REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE.-The following Extracts from the Preface to the just issued (sixth) edition of the Principles and Practice of Medicine by the late Dr. Austin Flint will be read with interest, as evincing alike the enormous personal experience upon which the author founded his opinions and the very complete manner in which he has presented to the fellow-members of his profession the matured results of his life's labors.

"The basis of the work is an unbroken series of records of cases in private practice and in hospitals, begun in 1833 and continued for more than half a century, covering sixteen thousand nine hundred and twentytwo folio pages of manuscript, written with the author's own hand. These records embrace carefully written histories of cases in all departments of practical medicine, observed under varied conditions of life, climate, and general surroundings. Soldiers in camp and barracks; the rich and poor; those affected with diseases incident to lives of ease and luxury, and paupers in hospitals; the pioneers of Western New York, and the inhabitants of the metropolis; patients in the wards of the almshouse and hospitals of Buffalo, of the Marine Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, the great Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Bellevue Hospital, the Charity Hospital, the dispensaries, and similar institutions in the city of New York; cases observed in the experience of a quarter of a century as a general practitioner, and of more than another quarter of a century as a consulting physician, including the epidemics which have. occurred in this country within the last fifty years—the experience derived from these various sources of observation, carefully recorded, studied and analyzed, was finally used in the composition of this treatise, the first edition of which appeared in 1866. In the meantime, the author's original contributions to practical medicine, embodied in special treatises, in communications published in medical periodicals, and in Transactions of medical societies, have left their impress upon many departments which, in recent years, have been classed as specialties; although he was always a physician, never a specialist. A student of the history of practical medicine will often find observations and ideas, assumed to be of recent date, which had been anticipated by the author many years before.

The claim in the Preface to the fifth edition, "that the eliminations, substitutions, and additions rendered it essentially a new work, can with equal propriety be made for the present edition as compared with the edition issued in 1881. Among the entirely new articles, special attention may be called to the following: Infectious Tumors; Syphilitic Diseases of the Lungs; Cerebral Syphilis; General Considerations relating to Inflammatory and Structural Diseases of the Spinal Cord; Spastic Cerebral Paralysis of Children; Hereditary Ataxia; Myxedema; Multiple Neuritis; General Pathology of Fever; and Milk Sickness. In addition to these new features, many articles have been entirely re-written; and in

nearly every article changes and additions, some of them very important, have been made.

"As already stated, the sixth edition contains a full consideration of recent discoveries concerning the bacterial origin of various infectious diseases, as will be rendered evident by a consultation of the article on Vegetable Parasites in the chapter on Etiology, and articles in the chapters treating of Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever, Cholera, etc."

A Reference Hand-Book of the Medical Sciences. Embracing the entire range of Scientific and Practical Medicine and Allied Science, by various writers. Vol. III, FAC to HYS. 813 pages. Illustrated by six chromo-lithographs and 718 fine wood engravings. Edited by Albert H. Buck, M. D. Supplied to subscribers only. Price per vol., cloth, $6.00; sheep, $7.00; half half moorocco, $8.00. William Wood & Co., New York.

Among the leading articles in this volume-which contains from Face to Hysterotomy-are several which may receive special notice.

The first article is an excellent one, being illustrated with cuts showing the characteristics of the Indo-Germanic races, the Mongolians, the Eskimos, Lapps and Finns, and the North and South African races, and one showing the gradual retreat of the jaws in passing from lower to higher types of face. Following this is the embryological development of the face, and the significance of facial expression.

The article on typhoid fever is embellished with a particularly fine chromo-lithograph showing the lesions of that disease.

Dr. Geo. E. Sternberg contributes the article on typho-malarial fever, which he regards not as a distinct fever, but as simply a clinical variety of typhoid.

Gangrene, by Surgeon-General Hamilton, is also illustrated by several chromo-lithographs.

The article on Field Surgeons, though of no immediate value just now, is very thorough, dealing with all the exigencies of war, both on land and sea. It is well supplemented by the articles on Hospitals and Hygiene.

The Hand, Heart, Hemorrhoids, Hernia and Histology have each especially attractive and well illustrated articles. Indeed, a feature of the entire work is its richness of illustrations.

We cannot regard this volume as either more or less valuable than its predecessors; they all constitute an exceedingly valuable and complete library.

The Physician's Leisure Library.-This is a series of twelve new and valuable medical books, by eminent authors, issued by the publish

ing house of Geo. S. Davis, Detroit, Mich. Of this library the publishers have issued the following, viz: "New Medication," two volumes, by Dujardin Beaumetz, M.D., translated by E. P. Hurd, M. D.; "Inhalers, Inhalations and Inhalants," by Beverly Robinson, M. D.; “The Modern Treatment of Ear Diseases," by Samuel Sexton, M.D.; "The Use of Electricity in the Removal of Superfluous Hair, and in the Treatment of Various Facial Blemishes," by Geo. Henry Fox, M. D.; and "Spinal Irritation," by William A. Hammond, M,D.

The twelve books complete are sold for $2.50; 25c each. They are printed on good paper with heavy paper covers.

This series will afford physicians and students an opportunity of purchasing many of the most valuable works at a price within the reach of all; for we understand that only first-class monographs will be published. We will notice the succeeding volumes as they reach us. Address, Geo. S. Davis, publisher, Detroit, Mich.

Surgical Diseases of the Kidneys. By Henry Morris, M. A., M. B., F. R. C. S., Surgeon to and Lecturer on Surgery at the Middlesex Hospital, London. 12mo., 555 pages, with 6 chromo-lithographic plates and 40 engravings. Cloth, $2.25. Philadelphia, Lea Bro's & Co., 1886.

Although of comparatively small dimensions, this book very completely covers the field of investigation. It contains a brief description of the normal and regional anatomy; a very full account of malformations and abnormal anatomical relations of the kidney, matters of importance to the surgeon who is about to operate on the organ; also, descriptions of the injuries and diseases of the kidney, and of the methods of performing nephrectomy, nephro-lithotomy, nephrotomy, aspiratory puncture, and nephrorraphy. It also includes descriptions of those affections of the kidney which are secondary to obstruction in, or operations upon, the lower urinary organs; such as suppurative nephritis, hydronephrosis, pyonephrosis, and urinary fever.

A Treatise on Electrolysis, and Its Application to Therapeutical and Sur. gical Treatment in Diseases. By Robert Amory, A. M., M. D., (Harv.) Fellow Mass. Med. Society; American Academy of Medicine; formerly Professor of Physiology Bowdoin Med. College, etc., New York. William Wood & Co., 1886.

The author gives a hundred pages of elementary matter to a statement of the principles of physics as applicable to electrolysis. He thus presents the natural laws which affect the construction and destruction of living tissues, so that a practitioner may meet the conditions of

diseased tissues in a rational way, and know when not to resort to electrolysis in cases not amenable to its action.

The book includes only the special field of electrolysis. After a general description of the methods of electrolytic application it gives forty-six pages to electrolysis of exophthalmic goitre, and sixteen pages to hypertrichosis. It includes, also, the treatment of cancer, angioma, aneurism, varices, ovarian tumors, hydrocele, orchitis, urethral stricture, etc., etc.

Analysis of the Urine, with Special Reference to the Diseases of the Genito-Urinary Organs. By H. B. Hofmann, Professor in the University of Gratz, and R. Ultzmann, Docent in the University of Vienna. Translated by T. Burton Brune, A.M., M.D., and H. Holbrook Curtis, Ph. B., M.D. Second edition. 8vo., 305 pages. Illustrated. Price, $2.00. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1886. Columbus; Geo. H. Twiss.

Professors Hofmann and Ultzmann here give us a clear, correct, and concise guide in urinalysis and in the diagnosis of disease of the genitourinary organs. The translators, in addition to their excellent work as such, incorporated in the book much that has recently been added to our knowledge on the subject.

The authors, in their preface, say that they have eliminated all unnecessary matter, and have endeavored to make the processes so simple that but a limited knowledge of chemistry will be necessary to understand tests. We commend this work as one of value and interest to the profession. The type is large and clear, the paper and binding excellent, and the illustrations instructive.

Index Catalogue of the Library of the Surgeon-General's Office, United States Army. Vol. VII.

The seventh of this series of volumes has made its appearance, and brings the alphabetically arranged mass of material which the entire set is to produce down to." Leghorn." Sixty pages of fine print are necessary to give the references under “ Intestine," forty under "Jaw," thirty under "Knee-joint," twenty-five under "Jurisprudence," forty-five under "Kidney," and fifty under "Labor." This gives an idea of the work and the mass of material presented for reference.

Reed & Carnrick's Diet Tables.-This is a very handy little pocket-book, issued by Messrs. Reed & Carnrick, giving diet lists suitable for cases of Bright's disease, chlorosis, cholera infantum, chronic rheumatism, constipation, diabetes, diarrhea, dyspepsia, fever, gout, nervous affections, obesity and phthisis; also a general list for the sick and one specially suited to infants. The arrangement is simple, and the lists seem judiciously made up. For hasty reference, or to give to patients, the little book will doubtless prove very serviceable.

BY EDMUND OWEN, F. R. C. S., LONDON, ENG.

Surgeon to St. Mary's and the Children's Hospital.

A sprain is the result of a twist or wrench which has stretched the fibrous capsule of an articulation and its synovial membrane, but which has not sufficed to cause either fracture or dislocation. The injury should be treated upon exactly the same surgical principles as those which guide us in dealing with a fracture or dislocation of a joint; yet a joint which is "only sprained" is somewhat apt to obtain but scant professional attention. Though the common saying teaches that "A sprain is worse than a break," the unfortunate subject of a sprain is usually contented with doing the best that he can for himself with arnica, cold water, or oil, as chance, experience, or advice may suggest, seeking the surgeon's aid only for the remote and often intractable complications. In unhealthy subjects, and especially in children, want of treatment often entails articular troubles which run a lingering course and may end disastrously; and even with the strong a severe sprain is apt to involve a long-continued enfeeblement of the part.

Immediately after the sprain there is want of pliability in the joint; due in part to the pain and tenderness caused by the violence, in part to