of residual urine is three or four ounces or more, and in which the introduction of the instrument is easy and painless, and the urine is sterile. The objections to habitual catheterism are (a) the risk of vesical infection, and (b) the production of vesical atony. Operative treatment is indicated whenever a progressive hypertrophy exists, when catheterism is becoming more painful and difficult, or when the urine shows fermentative changes and the vesical congestion is passing into a true cystitis.

A distinct advance in operative methods has been made during last decade. The Bottini operation is still on trial. The two chief methods of dealing with an hypertrophied prostate are: (a) Operations on the sexual apparatus (vasectomy, castration). (b) Enucleation of the prostate gland. Vasectomy and castration were advocated and largely practiced by the writer ten years ago, but at present they occupy a more restricted field. These operations are not gaining ground among the profession. In spite of the strong objection, vasectomy and castration seem to the writer to merit occasional consideration. The writer recommends the suprapubic enucleation of the prostate as done by Mr. Freyer, and claims that it is the operation of choice in the majority of cases. Perineal prostatectomy and the combined operation have also given good results in the hands of some surgeons, and are preferred to the suprapubic route. L.A.T.

HISTORICAL

EXHIBITION RELATING TO THE HISTORY

OF MEDICINE, CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY. Every medical practitioner should be interested in the early history of his profession, and in the customs and usuages prevalent in the times of the old masters.

In this connection we are pleased to call the attention of our readers to an approaching exhibition in London, of all that is rare and curious in the early history of medicine and dentistry and the allied sciences. Mr. Henry S. Wellcome, who for the past twenty-five years, has been identified with the pharmaceutical trade in England, proposes a historical exhibition, which will be of great value to practitioners and medical students. Mr. Wellcome has been engaged for many years in researchs respecting the early methods employed in the healing art among civilized and uncivilized people. It has been his object particularly to trace the origin of the resources of medical science, to discover if possible, whether the adoption of certain remedies was the result of study and practical observation, or if it were more commonly the result of accident. Were the alleged virtues of certain remedies purely imaginary and due to some superstitious suggestion?

Mr. Wellcome earnestly solicits the co-operation of every one who is interested in making an exhibition of this kind a success He would greatly appreciate any information sent him in regard to medical traditions or reference to ancient treatinent in manuscript, printed works, etc. Items no matter how small may be useful in forming important connecting links in the chain of historical evidence. Old books and specimens, instruments, etc., are especially desired, and great care will be exercised

in the protection of everything set for exhibition. Package and expressage will be paid both ways by Mr. Wellcome. The illustrations used herewith are taken from an announcement, a copy of which will be furnished to any of our readers who apply to Mr. Henry S. Wellcome, Snow Hall buildings, London, Eng.

MORTALITY, DISABILITY AND PERMANENCY OF CURE IN SURGERY.

In an able paper read before the Western Surgical and Gynecological Association, Dr. C. H. Mayo reviews the subject of surgical results. He says that a careful selection of cases, asepsis and the kindness of Providence may give a low death rate which will cover much poor surgery. There is no general rule for computing surgical mortality at present, it is best to accept the layman's view: That the operation has caused death or been unsuccessful where the patient goes into the hospital alive and comes out dead, regardless of cause of death, or the time of death after operation. The failure to grasp the surgical opportunity at the proper time is the cause of increased mortality and disability as well as the reduction in cures. The layman as well as the profession understand that many diseases, such as appendicitis, ulcer of the stomach and gallstone disease may each have repeated medical cures and that in the same cases early operation is successful with a low mortality. The complication of delay causing the most trouble. During this year in St. Mary's Hospital 510 operations for appendicitis were made with four deaths, their hospital detention was reduced 1 to 4 weeks over the time required for the same work six years ago. Two hundred and five hernias were operated upon their hospital detention was reduced from one to two weeks in each case. The stomach operations 105 gastroenterostomies gave eight deaths, while thirteen pylorectomies and partial gastrectomies were used without death. There was per cent mortality in 99 hysterectomies, 22 per cent being due to an increased effort to cure in malignancy. In operating secure dry wounds, separate punctures for drainage with closure of working incision, do not irrigate for removal of fluids derived from the body. The progress in treatment of cancer is through a study of the lymphatics involved in metastasis, therefore the disease is more serious in the young from involvement of absorbents. The brain is poorly constructed for repair, hence, late operations give only occasional permanent and complete cures. Altogether 1000 operations for gallstone disease gave 5 per cent mortality. were 673 cholecystectomies with 2.4 per cent; 186 cholecystectomies gave mortality of 4.3 per cent. The common duct cases a mortality of 11 per

cent.

There

TO FIGHT THE VOODOO.-The State Medical Association of New York has opened a campaign of prosecution against the "voodoo doctors" of the east side of New York City.

The Doctors' Library

"Read, not to contradict, but to weigh and consider."-BACON.

INTERNATIONAL CLINICS. A Quarterly of Illustrated Clinical Lectures especially prepared Original Articles on Treatment, Medicine, Surgery, Neurology, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Orthopedics, Pathology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology. Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology, Hygiene, and other topics of interest to Students and Practitioners. By Leading Members of the Medical Profession throughout the World. Edited by A. O. J. Kelley, A.M., M.D., with the collaboration of Wm. Osler, M.D., John H. Musser, M.D., J. B. Murphy, M.D., Jas. Stewart, M. D., A. McPhedran, M. D., Thos. M. Rotch, M.D., John G. Clark, M.D., James J. Walsh, M.D., J. W. Ballantyne, M. D., John Harold, M. D., Edmund Landolt, M. D., Richard Kretz,, A.M. With regular correspondents in Montreal, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Leipsic, Brussels and Carlsbad. Vol. III., Fourteenth Series, 1904. 8vo. pp. 302. Illustrated. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co. 1904. (Price $2.00 net; halfleather, $2.50. Each series of four volumes.)

The first of this volume contains twelve papers on Syphilis, constituting a veritable symposuim on the subject. The articles are: Uncertainty as to Syphilitic Inoculation, by Campbell Williams, F.R.C.S.; The Dif ferential Diagnosis of Syphilitic Eruptions, by A. H. Ohmann-Dumesnil, M.D.; Syphilitic Fever, by G. Carriere, M.D.; Syphilitic Headache and Lumbar Pucture, by G. Milia, M. D.; Syphilis of the Nervous System, by William Spiller, M.D.; Laryngeal Syphilis and Tabes, by A. Chauffard, M.D.; Hyperacute Secondary Syphilitic Nephritis with Fatal Outcome in spite of Mercurial Treatment, by Drs. Chauffard and Gouraud; Fetal Syphilis, by J. W. Vallantyne, M. D.; Syphilis and Suicide, by Alfred Fournier. M.D.; The Treatment of Chancre, by Thomas R. Neilson, M.D.; The Hypodermatic Treatment of Constitutional Syphilis, by William S. Gottheil, M.D.; and the Treatinent of Syphilis by Calomel Injections by Alfred Fournier, M.D.

The articles in the department devoted to Treatment are: Rest Cure in the Treatment of Chronic Constipation, by Ismar Boas, M.D.; and the Treatment of Diabetes, by Stuart Hart, M.D.

In the department devoted to Medicine are the articles: Observation on Indigestion, by W.H. Allchin, M.D.; Mitral Obstruction and Chronic Bronchitis, by William H. Katzenbach, M.D.; Disease of the Liver by Louis Faugeres Bishop, M.D., and Scurvy by Andrew Duncan, M.D.

That portion devoted to Surgery contains the articles: Umbilical Hernia in the Female, with the report of three cases of the strangulated variety occurring in women, two of whom weighed over 300 pounds each, by Thomas H. Manley, M.D.; Foreign Bodies in the Bronchi, by Drs. Lermoyez and Guisez; The Technic. Diagnosis, Significance and Therapeutic Application of Lumbar Puncture, by Purves Stewart, M.D., and The Pathology and Operative Treatment of Acute Oseomyelitis and Osteosarcoma, by Charles Green Cumston, M.D. Gynecology is represented by the three articles: The Non-Operative Treatment of the Disorders of

Menstruation, by Francis H. Davenport, M D.; Hemorrhage at and after the Menopause, by Cuthbert Lockyer, M.D., and Some Remedial Agents in the Treatment of Gynecologic Affections, by Chauncey D. Palmer, M. D. The volume closes with an article in the department of Neurology: Paralysis Agitans, by F. W. Langdon, M. D.

VON BERGMANN'S SURGERY. A System of Practical Surgery. Drs. E. von Bergmann, of Berlin, P. von Bruns, of Tubingen and J. von Mikulicz, of Breslau. Edited by William T Bull, M.D., Professor of Surgery in the College of Phyiscians and Surgeons (Columbia University), New York. Complete work now ready, in five imperial octavo volums, containing 4220 pages, 1976 engravings and 102 fullpage plates in colors and monochrome. Sold by subscription only. Vols. I and V. Philadelphia and New York: Lea Brothers & Co., Publishers. (Per volume, cloth, $6.00; leather, $7.00; half morocco,

$8.50, net.)

These last two volumes, if anything, excell those already reviewed. Volume IV, Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, contains: Malformations, Injuries and Diseases of the Esophagus; Injuries and Diseases of the Abdominal Walls; Injuries and Diseases of the Peritoneum; Laparotomy; Hernia; Injuries and Diseases of the Liver and Biliary Passages; Injuries and Diseases of the Spleen; Injuries and Diseases of the Pancreas.

Volume V, Surgery of the Pelvis and Genito-Urinary Organs, contains: Malformations, Injuries and Diseases of the Pelvis; Malformations, Injuries, and Diseases of the Anus and Rectum; Abnormalities, Injuries, and Diseases of the Kidneys and Ureters: Malformations, Injuries and Diseases of the Bladder and Prostate; Malformations, Injuries, and Diseases of the Urethra; Malformations, Injuries, and Diseases of the Scrotum, Testicle, Vas Deferens and Seminal Vesicles.

The entire system is such as to mark a period in International Surgery. It is not at all likely that the next ten years can show so great change in the domain of surgery as have the past ten, and it is within bounds to say that for a decade or more these five volumes will hold an unique position as volumes to be consulted very often by the surgeon who would have always available a reliable, conservative and tried work of reference containing all that is available of the present day knowledge of surgery. B. HYDE AND MONTGOMERY ON THE SKIN. A Practical Treatise on Diseases of the Skin, for the use of Students and Practitioners. By James Nevins Hyde, M.D., Professor of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases, and Frank H. Montgomery, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases in Rush Medical College, Chicago. Seventh and revised edition. In one octavo volume of 938 pages, with 107 engravings and 35 plates in colors and monochrome. Philadelphia and New York: Lea Brothers & Co., 1904. (Cloth, $4.50 net; leather, $5.50, net.)

A seventh endition of any work, particularly one 'dealing with a department of medicine is not so common as to pass under a reviewers' eye without being sharply observed. The fact is eloquent beyond words, and inclines one to brevity of comment. The reader is impressed with this

A

book more than anything else by the splendid style of the writers. gracefulness and clearness in word painting puts the volume in a class by itself. So realistic is the picture of disorders, such as lupus and similar destructive and deforming maladies that one shudders at images presented and recalled before his mental vision Throughout the book the same high grade character of description is manifest. The illustrations are for the most part excellent, though some of the photographic reproductions and colored plates are imperfect in definition, and not quite true in coloring. With a few exceptions that detract little, if any, from the value of the book we have nothing but praise to offer this excellent text-book.

BELL,

For

DAVIS' OBSTETRICS. New (2d) Edition. A Treatises on Obstetrics. Students and Practitioners. By Edward P. Davis, A. M., M.D., Professor of Obstetrics in Jefferson Medical College. New (2d) edition. thoroughly revised and much enlarged. Octavo, 800 pages, with 27 engravings and 39 full-page piates in colors and monochrome. Philadelphia: Lea Brothers & Co. (Cloth, $5.00 net; leather, $6.00 net). From a practical standpoint this work is all that could be desired. Dr. Davis has furnished a thoroughly scientific and brilliant treatise on Obstetrics. His method is original and comprehensive, and the scope of the work includes cognate subjects of great importance which are not met with in other books on the subject.

In preparing this new edition Professor Davis has subjected it to a complete rewriting throughout, resulting in an enlargement of about two hundred and fifty pages. Together with the established principles and practice of obstetrics he has incorporated the latest additions to our knowledge of the subject, which promise to be of permanent value. In its new form it accordingly represents the science and art of obstetrics to the date of issue The work has always been notable for the abundance and instructiveness of its illustrations. The series has been revised equally with the text, and any engravings or plates susceptible of improvement have been replaced.

EXAMINATION OF THE URINE. By G. A. de Santos Saxe, M.D., Pathologist to the Columbus Hospital, New York City. 12mo volume of 391 pages, fully illustrated, including 8 colored plates. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders Company, 1904. (Flexible leather, $1 50 net).

"Dr. Saxe has presented a work on examination of the urine unusually complete, absolutely up to date, concise, yet explicit in all its parts; and it will be found to meet fully the requirements of the student and practitioner without burdening him with unnecessary analytic procedures Special attention has been paid to the interpretation of findings as applied to clinical diagnosis, and the student is told what each chemical element and each microscopic structure means when found in the urine. The character of the urine in various diseases is also described in detail. Descriptions of technic have been made very explicit, and the author has inserted some new methods of work developed in his own experience. Cryoscopy and other means of functional diagnosis have been given their proper places. The text is fully illustrated, including eight colored plates of the various urinary crystals.'