Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
Sept.,  1883.  J 
Reviews,  etc. 
477 
After  a  brief  introduction,  the  action  and  application  of  drugs  are  con- 
sidered, tliese  being  divided  into  substances  which  act  on  the  solids  and 
fluids  of  the  body,  and  such  which  act  externally  to  the  body,  the  latter 
comprising  antacids,  anthelmintics,  etc.  The  drugs  of  the  first  kind  are 
again  subdivided  into  general  and  local  remedies,  and  these  into  different 
classes  according  to  their  physiological  action,  such  as  astringents,  tonics, 
cardiac  stimulants,  etc.  After  the  drugs,  such  remedies  which  are  not 
drugs  are  considered,  namely  caloric  and  electricity,  and  a  brief  chapter  on 
the  art  of  prescribing  medicines  has  been  added  in  the  appendix,  which 
contains  also  a  number  of  valuable  tables. 
Throughout  the  work  the  medical  literature  of  this  country  and  Europe 
is  copiously  referred  to.  In  preparing  the  present  edition,  several  refer- 
ences to  the  arrangement  of  the  former  Pharmacopoeia  and  to  processes  for 
the  preparation  of  certain  chemicals  have  not  been  altered  to  conform  to 
the  present  Pharmacopoeia,  an  oversight  which  does  not  in  the  least  detract 
from  the  value  of  the  work. 
The  Book  of  Plant  Descriptions^  or  Record  of  Plant  Analyses,  with  a 
Synopsis  of  the  Terms  most  frequently  used  in  the  Description  of  Plants, 
and  a  Schedule  of  Work  to  be  performed  in  the  Botanical  Laboratory  ; 
also  a  List  of  Subjects  suitable  for  Theses.  'Prepared  for  the  use  of  teach- 
ers and  students,  by  G.  C.  GrofF,  A  M.,  M.D.,  Professor,  etc.,  in  the  Univer- 
sity at  Lewisburgh,  Pa.    Science  and  Health  Publishing  Company,  1883. 
The  blank  forms  are  very  conveniently  arranged,  and  if  properly  used 
cannot  fail  to  induce  in  the  student  the  commendable  habit  of  accurate  and 
full  observation. 
Bericht  der  Wetter auischen  Oesellschaft  fur  die  gesammte  Naturkunde  zu 
Hanau,  1879-1882.  Von  dem  ersten  Director  derselben,  Realschuldirector 
Friedricli  Becker.  Hanau :  Waisenhaus-Buchdruckerei,  1883.  8vo,  pp. 
104. 
Report  of  the  Wetteravian  Society  for  the  Natural  Sciences  for  the  years 
1879-1882. 
Besides  the  usual  reports,  biographical  notices,  etc.,  the  pamphlet  con- 
tains a  list  of  the  mammals,  birds,  reptiles,  fishes  and  beetles  found  in  the 
district  of  Rotenburg,  with  remarks  on  the  habits,  uses,  etc.,  of  the  verte- 
brates. 
Ueber  das  Vorkommen  und  die  Bildung  des  Peptons  ausserhalb  des  Ver~ 
dauungs  apparates  und  iXber  die  Rilckverwandlung  des  Peptons  in  Ei' 
weiss.    Von  Dr.  Chem.  Alexander  Poehl.    St.  Petersburg,  1882.  Pp.  108. 
On  the  Occurrence  and  Formation  of  Peptone  Outside  of  the  Digestive 
Apparatus,  and  on  the  Retransformation  of  Peptone  into  Albumen. 
This  is  a  thesis  written  with  the  view  of  obtaining  from  the  University  of 
Dorpat  the  degree  of  "  Doctor  in  Chemistry."  The  essay  considers  the  pre- 
paration, chemical  properties,  reactions  and  quantitative  determination  of 
peptone,  and  proves  its  presence  outside  of  the  digestive  canal,  as  a  patho- 
logical constituent  of  urine,  in  saliva,  ovarian  cysts  and  cancerous  tissues. 
Most  of  the  animal  and  vegetable  tissues  have  the  property — outside  of  the 
