492 
Editorial. 
f  Am.  Joub.  Pharv 
t     Oct,  1,  1874. 
ceutical  Exhibition  furnished  an  agreeable  contrast  by  its  chaste  and  tasteful 
arrangements,  which  materially  facilitated  the  convenient  inspection  or 
careful  study  of  all  the  various  articles  exposed.  There  was  just  a  sufficient 
number  of  goods  displayed  to  fill  the  room  comfortably,  without  in  the  least 
crowding  or  overloading  it.  A  fine  floral  collection  of  ornamental  foliage 
plants  in  the  centre  of  the  room  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  produc- 
tion of  a  very  elegant  and  effective  tout  ensemble. 
Perhaps  the  most  noteworthy  demerit  of  the  last  exhibition  was  the  paucity 
of  novelties  in  all  its  various  branches.  Our  leading  manufacturers  appear  to 
content  themselves  with  showing  nearly  the  same  line  of  their  goods  year  after 
year,  with  very  trifling  variations.  We  would  suggest  to  these  to  vary  their 
routine  by  exhibiting  models  of  apparatus  used  in  making  any  of  their 
chemicals,  together  with  samples  of  the  crude  drugs  and  their  subsequent 
stages  of  manufacture.  The  actual  production  of  a  single  important  chemical 
in  the  exhibition  hall  would  be  very  sure  to  attract  infinite  more  attention  than 
the  most  lavish  and  elaborate  display  of  linished  products. 
The  Louisville  druggists  deserve  considerable  credit  for  the  exhibition  of 
three  important  living  botanical  specimens,  namely,  the  Eucalyptus  globulus 
of  Australia,  the  Chinese  Ramie  plant,  Boehmeria  tenacissima,  which  fur- 
nishes a  valuable  textile  fibre,  and  the  Sesamum  orientate  or  Benne  plant. 
According  to  the  decision  of  the  local  journals,  Messrs.  G.  Mallinckrodt  & 
Co.,  of  St.  Louis,  made  the  finest  display  of  chemicals  in  over  200  varieties. 
The  most  prominent  object  of  admiration  was  a  magnificent  specimen  of 
purified  metallic  bismuth,  which  afforded  an  excellent  opportunity  of  studying 
the  very  peculiar  crystalline  form  of  this  metal.  JVlost  of  the  crystals  were 
rhombohedra  arranged  like  inverted  terraces  in  the  manner  of  a  square  amphi- 
theatre, but  a  few  of  them  consisted  of  concentric  rectangles,  resembling  the 
pattern  known  among  ladies  as  the  walls  of  Troy. 
Messrs.  McKesson  &  Robbins  had  sent  along  with  their  other  goods  an  her- 
barium of  104  specimens,  comprising  the  greater  portion  of  the  German  officinal 
plants,  which  were  very  neatly  mounted,  and  furnished  with  printed  labels,, 
giving  their  pharmaceutical,  botanical  and  German  names,  and  also  designat- 
ing the  officinal  portion  and  the  flowering  season.  The  representative  of  the 
house  stated  that  a  number  of  these  herbaria  had  been  specially  imported 
for  sale,  and  that  they  were  offered  at  the  reasonable  rate  of  twelve  doPa-s 
each.  The  idea  seems  to  be  a  praiseworthy  one,  for  obvious  reasons  ;  and  we 
trust  that  it  may  prove  to  be  an  incentive  to  some  of  our  American  herbalists 
to  prepare  for  sale,  at  moderate  figures,  complete  herbaria  of  plants  officinal 
in  our  own  Pharmacopoeia.  It  would  be  difficult  for  admiring  lady  friends  to 
find  more  suitable  presents  than  these  for  our  graduates  in  pharmacy  on  the 
eventful  commencement  day.  Certainly,  every  pharmacist,  who  makes  any 
claim  to  thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession,  should  own  such  a  collection. 
Guarana,  in  rolls  and  powder,  was  exhibited.  Also,  gurjun  balsam  or  oil,, 
which  resembles  copaiba  in  appearance  and  consistence  ;  the  article  on  exhi- 
bition was  possessed  of  an  intensely  disgusting  odor,  recalling  that  of  putre- 
fying cabbage. 
