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542 secondary result and not a cause of the defective circulation through the systemic arteries. To Dr. Sanderson’s objection that embolism of the pulmonary artery did not resemble in its effects the symptoms of cholera, Dr. Johnson replied that in some respects the symptoms were strikingly similar, but that there could be only certain points of contact between con- ditions so essentially diverse. Dr. Johnson expressed surprise that Dr. Sanderson should so confidently maintain that all, or nearly all, Dr. John Reid’s experiments upon the subject of asphyxia were fallacious in their results. Dr. Reid’s experi- ments were performed with extraordinary care and accuracy, and much more than ordinary care and accuracy would be re- quired to upset his conclusions. Dr. Johnson observed that I in Dr. Sanderson’s recently delivered Croonian lecture he had related an experiment by which he attempted to prove that the circulation of black, unaerated blood through the systemic arteries is not attended with those signs of an impeded transit through the small vessels which Dr. Reid’s experiments had been thought to prove. The experiment was this : in a dog poisoned by woorara the heart continued to beat and the blood to circulate for some time after the re- spiratory movements had ceased. Yet the circulation of black, unaerated blood through the systemic arteries was not attended with any evidence of increased pressure upon the arterial walls consequent upon an impeded pas- sage of black blood through the small vessels. Now, in this experiment, Dr. Sanderson appeared to have overlooked a fact of essential importance-namely, that the woorara poison, as shown by Bernard, annihilates the function of every motor nerve, not merely those which supply the muscles, but also the vaso-motor branches of the sympathetic. Dr. Sanderson, therefore, having paralysed the muscular walls of the minute arteries, did not, of course, observe those phenomena which result from the contraction of those vessels upon their contents. It was not by such experiments as this that the results of Dr. 1 Reid’s labours were to be swept away. Mr. Sibley had stated that, as a rule, he had observed a direct relation between the degree of collapse and the amount of discharges. Upon this point Dr. Johnson remarked it was difficult to make any gene- ral statement which was not liable to be misunderstood. In asserting that there is often an inverse ratio between collapse and discharges, he was mainly referring to fatal cases, with respect to many of which the proposition is most unques- tionably true; but, with regard to cases of recovery from col- lapse, he admitted that, as a rule, the discharges were copious in proportion to the severity of the attack. He would put it thus °.-The severity of the disease depends upon the dose or the intensity of the poison. When a case passes into collapse it is probable that the dose of poison has been greater than when it stops short of collapse, and therefore before recovery can take place a greater drain of liquid will have been required to eli- minate the poison and its products than in a milder case where the dose of poison had been insufficient to arrest or greatly retard the pulmonary circulation. Dr. Johnson disputed Dr. Waring’s statement that the opiate treatment in the diarrhœa stage tended to prevent collapse. His own experience had convinced him that an indiscriminate opiate treatment of cho- leraic diarrhcea was unsuccessful and dangerous. The tendency of the opium was to retain within the system a self-multiplying morbid poison, by which the diarrhoea was prolonged, or even collapse induced. The experience of the military authorities in Malta, as recorded in the recently published medical Blue Book. was entirelv in accordance with his own upon this Doint. Those who treat -diarrhœa with opiates take the credit of a I cure when the disease stops short of collapse ; but when col lapse follows, as he had seen it, on the abrupt arrest of a diarrhœa by opium, ought not the opium to have the discredit I, of that unfavourable result’’ This was a most serious practical question. In reply to Dr. Drysdale’s inquiry whether there is a cholera virus, Dr. Johnson said that if anyone present doubted the existence of a cholera virus, he would not be likely to be convinced by any arguments that he (Dr. Johnson) could adduce ; and at that late hour [it was nearly eleven o’clock] he would not incur the risk of wearying those who had so patiently listened to him by an attempt to convince such sceptics, but, thanking the Society for the kind attention he had received, would sit down. DEATH BY PRUSSic AciD.—An inquest was held last week on the body of Mr. George Young Hood, surgeon of Newcastle, who was found dead in his bed, having apparently poisoned himself by taking prussic acid. He had been paralysed for the last three months, and much distressed by the failure of the District Bank, by which his family had lost their estate. Reviews and Notices of Books. The British Pharmacopœia, 1867. Published under the Direc- tion of the General Council of Medical Education and Registration of the United Kingdom. THE information we have given from time to time during the last two or three months respecting the new edition of the British Pharmacopoeia will have prepared our readers for the announcement that it is now ready for distribution, and will also have conveyed to them a pretty good idea of the character of the work, and generally of the nature and extent of the changes that have been made in it. Our analysis of the proof copy, which was submitted to members of the Council prior to publication, applies substantially to the book in the form in which it is now supplied to the profession. But after the ordeal to which it has been subjected, it comes stamped with the approval, not only of the Committee, but also expressly of the Medical Council and of the numerous experts by whom, at their instigation, it has been critically examined. No Phar- macopœia has ever before appeared in this country under more favourable circumstances. It is published in one size only- intermediate between the larger and smaller sizes of the Phar- macopoeia of 1864,-being a handsome post-octavo volume of 458 pages. It is well printed, with new type, on good paper, and is supplied to the public at six shillings. Including as it does more than a hundred medicines not described in the pre. vious Pharmacopoeia, nearly an equal number of articles the names of which have been more or less changed, and about thirty preparations, among those which are not new, for the production of which new or altered processes are given, it obviously merits from members of the medical profession and those engaged in the preparation of medicines attentive ex- amination and careful study. The alphabetical arrangement of the subjects is very con- venient for reference ; and the foot-notes, indicating altera. tions of strength or composition, serve to show at a glance which of the preparations require special attention in these : respects. The lists of preparations in which substances de- scribed in the Pharmacopœia are used, and which are appended to the descrintions of such substances- will also be found to assist in showing, with reference to any medicinal agent, what the forms of combination are which are provided for its ad- ministration. We have already published the list of new medicines as given in the proof copy, but that list has now to be supple- mented with the following :—Ammonii bromidum., Emplastrum plumbi iodidi, Liquor ioeli, Lotio hydrarrgyri flava Mistura ferri aromatica (Dub.). and Surrupus rhei. Besides these fur- ther additions, we observe that here and there some slight verbal alterations have been made since the proof copy was issued. We shall best convey a correct idea of the extent and nature of the difference between this Pharmacopoeia and that which preceded it, by inserting a few corresponding articles side by i side, and pointing out what we suppose to have been the rea. ! sons for the changes made. 1864. ACACIA. Gum Arabic. One or more undetermined species of Acacia Linn. = A gummy exudation from the stem; collected chiefly in Cor- dofan in Eastern Africa, and imported from Alexandria. Characters.—In spheroidal tears from half an inch to an inch in length, nearly white, and opaque from numerous minute cracks, or in shining fragments: brittle, bland and 1867. ACACIÆ GUMMI. Gum Acacia. A gummy exudation from the stems of one or more undeter- mined species of Acacia, Zi’HK. Characters and Test... -In spheroidal tears usually from half an inch to an inch in length, nearly colourless, and opaque from numerous minute cracks, or in fragments with shining surfaces; brittle; bland and mucilaginous in taste ; in- soluble in alcohol, but soluble
Transcript
Page 1: Reviews and Notices of Books

542

secondary result and not a cause of the defective circulationthrough the systemic arteries. To Dr. Sanderson’s objectionthat embolism of the pulmonary artery did not resemble in itseffects the symptoms of cholera, Dr. Johnson replied that insome respects the symptoms were strikingly similar, but thatthere could be only certain points of contact between con-ditions so essentially diverse. Dr. Johnson expressed surprisethat Dr. Sanderson should so confidently maintain that all, ornearly all, Dr. John Reid’s experiments upon the subject ofasphyxia were fallacious in their results. Dr. Reid’s experi-ments were performed with extraordinary care and accuracy,and much more than ordinary care and accuracy would be re-quired to upset his conclusions. Dr. Johnson observed that Iin Dr. Sanderson’s recently delivered Croonian lecture he hadrelated an experiment by which he attempted to prove thatthe circulation of black, unaerated blood through the systemicarteries is not attended with those signs of an impeded transitthrough the small vessels which Dr. Reid’s experiments hadbeen thought to prove. The experiment was this : in a

dog poisoned by woorara the heart continued to beatand the blood to circulate for some time after the re-

spiratory movements had ceased. Yet the circulation of

black, unaerated blood through the systemic arteries wasnot attended with any evidence of increased pressureupon the arterial walls consequent upon an impeded pas-sage of black blood through the small vessels. Now, in thisexperiment, Dr. Sanderson appeared to have overlooked a factof essential importance-namely, that the woorara poison, asshown by Bernard, annihilates the function of every motornerve, not merely those which supply the muscles, but alsothe vaso-motor branches of the sympathetic. Dr. Sanderson,therefore, having paralysed the muscular walls of the minute arteries, did not, of course, observe those phenomena whichresult from the contraction of those vessels upon their contents.It was not by such experiments as this that the results of Dr. 1Reid’s labours were to be swept away. Mr. Sibley had statedthat, as a rule, he had observed a direct relation between thedegree of collapse and the amount of discharges. Upon thispoint Dr. Johnson remarked it was difficult to make any gene-ral statement which was not liable to be misunderstood. In

asserting that there is often an inverse ratio between collapseand discharges, he was mainly referring to fatal cases, withrespect to many of which the proposition is most unques-tionably true; but, with regard to cases of recovery from col-lapse, he admitted that, as a rule, the discharges were copiousin proportion to the severity of the attack. He would put itthus °.-The severity of the disease depends upon the dose orthe intensity of the poison. When a case passes into collapseit is probable that the dose of poison has been greater than whenit stops short of collapse, and therefore before recovery can takeplace a greater drain of liquid will have been required to eli-minate the poison and its products than in a milder case wherethe dose of poison had been insufficient to arrest or greatlyretard the pulmonary circulation. Dr. Johnson disputed Dr.Waring’s statement that the opiate treatment in the diarrhœastage tended to prevent collapse. His own experience hadconvinced him that an indiscriminate opiate treatment of cho-leraic diarrhcea was unsuccessful and dangerous. The tendencyof the opium was to retain within the system a self-multiplyingmorbid poison, by which the diarrhoea was prolonged, or evencollapse induced. The experience of the military authoritiesin Malta, as recorded in the recently published medical BlueBook. was entirelv in accordance with his own upon this Doint.Those who treat -diarrhœa with opiates take the credit of a Icure when the disease stops short of collapse ; but when collapse follows, as he had seen it, on the abrupt arrest of adiarrhœa by opium, ought not the opium to have the discredit I,of that unfavourable result’’ This was a most serious practicalquestion. In reply to Dr. Drysdale’s inquiry whether thereis a cholera virus, Dr. Johnson said that if anyone presentdoubted the existence of a cholera virus, he would not belikely to be convinced by any arguments that he (Dr. Johnson)could adduce ; and at that late hour [it was nearly eleveno’clock] he would not incur the risk of wearying those whohad so patiently listened to him by an attempt to convincesuch sceptics, but, thanking the Society for the kind attentionhe had received, would sit down.

DEATH BY PRUSSic AciD.—An inquest was heldlast week on the body of Mr. George Young Hood, surgeon ofNewcastle, who was found dead in his bed, having apparentlypoisoned himself by taking prussic acid. He had been paralysedfor the last three months, and much distressed by the failureof the District Bank, by which his family had lost their estate.

Reviews and Notices of Books.The British Pharmacopœia, 1867. Published under the Direc-

tion of the General Council of Medical Education andRegistration of the United Kingdom.THE information we have given from time to time during

the last two or three months respecting the new edition of theBritish Pharmacopoeia will have prepared our readers for theannouncement that it is now ready for distribution, and willalso have conveyed to them a pretty good idea of the characterof the work, and generally of the nature and extent of thechanges that have been made in it. Our analysis of the proofcopy, which was submitted to members of the Council priorto publication, applies substantially to the book in the form inwhich it is now supplied to the profession. But after theordeal to which it has been subjected, it comes stamped withthe approval, not only of the Committee, but also expressly ofthe Medical Council and of the numerous experts by whom,at their instigation, it has been critically examined. No Phar-

macopœia has ever before appeared in this country under morefavourable circumstances. It is published in one size only-intermediate between the larger and smaller sizes of the Phar-macopoeia of 1864,-being a handsome post-octavo volume of458 pages. It is well printed, with new type, on good paper,and is supplied to the public at six shillings. Including as itdoes more than a hundred medicines not described in the pre.vious Pharmacopoeia, nearly an equal number of articles thenames of which have been more or less changed, and aboutthirty preparations, among those which are not new, for theproduction of which new or altered processes are given, it

obviously merits from members of the medical profession andthose engaged in the preparation of medicines attentive ex-amination and careful study.The alphabetical arrangement of the subjects is very con-

venient for reference ; and the foot-notes, indicating altera.tions of strength or composition, serve to show at a glancewhich of the preparations require special attention in these

: respects. The lists of preparations in which substances de-scribed in the Pharmacopœia are used, and which are appended

’ to the descrintions of such substances- will also be found toassist in showing, with reference to any medicinal agent, whatthe forms of combination are which are provided for its ad-ministration.

’ We have already published the list of new medicines as

given in the proof copy, but that list has now to be supple-mented with the following :—Ammonii bromidum., Emplastrumplumbi iodidi, Liquor ioeli, Lotio hydrarrgyri flava Misturaferri aromatica (Dub.). and Surrupus rhei. Besides these fur-ther additions, we observe that here and there some slightverbal alterations have been made since the proof copy wasissued.We shall best convey a correct idea of the extent and nature

of the difference between this Pharmacopoeia and that whichpreceded it, by inserting a few corresponding articles side byi side, and pointing out what we suppose to have been the rea.! sons for the changes made.

1864.ACACIA. Gum Arabic.

’ One or more undeterminedspecies of Acacia Linn. = A

gummy exudation from thestem; collected chiefly in Cor-dofan in Eastern Africa, andimported from Alexandria.

Characters.—In spheroidaltears from half an inch to aninch in length, nearly white,

and opaque from numerousminute cracks, or in shining

fragments: brittle, bland and

1867.ACACIÆ GUMMI. Gum Acacia.A gummy exudation from the

stems of one or more undeter-mined species of Acacia, Zi’HK.

Characters and Test... -Inspheroidal tears usually fromhalf an inch to an inch inlength, nearly colourless, andopaque from numerous minutecracks, or in fragments withshining surfaces; brittle; blandand mucilaginous in taste ; in-soluble in alcohol, but soluble

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543

mucilaginous in taste, solublein cold water. The solutionforms with subacetate of leadan opaque white jelly.Test.-The powder does not

become blue on the additionof solution of iodine.

Preparation. —Mucilago.

in water. The aqueous solu-tion forms with subacetate oflead an opaque white jelly. Ifan aqueous solution of iodinebe added to the powder, or toa solution formed with boiling

water and cooled, there is noappearance of a violet or bluecolour.

Prel)a?,atioit8 containing CrrraAcacia.

It will be observed here that the Latin name has been made i

more explicit than it was, the name Acacia applying morecorrectly to the tree yielding the gum than to the gum itself.On the other hand, the English name has been made less ex-plicit, as it does not indicate, like Gum Arabic, a particularsort of gum acacia. It will also be observed that no mentionis now made of the locality from which the gum is brought.We presume it is intended that gum acacia answering to thecharacters and tests given, whether collected in Egypt or otherpart of Africa, the East Indies or other part of Asia, Australia,or elsewhere, might be used.Characters and tests are now given under one heading-for

the reason, we presume, that the characters of a body some-times constitute the best known tests of its identity or purity.The test for the presence of starch or dextrine in gum, as now

described, is not subject to the objection that was urgedagainst it in its previous form.

1864.ACETUM. Vinegar.

Impure dilute acetic acid,prepared from French winesby the acetous fermentation.Characters.-A liquid of a

straw colour and acetousodour. Ammonia added a

little in excess generally ren-ders it slightly turbid, andmore or less purple.

Tests. - Specific gravity1’008 to 1.022. It is scarcelyaffected by chloride of bariumor oxalate of ammonia, andnot at all by sulphuretted

hydrogen.

1867. ACETUM. Vinegar.

Synonym.—Acetum (Britan-nicum), Lortcl.

An acid liquid, preparedfrom malt and unmalted grainby the acetous fermentation.

Characters and Tests. - Aliquid of a brown colour and Ipeculiar odour. Specific gra-vity 1-017 to 1-019. 445-4 (grains by weight (1 fluidounce) of it require at least402 grain-measures of the ievolumetric solution of sodafor their neutralisation, corre-sponding to 4-6 per cent. of

anhydrous acetic acid. If tenminims of solution of chlorideof barium be added to a fluidounce of the vinegar, and theprecipitate, if any, be sepa-rated by filtration, a furtheraddition of the test will giveno precipitate. Sulphurettedhydrogen causes no change ofcolour.

Dose.—1 to 2 fluid drachms.Pnelxtaoatioac iaa which vine-

gar is rc..c-cl. - Emplastrumcerati saponis.

Although some persons prefer French to British vinegar, yetas the latter is an article of every-day consumption in everypart of the kingdom, and may always be obtained of goodquality, which cannot be said of the former; and as the latter,as we are informed, answers better than the other for the onlypurpose to which it is directed in the Pharmacopoeia to be ap-plied, it will be conceded, we presume, that the alteration inthis case has not been an injudicious one.

1864.ACIDUM HYDROCHLORICUM

, DILUTUM. Dilute Hydro-

chloric Acid.Take ofHydrochloric acid, 3 fluid

ounces.

Distilled water, 8 fluidounces.

Mix, and preserve in a stop-pered bottle.

Tests. - Specific gravity1’05. Six fluid drachms re-quire for neutralisation 99measures of the volumetric so-lution of soda.

1867.ACIDUM HYDROCHLORICUMDILUTUM. Diluted Hydro-chloric Acid.

Synonym" - Acidum lluria-ticum Dilutum, Edin.

Take ofHydrochloric acid, 8 fluid oz.Distilled water, a sufficiency.

Dilute the acid with 16 oz.of the water, then add morewater, so that at a tempera-ture of 60° it shall measure 26 ½fluid ounces.Or as follows :-Take of

Hydrochloric acid, 3060 grs.Distilled water, a sufficiency.Weigh the acid in a glass

flask, the capacity of which,to a mark on the neck, is onepint; then add distilled wateruntil the mixture, at 600 tem-perature, after it has beenshaken, measures a pint.

Tel;tl;. - Specific gravity1.052. 345 grains by weight(6 fluid drachms) require forneutralisation 1000 grain-mea-sures of the volumetric solutionof soda, corresponding to 10 ’57per cent. of real acid. Sixfluid drachms contain one equi-valent, or 36’5 grains of hydro-chloric acid H Cl or H Cl.

Dose.—10 to 30 minims.Preparations irt uclaich Di-

lutecl Hydrochloric Acidis used.- Liquor morphia; hydro-chloratis, Liquor strychniæ.

" This agrees in strength with thecorresponding acid of the Edinburgh,and is rather stroBger than that ofthe London and Dublin Pharma-copceias.

This is the method of operating indicated in other cases aswell as this for the preparation of diluted mineral acids. We have the choice of two methods, either of which, if accuratelyapplied, will give the same result ; but of these methods oneis much more easily applied with accuracy than the other.It would be impossible with an ordinary measure-glass to ad-just the proportions of the acid and water with great exact-ness, and some means of attaining greater accuracy than thatmethod affords was much wanted. This is supplied by thesecond means indicated, the acid being weighed in a narrow-necked vessel, the capacity of which to a mark on the neck

has been determined. Assuming the contents of the vessel,when it is filled to the mark, to be a pint, the proportion of

hydrochloric acid by weight required to make this quantity ofdiluted hydrochloric acid is 3060 grains. Having these pro-portions, of course it is easy to calculate the weight of acidrequired for any other volume, so that a tlask or narrow-neckedvessel of any size might be used in the process, and great ex-actness thus attained. We should have thought it unnecessaryto indicate the other less exact method; and have been puzzledto conceive what the object was in giving it, unless it was toshow the proportions by measure as well as by weight.

In describing the method of testing the strength of thediluted acid by the volumetric process, the quantity to beoperated upon is indicated by weight instead of by measure,as heretofore, it being obviously impossible to measure sixfluid drachms in the usual way with any great accuracy.What we have stated here of the diluted acics applies with

still greater force to the strong acids, such as nitric or suI-phuric acid. For the preparation of the former of these acidsthere is now no process given, excepting that its production isdescribed in general terms. A weaker and less changeableacid is substituted for the highly concentrated but unstableacid previously ordered.

Page 3: Reviews and Notices of Books

544

1864.

AciDUM NITRICUM. NitricAcid.

3HO, 2N05.Take of

Nitrate of potash, two poundsSulphuric acid, seventeen fluid

ounces.

Pour the sulphuric acid uponthe nitrate of potash previouslyintroduced into a plain retort;pass the neck of the retort atleast five inches into the glasstube of a Liebig’s condenser,and distil over the acid with aheat which towards the end ofthe process must be raised soas to liquefy the contents ofthe retort.

Characters. —A strongly acidand corrosive yellowish liquid.When diluted with three timesits volume of water and pouredupon copper it gives off a

colourless gas, which, uponcontact with the air, becomesan orange vapour, and whenconducted into a solution of

sulphate of iron, communicatesto it a dark colour.

Tests.-Specific gravity 1’5.One fluid drachm of the acidrequires for neutralisation 121 5measures of the volumetric so-lution of soda. Evaporated,it leaves no residue. Dilutedwith six volumes of distilledwater, it gives no precipitatewith chloride of barium, or

nitrate of silver.Preparations. -Acidum di

lutum, acidum nitro-hydro-chloricum dilutum.

1867.ACIDUM NITRICUM. Nitric

Acid. * ’

An acid prepared from ni-trate of potash or nitrate ofsoda by distillation with sul-phuric acid and water, and

containing 70 per cent. byweight of the nitric acid,H 0, N 05 or HN03, corre-

sponding to 60 per cent. of an-hydrous nitric acid, N Os or91T nN2 O5.

Characters and Tests. - Acolourless liquid, having a spe-cific gravity of 1’42. Whenexposed to the air it emits anacrid corrosive vapour. If itbe poured over copper filings,dense red vapours are imme-diately formed; but if the acidbe mixed with an equal volumeof water, and then added tothe copper, it gives off a colour-less gas, which acquires anorange-red colour as it mixeswith the air, and which, if itbe introduced into a solutionof sulphate of iron, communi-cates to it a dark-purple or

brown colour. The boiling-point of the acid is 250°. Ifsubmitted to distillation, theproduct continues uniformthroughout the process. Itleaves no residue when eva-porated to dryness. Dilutedwith six times its volume ofdistilled water it gives no pre-cipitate with chloride of bariumor nitrate of silver. 90 grainsby weight of it mixed withhalf an ounce of distilled waterrequire for neutralisation 1000grain-measures of the volu-

Preparatioiis containing freeNitric Acid.

Acidum nitricum dilutum.Acidum nitro-hydrochloricum

dilutum.Liquor ferri pernitratis.Liquor hydrargyri nitratis

acidus.Unguentum hydrargyri ni-

tratis.

Officinal Nitrates.Argenti nitras.Bismuthi subnitras.Ferri pernitratis, liquor.Hygrargyri nitratis, liquor

acidus.Plumbi nitras.Potassæ nitras. !Sodm nitras.

* This acid corresponds ic strengthwith nitric acid of the Lond. Pharm.;it is weaker by one-fourth (by weight)than that of the Brit. Ph. 1864, andthe Edin. and Dubl. Pharm.

It is universally admitted to have been a mistake in theprevious edition of the Pharmacopoeia, to order the highly con.centrated nitric acid of 1’5 specific gravity. That acid is

rarely required for use in medicine, and it is not well suitedfor ordinary use. It cannot be kept in a state of purity, as itundergoes decomposition when exposed to light, and it becomesmore and more coloured from the production of nitrous acid.It also loses strength, as part of the nitric acid is decomposed.The acid now ordered is that of the London Pharmacopoeia of1851. It is the most stable of the hydrates of nitric acid, and

undergoes no appreciable change on exposure to light. Themethod adopted for describing its composition by the use ofchemical symbols will serve to show the way to which sym-bolic notation is applied throughout the book. Two kinds of

symbols are used, one for representing bodies according tothe new, and the other according to the old system of nota-tion. The values of these symbols are given in a table at theend of the book.

It will be observed that here, as in the case of diluted

hydrochloric acid, the quantity of acid to be used in thevolumetric process for determining its strength or neutralisingpower is indicated by weight instead of, as formerly, bymeasure. A chemist would never trust to the measure-glassfor adjusting the quantity of a liquid like this to be submittedto analysis, where a few drops below or above the quantity,which could not be appreciated in measuring, would materiallyaffect the result. The statement that "90 grains by weightof it mixed with half an ounce of distilled water require forneutralisation 1000 grain-measures of the volumetric solutionof soda," is the concise method of indicating the way to makethe estimation. Practically, however, the chemist would findit more convenient and expeditious to take the weight of aquantity of acid, which might be about 90 grains, and, havingascertained how much of the volumetric solution is requiredto neutralise this, calculate from it the neutralising power of90 grains.In a subsequent notice we propose to give a full description

of the volumetric process as modified in the new Pharma.

copœia to make it applicable to the metrical as well as the

British system of weights and measures.

THE COMING ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS ATTHE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

WALTER RIVINGTON.

SPENCER SMITH.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SiR,—It is very desirable, as you have urged, that three

men of high standing, independence, and liberal views shouldcome forward for the vacancies which will soon occur in theCouncil of the College of Surgeons. Equally desirable is itthat the strength of the Fellows who are in favour of progressshould not be wasted. If the reformers, sinking all secondaryclaims upon their votes, could select three candidates solely torepresent and (necessary addition) to carry into execution therational and enlightened principles of the policy ably and con-sistently advocated in your columns a happy consummationwould be reached. United they would bring their membersin by a triumphant majority. If Mr. Prescott Hewett shouldretain his doubts of success, a requisition signed by a numberof Fellows sufficient to ensure his election would remove thisground of objection and act as a discouragement to canvassing.But in the place of canvassing some public confession of faithshould be made by candidates, that Fellows might be preserved,from finding out after the election that they had been in afool’s paradise and supported lukewarm friends or covertenemies of reform-

Yours faithfully, ,Finsbury.square, April 29th, 1867

yo the Editor of THE LANCET.SiR,—In your last number you have done me the favour to

mention me as a probable candidate for a seat in the Councilof the College of Surgeons at the coming election, and as onenot otherwise unfitted than upon the score of health. As sucha statement is calculated to injure me considerably, in moreways than the one particularly referred to, permit me toassure you that you have been misinformed : that my generalhealth is as good as I could wish it to be; and that, physicallyat least, I am quite capable of performing the duties of thehonourable post to which I shall certainly, now that my fairturn has come, aspire, and I venture to hope with success,inasmuch as I have already given proof of my sincere adhesion

to the C9use of progress by my retirement last year in order tosecure the election of my senior, Mr. Charles Hawkins.I am. Sir_ vour obedient servant.

Queen Anne=street, April 30th, 1867.


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