As"ptJemberia4m'}         Notes  on  British  Pharmacy.  433 
dances,  smoking-concerts,  drives  and  a  sea  trip  to  Eastbourne  en- 
abled the  members  to  pass  an  enjoyable  time. 
The  scientific  side  of  the  conference  was  well  attended  to,  and  the 
meetings  were  presided  over  by  Mr.  W.  A.  H.  Naylor,  F.I.C ,  president 
of  the  conference.  A  notable  feature  of  the  meetings  was  the  wel- 
come presence  of  the  veteran  Dr.  John  Attfield,  F.R.S.,  after  his 
absence  during  the  last  year  or  two,  owing  to  a  severe  illness.  About 
twenty  papers  were  read,  of  which  brief  notes  will  now  be  given. 
The  Composition  of  Dentifrices.  By  Mr.  Stanley  Read,  L.D.S.E.— 
The  researches  of  Dr.  Miller,  of  Berlin,  have  proved  the  presence  in 
the  mouth  of  protective  as  well  as  harmful  bacteria.  From  this  Mr. 
Read  drew  the  conclusion  that  antiseptic  substances  should  not  be 
employed  in  dentifrices,  but  it  did  not  appear  to  find  favor  with  the 
members  of  the  conference. 
The  Physiological  Standardization  of  Drugs.  By  Prof.  W.  E.  Dixon, 
M.D.  (Lond.),  M.A.  (Cantab).— Professor  Dixon  dealt  with  the 
necessity  for  standardizing  those  galenical  preparations  which  do 
not  admit  of  chemical  assay.  He  showed  how  commercial  drugs 
vary  in  strength,  and  none  more  so  than  ergot.  He  cited  the  fol- 
lowing drugs  as  suitable  for  assay  by  bio-chemical  means:  The 
digitalis  group,  including  digitalis,  strophanthus  and  squill;  ergot, 
Indian  hemp,  lobelia  and  opium.  Professor  Dixon  criticized  ad- 
versely the  standardization  of  ergot  preparations  on  the  rooster. 
He  preferred  injecting  ergot  into  the  femoral  vein  of  a  frog  and 
observing  the  blood  pressure  at  the  carotid  artery.  The  rise  in 
blood  pressure  in  mammals,  due  to  ergot,  is  directly  proportional  to 
the  effect  of  ergot  upon  the  uterus ;  whereas  the  production  of  gan- 
grene in  the  comb  of  a  rooster  is  not  so.  In  the  discussion  that 
followed  some  apprehension  was  manifested  as  to  the  ability  of 
pharmacists  to  carry  out  such  tests,  but  Professor  Dixon  made  it 
clear  that  such  work  was  quite  outside  the  province  of  the  phar- 
macist. 
Ihe  Pharmacy  of  Capsicum.  By  Mr.  A.  W.  Gerrard. — The  author 
proved  90  per  cent,  alcohol  to  be  a  better  solvent  of  capsicum 
than  ether,  benzine,  chloroform  and  several  other  organic  solvents. 
He  suggested  the  preparation  of  a  liquid  extract  (1  grain  equals  2 
grains  powdered  capsicum)  as  the  starting  point  for  making  capsi- 
cum ointment,  wool  and  plaster.  Mr.  Gerrard's  formulas  are  here 
given : 
