Am  Jour.  Pharm.l 
■  August,  1894.  J 
Reviews. 
411 
systematic  relationships  of  the  group,  but  also  determine  the  order  of  evolu- 
tion and  relationship  of  the  species.  Dr.  Heckel  has  not  only  demonstrated 
what  he  set  out  to  do,  but  he  has  shown  in  a  most  satisfactory  way  the  great 
value  of  the  study  of  the  microscopic  structure  of  the  stem  and  foliar  organs 
as  means  of  determining  systematic  relationships.  It  would  take  up  too  much 
space  to  state  here,  in  particular,  all  the  interesting  results  achieved  by  this 
line  of  study,  and  so  for  these  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  monograph  itself. 
Another  incentive  to  the  study  of  the  group  was  a  desire  to  ascertain  the 
medicinal  value  of  the  species,  some  of  them  being  quite  extensively  used  as 
medicines  by  the  French  peasantry.  He,  therefore,  associated  with  him  in  his 
work  Prof.  Schlagdenhauffen  and  Dr.  Mourson,  the  former  to  make  the 
necessary  chemical,  and  the  latter  the  therapeutic  studies.  Both  seem  to  have 
done  their  work  with  thoroughness.  The  chemical  work  largely  confirms  and 
considerably  extends  that  done  by  Walz  in  1857.  It  proves  that  the  principal 
constituent  is  globularin,  a  glucoside  whose  formula  is  C15H20O8.  This  is 
readily  decomposed  by  the  action  of  acids  into  glucose,  water,  and  a  resinous 
body,  globularetin,  to  which  he  assigns  the  formula  C9H60.  Among  the 
other  principles  present  are  cinnamic  acid,  manuite,  small  quantities  of  a 
peculiar  tannin  and  coloring  matters. 
The  species  particularly  investigated,  were  Globularia  Aljpum,  G.  vul- 
garis, and  G.  nana,  Lam.  These  were  chosen  because  they  were  species 
growing  under  widely  different  conditions,  and  it  was  desirable  to  note  the 
influence  of  external  conditions,  such  as  latitude,  altitude,  amount  of  sunshine, 
etc.,  on  the  medicinal  constituents. 
It  was  found  that  the  species  studied  agreed  closely  in  their  chemical  consti- 
tution and  the  conclusion  is  drawn  that  environment  has  much  less  influence 
than  some  other  causes  in  determining  the  chemical  constitution.  It  is  further 
concluded  that  probably  all  the  different  species  of  the  family  are  endowed 
with  similar  medicinal  properties. 
Some  of  the  conclusions  reached  by  the  therapeutic  studies  are  as  follows  : 
(1)  Globularin  is  an  antipyretic  ;  it  first  depresses  and  then  augments  arte- 
rial tension  ;  it  acts  directly  upon  the  heart,  slowing  its  pulsations  ;  it  increases 
the  appetite  and  increases  the  peristaltic  action  of  the  intestines  ;  it  is  a  cere- 
bral excitant  similar  in  its  effects  to  caffeine  ;  it  decreases  the  quantity  of 
extractive  matter  in  the  urine. 
(2)  Globularetin  is  purgative  and  diuretic,  increasing  the  quantity  of  solids 
excreted  in  the  urine. 
(3)  The  volatile  principle  (essence)  is  diuretic-stimulant. 
The  monograph  covers  about  two  hundred  pages,  contains  five  well-executed 
plates,  besides  illustrations  in  the  text,  and  is  altogether  a  creditable  piece  of 
scientific  investigation.  Edson  S.  Bastin. 
A  Text-book  of  Medical  and  Pharmaceutical  Chemistry,  by  Elias  H. 
Bartley,  B.S.,  M.D.  Third  edition,  revised  and  enlarged.  P.  Blakiston,  Son 
&  Co.    Philadelphia.  189$. 
This  work,  which  first  appeared  in  the  fall  of  1885,  has  now  reached  a  third 
edition  and  is  much  enlarged  and  improved.  It  covers  very  fully  the  ground 
usually  gone  over  in  the  lectures  on  chemistry  in  the  medical  schools.  Some 
features  which  seem  to  merit  especial  mention  in  looking  through  it  are  the 
