MINUTES  OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA  COLLEGE. 
277 
an  enormous  price,  and  during  the  present  year  still  another  had  reached 
Paris.  This  was  found  in  a  sandy  alluvium,  at  a  depth  of  about  five 
feet,  and  is  entirely  perfect  with  the  exception  of  a  small  hole  at  one  end  , 
through  which  it  had  probably  been  emptied  by  some  native  in  early 
times.  The  dimensions  of  this  egg  are  much  the  same  as  the  one  re- 
ferred to ;  the  capacity  is  about  500  cubic  inches,  or  more  than  two 
,  gallons. 
Eemains  of  these  gigantic  eggs  are  not  very  numerous  among  the 
natives  of  that  portion  of  Madagascar  where  they  are  found,  and  are 
used  as  drinking  vessels.  Perfect  specimens  are,  however,  very  rare. 
There  is  a  tradition  in  the  country  that  the  bird  is  still  in  existence  in  the 
interior,  although  this  is  very  improbable.  That,  like  the  Dode,  the  Soli- 
taire and  the  Great  Auk,  it  has  disappeared  within  the  historical  period, 
is  quite  credible.  The  natives  maintain  that  the  bird  laid  but  one  egg, 
always  dying  soon  after. — Public  Ledger,  March  5,  1868. 
Deodorising  Petroleum. — Your  correspondent  0.  P.  A.  desires  to  re- 
ceive information  on  the  preparation  of  "  plumbate  of  soda,"  and  its  use 
and  application  in  deodorising  petroleum.  When  oxide  of  lead  or  litharge 
is  added  to  a  pretty  concentrated  solution  of  caustic  soda,  the  oxide  of 
lead  is  dissolved  therein,  and  maybe  considered  to  play  towards  the  soda 
the  part  of  an  acid  ;  the  clear  solution  may  be  used  with  advantage  to  de- 
prive petroleum  of  some  foul  smelling  compounds  it  may  happen  to  con- 
tain, especially  as  sometimes  occur  organic  sulphur  compounds,  by 
thoroughly  shaking  and  mixing  the  petroleum  with  the  plumbate  of  soda, 
and  afterwards  giving  sufficient  time  for  the  liquids  to  separate  in  two 
layers ;  the  upper  layer  being  the  petroleum,  the  latter  will  have  to  be 
washed  with  water  to  remove  the  adhering  soda,  and  should  then  be  de- 
prived of  moisture  by  applying  lumps  of  caustic  lime. — Dr.  A.  A. — Lon- 
don Chem.  News,  Jan.  10,  1868. 
The  47th  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy 
was  held  at  the  College  Hall,  Filbert  St.,  on  the  evening  of  the  30th  of 
March,  1868  ;  twenty-five  members  present. 
In  the  absence  of  the  President,  Yice-President  Dillwyn  Parrish  was 
called  to  the  Chair. 
The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 
The  minutes  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  were  read  by  Alfred  B.  Taylor, 
Secretary  of  the  Board.  By  the  reading  of  these  minutes  the  College  is 
informed  that  at  the  late  Commencement  the  diploma  of  the  College  was 
conferred  upon  forty-eight  graduates,  as  follows  : 
