EDITORIAL. 
283 
$150,000.  Some  men  were  engaged  in  emptying  a  still  connected  with 
the  extensive  apparatus  for  extracting  cinchona,  in  the  manufacture  of 
Quinine,  when  in  some  way  not  well  understood,  an  explosive  condition 
of  the  atmosphere  of  the  room  from  the  escape  of  alcoholic  vapor  took 
place,  which  was  ignited  accidentally,  blew  out  the  side  wall,  burnt 
several  men  badly,  and  set  fire  to  the  buildings.  The  fire  invaded  the 
quinine  and  morphia  departments  which  is  the  main  cause  of  the  serious 
loss.  Besides  a  large  amount  of  bark  under  treatment  and  ready  for  use 
there  was  an  unusually  large  quantity  of  opium  in  course  of  extraction, 
(about  5000  pounds,)  only  a  small  portion  of  which  was  saved.  The 
value  of  iron  doors  as  a  protection  from  fire  was  shown.  In  one  direction 
the  fire  was  cutoff  by  them,  and  in  another  its  ravages  would  have  been 
stopped  but  that  some  one  in  the  hurry  had  opened  them  to  look  after  the 
fire  and  then  forgot  to  close  them.  With  their  usual  energy,  the  firm 
have  already  restored  part  of  the  buildings  and  have  partly  resumed  their 
operations  in  the  departments  injured. 
Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy. — The  Annual  Meeting  of  this  Insti- 
tution was  held  in  Rice's  Building,  March  10th,  and  was  largely  attended. 
The  proceedings  exhibited  a  healthy  and  energetic  condition  of  the  College 
and  a  determination  to  bravely  push  its  interests  forward.  On  the  first 
of  September  there  were  $1500  in  the  Treasury.  The  Library  Committee 
Fund  was  $725.  Two  lecturers  have  been  obtained  for  the  school  if 
finally  decided  on.  A  resolution  was  passed,  authorizing  the  Board  of 
Trustees  to  encourage  the  establishment  of  a  monthly  journal  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  Chemistry,  Pharmacy  and  the  collateral  sciences,  the 
same  to  be  published  by  authority  of  the  Chicago  College  of  Pharm- 
acy, and  to  be  assumed  by  the  College,  should  it  hereafter  desire  such  a 
Journal. 
The  "Board  of  Trustees  was  empowered  to  take  measures  to  establish 
a  course  of  lectures  on  Pharmacy. 
The  President,  E.  H.  Sargent,  delivered  the  annual  address.  He  con- 
gratulated the  members  on  the  increased  prosperity  of  the  College,  and 
on  the  prospect  of  greater  usefulness  in  future.  He  argued  that  Chicago 
was  large  enough  to  support  a  College  of  Pharmacy,  and  that  besides 
they  could  look  for  students  to  the  entire  North-west.  The  library  just 
commenced,  contains  125  volumes,  the  cabinet  700  specimens,  which  he 
expected  would  be  much  extended  by  Mr.  Ebert,  on  his  return  from 
Europe,  where  he  was  making  a  collection.  The  President  hoped  that 
the  Chicago  College  was  now  in  a  condition  to  invite  the  Association  to 
meet  there  next  year,  as  there  was  only  one  Western  city  that  contained 
more  members  than  Chicago.  After  some  other  business  the  annual 
election  was  held,  which  resulted  in  the  following  board  of  officers. 
President,  E.  H.  Sargent;  1st  Vice  President,  J.  W.  Mill;  2d  Vice 
President,  J.  W.  Ehrman  ;   Treasurer,  J.  P.  Sharp  ;  Secretary,  Louis 
