Chemistry: General, Medical, and Pharmaceutical, including the Chemistry of the British Pharmacopæia

Abstract

THIS book is mainly intended to supply the want of a manual more expressly suited to the requirements of students of medicine and of pharmacy. A work of this nature necessarily differs in many particulars from the ordinary run of chemical manuals, and it would be unjust, therefore, to judge of it altogether by the standards generally employed in determining the degree of excellence of such books. It is obviously impossible for the medical student to make himself acquainted with the multitude of organic compounds known, the greater portion of which are simply interesting to the scientific chemist on account of the theoretical opinions based on them; and hence it would manifestly be absurd to censure the author of this book for the fact that much of what constitutes modern organic chemistry is either but cursorily treated, or altogether omitted. Nor, on the other hand, should he be blamed for giving what might otherwise appear undue prominence to the descriptions of substances which are simply interesting from the fact of their application as remedial agents, but of which the chemical constitution is either entirely unknown or but imperfectly understood. In all that concerns the most immediate objects which the author had in view in its compilation, his book is a faithful record of the present state of the science. Thus, on page 353 we notice a very complete description of the method of preparing the newly-discovered alkaloid apomorphia, the remarkable physiological effects of which have lately attracted so much attention. The plan of the work is entirely novel. The author commences with some very pertinent advice to candidates as to the best method of studying the book in order to fit themselves for examination by the various boards. After the usual introduction, the student passes on to the practical study of the general properties of the non-metallic elements, and when he has familiarised himself with the various manipulative processes, and acquired a certain amount of chemical knowledge, he proceeds to the study of the general principles of chemical philosophy. The properties of the various metallic elements, their official preparations, and the tests employed in their detection, next engage his attention; after which he is put through a systematic course of qualitative analysis. The student next occupies himself with the study of the compounds of vegetable and animal origin, with the reactions of the alkaloids and of some other organic principles, and of the various substances which the author distinguishes as Galenical, and which can only fairly be regarded from a pharmaceutist's point of view, many of them being “not yet brought within the grasp of the chemist.” The principles of toxicology, and the various methods employed in the examination of morbid urine and calculi, are then explained, and the different classes of official, Galenical, and chemical preparations enumerated. A course of quantitative analysis, sufficiently comprehensive for the student's requirements, and consisting of both gravimetric and volumetric processes, next follows. Several of the gravimetric methods are, however, in our opinion not the best at the disposal of the analyst. Thus, for the estimation of nitric acid Frankland and Armstrong's method of determining the amount of that acid in potable waters, is the only one recommended. This method, although doubtless excellently adapted to the purpose for which it was devised, is not, however, generally applicable. We would recommend the method of Vernon Harcourt to Dr. Attfield's attention. With some slight modifications, this method is pronounced by Professor Bunsen, of Heidelberg, in whose laboratory it is constantly used, to be by far the best of the many processes hitherto proposed for the estimation of nitric acid; and in the laboratory to which the writer is attached it is frequently employed with the most satisfactory results. The account given of the processes for the ultimate analysis of organic substances also appears to be somewhat defective, and the statement that the best combustion-furnace is that known as Hofmann's is open to dispute. The furnaces of Eslenmeyer and of Donny as modified by Glaser are certainly to be preferred; indeed, we understand that the Berlin professor has already: renounced the use of the furnace which bears his name. Dr. Attfield is surely in error, also, in recommending (page 460) that the boiling point of a liquid should be determined by inserting the bulb of the thermometer in the heated liquid. Kopp pointed out long ago the errors incidental to this method of procedure. These, however, are defects of but minor importance, and may easily be remedied in future editions. We have derived much satisfaction from the perusal of Dr. Attfield's book: it is eminently practical in its character, and is written with a just appreciation of the small amount of time for the study of chemistry at the disposal of the student in medicine and pharmacy.

Chemistry: General, Medical, and Pharmaceutical, including the Chemistry of the British Pharmacopæia.

By John Attfield. I vol. pp. 624. (London: Van Voorst.)