The calcined magnesia, as above prepared, contains some hard particles, which are very difficult to pulverize. In attempting to powder them, I remarked that this magnesia, which was washed before being burnt until no traces of sulphuric acid could be detected, now afforded an evidence of a small portion still being present. This same observation I have previously made in the preparation of oxide of zinc. To remove this contamination, I recommend that carbonate of magnesia should first be lightly burnt, and then well washed with hot water, and again burnt with a very strong heat.
The above determinations of the density of the magnesias must not be confounded with their specific gravity. To ascertain the latter is a task of great difficulty, for Rose, in attempting it, obtained such discrepant results, that he has withheld them. The specific gravity of Henry’s magnesia, as near as it could be ascertained, is from 2,50 to 2,67. The magnesia prepared according to my process, gave 3,148 as its specific weight.—Buchner’s Repertorium, in Annals of Pharmacy.
MEDICINE AND PHARMACY IN BRAZIL.
In the entire Brazilian empire, there are two national faculties of medicine, termed Escola Imperial de Medecina, one established at Rio de Janeiro, the other at Bahia—the present {187} and former capitals of Brazil. Both are constituted exactly alike in laws, forms, number of professors, modelled, with very trifling difference, after the constitution of the Ecole de Médecine of Paris. Each college consists of fourteen professors, and six substitute professors, with a director and a vice-director, answering to our own dean and vice-dean of the faculty. The latter are named by Government, from a triple list sent up by the professors every third year, and discharge the ordinary duties of their chairs, being only exempt from attending the examinations. They possess a limited controling power over their college, and constitute the official channel of communication with Government and public bodies, on all matters relating to public health, prisons, &c. The duties of professor-substitute are explained in the name. When illness, or public employment—the latter not unusual in Brazil—interferes with the duties of the professor, his chair is supplied by the substitute: both are appointed, as in France, by concours. Most of the older members have graduated in Portugal, Scotland, France, or Italy. Both classes receive a fixed income from the State, and derive no emolument whatever from pupils and examination fees, &c. which are applied to public purposes connected with the college. The income of the professor was fixed at twelve hundred mil-reis per annum—(about three hundred pounds) when first established; and that of the professor-substitute at eight hundred mil-reis. Both enjoy the right of retirement on their full salary, after twenty years’ service, or when incapacitated by age or infirmities. A travelling professor is elected by concours by the faculty, every four years, for the purpose of investigating, in the different countries of Europe, the latest improvements and discoveries in medicine and the collateral sciences, an account of which he regularly transmits, in formal reports, to his college. His expenses are defrayed by the State.
The medical faculty consists of the following chairs:—1, physics; 2, botany; 3, chemistry; 4, anatomy; 5, physiology; 6, external pathology; 7, internal pathology; 8, materia {188} medica; 9, hygiene; 10, operations; 12, midwifery; 13, clinical medicine; 14, clinical surgery.
In addition to the professors, there is a secretary (medical), treasurer, librarian, and chemical assistant—all elected by the faculty.
The order of study is as follows:—first year, medical physics and medical botany; second year, chemistry and general and descriptive anatomy; third year, anatomy and physiology; fourth year, external pathology, internal pathology, pharmacy and materia medica; fifth year, operative medicine and midwifery; sixth year, hygiene, history of medicine, and legal medicine.
All examinations are public, and the subjects are drawn by lot.
The titles conferred by the faculty, are only three, viz., Doctor in Medicine, Apothecary, and Midwife. The latter is specially educated and examined.