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articles in Volume III extend from Dislocations to Infantile Myxedema. The plan of giving special space to subjects calculated to elucidate, by the close analysis involved, many obscure phases of pathogenesis, has been continued in this volume. The articles on Infantile Myxedema (Cretinism)" by Professor Osler and Dr. Norton; "Exophthalmic Goiter," by Professor Putnam, and "Goiter," by Professor Adami, thus form a trio which may be said to point to much of the progress that is to attend medicine in the near future. The practical value of the work is particularly shown in the article on "Dysentery," by Dr. Fleyner; on Endometritis," by Professor Byford; on "Dislocations" and "Fractures," by Professor Stimson and Dr. Keyes, Jr.; on "Gout," by Dr. Levison; on "Hip-Joint Diseases," by Reginald H. Sayre; on "Eczema," by Professor Stelwagon. A specially attractive feature is observed in the analytical study of "Hysteria" and " Hypnotism," by Professor Eskridge. The same favorable comments accorded the previous volumes in this JOURNAL may be accorded Volume III. The work is in line with the advances of the times, and represents the results of experiences and thoughts of master minds. It is full of practical information and very suggestive material.

THE NEWER REMEDIES.—By Virgil Coblentz. Third edition. Revised and very much enlarged. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 1012 Walnut Street. 1899. Price, $1.

This volume contains considerable information that is desired by the pharmacist and physician upon the newer remedies. The articles are all arranged alphabetically, and include information concerning their synonyms, sources, methods of preparation, tests, solubilities, incompatibles, medicinal properties and doses as far as known. There are also sections on organo-therapeutic agents and indifferent compounds of iron.

Professor Coblentz was wise in making a special study of the newer remedies some years ago, and has followed the subject very thoroughly ever since. Up to 1896 there were about 800 synthetic medicaments in all. During the last three years alone there have been added about 1,200 more, so that the future of this subject is beyond all conjecture. The difficulty for the pharmacist and the physician is to secure reliable information concerning the newer products. Professor Coblentz has sifted the literature very well, and we have here a work which may be considered to be as safe and reliable as it is possible for a work of this character to be at the present time.

MERCK'S 1899 MANUAL OF THE MATERIA MEDICA.-Together with a Summary of Therapeutic Indications and a Classification of Medicaments. A Ready Reference Pocket Book for the Practising Physician. Compiled from the most Recent Authoritative Sources, and published by Merck & Co., New York.

The work is intended to be a "Ready Reference Book" on the chemicals and drugs usually employed in modern medical practice. Part I contains information upon the common synonyms, physical properties, solubilities, percentage strengths, physiological effects, therapeutic uses, modes of administration and application, regular and maximum dosage, incompatibles, antidotes, precautionary requirements of all the substances and preparations which are treated in the work. Part II contains a summary of therapeutic indications for the employment of remedies, arranged according to the pathologic conditions to be

combated. Part III presents a classification of medicaments in accordance ⚫ with their physiologic actions.

The work has been carefully prepared, and contains just the kind of information that the physician is constantly requiring in his practice. It is a book, too, that the pharmacist can very profitably employ. The form and size of the book are such that it can be easily carried in the coat pocket and used by the physician, pharmacist or student in "brushing" up his memory whenever opportunity presents.

PRACTICAL MATERIA MEDICA FOR NURSES and an appendix containing poisons and their antidotes, with poison emergencies, mineral waters, weights and measures, dose list and a glossary of the terms used in materia medica and therapeutics. By Emily A. M. Stoney. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 925 Walnut Street. 1899.

This work consists of the notes of a series of lectures delivered by the author, and includes only the source of the drugs, their action and uses, dosage and the symptoms and treatment of poisoning. It seems a pity that when there are so many books of a practical character the author should have spent her time in preparing this work which contains nothing that is new, and it can hardly be said that it either reflects or is intended to encourage the desire for accurate knowledge. Neither is there an attempt to follow a system or even stick to the plan of the book. We presume that what the author meant by source of drug is the origin as given in the Pharmacopoeia. In some cases this is partly done, as under "Stramonium Leaves" and "Stramonium Seed." Under "Conium" the author says "the leaves and fruit of 'Conium Maculatum' is an antispasmodic and calmative." Then follow the doses of the extract and fluid extract of Conium. Under Lemon Peel" all that is said is that "it is used for flavoring purposes." Then in the same sentence comes "Action and Uses.-Internally, lemon juice is a refrigerant and forms a refrigerant drink," etc. Instances of this character are common throughout the book. The definition of Materia Medica in the "Introductory" is very different from that given in the "glossary." The origin of Kola is given as "Sterarbia Acuminata." Under "Taka-Diastase" the following information is given: "A ferment produced by the action of Japanese rice-fungus; used as a disinfectant." "Cetrarin" is defined as "an alkaloid from Iceland Moss." These instances are sufficient to justify what was said in the first part of this review.

PRACTICAL METHODS OF URINE ANALYSIS.-For chemists and druggists, with notes on the composition of the normal and abnormal renal secretions. Published at the offices of The Chemist and Druggist, 42 Cannon Street, London, E. C.

That there is a growing importance to the physician and patient that the urine of the latter be analyzed is observed in the numerous works on urine analysis being published and the extent to which, in some of our text-books, a chapter on urine analysis is added. That the analysis of urine, from both a chemical and microscopical standpoint, is a legitimate field for the pharmacist is evidenced by the demand for instruction in this particular field. The book before us is a fairly accurate, clear, simple and practical treatise on this subject. With the exception of those portions treating of the spectroscope and polari

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scope, it may be said to be useful for the beginner who has no opportunity for instruction. We consider it, however, far more desirable for the analyst, if at all possible, to obtain a course of instruction under a competent instructor and make for himself a series of type slides of urinary sediments, etc.

AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. The following circular has been issued by the Section on Scientific Papers of the American Pharmaceutical Association :

Members of the American Pharmaceutical Association are cordially invited to present communications at the meetings of this Section to be held at Put-inBay, September 4th to 18th next. The attention of contributors is respectfully directed to the resolution adopted at the last meeting, to the effect that the official printer is requested to return to the author any paper or papers not bearing the approval of the Chairman of some Section of the Association.

The printing of papers previous to their reading is optional with the authors, but no paper can be received for this purpose later than August 8th.

Attention is also called to the resolution of 1895 (Proc., xliii, 236) requiring that any paper, the reading of which would require fifteen minutes or more, be read in abstract.

The list of queries here proposed is but brief, as it appears that contributors usually prefer to select their own subjects. Papers may be sent to any member of the Committee:

H. H. Rusby, Chairman, 115 West Sixty-eighth Street, New York.

H. V. Arny, Secretary, 107 Streator Avenue, Cleveland, O.

W. L. Scoville, St. Botolph and Garrison Streets, Boston, Mass.

(1) Is it practicable to provide an illustrated set of color-standards in the U.S.P.?

(2) Is it practicable to provide a set of odor-standards in the U.S.P.?

(3) Methyl alcohol corresponds very closely to ethyl alcohol as a menstruum for drugs; what objections can be made to its employment in making solid extracts?

(4) Glycerin aids materially in preserving hydrocyanic acid and spirit of nitrous ether; is its use desirable from a dosimetric and therapeutic point of view?

(5) Is it proper to make belladonna preparations from Scopola in the face of the present U.S.P. definition? Should the U.S. P. change its definition so as to sanction the use of this rhizome as an alternative?

(6) Is physiological action requisite as a department of pharmaceutical research?

(7) What is the effect of the high price of ipecac upon the quality of ipecac preparations supplied?

(8) Many imported drugs, such as opium, lactucarium and saffron, could be cultivated in the United States were the question of wages eliminated. An investigation into the feasibility of such culture on the convict farms of several States of the Union is desired.

(9) To what extent are medicinal plants cultivated in the United States? (10) How can Syrupus U.S.P. be best obtained of a uniform quality and density without undue cost?

(11) Potassium and sodium acetates frequently contain a large amount of free acid. Samples containing more than 10 per cent. of free acid have been obtained. What is the reason of this?

(12) Recent research seems to show that the coloration of syrup of ferrous iodide and syrup of hydriodic acid is not due to the separation of free iodine. Further work on this subject is desired.

(13) Is the U.S. P. 1890 process of preparing syrup of ferrous iodide as satisfactory as the process of 1880? A critical comparison is invited.

(14) A report on the quality of commercial syrup of ferrous iodide, with special reference to preservatives employed, is desired.

(15) What is the quality of calcium hypophosphite found in commerce? What influence has this on syrup of hypophosphites prepared therefrom?

(16) Is "old cascara any better than "new cascara " for preparing a bitterless extract? A good formula for the latter is desired.

(17) Have ambergris and civet been relegated to the past in perfumery? There is evidence that they are not being used in the later extracts.

OHIO STATE PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. The Association met in annual session June 22d, 23d and 24th, at Put-in-Bay. The meeting was well attended and appears to have been a profitable gathering.

The President, J. H. Beal, made a number of recommendations in his annual address which were finally adopted by the Association. The most important of these recommendations were as follows: That the Association amalgamate with the National Association of Retail Druggists as a body; that the Associa tion use its efforts to further the work of the Pure Food and Drug Congress to formulate and have passed uniform pure food and drug laws of such a character as will be consistent with the interests of retail druggists; that young men who desire to register as pharmacists shall be graduates of some reputable school of pharmacy; that each member of the Association procure a poison register, and register therein all sales of poisons; and that a committee be appointed to prepare resolutions to be sent to their Senators and representatives requesting them to secure a more equal distribution of the war tax, extending it to trade-mark and copyright goods.

A paper, on the "Registration of Poisons," was read by Theo. D. Wetterstroem, of Cincinnati; Prof. H. V. Arny, of Cleveland, gave a talk and demonstration on the manufacture of emulsions; and Prof. Joseph Feil, also of Cleveland, read a paper on the manufacture of spirit of nitrous ether.

The use of salicylic acid having been referred to in the report of the Committee on Adulteration and Sophistication by Prof. G. B. Kauffman, of Columbus, the Association adopted a resolution which was to the effect that, salicylic acid having been proved to be a valuable anti-ferment and harmless in minute quantities, it was the sense of the Association that the use of this preservative in reasonable quantities was not objectionable; and that the Legislative Committee of the Association be requested to exert their influ ence in securing more reasonable legislation in this direction.

The names of thirty-four applicants for membership in the Association were reported by the Executive Committee.

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The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :

President, Alfred De Lang, Cincinnati; First Vice-President, Adam Schmidt, Springfield; Second Vice-President, H. F. Vortkamp, Lima; Permanent Secretary, L. C. Hopp, Cleveland; Permanent Treasurer, John H. Von Stein, Upper Sandusky; Executive Committee, John Byrne, Columbus, Chairman; A. Hare, Belleville, and J. C. Firmin, Findlay.

Hotel Victory, Put-in-Bay, O., was selected as the meeting place for 1900.

MINNESOTA STATE PHARMACEUTICAL

ASSOCIATION.

The Association held its fifteenth annual meeting at the pavilion of the Lake Park Hotel, Lake Minnetonka, June 20 to 22, 1899.

The attendance, though smaller than in previous years, was good, and the meeting was marked by earnestness and enthusiasm.

In line with President Heller's suggestion, the Association voted that the war tax ought to be reduced to 1 per cent., and that it should be extended to all proprietary articles. Copies of the resolution are to be sent to Congress and to the National Association of Retail Druggists. The question of joining the N. A. R. D. was then discussed, and it was decided that the Minnesota Association should become a member of the National body. The incoming President was instructed to name a committee, consisting of one man from each judicial district through the State, which shall consider district societies and report to the next convention. It was decided to send one delegate to Washington to assist in the revision of the Pharmacopoeia, and to elect five men, whose names shall be submitted to the Governor for appointment to the Board of Pharmacy.

D. R. Noyes, of St. Paul, made a brief address, in which he took a very optimistic view of present trade conditions. He thought department store competition would decrease as times grew better, and urged the necessity of putting the very best appearance possible on business and of keeping well up to date.

A very interesting talk on "Practical Hints in Pharmacy was given by Thomas Voegeli, of Minneapolis. He contended that substitution was nothing but honest business competition so long as you frankly sell an article of your own in place of the patent medicine and do not attempt to imitate it.

J. C. Eliel, of the Wholesale Druggists' Association, also discussed substitution, claiming that the business was his who got it, providing that he got it honestly. He endeavored to demonstrate to the convention that if each druggist would buy the raw drugs and manufacture his own compounds, that the golden days of pharmacy would come again. Then the fight between the proprietary men and the retailers would cease, as there would no longer be any demand for patent medicines.

The elections resulted as follows: President, John Nielson; First VicePresident, B. O. Kyseth; Second Vice-President, Miss E. Williams; Third Vice-President, C. A. Jack; Secretary, E. B. Wilson; Treasurer, H. W. Rietzke (unanimously); Executive Committee, Messrs. Danek, Harrah and Hall.