REVIEW  OF  PHARMACOPOEIA  HELVETICA.  209 
to  put  up  the  prescription.  The  values  in  the  two  columns  can 
only  be  approximate,  but  since  the  Swiss  pound  is  equivalent  to 
one-half  kilogramme,  the  discrepancies  in  the  different  values 
ought  to  be  quite  insignificant.  Taken  as  a  whole  the  table  is 
correct,  but  a  few  discrepancies  occur  which  are  too  great ;  we 
notice  the  following :  Aconitia,  maximum  single  dose  J  gr.—  -008 
instead  of  '007  grm., — a  difference  of  over  12  per  cent. ;  atro- 
pia,  single  dose  ^  gr.  =  -0016,  not  -001  grm., — difference  over 
50  per  cent.  Evident  mistakes  are  the  following  :  Acidum  arse- 
niosum,  TV  (not  J)  grain  =  -005  grm. ;  veratria,  J  grain  =  *015 
(not  -005)  grm.  ;  zinci  chloridum,  ^  grain  =  -015  (not  -005) 
grm. 
Following  the  tables  we  have  one  general  index  of  Latin, 
German,  French  and  Italian  names,  including  the  synonyms  ; 
and  the  whole  concludes  with  a  list  of  thirty-five  "corrigenda," 
mostly  typical  errors,  in  which,  however,  those  just  mentioned 
are  not  included. 
The  European  pharmacopoeias  in  general  originated  with  the 
governments,  and  are  from  time  to  time  revised  by  boards  ap- 
pointed by  the  same.  The  origin  of  the  Swiss  pharmacopoeia  is 
similar  to  our  own,  except  that  the  initiatory  steps  were  taken 
and  the  work  completed  entirely  by  pharmacists.  It  is  therefore 
truly  republican  in  its  nature,  being,  the  pharmacial  law-book 
made  by  those  who  are  to  be  governed  by  it. 
It  will  be  interesting  to  American  pharmacists  to  know  some- 
thing of  the  preparations  and  processes  adopted  by  our  republican 
brethren  in  Europe,  and  we  propose  to  review  the  more  import- 
ant ones,  and  compare  them  with  similar  ones  in  our  own  phar- 
macopoeia ;  we  shall  look  first  at  the  strictly  chemical  prepara- 
tions, and  afterwards  consider  the  pharmaceuticals. 
It  may  be  remarked  here,  that  all  quantities  given  are  meant 
for  weight ;  the  British  and  American  Pharmacopoeias,  I  believe, 
are  the  only  ones  which  order  the  liquids  by  measure.  This 
rule,  however,  has  been  departed  from  in  ordering  fixed  oils, 
oleoresins,  acids,  &c,  in  the  last  edition  of  our  own.  In  direct- 
ing quantities  in  parts  (rarely  ounces  or  grains,  and  then  the 
equivalent  in  grammes  is  always  given),  the  Swiss  Pharmaco- 
poeia has  followed  the  commendable  example  of  other  continental 
14 
