94 
Reviews,  etc. 
<  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
1      Feb.,  1878. 
line  of  all  more  important  observations,  leaving  to  those  who  may  be  specially  inter- 
ested, to  procure  the  journals  or  works  containing  the  papers  in  extenso.  As  to  what 
constitutes  such  proper  "abstracts"  must  necessarily  be  decided  by  individual 
-views,  and  in  a  number  of  cases  the  British  and  American  reporters  differ  very  con- 
siderably in  the  extent  or  limitation  of  these  abstracts. 
The  papers  read  before  both  associations  are  quite  creditable,  though  a  difference 
is  here,  likewise,  noticeable.  While  our  British  brethren  are  treated  with  quite  an 
array  of  strictly  scientific  investigations,  the  papers  presented  to  the  American  Associa- 
tion are  preponderantly  of  a  practical  character,  though  such  of  a  more  heavy  calibre 
are  by  no  means  wanting. 
Of  the  two  associations,  the  British,  which  is  the  youngest,  is  the  more  pros- 
perous, having  enrolled  almost  double  the  number  of  members  than  its  older  sister. 
Moreover — and  we  are  pleased  to  put  it  on  record — the  Conference  has  had  on  hand 
at  the  close  of  its  financial  year,  June  30,  1877,  a  cash  balance  of  over  £65  besides 
an  investment  of  £400,  of  which  the  annual  interest  only  is  used.  In  addition 
thereto  there  is  a  separate  fund,  known  as  the  Bell  and  Hills  library  fund,  which 
was  started  in  1869  by  Mr.  Thos.  H.  Hills,  and  now  amounts  to  £200,  which  sum 
is  invested,  the  interest  being  used  for  presenting  to  the  pharmacists  of  the  cities  and 
towns  in  which  the  Conference  may  meet,  ten  guineas'"  worth  of  books,  as  an  addi- 
tion to  or  nucleus  for  the  formation  of  a  library  where  the  assistants  or  apprentices 
may  assemble  for  the  purposes  of  study  and  mutual  improvement.  The  total 
amount  invested  by  the  British  Conference  is  therefore  $3,000. 
The  financial  condition  of  the  American  Association  has  been  plainly  discussed  at 
the  last  meeting;  the  investments  amount  only  to  about  $575 — the  exact  figures  not 
being  given — and  to  an  additional  donation  of  $525  conditionally  made  at  Toronto. 
If  these  conditions  are  fulfilled,  that  js,  if  at  least  an  equal  sum  be  contributed  by  the 
next  meeting,  with  the  view  of  aiding  scientific  investigations,  the  investments  will  be 
swelled  to  about  $1,700,  or  perhaps  $2,000,  the  interest  on  nearly  all  of  which  will, 
however,  be  available  only  for  special  purposes,  and  not  for  the  general  expenses  of 
the  Association.  It  has  proved  to  be  a  wise  policy  to  establish  at  an  early  date  a 
reserve  fund,  which  has  enabled  the  Conference  to  again  devote  from  the  general 
fund  £60  for  the  purchase  of  material  to  be  used  for  scientific  research. 
The  financial  prosperity  of  the  Conference  is  in  the  main  due  to  the  large  num- 
ber of  promptly  paying  members.  There  is  room  for  improvement  with  us  5  hun- 
dreds, even  thousands  of  eligible  persons  remain  unconnected  with  the  "  Associa- 
tion,"" while  they  should  be  members,  not  only  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  its 
objects,  but,  likewise,  because  they  would  be  directly  benefitted  to  a  much  larger 
extent  than  the  amount  of  the  annual  dues.  The  "  Report  on  the  Progress  of  Phar- 
macy "  in  the  one  and  the  "  Year-Book  "  in  the  other  publication,  are  and  should 
be  familiar  desk  companions  of  the  pharmacist.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  Amer- 
ican Pharmaceutical  Association  may  in  a  short  time  not  merely  have  representa- 
tives in  all  the  States  of  North  America,  but  enrol  among  its  members  the  large 
majority  of  the  reputable  pharmacists,  whether  in  business  on  their  own  account, 
employed  by  another  or  retired  from  business. 
The  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  has  24  honorary  members,  all  except 
two  being  residents  of  Europe.  The  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference  has  17 
honorary  members,  of  whom  eight  reside  on  the  North  American  continent.  Mr. 
Carlos  Murray,  Buenos  Ayres,  included  in  the  list,  is,  we  presume,  Professor  Carlos 
Murray  who  died  there  in  July,  1874. 
The  Philadelphia  Druggist  and  Chemist,  devoted  to  Materia  Medica,  Pharmacy, 
Chemistry,  Therapeutics,  and  the  Collateral  Sciences.    C.  C.  Vanderbeck,  M.D., 
Ph.D.,  editor  and  proprietor.    8vo,  monthly.    Price,  $150  per  year. 
This  neatly  printed  journal,  the  first  number  of  which  is  before  us,  is  introduced 
by  the  editor  as  follows  : 
"In  these  days  there  seems  to  be  no  end  of  journal-making,  and  at  the  appear- 
