6 1 6         Pharmaceutical  Colleges  and  Associations.  { kmd^;SST 
read  by  Prof.  Remington  (see  page  584).  Prof.  Sadtler  explained  the  process  by 
which  artificial  vanillin  is  prepared,  and  stated  that  he  had  never  heard  of  its  having 
been  regarded  as  injurious  Other  members  expressed  similar  views,  and  suggested 
that  the  fears  might  have  originated  through  a  misunderstanding  or  from  parties 
whose  interests  are  likely  to  be  affected  by  the  use  of  this  product 
Prof.  Maisch  read  a  paper  upon  the  alkaloid  of  Baptisia  tihctoria,  by  Dr.  F.  V. 
Greene,  U.  S.  N  (see  page  577) ;  on  motion,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  returned  to  Dr. 
Greene  for  this  and  other  very  interesting  papers  that  he  has  presented  to  the  College 
embodying  the  results  of  both  patience  and  skill  in  working  them  out  so  success- 
fully. 
Prof.  Maisch  read  a  paper  upon  the  supposed  alkaloid  of  podophyllum  (see  page 
580).  In  the  discussion  which  followed  the  value  of  the  group  tests  for  alkaloids 
was  alluded  to,  and  Prof.  Maisch  stated  that  these,  like  most  other  reactions  obtained 
with  such  complicated  solutions  like  tinctures  and  infusions  of  vegetables,  afforded 
at  most  only  presumptive  but  not  conclusive  evidence  of  the  presence  of  the 
compounds  indicated. 
Mr  Frank  H.  Rosengarten  presented,  through  Prof  Maisch,  a  very  handsome 
specimen  of  Salicylate  of  Cinchonidia,  which  was  accompanied  by  the  following  note  : 
"  Salicylate  of  Cinchonidia — The  valuable  medicinal  properties  of  cincho- 
nidia and  salicylic  acid  are  well  known.  Thinking  the  combination  of  the  acid  with 
cinchonidia  might  be  used  as  a  remedy,  the  writer  has  prepared  a  quantity  of  salicy- 
late of  cinchonidia  to  have  its  efficacy  tested  The  salt  is  neutral  and  crystalline, 
readily  soluble  in  dilute  alcohol,  difficultly  soluble  in  hot  water  and  almost  insolu- 
ble in  cold  water.  It  is  slightly  acid  or  neutral  to  litmus  paper,  and  with  iron  salts 
gives  a  purple-black  color  when  in  solution.  It  is  prepared  by  the  direct  combina- 
tion of  pure  cinchonidia  with  salicylic  acid  and  crystallization,  care  being  taken  to 
have  them  just  neutralized.  Frank  H.  Rosengarten." 
There  being  no  further  business,  on  motion,  adjourned. 
Thos   S.  Wiegand,  Registrar. 
PHARMACEUTICAL  COLLEGES  AND  ASSOCIATIONS. 
Alumni  Association  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy — -The  second  Social 
Meeting  was  held  November  13th,  President  Krewson  in  the  chair.  Twenty  mem- 
bers and  visitors,  including  a  committee  of  the  Zeta  Phi  Society,  were  present. 
Owing  to  the  absence  of  the  Secretary  the  reading  of  the  minutes  was  dispensed 
with,  and  Dr.  Richard  V.  Mattison  appointed  Secretary  pro  tern. 
Various  processes  for  preparing  an  elixir  of  cinchona  and  iron  were  discussed,  and 
it  was  stated  that  for  this  purpose  the  use  of  the  cinchona  alkaloids  was  generally 
preferred,  more  particularly  by  manufacturers,  as  yielding  a  more  elegant  and  uniform 
preparation  than  can  be  obtained  from  cinchona  bark 
The  change  of  color,  occuring  in  elixirs  containing  ferric  pyrophosphate,  was 
alluded  to,  and  it  was  staged  by  Dr.  Mattison  that  if  this  preparation  be  made  by 
dissolving  precipitated  ferric  pyrophosphate  in  sodium  citrate  instead  of  ammonium 
citrate,  the  change  was  prevented,  while  its  therapeutic  properties  were  in  no  way 
interfered  with. 
