THE ANALYST. 75 A N N U A L ADDRESS OF T H E RETIRING PRESIDENT. (Deli wred at the Aniaucd General Meeting, Febi*z&nry 5, 1908.) BY reason of an event which we all deplore, it is my duty to address you as President for the third time. When my term of office expired in 1907, you elected as my successor Dr. John Clark, of Glasgow. Most unfortunately, soon after his appoint- ment, he was stricken with an illness from which he never recovered. His death was a serious loss to the Society. During the short period in which it was my privilege to make his personal acquaintance, he struck me as one who, by his charm of manner and wide knowledge of the world, was eminently suitable to be President of our Society, and would, had he lived, have largely added to the number of his friends, and would, I feel sure, have advanced our interests.When, unfortu- nately, his illness terminated in death, your Council, in the exercise of their powers, decided to appoint me to fill the interregnum, and I felt it a great honour to accede to their wishes. Besides the loss of Ur. Clark, which, coining so soon after that of our Editor, Dr. Sykes, was particularly sad, we have, unfortunately, lost by death during the past session three members-viz., our old and esteemed friend and Past-President, Dr. Duprk, and Messrs. Page and Macfarlane. Although by death and resignations we lose fourteen members, yet we can congratulate ourselves on the fact that our total membership shows an increase. \Vhen I addressed you in 1907 our total membership was 329; it is now 338, and I sincerely hope it will go on increasing.Last year I referred to the fact that the Society was in it state of transition. I now have the honour to address you as President of the Society of Public Analysts and other Analytical Chemists. I t is my sincere hope, and I believe the wish of all present, that under its new title the Society will continue to prosper even more than it has in the past. I t is satisfactory to know that owing to the alteration in tbe name and scope of the Society, at least one member who formerly belonged to the Society, but who had resigned, has rejoined, and others, who had held aloof because of what they thought to be the restricted aims of the Society, have signified their intention of applying for membership. I would take this opportunity of urging members to induce their friends who have aims in common with ourselves to apply for membership, so that we may become more powerful and useful. There is, undoubtedly, a considerable number of the members of our profession who have not yet joined our ranks, but who, under the new arrangement, would be eligible, and whom we should be very glad to welcome.Though the scope of the Society has been widened, the regulations with regard to membership are, in my opinion, so framed as to prevent the election of any undesirable person. I t is gratifying to know that the reconstitution of the Society has been effected with the minimum of friction. During the past session seven meetings have been held, apart from the meetings necessary for the change of name, at which the following twenty-two papers were read :76 THE ANALYST, February 6, 1907.‘‘ Mineral’Acids in Vinegar.” “ The Composition of English Fermentation Vinegar.” ‘ I The Detection of Cane-Sugar in Milk.” By W. H. Anderson (communicated by By F. D. Ratcliff. By F. D. Ratcliff. H. Droop Richmond, F.I.C.). Mmdz 6, 1907. [‘ The Disposition and Analyses of Sewage Matters deposited on Superposed “ The Composition of Milk.” “Preservatives in Milk and Milk Products ”: (1) ‘( The Souring of Milk and the Effect of Preservatives thereon ; (2) ‘( Notes on the Detection and Estimation of Preservatives.” Surfaces.” By W. J. Dibdin, F.I.C. By H. Droop Richmond, F.I.C. By H. Droop Richmond, F.I.C., and E. H. Miller. April 10, 1907. ‘‘ The Bacterial Estimation of Phenol and Cresol.” “ A New Method for the Estimation of Tartaric Acid.” “The Detection of Cocoanut Oil in Butter.” By M.Wynter Blyth, B.A., By Alfred Chaston B.Sc., F.I.C., and L. Goodban. Chapman, F.I.C., and Percy Whitteridge, B.Sc. By T”. Hinks, B.Sc., F.I.C. *?ray 1, 1907. ( ( The Composition of Irish Butter during the Winter Months.” By J. Handby ‘‘ The Estimation of Lime and Uagnesia in Water by Volumetric Methods.” “ A Further Communication on the Valuation of Oils used for Gas-making By Raymond Ross, F.I.C., and ?J. P. Leather. ‘‘ The Estimation of Minute Traces of Arsenic by the Marsh-Berzelius Method.” Ball, B.Sc., -4.I.C. By W. T. Burgess, F.I.C. Purposes.” By Alfred Chaston Chapman, F.I.C. ‘‘ Note on Horse Fat and ‘ Animal ’ Oil.” By Harry Dunlop.[‘ X Method for Determining Caustic Lime in Fertilisers.” ‘ 6 The Rapid Estimation of Total Solids in Milk.” ‘‘ The Estimation of Salicylic Acid in Milk and Cream.” By Cecil Revis and “The Reducing Action of Hydrogen”: (3) “The Reduction of Molybdic and By Alfred Chaston Chapman, F.I.C., and H. D. Law, I3.Sc. “The Action of Dimethyl Sulphate (Valenta’s Reagent) upon Oils of the Aromatic and Aliphatic Series.” By Thomas W. Harrison, B.Sc., and Frederick M. Perkin, Ph,D., F.I.C. By Thoinas W. Harrison, B. Sc., and Frederick IT. Perkin, Ph.D., F.I.C. June 5 , 1907. By James Hendrick, B.Sc., F.I.C. By Cecil Revis. George Arthur Payne. Vanadic Acids.” Deccmbcr 4, 1307. (‘ Titration with Permanganate in Presence of Hydrochloric Acid.”Routine Methods R.Tankard. l ‘ The Quantitative Kahan. THE ANALYST. 77 for the Bacteriological Examination of Water.’’ By Arnold Separation of Barium from Strontium.” By Miss Zelda I n addition to these meetings, one evening was devoted to the important subject of the ‘‘ Sealing of Samples.” The discussion was opened by Mr. H. Droop Richmond, and representatives of the Local Government Board, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Government Laboratory, took part. Though some prominent members were of opinion that the matter was not a serious one, the meeting generally held the view that a case had been made out for action to be taken, and in this I concur. Among the papers which were read, some were the outcome of the Analytical Investigation Scheme. I have spoken in previous addresses of this scheme, and a full account of its present state will be found in the forthcoming number of THE ANALYST. The honorary secretaries inform me that several investigations are pro- ceeding, and I think we may look forward to satisfactory progress.Naturally, considerable outlay for chemicals and apparatus is entailed, and I appeal to the generosity of members of the Society for pecuniary assistance. You have already heard that the financial condition if the Society is satisfactory. This is largely due to the care exercised by our hon. treasurer. THE ANALYST continues, under the editorship of Mr. Julian L. Baker, the successor of the late Dr. Sykes, to be a credit to the Society. The Council has from time to time discussed matters of interest to members.In this connection I may perhaps mention one of pecuniary interest to those chemists who employ assistants. I refer to the Employers’ Liability Act, which came into force on July 1, 1907. Owing to the far-reaching provisions of that Act, it became of the utmost importance for analysts to.insure members of their staffs against accident. This was, however, in the opinion of the Parliamentary Committee who met to consider the matter, an extravagant amount ; and representations having been made to the companies on the subject, the rate was reduced to 10s. per cent. Even this greatly reduced rate is, in my opinion, excessive, and I hope to see it still further reduced. At least one company, which is outside the tariff, is prepared at the present moment to effect insurances at a considerably lower rate than 10s.On January 1 of this year the Butter and Margarine Act of 1907 came into force. r d o not propose to discuss this Act at any length, but I would point out that it contains several clauses which are important from the view of the Public Analyst. Thus, according to Section 7, Subsection 1, “The Local Government Board may, after such inquiry as they deem necessary, make regulations for prohibiting the use a6 a preservative of any substance specified in such regulations in the manufacture or preparation for sale of butter, margarine, or milk-blended butter, or for limiting the extent to which, either generally or as regards any particular substance or substances, preservatives may be used in the manufacture or prepaxation for sale of butter, margarine, or milk-blended butter.” This represents the sum total of the The insurance companies decided to fix the rate at XI per cent.78 THE ANALYSTo legislative wisdom which the Local Government Board has brought to bear on the question of the use of preservatives in butter and margarine during the period of seven years since the Report of the Departmental Committee on the use of pre- servatives and colouring matters in the preservation and colouring of food was published.Let us hope that the Board will deem an inquiry necessary, and that they will act upon it without further delay. I t would appear to the ordinary non- political, non-departmental mind that such an inquiry had already been held. However, Government departments move in a mysterious way, and we must be content to know that the subject is still under consideration.With the exception of the Circular issued in July, 1906, by the Local Govern- ment Board with regard to the use of preservatives in milk, nothing has been done to give legal effect to the recommendations of the Committee. Though we are grateful for the crumb this Circular represents, we cannot but regret the continued inaction of the Board, especially when it is remembered that they already possess the necessary powers. I n saying this, I should like to point out that I do not think this inaction should be laid at the door of any of those officers of the Board, with whom we have always had the most cordial relationships. To my mind, it is highly undesirable that the duty of fixing the minimum amounts of preservatives, aetc., permissible in foods should be left to individual Public Analysts.Such a condition of things hampers the course of justice, and not infrequently is conducive to the display of unedifying disputes and differences of opinion between members of our profession. I t may be of interest to members to know that in April of last year the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries expressed the opinion ‘‘ that the administration of the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Acts, 1906, would be matetially assisted by the exercise of the power to make regulations as to the manner in which analyses are to be made which is conferred upon them by Section 4 (1) ( c ) of the Act.” A Com- mittee was appointed, consisting of Dr..T. E. Thorpe, C.B., W.R.S., chairman, the late Dr. Clark, and myself (nominated by the Society), Dr. Bernard Dyer, Mr. A. D. Hall, M.A., Professor Kinch (nominated by the Chemical Society), and Dr. J. A. Voelcker. A number of meetings were held and a report agreed upon, which will probably shortly be published. I t is, I think, a matter for congratulation that the assistance of the Society was sought in this important matter. At this point I would like to call attention to a recently published report by Dr. Buchanan on ‘( Certain Imported Meat Foods of, Questionable Wholesomeness,” and particularly to that section dealing with the use of preservatives. Dr. Buchanan points out that certain meats (tripe) are imported into this country containing sometimes as much as 2-14 per cent. of boracic acid.He concludes his report by indicating the desirability of action by the Board under the Public Health Regula- tions as to Food Act, 1907, to prevent the introduction from abroad at English ports of such articles of food. Let us hope that Dr. Buchanan’s labours may not be in vain. Not only do such conditions as have been indicated exist, but I am informed that considerable quantities of meat have been recently imported largely dosed with formalin. During the past year a very important work-the ‘‘ British PharmaceuticalTHE ANALYST. 79 Codes "-has been issued by the Pharmaceutical Society. Although naturally con- taining errors incidental to the issue of such a volume, it is on the whole a great improvement on the more or less stereotyped British Pharmacopceia, and is much more likely to command the respect of analysts than is the older publication. If I have achieved any success a8 President, it is due to the cordial and loyal assistance I have had from the officers and Council and members generally, and to them I offer my most hearty thanks. My last duty, and if is a pleasure also, is to introduce to you my successor, Mr. Tatlock. His name has long been familiar as a household word in the mouths of analysts. Under his guidance and direction I hope that the Society will continue to prosper as it has in the past, and I know that niy hopes will be fully realised. a + @ * * * My duties as President are now nearly over.