50  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  { Am- /^JSfem- 
and  gave  the  following  results:  Water,  744-978;  theine,  214- 
3*45  ;  tannin,  8-84-10-55  *  fermentation  products,  0-90-1-88  ;  extrac- 
tive matter,  30-70-34-95. 
MINUTES  OF  THE  PHARMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 
Philadelphia,  December  15,  1891. 
Mr.  Chas.  W.  Hancock  presided.  The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read, 
and  no  corrections  being  required,  they  were  approved. 
A  friend  of  the  college  presented  a  fine  steel  engraving  of  the  late  Professor 
Justus  Liebig. 
A  paper,  written  by  A.  L.  Beck,  Ph.  G.,  upon  the  preservation  of  syrup  of 
ferrous  iodide,  by  replacing  atmospheric  air  with  carbonic  acid  gas,  was  read  ;  it 
was  accompanied  with  photographic  illustrations  of  the  apparatus.  Several 
members  called  attention  to  various  methods  that  had  been  used  for  the  same 
purpose,  such  as  glucose,  hypophosphorous  acid,  a  coil  of  iron  wire,  etc. 
A  formula  for  Elixir  of  Yerba  santa,  which  was  inquired  for  at  the  last  meet- 
ing, was  given  by  Mr.  T.  H.  Strouse.  Formulas  were  also  given  for  Liquor 
Carbonis  detergens  and  for  several  other  preparations,  which  are  occasionally 
called  for. 
A  paper  upon  the  presence  of  copper  in  galenical  preparations  was  read  by 
F.  W.  Haussmann,  Ph.G.,  and  gave  rise  to  considerable  discussion. 
Mr.  England  said  that  it  was  well  known  that  copper  utensils  were  those  most 
commonly  employed  in  manufacturing  establishments.  This,  it  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed, is  in  consequence  of  their  superior  durability,  and  as  copper  in  even 
minute  doses  is  known  to  affect  the  animal  economy,  it  is  a  matter  well  worthy 
of  inquiry  whether  the  use  of  some  of  the  remedies  employed  may  not  produce 
effects  which  seriously  embarrass  the  medical  practitioner  to  explain  ;  and  as 
there  is  no  rule  which  the  commercial  manufacturer  conforms  to  but  commer- 
cial success,  it  is  a  strong  argument  in  favor  of  the  apothecary  being  his  own 
factor  in  all  possible  cases.  The  test  for  copper  in  such  preparations  is  quite 
easy  ;  a  perfectly  bright  clean  steel  spatula  kept  for  a  short  time  in  any  extract 
containing  it  in  appreciable  quantities.  Certain  classes  of  extracts  are  less 
likely  to  contain  it  than  others  ;  those  which  contain  tannin  will  have  but  little, 
as  it  is  likely  to  be  precipitated  with  the  tannin,  but  if  this  precipitate  be 
mixed  up  with  the  supernatant  fluid,  it  will  be  more  easily  perceived. 
D.  C.  B.  Lowe,  Ph.G.,  read  a  paper  on  conveniences  in  the  pharmacy, 
pointing  out  a  number  of  practical  matters  which  facilitate  the  work  of  the 
apothecary. 
Jos.  W.  England,  Ph.G.,  read  a  paper  upon  the  medicinal  use  of  oxygen, 
and  exhibited  the  apparatus  which  was  used  in  the  Philadelphia  Hospital  for  its 
preparation  and  purification  ;  perfect  freedom  from  impurities,  especially  acids, 
must  be  insisted  on. 
A  specimen  of  colchicein  was  exhibited  by  the  kindness  of  Mr.  C.  Bullock. 
A  paper  upon  Creasote  pills,  by  J.  C.Roberts,  Ph.G.,  was  read  by  Mr.  England. 
Several  confirmed  the  value  of  the  method  adopted.  Professor  Maisch  stated 
that  good  results  could  also  be  obtained  by  combining  the  creasote  with  some 
solid  fat  or  wax  and  adding  a  vegetable  powder. 
