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OBITUARY.-WILLIAM INCE.

503

acid, hydrochloric acid, and emulsine, convert rhodeoretine into an oily substance -rhodeoretinolic acid-and sugar.

When acted upon by nitric acid rhodeoretinic acid yields oxalic acid, and a white crystalline non-nitrogenous acid-ipomic acid-perhaps identical with sebacic acid. Its composition is C10 Hs O4. Mayer is of opinion that rhodeoretinic acid is a conjugate compound of rhodeoretinolic acid and sugar.

THE DOSE OF LIQUOR POTASSI IODIDI COMP. AND TINCTURE IODINII COMP.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.

SIR,-In your January number of the Pharmaceutical Journal, which I have just seen, you give a reply to a question I put you, which shows either that you did not read the letter I sent, or that I did not put that question in a very intelligible way; this latter was no doubt the case. With the view of further explaining the question, I have copied, verbatim et literatim, the two preparations of iodine to which I alluded, and on comparing which you will see that, although their medical uses are the same, there exists a great disparity of dose. The iodide of potassium was merely mentioned incidentally as showing the same relative disparity as the iodine, and I thought you might, though I did not, see some reason for the difference in the different solvents used in the two forms.

I am, yours obediently,

(From Phillips's Translation of the Pharmacopoeia.)

LIQUOR POTASSII IODIDI COMP.

Take of Iodide of Potassium, 10 grs.

Iodine,

Distilled Water,

5 grs. a pint.

Mix, that they may be dissolved.

Remarks. In this mixture the iodide of potassium, by uniting with an additional portion of iodine, renders it soluble in water. It has been called ioduretted iodide of potassium. It is a brown-coloured solution, and has the peculiar smell and taste of iodine, and exercises the characteristic reaction of this element on starch.

Medicinal Uses.-This is a mode of exhibiting iodine, which has been found very serviceable in dispersing some forms of bronchocele. Dose: *f3ss to **f3ss; but its effects varying in different con stitutions, its exhibition requires great judgment.

DOSE OF IODINE: *1-64th of a grain; ** 1-8th of a grain.

Devizes, March 2, 1853.

R. CLARK.

TINCT. IODINII COMP.

Take of Iodine, an ounce

Iodide of Potassium, two ounces
Rectified Spirit, two pints.

Macerate until they are dissolved, and strain.

Medicinal Uses.- As Liquor Potassii Iodidi Comp. Dose: *mx. to **f3j.

DOSE OF IODINE: * 1-4th of a grain; ** 1 grain.

We can only account for the inconsistency from the circumstance that the last edition of Phillips's Translation was not completed by himself.

OBITUARY.

WILLIAM INCE.-We announce with much regret the decease of Mr. Ince, of the house of Godfrey and Cooke, in his fifty-ninth year. Mr. Ince has been a Member of the Council from the establishment of the Society; he filled the office of Vice-President in 1849-50, and President in 1850-51. Mr. Ince had been for a considerable time in a delicate state of health, and he died on Saturday, the 26th of March, at his residence in Kensington.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

- See vol. ii., page 126.

R. E. (Ruthin).-Dr. Ure's Analysis of Soda Water.
We do not recollect any subsequent analysis being published in this Journal.

Chemicus (Worcester).-Gold Lacquer.-To one pint of rectified spirit add as much gamboge as will give it a bright yellow colour, then add twelve ounces of seedlac in fine powder, and set it in a sand-bath till dissolved; or a tincture of annatto (one part to eight of spirit) may be added to give the desired colour. Does not require filtering.-BEASLEY.

K. T. M. (Chester).—Sumbul.—See vol. vii., page 546, and vol. ii., page 358.
An Associate (Edinburgh).—Water..

C. W. S. (Wellington).-Depilatory.-Mr. Redwood recommends a strong solution of sulphuret of barium, with sufficient powdered starch to form a paste; to be left on for a few minutes, then scraped off with the back of a knife.

B. J. L. (Leeds).-Dental Physiology and Surgery.-By JOHN TOMES.
J. R. D. (Huddersfield).—Carbonate of soda in crystals—not dried.
Mr. Borland's paper has been received, and is reserved for our next number.

W. Burgess.-The communication has been received, but the specimen has not arrived.

A. P. C. (Witham).—Heat is not a chemical element, but an imponderable agent. W. (Manchester).-See vol. vii. No. 7. Also page 461 of this number, and page 314 of vol. xii. No. 7.

H. W. (Islington).—The power possessed by the Council under the Pharmacy Act of proceeding against persons for illegally assuming or using the title of Pharmaceutical Chemist are not confined to the recovery of one penalty. A person continuing to offend after having been convicted and fined, would be liable to another prosecution, to be repeated pro re natâ.

W. G. (London).-See No. 7 of this volume, p, 314. When an Associate commences business on his own account he cannot continue to be an Associate.

A Registered Apprentice (Spilsby).-Both the Major and Minor Examinations are less stringent now than they will be after May.

T. J. H. (Gateshead).—See vol. xii. No. 5, page 261. The authority upon which our Correspondent has received his information is not to be depended upon,-the bye-law speaks for itself. All Associates admitted prior to February, 1843, are admissible as Members when they commence business on their own account, on certificate and without examination.

W. M. S. (Guildford) is right.

C. J. H. (Witney) should refer to some work on Chemistry or Materia Medica. Amicus (Sheffield). The practice of copying every prescription dispensed is not always adopted. Where it is adopted, there is an advantage in copying the prescription before preparing the medicine.

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, 15, Langham Place.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL.

VOL. XII.-No. XI.-MAY 1st, 1853.

THE EXAMINATIONS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. In consequence of the announcement that until the month of May the Examinations at Bloomsbury Square would be more lenient than they would be after the passing of the new bye-laws, a large number of Candidates have given notice of their intention to present themselves for examination. The number reported at the last Meeting of the Board was one hundred and fifty-eight.

In consequence of this pressure upon the Examiners the Council found it necessary to make special regulations to meet the urgency of the case, and it was resolved, that the Board should meet twice every month (May excepted) so long as occasion shall require; and that all those who give notice of their intention to present themselves before the first of May shall be entitled to come up for the "Pass Examination" at such time as may be found practicable and mutually convenient. To some Candidates a delay of a month or two may be rather an advantage than otherwise, by affording additional time for study. Others having made arrangements for coming forward on an early day, and being obliged to leave town, are naturally anxious not to be put off. The Board of Examiners desire to consult the convenience of Candidates, so far as may be found practicable; but in the absence of any special circumstances requiring a deviation, they will receive them in the order of their application.

THE SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING AND THE APPROACHING ANNIVERSARY.

DURING the consideration of the new bye-laws and the arrangements for the Anniversary, a question arose whether the next election of Council and Auditors should be conducted under the Charter and old bye-laws, which remain in force until the next Annual Meeting, or under the Pharmacy Act. The Act declares that, the votes of Members residing more than five miles from the Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, shall be taken "by voting papers authorized by writing in a form to be defined in the bye-laws of the Society, or in a form to the like effect." But the form of voting papers not being defined in the existing byelaws, it was necessary to pass a bye-law defining the form before such voting papers could be received; and as the Act declares that they shall be received at all Meetings of the Society at which votes shall be taken for the election of officers," it was decided by the legal advisers of the Society that such must be the case at the ensuing election.

It was on this account that a Special General Meeting was held during the past month for the confirmation of the bye-law, which has subsequently received the confirmation and approval of the Secretary of State, and will come into operation at the Annual Meeting on the 18th of May.

The Special General Meeting to be held on the 11th of May is rendered necessary by the fact, that the old bye-laws will cease to be in force at the Annual Meeting on the 18th. All future bye-laws must be confirmed by a Special General Meeting, and also by the Secretary of State. It is important that the new bye-laws shall be ready to come in force as soon as the old laws expire, since the Society would otherwise be without bye-laws. Supposing the confirmation by the Special General Meeting to take place on the 11th of May,

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the confirmation by the Secretary of State will still be required, and a week is as short an interval as could be allowed for this purpose. In fact, it will be fortunate if such confirmation should be obtained in time to be reported to the Annual Meeting. To facilitate this object a copy of the proposed bye-laws was transmitted to the Home Office (with the bye-law relating to the voting papers) about the same time that a copy was forwarded by post to each Member of the Society.

The Transactions of the Society for the present month (page 519) contain the names of the Members of Council who remain in office by rotation, and the candidates proposed for election at the Annual Meeting. The voting papers which will in due course be transmitted to the country Members must be preserved, and forwarded according to the instructions accompanying them, as a second voting paper cannot be issued to any Member, and no voting paper can be received unless transmitted within the time prescribed.

Voting papers are not sent to Members residing within five miles of the Postoffice, as these must be delivered personally at the Meeting, and each Member will receive his voting paper at the time of the election. This regulation was adopted advisedly in the Act. It is desirable that those Members who reside within a reasonable distance should attend the Meeting. If their voting papers were allowed to be sent by post many might think it unuecessary to attend, who being obliged, under the existing regulation, to deliver their votes personally, have an additional inducement to be present at the Meeting. These opportunities of meeting together should be taken advantage of whenever they occur. Those who are satisfied with the progress of the Society, and desire to promote its further prosperity, can scarcely think it too great a sacrifice to attend once in the year to give their countenance and support to the proceedings; and on these occasions an opportunity is afforded, on the presentation of the Annual Report of the Council, to make comments on the past management, and offer suggestions for the consideration of the future Council.

The Society having now acquired an important position, and having lately received a very considerable accession of strength and influence, a corresponding amount of responsibility rests on the Members who possess a power never before enjoyed by the Pharmaceutists of this country. In the exercise of this power discretion is requisite. It has been acquired by union among ourselves, and can only be maintained by a continuance of that union and perseverance in the steady and consistent course which has placed the Society in its present position. It should be our desire, from time to time, to rectify any defects which may be found to exist, and to receive with attention such suggestions as may be offered with a view to reform abuses, or in any way to promote the interests of the Society. At the same time we advise the Members not to be misled by vulgar tirades and ridiculous aspersions, emanating from persons professing to be the real friends of the Society, and showing the sincerity of their professions by finding fault with almost everything that it has done from the time of its establishment up to the present day.

PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE MEDICINE STAMP AND

LICENCE ACTS.

THE officers of the Board of Inland Revenue, Somerset House, have lately been active, especially in the neighbourhood of Bath and Bristol, in the pur chase of proprietary medicines, with a view of ascertaining whether the law is observed. We regret to add that many of the parties on whom this patronage has been conferred, have been found wanting, and the Board in Somerset House is in possession of a considerable stock of essence of ginger, Gregory's powder, cough mixture, with other nostrums recommended for various disorders, and sold without stamps. In some instances a paper label, closely resembling &

THE PROPOSED NEW TARIFF.

507

stamp, is pasted over the cork of the bottle in the manner in which stamps are usually affixed. On a hasty glance it might be supposed that the medicine was duly stamped, but a closer inspection discloses the fact, that the stamp did not emanate from Somerset House, but is an imitation of the genuine article, and intended to denote that the medicine is made only by the vendor whose name it bears.

We have again to request the Members of the Society to revise the explanations of the laws which have appeared in this Journal, and which, if they had not been disregarded, would have prevented the annoyance and expense consequent upon the proceedings now pending. The Acts are, as we have often had occasion to observe, intricate and perplexing; but we have taken much pains in reducing the principle on which they are founded to a simple and tangible form. In this task we have been assisted by legal advisers, and also by the authorities at Somerset House, whose desire is not to obtain penalties-but to enforce obedience to the law, and who have therefore from time to time afforded every explanation which circumstances have required. Vexatious and oppressive as the law may appear to those whom "the shoe pinches," annoyance may be easily avoided by attention to the rules laid down, and by affixing a stamp in cases where the law requires it. The tax is paid by the public, as the amount of the stamp is added to the price of the medicine; but when the law is infringed, the penalty is paid by the Chemist. In proportion as the provisions of the law are explained and understood, the plea of ignorance loses its effect, and the same grounds for the mitigation or remission of penalties which existed several years ago, do not exist at the present time. We therefore earnestly recommend the Members, in respect for the character of the Society as well as for their own pockets, to comply with the requirements of the Acts so long as they continue in force.

In our number for November, 1851, page 197, we published a brief summary, and also a reference to previous articles on the subject: but we may condense the principle on which the stamp duty is imposed into a small compass, by suggesting the three following questions.

First, Is the medicine a secret or occult preparation?

Secondly, Is it stated to be prepared ONLY by the person whose name it bears? Thirdly, Is it recommended, on the label, or on a handbill, or by any kind of public advertisement, for the cure or relief of any disorder? În all or any one of these cases it must be stamped.

More detailed particulars may be found in the articles above referred to, and we may notice in particular, an article under the head "Sailing near the wind," vol. ix., page 298, and the "Instructions to Officers relating to Medicine Stamp Duty, issued by the Commissioners of Stamps," vol. viii., page 154. To the latter article are added the clauses of the Stamp Act under which proceedings are taken, the schedule of medicines specified as liable, and references to other Acts relating to the subject.

A correspondent having inquired whether medicines requiring a stamp in this country are equally liable if exported to the colonies, or elsewhere, we may add that they are liable; and that if sent out without the stamp, they may be seized at the Custom-House, and a penalty inflicted for each bottle, pot, or package.

THE PROPOSED NEW TARIFF.

WE subjoin an extract from the new Tariff, containing a list of the goods wares, and merchandize connected directly or indirectly with the drug trade which will be subjected to change or repeal of duty if the proposal of the Chan.. cellor of the Exchequer should be carried. Most of the changes are of little, importance, and for what purpose they are introduced it is not easy to conjecture. It cannot be with a view of carrying out the principles of free trade,

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