366 
Reviews. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1894. 
The  title  fully  indicates  the  scope  of  this  publication,  and  many  useful 
formulae  are  given  that  cannot  but  be  of  value  to  the  intelligent  druggist  who 
is  accustomed  to  make  his  own  preparations. 
Some  valuable  information  concerning  vanilla  is  given  in  the  introductory 
remarks,  as  the  following  quotation  will  show:  "We  have  five  varieties  of 
vanilla  beans — Mexican,  Bourbon,  Tahiti,  South  American  and  Wild  Bean.  Of 
these  the  Mexican  is  highest  in  price  and  value,  then  follow  in  order  the 
Bourbon,  the  South  American,  the  Tahiti  and  the  Wild.  Each  of  these  has  a 
distinct  flavor  peculiar  to  its  species.  The  Mexican  is  worth  on  the  market 
one-third  more  than  the  Bourbon,  and  the  Bourbon,  perhaps,  one-third  more 
than  the  Tahiti  and  South  American. 
"In  vanilla  beans  we  would  advise  the  use  of  the  Mexican  variety  only, 
though  the  Bourbon  is  sometimes  used  ;  the  other  varieties  should  never  be 
used  as  a  condiment,  and  we  do  not  think  they  ever  are,  knowingly,  but  are 
used  to  a  great  extent  to  adulterate  the  Mexican  in  different  ways  ;  especially 
are  they  used  to  adulterate  Mexican  cut  beans,  which  are  used  very  largely  by 
many  manufacturers.  The  legitimate  cut  beans  are  made  in  Mexico.  After 
the  crop  is  cured  and  the  perfect  beans  are  selected  for  bundling,  those  having 
fungous  growth,  crooked  and  knotty,  are  cut  up  and  shipped  to  this  market  as 
cut  beans. 
"  The  writer,  through  his  intimate  knowledge  of  the  extent  of  the  Mexican 
bean  crop  raised  each  year,  has  learned  that  in  the  United  States  alone  there  is 
sold  as  legitimate  Mexican  cuts  and  consumed,  more  than  twice  the  total  quan- 
tity of  cut  beans  exported  from  Mexico." 
Probably  no  one  is  prepared  to  speak  on  the  subject  of  vanilla  with  more 
authority  than  Mr.  Hires.  He  having  personally  inspected  the  vanilla  planta- 
tions in  Mexico.    See  this  Journal,  1893,  p.  571. 
Experiments  with  Sugar  Beets.  By  Harvey  W.  Wiley,  with  the  collabora- 
tion of  Dr.  Walter  Maxwell.  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of 
Chemistry.    Bulletin  No.  39.  » 
Record  of  Experiments  with  Sorghum  in  1893.  By  Harvey  W.  Wiley,  with 
the  collaboration  of  Oma  Carr  and  C.  I.  Hinman.  U.  S.  Department  of  Agri- 
culture, Division  of  Chemistry.    Bulletin  No.  40. 
Experimental  Farms. — Reports  for  1893.  By  the  Director,  William  Saun- 
ders.   Ottawa,  Canada,  1894.    Pp.  351. 
Consular  Report ,  vol.  45,  No.  164,  May,  1894.    Pp.  160. 
An  article  on  p.  70  of  this  report  is  of  especial  interest  to  pharmacists.  It 
relates  to  Sicilian  essential  oils,  by  Charles  M.  Caughy,  U.  S.  Consul  at 
Messina.  He  sent  a  circular  letter  to  every  manufacturer  and  exporter  of 
Messina,  requesting  information  concerning  manufacture,  prices  and  detection 
of  adulterations  of  essential  oils.  The  replies  embody  information  of  con- 
siderable value. 
Transactions  of  the  Academy  of  Science  of  St.  Louis,  vol.  6,  Nos.  12,  13,  14, 
15  and  16.  No.  13  is  "A  Study  of  the  Relations  of  Salix  nigra  and  S.  Amyg- 
daloides,  together  with  the  hybrids,  arising  from  them  as  these  species  exhibit 
themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis.  By  N.  M.  Glatfelder,  M.D.  Issued 
April  17,  1894. 
No.  16,  by  Charles  Robertson,  treats  of  "  Flowers  and  Insects — Rosaceae  and 
Compositae  " — and  was  issued  April  26,  1894. 
