Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
April,  1921.  j 
Books  in  Running  Brooks. 
247 
the  care  which  must  be  exercised  in  dispensing  only  a  clear  solu- 
tion, absolutely  free  of  suspended  material  of  any  nature.  The  cal- 
cium sulphide  used  shall  also  be  of  the  highest  available  purity  and 
solution  effected  not  in  sterile  salt  solution,  but  in  sterile  distilled 
water. 
"BOOKS  IN  RUNNING  BROOKS,  SERMONS  IN  STONES 
AND  GOOD  IN  EVERYTHING." 
So  wrote,  one  whose  understanding  and  love  of  nature  was  in-  k 
tense  and  true.  This  day  of  writing  is  a  bright  day  in  spring,  early 
in  April,  when  the  robin  ushers  in  the  morning  with  his  chant  of 
hope  and  happiness.  And  we  look  out  through  the  window-pane  on 
a  country-side  yawning  itself  out  of  its  winter's  slumbers  and  garbed 
in  the  verdant  hues,  the  fresh  and  lively  greens  of  early  spring. 
Weary  with  the  arduous  tasks  of  a  long  and  dreary  winter  that 
has  kept  us  out  of  the  fields  and  the  bypaths  where  we  love  to  wan- 
der, spring  comes  doubly  welcomed.  The  newness  of  it  and  the 
hopefulness  of  it  fills  us  with  delight  and  the  siren-song  of  the  woods 
quickly  finds  its  responsive  chords  in  the  tune  of  the  heart  strings 
that  bids  us  forget  our  labors  awhile  and  seek  again  the  re-creation, 
the  rejuvenation  which  promptly  comes  to  us  with  spring. 
So  we  leave  behind  our  troubles  and  forget  awhile  the  pilltile 
and  pestle,  the  filter  and  funnel,  and  to  the  woods  through  the 
meadows  we  go. 
What  a  happy  thought,  were  it  possible  and  convenient  for  every 
man  (and  who  can  appreciate  this  better  than  the  busy  apothecary) 
to  find  time  to  let  work  alone  for  awhile  and  turn  his  footsteps  to 
the  nearest  woods  to  seek  communion  with  the  trees  and  flowers. 
For  it  is  said,  and  truly  said,  that  the  road  to  Divine  understanding 
is  plainly  told  in  the  face  of  every  flower. 
Early  in  the  morning,  when  the  glistening  dew  drops  nestle  in 
that  plaintain  and  bend  the  grass  blades  with  their  jewelled  might, 
that  is  the  time  when  the  searcher  after  peace  and  beauty  can  find 
his  fill  of  nature's  choicest  charms. 
Sustained  by  the  sun  of  early  April  filtering  his  healthful  rays 
through  a  screen  of  ambitious  beech  buds,  the  cozy  knobs  of  hepatica 
and  bloodroot  unfold  their  precious  contents  and  shortly  their 
dainty  blossoms  stare  with  complacency  straight  in  the"  eye  of  the 
