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

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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.

fluid ounces to the gallon) which would be required to reduce the stronger alcohol to the specific gravity of .835; third, to avoid loss by sudden frothing at the close of the oxidation, four-fifths of the nitric acid is added at once to the solution, and then one-half or more of the solution is temporarily dipped out of the basin. The remainder is then thoroughly oxidized by additions from the reserved nitric acid. When the foaming has passed, add more of the solution dipped out, and then more nitric acid, and so on till the process is completed.

The difficulty with the diluted hydrocyanic acid is not so easily overcome, and my experience has not led me yet to detect the true cause with any degree of certainty. With hydrocyanic acid I have had the same difficulty, but have not resorted to the same plan that he has to overcome them. Generally I adjust a gallon bottle of this acid at one time and then put it up in ounce bottles, all at once, these bottles being carefully cleansed by soaking in oil of vitrol, and then carefully rinsed with distilled water and dried in the drying room. After all that care it is common enough for me to have bottles returned to me with the acid turned black. What the cause of this blackening is I have not yet determined. My impression is that it comes from the use of oil in the emery with which the stopper grinding is finished, and that this oil sometimes is not all destroyed by the acid.

Prof. PROCTER.-It has been for some time the custom with me to use a very small quantity of cerate on the mouth of the bottles. If you do this you can put away the bottles for years without any decomposition. I think there is a specimen in my cabinet that has been kept for a number of years without acquiring any color, although it has been exposed for that length of time to the light.

Dr. SQUIBB.-It has constantly been my habit to make it in large quantities, and it frequently occurs that a portion blackens, and another portion does not. In regard to the fatty matter, it is a conclusion that I have come to by a diagnosis of exclusion, shutting out every other source, and then naturally concluding it must be this.

Mr. PROCTER,—Did you collect the distillate in one vessel or in several vessels?

Dr. SQUIBB. I collect it in reservoirs and pour it into one. This strong acid is put away in a large vessel as it is collected, and then as the stock is exhausted it is brought up, adjusted, and the small bottles are filled. Mr. DIEHL.—In regard to the tincture of chloride of iron, I have had frequent trouble with it. The conclusion I arrived at was this: when add. ing the second portion of acid to the mixture on the sandbath, the heat is sometimes so great that it drives off a large portion of the muriatic acid, and oxidation forms then a subchloride, and this will cause the change. As regards hydrocyanic acid, I only stated the experience that I had, but did not claim any particular value for it. I will here state that Wittstein asserts in his work that he has kept it in this manner for years

exposed to the light without any change. I myself kept a portion of that acid four months in my office exposed for six hours a day to the direct rays of the sun, and there was no change.

Mr. Spencer, of Rochester, exhibited a very neat apparatus for distilling under reduced pressure, and explained its use.

It was then moved that the thanks of the Association are due to Mr. Spencer for the trouble he has taken in exhibiting his new apparatus.

Professor Parrish moved to amend, that the apparatus be figured and described in our Proceedings.

The amendment was carried by a vote of 12 ayes against 3 nays, and the resolution as amended was then adopted.

The Business Committee offered the following resolution, which was adopted by a unanimous vote :

Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to address a vote of thanks from the Association to the Judges of the Supreme Court for the use of this room, which has been occupied by the Association only through their courtesy and liberality.

On motion of the Business Committee, it was unanimously

Resolved, That the thanks of the Association are eminently due, and are hereby heartily tendered, to the druggists and pharmacists of Detroit, for their judicious and liberal care of the Association, and for their kind and considerate hospitality to the members and their families during their visit to Detroit.

The following resolution was offered and adopted:

Resolved, That the thanks of the Association are due and hereby tendered to the corps of reporters who have so faithfully attended our several sittings.

There being no further business before the Association, the Secretary proceeded to read the minutes of this meeting, when it was moved and carried that the reading of the minutes previously read and adopted be dispensed with.

The Secretary then read the minutes of the fourth and fifth sessions, which were approved as read.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That we now adjourn to meet again at the city of New York, on the second Tuesday of September, 1867, at 3 o'clock, P. M.

The Association then adjourned.

JOHN M. MAISCH, Permanent Secretary.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON THE PHARMACOPEIA.

IMPROVED PROCESS FOR OFFICINAL FLUID EXTRACT OF BUCHU.

BY EDWARD R. SQUIBB, M. D., OF BROOKLYN.

To the American Pharmaceutical Association:

As a member of your Committee upon the United States Pharmacopoeia, the writer begs to offer the following criticism upon the officinal process for Fluid Extract of Buchu, and to suggest some slight modifications which may be improvements if applied with the necessary care and skill. The officinal process is as follows:

“Take of Buchu, in moderately fine powder, sixteen troy

ounces;

Alcohol a sufficient quantity.

Moisten the Buchu with six fluid ounces of alcohol, introduce it into a cylindrical percolator, press it firmly, and gradually pour alcohol upon it until twelve fluidounces of tincture have passed. Set this aside, and continue the percolation until two pints more of tincture have been obtained; evaporate this by means of a water bath, at a temperature not exceeding 150°, to four fluidounces, and mix it with the reserved tincture. Allow the mixture to stand for twenty-four hours, and filter through paper.'

The writer, as a member of the Committee of Revision which adopted this formula, in criticising its language, is but reproducing here arguments used in the Committee, and overruled there by much better scholars than himself, and upon competent authority; and to bring these views forward now in public may well be