26 



morphology and function of the root, stem, leaf and flower 

 This portion of the work is supplemented with 128 figures which 

 unfortunately have been placed at the end of the book. For 

 the most part the illustrations are excellent and would have 

 added materially to the value of the book if incorporated in 

 the text. Some of the cuts, particularly those on the root, are 

 among the best that we remember to have seen, and it should be 

 mentioned that in many instances the figures illustrate the char- 

 acter of the drugs as well as morphological characters. 



This first portion of the book will naturally receive the most 

 attention and criticism from botanists. It is inevitable, in so brief 

 a consideration of this broad subject, that statements will be 

 made which require qualifications that must be left for the 

 lecture room. This, in part, also accounts for the rather me- 

 chanical treatment of the subject though it would appear that 

 more attention might have been given to the significance of 

 morphological characters. However, the view point of the 

 author must be respected in this consideration and only so much 

 of botanical science is presented as his experience has shown to 

 be necessary to fit the student for an intelligent and scientific 

 understanding of drugs. 



Part II., Pharmacognosy, comprises the larger and more 

 important portion of the work and to this attention and criticism 

 should largely be directed. An introductory chapter on collect- 

 ing, preservation, admixtures, valuations, etc., of drugs is espec- 

 ially timely since gross carelessness and ignorance in these mat- 

 ters is too often seen among druggsists. The remaining chapters 

 deal with Crude Vegetable Drugs, Powdered Vegetable Drugs, 

 and Reagents. Under the first head are discussed the seeds, un- 

 derground organs, stems, flowers, fruits, leaves and exudations 

 which are of medicinal value. The powdered drugs are classi- 

 fied according to color and under Reagents practical methods of 

 testing and studying are given. 



The treatment accorded this portion of the work is worthy of 

 high commendation. Each subject, as seeds, leaves, powders, 

 etc., is systematically arranged and keys are provided for classi- 

 fication and identification. Following this scheme of classifica- 



