Am.  Joub.  Pharm.  | 
Sept.  1, 1872.  J 
Editorial. 
427 
but  likewise  in  influence  and  usefulness.  We  wish  to  see  all  those  pharmacists 
•connected  with  this  body  who  love  the  profession  of  their  choice,  and  who  have 
the  advancement  of  pharmaceutical  knowledge  and  the  elevation  of  the  pro- 
fessional character  of  the  pharmacists  and  druggists  at  heart. 
The  General  Index  to  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  which  in  Janu- 
ary, 1871,  was  announced  to  be  in  course  of  preparation,  has  at  last  been  fin- 
ished, and  arrangements  have  been  made  for  its  speedy  publication.  Mr.  H« 
M.  Wilder  has  devoted  much  time  to  the  compilation  of  the  Index,  and  has 
produced  a  work  which  for  convenience  and  usefulness  will  doubtless  be  a  wel- 
come addition  to  the  library  of  the  readers  of  this  Journal,  and  an  indispensa- 
ble guide  and  aid  to  pharmaceutical  and  chemical  students  and  investigators, 
showing  the  extensive  literature,  and  pointing  to  numerous  sources  of  informa- 
tion at  home  and  abroad. 
Extending  over  a  period  of  forty-two  years,  the  General  Index  will  convey 
an  idea  not  only  of  the  progress  of  pharmacy  in  the  United  States  and  in  other 
countries,  but  likewise  of  the  discoveries  and  researches  made  in  the  allied  sci- 
ences, and  particularly  in  chemistry  in  its  bearings  on  pharmacy,  materia  med- 
ica,  &c.  The  work  contains  over  29,000  notices,  conveniently  arranged, 
ivhich  figure  not  merely  gives  an  idea  of  the  diligent  labor  bestowed  upon  the 
work  by  Mr.  Wilder,  but  enables  our  readers  to  judge  of  its  value  as  a  source 
of  reference  and  information. 
The  General  Index  will  make  an  octavo  volume  of  about  350  pages,  printed 
in  double  columns,  and  will  be  issued  as  soon  as  the  care  which  is  necessary  to 
bestow  upon  proof-reading,  &c,  will  permit.  It  is  contemplated  to  publish  it 
bound  in  cloth,  and  also  in  paper  covers,  so  that  our  subscribers  may  have  it 
bound  to  match  the  binding  of  their  Journal.  The  price  of  the  volume  will  be 
between  $3  and  $4;  it  will  be  fixed  as  low  as  possible,  as  the  Publication  Com- 
mittee desire  that  it  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  subscriber  to  and  reader 
of  this  Journal. 
Orders  for  the  "  General  Index"  may  now  be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  H.  Wolle,  the 
Business  Editor,  and  will  be  filled,  in  the  order  received,  immediately  after 
publication. 
The  Vagaries  of  Chemical  Nomenclature. — Under  this  title  we  have 
received  a  communication,  which  we  print  below.  The  perplexities  which  the 
writer  experiences  are  not  unknown  to  us,  nor  do  we  undervalue  them.  But 
in  this  respect  we  do  not  fare  any  better  than  our  forefathers  did,  who  were 
taught  that  the  earths  were  elements,  that  what  we  now  call  chlorine  was  oxi- 
dized muriatic  acid,  &c.  So-called  modern  views  are  occasionally  pretty  old 
theories,  which,  in  consequence  of  the  increased  number  of  researches,  may 
gain  prominence  to  be  replaced  again  by  views  which  for  years  may  battle  to 
gain  a  foothold.  We  have  no  fear  that  our  posterity  will  be  troubled  to  any 
greater  extent  with  synonyms  and  new  terms  than  we  are  and  our  predecessors 
have  been  ;  for  that  which  has  no  solid  foundation  cannot  endure  the  searching 
criticism  of  scientific  research  ;  hence  theories,  nomenclatures  and  notations 
