Notices respecting Neiv Books. 457 



means very propitious to the right worshipful art of man- 

 slaying. The worthy collegians are too much men of busi- 

 ness to overlook or neglect this obvious truth ; and their 

 improved Pharmacopoeia will be a memorable example of 

 their zeal for extensive trade in their own way. Formerly 

 those intrusted with licenses *' to kill," were obliged to 

 wear either red coals, or a three-tailed wig with a black 

 gown. Now, perhaps, less exterior ceremony may be neces- 

 sary, and those authorized by law to " emancipate souls" 

 may wear " black, brown, blue, or white," provided they 

 operate secundum cirLem. This plan has at least ceconomy 

 to recommend it, and it may at the same time contribute 

 tj allay the gloomy apprehensions of Mr. Malthus and his 

 disciples. Had Mr. Phillips considered the subject in this 

 enlightened philosophical view, however he might have 

 iiidulged himself occasionally in twitching their worships 

 anonymously, he would most assuredly never have thus 

 openly and decidedly endeavoured to obstruct such a glori- 

 ous and patriotic purpose l)y an exposure of the ignorance 

 and incapacity of the Royal College of Physicians. Poor 

 man ! his mind appears so wholly engrossed with chemical 

 and medical science, as well as the love of truth, that he 

 has forgotten the importance and superiority of self-interest. 

 He is likewise mis'i-'d by some old-fashioned honesty, by 

 showing " that alnicst every change which can be consi- 

 dered as an improvement, as well as some alterations which 

 are the reverse, have been copied from, or at least suggested 

 by, the Dublin and Eilinburgh Pharmacopoeias, or by Dr. 

 Duncan's Dispensatory." For the honour of our northern 

 and western brethren, we hope that there are some things, 

 either in the original Pharmacopoeia or Dr. Powell's Trans- 

 lation, which arc novel and perfectly original. Leavmg, 

 however, our author and Dr. Powell to settle this matter, 

 and also the Doctor's confounding sulphuric with nitric acid 

 and vice versa, as well as the innumerable mistakes he has 

 committed relative to muriatic, acetic, benzoic, and nitric 

 acids, and solutions of ammonia, wc have more pleasure in 

 transcribing the following scientific description of sulphat 

 of potash, for which Mr. P. candidly acknowledges the aid 

 of that ingenious and able crystaliographer Count de Bour- 

 non. 



" The primitive crystal of sulphat of potash is a pyra- 

 midal dodecahedron with isosceles-triangular faces, meeting 

 at the summit in an angle of C^P 13', and at the base in 

 i 13 4.5'. This foriTi is considerably modified, both by the 

 *»ccurrence of additional faces, and the partial or total dis- 

 appearance 



