338 
REVIEWS. 
degree of heat produced by an exploding substance, and that, according to theory the 
blasting-oil, on account of its complete combustion, ought to develope a more intense 
heat than gunpowder, and this appears to be borne out by experiment; whence he as¬ 
sumes that the heat developed by the explosion of nitro-glycerine is twice that Gene¬ 
rated by gunpowder, and fiom this calculates that nitro-glycerine, compared with "gun¬ 
powder, possesses about 13 times its power, when volumes are considered, and 8 times 
its powei foi equal weight; and that owing to its rapidity of explosion its advantages 
are still greater .—Chemical News. e 
Sulphate of 55inc in Burns and Scalds.—Dr. F. L. Keyes, of Jersevville 
Canada Vv est, in a communication to the { Philadelphia Medical Reporter.’ recommends 
the use of a solution of sulphate of zinc (about three grains to the ounce) as an ap¬ 
plication foi burns oi scalds. Pieces of soft cotton on lint are dipped in the solution and 
applied to the parts. When the dressing becomes partially dry, it should be again 
moistened with the solution without being removed. Dr. Keyes states that there is 
but one exception to its use,—burns by gunpowder, when a portion of the unburnt 
powder is deposited in the skin, proportionably to the imperfection of the combustion. 
In such a case the wash would be inadmissible, as it would act as a solvent of the 
gianules and cause irritation. In these cases he prefers the carbonate of lead in the 
form of a paint. 
REVIEWS. 
Manual op Materia Medica and Therapeutics. Being an Abridgment of the late 
Dr. Perena s Elements oi Materia Medica, arranged in conformity with the British 
Pharmacopoeia, and adapted to the use of Medical Practitioners, Chemists and 
Druggists Medical and Pharmaceutical Students, etc. By Frederick John Farre, 
M.D. Cantab., I.L.S., etc., assisted by Robert Bentley, M.R.C S FL S etc and 
Robert Warington, F.R.S., F.C.S., etc. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. 1865. 
Me have much satisfaction in announcing the appearance of this long looked-for 
book, which will supply a want that has been much felt and frequently expressed. Of 
all the works on Materia Medica, that of Dr. Pereira has acquired the highest and most 
widely-extended reputation, for the comprehensiveness of its design and the copiousness 
and general accuracy of its details, affording evidence of much laborious research and the 
possession by the author of a thorough practical acquaintance with every department of 
the subjects treated of. But the fulness and comprehensiveness of Dr. Pereira’s wurk 
which have added so greatly to its value as a work of reference and for the use of ad¬ 
vanced students, have placed it beyond the reach of a large number of those who are 
engaged in the study and practice of the departments of medicine involving an acquain¬ 
tance with Materia Medica. _ This class of readers will find in the volume produced by 
Di. Jarre and his able coadjutors a well-digested abridgement of that great w r ork con¬ 
taining what is really essential for their use. Although an abridgement, it must not 
however, be considered that the ‘ Manual of Materia Medica and Therapeutics ’ is a mere 
bnef digest of the matter. If produced with less modest pretensions as an original 
work, it would have been classed among the most extensive and copious of its kind. 
Being printed m double columns, with no unnecessary loss of space, there is a great 
amount of matter condensed into its pages, and the matter is remarkably well arranged 
tor facilitating occasional reference as well as systematic study. 
e object and scope of the editor will be best appreciated by the following ex¬ 
tract from the preface“ The great work on Materia Medica, which I have under¬ 
taken to reduce to a more convenient size and to adapt for more general use is a 
mine of wealth which probably few readers have yet exhausted. The incessant 
L rS L° f + lt& u f tC autll0 L ti ie extent to which he pushed his inquiries, and the pains 
which he took to verify all the information which he collected, give to his work a pecu- 
imwTf +n u! Ul , aU l h0r i ty: ?! co P iousness > however, had become embarrassing / not, 
eed, to those who desired to study the subject in the comprehensive spirit of the 
llor ^ b ut to the majority °f medical practitioners, pharmaceutical chemists, and medi¬ 
cal and pharmaceutical students, who, having only a limited portion of time at their 
