EDITORIAL. 
543 
contents.  Elaterium  and  Podophyllum,  which  appear  to  have  been  over- 
looked in  the  first  edition,  are  noticed  in  this,  and  also  several  new  medi- 
cines, as  cotton  root,  oxalate  of  cerium,  zatze,  saoria,  ol.  cadinum,  etc.  The 
position  of  some  others  is  changed  ;  Kamela  is  retained  under  that  name, 
whilst  in  the  new  edition  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  it  is  called  Rottlera,  from 
the  generic  name  of  the  plant  yielding  it.  Lobelina,  at  page  280,  vol. 
II.,  is  described  as  "  a  clear  volatile  liquid."  Our  own  experience  with 
that  alkaloid  suggests  its  nonvolatility,  being  susceptible  of  ready  de- 
struction by  an  attempt  to  volatilize  it.  At  page  170,  second  line  from  the 
bottom,  vol.  I.,  the  word  sulphuric  should  read  sulphurous.  Some  singular 
errors  have  crept  into  the  pharmaceutical  articles.  For  instance — at  vol. 
II.,  page  593,  the  fluid  extract  of  dandelion  is  said  to  be  made  by  ex- 
hausting sixteen  troy  ounces  of  dandelion  by  alcohol,  and  the  tincture 
reduced  to  half  a  pint  by  evaporation  !  This  would  produce  a  very  dif- 
ferent preparation  from  that  of  the  U.  S.  P.  Fluid  extract  of  buchu  is 
said  to  be  made  with  diluted  alcohol,  when  only  strong  alcohol  is  directed. 
In  several  instances  it  is  observed  that  recent  discoveries  are  not  noticed, 
which  may,  in  part,  be  due  to  the  author  not  having  met  with  a  notice  of 
them  in  time  for  his  revision.  The  alkaloids  ecbolina  and  ergotina,  dis- 
covered by  Wm.  T.  Wenzell,  and  published  originally  in  the  American 
Journal  of  Pharmacy,  in  May  last,  and  noticed  in  Hay's  Journal  for  July, 
are  not  noticed,  nor  is  any  reference  had  to  propylamina  as  a  constituent. 
These  instances  are  sufficient  to  show  that  a  little  more  care  in  the  pharma- 
cological portion  of  the  work  would  benefit  it  in  the  next  revision,  whilst 
there  is  so  much  that  is  unexceptionable  that,  unless  looked  for  especially, 
these  imperfections  may  be  passed  over  unobserved.  We  believe  it  to 
be  worth  the  labor  it  will  require  if  the  third  edition,  when  it  is  called  for, 
is  rendered  more  full  in  regard  to  the  proximate  chemical  composition  of 
drugs,  and  the  characters  of  the  proximate  principles  which  give  them 
activity.  It  may  be  done  without  materially  increasing  the  size  of  the 
book,  and  would  certainly  enhance  its  value.  With  these  few  remarks,  all 
that  the  short  period  allowed  for  this  notice  will  permit,  we  again  recur 
to  the  great  value  of  the  work  to  the  practitioner  and  student,  as  a  store 
of  sound  medical  information.  The  volumes  are  bound  in  muslin,  for 
which  the  publishers  apologize,  but  they  have  given  increased  care  in 
having  it  well  done. 
Transactions  of  the  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  at  the 
fifteenth  annual  session,  held  in  Philadelphia,  June,  1864.    Third  series, 
part  III.,  published  by  the  Society.    Philadelphia,  1864,  pp.  227. 
The  meeting  from  which  this  volume  issued  met  in  Philadelphia,  in  the 
new  hall  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  in  June  last,  under  the  presidency 
of  Dr.  Wilson  Jewell,  of  Philadelphia,  whose  opening  address  occupies 
the  first  portion  of  the  volume,  after  the  minutes.  Dr.  Jewell's  theme 
refers  chiefly  to  the  early  medical  institutions  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
