A GREAT number of observations are recorded in this paper, showing that stearine and some other fats may be obtained in different allotropic conditions in which they have different melting points.

ON THE QUALITATIVE SEPARATION OF ARSENIC, TIN, AND ANTIMONY. BY GEORGE F. ANSELL.

THE method proposed by the author consists in dissolving the mixed sulphides in nitro-hydrochloric acid, and pouring the solution into an apparatus in which hydrogen gas is generated in the usual way. The evolved gases are first passed through a wash-bottle containing solution of acetate of lead, to remove any hydrochloric acid or sulphuretted hydrogen, and are then conveyed into a test-tube half filled with strong nitric acid. The nitric acid solution obtained after the gases have passed for about a quarter of an hour, is evaporated to dryness, and the residue, which will contain the arsenic originally present partly in the state of arsenic and partly of arsenious acid, and the antimony in the state of antimonic acid, is exhausted with warm water, which takes up the first two and leaves the last-named substances. The tin remains in the vessel in which the hydrogen was generated. These are severally identified by the application of the appropriate tests.

ON THE EAU MEDICINALE D'HUSSON.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.

Palmam qui meruit, ferat.

SIR,-In your Journal for April appeared a letter from Thomas Bushell, Esq., on the Basis of the Eau Medicinale d'Husson. I am induced to reply to this letter as an act of justice to a departed friend. We are indebted to the late Charles Thomas Haden, Surgeon, who, during the latter part of his life resided in Sloane Street, for the re-introduction of colchicum into practice for the cure of gout, rheumatism, and pure inflammatory diseases; and most certainly not to Mr. Want, as the narration of the following facts will show.

In the year 1811 Mr. C. T. Haden was residing and practising in Derby, with his father, who was an eminent Surgeon of that town, and a patient of his was very desirous of trying the Eau Medicinale d'Husson for the relief of gout. This remedy was procured and taken, and its effects appeared almost miraculous; the relief from pain was so instantaneous as greatly to excite our curiosity. Mr. C. T. Haden, who had been accustomed to dispense medicines for his father from his boyhood, was well acquainted with the smell and taste of drugs. And although there was at that time in the Pharmacopoeias only one preparation of colchicum (the oximel), and that but seldom used, and then only considered as a diuretic, yet the acuteness of his senses and his judgment induced him to believe the principal ingredient of the eau medicinale to be colchicum. This idea occurred to him suddenly while engaged in the performance of music. He turned to me during a short rest, and said, "Upon my life, I believe that stuff is nothing but colchicum." We immediately commenced our experiments with a saturated tincture of colchicum made with lbss. of the recent bulb macerated in a lbj. of proof spirit. We were very soon convinced of the identity of the colchicum and the principal ingredient of the eau medicinale. Our attention was next turned to the best method of making a powder of the bulb without injuring the narcotic powers of the drug. To obtain the remedy with its full narcotic power, the bulb must be collected while its vital powers are in their most active state, that is, just before the flower is blown, when the flowering leaf is fully up. This will be

about the beginning of July. The time will, of course, vary with the climate of the locality.

The outer skin must be removed, and the cormus cut into thin slices and dried at a temperature not exceeding 120° Fah. It is safer to dry them in the sun, for a high temperature dissipates, or greatly reduces the narcotic power of the drug. As the efficacy of this remedy depends upon these two circumstances, i.e., the proper time of collecting the cormus and the careful temperature in drying it; and as these points are either not understood or are disregarded, the remedy is fast falling again into disuse. A tincture and a powder made and collected strictly by these directions, may always be relied upon as effective remedies; and this is the time of the year that these hints may be useful.

In or about the year 1812, Mr. C. T. Haden left Derby and settled in Sloane Street, London, where he commenced the publication of a periodical work called the Medical Intelligencer.. He was appointed a medical officer of the Brompton Dispensary where he introduced the colchicum into practice, and it was here that Mr. Want became acquainted with it; and I well recollect the annoyance Mr. Haden and his friends felt at Mr. Want publishing a paper in one of the periodicals of the day forestalling Mr. Haden's work on colchicum. Mr. Haden not long afterwards died from an aneurism of the right subclavian artery, when the Medical Intelligencer died with him, and the Lancet had its birth.

It is with great reluctance that I have been induced to interfere in an affair for which I have no taste. Two points, however, may be gained by it; the one is, the posthumous fame of a most amiable and highly talented professional friend may be defended from literary petty larceny, and the other may be the means of obtaining a more efficient and a more powerful remedy, which, when judiciously used, may protect suffering humanity from premature death.

Bristol, June 14th, 1852.

GEO. WALLIS, M.D.,
Senior Physician of the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

THE LONDON DISPENSATORY; a Practical Synopsis of Materia Medica, Pharmacy, and Therapeutics. Illustrated with many useful tables, and woodcuts of the Pharmaceutical apparatus. By the late ANTHONY TODD THOMSON, M.D., F.L.S., &c. &c. Eleventh edition. Edited by ALFRED BARING GARROD, M.D., &c. &c. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. 1852. 8vo, pp. 1230.

HOMEOPATHY AND THE HOMEOPATHS. By J. STEVENSON BUSHMAN, M.D., &c. &c. London: John Churchill, Princes Street, Soho. 1852. 8vo, pp. 214.

A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON DISEASES OF THE SKIN. By J. MOORE NELIGAN, M.D., M.R.I.A., &c. &c. Dublin: Fannin and Co., Grafton Street; London: Longman and Co.; Edinburgh: Maclachlan, Stewart, and Co. 1852. 8vo, pp. 439.

ON THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE MALE URETHRA; and on the Pathology of Strictures of that Canal. By HENRY HANCOCK, F.R.C.S., &c. &c. London: Highley and Son, 32, Fleet Street. 1852. 8vo, pp. 86.

ON THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF FEVER, especially that termed Yellow Fever. By EDWARD BASCOMBE, M.D. London: John Churchill, Princes Street, Soho, 1852.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

DECOMPOSITION OF NITRATE OF POTASH BY INFUSION OF SENNA.

SIR,-If nitrate of potash be added to infusion of senna, say one grain to 3j, the bottles filled, corked, and kept under water for a week or two, nitrous fumes will be evolved immediately the cork is withdrawn, as will be evident on applying the bottle to the nose. It rapidly goes off, and the infusion remains as active, and of as fresh flavour as the day it was made. It may be kept in this manner for any length of time. I have just opened a bottle, which has been kept in this manner for upwards of a

year.

AJAX. [The use of nitrate of potash, for preserving infusion of senna, was suggested some years ago by Mr. Squire.-ED.]

Z. (Berwick).-The compound formed by adding sulphuric acid to bone-dust, would contain superphosphate of lime and sulphate of lime.

Quæster.-(1.) The colocynth fruit referred to was probably unpeeled Mogadore colocynth.-(2.) We know of no better mode of reducing camphor to powder than by the means of spirit.-(3.) We think the London Druggists generally are anxious for their Apprentices and Assistants to participate, as far as practicable, in the benefits of the Society.

C. A. (Stamford), will, on reference to the London Pharmacopoeia, see that powdered opium is ordered in the preparation of tinctura opii. In the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia it is ordered to be sliced, and in the Dublin coarsely powdered.

J. F. wishes to know the cause of, and a remedy to prevent, the gelatinous ap pearance of the sweetened nitrated soda water, which has been prepared by the usual soda water apparatus (upwards of six months since), containing sesquicarbonate of soda, nitrate of potass, syrup flavoured with essence of lemon, carbonic acid, and water. We can give no other explanation than that contained in vol. i., pages 229 and 587.

A. P. S. (Wolverhampton).-(1.) "White oils," R yolks of two eggs, 3oz. solution of ammonia, loz. oil of origanum, 4oz. turpentine, a pint of vinegar; mix, s.a.—(2.) Arsenic with sugar was sometimes used as a fly-poison prior to the passing of the Arsenic Act.

A Member." Alum. rupel." is common alum coloured with Venetian red or Armenian bole. The first question is answered in another part of this Journal.

A Subscriber.-(1.) The Arsenic Act was not, we believe, intended to prevent the sale of arsenic mixed with soft soap; but the Act, if literally interpreted, prohibits such sale in less quantities than 10lbs. (2.) The terms cyanide and cyanuret are synonymous.-(3.) Fownes's Manual of Chemistry.—(4.) See vol. v., page 134.—(5.) We are not aware that the work mentioned will shortly appear.-(6.) No.

G. B.-We know of no work on the manufacture of colours. Our Correspondent will find some information on the subject in Stoeckhardt's paper on Pigments, in the Pharmaceutical Journal, vol. vi.

G. W. R. (Margate).-No.

Mr. Stuart's communication has been received.

If" Chemicus" had given his name (either confidentially or otherwise), we should have published his letter.

Chemicus (Llanelly).—The Pharmacy Act will not interfere with Assistants of the present time in regard to commencing business as Chemists and Druggists; but if they desire to join the Society, or to assume the title of "Pharmaceutical Chemist," they must pass an examination.

A Subscriber (Denham).—We never recommend works on the practice of physic, but refer those who wish to become doctors to the medical schools.

An Assistant (June 18) should communicate with Mr. Redwood, the professor of Pharmacy, at 17, Bloomsbury Square.

J. B. (Hoxton).—Essence of pine-apple. See vol. iv., p. 95, and vol. xi., p. 214. A Member (Wolverhampton).-We will endeavour to supply the information required in a subsequent number.

G. P. R.-We know of no method of depriving castor oil of its taste and smell. M. P. S. (Manchester).-Bromide of lime is made by neutralizing hydrobomic acid with lime or carbonate of lime.

M. P. S. (Birmingham).—We believe nothing more has been published on the syrup of bark. We have not been able to find the article referred to, in the Medical Gazette. Perhaps our Correspondent can supply a more specific reference.

E. R. S.-See vol. iii., page 181, of this journal.

C. O. A.-Cinnabar of antimony is vermilion.

G. D., M.D.—The article is too medical for this journal.

ERRATA IN VOL. XI., No. 12.

In page 565, line 9 from bottom, for existing, read exciting.

567 9 from top, for mercury two parts, read mercury ten parts.

66

,

14 from bottom, for have, read I have.

66

66

29, for strange, read strong.

Instructions from Members and Associates, respecting the transmission of the Journal, to Mr. SMITH, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, before the 20th of the month.

Advertisements (not later than the 23rd of the month) to Mr. CHURCHILL, Princes Street, Soho. Other communications to the Editor.

VOL. XII.-No. II.—AUGUST 1st, 1852.

THE MODUS OPERANDI OF THE PHARMACY ACT. DURING the course of the proceedings which have led to the passing of the Pharmacy Act, we have from time to time reported progress, and endeavoured to give a full and unbiassed exposition of the several alterations and amendments, with their probable influence on the result. We have never disguised our disappointment at the mutilations to which the original Bill was subjected, or withheld from our readers any information which could assist them in arriving at a correct appreciation of its merits and demerits. The alternations of hope and fear, the striving against ancient prejudices, and the conflict of opposing interests, are now at an end. The Bill has become an Act of Parliament, and, such as it is, we must make the best of it.

Although the Act differs widely from that which was originally contemplated, although it does not prohibit unregistered Chemists from carrying on the business, although it has on this account been undervalued by some persons, yet we have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that it confers upon the Pharmaceutical Society a power and an influence which, if judiciously exercised, will be productive of much benefit.

The legislature has now recognised a class of persons as the representatives of Pharmacy in this country with a distinctive title, and prohibited the unauthorised assumption of that title under a penalty. The Pharmaceutical Society is the depository of the powers conferred by the Act, the Members are the parties recognised, and the fraudulent assumption or exhibition of a sign denoting membership is punishable as a misdemeanour.

If the Society had not been considered worthy of confidence, if its objects and proceedings had not entitled it to respect, it would not have been adopted as the instrument for carrying into effect the provisions of the Act. If the distinctive title denoting connection with the Society were of no value or importance, it would have been useless, and in fact absurd, to inflict a penalty for the unauthorised assumption of such title.

What then is the ground of confidence in the Society? and what is the value of the distinctive title? To answer the first question it is only necessary to refer to the reports of the proceedings of the Society contained in eleven volumes of this journal-the scientific meetings, the arrangements for promoting education, the examinations, and the persevering endeavours to raise the character and status of the Pharmaceutical Chemist. These are the sources of the prosperity of the Society and the grounds upon which it has acquired its present position.

The value of the distinction conferred upon the Members will depend entirely upon the Pharmaceutical Chemists themselves. It would be a fatal mistake to suppose that, because an Act of Parliament has been carried, nothing remains to be done. The Act may encourage and stimulate, it may promote the advancement of the art and science of Pharmacy, and raise the character of those who come within its influence: it points out the road to distinction and provides the locomotive engine, but those who desire to share the advantage must put on the steam. Education is an individual work. The character of the Society is founded on the improved education which it indicates. The value of the distinction is founded on the character of the Society, and consequently it is only by sustaining and improving the character of the Society that the full benefit of the Act can be secured.

How then is this to be effected? In the first place it is desirable to extend the basis of the Society. This may be done in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, by the election of such Chemists as may be duly certified to have been in business prior to the date of the Charter, and to be qualified for admission. It is also of the highest importance to encourage Apprentices and

Assistants to come up for examination, and it may be expected that every new Member will add his influence to that of his brethren in promoting this desirable object. The result of this united effort will be, that under the designation of Pharmaceutist or Pharmaceutical Chemist, will be included all those who are on a par with the original Members-" omnes homines ejusdem facultatis "—who have acquired the distinction by virtue of their standing in the business before the date of the Charter, and all the young men whose laudable ambition has prompted them to secure, by passing the examination, the double advantage of the qualification required by the Act, and the distinction belonging to it. In the course of a few years the boundary line between the regularly educated Pharmaceutical Chemist and the unqualified dealer in medicines will be clearly defined and recognised, the public will understand the distinction, and that which was originally an honorary title, will become a source of substantial advantage.

There is a feature in the Act which is deserving of remark: it contains no exemptions. The original Bill was so framed that it restricted unregistered persons from assuming any name, title, sign, or emblem, implying qualification in Pharmacy. It was therefore necessary to exempt from its operation, partially or absolutely, certain classes of persons whose legitimate profession or trade might have been materially interfered with. Accordingly, medical practitioners were absolutely exempted, and drysalters, patent medicine vendors, and the vendors of drugs used for other than medicinal purposes, were excluded from the operation of the Act so far as was necessary to enable them to carry on their trades provided they did not assume any name, &c., implying registration.

The parties above referred to are not directly affected by the Act in its present form, but a specific title is established, denoting a particular qualification, and restricted to those who are registered as the Act directs. The qualification may be superior or it may be inferior to that of the Apothecary, but it possesses this distinction, that it is a Pharmaceutical and not a medical or mixed qualification. While it is founded on the principle of the division of labour, it allows free competition between the two classes, but each class must sail under its own colours, and find its level in the estimation of the public.

The drysalters and others who were partially exempted under the original Bill are not interfered with by the present Act, but will no longer be confounded with qualified Pharmaceutical Chemists when the Act has come into complete operation. The time at which this is to take place must be settled by the common consent of those who are registered, or have a claim to registration, as Pharmaceutical Chemists. If all should avail themselves of the opportunity afforded, the line of separation may be established without delay, the numerical strength of the Society will ensure its stability, and its scientific character will rise from year to year as the number of Members admitted by examination increases. If, however, the Members of the Society should relax in their zeal, and if those who ought to identify themselves with the movement should be indifferent and inactive, a longer time will be required to realize the desired result, and years may elapse before the Pharmaceutical body in this country acquires the creditable and recognised status which is now offered by Act of Parliament, and which will entitle its Members to the confidence of the profession and the public.

PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION.

AFTER all the doubts and fears, the discussions and arguments pro and con, respecting the educational functions of the Pharmaceutical Society, the Pharmacy Act leaves the question where it was. The Act makes no allusion to the School of Pharmacy. It neither prohibits nor enforces its continuance.

It was proved before the Select Committee that the School was not carried on as a source of revenue, but had for many years entailed a heavy expense upon the Society. The items of receipt and expenditure were handed in by the Secretary and printed in the evidence, with all the particulars relating to