QUERY 34.-How may the pharmaceutist best obtain the facilities for physical exercise, social enjoyment, and intellectual culture, which are so essential to success in every pursuit ?

Accepted by Prof. Edward Parrish, of Philadelphia, Pa.

QUERY 35.-Can the officinal salt Ferri et Potassæ Tartras be uniformly produced by the Pharmacopoeia process? What is its composition? What are the residues of the process, and can the process be improved? Accepted by Jas. F. Babcock, of Boston, Mass.

To this list the following Queries are added, embracing the subjects the investigation of which has been continued to the members for another year.

QUERY 36.-What is the best form of apparatus by which pressure steam, generated by gas or petroleum heat, may be applied for evaporation, distillation, etc., on a moderate scale, at the working counter of the shop, so that the condensed steam shall return to the boiler, combining efficiency and compactness with economy?

Continued to William Procter, Jr., of Philadelphia.

QUERY 37.-It has been asserted that Senna contains chrysophanic acid, and that its activity is probably due to this principle. Can chrysophanic acid be isolated from either Alexandria or India Senna, and, if so, can it be proven that this acid contributes in greater or less degree to the purgative power of Senna and Rhubarb ?

Continued to F. W. Sennewald, of St. Louis.

QUERY 38.-In what respects do the sensible properties of the leaves of Hyoscyamus and Belladonna, grown and cured in the United States, differ from the leaves of these plants imported from England and Ger many, as presented in commerce; do the latter contain more of the respective alkaloids than the former; and, if so, is the difference due to soil, climate, and culture?

Continued to Lewis Dohme, of Baltimore.

QUERY 39.-What are the impurities in commercial Valerianate of Ammonia; can it be purified without decomposition from Butyrate and other salts, when present; if not, what is the best process for obtaining pure Valerianic Acid from the Amylic Alcohol of commerce, and what are the most eligible forms for administering the salt in question?

Continued to N. Gray Bartlett, of Keokuk, Iowa.

QUERY 40.-Is the volatile Oil of Chenopodium anthelminticum the only active principle it contains having vermifuge properties?

Continued to Thos. S. Wiegand, of Philadelphia.

QUERY 41.-What improvement can be suggested in the preparation of the Officinal Syrup of Lactucarium?

Continued to P. W. Bedford, of New York.

QUERY 42.—Why should not Lactucarium be produced in the United States in sufficient abundance and cheapness to supply all our wants; and what are the best practical suggestions for its culture and preparation?

Continued to Alfred Mellor, of Philadelphia.

QUERY 43.-To what principle does Scutellaria lateriflora owe its medical properties?

Continued to G. F. H. Markoe, of Boston. QUERY 44.-An essay on Beeswax; its commercial and chemical history; the best method of bleaching it without injury to its physical and medical properties, and what substitutes have been found that may be used in emergencies?

Continued to James F. Babcock, of Boston.

QUERY 45.—What is the most eligible form of apparatus yet discovered, or which can be suggested, for preparing pills of uniform size, at will, and can it be adapted to the wants of the apothecary, on a moderate scale?

Continued to Ferris Bringhurst, of Wilmington, Del. QUERY 46.-What are the advantages and disadvantages of coating pills with sugar or other substances; and what is the best method of coating pills extemporaneously for dispensing?

Continued to S. Mason McCollin, of Philadelphia.

After the adoption of the report of the Committee on Scientific Queries, Mr. Jenkins, of Louisville, made the following remarks:

I made some experiments with a view to the production of Sulphite of Quinia, and found some changes that lead me to doubt the existence of this compound. In a few words I will state my experiments and the results. I endeavored to make sulphite of quinia by first preparing the carbonate of the alkaloid from the sulphate, and decomposing it by sulphurous acid. Upon evaporating a small portion of this solution at ordinary temperature upon the microscopic slide, I found very perfect quadrilateral prisms, arranged in star-like groups. On evaporating a larger quantity at a temperature of 150° I obtained a dry mass, not crystalline, but which presented the appearance of the scaly preparations of iron, and of red orange color. It was soluble in water and exceedingly bitter. I operated upon a troy ounce of the sulphate. On spontaneous evaporation of a thin stratum in the atmosphere, I obtained crystals slightly colored about the close of the evaporation. These presented the same appearance under the microscope as the crystals upon the glass slide. When tried with concentrated sulphuric acid, I did not discover sulphurous acid gas. From that fact I am disposed to think that the sulphurous acid has deoxidized the quinia and been changed to sulphuric acid, or that the sulphurous acid has been oxidized by the oxygen of the atmosphere.

The Executive Committee brought forward the applications for membership, properly endorsed, of the following gentlemen: Henry Griffin, Grand Haven, Mich.

William Maurice Moore, London, Canada West.

The President appointed Messrs. A. E. Ebert and Robert J. Brown, tellers, who reported the unanimous election of the candidates.

The reading of volunteer papers being in order, Prof. Procter read a paper on Virginia Opium, by Prof. Israel J. Grahame, which subject had been referred to this gentleman at the meeting last year.

The essay was, on motion, accepted and referred to the Executive Committee. Dr. Squibb said:

The assay by the officinal process of so small a quantity of opium as that, is not very reliable, according to my experience. For such a small quantity, one of the more complicated ways of treating the infusion of opium is much better. The process in the pharmacopœia is not adapted to much short of a pound of opium, and the proportional loss by the retention of the morphia in the alcoholic menstruum is greater as the quantity operated upon is less.

Dr. S. S. Garrigues read a paper on the "Production of Bromine from the Saginaw Brines," which was accepted and referred to the Executive Committee.

Dr. Squibb said:

Now that Bromide of Potassium has become so important, there must be some way found whereby the profits of making it can be realized here. It is sold from eight dollars and fifty cents to ten dollars per pound.

The following volunteer essays were read and severally referred to the Executive Committee:

By Prof. Procter, a paper by James T. King, on "Metallic Lead in Flour."

By Geo. F. H. Markoe, "Notes on Liquor Bismuthi ;" also an essay by James F. Babcock, entitled, "Notes on Iodide of Ammonium."

By Chas. A. Heinitsh, "Notes on the culture of Saffron in Pennsylvania."

In view of an invitation extended to the members of the Association by the Detroit Druggists and Pharmaceutists, for a trip on board the steamer Morning Star, down the Detroit River to

Lake Erie, the Association adjourned to meet at 7 o'clock, P.M., after returning from the excursion.

Fifth Session-Friday Evening, August 25th.

The meeting was called to order at 6 o'clock, P. M., President Stearns in the Chair.

The reading of the minutes of the previous session was, on motion, postponed.

Prof. Parrish read a paper entitled a Discourse on Titles, &c., which was, on motion, accepted and referred to the Executive Committee.

Dr. SQUIBB. I consider the term "Pharmacist" a decided improvement on 66 Pharmaceutist," for brevity as well as for other reasons. I will say, however, that it is up-hill work to make a change of this kind. It is like Mr. Taylor's system of weights and measures, only practicable if applied. It is a great improvement, and it has its analogy in "physicist " and other kindred terms, which are regarded as very perfect words by linguists. "Pharmacian" is so near the French that our language would not admit it easily, because it is not so nearly in consonance with the English language as "Pharmacist." The preference would be given to Pharmacist" on account of its brevity, as well as its handiness, and because all the words now coined are made as short as possible for the purpose of bringing them into general use. Müller says, that any attempt to force language from that current which is made by public opinion will fail. And it never can be forced in that direction. An illustration of that is given in the French terms for their weights and measures. All the harder words are left out, while the more simple ones, best adapted to the popular use, are retained. Kilogramme" has been repudiated almost entirely. It is called "Kilo," because it is short, and the weight it names cannot be well dispensed with. Hecto- and decagramme is left out and "Gramme" is retained. So the shorter words will naturally take the place of those which we now use. If all of us should adopt this word Pharmacist," and write it for a while, it would come in use more rapidly than Pharmaceutist, because the laws of language naturally lead into natural channels.

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Dr. DUFFIELD. It seems to me that the term "Pharmacist" would be preferable to Pharmacian," for this reason-the Greek word being Pharmakon, "Pharmacist" becomes a classical expression for druggists, and a good definition of what the Pharmaceutical profession is those who operate with drugs.

Dr. JENKINS. The term "Pharmacian" seems to be a more appropriate term than Pharmacist, because words ending in ist" are more especially applied to those who cultivate a pure science; "Physicist" and

Physiologist," for instance. Another reason would be, that the terms "Pharmacian" and "Physician" are very similar, and show the connection between the two professions. The termination "an" or "ian" has a more especial reference to the application of practical science or art; such as 66 Physician," "Mechanician," "Pharmacian," etc.

Dr. SQUIBB. Prof. Parrish proposes another word which would be very useful: "Pharmacal" is a very good word in its construction, but it does not seem so euphonious in its use as Pharmacist.*

Prof. PROCTER. One great reason why "apothecary" will remain in use is on account of the large number of German apothecaries, the word in the German, "Apotheker," having a close resemblance to our word apothecary.

Mr. MAISCH.-The apothecaries in Germany call themselves also pharmaceutists, the German word being Pharmaceut,—plural Pharmaceuten.

Dr. Duffield read an essay "on the influence of Hyperdermic Injection upon the science of Toxicology," which was accepted and referred for publication.

Mr. Maisch then presented the following papers: "Examination of Whiskey and Brandy;" "Assays of Sherry wine;" "On the specific gravity of medicinal Chloroform;" and "Statistics of the U. S. Army Laboratory at Philadelphia." They were accepted and referred to the Executive Committee.

Mr. Diehl offered a paper entitled, "Remarks on some Chemical Processes," which was read, and, on motion, accepted and referred for publication.

Dr. SQUIBB. Many, in common with Mr. Diehl, will undoubtedly have met with these difficulties alluded to in his paper, though perhaps few would have surmounted them more skilfully. According to my experience, his difficulty with ammonio-ferric alum is not chargeable to the officinal process, but rather to the impracticability of getting sulphuric acid of the full officinal strength with which to make the solution of tersulphate of iron. Had he calculated the strength of that used, and made up the deficiency by a proportionate increase in the quantity of the acid, at first, he would not have been obliged to add acid afterward.

In making the tincture of the chloride of iron, it has been my practice, for some years past, to avoid the difficulties alluded to, first, by separating about a fourth part of the muriatic acid from the last portion, when to be added, and reserve it till after the oxidation and evaporation; second, by the use of stronger alcohol, instead of alcohol (specific gravity .835), to diminish the evaporation by the whole amount of water (about seven

* Pharmacical or pharmacial is more euphonious, and would be more appropriate as an adjective.-EDITOR.