590  Reviews  and  Bibliographical  Notices.  {Amx™T;El£Tm' 
centage  of  an  amorphous  alkaloid  devoid  of  anaesthetic  or  mydriatic  prop- 
erties. 
In  addition  to  this  it  should  1^  mentioned  that  a  small  quantity  of  the 
leaves  have  also  been  experimented  with  by  Dr.  B.  H.  Paul  and  A.  J.  Cownley, 
who  report  in  the  Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  October  15,  that  they  did  not  suc- 
ceed in  isolating  from  them  any  alkaloid,  or  obtaining  from  them  a  prin- 
ciple producing  a  numbing  sensation  like  that  caused  by  cocaine;  and  they 
come  to  the  conclusion  that,  most  probably,  stenocarpine  is  a  myth. 
In  the  light  of  these  facts  it  seems  more  than  probable  that  the  stenocar- 
pine sensation  should  be  classed  with  the  hopeine  fraud  of  malodorous 
memory,  and  that  the  physicians  who  have  already  published  reports  re- 
garding gleditschine  or  stenocarpine  have  been  the  victims  of  a  thinly  dis- 
guised hoax. 
The  Mutual  Relations  of  Physician  and  Pharmacist  is  the  subject,  for  the  best 
essay  on  which  the  Pharmaceutical  Era,  Detroit,  offers  a  prize  of  $50  in  gold. 
The  essay  must  not  exceed  2000  words  in  length,  and  must  reach  the  pub- 
lishers on  or  before  January  1st.  next,  the  author's  name  to  be  enclosed  with 
the  manuscript  on  separate  paper.  All  essays  submitted  are  to  be  the 
property  of  the  journal  named,  and  to  be  published  or  not  at  the  discretion 
of  the  editor.  The  essays  will  be  submitted,  anonymously,  for  the  awarding 
of  the  prize,  to  a  committee  of  five  physicians  and  pharmacists.  Anyone 
interested  in  the  subject  may  compete  for  the  prize. 
Ihe  Pharmaceutical  Examining  Board  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  announce 
that  the  ninety  days  allowed  by  the  new  pharmacy  law  for  registration  without 
examination,  expire  on  November  18th,  and  that  the  Board  has  no  power 
to  extend  the  time.  The  secretary  of  the  Board  is  H.  B.  Cochran,  Lancas- 
ter, Pa. 
EEVIEWS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 
A  Manual  of  Materia  Medica,  being  a  Guide  to  Materia  Medica  of  the  Vege- 
table and  Animal  Kingdoms;  for  the  use  of  Students,  Druggists,  Pharma- 
cists and  Physicians.  By  John  M  Maisch,  Phar.  D.  etc.  Third  edition, 
with  257  illustrations.  Philadelphia:  Lea  Brothers  &  Co.,  1887.  12mo. 
Pp.  532. 
For  somewhat  detailed  reviews  of  the  two  preceding  editions  we  refer  our 
readers  to  the  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1882,  p.  89,  and  1885,  p.  55;  and  in 
announcing  the  appearance  of  the  third  edition,  merely  quote  from  the  pre- 
face the  following  which,  in  a  measure,  will  show  in  what  respects  it  differs 
from  the  previous  ones:  "The  general  arrangement,  having  proved  its  con- 
venience and  usefulness,  has  been  left  undisturbed ;  but  the  text  has  been 
carefully  scrutinized,  and  wherever  it  seemed  necessary  or  desirable,  has 
been  rendered  more  precise  in  the  description  of  the  physical  and  structu- 
ral characteristics.  New  investigations,  as  far  as  they  fall  within  the  scope 
of  the  work,  have  been  noted  with  more  or  less  minute  detail  as  their 
importance  seemed  to  require,  and  fifteen  new  illustrations  have  been  added. 
The  number  of  indigenous  plants  which  are  locally  employed  for  medicinal 
