t 
56  Reviews,  etc.  j^^jan^^Si'''"' 
it  upon  their  prescriptions  by  adding  to  the  pharmacopoeial  name  either 
the  designation  "radicis,"  or  "  Phar.  1880."  The  very  slight  activity  or 
inertness  of  conium  herb  has  been  repeatedly  demonstrated.  Extract  and 
tincture  of  conium  were  formerly  "made  of  the  leaves,  now  they  are  directed 
to  be  prepared  from  the  green  fruit,  a  change  which  would  seem  to  call  for 
similar  precautious  as  in  the  case  of  extract  of  aconite. 
Although,  in  a  number  of  other  preparations,  changes  have  been  made 
either  increasing  or  decreasing  their  strength,  yet  the  danger  of  possible 
serious  results  does  not  appear  to  be  so  imminent  as  in  the  cases  cited  above. 
REVIEWS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 
Die  Chinarinden  in  j^l^cirmakognostischer  Hinsicht  dargestellf.   Von  F.  A. 
Fliickiger.  Mit  viii  lithographirten  Tafeln.  Berlin,  1883:  R.  Gaertner. 
'    8vo,       79.    Price,  9  marks. 
The  Cinchona  barks,  pharmacognostically  considered.  With  8  lithographic 
plates. 
This  monograph  is  based  upon  the  article  Cinchona  contained  in  the 
author's  well-known  and  highly -appreciated  "  Pharmakognosie,"  the 
second  edition  of  which  is  now  in  course  of  publication,  enlarged  and  com- 
pleted in  various  directions.  A  very  valuable  treatise  is  here  offered  on 
one  of  the  most  important  remedial  agents,  which,  however,  is  of  still 
greater  importance  as  the  source  of  quinine  and  allied  alkaloids.  The  suc- 
cessful cultivation  of  cinchonas  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  the  extensive 
manufacture  of  the  alkaloids,  the  persevering  researches  into  their  chemical 
relations  with  the  view  of  their  analytical  determination  and  synthetical 
production,  the  discovery  of  quinine  in  a  bark  distinctly  different  from  the 
cinchonas — all  these  facts  have  contributed  towards  intensifying  the  inter- 
est into  this  indispensable  drug.  The  work  before  us  does  ample  justice  to 
the  subject  in  its  various  relations.  It  is  written  in  the  clear  and  attractive 
manner  which  characterizes  the  author's  writings,  and  while  it  avoids  the 
tedious  details,  leaves  no  point  of  interest,  be  it  general  or  special,  without 
receiving  its  due  share  of  attention.  After  considering  in  a  general  way 
the  origin  of  the  bark,  the  important  species  of  Cinchona  are  characterized; 
also  the  two  species  of  Ren)ijia  which  during  the  last  few  years  furnished 
the  cuprea  bark  of  commerce.  The  chapters  on  the  habitat  and  culture  of 
the  cinchonas,  the  collection  of  their  barks  according  to  the  various  methods 
in  use  in  South  America  and  India,  the  physical  properties  and  anatomical 
structure  of  the  barks,  the  contents  of  their  tissues,  and  on  the  commercial 
sorts  of  cinchona  barks,  are  followed  by  a  brief  consideration  of  the  so-called 
false  cinchona  barks  and  an  extended  description  of  cuprea  bark.  Then 
follow  commercial  statistics  from  the  various  countries  producinpg  these 
barks,  the  characteristics  and  relative  quantities  of  the  chemical  constitu- 
ents, the  quantitative  determination  of  the  alkaloids  and  their  manufac- 
ture.   Finally,  the  history  of  the  cinchona  barks  is  fully  considered  in  its 
