obstetrics have been reviewed within a single year.

But we do not

intend to review this second edition; coming so soon after the first, it is quite unnecessary to do so. However, we are glad to have an opportunity to invite particular attention to a few important features of the book that were not touched upon in the first instance. One of the misunderstood details of the management of the third stage of labor by probably about one third of the candidates for the New York state license is Credé's method of delivering the placenta. In a normal labor,-normal as to first and second stages, the conditions may change from calm to storm if the obstetrical attendant is not perfectly familiar with placental expression. Edgar describes Crede's plan in exceptionally simple phraseology making it so plain that "none but a fool may err therein." He says: "To practise this the fundus is grasped with one hand, fingers behind and thumb in front, and a contraction awaited. At the height of the pain the uterus is firmly compressed and forced downward and backward into the pelvis. If the first attempt fail, another may be made in the same manner at the next contraction. It may be necessary to repeat this procedure during several contractions." This, and this only, is Credé's method of placental expression,—a fact that should be drilled into every medical student, until he thoroughly understands it and can practise it with skill.

The extraction of the after-coming head is another piece of technic that should be made plain to the student of obstetrics. He can get such instruction on this subject in this book, as will enable him to deal with this complication in a clear and understanding way.

Again, we desire to call attention to the illustrations, 1;259 in number, most of which are original and all of which are a credit to this modern obstetric treatise.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN SURGICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. Sixteenth annual meeting held at Atlanta, Ga., December 15. 16 and 17, 1903. WILLIAM D. HAGGARD, M.D., Secretary. Philadelphia : William J. Dornan, Printer.

If the transactions of special societies were read more universally by general practitioners of medicine the aggregate stock of knowledge would be very much increased. In many such societies and particularly in the Southern Surgical and Gynecological Association questions are often determined that have been regarded doubtful until discussed in this body. The present volume is a splendid tribute to the men who participated in the proceedings of the last annual meeting which was held at Atlanta.

The interesting case of Bilateral diffuse virginal hypertrophy of the breasts, by George Ben Johnston, merits special notice because first, of its rarity, and second, on account of the careful preparation of the paper which discusses the pathology of the anatomical anomaly and gives bibliographical references that

serve to make a completeness to the paper which is most satisfactory. The illustrations also are to be commended.

The presidential address of Dr. Bovée, which dealt with Problems in urethral surgery, is an excellent presentation of these difficult questions. The general makeup of the book, which is carefully edited by the secretary, deserves special commendation.

A PRACTICAL TREATISE OF DISEASES OF THE SKIN. For the Use of Students and Practitioners. By JAMES NEVINS HYDE, A.M., M.D., Professor of Skin, Genitourinary and Venereal Diseases, Rush Medical College, Chicago, and Frank Hugh Montgomery, Associate Professor of Skin, Genitourinary and Venereal Diseases, Rush Medical College. Seventh and revised edition. Octavo, pp. 938. Illustrated with 107 engravings and 34 plates in colors and monochromes. Philadelphia and New York: Lea Brothers & Company. 1904. (Price: cloth, $4.50 net; leather, $5.50 net.)

For many years this treatise has been recognised as authoritative among teachers and specialists in dermatology. Since it was first issued, namely, in 1883, then, however, solely under the name of the senior author,-it has stood for the best and among the best, in dermatological literature. Since 1893 it has appeared in new editions on an average of once in three years or a trifle less, always offering the latest and more approved methods of treatment, besides teaching the most assured methods of diagnosis.

The revision that became necessary when this seventh edition was projected resulted in a thorough overhauling of the entire work, and the revision proceeded page by page until completed; hence, for all practical purposes this is a new work, with this substantial difference, that it is prepared by men of experience who are familiar with all the details of authorship. This makes for substantial gain over the average new book without a previous record.

The illustrations are of a high class and depict with accuracy many conditions that are often difficult of diagnosis. Color has been used to good advantage in numerous instances. It is a book that reflects the present status of dermatological science, and will maintain the high place it has already attained, as an exponent of the practice of a sometimes difficult but always important branch of medicine.

THE URINE AND CLINICAL CHEMISTRY OF THE GASTRIC CONTENTS, THE COMMON POISONS, AND MILK. By J. W. HOLLAND, M.D., Professor of Medical Chemistry and Toxicology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Seventh edition, revised and enlarged, with 41 illustrations. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son & Company. 1904. (Price, $1.00 net.)

Here is a book which is remarkable in many ways in the outpouring of scientific works. One cannot help wondering sometimes in receiving circulars and prospectuses and announcements

of "now ready," "in preparation," or "in press," if many of the writers of today are not running orthographic races with themselves. There seems to be cropping out in the medical literary world a sort of tendency to a riot of words, which when they are all digested or dissected and divested of all outward pomp and glory mean little else than the self-glorification of a few isolated ideas.

In Holland's work on the urine and the clinical chemistry of the gastric contents, the common poisons and milk, there is an entire absence of all preliminary. It is all meat; all good, solid sensible, workable information. There is a title page and a table of contents, but no preface, no foreword, no introduction, for which much thanks. Considerable space is thereby made available for much valuable material. If there is any physician who knows all about the urine in health and disease, and who can draw his own deductions from an urinalysis, he doesn't need this book. But for the everyday man it is the best work of its kind which has been issued between covers in a long time.

The book is handy, 'it is complete, and the working plan, as laid down, can hardly be improved upon. It explains the whys and wherefores in simple, understandable language, and it makes comparatively easy the boggy road of urine analysis upon which so many well-meaning but misguided workers have found themselves floundering amid doubt and dubious diagnoses.

The information in other departments is just as clearly set forth as that devoted to the urine. The book is freely illustrated, well-printed and has been markedly improved since the first of the six previous editions was published. N. W. W.

A SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL SURGERY. By Drs. E. VON BERGMANN, Berlin, P VON BRUNS, Tübingen, and J. VON MIKULICZ, Breslau. Volume IV. Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Translated and edited by William T. Bull, M.D., Professor of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York. Pages 757. Illustrated. To be complete in five imperial volumes. Philadelphia and New York: Lea Brothers & Company. 1904. (Price, per volume: cloth, $6.00; leather, $7.00; half morocco, $8.50.)

The American medical profession is to be congratulated in being able to possess a work that concededly stands as the foremost exponent of present day surgery on the continent of Europe. Dr. William T. Bull and his assistants, Foote, Flint and Martin, have translated and edited von Bergmann's treatise so promptly that scarcely more than a year has elapsed since it was first announced. Moreover, the translation is so perfectly made that none of the sense of the original is lost or impaired.

The present volume, number four, deals with malformations, injuries and diseases of the esophagus; injuries and diseases of the abdominal wall; of the peritoneum, including laparatomy: malformations, injuries and diseases of the stomach and intes

tine, including hernia; injuries and diseases of the liver and biliary passages; of the spleen; and of the pancreas.

From the foregoing it will be observed that this volume includes the surgery of the entire alimentary tract, of the abdominal viscera, and of hernia. It is illustrated with 345 engravings and is a volume that no surgeon can afford to do without.

INTERNATIONAL CLINICS. A Quarterly of Illustrated Clinical Lectures and especially prepared 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. KELLY, A.M., M.D., Philadelphia. Volume III. Fourteenth series. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. 1904. (Cloth, $2.00.)

The foreign contributors to this number include Allchin, Duncan, Lockyer, Stewart and Williams, of London; Ballantyne, of Edinburgh; Boas, of Berlin; Carriere, of Lille (France); Chauffard, Fournier, Gouraud, Guisez, Lermoyez and Milian, of Paris. The American contributors are Bishop, Gottheil, Hart, Katzenbach, and Manley, of New York; Brown, of Saranac Lake; Cumston and Davenport, of Boston; Langdon and Palmer, of Cincinnati; Neilson and Spiller, of Philadelphia; and OhmannDumesnil, of Saint Louis.

The subjects dealt with are, syphilis, twelve articles; treatment, three articles; medicine, four articles; surgery, four articles; gynecology, three articles; and neurology, one article.

Manley discusses the important subject of strangulated umbilical hernia in the female, which is well illustrated. Other articles of absorbing interest are also presented, some of which are illustrated, and the entire volume is one of the most instructive of the series.

PROGRESSIVE MEDICINE. Volume III, September, 1904. A Quarterly Digest of Advances, Discoveries and Improvements in the Medical and Surgical Sciences. Edited by HOBART AMORY HARE, M.D., Professor of Therapeutics and Materia Medica in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Octavo, 284 pages, 19 illustrations. Philadelphia and New York: Lea Brothers & Company, Publishers. (Per annum, in four cloth-bound volumes, $9.00; in paper binding, $6.00, carriage paid to any address.)

The contents of this volume embraces four general topics, the literature of which has been condensed and presented in abstract. It concerns chiefly the journal articles for 1903, but in a few instances it includes those published in the early part of 1904, and in still fewer instances some of those published in 1902.

The section of diseases of the thorax and its viscera, including the heart, lungs, and bloodvessels, is prepared by William Ewert, of London; the section of dermatology and syphilis, by William S. Gottheil; the section on diseases of the nervous system is com

piled by William G. Spiller; and the section on obstetrics is abstracted by Richard C. Norris. The usual index concludes an interesting digest of these several topics.

PRACTICAL MATERIA MEDICA FOR NURSES. By EMILY A. M. STONEY, Superintendent of the Training School for Nurses in the Carney Hospital, South Boston, Mass. Duodecimo, 300 pages. Second edition, thoroughly revised. Philadelphia, New York, London: W. B. Saunders & Company. 1904. (Cloth, $1.50 net.)

Something over five years ago we noticed in these columns the first edition of this useful book. We are glad to learn that it has been sufficiently appreciated by nurses to exhaust the previous publication, and to justify the printing of a new edition. It contains such information as every nurse needs, regarding the source, action, and use of drugs, together with the symptoms and treatment of poisoning: besides, there is added a glossary of terms used in materia medica. All things considered, it is one of the most useful books that a nurse can add to her library. The revision has included all the newer drugs of value, and many other notable features.

AN INTRODUCTION TO VERTEBRATE EMBRYOLOGY, BASED ON THE STUDY OF THE FROG AND THE CHICK. By ALBERT MOORE REESE, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Histology in Syracuse University. Duodecimo, pp. 291. Illustrated. New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1904.

This author modestly disclaims originality for his book, regarding it merely a compilation. It is, nevertheless, one of the most useful aids to the study of embryology that has appeared up to the present time. It presents an outline of the essentials concerning the development of the chick and the frog.-the two animals that are commonly studied by medical students. Indeed, the book has been prepared with a view to the special requirements of students. The subject is dealt with in a fascinating manner and would afford interesting reading for any person of intelligence. It is well illustrated by a clear set of diagrams and engravings on wood and is a most admirable presentation of elementary studies in embryology.

THE MEDICAL DIRECTORY OF NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY AND CONNECTICUT. Published by the New York State Medical Association. Volume VI. 1904-1905.

If a medical directory could speak out and tell how it was compiled, perhaps it would lead to a greater degree of accuracy. The one before us is as accurate as any, and we presume that an adequate reason for whatever imperfections it contains is to be found in the carelessness or indifference of physicians themselves.

The total number of names of physicians contained in the lists published in this volume is 15,204, of which 11,746 reside in New York state; 2,176 in New Jersey; and 1,282 in Connecti