EDITORIAL.  475 
sheet  of  white  paper.  With  this  he  covers  the  window  panes,  and  he 
states  that  on  the  brightest  day  a  window  so  prepared  will  allow  no  actinic 
light  to  pass. — London  Chem.  News,  Jan.  5,  \SQQ,from  Berlin  Photogi  aph. 
Mitheil,  No.  16,  1865. 
To  Clean  Tarnished  Silver. — Wash  the  silver  over  with  a  strong  solution 
of  cyanide  of  potassium.  Simultaneously  with  the  development  of  a  very 
disagreeable  smelling  gas,  the  metal  becomes  bright,  and  must  be  imme- 
diately washed  with  water  and  dried. — London  Chem.  News,  Jan.  5,  1866, 
from  Erdmann's  Journal. 
(fiftttorictl  Department. 
The  Late  Meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association. — 
In  accordance  with  the  arrangements  the  Association  convened  at  the 
farthest  point  west  and  north  at  which  it  has  yet  assembled,-r-Detroit. 
There  were  more  Western  members  present  than  at  any  previous  gathering, 
and  the  meeting  was  in  all  respects  successful,  The  greatest  drawback 
that  occurred  was  the  absence  of  delegations  from  Baltimore,  Cincinnati, 
and  St.  Louis.  The  delegates  of  the  two  latter  colleges  were  absent  from 
the  severity  of  epidemic  cholera  prevailing,  requiring  every  one  to  be  at 
his  post.  Why  Baltimore  was  unrepresented  has  not  transpired.  For 
the  details  of  the  sessions,  of  which  there  were  five,  we  refer  our  readers 
to  the  minutes  of  proceedings  in  the  first  part  of  this  number.  The  volun- 
teer papers  were  quite  numerous,  which  was  fortunate,  as  the  replies  to 
the  regular  queries  were  unusually  deficient.  This  want  of  promptness 
in  contributing  papers  that  are  accepted  is  an  evil  for  which  a  remedy 
should  early  be  sought.  It  arises  from  the  manner  in  which,  to  this  time, 
the  acceptance  of  subjects  has  been  hurriedly  obtained  during  the  latter 
sessions  of  the  meetings.  It  would  be  better  that  the  Committee  on 
Queries  endeavor  to  get  their  report  perfected  sufficiently  early  to  commu- 
nicate with  members  before  the.  meeting,  so  that  members  can  reflect  a 
little  before  accepting  a  subject,  or,  if  preferred,  volunteer  a  subject  they 
are  willing  to  write  upon,  which  can  then  be  incorporated  in  the  report. 
The  reception  of  the  Convention  by  the  Pharmaceutists  and  Druggists  of 
Detroit  was  in  every  way  agreeable  and  comfortable.  The  place  of  meet- 
ing has  never  been  surpassed  for  comfort  and  convenience,  and  the  petty 
conveniences  which  go  so  much  to  give  real  satisfaction  in  a  gathering  as 
little  bound  by  parliamentary  usage  as  is  ours,  were  abundantly  provided 
and  availed  of  by  the  members. 
Before  the  adjournment  of  the  first  session  printed  invitations  were  pri- 
vately handed  to  the  members,  from  Mr.  Stearns,  to  a  Converzatione  at  the 
