110  Reviews  and  Bibliographical  Notices.  {Am'#e"'imarH0' 
preparation  of  aromatic  waters  from  an  alcoholic  solution  of  the  oil  as  jus- 
tifiable if  intended  for  immediate  use,  but  not  for  large  quantities  (p.  33)  to 
be  kept  in  stock,  because  they  soon  turn  acid.  The  powdering  of  quinine 
sulphate  (p.  41)  is  of  questionable  utility,  because  it  destroys  the  physical 
character  of  the  salt,  and  renders  it  still  more  prone  to  loss  of  water  of 
hydration.  Silver  nitrate  dissolved  in  pure  distilled  water  and  kept  out  of 
contact  with  organic  matter  remains  unchanged  in  the  sunlight,  and  neither 
amber-tinted  nor  blue-glass  bottles  are  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the 
solution.  In  the  putting  up  of  prescriptions  doubtless  many  a  dispenser 
would  differ  in  the  use  of  excipients,  the  order  of  admixture,  etc. ;  but  it 
must  be  remembered  that  there  are  usually  more  ways  than  one  for  accom- 
plishing a  given  object. 
The  appendix  contains  a  number  of  examination  prescriptions,  repro- 
duced for  practice  by  students,  because  they  generally  present  special  diffi- 
culties. Next  follows  a  list  of  terms  likely  to  occur  in  French  and  German 
prescriptions,  and  a  list  of  abbreviations  used  in  prescriptions,  both  being 
pretty  complete.  A.  full  index  of  14  pages  in  double  columns  facilitates  refer- 
ence to  the  different  subjects. 
The  external  appearance  of  the  book  in  regard  to  paper,  proof  reading  and 
printing  is  in  keeping  with  its  contents — commendable. 
Handbuch  der  praktischen  Pharmacie  fiir  Apotheker,  Drogisten,  JErzte  und  Medi- 
cinal-Beamte.  Bearbeitet  von  Prof.  Dr.  H.  Beckurts  und  Dr.  Bruno 
Hirsch.    Zweiter  Band.  Stuttgart :  Ferdinand  Enke. 
Handbook  of  practical  pharmacy  for  apothecaries,  druggists,  physicians 
and  medical  officers. 
In  notices  of  the  first  volume  of  this  work,  contained  in  preceding  vol- 
umes of  The  Journal,  we  have  explained  its  scope,  arrangement  and  gen- 
eral character.  The  two  fascicles  before  us  bring  the  second  volume  to 
page  192,  commencing  with  No.  681  Faba  Calabarica,  and  containing  in  al- 
phabetical order  nearly  three  hundred  and  fifty  articles,  the  last  one  being 
No.  1028  Liquor  Aluminii  acetici.  The  same  care  and  accuracy,  noticed  in 
the  preceding  volume,  characterize  also  the  text  of  the  present  numbers. 
Pictorial  History  of  Ancient  Pharmacy,  with  sketches  of  early  medical  prac- 
tice. By  Hermann  Peters.  Translated  from  the  German,  and  revised  with 
numerous  additions  by  Dr.  Wm.  Netter.  Chicago  :  G.  P.  Engelhard  &Co., 
1889.  8  vo.  Pp.  184.    Price  $2. 
Mr.  Peters'  work  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention  in  Europe  as  a  most 
valuable  contribution  to  the  history  of  pharmacy ;  being  written  in  the  Ger- 
man language  it  was  inaccessible  to  those  not  conversant  with  that  tongue. 
We  are  glad,  therefore,  that  through  Dr.  Netter's  translation  it  has  been 
rendered  in  English,  retaining,  as  much  as  is  possible  in  a  translation,  all 
the  attractive  quaintness  of  the  original,  and  reproducing  in  a  commend- 
able manner  its  illustrations.  But  in  order  to  render  it  more  inviting  in 
its  new  home  the  translator  has  amplified  the  text  by  the  addition  of  many 
features  of  interest,  without  materially  altering  the  style  and  arrangement. 
In  this  garb  it  will  doubtless  be  consulted  with  great  interest  by  pharmacists 
