AmNovf;i889arm'}    Reviews  and  Bibliographical  Notices.  589 
Le  Systlme  Nerveux  des  Crustaces  Decapodes,  et  ses  rapports  avec  l'appareil  circu- 
latoire.    Par  E,  L.  Bouvier.   Paris:  G.  Masson.  1889.  Pp.  38. 
The  nervous  system  of  the  crustaceans  decapods,  and  its  relations  to  the  cir- 
culatory apparatus. 
A  thesis  for  obtaining  the  degree  of  "  Pharmacien  of  the  first  class." 
Recherches  sur  V 'Ergot  du  Seigle.    Par  E.  F.  Belzung.   Paris  :  Felix  Alcan.  1889. 
Pp.  30. 
Eesearches  on  ergot  of  rye. 
La  Chlorophylle  et  ses  Fonctions.    Par  E.  F.  Belzung.    Paris  :  F.  Pichon.  1889. 
Pp.  106. 
Chlorophyll  and  its  functions. 
Two  theses  by  the  same  author;  one  for  obtaining  the  degree  of  Pharmacien 
of  the  first  class,  the  other  presented  for  the  concours  dJ  agr'egation  in  the  Paris 
School  of  Pharmacy.  The  former  gives  a  minute  description -of  the  develop- 
ment of  ergot,  and  shows  that  during  the  growth  of  the  mycelium  simple 
starch  grains  are  contained  in  the  interstices  of  the  mycelium  filaments.  This 
starch  gradually  disappears  and  is  entirely  absent  from  the  sclerotium ;  but 
during  the  final  stage  of  development  the  digestion  of  the  reserve  material  is 
accompanied  by  the  formation  of  transitory  starch,  usually  appearing  as  small 
compound  grains  in  the  interior  of  the  growing  cells,  and  always  free  from 
chlorophyll. 
The  essay  on  chlorophyll  is  a  very  creditable  digest  of  the  results  of  the  nu- 
merous researches  on'the  nature  and  functions  of  chlorophyll.  From  the  list  of 
books  and  essays  consulted  by  the  author,  119  in  number,  it  appears  that  the 
modern  literature  on  this  subject  has  been  well  searched,  and  that  the  most 
important  old  works  have  not  been  neglected. 
Report  of  Willis  G.  Tucker,  M.D.,  Ph.  D.    Analyst  of  Drugs.    Pp.  30.    A  report 
made  to  the  New  York  State  Board  of  Health. 
Of  the  505  samples  of  21  pharmacopceial  articles  examined  according  to  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  131  were  of  inferior  quality,  59  not  as  called  for,  and  6  of  ex- 
cessive strength  (dilute  acids).  On  examining  into  the  particulars,  it  is  curious 
to  observe  how  certain  customs  are  perpetuated  in  some  localities;  thus,  of  the 
forty  samples  of  saffron  purchased  (17  of  which  came  from  Buffalo  stores)  all 
were  spurious  and  consisted  of  safflower;  and  of  the  42  samples  of  precipitated 
sulphur,  4  were  merely  sublimed  sulphur,  and  16  contained  much  calcium  sul- 
phate. We  know  of  localities  where  the  public  will  not  accept  crocus  when 
calling  for  saffron,  and  others  where  as  precipitated  sulphur  the  old-fashioned 
milk  of  sulphur  is  wanted,  because  it  mixes  readily  with  water.  It  will  take  a 
long  time  for  the  pharmacists  to  educate  the  public  in  every  locality  to  aban- 
doning old  customs.  This  appears  likewise  to  apply  to  compound  spirit  of  ether, 
of  which  53  samples  were  examined.  Aside  from  three,  consisting  of  spirit  of 
nitrous  ether,  37  were  reported  as  being  of  inferior  quality,  probably  the  old- 
fashioned  Hoffman's  anodyne.  The  principal  inferior  articles,  aside  from'  the 
above,  were  dilute  acetic  acid  (10  out  of  15),  and  stronger  ether  (30  out  of  72), 
on  account  of  deficiency  of  specific  gravity ;  syrup  of  ferrous  iodide  (7  out  of 
