486 
PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 
The  chair  appointed  Prof.  W.  Procter,  Dr.  C.  B.  Guthrie  and 
Frederick  Stearns. 
Scientific  papers  being  now  in  order,  were  called  up  regularly 
from  the  minutes  of  last  year ;  those  that  were  ready,  but  not 
present  at  the  meeting,  being  postponed  to  a  future  sitting. 
1.  Liebig  (Agricultural  Chemistry,  Amer.  edit.  p.  184)  says  that  the 
nicotina  of  commercial  tobacco  does  not  pre-exist  in  the  growing  plant, 
but  is  the  result  of  the  fermentation  set  up  during  the  curing  process. 
Question.  If  this  be  true,  what  is  'the  active  principle  of  green  tobacco ; 
and  what  relation  does  it  bear  to  nicotina  ? 
Wm.  Procter,  Jr.,  to  whom  this  question  was  referred,  read  a 
paper  in  answer,  in  which  he  arrives  at  the  conclusion  that 
nicotina  does  exist  in  the  growing  plant,  but  does  not  determine 
satisfactorily  whether  that  alkaloid  is  increased  or  diminished 
by  the  curing  process.  The  paper  was  referred  to  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  for  publication. 
Then,  on  motion,  adjourned  to  7 J  o'clock,  P.  M. 
Evening  Session. 
The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  the  President. 
The  next  subject  was  the  following : 
2.  "Wine  of  Ipecacuanha.  What  is  the  cause  of  its  tendency  to  deposit 
a  sediment,  etc.? 
Joseph  Roberts,  of  Baltimore,  to  whom  this  question  was  re- 
ferred, had  not  prepared  a  report,  for  a  sufficient  reason ; 
the  subject  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  subjects  for  investi- 
gation next  year. 
3.  Blue  pill  mass  is  coming  into  use  in  the  form  of  powder.  Question. 
— Does  the  condition  of  the  mercury  undergo  any  change  by  the  ordinary 
exposure  in  the  shop  as  regards  oxidation  ?  Does  this  powder,  after  being 
prepared  for  a  year,  contain  any  red  oxide  of  mercury ;  and  what  is  the 
best  process  for  its  preparation  ? 
Prof.  Procter  read  an  elaborate  report  from  Charles  Bullock, 
of  Philadelphia,  to  whom  this  subject  was  referred,  which  de- 
veloped some  interesting  facts  in  relation  to  the  oxidation  and 
solubility  of  mercury  and  its  oxides,  which  was  referred  for 
publication. 
4.  The  medicinal  plants  of  Michigan. 
