. Jour. Pharm

, 1899.

REVIEWS AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

A TEXT-BOOk of MedicaL AND PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY. By Elias H. Bartley, B.S., M.D., Ph.G. Fifth edition, revised and enlarged. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Philadelphia, 1898.

The contents of this book are divided into five parts. In Part I are presented such fundamental facts in chemical physics as are necessary for a proper understanding of the descriptive parts of the book, and of the theories and uses of thermometers, hydrometers, the spectroscope, medical batteries, etc. Part II is a well arranged and full treatise on theoretical chemistry. Part III treats of the inorganic chemistry of the most important elements used in medicine. Part IV deals with organic chemistry, poisons and their antidotes, and incompatibilities. Part V is devoted to the consideration of ferments, nutrition, foods and diet, digestion, the examination of milk, gastric contents, vomit, feces, urine, urinary sediments, and other matters of physiological and clinical chemistry. The book also contains an appendix, in which are given the rules for the spelling and pronunciation of chemical terms adopted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and, in addition, tables of weights, measures, specific gravities and solubilities. A glossary of uncommon chemical terms and an index complete the volume.

In preparing the present edition the author has revised the text of the fourth edition and rewritten some portions of it, especially the parts on organic chemistry and physiological and clinical chemistry.

The first edition of this book appeared in 1885. It was designed especially as a text-book for medical students during their attendance upon lectures. But since the title now points to a proposed use of the book in another and distinctly different field from that of a guide to the student of medicine, the work comes before us under conditions which necessitate the viewing of it from two different standpoints.

We think the book is a desirable one for the medical student, for it puts in his hands a store of well-selected matter which should be taught in the lectures on chemistry in the medical schools, and which the physician should thoroughly understand before beginning practice. In treating the subjects, the author has kept in mind the exigencies requiring a knowledge of chemical facts which are likely to arise in medical practice, so that throughout the book we find much good advice to the practitioner; notable instances of this are in regard to the treatment of acute poisoning, and the physician's duty in cases of criminal poisoning. In this connection it may not be out of place to say that we would like to see the books on poisons recognize the fact that petroleum benzin is occasionally an accidental or intentional inebriant nowadays, and designate proper antidotes to it. We think the statement, on page 327, to the effect that solutions of volatile oils in alcohol in the proportion of 1 in 5 are termed essences, while those in the proportion of 1 in 50 are called spirits, may perplex the student, since it is not in accordance with the authority of the United States Pharmacopoeia, which gives the terms essence and spirit as synonyms; and, beside, none of these official preparations are prepared in the proportions named. And, again, we think the subject of Fowler's solution is dismissed, on page 192, without sufficient consideration of its composition and arsenical strength to afford the student the knowledge he should have of this medicine.

In condensing the subject-matter of Part III for the medical student the author has omitted mention of some processes which are important to the pharmaceutical student. For instance, no mention is made of the official and the other processes used on a large scale for the preparation of solution of hydrogen dioxide, yet a knowledge of such methods is essential to an understanding of the tests of purity given by the United States Pharmacopoeia for this substance. The preparation of the so-called colorless tincture of iodine by means of ammonia water is given on page 130, but no reference is made to the use of sodium thiosulphate, which is as frequently employed in making this preparation, in fact, authorized by the National Formulary in conjunction with ammonia water. We believe also that the description of processes is in some cases too abbreviated for the information of the pharmaceutical student, who should be taught to master the mechanical requirements as well as the chemical details of processes; e.g., the description of acidum sulphurosum, United States Pharmacopoeia, on page 162, comprises no instruction for the washing of the sulphur dioxide, or its absorption in cold water.

Another defect of the book, in our opinion, is the inconsistency of the atomic weights used; thus, in the case of zinc there are three different numbers employed to represent this value, as shown on pages 86, 270 and 273. The list of atomic weights used in the book is not the one recognized by the United States Pharmacopoeia. While we would not use the last, nor any other, authority as a chock to the wheels of progress in deducing the correct atomic weights, nor in any other department of investigation, at the same time, we believe the student would be less confused by studying the same numbers for the atomic weights, both when he reads his general chemistry, and when he goes to the laboratory to do the testing of the United States Pharmacopoeia, with its official volumetric solutions, the strengths of which are based upon the atomic weights of a certain list.

There is another matter in which the author indulges to some extent, and to which we must call attention. It is the frequent use of the nearest whole number instead of the mixed number, which is supposed to represent the atomic weight of an element. This practice is altogether a too common one among authors of books on chemistry. If teachers and authors actually believe these numbers to be exact values, they should always insist on the use of the fraction, and not take the responsibility of decreasing or increasing them, simply to enable a student to remember the numbers, or to shorten a calculation somewhat. If the student violates his sense of accuracy by altering the atomic weights in the said manner, let it be at his own bidding.

On account of the objections cited against this part of the book, we cannot recommend it as a guide to the pharmaceutical student.

We note a typographical error on page 444, where C is used instead of Ca. JOSIAH C. PEACOCK.

THE BRITISH AND COLONIAL DRUGGISTS' DIARY, 1899, 44 Bishopsgate Without, London, E.C.

This is the fourteenth annual issue of the British and Colonial Druggists' Diary, and contains matter of permanent utility for reference. Among the new features of this year's edition are a list of "Photographic Formulæ " and an article on Electricity as a Hobby." The work will serve the purpose of ref

erence for the pharmacist, where time requires that he have works of this character within his reach.

THE CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS' DIARY, 1899. 42 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

The first Diary of the Chemist and Druggist was issued in 1868, which contained many of the features which are in this one. One of the more recently introduced features is the "Buyers' Guide." The longest section of the Diary is a "Commentary and Criticism of the British Pharmacopoeia." This is an epitome of the criticisms as well as much new material in this Pharmacopoeia, especial attention being given to the manufacture of chemicals, the preparation of galenicals and descriptions of commercial varieties of drugs and how they are imported. The diary is arranged for daily use and is a valuable reference work for the busy pharmacist, who will find the information contained herein both useful and reliable.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. Twenty-first annual meeting held in the Buena Vista Spring Hotel, Franklin County, June 21-24, 1898.

A very full account of the proceedings of this S.ate Association has already been given in this JOURNAL. The work of this Association in scientific and educational, as well as in social matters, leaves nothing to criticise. One of the most interesting features of this meeting was the presentation of a gold medal to Charles A. Heinitsh from his friends, commemorating the completion of fifty years' activity in the drug business. A fac-simile of the medal is given above. SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT OF SCHIMMEL & Co. Leipzig and New York, October, 1898.

This report contains a record of the most important scientific work done on essential oils during the past six months. There are a number of valuable critical notes on recent papers concerning terpenes and essential oils. We will incorporate in the JOURNAL later some of these notes and reviews.

YEAR-BOOK OF PHARMACY. Comprising abstracts of papers relating to pharmacy, materia medica and chemistry, contributed to British and foreign

journals from July 1, 1897, to June 30, 1898. With the transactions of the British Pharmaceutical Conference at the thirty fifth annual meeting, held at Belfast, August, 1898. London : J. A. Churchill. 1898.

The account of the proceedings of thirty-fifth annual meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Conference has already been given in full in the September issue of the JOURNAL. The Year-Book comprises abstracts of papers on pharmacy and related branches as well, mention of new processes, preparations, etc., which have been introduced during the year mentioned. This part of the work includes about 268 pages, and represents a fairly good summary of the work of the year. One feature enhances the value of the book considerably, and that is its publication so soon after the Conference and the close of the year to which the work relates.

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OF THE CITY OF

NEW YORK.

The regular quarterly meeting of the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York, was held in the Lecture Hall of the College on Tuesday evening, October 18th. Caswell A. Mayo, Chairman of the Special Committee on Papers, reported on behalf of that Committee that pursuing the policy outlined by the previous committee, another American drug-sassafras-had been taken up. Dr W. A. Bastedo introduced the subject by his paper upon the botany of the sassafras tree. He dwelt upon the general botanical character of the plant and alluded to the labors of Miss Katherine C. Burnett, in distinguishing between root and bark of sassafras in a powdered condition. The following notes are based upon her report:

In the root bark the cells are large and thin-walled, and filled with starch. Pores are not seen at all. In the powder the cells are much broken up, and the starch grains largely set free. These starch grains are nearly spherical (if subjected to any pressure they become angular) from ten to fifteen microns ia diameter and have the hilum a little to one side of the centre. They are rarely single, and are usually found in groups of from two to five. The bast-fibres are few and are generally detached.

In the stem bark the cells are smaller, thick-walled, contain no starch, and generally hold together in patches. Pores are numerous and distinct. There are many bast-fibres, and these are not detached, but are joined to square thickwalled cells. By these differential characters an adulteration of root bark with 10 per cent. of stem bark can be detected.

Clemens Kleber, Director of the Laboratories of Fritzsche Brothers, delivered an address upon the chemistry of sassafras, which is published in full in another part of this JOURNAL (page 27). Following this address, Prof. Geo. C. Diekman, of the College of Pharmacy, presented some notes upon the pharmacy of the drug, which had mainly to do with the pith and its products.

The chairman, Mr. Mayo, then read the paper by Professor Lloyd, of Cincinnati, on the history of sassafras. The notes collated by Professor Lloyd give a very complete review of the drug in its historical aspects. The chairman concluded the subject by presenting the paper prepared by Mr. Velsor on the commerce in the sassafras bark.

MINUTES OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. PHILADELPHIA, December 20, 1898.

The regular pharmaceutical meeting was held in the Museum of the College, with James T. Shinn in the chair.

The first paper presented was on "Some Observations on Fluid Acetracts in Comparison with Fluid Extracts," by Wm. B. Thompson, which will be published in a later issue of this JOURNAL. After making some general observations on the adoption of new methods and procedures, the author considered the respective merits of alcohol and acetic acid as menstrua and solvents in pharmaceutical operations. One marked feature which he noticed in fluid acetracts was the absence of a certain gravity and density as compared with the corresponding fluid extracts, as also a striking difference in the color of the two classes of liquids. In cases where the density of the fluid acetracts was more pronounced, the odor of the drug appeared to be masked by the acetous odor. To illustrate the subject more fully, some of the individual members of each class were considered as to physical appearance and also therapeutic activity in a few instances.

Some interesting points were brought out in the discussion of this paper, and among those participating in it were Dr. C B. Lowe, Professor Remington, Mr. Kebler and the chairman. Professor Remington said that he was glad that the use of acetic acid was attracting attention; that he had been experimenting with this solvent for the past twelve years. He did not agree

with all the conclusions of the author, but thought that he had been fair in his treatment of the subject. He said, in addition, that it was necessary to make observations, and that the truth was what we want. He himself was somewhat conservative, and he did not believe that acetic acid could take the place of alcohol, but that some drugs could be exhausted with it, and that probably one-half of the official preparations could be made with this solvent. With reference to the solid preparations, the "acetracts," he said that they were sure to be used, as the acid acted as a solvent for the alkaloids; that Mr. F. B. Kilmer had tried acetract of belladonna for making belladonna plaster, and found it to be 20 per cent. stronger than the ordinary, the reason being that probably soluble salts of the alkaloids were formed, and thus it was more effective. The statement was also made that some of the physicians of this city were trying this class of preparations, and that they had obtained distinctly noticeable results. The speaker then referred to the efficiency of acetic acid in exhausting nux vomica (the whole beans being used by Dr. Squibb), and stated in this connection that a large manufacturing firm of this city had been using it for a number of years. Finally he alluded to a recent editorial in Merck's Report on "Acetracts vs. Fluid Extracts," and read portions therefrom, which were humorous, to say the least.

Replying to a question by Dr. Lowe, Professor Remington said that glacial acetic acid was an excellent solvent for volatile oils, and that such solutions were being used by candy manufacturers for flavoring their products.

Mr. Kebler referred to the work of Cripps and Paul and Cownley along this line. They found that in an acetract of ipecac, made by reducing it to powder by evaporation, there was a lowering of the percentage of alkaloid to the extent of to; while, on the other hand, a powder made with hydrochloric acid lost none by heating.