496 
Reviews,  etc. 
J  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
[      Sept.,  1884. 
The  Student's  Guide  to  Systematic  Botany,  including  the  classification  of 
plants  and  descriptive  botany.  By  Robert  Bentley,  F.L.S.,  M.R.C.S. 
Eng.,  etc.    London  :  J.  &  A.  Churchill,  1884.    12mo.    Pp.  178. 
This  little  work  contains  the  principal  natural  orders  of  the  British  flora 
yielding  medicinal  plants,  and  arranged  according  to  De  Candolle's  system 
somewhat  modified.  These  orders  and  their  subdivisions  are  characterized 
in  the  lucid  and  careful  style  to  which  we  are  accustomed  in  the  author's 
writings ;  the  characters  are  fully  illustrated  and  attention  is  directed  to 
plants  presenting  these  characters.  The  second  part,  about  one-fourth  of 
the  book,  is  devoted  to  descriptive  botany,  explaining  the  manner  in  which 
the  student  should  proceed  to  examine  plants  and  giving  examples  of 
descriptions  of  19  familiar  medicinal  plants,  belonging  to  as  many  different 
natural  orders.  The  little  volume  will  doubtless  prove  of  great  use  to  British 
students  entering  upon  the  practical  study  of  botany. 
A  Short  Te.rt-book  of  Inorganic  Chemistry.  By  Dr.  Hermann  Kolbe,  Pro- 
fessor of  Chemistry  in  the  University  of  Leipzig.  Translated  and  edited 
by  P.  S.  Humpidge,  Ph.D.,  B.Sc.  (London),  etc.  With  a  colored  table  of 
spectra  and  numerous  wood  engravings.  New  York  :  John  Wiley  & 
Sons,  1884.    Pp.  606.    Price  $2.50    Philadelphia  :  Porter  &  Coates. 
That  Kolbe's  work  is  a  good  one  is  saying  about  as  little  as  possible  of  a 
book  written  by  one  of  the  most  prominent  chemists,  whose  critical  mind 
is  well  known.  The  author's  aim  is  expressed  in  the  preface  as  being  to 
give  an  idea  of  chemical  processes  and  of  the  most  important  chemical 
theories  without  burdening  the  memory  with  a  large  number  of  mere  facts  ; 
to  blend  them  together  into  one  continuous  narrative,  and  thus  to  prepare 
students  to  acquire  an  accurate  knowledge  of  chemistry  by  their  own  prac- 
tical work.  This  is  what  the  author  insists  on,  continued  practice  and  thus 
to  learn  by  clear  perception  and  reflection.  The  translator  and  editor  has 
done  well  his  part  of  the  labor,  and  the  external  getting  up  of  the  book  is 
also  creditable.  The  English-speaking  student  of  chemistry  has  thus  offered 
to  him  another  good  elementary  work  in  addition  to  those  previously  placed 
in  his  hands. 
The  Extra  Pharmacopoeia  of  Unofficial  Drugs  and  Chemical  Preparations. 
By  Wm.  Martindale,  F.C.S. ;  with  reference  to  their  use,  etc,  by  W.  W. 
Westcott,  M.B.  Third  edition.  London  :  H.  K.  Lewis,  1884.  16mo, 
pp.  330. 
The  second  edition  was  noticed  on  p.  127  of  our  present  volume,  and 
differs  but  little  from  the  book  now  before  us ;  yet  the  latter  contains  a 
number  of  new  formulas  and  references. 
Auscultation,  Percussion  and  Urinalysis.    An  epitome  of  the  physical  signs 
of  the  heart,  lung,  liver,  kidney  and  spleen  in  health  and  disease.  Edited 
by  Prof.  C.  Henry  Leonard,  A.M.,  M.D.    Detroit,  Mich.  :  Illustrated. 
Med.  Journal  Co.    12mo,  pp.  166.    Price  $1. 
It  is  illustrated  with  about  40  wood-cuts. 
