methods of treatment; Dr. Joseph Priestley's valuable review of progress in sanitary science and a list of the principal books published during 1907 fill the 700 pages with the very latest and best information on the practical subjects connected with medical science. It surpasses in most respects all of its predecessors. Gynecology. A TEXTBOOK OF PRACTICAL GYNECOLOGY. For practitioners and students. By D. Todd Gilliam, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Gynecology in Starling-Ohio Medical College, and Sometime Professor of Gynecology, Starling Medical College; Gynecologist to St. Anthony and St. Francis Hospitals; Consulting Gynææcologist to Park View Sanitarium, Columbus, Ohio; Fellow of the American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Member of the American Medical Associa tion, of the Ninth International Medical Congress, etc. Second revised edition. Illustrated with 350 engravings, a colored frontispiece and 13 full-page half-tone plates. 642 royal octavo pages. Extra cloth, $4.50 net; half morocco, gilt top, $6.00 net. Sold only by subscription. F. A. Davis Company, publishers, 1914-16 Cherry street, Philadelphia. In the second edition of this work the author gives us comparatively little that did not appear in the first, but certain new operations, notably that of Goffe for cystocele and that of Watkins for uterine prolapse, are discussed. To the very excellent illustrations a number of new ones have been added. All gynæcologic conditions are considered at length from their various aspects, and there are a number of chapters upon the diseases of the urethra, bladder, ureters, kidney and rectum, both in their gynecologic relations and as they occur independently. As a whole the work is a creditable one to both author and publisher. GYNECOLOGY AND ABDOMINAL SURGERY. In two large octavos. Edited by Howard A. Kelly, M.D., Professor of Gynæcologic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University, and Charles P. Noble, M.D., Clinical Professor of Gynaecology at the Woman's Medical College, Philadelphia. Volume 1. Large octavo volume of 851 pages, with 405 original illustrations by Mr. Hermann Becker and Mr. Max Brodel. Philadelphia and London: W. B. Saunders Company, 1907. Per volume: Cloth, $8.00 net; half morocco, $9.50 net. This book is a masterpiece. The editors have combined two very important subjects in one work, and have performed this labor well. The chapter on medical gynæcology is admirable, and a subject that is usually omitted altogether or receives very small amount of space in most books. This section was written to aid the general practitioner. It contains many practical suggestions. Elementary anatomy has been omitted, this giving more space to the latest technique, as well as additional operations. One can do nothing but praise such a work. The cuts are excellent, illustrating the various steps in abdominal operations. Every surgeon and every gynecologist should have a copy of this book. W. B. J. Genito-Urinary Diseases. DISEASES OF THE GENITO-URINARY ORGANS AND THE KIDNEY. By Robert H. Greene, M.D., Professor of GenitoUrinary Surgery at the Fordham University, New York, and Harlow Brooks, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathol ogy, University and Bellevue Hospital Medical School. Octavo of 536 pages, profusely illustrated. Philadelphia and London: W. B. Saunders Company, 1907. Cloth, $5.00 net; half Morocco, $6.50 net. This is a really excellent treatise upon the diseases of the genito-urinary system, and one which it affords us great pleasure to commend. The authors give us all that is latest and best upon the subjects included, and are not afraid to break away from the stereotyped opinions which most medical books repeat from generation to generation. For instance, they sometimes allow red meat in acute nephritis, a departure which some years ago would have caused the conservative physician to raise his hands in horror, and one which even now, since the researches of von Noorden have been given to the medical world, will hardly be acceptable to some. The treatment by dechloridation is also touched upon, and, withal, the discussion of nephritis in general is a remarkable one to appear in what is to appear in what is primarily a surgical work. We note that the authors are not in favor of renal decortication in Bright's disease. Lack of space does not allow us to make further mention of the good points of the volume. Suffice it to state that no physician in need of a work upon genitourinary conditions can do better than to select this. Miscellany VITALITY, FASTING AND NUTRITION-A PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE CURATIVE POWER OF FASTING, TOGETHER WITH A NEW THEORY OF THE RELATIONS OF FOOD TO HUMAN VITALITY. By Hereward Carrington, with an introduction by A. Rabagliati, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.S. Rebman Company, New York. To anyone who has the time and the inclination to read a book of theoretical writings, interspersed with quotations from various sources-not always judiciously selected at that-and separated from the context so as to give meanings to them which their authors, or some of them, never intended, this book will afford food for thought. The author of this book says in his preface that he does not intend to defend his theories at that place-but allows the book to speak for itself, and requests that no verdict be passed on the book until it is read carefully; then we are to be permitted to pass on the book, and likewise on the sanity of the author. We do not recommend the book to any busy man, but to those having the time and inclination, as we stated above, we submit both propositions. There are truths in the volume, but they can also be found in healthier books, the author's opinion to the contrary notwithstanding; but as for that which is startling and new, we respectfully suggest a course in therapeutics and physiological chemistry, as well as a casual reading of some of the recent medical textbooks of standard variety, and perhaps the author will then give us something really worth the 624 pages of reading matter. We cannot really take the author seriously, for he is far short in his groundings in the very rudiments of the subject which he has undertaken to discuss. PerSonally, we do not judge him insane, but only misguided. We hope to again hear from Mr. Carrington after he has really studied the subject, not from the "brilliant" (?) theoretical writings of others, but after he can report on observations conducted scientifically and under such control as to eliminate the possibilities of error. We advise the author not to put his trust in farmer folks who write letters on the resuscitation of chickens whose vitality is PAMPHLETS A NEW METHOD OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF FISTULOUS TRACTS, TUBERCULOUS SINUSES AND ABSCESS CAVITIES. By Emil G. Beck, M.D., Chicago. Reprinted from Illinois Medical Journal, April, 1908. URETHROTOMY FOR TIGHT STRICTURES OF THE DEEP URETHRA. By William F. Fluhrer, M.D., New York. SOME PHASES OF THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CANCER A CLINICAL LECTURE. By William Seaman BainSeaman Bainbridge, M.D., New York. Reprinted from American Journal of Surgery, November, 1907. METASTASIS FOLLOWING INCISION OF A SARCOMA. By William Seaman Bainbridge, M.D., New York. Reprinted from U. S. Polyclinic Journal, January, 1908. suspended. We only want first-hand observation. S. J. K. RECEIVED. SOME FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE TREATMENT OF PIGMENTED HAIRY NEVI WITH LIQUID AIR; THREE ADDITIONAL CASE REPORTS. By William B. Trimble, M.D., New York. Reprinted from Journal of Cutaneous Diseascs, September, 1907. ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION IN SCIEN- SOME OF HUMANITY'S DEBTS TO VIVI- SOCIETY PROCEEDINGS. Boston Medical Library. Regular Meeting, February 19, 1908-Dr. Richard C. Cabot, Chairman.-SERUM TREATMENT OF CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS. Dr. Simon Flexner, director of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, referred to the epidemic two years ago in New York city, during which there occurred 5000 cases, with a mortality of 70 per cent. Many peculiarities of the meningococcus were noted. It was found that the effects on guinea-pigs were not like those on man. Experiments with goats. succeeded occasionally only. Hence, they turned to the use of monkeys. The most 、virulent strains of the germs were employed. These lose their pathogenicity in cultures, and do not recover it by being passed through animals. Sometimes they are efficient for months, and then suddenly become inactive. Hence, they must be tested constantly. The lesions in monkeys resemble those in man both macroscopically and microscopically, but in monkeys there is more involvement of the central nervous system, shown by a high degree of encephalitis. Death ensues so rapidly as to suggest that it is by the contained poison instead of by any elaborated one. It is more difficult to check the disease in monkeys than in men. Goat's serum was found to be fatal to monkeys. Hence, a monkey was immunized, and after eight months the serum obtained was used in testing. The five control monkeys died within 24 hours. One monkey given serum one hour before the dose fatal to the others had no symptoms. One given serum mixed with the dose fatal to the others had no symptoms. Two monkeys given serum as late as six hours after symptoms appeared survived, and one monkey who received the serum died. Encouraged by these results, they began to immunize a horse, and after eight months this serum was first tried on man. At first the dose was small, 5 c.c.; later it was increased to 10 c.c. and 15 c.c., and then still larger. Always it has been injected directly into the spinal canal. An epidemic in Ohio gave the opportunity for a test. Soon there appeared a report of 40 cases treated, with 29 recoveries and II deaths, a mortality of 27.5 per cent. To these 40 cases have now been added 17 cases in New York, with 12 recov eries and 5 deaths; 20 cases in Boston, with 17 recoveries and 3 deaths; 15 cases in Philadelphia, with 9 recoveries and 6 deaths; 3 cases in Baltimore, with 2 recoveries and I death; 30 cases in Belfast, with 22 recoveries and 8 deaths; 5 cases variously distributed, with 4 recoveries and I death. This makes a total of 90 cases not reported before, with 66 recoveries and 24 deaths, or a mortality of 26 per cent. The total of all reported cases. up to the present is 130 cases treated, with 95 recoveries and 35 deaths, a mortality of 27 per cent. The reports from Belfast are from an epidemic where the mortality had been over 70 per cent. The serum was administered during the months of September, October, November and December, 1907, with the results above stated. During the same period 34 other cases studied by the same physician were not so treated, and of these 29, or 85 per cent., died. In 22 cases the serum was given within 72 hours of the onset of the disease, and of these patients 16 recovered. Of 25 patients who recovered 12 did so by crisis and 13 by lysis. Dr. Flexner stated that good results may be obtained even though the fluid in the canal is thick pus. The number of germs decreases, the extracellular ones. disappear, the intracellular ones change, swell, stain badly and do not grow. They may persist for some time, but they do not grow. The fluid itself rapidly clears up. Relapses do occur. Germs are then abundant, but if the serum has previously been injected the peculiarity that they will not grow persists. Cases may terminate. by crisis as late as the fifth week. It is believed that the meningococcus does not elaborate a soluble toxin. The toxin is within the cellular organisms. By the autolytic action of a ferment the germ disintegrates rapidly, and early this toxin is set free. The experiment can be tried and proved artificially by the use of toluol. The amount of antibodies present is very small. The whole action of the serum is not clear. It does to some extent neutralize the poison, but by no means as the antitoxin of diphtheria neutralizes the toxin elaborated by the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus. Here the poison is on endotoxin, and the chief value of the serum seems to be that it increases phagocytosis. Within the phagoyctes the toxin is broken up apparently and rendered harmless. The serum is injected intraspinally, for here it chiefly acts, not subcutaneously or intravenously. Concentration is necessary, and cannot be obtained otherwise. Hypersensibility of the spinal canal is not feared. There is danger of causing an abscess in the skin and subsequent infection of another germ. Hence the need of most careful asepsis.―Journal of the American Medical Association. 1 INDEX MEDICUS. KEY TO MEDICAL PERIODICALS. PRICES OF FOREIGN JOURNALS DO NOT INCLUDE POSTAGE. 11 American Journal of Surgery. New 12 American Medical Compend. Toledo. 13 American Medical Journal. St. Louis. 14 American Medical Monthly. Baltimore. 15 American Medicine. New York. M., 15a American Physician. New York. M., 17 American Practitioner and News. 18 American Journal of Progressive Ther- 18a Annali di Nevrologia. Naples, Italy. 18b Annales de Chirurgie et d'Orthopédie. 18c Annales de Médecine et Chirurgie In- 18d Annales des Maladies de l'Oreille, etc. 18e Annales d'Oculistique. Paris. M., $6- 18f Annales de Dermatologie et Syphili- 18h Annali di Ottalmologia. Pavia. Bi-m., 18i Annales de l'Institut Pasteur. Paris. 18k Annales des Maladies des Organes Gé 19 Annals of Gynecology and Pædiatry. 21 Annals of Ophthalmology. St. Louis. 22 Annals of Otology, Rhinology and 23b Archives de Médécine des Enfants. 23c Archives of Diagnosis. New York. Q., 24 Archives of Ophthalmology. New York. 24a Archives of Otology. New York. Bi-m., |