90 
Minutes  of  the  College. 
5  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\     Feb.  1, 1871. 
elusion  of  such  communications,  the  presiding  officer  of  the  meeting  to  call  for 
any  remarks  that  may  be  elicited  by  the  subject  thus  introduced. 
2d.  That  there  should  be  appointed  annually  a  Standing  Committee,  con- 
sisting of  three  members,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  propose  subjects  for  dis- 
cussion at  any  of  our  meetings,  whenever  there  shall  be  a  lack  of  material  vol- 
untarily contributed  by  members. 
3d.  That  a  box  or  other  suitable  arrangement  be  provided  for  the  reception 
of  written  queries,  anonymous  or  otherwise,  which  members  may  desire  to  pro- 
pound, relating  to  any  subject  connected  with  the  shop  or  laboratory ;  which 
queries  may  be  taken  up  for  discussion  either  at  the  meeting  in  which  they  are 
proposed  or  at  a  subsequent  meeting. 
4th.  That  this  Committee  be  requested  to  obtain,  from  time  to  time,  the  ser- 
vices of  any  who  may  favor  the  meeting  with  lectures  suited  to  the  occasion. 
These  recommendations  were  adopted  in  parts  and  as  whole.  The  Commit- 
tee appointed  for  the  ensuing  year  was  Charles  Bullock,  Dr.  Pile,  and  Prof. 
Maisch. 
Dr.  Bridges  exhibited  a  specimen  of  marked  glass  cut  by  a  new  process,  in 
which  sand  is  blown  with  great  force  against  the  glass,  certain  portions  of 
which  is  protected  by  wire  of  different  shape,  or  by  gauze  or  lace,  the  figure 
of  which  is  left  on  the  smooth  glass  surface,  while  the  meshes  are  etched  by 
the  attrition  of  the  sand.  Wherever  the  sand  strikes,  the  impression  made 
resembles  ground  glass.  This  process  will  probably  supersede  ground  glass  in 
many  of  its  uses. 
Dr.  Pile  exhibited  a  sample  of  insoluble  gun  cotton,  made  in  the  form  of  gun 
wad,  being  very  explosive. 
Dr.  Bridges  explained  the  principle  of  the  spectroscope,  its  discovery,  and 
the  wonderful  results  obtained  by  its  use.  Although  this  species  of  chemical 
investigation  is  but  in  its  infancy,  the  results  so  far  obtained  are  marvellous, 
by  which  the  minutest  quantity  of  a  substance  is  detected  by  an  undeniable  and 
never-failing  color.  After  a  very  interesting  exhibition  of  spectroscopes  by 
the  Prof.,  assisted  by  Mr.  Bullock,  the  details  of  which  would  occupy  too  much 
space,  the  meeting  adjourned. 
At  the  meeting  held  on  December  20th,  among  other  things,  Dr.  Pile  pro- 
pounded and  solved  the  following  problems  : 
1st.  To  reduce  alcohol  of  given  strength  to  proof. 
2d.  To  reduce  alcohol  to  any  required  strength. 
3d.  To  make  any  required  quantity  of  either  of  the  above. 
Answer  to  Problem  1st. — Ascertain  the  percentage  of  the  alcohol  used,  and 
to  every  50  parts,  by  measure,  add  water  sufficient  to  make  the  whole  number 
of  parts  equal  to  the  percentage.  For  example,  if  the  alcohol  be  85  per  cent., 
then  to  50  ounces  add  water  sufficient  to  make  85  ounces. 
Answer  to  Prohlem  2d. — To  as  many  parts  of  the  given'  alcohol  as  are  indi- 
oated  by  the  percentage  required  add  sufficient  water  to  make  the  number  of 
parts  of  the  mixture  equal  to  the  percentage  of  the  given  alcohol.  For  exam- 
ple, If  it  is  desired  to  make  an  alcohol  of  30  per  cent,  from  an  alcohol  of  95  per 
cent.,  take  30  parts  of  the  alcohol,  add  water  sufficient  to  make  95  parts  of  the 
mixture. 
