Ky.; Dr. E. L. McIntyre, Fredrickstown, Ky.; Dr. P. G. Petrey, Coalport, Ky.; Dr. J. M. Peck, Arlington, Ky.; Dr. H. D. Rodman, Bardstown, Ky.; Dr. L. L. Robertson, Middlesboro, Ky.; Dr. A.. P. Ryan, Albany, Ky.; Dr. A. Sargent, Hopkinsville, Ky.; Dr. W. B. Saline, Ep, Ky.; Dr. H. M. Skillman, Lexington, Ky.; Dr. C. Bruce Smith, Millersburg, Ky.; Dr. G. D. Simmons, Adairville, Ky.; Dr. G. G. Thornton, Gravel Switch, Ky.; Dr. Taylor, Paducah, Ky.; Dr. J. B. White, Cave City, Ky.; Dr. J. C. Williams, Morton's Gap, Ky; Dr. J. C. S. Brice, Flemingsburg, Ky.; Dr. J. W. Ellis, Masonville, Ky.; Dr. J. W. McCarthy, Fordsville, Ky.

Book Reviews.

An American Text-Book of Diseases of the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat.

Edited by G. E. De Schweinitz, A. M., M. D., Professor of Ophthalmology in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia; Consulting Ophthalmologist to the Philadelphia Polyclinic; Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Philadelphia Hospital and to the Hospital and Infirmary for Nervous Diseases. And B. Alex. Randall, M. A., M. D., Ph. D., Clinical Professor of Diseases of the Ear in the University of Pennsylvania; Professor of Diseases of the Ear in the Philadelphia Polyclinic; Ophthalmic and Aural Surgeon to the Methodist and Children's Hospitals, Philadelphia. Illustrated with 766 engravings, 59 in colors. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, publisher. Price, cloth, $7.00; sheep or half-morocco, $8.00.

This is an elaborate, well illustrated, and splendidly issued work. It covers all the ground as far as diseases of the eye, ear, nose, and throat are concerned. It is really an American textbook, for no foreign name appears as a contributor. Sixty American authors of repute have been asked to be contributors, and each has written a chap

ter for a text reference which is written by so many different authors. It can not be supposed that even specialists always agree. So it would be a question as to who is authority. The work is so comprehensive that it leaves nothing to be desired. The only criticism that we could offer is that the editors have not seen fit to call to their aid more Southern men. Only two names appear out of a list of sixty. Beyond question it is not only the most extensive work of its kind, but it is the best.

The American Year-Book of Medicine and Surgery.

Being a yearly Digest of Scientific Progress and Authoritative Opinion in all Branches of Medicine and Surgery, drawn from Journals, Monographs, and Text-Books of the Leading American and Foreign Authors and Investigators. Collected and arranged with critical editorial comments by Samuel W. Abbott, M. D.; Howard F. Hansell, M. D.; John J. Abel, M. D.; Milton B. Hartzell, M. D.; Charles H. Burnett, M. D.; Barton Cooke Hirst, M. D.; Archibald Church, M. D.; E. Fletcher Ingalls, M. D.; J. Chalmers DaCosta, M. D.; Wyatt Johnston, M. D.; W. A. Newman Dorland, M. D.; W. W. Keen, M. D.; Louis A. Duhring, M. D.; Henry G. Ohls, M. D.; D. L. Edsall, M. D.; Wendel Reber, M. D.; Virgil P. Gibney, M. D.; David Riesman, M. D.; Henry A. Griffin, M. D.; Louis Starr, M. D.; John Guitéras, M. D.; Alfred Stengel, M. D.; C. A. Homann, M. D.; G. N. Stewart, M. D.; Alfred Hand, Jr., M. D.; J. R. Tillinghast, M. D.; J. Hilton Waterman, M. D. Under the general editorial charge of George M. Gould, M. D. Illustrated. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders. Price, cloth, $6.50; half-morocco, $7.50.

This book is a welcome visitor. This year it seems to contain more general information than the volume of any previous year. To those who have been taking it, it would be useless to urge them to continue to do so, for they will without urging. It is unique in one particular, viz: that it gives the views of hundreds of the best-known writers upon the subjects treated. The editor of each chapter adds pertinent comments. Every subject of real importance, either in surgery or medicine, receives attention in this magnificent volume. Every page is up to date.

One characteristic of the book is that authors who differ widely upon any given subject are quoted extensively. Of all the interesting chapters, it can be said that the one devoted to general surgery is the most interesting. The surgery of the whole body is included in the work, and by the men best able to treat of the special departments. The book is of equal value to the physician, surgeon, or specialist. The volume contains over eleven hundred pages. No library is complete without this annual contribution by Dr. Gould. We publish in full the names of the distinguished men who edit the work, that the reader may judge of the book by the makers of it.

Diseases of the Eye.

A Hand-book of Ophthalmic Practice. For Students and Practitioners. By G. E. De Schweinitz, A. M., M. D., Professor of Ophthalmology in the Jefferson Medical College; Professor of Diseases of the Eye in the Philadelphia Polyclinic; Ophthalmic Surgeon in the Philadelphia Hospital; Ophthalmologist to the Orthopedic Hospital and Infirmary for Nervous Diseases. With two hundred and fifty-five illustrations and two chromo-lithographic plates. Third edition, thoroughly revised. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, publisher.

One could scarcely imagine a more perfect book than this from an individual source. Professor De Schweinitz has long been recognized as an authority on the diseases of the eye, and this book bears testimony to the fact. This is the third edition of his work, and in it every thing has been brought up to date. It is not only an essential to the specialist in this line of work, but to the general practitioner it will be of

much service. We have seen no book so well suited to the student of medicine, who desires to become proficient in the study of the diseases of the eye. Much new material has been introduced into this volume. The whole book has been enlarged, and now numbers 695 pages. The illustrations are perfect, and the publisher deserves especial notice for the splendid manner in which the book is issued. The price is reasonable cloth, $4.00; sheep or halfmorocco, $5.00.

Selections.

Origin of Pigment in Skin, and the Nature of Certain Pigmented Tumors Arising in the Skin.

Some years ago Karg transplanted skin from the negro to the white man, and vice versa. In both cases the grafts took," and after a while the black skin lost its pigment and the white skin became black. The deepest layers of the epidermis contain peculiar spider-like branching cells full of pigment, and called "chromatophores. Similar cells also occur in the cutis. Karg believed, as is commonly taught, that these chromatophores are fibroblasts emigrating from connective tissue to the epithelium of the skin, where they deposit their pigment. When black pigment becomes white a reverse process is assumed to take place. Recently Loeb,* of Chicago, made some experiments with the skin of the guineapig, replacing black skin with white and white with black, and it was found that white grafts would not adhere indefinitely when placed upon colored skin, whereas black grafts invariably took well. These results Loeb found to be so uniform that they could not be attributed to failures in technic. Carnot obtained the same results. These experiments throw considerable light on the origin of skin pigment, at least as regards the guinea-pig-a subject of theoretic as well as practical bearing.

As already indicated, it is now generally taught that pigmentation of the cutaneous epithelium is due to the action of chomatophorous fibroblasts, which are supposed to carry pigment derived from the hemoglobin to the epithelium. It has not been believed that pigment in the skin originates in the metabolism of epithelial cells. In the guinea-pig, for instance, white and pigmented epithelial cells live on the same tissue and under the same general conditions, yet one produces pigment and the other does not, a fact which would indicate that the pigment must come from the metabolism of the epithelial cells themselves. This state

*Medicine, March, 1899.

ment is also strongly supported by the fact that white epithelium transplanted to cutaneous tissue previously supporting black epithelium does not seem to develop pigment; when black skin is placed upon a defect in white skin it remains black, according to Loeb's results, even though the upper layers of the graft are constantly thrown off, thus requiring the production of new pigment. After a while the connective tissue between the pigmented grafts is found to contain pigmented granules, which previously did not occur in the tissue and which must therefore be accounted for as due in some way to the presence of the pigmented grafts.

As is also known, the pigment of the epithelial cells of the skin is not evenly scattered throughout the protoplasm of the cell, but is found mostly on the side of the nucleus which is nearest the surface. In guinea-pigs the glands around the hair follicles are not pigmented; if the pigment is brought by chromatophorous mesoblastic cells, it would be rather strange if these cells should not also distribute pigment among the glandular epithelial cells. It seems, therefore, that a more probable explanation of the origin of pigment in the skin is, that chemic processes in the deeper layers of the epithelium lead to the formation of pigment, and that there is an essential difference in the structure and functions of white and pigmented epithelium.

These observations become of direct importance in the consideration of malignant growths arising from pigmented moles, concerning the carcinomatous or sarcomatous nature of which the opinion of pathologists and dermatologists diverge. It had long been. regarded as settled that pigmented tumors arising in moles were sarcomatous; in 1892 Unna came to the conclusion that the pigmented cells of the corium, which form the characteristic elements in the moles, are derived from the rete layer of the epidermis and not. from connective-tissue cells. This conclusion was based mainly upon the study of moles in early life. Since the publication of Unna's researches, divergent opinions have been expressed in regard to his conclusions.

Gilchrist recently reported two cases of pigmented cutaneous tumors, together with the results of some study of the pigmented moles. The second case described is of particular interest in connection with the subject under discussion. The tumor began in a pigmented mole on the face of a young physician, and was excised at an early stage in its growth. Microscopic examination left no doubt whatsoever as to the malignancy and nature of the growth, it being unquestionably a melanosarcoma. A small pigmented mole, excised from the skin of the abdomen of a child, twenty-one months old, established conclusively on microscopic examination that the groups of epithelioid cells which went to make up the structure of the mole were originally derived from the epidermis by detachment of collections of epithelial cells and by the separation of the lower portions of the interpapillary processes. Gilchrist's present investigations go to confirm Unna's views. It is self-evident that if the epithelioid cells which constitute moles are of epidermal origin, malignant growths springing from these cells would have to be regarded as being carcinomatous and not sarcomatous in nature, according to the present classification and nomenclature of tumors. Journal American Medical Association.

Boston's Public Baths.

Mayor Quincy, of Boston, says that that city was the first in America to establish public baths, the oldest bath having been opened thirty-three years ago. Boston has twenty-three summer baths, and last summer 1,900,000 baths were taken. The baths are free for children, and in all but one adults pay five cents for a bath and one cent for a towel. The cost of maintenance was $38,000.-Medical News.

His Definition.

School Examiner-"What is the meaning of false doctrine?"

Schoolboy"Please, sir, it's when the doctor gives the wrong stuff to the people who are sick."-Cincinnati Enquirer.

Journal of Cutaneous and Genito-Urinary Disease, March, 1899.

New Conception of Smallpox. A new conception of smallpox has recently been evolved from the expansive intellect of an imaginative Frenchman. In brief, this genius holds Jenner up to obloquy and opprobrium for his discovery of vaccination and its protective influence against smallpox, which he considers "a spontaneous eruption of nature-which violently rejects, expels, and deposits outside the evil influences that are in the body." The signs of croup, typhoid fever, and pulmonary tuberculosis are looked upon as merely manifestations of smallpox turned inward; carcinoma and meningitis own a like etiology, and insanity and suicide are traceable to the same morbid influences. In commenting upon these ebullitions of a mind unhampered by scientific considerations, the British Medical Journal suggests "that the mere possibility of such dire consequences from the 'turning inward' of smallpox afforded some justification for an attempt to keep it out altogether."

Perils of Sanitation.

The recent occurrences in Colorado and Texas illustrate the possible dangers of sanitation attempts with unenlightened individuals. A health officer was ordered to prevent a public funeral of a person who had died of a contagious disease, and he was killed in the performance of his duty. As the Chicago Post says, editorially: "He was a victim of the idea that health laws are made for the purpose of distressing those who already are sufficiently distressed." There is, with all our boasted enlightenment, a large amount of barbaric ignorance in this country, not only among the recently imported elements, but also amongst those who should know better. the Post says, there is a feeling apparently existing in some degree among persons esteemed and esteeming themselves educated and intelligent, that the laws relating to contagious and infectious diseases are made to be ignored. If this is not a sign of what we have charitably called it, barbaric ignorance-it is something worse, it

As

means a reckless indifference to law and to human life.-Journal American Medical Association.

A Skirt-Slasher.

An incident worthy the attention of Lombroso occurred recently in a department store of New York, which illustrates an odd phase of mental pathology. A man was arrested for surreptitiously cutting to pieces in a crowded store the valuable silk skirt worn by a customer. This action is akin to that of spitting tobacco juice or throwing ink upon skirts worn by women, which are more frequently committed than "skirt-slashing."

A Minneapolis woman, blind for fifteen years, has had portions of the eye of a rabbit grafted on her own optics, and if all goes well her sight will be reBut won't she have an eye for stored. cabbage and other succulent rabbit dainties!

The American Medical Association. (Response to a Toast at the Banquet of the Academy of Medicine, St. Louis, March 29, 1899.)

BY WILLIAM PORTER, M. D.

I would my words were equal to my theme—
But then, if things were other than they seem,
An abler tongue should voice your thought
to-night,

Another pen the praises should indite
Of that which claims your fealty; and yet
You will it; I obey; it is kismet."

We're told, in Bonnie England, when they say "God bless the Queen," as well we know they

may,

Each truly British bosom swells with pride;
For whatsoever else they do beside,
They're loyal always to the powers that be.
For English bow and stubborn English knee
Have oftentimes been bent to have it shown
How firmly fixed is England's royal throne.
In this fair land 'tis true we have no king
Nor queen, nor ancient throne. No anthems

ring
For high-born princeling or presumptive heir,
And yet, somehow, we all allegiance bear
To what is right and royal. So we say,
And say again, "God bless the A. M. A."

I've watched the masons, toiling day by day To build a massive structure by the way; Rough-shapen stones and mortar lie around, While chaos reigns and fragments strew the ground.

The plans are drawn; the firm foundation made,

And course on course is slowly, surely laid.
Yet all is incomplete until we trace
The outline of the key-stone in its place.
Each part by it united, great and small;
They carry it, and yet it binds them all.

We love the stately Hudson. Who does not?
And could we have its history enwrought
With tale and legend, not the far-famed Rhine,
Whose ruined castles still o'erlook the vine,
Could better sing to more attentive ears
Heroic measures from the vanished years.
Fair river of the East, 'twas on thy shore,
Full half a century ago or more,

A builder, building better than he knew,
Laid a foundation firm, compact, and true,
On which to rear a mighty arch; and then
He traced his plan upon the hearts of men,
Of men the workers-men who gave their all,
Who gave themselves-material for the wall.
And so, from where the Alleghenies rise,
With oak and chestnut crowned, toward the
skies,

From where Potomac's waters seek the bay,
Or Chattahoochie chatters all the day,
From Western prairies, toward the setting sun,
On whose broad bosom soon to be begun
A life gigantic-from New England's coast,
The home of those of whom we make this
boast-

Their fame is more enduring than the shaft
Cut from their granite hills by master craft.
From North and South, from East and West

they came,

Each one a knight as worthy of the name
As those who followed Cœur de Lion's plume
What time he sought to seize the sacred tomb.
But change we not the figure, for these men,
While knights of high emprise, loved more

the pen

Which in their hands was " mightier than the sword."

With heart and brain they wrought with deed and word;

They built an "Arc de Triumph" that might tell

Of principles and truths revered so well.
Not theirs to vaunt success by might and main,
Or drag the car of vict'ry o'er the slain,
For they were pledged to nobler, deadlier
strife-

Death was their foe, their guerdon human life.

You know the record, how as years have gone, The work has prospered. Stone on stone Laid in the cement of united will,

And carved and fashioned with the utmost skill.

Some are memorial tablets; some o'ergrown With ivy, and on each of these a crown.

Their work is done.

Ere perennius,

And now their sacred message comes to us :
Build ye, and build ye while ye may.
Our work is yours, the burden yours to-day.
So shall we rest. In you we live again.
If you are faithless, we have lived in vain."

Oh, men! Oh, men! my brothers, ye are strong

In purpose and in hatred of the wrong;
Strong both to will the right and strong to do.
Do you not know the world has need of you?
More need of you than you of it? I hear
On every side the call, from far and near,
For better manhood, higher aim in life,
Something beyond the sordid, selfish strife
That warps the soul. The wall on which we
build

Is higher now than when our sacred guild
Was young.
Lift, then, unto its very top
Yourselves and all you have, nor stop
To barter for the rubbish at your feet.
Seek not for gold to make your work com-
plete-

The world is cursed with gold the few
Have molded into fetters.
It is you
Men ask for. What is your reply—
Your answer to the sad and heart-sent cry?
The world demands the best of all there is;
You are the product of the centuries.
The past has laid its treasure at your door,
The present calls you "lord." What more
Do you require? Think you, is not this much?
Not much but little, save you are in touch
With human needs and human wrongs and

woe.

Your hands are empty hands unless you go-
As only you can go-upon the field,
Where life's fierce battle rages under shield,
And man to man, to aid the sore distressed-
To raise the fallen, succor the oppressed,
And all the while to work toward the light.
This is your mission and your vested right.

It is from labor such as this you bring
Material for the arch of which we sing.
With consecrated heart and brain and life,
Belifters" always, victors in the strife.
Be sure 'tis good for strength "- -so runs the
song,

To know that some one needs you to be strong."

The banquet lights have burned almost too long.

The hours, with happy repartee and song, Have passed unchallenged. On the goblet's rim

The ice no longer tinkles, and the hymn The night-wind sings is hushed. The morning light

Will show to-morrow's duties soon. Goodnight!