278  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  {Am'^;a^ 
the  two  killed  them  in  a  few  days,  with  the  symptoms  of  poisoning  by  iodate  of 
potassium.  This  combination  must  therefore  be  avoided.  Indeed,  as  a  general 
rule,  the  chlorate  is  so  unstable,  and  so  ready  to  give  up  its  oxygen,  that  it  cannot 
safely  be  combined  with  any  substance  capable  of  oxidation. 
Notes  on  Disinfectants. — Salicylic  acid  loses  its  power  entirely  in  an  alkaline  solu- 
tion, the  salicylates  not  destroying  fermentation  germs. 
It  has  been  taken  internally  to  the  amount  of  1/5  grams  (23  grs.)  daily,  without 
injury.  About  3  grs.  a  day  have  been  given  as  a  prophylactic  against  diphtheria^ 
with  apparent  good  result. 
Carbolate  of  Lime. —  Chemical  examination  has  shown  that  five  out  of  six  sam- 
ples in  the  market  were  nearly  worthless,  containing  hardly  any  phenol,  but  owing 
their  smells  to  various  tar  oils  possessing  little  or  no  disinfectant  power.  An  excel- 
lent carbolate  may  easily  be  made  by  mixing  one  part  of  crude  carbolic  acid  with 
eight  parts  of  slaked  lime. 
Chloral  hydrate  is  a  powerful  antiseptic,  and  has  been  used  with  special  success  in, 
preserving  anatomical  specimens. 
Beech  Wax.  By  F.  A.  Fluckiger. — On  the  bark  of  beech  trees  there  occurs  a 
greyish  film,  formed  by  insects,  fatty  to  the  touch,  and  consisting,  as  shown  by  the 
microscope,  of  fine  threads,  which  are  easily  broken  up.  The  substance  composing 
it  is  scarcely  acted  on  by  water.  It  gives  up  to  boiling  carbon  bisulphide  about 
one  third  of  its  weight  of  a  wax  crystallizing  in  white  laminae,  melting  at  8i° — 82°5. 
and  having  the  composition  of  cerotic  acid,  C^H^O.,.  The  wax,  however,  when 
dissolved  in  alcohol,  does  not  redden  litmus,  as  does  cerotic  acid,  nor  is  it 
attacked  by  prolonged  boiling  with  aqueous  or  alcoholic  potash. — Jour.  Chem.  Soc* 
[Lond.],  from  Arch.  Pharm.  [3],  vii,  8. 
MINUTES  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING, 
The  eighth  regular  meeting  of  the  session  was  held  May  23d,  1876,  Edward 
Gaillard  in  the  chair.  The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  read  and  ap- 
proved. 
Mr.  Edward  Lindewald,  of  Stockholm,  Sweden,  was  introduced  and  invited  to 
participate  in  the  meeting.  Prof.  Maisch  donated  to  the  cabinet,  from  Daniel  B. 
Smith,  some  additional  plants  for  the  herbarium,  and  the  press  with  which  they  had 
been  pressed.    They  were  accepted  with  thanks. 
The  Registrar  read  a  paper  by  Walter  E.  Bibby  on  the  Pharmaceutical  value  of 
sugar  of  milk  (see  page  267).  Prof.  Maisch  had  remarked  upon  a  former  occasion 
that  the  observations  made  by  the  writer  were  of  great  importance  to  practical 
pharmacy  and  would  repeat  the  statement.  The  sample  of  powdered  myrrh  ex- 
hibited, although  apparently  somewhat  agglomerated,  when  rubbed  between  the 
fingers  would  be  found  to  be  in  a  fine  state  of  division,  and  to  judge  from  the  odor,, 
contains  the  entire  amount  of  volatile  oil.  The  mercury  with  chalk,  under  an  ordi- 
nary lens,  appeared  as  a  powder  perfectly  uniform  in  color,  and  was,  to  all  appear- 
ances, free  from  oxides.  The  paper  suggested  numerous  applications.  Mr.  Bibby 
stated,  in  answer  so  a  suggestion,  that  he  had  made  numerous  experiments  with  asa- 
