122  New  Italian  Pharmacopoeia.  {kmid™£ 5™ 
a  mixture  of  equal  parts,  by  weight,  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid 
and  900  alcohol. 
Fluidextracts  are  represented  by  four  formulas — "  segata  cor- 
nuta  "  (ergot),  "  hamamelis,"  "  idraste  "  (hydrastis),  and  "  cascara 
sagrada." 
Decoctions  and  infusions  are  still  liberally  represented.  Under 
the  general  heading  "  Decotti-Decocta,"  we  find  ten  additional 
formulas  and  under  the  general  heading  "  Infusi-Infusa  "  we  find 
no  less  than  eighteen  additional  formulas,  two  of  these  latter  prepa- 
rations are  compound  preparations,  one  practically  the  equivalent 
of  the  aqueous  tincture  of  rhubarb  of  the  N.  F.  while  the  other 
is  an  infusion  of  senna  with  manna. 
Under  "  Sterilizzazione  "  we  find  a  comprehensive  monograph 
on  sterilization,  including  directions  for  sterilizing  with  and  with- 
out an  autoclave  and  notes  directing  attention  to  some  of  the  pre- 
cautions that  are  necessary  to  prevent  decomposition  of  such  sub- 
stances as  cocaine,  morphine,  and  eserine. 
Maximum  single  and  daily  doses  are  appended  to  the  more 
potent  articles  and  the  preparations  containing  them  and  these 
doses  are  again  presented  in  the  form  of  a  table  in  the  Appendix 
to  the  pharmacopoeia. 
Among  the  remaining,  more  or  less  interesting,  tables  that  are 
appended  we  find  a  list  of  reagents  and  volumetric  solutions  and 
a  list  of  indispensable  chemical  apparatus,  a  list  of  medicaments 
that  must  be  in  stock,  and  also  a  list  of  the  pharmaceutical  apparatus 
that  must  be  in  each  pharmacy,  and  finally  the  protocol  of  the 
Brussels  Conference  for  the  unification  of  the  formulae  of  potent 
medicaments. 
The  index  is  rather  a  comprehensive  one  and  includes  thirty 
double  column,  closely  printed  pages. 
In  conclusion  it  may  be  said  that  the  Italian  Pharmacopoeia,  in 
common  with  practically  each  one  of  the  recently  published  phar- 
macopoeias of  the  Latin  European  countries,  is  a  curious  jumble  of 
the  old  and  the  new.  It  represents  a  survival  of  antiquated  and 
obsolete  drugs  and  preparations  with  modern  ideals  for  international 
standards  and  an  unusually  great  number  of  the  newer  remedies. 
Tt  recognizes  the  value  of  sterilization  and  is  the  only  national 
pharmacopoeia  to  recognize  and  describe  proprietary  mixtures. 
Taken  altogether,  however,  the  book  is  a  creditable  one  indeed  and 
reflects  erudition  and  ability  both  on  the  part  of  the  medical  prac- 
titioners and  the  pharmacists  for  whose  use  it  is  designed. 
