.Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  "1  PWi*V>-t«i<-  inn 
Feb.,  1898.      /  KeZ'lfWS: 
fats  through  the  influence  of  air,  light  and  heat,  and  the  changes  due  to  dis- 
eases of  the  cows  as  well  as  through  faulty  processes  of  manipulation. 
The  second  volume  treats  of  the  methods  of  examination,  beginning  with 
the  determination  of  the  physical  characters  of  butter  and  its  substitutes, 
which  is  followed  by  the  proximate  analysis  (estimation  of  matter  volatile  at 
100-1  io°  C,  and  on  ignition  ;  soluble  in  ether  ;  soluble  and  insoluble  in  water  ; 
coloring  matters),  the  qualitative  and  quantitative  analysis  of  the  fat,  and  the 
microscopic  analysis.  These  chapters  are  intended  to  give  full  descriptions  of 
the  complete  analysis  of  natural  and  artificial  butters,  and  of  the  impurities 
•which  in  both  kinds  of  products  have  been  observed  to  be  sometimes  present 
either  by  design  or  accidentally.  Among  these  impurities  described  and 
figured  by  the  author  are  not  only  various  salts,  coloring  matters  and  starches, 
but  also  different  bacteria,  moulds,  vegetable  fragments,  human  and  animal 
liairs  and  a  few  animal  parasites,  which  evidently  can  find  their  way  into 
such  products  only  through  want  of  cleanliness  in  preparation  and  preserva- 
tion. For  practical  purposes  such  a  full  analysis  is  not  required,  but  it  is  of 
importance  to  ascertain  the  character  of  the  product,  whether  natural  or  arti- 
ficial, and  whether  or  not  injurious  to  health.  These  points  are  formulated  by 
the  author  in  eight  questions,  which  are  then  briefly  discussed  with  reference 
to  the  results  obtained  by  the  analytical  methods  described  in  other  chapters. 
A  supplementary  chapter  discusses  the  results  of  observations  made,  and  cer- 
tain analytical  methods  proposed,  while  the  work  was  passing  through  the 
press. 
It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  the  field  covered  by  this  work  is  quite  an 
extensive  one  ;  and  on  examination  it  will  be  found  that  nothing  of  importance 
pertaining  to  this  matter  has  been  omitted.  The  descriptions  of  apparatus, 
processes  and  methods  are  full,  and  even  minute,  and  though  in  some  cases 
more  prolix  than  would  seem  to  be  necessary,  the  details  are  not  tedious,  and 
in  all  cases  will  be  useful  in  obtaining  uniformity  of  results.  The  numerous 
illustrations  referred  to  above  give  fair  representations  of  the  objects;  the 
tables  inserted  in  the  book  are  practical  and  useful ;  and  types,  paper  and  the 
general  make-up  of  the  work  are  commendable.  It  should  be  mentioned  yet 
that  at  the  close  of  the  different  chapters  copious  references  are  made  to 
authors  and  their  publications  on  the  subjects  discussed. 
Proceedings  of  State  Pharmaceutical  Associations. 
The  following  have  been  received  during  last  month  : 
New  Hampshire. — Nineteenth  annual  meeting  held  at  Keene,  Septbr.  6  and 
7,  1892.    Pp.  90. 
For  a  brief  account  of  the  transactions,  see  p.  546  of  the  October  number. 
On  Septbr.  5  next,  the  association  will  meet  at  Isles  of  Shoals  ;  Frank  L.  Way, 
Manchester,  Secretary. 
North  Carolina. — Thirteenth  annual  meeting  held  at  Raleigh,  August  10  and 
11,  1892.    Pp.  91. 
In  addition  to  the  essays  mentioned  on  p.  500  of  our  September  number, 
papers  on  the  following  subjects  were  presented  at  this  meeting  :  Compound 
syrup  of  hypophosphites ;  apparatus  for  dispensing  lime  water  ;  wine  of  beef 
and  iron.  The  next  meeting  will  convene  at  Winston,  August  9  next  ;  V .  W. 
Hancock,  Oxford,  secretary  ;  V .  A.  Bobbitt,  Winston,  local  secretary. 
