Obstetrical Clinic; a Practical Contribution to the Study of Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children. By George T. Elliot, M. D., etc., etc. New York: D. Appleton & Co., Broadway.

Dr. Elliot's fourteen years' service in Bellevue Hospital furnished the clinical experience embodied in this work. The cases which interested him most deeply, and which are believed to be most highly instructive to the profession, have been reported in detail, with such remarks as were made to the medical classes which were from time to time in attendance, together with such other practical hints as have suggested themselves during the preparation of the work.

This method of teaching obstetrics must prove exceedingly popular, really possessing advantages which will be apparent upon perusal. Reported cases of all the more difficult and perplexing diseases and accidents incident to the parturient state are embodied in the work, thus giving the student and practitioner a concise and practical guide to the symptoms, modes of treatment and termination of all, or nearly all these various conditions.

Many of the cases reported, have not been in Dr. Elliot's care alone, and we observe that in giving the details of treatment he has faithfully reported the facts, leaving us in ignorance, in some cases, whether the treatment adopted by his associates received his approval or not. Upon the 154th page, in the report of a very interesting case of placenta previa, where there had been great loss of blood, vomiting, sighing, etc., etc., with feeble pulse and many alarming symptoms, he says:

"June 5th, 10.30 A. M. Since the last note, Dr. F. has carefully fed the patient on beef-tea, brandy and opium, and she has rallied. Ergot kept in readiness, quinine and sul. acid given, and a blister has been applied over the abdomen, to anticipate metro-peritonitis."

We do not conclude that Dr. Elliot recommends a "blister to anticipate metroperitonitis," or that he regards it as proper treatment even if it is present, but we fear that some physicians who believe in blistering every woman's belly which may appear tender or painful after labor, will infer that he approves of such treatment. It is by no means probable to us, that blistering would anticipate peritonitis, or relieve it in the slightest degree, if present, and we dislike to have any seeming countenance given to such plan of procedure by so distinguished an author and teacher.

In answering the question: "Should pelvic abscess from cellulitis always be opened promptly?" he says: "For my own part, now-a-days, as a rule. I rarely find it necessary to open mammary abscesses, abscesses in tonsellitis, and in cellulitis. Mammary abscesses must of course be opened, if their anatomical site, or the great vital tenacity of the skin, or very severe pain from tension, demand the operation; and abscesses in the deeper tissues of the throat may imperitively demand the knife; while if the pelvic abscess break into the peritoneal cavity one may well regret that the vaginal or rectal wall had not been previously punetured." "While I believe that this expectant plan is the best adapted as a rule, to secure good results in a large number of cases, I yet regard the decision as elective. This quotatron is made for the benefit of conservative practice, and to show how careful our author has been of the opinions of others, and how fair and reasonable in the expression of his own.

As a guide in everything of which it treats, as a practical, candid, truthful and complete presentation of the present pathological and therapeutical history of the diseases and accidents incident to pregnancy and parturition, this work is unexcelled, unequaled in many respects. Clinical observations in obstetrics, reported with the greatest fidelity and faithfulness, as has been done by Doctor Elliot, cannot fail to interest every practitioner, and prove not only a guide in practice, but a standard by which the experience of others may be compared and their successes estimated.

Principles and Practice of Obstetrics. By Gunning S. Bedford, M. D. Fourth edition, carefully revised and enlarged. New York: William Wood & Co., 61 Walker street, 1868.

We are most happy to announce the appearance of the fourth edition of Prof. Bedford's work on Obstetrics. In the short period of six years, it has passed to its present and most complete edition, and has been everywhere received by the profession with unusual favor. When this work first made its appearance it was our privilege to speak in detail of its arrangement, contents, illustrations and other attractions, but it can now hardly be appropriate to mention its points of excellence; it is too well known to our readers and to the whole profession to make such notice acceptable.

Everything which can be said in favor of a work upon Obstetrics has been already expressed in regard to this in its former editions; it now commends itself to still higher approval in its present revised and enlarged form. The subjects of anæsthetics and twin pregnancies have been dwelt upon more extensively in this than in former editions, and a lecture has also been added upon the complications of pregnancy, in which are discussed chorea, jaundice, paralysis, etc., etc. The illustrations so far as we observe remain unchanged; they could hardly be improved by change. Four colored lithographic plates and numerous wood cuts have added greatly to the value of the work, and make it much better fitted to the wants of both students and practitioners. Prof. Bedford has done a real service for the profession, and his work richly deserves the reputation it enjoys and the support it has so universalfy received.

Books and Pamphlets Received.

A Manual of the Dissection of the Human Body. By Luther Holden, F. F. C. S., Assistant Surgeon of and Lecturer on Anatomy at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, with notes and additions by Erskine Mason, M. D., Demonstrator of Anatomy at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, etc., illustrated with numerous wood engravings. New York: Robert M. De Witt, Publishər, No. 13 Frankfort street.

Contributions to the Causation and Prevention of Disease and to Camp Diseases, together with a report of the Diseases, etc., among the Prisoners at Andersonville, Ga. Edited by Austin Flint, M. D., New York. Published by the U. S. Sanitary Commission, by Hurd & Houghton, 459 Broome street, 1867. For sale by Martin Taylor.

The Endoscope and its Application to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Affections
of the Genito-Urinary Passages. Lessons given at Necker Hospital, by A. J.
Desormeaux, Surgeon of the hospital, etc. Translated by R. P. Hunt, M. D.
Address delivered before the Philadelphia County Medical Society, by William
Maybury, M. D., at the close of his official term as President.

Report of the Massachusetts General Hospital for the year 1867.
Report of the Buffalo General Hospital for the year 1867.

Annual Report of the Board of Health of the City of Toledo for the year 1867.

RICHMOND AND LOUISVILLE MEDICAL JOURNAL.-We would call the attention of our readers to the advertisement of the Richmond and Louisville Journal, to be found this month, in our advertisement sheet. We hope the liberal offer, to furnish the Richmond and Louisville Journal to all subscribers to the Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal, for $3.00 per annum, will be accepted and appreciated. This Journal is edited with much labor and ability, and published at great expense, containing one hundred pages of the choicest and best-selected material. Prof. E. S. Gaillard, formerly of the Medical College of Virginia, now of the Kentucky School of Medicine, is the editor and proprietor, and does not fail to make every number of the Journal highly interesting and instructive.

APPOINTED TO THE U. S. NAVY.-We are pleased to notice the appointment of Dr. P. P. Bielby, as Ass't Surgeon U. S. Navy. We understand that the examining board have been in session since January, and have examined over thirty candidates, of which number only five have passed. The rigid examination made by this board, and the high standard of attainment required makes it a real triumph when a young physician receives its approbation. Dr. Bielby was a member of the last graduating class in the Buffalo Medical College, and his numerous friends in Buffalo and vicinity will take much pleasure in this early recognition of his high merit.

RECEIVED. We have to acknowledge the receipt of bottles of California Brandy, Port Wine and Angelica Wine, from Perkins, Stern & Co., 14 and 16 Vesey street, New York, and 103 Tremont street, Boston. The specimens received are very fine indeed, so far as we are able to judge; they seem to us perfect in all respects except one-the BOTTLES are a great deal Too SMALL.

We have also received a very beautiful and valuable box of the finest maple sugar we have ever seen, with the following note, which explains to others all we are permitted to know ourselves:

Sappytown, April 13, 1868.

To the Editor of the Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal:

My Dear Doctor:-Please find enclosed "Sugar Pills" for old school physicians, to be taken with hot cakes or waffies, warranted free from calomel or any deleterious drug, purely vegetable, pleasant to take; children cry for them; they correct acidity of the stomach and disposition; the Mahomedan Life Insurance Company issues a free policy to every person who eats these pills during the month of April. Please give them a trial and send for more if you like them. They may be, and probably are, a little sappy, but don't pronounce them an "immeasurable swindle.'

Yours recuperatively and homoeopathically,

F. A. C.

ART. I.-Abstract of Proceedings of the Buffalo Medical Association. TUESDAY EVENING, April 7th, 1868.

The meeting was called to order by the President. Members present-Drs. Eastman, White, Lockwood, Miner, Ring, Greene, Dayton, Diehl, Little, C. F. A. Nichell, Henry Nichell, Mackay, Gay, Samo, Phelps, Rochester and Johnson.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The annual report of the Treasurer was read, and on motion of Dr. Johnson the report was adopted and referred to the auditing board.

DR. WHITE moved that a vote of thanks be tendered to Dr. T. T. Lockwood for the efficient manner in which he has discharged the duties of the office of Treasurer. Carried.

The Secretary's report was read, and by vote accepted and ordered placed on file.

DR. MINER moved that the thanks of the Association be tendered to the Secretary for the efficient and acceptable manner in which he has performed the duties of his office. Carried.

Election of officers being next in the order of business the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

VOL. 7, NO. 10-47.

February 8th, 1860, visited along with Dr. Storck a German female, aged 30 years, residing near Delaware Place, been flowing three days. A midwife had been in attendance for two days; pains had ceased for some time previous to our visit; patient quite exsanguinous; pulse feeble; attacks of syncope frequent. On digital examination found os fully dilated and the placenta presenting left laterally. No hemorrhage at present time. The child was easily turned, the feet brought down, and the woman delivered. Forceps were used in delivery of the head. A great deal of blood had evidently been lost during the early stage of labor, but during the process of delivery but little additional blood escaped. This patient died fifteen days afterwards from puerperal fever.

Mrs. A., aged 28 years, English, bad three children, no difficulty at their birth. This woman was very plethoric and limbs somewhat edematous. She had taken the upright position for her confinement and insisted upon her right to maintain this position during her labor. On examination found the os partially dilated and the placenta presenting left laterally; pains vigorous, and at every pain profuse hemorrhage. The emergency seemed pressing, and not knowing what better to do, resorted to venesection, and to my surprise and gratification, discovered that the venesection had entirely arrested the uterine hemorrhage, and as the presentation was normal, labor progressed rapidly until delivery was naturally accomplished, there being no post-partem hémorrhage. This case dates back to the time when venesection was more in vogue than it is at the present time. Date not recorded in my

note-book.

Mrs. B., German, aged 26 years, the mother of three children. Visited this patient along with Dr. Hauenstein, August 15, 1867. The doctor had diagnosed placenta previa, before having made an examination, for during the latter weeks of utero-gestation, there had been frequent recurrence of hemorrhage, and at our visit