296 Notices respecting New Books. 



the authority of Drs. Latham and Duncan, who do not speak 

 of its inefficacy or inertness, but of that of the peroxide of an- 

 timony alone, uncombined or not prepared with phosphate of 

 lime. The latter, indeed, expressly states, that, " howsoever 

 prepared," this medicine " is one of the best antimonials we 

 possess." Mr. Phillips, we are sure, need not be told of 

 the many instances in which the combination of two or more 

 ingredients of different qualities, produces on the system effects 

 which are wholly irreconcileable with their known qualities 

 when separate. The testimony of Mr. Brande avails little 

 against the efficacy of this powder, seeing that it is founded 

 chiefly on the uncertainty of its genuine preparation; for 

 it is very certain that many important formulae might be 

 removed from the Pharmacopoeia on similar grounds : and 

 it is not less possible, that Dr. Elliotson might happen to 

 administer one hundred grains of a sophisticated article with 

 as little effect as must the Veterinary surgeon have done, had 

 he administered to a horse one hundred ounces of a spurious 

 substance, which a druggist, not unknown to us, palmed 

 upon him for so much pure opium. 



We cannot but agree with Dr. Paris, (Pharmacologia, 

 vol. ii. p. 357.) that " until the subject be elucidated by 

 further experiments, it will be difficult for the chemist to per- 

 suade the physician, that he can never have derived any 

 benefit from the exhibition of Antimonial Powder." 



Peroxide of antimony and phosphate of lime being respec- 

 tively inert, or nearly so, but the Pidvis Antimonialis, we 

 confidently affirm, an efficacious medicine, may not the vir- 

 tues of the latter reside in some peculiar combination existing 

 in it of the two substances or their elements ? In the pro- 

 cess of analysis, such a combination would be resolved into 

 the peroxide and phosphate, thus rendering the whole, ap- 

 parently, a mere mixture of those bodies. We would there- 

 fore suggest to Mr. Phillips the expediency of instituting 

 further researches on this subject. 



Considering the subject just discussed to be one of much 

 importance, we deemed it right to express our sentiments 

 concerning it; but it is the only one, in the work before 

 us, on which we feel disposed to animadvert : and we have 

 no doubt that this volume will be generally sought after, and 

 receive a large share of approbation. 



The Rev. W.Pearson, LL.D. F.R.S. Treasurer of the Astro- 

 nomical Society, hr.s just published' the first volume of An Intro- 

 duction to Practical Astronomy ; containing Tables recently 

 computed for facilitating the reduction of Celestial Observa- 

 tions, andapopular explanation of their Construction and Use. 



