39Q 
Book  Reviews. 
f  A.m.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I      August,  1907. 
Chemistry  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  says  in 
part  in  the  preface:  "This  manual  is  descriptive  in  character  and 
aims  to  give,  within  its  scope,  as  thoroughly  and  intelligibly  as  pos- 
sible, an  account  of  the  various  food-products  in  common  use  in 
their  natural  and  manufactured  conditions,  with  the  usual  adultera- 
tions which  have  been  found  therein.  It  includes  information 
regarding  Methods  of  Preparation  and  Manufacture,  Food  Values, 
Standards  of  Purity,  Regulations  for  Inspection,  Simple  Tests  for 
Adulterations,  Effects  of  Storage,  and  similar  matters  pertaining  to 
the  subject.  It  has  been  designed  to  interest  the  consumer,  as  well 
as  the  manufacturer,  the  scientific  as  well  as  the  general  reader,  all 
of  whom  it  is  hoped  will  find  in  it  something  useful.  The  consumer 
is  entitled  to  know  the  nature  of  the  product  offered,  the  manufact- 
urer and  dealer  the  best  methods  of  preparation.  It  will  give  the 
physician  and  sanitarian  knowledge  of  the  value  of  foods,  their 
proper  use  and  inspection,  and,  while  not  analytical  in  purpose,  will 
provide  the  chemist  with  information  which  will  guide  him  in  his 
work  of  detecting  impurities." 
Dr.  Wiley  has  rendered  a  service  to  consumers,  manufacturers  and 
sanitarians  alike  in  bringing  together  in  this  volume  so  much  of  the 
information  which  is  more  or  less  scattered  that  relates  to  foods  and 
their  adulterations.  It  is  not  only  more  or  less  valuable  to  the 
scientist,  but  the  general  reader  in  particular  will  find  the  book  one 
which  is  easily  understood  and  of  considerable  value.  Pharmacists 
would  do  well  to  have  a  book  of  this  kind  in  their  reference  libraries 
Studies  in  Plant  and  Organic  Chemistry,  and  Literary 
Papers.  By  Helen  Abbott  Michael  (Helen  C.  De  S.  Abbott),  with 
biographical  sketch.    The  Riverside  Press,  Cambridge,  Mass.,  1907. 
As  a  girl  and  young  woman,  Helen  C.  De  Silver  Abbott  belonged 
to  Philadelphia,  but  as  she  advanced  intellectually  and  as  her  vision 
broadened,  it  was  but  natural,  one  almost  feels  inclined  to  say,  that 
even  though  she  had  not  married  Professor  Michael,  she  should 
finally  take  up  her  residence  in  Boston,  for  whatever  else  we  may 
say  of  the  "  Hub,"  it  is  acknowledged  that  it  has  a  mental  atmos- 
phere peculiarly  its  own. 
She  died  in  that  city  the  latter  part  of  1904,  and  shortly  after- 
ward a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  her,  together  with  a  list  of  her 
scientific  and  literary  papers,  was  published  in  this  Journal  (Vol.  77, 
