adult. When given in continuous doses,every three or four hours,for example, it was found in some cases that after one full dose the effect could be maintained by much smaller ones.

Dr. Niven accords high value to alcohol in treatment of fevers not to be used indiscriminately but in cases characterized by great prostration and in the later stages of severe cases. He says, he has seen one case unquestionably saved by champagne.

ODORS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

In the same paper "On Fever," by Dr. James Niven, there are some interesting observations on the odors of infectious diseases.

It has been a question with us in regard to which we have never been able to gain a satisfactory answer, how far the sense of smell is capable of education, and how far the power of discriminating between different substances by the odors which emanate from them is a natural endowment, almost, if not wholly, independent of training.

That this sense is much more acute among some of the lower animals than with men is a well known fact.

From a diagnostic point of view it is a matter of some interest, as Dr. Niven well says, that some of the infectious diseases possess distinctive, special odors; and if our knowledge in this direction can be so increased as to render it generally available, this will be a decided addition to the powers of the physician.

Dr. Niven says that the only odor, besides that of rheumatic fever, of which he has seen any mention in medical literature is a peculiarly heavy and offensive smell, like that of rotten straw, which has been observed in cases of typhoid fever. It is said to be quite characteristic, and not due to filth, since it is present in cases of this disease among the most cleanly people.

The disgusting and peculiar odor of small-pox, he says, occurs only in the worst cases and is of the gravest omen. "It is not

present in cases which do well, even when the body is covered with scabs, and it therefore probably means merely necrosis of the tis sues, and a ptomaine generated in that process."

He states that for a number of years he has noticed in cases of scarlet fever a peculiar sweet odor of the breath, almost aromatic in character, far from unpleasant in itself, though rendered unpleasant by its associations. This odor has been noticed to be most. marked in the early stages of the disease. In some cases this odor has rendered possible the diagnosis of scarlet fever a day before any other symptoms of the disease appeared, and several times before the rash was visible. The smell is sometimes very strong, especially in cases which he calls toxic scarlet fever, where the throat is but little affected, the rash is discrete and dark, and there is much delirium.

The same peculiar sweet odor is fairly often to be observed in the breath of typhoid fever, though less penetrating and powerful than in certain cases of scarlet fever. He admits being unable to discriminate between the odors of typhoid and scarlet fever.

Measles has a smell of its own, which Dr. Niven says, resembles that of scarlet fever, but is quite distinguishable. This has been compared by some to the odor of old cheese or mice.

Dr. Niven thinks it not unlikely that these odors are chemical products of the micro-organisms which are found in these different diseases.

In a discussion which took place in the St. Louis Medico-Chirurgical Society, Dr. W. A. Hardaway said (COURIER, Aug. 1883) that while he had seen some two thousand cases of small-pox, he had never been able to detect any specific odor aside from the common odor of fever, a sort of sweetish odor. Dr. Grindon who had had considerable experience in the small-pox hospital at Quarantine, was disposed to think that there was an odor peculiar to the disOther gentlemen present believed that there was a peculiar odor of small-pox; and Dr. Baumgarten stated that he himself had recognized an odor peculiar to syphilis, not present in every case,

ease.

but which, when recognized, had been an unfailing indication of the presence of that disease.

It would seem to be unquestionable from all the evidences adduced that, whether or not it may ever become practicable to develop and educate the sense of smell so that it may become available as a means of diagnosis to the majority of physicians, there is a certain proportion in whom this smell is of sufficient keenness to be of material service in detecting and differentiating some of the eruptive fevers.

AVOIRDUPOIS AND TROY WEIGHT.

One of the arguments in favor of the universal adoption of a common standard of weight and measures is found in the confusion caused by the general use now of two different standards.

An interesting illustration of this confusion occurs in a paper published in a recent issue (June 23) of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. The writer was called to assist in the effort to rescue a man who had attempted to commit suicide by taking morphine. On the table was found a one-eighth ounce bottle, with Powers and Weightman's red label, containing by weight nine grains of morphine. The doctor concludes that, as there were nine grains of morphine remaining in the bottle, and as the man stated when he recovered, that he took all the rest, therefore he must have taken fifty-one grains of morphine, sixty grains being one-eighth ounce Troy or apothecaries' weight, whereas in fact, the wholesale houses and manufacturing chemists sell their goods. by avoirdupois weight; and therefore an ounce of morphine weighs only 4374 grains, instead of 480, and a one eighth ounce vial contains only 54"/16 grains instead of sixty.

The difference in the amount ingested is not sufficient to make at all less remarkable the fact that the man recovered from the effects of it, but it is, nevertheless, an amusing instance of inaccuracy in detail.

BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTICES.

A LABORATORY GUIDE IN URINALYSIS AND TOXICOLOGY.

WITTHAUS, A. M., M. D., etc. 1886. 8vo., long., pp. 75; cloth.

By R. A. New York: William Wood & Co.,

This little volume is admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is prepared, namely, as a guide for the use of the student in the practical laboratory work in the examination of urine and the study of toxicology.

The text is printed upon only one side of the paper, thus leaving every alternate page white for adding notes of the professor's lectures or observations on the experiments made.

Prof. Witthaus makes his instruction very plain, and this little handbook is one of the best for the purpose that we have seen. HOW A PERSON THREATENED OR AFFECTED WITH BRIGHT'S DISEASE OUGHT TO LIVE. BY JOSEPH F. EDWARDS. Philadelphia: Presley Blakiston, 1881, 24 mo.; pp. 87; cloth; 75 cents.

This little volume has been before the public for seven years and has been read with profit, no doubt, by many. Personally, we have derived considerable profit from the reading of the book by a gentlemen who, at intervals of a few months since that reading, has submitted for our examination, specimens of his urine in which there never have been found any evidence whatever of renal dis

ease.

The volume is written especially for the laity, and the rules of life laid down by the author are very excellent.

DRUGS AND MEDICINES OF NORTH AMERICA.

Part No. 4 of Volume No. II. contains first the conclusion of the account of the lobelias. Then comes the descriptions of the scrophularia, or carpenters' square, Lindera benzoin or spice bush, diphylleia cymosa, or umbrella leaf, cercis or red-bud, and erechtites hieracefolia, or fireweed.

In addition to the scientific interest of the botanist in this publication, there is much of great value and profit to the physician in

the thorough account given of the therapeutic uses of the various indigenous plants. We cannot learn too much of the remedial agents which grow all about us.

ANEMIA. BY FREDERICK P. HENRY, M. D., etc. Reprinted from the Polyclinic. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Co., 1887. 32mo.; pp. 136; cloth. (St. Louis; S. M. Simpson & Co.)

We cheerfully commend to our readers this little volume as containing a very clear, well written epitome of our present knowledge on this subject.

The author classifies the different forms of anemia as I. Primary anemias, under which are placed chlorosis, Hodgkin's disease, leucocythemia, etc. II. Secondary anemias, those following or accompanying other diseases, as fever, phthisis, cancer, etc. III. Toxanemias, as from lead poisoning, arsenic, etc. IV. Parasitic anemias, as that caused by anchylostomum duodenale, etc.

This classification is by no means a satisfactory one, nor has any satisfactory classification yet been advanced by any writer.

The volume contains nothing original, but reflects very well the present views of the profession.

THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF OPERATIVE SURGERY. By STEPHEN SMITH, A. M., M. D., etc. New and thoroughly revised edition. Illustrated with one thousand and five woodcuts. Philadelphia; Lea

Brothers & Co., 1887. 8vo.; pp. 877, cloth or sheep.

Dr. Smith, in revising his work as first issued in 1879, has taken the opportunity to incorporate into it the advanced views of the modern "new surgery," setting forth the principles and methods of the best use of antiseptics, and giving the technique of operative procedures which are now performed successfully, but under the old regime were utterly impracticable or unwarrantable.

As a guide for operative work in surgery we can cheerfully commend this work to our readers.

A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON IMPOTENCE, STERILITY AND ALLIED DISORDERS OF THE MALE SEXUAL ORGANS. By SAMUEL W. GROSS, A. M., M. D., etc. Third edition, Thoroughly Revised. Philadelphia: Lea Brothers & Co., 1887; 8vo.; pp. 172; cloth.

Dr. Gross has taken occasion in revising this little volume to incorporate the results of his observations made since the publication of the preceding edition four years ago. This has not led to any material alteration of his views with reference to the treatment of these cases, but has generally confirmed his opinion and added strength to his position.