  difficulty,  and  when  the  amendment  recommending  that  system 
for  adoption  was  put  to  vote,  there  was  not  a  single  nay  heard  in  opposition. 
In  going  back  to  the  use  of  measures  of  capacity,  however,  it  was  recognized 
that  certain  liquids,  like  acids,  viscid  oils,  etc.,  are  better  adapted  for  weighing; 
and  discretion  was  given  to  the  Committee  in  this  respect.  The  italicized  por- 
tion of  Section  10,  as  printed  above,  comprises  the  two  amendments  referred  to. 
After  the  adoption  of  the  "principles"  as  a  whole,  a  proposition  was  made 
and  adopted,  that  at  a  suitable  time  preceding  the  next  Convention  in  the  year 
1900,  the  President  appoint  a  Committee  of  Seven  to  examine  all  the  credentials 
prior  to  the  day  of  meeting,  so  as  to  save  much  valuable  time  for  the  Conven- 
tion. Some  change  has  been  made  in  regard  to  representation  in  the  next 
Convention,  whereby  societies  incorporated  for  not  less  than  five  years  will  be 
entitled  to  send  delegates. 
A  motion  made  by  Mr.  Bbert  was  adopted  that  the  sum  of  $1,000  be  paid  to 
Dr.  Rice  for  his  services  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  1880,  but  Dr.  Rice 
declined  the  compliment. 
After  final  adjournment,  most  of  the  members  participated  in  an  excursion 
to  Mount  Vernon. 
The  Committee  of  Revision  and  Publication  has  effected  an  organization  by 
electing  Dr.  Rice,  Chairman  ;  Prof.  Remington,  Dr.  Bdes  and  Prof.  Dr.  Curtman, 
Vice-Chairmen  ;  Dr.  Castle,  Secretary,  and  Dr.  Flint,  Treasurer. 
.  MINUTES  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 
Philadelphia,  May  20,  1890. 
Mr.  Alonzo  Robbins  in  the  chair. 
The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read,  and  no  corrections  being  required 
they  were  approved. 
Mr.  Beringer  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Chas.  E.  Hires  presented  a  lithographic 
reproduction  of  some  photographs  of  the  vanilla  plant  and  the  methods 
adopted  in  preparing|the  fruit  for  the  market.  A  few  notes  on  this  subject,  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  Hires  were  read,  of  which  the  following  relate  to  the  preparation 
of  vanilla  for  the  market. 
' '  The  beans  are  gathered  in  the  fall — November,  or  early  December,  at  which 
time  the  beans  are  nearly  mature,  and  the  process  of  curing  commences  at 
once,  and  takes  from  three  to  four  months  to  complete,  when  the  task  of 
canning  and  bundling  is  proceeded  with,  which  takes  a  month  or  two  longer, 
so  that  the  crop  does  not  get  to  market  until  the  spring  or  summer  of  the  next 
year.  The  crop  of  1890  will  actually  be  the  crop  of  1889.  In  the  early  summer, 
the  vanilla  plant  bears  a  beautiful  white  flower,  which  grow  in  clusters  like  the 
