DOI Heft:
January to June, 1851
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16607#0131
PUNCH. OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
123
PUNCH'S OWN (KENSINGTON) RAILWAY.
Attempts are again making to "develope the
resources" of out favourite little "loop" line
A WORD ON WINES.
Al.SELY the proverb
-the loop in question consisting of just about | JM^%r^ /1 nr^ 5 I says, hi vino Veritas; for
rope enough to enable the concern to hang itself j ^^SW' / §§ ^ l--__there is no greater false-
up, until further notice. A kind of excitement
is being got up about the Exhibition, whicn,
it is thought, may be the cause of a sort of
hectic and feverish communication between the
Scrubs at Wormwood and the Canal in Warwick
Square—an event which would stimulate the line
into a state of unwonted but much wanted
activity. At present, we regret to say the report
is not encouraging. The " permanent way " is
a bad way for the shareholders, and the "plant "
has been neglected for the cultivation of cabbage
plants on each side of the property. In con-
sequence of the refusal of the Great Western
to lake up the passenger traffic, the balance on
that head shows only a " dot and carry none,"
there being, unfortunately, none to carry.
Food for Comment.
A Leeds Paper states that a Board of Guar-
dians in the neighbourhood has adopted the
practice of " feeding the paupers at a mess-trough
six at a time," in consequence of the damage done
to the saucepans. There is something rather re-
volting to English notions in the idea of feeding
human beings out of a trough ; and though it is an
arrangement that might possibly please the pigs,"
it is, in our opinion, going a great deal too much
" the whole hog " in the way of economy. We are
not fond of wish-wash in the way of sentiment, but
wc reallyobjecttoan arrangement rather more sug-
gestive of hog's wash than of any other material.
hood than this; because
instead of Veritas, the very
taste of a great deal of wine
will show at once that
there is no truth in it,—
that it is not, in fact, the
genuinearticle. Theprooi
of the pudding may oe in
the eating, but it is not
always that the proof of
the wine is in the drink-
ing ; for many a would-
be connoisseur, who*
smacks his lips over
some liquid that he de-
scribes as " fruity,"
"full-bodied," or "dry,"
has not the least idea of
what he is talking about.
We have frequently
been asked to taste a
nice "dry" wine, which
we have wished had been
so literally " dry " as to
be completely dried up,
so that we might have
avoided giving an opinion
on its merits. Somebody
has lately advertised some port, which "the Company are now working on." We
should have thought this can hardly be regarded as a recommendation; for when we consider
the peculiar way in which port wine is frequently worked upon, our opinion is, that the less
said about the process the better, if the sale of the wine is desired.
REMARKABLE DISCOVERY IN CHEMISTRY
BY THE APOTHECARIES' COMPANY.
The Society of Apothecaries is rumoured to have made a great dis-
covery in science, the only discovery of the kind it has made, that was
ever heard of.
The bulk of mankind may require to be informed that the Apothe-
caries' Society is one of the smaller City Companies ; to none of which,
however, is it second in that singular attachment to vested interests,
which entitles it to rank with Smithfield, and other wonderful insti-
tutions of the Metropolis.
Yet the Company of Apothecaries ought to be a scientific body.
Originally established to supply the public with genuine draughts and
other medicines, it has also oeen chartered, by a freak of Legislation,
to provide the community with medical men. In 1815 the Perfection
of Human Reason invested it with sole authority to regulate the pro-
fessional education of general practitioners—the physicians of the people
at large. Prom that time to this it has continued to prescribe medical
studies—and to put up prescriptions. In its commercial dealings the
Worshipful Society is unimpeachable ; its medicines are first-rate, and
its pepper may be recommended; but its educational arrangements are
considered rather inferior, and by no means so good, or so reasonable,
as its drugs and spices.
The Apothecaries' Company has a vast opinion of Chemistry;
although its members, for the most part, have distinguished themselves
rather as druggists than chemists. It has decreed that chemical
lectures shall form part of the education of every candidate for its
license. Attendance on the instructions of any competent lecturer, one
might suppose, would satisfy this requirement. Not so. Their Worships
of Apothecaries' Hall still refuse to recognise the lectures of any pro-
vincial Professor^ although his chemical reputation, which is vouched
for by chemists of the greatest eminence throughout Europe, including
Brande, Berzelitjs, and Liebig, may be said to be at least European.
And why cannot Apothecaries' Hall acknowledge the teaching of gen-
tlemen_ recognised by the London University, and the Colleges of
Physicians and Surgeons?—bodies surely as well qualified to judge in
the case as the medicine-venders who keep the shop at the upper end
of Union Street. But the men of senna have made a bye-law, which
denies recognition to any chemical lecturer, unless he lectures i'n con-
nexion with a regular medical school. As if any competent lecturer
could lecture otherwise. As though there were any science of chemistry
but one, which is connected with every medical school, and the Apothe-
caries' Company did not know that, and had worked so long at the
pestle and mortar as to have brayed themselves into downright asses.
But, then, their Worships allege, that their regulation is one of long
standing, and that, therefore, they cannot rescind it; a sort of con-
j servative logic, that in this instance a punster might describe as senna-
torial. In the meantime they have rescinded this sage regulation in
favour of the Royal Institution.
The truth is supposed to be, that they have discovered an extra-
ordinary chemical fact; namely, that there is a principle in the air of
London, essential to the study of that very science, by which alone any
sort of air can be analysed; that is, essential to the pursuit of Chemistry
itself—as understood by the Worshipful Company. They appear to
have wished to keep this mystery to themselves—as the first persons
who knew of phosphorus endeavoured to hold that discovery secret:
however, it has oozed out.
London air has been generally supposed to differ from the air of other
places, by containing, in addition to the main constituents of the atmo-
sphere, a somewhat larger proportion of carbonic acid and other gases,
the products of combustion and putrefaction ; also of aqueous vapour,
and free carbon in the form of smoke : with which last substance the
Apothecaries' discovery has been thought identical.
It is, however, believed to have been ascertained by the Apothecaries'
Company, that the metropolitan atmosphere, especially in and about the
hospitals and medical schools, contains an element which brings into
play certain delicate affinities, unscientifically termed mutual interests,
rendering it impracticable to allow students to learn Chemistry—or, at
least, spend their money in so doing—elsewhere than at those particular
establishments. This element, or principle, is of a very subtle nature.
It is termed aurine—whether from aura, a current, of air, or aurum,
another description of currency, let etymologists determine. The
Apothecaries are said to have made this discovery of theirs whilst in
pursuit of the philosopher's stone—the prime object of their philo-
sophical researches.
But for this peculiarity in the air of London, a medical student
might learn his Chemistry, whether at Liverpool or elsewhere, before
commg to town, instead of having to cram it, together with half-a-dozen
other sciences besides, during the short time of his attendance at the
hospitals, which ought to be devoted as much as possible to the prac-
tical study of his profession. It is almost a pity, therefore, that the
Apothecaries ever made this discovery, or .that, having made it, the?
should have applied it, in regulating medical studies, or, indeed, that
they continue to meddle with those studies at all, and do not confinp
themselves to pharmacy and grocery.
Notes and Queries —Was there ever known a cock that, upor
being teased, crowed " cock-a-doodle-don't ? "
123
PUNCH'S OWN (KENSINGTON) RAILWAY.
Attempts are again making to "develope the
resources" of out favourite little "loop" line
A WORD ON WINES.
Al.SELY the proverb
-the loop in question consisting of just about | JM^%r^ /1 nr^ 5 I says, hi vino Veritas; for
rope enough to enable the concern to hang itself j ^^SW' / §§ ^ l--__there is no greater false-
up, until further notice. A kind of excitement
is being got up about the Exhibition, whicn,
it is thought, may be the cause of a sort of
hectic and feverish communication between the
Scrubs at Wormwood and the Canal in Warwick
Square—an event which would stimulate the line
into a state of unwonted but much wanted
activity. At present, we regret to say the report
is not encouraging. The " permanent way " is
a bad way for the shareholders, and the "plant "
has been neglected for the cultivation of cabbage
plants on each side of the property. In con-
sequence of the refusal of the Great Western
to lake up the passenger traffic, the balance on
that head shows only a " dot and carry none,"
there being, unfortunately, none to carry.
Food for Comment.
A Leeds Paper states that a Board of Guar-
dians in the neighbourhood has adopted the
practice of " feeding the paupers at a mess-trough
six at a time," in consequence of the damage done
to the saucepans. There is something rather re-
volting to English notions in the idea of feeding
human beings out of a trough ; and though it is an
arrangement that might possibly please the pigs,"
it is, in our opinion, going a great deal too much
" the whole hog " in the way of economy. We are
not fond of wish-wash in the way of sentiment, but
wc reallyobjecttoan arrangement rather more sug-
gestive of hog's wash than of any other material.
hood than this; because
instead of Veritas, the very
taste of a great deal of wine
will show at once that
there is no truth in it,—
that it is not, in fact, the
genuinearticle. Theprooi
of the pudding may oe in
the eating, but it is not
always that the proof of
the wine is in the drink-
ing ; for many a would-
be connoisseur, who*
smacks his lips over
some liquid that he de-
scribes as " fruity,"
"full-bodied," or "dry,"
has not the least idea of
what he is talking about.
We have frequently
been asked to taste a
nice "dry" wine, which
we have wished had been
so literally " dry " as to
be completely dried up,
so that we might have
avoided giving an opinion
on its merits. Somebody
has lately advertised some port, which "the Company are now working on." We
should have thought this can hardly be regarded as a recommendation; for when we consider
the peculiar way in which port wine is frequently worked upon, our opinion is, that the less
said about the process the better, if the sale of the wine is desired.
REMARKABLE DISCOVERY IN CHEMISTRY
BY THE APOTHECARIES' COMPANY.
The Society of Apothecaries is rumoured to have made a great dis-
covery in science, the only discovery of the kind it has made, that was
ever heard of.
The bulk of mankind may require to be informed that the Apothe-
caries' Society is one of the smaller City Companies ; to none of which,
however, is it second in that singular attachment to vested interests,
which entitles it to rank with Smithfield, and other wonderful insti-
tutions of the Metropolis.
Yet the Company of Apothecaries ought to be a scientific body.
Originally established to supply the public with genuine draughts and
other medicines, it has also oeen chartered, by a freak of Legislation,
to provide the community with medical men. In 1815 the Perfection
of Human Reason invested it with sole authority to regulate the pro-
fessional education of general practitioners—the physicians of the people
at large. Prom that time to this it has continued to prescribe medical
studies—and to put up prescriptions. In its commercial dealings the
Worshipful Society is unimpeachable ; its medicines are first-rate, and
its pepper may be recommended; but its educational arrangements are
considered rather inferior, and by no means so good, or so reasonable,
as its drugs and spices.
The Apothecaries' Company has a vast opinion of Chemistry;
although its members, for the most part, have distinguished themselves
rather as druggists than chemists. It has decreed that chemical
lectures shall form part of the education of every candidate for its
license. Attendance on the instructions of any competent lecturer, one
might suppose, would satisfy this requirement. Not so. Their Worships
of Apothecaries' Hall still refuse to recognise the lectures of any pro-
vincial Professor^ although his chemical reputation, which is vouched
for by chemists of the greatest eminence throughout Europe, including
Brande, Berzelitjs, and Liebig, may be said to be at least European.
And why cannot Apothecaries' Hall acknowledge the teaching of gen-
tlemen_ recognised by the London University, and the Colleges of
Physicians and Surgeons?—bodies surely as well qualified to judge in
the case as the medicine-venders who keep the shop at the upper end
of Union Street. But the men of senna have made a bye-law, which
denies recognition to any chemical lecturer, unless he lectures i'n con-
nexion with a regular medical school. As if any competent lecturer
could lecture otherwise. As though there were any science of chemistry
but one, which is connected with every medical school, and the Apothe-
caries' Company did not know that, and had worked so long at the
pestle and mortar as to have brayed themselves into downright asses.
But, then, their Worships allege, that their regulation is one of long
standing, and that, therefore, they cannot rescind it; a sort of con-
j servative logic, that in this instance a punster might describe as senna-
torial. In the meantime they have rescinded this sage regulation in
favour of the Royal Institution.
The truth is supposed to be, that they have discovered an extra-
ordinary chemical fact; namely, that there is a principle in the air of
London, essential to the study of that very science, by which alone any
sort of air can be analysed; that is, essential to the pursuit of Chemistry
itself—as understood by the Worshipful Company. They appear to
have wished to keep this mystery to themselves—as the first persons
who knew of phosphorus endeavoured to hold that discovery secret:
however, it has oozed out.
London air has been generally supposed to differ from the air of other
places, by containing, in addition to the main constituents of the atmo-
sphere, a somewhat larger proportion of carbonic acid and other gases,
the products of combustion and putrefaction ; also of aqueous vapour,
and free carbon in the form of smoke : with which last substance the
Apothecaries' discovery has been thought identical.
It is, however, believed to have been ascertained by the Apothecaries'
Company, that the metropolitan atmosphere, especially in and about the
hospitals and medical schools, contains an element which brings into
play certain delicate affinities, unscientifically termed mutual interests,
rendering it impracticable to allow students to learn Chemistry—or, at
least, spend their money in so doing—elsewhere than at those particular
establishments. This element, or principle, is of a very subtle nature.
It is termed aurine—whether from aura, a current, of air, or aurum,
another description of currency, let etymologists determine. The
Apothecaries are said to have made this discovery of theirs whilst in
pursuit of the philosopher's stone—the prime object of their philo-
sophical researches.
But for this peculiarity in the air of London, a medical student
might learn his Chemistry, whether at Liverpool or elsewhere, before
commg to town, instead of having to cram it, together with half-a-dozen
other sciences besides, during the short time of his attendance at the
hospitals, which ought to be devoted as much as possible to the prac-
tical study of his profession. It is almost a pity, therefore, that the
Apothecaries ever made this discovery, or .that, having made it, the?
should have applied it, in regulating medical studies, or, indeed, that
they continue to meddle with those studies at all, and do not confinp
themselves to pharmacy and grocery.
Notes and Queries —Was there ever known a cock that, upor
being teased, crowed " cock-a-doodle-don't ? "