CHEMICAL  AND  PHARMACEUTICAL  MANIPULATIONS.  l7 
set  within  practical  limits,  by  observing  whether  they  agree 
among  themselves  ;  for  it  is  rare  to  find  weights  that  are  care- 
fully adjusted  among  themselves  that  have  not  had  the  same  de- 
gree of  care  in  relation  to  the  standard. 
Naval  Laboratory,  Neio  York,  Dec.  10,  1856, 
CHEMICAL  AND  PHARMACEUTICAL  MANIPULATIONS  ;  a  manual 
of  the  Mechanical  and  Chemico-Mechanical  operations  of  the  Laboratory, 
for  the  use  of  Chemists,  Druggists,  Manufacturers,  Teachers  and  Stu- 
dents. Second  and  enlarged  edition.  By  Campbell  Morfit,  Professor 
of  Analytic  and  Applied  Chemistry  in  the  University  of  Maryland,  and 
Clarence  Morfit,  Assistant  Melter  and  Refiner  in  the  United  States  As- 
say Office.  With 537  illustrations.  Philadelphia:  Lindsay  &  Blakiston, 
1857.    Pp.  626. 
In  our  21st  volume  we  noticed  the  first  edition  of  this  excellent 
manual,  and  are  glad  to  announce  the  appearance  of  the  second, 
with  114  additional  illustrations,  and  141  additional  pages  of 
letter  press^ 
The  whole  work  appears  to  have  been  carefully  revised,  and 
several  new  chapters  have  been  added.  The  chapter  on  the 
polarising  instruments  for  analysing  saccharine  substances,  is 
wisely  omitted,,  being  scarcely  appropriate  in  a  work  on  the 
manipulations  of  the  laboratory.  We  question  the  appropriate- 
ness of  the  chapter  on  barometers,  which  takes  its  place.  We 
think  the  space  could  have  been  better  filled  with  details  of  pro- 
cesses and  manipulations. 
The  importance  of  such  works  as  this  of  Professor  Morfit,  is 
more  and  more  felt  in  our  profession,  and  the  present  edition  will 
no  doubt  have  the  wide  circulation  to  which  its  merits  entitle  it. 
The  American  pharmaceutist  has  not  unfrequent  calls  upon 
his  ability  as  an  analytical  chemist,  and  it  should  be  his  aim  to 
cultivate  in  his  apprentices  those  habits  of  careful  manipulation 
and  patient  accuracy  which  are  the  foundation  of  all  practical 
ability  in  the  science  of  chemistry.  A  pains-taking  youth,  with 
sharp  eyes  and  pliant  fingers,  cannot  fail  to  become  a  skilful 
analyst  with  frequent  practice  and  the  aid  of  a  manual  like  the 
one  before  us.  The  great  requisite  for  success  is  patience — • 
patience  in  observing — patience  in  waiting  for  the  full  finishing 
of  a  process — patience  in  trying  over  and  over  again  an  unsuc- 
cessful experiment  or  an  unsatisfactory  analysis.    Bsme  of  the 
2 
