myocarditis. 4. The closing stage of chronic valvulitis, with extreme dilatation of the chambers. 5. Aneurysms of the aorta or its larger trunks, except in the incipient stage. 6. Any case in which the blood pressure was lowered by the balneological treatment. 7. Cases in which tenometric figure as low as 65 or 60 mm. of mercury was found. 8. Cases in which chronic bronchitis and asthma were well marked.

The Use of the Modi

Ribes' Balloon :

In October last, Dr. James D. Voorhees fled Champetier de gave his experience with this contrivance to the New York Obstetrical Society. He says, for the purpose of starting labor, making stronger pains, and producing dilatation of the cervix, this rubber bag is more valuable than anything else. His present deductions are taken from a series of 200 deliveries in private practice and 4,272 at the Sloane Maternity.

Pleurisies:

In the section on medicine at the last meeting of the British Medical Association, Dr. William Osler said that, clinically, three great groups of pleurisies may be recognized: (a) Pyogenic; (b) the metapneumonic, and (c) the tuberculous. In the absence of pneumonia or sepsis, the existence of an exudate is suspicious of tuberculosis; and for the past twenty-five years evidence has been accumulating that all cases of simple sero-fibrinous pleurisy are tuberculous.

The Dangers of the
X-Ray :

Dr. Milton Franklin stated before the New York County Medical Association that a recent canvass of the practitioners employing the X-rays has failed to reveal a single serious result during recent times from the employment of the X-ray. Dr. Wm. B. Coley said at the same meeting that a great danger in treating malignant growths was necrobiosis of the tumor and its transference to other parts of the body.

Duodenal Ulcer:

Mr. Mayo Robson stated before the Medical Society of London that he has operated on thirty cases of duodenal ulcer, about four of which were for perforation. He considers the leading symptoms are pain coming

on one hour before a meal, relieved by taking of food, and pain in the small hours of the morning. Then there was often distinct. tenderness in the region of the gall-bladder and rigidity of the right rectus muscle. There could be no doubt about the remarkable benefit by the operation of gastro-jejunostomy. At the same meeting, W. McAdam Eccles stated, by way of differentiation between gastric and duodenal ulcer, that in the former a solid meal at once induced pain, but a draught of hot fluid would relieve pain. In duodenal ulcer, on the other hand, both a solid meal and a draught of fluid would cause pain some hours after ingestion. Associate with this melena, and a diagnosis of duodenal ulcer is justifiable.

The Prevention of
Appendicitis:

Dr. Wm. M. Harsha, Chicago, before the meeting of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association, said that the consensus of opinion was that more than 50 per cent. of the cases of appendicitis not operated on, recurred. Foreign bodies in the appendix, including fecal concretions, probably caused 10 per cent. of cases.

In 1,COO operations for gall-stone disease, Call Stone Disease: Charles H. Mayo reported for W. J. Mayo and himself before the Southern Surgical and Gynecological Association, in December last, that there had been 50 deaths5 per cent. mortality-960 were cases of benign disease; 40 were malignant cases. The mortality in the latter was 22.5 per cent. ; the mortality in the former 4.2 per cent.

Cirrhosis of the Liver:

Dr. James K. Crook gave the following statistics of deaths from cirrhosis of the liver, compiled from the records of the New York Board of Health, at a November meeting of the Medical Association of the Greater City of New York: Under 1 year, 9; under 5 years, II; from 5 to 10 years, II; from 10 to 15 years, 9; from 15 to 25 years, 553; from 25 to 35 years, 1,061; from 35 to 45 years, 1,196; from 45 to 55 years, 959: from 55 to 65 years, 565; from 65 to 75 years, 140; from 75 to 85 years, 14.

Physician's Library.

The receipt of the First Report of the Wellcome Research Laboratories at the Gordon Memorial College, Khartoum, is hereby acknowledged. The report is a handsome volume, beautifully illustrated, and was compiled by the Director, Andrew Balfour, M.D., B.Sc., M.R.C.P. (Edin.), D.P.H. (Camb.)

We

The J. J. Taylor Physicians' Pocket Account Book. have pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of a copy of this neat, handy account book. It is arranged by Dr. J. J. Taylor and published by the Medical Council, 4105 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. There are a number of valuable business suggestions incorporated therein.

f

How to Study Literature, a copy of which has been kindly sent us for notice in these pages by Hinds, Noble & Eldredge, Publishers, 31, 33, 35 West 15th Street, New York, is a neat little work, and will be found of much practical value. The author is Benjamin A. Heydrick, A.B. (Harv.), Professor of English Literature, State Normal School, Wildersville, Pa. This is the third edition, revised and enlarged, a fact which speaks for itself. The price is 75 cents, postpaid.

Diet in Health and Disease. By JULIUS FRIEDENWALD, M.D.,
Clinical Professor of Diseases of the Stomach in the College
of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore; and JOHN RUHRAH,
M.D., Clinical Professor of Diseases of Children in the Col-
lege of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore. Octavo volume
of 689 pages.
Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B.
Saunders & Co. 1904. Canadian agents: J. A. Carveth &
Co.. Lmited, 434 Yonge Street, Toronto. Cloth, $4.00 net.

This latest work on diet is practical and comprehensive, prepared to meet the needs of the general practitioner, medical student, hospital interne, and trained nurse. It contains a full account of food stuffs, their uses and chemical compositions.

Dietetic management in all diseases in which diet plays a part in treatment is carefully considered, the articles on diet in diseases of the digestive organs containing numerous diet lists and explicit instructions for administering. The feeding of infants and children, of patients before and after anesthesia and surgical operations, and the latest methods for feeding after gastrointestinal operations have never before been discussed with such practical detail. The subject of rectal enemata is given completely, with recipes and full instructions as to technic. Diet is considered in its relations to age, occupation, and environment; and the beneficial results from the rest cure have been accorded prominent consideration. There is also a section on food adulteration and the resultant diseases. Withal, this is a work well worthy the reputation of its authors, and we most cheerfully recommend it.

Blood-Pressure; as Affecting Heart, Brain, Kidneys and General Circulation. A Practical Consideration of Theory and Treatment. By LOUIS FANGERES BISHOP, A.M., M.D., Physician to the Lincoln Hospital, New York, etc. New York: E. B. Treat & Co.

This small book records the observations of its author who for fifteen years past has been paying special attention to the question of the vital relations of the physics of the circulation, a subject of much interest and importance, treated of in an interesting manner.

The Surgery of the Diseases of the Appendix Vermiformis and Their Complications. By WILLIAM HENRY BAULE, F.R.C.S., Surgeon to St. Thomas' Hospital; formerly surgeon to the Royal Free Hospital; Hunterian Professor of Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, etc.; and EDRED M. CORNER, M.B.B.C., F.R.C.S., Surgeon in Charge of Out-patients to St. Thomas' Hospital, and Assistant Surgeon to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children; Erasmus Wilson Lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons, etc. Chicago: W. T. Keener & Co. Price, $2.50.

It seems to be becoming the fashion to issue books on one subject alone, and it is not a bad one in some instances, such as the present, where the literature on the subject is so wide, varied,

and extensive. In addition, in this book will be found sections on acute abdominal disease, carcinoma, tubercle, and other diseases of the appendix, life insurance, etc., which, as they have not taken any part in other books on appendicitis, thereby adds much to its value.

Ophthalmology is a new medical journal devoted to this special subject, which we have been asked to place on our exchange list. It is issued from Milwaukee, under the management of Dr. H. V. Wurdmann, of that city. It gives splendid promise of being a useful and important journal.

American Journal of Nursing. We have recently been privileged to add to our exchange list the American Journal of Nursing, a monthly magazine devoted to the interests of the trained nurse and the official organ of many well-known nurses' societies in the United States. The December issue is a very handsome production, nicely illustrated, containing good matter, and would not be out of place in the physician's reading-room. We notice that the Canadian collaborator is Miss Snively, of the Toronto General Hospital Training School for Nurses, which will be sure to commend the journal to the Canadian nurse fraternity.