used to say that he could never understand a description of anything he required to see and handle it. I remember a very able and original chemist, now dead, who declared-and I believe truly -that he never read a book in chemistry till he had to lecture to students; and, indeed, to the last he was quite incapable of getting up a text-book, and would have cut, I am afraid, a very poor figure in an examination.

"Of all kinds of books, doubtless the most valuable, especially for beginners, are those of the last class to which I alluded-books which may be compared to the guide-books for travellers; useless without the object before you. It seems a paradox that such books should be needed; but they certainly are so. The most refined observation would not enable us to see a tenth part of what there is to see in a single bone unless the anatomists of former generations had been over the ground before, and marked the salient points. Remember the metaphor of guide-books. I once read, by a French writer, the remark that the chief occupation of English travellers on the Continent appeared to be 'to verify the assertions of their Murray.' You will do well, gentlemen, to spend a large proportion of your time in verifying the assertions of your text-books."

STUDENTS' DEPARTMENT.-In consequence of the limited number of answers received the questions will be continued another month.

Editorial Summary.

PREPARATION OF EMETINA.-On this subject A. Glenard recently presented a paper to the French Academy which was published in the September No. of the Jour. de Pharm. et de Chimie, and in abstract in the Pharm. Jour. & Trans. for the same month. The author's process is based npon the combined use of lime and ether. It consists in treating with ether a suitably prepared powder, or an extract of ipecacuanha and lime, or the precipitate formed upon adding an excess of lime to a solution obtained by treating ipecacuanha in the cold with water acidulated by sulphuric acid. Either of these mixtures, or the precipitate, when treated with ether, will yield all the alkaloid it contains. The alkaloid may be obtained from the ethereal solution by distilling it to dryness and treating the residue with acidulated water, or by at once shaking the solution with

acidulated water. A more or less acid aqueous liquid is thus obtained, which, upon the addition of ammonia, yields the emetina almost colorless, and much more pure than that produced by the processes ordinarily employed. When water, acidulated with hydrochloric acid, is employed to remove the emetina from the ether, an acid solution is obtained, which, when sufficiently concentrated by evaporation, forms a nearly colorless, solid, crystalline mass of hydrochlorate of emetina. This mass is formed of extremely delicate needles, formed in bundles that radiate around a central point, and form small spheres with an embossed surface, resembling mulberries in appearance. Upon pressing these crystals in a cloth, the more or less colored mother liquor runs off, and the crystals redissolved in water give a colorless solution, from which a fresh crystallization of perfectly pure hydrochlorate of emetina can readily be obtained. It appears that ammonia will not precipitate all the emetina from this salt, as a portion is lost through a decomposing action not fully explained. The formula of emetina is given as C,HNO; that of the hydrochlorate as CHNO,HCz. The centesimal composition

GRINDELIA ROBUSTA-AN ANTIDOTE TO RHUS TOXICODEndron.. -The December number of the Pharmacist contains a paper which was read by Mr. J. G. Steele, at the last meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and in which an important place in the national Materia Medica is claimed for the plant under consideration. As an antidote to poison oak it has been found infallible, and its happy effects in reducing the frequency and violence of the spasmodic constrictions of the throat and contiguous organs, in asthma and kindred diseases, have often been realized. The Grindelias attracted the attention of the Jesuit Fathers at an early period in the settlement of California, but the G. Robusta appears to possess, in the most marked form, the medicinal properties of the family. The plant is a stout perennial, belonging to the Composite, and resembling a small sunflower. Before flowering, the unexpanded heads secrete a quantity of resinous matter, which is finally distributed, like varnish, over the petals of the flower. In May and June the plant abounds most in this resinous juice, and it is to it that its

medicinal properties are attributed. A fluid extract, made from the leaves and flowering tops of the plant, has been found most useful. This is best made with one part of water to two of alcohol. As it is impracticable to powder the plant, by reason of its sticky balsam or resin, the extract may be made by successive macerations and pressure. A solid extract has also been prepared: equal measures of alcohol and water being used as a menstruum. For poison oak eruptions, the method suggested is, to mix one or two tea-spoonfuls of the fluid extract with half a tumbler of cold or tepid water, and apply freely with a sponge or cloths dipped in the mixture to the parts affected. One or two applications will often suffice for a cure; but if the disease has been of long duration, several days may elapse before entire relief is obtained. In severe cases of poisoning, cloths dipped in the solution may be bound upon the parts, and, if necessary, more of the fluid extract added, thus increasing the strength of the application. The most obstinate case of poisoning will give way to this mode of treatment, and immediately after the first application a most surprising relief is experienced. In cases of asthma, rose cold, and hay fever, ten or twenty drops of the fluid extract may be given every half hour, mixed with sweetened water or milk, until relief is obtained, when the amount and frequency of the dose can be lessened according to the measure of relief obtained. The solid extract is made into pills of three grains each, and given in violent and prolonged attacks of asthma, three times a day, or two of the pills administered for each dose.

new.

UTILIZATION OF OLD CORKS.-Mr. J. B. Moore, (Am. Jour. Pharm.) thinks that old corks may be usefully turned to advantage by soaking them for twenty four hours, in hot water; washing them with several portions of clean water; and treating them with a mixture of one part of muriatic acid and fifteen parts of hot water. After a few hours soaking they may be removed, washed and dried, when they will be found almost as white and fresh-looking as when Corks taken from bottles containing poisonous, greasy, or very odorous liquids should be rejected, or sorted out previous to treatment. Mr. Moore has employed this process for some time, but we cannot help expressing our opinion that it is very questionable economy, and altogether out of accordance with legitimate practice. For some purposes as the stopping of bottles containing oil, varnish, tar, or such like, it might be pursued with advantage, and some little saving be thereby effected. To go further would be to introduce a source of contamination which at any cost we should avoid.

NAUSEOUS ASAFOETIDA OR "HING OF THE BOMBAY MARKETS. -Professor Fluckiger contributes to the Pharm. Jour. and Trans. a

note in which he alludes to the product of Ferula alliacea which was recently described by Professor Dymock in a late paper, a notice of which appeared in this journal. Prof. Fluckiger says that this asafoetida is identical with the third form of the drug as given in his Pharmacographia. The odor of Hing is different from that of ordinary asafoetida and more closely resembles that of garlic. Prof. Fluckiger made several experiments to determine whether the essential oil, to which the odor is due, contained sulphur. A few ounces of the drug yielded, by distillation, a gram or two of yellow oil. During the operation an intolerable stench, described as being uncomparably repulsive, was given off. Reagents showed the presence of sulphur, but the author thinks that this oil differs from the sulphuretted oil yielded by ordinary asafœtida.

STANDARD OF QUALITY OF OPIUM IN THE UNITED STATES.— A Philadelphia Drug Exchange Circular defines the government standard for opium to be that of the U. S. P., 1860, or seven per cent morphia. It is maintained, apparently on just grounds, that the present Customs' regulation, requiring nine per cent morphia, is not in strict accordance with the law, and that this amount though perhaps correct enough in regard to dried opium, should not be held to apply to opium of commerce, which always contains a considerable proportion of moisture.

Books and Pamphlets.

The Cholera Epidemic of 1873 in the United States. The Introduction of Epidemic Cholera through the Agency of the Mercantile Marine; Suggestion of Measures of Prevention. By John M. WOODWORTH, M. D., Supervising Surgeon, U. S. Marine Hospital Service, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1875. 8vo., p.p. 1025.

This volume-one of the latest and most comprehensive on a very prolific subject-contains the results of an investigation made in accordance with a resolution of Congress requiring a report on the facts concerning the spread of the disease and its mode of propagation, with a view to the prevention or limitation of future outbreaks.

The first portion of the work has reference to the clinical history

and etiology of the epidemic of 1873. This is followed by deductions as to means of prevention, including the use of disinfectants, of which class of substances sulphate of iron, lime, and charcoal appear to have the preference.

A chapter by Dr. Peters on the origin of the late epidemic brings us to the narrative of its spread throughout the United States. This occupies nearly four hundred pages and bears evidence of great care in its compilation. It is largely illustrated by maps of infected districts and will prove of great use should the cholera again visit our shores.

The second part of the volume is devoted to a history of the travels of cholera in Asia and Europe, by Dr. Peters; and at various times in North America, by Dr. McClellan.

Not the least valuable portion of this work is that devoted to the bibliography of the subject, embracing an enumeration of books, papers or statistics relating to cholera. Although the compiler-Dr. Barnes-does not claim that the list is altogether complete, we may conclude that there has been little published of any importance of which a notice is not given. The enumeration extends over 315 pages and must contain references to some 9000 works or papers. This list is a most useful contribution to the literature of the subject and will much facilitate research.

The authors of this work do not undertake to decide questions relating to the origin, character, mode of operation, and transportation of cholera which are yet sub judice, or to discuss theories, but they have offered a series of propositions condensed from the vast mass of cumulative evidence laboriously collected by a multitude of cholera students in both hemispheres, and presented these conclusions in such a concise and intelligible form that we transcribe them for the benefit of our readers:

"1. Malignant cholera is caused by the access of a specific organic poison to the elementary canal; which poison is developed spontaneously only in certain parts of India, (Hindostan).

2. This poison is contained primarily, so far as the world outside Hindostan is concerned, in the ejections-vomit, stools and urine of a person already infected with the disease.

3. To set up anew the action of the poison, a certain period of incubation with the presence of alkaline moisture is required, which period is completed in from one to three days; a temperature favoring decomposition and moisture or fluid of decided alkaline reaction hastening the process; the reverse retarding.

4. Favorable conditions for the growth of the poison are found (1) in ordinary potable water, containing nitrogenous organic impurities, alkaline carbonates &c; (2) in decomposing animal and vegetable matter possessing an alkaline reaction; (3) in the alkaline contents of the intestinal portion of the alimentary canal.

5. The period of morbific activity of the poison-which lasts