Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1899. 
Reviews. 
237 
contributions  from  men  possessing  special  knowledge  or  unusual  experience  in 
a  particular  line,  diseases  which,  owing  to  their  complexity  are  not  generally 
understood.  This  plan  has  borne  fruit  and  the  readers  have  befqxe  them  in 
this  volume  exceptionally  valuable  articles  on  a  number  of  exacting  subjects, 
viz.:  "Cerebral  Haemorrhage,"  by  Dr.  Browning,  of  Brooklyn  ;  "  Cirrhoiis  of 
the  Liver,"  by  Professor  Adami,  of  Montreal;  "Cholera,"  by  Professor  Rubiuo, 
of  Naples;  "  Cholelithiasis,"  by  Professor  Graham,  of  Toronto;  "Diabetes," 
by  Professor  Lupine,  of  Lyons.  The  better  known  affections  have  also  been 
edited  by  writers  01  special  ability.  Among  the  articles  of  this  kind  is  that  on 
"Diphtheria,"  by  Drs.  Northrup  and  Bovaird,  of  New  York.  Among  other 
papers  may  be  mentioned  that  on  "Catalepsy,"  by  Professor  Kskridge,  of  Den- 
ver; "Chorea,"  by  Professor  Bondurant,  of  Mobile  ;  "  Cocainomania,"  by  Dr. 
Kerr,  of  London  ;  "Constipation,"  by  Prof.  N.  S.  Davis,  of  Chicago;  "Dilata- 
tion of  the  Heart,"  by  Dr.  Vickery,  of  Boston. 
The  work  is  well  done  and  every  effort  has  been  made  to  make  it  one  of  the 
most  important  contributions  to  scientific  medicine.  The  illustrations  are  well 
made  and  the  whole  work  well  executed,  and  reflects  credit  on  editor  and  pub- 
lishers alike. 
The  Medicaid  News  Pocket  Formulary  for  1899.  By  B.  G.  Thornton, 
M.D.    Lea  Bros.  &  Co.  1899.- 
This  work  consists  of  a  collection  of  formulas  on  various  medical  sub- 
jects, beginning  with  abortion  (to  prevent)  down  to  yellow  fever.  The 
author  says  of  the  work:  "  That  there  is  a  broad  and  legitimate  field  of  useful- 
ness for  works  of  this  character  is  self-evident."  It  maybe  that  the  newly 
graduated  M.D.  is  at  a  loss  how  and  what  to  prescribe.  It  may  be  that  there 
are  physicians  who  are  in  need  of  works  of  this  character.  No  doubt  the 
same  arguments  may  be  employed  in  support  of  this  "Pocket  Formulary" 
as  are  made  by  those  who  write  and  utilize  quiz  compends.  Both  classes  of 
publications  may  be  useful  apparently  to  some  people,  but  we  believe  that 
every  student  ought  to  make  his  own  quiz  compend  from  the  lectures  he 
attends,  the  literature  he  reads  and  the  results  of  his  experience,  and  so  the 
physician  ought  to  make  his  own  Formulary  in  a  like  manner.  The  real 
benefactors  do  not  necessarily  alleviate  temporary  conditions.  We  cannot 
help  but  think  that  works  of  this  character  tend  to  promote  quackery  and 
develop  anything  but  a  scientific  medicine.  What  we  want  is  less  work  on 
Pocket  Formularies  and  more  effort  put  in  the  direction  of  the  National  Formu- 
lary. Elevate  the  latter  and  you  develop  the  character  of  physician  and  phar- 
macist. We  do  not  mean  to  reflect  on  this  particular  book,  as  the  work  has 
been  well  done  and  the  selections  are  carefully  made.  It  is  the  principle, 
however,  that  we  would  not  promulgate. 
Digest  oe  Criticisms  on  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia.  Seventh 
Decennial  Revision  (1890).  Part  II.  Published  by  the  Committee  of  Revision 
and  Publication  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  the  United  States  of  America  (1890- 
1900). 
This  part  contains  abstracts  from  all  accessible  sources  up  to  the  end  of 
December,  1897.  The  compilation  was  made  by  Hans  M.  Wilder,  and  was 
passed  through  the  press  by  him  and  Dr.  Charles  Rice  conjointly.  The  work 
is  invaluable  to  all  investigators  in  pharmaceutical  work,  and  may  be  had  upon 
