Apru?iP88b\rm'}  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  209 
MINUTES  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 
Philadelphia,  March  16,  1886. 
The  sixth  meeting  of  the  series  was  called  to  order  by  the  actuary,  and  Mr. 
Wm.  B.  Thompson  was  elected  chairman.  The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting 
were  read,  and,  requiring  no  corrections,  stand  approved. 
The  report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Education  for  the  years  1883  and  1884 
was  presented  by  the  actuary,  it  having  been  received  since  last  meeting.  It 
was  directed  to  be  placed  in  the  library. 
A  paper  on  Syrupus  Aurantii,  by  Geo.  M.  Beringer,  Ph.G.  of  Class  1880,  was 
read  by  the  actuary,  and,  on  motion  of  Mr.  England,  was  referred  to  the  Publi- 
cation Committee.  The  reading  elicited  quite  a  discussion  upon  the  subject. 
Mr.  Heinitsh  stated  that  it  was  his  custom  to  keep  a  stock  bottle  of  tincture 
made  from  fresh  peel,  and  thus  was  enabled  to  prepare  a  syrup  at  all  times. 
Mr.  Robert  England  stated  he  was  in  the  habit  of  making  a  tincture  of  the 
fresh  peel  deprived  of  the  inner  portion  with  a  mixture  of  two  parts  of  alcohol 
and  one  of  water,  using  about  two  ounces  of  the  fresh  peel  to  ten  ounces  of 
fluid  and  making  the  measure  up  to  a  pint  with  sugar  ;  this  is  used  almost  ex- 
clusively in  the  soda  water  department,  or  for  flavoring  in  prescriptions,  and 
really  is  more  of  an  elixir  than  a  syrup.  Mr.  Zeller  was  asked  whether  it  was 
not  thought  necessary  to  have  a  syrup  that  was  pharmaceutical ly  compatible 
with  the  various  remedies  frequently  prescribed  in  such  connection.  This  was 
answered  by  the  statement  that  the  syrup  made  as  suggested,  did  not  react  un- 
favorably with  the  ferruginous  salts. 
Mr.  Walling  asked  if  any  of  the  members  had  found  trouble  from  the  pres- 
ence of  ultramarine  in  sugar  ;  it  has  been  a  source  of  annoyance  to  him,  not  only 
as  introducing  a  foreign  color,  but  giving  after  a  short  time  an  odor  resembling 
that  of  stale  eggs.  The  same  question  had  been  asked  at  one  of  the  recent 
meetings  by  Mr.  Procter,  and  Mr.  Webb  said  that  one  large  refiner  stated  that 
he  did  not  use  ultramarine,  but  analysis  showed  an  abundance  of  it  present  in 
the  sugar  sold  by  this  firm.  Several  members  said  that  the  sugar  refined  at  the 
Franklin  refinery  did  not  show  it,  but  one  present  who  had  used  five  times  as 
much  as  almost  any  other  present,  had  been  greatly  annoyed  by  it  when  using 
this  brand.  Mr.  England  stated  that  he  had  gotten  rid  of  the  ultramarine  by 
adding  a  small  amount  of  isinglass  dissolved  and  added  to  the  syrup  which 
then  had  to  be  boiled.   This  acted  thoroughly  well. 
Mr.  Walling  asked  what  substance  could  be  advantageously  used  as  a  deodor- 
izer to  a  liquid  in  which  raw  hides  had  been  steeped;  the  discharge  of  this  water 
into  the  sewers  gave  great  offence  to  some  of  the  neighbors,  and  it  was  desirable 
to  be  able  to  prevent  the  ground  of  complaint.  Sulphate  of  iron  in  solution 
slightly  acidulated  was  recommended  to  be  tried. 
Mr.  Thompson  exhibited  crystalline  carbonate  of  ammonium  which  he  thought 
desirable  for  filling  smelling  bottles,  as  it  retained  its  strength  as  long  as 
the  salt  remained.  It  was  made  by  placing  ordinary  carbonate  of  ammonium 
in  ajar  and  covering  it  with  strong  water  of  ammonia;  after  standing  a  long 
time — for  it  had  been  forgotten — it  was  found  to  be  crystalline  and  quite  dry 
when  freed  from  the  surrounding  liquid. 
There  being  no  further  business,  on  motion  adjourned. 
T.  S.  Wiegand,  Registrar. 
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