EDITORIAL. 
477 
expected  that  the  practical  laboratory  can  be  organized  this  season,  but 
it  will  be  urged  on  to  as  early  a  period  as  possible  consistent  with  its 
proper  arrangement.  The  details  of  this  branch  of  instruction,  as  it  is 
proposed  to  carry  it  on,  are  too  important  to  be  hastily  established. 
The  family  Adviser  and  Guide  to  the  Medicine  Chest.  A  concise  hand- 
book of  domestic  medicine.  By  Dr.  Henry  Hartshorne.  Philadelphia, 
John  Wyeth  &  Brother,  1412  Walnut  street,  18G8  ;  pp.  104,  12  mo. 
An  examination  of  this  little  volume  leads  us  to  view  it  as  one  of  the 
best  companions  to  the  medicine  chest  that  has  been  published,  and  has 
the  great  merit  of  giving  much  information  in  a  few  words.  The  plan  of 
the  book  is  simple.  It  begins,  in  part  I,  by  answering  the  question  for 
what  purposes  medicines  are  employed — as  to  relieve  pain,  to  give  sleep, 
to  reduce  fever,  to  quiet  cough,  &c. — and  enumerates  some  of  the  im- 
portant diseases,  accidents  or  poisoning,  etc.  Part  II  replies  to  the 
query  "  what  is  the  matter,'7  in  a  few  general  directions  regarding  symp- 
toms. Part  III  succinctly  notices  the  principal  medicines  proper  for 
popular  use.  Part  IV  is  a  chapter  on  dietetics,  and  part  V  the 
management  of  the  sick  room.  As  the  book  is  written  by  a  judicious 
practicing  physician,  it  is  free  from  many  objectionable  features  that  are 
sometimes  found  in  works  on  "  Domestic  Medicine."  The  volume  is 
convenient  in  size  for  the  traveller,  and  is  neatly  printed  and  well  bound. 
Dental  Materia  Medica,  compiled  by  James  W.  White,  Philadelphia. 
Published  by  Samuel  S.  White,  1868  ;  pp.  108,  24  mo. 
This  neatly  gotten-up  little  volume  is  intended  to  give  information  in 
relation  to  the  medicines  and  agents  used  and  prescribed  by  dentists. 
The  writer  expressly  avoids  entering  upon  the  botanical  and  chemical 
history  of  his  subjects,  and  confines  himself  to  the  purposes  and  methods 
of  using,  and  does  not  give  many  formulas  for  manufacturing  prepara- 
tions as  in  pharmaceutical  works.  One-fifth  of  the  pages  relate  to  anaes- 
thetics, general  and  local  but  caution  the  readers  in  relation  to  their  too 
frequent  use.  By  permission  of  the  publishers  we  have  copied  the  article 
on  Nitrous  Oxide,  at  page  408,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 
These  de  Pharmacie  presentee  et  soutenue  a  1'ecole  superieure  de  Phar- 
macie,  pai^Armand  Fu:nouze,  Docteur  en  Medicine.  Pharmacien  de 
Ire  Classe.  De  la  Cantharide  Officinale.  Paris  chez  Germer  Bailliere, 
1867  :  pp.  58,  quarto,  with  four  engraved  plates. 
From  E.  Fougera,  New  York.  This  work  on  cantharides  appears  to 
be  very  thorough  and  complete  in  all  its  parts,  as  regards  the  commer- 
cial, natural,  and  chemical  history  of  the  cantharis.  and  the  insects  which 
attack  it.  We  have  before  published  his  method  of  isolating  cantharidin 
by  the  consecutive  action  of  chloroform  on  sulphuret  of  carbon  (see  page 
116  of  volume),  and  in  a  future  number  will  give  a  further  notice,  which 
the  lateness  of  its  reception  prevents  us  from  giving  now. 
