92 
EDITORIAL. 
canadense,  wormseed  phytolacea,  sassafras  bark  and  pith,  hedeoma,  salvia, 
monarda,  leptandra,  gelsemium,  sulphate  of  atropia,  gutta  percha,  chi- 
maphila,  gaultheria,  eupatorium  laetucarium,  coffee,  madder,  spigelia, 
ginseng,  wild  cherry  bark,  quince  seed,  rubus  villosus,  gillenia,  calabar 
bean,  siinaruba,  rhus  toxicodendron,  cotton  root,  ol.  theobromse,  sanguina- 
ria,  cornus  florida,  helleborus  niger,  coptis,  cimicifuga,  hydrastis,  and 
many  others.  The  interpolation  of  so  much  matter  (nearly  one-fourth  of 
the  volume)  has  made  the  editorial  office  no  sinecure,  and  the  general 
accuracy  and  faithfulness  of  the  service  deserves  commendation.  We  say 
general,  because  there  are  some  points  in  which  the  editor  has  not  brought 
the  work  quite  up  to  the  present  level ;  for  instance,  in  the  chemistry  of 
veratrum  viride,  ergot,  and  black  pepper.  The  researches  of  C.  Bullock 
and  W.  T.  Wenzell  are  not  noted  in  the  two  first,  and  in  the  notice  of 
piperin  its  alkalinity  is  questioned.  The  editor  has  also  introduced  a 
large  number  of  the  illustrations  of  the  large  edition  of  Pereira,  together 
with  several  new  cuts,  among  which  that  on  veratrum  viride  is  excellent. 
The  publisher  has  done  his  part  well,  both  as  regards  paper,  press-work 
and  binding,  making  a  handsome  volume  of  over  a  thousand  pages. 
Practical  Therapeutics,  considered  chiefly  with  reference  to  articles  of  the  Ma- 
teria Medica.  By  Edward  John  Waring,  F.R.C.S.,  F.L.S.,  Surgeon  in 
Her  Majesty's  Indian  Army.  From  the  second  London  edition.  Philada., 
Lindsay  &  Blakiston,  1866  :  pp.  815  octavo. 
This  work  by  Dr.  Waring,  to  the  most  casual  reader,  presents  the  sub- 
ject in  a  form  that  attracts  attention  from  the  simplicity  of  its  arrangement, 
and  the  perspicuity  of  its  style.  Unlike  the  larger  works  of  Wood,  Stille' 
and  others  in  general  use,  the  arrangement  is  based  on  the  items  of  mate- 
ria medica  in  alphabetical  order.  The  range  of  drugs  noticed  is  very  ex- 
tensive, but,  whilst  the  author  has  adopted  a  materia  medica  framework, 
he  has  carefully  avoided  making  his  book  a  treatise  on  drugs,  by  giving 
only  the  most  salient  points  of  their  history  and  characters.  Thus,  of 
camphor  the  author  says  :  "  Camphora,  Camphor.  A  concrete  volatile  oil 
obtained  by  sublimation  from  the  wood  of  Camphora  officinarum  (Laurus 
camphora,  Linn.^j,  a  native  of  China  and  Japan.  Nat.  Ord,,  Lauraceae  ; 
Linn.  Syst.,  Enneandria  monogynia.  It  is  also  found  in  white  crystalline 
fragments  in  the  wood  of  Dryabalanops  camphora.  It  is  found  in  small 
quantities  in  other  plants  ;  that  used  in  the  Tennaserim  Provinces  is  ob- 
tained in  considerable  quantities  and  of  fair  quality  from  the  leaves  and 
stalks  of  the  Blumea  grandis  [Be  Candy  Comp.  C2QH1602.  Equiv.  wt. 
152." 
This  brief  notice  is  followed  by  six  pages,  the  first  of  which  refers  to 
the  medical  properties,  mode  of  action,  officinal  preparations  and  modes  of 
administration  of  camphor,  whilst  the  other  five  are  occupied  with  its 
therapeutic  uses.  In  giving  these,  the  paragraphs  are  headed  in  italics 
with  the  more  prominent  diseases  in  which  the  drug  is  used,  making  refer- 
