The history of 'The Art of Dispensing' in book form is graphically represented on the preceding page. But it went through a probationary period before 1888, the germ of it being contained in The Chemists' and Druggists' Diary of 1880, which was so well appreciated that the short treatise was augmented for the 1885 Diary by extracts from the late Dr.

Hermann Hager's 'Technik der Pharmaceutischen Receptur'; then proofs of the combined work were submitted to twelve pharmaceutical chemists in Great Britain, who commented upon the text, and their annotations were appended in small type to the text. There was thus obtained a symposium on this branch of the pharmacist's art which is probably unique in our literature. The varied experience represented in the treatise may be judged by the names of the contributors, who were :

Mr. J. F. Burnett. Mr. A. W. Gerrard. Mr. W. Gilmour. Mr. Thomas Greenish. Mr. Joseph Ince. Mr. Peter MacEwan.

Mr. T. Maben. Mr. W. Martindale. Mr. R. H. Parker. Mr. Barnard S. Proctor. Mr. J. H. Webb. Mr. A. C. Wootton.

This treatise was reprinted as a 196-page pamphlet when the edition of the Diary was exhausted. The present Editor rearranged and augmented the work as published in September, 1888, and prepared each succeeding edition for the press.

The book was entirely recast and, in the greater part, rewritten to form the sixth edition, published in 1900, which contained 498 pages, as compared with 288 pages in the fifth edition. A further issue being required, the Editor has carefully revised the work, altering where necessary, and adding considerably. The revision has given an opportunity of rewriting the chapter on new remedies, which have increased greatly in number during the past four years. In the last edition 233 paragraphs were devoted to these (including about 250 remedies), while in this edition nearly 600 remedies are described. The medicinal properties of the substances are referred to in general terms, notes as to physical properties and dosage being regarded as of greater importance to dispensers.

July 4, 1904.

The Ninth Edition

Considerable emendations and additions have been made for this edition. The Editor has been assisted by Mr. Peter Boa in supplying examples of difficulties from current practice. A section on Ampoules has been added, and a Dictionary of Foreign Prescription Terms takes the place of the French and German terms previously contained in the volume. The chapter on New and Unofficial Remedies has again been carefully revised and supplemented by facts respecting those introduced since 1908. In other respects the contents have been made more useful to dispensers and those learning the art.

A reprint of this edition being called for at the time of publication of the British Pharmacopoeia, 1914, the Editor has taken the opportunity of making requisite alterations in official data and references.