684 
Book  Reviews. 
[  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
1   September,  1920. 
BOOK  REVIEWS. 
PharmaceuticaIv  Bacteriology.  By  A.  Schneider,  M.D.,  Ph.D. 
Pubhshed  by  P.  Blakiston's  Son  &  Co. 
This,  the  second  edition,  was  made  necessary  by  the  rapid  changes 
and  advances  in  the  science  of  bacteriology. 
In  the  first  chapter,  the  author  gives  the  history  of  the  introduc- 
tion of  this  science  in  pharmacy  throughout  the  United  States,  to- 
gether with  the  various  problems  in  bacteriology  directly  connected 
with  the  practice  of  pharmacy.  A  number  of  references  of  benefit 
to  students  and  pharmacists,  who  may  desire  further  information, 
are  listed  at  the  close  of  the  chapter. 
Chapter  II  deals  with  the  complete  history  of  bacteriology  from 
the  days  of  Hippocrates  (300  B.C.)  to  the  present  day.  The  entire 
time  is  divided  into  five  periods.  A  list  of  useful  works  of  reference 
in  bacteriology  and  related  topics  is  given  here. 
Chapters  I  and  II  of  this  edition  are  almost  identical  with  the 
corresponding  chapters  of  Edition  I. 
Chapter  III,  one  of  the  newly  added  chapters,  deals  with  some 
of  the  important  hypotheses  and  theories  regarding  the  origin  of 
bacteria  and  micro-organisms  in  general. 
New  additions  have  been  added  to  the  text  of  Chapter  III  of 
the  first  edition,  resulting  in  the  production  of  Chapter  IV  of  this 
edition.  Herein  is  found  the  physiological  and  morphological 
characteristics  of  bacteria,  together  with  a  general  classification  of 
microbes. 
Chapter  V  is  identical  to  Chapter  IV  of  the  first  edition.  In- 
formation regarding  the  range  and  distribution  of  microbes,  written 
on  two  pages,  makes  this  chapter  a  small  one.  It  could  just  as 
readily  have  been  incorporated  in  one  of  the  foregoing  chapters. 
*  Chapter  VI  is  the  first  data  of  interest  to  the  practical  pharma- 
cist seeking  information  relating  to  bacteriology.  This  chapter  is 
almost  identical  with  Chapter  V  of  the  previous  edition,  published 
in  1 91 2.  To  the  advanced  pharmacy  student  the  information 
available  is  clear.  To  the  average  pharmacist  or  to  the  two-year 
pharmacy  student  a  more  detailed  and  explicit  explanation  is  neces- 
sary. Here  is  found  a  description  of  the  containers  used,  with 
methods  of  cleaning  and  preparing  them  for  sterihzation.  A  con- 
sideration of  the  preparation,  sterilization  and  titration  of  culture 
media  is  also  available,  together  with  methods  for  making  cultures, 
