Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
March,  1888,  J 
Obituary. 
155 
violaceae ;  of  tlie  characters  of  the  genus,  the  probable  causes  of  the  variation 
of  the  diiferent  species,  the  comparative  anatomy  of  seventy  species  (several 
of  North  American  origin),  and  of  the  medical  and  pharmaceutical  uses  of  cer- 
tain violets.  Two  lithographic  plates  of  well-executed  microscopical  drawings 
illustrated  the  researches  into  the  anatomy  of  these  plants. 
Loco  weed;  Astragalus  molissimus.   By  L.  E.  Sayre,  Ph.  G.  Pp.  6. 
Reprint  from  Transactions  of  the  Kansas  Academy  of  Science,  vol.  x. 
Professor  Sayre  has  undertaken  the  investigation  of  the  loco  weeds  of  Kan- 
sas ;  the  pamphlet  before  us  is  a  preliminary  report  on  one  of  these  plants, 
which  appears  to  not  contain  any  alkaloid.  The  researches  on  the  nature  of 
the  poisonous  principle  are  continued. 
Transactions  of  the  American  Dermatological  Association  at  the  eleventh  annual  meet- 
ing, held  at  the  hall  of  the  Maryland  State  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Faculty 
in  Baltimore  on  the  31st  of  August,  and  1st  of  September  1887 
The  official  report  of  the  proceedings  by  the  secretary,  Dr.  G.  H.  Tilden, 
Boston. 
Octonary  numeration  and  its  application  to  a  system  of  iveights  and  measures.  By 
Alfred  B.  Taylor,  A.  M.,  Ph.  M.  8vo.  pp.  73. 
This  essay  was  read  before  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  at  Philadel- 
phia, October  21st,  1887. 
The  galvano-cautery  sound  and  its  application,  especially  in  hypertrophy  of  the  pros- 
tate, etc.   By  Rob.  Newman,  M.  D.,  of  New  York, 
Read  before  the  ninth  International  Medical  Congress,  and  reprinted  from 
the  New  England  Medical  Monthly. 
Central  Experiment  Farm,  Department  of  Agriculture,  Ottawa,  Canada.  Bulletin 
No.  2,  December  15th,  1887. 
This  report  by  Professor  AVm.  Saunders  is  largely  devoted  to  experiments 
made  on  the  vitality  of  commercial  seeds. 
Report  of  the  Committee  on  indexing  chemical  literature. 
Reprint  from  the  Proceedings  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advance- 
ment of  Science,   vol.  xxxvi. 
OBITUARY. 
Wm.  Biddle,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Canby  Biddle,  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia May  17,  1806.  He  was  fifth  in  descent  from  William  Biddle  of  London, 
who  came  to  West  Jersey  A.  D.  1680,  and  from  whom  is  descended  the  family 
of  Biddies  so  favorably  known  in  Philadelphia.  Owen  Biddle,  the  grandfather 
of  the  late  William  Biddle,  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
