Am.  Jour.  Pharni  , 
Dec,  1885, 
Bevieivs. 
635- 
a  lexicon,  and  is  very  useful  also  in  other  respects  ;  as  a  work  for  frequent 
reference  by  the  pharmacist,  physician  and  student,  it  is  heartily  recom- 
mended. 
Fownes^  Manual  of  Cli.emistri/,  theoretical  and  practical.  A  new  Ameri- 
can from  the  twelfth  English  edition,  embodying  Watts'  "Physical  and 
Inorganic  Chemistry."  With  168  illustrations.  Philadelphia :  Lea 
Brothers  &  Co.,  1885.    12mo,  pp.  1056.    Price,  cloth,  $2.75  ;  leather,  $3  25. 
Nearly  thirty-seven  years  have  gone  by  since  the  original  author  of  this 
work,  George  Fownes,  died  in  the  prime  of  his  life,  and  although  a  num- 
ber of  revised  editions  have  since  been  published,  the  author's  name  has 
been  retained  with  them.  But  it  is  evident  that  with  the  rapid  progress 
made  during  that  period  in  physics  and  chemistry  very  little  remains  of 
the  original  work,  so°  that  its  present  shape  is  due  to  the  literary  labors  of 
its  principal  reviser,  Henry  Watts.  The  death  of  the  latter  interrupted 
the  labors  of  remodelling ;  however,  a  considerable  portion  having  been 
accomplished,  this,  comprising  physical  and  inorganic  chemistry,  was 
reviewed  in  last  year's  "Journal."  The  volume  now  before  us  consists  of 
this  portion,  together  with  the  organic  chemistry  revised  a  few  years  ago. 
Applied  Medical  Chemistry.  A  manual  for  students  and  practitioners  of 
Medicine.  By  Lawrence  Wolff',  M.D.,  Demonstrator  of  Chemistry,  Jef- 
ferson Medical  College,  etc.  Philadelphia:  P.  Blakiston,  Son  &  Co., 
1885.   8 vo,  pp.  174.    Price  $1.50. 
The  necessity  being  admitted  for  medical  men  to  i^ossess  a  practical 
knowledge  of  chemistry  in  its  various  applications  to  medical  science,  a 
guide  for  laboratory  work  becomes  very  desirable,  and  this  is  well  provided 
for  by  the  work  before  us.  It  is  divided  into  five  parts,  which  treat  of 
apparatus  and  manipulations,  chemistry  of  poisons  (poisonous  metals  and 
acids),  physiological  chemistry  (pigments,  carbohydrates,  fats,  etc.),  excre- 
tions and  concretions  (urine,  bile,  ffeces\  and  sanitary  chemistry  (air, 
water,  milk,  flour,  preserves,  fermented  liquors,  pharmaceutical  prepara- 
tions). The  arrangement  is  made  in  accordance  with  the  author's  system 
of  demonstration,  and  we  think  will  be  found  to  be  useful  and  convenient. 
The  whole  work  is^^concisely  written  ;  'the  descriptions  of  compounds  as 
well  as  of  reactions,  though  designedly  brief,  give,  as  a  rule,  the  important 
characteristics  ;  yet  some  of  the  reactions  would  appear  to  deserve  addi- 
tional details,  as  for  instance  the  difference  between  antimony  and  copj^er 
in  the  application  of  Reinsch's  test.  A  very  useful  addition  to  each  part  is 
a  syllabus  of  such  operations  and  processes  which  the  student  should  per- 
form to  thoroughly  familiarize  himself  with  the  difTerent  subjects.  The 
appendix  contains  a  brief  but  valuable  account  of  the  ptomaines,  a  num- 
ber of  useful  tables,  and  a  good  index. 
The  work  will  doubtless  be  j^roductive  of  much  good  in  acquainting  the 
medical  student  with  the  essentials  of  such  investigations  which  he  may 
be  called  upon  to  perform  as  a  part  of  his  professional  duties  ;  and  owing 
to  its  conciseness  and  accuracy  will  also  i)rove  of  benefit  to  pharmacists 
and  others  who  may  not  find  it  convenient  to  consult  more  extensive  vol- 
umes on  the  characters  and  analysis  of  substances  embraced  within  tho 
scope  of  Dr.  Wolfl''s  book. 
