Am.  Jour.  Pharru. 
June,  1S88. 
Reviews. 
313 
sciences  and  practice  of  medicine.  Some  of  the  changes,  however,  may  be 
questioned  as  those  in  strength  of  well-known  preparations.  But  there  are  also 
changes  which  represent  the  results  of  studies  and  researches  that  have  been 
confirmed  and  with  which  there  ought  to  be  a  unanimity  of  expression,  as  the 
introduction  of  the  metric  system.  Some  will  object  to  the  new  Pharmacopoeia, 
doubtless,  because  it  is  not  permeated  with  sufficient  material  that  is  required 
in  everyday  practice,  and  may  say  that  it  does  not  represent  the  professions  of 
to-day.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  research  and  practice  of  to-day  is 
always  a  step  in  advance  of  the  knowledge  that  is  accepted.  There  always 
must  be  the  experimental  or  "scouting  "  party  in  search  for  new  truths,  and 
these  are  the  results  that  are  apt  to  be  upon  every  tongue,  and  in  every  office 
and  shop,  and  ofttimes  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  those  who  are  engaged  in 
daily  practice  of  the  professions.  But  these  things  with  their  reports  neither 
represent  truth  nor  definite  knowledge,  nor  anything  that  is  certain  and  ought 
to  be  made  pharmacopceial.  This  distinction  can  only  be  given  these  reports 
when  this  knowledge  has  been  shaped  into  something  definite  and  certain,  and 
has  been  repeatedly  confirmed  by  others. 
There  are  some  who  expect  the  Pharmacopoeia  to  be  perfect  in  every  respect, 
but  they  will  find  it  like  themselves,  imperfect,  at  least,  in  some  things.  We 
must  recognize  that  Pharmacopoeias  serve  primarily  as  a  standard,  a  guide,  ac- 
cording to  which  every  one,  for  whom  it  is  intended  and  is  competent,  can  make 
similar  preparations  of  approximately  the  same  strength,  and  so  on.  We  ex- 
pect progress  in  the  new  Pharmacopoeia  over  preceding  issues.  As  to  whether 
all  has  been  omitted,  incorporated  or  changed  in  the  new  British  Pharmaco- 
paeia  that  might  have  been,  requires  the  careful  survey  of  a  thoughtful  and 
practical  mind  from  the  rather  lofty  summit  of  experience. 
REVIEWS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 
Handbuch  der  Organischen  Chemie.  von  F.  Beiestein.  Dritte  Auflage. 
88  te  Lief.  (Band  IV,  Lief  12).  Hamburg  und  Leipsig,  Verlag  von  Leopold 
Voss.  1898. 
In  this  Lieferung  (pages  705  to  714  inclusive)  is  contained  the  derivates  of  the 
following  acids:  CnH2n-404;  CnH2n-604  —  CnH2n_20O4;  CnH2n-2204  — 
CuH2n—  24O4  ;  those  with  5,  8,  9  and  10  atoms  of  oxygen  ;  derivatives  of  the 
acids  of  the  Furan  series  ;  sulfonacid  derivatives  of  phenylhydrazin  ;  phenyl- 
hydrazino  acids.  Also  cyan  derivatives  of  phenylhydrazin  ;  phenylhydrazine 
derivatives  of  aldehydes  ;  and  derivatives  of  ketone. 
Royae  Botanic  Gardens.  Bueeetin  oe  Misceeeaneous  Information. 
Trinidad.  Vol.  HI,  Part  IV,  No.  14.  Edited  by  the  Superintendent  Royal 
Botanic  Gardens,  J.  H.  Hart,  F.L.S.  Trinidad  :  Printed  at  the  Government 
Printing  Office,  Port  of  Spain.  1898. 
This  bulletin  contains  articles  on  "  Minor  Industries";  Fermentation  ;  Para- 
sitism in  the  Scrophularineae  ;  Ustilago  Maydis,  D.  C.  ;  Oranges  (the  bitter  and 
the  sweet)  and  variations  from  the  seed  ;  an  Estimation  of  the  Characters  of 
three  Varieties  of  Cacao  ;  and  note  on  the  agricultural  exhibition. 
An  Ephemeris  of  Materia  Medica,  Pharmacy,  Therapeutics  and 
