Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
Feb.,  1878.  J 
Reviews,  etc. 
95 
ance  of  each  new  one  the  question  is  asked,  For  what  good  or  purpose?  With  this 
issue  we  present  to  our  readers  and  friends  our  *  new-born.'  Is  there  a  niche  for 
us  to  fill  r  We  feel  assured  there  is;  otherwise  the  issuing  of  the 'Druggist  and 
Chemist1  would  never  have  advanced  beyond  the  mere  conception.  The  number 
of  pharmaceutical  journals  in  the  United  States  are  comparatively  few;  in  Philadel- 
phia but  one.  Our  field  is  of  such  a  character,  and  so  different  from  that  of  the 
*  Journal  of  Pharmacy,'  that  we  can  safely  say  that  we  occupy  an  unclaimed  posi- 
tion in  this  city." 
The  number  contains  brief  original  articles  on  resin  of  podophyllum,  manufac- 
ture of  pepsin,  syrup  of  ipecac,  excipients,  and  on  eye  diseases  of  the  poor;  also 
translations,  editorials,  abstracts,  etc.,  covering  altogether  19  pages,  and  followed  by 
a  full  price  current.  The  latter,  together  with  such  business  as  concerns  the  prac- 
tical druggist,  is  in  charge  of  Mr  Evan  T.  Ellis. 
We  wish  this  new  claimant  for  support  a  long  career  of  usefulness  and  prosperity. 
A  Guide  to  Chemical  Testing;  designed  for  Medical  and  General  Use,  and  expressly 
arranged  for  Practical  Study  in  Schools  and  Colleges.  By  J  B.  Hough,  M.D., 
Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Toxicology  in  the  Miami  Medical  College  of  Cin- 
cinnati, etc.  Cincinnati:  Printed  by  the  Cincinnati  "Lancet"  Press,  1877.  8vo, 
pp.  102 
The  preface  tells  us  that  "this  little  manual  was  prepared  expressly  to  meet  the 
wants  of  those  who  have  but  little  time  to  give  to  practical  chemistry";  and  that  "it 
is  not  designed  as  a  reading  or  reference  book,  nor  as  a  substitute  for  any  of  the 
excellent  large  works  upon  the  same  subjects,  but  as  a  table  manual  or  guide  to 
practical  laboratory  work."  This  object  has  been  kept  in  view  throughout  the 
work,  but  we  should  wish  the  author  to  have  stated  the  common  conditions  under 
which  the  reactions  occur  or  fail,  such  as  acidity  or  alkalinity  of  the  solutions,  and 
the  application  of  heat.  It  is  not  necessary,  and  in  a  work  of  this  kind  impossible, 
to  "explain  every  involved  and  collateral  point,"  and  we  have  no  fear  "of  convert- 
ing the  pupil  into  a  mere  memorizing  machine"  by  calling  attention  to  such  condi- 
tions. In  ^[  36  and  41,  for  instance,  it  is  merely  stated  that  stannous  and  stannic 
compounds  are  precipitated  by  (NH4)2S,  and  in  \  43,  that  for  cadmium  the  reagents 
for  tin  may  be  used  and  the  results  compared 
The  book  contains  two  chapters  on  urinalysis  and  on  the  detection  of  inorganic 
and  organic  poisons,  which  will  prove  very  convenient  and  valuable,  also  a  number 
of  useful  tables. 
A  commendable  feature  is  the  use  of  convenient  and  expressive  nomenclature ; 
we  entirely  agree  with  the  author,  when  he  states  in  the  preface  :  "  Such  terms  as 
dihydric  sulphide,  hydric  sulphate,  hydric  hydrate,  etc.,  not  only  sound  affected 
and  pedantic,  but  are  less  convenient  than  their  common  names." 
Medicinal  Plants;  being  Descriptions  with  Original  Figures  of  the  Principal  Plants 
employed  in  Medicine,  and  an  Account  of  their  Properties  and  Uses.  By  Robt. 
Bentley,  F.L.S.,  and  Henry  Trimen,  M.B.,  F.L  S.  Philadelphia:  Lindsay  & 
Blakiston,  1877.    Part  xxiv.    Price,  $2. 
The  part  of  this  valuable  work  now  before  us  contains  excellent  plates  and 
descriptions  of  the  following  plants:  Cassalpinia  bonducella,  Roxb.  (the  bonduc 
seeds  of  India,  used  as  an  antiperiodic),  Elettaria  cardamomum,  Maton,  Euphorbia 
resinifera,  Berg.,  Ferula  scorodosma,  Bent,  and  Trim,  (the  Persian  asafcetida  plant), 
Hydrocotyle  asiatica,  Lin.  (Indian  pennywort,  an  alterative  tonic),  Peumus  boldus, 
Molina  (the  boldo  of  Chili,  used  as  a  tonic  and  stimulant  to  digestion),  and  Rheum 
palmatum,  Lin. 
We  acknowledge  the  reception  of  the  following  reprints  of  researches  conducted 
in  the  laboratory  of  Prof.  Dragendorff,  at  Dorpat : 
