EDITORIAL. 
93 
mcnt  at  the  astounding  fact  that  Morse  had  literally  annihilated  distance 
by  the  powers  of  this  invention.  Its  novelty  has  now  worn  away:  and  we 
talk  of  the  news  by  telegraph  as  we  were  wont  to  do  of  the  postal  mail ; 
but  in  proportion  as  we  become  familiarised  with  the  results  do  their  impor- 
tance become  essential  with  our  daily  wants.  Dr.  TurnbulPs  book  explains 
the  mysterious  powers  of  this  great  wonder  and  servant,  and  any  of  us 
can  now  look  into  its  construction.  The  book  is  "gotten  up/'  in  a  manner 
very  creditable  to  the  publisher. 
Pereira's  Materia  Medica. — It  is  with  pleasure  we  announce  that  the 
second  and  last  volume  of  this  important  work  is  about  to  issue  from  the 
press  of  Messrs.  Blanchard  &  Lea.  It  will  be  ready  about  the  1st  of  Jan, 
The  additions  by  the  author  embrace  nearly  500  pages,  and  as  Dr.  Pereira 
revised  the  greater  part  of  the  sheets  of  the  last  English  Edition  before  his 
death,  for  the  American  Publishers,  and  as  they  have  also  been  brought 
out  under  the  able  superintendence  of  Prof.  Carson,  we  are  justified  in 
stating  that  the  American  Edition  of  the  work  will  be  the  best  extant. 
From  a  hasty  examination  of  the  sheets  we  believe  that  great  pains  and 
expense  have  been  bestowed  by  the  Publishers  to  bring  out  the  volume  in 
the  best  manner.  Every  apothecary  and  druggist  should  possess  the  work, 
not  only  as  an  encyclopedia  of  Materia  Medica  for  reference  in  their  own 
business  operations,  but  for  the  benefit  of  their  assistants  and  apprentices. 
Ellis's  Medical  Formulary. — We  have  received  a  copy  of  the  New  Edi- 
tion of  this  popular  work  brought  out  under  the  editorial  supervision  of 
Prof.  Robert  P.  Thomas,  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  but  too 
late  for  notice  in  this  number. 
Obituary. — Leopold  Gmelin. — In  the  last  number  we  announced  the 
death  of  this  eminent  chemist.  His  family  has  labored  during  four  gene- 
rations for  chemistry.  Leopold  Gmelin  was  born  at  Gottingen  on  the  2d 
of  August,  1788.  In  1804  he  attended  the  Lyceum  at  Gottingen,  and  also 
his  father's  lectures  on  mineralogy.  He  graduated  in  medicine  about 
1811.  He  afterwards  visited  Italy,  Switzerland  and  Paris.  In  1813  he 
was  elected  Professor  of  Chemistry  at  Heidelberg,  and  continued  in  that 
position  for  near  forty  years.  In  1850  his  infirm  health  caused  him  to  re- 
sign hi>3  academical  duties,  though  he  continued  his  literary  labors,  yet  in 
1852  he  gradually  succumbed  to  a  tedious  disease  of  the  brain,  which  un- 
dermined his  mental  powers,  and  after  a  severe  illness  he  died  on  the  13th 
of  April,  1853. 
Gmelin  is  described  to  have  been  distinguished  for  his  fine  physical 
frame.  "On  his  firm,  powerful  body  arose  the  characteristically  beautiful 
head;  of  noble  expression,  which  was  adorned  with  an  abundance  of  snow 
white  hair,  an  ideal  bust  for  the  sculptor."  His  manners  were  unassuming, 
his  countenance  firm,  earnest  and  bright,  and  his  language  marked  with 
