"Give half a drachm of dilute sulphuric acid, or aromatic sulphuric acid in water."

This advice is certainly of no value to the physician. Even in this country where the standard of medical education is deplorably low, no freshman student could pass his examination if he did not know that sulphuric acid or soluble sulphates should be administered in lead poisoning. To the physician the advice is superfluous and this is true of every word given under "lead." To the patient or his friends the advice is worse than useless; it may be very harmful. "Give half a drachm of dilute sulphuric acid in water." In how much water? in a spoonful, glassful or barrel?

We can conceive of but one class of persons-quacks—to whom the advice given under "lead" may be of any possible value. That a man of the scientific eminence of Dr. Murrel should give himself to the production of such a work is a shame. By such books as this, a premium is offered to ignorance and superficiality. There has been enough of this vest pocket medical literature, and the profession would have been much more intelligent and respectable to-day, had no such books ever been written. To-day the medical student or practitioner too often carries the knowledge that he should have in his brains, in his vest pockets.

NITRO-GLYCERINE AS A REMEDY FOR ANGINA PECTORIS. By William Murrell, M. D., M. R. C. P., etc. Cloth; pages, 78. Price, 1.25. Detroit: George S. Davis, 1882. For sale by John Moore, Ann Arbor.

It is with pleasure that we turn from the book just noticed to the one now before us. This is a monograph on the action of nitro-glycerine in angina pectoris. It contains a short study of the physiological action of the drug and reports of many cases with conclusions. Minute directions with reference to dose, method of administration, etc., are given, We recommend the work to all, who desire to acquaint themselves with the latest and most authentic treatment of this painful disease.

THE EXPERIMENTAL METHOD IN MEDICAL SCIENCE: SECOND COURSE OF THE CARTWRIGHT LECTURES OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, NEW YORK. By John C. Dalton, M. D. Cloth. Pages, 108. Price, $1.25. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1882. This volume consists of three lectures on historical subjects. The first discusses, "Galvani and Galvanism in the Study of the Nervous System;" the second, "Buffon and Bonnet in the Eighteenth Century;" and the third, "Nervous Degenerations and the Theory of Sir Charles Bell."

These are important historical subjects in medical literature, and we are glad that Dr. Dalton chose these themes for his lec

tures. He has made the discussion very attractive and instructive. He shows the great value to the scientific world of the experiments of Galvani and Volta. From the simple observations of these men, many great achievements have been made, and the future promises still more. On the other hand, Buffon's theory of organic molecules," and Bonnet's theory of the "inclusion of germs," which originated solely in the imaginations of their authors, did naught save retard the progress of true science. But the experiments of Waller and Bell opened up a new world. Dr. Dalton could not have made a better selection of subjects to show the difference between experimentation and metaphysical theorization. Surely, the "experimental method in medical science" has increased our knowledge, has enabled us to relieve pain and prolong life, and in many ways has blessed the world. Will the wildest vivisectionist claim that the lives of the few frogs sacrificed by Galvani, Volta, Waller and Bell, were of more importance than the advance in civilization made through, and the thousands of human lives saved by, the knowledge gained from these experiments?

ESSENTIALS OF VACCINATION: A COMPILATON OF FACTS RELATING TO VACCINE INOCCULATION AND ITS INFLUENCE IN THE PREVENTION OF SMALL-POX. By W. A. Hardaway, M. D., Professor of Diseases of the Skin in the PostGraduate Faculty of the Missouri Medical College, Saint Louis; Member of the American Dermatological Associations; Formerly one of the Vaccine Physicians to the city of Saint Louis. Chicago: Jansen, McClurg & Co., 1882.

It is pleasant once in a while to find a book that is fully true to its title. Sometimes, in mock modesty an author styles his book a "Hand-book" or "Elements" of a certain branch of science, yet he crams into it a crude mass of undigested material -the more the better-to make a large book. At other times a book is like certain stores, carrying all its most pretentious goods in the window. The little volume, however, really does contain the essentials of its subject, condensed in one hundred and thirty-five pages of very large type. Nothing is left out. The important subject that it treats on is fully and fairly brought before the reader. The large mass of statistical and polemical material since Jenner's time evidently has been carefully compared and considered, and both the pros and cons are stated in a lucid, concise and even attractive manner. The book is well calculated to restore the art of vaccination to that estimation in the practititioner's mind which it deserves as one of the most important means of preserving human life. We take the liberty to extract a note which is of paramount practical interest on page 92:

"Patent lymph cones, of which I have no personal experience, are said to be both fraudulent and dangerous. Micro

scopical examination of the mass which they contain shows them to be made up of and animal vegetable debris of various sorts. Professor Lindsley states that he has been informed that an amount of 'consolidated solid lymph,' enough to make one of these cones, could not be produced for more than one hundred times the price named in the advertisement. Very serious results are reported as having occurred from their use." We would add, that the fact alone of their being patented, should be sufficient reason for a reputable physician to avoid their use so long as good lymph in non-patented form is within reach. D'A.

OPIUM-SMOKING IN AMERICA AND CHINA: A STUDY OF ITS PREVALENCE AND EFFECTS, IMMEDIATE AND REMOTE, ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE NATION. By H. H. Kane, M. D., author of "The Hypodermic Injection of Morphia; its History, Advantages and Dangers;" and "Drugs that Enslave; a Study of the Opium, Morphine, Chloral and Hashish Habits." Cloth; flexible covers. Pages, 156. Price, $1.25. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1882. For sale by Sheehan & Co., Ann Arbor.

This is an exceedingly instructive and timely little work. When Dr. Kane wrote his work on "Drugs that Enslave," he thought that the habit of opium-smoking was practiced so little in this country that a discussion of the subject would be useless; but subsequent investigation showed that he was in error on this point. Every city of any size in the United States now has its "joint," where a complete smoking outfit can be obtained, and where Americans, as well as Chinamen, may be found indulging in the pernicious habit. In New York, on Mott and other streets, there are many of these dens, and both sexs frequent them. The author, in order to gain knowledge of the subject, visited these places and made a scientific study of the effects of the practice upon both the beginner and the confirmed smoker. The evidence of the prevalence of the crime brought forward is truly appalling. The author also points out many misconceptions and exaggerations made by popular writers. The details of treatment are given, and every medical man should familiarize himself with the contents of the work.

ON SLIGHT AILMENTS: THEIR NATURE AND TREATMENT. By Lionel S. Beale, M. B., F. R. S., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians; Professor of the Principles and Practice of Medicine in King's College, London, etc., etc. Second Edition, enlarged and illustrated. Cloth; pages, 283. Price, $1.25. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Co. For sale by Sheehan & Co., Ann Arbor.

This is one of the medical books which has truly supplied "a want long felt." Very few medical books published within the past five years have been received with so much enthusiasm as has this one. "Slight Ailments" form the bulk of

practice and yet most of our large works have failed to discuss them at all. A young physician may found his reputation and build up a large practice by being able to relieve a sick headache or a sour stomach. Again the physician who studies the art of making his patients as comfortable as possible during prolonged sickness will be rewarded most gratefully. To instruct the physician how to do this is one of the chief objects of this book. The author gives the method of treatment, in such common affections as offensive breath, water-brash, flatulent croakings, constipation, simple diarrhoea, worms, vertigo, biliousness, sick headache, nausea, restlessness, rheumatic pains, bad cold, bites of insects, etc. Many of these slight ailments often sorely perplex the physician; or his ignorance of their treatment will cause him to neglect them wholly, and thus turn away from himself many a patient. We would advise all young physicians especially to secure this little volume and to study it thoroughly. It will amply repay the small cost.

DISEASES OF THE RECTUM INCLUDING FISTULA, HEMORHOIDS, PAINFUL ULCERS, STRICTURES, PROLAPSUS, ETC., WITH DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. By William Allingham, M. D., F. R. C. S., Surgeon to Saint Mark's Hospital for fistula and other diseases of the rectum. Fourth revised and enlarged Edition with illustrations. Paper; pages, 168. Price, 75 cents; Cloth, $1.25. Philadelphia, 1882. P. Blakiston, Son & Co. For sale by John Moore, Ann Arbor,

This work is probably better known than any other on the subject. Its popularity is evidenced by the fact that three large editions have been exhausted, and the book has been translated into the French, Italian, Spanish and Russian languages. It is the production of a man of great experience, and the repeated revisions make it of great worth. The author points out the great necessity of examining into the condition of the uterus and other pelvic organs in the treatment of hemorrhoids, ulcer, fissure, etc. We notice that he gives marked preference to the ligature in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids. On this subject he has the following to say:

"Let us see how the matter stands. In Saint Mark's Hospital the death-rate from all causes in operations on internal hemorrhoids by ligature during a space of more than forty years is just one in six hundred and seventy. Now, hospital practice is notoriously more fatal than private practice, yet what a brilliant result has been obtained! Referring to the four cases of tetanus occurring in Saint Mark's in the months of March and April, 1858, they must be considered quite exceptional, as since that year no case of the disorder has appeared.

"Mr. Curling, in his work on 'Diseases of the Rectum,' says, 'In the year 1858 tetanus was very rife in London.' I have the good fortune not to have had one single fatal result from the

ligature, either in my public or private practice, which now extends to more than one thousand six hundred operations.' "Copeland in his work, says that he has seen only one death. "Bushe that he never had a fatal case with the ligature. "Sir Benjamin Brodie, whose experience was unusually large, states he never lost a case.

"Mr. Syme says, 'In the whole of my practice I never met with a case which either terminated fatally, or even threatened to do so.'

“Mr. Curling, in the last edition of his work, affirms 'that, with one exception, no fatal case of operation by the ligature has occurred, either in my public or private practice.'

"Mr. Quain had only one patient succumb in his practice with the ligature.

"Mr. Ashton has not recorded a single death from his method of operating by ligature.

"My colleague, Mr. Gowlland, who, in all probability, has had a larger experience in rectal surgery than any other surgeon in London, has had a most remarkable success with the ligature in hemorrhoids; and after a prolonged trial with the clamp and cautery, has finally abandoned it.

"My friend, Mr. Alfred Cooper, with large opportunities for arriving at a correct judgment, informs me that he has never had a fatal case with the ligature, and now does not employ the cautery, My remaining colleague, Mr. Goodsall, is also at one with me in preferring the ligature.

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"Let us for a moment see what our American confrères think: Gross, in his great work on surgery says: "The operation (ligature) is as simple of execution as it is free from danger and certain in results.'

"Dr. Van Buren, so well known here, and whose experience in the treatment of rectal disease is very extensive, says: 'I have never had an unpleasant symptom.'

"Bodenhamer states: 'I have yet to encounter my first serious accident.'

"I could go on citing the favorable opinions of my American friends with regard to safety of ligation, but I feel I need not add anything to what I have written to prove the great success in every way of the operation when properly performed, and when the patient is well treated and placed in good hygienic conditions. It must be clear that if the death-rate at Saint Mark's Hospital, in so many years, has been one in about six hundred and seventy cases, equally good results ought to be obtained in private practice. If patients are placed in hospital wards teeming with septic poisons, the deaths which take place cannot be justly ascribed to the operation."

There are many other interesting points, but we must refer our readers to the work itself, which has been issued in such a cheap, yet substantial form, that it is within the reach of all.