Reviews^  etc, — Obituary. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm . 
Nov  ,  1880. 
Vergle.chende  Untersuchun^en  einiger  Catechu-  uni  Gambir-Proben ,  nebst  kritischer 
Beleuchtung  der  Methoden  zur  Bestimmung  ihres  Handelsiverthes.  Von  Adolf 
Lehinann.    Dorpat,  1880.     Pp.  66. 
Compar.itlve  examination  of  several  specimens  of  catechu  and  gambir,  with  critical 
observations  on  the  methods  for  determining  their  comparative  vahie. 
From  his  numerous  experiments  the  author  regards  the  analytical  method  pro- 
posed by  Giinther  in  1870,  though  not  yielding  absolutely  correct  results,  at  least  as 
serviceable  for  approximately  determining  the  value  of  catechu  and  gambir.  In  the 
aqueous  solution  the  catechin  and  catechutannin  are  estimated  together  by  Loewen- 
thaPs  method  by  titration  with  potassium  permanganate;  afterwards  the  tannin  i& 
estimated  alone  by  Schulze's  method  by  precipitation  with  gelatin  in  the  presence  of 
sal  ammoniac,  and  the  catechin  is  found  by  subtracting  the  tannin  from  the  mixed 
tannin  and  catechin.  The  weight  of  the  latter  is  found  somewhat  higher  on  account 
of  the  presence  of  other  soluble  organic  principles,  and  a  source  of  error  is  found  in  the 
difficulty  of"  oxydizing  the  solutions  of  different  samples  to  the  same  tint  of  color. 
Beitrdge  %um  forensisch-chemischen  ISIachiveise  'V3n  Blut  aus  Flussigkeiten,  Harn^  Zeug 
und  Erden.    Von  Victor  Schwarz,  M  D,    St.  Petersburg,  1880.     Pp.  27. 
Contributions  to  the  forensic-chemical  detertnination  of  blood  from  liquids,  urine,, 
fabrics  and  earths. 
Reprint  from  the  Pliarmaceutical  Journal  of  Russia.  Tiie  essay  is  noi  adapted' 
for  a  brief  abstract,  but  we  may  mention  that  the  author  regards  the  preparation  of 
hatmincrystaK,  as  recommended  by  Teichmann,  and  the  spectroscopical  examina- 
tion, as  furnishing  conclusive  evidence  of  the  presence  of  blood.  A  solution  of 
borax  was  found  to  be  very  serviceable  for  tlissolving  the  blood  from  fabrics,  sand 
and  different  earths,  and  after  precipitating  the  solution  with  zinc  acetate,  for  obtain- 
ing haemincrystals  from  the  precipitate. 
The  therapeutic  'value  of  the  iodide  of  ethyl.  By  Robert  Pvl.  Lawrence,  M.D.  Boston.. 
The  Problems  of  Insanity.     A  paper  read  before  the  New  York  Medico-legal  Society 
March  3,  1880.    By  George  M.  Beard,  A.M.,  M.D. 
National  Association  for  the  Protection  of  the  Insane  and  for  the  Prevention  of  Insanity^ 
Boston,  1  880. 
An  account  of  the  organization  of  this  society. 
Proceedings  of  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Convention  of  Agricultural  Chemists,  held 
at  Boston,  Mass.,  Aug.  27,  i88o.    Raleigh,  N.  C,  1880. 
OBITUARY. 
Elwood  Gouldy  Hendricks,  a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Phar- 
macy, class  1878,  died  of  consumption  August  30th  last.  He  was  born  July  2d, 
1857,  in  Centre  Point,  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  and  was  apprenticed  to  Mr.  Wm. 
K.  Mattern  of  this  city. 
