Editorials. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharin. 
July,  1890. 
EDITORIALS. 
The  German  Pharmacopoeia. — We  learn  from  the  ' '  Pharmaceutische 
Zeitung  "  of  June  18,  that  the  Federal  Council  of  Germany  has  ordered  the 
new  "  Arzneibuch  "  to  be  printed,  and  to  become  obligatory  from  January  i, 
1891.  It  will  be  issued  in  the  German  language  with  only  the  titles  of  the 
medicaments  in  Latin. 
Early  in  1887  a  commission  was  appointed  by  the  Chancellor,  charged  with 
collecting,  arranging  and  critically  examining  the  material  for  the  new  work. 
The  preliminary  labors  were  so  far  completed  by  the  middle  of  1888  that  the 
material  could  be  handed  over  to  the  special  committees  of  apothecaries, 
chemists  and  pharmacognosists.  Not  less  than  1240  new  articles  had  been 
recommended  for  adoption  ;  however,  only  a  small  number  was  finally  selected. 
The  labors  of  the  special  committees  were  considered  by  the  sub-committees 
at  meetings  held  June  12  to  19,  1889,  when  it  was  found  that  the  changes  con- 
sidered necessary  were  so  numerous  that,  instead  of  issuing  an  appendix  to  the 
second  edition,  the  elaboration  of  a  new  third  edition  of  the  Pharmacopoeia 
was  deemed  advisable,  and  received  the  sanction  of  the  imperial  health  office. 
The  final  deliberations  took  place  October  11  to  19,  1889,  when  the  general 
commission  met,  in  conjunction  with  health  officers,  military  commissioners 
and  veterinary  surgeons  detailed  for  this  service.  By  resolution  of  the  Federal 
Council  of  November  21,  1889,  the  text  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  wa=>  ordered  to 
be  drawn  up  in  the  German  language,  as  stated  above. 
Of  the  fifty  new  articles  the  following  are  not  contained  in  the  present  U.  S. 
Pharmacopoeia  :  Acetanilidum,  Acidum  trichloraceticum,  ^ther  bromatus, 
Agaricinum,  Albumen  Ovi  siccum,  Amylenum  hydratum,  Antipyrinum,  Cap- 
sular, Chininum  tannicum,  Chloralum  formamidatum,  Codeinum  phosphori- 
cum,  Cuprum  aluminatum,  Emplastrum  Cantharidum  pro  usu  veterinario, 
Extractum  Condurango  fluidum,  Homatropinum  hydrobromicum,  Hyosci- 
num  hydrobromicum,  Keratinum,  Liquor  Ferri  albuminati,  Mentholum, 
Naphthalinum,  Naphtholum,  Paraldehydum,  Phenacetinum,  Physostigminum 
sulfuricum,  Resorcinum,  Rotulse  Sacchari,  Salolum,  Sebum  salicylatum, 
Semen  Arecae,  Semen  Strophanthi,  Species  diureticae,  Sulfonalum,  Terpinum 
hydratum,  Thallinum  sulfuricum,  Tinctura  Strophanthi,  Unguentum  Acidi 
borici,  and  Vinum  Condurango.  ✓ 
In  addition  to  these  the  following  general  articles  have  been  admitted  : 
Electuariae,  Emplastra,  Extracta  fiuida,  Granula,  Linimenta,  Pastilli,  Pilulae, 
Styli  caustici,  Suppositoria  and  Tabulae. 
Fifty-eight  articles  have  been  dismissed,  among  them  morphine  sulphate, 
other  morphine  salts  being  employed  in  preference.  Various  changes  have 
been  made  in  nomenclature,  and  "  Sirupus  "  is  now  the  adopted  spelling. for 
syrups.  The  reagents,  including  the  volumetric  solutions,  have  been  increased 
from  67  to  89.  As  might  be  expected,  a  number  of  changes  have  been  made  in 
the  preparations  retained  from  the  preceding  edition.  The  table  of  solubili- 
ties is  discontinued.  The  tables  of  maximal  doses  and  of  specific  gravity  have 
been  revised,  and  the  list  of  synonyms  has  been  considerably  augmented. 
Precautions  against  disease. — We  are  in  receipt  of  a  series  of  the  precaution- 
ary circulars  issued  by  the  State  Board  of  Health  of  Pennsylvania,  and  cheer- 
