Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1893. 
Reviews. 
317 
Two  specimens  of  dilute  hydrocyanic  acid  were  exhibited,  one  of  which  had 
been  repeatedly  opened  and  remained  unchanged  in  appearance,  while  the 
other,  prepared  at  the  same  time,  and  kept  in  a  glass  stoppered  bottle  wrapped 
in  dark  colored  paper,  had  become  quite  black  ;  a  change  attributed  to  the 
formation  of  paracyanogen. 
At  a  recent  meeting  Mr.  Ross  had  exhibited  some  crystals  which  he  found 
in  a  specimen  of  extract  of  stramonium  ;  examination  showed  them  to  be 
chloride  of  potassium. 
Professor  Trimble  exhibited  a  plant,  Impatiens  Balsamina,  which  had  been 
germinated  in  washed  saw-dust,  and  it  was  then  transferred  to  a  bottle  containing 
nutritive  solution,  and  was  now  in  full  bloom.  Several  plant  foods,  recom- 
mended in  botanical  works,  were  tried  and  proved  less  satisfactory  than  the  one 
made  by  the  following  formula  : 
Potassium  nitrate,   o'5oo  gram. 
Calcium  nitrate,   0*500  " 
Sodium  phosphate,  crystals,   0*250  " 
Potassium  chloride,   0*250  " 
Magnesium  sulphate,  crystals,   0*250  " 
Ferrous  sulphate,  crystals,   0*005  " 
Distilled  water,    1,000  cc. 
The  salts  are  separately  dissolved  each  in  166  cc.  of  water,  and  the  sodium 
phosphate  solution  is  added  last  to  the  mixture. 
Glycerite  of  zinc  having  been  prescribed,  the  physician  who  ordered  it  gave 
the  formula  as  follows  :  Pure  oxide  of  zinc,  gss  ;  glycerin,  ^iij. 
The  Chairman  announced  the  committee  for  the  next  series  of  meetings  to 
be  Prof.  H.  Trimble,  Chairman  ;  Dr.  C.  B.  Lowe,  J.  W.  England,  Wallace 
Procter  and  W.  L.  Cliffe. 
On  motion,  adjourned.  T.  S.  Wiegand,  Registrar. 
REVIEWS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 
Manual  of  Chemistry. — A  guide  to  lectures  and  laboratory  work  for  begin- 
ners in  chemistry.  A  text-book  specially  adapted  for  students  of  medicine  and 
pharmacy.  By  W.  Simon,  Ph.D.,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Toxi- 
cology in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Professor  of  Chemistry  and 
Analytical  Chemistry  in  the  Maryland  College  of  Pharmacy,  Baltimore. 
Fourth  edition,  thoroughly  revised.  Philadelphia :  Lea  Bros.  &  Co.  1893. 
~8vo.    Pp.  493-    Price,  cloth,  $3.25. 
This  valuable  work,  upon  which  we  have  commented  when  it  first  made  its 
appearance  in  1884,  and  since  then,  is  now  before  us  in  its  fourth  edition,  and 
remains  unchanged  in  its  eminently  practical  scope  and  in  its  judicious  arrange- 
ment, but  has  been  somewhat  modified  in  certain  details,  and  carefully  revised 
so  as  to  make  it,  if  possible,  even  more  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  medical 
and  pharmaceutical  student  than  heretofore.  Considering  the  rapid  advances 
made  in  chemistry  as  applied  to  medicine  and  pharmacy,  the  addition  of  new 
matter  was  absolutely  necessary  ;  and  this  has  been  done  in  such  a  way  as  not 
±0  change  the  character  of  the  work,  which  is  that  of  a  guide  to  beginners  in 
