388 
EDITORIAL. 
plants  is  judiciously  drawn  up.  That  on  specific  gravity  is  an  improve- 
ment on  the  previous  edition. 
The  subject  of  weight  and  measures,  though  illustrated  in  the  appendix 
with  tables,  is  but  slightly  dwelt  upon  in  the  preliminary  chapter  -  and  in 
the  body  of  the  formulary,  the  author  is  full  of  inconsistencies  arising  from 
inattention  to  this  subject  in  giving  the  recipes  of  foreign  Pharmacopoeias. 
The  reader  in  this  department  will  be  struck  with  the  absence  of  the 
formulas  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.  Whether  the  author,  in  carefully 
avoiding  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory,  has  felt  disposed  to  ignore  the  Pharmaco- 
poeia also,  we  do  not  know,  but  he  has  undoubtedly  seriously  injured  his 
book  in  view  of  its  use  by  apothecaries  and  physicians,  by  substituting 
formula  from  heterogeneous  sources, where  other  systems  of  weights  and  mea- 
sures are  used.  We  can  only  attribute  this  course  to  the  inconvenience  of 
writing  a  commentary  on  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  without  resorting  to  the 
TJ.  S.  Dispensatory.  The  general  arrangement  of  the  classes  of  prepara- 
tions is  similar  to  that  in  the  latter  work.  The  processes  of  maceration 
and  percolation  are  both  directed  in  extraction,  and  C.  A.  Smith's  idea  of 
vapor  percolation  is  repeatedly  recommended  in  making  extracts.  Being 
unbound  by  any  authority  in  regard  to  formulse,  the  author  has  used  the 
utmost  license  in  selecting  and  naming  preparations. 
Among  the  Vinegars,  Acetum  Lobelise  and  Acetum  Sanguinarise  are 
found,  made  from  the  seed  and  root  respectively,  two  ounces  to  the  pint. 
Under  the  Ethers  :  The  Edinburgh  formula  for  sweet  spirit  of  nitre  is 
adopted  ;  sulphuric  ether  is  not  recommended  for  inhalation,  nor  is  any 
allusion  made  to  the  discovery  of  Anaesthesia  in  connection  with  it,  the 
preference  being  given  to  chloroform,  which  is  described  among  the  Materia 
Medica.  Under  the  head  "  Cataplasma,"  those  of  carrots,  lobelia,  cran- 
berries, and  poke  root  are  described,  the  latter  made  by  roasting  the  recent 
roots  in  hot  ashes  until  soft,  and  then  mashed  till  of  the  right  consistence.  De- 
coctions as  a  class  of  preparations  are  abandoned,  general  directions  for 
their  preparation  being  given.  The  class  Encmata  contains  several  pecu- 
liar to  the  Eclectics,  as  Enema  Cimicifugce  composita  Lobelice  comp.,  Xantliox- 
yli,  &c.  The  extracts  and  fluid  extracts  are  quite  numerous.  Preliminary 
directions  are  given  for  each  variety  of  extracts.  Under  watery  extracts  it 
is  advised  that  "  the  substance  be  not  too  finely  divided,  in  order  to  avoid 
the  extraction  of  inert  principles."  (!)  It  is  also  recommended  in  the 
general  directions  to  evaporate  aqueous  solutions  at  a  low  temperature,  and 
not  to  stir  them,  so  as  to  avoid  the  action  of  the  air  upon  them  ;  yet  extract 
of  taraxacum  is  directed  to  be  constantly  agitated  during  that  process! 
Want  of  care  in  expression  is  of  frequent  occurrence  :  for  instance,  under 
Exiractum  Aconiti  Alcoholicum,  the  author  says  extract  Aconite  leaves  or 
Aconite  roots  with  diluted  alcohol  and  evaporate,  &c,  and  then  "  this  is 
the  only  extract  of  Aconite  which  should  be  used  query  ?  that  of  the 
leaves  or  roots  ?  Again  the  formula  for  extract  of  colocynth  directs  three 
pounds  of  colocynth  deprived  of  the  seeds  tp  be  macerated  in  five  pints  of 
