DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM. MESSRS. DAVY, MACMURDO, AND Co.-Zinci Oxydum (prepared according to the Pharmacopoeia). MESSRS. FISHER, TOLLER, AND Co.-Balsamum Giliadense. MR. R. ALSOP.-Piece of a branch of the Aloë Spicata plant. MESSRS. HOWArds and Kent.-Calomel, sublimed in glass, crystallized -Calomel, condensed by cold air, crystallized-Ditto, in powder, but not sufficiently fine for use-Calomel, as usually sold by Messrs. Howards and Kent-Calomel, hydrosublimed. JOHN HARRISON, Esq., Charles Street.-Specimen of Woorari Poison, from the Museum of the late Mr. Walker. MR. WOOLLEY, Regent Street, Westminster.-Specimen of English Rhubarb. DR. ROYLE.-Specimen of Aconitum ferox root. MESSRS. HORNER AND SON.--Clove Bark-Sassafras Nuts-False Jalap. MR. SAMUEL SUMMERS, JUN.-Hippuric Acid. MR. THOMAS SOUTHALL, Birmingham.-Syrupus Papaveris-Potassii Iodidum. MESSRS. ALLEN, Cowper Street, Finsbury.-Unguentum HydrargyriPilula Hydrargyri (made by steam apparatus). MESSRS. WINSTANLEY AND SON.-Aloes Wood-Sassafras Nuts-Stick Lac-Gum Ladanum-Gum Tacamahac-Gum Citrinum-Red CoralInodorous and Tasteless Nutmeg-Flea-wort Seed. DR. PEREIRA.-Specimen of Potato Sugar. MR. MENNIE, Plymouth.-Rhamnus frangula. MR. SQUIRE.-Moist preparations of roots of Althea Officinalis-Helleborus Niger-Valeriana Officinalis-of flowering plant of Colchicum Autumnale. MR. GILBERTSON, Pilgrim Street.-Large glass Displacement Apparatus. MR. SAVORY.-Extractum Urtica Dioicæ. SYNOPSIS OF A COURSE OF LECTURES ON GENERAL AND MEDICAL BOTANY. BY A. T. THOMSON, M.D., F.L.S., &C. INTRODUCTION Definition of Botany its advantages as a science practical advantages derived from a knowledge of it-Method of studying it. Botany has reference to the external or physical characters and the struc ture of Plants-their vital actions, and their classification; hence it may be divided into Structural, Physiological, and Systematic. Definition of a Plant-distinction between Plants and Animals. I. STRUCTURAL BOTANY is- A. Particular-comprehending, 1. Organs essential to the individual life of the species. A. 1. ORGANS ESSENTIAL TO INDIVIDUAL VEGETABLE LIFE. ramose -- creeping — aërial-fusiform -spongioles. Appendages-cormi-tubers-bulbs. Underground Stems-rhizomes. Functions of Roots-endosmose:-many Roots are reservoirs of vegetable secretions - those employed as medicinal agents described. b. Stems-divided into-1. those which increase from without -Exogens; 2. those which do not increase from without-Endogens. 1. Structure of exogenous stems-pith-wood-barkbranching-growth in diameter and length. 2. Structure of endogenous Stems-in Palms-Liliacea Iridaceae-Grasses-Ferns: :- branching of En dogens. Appendages-pubescence-spines-prickles. c. Leaves-1. Unexpanded-leaf-buds-vernation. 2. Expanded-simple and compound-varieties of form -position upon the stem :-appendages-stomatahairs-stings-pubescence. Formation of Leavesgrowth-leafless plants. d. Stipules-bracts-tendrils. A. 2. ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION. e. Flower-definition of the arrangement of, in the plant or f. Floral envelopes-calyx-corolla:-imperfect flowers. h. Offspring-ovules-fruit-seed-embryo. B. ELEMENTARY ORGANS a. Cellular tissue. b. Vascular tissue. c. Glandular tissue. e. Epidermis. II. PHYSIOLOGICAL BOTANY. Cohesivenesss-permeability-irritability-movements of plants -endosmose-exosmose-ascent of the sap-respiration-secretion -excretion-transpiration-odours and temperature- assimilation growth-fertilization-age-decay-fall of the leaf-germination of seeds-reproduction of asexual plants. III. SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. a. Artificial System-species and varieties-genera-classes orders. b. Natural System - orders illustrated by the medicinal plants arranged in them. OTHER ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. REMARKS ON THE PHARMACOPOEIA OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF EDINBURGH, AND ON DR. CHRISTISON'S DISPENSATORY, OR COMMENTARY ON THE PHARMACOPOEIAS OF GREAT BRITAIN. BY RICHARD PHILLIPS, F.R.S., &c., Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society. A NEW edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, appeared in 1839, and soon afterwards I published some observations upon it in the Medical Gazette. These I had intended to continue, but I was induced to desist from so doing, on account of its being understood that Dr. Christison, then the President of the Edinburgh College, was engaged in preparing a Dispensatory; before, however, this made its appearance, another edition of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia was required and published. In the preface to the latter edition, the College observe, that "few additions have been called for," and, consistently with this statement, I find that Canna, only, has been added to the Materia Medica; and to the preparations, Acidum Aceticum aromaticum, Infusum Senegæ, Iodinei Liquor compositus, and Ferri Iodidi Syrupus; on the other hand, there have been omitted Decoctum Senegæ, Ferri Iodidi Solutio, and Tinctura Veratri. "We have," say the College," rectified several errors, which have occurred to ourselves, or have been pointed out by various critics;" and, on examination, I actually find that in the Materia Medica alone, about seventy-five alterations have been made, besides about one-third of this number of corrections of the wrong use or neglect of capital letters, which were pointed out by me. It is further observed by the College, "we have made some extensive changes, particularly in the formulas for pills and tinctures," and, it is added, that "in general little alteration is made in their composition, and scarcely any in their strength." I was curious to discover how "extensive changes" could be effected in the mode of preparing medicines without considerably altering their composition or strength. On examination, I find the case to be, with respect to pills, that whereas, in the first edition, of the twenty-three formulas for pills, the ingredients of twenty were apportioned by weight, they are now to be taken by parts; with regard to the tinctures, of the fifty-six contained in the work, the ingredients of fifty-four are now apportioned to two pints of the solvent, eighteen only being so before, and two tinctures remain unchanged. These alterations afford, ample evidence of the difference between extent and importance. I admit, however, that no harm has accrued to the pills, and that uniformity with the London College has arisen from the alterations in the preparation of the tinctures. In the methods of preparing some medicines, greater and more important alterations than those just noticed have been effected, and these, except in two cases, are in a great degree in accordance with my suggestions. Indeed, I shall show in the sequel, that, with few exceptions, where I ceased to detect errors, the College ceased to correct them. On discontinuing my remarks in the Medical Gazette, I stated that I should do so, trusting that some difficulties which had occurred to me, might be explained in Dr. Christison's forthcoming work. I cannot say, however, that my anticipation has been realized; for, except in the solitary instance of the formula for Acidum Hydrocyanicum, I am not aware that a single improvement has been effected, which I had not shown to be requisite. Under these circumstances I shall renew my observations on the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, and of course include with them such as may arise from Dr. Christison's defence of it, or may be suggested by his criticisms on the London Pharmacopoeia, or on my translation of that work. I shall commence with the Materia Medica, the first article of which, requiring notice, is Acetum Britannicum; in the first edition it was stated, that its density varied from 1006 to 1012; I showed that it is as high as 1019, and the College have corrected the statement accordingly; Dr. Christison, by a mere misprint, has 10019, instead of 1019. I mentioned also, that British vinegar may legally contain about three times as much sulphuric acid, as would be indicated by the test of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, for the extreme admissible quantity. Dr. Christison now asserts, that having examined "twelve different specimens of French and British manufacture, less [nitrate of barytes] is sometimes sufficient; but more is never required." I have already admitted this to be the case with respect to French vinegar, and it may be so with the Scotch vinegar, provided the manufacturers are more scrupulous than the English; but "the College has excluded these vinegars intentionally." Now, whether four ounces of vinegar contain one grain and threequarters of sulphuric acid, as permitted by the London College and the excise laws, or half a grain, as allowed by the Edinburgh College, is a matter of no consequence whatever, for the latter college do not employ it in any preparation without distilling it; and if they did it would do no harm. Dr. Christison remarks (p. 12), that the method of the London College" of ascertaining the absence of an undue proportion of sulphuric acid, in which the operator has to collect and weigh a precipitate amounting to 1.14 grain, is much too tedious and refined for practical use." Under the head of Cinchona flava (p. 16), of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, the following are the directions for ascertaining its quality: "A filtered decoction of 100 grains in two fluidounces of distilled water gives, with a fluid ounce of concentrated solution of carbonate of soda, a precipitate, which when heated in the fluid becomes a fused mass, weighing when cold 2 grains or more, and easily soluble in solution of oxalic acid." Now, let us compare the tediousness of these operations of the two Colleges. In the London process we have, 1st, To prepare a solution of chloride of barium; 2dly, To add it to an ounce of vinegar; 3dly, To collect the precipitated sulphate of barytes; 4thly, To dry it; 5thly, To weigh it. According to the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, there is, 1st, To boil 100 grains of bark in two ounces of water; 2dly, To filter the decoction; 3dly, To prepare the solution of carbonate of soda; 4thly, To heat it, and the decoction of bark together; 5thly, To separate the fused mass; 6thly, To weigh it; 7thly, To prepare a solution of oxalic acid; 8thly, To ascertain the solubility of the two grains of the fused mass therein. With respect, then, to tediousness, it is greater in the process of the Edinburgh college than that of the London, in the proportion of eight to five; and the degrees of refinement are, as far as I can discover, not very different. If the bark should be of bad quality, it must be evident that the operator may have to weigh even less than a grain; and if he will employ two ounces of vinegar instead of one, then the precipitate of sulphate of barytes will exceed in weight the fused mass obtained from the 100 grains of bark. Under these circumstances I think that the charges brought by Dr. Christison come with a bad grace from him; at the same time I readily admit, that the principle of the Edinburgh College, if correctly carried out, is more easy of application in the testing of vinegar than that of the London College. Acetum Destillatum.—In the first edition, the College directed six parts only of vinegar to be distilled from eight parts. I showed in the Medical Gazette, that by this process only about three-fifths of the vinegar were actually procured. The Edinburgh College have now, in accordance with the London College, and with the results of my experiments, directed seven parts of product to be distilled, instead of six, and in addition to the consideration of economy urged by me, Dr. Christison has assigned other valid reasons for the alteration effected. Acidum Aceticum.--In the first edition of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, the following formula was introduced : |