EDITORIAL. 
93 
la  extreme  cases,  a  solution  of  tartar  emetic  might  be  injected  into  the  veins, 
which  would  be  a  very  probable  means  of  obtaining  the  desired  result. 
If  prussic  acid  only  were  given,  and  it  were  successful  in  preventing  the 
spasms,  its  action  would  be  temporary,  and  should  not  be  trusted  to  alone. 
It  might  possibly  have  the  power,  by  continual  exhibition  in  small  doses,  of 
only  allowing  a  small  amount  to  be  absorbed  at  a  time.  If  it  were  only 
given  after  the  poisonous  effects  became  well  marked,  it  would,  in  all  pro- 
bability, relieve  the  intense  pain  which  is  endured,  and  thus  smooth  the 
path  to  the  grave.  It  could  not  act  chemically,  because  the  hydrocyanate 
is  fully  as  powerful  a  poison  as  the  pure  alkaloid. 
Selections  from  Favorite  Prescriptions  of  living  American  Practitioners.  By 
Horace  Green,  M.  ;D.  LL.D.,  &c.  New  York  :  Wiley  &  Halsted,  351 
Broadway,  1858.  pp.  206,  octavo. 
At  first  glance,  one  would  suppose  from  the  title  of  this  book,  that  Dr. 
Green,  having  had  access  to  a  number  of  prescription  files  of  Apothecaries, 
had  concluded  to  make  a  selection  from  them  for  the  benefit  of  the  physi- 
cian. Such,  however,  is  not  the  origin  of  the  book.  The  author  has  for 
years  past  made  it  a  custom  to  record  the  " favorite  prescriptions"  of  his 
numerous  medical  friends  and  ^visitors  communicated  to  him  at  his  own  re- 
quest, these  physicians  representing  all  portions  of  the  Union.  Out  of  two 
large  MSS.  volumes  thus  gathered,  he  has  collected  the  work  now  before 
us.  The  formulae  are  arranged  in  a  therapeutic  order,  beginning  with  Nar- 
cotics and  Sedatives,  Tonics  and  Stimulants,  Excitants  and  Alteratives,  Ca- 
thartics and  Laxatives,  Emetics  and  Expectorants,  Astringents,  &c.  As  it  is 
beyond  our  province  to  judge  of  the  therapeutical  merits  of  these  recipes, 
we  will  confine  our  observations  to  a  brief  notice  of  some  of  their  pharma- 
ceutical features. 
In  glancing  over  the  formulae,  we  observe  that  the  author  is  not  a  strict 
nomenclaturist  as  regards  our  own  or  any  other  Pharmacopoeia.  For  in- 
stance, Hydrocyanic  acid  is  prescribed  with  the  affix  " Medicinalis,"  in- 
stead of  "  Dilutum."  The  London  expression  l<  Quinise  Disulphatis  v  is 
generally  employed.  The  Genitive  of  Camphora  is  called  "Camphori^7 
Zingiberis,  11  Zinziberis,"  &c.  Among  the  novelties,  Fusel  Oil  is  recom- 
mended as  a  medicine  in  tuberculous  cases  as  a  substitute  for  cod  liver  oil, 
with  the  effect  of  fattening  the  patient ;  dose  from  half  to  a  drop  for  a  child 
six  months  old,  and  five  to  ten  drops  for  an  adult.  An  acetic  solution  of 
strychnia  is  recommended  as  an  officinal  preparation  of  the  strength  one 
grain  to  the  fluid  ounce  with  five  drops  of  acetic  acid  to  the  grain.  The 
menstruum  is  water  containing  one-twelfth  alcohol.  Dose  ten  to  thirty 
drops  for  an  adult.  A  mixture  of  one  part  of  calomel  with  eleven  parts  of 
sugar  intimately  mixed  by  trituration  for  fifteen  minutes,  is  considered  much 
increased  in  power  by  the  commination,  &c. 
The  formulae  are,  in  many  instances,  followed  by  therapeutical  comments, 
which  add  much  to  their  value  and  interest.  The  book  is  neatly  printed  on 
good  paper,  and  will  doubtless  be  valued  by  that  numerous  class  of  medical 
