46 
EEVIEW. 
water an explosion occurred, lifting the sea into an immense column to the stern of the 
vessel. We infer, from a San Francisco journal, that it was a new chemical mixture 
called sodium amalgam. This material is never manufactured in very large quantities, 
though it has been advertised for sale in San Francisco, one firm claiming to have as 
much as 200 oz. for sale. The amount does not seem large, but when it is understood 
that the explosive power of 1 oz. of sodium is equal to that of about 25 lb. of gunpowder, 
or 2j lb. of nitroglycerine, it can readily be conceived that even 15 oz. or 20 oz., ex¬ 
ploded in one place, would create immense havoc. And when one further reflects that 
even so little a thing as a spoonful of water coming in contact with 200 oz. of sodium 
would occasion an explosion equal to that which would be occasioned by the ignition of 
5000 lb. of powder, or the concussion of 500 lb. of nitroglycerine, we can form some 
conception of its tremendous destructive power .—Boston Journal. 
Education of Medical Students.—The Greneral Medical Council has been occupied 
during its recent sittings with the preliminary education of medical students. They 
have laid down a minimum standard of subjects for examination in which youths must 
pass before being admitted to commence their professional studies. They are as fol¬ 
lows:—Compulsory—1. English language, including grammar and composition; arith¬ 
metic, including vulgar and decimal fractions; algebra, including simple equations ; 
geometry, first two books of Euclid; Latin, including translation and grammar; and 
one of the following optional subjects—Greek, French, German, natural philosophy. 
After the year 1869, Greek will be transferred to the list of compulsory subjects. Certi¬ 
ficates of proficiency in these subjects will be received from all the authorized examining 
bodies in the United Kingdom. Very long debates have taken place upon this scheme, 
which has hitherto been enforced by some medical corporations and not by others. It 
was objected that the remuneration of medical men in many country districts was not 
such as to tempt scholarly and educated men to undertake the duties, but the opinion 
prevailed that the preliminary training of medical men should in every case be brought 
at least up to the standard indicated. 
Suicide by Prussic Acid.—We regret to announce that a melancholy suicide 
took place in Dublin, on Tuesday, May 15th. Mr. Carter E. Draper, of the firm of 
Bewley and Draper, wholesale druggists, was found dead in his bed, from the effects of 
prussic acid. The deceased, who was fifty-five years of age, had for some time exhibited 
symptoms which caused much uneasiness to his family. An inquest was held, and a 
verdict returned, that he had committed suicide under the influence of insanity. 
REVIEW. 
Suggestions for a New System of Chemical Nomenclature. By G. Hamilton, 
F.C.S., F.K.A.S., Professor of Chemistry at Queen’s College, Liverpool. 
It requires considerable courage, if not boldness, on the part of any chemist, however 
eminent, to propose a radical change in the entire system of names for chemical sub¬ 
stances. Such a scheme must necessarily have so little, if any, chance of being adopted 
that it is likely to receive but a small amount of serious consideration. Moreover, the 
creation of a new system which shall be perfectly applicable to the present state of our 
science appears so difficult a task, that we are apt to regard it as impossible to any but 
a giant mind, and consequently to look with suspicion on any new attempts. Neverthe¬ 
less, the necessity for more perfect names is daily increasing. The present nomenclature 
is unsystematic, inconsistent with our views, and incapable of extension. It has been 
concocted by so many cooks that it is utterly spoilt. 
Whether the present time is well suited for its entire reconstruction may be fairly 
questioned, but it certainly behoves every chemist to study the principles which should 
guide us to that end. For this reason we would ask our readers to give a kindly consi¬ 
deration to Professor Hamilton’s pamphlet. It simply professes to offer suggestions for 
a new system, and not to contain the system. 
Nevertheless, Mr, Hamilton developes the outline of a scheme for naming according 
to one uniform plan all known compounds, and also every possible combination. In the 
first place, the names of the elements are changed so as to make each terminate in ine. 
