94 
EDITORIAL. 
We  beg  to  have  it  distinctly  understood  that  we  make  no  pretensions  above 
others  of  our  profession,  and  should  not  at  present  have  thought  of  publishing 
this  work,  had  not  the  demand  for  information  relative  to  the  agents  prepared 
at  the  American  Chemical  Institute,  demanded  some  work  of  the  kind." 
And  yet  the  very  information  which  the  writer  admits  is  wanted  is  withheld, 
as  the  medical  properties  and  uses  of  the  plants  and  the  medicines  they 
yield  are  described  in  the  Eclectic  journals  and  medical  treatises. 
Regarding  the  value  of  the  medical  statements  in  this  book  we  make  no 
remark ;  these  are  beyond  our  province,  yet  it  must  be  admitted  that  the 
accounts  of  the  virtues  and  modes  of  using  the  several  "preparations  "  is 
much  like  those  appended  to  many  patent  medicines,  very  full  on  all  points 
but  their  composition  and  preparation.  For  those,  however,  who  desire  infor- 
mation on  the  medical  qualities  of  the  preparations  in  question,  the  work 
before  us  may  prove  highly  useful,  and  at  the  request  of  the  proprietors 
we  state  that  C.  B.  Norton,  71  Chamber  street,  N.  Y.,  is  now  the  publisher. 
On  the  Construction,  Organization,  and  General  Arrangements  of  Hospitals 
for  the  Insane.  By  Thomas  S.  Kirkbride,  M.D.,  Physician  to  the  Penn- 
sylvania Hospital  for  the  Insane.  Philadelphia:  Lindsay  &  Blakiston, 
1854.  pp.  80,  octavo. 
The  position  of  the  author  in  the  admirably  conducted  institution  for  the 
insane  belonging  to  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  gives  his  opinions  and  views 
in  reference  to  the  details  necessary  for  the  comfort  and  restoration  of  the 
insane  in  the  construction  and  management  of  hospitals,  great  weight;  and 
the  volume  now  referred  to  cannot  but  prove  useful  in  view  of  the  increasing 
interest  which  is  being  manifested  towards  the  unfortunate  class  who  are 
the  inmates  of  these  institutions,  by  our  State  Governments. 
Plantoz  Heermanniance.  Descriptions  of  New  Plants,  collected  in  South  Cali- 
fornia by  Dr.  A.  L.  Heermann,  Naturalist  attached  to  the  Survey  of  the 
Pacific  Railroad  route,  under  Lieut.  R.  S.  Williamson,  U.S.A.  With 
remarks  on  other  Plants  heretofore  described  and  belonging  to  the  same 
collection.  By  E.  Durand  and  Theod.  C.  Hilgard,  M.D. 
We  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  above  from  the  authors. 
