P A R T IL

REVIEWS AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

]~tude Suv Les Maladies ~teintes et Les Maladies Nouvelles. Par Crt~T,~s AlVGLADA, Professeur de Pathologic' Mddlcale a la Facult~ de MontpeUier, &c. Paris: g. B. Baillidre et Fils. 1'8697 8vo, pp. 646.

A .Treatise o~* Diseases, Extinct and New. By CrrARLES A~GLADA, Professor of Medical Pathology to the :Faculty'of Montpellier.

IN the ahs0~bing pursuit of the medicine ~of the,,present day.the inheritance ~ of the past is in danger ,of being, forgotten, We ~ave ~in, a great degree neglected .the counsel of oar illustrious Sydenham, to study thoroughly the constitutions of epidemic diseases, and conseq~mntly have advanced but little since his time towards the solution of those difficult problems. Our literature is poor in works relating to ar~mo16gieal medicine, and we possess no description from the pen of a physician of any of the great pestilences of the earth, w ~ e h .q~n r i~al th,~ no~-professional, histories ofthe plague of Athena by Thucydides, of the plague occurring in Justinian's rei b the e~.o u~ t Gik~on,;~nd ofthe Dlack Deathb Boecaeio We have indeed no gogd monograph on this subject in the English languag ~ sinca,M~4's,wr, i "th3. gs 0n the plagues up to the first year of the present eentucy~,~when the: American physiciata, Noah Webster, published his history,of Pestilential Diseases. This can still be read with ~ interest, and~ forms the text-book from which all subsequent writers :l~gdy~. borrow. In Baseome's work on epi- demic pestilences ~ve a~e ~lisapppinted in tlnding no references given to substantiate his statements. ,In Germany, the "Chronik der Seuchen, ? by Schnurx~,~agpearcd ia !823, and:it contains, along with much of the: mar~'e!lgu~,:a large stor~ of ~atuable information. Since this came out we are ~uchjndebted~to the German physicians for important;works.0n pegti~e, ntial diseases, an d we, need only allude to the "MorlJorum Antiqnitates" of Gruner, to the "Mediaeval Epidemics" of Hecker, and to the works of Hirsch and Haeser.

ANOLADA--Diseases, Extinct and ~Tew. 353

In France, until of late years, this ground has been but little cultivated, and we welcome with pleasure Dr. Anglada's interest- ing work. The author is Professor of Pathology to the Faculty of Montpellier, and is the son of the late Dr. Joseph Anglada, who was Professor of Medicine in the same University. The father was favourably known for his researches on toxicology, and the son has published during the last thirty years various works on subjects of general medicine. A treatise of his upon contagion appeared in 1853, and elicited the commendation of the celebrated Trousseau, who in his Clini~ue Mddieale has adopted as his own the definition of Dr. Anglada, " Celle (definition) de M. Anglada, de Montpetlier,

• me par'hit mieux rendre l'id4e que je m'en fais." The present work of M. Anglada is one upon a subject much contested, and is modestly called by him an gcude, or inquiry, into diseases which are supposed to have become extinct, and into others which appear to be new. Though we readily concede to him the merit of originality in the title which he has chosen, yet the subject of his researches, in part at least, has occupied the attention of such able medical historians amongst his countrymen as Oza,mm, Daremberg, and especially Littr4.

The table of contents of the present volume consists of an intro- duction of fihy pages, in which the author discusses the general relations of his subject, and of ten chapters, in which he narrates the history of those great pestilences which desolated the earth. Like the fifteen decisive battles of the world, so vividly described by Professor Creasy, which stand forth as landmarks in history to denote the changes of empires, so do those ten plagues appear conspicuous, some of them as overturning ancient dynasties; all of them as overwhelming for the time social order, and moral and religious obligation, in one stupendous cataclysm. He heads his terrible list with the famous plague which led to the ruin of Athens in the fifth century before our era. The second chapter describes the great epidemic which occurred in the reign of the Antonines, in the second century aher Christ. The third epidemic took place in the third century, and was known as the plague under Gallus. The fourth was the great bubonic plague of the sixth century, which committed such ravages in the reign of Justinian. The fifth was the great epidemic of the new eruptive fevers--small-pox, measles, and scarlatina, which dated also from the sixth century. The sixth in order was the gangrenous epidemic of the middle ages, known as ~ Mal des Ardents," or St. Anthony's Fi re . . The serenth was the

VOL. XLIXq NO. 98~ N.S. ~ A

354 Reviews and Bibllograjohleal Notloes.

Black Death, or, as~iv was,called in .Italy,, la Mortalega Grande, the Great Mortrat~ty, which raged i~ the fourteenth century. ~ The eighth was in. Suette~Angla~ei.$chwe~ssiie~el, or English SweatlnffSiok- ness, which, began.in the~ti£teenth ,eentury~ "The ninth plague ~as ~he great ~Sy~hiiifi~ ~ei~lemie ~f the same ~eL..: The tenth~ and 'last chaptetr.~ dbvoted to the gran&ffestilence of the nineteenth centaur, • he,~A~iat~c cholera. However painful it may be [to med~rn.~yifi~a- tion~t~¢ordees ,the fact, the last of this:b|aek catalogue of ills~ a~jf to :~el~l~e ~.mau~s ~ overweening confidenee in'hi~ ,power~ both in .the extent:vf its ~ diffusion and its great fatality, stands secondto none of its predecessors.

The question to which the author addresses himself in the intro- duction is twofold~first, whether diseases, which onee were known tO have prevailed have ceased to'exist; and, secondly, whether new diseases have, from ~time to ~ time, appeared i n the~:wQrM~ :~The question ~ is not ~vh~liy'novel;~,for .we find,it proposed for se~io~s debate some twenty~ee~tuHes~!ago.,by-~lul~rch~, who, ,infact, gets ~p. ~ ~little~stage-scvne,.to:give I ~h~ ktiseusbion :a dramafi~ eti~ct. ,. l~or example,!a Circle of.inquiring eiCiuena':is assembled:iln the leCture- room, the Subject of the evening" is'given-out--" Can. r, ew diseases be engendered ?". . The disputanes are, on the one side, Plutarch in person, who appears as the advocate of freedom of opinion ; on the other, a physioian,.who opposes the question-," Plutarch ~irgaeS~hat leprosy ' aM, hydrophobia, were .nee known, before .the time~ :of Asel~piades V the~physidan~icks to ,the good ~ld ma~m:that the laws, ofaaaturei are~unehangeabte:,, ~,.W, hat, '~ he egelaims, and his ~earers a l ~ a ~ h i m , '.~¢,are;,w~,$o sfiplaose that nature acts in o~r bodies as men would d~iin"ffi~own., and~rhat~s~ .comes.out accoM- ing twthe, hsbt~n°%f,.¢he,dayi as',anI,,ina~r~tor ~ of novelties ?"i It appears~, hoveev6r, that:-the physician ia-beateai' off :the fiddl ~for Plutarch concludes that, "without going beyond our own ~ease, changes in the habit of living form a sufficient cause for the pro- duction of new diseas~s."

In fact the two hypb~heses proposed to explain the origin of diseases are still open ,to discussion. The realistic theory holds that, pathology is ira;arable, ,that our diseases are as old as the human race itself, though ,dePendent on modifying circumstances for their appearance ; ¢onsequeatty..they cannot,be regarded ever as being, either novel or ,obsolete ; that ~ disease. ~ arising, frora our surroundings, for instance eatarrhs from atmospheric changes,, are admittedly eontemporaneotm with our e.~istenoe and never leave us ;

A~aL~D~--Diseases, Extinct und New. 355

that the specific characters which diseases evince favour the doer:rive that they have originally been modelled after types, w.hieh are immutable and pre-established to act in harmony, upon which types depends .that uniformity of: character which is the basis of our know- ledge of diseases and of the descriptions .of them in our medical works.- : I t wau~d follow ~from stmh a view that though some diseases have appeared:: rarely, ~ar b u t oBce, we are ~ot thereby 'hastily to conclude them .to ~oe~ extinct, as judging f rom. the uniformity of nature,, and, her care in economizing her~ ma~erials, t h e y m a T reappear; when ,a like eencatenation o£ causes occurs again.

The second theory is founded upon an a posteriori principle, and appeals toobservation and experience, for support. It denies, tlmt pathology is unchangeable, and maintains that all history teaches us that certain diseases, arising out of some new cause~ or combina- tion of causes, not known to us, come up at times to the surface, like bubbles on a stream, last for a brief period, and disappear from sight and existence together. I t illustrates its view by pointing to ~he fact l~hat genera and species of animals and plants~ now extinct, are every day disentombed from the bowels of the earth ; and that consequently analogy allows us t o conclude that diseases may be ranked in a similar category. Further~ it. holds tha t an unbiassed examination of the. ,reeord$ of diseases show ss new and strange forms,of maladies, the very date o f whose appearance can in many,.cases be assigned, while we ourselves :are at a: loss,.to identify some of the disegses of ancient times. The author, we need scarcely ~say, .strenuously upholds the dogma, that diseases, like their subjects, ean both be born and die.

In order to lay down clearly the terms of the question, the author premises that there are two ways by which &.'seases~,aco formed.

"Les maladies se forment de deux mani~res, par rdczctiou at oar.affec- tion. La con:fusion de ces modes 2athoggmques a gt~ le vine radma~e de la doctrine de Broussais."

"Reactive diseases are those whose first phenomen6n'is ~t;mgr~{cl aeh whmh amme&atd V fofiows an mjuraou~ external lmpreh~s16n. Their sympioms ~v~fry 'v/lib '~tI/e" excifing"agents," an(l"cor~p~6nd~ ' ¢~rit]i sbhao exceptions, tO the nature ~ the sentient impression, a~'d'tq tlie e~teht ~. 6f iiiju~y' whi&h:l/as beet/the r~snlt of it. These diseases :a~6 botltid so, dosel]-to their:initiafin~ ea~es~ tha,~ .it: lies ia ottr ":p6wel"~to produce them at wil|~ ~ith a referee for vital contingencies. ~

2 X 2

356 Reviews and ~bllographical Notices.

On the other hand :-,--

"Affealve .diseases rep~'esent a :general morbid state, long in prepara- tion, and.holding in, dependence eventual local determinations. Their most common,origl, n.is in obscure and uadlseoverable causes, and we are not able to determine their relations with the ordinary morbidinfluenees. ~ital activity must~ therefore be,. admitted ~ form o£ itself,a sufficient reasoa.f, or, tho ,change which is ¢ffeeted in the normal condition of fan.ions aad0rgans. This is what we ~¢xpress by Saying that those maladies ~ e sTontanepus,,or referrible to som e unaceustolped ~nodifie~- tion of healthy life, without the apparent concurrence of an external cause,"

According to the preceding distinctions, spontaniety s tands in open antagonism to external causes as a source of diseases. Still the author is forced to acknowledge the great difficulty of keeping the two distinct from all mutual interaction.

" Quand nous disons qu'une maladie est st3ontande , nous ne prdtendons pus affirmer, pour tousles cas et d*une manlbre absolue, ~lu'aucun facteur externe n'a~ prls;i)art ~ §a produchon. ]Vials 11 reste toujours vral qu'on chercherait 'vaihement duns le's ag'ressions extdrieures la cause prochaine des maladies affectives."

Reactive diseases must be greatly affected by differences~ in the civilized state. Thus, the axt of war is, fruitful in bringing out new kinds of fire-arms, which produce new forms of mutilation of the human burly., ;Steam, by its introduction into industrial occu- pations~,.,is not ,slow to create injuries of ~itS own. Poisons, hitherto Unkno~,n~ .~mo :into use,: aoti~g iasidiously, and,injuriously .upon the human frame. The -imperati,ve;demand,~for tl~ings, which ~vere deemed, lu,~'~ries a !ittle~ ago , b u t ,are now 4)ecome necessaries of life, keeps tho:-working classes at an unnatural strain to bring the article to market : in the shortest time, and which leads them to peril life, and regard sanitary precautions as slow. Amongst a host of examples,of those new varieties of reactive disease, he cites the eases of necrosis of the maxillary bones, which occurred in the makers of lucifer matches from t h e vapours of phosphorus. Since t h e white phosphorus has been replaced by ~he r ed , this new form of disease has almost- become a medical souvenir of the past.

Having laid down his ,two modes by which diseases are formed, the author proceeds to apply t h e m to the explanation of the great pestilences which have produced such wide-spread havoc in the

ANOLADA~D~eases, Extinct and New. 357

world. Finding no external cause, or chain of causes, Which could bring conviction to his mind as a sufficient reason for such prodigious effects, he feels himself logically compelled to assign these effects, by the way of exclusion, to causes working within our bodies.

A great number of spontaneous affections'are specific. They are the work of slowly-acting causes, and present examples of the highest degree of morbid individuality. He seems to regard them as developments from' the 'modes of living usual in societies. Gout, tuberculosis, 'herpetism, have 'hid different dates of appear- ance in the world, and the slow elaboration of time is a necessary element for their incorporation in the human system. As M. Littr6

" ~ t " ' r , ' . . O ~

has well observed, d~seases have their chronology aswel las their geography."

Dr. Anglada gives example~ of geographical diseases, which ar e emitled to the character of novelty, as being endemic in particular countries, which possess the exclusive monopoly of them. But the fact of being indigenous to one country, would seem rather to refer their origin to obscure local causes than to purely internal elaboration.

" La Plique de Pologne, le Bouton d'Alep, le Sibbens D']~cosse, la Rad6zyge d;e lqovw~ffe~ ;Is L~pre d'Egypte, le Plan d~'Amdr'rque, le Yaws des cbtes ,de Guin~e, 'le Tara'do-Sib6rie, le~,Waren de Westphalie, la F6gurite d' Espagne, le-Ma~ della Rose 'des Asturies, le Ginklose d'Islande, le ~ o m a de Suede, la' Chilolaee ~d'Irlande, reprdsentent autant' d'esp$ces morbides qui ne trouvent les condi- tions de leur d6veloppcment, que.dans le concours inddtermind de certaines influences ~opoffraphiques." " The history of voyages and travels~" he continues, " is every day enlarging the sphere .of this obser~ration, and it is no exaggeration to say that dertain regions have their pathology, as they have their fauna and flora."

The influence of geographical position upon, the health and diseases of the human body[has been long since remark~d, und may :yet ;lead to som~:i~mp¢rtant discoveries uporr~t~ origill of e0ntagions. Cicero, has ,made the Suggestive~0bser~a~ion~that oar manners of life;, and~,.'momi feelings, are more'ingae~¢ed~.by:'the natura locl than by family and race. " Non ingenerantur homia~btts ino~es¢ tam a stirpe ge~eris ac seminig, quam ex,~ii~i~bas ~ qt/~ ab ip~£ ~ ~atu~£ loci,, et~ a vtt~e: eonsuetiidine,,,sni~p~ditalntur~quibtts alimtir et-vlvimu~ (De l e yaAgra~ , eaV. ~ . ~i The~hat~its and

358 Reviews and BibllograpMcal Notices.

customs of people, the climate~ mode of'living¢ tastes, must, more or less~ mq~ify and, ~ransf~m both t l~inward and outward man. , I n the list jus t quoted, Dr . Anglada ~nclud~, as a well known

indig0~ous ~ . . . . . . i t &sense of this country, " l a ehiloiaced'Irlaade." We are not aware of ~y~diseaseunder this name peculia• to Ireland. On referring tqt:P!ouequet , Who has described it, w e find a disease called ehei~oeace~ seu labrisulcium, but ~t is not pu~ down by him to our aee0~nt. Rayer, in his voeabulary, describes it as a fume-

faction of the lips, occurring in children of fourlor ~ve years of age.: ~" The lips become hard, and by separation from tI4e '~teeth and. gums give to the physiognomy an appearance q u i t e unna- tural. Sometimes they are divided into two parts by a deep fissurej whence flows a sanious humour. The upper lip is so.me- times the only one affected, when both, the upper is the 'mbs~. The English eall it " the mouth's canker." We do not think tl~is ailment to be so eonstant w~th us as to deserve the name of a national ,disease. We, find no record of it in the. works of Boate, Tuomy, Rogers ; o r O'C0nnell, 'and even R~y~, ~from Whom prqbab!y Dr. Anglada borxowed it, rests its pret6nsi&rs as an Irish endemic upon an "on dit."

Amongst the diseases, once prevalent, but now all but extirlct, except in its retreat in the East, is leprosy. This terrible disease of the middle ages has left its mark in the numerous leper hos, pitats which Christian piety raised for its relief. The author states: tha~ in the thirteenth century there were ,2,0(t0 of the~ 1opr0a¢~ie, s in France~ ~aad.qnotes Matthew Paris as authority ifor t~¢i statcX~n$, that there , e~isted ,~9~900 of those institutions in E~ope. T l~ .pro~gio~s number , however , appears ti mistake, arising, out, of the ¢ir9umsta~c¢ , that the Knights ttospitallets, who had the care in,a great ¢!egree of the leper-houses, possessed that number of manors, "Habent hospitaliarii novemdecem (millia) maneriorum in Christianitate." These hospitals were open to other skin ~seases besides leprosy, and especially to the elephantiasis of the Greeks.

In the :catalogue of diseases which have become extinct are enumerated the~ plague of Athens, the morbus eardiacus of anti- quity, the black death~ and the sud~ Angl icds . In that o f maladies, once broadly digused as, pestilences, l~ut now "amendeds," appear the names of scorhut~s, syphilis, pellagra, and other~. On the other hand, if some diseaset have retired into narrower limitS, on a compensating principle, others have received an increase ~n

A~OLADA--Diseases, Extinct and Arew. 359

extension and intensity. Diphtheria, he says, was certainly known to the ancients, but it scarcely quitted its sporadic form until the presen t cen'tury, when it burst like a meteor on France, Holland, and a great part of Europe. A careful examination of the medical journals would give us the accounts of strange forms of disease appearing from time to time. He mentions as such the clignotte of Guipuscoa in 1849, so called because those seized with it died in the twinkling of an eye, "darts un clin d'ceil." He quotes Mackenzie for an inflammatory ophthalmia consequent on a form of bilious fever, like the febris ardens of hot countries, which, he says, " regne ~ Dublin." We may suggest a remarkable example of these intercurrent diseases in the recent so-called cerebro-spinal fever.

The author has laid down a practical division of epidemics into little and great. The little he makes to depend upon defects in our physical and moral' hygiene, so that he lays upon ourselves very much of the responsibility of their origin, development, and repro- duction. Perhaps this is made too much of. In Ireland, the spread of typhus fever is not altogether to be imputed to our fault, but other factors must be taken into the account. Famine, for example, is as surely with us the progenitor and associate of fever, as the ~.01~0¢ and ~.~/~0¢ conjoined by Hesiod. The great epidemics, properly so called,

"Naissent par les seules forces de la nature, c'est ~ dire qu'aucune combinaison humaine ne peut en prdparer et en provoquer l'explosion."

He lays down a summary of the most notable marks by which we may recognize their individuality. These are, " appearance after long periods of intermission; suddenness of invasion; etiology unknown and without any appreciable relation with ordinary causes; fatality rebellious to all the efforts of art; profound specificity; aspect strange, and without anything analogous amongst known diseases.." There are some diseases, such a~ influenza, which possess some, but want others of those marks. They are in reality common diseases gifted for a time with gome accidental force of radiation, but can be referred in their source and extension to the common laws of pathology. He admits at the same time a likeness to the great epidemics in some of their less usual characters. They have, he says, in their constitution a something, he knows not what, but to which, forwant of a better name, he would give the title "d'61ement epidemique." He may

t~eaiews and ,Bibllogeaphiaal.2Votides~

allow us to suggest a designationwhich the great Roman:jurists were fond of ~apgl~ing ,ta subj~ts JrL~:dvil law; whieh~ were like the realitbr 0, but, sfilt,n¢~:i~ .... We.~:would~eall them, quasi.epidemio,.

Our auger , na~!ral~y ~ asks-,. '; d'ot~ provienaent les :gmnd~ elai. d6mies ? ~! ~an~ ~e.~rc~eeho his question,,. We fear. that ,we must be contented: as,yea.witk the ~',qtaid:di*inum" of Hippoerate~ One o£ the. lat.~st hypoda'eses is that proposed ~hy:-~M, Faster in~ his bo~k on: the diseases~Of :France. This~writer is of: opinior,~that~he has discovered the. ~seoret to ~exist ;~ in an undetermined eombination"df cosmical causes,, and, ,of moral-and political inttnenees?.'i ~ r:This, is~, in point ,o£ facti a, ~revival of the : doctrines of ~onh .~Webster~, ~dao tries !to prove tha~ :strange commotions in the.physicaL world used to precede and accompany the great pestilences. M. Fuster world add great moral perturbations to these conjoined causes,

The only ~way to th~ow a ray ,of light upon th'e mysterio~s~origia of epidemics, is. to note down carefully and without:bias the points in which they agree,,and those irt ~¢hich they.differ:; the characters which never are absent, and tl~ose only aeeidentally,~present;~¢the centre from whence'they seem toproeeed, and, the barrier'where they cease to swead. Also, how far their manifest preference for some places or persov.s, and their indifference to others, 'may. be found to arise from eapriee or from law. In nil probability this is a question which we shall bequeath for its solution to posterity,

We have occupied so much of our space with the general prin- ciples of epidemic p~stileuces that we have not time for comment upon the several examples. We may, however~ be allowed to sayin genergl~t~a#~th~y~q~m most interesting and highly important dissertations, written in a very attractive style. M. Anglada will, we trust, allow us, befbre we lay down his work, to clear up a slight historical error ~hieh occurs in his chapter upon the English sweating sicknes.~, as regards this country. It is there statedthat Scotland cn~ treland ~jo~(ed an immunity from this epidemic. ~ As regards Scotland, i~, is, suj?~orted by the authority of Dr. Freind, who says, , Quod ~im!ro est~ ~n exteris nationibus¢ Scoti itkesi, Anglique tantum tentati erant, neque in Anglia peregrini a.ffieie- bantur." We have no grounds to prove that Ireland escaped~ yet Dr. Anglacla, 'on the'a~ertioh of Lar iey , States, "le. reste du royaume fut fi;app6 preaqn6: en mgme tentps, toujburs ~ l'exclu~ion de l'Ecosse, et de I'Irlartde,", and he repeats, the ob.~er~ration Whil~ describing the repeated epidemic returns of the disease: , ,It is possible that on this point ~ the author was' misled- by t-I'ecl~r~ ~ho

Works on Hygiene and Sanitary Science. 36'1

has stated positively that " the sweating sickness did not advance westward to Ireland, nor did it pass the Scottish border." :" The historians who would;" he says, " certainly have recorded so calamitous an event are entirely silent." Nay, further, he goes on to found a,theory for its restriction to the English nat ion. But there is abundant proof that M. Heeker's facts and theory are alike ansustained. In Hardiman's History of Galway, compiled from the town annals, we are told !' this charitable institution (the Leper Hospital) was fortunately completed in the year 1543,.when the sweating sickness b~oke out and raged ~ith great violence, destroy- i-ng multitudes o§ the natives, and particularly the tradesmen o f the town." This would, seem to refer to the :fifth epidemic of this plague. Again, in Smith's tlistory of Cor1~ (Vcl. ii, page 35); we find it stated on~ :the authority, of local MS. ~hat in~ 1528,. the ~ourth epidemic, there was " a malignant disorder ~ called the ;sweating sickness in.Cork, v :The same fact is recorded in, the Annals of the Four Masters under the year.1492, the first epidemic of the disease, " An unusual plague raged in ,Meath, a~ plague of twenty-four hours' duration,, and any one who survived it beyond that period, recovered, tt did ,not attack infants or .little children." In the Dublin copy of the Annals of Ulster, this is called " plaigh allais;" the sweating siekness~ " tha t sad .contagion which n o former'age knew?'

W e eannot rise ~from our present pleasing task without cordially thanking M. Anglada for his work, w/~ich supplies what was felt to be a desideratum in our general medical literature.

J O H N P O P H A M .

WORKS ON H Y G I E N E A N D S A N I T A R Y SCIENCE,

1. A Manual of Practical Itj~tene, prepared specially for the Medical Service of the Army.. 'By ~EIJwARD A. PARKES, M.D., F.RiS! ; Professor" of Military Hygie~ae in the Army Me~t]eal Scho6t. Third Edition. Londrn: Churchill and Sons: 1869. L a ~ e 8re, 640 pages.

2, Traitd d'f].vgieneGenerale. Par le Doeteur ADpL:t'~,MoTAg~. Paris: Bailli~re. 1868. 8yo, 2 vols, 878 and 82~1 page$¢~

3. TraitJ de l'A limentation dans ses rapports a~ec la Physiotoyie, la Pathologic et ta Therape~tique. Par le Do~tmur., JuLes,:GYa. Paris : Bhilli~re et:~Fils~. 1869. Lar~e:Svo,~578~pages.

3 ~ Reviews emd ..Bib~tiog~pldca~ Notiee,.

4. Dislmfeetant#,and Di~nfev¢ion. B y ROBERT ANGUS SMITH. Ph:D,,: ~.R~ S, ~ "Edi~b~gh :~ ]~dmoadst~n' and Douglas. 1869~- 8v~, -188~pag~

Tnm:~rst tw~c~titions,~f=~rofessor ~arkes's ~or~ on Hygiene have bee~r.,s~ f u i ~ M e ~ e ( i in-, this ',Journal rhat~ the t~$k of r e v i ~ n g a~ t h i r d : . i ~ is ~,~ight one,. ~mo~e eslaeeia!~y.,~ i n . immediat¢~ :pre- det, esaoz-~zas~Ot~btished only three years~ago.: I t ~ no?., bar, ever, a~tog~ttmr: beeause~ the gzea~ d e m a n d fo r .~ i s s~ork : speedily: e~hau~ted:the, aeoond edltion thata third, one so;soon followedv for swzealansly:i~sani~tary,soience~ao~v culti~:~tod .t~at egen the ~o~- paratively brief-period of three ~years prod~tced no i~eonsiderabl~ amount of work .;:~to bem.vitten ,up." ,Dr, Parkes~ takes care tvi keep himse!fth~oughly and intelligently,poste d ~UP in reference to the labours of sankarians throughout file world, and everytMag that is really w~thy of record, or likely to be~ of the l#ast practical use, he presents t~ us in ,hi~ admirablqmork.

i:Of the former edition ., of Park~'s Hyg~s~.we~,have wri~en iathe most commendatory ?~erms,,a~l of tl~e~pr~ese~t we can truth- fullyaver that ~t is by far the most v~uahle treatise !on sanitary science in theEngi~sh langtmge, and that it is--taking intd account its special military application--quite equal to the best treatises of the same subject .to :befound in France or Germany. In this work we fro& not: o~ly: the~most ree~nt inforr~ation, but e.very doubtfui statement is~it~cti~y,e~a~i~e.d a~d:plaeed, ia such a way: b~o~e th~ reader as to enable him to judge of its value. Indeed, as a, rule, tim pages of ~ti~m.~dt,~e~,,not ent~umb~ed ,)vit~,:mere. ~heolri.es and hypothe, es,,~but ~re filled. ~ith: substa.~tial faet~.. Lf a process for purifyin~,~atgr~,orfari.disLufeetlng ~foul i a~r~;~i~ given, ]~r~ Parkes telh nslto, what, ea~t¢r~t:.we may rely upon its e~ea~y, whether or not the process i$ sure:to gg~,eg~ood results,:and under what con~tions; As a rule, writers on sanitary seienee are far too inexact in their figures and eonalusions, , ~ h e ~ write with far too great a degree of positivism. :tnto..thls Sault Dr . ,Parkas has not fal len. H~ recom- mends various sanitary~agents,~but a t the same ~me: he tells ~ a t some of them :often, fail~ e~.a,when they are most~ likely to prove useful. ,HAs book is in~ every, xespect a candid one+ and he claims nomore for, the science of:which be is so zealous a cnkiva~or than that which,is indispataldy duo.to,it.

The third,edilion .is not ;~uch larger than the first onq, althongh iteontains :m~m intbrmatlan. This is accot~ated for by the gi~eat

Works on Hygiene and Sanitary Science. 363

condensation in the mere verbiage of the book, which distinguishes thepresent edition. :Not one word is wasted, and in almost any fifty pages of this manual more substantial information will he fomad than in many a bulky work on science. In no place, however, is brevity earlier so far as to render the meaning obscure. A more intelligible or mor e correctly worded volume we have never read.

The general arrangement of this edition is similar to that of its predecessors, but several chapters have been entirely re-written. The rt/ost striking alteration is the adoption of the new notation irr chemistry, a change whlch, we fear, will prove,,~omewhat embar- rassing to medical readers who "took out their ehemistry" from six to thirty years ago. The' new notati~m is now almost universally in use amongst pure chemists, and it is. gradually finding a p½ace even in the chemical language employed in' the medical journals. We notice, however, that Dr. Parkes uses, where h e can, tke common names of chemicals--for instance, oil of vitriol, or~ even more learnedly, sulphuric acid, instead of sulphuric hydride,

A large proportion of Parkes's Hygiene is~ occupied with matter solely of interest to military men. We now venture to suggest tO the author the desirability of preparing an edition of his excellent work adapted for the use of the civil population, About three-fourths of the existing work would, be available for this pur- pose, and if the remaining fourth part were replaced by a few chapters on sanitary legislation, including a digest of the Sanitary .Act of 1866, a work of great value to the general public would be the result.

Our French neighbours have long been distinguished for their writings on hygienic and diatetic subjects. The comprehensive works o f Levy, Tardien, Donne, Fonssegrives, and many other authors, prove how Mghly appreciated are the labours of sanitarians in :France, and how industriously hygienic science is cultivated iri that country.

M. Motard's work is of:a very comprehensive character; There is hardly a subject in any way relating to public or private~l-yg4ene which is not fully discussed irr it. The work i~ divided i~to.seven part~ or hooks, each of which is subdivided into a large numbs, of chapters. The first book is, to some extent, of~aa iatroduet¢~ character, and i~ the most theoretical portion of thvwor~, ~ ~ l a r g e portion of it is devoted to. that most recondite ~and;unsa~itfaetory subject---the origin of man. This delicate topie',is,,however~Very carefully treated, an~ the author takes b~r,,no meRs a ;purely

materinlistle,vle,w of .~]~e-intelleott~a|.~l~rt :off,haman nature. He jus¢ifies that artificial aTrang~me~t iat~'the s~iontific elasfifieati~Tr of animals~,wMeki assigm , ~ mia~ ,a-t~separute,~ and' irrdep~dent: .klng~ dom,~ ~he rest~,o/t tblsitiook4s,,de~oted~ to.tho rc~asiderafion of:the attatomy~amhebehtieabcatmtitilfi~rt~t3raatlbthe aphyti~lag4cat uses'.of theimor~,,importm~t',erg~a~s¢'the'influen¢~ oCl~e phyS/eM ,i~a~,b~" th~ 6ody,.upoa,~he ~aintl,--a~&'th ~)/lo~trine af'/~enapgr,,aadu m,, ~ ~il3heSee0nd book, treats altog'e~her,'~ff, ,eli~ates#hr~'isdllustrated ~y lnumerous~ ~-aaps. )i ~T, his'-,~part' of, th~ ~q~as~ltl is t~s~, v~lTs(fiel~ifi~ that[minute, instr,aetions' ave givert dn it ,for ~ q~aanci~ativ~alysis e~f~tha ~ah-. '.If'one,wants ¢ o , k n 0 w , ~ h ~ e a r r ~ r d t h u m o~ maxirattm temperature of the air and water in almost;,a'~y part:of~¢h~' ei~ili~ied vtofld, the inform~iorl 'ma F be, ireadily ~foun&;in this .'bodk. ~( I/ks might,be expeeted~ ~the'inflaenee cff~ ~oil~ tlpoa tlurTttblie!~ealthAs very fulty~dw~lt,,npon:,,~hoagh :we:were ¢ ~,attldr :sdrt~ised nol:~ta>~ind some reference ~ to~ the, ~remarkttb|e~ fa~l~ ~elntive, to: :the ~im~rorem'e~t of the rheatth~ of~ English,,¢oWns. ~by ~horoagli ,drainage/~,w.hivh have been .reoot~ed~ in, late ¢olumes~ o ¢ ° t h e ~ A t a n h ~ R ~ i s ~ f . D¢~i SimoN, the medieal o~eer of the Privy Council. Relative,ire, pbtuhie wat#r~, ,Dr. M~ard'.writ~s _~y~:fu.llF;,.la~ly, q~oting~'tbe re~hlts and .opinions gicen by .British,ohemists~ and 9hys~i~m:; i ~ Hd 'inclines to,.tbe'vie~v that most Zymotie-disease# i are mor~ or ~les~,eirealat~d b F means of potable water. .~.,~be thirdbook may be'¢egarded as,,a etmo~lete'ti~eatiae or~:-nu~i- .6om,~,h, deseribe~ ~the nathre 'died prgparatioa',of fobd~:,of ~*~ty kiad¢,entvrs elaborately imo,'thz~onsideration of thetr~nfl~ene~ a~sot,~both the&ddy~atd~ mind oflmart~ a~a@diseu~es at}g'r~atde~gth ~ , ' u s ~ aa&)~t~b~lstds of'-, eo~tme~flg ~ieoh~li~.l//luUts,,~ Ittn~l~ othgt ,stim~lbntsd ~ki~'-,fb~k,~ttnd,,; rJ~', tv~b i.~hi~h,, ~ have, '~ilreddy ,referreditcS,~owstitctt~, btrl~,~vlnvtr~i~fl!~70,'ptt~c% 'a fa~tr wht(Ch shows ,ht~w, 'e~lmustl~,el~, ~vvry.~s t~bj~el/,hast b~t~, deal~, vtith;

The seeon& Volume: eonsi#Os 'ef~foUr b~ks , tl-~e f i~ :of , w:hieh is devoted ~ elo~h~ng,'tabhwitfi~?,,nd,~x,,eteisc~s.~ 'the~;eearrtC'toil~aNguh o r vhe ~ork' o~ man :i'a,~h~a~'t~,of ,petite'and- #or ~ ~h~ .tiffS- t~;lirb'- phylaeties;, :or the:-~mture-tacd, ,p~.en~ion, ,of :, zym~ie , ai~d-.~oth6~ diseas~s¢ ~vhic~h,. a re', tO;, 4~uRI~:3 e ~ n t u a d ~ fi~ad's,~ eo~trol~; and~ ~ eonel~ting~' bo~k i ds. ~ i~ t |y ' take~ Up _~$tk t ~ soei@,'eondtchTns;~ef e~villzed: eoramu~ttes,'edueatibrq,-j ~gtiee;~ 9oliee¢ l&e,

We'. haee~pr~ferred to:,g|ve'a,)iitie~staternenv:of, ~ t r w h ~ ¢ , ~ . tent/;',~f~this.~e:~edl~er~t, ~¢ark :~t~h¢~ tha~ to~,tl~sc~lbatar~y~or~tow~f it fully in detail, for it is not a book which admits of extraet~t:t;t)~

Works on Hygiene and Sanitary Science. 365

is, indeed, a kind of encyclopedia of sanitary science, and one which should be found in the library of every one who devoted himself to the solution Of probIems relating to the heat¢h and well- being of the community. It has been said of Kepler that he.was a great mathematician, but a bad philosopher. W e may say of M. Motard, that we hardly know in which character--that of a philo. sopher, or that of a mere scientific writer--he is most.deserving of our commendation. A more .accurate, complete, and elegantly written work of the kind has~ never come under our notice ;. and we can conscientiously say, that having Carefully, readi t through, we were unable to~;fiml any statements ,w, hich co aid fairly form the subject of hostile, criticism,

Dr. gules Cyr's work is a treatise on "Food an& Diet," w~ieh we should be very glad to see in an::Fmglish form. I n s o m e respects it resembles Dr, Moleseho*t's celebrated,work on food and diet, of w.h, ieh a defective partial translation into Engtish was made a few years ago, I,t is, however, a much more practical treatise than Moleschott, and one which is much more likely to prove useful to the physician.

The greater part of this work is of course devoted to the descrip- tion of the~ chemical composition, and ,relative: nutritive values of all the more commonly employed foods. , W e find also much space devoted to such subjects as the preservation of, atiments,.the influence of cookery uI)c~n food, &c. The more important portion of the work is, however, that which treats of the use of food in disease, and of the diseases produced by the use of unsoundand diseased foods. The author speaks very favour~rbly of the advan- tages resulting from the use of a milk diet. He quotes numerous authorities in support of this view; amongst others, Dr. Karell, who states that in dropsical affections, phthisis, diseases of the liver¢ and in diseases of the stomach .and intestines, following affections of the nervous centres, he considered the milk cure as the first of remedies.

With reference to the diseases produced or induced by the use of bad water, Dr. Cyr states, that goltre and cretenism, are probably the result of an excess of a particular kind of organic matter, in that liquid. The hypothesis that excessive quantities of,ear.thy (ohiefly magnesia), salts are the cause of these repulsive disuses, is not yet exploded, and the arguments in favour of that ,ky~pothesis are certainly much stronger than those which, according to Dr./Cyr, should lead us to infer tha t organic matter ,i~ water~-produeed goitre.

366 Review$,and ~iSlioyraphlcal Notices.

We were not a |itt]~ ga~tifmd to'tfmd:~ixt Dr. ~yr's works, many re¢orences ,~o the kbo~r~ m~d. opinion~ of, Lrish~phy~ie~m, ,,tmr~ic~- l a ~ to ~ r a ~ e ~ # ' l ¢ ~ l ~ b ~ ~ p r o f ¢ s ~ d e,,D~hlm~" and ~k~ i~ev. ~ro~ssorT/I-Iaugh~m

We shall conclude ~ m ~ t i c ~ r ~ n ~ works,~ on, hygi~e ~y a ~ i # ~feX~ace,to Dr :~. A,~gus Smith's~lktl~ b~ok on ~gis" ection ~!¢~oonsist~ o£ a fear, chapter.s, ia each of rwhich'~i,r described:the preparatmn, mode of apphcatmn, and supposed eifio,4~e~c~gf one or mo~ of the substances used for disinfecting purposes~ The author pra~09s sulphuxous ~ d , mtrou~.ac~d, &c., J~ut,hm pe~ffect type 6~ a d imnf~ctant appears tp. be carbolic acid and its c~ompound~. ~ large p~dportion of the contents of the book is taken .up ~descrlb~fig experiments with the .latter dlslnfecta~.

Dr. ~ Smith m~y ~6e' ~Tegardedas One o£ Our be~t, h ~ n~t tli~ bbs~, of our chemmal autho~tms,.on dmnfect~0n, and we ~re" therefore disposed to~ ~~y great resifect to his opinions relative i'd ~he 'remar "'- able sanitary properties oi%ai:boIie ae[&- Ou~ experlen6~'oi~tliai ~g~iit is moat favourable, ihbi~gh in ~ e case 0i ~h~e, d s 'e ign;o :ihe air :of sink rooms, we should depend mote upon.tlie a~hon of m[i~ous acid,

• than oi ~ carbolm acid, va ours We £hlnk Dr. ~M~th m~ h~ n~t p , . . ,

have taken up ~o much of h~s work with m~re dctai~s o~ experiments with Carbolic acid--the results: would have been suffi~ienL .He .might alsohaye' g4ven more preeme lni%rmatlon l:e~ati~;eto ,[i~e apphcatma of the v, artous disinfecting agents, so'as tb ' render]~ ]J66k o~ practical utiiity to' medlca~ c~cer# of ~ he'&l~h,"an~i 0 h ~ i d h s w. o are not ~hlled an chemmal mampulatmn, Indeed Dr. Smith would dave conferred ,a :~oon upon t~, pubhc had ~e-g~v~n us a c heap.a~d ~ a n ~ 1~[1¢ bob~ oa.d~s~ctmn, cotatamm¢ ~lam ~t~r~- cmns to~., ¢ae.,,ourmea}lon... -. , olt air, watex,_ an~l cI0tnlfi, g;. vv e tear the book under our notme, excellent thqugh ~t-undou~tedjy ~s,,w~]l not be largely purchased by':t~a~ ~ ~]~'ss forwh0se ben6t~t we preSd:me ~t has been Wr[iteh.

Notes and Additions by W. A. HAMMOND;-r~!D.'~'I~N'~We'~z'~: °cs: s¢9:

OF the standard ~orkS~n G'erman devoted. ~o medlc~l e'lectri.e{tV,

machine, and the Leyden jar, has for some time'i~t'eitl%~kllffUh~h abandoned, perhaps not quite deservedly, and the most important question now to be decided is the relative value of the direct, or constant, and the induced current, a

The term " induced curreli t" is not open to the ambiguity which attaches to the phrase " interrupted current, often used as synonymous with it, for it is plain that a galvanic current (i.e, direct battery-current) can equally well be interrupted, and moreover induced or faradic currents do not operate by virtue of the interruption, but the essence of their mode of action is tha t they are momentary currents which quickly rise from zero to a maximum, and v@e versa, so that a very rapid change of density is brought about.

368 Reviews and Bibliographical Notices.

Until a sufficiently permanent a ,d portable battery for furnishing the direct current is provided, the superior convenience of the small and elegant induction apparatuses now made will ensure their more general adoption. But as it is clearly a fundamental point to come to a distinct understanding as to the respective functions of the induced and the direct current (the so-called constant or con- tinuous current), we will briefly abstraet some of the leading conclusions at which Dr. Meyer arrives : - -

!. The interru~pted current is applicable in those cases in which we wish (a.) to excite the muscles, the nerves of special sense, the sensary or motor nerves; (b.) to produce contractions of the blood or lymphatic vessels; (c.) or to affect cel'tain organs supplied by the sympathetic.

'2. The temperature and volume of a muscle are increased by the contraction produced by Faradization.

3. An increase of sensibility is effected by currents of tolerably quick intermission, and not exceeding a certain duration and in- tensity ; u,lder opposite conditions there is soon a marked decrease in sensibility. Hence we should only use currents of such strength and duration as are sufficient to produce the desired result.

4. If we wish to relax a tense muscle, repeated intermissions of a strong current, or single shocks from a strong induction current are generally more efficacious than the constant current.

5. The use of the constant current is indicated in those cases in which we wish--

(a.) To excite the nerves of special sense or the cutaneous nerves. (b.) T o destroy the skin or mucous membrane. (e.) To produce an increase of warmth. (d.) Or to induce a chemical process, e.g., coagulation of blood. 6. While, as a rule, the induced current furnishes the most

powerful means for exciting the motor nerves and muscles, there are certain peripheric paralyses in which the constant current, probably in consequence of its longer duration, produces effects which cannot be brought about by the induced current.

7. The sensitiveness of a muscle to the induced eurrent can, in many cases, through the application of a tolerably strong constant current, be increased.

8. In galvanizing a nerve it is advisable frequently to change the direction of the current, because the eonductivity for a current, flowing long in the same direction, decreases, while with a change in the direction it increases.

Works on Electricity. 369

12. There is no doubt that we can, by means of a constant current, even of tolerable strength, affect through their bony coverings the brain and spinal cord.

The paragraphs relating to the electrotonic state are omitted. In the opening sections of the book a brief sketch is given of the history of medical electricity, and of the different forms under which electricity is manifested, followed by an outline of animal electricity. The action of the electric currents on the different organs and tissues is more fully discussed, and a detailed description is given of some of the various kinds ofapparatus designed especially for therapeutical purposes.

The method, of using the induced and constant current with precision is described, and a section is devoted to the application of Electricity to Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology: Of more interest to the physician is the direction of electricity to the diagnosis and prognosis of paralytic affections, in which class of diseases it can render most important aid, and the author having thus fully treated the principles of electro-physiology, enters at length~ and with thoroughness, into the art of electro-therapeutics as illustrated in medicine, surgery, and obstetrics.

The number of editions through which Dr. Meyer's work has ~assed in Germany attest the esteem in which it is there held, and we do not doubt that an equal measure of approbation will be ac- corded to it in this country.

I t is with great pleasure that we welcome, and cordially recom- mend Dr. Althaus' treatise, in the improved guise of a second edition. Dr. Althaus' work possesses the merit o£ being clearly and agreeably written, while its teaching is in accord with the most recent information; and the balance is evenly held between the relative virtues of galvanization, and faradisation---a point of the highest importance in the treatment of disease. Among the more recent positive gains to medical electricity, we can reckon the right appreciation of the use, and even indispensableness of the direct current in certain cases of paralysis; the more certain cure of severe neuralgia; the undoubted possibility o£ directly galvanizing the brain, and spinal cord; and the galvanic irritation of the sympa- thetic nerve.

These as well as many other questions of great interest "and importance, such, for example, as the electrotonic action of the direct current on living nerves, are carefully discussed in the work before us.

geL. XLIX., NO. 98, N.s. 2 B

370 Reviews and Bibliographical Notices.

One of the subjects to which Dr. Atthgus has directed special attention, and on whichhe is entitled to speak with authority, is the electrolytic treatment of surgical diseases. Three years ago he had already published a pamphlet on the electrolytic treatment of tumours, and shown that the proper mode of procedure was to introduce one or more needles connected with the negative pole, into the depth of the tumour; while a moistened conductor, e.g., a sponge, was connected with the positive pole, and placed on the skin adjacent to the tumour. This method has been successfully applied to aneurism, nmvus, bronchocele, sebaceous tumours, hydatid cysts of the liver, &c. ; and it is probable that we do not yet know the full extent of its powers.

It is most suitable, and will, in all likelihood, find its chie~ use in the dispersion of tumours containing fluids, especially, serous cysts, and effusions; and we have succeeded in rapidly dispelling, by this means, a ganglion of the wrist, which had existed for a great length of ~me.

To the favourable opinions already accorded to t he former edition of this treatise, we can add nothing, except in the way of sincere commendation; and to Dr. Atthaus belongs the credit of having filled up a hiatus in English medical literature, by the production of a sound, comprehensive, and practical work, on the right use of an agent, whose powers are daily becoming better recognized, and more clearly defined.

2t System of Surgery, Theoretical and Practical, in Treatises by Various Authors. Edited by T, ttOT,~ES, M.A., Cantab.; Surgeon and Lecturer on Surgery at' St. George's Hospital. Second edition. London: 1870. Vols. I. and II.

L~ noticing the publication of the first two volumes of the second edition of Holmes' Surgery, we have to congratulate the editor on the success of his first edition, and on the many improvements on it which are noticeable in the present issue. The arrangement of the text has been extensively altered; many passages which were

printed as notes in the former edition being introduced into the text, which has itself been revised. The first edition contained no illustrations ; the present is illustrated both by coloured lithographs, and with woodcuts inserted in the text, an addition which will greatly increase the usefulness of the work. The illustrations, the

MA.POTHER--The Body and its Health, ~'c. 371

editor informs us in his preface, have been supplied as freely as was possible, "without unduly increasing the cost of the work." The paper on Inflammation, by Mr. Simon, has been materially altered in the present edition by the postponement of the discussion of the pathological theories of inflammation to the promised fifth volume of the work. The object of this change was to allow time to elapse before the consideration of questions which are at present the subject of the utmost controversy, resulting from the publication of Cohnheim's views. We hope, though our hope is far from sanguine, that the publication of the fifth volume will set at rest our uncertain ideas on this subject. Mr. CroWs paper on Hectic and Traumatic Fevers has been transferred from the fourth volume to the first, and has been illustrated by thermographs of the changes observed in these forms of fever, which will be studied with interest. The observations of Billroth, which have been repeated and confirmed by Mr. Croft, show that the highest temperature reached in cases of traumatic fever does not exceed F.104"9 °, and that under favourable circumstances the fever begins to decline on or after the second day; cases which attained the maximum temperature on the third or fourth days were, with a single exception, attended by some complication. T h e thermo- graphs obtained in hectic fever show well the remittent character of the fever. In these eases a temperature about F,102 ° is exceptional, and sudden exceptional falls and rises of temperature indicate the occurrence of complications. We look forward with anxiety to the publication of the remaining volumes of this excellent work, more particularly to the fifth, which promises to contain so much new and important matter.

The Body and its Health, with Teachers' Aid and Questions. By E. D. MAPOTH~R, M.D., Professor of Physiology, Royal Col- lege of Surgeons ; Surgeon to St. Vincent's Hospital, &c. Third edition. Dublin: John Falconer, 53, Upper Sackville.street,

THE favourable opinion which we formed of Dr. Mapother's book has been endorsed by the public, and already a third edition has been issued. Along with it may be had questions, which those engaged in teaching elementary physiology will find admirably suited for ascertaining how far their pupils have comprehended the lessons contained in the body of the work.

2 B 2

372 Reviews and Bibliographical Notices.

.hrouveau Dictlonaire de Mddeelne et de Chlrurgle Pratiques lllustrd de Figures intercaldes dans 'le Texte. :Rddi~ par BENJ. ANGER, E. BAILLY, 2~, •. BARRALLiER, BERNUTZ, P. BERT, B(ECKEL, BUIGNET, CUsco, DEIV/~RQUAY, DENUC]~, DESN0S, DESOR- MEAUX, A. DESPR~S, DEWLL~ERS, ALF. FOURNIgR, T. GAL- LARD, H. GINTRAC, GOMBAULT, GOSSELIN, ALPH. GU]~RIN, A. HARDY, HEURTAUX, HIRTZ, JACCOUD, JACQUEMET, JEANNEL, K(EBERL]~, S, LAUGIER, LANNELONGUE, LEDENTU; LIEBREICH, P. LORAIN, LUNIER, LUTON, L. I~ARCHAND, A, NELATON, A. OLLIVIER, ORE, PANAS, IV[. RATNAUD, RICHET, PH. RICORD, JULES ROCHARD (DE LORIENT), Z. ROUSSIN, SAINT-GERMAIN, C~. SamAZIN, GERMA~N S~E, JULES SIMON, SIREDAr, STOLTZ, ~k. TARDIEU, S. TARNIER, VALETTE, VERJON, AUG. VOISIN. Directeur de la r6daction: le docteur JACCOUD. Paris: J . B. BaiUihre et Fils.

THE eleventh volume of this New Dietlonary of Medicine and Surgery, in large octavo ~, has now appeared, each volume containing abuut 800 pages, and it brings us only to the end of the fourth letter of the alphabet; from this some idea may be formed of the extent of the work. To many of the articles we shall have occasion to refer from time to time, and at present, therefore, we mere]y draw attention to the general character of the undertaking. So far as he has gone, the editor seems to have omitted no subject connected with the practice of medicine and surgery. The reader will find discussed as fully as in the special treatises questions in anatomy, physi0t@gy, pathology, chemistry, botany, pharmacy, hygiene, state medicine, dietetics, and midwifery, as well as in practical medicine and surgery. Innumerable matters on which he would find it im- possible elsewhere to obtain information, are here considered. The articles, as far as we have been able to read them, are excellently written; they are abundantly illustrated, and all the important ones are accompanied with most valuable bibliographical indices; indeed, the writers seem to have been instructed to deal ex- haustively with the subjects committed to them; sometimes the wish to do this has l ed them to enter into matters of historical, literary, or speculative interest, with a minuteness of detail which most readers would not desire. The production of such a work as this is a gigantic enterprise; we do not know of any similar one which approaches to it in completeness; we have no hesitation in saying every medical library for reference, should possess it, and

A~GEl~--Nouveaux Elements d'Anatomie Chirurgical. 373

we have little doubt it will soon be found in every public one throughout the civilized world. Every honour is due to those who have projected it, and are carrying it to completion.

~'ouveaux .Elements d'Anatomie Chirurgical. Par BEI~J~II~ A~Gv, R, Chirurgien des Hopitaux, &c.

THE chief merit of this work lies in the illustrations of normal and morbid anatomy, which are intercalated in the text; while the volume contains 1,056 pages, the text contains 1,079 illustrations, all of which are admirably executed.

The work is divided into two sections, the first of which is devoted to general surgical anatomy; the second, to the anatomy of the regions of the body. Under the head of general anatomy, the subjects of the embryology a n d t h e anatomical 'elements ~ of the blood and of the tissues are examined : the second part devoted to the consideration of regional anatomy, contains excellent repre- sentations of the normal anatomy of each region; with a clear and concise descriptive text. In both sections the description of each tissue and region, concludes with an illustrated account of the morbid anatomy of each element and structure,

In the attempt to condense so much ma¢ter into a single volume, many subjects are necessarily treated imperfectly, and many omitted entirelyl but these defects are compensated by the ex- cellence and great variety of the illustrations of those treated of more fully. Many of the omissions which we have observed, are difficult to explain ; such, for instance, as the omission of any detailed descrip- tion of f?actures of the clavi5le, or illustrations of them; while many of the corresponding injuries of the humerus are depicte d and described. We infer that the author has been forced to omit many such subjects, in order to keep the work within its present compass, as we are aware that he has in another work very fully figured these injuries. Again, in the description of the surgical anatomy of the humerus, we fail to find any account of the anatomy of its epiphyses, or any but the slightest allusion to their separation by injury; none whatever of the separation of the lower epiphysi s, while the diagnostic signs of fracture of the lower extremity of the adult bone, and of the luxation of the bones of the forearm backwards are considered in detail. Many such omissions ocem" ' , and neces- sarily diminish the value of the work as a text book; but we know of no other which contains, in the same space~ so great a variety of excellent pathological drawings,