232    Materia  Medica  of  the  Mexican  Pharmacopoeia.  {^'^■^ly\^£^^'^' 
The  second  part  treats,  upon  94  pages,  upon  the  crude  drugs  derived 
from  the  vegetable,  animal  and  mineral  kingdoms;  and  this  is  followed 
by  the  pharmacopoeia  proper  (Farmacopea  propriamente  dicha),  which 
is  divided  into  two  parts,  the  chemical  products  (112  pages)  and  the 
pharmaceutical  preparations  (96  pages),  with  3  pages  of  supplement 
and  appendix.  The  index  alone  covers  72  pages,  and  is  divided  into 
six  separate  parts,  the  Spanish,  French,  English,  Mexican  (and  several 
other  idioms)  and  Latin  references,  and  an  index  of  authors  mentioned 
in  the  work.  A  lengthy  list  of  typographical  corrections,  covering 
more  than  four  pages,  comj)letes  the  book. 
The  text  is  printed  in  rather  small  but  clear  types,  set  closely,  and  is 
arranged  in  double  columns  in  alphabetical  order  of  the  Spanish  names 
of  the  subjects.  The  natural  ]^roducts  (crude  drugs)  are  treated  of 
more  or  less  extensively  under  tiie  following  sub-headings,  following 
the  names  with  the  vernacular  synonyms,  botanical  origin  and  natural 
order:  habitat,  part  used  or  mode  of  preparation,  physical  characters, 
varieties,  chemical  composition,  adulterations,  common  and  special  uses 
in  medicine,  therapeutics,  the  arts  or  for  economic  purposes,  as  well  as 
incompatibles  and  antidotes.  The  chemical  products  and  pharmaceu- 
tical preparations  are  treated  of  in  a  somewhat  similar  manner,  the 
process  ol  manufacture  being  given  somewhat  in  detail. 
It  will  be  observed  that  the  Mexican  Pharmacopoeia  partakes  in 
reality  more  of  the  character  of  a  dispensatory  than  of  a  medical  and 
pharmaceutical  law-book.  Tiiis  becomes  also  evident  from  the  very 
large  number  of  drugs  admitted,  souie  of  which  are  stated  to  be  little 
used,  like  brusco  (Ruscus  aculeatus),  opopanax,  and  others  which  have 
become  obsolete  in  most  civilized  countries.  While  obviously  the 
materia  medica  list  enumerates  a  large  number  of  drugs,  which  are 
well  known  here  and  elsewhere,  it  is  of  particular  interest  for  the  large 
number  of  vegetable  products  of  Mexican  origin  which  have  been  ad- 
mitted, and  to  these  we  propose  to  pay  special  attention  in  the  follow- 
ing brief  review. 
Abanico,  Celosia  cristata,  Lin.,  nat.  ord.  Amarantacese,  the  cockscomb 
cultivated  in  our  gardens,  grows  in  the  Sierra  de  Huauchinango,  and  is 
popularly  used  in  decoction  of  the  leaves  as  as  an  antiblennorrhagic. 
Abelmosco,  Hibiscus  Abelmoschus,  Lin.,  nat.  ord.  Malvaceae,  fur- 
nishes the  musk  seeds  of  commerce,  which  are  used  as  a  perfume,  and 
in  the  form  of  decoction  as  an  emmenagogue  and  as  an  antidote  to  snake 
bites.    The  root  is  used  medicinally  as  an  emollient. 
