28o 
Book  Reviews. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1907. 
The  structural  relations,  the  points  of  similarity,  and  the  succeeding 
points  of  difference  are  discussed  in  a  thorough  and  interesting 
manner.  The  second  chapter  treats  of  the  "  Outer  Morphology," 
or  gross  structure,  of  Angiosperms.  Commencing  with  the  root, 
the  plant  organs  are  studied  in  detail.  While  structural  botany  is 
the  main  subject,  so  much  of  plant  physiology  as  is  necessary  to 
show  the  development  of  organs,  is  introduced. 
Much  is  said  and  written  at  present  by  agriculturalists  relative 
to  nitrogen-fixing  bacteria.  An  interesting  paragraph,  with  illustra- 
tions, on  this  subject  is  found  in  the  section  on  roots. 
Chapter  III  is  devoted  to  plant  histology.  The  cell,  its  various 
forms,  cell  contents  and  cell  development,  are  all  exhaustively 
treated.  That  the  work  is  designed  specially  for  pharmacy  and 
medical  students,  is  evidenced  in  Chapter  IV.  This  takes  up  the 
classification  of  the  Angiosperms,  that  yield  vegetable  drugs  only ; 
stating  briefly  the  characteristics  of  each  order,  family  and  species. 
Part  I  ends  with  a  short  chapter  on  the  cultivation  and  propaga- 
tion of  medicinal  plants,  with  a  list  of  those  growing  wild,  of  those 
cultivated  in  this  country,  and  of  foreign  plants  that  might  be  cul- 
tivated here.  The  summary  ot  these  lists  will  surprise  many,  in 
showing  that  about  three-fourths  of  all  medicinal  plants  grow  wild, 
or  by  cultivation  in  this  country.  Attention  is  called  to  the  necessity 
for  the  cultivation  of  our  wild  medicinal  plants.  Most  pharmacists 
are  aware  of  the  constant  advance  in  price  of  such  drugs  as  hydras- 
tis,  for  instance,  due  wholly  to  the  fact  that  the  natural  supply  is 
fast  becoming  exhausted.  This  appeal  for  cultivation  is  most  timely. 
Part  II  is  pharmacognosy,  pure  and  simple.  In  the  first  chapter, 
seeds,  roots,  leaves,  etc.,  are  studied  in  groups.  The  descriptive 
matter  is  very  complete,  but  concise  as  well.  Lists  are  given  of  all 
constituents,  so  far  as  known.  Methods  of  collection  and  prepara- 
tion are  given,  as  are  the  common  adulterants  and  sophistications. 
Profuse  illustrations  are  found  here,  consisting  of  photographs  of 
whole  drugs  and  drug  plants,  and  of  microscopic  sections.  These 
are  unexcelled. 
The  second  chapter,  on  powdered  drugs  and  foods,  is  very  inter- 
esting and  instructive.  Few,  if  any,  in  this  country  have  given 
more  time  to  this  subject  than  has  Professor  Kraemer.  An  elaborate 
and  carefully  prepared  classification  of  powdered  drugs  and  foods  is 
here  presented,  and  a  systematic  study  of  these  is  made  possible  for 
the  student.  The  knowledge  to  be  gained  from  this  chapter  enables 
