96  Revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.  {Ami^r,\m&Tm' 
Eight  pages  are  required  for  a  list  of  chemicals  and  formulas. 
It  will  be  thus  seen  that  60  pages,  one-tenth  of  the  entire  volume, 
are  devoted  to  purely  chemical  instruction  in  -  addition  to  the  many 
pages  already  occupied  in  the  tests  appended  to  the  official  products 
in  the  preceding  pages.  The  increase  of  115  pages  in  the  present 
edition,  amounting  to  more  than  20  per  cerlt.  in  the  size  of  the 
volume,  is  largely  due  to  this  source.  This  may  well  serve  to  illus- 
trate the  present  tendency  of  pharmaceutical  training  toward  a 
more  thorough  education  in  chemistry.  But  it  must  not  be  for- 
gotten that  if  the  same  privilege  be  extended  to  pharmacognosy, 
pharmacology,  botany  in  its  various  relations  to  organic  materia 
medica  and  other  allied  sciences  that  has  been  assumed  by  chemis- 
try, the  Pharmacopoeia  would  soon  become  a  commentary  upon 
itself.  A  volume  so  cumbersome  as  to  be  unsuited  to  its  purpose 
and  use. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  should  not  be  converted  into  a  text-book  on 
any  science.  It  is  with  regret  that  we  observe  that  the  present 
tendency  is  to  forget  entirely  its  legitimate  character.  The  Pharma- 
copoeia is  essentially  a  law  book,  a  volume  of  statutes.  As  such, 
it  should  content  itself  with  stating  accurately  the  characters  and 
requirements  of  the  official  products.  Any  deviation  from  this  rule 
is  a  digression  from  its  true  scope.  The  official  volume  of  the 
statutes  enacted  by  a  legislative  body  is  unaccompanied  by  explana- 
tions and  judicial  opinions  on  the  application  of  the  laws. 
It  is  hoped  that,  in  future  revisions,  that  the  plan  adopted  will  be 
to  leave  the  methods  of  testing  and  of  proving  the  purity  of  the 
official  chemicals  to  a  special  volume  compiled  if  necessary  by 
authorities  recognized  by  the  pharmacopoeial  committee.  A  volume 
which  shall  be  to  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  what  Pribram 
and  Welden  "  Prufung  Artzneistoffe  "  is  to  the  new  German  Phar- 
macopoeia. 
Thirty-seven  pages  are  utilized  for  the  various  tables.  Those  for 
alcohol,  the  acids  and  alkalies  and  for  equivalents  of  weights  and 
measures  being  especially  noticeable  for  completeness.  Forty-two 
pages  are  devoted  to  the  very  thorough  index,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  commendable  features  of  the  book. 
Viewed  as  a  complete  work  the  volume  is  remarkable  for  its 
advanced  position ;  for  the  great  progress  which  it  indicates  in  the 
coming  pharmacist.    Its  progressiveness  and  superiority  from  a 
