Am.  jour,  Pharm.  \ 
Sept.  1,  1873.  j 
Editorial. 
425. 
the  sketch  published  on  page  523  of  our  last  volumes  ;  in  the  materia  medica. 
course  no  division  is  announced  in  the  prospectus,  a  virtual  admission,  we  take 
it,  that  a  mere  division  of  the  courses  as  laid  out  by  the  older  colleges  is  not 
equivalent  to  the  adoption  of  a  really  progressive  system  of  study. 
We  trust  that  the  first  college  of  pharmacy  on  the  Pacific  coast  will  meet 
with  that  good  success  to  which  the  energy  of  its  officers  and  members  entitles  it. 
Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Paris  — At  the  meeting  held  July  2d,  M.  Stam 
Martin  presiding,  a  letter  was  read  from  the  President  of  the  Societe  de  pre- 
voyance  of  the  department  of  the  Seine,  calling  attention  to  the  advantages 
which  would  result  from  the  practical  examination  of  pharmaceutical  students;; 
several  provincial  associations  have  instituted  such  examinations,  and  the 
Paris  Society  is  requested  to  establish  them  also  for  the  department  of  the- 
Seine.  The  subject  was  referred  to  a  committee,  consisting  of  MM.  Boudet,. 
Roucher,  Mayet,  Blondeau  and  Marais,  for  consideration  and  report. 
M.  Edme  Bourgoin  exhibited  the  results  of  his  researches  on  the  influence  of 
heat  upon  succinate  of  silver  ;  if  this  salt  is  mixed  with  about  three  times  its 
weight  of  fine  sand,  and  gradually  heated  in  a  retort  to  180°  C,  vapors  are  dis- 
engaged continually  above  100°  C,  condensing  partly  into  an  oily  liquid,  partly 
into  crystals  ;  the  liquid  is  a  solution  of  maleic  acid  slightly  tinged  by  traces  of 
empyreumatic  products  ;  the  first  portion  of  the  sublimate  consists  likewise  of 
maleic  acid,  the  last  portion  of  succinic  acid  (Journ.  de  Pharm.  et  de  Ghim., 
1873,  Aug.,  83) 
M.  Martin  exhibited  China  and  Tartary  nutgalls,  which  M.  H.  Soubeiran 
stated  are  produced  by  Aphis  sinensis  upon  Dystilium  racemosum  ;  within  the 
galls  several  generations  of  female  insects  are  produced,  afterwards  winded 
males  and  females  copulating  in  the  air,  the  females  determining  the  growth  of 
the  galls  by  the  deposition  of  their  eggs. 
M.  Marais  exhibited  infusions  of  clove  pink,  peony  and  red  poppy,  made  botb 
with  distilled  and  with  common  water ;  the  latter  are  completely  altered,  while 
the  former  retain  their  agreeable  aroma  and  color.  M.  Boudet  remarked  that 
M.  Ward  has  demonstrated  this  long  since,  for  tea,  which  yields  a  more  agree- 
able infusion  with  much  less  tea,  if  distilled  water  is  used.  M.  Menu  said  that 
in  preparing  extracts  distilled  water  only  should  be  used. 
Mr.  Mehu  presented  specimens  of  ammonio-ferric  citrate  and  tartrate,  which 
he  obtained  of  definite  composition  from  the  ferrous  salt.* 
M.  Roucher  expressed  the  belief  that  the  ceresin  presented  lately  by  M. 
Grassi  contains  vegetable  wax  ;  he  showed  some  paraffin  obtained  from  ozo- 
kerite, which  is  a  very  different  product ;  it  exists  in  the  mineral  in  the  propor- 
tion of  55  per  cent. 
(ffbitorial  ^Department 
The  Eastern  Excursion  Trip  to  Richmond  to  the  meeting  of  the  American! 
Pharmaceutical  Association  has  been  altered  to  meet  the  wishes  of  many  mem- 
bers desiring  to  spend  together  Sunday,  Sept.  14.    The  excursion  via  York 
*  We  shall  refer  again  to  M.  Menu's  paper  in  our  next  number. — Ed.  Am.  Jodr.  Pharm. 
