282  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.    {Am ju°ne'i907arm 
Considerable  matter  contained  in  the  preceding  editions,  which 
added  to  the  bulk  of  the  book  without  materially  enhancing  its 
value,  has  been  eliminated,  such  as  the  descriptions  of  genera  and 
the  extended  statements  regarding  the  therapeutic  action  of  drugs. 
A  large  amount  of  new  matter  covering  a  wide  range  of  subjects 
has  been  added,  and  the  book  may  be  said  to  be  more  indispensable 
than  ever  as  a  reference  work.  It  is  not  only  the  oldest  and  latest 
commentary  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  but  it  is  laden  with  the  freshness 
of  a  new  book. 
While  the  book  has  been  for  the  most  part  brought  up  to  date, 
there  are  some  advances  that  have  been  overlooked,  as  in  the  case 
of  Spigelia,  where  the  references  unfortunately  stop  with  the  work 
of  Greenish  published  some  years  ago. 
Works  of  this  kind,  like  encyclopedias,  are  necessary  not  only  in 
the  library  of  the  physician  but  in  the  laboratory  of  the  pharmacist. 
They  supplement  the  Pharmacopoeia  and  the  various  text -books, 
and,  with  the  increasing  literature,  serve  more  useful  purpose  than 
ever. 
THE  PHILADELPHIA  BRANCH  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 
The  regular  stated  meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  Branch  of  the 
American  Pharmaceutical  Association  was  held  on  the  evening  of 
Tuesday,  May  7,  1907,  and  was  devoted  to  a  discussion  of  the  pro. 
posed  reorganization  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association. 
Dr.  Albert  M.  Eaton  presented  a  communication  on  "  The  Local 
Society  as  the  unit  ot  the  American  Medical  Association."  Dr. 
Eaton  briefly  reviewed  the  history  of  the  medical  organizations 
of  the  United  States  and  described  the  conditions  that  led  up  to  the 
organization  of  the  American  Medical  Association.  He  exhibited 
copies  of  the  Journals  and  of  the  "  Roster  "  received  by  each  local 
member  of  the  Association  and  called  attention  to  the  advantages 
of  co-operation  in  the  scientific  work  of  the  local  societies.  He 
called  attention  to  the  really  excellent  work  that  is  being  done  by 
the  Council  on  Pharmacy  and  Chemistry  of  the  American  Medical 
Association,  and  in  conclusion  expressed  the  hope  that  the  cordial 
relations  now  existing  between  the  profession  of  medicine  and  'of 
pharmacy  would  be  further  developed  and  that  the  near  future  would 
witness  an  active  co-operation  on  the  part  of  members  of  the  two 
