Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Feb.  1, 1871.  t 
Minutes  of  the  College. 
91 
Note.— In  the  first  example  we  do  not  add  to  tke  50  ounces  of  alcohol  35 
onnces  of  water,  but  sufficient  to  make  85  ounces  of  the  mixture.  This  is  owing 
to  the  condensation  occurring  where  alcohol  and  water  are  mixed. 
Anfiwer  to  Prohlcm  Sd. — Make  the  following  proposition  :  As  the  percentage 
of  the  alcohol  given  is  to  that  of  the  alcohol  required,  so  is  the  quantity  desired 
to  the  quantity  of  the  alcohol  to  be  taken  ;  and  to  this  quantity  of  alcohol  water 
sufficient  must  be  added  to  make  up  the  required  quantity.  For  example,  Sup- 
pose 80  ounces  of  alcohol,  of  75  per  cent.,  is  desired  to  be  made  from  95  per 
•cent,  alcohol — as  95  :  75  :  :  80.  This  gives  63  3-19  ounces  of  95  percent,  alco- 
hol to  be  taken  ;  to  this  add  water  sufficient  to  make  80  ounces. 
Alcohol  ==  89-49  per  cent,  by  volume. 
Dilute       "      =  46- 
Strong      "      =  94-65 
Mr.  Bullock  exhibited  a  specimen  of  anhydrous  alumina,  found  in  large 
masses  weighing  many  pounds.  Specific  gravity,  3-60 ;  next  to  the  diamond, 
the  hardest  substance  in  nature.    Surface  studded  with  crystals  of  sapphire. 
Dr.  Pile  spoke  of  the  following  prescription  as  being  the  cause  of  poisoning : 
B.  Strychnia  Murias,  .  .  .  .  -    g^"-  iss. 
Syrup  Ferri  lod.,    .....  f^vj. 
'*     Zinsiberis,  qs.  ft.     .  .  .  .    f  ^iii.  M. 
Sig.    Teaspoonful  three  times  a  day. 
The  question  arose  as  to  the  cause  of  poisoning — whether  these  ingredients 
were  incompatible.  On  this  point,  the  Dr.  said  he  had  compounded  the  pre- 
scription, carefully  dissolving  the  muriate  of  strychnia,  and  had  kept  the  com- 
.  pound  several  months,  without  any  sign  of  precipitation.  It  was  supposed  that 
in  the  original  mixture  the  strychnia  salt  was  undissolved,  the  last  dose  con- 
taining the  greater  part  of  the  poison,  which  acted  fatally. 
Prof.  iVIaisch  read  a  paper  "On  the  Precipitation  of  Quinia  by  Iodide  of 
Potassium  from  an  Acid  Solution."  (See  Am.  Journal  of  Pharmacy  for  Feb- 
ruary, 1871.) 
Also  a  paper  entitled  "  Decomposition  of  Acetate  of  Morphia  in  Solution," 
which  will  also  be  found  in  Am.  Journal  of  Pharmacy.  (See  page  49  of  this 
number ) 
Prof.  Bridges  made  some  remarks  on  the  vinegar  plant. 
Prof.  Parrish  read  a  paper  (illustrated  witli  diagrams)  upon  "Petroleum,  its 
Mode  of  Rectification  and  Refinement,  together  with  its  Commercial  History." 
speaking  of  the  immense  use  during  the  last  few  years,  almost  superseding 
other  illuminating  oils  of  commerce,  and  exposing  some  of  the  immense  frauds 
practiced  during  the  coal  oil  rage. 
Several  specimens  of  petroleum  and  its  derivatives,  in  their  different  stages 
of  refinement,  were  exhibited.  (See  Journal  Franklin  Institute  for  February, 
1871.) 
