384 
Revieivs,  etc. 
/  Am.  Jour.  Phartu. 
\      July,  1882. 
REVIEWS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 
Heport  of  the  Initiatory  Proceedings  of  the  Louisiana  State  Pharmaceuti- 
cal Association  at  the  meetings  held  at  New  OrleaDs,  April  24,  25  and  26, 
1882.    New  Orleans.    8vo,  pp.  35. 
An  account  of  this  meeting  will  be  found  on  page  326  of  our  last  number. 
Compte  rendu  de  la  manifestation  du  corps  pharmaceutique  beige  en  Vhon- 
neur  de  Mr.  Norbert  Gille^  president  honoraire  de  V Association  generate 
pharmaceutique  de  Belgique^  etc.  Par  E.  Van  de  Vj^vere.  Anvers,  1882. 
8vo,  pp.  44. 
This  reprint  from  the  Antwerp  "  Journal  de  Pharmacie"  gives  a  full 
account  of  the  manifestation  of  the  Belgian  pharmacists,  including  the 
speeches,  in  honor  of  Prof.  Norbert  Gille.  This  distinguished  laborer  in 
the  interest  of  pharmacy  was,  at  the  University  of  Brussels,  presented  with 
his  portrait,  and  subsequently  a  banquet  was  given  in  his  honor. 
Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics.  Inorganic  Substances.  By  Chas.  D. 
F.  Phillips,  M.D.,  etc.  Edited  and  adapted  to  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia, 
by  Laurence  Johnson,  A.M.,  M.D.,  etc.  New  York  :  Wm.  Wood  &  Co., 
1882.    8vo.    Vol.  I,  pp.  298 ;  Vol.  II,  pp.  340. 
The  volumes  do  not  treat  solely  of  inorganic  substances  as  indicated 
upon  the  title  page,  but  also  of  certain  organic  compounds,  which  are  con- 
veniently considered  with  others  of  strictly  inorganic  nature.  Under 
the  compounds  of  iodine  iodoform  is  mentioned,  and  among  the  acids  we 
find  acetic,  citric  and  tartaric  acids,  their  salts  being  described  under  the 
respective  metals. 
The  first  volume  is  devoted  to  the  non-metallic  elements  and  their  com- 
pounds, including  the  alkaline  iodides  and  bromides,  and  concludes  with 
the  metals  aluminum  and  antimonium,  the  remaining  metals  and  their 
medicinal  compounds  being  considered  in  the  second  volume  in  aljohabeti- 
cal  order.  In  each  case  the  chemistry  is  briefly  given,  followed  by  a  more 
extended  account  of  the  medical  properties  under  the  headings  of  absorption 
and  elimination,  physiological  action,  including  toxic  properties  and  anti- 
dotes ;  therapeutical  action,  both  external  and  internal  preparations,  dose 
and  mode  of  administration.  In  this  part  the  medical  literature  appears  to 
have  been  thoroughly  consulted  and  well  used.  The  chemistry  is  necessarily 
brief,  giving  the  mere  outlines  of  preparation  and  the  most  important  charac- 
ters and  tests,  condensed  from  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  the  nomenclature 
of  which  is  used  throughout  the  work.  In  several  cases,  brevity  in  giving 
the  characters  is  at  the  expense  of  clearness ;  thus  it  is  stated  of  potassium 
nitrate  that  "at  a  red  heat  it  deflagrates,"  and  of  potassium  bichromate, 
that ' '  the  solution  readily  gives  up  part  of  its  oxygen  and  when  acidified 
with  sulphuric  acid,  turns  green  from  reduction  of  chromic  acid  and  forma- 
tion of  green  sulphate  of  chromium." 
The  Opium  Habit;  its  successful  treatment  by  the  Avena  sativa.    By  E. 
H.  M.  Sell,  A.M.,  M.D.    8vo,  pp.  8. 
A  reprint  from  the  "Medical  Gazette,"  describing  results  obtained  with 
the  concentrated  tincture  of  avena  sativa^  which  is  claimed  to  contain  the 
active  principle  of  oats ;  from  affidavits  appended  to  the  paper  we  learn  that 
the  so-called  active  principle  is  an  alcoholic  extract  of  oats,  one  ounce  of 
which  dissolved  in  ten  ounces  of  alcohol  produces  the  concentrated  tinc- 
ture. 
A  Contribution  to  the  Subject  of  Nerve-stretching.  By  Wm.  J.  Morton, 
M.D.  New  York.  8vo,  pp.  32.  Reprinted  from  the  "  Journal  of  Nervous 
and  Mental  Diseases,"  January,  1882. 
