THE Annual Meeting of the Society was held on the 9th ult., at Burlington House, Piccadilly, Mr. A. H. Allen in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The auditor's report on the accounts for the past year was read, and will be printed and circulated as usual. : Mr. ALLEN then delivered his valedictory address as follows: THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Following the custom which has prevailed in previous years, I now have to bring before you a résumé of the past work and present position of the Society. In the first place, it is gratifying to find that the progress of the Society, so far as it is represented by the number of members, is satisfactory. In addition to the resignation of two associates, three members have been removed from the list for non-payment of arrears of subscription, and six associates for the same reason. To counterbalance this, we have the election of ten new members and four new associates, so that the total number of subscribers is exactly the same as in the previous year; but the number of ordinary members is increased by four, and that of the associates diminished by the same number, the honorary members still numbering ten. The Society has also suffered a loss in the death of Dr. William Wallace, of Glasgow. Dr. Wallace was for many years senior member of the firm of Wallace, Tatlock and Clark, and occupied the post of Public Analyst for Glasgow and several neighbouring counties and boroughs. He ranked as one of the ablest and best-known chemists in Scotland, and although the distance of his residence from London prevented him from regularly attending our meetings, he always took a great interest in the Society. Personally, I feel in the death of Dr. Wallace the loss of an intimate friend, who was always ready to give me the best advice and assistance in his power, Not only has the Society maintained its numbers, but the papers read have fully equalled in interest and importance those of previous years. They have numbered 34, as against 30 during the previous twelve months. The following is a list of the papers contributed to the Society, in addition to which there are several papers, such as that of mine on the presence of cocoa-nut oil in a sample of lard, which, though not actually read before the Society, would have been so had the matter arisen during the session: Date. Jan. 11. Feb. 8. " PAPERS IN 1888. "A Sample of Navy-green Paint "Composition of Milk and Milk Products' "An Instrument for Calculating Milk Results March 14." Iodine Absorptions, Combining Weights, and Melting-points of Author. Dr. Vieth H. D. Richmond "Temperature of Ether in the Soxhlet Extraction Pepper Analysis' "On the Use of the Term 'Normal' in Volumetric Analysis" "Note on the Examination of Lard" "Water Reports-a Dilemma "On the Determination of Citric Acid in Lemon-juice' "On some Abnormal Samples of Butter "The Werner-Schmidt Method of Determining Fat in Milk and "On the Examination of Lard for Adulteration C. Heisch C. Heisch A. H. Allen A. H. Allen A. W. Stokes "On the Action of Iron Pipes on Water Conveyed therein " Looking at the immediate objects of the Society, I think we may fairly claim that during the past two years the methods of examining food and drugs have made marked progress. We have been confronted with several novel forms of adulteration, which at first taxed all our resources to discover, but which we may now fairly claim to be in a position to detect with certainty. The use of pepperette, or ground olive-stones, for the adulteration of pepper is one of the cases in question. Although referred to as a possible and probable adulterant of pepper fully ten years ago, it does not seem to have been extensively used until comparatively recently, when pepper adulterated with poivrette made its appearance in various parts of the kingdom, but notably in the neighbourhood of Liverpool, and it was Dr. Campbell Brown, Public Analyst for Liverpool and Lancashire, who first called prominent attention to the question, besides pointing out methods for its detection. The adulteration of lard has also grown enormously during the past year or two, and, instead of meeting with the large proportions of water formerly so common, lard is now sophisticated in a novel and ingenious manner, namely, by adding a mixture of cottonseed oil and beef or mutton stearin. Mr. E. W. T. Jones appears to have been the first analyst on whose certificate the prosecution for the presence of cotton-seed oil took place, and he was quickly followed by other analysts. For a time the sale of lard adulterated with cotton-seed oil seems to have received a serious check, but knowing how skilfully such sophistications are conducted, and with the express purpose of baffling the Public Analyst, we may expect that those interested are simply seeking a safe method of eluding our vigilance. For a long time it seemed as if the detection of beef-stearin in lard could only be effected inferentially, and until quite recently I was unable to satisfy myself of the presence of beef-fat in several samples of lard which I strongly suspected to contain it. I believe, however, that difficulty is now surmounted, and with the aid of some hints from Dr. Campbell Brown I have been able to detect positively the presence of beef-fat in lard. The use of cocoa-nut oil as an adulterant of lard does not seem yet to have become very extensive. I have condemned one sample myself on this ground, and have examined another submitted to me from a brother-analyst. But the detection of this adulterant presents no difficulty, and hence the use of cocoa-nut oil is not likely to be very extensively practised. With respect to butter, the determination of the volatile acids by the Reichert process has of late become fairly general, but I find comparatively few analysts have adopted the precautions found necessary by Professor Wollny, of Kiel, a translation of whose report and paper, by Mr. O. Hehner, was published in the ANALYST last winter. I cannot but feel the gravity of the figures I submitted to the Society at its last meeting, showing that the range of variation in the composition of genuine butter was greater than had been generally recognised; but the fact being absolutely beyond dispute it seemed to me that however much we might regret the immediate consequences of the discovery, it was our plain duty to accept the position, and strive so to modify and improve our methods of analysis as to render it possible to distinguish a butter adulterated with a small percentage of margarine from one which was simply abnormal in composition, and I believe it will be found possible to effect this. A committee has been appointed to investigate the matter. For various reasons, it is not desirable to increase the number of the committee to any great extent, but it is to be earnestly hoped that other Public Analysts, and the members of the Society generally, will co-operate with the committee, who have undertaken work of a very laborious and responsible character. With their help and sympathy much may be done, and it is, in my opinion, a great misfortune that the Public Analysts of this country, who have done so much good work in the past, should have to work under such disadvantageous conditions, and without that encouragement from other chemists which they have a right to expect. That the Government of the country should persistently ignore the Public Analysts as a body, as has been done in his official position by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, among others, is a lamentable fact. The Public Analysts, as a body, are now a set of competent and highly trained men, doing their disagreeable duties without fear or favour, while liable at any time to have their reputations injured by reference to a Court of Appeal, unsatisfactory in its composition, and having a narrow and one-sided idea of its duties. In a few months the position of some of the Public Analysts will be materially changed, as many will hold their appointments under the newly created County Councils. It is only to be expected that these bodies will, like other new brooms, sweep clean, especially as the only argument for supporting some of the candidates seems to be that they are prepared to reduce salaries all round. Under these circumstances it behoves Public Analysts to stand together and make a determined and united effort to resist the attempt, which will doubtless be made in some quarters, to reduce still further the already insufficient remuneration of many of those holding appointments under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. As to the future, I think we may, at some time, see an amended Act passed. We are sadly in need of a revised system of reference in the case of disputed analyses. Again, it is very desirable that some means should be devised for tracing milk and butter to their sources, so that if peculiarity of composition be really due to natural causes the vendor may have the fact demonstrated, while, on the other hand, it will become more difficult than at present to plead natural poverty of the milk as an excuse. The Margarine Act has worked fairly well during its twelve months' enforcement, but experience has shown that it is not free from defects which might be very easily removed by an amending Act. The difficulty of dealing with drugs is, at present, greatly increased from the absence of any authoritative and legal standard, although it is a curious fact that the Pharmacopoeia was not made the formal standard in the Sale of Food and Drugs Act Amendment Act, of 1879, simply because Dr. James Bell held that it was already practically accepted as the standard. Unsatisfactory as the existing Pharmacopoeia is, and discreditable to certain of those entrusted with its compilation, its formal adoption as the legal standard for drugs mentioned therein would be a distinct advantage, and would have the additional good effoct of hastening the publication of a new edition, which might be free from the defects which characterise that of 1885. There are other directions in which the Adulteration Act might be extended and improved. It certainly should apply to such articles as disinfecting powder, which at present escapes through its meshes; and I think it is not too much to hope that in the future we may see its scope extended so as to make it an offence to sell as "all wool" an article which is in great part cotton or other fibre, and even to prevent the false description of articles of jewellery. And now it simply remains for me to express my regret that I have on many occasions failed to fill this chair in a satisfactory manner. I am fully aware of my own shortcomings in this respect, but have the satisfaction of knowing that in the immediate future the position lately occupied by me will be filled by one in whose care the dignity and interests of the Society of Public Analysts of Great Britain may be left with the fullest confidence. Mr. ALLEN proposed, and it was unanimously resolved, that a vote of thanks be accorded to the Chemical Society for the use of their rooms during the past year. The election of Officers and Council for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, and on the ballot-papers being opened it was announced that the following gentlemen were elected :: President.-M. A. Adams, F.R.C.S., F.I.C. Vice-Presidents (who have filled the office of President).-A. H. Allen; A Dupré, Ph.D., F.R.S.; C. Heisch; Alfred Hill, M.D.; J. Muter, Ph.D., M.A., F.R.S.E. (Who have not filled the office of President).-Sir Chas. Cameron, M.D.; S. Harvey; T. Stevenson, M.D., F.R.C.P. Treasurer.-C. W. Heaton. Hon. Secretaries.--Bernard Dyer, B.Sc.; Otto Hehner. Other Members of Council.-C. E. Cassal; R. H. Davies; W. Fox; R. H. Harland; W. Sedgwick Saunders, M.D.; P. Vieth, Ph.D.; C. R. Alder Wright, D.Sc., F.R.S. The names of those members of Council whose term of office has not yet expired, and who consequently do not retire this year, are J. Baynes; J. A. R. Newlands; E. Seaton, M.D., F.R.C.P.; W. J. Sykes, M.D.; J. A. Voelcker, Ph.D. The following gentlemen were also elected : As Members: T. S. Gladding, New York; Professor V. Stein, Copenhagen. Mr. ALLEN then vacated the chair, which was thereupon taken by the newly elected President Mr. ADAMS, who thanked the members for the honour which had been conferred upon him, and said he was fully conscious of the great gap which their retiring President would leave behind him, but he rejoiced to know that Mr. Allen's large and varied experience would not be lost to the Society-they would have him with them in the future, as they had had, so much to their advantage, in the past. He (Mr. Adams) was, however, afraid that it could not be denied that Mr. Allen had left them in somewhat of a mess-a greasy mess. He had certainly upset the fat in the fire, and they would not want for lack of work in the forthcoming season in clearing up after him. Of course they would have him to assist them, and the wonderful instinct that had put them in the right direction, although he had made this mess just at the end of his term, showed that Mr. Allen was just the one to clear it up for them. In conclusion, Mr. Adams said that he could assure them he should have the greatest pleasure in devoting himself to the interests of the Society, and nothing should be wanting on his part to show how fully he appreciated the honourable position to which they had elected him. "Remarks on a Recent Case of Alleged Injurious Pollution of the River Medway by the Sewage of Maidstone." By Dr. Dupré, F.R.S. The discussion on this paper was adjourned until the February meeting, in the hope that Dr. Tidy and Mr. Wynter Blyth might then be able to attend. "On the Analysis of Pepper, and the Occurrence of Piperidine therein." By Dr. W. Johnstone. "On the Westphal Balance." By Mr. W. F. K. Stock. The Annual Dinner was afterwards held at the St. James's Hall Restaurant, where a very enjoyable evening was spent by the members and their friends. The next meeting of the Society will be held at Burlington House, on Wednesday, the 13th inst., when the adjourned discussion on Dr. Dupré's paper will be resumed. (The papers by Dr. Dupré, Dr. Johnstone, and Mr. Stock, will be published in our next issue.) ON THE DETERMINATION OF CITRIC ACID IN LEMON-JUICE. (Read at the Meeting, December, 1888.) THE general chemistry of citric acid has already been so ably dealt with in the excellent and exhaustive papers by R. Warington (Journal of the Chemical Society, vol. xxviii., p. 925), and by B. J. Grosjean (Journal of the Chemical Society, vol. xliii., p. 331), that it is not necessary for me to dwell at any length on that part of the subject. I may say at once that my special object in bringing this matter before the Society of Public Analysts is to promote a discussion among the members, with the view to attain, if possible, a standard process for estimating the citric acid in lemon-juice, as, in the face of recent improvements in analytical chemistry, this question certainly deserves further |