388 
EDITORIAL. 
gators, the Library Committee now make the appeal to the members, and 
others who may feel interested, who have in possession works of the kind, 
that they do not particularly value, asking their donation to the College. 
The Committee in doing so believe that many valuable stores of volumes 
may be thus placed where they will prove useful, instead of mouldering 
away in garrets and closets almost unknown to their possessors. 
The Committee also hope before long that they will be able to commence 
a system of annual purchases of standard works bearing on pharmacy, 
which will give greater practical usefulness to this important though long 
neglected department of the institution. 
The Cabinet. — It has been but a few years since the attention of the 
Board of Trustees was directed to the importance of having a museum of 
specimens in Materia Medica, Chemistry, Botany, and Pharmacy, be- 
longing to the institution, as a fit depository for the donations which from 
time to time have been received, and as a collateral advantage to the School 
of Pharmacy. The Committee having charge of the subject have partially 
availed themselves of the opportunities that have presented for getting con- 
tributions. They hope that the many graduates of our College who are 
scattered over the country will remember to forward to them objects of in- 
terest, which will prove useful and interesting. 
The Herbarium of the College, though just being commenced, bids fair to 
be a valuable collection. 
Die Polytechnische Centralhalle is the title of a weekly scientific 
journal, published in Leipsic, a specimen number of which we have re- 
ceived from Fr. W. Christern, 232 Chestnut street. As its name indicates, 
it is designed for artisans and manufacturers, and its subscription price is 
very low. Dr. Kerndt, of the University of Leipsic, is the Editor. 
Among the contents of this number we notice — 
Note on natural soda. 
On the means of obtaining sugar from the sugar-cane and beet. 
On the solders for workers in metals. 
On a machine for grinding colors. 
On the preparation of flax. 
On paper from refuse cotton. 
On bleaching sponges. 
On welding cast and wrought iron, &c. 
Thomas's Mechanical Leech. — The agents for this instrument, Harris, 
Hale and Co., have sent us a box containing two of these simple little 
instruments. Although called a "leech," it is in fact a tubular cupping 
instrument, with the mouth from one fourth to three fourths of an inch in 
diameter. Over the opposite end of the tube a sack of India rubber is tied 
