sense gained, for I intended to provoke this question. I confess that if we exclude the interest attached to the observation of new facts, and the enhancement of that interest through the knowledge that by-and-by the facts will become the exponent of laws, these curiosities are in themselves worth nothing. They will not enable us to add to our stock of food or drink or clothes or jewellery. But though thus shorn of all usefulness in themselves, they may, by leading the mind into places which it would not otherwise have entered, become the antecedents of practical consequences. In looking, for example, at this illuminated dust, we may ask ourselves what it is. How does it act, not upon a beam of light, but upon our own lungs and stomachs? The question at once assumes a practical character. We find on examination that this dust is organic matter-in part living, in part dead. There are among it particles of ground straw, torn rags, smoke, the pollen of flowers, the spores of fungi, and the germs of other things. But what have they to do with the animal economy? Let me give you an illustration to which my attention has been lately drawn by Mr. George Henry Lewes, who writes to me thus: "I wish to direct your attention to the experiments of Von Recklingshausen should you happen not to know them. They are striking confirmations of what you say of dust and disease. Last spring, when I was at his laboratory in Würzburg, I examined with him blood that had been three weeks, a month, and five weeks out of the body, preserved in little porcelain cups under glass shades. This blood was living and growing. Not only were the Amoeba-like movements of the white corpuscles present, but there were abundant evidences of the growth and development of the corpuscles. I also saw a frog's heart still pulsating which had been removed from the body (I forget how many days, but certainly more than a week). There were other examples of the same persistent vitality or absence of putrefaction. Von Recklingshausen did not attribute this to the absence of germs-germs were not mentioned by him; but when I asked him how he represented the thing to himself, he said the whole mystery of his operation consisted in keeping the blood free from dirt. The instruments employed were raised to a red heat just before use, the thread was silver thread and was similarly treated, and the porcelain cups, though not kept free from air, were kept free from currents. He said he often had failures, and these he attributed to particles of dust having escaped his precautions." Professor Lister, who has founded upon the removal or destruction of this "dirt" great and numerous improvements in surgery, tells us of the effect of its introduction into the blood of wounds. He informs us what would happen with the extracted blood should the dust get at it. The blood would putrefy and become fetid, and when you examine more closely what putrefaction means, you find the putrefying substance swarming with organic life, the germs of which have been derived from the air. Another note which I received a day or two ago has a bearing particularly significant at the present time upon this question of dust and dirt, and the wisdom of avoiding them. The note is from Mr. Ellis, of Sloane Street, to whom I own a debt of gratitude for advice given to me when sorely wounded in the Alps. "I do not know," writes Mr. Ellis, "whether you happened to see the letters, of which I enclose you a reprint, when they appeared in the Times. But I want to tell you this in reference to my method of vaccination as here described, because it has, as I think, a relation to the subject of the intake of organic particles from without into the body. Vaccination in the common way is done by scraping off the epidermis, and thrusting into the punctures made by the lancet the vaccine virus. By the method I use (and have used for more than twenty years) the epidermis is lifted by the effusion of serum from below, a result of the irritant cantharidine applied to the skin. The little bleb thus formed is pricked, a drop of fluid let out, and then a fine vaccine point is put into this spot, and after a minute of delay it is withdrawn. The epidermis falls back on the skin and quite excludes the air—and not the air only, but what the air contains. "Now mark the result-out of hundreds of cases of revaccination which I have performed, I have never had a single case of bloodpoisoning or of abscess. By the ordinary way the occurrence of secondary abscess is by no means uncommon, and that of pyæmia is occasionally observed. I attribute the comparative safety of my method entirely, first, to the exclusion of the air and what it contains; and, secondly, to the greater size of the apertures for the inlet of mischief made by the lancet.' Mr. I bring these facts forward that they may be sifted and challenged if they be not correct. If they are correct, it is needless to dwell upon their importance, nor is it necessary to say that if Mr. Ellis had resigned himself wholly to the guidance of the germ theory, he could not have acted more in accordance with the requirements of that theory than he has actually done. It is what the air contains that does the mischief in vaccination. Ellis's results fall in with the general theory of putrefaction propounded by Schwann, and developed in this country with such striking success by Professor Lister. They point, if true, to a cause distinct from bad lymph for the failures and occasional mischief incidental to vaccination; and if followed up they may be the means of leaving the irrational opposition to vaccination no ground to stand upon, by removing even the isolated cases of injury on which the opponents of the practice rely. We are now assuredly in the midst of practical matters. With your permission I will recur once more to a question which has recently occupied a good deal of public attention. You know that as regards the lowest forms of life, the world is divided, and has for a long time been divided, into two parties, the one affirming that you have only to submit absolutely dead matter to certain physical conditions to evolve from it living things; the others, without wishing to set bounds to the power of matter, affirming that in our day no life has ever been found to arise independently of pre-existing life. Many of you are aware that I belong to the party which claims life as a derivative of life. The question has two factors: the evidence, and the mind that judges of the evidence; and you will not forget that it may be purely a mental set or bias on my part that causes me throughout this discussion from beginning to end, to see on the one side dubious facts and defective logic, and on the other side firm reasoning and a knowledge of what rigid experi mental inquiry demands. But judged of practically, what, again, has the question of Spontaneous Generation to do with us? Let us see. There are numerous diseases of men and animals that are demonstrably the products of parasitic life, and such disease may take the most terrible epidemic forms, as in the case of the silkworms of France in our day. Now it is in the highest degree important to know whether the parasites in question are spontaneously developed, or are wafted from without to those afflicted with the disease. The means of prevention, if not of cure, would be widely different in the two cases. But this is by no means all. Besides these universally admitted cases, there is the broad theory now broached and daily growing in strength and clearness-daily indeed, gaining more and more of assent from the most successful workers and profound thinkers of the medical profession itself-the theory, namely, that contagious disease generally is of this parasitic character. If I had heard or read anything since to cause me to regret having introduced this theory to your notice more than a year ago, I should here frankly express that regret. I would renounce in your presence whatever leaning towards the germ theory my words might then have betrayed. (To be continued.) 66 THE ÆSTHETICS OF LABELS. BY JAMES R. MERCEIN. antique puffs will be unnecessary; if we are poor ones, such stale bait will not lure customers. 66 The titles that pharmacists assume are, as a general thing, decidedly inappropriate, and needing amendment. There is no doubt that the words "Pharmaceutist," or "pharmacist," are more nearly correct as expressing our professional status, although some contend that these should be peculiar to graduates. Be this as it may, the nomenclature of to-day is wrong. Druggist" means no more or less than a seller of drugs, crude or otherwise, and implies no skill. It puts us on a level with any tradesman who simply sells to gain; the word should be confined to wholesale dealers only. Even when yoked with "chemist," as it often is, it will not pass muster. How many of us can lay the slightest claim to being chemists, further than the ordinary requirements of every-day business will warrant the title; and yet we coolly force ourselves into the ranks of a profession that requires the life-long attention of a Liebig, a Berzelius, a Doremus, or a Bridges! "Dispensing chemist" is equally absurd, or even more so. Who for a moment, aided by the most vivid imagination, could picture the above-mentioned analysts dispensing senna and manna, or mixing a dose of oil! The term "apothecary" is so exclusively English, and refers to such a different mode of doing business, half medical and half pharmaceutical, that it is totally inapplicable here. "Pharmacist" expresses exactly what we are; is not so clumsy as "pharmaceutist," looks well on a label, and better than all, does not make us appear, like the jackdaw of the fable, in borrowed plumes. In closing this homily, it seems almost superfluous to hint at such inelegancies as pasting one label over another, or over the seam of a bottle; of putting it on crooked, or with ragged edges; but I feel that most of my pill-rolling brethren will bear me out in the assertion that these slips are too often made. "What is worth doing at all, is worth doing well," says another old adage.—American Journal of Pharmacy. "A good workman is known by his chips," says the old adage; a careful pharmacist is known, or should be, by his labels, say I. Sent out as they are upon multiform parcels to the homes of our customers, they pass beyond our reach and speak for themselves-and for us. It behoves us, then, to be very circumspect as to the outward adorning of our dumb representatives. A roughly cut, badly printed label, such as we too often see, is like a shocking bad hat," on a well-dressed man, spoiling the tout ensemble and betraying the sloven. Pharmacists err in thinking their patrons inobservant of such seemingly small matters. The almost Egyptian mystery that surrounds the ordinary details of our profession baffles the looker-on, and he naturally judges us by our outward symbols and tokens, of which the label is the most familiar. Ex pede Hercule,-if by the brazen foot the ancients estimated the statue, let us see to it, that the labels, our representatives, shall be a worthy exemplar of our work. The form of the label is the first point to be looked at. A round peg in a square hole does not look more out of place than an ill-shaped or over-sized label, and yet every day you will see a huge bit of paper on a wee little" bottle, or a diminutive scrap on a portly flagon, thereby neutralizing the good looks of both labels and vials. Of course there can be no definite rule as to proper sizes, but the pharmacist should train his eye and his taste intuitively to recognize the right proportions. Let him avoid exactly square labels, or those abortive attempts which resemble monumental tablets. Double lines in the border, and rounded tops will give a label, printed in black ink especially, a tomb-stone look that must be suggestive to the patient. Hogarth insisted that the curve was the line of beauty, but if he had seen the shield-shaped labels now in such common use for "Elixirs" and "Syrups," he would have retracted his assertion instanter. Tastes will differ, of course, but to my eye these pharmaceutic escutcheons are fearfully and wonderfully ugly. In fact, almost every irregular form of label, unless its matter is nicely distributed and its type selected with the greatest care, In continuation of the subject of Percolation and Ecois apt to be very ungraceful. For steady use, the old-nomy of Alcohol, annually presented to the Association fashioned oblong label, in width not quite half its length, for some years past, the writer offers an abstract of the wears best and looks best. For packages, the strip label, results of his last year's experience, premising that he long and narrow is preferable. Well printed and tied has neither the time nor inclination-as time becomes on, so that its upper edge lies on the edge of the fold, it more valuable-to defend his notions, judgment, or acsets off a handsome bundle. curacy, or even to point out many of the deductions that might be drawn from the statements made as facts. An octagon looks well on pill-boxes, and is a relief from the almost inevitable circle. FLUID EXTRACTS AND THEIR MENSTRUA.* BY EDWARD R. SQUIBB, M.D. It is not uncommon to hear observant physicians say that they do not obtain results from the fluid extracts corresponding in the proportion of minim for grain to the drug which they represent; and pharmacists who use the officinal formulas must be aware that the drugs are not entirely exhausted by the processes given. A critical inquiry into this subject, in this direction, is the chief object of this paper. But it is in the printed matter, its distribution and its types where improvement is sadly needed. Why pharmacists in the progressive age should persist in using the stereotyped phrases in vogue thirty years ago, the same old-fashioned type, the venerable mortar, alembic, and retort; why we should do these things because our fathers did so before us, is a mystery. The art of typecutting presents us with so many varied forms of letters, that numberless combinations, novel yet elegant, can readily be made. The chief error with pharmacists is a tendency to over-crowd their labels with reading matter; one would think they were trying to advertise all their wares in this small space, and yet the truth is, beyond the publicity of name and address, the label is not an advertisement, but merely a voucher for the contents of the package. A few lines, terse and to the point, are far better than a crowded jumble of disjointed sentences. "A rivulet of text flowing through a meadow of margin" should be the rule, as every printer will tell It is to a more plain and simple application of the you. Useless verbiage and common-place phrases should principle of specific gravity that attention is now to be be avoided. "Fine drugs and chemicals constantly on directed, and the formula may be stated as follows :-In hand," "physicians' prescriptions carefully compounded," etc. etc., should be treated with the respect due to old *Read before the American Pharmaceutical Association age-and laid aside. If we are good pharmacists, these at the meeting at Baltimore, 1871. A practical way to measure the rate and extent of exhaustion by percolation has long been needed, and the want of some simple and easy plan has, perhaps more than any other obstacle, stood in the way of accurate knowledge and progress in the art of percolation. After many trials, some of which were described in previous papers, the method by specific gravity has thus far proved the most satisfactory and successful. But when applied by the hydrometer, or by the ordinary specificgravity bottle, with the necessary calculations, it is too abstruse and complicated for common usage. THE PHARMACY BILL. SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND A Meeting of the Council was held on Monday the 19th inst., for the purpose of considering the proposed Pharmacy Bill of 1871. There was a full attendance of members; Mr. DOBB, the President, in the chair. percolation the density of the percolate will vary from the density of the menstruum in proportion to the extent and rate of the exhaustion. It follows from this proposition that to measure the extent and rate of exhaustion, it is only necessary to measure the extent and rate at which the percolate varies from the menstruum at the beginning of a percolation and approaches to it at the end, absolute exhaustion being indicated by equal density or equal weight of the same volume at the same temperature of the menstruum and percolate. This The minutes of the previous meeting having been measuring is usefully accomplished with sufficient accu- read and confirmed, the President introduced the subject racy by separating the percolate as it passes into succes- which the Council had been called to discuss, by reading sive portions of a pint each and weighing them. By the Bill which had passed through the House of Lords, subtracting from this the weight of a pint of the men- and stood for second reading, June 26th. In a few brief struum at the same temperature, a series of differences remarks he said he thought it was desirable that some will be obtained expressing the extent and rate of ex-action should be taken by this Council, and he would haustion. When the exhaustion is practically completed, wish to take its sense of the desirability or otherwise of -it is never absolutely accomplished, the residue is petitioning the House of Commons against the Bill. dried and weighed, and its weight subtracted from the weight of the substance as originally taken for percolation. The difference or loss in weight indicates the total amount of solid matter dissolved and removed by the menstruum. Then, as the sum of the differences in weight between equal volumes of the menstruum and percolate at the same temperature, is to the total amount of solid matter or extract dissolved out by the menstruum, so is each separate difference to the weight of solid extract in the portion of percolate which that difference represents. That is to say, the total weight or amount of solid extract being ascertained, the ratio of the differences in density is applied to it to obtain a ratio of the rate of exhaustion, and to ascertain the distribution of the total extract throughout the percolate. This method, applied to nearly all the fluid extracts which are at present officinal, and to some others, has convinced the writer, First. That the present officinal processes do not sufficiently exhaust the drugs to which they are applied; and, Resolved-That this Council offer the most strenuous opposition to the proposed Bill, that a petition be drawn up for presentation to the House of Commons by George Hadfield, Esq., the senior member for the borough, and that Messrs. Wilson and Preston be delegated to represent the views of the chemists and druggists of this town and neighbourhood at the conference to be held in London. Resolved-That the following letter accompany the petition and be also forwarded to the county and borough members individually : "Sir,-A petition, of which the enclosed is a copy, has been forwarded to the senior member for the borough of Sheffield for presentation to the House of Commons; the petitioners therefore respectfully solicit your opposition to any such partial enactment. The petitioners object that this Amended Pharmacy Act' should be construed as one with the 'Pharmacy Act, 1868,' the 16th clause of which reserves the right of apothecaries, veterinary surgeons, etc., who are thereby exempt from conforming to the regulations for the dispensing, selling Second. That these processes do not take the best way and keeping of poisons. The Petitioners submit that to attain the object. That the supposed advantage of any legislative action upon this subject should be strictly nsing coarse powders is a delusion. That maceration is impartial, believing that persons registered under the useless at the commencement of the process of percola-Pharmacy Act, 1868,' as chemists and druggists are as tion, but useful after the substance has been partially duly qualified to dispense, sell and keep poisons as apoexhausted. That the menstrua are not always the best thecaries, veterinary surgeons and medical students in that could be selected, either for extracting the useful the various public hospitals and dispensaries of Great portions of the drug or for excluding the useless portions. Britain." That glycerine is preferable to sugar where either gives any positive advantage, but that anything like a general use of glycerine in fluid extracts is to be deprecated, as the advantages are more in appearance than reality. (To be continued.) Iron Alum as a Hæmostatic.-A correspondent of the Lancet recommends the use of a strong solution of iron alum in glycerine as admirably adapted for the arrest of profuse bleeding where no large vessel is to be seen and secured. For hæmorrhage from the gums it may be applied in powder on a piece of lint; bleeding from the nose may be checked by stuffing the nostrils with lint saturated in the solution. The Effect of Climate and Soil on Plants.As an example of the effect of a tropical climate and soil on British cultivated plants and their products, may be mentioned the fact of the introduction of some peppermint plants from the Mitcham fields into a plantation at Singapore. After being planted in their new tropical home in a situation fully exposed to the sun they grew very well, but not to the height they grow in this country; moreover, they refused to flower, and almost as soon as they had arrived at full growth they dried up, having an appearance of being burnt. They were also found to yield not more than half the usual quantity of -essential oil, and that of a dark claret colour and of an inferior odour.-Gardeners' Chronicle. A second meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening, the 27th inst., at the rooms of the Association, at which it was reported that the petition, bearing the signature of seventy-two chemists and druggists of this town, had been duly presentod. The following (condensed) report was presented hy the deputation: On Monday, June 26th, the deputation were honoured by an audience with George Hadfield, Esq., senior member for the borough of Sheffield. Your deputation urged upon the hon. member the several objections the great body of chemists had to the Bill already passed by the House of Lords, and read for the first time in the House of Commons. After a general conversation the hon. member promised his assistance. Your deputation also waited upon A. J. Mundella, Esq., junior member for the borough, on the same day, and repeated the objections to the Bill, and also to the principles contained therein, who said he would aid to the best of his power. On Tuesday, June 27th, your deputation waited upon H. J. Beaumont, Esq., member for the West Riding of Yorkshire, who also expressed much sympathy with the objects of the deputation. Your deputation were unable to obtain any interview with Viscount Milton, the other member for the West Riding, being out of town through severe illness. Your deputation also sought an interview with S. Plimsoll, Esq., member for Derby; but failing to meet with him, a letter was dispatched to his address. Your deputation, in conclusion, desire to record the kind and affable manner in which they were 1st. That this meeting having heard read a Bill en-received by one and all the members of Parliament with titled "An Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act of 1868," whom it was their pleasure to come in contact. Your introduced into the House of Lords, and passed through deputation feel that the course adopted by the Council all its stages in about a week, and having considered the has met with great success and encouragement. same, expressed its strong disapproval of the Bill, and the unseemly haste with which it is being pushed through Parliament. Mr. Dobb proposed that the best thanks of this Council be given to Messrs. Wilson and Preston for the very energetic and admirable manner in which they had carried out the views of the Council. This was seconded by Mr. Radley, supported by Mr. Cocking and Mr. Ward, and carried unanimously. This concluded the business of the meeting. BOLTON DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF CHE- A Meeting of the committee of this Association was held on Tuesday, June 20th, to consider the desirability of taking steps to oppose the passage through the House of Commons of the Pharmacy Bill, 1871, when it was unanimously decided that the petition received from the Manchester Defence Association, and which had been signed by almost every member of the trade in the district, should be forwarded to our senior Member for presentation, together with the following resolution: "That the petition, signed by almost every chemist and druggist in Bolton, Farnworth, Atherton and Tyldesley, be forwarded to John Hick, Esq., M.P., as senior Member for this borough, for presentation in the House of Commons, and that Lieut.-Colonel Grey, M.P., be supplied with a copy, and earnestly requested to support it. The committee also beg to submit that the feeling of the whole trade in this district is most decidedly against the imposition of such an uncalled-for interference with the rights and liberties of persons conducting the business; and when it is considered that statistics prove the gross average of deaths through either misadventure or carelessness to be only 14 persons per annum for the whole population of the kingdom, there is surely no sufficient reason for such vexatious proceedings. This feeling is most forcibly expressed in the following extract from a resolution forwarded for presentation to the Pharmaceutical Council in April last: Proposed by Mr. Cockshott, seconded by Mr. Swaine 2nd. That a petition to the House of Commons against the passing of the Bill be signed and forwarded for · presentation to one of the borough members. Proposed by Mr. Beanland, seconded by Mr. Pullen3rd. That the best thanks of the meeting be given to the President, Mr. Rimmington, for his services in the chair. BIRMINGHAM. At a Meeting of the Midland Counties Chemists' Asso-ciation, held at the Temperance Hall, Birmingham, on June 27th, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to:Moved by Mr. GEORGE DYMOND, seconded by Mr. C. J. ARBLASTER : "That the following form of petition to Parliament To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and The humble petition of the Midland Counties Chemists" Association, as represented by a meeting of the Council of that Association, held in Birmingham, on June 27th, 1871 Showeth : "That, whereas a Bill, entitled 'An Act to Amend. the Pharmacy Act, 1868,' is before the House of Com-chemists and druggists in Great Britain compulsory remons, which contains provisions for imposing upon. gulations for the keeping and selling of poisons; and,. whereas this subject has already obtained the serious attention of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, of "That the poisons regulations proposed by the Phar- the Pharmaceutical Society at large and of its Annual maceutical Council are at the present time quite unne- Meeting held last month in London; and, whereas these cessary, inasmuch as that by the recent Act of Parlia- bodies have, after due deliberation, agreed upon the ment a very rigid examination for all future chemists adoption of certain Recommendations to be observed and druggists is rendered compulsory, and it is consi- by chemists in keeping and selling poisons; and as the dered that with such an educational status the safety of the public is most effectually provided for; and that, as Pharmaceutical Society, remitted to the continued attensubject has been by the said Annual Meeting of the the said regulations cannot be carried out without in- tion of its Council during the present year; and whereas, spection, it is felt to be a most unjust and inquisitorial morcover, any legislative compulsory interference on interference with the liberties of a body of tradesmen this subject, which applies only to chemists, whilst it recognized as almost approaching the medical profes- exempts the larger body of medical practitioners from sion, who are not to be affected by such proposed legis- its operation, would be partial, ineffective and unjust. lation." BRADFORD CHEMISTS' ASSOCIATION. "Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that your honourable House will, for the present, suspend any further action in reference to the said Act, until the measures which the Pharmaceutical Society have adopted to attain the end in view, and which they still have under their care, have had a fair and reasonable trial, or until (if legislation be at last necessary) a more just and equal measure is prepared which shall embrace the whole of the dispensers of medicine in the kingdom. "And your petitioners will ever pray. Signed by GEORGE DYMOND, 66 On Wednesday, the 21st ult., a Special General Meeting of all members of the trade was convened to be held in the room of the Society in Salem Street, to consider the "Amended Pharmacy Act." The response to this invitation was only small. The opinion of most of the leading members appeared to be that neither the Bill nor the Regulations which it sought to enforce could be hailed as a blessing conferred upon the trade, and, therefore, could not receive their support; yet it was thought that the fierce opposition and denunciation of some of its A similar petition to Parliament from chemists and opponents was greatly in excess of what it merited, and that a more temperate and conciliatory attitude towards druggists was adopted, and is already extensively signed the Government would bring about a more satisfactory by the chemists of Birmingham and the district. result. The following resolutions passed unanimously: "President of the Association. “JOSEPH LUCAS,} Secretaries,”” "W. R. JONES, The Pharmaceutical Journal. SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1871. The local members propose to give a Conversazione to their visitors, on the evening of Tuesday, 1st of August. It will take place in the Museum of Science and Art, at eight o'clock. A ticket of invitation has been forwarded to each member of the Conference, admitting himself and a lady. The Local Secretary begs that acceptances of the invitation be sent as early as possible. Communications for this Journal, and books for review, etc., should be addressed to the EDITOR, 17, Bloomsbury Square. Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the Edinburgh and its neighbourhood have peculiar transmission of the Journal should be sent to ELIAS BREM-attractions for visitors, whether scientific or not. RIDGE, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C. Advertisements to Messrs. CHURCHILL, New Burlington Street, London, W. Envelopes indorsed “Pharm. Journ." PHARMACEUTICAL HOLIDAYS. AMIDST the turmoil of the poison regulation question, it will, doubtless, be pleasant to many a hardworked pharmacist to look forward to the time when the British Pharmaceutical Conference affords an opportunity for shaking off some of the dust of the shop and meeting together in friendly discussion. It is almost superfluous to remind our readers that the Conference meeting will this year be held in Edinburgh. The place of meeting is the Craigie Hall, St. Andrew's Square, where the President, Mr. W. W. STODDART, F.C.S., F.G.S., will deliver an address, on Tuesday, August 1st, at 10 A.M., prior to the reading and discussion of papers on pharmaceutical subjects during the rest of that day and Wednesday. The Craigie Hall will be open as a reception room for members, from 9 A.M. to 6 P.м., on Monday, July 31st; Tuesday, August 1st; Wednesday, August 2nd and Thursday, August 3rd. The city itself, especially from its situation, is well worthy of a visit. The whole district, for thirty miles round, is of high interest from the historic and antiquarian point of view; and there is an admirable field for the geologist and for students of natural history generally. As regards the meetings the public buildings in Edinburgh, and especially the University Class Rooms, afford ample accommodation, and from their proximity to each other they are eminently convenient. It is considered probable that this meeting will be very numerously attended, owing to the facilities now afforded by the several railway and steamboat companies to parties travelling from all parts of Great Britain and the Continent. The Railway Companies, in terms of an arrangement amongst themselves, will convey members of the British Association from any part of Great Britain to and from Edinburgh with first or second class return tickets, such tickets being available from Tuesday, the 1st day of August, until and including Friday, the 11th day of August, being the day after the meeting is concluded. Visitors to the Conference, In addition to the attractions of Edinburgh, due however, are included in this extension of the usual to its situation and as the chief town of North limits of return tickets, since they would require to Britain, the objects of interest in the city are nume- reach Edinburgh on Monday, July 31st. For those rous. Among these are the Castle, containing the who may have time for a longer stay tourists' tickets ancient Regalia of Scotland, and commanding from to the North and West Highlands, are available for its ramparts a most extensive view; the Chapel return within one month, with permission to break and Palace of Holyrood, rich in historical associa- the journey at Melrose, Edinburgh, Perth, Dunkeld, tions; Arthur's Seat, 822 feet high, and the Calton Blair-Athole, Aberdeen, Inverness, and any other Hill, crowned by the National Monument. The station where the train or steamer stops, either in Royal Observatory and Nelson's Pillar afford a going or returning. prospect of the Frith of Forth and Ochil Mountains, which is not surpassed by any other locality in the world. In the neighbourhood:-Roslin Castle, Hawthornden and the rare old chapel well merit a visit. Abbotsford, the seat of the late Sir Walter Scott, can be reached by rail in an hour and a half. The Queen's Drive, surrounding Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Craigs, Dalkeith Palace and grounds, new Battle Abbey, Dalhousie Castle, Hopetoun House, Dalmeny Park, and many other places of great interest and beauty, are within easy driving distance. Objects of interest to the geologist, botanist and student of natural history, will be found in abundance. Daily excursions may be had by railway to some of the finest Highland scenery. LEMON AND LIME JUICE. WE insert in another column a letter from Mr. ROBERT PALMER, relative to the adoption of citrate of potash as a substitute for the horrible mixture of lemon-juice and rum with which our sailors are now drenched by Act of Parliament." We recur to this subject because it has already given rise to some leading remarks, and because we believe it to be the duty of the chemist to aid the physician in determining the exact value of prophylactic, as well as curative agents. But we think that Mr. PALMER protests, and attempts to prove, too much. Lemon-juice and rum do not make by any means a 'horrible mixture,” |