346        Recent  Literature  Relating  to  Pharmacy.    { Amjuiy,rimarm- 
esting  sketch  of  the  etymology  of  the  word,  in  which  he  lays  special 
stress  on  the  fact  that  the  word  is  of  German-Latin  origin  and  that 
to  these  two  languages  the  combination  "  th "  is  foreign.  His 
authorities  may  be  outlined  as  follows : 
Unknown  author,  "  Berg  biichlein  "  1518-1539  Wissmath. 
"       "  Ursprung  von  Bergrecht  "  1532  Wissmat. 
Georg  Agricola  .  .  /  *539  Bisemutum. 
t  1546  Bismut. 
{Wisemut. 
Wyssmut. 
Wyssmuth. 
The  "h"  in  the  latter  is  evidently  a  typographical  error,  as  both 
forms  occur. 
j  Wisstnut. 
I  Wismut. 
f  Bismuth. 
I  Wismuth. 
Libavius  1597  Bismuthum. 
Ruland  161 2  Wismat. 
Keatmaun  1565 
Fabricius  1565 
Schroeder's  Pharmacopoeia  1641 
Bismuthum. 
Bismutum. 
Reprint  of  Valentinus  1677    \  wismut- 
t  Wismuht. 
"Museum  Wormianum"    1694  Wismut. 
"  Bergwerks  Lexicon  "  1743  Wismuth. 
Linne*  1787 
Wismuthum. 
Vismuthum. 
The  English  word  has  been  "bismuth"  since  earliest  reference 
(1 71 5).  The  French  have  used  "  bismuth  "  and  "  bismut,"  the  for- 
mer being  the  earliest  in  notice  (1694).  The  supposed  derivation  of 
the  word  from  "  wiese-matie"  is  characterized  as  a  pretty  fable,  the 
real  origin  not  being  known.  H.  V.  A. 
VALUATION  OF  INSECT  POWDER. 
The  most  plausible  methods  of  valuation  of  the  commodity  are 
based  on  amount,  appearance  and  odor  of  the  extract  afforded  by 
percolation  with  ether,  chloroform  or  petroleum  ether. 
F.  Dietze  [Ph.  Zt,  1899,  l9®)  makes  a  comparison  of  the  several 
methods,  and  has  decided  that  the  best  results  are  secured  by  the 
use  of  petroleum  ether,  boiling  under  550  C.  The  percolate  from 
pure  insect  powder,  when  such  menstruum  is  employed,  is  bright 
yellow,  and  possesses  the  peculiar  odor  of  the  powder.  The  writer 
further  urges  that  all  valuations  should  be  accompanied  by  physio- 
logical tests  on  the  insects  themselves.  H.  V.  A. 
