5S2 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
any preparations derived from the mineral kingdom, for wdiich a separate 
section is given, and in this particular differs from the P.B., in which all the 
substances forming the Materia Medica followed indiscriminately in alphabeti¬ 
cal order. In the forthcoming revised edition of the P.B. there will be a 
different arrangement. In the Codex the ordinary name is given in French, 
then the botanical in Latin, then the natural or suborder to which it belongs, 
and the part to be used, in French ; in the matter of Orders the Codex has 
stolen a march upon the P.B. In the P.B. the name stands first in Latin, then 
Anglicized, with the botanical in Latin. Phe part employed, source whence 
obtained, and sundry remarks as to characters, etc., follow in English, and in 
this particular has the advantage over the Codex. Whether the information as 
to orders or characters is the more important to the student or advanced phar¬ 
maceutist, I cannot decide ; but I say, pick up both, and what you cannot find 
in one book seek in another. In the Codex remarks are occasionally added 
which, when interesting, I shall give in exten.^o^ and shall only touch those most 
likely to engage attention. It is not expected that all the substances mentioned 
as officinal should be actually in stock, but only those bearing the mark of an 
asterisk. 
*Two kinds of wormwood, namely, Artemisia Ahsinthiuvfi and Artemisia ma- 
ritima^ have the asterisk, the distinguishing mark, which might be expected, 
seeing the French have a predilection for absinthe, although it has been for 
some time banished our Piiarmacopioeia. The leaves and flowering tops are the 
parts to be used. 
'^Aconit Napel^ Aconitum Napellus. The root and leaf are employed. The fol¬ 
lowing observations are attached :—The root of aconite is more active than the 
leaf; until now, however, the leaves alone nave formed the basis of the officinal 
preparations ; therefore, should the physician not order especially the alcoholic 
tincture or extract-of the root of aconite, the pharmaceutist should use the 
preparations from the leaves. IMany persons have thought that the irregularity 
in action, for which the pu'eparations of aconite have been blamed, has arisen 
from the empl )ymeut sometimes of the wild plant (which, according to them, 
is more active), and sometimes the cultivated plant; this irregularity of action 
is occasioned either from the age of the leaves, which are not always collected 
at the best time, or from a defective mode of preparation. The attention is 
next attracted towards the different species of aloes, and naturally so, for aloes 
enter into the composition of almost every aperient pall in use in this country. 
The kinds mentioned are, Socotiine, Barbadoes or Jamaica and Cape aloes ; 
and it will be a matter of some surprise w'hen I state, that the Cape aloes is 
preferred and is honoured with the asterisk, and that there may be no mis¬ 
take, the following note is added: This aloes—meaning Cape—is less active 
than the former, be., Socotriue and Barbadoes, and it is that which should be 
used, unless otherwise ordered ; as, for instance, in Anderson’s pills, compound 
colocynth pill, and some others extracted from English pharmacy. There are re¬ 
marks attached to each variety of the aloes, somewhat similar to the P.B., but 
no mention is made of the appearance of crystals from a solution in sp^irit under 
the microscope. 
Anyustare vraie^ Angustura or Cusparia, has some good remarks attached, 
from the circumstance of its having been confounded at one time with a false 
angustura of the nature of Nux Vomica; then follows a description of the true 
and false barks and the nitric acid test. The remarks are fuller than those of the 
P.B., but perhaps not more to the purpose. 
^Anis etoile^ ILliciam anisatum^ star aniseed, and ordinary aniseed, Pimpinella 
Anisum^ are both distinguished by the customary mark. The fruit is to be used. 
Star aniseed is rarely met with now in England as an article of commerce, and 
still more rarely used. 
