Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
September,  1902.  j 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
439 
Solution  Oleo-Stearate  of  Potash. 
solution  NO.  I. 
Potassium  hydrate 
Alcohol  95  per  cent. 
Mix  and  dissolve  to  a  clear  solution. 
grs.  lxxx 
SOLUTION  NO.  II. 
Acid,  stearic  (fine  shavings) 
Acid,  oleic 
Alcohol  95  per  cent. 
I  To  be  continued.'] 
PROGRESS  IN  PHARMACY. 
A  QUARTERLY  REVIEW  OF  SOME  OF  THE  MORE  INTERESTING  ADVANCES 
The  most  interesting  book,  from  a  pharmaceutical  point  of  view, 
that  has  been  published  recently  is  the  "  Universal  Pharmakopbe," 
by  Dr.  Bruno  Hirsh.  The  first  volume  of  this  work  was  noticed  in 
a  previous  number  of  this  Journal  (p.  87,  1902),  the  second  has 
just  been  issued,  and  with  it  a  valediction  of  the  veteran  compiler, 
who  considers  this,  the  second  edition  of  this  monumental  work,  a 
fitting  close  to  a  long  life  spent  in  the  interests  of  pharmacy  and  its 
allied  branches.  Some  idea  as  to  the  amount  of  material  that  has 
been  gathered  together  within  the  covers  of  these  two  volumes  may 
be  had  when  we  realize  that  of  the  1,062  closely  printed  pages,  no 
less  than  47  are  taken  up  by  the  index,  printed  three  columns  to  a 
page. 
The  advent  of  this  work,  at  this  time,  should  be  of  particular 
interest  and  value  to  all  who  are  in  any  way  interested  in  the  com- 
ing revision  of  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia.  This  work  is  not 
alone  full  of  information  as  to  the  difference  in  strength  of  the  vari- 
ous drugs  and  preparations,  but  is  also  full  of  suggestions  for  gen- 
eralizing and  equalizing  these  differences,  so  that,  if  properly  used, 
it  would  prove  a  mine  of  useful  information. 
Another  interesting  contribution  that  should  be  of  particular 
value  to  the  members  of  the  Pharmacopoeial  Revision  Committee, 
is  a  review  on  "  the  application  of  microscopical  characteristics  of 
vegetable  drugs  in  the  Swedish  Pharmacopoeia,"  by  A.  von  Vogl 
(Phar.  Post,  Vienna,  1902,  p.  219).    After  reviewing  the  advances 
IN  PHARMACY  AND  MATERIA  MEDICA. 
BY  M.  I.  Wtlbert. 
Apothecary  at  the  German  Hospital,  Philadelphia. 
