762 
Book  Reviews. 
( Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
<•   November,  19 19. 
The  data  given  under  each  heading  are  of  both  scientific  value 
and  practical  importance  and  are  as  follows :  Physical  properties, 
constants,  solubilities,  derivation,  method  of  purification,  grades, 
containers,  uses,  fire  hazard  and  railroad  shipping  regulations.  The 
information  is  given  concisely  yet  intelligibly.  So  far  as  accuracy  is 
concerned  it  is  probably  above  the  average  book  of  its  kind,  no 
book  ever  published  being  perfect  in  this  respect.  For  instance,  the 
following  errors  were  noted  in  this  same  group  of  acids  that  were 
selected  for  critical  study  and  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  remainder 
of  the  book  will  show  about  the  same  degree  of  accuracy. 
Under  acetic  acid,  no  mention  is  made  of  its  use  in  pharmacy  or 
medicine.  Under  some  of  the  acids, ,'"U.  S.  P.  grade"  is  men- 
tioned, although  the  U.  S.  P.  makes  no  mention  of  this  acid  at  all 
except  perhaps  in  the  table  of  molecular  weights  or  under  the 
reagents.  Among  these  are  bromic,  aminoacetic,  anthranilic,  butyric, 
formic  (official  in  N.  F.),  iodic,  molybdic,  monochloracetic,  ortho- 
arsenic,  oxalic,  perchloric,  phosphoric  (anhydrous),  phosphoric 
(glacial),  phthalic,  silicotungstic,  succinic,  sulphurous  and  valeric. 
Under  hydrocyanic  acid  the  strength  is  mentioned  as  10  per  cent., 
a  dangerous  bit  of  misinformation. 
Incorrect  strengths  are  given  for  hydriodic  acid  and  hydrobromic 
acid. 
Under  hypophosphorous  acid  the  formula  is  incorrectly  given 
as  H3P702. 
If  errors  in  the  other  parts  of  the  book  are  in  the  same  propor- 
tion, and  quite  a  number  were  noticed  which  it  is  not  necessary  to 
mention,  there  would  be  upward  of  200  errors  in  the  whole  work. 
This  would  not  be  a  great  number  considering  the  number  of  titles 
involved.  The  errors  noted  were  of  minor  importance  in  the  ma- 
jority of  cases. 
The  work  is  well  cross-indexed  as  regards  the  names  and  syn- 
onyms of  crude  drugs  and  fixed  and  volatile  oils  as  well  as 
chemicals. 
The  latter  portion  of  the  book  is  devoted  to  tables  of  atomic 
weights,  weights  and  measures,  equivalents  temperature  conversion 
tables,  specific  gravity  tables  and  a  list  of  definitions  of  units  of 
measurements,  many  of  which  would  be  difficult  to  find  except  in 
highly  specialized  literature. 
The  transportation  regulations  are  also  fully  outlined,  both  as 
regards  freight  and  express  matter. 
