A Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences, Embracing the Entire Range of Scientific and Practical Medicine and Allied Science, By Various Writers. A New Edition Completely Revised and Rewritten. Edited by Albert H. Buck, M.D. Volume VII. Illustrated by chromolithographs and 684 half-tone and wood engravings. William Wood & Co., New York, 1904. 951 pages.

The uniform excellence of these magnificent volumes shows clearly the thoroughness of their preparation. They are very excellently planned and arranged and information on almost every conceivable medical topic direct or indirect may be found with great quickness and little effort. Among the contributors to volume seven we find such men as William T. Councilman, M.D., Boston, Mass.; L. Duncan Bulkley, M.D., N. Y. City; L. P. Mendel, Ph.D.; Roswell Parke, M.D., Buffalo, N.Y.; William S. Morrow, M.D., Montreal, Canada; Henry Liffman, M.D., Philadelphia, Pa.; James Nevins Hyde, M.D., Chicago, Ill.; John Chalmers Da Costa, M.D., Philadelphia, Pa., and many others. An idea of the range of topics may be gained by these few taken almost at random: Saw Palmeto. Scarlet Fever, School Hygiene, Seborrhoea, Serum Therapy, Sewerage, Spinal Cord, Stomach, Syphilis, Teratology, Tongue, Trional, and Tuberculosis. To the physician who desires to be posted on medical topics the Reference Handbook is indispensable. Portfolio of Dermachromes. By Professor Jacobi, of Freiburg im Breisgau. English adaptation of text by J. J. Pringle, M.B., F.R.C.P., Physician to the Department for Diseases of the Skin at the Middlesex Hospital, London. In two volumes. Vol. II. In full flexible leather, $16.00 for set; in half leather, $15.00. Rebman Company, 10 West Twenty-third street, New York.

We have already reviewed the first volume of this sumptuous work. As to the second volume it is precisely what the first led us to expect. The volumes have never been equalled. The opinion of the Canadian Practitioner covers the case so accurately that we quote it:

These plates are made by a new process called citrochromy. We are not aware just what this word means, but the results obtained by the process are absolutely unique. We have never seen the illustrations of skin lesions their equal, and they are so true to nature, and the coloring is so accurate that a clinic could easily be delivered from these illustrations alone, and the disease easily recognized on the subject. The text is brief, it does not go into old matter, but it accurately describes the lesion, gives the diagnosis and prognosis, and devotes considerable space to treatment. It would be more than superfluous to attempt to pick out any individual lesion to comment on, because the coloring is so nearly perfect that one would have to elaborate on all. The illustrations in this volume are so different from those we are accustomed to see that one may be excused from becoming very enthusiastic. We desire to congratulate the Rebman Co. on the publication of this volume, and the accuracy Iwith which the skin lesions have been depicted. The press work Paper undoubtedly add a great deal to the general appearance

and

of the illustrations, and we can see that no item of expense has

been

spared in the way of presenting the volume in its best form.

A Text-Book upon the Pathogenic Bacteria. For students of medicine and Physicians. By Joseph McFarland, M.D., Professor of Pathology and Bacteriology in the Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadelphia; Pathologist to the Philadelphia Hospital and to the MedicoChirurgical Hospital, Philadelphia. Fourth Edition, rewritten and enlarged. Octavo volume of 629 pages, fully illustrated, a number in colors. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders & Company, 1903. Cloth, $3.50 net.

This work gives a concise description of the technical procedures. requisite in the study of bacteriology, a brief account of the life histories of the important pathogenic bacteria, and sufficient description of the pathologic lesions accompanying micro-organismal invasions to give an idea of the origin of symptoms and the causes. of death. Although but a short time has elapsed since the appearance of the previous edition, such rapid strides have been made in the subject of bacteriology, especially in its relation to pathology, that the author deemed it necessary to rewrite the work entirely. What impressed us most were the chapters upon infection and immunity. All the new facts recently added to our knowledge of these subjects can here be found. Another valuable addition is a bibliographic index containing the names of over 600 authors. Altogether the work in its new edition is very commendable, and practitioners and students will find it of unusual value.

A Text-Book of Legal Medicine and Toxicology. Edited by Frederick Peterson, M.D., Chief of Clinic, Nervous Department of the Collegeof Physicians and Surgeons, New York; and Walter S. Haines, M.D., Professor of Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Toxicology, Rush Medical College, in affiliation with the University of Chicago. Two imperial octavo volumes of about 750 pages each, fully illustrated. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders & Company, 1903. Volume II. Per volume: Cloth, $5.00 net; Sheep or Half Morocco, $6.00 net.

The review of Volume I. appeared in a previous number of the NORTH AMERICAN.

For convenience of reference the treatise has been divided into two sections, Part I and Part II, the latter devoted to Toxicology and all other portions of Legal Medicine in which laboratory investigation is an essential feature. Under "Expert Evidence" not only is advice given to medical experts, but suggestions are also made to attorneys as to the best methods of obtaining the desired information from the witness. The Bertillon and Greenleaf-Smart systems of identification are concisely and intelligently described, and the advantages of each stated. A chapter not usually found" in works on legal medicine, though of far more than passing significance to both the medical expert and the attorney, is that on the medicolegal relations of the X-rays. The responsibility of pharmacists in the compounding of prescriptions, in the selling of poisons, in substituting drugs other than those prescribed, etc., furnishes a chapter of the greatest interest to everyone concerned with questions of medical jurisprudence. Also included in the work is the enumeration of the laws of the various States relating to the commitment and retention of the insane. In fact, the entire work is overflowing with matters of the utmost importance, and expresses clearly, concisely, and accurately the very latest opinions on all branches of forensic medicine and toxicology.

Hay Fever; Its Prevention and Cure. By Perry Dickie, M.D., author of "Uricacidemia; Its Causes, Effects and Treatment." 173 pages. Cloth, $1.00. Postage, 6 cents. Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia, 1903. "Of all the ills to which mankind is heir, it would seem that the maximum amount of discomfort, annoyance-nay, even in many cases, actual suffering-can be attributed to what in common parlance is known as hay fever or in scientific nomenclature as 'periodic coryza.' So says the author in the introduction to this little book. He then takes up the subject in a rational manner and after sketching the history, etiology and symptoms of the complaint, devotes nearly half of the book to its treatment. This portion of the brochure is most valuable. It not only gives the homeopathic remedies, but devotes numbers of pages to hygiene, palliative and general systemic treatment. Dr. Dickie's work will fill a niche in our literature, that, though seemingly small, is by no means insignificant.

A Text-Book of Operative Surgery. Covering the Surgical Anatomy and Operative Technic Involved in the Operations of General Surgery. Written for Students and Practitioners. By Warren Stone Bickham, Phar. M., M.D., Assistant Instructor in Operative Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York; Late Visiting Surgeon to Charity Hospital, New Orleans, etc. Octavo of 984 pages, with 559 illustrations, entirely original. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders & Company, 1903. Cloth, $6.co net; Sheep or Half Morocco, $7.00 net.

This work completely covers the surgical anatomy and operative technic involved in the operations of general surgery. It is constructed on thoroughly new lines, the discussion of the subject being remarkably systematized and arranged in a manner entirely original. A feature of the work to which we would call especial attention, and for which alone it is well worth the price, is the wealth of magnificent illustrations. They depict the progressive steps in the various operations detailed with unusual clearness, and at the same time represent the highest artistic excellence. The text is fully abreast of the latest advances in surgery, all the recent improvements along the line of technic being adequately discussed. Another feature distinguishing it from other works on operative surgery, is the treatment of the anatomic side of the subject in connection with the operative technic. The illustration will be found of particular assistance in this connection, the muscles, bones, etc., being clearly indicated, together with the lines of incision.

A Dictionary of Medical Science. Containing a full explanation of the Various subjects and terms of Anatomy, Physiology, Medical ChemIstry. Therapeutics, Medicine, etc. By Robley Dunglison, M.D., LL.D. Late Professor of Institutes of Medicine in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. New (twenty-third) edition, thorOughly revised, with the pronunciation, accentuation and derivation of the terms, by Thomas L. Stedman, A.M., M.D., Member of the New York Academy of Medicine. In one octavo volume of 1224 Pages, with about 600 illustrations, including 85 full-page plates, mostly in colors, with thumb-letter index. Cloth, $8.00 net; leather, $9.00 net; half morocco, $9.50 net. Lea Brothers & Co., Philadelphia and New York.

and A dictionary which has held its own for twenty-two editions has satisfied the requirements of the medical profession for three

quarters of a century has indeed become indispensable. The very name Dunglison has long been synonymous with medical lexicography, and his work ranks with Webster or Worcester.

With the constant increase of medical terms the editor's chief problem has been economy of space. In the present edition it was necessary to accommodate not only all the new words, but also the illustrations, now first introduced. These are almost indispensable in explaining certain subjects which defy definition in a few words, but they are enormous consumers of space. The problem was solved by eliminating everything obsolete, or of only indirect bearing upon medicine. Several advantages result from this procedure: old words omitted may be understood to be dying or dead as far as modern medicine is concerned; living words may be found more easily in the absence of dead matter, and the bulk of the volume is kept down to the limit of convenience.

A distinguishing feature of the successive editions of this dictionary has been the explanatory fulness and encyclopedic nature of its definitions. As the author wrote in the preface to the second edition, his object "was not to make the work a mere lexicon or dictionary of terms, but to afford under each a condensed view of its various medical relations, and thus to render the work an epitome of the existing condition of medical science.

General Pathology. By Dr. Ernst_Ziegler. Tenth revised edition. Translated and Edited by Aldred Scott Warthin, Ph.D., M.D. Royal 8vo, 784 pages, sumptuously illustrated by 586 engravings in black and many exquisite colors. Muslin, $5.00 net; Leather, $5.75 net. Ziegler's Pathology is so much of a classic that it requires but little introduction to the teaching and student bodies in this country, having been the accepted authority in its line for nearly a generation. The tenth edition of the work, just published in Germany, shows a very radical revision in most of its departments. It is superfluous to say that it is up to date in every way and reflects in a remarkable degree the reputation of its distinguished author for clear, lucid and scientific treatment of the subject.

This edition has been translated and edited by Prof. Aldred Scott Warthin, of the University of Michigan, than whom there is probably no one in this country better fitted for the work. No alterations of the subject matter have been made, and the only additions are such as will adapt certain statements the better to their American environment. A feature of this translation is the retention of the bibliographies in full, with the addition of the later American references, in the belief that they would be of the greatest value to the student, as well as giving to the book a completeness which it would otherwise lack.

Many new and colored illustrations also appear in this edition, which leaves little to be desired in the way of mechanical execution.

Materia Medica.

CONDUCTED BY

J. B. GREGG CUSTIS, M.D.,

AND

J. PERRY SEWARD, M.D.

Acute Poisoning with Acetic Acid.-Giordano reports the case of a girl aged nineteen years who swallowed a considerable amount of strong acetic acid with suicidal intent. She immediately was seized with violent vomiting and with pain and intense burning in the mouth and pharynx. At the hospital, she developed a series of pronounced symptoms which are interesting in view of the rarity of cases of acetic acid poisoning. There was a frequent and feeble pulse and a slightly elevated temperature, a persistent and violent cough, with a very abundant purulent expectoration, a veritable bronchorrhoea, and occasionally efforts at vomiting which were not successful. The urine was black and smoky, like that of carbolic acid poisoning, and contained one per cent. of albumin. The red blood discs in the fresh blood were very pale, with little tendency to form rouleaux, and with frequent mulberry-shaped distortion. The serum, when separated, showed a distinct reddish tint, showing that the hemoglobin had been dissolved from the cells. The heart sounds and the apex beat were very weak. The symptoms gradually disappeared, and the patient was discharged cured. The treatment consisted of stimulation in the shape of injections of caffeine, a milk diet, and the use of pieces of ice and of a tannin gargle for the throat. The author calls special attention to the changes in the blood, the purulent bronchitis, and the degenerative changes in the myocardium resulting in heart weakness with danger of cardiac failure. Riforma Medica, Jan. 27, 1904. Abstr. N. Y. and Phila.

Med. Journal.

Suppurative Tonsillitis. Dr. M. W. Van Denburg (Chironian) uses one of these three remedies to abort quinsy, and thus differentiates them:

Gelsemium-Patient has an initial chill. Seldom has a severe shaking chill, but wishes to cover up and sit by the fire. With the chilliness there is severe frontal and general headache. Aching of the entire body and limbs of the loins especially. More or less fever follows, pains are then increased, little thirst, large, soft slow pulse. Great prostration and disinclination to make any effort. A painful spot appears deep within the tonsil, which hurts out of all proportion on swallowing. The throat appears red and is inflamed. The pain streaks into the ear on swallowing. The progress of the disease is rapid. Gelsemium 2x is the remedy; and, if begun during the chilly stage, should abort the whole trouble in twenty-four hours. Baryta carbonica or baryta muriaticum.-The chill is seldom present and the fever is only slight. The headache is moderate and the bodily discomforts are absent. The progress of the disease is slow, and the streaking pains into the ear when swallowing are severe,