1819THE ANNUS MEDICUS 1913.

Botanical Gardens at Kew; a C.B. for Colonel R. N.

CAMPBELL, C.I.E. ; a C.S.I. for Surgeon-General H. W.STEVENSON, Bombay; and a C.I.E. for Lieutenant-Colonel

C. H. JAMES, who has done valuable work in malaria pre-vention. Fleet-Surgeon ROBERT HILL, M.V.O., R.N., waspromoted to Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.The obituary list includes the names of Surgeon-General

A. M. DALLAS, C.LE., who entered the Bengal Service in1856 ; of Lieutenant-Colonel ANDREW DUNCAN, who served inthe Afghan and Hazara expeditions, and was the author ofa work on "Prevention of Disease in Tropical Campaigns ";.and of Brigade-Surgeon H. E. BUSTEED, C.LE., who servedwith the Horse Artillery in the Mutiny, was afterwardsassay master at the Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta mintssuccessively, and will always be remembered as the authorof Echoes of Old Calcutta," one of that small number ofobiter scr_pta whose readers become personal friends of theunseen author.

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PHARMACY.

Scientific Work.

There has been no falling off in the quantity or qualityof the work done by those pharmacists who devote theirlabours to the scientific branches of their business, and

while nothing has been published which makes the past yearremarkable in the annals of pharmacy, an average-a goodaverage-amount of work has been recorded at the eveningmeetings of the Pharmaceutical Society in London and

Edinburgh, at the annual meeting of the British Pharma-ceutical Conference, and elsewhere.

In a communication from the Pharmacy Research Labora-tory of the Pharmaceutical Society Professor H. G. GREENISH,joint editor of the forthcoming edition of the British

Pharmacopoeia, and Miss D. J. BARTLETT reported on theinvestigation of powdered gentian, nux vomica, and

ipecacuanha. These investigations showed that the

’quality of commercial powdered gentian leaves much to bedesired; intentional adulteration with foreign vegetablepowders still continues, while carelessly cleaned root

is sometimes ground to powder. On the other hand,commercial powdered nux vomica appears to be more

satisfactory in quality than powdered gentian, and nointentional adulteration of ipecacuanha was detected.The same authors also demonstrated that the frequentlyrepeated statement that black mustard seeds do not alwayscontain sufficient myrosin to decompose all the sinigrin theycontain is incorrect ; their work shows that the practice ofadding white mustard seeds, which contain an excess of theenzyme, myrosin, is not necessary to complete the decom-position of the glucoside, sinigrin, although a mixture of thetwo kinds of seeds may be more palatable than the blackseed alone. In a paper on Calcium Tartrate and Oxalatefrom Senna Leaves Mr. T. E. WALLIS showed what is the

composition of the crystals occurring in senna leaves andpods, and what is the composition of the deposit alwaysnoticed in infusions of senna, the results obtained by theauthor j justifying the conclusions that senna leaves contain- calcium oxalate, but the infusion contains calcium tartrate.Senna pods are deficient in soluble tartrate, but containexcess of soluble calcium salts, so that infusions made fromthe fruits do not deposit crystals of tartrate. In a paperon Iodine Ointment Mr. A. N. D. PULLEN showed that therate of absorption of the free iodine by the base is gradual,and is not governed by the absorbing power of the base,since lard can absorb 50 per cent. of its weight of iodine.The presence of the glycerine and potassium iodide retardsthe rate at which the iodine is absorbed.

In connexion with the preparation of the next edition ofthe Pharmacopoeia, a report of the Committee of Reference

in Pharmacy to the Pharmacopoeia Committee of the GeneralMedical Council was issued in July. The main object ofthe report was to formulate a simple and accurate test whichcan be applied to the various substances and preparationsfor which an arsenic-limit may appear desirable. A com-

plete series of requirements and tests for controlling thelimit to be allowed in official substances and preparations,as well as specifications and details for the apparatus andreagents required, are given; the analytical methods are

based upon actual experience in a laboratory where thetests are in constant use.

The papers read in the Science Section of this year’smeeting of the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Edin-burgh were more numerous than usual, and for the mostpart of a practical character. One of the most note-

worthy was a communication by Dr. ALEXANDER GOODALL,dealing with the potency of the tinctures of digitalis,strophanthus, and squill. His investigations showed thatthese tinctures varied very considerably in potency,and he maintained that the prescribing and dispensingof any of these three tinctures were unjustifiableunless they had been physiologically tested. The physio-logical standardisation of preparations of digitalis was

also defended by Dr. GORDON SHARP and Mr. F. W.

BRANSON in a paper in which they showed, inter alia,that the petioles or leaf-stalks of digitalis only possesshalf the toxicity of the leaves and petioles taken

together, that the chemist who cuts off the petioleswould produce a more potent preparation than he whoincludes both in his tincture, that the potency of tincture ofdigitalis decreases after it has been kept for a year, and thata 60 per cent. tincture is as active as one made with 90 percent. alcohol. Details of investigations of thyroid glandswere recorded by Mr. N. H. MARTIN, who showed that thereis a considerable range in the iodine percentage—viz., 0’3to 0-4 per cent. Mr. A. R. SMITH described a method for

measuring relative tryptic activity, and Mr. H. FINNEMOREand Miss DOROTHY BRAITHWAITE described how they hadprepared from ipecacuanha a glucosodal body for which theyproposed the name I I ipecactianhin.

"

Supplementing a pre-liminary communication to the Pharmaceutical Society in theearly part of the year, in which they dealt with the valuationof asafetida, Mr. E. F. HARRISON and Mr. P. A. W. SELFshowed that so long as the essential constituents of asafetida-i.e., the sulphur-containing constituents of the oil-do notfall below a reasonable limit, it seems absurd to condemn a

parcel of the drug because pieces can be picked out hereand there which do not show all the characters of the true

drug. The authors concluded from their experiments that,apart from the question of admixture with mineral matter,the sulphur in the oil, expressed as percentage of the realgum-resin, is the factor that has to be considered in judgingthe genuineness and quality of the drug.

The Cultication of Drugs.The main theme of the address delivered by Sir EDWARD

EvANS, the President of the Conference, was the cultivationof drugs, and the suggestions he put forward were subse-quently taken up by the Chemical Trade Section of theLondon Chamber of Commerce which, after consideringthe matter in all its aspects, selected witnesses to appearbefore the Royal Commission which is inquiring into thenatural resources of self-governing dominions. Sir EDWARD

EVANS suggested that the Conference might consider it

desirable to draw the attention of the Government to the

advantages to be derived from the formation in the Board ofAgriculture of a department-such as exists in the United

States of America—to further the growth in this country of! medicinal plants, and Mr. J. H. E. EVANS. described the! conditions governing the present sources of our drug supply-

1820 THE ANNUS MEDICUS 1912.

the influences on quantity and quality of restricted areas,meteorological conditions, and methods of collection andlabour being considered and specifically exemplified. He

pointed out that our Empire, embracing every varietyof climate and situation, affords the possibility of

producing within its limits the majority of the usefulmedicinal plants. The results achieved already by cultiva-tion in various parts of the world encourages the belief that,given the same skill and work, a greater number of drugscould be grown. Both these communications have been

brought to the notice of the Royal Commissioners and havebeen supported by the verbal evidence of authorities on

drugs. One of the witnesses, Mr. JOHN C. UMNEY, president-elect of the British Pharmaceutical Conference, expressedthe opinion that the cultivation of many of the plantsyielding essential oils could be extended to other districts,and within the Dominions whose representatives form theRoyal Dominions Commission. In his view, the followingmaterial for essential oil distillation could be cultivatedwithin certain parts of our Dominions : in climates such asCanada and Australia, the principal umbelliferous fruits-namely, anise, caraway, coriander, dill, and fennel; in

Australia and New Zealand, geranium, lavender, peppermint,rosemary, and thyme ; in Rhodesia, as well as in the WestIndian Islands, where some are now cultivated, all speciesof citrus. In the more tropical of our Dominions he was ofopinion that cajuput, cloves, and cubebs could be culti-

vated. Mr. EvANS pointed out to the Commissioners

that the Governments of other countries are taking activesteps to advance the cultivation of drugs. Mr. E. M.

HOLMES, who has cultivated under various conditionsof soil and moisture in his own garden at Sevenoaks nearlyall the medicinal plants from different parts of the worldthat are capable of cultivation in this country, statedthat conditions for successful culture could only be

determined under experimental conditions beyond theresources of the pioneer ; a bureau of plant industry was,therefore, required to work in connexion with already estab-lished botanical gardens, where the methods of reproduc-tion by seed or cuttings have been ascertained. Professor

GREENISH suggested that certain variations in drugs as

imported could be to a very great extent obviated by thecultivation of the plants under suitable conditions and thecollection of the drug under proper control.

Pharmaceutioal Education.

Nothing further has been published with reference to theproposals to institute a compulsory course of study for

pharmaceutical candidates and to make alterations-in thequalifying examination. In connexion with matters educa-

tional the main feature of the year was the series of post-graduate lectures on the Terpenes and Essential Oils,delivered under the auspices of the Pharmaceutical Society atits headquarters in London by Sir W. A. TILDEN, ProfessorPERKIN, and Mr. JOHN C. UMNEY. In pursuance of the

same policy the council of the society has also arranged fora course of lectures on pharmaceutical bacteriology to bedelivered in the New Year, and it is not improbable that inthe course of time the subject of bacteriology will be

included in the major examination syllabus. During the

year arrangements for reciprocal agreements with refer-

ence to the interchange of pharmaceutical diplomas betweenthe British Society and Colonial Pharmacy Boards havebeen completed.

Pharmaceutical Organisation.A noteworthy feature of the year is the establishment of

an improved scheme of organisation. Its success is

indirectly due to the National Insurance Act, for the

changes which the operation of this measure promises tobring about in the practice of pharmacy have shown the

need. for unity of action. Early in the year the council ofthe Pharmaceutical Society invited every local association toappoint an organisation committee, upon which should berepresented the divisional secretary of the society acting forthe area covered by the association. This committee is the

medium of direct communication between the Association andthe Local Associations Committee of the Council, and is

supplied when necessary with information concerning thecouncil’s work, and in its turn it is the duty of the organisa-tion committee to furnish the council with periodical reportson matters of pharmaceutical importance in the district.

By this means local associations are brought through thesociety’s divisional officers into direct touch with the centralbody. Until this scheme was established there was no,

official connexion between the associations and the Pharma-

ceutical Society, although a friendly relationship existed.It is also one of the objects of the scheme, which is,

now being accomplished, to promote the formation of

county associations with district committees for the largertowns within the counties, and to encourage the local

organisation movement generally. During the past 12 monthsthe membership of previously existing associations has

increased in practically all localities, and a large numberof new associations has been formed, the result being thatthere is hardly a considerable district in Great Britain whichhas not its pharmaceutical organisation. In fact, so well ispharmacy now organised that the President of the Pharma.ceutical Society was able to say on a recent occasion thatthe council had but to give the signal and practically thewhole of the pharmacists in the country would be preparedto take definite and united action in defence of their

interests.

Pharmacists and National Health Insuranoe.

The attention of these associations has been mainlydirected to matters arising out of the National InsuranceAct, and the zest with which pharmacists have approachedthe consideration of that part of the scheme which directlyaffects their business has no doubt helped them to maintainan optimistic spirit, and to keep away those apprehensivefeelings to which unoccupied minds are often the prey. Earlyin the year a standing committee was appointed for the pur-pose of considering details in connexion with the administra-tion of the Act ; its members included representatives ofthe Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, pharmaceuticalassociations, and other bodies ; joint stock companies tradingas chemists are also represented on this committee, fromwhich fact it is evident that the old animosity betweenpharmacists and the limited companies has ceased to exist.Subsequently separate committees were appointed for

England, Scotland, and Wales to treat with the InsuranceCommissioners for the respective countries. A considerable

amount of work has devolved upon the various committees,and as their proceedings have been conducted privately thefull extent of their labours is not generally known. The most

delicate, and by no means the least onerous part of theirduties, however, is before them, since the negotiationsrespecting the terms on which medicines are to be suppliedto insured persons are by no means completed. It reflects.some credit on these committees that pharmaceutical repre-sentation has been secured on the Advisory Committee

set up by the Act as well as upon the County and DistrictInsurance Committees. The Regulations respecting the

administration of medical benefit, in so far as they relate tothe pharmaceutical service, follow closely the provisions ofthe Act and do not empower the Local Committees to make

arrangements for the dispensing of medicines with

medical practitioners except in special cases. To this

extent pharmacists regard the Regulations as satisfactory.While their attitude towards the demand of the medical

1821THE ANNUS MEDICUS 1912.

profession to have the option of dispensing has been

one of unqualified opposition, it is gratifying to note

that, in spite of the opposing policies of the leaders of thetwo callings, nothing has occurred to disturb the friendlyrelationship between practitioners and pharmacists, and

that no discordant note has been struck in the dis-

cussion of this very difficult problem. The importantquestion of remuneration has to be settled by the LocalCommittees, and it is, perhaps, too much to hope that therewill be a total absence of all jarring elements from thenegotiations which will follow in the event of a medicalservice being forthcoming. The Commissioners are willing toaccept the principle of remuneration by reference to a tariffand to accept a model tariff (if any such tariff can be agreedupon) as being of such a nature that if submitted by anyInsurance Committee as part of their arrangements underthe Act the Commissioners would be prepared to approveit. The Commissioners have also accepted the principlethat there should be, in the case of preparations dispensed,a separate charge for each item of the prescriptions, for the

container (if supplied at the cost of the Medical Benefit Fund),and for the work of dispensing. To this extent, therefore,the ground has been cleared, but there is the danger thatafter a year’s working of the Act the sum alloted for thepayment of drugs will be insufficient, The pharmacist will,of course, be paid for the work done and the goods supplied,but some anxiety is felt as to the nature of the schedules ofprices which the committees will draw up, for it is evidentthat if the sum allocated is not to be exceeded the marginof profit will have to be very small. Some apprehensionexists concerning the action which will be taken in the

event of the insufficiency of funds to pay for drugsand appliances, and this feeling has not been removed

by the statement made on behalf of the Commissioners

to the effect that in districts where the sum is insufficient

the pharmacist’s bill will be discounted on some agreedsystem. It is hardly conceivable that traders will

be asked to enter into agreements with public authori-

ties to supply goods on the understanding that they may notbe paid for them in full. These, however, are matters whichmust remain in abeyance for the present, but it should beadded that pharmacists are on the whole disposed to under-take the supply of drugs, notwithstanding the imperfectionsof the scheme, their hope being that the difficulties will be

smoothed out as the operation of the Act proceecls.The Proprietary Medicines Inqu,iry. i I

Considerable interest has naturally been evinced in theevidence given before the Select Committee on Secret

Remedies, but no witness representing the views of pharma-cists as a body has appeared before the Committee. There

can be no doubt that some diversity of opinion exists amongchemists concerning the subject matter of the inquiry, butit is of interest to recall that some years ago a number of

representative pharmaceutical associations passed resolutionsin favour of the disclosure of the composition of proprietaryremedies ; there is no evidence that anything has since

occurred to change the attitude of pharmacists in regard tothis question.

The Sale of Poisons.In the early spring certain changes in the Poisons Schedule

were recommended by the Pharmaceutical Council to thePrivy Council, but up to the present the Privy Council hasnot signified its assent. The main alteration proposedwas that diethyl-barbituric acid, which is known under

various trade names, should be added to Part II. of the

Schedule; and although the Privy Council may have sorrevalid reason for delaying its consent, it is difficult for the

unofficial mind to imagine what this reason is, in view ofthe dangerous nature of the compounds the sale of which

it is proposed to make subject to some little precaution. In

February the regulation requiring liquid preparations ofammonia to be sold in special bottles, and to be labelled" poisonous," came into force, and late in the year the PrivyCouncil made an Order requiring liquid preparations of

carbolic acid containing not more than 3 per cent. of phenols-to be added to the list of substances to which Section 5 of

the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908, applies. The Ordercomes into force on May 1st, 1913, on and after which datethe sale of the preparations in question will be subjectto the conditions which apply to the mineral acids andammonia. For neglecting to observe these conditions pro-ceedings have been instituted by the police, and there is

little doubt that the authorities will insist upon the

proper observance of these regulations, which were madewith the sole object of protecting the public. The legalcases arising out of the administration of the penal clausesof the Pharmacy Acts by the Pharmaceutical Society havefor the most part been concerned with irregular sales

of poisons. In several instances the society has foundit necessary to proceed against unqualified drug dealers.

under the Merchandise Marks Act, a typical case being thatin which the defendant sold paregoric which contained noopium. Had the preparation been in accordance with theformula of the British Pharmacopoeia the seller would have

been liable to a penalty for infringement of the PharmacyAct, and in attempting to escape the meshes of the poisonlaw he was caught in the net prepared for those who usefalse trade descriptions.

Other Legislation and Regulations.The operation of the Shops Act has not been without

difficulties for pharmacists, as is mentioned in the review offorensic happenings during the year. While the regulationsrespecting the use of preservative substances in milk andcream do not directly concern pharmacists, the fact that theLocal Government Board has begun to use its wide powers.under the Public Health (Regulation as to Food) Act, 1907,suggests that steps may in due course be taken to set up."food" standards having a more direct pharmaceuticalinterest.

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CHEMISTRY.

Synthesis.Chemical researches during the year have produced few

striking results if we except the announcement made in theearly months that rubber had been made synthetically.Nature elaborates many useful things on the basis of C1oH16,the group present in all essential oils, and it is this fact

which has induced man to take a deep interest in the

constitution of hydrocarbons of that type. Apparentlythe starting point of synthetic rubber is isoprene,C,H,, which polymerises in contact with metallic sodiumforming (C10H16)n, which for all intents and purposesis rubber. The problem is to obtain a cheap source

of isoprene, and this has been found in fusel oil

produced in a special fermentation of sugar made from

starch. The development of this scheme is necessarily slow,and so far there is very little indication that the process hasbeen carried out on wide commercial lines, but in time the

proposition seems certain to become practicable. Syntheticcamphor and indigo were accomplished facts long beforethe commercial realisation of their synthesis was made.For us the great importance of synthesis lies in the

light which it throws upon the constitution of thera-

peutic agents. The structure of an agent may be modifiedat will, and the effect observed of omitting or retainingthis or that group or of substituting another, and so

enabling a relationship to be established between physio-logical action and constitution. In the case of the organic