286  Reviews  and  Bibliographical  Notices.  { A  jui0™; 
E.  The  action  of  bromide  of  potassium  on  the  nervous  system  may  be  ex- 
plained by  its  action  on  the  capillary,  arterial  or  central  circulation. 
The  experiments  from  which  these  propositions  have  been  deduced  are  briefly 
but  clearly  related. 
Part  I,  written  by  Professor  Clarke,  occupies  103  pages,  the  greater  part  of 
the  volume  before  us.  The  subject  is  discussed  under  the  following  headings: 
Absorption,  Elimination,  Action  while  in  the  System  ;  The  Continued  Dose  - 
Action  of  the  Toxic  Dose  ;  Special  Applications  of  the  Continued  Dose  ;  Epi- 
lepsy ;  Hysteria  ;  Antagonism  of  Bromide  of  Potassium  and  Strychnia  ;  which 
chapter  is  followed  by  a  brief  account  of  the  other  alkaline  bromides. 
The  medical  literature  in  both  essays  has  been  extensively  consulted,  criti- 
cally examined,  and  carefully  compared  with  the  experiments  and  observations 
of  the  authors;  thus  many  interesting  facts  have  been  established  which  must 
prove  very  valuable  to  the  medical  practitioner. 
The  chemistry,  as  a  general  rule,  is  correctly  given  ;  in  a  few  instances  only 
have  we  observed  statements  which  can  scarcely  be  considered  as  sufficiently 
exact.  Thus,  on  page  112,  the  following  passage  occurs:  ''The  bromide  of 
sodium  closely  resembles  in  appearance,  taste,  solubility  and  physiological 
action,  the  bromide  of  potassium,  bromide  of  ammonium  and  bromide  of 
lithium."  The  italicized  words  are  the  portion  to  which  we  take  exception  as 
regards  exactness.  On  page  123  it  is  stated  that 44  the  stronger  acids  with  dif- 
ficulty liberate  the  bromine  at  an  ordinary  temperature."  Bromine  is  liberated 
in  the  form  of  hydrobromic  acid 
A  physical  law  which  is  so  frequently  disregarded  by  physicians  in  ordering 
medicines  shares  here  no  better  fate  on  p.  101.  One  ounce  bromide  of  potassium 
was  dissolved  hi  three  (fluid  ?)  ounces  of  water,  and  half  an  (fluid  ?)  ounce  given 
as  a  dose  ;  the  solution  will  measure  over  3i  fluidounces,  and  the  dose  contain 
about  65  grains  of  the  salt,  whereas  the  author  regards  the  salt  as  occupying 
no  space,  and  states  the  dose  as  eighty  grains,  a  difference  of  about  23  per  ct. 
over  the  correct  quantity. 
First  Annual  Report  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  College  of  Pharmacy  of 
the  City  of  New  York.    Containing,  also,  the  Valedictory  Address  delivered 
by  Professor  C.  F.  Chandler,  and  the  Address  of  the  President  of  the  Soci- 
ety, D.  C.  Bobbins,  Esq.    New  York:  Croker  &  Teller,  Printers.  1872. 
8vo,  39  pages. 
The  valedictory  address  of  Professor  Chandler  is  an  excellent  "farewell"  to- 
the  graduates  ;  it  discusses  several  important  questions  relating  to  pharmacists 
and  pays  a  deserved  tribute  to  the  creation  in  New  York  of  the  famous  (?}; 
Irving  bill,  which,  happily,  is  now  a  thing  of  the  past,  in  the  following  passage  : 
How  much  could  our  College  do  with  the  money  which  is  now  being  expended 
on  the  Commission  of  Pharmacy!  Last  year  the  pharmacists  paid  $11,880, 
while  the  city  paid  $8000  more,  or  about  $20,000  in  all,  to  find  out  whether  the 
apothecaries  were  competent  for  their  business.  This  year  the  300  still  to  be 
examined  are  expected  to  pay  about  $5000,  and  the  city  $11,000  more,  or  $17,- 
000  in  all.  Nearly  $38,000  in  two  years  to  find  out  whether  the  apothecaries 
know  their  business,  but  not  a  cent  to  instruct  them.  The  College  works  faith- 
fully in  its  modest  wayrwith„  a  few  hundred  dollars  a  year  for  its  expenses, 
while  the  Legislature  taxes  the  apothecaries  and  the  city  enough  in  two  years 
