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BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICE.  413 
names  of  some  others  apparently  still  in  use  :  Elemi,  Extract  of 
Monesia  and  Rebeeru,  which  hold  probably  a  higher  place. 
Several  indigenous  species  of  Cantharis  are  alluded  to  as 
probably  fully  equal  to  the  European  varieties,  particularly  the 
0.  femuralis,  of  Chili,  which  has  been  examined  by  Quevedo. 
Those  native  to  the  Argentine  Republic  have  been  named  by 
Burmeister,  0,  adspersa,  punctata,  vittigera  and  viridipennis. 
Guarana,  a  preparation  of  the  fruit  of  Paullinia  sorbilis,  in 
which  Dr.  Stenhouse  found  the  large  amount  of  five  per  cent,  of 
caffein,  is  said  to  be  employed  in  Brazil  as  a  tonic  and  remedy 
for  diarrhoea  ;  and  the  Ilex  Paraguay  ensis,  from  which  the  yerha 
mate,  or  Paraguay  tea  is  derived;  and  the  Erythroxylon  coca,  of 
Peru,  are  also  mentioned  ;  the  latter  appears  to  be  somewhat 
employed  in  dyspepsia,  gastralgia,  &c,  though  its  virtues  are 
said  to  be  still  on  trial. 
The  substances  alluded  to  are  briefly  described  with  relation 
to  their  commercial  history  and  varieties,  chemical  properties 
and  pharmaceutical  preparations,  but  we  miss  a  fuller  account  of 
their  therapeutical  uses  and  effects.  In  the  absence  of  a  National 
Pharmacopoeia  as  a  basis,  all  the  substances  are  arranged  under 
the  two  great  divisions  of  Inorganic  and  Organic  Pharmacy, 
under  which  they  are  again  subdivided  into  smaller  groups — in 
the  former  with  reference  to  the  elementary  bodies  from  which 
they  are  derived,  and  in  the  latter  into  the  families  of  starches, 
sugars,  resins,  essential  oils,  &c,  according  to  the  character  of 
their  essential  constituents,  the  plan  employed  by  Soubeiran,  and 
which  has  its  advantages  in  a  pharmaceutical  point  of  view,  what- 
ever may  be  thought  of  it  as  a  strictly  scientific  classification. 
We  are  glad  to  see  this  further  substantial  evidence  of 
increased  attention  to  the  interests  of  Pharmacy  in  the  Argen- 
tine Republic,  and  trust  it  will  do  much  to  promote  the  more 
accurate  study  of  the  indigenous  drugs,  and  the  development  of 
the  resources  of  that  great  continent,  which,  in  its  cinchona, 
ipecac  and  other  productions,  has  made  already  such  valuable 
contributions  to  our  list  of  medicinal  agents. 
The  typographical  execution  and  general  appearance  of  the 
work  are  very  creditable  to  the  publishers.  S. 
