292 Notices respecting Nnc Books. 



truth in many of his observations, that the profession is certainly 

 indebted to them in some measure for the present improved edi- 

 tion. The translation of this edition has been undertaken by Mr. 

 Phillips, who has added to it copious notes and illustrations, so 

 as to make a volume highly useful, and we would say indispen- 

 sable, to every medical practitioner and student : the object of it 

 being to explain the various processes, and the rationale of 

 them, in a way that will admit neither of ambiguity nor of doubt; 

 so that the student will find no difficulty in making himself 

 acquainted with the intentions of the College in their directing 

 certain processes in preference to others for the preparation 

 of medicines. Accordingly, to each article he annexes the 

 history and rationale of the process for preparing the same ; 

 and, wherever he thinks it requisite, points out how the pro- 

 cess may be facilitated or improved : and it is evident that his 

 suggestions do not proceed from an arbitrary desire to pro- 

 pose the adoption of any processes of his own before others; 

 but from a wish to remove those obstacles which he himself 

 has met with whilst subjecting the directions of the College to 

 examination. 



Every one must allow that Mr. Phillips is well qualified 

 for such an undertaking; more especially as, with regard to 

 subjects to the knowledge of which his own pursuits have not 

 led him, he seeks for information from the most respectable 

 sources; and takes advantage of their useful observations 

 and illustrations. Although his condescending to mark the 

 pronunciation of the names of the articles in the Pharma- 

 copoeia has been spoken of with some degree of ridicule, yet 

 for ourselves, as we daily experience sad proofs of ignorance 

 in this respect, with men of considerable reputation, as well as 

 with those for whom this condescension was intended as an as- 

 sistance, we think the translation is thereby rendered more 

 useful. The external characters and more apparent qualities 

 of the various substances are given with great accuracy, the 

 forms even of the crystals being delineated, and the measure- 

 ment of their angles as ascertained by the reflective gonio- 

 meter detailed. The composition of most of the chemical 

 substances is stated centesimally, and also according to the 

 atomic doctrine. The adulteration to which the different 

 articles are liable is pointed out, together with its causes, 

 whether arising from accident or from fraudulent design; and 

 at the same time the modes by which such adulteration may 

 be discovered, counteracted, or removed. Next, the sub- 

 stances which would prove incompatible with each other on 

 mixture, are carefully stated ; and lastly, the medicinal uses 

 of the various simples and compounds, and the extent to which 



they 



