Am.  Jour.  Pharrn.  1 
July,  1890.  J 
Reviews. 
383 
tions  which  will  be  particularly  appreciated  by  the  student.  The  various  arti- 
cles are  considered  in  alphabetical  order  ;  they  include  not  only  chemicals,  but 
also  certain  galenicals  and  crude  drugs,  like  hydrargyrum  cum  creta,  unguen- 
tum  hydrargyri,  acacia,  cetaceum,  colocynthis,  copaiba,  guaiaci  lignum,  oleum 
olivse,  scammonium  and  others.  The  tests  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  are 
primarily  considered,  their  critical  value  being  briefly  indicated,  and  such 
modifications  or  additional  tests  suggested  as  the  author's  rich  experience 
deemed  necessary.  A  distinction  is  made  between  such  impurities  which 
result  from  faulty  manufacture  and  intentional  adulterations.  As  a  rule,  the 
tests  of  the  B.  P.  are  stated  to  be  sufficiently  simple  and  satisfactory,  but  in 
many  cases  simpler  methods  of  attaining  the  required  indications  are  described. 
Examinations  by  means  of  the  microscope  are  not  included  in  the  present 
work. 
From  the  preceding  remarks  the  value  of  the  work  becomes  obvious,  it  is 
one  which  may  be  consulted  on  all  occasions  falling  within  its  scope,  when  to 
all  practical  questions  it  will  give  practical  answers  devoid  of  theoretical  con- 
siderations, but  reliable  in  all  the  details.  The  useful  work  is  presented  by 
the  publishers  in  an  attractive  and  serviceable  garb. 
Universal  Pharmakopde. — Eine  vergleichende  Zusammenstellung  der  zur 
Zeit  in  Europa  und  Nord  Amerika  giiltigen  Pharmakopoen  von  Dr.  Bruno 
Hirsch.    Gottingen  :    Vandenhoeck  &  Ruprecht.  1890. 
Universal  Pharmacopoeia. — A  comprehensive  comparison  of  the  pharma- 
copoeias at  present  in  force  in  Europe  and  in  North  America. 
In  our  last  volume  we  have  noticed  somewhat  in  detail  the  merits  of  this 
valuable  work,  which  is  now  complete  with  the  appearance  of  copious  index 
and  the  tables  condensed  from  those  appended  to  the  various  Pharmacopoeias. 
Of  the  latter,  one  of  the  most  instructive  ones  is  that  giving  the  maximal 
doses  permitted  by  the  different  works,  showing  how  uncertain  a  quantity  a 
so-called  maximal  dose  is  in  the  opinion  of  different  medical  authorities,  as 
will  be  seen  from  the  following  examples  in  which  the  lowest  and  highest 
maximal  single  doses  are  stated  :  carbolic  acid,  0*045  and  o*io  gm.;  aconitine, 
o*ooi  and  0*005  gm.;  atropine  sulphate,  o*ooi  and  0*002  gm. ;  chloral  hydrate, 
2*0  and  5*6  gm.;  alcoholic  extract  of  nux  vomica,  0*02  and  0*15  gm.;  digitalis, 
o*i  and  0*3  gm.;  iodine,  o*oi  and  0*05  gm.;  morphine,  0*02  and  0*03  gm.;  strych- 
nine, 0005  and  0*015  gm-!  veratrine,  0*005  and  °'01  gm->  etc.  A  reference  to 
the  U.  S.  P.,  on  page  1 104,  may  easily  be  erroneously  construed  ;  it  is  stated 
there  that  the  British  and  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeias  divide  the  pound  into  16 
instead  of  into  12  ounces,  and  for  the  latter  the  metric  value  is  given  for  1 
pound  =  16  ounces  troy.  The  apothecaries'  weight  recognized  in  this  country 
has  the  same  subdivisions  as  the  Nuremberg  medical  weight,  the  ounce  (troy) 
being  equal  to  31*103  gm.,  while  the  mercantile  or  avoirdupois  pound  is  divided 
into  16  ounces  of  28*350  gm. 
Referring  to  our  former  notices  of  this  meritorious  work,  we  need  to  add 
merely  that  it  has  been  carried  to  its  completion  in  the  exact  and  comprehen- 
sive manner  ir  which  it  was  begun,  and  that  it  deserves  a  prominent  place 
among  the  works  of  reference  relating  to  pharmacopceial  matters  and  to  medi- 
cines in  general. 
