EDITORIAL. 
575 
of  extracts  and  syrups.  In  treating  of  the  arrangements  for  heating,  the 
author  confines  his  remarks  and  illustrations  almost  entirely  to  alcohol 
lamps  and  gas  burners,  referring  to  the  larger  works  for  information  on 
furnaces  and  furnace  operations.  The  remarks  relative  to  the  preparation 
of  decoctions  and  extracts  are  judicious.  After  the  tabulated  formulas 
several  unofficinal  extracts,  as  those  of  Ignatia  Amara,  Lupulin,  Cimicifuga, 
Ergot,  Pareira,  Lobelia,  etc.,  are  introduced,  followed  by  several  of  the 
Eclectic  resinoid  preparations.  A  distinct  chapter  is  allotted  to  the  fluid 
extracts,  which,  as  few  are  recognised  in  the  pharmacopoeia,  is  mainly 
occupied  with  an  account  of  those  not  officinal.  The  chapter  on  syrups 
embraces  several  that  are  new,  among  which  we  notice  compound  syrups 
of  Carrageen,  and  of  Blackberry  root,  and  syrups  of  Gillenia  and  of  Frost- 
wort.    The  fancy  syrups  for  "  Mineral  Water"  have  not  been  overlooked. 
Following  the  syrups  the  solid  saccharine  preparations,  conserves,  elec- 
tuaries, lozenges,  etc.,  are  noticed,  with  special  formulas  for  those  that  are 
unofficinal.  The  last  chapter  in  "  Galenical  pharmacy"  is  headed  "  Dis- 
tillation and  spirits,"  and  describes  the  forms  of  apparatus  used  in  small 
distillatory  operations  and  the  manipulations  they  require  in  use,  illustrated 
with  numerous  figures,  as  are  the  preceding  chapters  on  proceases;  many  of 
which  have  been  executed  expressly  for  this  work. 
The  third  part  is  called  "  The  Pharmacy  of  plants,  their  products,  &c." 
and  is  an  account  of  the  proximate  principles  of  plants,  and  the  products 
and  preparations  derived  from,  or  made  with  them  ;  commencing  with 
Lignin  starch  gum  and  sugar,  and  ending  with  the  alkaloids  ;  occupying 
about  ninety  pages.  The  limited  space  devoted  to  this  part  makes  the 
notice  of  most  of  the  principles  very  brief,  and  many  are  merely  named,  yet 
by  resorting  to  tabulation  the  author  has  been  able  to  present  a  very  con- 
siderable array  of  facts  in  connection  with  each  numerous  class,  in  a  way 
well  adapted  to  aid  the  memory  of  the  student.  There  are  exceptions  to 
this  brevity,  however,  as  in  the  notices  of  collodion,  hydrocyanic  acid, 
morphia,  quinia  etc. 
The  fourth  part  treats  of  "  Inorganic  Pharmaceutical  Preparations,"  under 
the  several  heads  of  acid,  alkaline,  earthy,  non-metallic,  and  metallic  sub- 
stances used  in  medicine.  This,  as  might  be  anticipated,  is  the  least 
original  part  of  the  book  ;  yet  without  it  the  work  would  have  been  incom- 
plete. The  author  has  limited  himself  to  a  succinct  description  of  the  pre- 
parations and  manipulations,  without  discussing  the  retionales,  or  dwelling 
on  their  chemistry  ;  in  fact  the  operations  of  the  laboratory  are  barely  in- 
truded on  so  far  as  they  may  be  brought  within  the  scope  of  shop  practice, 
or  the  physician's  office. 
The  fifth  and  last  division  is  entitled  "  Extemporaneous  Pharmacy  ,"  and 
is,  perhaps,  in  some  respects,  the  most  important  part  of  the  book,  inas- 
much as  the  subject  is  less  commonly  treated  of  in  works  on  Pharmacy  in 
the  English  language,  and  is  more  like  the  French  treatises  on  "  I/Art  de 
Formuler,"  one  of  which  is  familiar  to  some  of  our  readers  in  Dorvault's 
«  Officine."    The  chapters  on  prescriptions,  the  language  of  prescriptions, 
