with the power of impofing new, names, but it must be remembered that they will not escape the cenfure of men of science, if, without a reasonable pretence, they expunge names well understood and familiar to the ear, if they invent new ones, without tafte, and especially if their alterations are fuch as may create miftakes that may be fatal to the health of his Majefty's fubjects, of which this body is reputed to be the confervator! To go through the whole of the falts, would be an Herculean labour. We fhall therefore only offer a few curfory remarks, The Acetum diftillatum is ordered to be diftilled in glass veffels, which is a proper precaution. The first runnings in this operation are mere phlegm, and ought to be thrown away. The College however do not fo order it: nor have they adopted a compendious method of obtaining a ftrong fpirit of vinegar, by freezing diftilled vinegar, and throwing away the ice, which is principally water, the pure acid not freezing. This method, though not often practicable by the natural cold of this climate, fhould not have been omitted, because it might have been effected by means of artificial cold. The acidum acetofum is diftilled from verdigreafe; but can we be fure that no copper will rife? There is not a tyro in chemistry, who would not prefer the more eafy, cheap, elegant, and fatisfactory method of obtaining the acetous acid highly concentrated, by decompofing the fal diureticus, or, what is better, the acetated foffil alkali, by the vitriolic acid. Much praife is due to the College for denoting the ftrength of the acids and alkohol, by giving their fpecific gravities; nor is lefs praife due for the excellent method of making alkohol, by firft abftracting the phlegm with alkali, and then diftilling the fpirit from a fresh quantity of alkali. The Tartarum vitriolatum, now called Kali vitriolatum, is directed to be made from the refiduum after diftilling the nitrous acid this is doubtlefs a true vitriolated tartar; this falt might also have been obtained by cryftallizing the liquor from which magnefia is precipitated. The quantities of acid and alkali are fpecified in the recipes for Spt. Mindereri (now Aq. Ammoniæ Acetate), Tartar. folub. (now Kali Tartarifatum), and Sal Ruppellenfe (now Natron Tartarifatum). If the apothecary can depend on the ftrength of the alkali and acid, it is doubtless right to fpecify the quantities, otherwife not; the complete mutual faturation can only be properly afcertained by the judgment of the pharmaceutical operator. After the falts follow the preparations Magnefia Alba and Magnefia Ufta*. The manner of obtaining magnefia alba from Epfom *This name ufa is equally unfortunate and unfcientific. The word fignifies burnt, and implies rather a decompofition of animal or 113 vegetable Epfom falt is fimple and well known. The quantity of mild vegetable alkali is here ordered to be equal to that of the Epfom falt. After repeated experiments with different parcels of each falt, we have found that 98 parts of mild alkali are necessary to faturate the vitriolic acid in 100 of Epfom falt (on a mean, for different parcels of falt require different proportions), fo that the anatical proportion is, or may be, with propriety, affumed. Among the fulphureous preparations there is little that differs from former difpenfatories. In the metallic preparations many new forms are introduced. A calcination of equal parts of crude antimony and hartfhorn fhavings is inferted under the name Pulvis antimonialis. This is fuppofed by many to be a fubftitute for James's Powder. It is an old compofition, and we pledge ourselves to fhew, if called on, that it is contained in a book published above a century ago. The butter of antimony, now called Antimonium Muriatum, is made according to Mr. Scheele's cheap and elegant prefcription. For the Tartar Emetic, the old prefcription is given of boiling the crocus with cream of tartar. Bergman's method of preparing this valuable medicine is certainly preferable to any other, because its ftrength will be always nearly the fame; whereas in this common mode of making it, its ftrength can never be depended on. The other antimonials are nearly the fame as in the former pharmacopoeia. Among the preparations of iron, the Ferrum tartarifatum is introduced. Quickfilver furnishes more preparations than any of the metals. In the prefent pharmacopoeia we have twelve. Of these the Hydrargyrus acetatus, viz. a folution of quickfilver in the acetous acid, was not in the former pharmacopoeia. The method of making this mercurial falt, is to precipitate a calx of mercury from the nitrous acid by vegetable mild alkali, and then unite this calx with the acetous acid. Mr. Scheele's preparation of calomel, in the humid way, is inferted under the name of Hydrargyrus muriatus mitis. Hydrargyrus cum fulphure (vulgo Ethiops Mineralis) is directed to be made by trituration only; when it is made by mixing the quick filver with melted fulphur over the fire, a more intimate union furely takes place: we have Dr. Lewis's teftimony that the quickfilver frequently feparates from the cold made Æthiops, in mixing it with fyrups, conferves, or refins, for making either pills or electuaries. vegetable fubftances, than of mineral bodies. name would have been Magnesia deaërata, or nata. An unexceptionable the old one, calci *There is a fatality in the choice of names. To have been confiftent, this preparation ought to have been denominated Hydrargyrus Julpburatus niger. Under Under the title præparata e Plumbo we have only two prefcriptions, viz. the Ceruffa acetata (olim, Saccharum Saturni) and Aqua Lithargyri acetati (vulgo, Goulard's Extract). The firft is made by boiling cerufs in diftilled vinegar, and the fecond litharge: the produce of both is nearly the fame; the firt is the ftrongeft, because the vinegar acts on the cerufs, which is itself prepared with the acetous acid, eafier and quicker than on the litharge, or any other form of lead. With respect to the boiling, a caution should have been added to use a gentle heat, for, by too violent a boiling, fome of the acid will doubtless fly off, before it has time to act on the lead. After the metallic preparations, follow the diftilled waters and fpirits, the decoctions and infufions. Many of the old prefcriptions are very defervedly left out; fufficient yet remain. Among the Wines and Tinctures, fome new ones are introduced; that excellent ftomachic and corroborant, Huxham's Tincture, appears under the name of Tinct. Cort. Peruv. compofita. A tincture under the name of Tinctura Colomba is inferted. This is not, as fomebody is faid to have ftrangely fuppofed, the tincture of a pigeon, but of the root called Columbo. The Balf. Guajac. and the Elix. Vitriol. acid. and dulc. are all three difcarded; they are nevertheless powerful medicines and good compofitions. Some trifling changes are made in the mixtures, which word appears to be fubftituted for Juleps. Among the fyrups, we obferve the Syrup. croci made of water inftead of wine. The Syrup. balsamic. is made by boiling eight ounces of balfam of Tolu in three pints of water, for three hours, and adding to the liquor, ftrained when cold, the due proportion of fugar. In the first place, water diffolves only a fmall quantity of the Tolu, though it be impregnated with its flavour; and the decoction being cooled before ftraining, fome of the fmall part of the balfam, fufpended in the warm water, will be precipitated. The most elegant, as well as the moft. proper, method of making this fyrup, is to ftir into fimple fyrup, placed in a water bath, a due proportion of a folution of Tolu, in rectified fpirits, and continue the bath till the spirit be evaporated. Among the Oxymels we have Oxymel Colchici. The reft are nearly the fame as before.-The Powders have fuffered fome changes, and new ones are introduced; of these, that very useful. fudorific, Dover's powder, appears with the title Pulv. Ipe-. *Why not Pulvis Doveri? Or if they would not do honour to the memory of this phyfician, though only a heteroclite Doctor, why call it by the name of one of the ingredients which in all probability is less efficacious than the opium? We fhould have called it Pulv. @piatus compofit. cacuan. cacuan. compofitus.-The Trochifci e nitro are retained; nitre taken undiffolved, or not fufficiently diluted, into the ftomach is, from experience, found to create much uneafinefs. Solid forms therefore of this excellent medicine are not advifable.The pills are not numerous, but most of them are good compofitions: the Pilul. ex Aloë want an aromatic; a few drops of Ol. Carvi would have been a good addition.-The Confectio Aromatica (i. e. cardiaca) has undergone a great and material alteration for the better. The Theriac and Mithridate are expunged.-The Lotions, Plafters, Ointments, Cerates, and Liniments, are increased, and, in many places, much improved. Thus have we particularly gone through the contents of the new pharmacopoeia. We have pointed out fome of those things which have appeared to us either erroneous or defective, not with a view of cenfuring a learned body, but wholly for the fake of advancing the art of pharmacy; and if the hints which we have thrown out meet with the approbation of the skilful chemift and the experienced phyfician, we fhall think ourselves amply rewarded. If they should be attended to in a subsequent edition, we fhall be happy in the thought of having, in any measure, affifted the learned College in compiling a work, which immediately and fo highly concerns the public health, and from the perfection of which, the ftate of the theory and practice of phyfic in this country must be concluded. As it is not improbable, that, from the improving ftate of pharmaceutical chemiftry, another Pharmacopeia Londinenfis may ere long be deemed expedient, we hope we shall give no offence, if we fuggeft to the confideration of the rulers of this learned body, whether it might not be greatly to the advantage of the College, and of phyfic in general, not to truft in the affiftance of uncertain contributions arifing from a general invitation, but to felect a few of their members, or others that are most diftin guifhed in fcientific chemistry, who fhall engage to apply their utmoft abilities to the work. Such affiftance cannot be expected, we fear, from motives of public fpirit alone; men of fcience, as well as others, expect the rewards of honour and patronage for their labours; and could patronage and honours be more worthily beftowed, than on those, who would seriously and ftrenuously exert themselves, in compofing a medical work which is of the greatest importance to society? ART. ART. II. Defences of Unitarianifm for the Year 1787. Containing, Letters to the Rev. Dr. Geddes, to the Rev. Dr. Price, Part II. and to the Candidates for Orders in the two Universities, Part II. relating to Mr. Howes's Appendix to his fourth Volume of Obfervations on Books, a Letter by an Under-graduate of Oxford, Dr. Croft's Bampton's Lectures, and feveral other Publications. By Jofeph Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. Ac. Imp. Petrop. R. Parif. Holm. Taurin. Aurel. Med. Parif. Harlem. Cantab. Americ. et Philad. Socius. 8vo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Birmingham printed; fold by Johnson in London. D R. Prieftley, finding his opponents fo numerous, that it is become impoffible for him to make particular replies to each, propofes to write one pamphlet annually, in which he will take notice of every thing which he hall think deferving of it, in fuch publications in favour of the doctrine of the Trinity, as the preceding years fhall produce. In refutation of Dr. Geddes's prefcriptive argument for the truth of the Athanafian fyftem, from the decifion of the Nicene Council, A. D. 325, as a proof of the general belief of the Chriftian church at that period, Dr. Priestley remarks-That the Nicene Fathers did not speak the fentiments of the common people, which were very different ;-that this Council was held near two centuries after the age of Juftin Martyr, when Platonifm had been imbibed by the more learned Chriftians, and great corruptions, in confequence, introduced into the Chriftian fyftem ;-that the affembly was under the influence of Conftantine, and three Bifhops, who had perfecuted Arius, and now made use of threats to produce unanimity;-that, in the next reign, when the Emperor was an Arian, there were as numerous affemblies of Arian bishops, in the fame part of the world, as there had been of Trinitarians at Nice ;-and that the doctrines of the Nicene Council were not the prefent catholic doctrine; but merely that Chrift was the proper Reason of the Father, which, having been firft in him as an attribute, afterwards became a person. The Letters to Dr. Price contain nothing, material to the general question, which the Author had not advanced in his former works. In the Letters to the Candidates for Orders, he makes thefe young men umpires in the controverfy between himfelf and Mr. Howes and others. After cenfuring Mr. Howes for a want of candour, in charging him with a total difregard to truth, and infinuating, that his principal motive in writing is to get poffeffion of emoluments in the church, Dr. P. proceeds, in refutation of the affertion that no Unitarians exifted in the Church during the two first centuries, to repeat fome of the principal authorities, quoted in his Early Opinions, in order to fhew that the |