Ir has often been urged that the liability of drug gists to the infliction of damages through the im- Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society. proper sale or dispensing of poisons is a great incentive to carefulness on their part. But we venture to say that even those who most constantly have. this fear before their eyes have hardly realized the extent to which the principle may be developed. This has been left to the proverbial ingenuity of our American cousins. The New York Times, a short time since, contained "a report of a case which may be usefully mentioned here as a sort of cave canem! An apothecary in one of the interior counties of New York has been sued for damages by the husband of a woman to whom he had been in the habit of selling laudanum, and the Supreme Court has decided that the action can be maintained. The plaintiff avers that the apothecary supplied his wife with the narcotic, day by day, for six months, knowing the use she made of it, and that he has been put to great expense in repairing the injury that it caused to her bodily and mental health! Medical men who create an appetite for alcohol in their patients had better beware! THE thorough organization of the forest department in India has led to the preservation and extension of many useful trees, but we are sorry to find that more attention is not paid by the authorities to other useful plants. Thus we learn that, in some parts of the Madras Presidency, where the cardamom grows spontaneously in many hill tracts, and where, with good management and cultivation, it might be made to yield a handsome return, it is turned to little or no account. In South Canara some cardamom tracts have been sold on a lease of several years for a very small sum; and in portions of the Anamallays, Madura, Tinnivelly, etc., the Government tracts are poached on by collectors under the Cochin and Travancore Governments. In a great portion of these forests, however, the cardamoms are left uncared for, so that they simply rot upon the plants. THE British Medical Journal states that Professor HALFORD has received the thanks of the Indian Government for his paper on the Treatment of Snakebite by Injection of Liquor Ammonia into the veins. and that his pamphlet on the subject is to be reprinted for general distribution to medical officers in different parts of India. AN American correspondent of the Medical Times and Gazette, speaking of the decline in the reputation of condurango as a therapeutic agent, says that it is selling now at only two per cent. of its original cost, and the early purchasers are naturally sensitive at this change in its pecuniary valuation. One of them has recently found that he has not even bought the original article. We observe that condurango is now commencing to be prominently advertised in this country. 1. Tum demum Liscus, oratione Cæsaris adductus, quod antea tacuerat, proponit: esse nonnullos, quorum auctoritas apud plebem plurimùm valeat, qui privatim plus possint, quam ipsi magistratus. 2. Quibus rebus Cæsar, vehementer commotus, maturandum sibi existimavit, ne, si nova manus Suevorum cum veteribus copiis Ariovisti sese conjunxisset, minus facilè resisti posset. Itaque re frumentariâ, quàm celerrimè potuit, comparata, magnis itineribus ad Ariovistum contendit. 3. Sesquioxidum Acido misce, et balneo arenoso digere, subinde agitans, donec liquetur. Deinde liquori frigefacto spiritum adjice et cola. 4. Misce, et applicetur paululum auri affectæ omni nocte cum gossipio. 5. Name the cases of neuter nouns, the terminations of which are alike. 6. Give the number and case of each of the following nouns, and state the declension to which they severally belong: plebem, Suevorum, copiis, re, balneo, spiritum, auri. 7. How do adverbs derived from adjectives form their degrees of comparison? Give examples. 8. The verb has two parts,-1, finite; 2, infinite. Name the moods and tenses of the finite. 9. To what questions does the ablative of time answer? Give examples in Latin. ARITHMETIC. 10. An army consisting of 20,000 men took a city, and plundered it of £12,000. What was each man's MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTSTM share, the whole being equally divided? 11. If 50 men can do a piece of work in 100 days, working 8 hours per day, in what time will 120 men do it, working 6 hours per day? ASSOCIATION. The Third ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Session was held in the Memorial Hall on Friday evening, Jan. 5th; Mr. J. T. SLUGG, F.R.A.S., Vice-President, in the chair. Messrs. Perry, Jones and Walton were elected associates. The CHAIRMAN having expressed his regret that the President was prevented by serious illness from being present, called on Mr. Louis Siebold to deliver his lecture on Pharmaceutical Education, and its relation to the follow-pharmaceutical examinations. 15. Explain the meaning of an abstract noun. 16. What is a synonym? Give one example. 17. Give the degrees of comparison of the ing words:-good, bad, much, little, beautiful. 18. Why are auxiliary verbs employed? 19. Parse the following:-On that night he recognized his friend. 20. Write from fifteen to twenty lines upon one only of the following subjects:— a. Sympathy. b. Winter amusements. c. The Crystal Palace. The following is an almost verbatim report of Mr. Siebold's lecture: Gentlemen,-Since pharmaceutical education has been made compulsory by the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, it has formed the subject of many an able discourse in. different parts of the United Kingdom, but although much has already been said and written on this topic, much also has been left unsaid; and as the subject is undoubtedly one of great importance, I believe I am justified in inviting your attention to it on the present occasion. You will have seen from the title of my lecture, as announced at our last meeting, that I do not wish to confine my remarks to pharmaceutical education alone, but that I intend likewise to explain my views on the of our profession is tested by the pharmaceutical exmanner in which the education acquired by young men aminations. The promoters of the Pharmacy Act had two principal objects in view, viz. to raise the chemists and druggistsfrom the comparatively low position they occupied to the rank of professional men, and to protect the public from the dangers arising from the dispensing of medicines by * Passed with honours. Jamary 20, 1872.] inconpetent persons. By a singular and most unac- ship, and for that reason he will act judiciously by servcountble oversight on the part of those who framed the ing in several establishments and in different parts Act, his second object was frustrated, since the ex- of the country, however much a long stay in one place amintions, and consequently the education, made were speaks in his favour. An assistant who remains for four compulsory for those only who want to carry on business or five years in one situation may please his employer on ther own account, and not for the assistants, by whom very much by so doing; but, as a matter of course, he at leas nine out of every ten prescriptions are dispensed. cannot have the same chance of extending his experiThere's not a single clause which protects the public by ence as another who, within the same period, sees the excluding unqualified men from the practice of dispens-business routine of four different establishments, each, no ing so ong as they choose to remain assistants; and the doubt, having its own peculiarities. I have so far only alluded to the practical side of friends of the Pharmacy Act, who are loth to consider it as a omplete failure, must cling to the first-named pharmaceutical education; and, though its importance is object with the hope of seeing it accomplished. To raise such that it alone might form the subject of a lecture, by meals of scientific education the social position of it is my intention on this occasion to dwell chiefly on men whose vocation is not inferior and not less respon- the other side of the question, viz. the theoretical and sible than that of medical practitioners, is a worthy and scientific part; that branch of a young pharmacist's noble object, in the furtherance of which both interest study which imparts life and intelligence to his practical acquisitions. A knowledge of chemistry and maand duty should alike prompt us all to aid. Our exeemed Secretary, Mr. Benger, in his able paper teria medica is indispensable if we wish to have a clear on the education of pharmacists, has shown the necessity conception of the work we are daily performing, to say of a sound school-training on the part of young men who nothing of its being necessary for passing the examinaenter our profession as apprentices. A youth who on tions. Here, again, I maintain that the period of apleaving school, say at the age of 15, does not possess the prenticeship is the proper time for collecting the renecessaryknowledge of arithmetic, English and Latin, quired information; as its very name suggests, it is esmust be regarded as unfit for the duties of a chemist and sentially the time for learning; and those who deny druggist for it would be almost fatal to his success in their apprentices the time and opportunity for study the career he had chosen if a portion of the valuable incur a grave responsibility indeed. In large towns, time of hi apprenticeship were to be spent in picking where suitable lectures are provided for the purpose of up those rudiments of education, which he ought pre- facilitating the young man's exertions, he ought to be viously to lave acquired at school. The introduction of not only allowed but encouraged to avail himself of such a preliminary examination was therefore, a wise and means, unless his employer is in a position to instruct judicious step, and the experience of many of us points him efficiently. In country places, however, where such to the necessity of refusing in future to receive a youth opportunities do not exist, the youth is chiefly dependent as an apprentice before he has passed that examination. on books; but even this method of study should answer This being lone, however, the youth will then be in a the purpose, provided the books be well selected and the position to devote his entire attention and time to ac- help and advice of the employer not withheld. About six quiring the practical and scientific requirements of his hours per week set apart for study and spent diligently new calling. His daily occupation behind the counter will, as a rule, suffice for the student; not indeed to bewill gradually make him acquainted with the English come a scientific man par excellence, for such is not exand Latin nanes, and the general nature of the nume- pected or needed, even of the chemist and druggist of the rous articles ve have to deal with, with the manner in future,--but to attain that amount of scientific knowwhich they areserved out to customers, with the different ledge which is required for the efficient discharge of his manipulations constituting the art of dispensing and the duties, and which will eventually ensure him an honourmanufacture of the compound preparations of the Phar- able place among his professional brethren. Great mismacopoeia. These subjects form the practical part of his takes are made in the selection of books. Beginners study, and profciency can only be attained by long-con- should avoid large books, whose contents it would take tinued practice Many chemists think-erroneously, I them years to master; and they should remember that believe that apprentices ought not to be allowed to take it is much better to know the rudiments of a science part in the dispensing of prescriptions on account of the thoroughly and soundly than to have a superficial notion grave responsibility connected with that duty. Their of most of its details. Short elementary books seem to pupils therefore complete their term without having me by far the most preferable for beginners, whilst gained any experience in that branch, which is at once the study of larger volumes may be highly recomthe most important and most legitimate part of our bu- mended to more advanced students, say to assistants siness, and consequently, instead of becoming useful who have passed their examinations, and who aspire assistants at once, they are compelled to take situations to distinguish themselves in one science or another. as so-called improvers, receiving no salary, in order to make up for their deficiency in this respect. The apprentice, I think, is entitled to be taught dispensing during his apprenticeship; and as dispensing cannot be learned by seeing it done by others, he must himself be engaged in its operations, which, of course, must be conducted under the supervision and control of his master or of a competent assistant. With daily practice he will soon gain experience and confidence, and, at the expiration of his time, he will be a competent and trustworthy dispenser. Some will argue that watching a pupil whilst he is dispensing medicines is almost as troublesome as doing the work themselves, and this is undeniably true; but it is equally certain that we entirely fail in our duty towards our apprentices if we object to the trouble of instructing them. There can be no teaching without work or trouble, and whoever does not want to teach ought not to take an apprentice. The skill and knowledge acquired by a young man during his apprenticeship can, of course, be greatly augmented during his years of assistant In studying chemistry the beginner cannot be too strongly recommended to pay careful attention to the introductory topics of that science, of which I may name the following:-Definition and object of chemical science, definition of elementary substances and chemical compounds, the laws of chemical combination, specific gravity and its determination, and the molecular and atomic theory. These subjects form the very foundation of the chemical edifice, and unless they are thoroughly mastered by the student his knowledge of chemistry must, of necessity, be always cloudy and unsound. The sources, mode of preparation and main properties of the elementary substances and their compounds should then be gone through, and the use of modern symbolic expressions for their compositions and decompositions should be well understood and appropriated. The chemical compounds, both organic and inorganic, being exceedingly numerous, the pharmaceutical student should devote his attention chiefly, though not exclusively, to those used in pharmacy, and he must learn how to recognize those by tests, and how to detect impurities in the same. The study of materia medica merits the same attention on the part of our young men as that of chemistry. It is here that they learn to recognize our numerous roots, leaves, seeds, gums, resins and the like by their outward appearance, to distinguish between good and inferior qualities of those substances, and to detect adulterations. The botanical and geographical sources of the drugs and their doses likewise form part of the study. That branch of materia medica which is called pharmacology is taught principally to medical students; it treats chiefly of the medicinal effects produced by the substances alluded to on the different organs of the human body, and a superficial knowledge of it amply suffices for the purposes of a chemist and druggist. I hardly need to point out the great utility, or rather the necessity, of a good acquaintance with chemistry and materia medica to the pharmacist. Without it, his daily work will be that of a machine, and not that of a reflecting being, and great indeed must be the danger to which his ignorance may expose him. We should be able to judge whether the articles we receive from wholesale houses are really what they are meant to be, and whether they are good and pure enough for the intended purposes. Wholesale houses may make mistakes, which, if not discovered by us, might lead to serious results. Not very long ago powdered binoxalate of potash was sent to me instead of cream of tartar, and was labelled "potass. bitart.," and, if I had overlooked the mistake, who knows what the consequences might have been? The wholecale druggists of this country deserve the highest credit for the careful and admirable manner in which their business is conducted, and mistakes of a serious nature very rarely occur; yet we ought not to be entirely dependent on them, and we are so if we cannot identify the substances purchased or see whether they are of the required quality, strength, etc. plants, and possessing an intimate knowledge of structural and systematic botany. Upon drying parts of fresh plants, such as Hyoscyamus leaves, for intance, their appearance changes so very much, that th shape and other characteristics of the fresh articles differ widely from those of the substances in the dried state, in which only they can be kept by us. For the latter, weare dependent upon our knowledge of materia medica, nd students of this science cannot be too strongly recommended to avail themselves of a good collection of specinens, as supplied by several wholesale houses. But tlough I feel persuaded that the study of botany is not neded by our young men for the purposes of their professon, I do not forget that it is required in the Minor and Major examinations, and I must, therefore, advise then not to neglect it, but to make themselves familiar with the organs of plants as well as their functions, aid, above all, with the characteristic features of the indigenous medicinal plants. Here, as in the study of miteria medica, specimens are very useful, and collectiors of dried plants, as well as coloured plates of the fresh mes, are of great service. If the pupil has the oppor unity, he should get up an herbarium by collecting and drying his own plants. The fourth subject which requires the attention of our pupils is called pharmacy, and comprises the English and French systems of weights and measures, the antidotes for poisons, the methods for making tinctures, extracts, emulsions, etc., the strengths of some important solutions and compound preparations and the reading of physicians prescriptions; in fact, all hose details of pharmaceutical knowledge which cannot exactly be treated under the heads of chemistry and materia medica. With the aid of his employer or teacher, the student can easily collect the requisite information from the Pharmacopoeia, from the copy-book for prescriptions and from his own practical occupation. Some apprentices commit a great mistake in devoting the first year to the study of one science-say chemistry only; then taking materia medica in the next, and perhaps botany and pharmacy in the third year. In this way they will probably forget durng the second and third years what they have learnt during the first. They will work best by following the pan, almost universally adopted in schools, of devoting certain time— say about two hours a week-to each subject, thus going through them all within the same period; and in that case the student will find that the facts of one science will help him to understand those of the others. Need I say a word about the importance of our knowing the doses of poisons and those preparations of them with which we are dealing? Who can deny that, but for our knowledge and care in detecting overdoses of poisons, hundreds of human lives would be sacrificed every year by the errors in medical men's prescriptions? Nothing, indeed, can be more apparent than the absolute necessity of our daily manipulations being guided and assisted by scientific knowledge, but, clear and true as From the question of pharmaceutical education, let us this is to everybody, in reference to chemistry and now turn our attention to the tribunals of Bloomsbury materia medica, the same, I feel sure, cannot be said with Square, London, and Princes Street, Edinburgh, by regard to botany. I venture to assert that a chemist whose judgment it is decided whether our students' and druggist can fulfil all his professional and business labours have ended in success or failure. First of all, duties, in the most perfect and efficient manner, without let us bear in mind that the only legitimate object of knowing much of botany, and, unless this assertion can pharmaceutical examinations is, or at least ought to be, be disproved, you must admit that the study of that to ascertain whether the candidate presenting himself is. science need not form part of a pharmacist's education. or is not, competent to perform the important functions No doubt it is very interesting, highly instructive and of a chemist and druggist; to admit to the rank and cultivating to the mind; but so are astronomy, anatomy, privileges of our profession all who are qualified for its physiology and other branches of the great domain of duties, and to reject and exclude those whose shortnatural science, which nobody deems necessary to force comings make them really unfit for the position they upon us. In private conversation on this subject, I have aspire to fill. Hence it follows that, in the Minor examet with the reply that many chemists in country dis-mination at any rate, nothing should be demanded tricts collect, or cause to be collected, some of the leaves, which a thoroughly qualified chemist can well dispense roots, etc. used in pharmacy, from plants growing in with; whilst such knowledge as is by no means essential, their neighbourhood, such as Digitalis, Conium, Valerian but which may be considered desirable or useful for us and others, and that they could not do this without being (in our capacity as chemists, of course), might be exable to recognize those plants. This is very true; and, pected in the Major examination. Let us now see whe although, by far the greater number of chemists do not ther these examinations are conducted with sufficient collect and dry, but purchase their drugs in the dried ability and fairness to ensure the attainment of the restate, as well as the narcotic extracts made from the fresh sults above alluded to. As a teacher of pharmacy, I herbs, I should be the last to dispute the desirability of have, of course, felt deeply interested in this important chemists and druggists knowing the indigenous plants of question, and have collected as many and as full reports the British Pharmacopoeia. But there is a vast differ- as I could of the details of the Minor and Major examience between being able to recognize a few dozen fresh nations (chiefly of the former), both from successful and |