ample employment and excellent profit in counterfeiting cochineal with coloured dough; peppercorns with peas-meal; isinglass with pieces of bladder and the dried skin of soles; and in filling up with powdered sassafras the holes which are bored in spice and nutmegs, for the purpose of plundering their essential oils. In fact, an account of the various methods employed for adulterating the articles of the Pharmacopoeia would occupy a volume. The colleges of London and Edinburgh, fully sensible of this increasing evil, have added short notes, by which the purity of the leading medicines may be ascertained. Nor is ignorance less to be feared than fraud; every person of the least experience must know that the credit of a remedy continually suffers from the ignorance of those who prepare it.

"With regard to the deterioration which many articles undergo by having been too long kept, I would observe that, although no honest practitioner would retain in his service such organic products as have undergone an obvious change, still he may not be aware of the nature and extent of those alterations which spontaneously take place in the composition and consequently in the virtues, of many vegetable preparations; the influence of air, and above all light, in producing changes upon green vegetable powders, is not generally understood; in daylight the green matter absorbs carbonic acid, and emits oxygen; while in the dark a chemical action of a different nature takes place, the leaves and green parts containing volatile oils, or volatile constituents, absorb oxygen, and are thus converted into resin; and these changes are wholly independent of vitality. I shall show hereafter that certain saline additions to vegetable matters will occasion decompositions, of which the latter in their unmixed forms are not readily susceptible; at the same time it will appear that vegetable matters will frequently occasion essential changes in the composition of the salts with which they may be associated. The subject offers to the pharmaceutist many important points for further investigation; and to those desirous of pursuing it, I strongly recommend the work of Professor Liebig On Organic Chemistry,' and I would more particularly direct attention to that class of phenomena, to which he has given the name of 'Eremacausis,' or slow combustion. His researches and reasonings claim an importance not to be surpassed by that of any chemical inquiry of the present day."

Dr. Paris appears, however, to differ from Professor Liebig on some points; as, for instance, in his theory respecting animal heat, which the Doctor attributes, in a great degree to "vitality" and "nervous influence," instead of ascribing it to combustion or chemical action. This subject is so abstruse, that we leave time and our readers to decide as to the merits of the respective theories.

NOTICES OF BOOKS RECEIVED.

A GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION TO THE PHARMACOPEIA, and a Key to PHYSICIANS' PRESCRIPTIONS; containing a Latin Grammar, a Synthetical Analysis of the Pharmacopaia, and Preface, and a copious Vocabulary. By S. F. LEACH, Classical Professor, &c. 12mo, pp. 260. Third Edition. London: H. Hughes, St. Martin's-le-Grand.

To those apprentices who have not had the advantage of a good classical education, we can recommend this work as a

means of acquiring a certain amount of knowledge of the Latin language, without which they are not qualified to undertake the preparation of Physicians' prescriptions. It is also adapted for those who have not left school, and to whom this preliminary instruction is likely to be useful, by preparing their minds for the study of their future profession.

MANUAL OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN, from the French of MM. Cazenane and Schedel, with Notes and Additions. By THOMAS H. BURGESS, M.D., Surgeon to the Blenheim Street Dispensary for Diseases of the Skin, &c. 12mo, pp. 320. London: Henry Renshaw, 356, Strand. Edinburgh: Maclachlan and Stewart. Dublin: Fannin and Co.

THE reputation of the work of which this is a translation is too well established to require any additional praise. The subject is one which is not exactly suited to our pages, with the exception of the catalogue of remedies at the end of the volume, which may be interesting to our readers, by showing the contrast between French Pharmacy and that of our own country.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE EXTRACTION OF TEETH, with plates. By J. CHITTY CLENDON, Surgeon-dentist. 12mo, pp. 80. London: S. Highley, 32, Fleet Street.

THE chief object of Mr. Clendon appears to be, to point out the danger and disadvantages attending the use of the key instrument, and to describe the kinds of forceps which are best adapted for the purpose, with the mode of using them. The whole subject is well treated, and the work contains much useful information in a small compass.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRINCIPAL MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS AND PRACTICE IN FRANCE, ITALY, and Germany, with Notices of the Universities and Climates and Illustrative Cases. By EDWIN LEE, M.R.C.S., &c. &c. 8vo, pp. 269. London: J. Churchill, Princes Street.

We can recommend this volume to those who take an interest in the history and improvement of the profession, but our space does not admit of a detailed analysis at present.

LECTURES ON CHEMISTRY. BY HENRY M. NOAD.

THE twelfth and concluding lecture of this series being now published, we may congratulate the author on having fulfilled his engagement, to give a brief outline of the science of Chemistry, neither too trite to be instructive, nor too scientific to suit the

As a means of exciting an

general reader or juvenile student. interest in the study of Chemistry, by unfolding some of the leading features of the science, and explaining the modern views of the most eminent of its professors, we think this little work calculated to be very useful.

PROVINCIAL SCHOOLS OF PHARMACY.

THE necessity of adopting some measures for promoting an improved system of education among the rising members of our body, not only in London but in all parts of the country, appears to be generally felt and acknowledged. In small towns where the numbers are too limited to admit of the establishment of courses of lectures, recourse must be had to such books as are within the reach of the student, and in the selection of these works, as well as in the arrangement of a plan of study, the periodical communication which takes place among the members of the society is likely to be found essentially useful. But in large towns, greater facilities exist for the diffusion of knowledge, and we are glad to find a disposition springing up in many places, to follow the example of the Chemists in London, by establishing branch Schools of Pharmacy.

The lectures on Pharmaceutical Chemistry, by Mr. Davies at Manchester, are well attended, and appear to give general satisfaction. The number of pupils amounts to between forty and fifty, which, in comparison with the number of members and associates in that district, exceeds the ratio of the students in the metropolitan school. (This circumstance should act as a stimulus to our students in London.) It is at the same time satisfactory to find that the encouragement thus given to education in the country, is such as to leave no doubt as to the propriety of persevering in the experiment.

A course of lectures has already been delivered at Bristol by Mr. Thwaites, and arrangements are now in progress for the delivery of a course of lectures on Chemistry by Mr. Herapath.

We have received a communication from the secretary at Bath, intimating a desire, on the part of the members and associates in that district, to arrange for the delivery of lectures on Chemistry and Pharmacy.

Similar intimations have been made by some of our brethren at Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich and Birmingham, and we trust the time is not far distant, when these and other branches of our Institution will be provided with some public means of instruction for students in Pharmacy.

The manner in which this is to be effected, requires mature consideration. It is evident that the number of country schools must be limited, since no institution of this kind could flourish without a certain number of pupils. The amount and description of assistance afforded by the Council to such measures must also be regulated on fair and equitable principles, and must be dependent on the state of the funds of the society. In some places, facilities may exist for adopting the lectures of a medical school, in others it may be found necessary to establish separate courses for our students. In these and other particulars, a variety of circumstances must be considered, and whatever plans are adopted should not be decided on without the most mature deliberation. Our object is to establish an effectual and permanent system of education, in effecting which object, no contingency should be overlooked; and whatever plans are proposed, must be considered, with reference not merely to any particular locality, but to the general interests and requirements of the society at large. We are not yet prepared to go into the details of the subject, but allude to it on the present occasion in consequence of the communications which we have received from correspondents in the country; being anxious to promote Pharmaceutical Education by every means in our power, and at the same time to point out the necessity of considering so comprehensive a question in all its bearings.

THE SYDENHAM SOCIETY.

AMONG the numerous institutions to which the march of intellect has of late years given rise, we may be allowed to introduce to the notice of our readers

"The Sydenham Society, which has been founded for the purpose of meeting certain acknowledged deficiencies in the diffusion of medical literature, which are not likely to be supplied by the efforts of individuals. It will carry this object into effect by distributing among its members:-Reprints of standard English medical works, which are rare and expensive; miscellaneous selections from the ancient and from the earlier modern authors, reprinted or translated; digests of the most important matters con·tained in old and voluminous authors, British and foreign, with occasional biographical and bibliographical notices; translations of the Greek and Latin medical authors, and of works in the Arabic and other Eastern languages, accompanied, when it is thought desirable, by the original text; translations of recent foreign works of merit; original works of great merit, which might be very valuable as books of reference, but which would not otherwise be published, from not being likely to have a remunerating sale-such as classified Bibliographies, and alphabetical Indexes to periodical publications and other valuable voluminous works.

"The Society will consist of an unlimited number. The subscription

constituting a member is one guinea annually, for which he will be entitled to a copy of every work printed by the Society during the time of his subscription. The subscriptions are to be paid in advance; and no member is responsible beyond the amount of his subscription. All works published by the Society will be selected by the Council; and, previous to publication, will be subjected to their supervision. The Society will not commence its operations until the number of its members amounts to five hundred. The works of the Society will be printed for members only; on a uniform plan, and with a good legible type. The Society will be under the direction of a council of twenty-four members, elected at the annual general meeting from the subscribers at large; and of this number eighteen only will be reeligible for the following year. The president and vice-presidents will also be elected annually. As the expense of management will be very small, nearly the whole of the funds subscribed will be devoted to the publications; and as the proportionate cost of producing books decreases as the number of copies increases, it is anticipated that, when the Society is fully organized, the annual supply of works to members will be considerable."

Some of the most eminent members of the profession are among the managers of this society; and when we take into consideration the importance of its objects, and the extended field of scientific research which lies before it, we have every reason to anticipate much benefit from its institution under such favourable auspices. The subscription is moderate, and every member who is interested in medical literature may expect to receive the full value for his money.

THE SALE OF SPIRITS OF WINE.

In our last number we briefly noticed the proceedings of the Commissioners of Excise in reference to recent informations against Chemists and Druggists for selling spirits of wine, and the result of an interview granted to a deputation on behalf of the Trade. We regret to state, that the penalties, although mitigated, have been enforced to the extent of ten guineas in all the cases in which fines had been levied. The Council of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY held a special meeting on Tuesday, March 21st, for the purpose of taking the subject into consideration, and the Solicitor of the Society attended for the purpose of affording such information as might be required respecting the interpretation of the law. A memorial has been drawn up for presentation to the Lords of the Treasury; but the necessity of going to press prevents our reporting the result in the present number.

To give our readers an idea of the extreme difficulties attending the question, and the peculiarly embarrassing position in which Chemists and Druggists are placed, we give, according to promise, the