PUBLIC DINNER TO SIR ROBERT CHRISTISON.

Sir Robert Christison, Bart., having completed the fiftieth year of his professoriate in the University of Edinburgh, it was resolved, as we announced in a recent number, to take advantage of the occurrence to testify to that distinguished physician and pharmaceutist the esteem in which he was held by students formerly or at present under his tuition, and by scientific men and the public at large, by inviting him to a public dinner in Edinburgh, on Friday, 23rd February.

The day's proceedings were commenced by the presentation to Sir Robert of a sword of honour that had been subscribed for by the officers and privates of the University (Fourth) Company of the Queen's Edinburgh Volunteer Rifle Brigade.

This was followed by the presentation of an address of congratulation from the Edinburgh University Club in London. The presentation took place in the Library of the University. Principal Sir Alexander Grant occupied the chair, and nearly all the professors of the University, in their robes, were present. The deputation consisted of Dr. Dyce Duckworth (who read the address), Dr. Alexander Halley and Mr. Richard Davy.

At half-past six a company, numbering about two hundred and fifty gentlemen, sat down to dinner in the Douglas Hotel. The Right Hon. John Inglis, Lord Justice-General, Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, occupied the chair. The croupiers were Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, Bart.; Sir Alexander Grant, Bart.; Robert Patterson, Esq., M.D., President of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh; William Walker, Esq., President of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh; and G. Fleming, Esq., President of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow.

siasm and courage bordering on foolhardiness; and amongst other adventures, Sir Robert dabbled in poisons, and experimented on his own precious person in a way that they would scarcely believe. His Lordship proceeded to speak of Sir Robert's experiments to find out whether arsenious acid had a sweet or a bad acrid taste. Sir Robert pronounced it to have a sweet taste, and this view was adopted by almost all toxicologists, with the exception of Orfila. Another subject which occupied Sir Robert was his experiments on Calabar beans. On one occasion he took a dose of these before going to bed, and found that it acted a good deal like opium. He had a good sleep and felt very comfortable next morning, and rather disappointed at the result, so he took a considerably larger dose before he dressed himself. Ere he had concluded dressing, the doctor felt satisfied that he had got hold of a very energetic poison; for the truth was that he collapsed, and no one could tell what the consequences might have been if he had not swallowed his shaving water as an emetic. He became partially relieved, but still the symptoms were very alarming, and he rang for his son and asked him to send for two medical men. His Lordship then proceeded to bear testimony to Professor Christison's position as a medical jurist; he meant his appearance as an expert in courts of justice. He began. very early in the year 1829 as a skilled witness in the famous trial of Burke and Hare, and he believed the last case in which he appeared was in 1866, in a civil case popularly known as the "Esk Pollution Case." In. the whole of that interval Sir Robert Christison was engaged in every case of importance that occurred in Scotland and frequently in England, amongst others in the trial of Palmer for poisoning by strychnine. Sir Robert never went into the witness-box in the spirit of a partisan, but always as a medical jurist, to aid the Court and the jury in the elucidation of truth, and in serving the ends of justice. Sir Robert's transference to the Chair of Materia Medica in 1832, and the lamented death in rapid succession. of three great physicians in this city-Abercromby, Alison and Davidson-diverted his attention to another channel, and led to an extensive practice as a physician. His Lordship concluded amidst loud and prolonged cheering, by proposing "The health of Sir Robert Christison, Bart."

After the usual loyal and municipal toasts, the Chairman rose to propose the toast of the evening. He said that, on the 23rd of February, 1822, Dr. Robert Christison was installed into the Professorship of Medical Jurisprudence in the University of Edinburgh, and from that date to this, uninterruptedly, he had exercised the functions of a Professor in that University. It had been his rare fortune to pass through that protracted career with out any serious disturbance or check, and after earning a reputation of which the greatest and wisest might be In responding, Sir Robert alluded to the great kindproud, he stood before them that day in all the strength ness he had received, and especially during the last of his manhood; his physical energies scarcely affected, twelve years. In that time he had been thrice chosen and his intellectual powers as fresh and vigorous as they by his colleagues representative of the Senatus Acadewere in what most men esteem the prime of life. Sir micus in the University Court. He was also appointed Robert might be said to be a favourite child of the Univer- by her Majesty to represent the profession in Scotland sity, for, although not born in the academic purple, when upon the Medical Council, and had since been twice rehe was only nine years of age his father became a Pro- elected. He was next requested to turn soldier, and take fessor. Consequently, he received all his university educa- charge of the University Rifle Company. A few years tion in the same place, and having passed through a long afterwards he received the degree of D.C.L. from the course of medical and surgical study, he took his degree of University of Oxford. His portrait had previously been M.D. just four years before he became Professor himself. placed upon the walls of the College of Physicians, and Having been thus efficiently equipped, Sir Robert met now some friends obtained the placing of his bust in the his class, which consisted of only seven students. He hall of the University, and presented a duplicate of the was ten years in the chair, and bequeathed to his suc-bust to his family. Then he was elected President of cessor a class of ninety students; but in the interval, in the Royal Society, and this was followed by the quite 1829, he published the first edition of his Treatise on unexpected honour that her Majesty had conferred upon Poisons,'- a work which was at once received by physi- him in making him a baronet. In looking over the recians and jurists and men of science as the most philo- cords of the University, he found that the honour paid sophic and complete work that had yet been published him on that occasion was unprecedented. Of the many on the subject. Many changes had been introduced in professors, only one, Professor Jameson, survived his the details of toxicological manipulation; but so far as first appointment fifty years, and in that case it was only principles were concerned, and as far as the exposition by twenty days, and the professor's health was so feeble of the nature and action of poisons was concerned, he as to preclude any such compliment as that they had believed it to be still unrivalled. In the preparation of paid to him. Sir Robert attributed his success to the such a work the most accurate observations were required fact that he had always resolved to attend to the parin the selection of material, the most perfect foresight in ticular duties of his office, whatever they might be. avoiding all disturbing elements in the conduct of his experiments, and the most vigilant observations during those processes. Some of the experiments which the toxicologist must make were marked by other characteristics, such as (he begged pardon for saying it) enthu

During the evening a telegram was received to the effect that "The Vice-Chancellor and other friends Cambridge drink to the health of Professor Sir Robe Christison, Bart."

uited uccirubra.

The Pharmaceutical Journal.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1872.

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 transmission of the Journal should be sent to ELIAS BREMRIDGE, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C.

Advertisements to Messrs. CHURCHILL, New Burlington Street, London, W. Envelopes indorsed "Pharm. Journ."

CINCHONA CULTIVATION IN INDIA.

WE have been favoured with copies of two important reports on this subject. One, which will be found at p. 705, from J. BROUGHTON, Esq., Government Quinologist at Ootacamund, contains the results of analytical researches made with the object of ascertaining a variety of details requisite to be known in reference to cinchona culture, such as the conditions affecting the yield of alkaloids, etc. The other report is by J. ELIOT HOWARD, Esq., in answer to certain questions addressed to him by the SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA: this report, which we purpose printing next week, deals mainly with the question as to "the species which is likely to produce the most remunerative bark for sale in the London market," commenting on some of the results obtained by Mr. BROUGHTON, and illustrating the importance of selecting proper species for cultivation.

HYDROCYANIC ACID.

is far from what it should be. To remedy this as far as possible, the practice should be adopted of setting aside for the dispensing counter a small quantity, which should be entirely renewed at least once a week, and the residue, if any, thrown away. Numerous observations have shown that when the bottle is frequently opened, the strength of the acid cannot be depended upon for any longer period.

When

In the Journal of Materia Medica for October is recorded a case, in which poisoning by strychnia was successfully treated with bromide of potassium. The patient, who was a farmer, had eaten some cakes made from flour with which a considerable quantity of strychnia had been mixed. first seen by the medical man, the skin was cold and livid, there was great dyspnoea, the jaws were with frothy saliva. An ounce of bromide of potasfixed, the lips retracted, and the teeth covered sium was dissolved in a cup of water, and the mouth being forced open, one half was administered directly, and the remainder in smaller doses for an hour or so afterwards. Under the influence of the bromide the symptoms subsided, and had nearly disappeared twenty-four hours afterwards. A piece of one of the cakes given to a dog produced death in twenty minutes.

Ar a recent meeting of the Association of Medical Officers of Health, Dr. ALFRED J. BERNAYS read a paper "On the Precautions which should surround Toxicological Investigations in a Court of Law." In discussing the method of proceeding in cases of suspected poisoning, he expressed an opinion that the necessary analyses should be made by a jury of experts, which should consist of the local physician, a chemist with a medical degree and a practising chemist, who should make a report in writing to be published before the trial. He also entered a vigorous protest against the system of confining all such analytical work to two or three men, however eminent they might be, and said that selection should be made from a wider sphere.

ATTENTION has been repeatedly directed to the variations to which pharmaceutical preparations of hydrocyanic acid are subject. The causes of diminution of strength are various. In the first place, hydrocyanic acid is an exceedingly volatile substance, and therefore samples contained in bottles which are kept only partially filled, and are opened half-a-dozen times a day, must very rapidly deteriorate from this circumstance alone. Hydrocyanic AMONGST the public bodies that were honoured by acid is also readily decomposed when kept dissolved invitations to participate, through their officials, in even in pure water, whilst the presence of even a the Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's Cathedral, trace of alkali establishes very rapid destruction, Great Britain. The Society was on that occasion on Tuesday last, was the Pharmaceutical Society of ammonia and an alkaline formate being produced. represented by the President, Mr. A. F. HASELDEN, To avoid chance impurity of this kind, from imper-F.L.S., and the Vice-President, Mr. G. EDWARDS. fectly-rinsed bottles or other source, it is commonly the practice to add a minute quantity of sulphuric acid, which is found to retard this decomposition very materially. An excessive quantity of acid also promotes the same kind of change, and must therefore be avoided. The chemical reaction just described is accompanied by the deposition of a brown insoluble substance.

It is obvious from what has just been pointed out, and from the experiments of Dr. TILDEN, Mr. GILMOUR and others published in this Journal, that the hydrocyanic acid commonly employed in dispensing

Ar the Evening Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society on Wednesday next, a paper by Dr. DYCE DUCKWORTH will be read on "The Pharmaceutical Preparations of Ipecacuanha," and a note from Dr. DE VRY on "Cinchona caloptera, Miq."

WE are requested to state that the Secretary of Treasurer of the Chemists' Ball Committee the sum the Pharmaceutical Society has received from the of twenty guineas for the Benevolent Fund. We are glad to congratulate the Committee on the success of their labours.

Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society. Bronze Medal, and also Certificates of Honour and

Provincial Transactions.

NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS'
ASSOCIATION.

The Second General Meeting of the session was held in the Society's Rooms, Britannia Chambers, on December 20th, 1871; the President, Mr. J. H. ATHERTON, in the chair.

The minutes were read and confirmed.

Mr. JOHN ABRAHAM read the following paper on the

PREPARATION OF LIQUOR POTASSE.

In the PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL for March, 1861, is an article by Professor Redwood on the preparation of liquor potassæ. The object is to obtain a solution of potassa free from colour, from lime, and from carbonic acid, and of definite strength. It is further desired that these objects shall be obtained in the most ready manner, but the means of obtaining such a solution are not quite so obvious as might at first be supposed, and the details of the process have varied from time to time, and in different Pharmacopoeias. In all, carbonate of potash with lime or hydrate of lime, and water, are the ingredients. Lime having a greater attraction for the carbonic acid than potash has, abstracts it from the solution of carbonate of potash. But if this solution is too strong, the whole of the carbonic acid is not abstracted. According to Mitscherlich, as quoted by Gmelin, 50 parts of water are required to 1 of carbonate of potash, but I have found nothing to warrant the assertion. In all the Pharmacopoeias, before the publication of the first British Pharmacopoeia, quicklime was ordered to be used. Certificates of Merit.-Mr. Symons, Mr. Archer, Mr. But quicklime is very far from being of uniform quality, Bolton, Mr. Norweb, Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Dixon. and Professor Redwood recommended that the lime The paper of the evening, by Mr. Rayner, entitled should be slaked, the grosser impurities removed by sift"Ourselves as Pharmacists," was unavoidably post-ing, and a definite weight of the hydrate employed. poned.

The PRESIDENT presented to the Society, on behalf of Messrs. Morson and Sons, London, a beautiful collection of alkaloids and chemical preparations for the museum. The specimens were exhibited on the table, and were very much admired. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to the donors, on the motion of Mr. W. H. PARKER, seconded by Mr. RAYNER.

The prizes in connection with the classes on Inorganic Chemistry were awarded to the successful candidates. Prizes.-Mr. Bothamley, Mr. De Pease and Mr. God

dard.

The Third General Meeting of the Association was held in the Society's Rooms, Britannia Chambers, on Tuesday evening, February 2nd; the President, Mr. ATHERTON, in the chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the following donations announced :— The Pharmaceutical Journal, the Chemist and Druggist, the Chicago Pharmacist and the Year-Book of Pharmacy. Mr. Oscroft Ilkeston and Mr. Margett Eastwood were elected members of the Society.

The PRESIDENT made an appeal to the Society on behalf of the English Contribution towards the reestablishment of the College of Pharmacy, Chicago, destroyed during the lamentable fire in that city. Great sympathy was expressed and a collection made, which was duly forwarded to Dr. Attfield, the Hon. Secretary of the Fund.

Mr. RAYNER read a paper on "Ourselves as Pharmacists." After the discussion thereon, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Rayner.

The Annual Supper of the Association was held at the 'Maypole Hotel' on Tuesday, January 16; Mr. ATHERTON, the President, in the chair. There was a very large attendance.

After the usual loyal toasts had been duly honoured, the PRESIDENT called upon the members to drink to the success of the Nottingham and Notts Chemists' Associa

tion.

This was a very decided improvement, and it was adopted in succeeding Pharmacopoeias. The Professor, however, further recommended that the preparation should be made entirely in the cold, and he gives a formula accordingly, which he thinks satisfactory; but this suggestion was not adopted, either in the first British Pharmacopoeia or in the second, which was edited by himself. And I may say that I remember to have tried it, and that I did not find it satisfactory. But I expect that one reason for that is to be found in the fact that the solution of carbonate of potash was directed to be poured into the milk of lime. The first and second British Pharmacopoeias direct that the decarbonating agent shall be added gradually to the solution of the carbonate. This is a material variation, by which the hydrate of lime first added becomes more fully carbonated, and leaves the remaining hydrate of lime to act energetically upon the remaining carbonate.

The directions of the London Pharmacopoeia ordered the use of boiling water, but involved no subsequent boiling. Those of the British Pharmacopoeia direct the ingredients to be boiled in an iron pan. Now, this will be found by most operators, I think, extremely objectionable, and I find it to be unnecessary. Operating on seven gallons in a steam pan, the amount of evaporation and consequent strength is extremely uncertain; although, of course, careful operators will test and dilute. Even if the whole of the carbonic acid is removed, which, I think, is not always the case, the liquid is very liable, when made in an iron pan frequently applied to other purposes, to be discoloured.

I have, therefore, tried a modification, which I find to be perfectly successful, whether the quantities operated on be seven gallons or one pint, and the convenience of which will, I think, be generally appreciated. I put the carbonate in a stoneware vessel, add the water boiling, then, by little and little, the hydrate of lime, stirring during half an hour. I find that the solution may, after a short time, be poured off with very little loss, and that to the tests of lime water and oxalate of ammonia it does not exhibit the presence of carbonic acid or of lime.

I find also that the Pharmacopoeia quantities, used in this manner, furnish a solution identical with, or but a little stronger than, the standard of the Pharmacopoeia. On the first occasion, making seven gallons, the sp. gr. was exactly right, 1058. On a subsequent occasion, operating on a pint, the sp. gr. is 1.0615. This gives, as I now show you, no precipitate with lime water or oxalate of ammonia. Using a substance so hygrometric as carbonate of potash, a uniform result cannot be expected; but,

although, as I have said, a careful operator will test the product, it is a great advantage in a Pharmacopoeia formula, that it is, within narrow limits, necessarily of the standard strength.

A portion prepared by Mr. Abraham in the manner he described was afterwards carefully tested and found perfectly free from any trace of carbonic acid or of lime.

Reynolds would explain any question which might arise in connection with this subject.

A short discussion took place, and as it appeared to be a subject requiring careful consideration, it was resolved to refer Mr. Radley's letter to the Committee.

Mr. JAMES ABBOTT then read the paper of the evening on "The Germ Theory."

Mr. REYNOLDS regretted that in consequence of indisposition he had not been present at a greater number of meetings, and was glad to find that there was such a good attendance, which was no doubt due to Mr. Abbott's well-earned reputation. He had also received a communication from Mr. Radley upon the subject introduced by Mr. James Armstrong read a paper on "Animal Char- the President, and would have pleasure in giving an excoal." He commenced by alluding to the importance of planation of the action of the Council of the Pharmathe subject, arising from the great tendency of the sugar-ceutical Society in this matter if it were decided to discuss refiners of the present day to look to chemists for aid to the question. conduct their business on scientific principles, and expressed an opinion that the application of animal charcoal for sugar refining was yet in its infancy. He believed that a careful study of the subject by an analytical chemist, with the view of using it in a more economical manner, or of partly replacing it by some other sub- The Lecturer briefly reviewed the history of sponstance, would be well repaid. He next gave a description taneous or equivocal generation, detailing the experiof the process of carbonizing the bones, and referred to ments of Schwann, Pouchet, Pasteur, and Bastian. The the results of some analyses that he had made of the question can scarcely be said to have been solved by commercial article. The absorbent power he had found M. Pasteur, if Dr. Bastian's experiments are reliable; to vary considerably in different samples, and it required it becomes, therefore, a question for future experisome experience to determine which were the best for mentalists to determine whether bacteria are present in the refiner's purposes. Chloride of sodium is always recently prepared vegetable infusions, and resist infound in new char; this was removed by two or three creased temperature, or whether they are formed de careful washings with boiling water, which also carried novo. Every one who has experimented in this direction off some of the ammonia and calcium that were pre- acknowledges the difficulty of determining whence these sent. Before being fit for use the char had again to be small organisms, bacteria, microzyme, etc. come. burned. The process of decolorization was next described, and various practical details of the process explained and commented on, and the effects of passing the saccharine liquor over animal char illustrated by specimens. The cleansing of the contaminated char-generally by allowing hot or cold water to pass through it for some hours-was an important process, but it was found that the char gradually lost its absorbent properties. It was very necessary that the foreign matter should be removed, as its presence during the reburning was very injurious to the char, and the present method was open to much improvement. The reburning was then described, some of the difficulties attending it referred to, and the results attained shown by a table of results of analyses of reburned char obtained from different refineries. In consequence of this deterioration in its absorbent powers, the author considered it would be advisable for the refiner, in order to secure the most satisfactory results, to have the char he uses tested at least once a month.

After the reading, Mr. Armstrong showed a model of Messrs. Buchanan and Vickes's kiln for burning the charcoal, and explained its advantages over the ordinary kiln. Specimens of charcoal new and burnt, both foreign and English, and also sugar liquors before and after filtration, were exhibited.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Armstrong concluded the business of the evening.

LEEDS CHEMISTS' ASSOCIATION.

The Fifth Meeting of the Session was held in the Library, on Wednesday, February 21st, 1872; the President, Mr. E. BROWN, in the chair.

The minutes of the former meeting having been read and confirmed, the LIBRARIAN reported that he had received the Proceedings of the British Pharmaceutical Conference, 1871, as a donation to the Library, from the Committee, and it was resolved that the thanks of the Society be given to the donors.

The PRESIDENT read a letter he had received from Mr. Radley, of Sheffield, referring to the course adopted by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, in giving assistance to Provincial Societies, and invited the opinion of the members present upon it. He was exceedingly pleased to find that their esteemed friend Mr. Reynolds was present that evening, and he had no doubt Mr.

With regard to disease germs, undoubtedly, Dr. Beale is correct; they are living organisms entering the circulation, of which we have abundant proof in vaccine lymph, syphilis, hydrophobia, post-mortem wounds, etc. The author considered that all noxious gases are injurious to health, and supposed they poisoned the system chemically. He thought that proof was wanting to show that sewer gases are originators of disease germs, which is a popular belief. Zymotic diseases are propagated by offcasts of living matter from infected persons being drawn into the circulation, where they rapidly multiply, doing the dreadful but sure work of destruction.

Referring to disinfectants, the author considered carbolic acid had been much over-estimated; it acted as an antiseptic, but was inferior in its action to chromic acid. With the many preparations known to be useful for the purposes of disinfection, it is necessary to make a selection according to the requirements of the case.

Mr. REYNOLDS thought the subject was so full of interest that it would be impossible to discuss the many points touched upon by the lecturer in the limited time we had at disposal, and he hoped Mr. Abbott would divide the subject, and give us another paper. He had pleasure in proposing that the best thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. Abbott.

Mr. SMEETON quite agreed with Mr. Reynolds, that it I would be impossible to consider the many questions involved in this excellent paper, and proposed that the discussion be adjourned to a future meeting.

Mr. E. THOMPSON cordially supported the resolution, and also the suggestion of Mr. Smeeton, which he hoped would be agreeable to Mr. Abbott.

The resolution was carried unanimously.

In acknowledging the vote of thanks, Mr. ABBOTT placed himself at the disposal of the Committee, and the subject whenever the Committee decided to hold a would be glad to take up either the whole or one part of meeting for the purpose.

MANCHESTER CHEMISTS' ASSISTANTS'
ASSOCIATION.

The Ninth Ordinary Meeting of the session was held at Mitre Chambers, on February 27th; the PRESIDENT in the chair; at which a paper on "Elementary Botany' was read by Mr. CLARKE.

After a few introductory remarks, the reader endea