Jour. Pharm , 1889 Le Système Nerveux des Crustacés Décapodes, et ses rapports avec l'appareil circulatoire. Par E. L. Bouvier. Paris: G. Masson. 1889. Pp. 38. The nervous system of the crustaceans decapods, and its relations to the circulatory apparatus. A thesis for obtaining the degree of "Pharmacien of the first class." Recherches sur l'Ergot du Seigle. Par E. F. Belzung. Paris: Félix Alcan. 1889. Pp. 30. Researches on ergot of rye. La Chlorophylle et ses Fonctions. Par E. F. Belzung. Paris: F. Pichon. 1889. Pp. 106. Chlorophyll and its functions. Two theses by the same author; one for obtaining the degree of Pharmacien of the first class, the other presented for the concours d' agregation in the Paris School of Pharmacy. The former gives a minute description of the development of ergot, and shows that during the growth of the mycelium simple starch grains are contained in the interstices of the mycelium filaments. This starch gradually disappears and is entirely absent from the sclerotium; but during the final stage of development the digestion of the reserve material is accompanied by the formation of transitory starch, usually appearing as small compound grains in the interior of the growing cells, and always free from chlorophyll. The essay on chlorophyll is a very creditable digest of the results of the numerous researches on the nature and functions of chlorophyll. From the list of books and essays consulted by the author, 119 in number, it appears that the modern literature on this subject has been well searched, and that the most important old works have not been neglected. Report of Willis G. Tucker, M.D., Ph. D. Analyst of Drugs. Pp. 30. A report made to the New York State Board of Health. Of the 505 samples of 21 pharmacopoeial articles examined according to the Pharmacopoeia, 131 were of inferior quality, 59 not as called for, and 6 of excessive strength (dilute acids). On examining into the particulars, it is curious to observe how certain customs are perpetuated in some localities; thus, of the forty samples of saffron purchased (17 of which came from Buffalo stores) all were spurious and consisted of safflower; and of the 42 samples of precipitated sulphur, 4 were merely sublimed sulphur, and 16 contained much calcium sulphate. We know of localities where the public will not accept crocus when calling for saffron, and others where as precipitated sulphur the old-fashioned milk of sulphur is wanted, because it mixes readily with water. It will take a long time for the pharmacists to educate the public in every locality to abandoning old customs. This appears likewise to apply to compound spirit of ether, ́ of which 53 samples were examined. Aside from three, consisting of spirit of nitrous ether, 37 were reported as being of inferior quality, probably the oldfashioned Hoffman's anodyne. The principal inferior articles, aside from the above, were dilute acetic acid (10 out of 15), and stronger ether (30 out of 72), on account of deficiency of specific gravity; syrup of ferrous iodide (7 out of Nov., 1999 Jour. Pharm 51) decomposed; potassium iodide (10 of 17) excess of alkali, etc.; and washed sulphur (10 of 26), excess of acid, and in 7 cases milk of sulphur had been sold. Food and Food Adulterations. Part IV. Lard and Lard Adulterations. By H. W. Wiley. Washington. 1889. Pp. 401-554. A full exposition of the manufacture, quality and analysis of commercial lard. The pamphlet forms part of Bulletin No. 13, Division of Chemistry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Bulletin No. 21 of the same series is devoted to sugar manufacture, and is entitled, Report of Experiments in the Manufacture of Sugar by Diffusion, at Magnolia Station, Lawrence, La., season of 1888-89. By Guilford L. Spencer. 8vo. Pp. 67. The English Sparrow (Passer domesticus) in North America, especially in its relations to agriculture Prepared under the direction of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Ornithologist, by Walter B. Barrows, Assistant Ornithologist. Washington, 1889. Pp. 405. The pamphlet gives the history of the sparrow's introduction and spread in North America, and collects and arranges a vast amount of evidence relating to the habit and food of the sparrow, the injury done to various kinds of crops, the consumption of insects, the relation to other birds, etc. The pamphlet is Bulletin 1, Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammology, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Experiment Stations.-The receipt of pamphlets from the following stations is acknowledged: Ottowa, Canada, Bulletin No. 4 and 5. Massachusetts (Amherst), Bulletin No. 34. Minnesota (St. Anthony's Park), Bulletin No. 7. Chemistry: General, Medical and Pharmaceutical, including the chemistry of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. A manual on the general principles of the science, and their applications in medicine and pharmacy. By John Attfield, F. R. S., M. A., Ph. D., etc. Twelfth edition. Philadelphia: Lea Brothers & Co., 1889. 12mo, pp. 770. Price, cloth, $2.75; leather, $3.25. Attfield's Chemistry has become so well known throughout the United States, that it is probably the best known chemical work among students of pharmacy and medicine at the present time. Its success is due to the author's clear conception of the wants of the students, and to the lucid and practical manner in which this want has been supplied. When about twenty years ago the first American edition made its appearance, it at once secured for itself the favorable opinion of the teachers, as well as of the students; and with each subsequent edition this has been retained and confirmed. The one now before us will make no exception to this general rule. The book retains all its attrac. tive features, and since it has been thoroughly revised, the information imparted by it practically embraces the researches to the present time. The most noteworthy alteration has been made in that part of the text which embraces organic chemistry, which has not only been considerably enlarged, but has also been re-arranged and largely re-written, so that it forms an excellent compendium of organic chemistry as applied to medicine and pharmacy, and which is in accord with the modern views prevailing in that science. The book will doubtless prove to be as useful as the preceding editions have been. The following printed Proceedings of State Pharmaceutical Associations have been received: Georgia. Fourteenth meeting, pp. 80.-See page 537. Report of the Botanist, Dr. Geo. Vasey, for the year 1888. This is a reprint from the annual report of the U. S. Department of Agriculture for the year 1888, and is devoted to a description of grasses and weeds growing in the arid districts of the United States, which are illustrated by 13 plates. The pamphlet contains also a comprehensive paper by F. W. Anderson on the pastoral resources of Montana. Digest of Criticisms on the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, sixth decennial edition (1880). Part II: New York, 1889. 8vo. Pp. 277, This pamphlet, a supplement to the one noticed heretofore, is published by the Committee of Revision and Publication, U. S. P., and is intended for the use of incorporated medical and pharmaceutical societies interested in the revision of the pharmacopoeia. The pamphlet is not for sale. Monument J. B. Van Helmont. Bruxelles, 1889. Pp. 16. A reprint from Bulletin de l'Académie royale de Médecine, giving an account of the inauguration of the statue of that celebrated scientist on July 15 last, in his native city, Brussels. OBITUARY. George Buck died in Chicago, October 2d, at the age of 62 years. He was a native of Rochester, England, where he was educated and trained in pharmacy. Emigrating to the United States in 1855, he accepted a clerkship with J. H. Reid & Co., Chicago, with whom he remained until 1859, when he commenced business, entering into partnership with Mr. Rayner, which continued until the time of his death. Mr. Buck was an earnest advocate of thorough pharmaceutical education, and was a charter member of the Chicago College of Pharmacy, which institution he served faithfully in various capacities, and since 1886 as its president. He was active in the efforts to secure a pharmacy law for Illinois, and after the passage of the law in 1881 became the first president of the State Board of Pharmacy. The deceased was highly esteemed for his competency as a pharmacist, his sterling integrity as a business man, and his moral worth as a citizen. 66 Professor Adolf Ferdinand Duflos died in Annaberg, Saxony, October 9th, in his 88th year. He was born at Artenay, near Orleans, February 2, 1802, his father being a soldier in the French army. Having lost by death both his parents, his uncle, a surgeon in the French Army, took charge of the boy, and during the campaign of 1813 placed him in charge of Dr. Benedict, rector of the lyceum at Torgau, with whom he remained, an orphan without known relatives, after the uncle's death. In 1815 he entered a pharmacy at Annaberg as apprentice, remained here six years, and then became assistant in a pharmacy at Breslau where also chemicals were manufactured on a rather extensive scale. While here he wrote his first scientific essay on the theory of the formation of ether," of which an abstract was published in Buchner's Repertorium (1824) xviii, p. 245, where it is credited to N. J., vi, 1, 305 (probably Trommsdorffs Neues Journal der Pharmacie, vi [1822]). After acting for three years as assistant to the pharmaceutic institute at the university of Halle, he returned to Breslau in 1833, teaching chemistry at the classsical school (gymnasium), and in 1843 becoming administrator of the University pharmacy, in which position he founded the pharmaceutic institute of the University of Breslau which he conducted until 1866, when the failing of his eyesight compelled him to resign. The university, in recognition of his valuable services, conferred upon him, honoris causa, the titles of doctor of philosophy in 1841, and doctor of medicine in 1861. The literary labors of Duflos have been very extensive, and were, in part, made public through numerous essays, published in various journals, on subjects connected with pharmaceutical, analytical and technical chemistry. Among his larger works may be mentioned the following: Pharmaceutico-chemical Practice; Articles of Food and their Adulterations; Agricultural Chemistry; Economic Chemistry (jointly with A. G. Hirsch); Pharmacological Chemistry; Detection of Poisons; Examination of Chemical Remedies, and Chemisches Apotheker-Buch (Chemical Book for the Apothecary). The last-mentioned work, of which the sixth edition appeared in 1880, was for many years regarded as the best and most practical work in the German language for the study of pharmaceutical chemistry and for use in the laboratory of the pharmacist. When he vacated his academic chair, Duflos retired to Annaberg, where he was first initiated into the art and science of pharmacy, and lived with the descendants of his foster-parents until his death. As long as his eyesight permitted he continued his researches and literary work; and when he was no longer able to read, his younger friends read to him the journals published in the interest of pharmacy. Rather few of Duflos' papers found their way into the journals of this country; but many American pharmacists were familiar with his writings, and the American Pharmaceutical Association had placed his name on the roll of honorary membership. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. DECEMBER, 1889. OLEATES. BY G. M. BERINGER, PH. G. Read at the Pharmaceutical Meeting, November 19. Historical. The medicinal application of the oleates was proposed by Professor John Marshall, of London (see AMER. JOUR. OF PHAR., 1872, p. 317). He claimed that the oleate of mercury containing the mercury in solution in a solvent remarkable for its diffusibility and penetrating properties, was quickly absorbed, promptly producing the effect of the mercury. Numerous metallic oleates and solutions of the alkaloids in oleic acid were soon tried by various investigators, and a series of valuable papers contributed in the various pharmaceutical and medical journals mark the progress of our knowledge in this direction. Among the more notable being the papers of Dr. L. of Dr. L. Wolff (AMER. JOUR. Wolff (AMER. JOUR. OF PHAR., 1881, p. 545), Dr. J. V. Shoemaker (Med. and Surg. Report., May 13, 1882), and H. B. Parsons (Drug. Circ., 1885, p. 2), who furnished a series of formulas which have been made the basis of the formulas for the oleates of the National Formulary. The oleates as originally proposed were prepared by dissolving the oxides of the various bases in oleic acid, and the oleates recognized by the United States and British Pharmacopoeias are thus prepared. Unfortunately, as thus prepared they are not, as a rule, as permanent or as acceptable as those obtained by double decomposition. The oleates as now prepared by the manufacturing pharmacists are largely true oleates or oleo-palmitates or oleo-stearates of the bases prepared by double decomposition, and it is hoped by the writer that in the next revision of the Pharmacopoeia formulas for such will be introduced. |