382 
Reviews, 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1890. 
a  medicine.  It  is  now  twenty  years  since  Professor  Fraser  published  his  first 
observations  on  the  physiological  action  and  the  chemical  constituents  of  the 
drug  in  question.  Previous  to  that  time  the  kombe  was  known  as  an  African 
arrow  poison,  chiefly  through  the  writings  of  missionaries  and  travellers  in  the 
Dark  Continent.  The  substance  of  this  information  is  contained  in  the  essay 
before  us,  together  with  the  results  of  recent  investigations,  notably  the  long- 
continued  researches  made  by  the  author,  or  which  were  incited  through  the 
interesting  facts  ascertained  by  him.  Accordingly,  we  find  here,  aside  from  the 
general  historical  introduction,  a  full  account  of  the  use  of  kombe  as  an  arrow 
poison,  a  description  of  the  arrows  used  by  the  different  tribes  with  the  poi- 
son, an  excellent  botanical  description  of  the  genus  and  of  the  particular  species, 
including  the  morphology  and  histology  of  the  different  organs,  and  the  chemi- 
cal history  of  the  principles  present  in  the  seeds,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  the 
plant.  Besides  in  the  seed,  strophantin  is  also  contained,  though  in  much 
smaller  quantity  than  in  the  former,  in  the  comose  appendage,  the  placenta, 
endocarp,  pericarp,  leaves  and  root,  but  not  in  the  bark  of  either  the  branches 
or  stem.  The  subject  is  handsomely  illustrated  by  seven  lithographic  plates, 
showing  the  different  kinds  of  arrows,  the  different  parts  of  the  plant  in  their 
natural  appearance  and  their  structure,  and  the  crystals  of  strophantin  and 
strophantidin,  obtained  under  various  conditions. 
A  manual  of  pharmaceutical  testing  for  the  man  of  business  and  his  assist- 
ants, comprising  simple  instructions  for  the  testing  of  the  chemicals  of  the 
British  Pharmacopoeia,  etc.,  with  such  materials  and  appliances  as  are  in  com- 
mon use  at  the  dispensing  counter.  By  Bernard  S.  Proctor,  F.I.C.  Published 
at  the  offices  of  the  Chemist  and  Druggist,  London,  and  at  Melbourne  and 
vSydney.    1890.    i2tno.  pp.  176. 
In  our  opinion,  there  will  be  scarcely  any  pharmacist  who  would  not  endorse 
the  author's  position  on  the  important  question  of  testing  as  expressed  in  the 
prefatory  and  introductory  remarks  to  the  little  work  now  before  us.  "  Every 
pharmacist,"  the  author  fays,  "should  test  his  chemicals  occasionally,  to  see  that 
their  quality  is  up  to  the  required  standard.  To  do  this  frequently,  the  tests 
must  be  the  simplest,  speediest  and  most  inexpensive  that  may  be  devised. 
The  tests  should  answer  the  question,  Is  the  article  fit  for  use  ?  And  having 
given  an  answer  to  this,  it  is  in  many  cases  of  little  moment  whether  or  not 
the  extent  of  deviation  from  standard  be  indicated.  It  is  usually  better  and 
simpler  to  reject  that  which  is  faulty  than  to  make  an  exact  analysis  and  allow 
for  its  deficiencies.  Absolute  purity  is  a  thing  only  theoretically  attainable, 
and  it  is  better  to  define  within  clear  and  reasonable  limits  what  may  be 
allowed  in  practice  than  to  give  definitions  which,  from  being  unnecessarily 
and  impracticably  stringent,  become  a  dead  letter.  *  *  *  It  is  assumed 
that  the  degree  of  accuracy  which  ought  to  be  demanded  in  pharmaceutical 
testing  is  t'r  e  same — neither  more  nor  less  than  that  accuracy  which  is 
demanded  of  the  pharmacist  in  the  performance  of  his  dispensing  and  operative 
processes,  and,  in  this  view,  good  qualities  of  the  usual  pharmaceutical  meas- 
ures, weigr  ts  and  balances,  if  carefully  used,  give  results  of  a  satisfactory  degree 
of  accuracy  for  the  practical  valuation  of  remedial  activity." 
From  the  practical  standpoint  thus  indicated  the  work  is  written.  The  pre- 
liminary chapter  contains  much  useful  information  on  processes  and  manipula- 
