Am.  Joxm.  Pharm.  ) 
Jan.  1, 1873.  $ 
Minutes  of  the  College. 
41 
he  thought  they  would  agree  with  him  that  it  was  likely  to  be  a  very  potent  one 
indeed.  Speaking  theoretically,  he  thought  it  ought  to  prove  one  of  the  most 
powerful  anaesthetics  known.  The  croton  chloral  hydrate  smells  of  lemon.  It 
is  formed  by  two  molecules  of  aldehyde,  less  one  molecule  of  water,  the  three 
atoms  of  hydrogen  being  replaced  by  three  atoms  of  chlorine;  croton  chloral 
was  the  result,  the  hydrate  forming  the  beautiful  crystalline  body  before  them. 
The  following  papers  were  then  read  and  discussed:  Apparatus  for  Macera- 
ting, by  Mr.  R.  W.  Giles  ;  On  the  Extracts  containing  Chlorophyll,  by  Mr.  J. 
B.  Barnes  :  A  Dispensing  Note  on  Chloral  Hydrate,  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Plumer;  On 
Sulphuretted  Antimony,  Official  and  Commercial,  by  Mr.  J.  Moss. 
The  North  British  Branch  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  opened  its  new 
rooms  on  November  22d.  The  president,  Mr.  H.  C.  Baildon,  delivered  the  in- 
troductory address,  after  which  Mr.  J.  Mackay  read  a  paper  on  Pharmaceutical 
Education,  which  elicited  an  animated  discussion.  A  number  of  specimens  and 
books  were  presented  to  the  museum  and  library,  both  of  which  are  being  made 
available  to  all  connected  with  the  society  every  day  from  10  A.  M.  till  4  P.  M.9. 
and,  Saturdays  excepted,  in  the  evening  from  6  till  10  o'clock. 
Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Paris. — Mr.  Stan.  Martin  presided  at  the  meet?- 
ing  held  October  2d.  After  the  presentation  of  books  and  specimens,  Mr. 
Mehu  read  several  extracts  from  English  and  American  journals,  treating  of 
the  means  to  avoid  mistakes  in  dispensing. 
Mr.  Marais  exhibited  specimens  of  orange-flower  water,  made  by  distillation 
with  steam,  and  preserved  for  12  years ;  distilled  over  the  naked  fire,  it  cannot 
be  kept  for  that  length  of  time.  His  method  of  preparation  is  to  pass  a  jet  of 
steam  into  Soubeiran's  alembic,  containing  a  mixture  of  equal  weights  of  flow- 
ers and  hot  water.  Mr.  Martin  stated  that  this  distilled  water,  if  well  prepared, 
yields  to  chloroform  a  very  agreeable  odorous  principle. 
Mr.  Roucher  showed  several  varieties  of  oxide  of  lead,  of  a  yellow,  bronze, 
black  and  red  purple  color,  the  latter  being  obtained  by  acting  upon  the  hy- 
drated  oxide  with  a  rather  concentrated  solution  of  caustic  potassa. 
Mr.  Planchon  exhibited  English  rhubarb  as  found  in  French  commerce  i 
though  resembling  to  some  extent  Chinese  rhubarb,  it  is  readily  distinguished 
from  it  by  being  less  marbled  upon  the  fracture  and  by  the  absence  of  the  dia- 
mond shaped  meshes  upon  the  surface  ;  it  is  probably  obtained  from  Rheum 
rhapontic'um.  A  new  kind  of  rhubarb  from  the  Amoor  river,  which  possesses 
the  characters  of  a  medium  quality  of  Chinese  rhubarb,  sells  in  London  at  4  to 
6  francs  per  kilogram.  Mr.  Marais  stated  that  for  some  time,  Austrian  rhu- 
barb was  endeavored  to  be  introduced  into  commerce. 
Mr.  Lebaigne  read  a  paper  on  the  best  means  to  avoid  mistakes  in  pharma- 
cies, which  created  a  long  discussion,  the  subject  being  at  last  postponed  to  the 
next  meeting. 
A  stated  meeting  of  the  College  was  held  December  30th,  1872,  Dillwyn  Par- 
rish,  President,  in  the  chair;  14  members  present.  The  minutes  of  the  last 
