''"'■sep."r.f8o"°'-}  Editorial.— Reviews,  etc.  497 
EDITORIAL  DEPARTMENT. 
American  Pharmaceutical  Association. — We  feel  that  the  near  approach  of  the 
sessions  of  our  National  Pharmaceutical  Association  requires  a  notice  of  the  fact, 
and  also  of  the  most  interesting  matters  pertaining  to  its  usefulness  and  its  existence. 
Like  every  other  institution,  it  cannot  flourish  without  money,  and  this,  it  is  well 
known  throughout  the  membership  of  the  Association,  is  lamentably  scarce,  paying 
its  way  each  year  only  by  collecting  the  dues  of  the  ensuing  year.  It  is  easy  to  see 
that  the  state  of  bankruptcy  cannot  be  far  distant  j  yet  still  the  auditing  committees 
have,  till  last  year's  meeting,  generally  merely  reported  the  treasurer's  account  cor- 
rect, not  even  noting  the  fact  that  the  balance  Is  really  made  up  from  the  dues  of 
the  coming  year.  Whether  the  action  taken  at  the  meeting  last  year  at  Indian- 
apolis will  prove  to  be  the  cure  It  was  designed  will  soon  be  known.  The  action  of 
the  Association  in  appointing  a  committee  to  induce  members  of  the  trade  to  con- 
nect themselves  with  us,  if  generally  responded  to,  will  help  the  finances  of  the 
Association,  besides  giving  relations  to  young  members  of  the  profession  by  which 
an  increased  interest  in  our  calling  will  most  naturally  ensue.  With  a  sincere  hope 
that  the  best  interests  of  the  Association  will  be  carefully  considered  and  judiciously 
guarded,  we  urge  a  large  attendance  at  Saratoga. 
REVIEWS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 
An  Introduction  to  Pharmaceutical  and  Medical  Chemistry.  By  Dr.  John  Muter, 
M.A.,  F.C.S.,  F.I.C.  Second  edition.  London  :  W.  Baxter,  Kensington  Cross, 
S.  E.    Philadelphia:  Presley  Blaklston,  1012  Walnut  street. 
It  is  with  a  great  deal  of  gratification  we  notice  a  second  edition  of  this  valuable 
work,  and  more  particularly  since  it  Is  a  ne^  edition,  not  a  mere  revise,  but  arranged 
in  a  manner  that  is  quite  different  from  the  former,  and,  In  our  judgment,  much 
better  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  learner.  • 
Part  I,  which  occupies  398  pages,  is  devoted  to  theoretical  and  descriptive  chem- 
istry. Chapter  i  is  introductory  ;  treats  of  matter  in  various  states  5  analysis  and 
synthesis;  the  elements  and  their  symbols  5  and  a  preliminary  notice  of  the  four 
elementary  substances — oxygen,  hydrogen,  nitrogen  and  carbon. 
Chapter  2  treats  of  theories,  chemical  action  and  the  modes  of  expressing  the 
same  by  formulae  and  equations.  Under  these  theories  the  laws  of  combination  are 
fully  and  most  clearly  explained  ,•  chemical  action  is  next  explained;  combination 
by  volume  ;  atomicity  Is  next  treated  of,  and  then  graphic  formulas  in  their  connec- 
tion with  the  doctrine  of  atomicity.  Radicals,  acids  and  bases  are  in  turn  explained, 
and  then  the  formulation  of  salts  in  connection  with  the  knowledge  of  atomicity. 
Chapter  3  treats  of  simple  basylous  radicals — the  metals  used  in  pharmacy — under 
the  classes  of  monads,  dyads,  triads,  tetrads,  pentads. 
Fluorine  and  chlorine,  with  their  compounds  most  used  in  pharmacy,  occupy  the 
fourth  chapter.  Oxygen  and  its  compounds,  with  simple  basylous  radicals,  fill  the 
sixth  chapter.  Sulphur  and  Its  compounds  are  treated  of  in  Chapter  7.  Carbon 
with  its  compounds  are  the  subjects  treated  of  In  Chapter  8.    Chapter  9  treats  of 
