5i8 
Reviews. 
Am.  Jour,  Pharm-- 
Oct.,  1891. 
references  to  prominent  journals.  Concise,  but  clear,  in  all  its  statements, 
whether  they  refer  to  practice  or  theory,  the  book  is  admirably  adapted  for  the 
systematic  study  of  the  carbon  compounds  ;  the  beginner  finds  an  outline  of 
the  science  indicated  in  the  text  by  large  type,  and  the  advanced  student  is  led 
to  the  study  of  other  equally  important  matter  through  numerous  paragraphs 
printed  with  smaller  type.  Thus  the  work  becomes  also  a  volume  of  reference 
for  theoretical  chemistry  in  general,  and  for  most  organic  compounds  in 
special.  Moreover,  the  numerous  processes  and  methods,  tersely  described, 
make  the  work  useful  as  a  practical  guide  in  the  laboratory.  The  external 
appearance  is  in  keeping  with  the  excellencies  of  the  text. 
A  Short  Manual  of  Analytical  Chemistry,  qualitative  and  quantitative- 
inorganic  and  organic.  Arranged  on  the  principle  of  the  course  of  instruction 
given  at  the  South  London  School  of  Pharmacy.  By  John  Muter,  M.D.,  Ph.D., 
F.R.S.E.,  etc.  First  American  from  the  fourth  English  edition,  edited  by 
Claude  C.  Hamilton,  M.D.,  Ph.G.,  etc.  Philadelphia  :  P.  Blakiston,  Son  &  Co. 
1891.    Svo.    Pp.  xii  and  205. 
Part  I  of  this  work,  devoted  to  qualitative  analysis,  opens  with  a  chapter  on 
chemical  processes,  and  then  proceeds  to  the  detection  of  the  metals;  which 
are  arranged  in  groups,  beginning  with  those  precipitated  from  their  solutions 
with  hydrochloric  acid,  and  terminating  with  the  alkalies.  The  acidulous 
radicals  and  their  separation  are  considered  in  Chapter  III,  and  this  is  followed 
by  the  qualitative  determination  of  simple  salts  and  of  mixtures  of  salts. 
Chapter  V  contains  schemes  for  the  systematic  detection  of  alkaloids,  glucosides 
and  various  other  medicinal  organic  bodies,  also  for  the  isolation  of  poisons  in 
mixtures. 
In  Part  II,  weighing,  measuring  and  specific  gravity  are  first  discussed, 
including  the  methods  for  determining  vapor  densities.  This  is  followed  by 
volumetric  analysis,  the  use  of  the  nitrometer,  and  colorimetric  analysis  ;  then 
by  the  gravimetric  determination  of  metals  and  acids  ;  by  ultimate  organic 
analysis  ;  by  the  analysis  of  water,  air  and  certain  articles  of  food ;  by  special 
processes  for  drugs,  urine  and  urinary  calculi ;  and  finally,  by  a  chapter  on  the 
analysis  of  gases,  by  the  polariscope  and  on  spectrum  analysis. 
It  will  be  observed  that  the  scope  of  the  work  is  a  very  extensive  one  for  the 
limited  space,  which  renders  briefness  necessary  ;  but  the  methods  and  results 
are  clearly  described,  and  the  arrangement  of  the  extensive  material  is  quite 
practical,  as  might  be  expected  from  the  large  experience  of  the  author.  The 
American  editor,  who  is  professor  of  analytical  chemistry  in  the  University 
Medical  College  and  the  Kansas  City  College  of  Pharmacy,  has  adapted  the 
work  to  the  requirements  of  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia,  enlarged  the 
chapter  on  urine  analysis,  and  made  some  other  acceptable  changes  and  addi- 
tions. The  proofreading  has  been  carefully  done,  but  very  few  typographical 
errors  having  been  noticed  by  us.  In  a  few  instances,  it  would  seem  to  be 
desirable  for  the  complete  characterization  of  certain  compounds,  to  somewhat 
extend  the  descriptions  ;  for  instance,  the  solubility  of  jalapin  in  alkalies  is 
mentioned,  but  it  has  been  omitted  to  state  that  such  a  solution  is  not  precipi- 
tated by  acids  ;  the  partial  solubility  of  podophyllin  in  boiling  water,  and  the 
influence  of  light  upon  santonin  have  not  been  mentioned. 
We  regard  the  work  as  a  very  useful  one,  and  as  being  well  adapted  for 
