592 
Editorials. 
Am.  Joi^r.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1890 
ment  that  some  manufacturers  were  very  careful  to  make  for  that  purpose  an 
ether  of  low  specific  gravity  containing  little  or  no  alcohol. 
Professor  Trimble  read  a  paper  upon  American  galls,  which  showed  that  some 
of  these  contained  notable  quantities  of  tannin. 
Professor  Maisch  said  he  was  gratified  to  hear  this  paper,  and  expressed  his 
opinion  that  the  white  oak  galls  would  never  become  of  commercial  value  ; 
but  that  the  galls  from  Onerous  virens  or  live  oak  of  our  Southern  States  were 
rich  in  tannin,  and  might  be  of  commercial  value  if  obtainable  at  a  reasonable 
price  and  in  sufficient  quantity.  It  would  also  be  interesting  to  have  the 
spongy  galls  of  the  Qnercus  lobata  of  California  examined  ;  these  are  of  a 
yellow  color,  blushed  with  red  on  one  side,  from  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a  half 
in  diameter,  and  contain  a  colony  of  insects.  Galls  are  also  found  on  some 
species  of  Solidago  and  other  plants.  The  whole  subject  is  very  interesting, 
and  deserving  of  further  and  closer  investigation. 
A  paper  upon  the  growth  of  the  Camphor  tree  in  Florida  was  read  by  Pro- 
fessor Maisch,  who  also  exhibited  a  little  of  the  crude  camphor  made  by  Messrs. 
A.  J.  Beach  &  Co.,  and  sent  to  Mr.  Heinitsh. 
Professor  Maisch  exhibited  specimens  of  the  metals  Aluminium  and  Mag- 
nesium made  on  a  large  scale  by  Mr.  Win.  Frischmuth,  Frankford  Avenue,  in 
this  city  ;  their  remarkable  lightness  attracted  attention,  as  well  as  the  bright- 
ness of  the  former,  and  the  thinness  to  which  it  has  been  rolled  out. 
Mr.  Beringer  had  received  specimen  of  a  plant  from  a  Virginia  physician, 
which  proved  to  be  Scrophularia  nodosa,  variety  marilandica ;  some  of  the 
roots  had  numerous  tubercles. 
Professor  Trimble  presented  a  sample  of  Cassie  from  Georgia,  the  odor  ot 
which  is  so  agreeable  that  it  is  largely  used  as  a  perfume  ;  but  it  has  the  singular 
property  of  imparting  a  strong  alliaceous  odor  to  the  breath  of  those  who  eat  it 
which,  while  unperceptible  to  the  user,  renders  his  company  intolerable  to  all 
near  him. 
There  being  no  further  business  on  motion  adjourned. 
T.  S.  Wiegand,  Registrar. 
EDITORIALS. 
The  Metric  System. — A  decree  recently  issued  by  the  Russian  Government 
directs  all  students  of  medicine  and  pharmacy  to  thoroughly  acquaint  them- 
selves with  the  metric  system  of  weights  and  measures,  it  being  the  intention 
of  rjojiiring,  in  the  course  of  five  years,  the  writing  and  compounding  of  pre- 
scriptions according  to  that  system. 
The  State  Pharmaceutical  Examining  Board  of  Pennsylvania  held  an 
examination  in  the  Central  High  School,  at  Philadelphia,  on  Monday,  October 
6,  and  in  the  College  of  Pharmacy,  at  Pittsburgh,  on  Tuesday,  October  7, 
1890.  One  hundred  and  seventeen  candidates  applied  for  Registered  Pharma- 
cists' certificates,  and  eighty  for  Qualified  Assistants'  certificates.  Forty-eight 
of  the  former,  and  forty-nine  of  the  latter  class  were  successful. 
