AMFebDi,  m3RM'}  Reviews  and  Bibliographical  Notices.  93 
cinal  articles  into  materia  medica  and  preparations ;  nor  are  we  convinced  of 
the  propriety  of  giving  elaborate  directions  for  the  preparation  of  chemicals 
which  are  rarely  or  never  made  by  the  pharmacist.  In  respect  to  the  former, 
inconsistencies  cannot  be  avoided,  and  it  is  certainly  not  conducive  to  the  con- 
venience in  using  the  work  of  having  ihe  medicinal  articles  arranged  in  three 
different  groups.  Apparently  there  is  no  reason  why  most  of  the  acids,  and  of 
the  salts  of  ammonium,  calcium,  iron,  magnesium,  manganese,  lead,  potassium. 
&c,  should  not  have  received  the  same  consideration  in  regard  to  elaborate 
processes  as  other  similar  preparations,  or  as  the  pure  alkaloids  and  their  salts, 
which,  like  the  former,  are,  perhaps,  never  made  in  any  pharmacy. 
In  chemistry  there  are  usually  different  methods  of  attaining  the  same  end, 
and  it  strikes  us  that  any  process  for  obtaining  a  chemical  compound  of  a  defi- 
nite composition  should  be  admissible,  provided  this  compound,  in  regard  to 
purity,  comes  up  to  the  requirements  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.  It  is  not  impos- 
sible that  the  necessity  of  obtaining  many  chemicals  from  the  manufacturing 
chemists  for  which  the  Pharmacopoeia  gives  processes  has  had  a  great  influ- 
ence upon  the  pharmaceuticals  also,  in  banishing  their  preparation  from  many 
pharmacies,  and  in  establishing  for  such  products  of  manufacturers  a  confidence 
the  correctness  of  which  can  in  most  cases  not  be  proven,  and  which  in  many 
instances  is  entirely  undeserved. 
The  directions  for  preparing  the  fluid  extracts  have  been  considerably 
changed  and  improved,  so  as  to  avoid  complicated  processes,  simplify  the  ma- 
nipulations, save  the  menstruum  and  omit  evaporation  as  much  as  possible. 
When  the  directions  are  strictly  followed,  the  material  will  in  all  cases  be 
practically  exhausted,  and  the  preparation  will  fully  represent  the  crude  drug. 
The  strength  of  the  troyounce  to  the  fluidounce  has  been  made  uniform  for  all 
fluid  extracts.  In  this  connection  it  should  be  mentioned  that  the  fluid  extract 
of  wild  cherry  is  entirely  different  from  that  of  the  former  Pharmacopoeia, 
containing  now  only  a  portion  of  the  hydrocyanic  acid  and  volatile  oil  formed, 
but  the  entire  amount  of  the  astringent  and  bitter  principles. 
The  change  in  the  nomenclature  of  the  chemical  preparations  is  particularly 
commendable,  inasmuch  as  it  establishes  a  uniformity  and  consistency  which 
has  been  more  or  less  wanting  in  all  pharmacopoeias.  This  change  is  in 
accordance  with  the  suggestions  advanced  by  Professor  Attfield,  and  com- 
mented upon  in  a  former  number;*  thus,  we  have  now  ammomV  carbonas,  mag- 
nesu  sulphas,  potassw  bitartras,  sod-iz  boras,  &c,  while  such  names  as  alumen, 
calx,  creta,  ammonia,  magnesia,  poiassa,  soda  have  been  retained,  the  last  four 
for  the  oxides  or  hydrates. 
In  addition  to  the  tables  which  have  been  usually  found  in  our  national 
Pharmacopoeia,  some  new  ones  have  been  added  in  the  present  edition,  which 
will  be  of  great  service  to  many  pharmacists ;  we  refer  to  the  tables  on  the 
decimal  weights  and  measures,  and  their  relation  to  those  of  the  Pharma- 
copoeia. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  physicians  and  pharmacists  will  now,  without  unneces- 
sary delay,  make  the  new  Pharmacopoeia  their  guide  in  prescribing,  and  par- 
*See  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1871,  p.  334. 
