Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1877. 
Editorial. — Reviews,  etc. 
575 
It  is  hoped  that  the  pharmaceutical  and  medical  societies  will  discuss  these  and 
other  points  which  may  occur  to  them,  and  cause  their  suggestions  and  criticisms  to 
be  communicated  to  others,  or  to  confer  with  other  bodies  having  the  same  interest 
at  heart.    The  latter  course  has  already  been  inaugurated  in  Philadelphia. 
Corrections. — In  the  last  number  (p.  517)  we  expressed  our  regret  that  Dr.  C.  A. 
Robbins  had  not  exhibited  at  the  meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Asso- 
ciation a  sample  of  <veratridia  isolated  by  him  from  the  rhizome  named.  We  have 
since  learned  that  a  sample  was  on  exhibition,  but  we  failed  to  see  it. 
On  page  508,  second  line  from  top,  read  "and  in  other  parts  of  Eastern  (instead 
of  Western)  Brazil." 
REVIEWS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 
Medicinal  Plants  ,°  being  Descriptions  with  Original  Figures,  etc.  By  Robert  Bent- 
ley,  F.L.S.,  and  Henry  Trimen,  M.B.,  F.L.S.  Philadelphia:  Lindsay  &  Blakis- 
ton.    4to.    Price  $2  per  part. 
Of  this  valuable  work,  with  its  handsomely  executed  plates  and  complete  descrip- 
tions, we  have  now  before  us  part  19,  containing  Ca?sia  obovata,  C.  acutifolia,  C. 
angustifolia,  Cornus  flurida,  Arnica  montana,  Colchicum  autumnale  and  Gelse- 
mium  sempervirens.  Part  22  contains  Anthemis  nobilis,  Arachis  hypogaea,  Ipo- 
mcea  Nil  (the  kaladana  of  India,  where  the  seeds  are  used  as  a  cathartic),  Lolium 
temulentum  (darnel),  Mentha  pulegium  (the  European  pennyroyal),  Sambucus 
nigra  and  Zea  Mays.  In  part  23  we  find  Anacyclus  officinarum  (German  pelli- 
tory),  Andrographis  paniculata  (maha-tita  of  Bengal,  used  as  a  tonic),  Cannabis 
sativa,  Cimicifuga  racemosa,  Maranta  arundinacea,  Sesamum  indicum  and  Tolui- 
fera  balsamum. 
An  Index  of  Diseases  and  their  Treatment.  By  Thos.  H.  Tanner,  M.D.  Second 
edition.  Revised  by  W.  H.  Broadbent,  M.D.,  Fellow  of  the  Royal  College  of 
Physicians.  Philadelphia:  Lindsay  &  Blakiston,  1877.  8vo,  pp.432.  Price, 
cloth,  $3. 
The  volume  being  intended  as  a  ready  reference  book,  for  the  practising  physi- 
cian, convenience  for  consulting  it  has  been  the  aim  and  carried  out  in  its  alpha- 
betical arrangement.  The  first  thirty  pages  are  occupied  by  a  tabular  synopsis  in 
which  the  groups  of  diseases  are  alphabetically  arranged,  and  under  each  group  the 
diseases  belonging  to  it,  enumerated  with  references  to  the  text.  The  following 
250  pages  contain  the  "Index"  proper.  In  each  case  the  name  of  the  disease  is- 
followed  by  the  etymological  derivation  of  its  name,  and  by  brief  and  practical 
accounts  of  the  causes,  symptoms,  varieties  and  treatment.  The  remainder  of  the 
work  consists  of  an  "Appendix  of  Formulae,"  which  have  been  reprinted  from  the 
last  edition  of  the  author's  "  Practice  of  Medicine,"  and  which,  among  others, 
include,  also,  a  lengthy  chapter  on  "  Climates  for  Invalids,"  and  one  on  "  Mineral 
Waters."  The  editor  has  left  the  plan  as  designed  by  the  author,  but  has  carefully 
revised  each  section,  to  incorporate  new  knowledge  and  to  render  diagnosis  more 
definite. 
