188 
EDITORIAL. 
ounces  in  each  and  capped.  Each  jar  represents  3^  pounds  of  beef,  or 
28  times  the  weight  of  the  extract.  Our  preference  has  been  in  favor  of 
the  solid  gelatinous  extract,  as  keeping  better,  but  we  are  informed  that 
this  non-gelatinous  extract  has  been  much  liked  by  those  who  have  tried 
it. 
— — —  a 
Erratum. — At  page  .5  of  the  last  number,  line  4  from  the  bottom,  read 
"  farther  hole  "  instead  of  "  father's  hall." 
A  History  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
from  its  foundation  in  1765,  with  sketches  of  the  lives  of  deceased 
Professors.  By  Joseph  Carson,  M.D.,  Prof,  of  Materia  Medica  and 
Pharmacy  in  the  University,  &c.,  &c.,  Philadelphia.  Lindsay  and 
Blakiston,  1869 ;  pp.  227,  octavo. 
In  the  preparation  of  this  book  Dr.  Carson  has  spared  no  labor-  that 
would  add  to  its  completeness,  and  in  it  he  has  made  a  valuable  addition 
to  the  literature  of  medicine  in  America,  by  giving  so  minutely  the 
gradual  steps  followed  by  the  oldest  Medical  Institution  in  the  United 
States  in  attaining  to  its  present  justly  deserved  position.  The  long  list 
of  medical  worthies  directly  and  indirectly  connected  with  the  University 
renders  the  biographical  portions  of  the  book  full  of  interest.  Originally 
written  as  an  introductory  lecture  on  the  centenary  anniversary  of  the 
School  of  Medicine  of  the  University  in  1865,  these  sketches  were 
necessarily  brief,  but  after  deciding  to  enlarge  the  scope  of  the  work  and 
continue  it  to  a  later  date,  these  notices  were  extended,  and  numerous 
foot-notes  introduced.  The  notices  of  Griffitts,  Wister,  Rash,  Barton, 
Coxe  and  Hare,  have  much  interest  to  the  pharmaceutist.  The  former 
in  1788,  after  his  return  from  Europe,  made  the  initial  effort  in  favor  of  a 
national  pharmacopoeia  by  causing  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of 
eight  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  which  included  the  names  of  Shippen, 
Rush,  Griffitts  and  Wister,  but  it  was  not  until  1820  that  the  seed  thus 
sown  bore  fruit  in  the  first  National  Pharmacopoeia  of  1820.  The  influ- 
ence of  Barton  on  the  culture  of  the  Natural  Sciences,  and  especially  of 
Botany,  by  his  personal  exertions,  patronage  of  others,  and  the  influence 
he  exerted  on  and  through  his  pupils,  has  left  a  lasting  impression  on 
science  in  America. 
The  circumstances  indirectly  connecting  the  University  with  the  foun- 
dation of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  as  quoted  by  Prof. 
Parrish,  (see  page  of  this  number,  are  fully  given  by  Dr.  Carson  from 
the  minutes  of  the  University. 
In  speaking  of  Dr.  Hare,  an  opportunity  was  afforded  to  bring  together 
the  history  of  the  discovery  of  the  oxyhydrogen  blow  pipe  and  other  sug- 
gestions, which  have  been  dealt  with  unfairly  abroad.  The  importance 
of  that  discovery  on  the  metallurgic  process  for  the  working  of  platinum 
and  other  refractory  metals,  first  suggested  by  Dr.  Hare,  and  afterwards 
greatly  improved  by  the  labors  of  Deville  and  others,  should  cause  him 
to  be  held  in  lastj^g  remembrance. 
