EDITORIAL. 
2^3 
tion  Durug.  After  this  the  second  class  apothecaries  commenced  to  enter 
business  in  the  three  cities  named,  which  called  forth  a  remonstrance  from 
those  of  the  first  class,  which  not  having  effect  on  the  Council  of  State, 
the  case  was  taken  to  the  Courts, — which  tribunal,  on  the  19th  of  Feb., 
1870,  condemned  six  second  class  apothecaries  to  close  their  stores 
within  two  weeks  after  the  publication  of  the  decision,  under  a  penalty  of 
twenty-five  francs  for  every  day's  delay,  and  to  costs. 
The  City  Council  of  Hymmegen,  in  Holland,  has  granted  to  the  Arts- 
enijmengkundige  Vereeniging  of  that  city  the  use  of  the  laboratory  and 
apparatus  of  the  High  School,  with  an  annual  subsidy.  The  Society  has 
opened  a  pharmaceutical  school  to  prepare  clerks  for  the  States  examina- 
tion. The  biennial  course  embraces  pharmaceutical  botany,  pharmacog- 
nosy, pharmacy  and  toxicology. 
The  Swiss  apothecaries  are  considering  the  revision  of  the  Pharmaco- 
poeia of  Switzerland  ;  they  had  a  meeting  at  Olten  on  the  2l8t  of  March, 
The  plan  to  establish  a  University  in  Siberia  is  again  under  considera- 
tion by  the  Russian  authorities.  Several  exiles  having  remained  in  Si- 
beria after  their  terms  of  banishment  had  expired,  have  signified  their 
willingness  to  accept  professorships,  to  submit  to  the  requisite  examina- 
tions, and  to  perfect  themselves  in  the  languages  of  that  country  ;  among 
them  are  ten  literati  who  studied  at  German  Universities,  and  eight 
priests. 
The  elaboration  of  a  new  edition  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  is  to  be  en- 
trusted to  a  special  committee  by  the  Federal  Council  of  North  Germany. 
A  case  of  poisoning  by  prussic  acid  vapor  occurred  in  a  chemical 
manufactory  at  Brussels  by  the  fracture  of  a  bottle  containing  800 
grammes  of  the  poison.  He  was  restored  by  dilute  chlorine  water  and 
ammoniacal  embrocations.  A  dog  in  the  room  at  the  time  died  from  the 
effects  of  the  vapor  inhaled. 
Chemical  Mask. — Our  attention  has  been  called  to  a  mask  to  protect 
the  face,  lungs  and  eyes  from  injury  during  chemical  manipulations,  es- 
pecially in  industrial  processes,  called  Butcher's  Artizau's  Safety  Mask 
and  Respirator,  gotten  up  by  Mr.  B.  F.  Butcher,  of  Philadelphia.  It 
consists  of  a  metallic  mask  for  the  upper  part  of  the  face,  with  glass  eye- 
pieces. Attached  to  the  lower  portion  is  a  silk  sack,  to  include  the  chin 
and  beard  when  worn.  The  edges  of  the  metal  have  sponge  sewn  con- 
tinuously around,  projecting  towards  the  face,  and  which  is  to  be  wet 
when  the  mask  is  worn.  As  this  ring  of  sponge  includes  only  the  nose, 
the  air  inspired  should  be  drawn  through  that  organ,  which  causes  it  to 
pass  through  the  pores  of  the  sponge,  and  on  this  filtering  action  depends 
the  value  of  the  arrangement, — the  lungs  being  emptied  by  way  of  the 
mouth.  Its  use  is  suggested  for  operatives  in  white  lead  factories,  in 
powdering  establishments,  paper-hanging  factories,  where  dust  is  the 
noxious  agent,  and  in  chemical  works,  where  explosions  and  noxious 
absorbable  gases  are  avoided. 
